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Thank you to our generous sponsors
of WonderCon 2007
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A LOOK BACK AT WONDERCON 2007
TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN 2007!
WonderCon Takes San Francisco By Storm!
Bay Area Show Celebrates its 21st Year In Style!
WonderCon 2007 blew into town March 2, 3 and 4 and rattled the roof on Moscone
Center South. The event has continued to grow in each of its six years in San
Francisco, from around 9,000 attendees in 2002 to this year's record high of
over 20,000. The Bay Area has embraced this annual event in an amazing way. And
why not? WonderCon featured a giant Exhibit Hall
filled with pop culture's
finest, and an impressive list of exclusive programs and events
to keep people
enthralled all weekend long, including anime screenings and
gaming, the first‑ever
San Francisco Children's Film Festival
and the popular WonderCon Masquerade in its third big year.
» The World of Comics
» Hollywood Moves North
» The Fun Went On Into the Night
Jim Lee dropped in on the DC Universe panel
The World of Comics
WonderCon featured a spectacular guest list that included Sergio Aragonés, Nick
Cardy, Gene Colan, Mark Evanier, Al Feldstein, Pia Guerra, Tony Harris, Phil
Jimenez, Jeph Loeb, Patrick McDonnell, Linda Medley, Michael Turner, Brian K.
Vaughan, Matt Wagner, Greg Weisman and Judd Winick, each featured in special
spotlight programs and other events. Industry giants DC Comics, Vertigo,
WildStorm, CMX, Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics, Aspen, SLG Publishing, IDW
Publishing, BOOM! Studios, VIZ Media and Abstract Studio's Terry Moore all
offered special presentations. Attendees were treated to great comics-oriented
programs such as the National Cartoonists Society, the CBLDF Live Art Jam, Scott
Shaw's Oddball Comics, and Cover Story, featuring seven of our special guests
talking about the art of comics covers.
WonderCon's big programming room, the Esplanade Ballroom, was Packed!
Gerald Butler talked about
his new movie, 300
Hollywood Moves North
The WonderCon audience witnessed an incredible schedule of movie and television
oriented programs. On Friday, March 2, close to 600 lucky WonderCon attendees
got to see a sneak preview of 300, the blockbuster movie based on Frank Miller's
graphic novel. Almost 300 pairs of tickets were given out to 3‑day and Friday‑only
attendees for this exclusive IMAX event, introduced by director Zack
Snyder.
Oded Fehr and Ali Larter
came to WonderCon with a sneak peek
at their upcoming film,
Resident Evil: Extinction
Saturday featured the return of WonderCon's "Big Movie Saturday." Disney-Pixar
led off the day with an exclusive look at this summer's animated feature
Ratatouille, featuring director Brad Bird and actor/comedian Patton Oswalt live
on stage. The magic continued with Academy Award winning actress Hilary Swank
and producer Joel Silver talking about The Reaping. Writer/director Kevin Munroe
offered a preview of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And then, all hell broke
loose - in a good way! - as 300 took the stage. Director Zack Snyder was joined by
stars Gerard Butler and Lena Headey for a rollicking panel that converted every
audience member into full-fledged Spartans. Next, stars Ali Larter and Oded Fehr
talked about their new film, Resident Evil: Extinction. A sneak peek at the
summer animated film Surf's Up was next, followed by an exclusive new trailer
for Spider-Man 3, shown only at WonderCon and introduced with a special video
hello from producer Avi Arad. The day ended with another exclusive: a look at
the first DC Comics animated movie, Superman/Doomsday, due out on DVD in
September. Animation legend Bruce Timm shared the stage with DC's Dan DiDio and
Gregory Noveck.
Nathan Fillion greets a fan
at the Drive autograph signing
Sunday offered a whole new realm of programming at WonderCon, a day devoted to
television! "Big TV Sunday" debuted with a TV Guide panel looking at "2007 and
Beyond," featuring Jeph Loeb (Heroes), Billy Campbell and Ira S. Behr (The
4400), Chase Masterson (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Richard Hatch
(Battlestar Galactica). The hit CBS series Jericho took the spotlight with an
exclusive previously unseen episode and stars Skeet Ulrich and Ashley Scott. Fan
favorite Nathan Fillion, along with co-star Kristin Lehman, then introduced the
audience to their new FOX show, Drive. All three "Big TV Sunday" panels were
moderated by TV Guide West Coast Bureau Chief Craig Tomashoff.
WonderCon also hosted the first-ever
San Francisco International Children's Film Festival.
The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors to the private upstairs
theater at the Moscone Center. These film fans and families viewed more than 90
films from around the world, including animation, live action and documentaries.
The festival also offered free animation workshops. Numerous filmmakers from the
Bay Area and around the world attended the festival, and interacted with the
audience.
Also debuting in March, the WonderCon/Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive
collected 74 pints of blood. These much-needed units were separated into three critical
blood components that were used to treat over 200 Bay Area patients in need.
The Masquerade Best in Show winner:
"Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn"
(Lego versions!), made and worn
by Mette Hedin & Bryan Little
The Fun Went On Into the Night
WonderCon nighttime programming featured the Best of the Comic-Con International
Independent Film Festival on Friday night. A packed room of attendees viewed six
of the "Best of" winners from the 2006 event. Saturday night once again featured
the WonderCon Masquerade in its third big year. Over 1,200 attendees were
treated to an amazing presentation of costumes and spectacle. Twenty-three
entries competed in the event, adding up to forty-five costumes crossing the
stage. Writer/artist Phil Foglio was once again the Master of Ceremonies and the
judges included costumer/filmmaker Valerie Perez, Gayley Carillo, Marketing
Director for DC Comics, and Stuart Shreck of DC Comics Direct Sales. Live
entertainment was provided by sci-fi movie TV host Mr. Lobo of Cinema Insomnia.
For a complete list of winners, click here!
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