THURSDAY
The 5th Annual Musical Anatomy of a Superhero
10:00 AM-11:00 AM
Indigo Ballroom, Hilton Bayfront
Legion Screening and Q&A
5:00 PM-6:00 PM
Ballroom 20
Legion, based on the New Mutants Marvel Comics by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz, is the story of David Haller (Dan Stevens), a troubled young man who grew up believing himself to be schizophrenic, only to discover he is something more than human. In fact, David could be the most powerful mutant who has ever lived. Along with a team of other extraordinarily gifted people at a facility called Summerland, David learns to accept his true self and defeat the Shadow King. Or so they all believe. Creator/executive producer/writer/director Noah Hawley is joined by fellow executive producers John Cameron,Lauren Shuler Donner, and Jeph Loeband series stars Dan Stevens,Rachel Keller,Aubrey Plaza,Jean Smart,Bill Irwin,Jeremie Harris, and Amber Midthunder for a conversation on what to look forward to from season 2 of Legion.
Marvel Television: Marvel’s The Inhumans
6:15 PM- 7:15 PM
Ballroom 20
Hollyweird Science: Information Vs Motivation
7:30 PM-8:30 PM
Room 26AB
When a new science fiction film comes out, so do the science experts (with vastly different levels of expertise) to nitpick the film’s science content. The irony is that Hollywood has never been more willing to work with actual scientists to ensure scientific accuracy. Yet, scientists often cite TV series like Star Trek and films like 2001: A Space Odyssey as the elements that inspired their careers. When it comes to the value to science and science education, is the motivational/inspirational component at least as important as the science content itself? This panel of scientists and Hollywood professionals share their thoughts. Featuring Bear McCreary(Battlestar Galactica, AMC’s The Walking Dead), Amy Berg (Counterpart, Eureka), Kevin Grazier, Ph.D. (Gravity, Pirates of the Caribbean: DMTNT), Jessica Cail, Ph.D. (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D ., Zootopia), Rick Loverd (Science and Entertainment Exchange), and Colin Campbell (The Universe, Life After People). Moderated by Gia Mora (Scirens).
The Psychology of Cult TV Shows: Episode 4
8:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Room 25ABC
Are you a fan of Supernatural, Westworld, Game of Thrones, or Sherlock? Do you love Daredevil, Walking Dead, Jessica Jones, or Luke Cage? If so, come join the team of mental health professionals Dr. Janina Scarlet (Superhero Therapy, Star Wars Psychology), Dr. Travis Langley (Doctor Who Psychology: A Madman with a Box; Star Trek Psychology: The Mental Frontier), Dr. Lynn Zubernis (Supernatural Psychology; Family Don’t End with Blood), Dr. BillySan Juan (Doctor Who Psychology, Walking Dead Psychology), and Travis Adams (Supernatural Psychology) and TV writers/producers Jose Molina (Agent Carter, Firefly), Christine Boylan (Castle, Once Upon a Time), and Deric Hughes (The Flash, Beauty and the Beast) in geeking out and discussing your favorite TV show s. Jenna Busch (Legion of Leia, Star Wars Psychology) moderates.
Sweet Christmas! A Mock Trial to prove Luke Cage is Innocent
8:00 PM-9:00 PM
Room 23ABC
Marvel’s Luke Cage ended with Luke in FBI custody for breaking out of prison. This will be a mock evidentiary hearing where attorneys will argue to US Magistrate Judge Mitch Dembin a writ of habeas corpus petition to prove Cage’s actual innocence. Attorneys arguing the case include Christine Peek, Esq. (McManis Faulkner) and Megan Smith, Esq. for Luke Cage (played by David Gibson) and Steve Chu, Esq. and Jane Boardman (deputy city attorney for the City of San Diego Office of the City Attorney) for the government.
FRIDAY
1:00 PM- 2:00 PM
Room 9
They found Tatooine in Tunisia, Vulcan in Utah, Middle-earth in New Zealand, and King’s Landing in Croatia. Working alongside directors and production designers, location scouts are the visual artists who bring forth every place that you see on the screen. Six location scouts will discuss the creative and logistical aspects of their jobs, relate some exciting anecdotes, and answer audience questions. Moderator Scott Trimble (The Mummy,Justice League) joins Location Managers Guild International panelists Kokayi Ampah (Million Dollar Baby,The Shawshank Redemption), Robert Foulkes (La La Land,Terminator 2: Judgment Day), Shani Orona (Logan,Sicario), Laura Sode-Matteson (Jurassic World 2, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), and Tommy Woodard (Westworld,Terminator Genisys).
