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10:30 to 12:00

Comic-Con Film School 103: Working with Actors and a Crew Day 3 deals with how to direct actors, organize a crew, and keep them all happy without anybody making any money. Panelists for this class include Tim Cunningham (writer/director, Xtracurricular), Valerie Perez (producer/star, Paula Peril—Trapped in the Flames and Tears of the Dragon, a Lara Croft fFan film), Sean Rourke (writer/director, 1st Person Shooter), and actors Susan Smythe, Brian Stevenson, Kat Steel, Jack Conway, and Brad Upton. » More on Comic-Con Film School

Festival Screenings, Day 3

Science Fiction/Fantasy

12:15-12:40 Smart Card­—Smart Card is a tale of a utopian future where every aspect of people lives is intergraded into one system. Convenience and simplicity is the product and Smart Corporation does the packaging. Robert Sharpe (David Kreigel) has been living this carefree life. Everything is perfect until he encounters a philosophical vagrant (Bret Roberts) at a local fueling station who steals the one item you cannot do without, his “Smart Card.” James Oxford, director and executive producer, will be present to discuss the film.

12:40-12:55   Repressing Tansy—Repressing Tansy is the story of a little girl who has a very little problem . . . named Tansy. Scott Russell will share his 5-minute film about a girl and her fairy and will be available to discuss how he made the film for the price of a good meal, along with his cinematographer Carly Lyn, effects coordinator Sean Dollins, and stars Leslie Stevens and Blaine Saunders. Also in attendance will be Aaron Hendricks, co-founder of Group 101 films and the GeeksOn podcast.

12:55-1:20 Transgressions—Carl and Sophie Phillips and their two young children live in a utopian society that idolizes celebrity assassins called “Agents.” Celebrity Agents torture and execute “transgressors” on prime-time TV as entertainment for the masses, young and old alike. Carl, a human garbageman dreaming of a better life, has enrolled his son in Agent Training Camp. Sophie disapproves, but as a woman in this society has no right to use force. She must use the only way she knows how to keep her son from going. Panelists include director Valerie Weiss and Robert Johnson.

1:20-1:40 Descendents of Eden—Time folds back on itself when a stranger from the future warns punk hairstylist Juno Diaz her descendents may cause a coming holocaust. Now Juno fights to stay alive long enough to discover the truth about the Descendents of Eden—and those who want them dead. Participating panelists include Kam Miller (Law & Order: SVU), Tom Kopache (The X-Files, Star Trek TNG and DS9), Cara Santana (Lipshitz Saves the World, Strong Medicine), and Richard Tillman (Notes from the Underbelly, Jack & Bobby).

1:40-1:55 Tomten Hollow—While searching for his lost baseball in the woods, a young boy encounters a mysterious gnome who transports him to a magical world beyond our reality. Filmmakers include Evan Daugherty, writer/director of Rusty Forkblade; Erik Desiderio, composer for Slammo and Sloshie; Philip Schaeffer; James Darling, writer/director of Citizen; and Andrew Lobel, writer/director of Delirium and the Dollman.

1:55-2:20 Algesia—Alice is a weird and lonely girl who works with strange little creatures by day and peeks on her neighbor at night, but she also lives with a bizarre secret that leads to a bloody climax. Participating panelists include Cathy Alberich, director; Aaron Soto, director, Omega Shell; Edgar Guerra, music and sound; and Ursula Velarde, lead actress.

2:20-2:45 Man Vs. Woman—Four scavengers—a man, a woman, a cloned velociraptor, and a robot—fight to the death over a puddle of water on a desolate desert planet. What species—or gender—will end up on top? Filmmakers include writer/director Juan Carlos Vargas, visual effects artist on 300; and composer David James Nielsen, orchestrator for Star Trek: Enterprise.

2:45-4:30 Jerome Bixby’s The Man From Earth—An impromptu goodbye party for Professor John Oldman becomes a mysterious and intense interrogation after the retiring scholar reveals to his colleagues he is an immortal who has walked the earth for 14,000 years. Participating panelists include director/producer Richard Schenkman (The Pompatus of Love), producer Eric D. Wilkinson (The Violence Movie), executive producer Emerson Bixby (Welcome To Hollywood), and cast members Tony Todd (Clive Barker’s Candyman), William Katt (The Greatest American Hero),Richard Riehle (Star Trek Voyager), and Ellen Crawford (ER).

