Comic-Con: Episode IV - A Fan's Hope (TIFF Review)

Many thanks to our friends Luisa and Reid for the tickets to last night's world premiere of Comic-Con: Episode IV - A Fan's Hope at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Directed by Morgan Spurlock ("Super Size Me"), this documentary focuses on the hugely successful annual comics convention in San Diego and is backed by Spurlock, producer Thomas Tull, comic book icon Stan Lee, Writer/producer Joss Whedon, and film guru Harry Knowles.

Jeff and I both LOVED this film. If you have any grain of geek in your soul (whether or not you read comics), you HAVE TO SEE THIS MOVIE.

Some fun costumes in the line-up outside:

I'm pretty sure Superman (below) is the same fellow who appeared in the documentary:

One of the reasons I loved this film so much: instead of just doing an overview of the event, it zoomed in on half a dozen fans. Two were aspiring artists who hoped to catch the attention of comic publishers at the event. There was an aspiring costume designer who was preparing for the big Masquerade event and hoped to someday work in the movie industry. Chuck Rozanski, the founder of Mile High Comics, worried about finances and considering selling some of his most beloved comics at the event to help keep his business going. A young fannish couple who had met at last year's Comic-Con, where the girl had no idea that her boyfriend was going to propose to her.

As the documentary progresses, you can't help but start caring for these real-life characters and feeling their disappointments and joys. Creative types will especially identify with the two artists who put themselves through the wringer re: blunt critiques at the event as they try to get the attention of the industry pros.

There are also interviews with geeky celebrities like  Eli Roth, Seth Rogen, Kevin Smith, Joss Whedon, Seth Green, and Guillermo del Toro. This was also the first time I had heard Harry Knowles speak. My friend Allison is a big fan of Ain't It Cool News and I've checked in from time to time, but after seeing Harry in the documentary and especially after reading his overview of the event on his blog, his geeknerdy enthusiasm has made me a solid fan.

I bawled and laughed during the proposal, which took place during a Kevin Smith panel discussion. :-) And I got to see the wonderfully geeky Lord of the Rings engagement ring that James Darling had custom-made for his girlfriend, Se Young Kang. The couple flew in from Santa Barbara for the premiere:

Also very cool to see/hear other cast members and others involved in the movie, including the legendary STAN LEE (!), Morgan Spurlock, Chuck Rozanski and Harry Knowles. Great Q&A session with the audience after the film, though I was disappointed that Harry wasn't up on stage; apparently there was no way to get his wheelchair up on stage. He also wasn't able to attend the after-party for the film either, because the elevator wasn't working. :-(

Harry's response on his blog, though, is part of what has converted me into an Ain't It Cool Fan: instead of sulking, he went and celebrated with other friends and focused on positivestuff.

Something else I enjoyed: at the end of the movie, we're updated about the cast. Like Holly Conrad, the cosplay costumer who created an amazing Mass Effect 2 (an RPH) costume display for the Comic-Con Masquerade with the help of her friends. You can see the video she put together to apply for the documentary casting call here:

Here she is, posing in the lobby of the Scotiabank Theatre after the premiere:

Anyway, if you ever get an opportunity to see Comic-Con: Episode IV - A Fan's Hope, DO.

And if you're a fan of Comic-Con, you may be interested in the just-released book. Here's an interview with Morgan Spurlock about the book and movie on The Daily:

Related links:

Harry Knowles on his TIFF Comic-Con: Episode IV experience

Ten Years Ago: Where We Were

Ten years ago, Jeff and I were in Tokyo, Japan, staying with our friend Alison. We were supposed to fly home on September 11th.

Our friend had happened to call her company's New York office 15 minutes after a plane hit the first Tower. We tuned into the English-speaking news channel just in time to watch the second plane crash as it was filmed live by CNN.

The three of us sat in surreal shock, staring at the tv screen. It didn't feel real at first, especially hearing about this in a foreign country.

Our Air Canada flight home was cancelled when the airline (along with other airlines) suspended all operations. Here's what I posted in Blatherings while Jeff & I were trying to find a way home. Apologies for the broken images; they were victims of one of my Wordpress hacker attacks (& one of the many reasons I switched away from Wordpress to Squarespace).

Just before 9/11, I recall feeling wistful that our wonderful trip had to end. The devastating events of 9/11 and knowing we couldn't go home immediately changed the way we felt. We wanted to be home.

Jeff and I sought out cybercafes (like the one above, which was ironically called Canada Cafe) so we could email family and close friends. We visited a makeshift memorial site in Tokyo:

and signed a condolence book:

Through Nissin Travel, my dad managed to get another flight for us, five days after the original was scheduled. We arrived at the airport many hours earlier than our flight was to leave and discovered that other travellers were also desperate to get home:

Ten years later, I still remember the horror, shock and the disbelief. I remember aching for those who had lost loved ones. I remember being so very grateful for what I have.

My deepest sympathies for those who suffered loss on that day.

Do read:

110 Stories by John M. Ford

The graphic I created for the Writer Unboxed site today:

California Anniversary Trip: Part 3: TWiT Party In Petaluma

Part 3 of my trip report. Other parts posted so far: Part 1 | Part 2

What does a geeknerd couple do for fun on their anniversary trip? Go to Petaluma to visit the TWiT studios, of course!

Jeff's been a longtime fan of Leo Laporte and the TWiT network, and he introduced me to these great tech podcasts.

Leo and his team recently moved to a new location, and the celebratory open house coincided with our trip, yay!

Everyone was super-friendly and welcoming, and we wandered around watching Leo's live podcasts being recorded as well as checking out the new digs.

Here's the chat room moderator crew:

And fun paraphernalia:

Even Robert Scoble made an appearance (the fellow in the glasses below):

I also got to introduce myself to Iyaz Akhtar, the co-host of Tech News Today. Iyaz was in my very first Google+ Hangout (he played guitar!) but I didn't recognize him then.

