Yeah, yeah, your immediate response is YES. But, I have to tell you, Comic Con isn’t easy. I’ve gone the last two years. The lines are insane – you rarely get to see the event or panel you want to see. The people are intense – and there are so many overwhelming people in a small space. Plus, it’s expensive. Try to do Comic Con spending less than $300. I dare you.
But I had a different relationship with Comic Con this year. And THIS is why I plan to go again next year.
This year’s Comic Con showed me something new about myself. Yes, I opened up and learned about me while surrounded by super heroes, celebrities and epic parties (parties I never get invited to…).
How you ask?
Let’s start from the beginning…
You know “Volcano Girl?” That movie I made my last year at USC and gave everything I had into making it awesome? Yeah. That one. Well, I sent it off for the Comic Con film festival. A perfect place for it, right?
I mean, let’s watch the teaser again…
Did you watch it? Wouldn’t it be great for Comic Con fans? I was so psyched. I couldn’t wait to hear back from their people.
I was already planning how I would promote the screening. Would I make a thousand little pins with Volcano Girl’s face on them and hand them out? Or would I get Bonnie Kathleen Ryan – who played Volcano Girl – to suit up and walk around the convention as Volcano Girl? She was the one who actually suggested doing it. She was a damn good super hero and should play one in every movie!
I was thrilled to have a new role at Comic Con. I was a fan, a blogger and soon a “filmmaker.”
Then I wasn’t accepted to the festival. My film wasn’t chosen.
Sure, I was upset. It’s not fun to hear that you aren’t good enough, or not wanted, but you have to get used to it – be okay with it – in this industry. I get rejected all the time – and not just from festivals! (insert knee slap here) But this particular rejection felt different.
It hurt… No. It sucked.
So I came to this year’s Comic Con a little grumpy. I wanted to be the person wearing the filmmaker’s badge, but I wasn’t.
The first day of the convention – I walked around. The second day – I went to a few talks. The third day – I waited in line for Iron Man for like 5 hours and still didn’t get in.
I thought I was done. I thought this would be my last Comic Con. The lines are too insane. There are too many people to even walk. What is the point of all this?
And then, on my last day, Sunday, I saw it.
The artists of South Park. THAT was my kryptonite.
I could hang out with the creator of Hellboy. Whatever. I could stand in line next to the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. No big deal. But introduce me to the people that make South Park? My inner nerd appears. And I was not expecting that.
I was nervous. I stuttered. I laughed at lame jokes. I took awkward photos…
I bought everything they offered. I got the book. The random drawings. I even won a second drawing. I was hooked. 50 bucks later, I had spent the last of my Comic Con money (you HAVE to put yourself on a budget at Comic Con), and was ready to go home. Happy.
That my friends, is why I’ll be going to Comic Con next year.
AND here’s a photo of me with muppets.
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