2010 Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival
All films and programs are
in Marriott Hall 2, next door at the Marriott Hotel and Marina, next to the
Hall A side of the Convention Center.
Thursday, July 22
10:00–11:30 Comic-Con Film School 101: Preproduction and
Screenwriting— Comic-Con Film School is back for another four-day,
nuts-and-bolts course on how to make a movie for very little money, using available
video technology and desktop postproduction software. Whether you're shooting
your first Kung-fu short or that story about the leather-clad girl who pilots
an assault mech, this course will take you from script to final product so that
you too can submit your own movie into the CCI: IFF in the coming years. This
first class covers the specifics of preproduction on the cheap, including screenwriting,
casting, scheduling, location scouting, crewing-up, and getting equipment for
nothing. The instructors will even raffle off some sweet DVDs! Panelists include
Valerie Perez (producer/star of the Paula Peril series), Nick
Murphy (writer/director of Pizza and Bullets), Michael Scott
(director/star of Ryan vs. Dorkman), and Sean Rourke (writer/director
of 1st Person Shooter).
Action/Adventure
11:30–12:00 The Action Hero's Guide to Saving Lives—When lives are on the
line...When there's danger at every turn...When clichés run amok...sometimes
the best thing to do is call Mulligan! Ace Mulligan! Starring
Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld, The Tick, Rules of Engagement, The Venture
Bros.), The Action Hero's Guide to Saving Lives is a laugh-out-loud
action-comedy that takes you behind the scenes of Ace Mulligan's perilous and
not-always-successful mission to stop the bad guys, get the girl, and save the
day. It's not always easy being an action hero. Participating panelists include
Patrick Warburton, lead actor; Justin Lutsky, director/producer;
Clint Carmichael, producer; and Brett Simmons, co-star.
12:00–12:30 The Danger Element—Written and directed by John
Soares, star of Sockbaby and Go Sukashi! The lone vigilante, Battle
Jitni, must fight Doctor Elymas for possession of the Danger Element, the most
dangerous object in the world! The panel will consist of Doug Jones (Hellboy),
John Soares (Sockbaby), and Justin Spurlock (Go
Sukashi!).
Animation
12:30–12:50 Mutantland—As
the sun goes down in the dark and terrifying place that is Mutantland,
the creatures roaming this world are on the ultimate search for food. But all
is not what it seems in this thriller by Phil Tippett where danger lurks around
every corner.
12:50–1:10 Death Row
Diet—An animated comedy short about a man who is on both death row and
Weight Watchers. Starring Jonathan Katz (best known from Dr. Katz, Professional
Therapist) and Tom Leopold (writer from shows including Seinfeld,
Cheers and Will & Grace). Co-producer/director Mike Salva
will be present to discuss the film.
1:10–1:15 Ormie—Ormie is a pig, in every
sense of the word. Pig see cookie. Pig want cookie. But they are out of
reach...or are they? See Ormie's attempts to gain the warm, sweet taste
that is his obsession.
1:15–1:35 Lifeline—A
brilliant scientist travels through various dimensions and realms in search
of his lost love. Participating panelists include Andres Salaff (animator,
storyboard artist on Garuda), Sunha Yoon (director of Doodle
Beats), and Kyle Blanton Ross (composer and sound designer
on The Bastard).
1:35–1:55 The Mouse
That Soared—A famous flying circus mouse reflects on his humble beginnings
in this high-altitude adventure in aerodynamics. Participating panelists include
director/co-writer Kyle T Bell, co-writer Matthew Hayes, producer
Dan Casey, and Silas Bell (additional story).
1:55–2:00 Vive Le
Crise!— Deforestation,
property development, pollution, money, and a lot of food -- all this is going
to change...the economic crisis is coming.
2:00–2:30 Little Old
Ladies—Detective Dansin is down on his luck, until a mysterious redhead
enters his life and offers him a job he can't pass up. With the help of his
strange and ridiculous friends he'll take on the case, no matter where it leads
or what the outcome. Participating panelists will include John Varvir
(creator/writer/animator/voice actor) and Mariano Velasco (music producer).