1:00 PM-2:00 PM
Room 29AB
Fantasy Fanatic or Composer Connoisseur? Come join CW3PR and Impact24 PR to hear about what makes your favorite fiction stories so FANTASTIC. Some of the top composers around will give insight on how they contribute to many of the most popular fantasy/fiction titles in the TV and film worlds. This will be a can’t-miss, colorful, fascinating journey into the minds of the industry’s most imaginative! Panelists include Jeff Russo (composer, Legion, Fargo), Sean Callery (composer, Jessica Jones, Homeland, 24), Mac Quayle (composer, Mr. Robot, American Horror Story, Feud), Kris Bowers (composer, Dear White People), Siddhartha Khosla (composer, This Is Us, The Runaways), Joseph LoDuca (composer, The Evil Dead series, Spartacus: Blood and Sand), and Blake Neely (composer, The Flash, Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Riverdale) with celebrity moderators Rachel Keller (Legion, Fargo) and Jeremie Harris (Legion, The Get Down).
Hollywood’s Illustrators: Craft, Pop Culture, and Careers
2:00 PM- 3:00 PM
Room 9
Before a set is built and the cameras roll, there is something called pre-visualization—concept art, storyboards, and much more created by the motion picture illustrators. In-demand artists of the industry open up about their worlds and answer your questions: Monty Granito (Captain America: Civil War, TMNT: Out of the Shadows), Tani Kunitake (Passengers, Jupiter Ascending), Andy Park (Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, Captain America: Civil War), Jane Wu (The Mummy, Star Trek Beyond), and moderator Tim Burgard (Independence Day: Resurgence, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse).
The Lazarus Pit Gets Real
4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Room 28DE
The Marvel and DC (and other) universes universally feature age-inhibiting “renewal elixirs” in their storylines. Nick Fury, Black Canary, and Batman are among the scores of characters who have reversed or delayed the aging process. Thanks to rejuvenation biotechnologies being developed by people like Bill Maris (founder, Section 32) and physician Joon Yun (president of Palo Alto Investors), the Lazarus Pit, Vigoral, Super-Soldier Serum, Extremis serum, Infinity Formula, and Pym Particles are now no longer fantasy concepts. Remarkable progress has been made in extending the life spans of animals and, soon, humans. This panel will cover the latest in anti-aging and cognitive enhancements.
4:30 PM- 5:30 PM
Room 24ABC
As scientists move closer to achieving artificial intelligence, what is next? How does real AI science compare to its depictions in movies, on TV, and in books? Could AI save the world—or be its doom? Join the Fleet Science Center as they bring together Craig Titley (co-executive producer/writer, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), William Wisher Jr. (screenwriter, The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day) and other science fiction writers to discuss the future of artificial intelligence with Dr. Ndapa Nakashole (assistant professor, UCSD Artificial Intelligence Group) and other AI researchers.
SATURDAY
The Character Of Music: Music For Popular TV
1:00 PM- 2:00 PM
Room 9
Can’t get that certain song or tune out of your head that you heard on TV? Learn how music is added to your favorite TV shows and how it is an essential character in storytelling. Composers Dave Porter (Breaking Bad, Preacher), Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein (Stranger Things), and Eskmo (13 Reasons Why) and music supervisors Maggie Phillips (Legion, Fargo) and Thomas Golubi? (The Walking Dead, Better Call Saul) discuss how they create and place music in their programs, how they discover talent, and what their experiences have been working on some of the most popular series on television. Moderated by Chandler Poling of White Bear PR.
Marvel Presents “The Defenders”
5:15 PM- 6:15 PM
Hall H
SUNDAY
Super Asian America
3:00 PM- 4:00 PM
Room 29AB
With live-action versions of Death Note and Ghost in the Shell, Hollywood keeps mining Asian culture for inspiration-while sidelining Asian people. At the same time, series like Into the Badlands and Master of None demonstrate how successful shows with Asian leads can be. The state of Super Asian America in 2017 is assessed by panelists Will Choi (Asian AF), Deric Hughes (The Flash), Angela Kang (The Walking Dead), C. B. Lee (Not Your Sidekick), Lewis Tan (Iron Fist), and Dr. Nancy Yue n (Reel Inequality). Moderated by Racebending.com’s Michael Le.