And we met a very nice / fellow geeknerdy couple, who sat beside us in the studio audience:

If you're at all tech-minded, you should definitely check out TwiT.tv. Leo and others do a ton of tech-related shows, including iPad Today, this WEEK in TECH, MacBreak Weekly, All About Android, Windows Weekly, The Tech Guy, Security Now and This Week In Google.

Next up: Gaige House & the most amazing hotel room bathtub

California Anniversary Trip, Part 2: Postcard Row, Shoe Garden, More San Francisco Sightseeing

Part 2 of my trip report. Other parts: Part 1

Just before leaving San Francisco, Jeff and I checked out the Painted Ladies near Alamo Square. I had never heard of this term, but apparently they refer to Victorian and Edwardian houses or buildings painted in three or more colours. The ones in the photo above are part of what is also known as "Postcard Row," and are one of San Francisco's tourist attractions, apparently.

Another Alamo Square attraction: The Shoe Garden, which was created by an SF Recreation & Park Department gardener who began collecting discarded shoes and placing them around his seedlings to protect them from off-leash dogs. Eventually he planted flowering bulbs in the shoes, and also started receiving donations of footwear.

Next, we headed toward Lombard Street to check out its famous tight hairpin turns, but it was WAY crowded with like-minded tourists so we decided to opt out. But wow, lots of hilly and steep roads in San Francisco! I'd hate to be learning how to drive standard in this area. :-)

Next: TWiT party in Petaluma!

California Anniversary Trip, Days 1-3 in San Francisco: Hotel Kabuki, Japan Town, Mission District

Jeff and I recently celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with a trip to California. We'd been planning the trip for years now, discussing possibilities. Our 10th anniversary was spent in Tofino, B.C. and then Japan; we were supposed to fly home on September 11th (yes, THE September 11th) and ended up staying in Tokyo for nearly a week longer than planned.

Our first stay this time: Hotel Kabuki in Japan Town (1625 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115). We stayed in one of the Japanese-style suites, with a futon and a gloriously deep tub, paper screens and zen sand garden. Though parts of the hotel are a wee bit dated, the location is ideal: steps away from Japan Town, which is also known as Nihonmachi - six square city blocks in San Francisco.

Japan Town is packed with Japanese restaurants, indoor shopping malls & other shops, including one of the few U.S. branches of the large Kinokuniya bookstore chain. Yes, there were many tourists, but we were outnumbered by Japanese-speaking locals by far. Eating Japanese food, hearing Japanese, and surrounded by Japanese shops, there were odd moments when I felt transported to downtown Tokyo.

Our favorite meal of the trip was at Kiss restaurant (1700 Laguna Street, (415) 474-2866), a tiny place with only a few tables. Run by a Japanese couple, Kiss reminded us of Hashimoto's back in Ontario, but in a more casual atmosphere. Easier on the pocketbook, too. We ordered the omakase, or chef's choice, and were delighted by the exquisitely presented six-course meal. Part of the enjoyment: watching the chef cook everything himself.

We met friends of a mutual friend at Universal Cafe in the Mission District. Though our anniversary was the catalyst, part of the reason we chose San Francisco as a visit point was because one of our fantasies is to try living in other places someday, for as long as month or two. Anyway, it was great to meet Pari, Keith and Jason, and they gave us some great info about living in San Francisco. After brunch, we walked around the Mission District. So many great little shops and cafes!

Another highlight: the Asian Art Museum. This was the first time I'd visited an art museum since I began taking my illustration more seriously, and I was surprised at how much this altered and enhanced my experience. I was especially in that headspace because of the SCBWI Summer Conference a couple of weeks earlier, especially the fabulous Illustrator Intensive.

Pretty much everything I saw tied into some aspect of illustration or visual creativity: questions about how the artist had achieved certain effects or moods, the process and execution, color and use of lights/darks, line texture, character and emotion. I'd love to come back here and do some sketching sometime.

When perusing the area via Google Maps just before we left, I noticed that Dick Blick Art Materials was in San Francisco, and asked Jeff if we could drop by. I've seen Dick Blick Art mentioned many times in various art forums online and was curious. What I found: though the art store was fun to browse, the immediate neighborhood (Market and 6th) around it wasn't.

Low points during our walk: having to sidestep men urinating on the sidewalk, one not even bothering to hide himself while he did it. Ugh. Also a lot of people hanging out on the sidewalk, not bothering to move aside for passersby; we had to step onto the road to walk around them each time.

Later on, Jeff and I discovered that there have been at least five shootings, mostly gang-related, along or near the Market and Sixth street corridors. Yikes. Don't think I'll be going back to that Dick Blick's.

While at Dick Blick's, Jeff bought me a brush pen I had been coveting (Copic Multliner SP BS), a mini sketch book, and a portable watercolor set of paints. What a sweetie! I had been looking for the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, a pen that David Small had recommended in his Illustrator Intensive, but the store didn't have any. A fellow working at the store recommended the Copic pen instead; it's not a true brush pen (it's more of a marker, without individual bristles) but it was cheaper than the Pentel plus I was happy with the thick/thin variety of line it could produce.

But enough artnerdspeak. :-)

Some other highlights... Intriguing graffiti: Green tea & pastry at Tan Tan's in Japan Town: Seeing all the things you could buy for $1.50:

Finding out more about the history of Japan Town. Here, for example, is where some of the Japan Town residents assembled before they were shipped off to internment camps during World War II (now a bilingual school for Japanese-American children:

Next post: Petaluma & TWiT party, Gaige House in Glen Ellyn, and more.

 Next: Painted Ladies, The Shoe Garden & more San Francisco sights