2:30–3:00 The Way
to Heaven—Based on the epic Chinese myth of Elephant
Trunk Hill, an Elephant God left behind on earth discovers power he never
knew he had. When the gods come for him he must choose to return to
heaven or stay on earth forever. Participating panelists include Mier Tang
(Jonah Hex), Cindy Rangel (Half-Life), Lisa DiPaula
(lead concept designer), and Barry Wilson (supervising animator).
3:00–3:25 Articulate!—In the learned city of Montebury,
a sexy librarian has 7 minutes and 22 seconds to save America's next top
model Riley Marlowe or to preserve literacy for the next generation. So begins
Articulate!, a short musical comedy about Lexie Lang, a superhero conflicted
between doing her duty or saving her beloved books. Participating panelists
include Marianna Shek, Timothy Bond, and Jeanette N Rabot.
3:25–4:00 The Cow
Who Wanted to Be a Hamburger—A children's fable about the power of advertising, the
meaning of life, and ultimately the test of a mother's love. Filmmaker Bill Plympton,
director/animator of Idiots & Angels, will present his film.
4:00–5:00 Panel: Horror
Filmmakers Discuss the Art of Fear—Panelists Kevin Grevioux (co-writer/actor, Underworld and creator
of I, Frankenstein), Dan Myrick (co-writer/co-director, The Blair Witch Project),
Stephen Susco (scriptwriter, Grudge), Todd Farmer (scriptwriter, My Bloody Valentine remake),
Adam Gierasch (director/co-writer, Night of the Demons remake), Jace Anderson (co-writer
Night of the Demons remake), Steven C. Miller (director, Scream of the Banshee), and
Ben Ketai (scriptwriter/director, 30 Days of Night 2), join moderator Mark L. Miller of
aintitcoolnews.com to discuss the horror genre in films and the fine art of creating fear.
Comics-Oriented
5:00–5:25 The Legacy—What
would you do if you believed your father was a superhero? The Legacy
brings to life a story about fathers and sons, imagination and magic, and believing
in something larger than ourselves. Participating panelists include writer/director
Mike Doto, editor Victor Carbonneau Jr., and composer Joey
Newman.
5:25–5:50 Shadow Angel—Trying
to reconnect with his daughter who is obsessed with the Shadow Angel
comic book, a divorced dad is mugged on his way to the store. Participating
panelists include writer/director Heather Donnell, director of cinematography/editor
Chris R. Smith, and lead actor Don R. Williams.
5:50-6:20 Cancer Man—Jake
is a young comic book artist with terminal cancer. The night before facing surgery,
a set of unusual circumstances lead to the creation of a mysterious new hero,
Cancer Man. Participating panelists include writer/director Jared Billings
and producer Chris Manigault.
6:20–6:50 Street Angel—When
Doctor Pangea, "the world's deadliest geologist," escapes from prison with plans
to destroy Earth as we know it, the city turns to its unlikely champion, a 14-year-old
homeless girl and Kung-fu skateboarding superhero, Street Angel! A short film
adaptation of Jim Rugg and Brian Maruca's cult hit comic.
8:00–9:00 CCI-IFF Meet
and Greet—Meet some of the filmmakers behind this year's entries at this
special meet-and-greet event in the Marriott Foyer, right outside of Marriott
Hall 2, home of the Film Festival. There will be food (while it lasts!), beverages,
and a cash bar for those who want something with a little more punch!
9:00–9:45 The League—With
the 1946 formation of "The League of Heroes" in Chicago, the country
is introduced to the first ever Superhero Labor Union. Now, 20 years later,
as The League is about to expand nationally, an old adversary makes a murderous
comeback. Participating panelists include director/co-writer Kyle Higgins,
co-writer Alec Siegel, VFX and art director Mike Grier,
and actors Paul Papadakis (The Wraith) and Rick Cramer
(The Grey Raven).
9:45–11:00 Mastermind—An amnesiac realizes he may once
have been a masked villain. In trying to remember his past and the location
of a hidden bomb, he uncovers a devious secret about his intrepid reporter girlfriend.
Participating panelists include director/producer Susan Lee, Michael
Patrick Sullivan, (Astonishing Adventures), director of photography
Carlos Jackson, and actors Beth Ricketson and Brad C. Wilcox.