4:30-6:10 Automatons—Somewhere in the distant future, The Girl is alone. After a generations-long war she is the last of her people, determined to continue the fight using her small army of antiquated robotic soldiers. Men started this war, but the machines will finish it. Panelists include James Felix McKenney, writer/director; and Lisa Wisely, producer. Room 26AB

Horror/Suspense

6:10-6:40 Eli—A man awakens on an operating table with no idea where or even who he is. Armed with only one memory of a girl on a beach and a tattoo on his hand that reads "ELI,” he must elude his captors and unravel the sinister truth behind his missing identity. Participating panelists include Josh Lee Kwai, director/producer/editor; Tyler Erskine, writer/producer; Ron Beyers, writer/producer; Simon Heselev, composer; and Ron Erskine, associate producer.

6:40-7:00 Shut Eye Hotel—A cartoon noir murder mystery that takes place in a sleazy hotel. As cops investigate the gruesome murders, they become victims of this evil force. Shuteye Hotel will do for sleeping what Jaws did for swimming. Bill Plympton, animator of The Tune, Mutant Aliens, and Hair High, will discuss his latest film.

7:00-7:30 By Appointment Only—Jane has left the big city behind in search of a more peaceful country life. But when Jane finds the perfect old house for sale, she will learn that buying a house can kill you. Participating panelists include John Faust, writer/director; Matt Ryan, Lyle; Nancy Sinclair, Lillian/Mother; Belen Greene, Jane; and Howard Heard, supervising editor.

7:30-7:55 Eye of the Beholder—Natalie is intrigued by a picture at a garage sale and just has to buy it. As the story unfolds, it becomes obvious that there is something strange about the picture. She apparently bought more than she bargained for and becomes entwined in the mystery behind the picture. Filmmakers include Robert Michael Conrad, producer; Tim Russ, writer/director; Chase Masterson, Natalie; Menina Fortunato, Natalie’s friend, Sharon; and David Anderson, technical consultant.

7:55-8:20 The Cabinet—In this suspenseful retelling of the Bluebeard fairytale, a young woman discovers her lover's macabre secret when she is left alone in his home overnight. Participating panelists include Karen Lam (The Bone Snatcher) and Karen Wong, Mustard Pancakes Productions.

8:20-8:35 Crazy Love—Charlie believes in love at first sight. From the moment his eyes fixed on Brenda, he knew she had to be his girl. Now, Charlie must overcome all obstacles on his way to winning Brenda’s heart. Panelists include William Van Cuyck, writer/director; Robert Ashe Jr., Charlie, and the film’s editor; Kristin Van Cuyck, producer; A.J. Gardner, Girlfriend #2 and script supervisor; and Adam B. Gardner, Crazy Love’s hard working 12-year old production assistant.

8:35-9:05 Watcher—A retelling of the classic “monster in the closet” story—with a twist. The horrifying and unexpected ending will be sure to shock you! Director Eli Sasich (Dead West), composer Michael Sasich, and actor Chris Sasich will be on hand to answer questions after the screening.

9:05-9:25 Into the Maelstrom—In the outer reaches of space, a long-lost communications vessel has just been found. Investigating a distress signal onboard, two detectives, Weller and Ford, make a gruesome discovery: the entire crew has been brutally slaughtered. And the killer is still on board! Participating panelists include Marc Ferrero, producer; Peter Sullivan, director; Eric Etebari, actor Witchblade); George Reasner, director of photography; and Patrick Tsao, visual effects.

9:25-9:50 Revenge—Julie, a young attorney, becomes a new partner in a law firm. An accountant hired by the firm finds evidence of her shady past and confronts her. Julia's reaction to the confrontation leads to unpleasant results. Panelists include Robert Michael Conrad, co-producer; Crystal Allen, Julie; and David Anderson, technical consultant.