Comic books and popular culture properties are hotter than ever. But actually making money from your creations that end up on screen requires understanding the legalities and pitfalls of contracts and license agreements in general, along with an understanding of the business models used by the companies looking to make you an offer. Attorney Michael Lovitz, author The Trademark and Copyright Book comic book, will tackle a number of the more advanced issues facing authors, artists, and designers, particularly once they've "broken through" and have started publishing and selling. This session is directed to some of the complicated issues surrounding marketing properties and creative ideas, including transfers and licensing of rights; production, merchandising, and distribution agreements; and key things you should know when Hollywood comes knocking. This interactive seminar gives attendees the opportunity to participate in the discussions as Lovitz covers various means for profiting from creative works, and explores the many important elements that form the foundation of every contract (and time permitting, contract negotiation role playing). With in-depth discussions about the options and opportunities for generating income from your creative endeavors, along with identifying some of the many problems and pitfalls that go hand in hand with each decision, you'll agree this session shouldn't be missed. Please note: The Comic Book Law School seminars are designed to provide relevant information and practice tips to practicing attorneys, as well as practical tips to creators and other professionals who may wish to attend. [This program is approved for 1.5 credits of California MCLE.]
Friday July 19, 2013 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
It's the toy panel to beat all toy panels! Get the inside scoop on your favorite collectibles from Mattel: Masters of the Universe Classics, DC Comics Signature Series, Watchmen, Ghostbusters, and more. As a special bonus, attendees will have the opportunity to vote on an upcoming MOTUC monthly figure: Huntara vs. Lord Masque-you decide what gets made! And be there for a major announcement as Mattel partners with one of the biggest names in pop culture to bring you exciting new collectibles you will have to see to believe! The panel will also include a Q&A with Mattel toy designers, Mattel marketing manager Scott "Toy Guru" Neitlich, and guest panelists The Four Horsemen.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
Join eFX, Gentle Giant Studios, Kotobukiya, and Sideshow Collectibles for product development insights and exclusive previews of the latest in Star Wars collectibles. Moderated by Chris Spitale of Lucas Licensing.
Friday July 19, 2013 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 7AB
Members of the Hasbro brand and design team, including Derryl DePriest (VP, global brand marketing), Jeff Labovitz (director, global brand marketing), discuss the popular Hasbro StarWars and Angry Birds Star Wars line. Attendees will also get a sneak peek at upcoming action figures. Derryl, Jeff, and team will also host a Q&A for your burning StarWars action figure questions!
Secrets will be revealed and hints will be dropped, courtesy of the IDW editorial team of John Barber, Bobby Curnow, and Carlos Guzman, plus Hasbro's director for global publishing Michael Kelly. They'll be joined by a powerhouse lineup of fan-favorite creators, including artist Phil Jimenez, ready to answer your questions!
The movies you hate to admit you love-and the Warner Archive unabashedly adores- get their overdue marquee moment as panelists shine the spotlight on some of the very best of the B-movies-all those quirky and crazed sci-fi, horror, and action films that transcend their B-movie-ness to become permanent fixtures in our collective imaginations. From The Frozen Dead and The Green Slime to The Hand and The Beast with Five Fingers; from Joe Don Baker waging a one-man war in Mitchell to Peter Graves leading the 5-Man Army in an impossible gold train robbery; these B's (and many more) will get the TLC they greatly deserve as part of an hour-long discussion of B- movies and the reasons we love them. Join ever-informed, fan-centric WAC Podcast hosts George Feltenstein, Matthew Patterson, and D. W. Ferranti, super-critic Leonard Maltin, and Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Josh Olson (A History of Violence) as they delve into cinematic fun, revealing highlights from WAC’s upcoming slate of entertaining releases.
Friday July 19, 2013 1:30pm - 2:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
Meet Edward Kenway, the surprising new Assassin in the epic franchise as we set sail in the true, gritty Golden Age of Pirates. See a live demo of Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, and hear about what's in store for the Assassin's Creed world, from the acclaimed comic book series to the next wave of detailed figures from McFarlane Toys. Meet and ask questions of the current torchbearers for the Assassin's Creed franchise: Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag writer Darby McDevitt, comic book writer Brenden Fletcher, and legendary comic book artist Todd McFarlane!
Friday July 19, 2013 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
Room 6BCF
Mattel toy designers Ruben Martinez and Bill Benecke, the Mattel marketing team of Jessica Sikca and Danielle McLachlan, VP Warner Bros. consumer products Julian Montoya, VP creative services DC Entertainment Kevin Kiniry, a member of the Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) team, members of the Four Horsemen Toy Design Studios, and other surprise guests celebrate the Batman Classic TV Series and Man of Steel product lines, announce new product lines, reveal upcoming products, and give you a few special sneak peeks from the DC Comics and Batman toy lines. There will be a Q&A, a trivia game and an exciting toy giveaway for everyone who attends!
Friday July 19, 2013 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 25ABC
Learn how a good business plan can lead to great creative results and how great creative can inform an even greater business plan. The minds behind Brand + Entertainment Solutions believe that the two go hand in hand—or more to the point—SHOULD go hand-in-hand, but often do not. Developing keys to successful business and creative execution are the focus of this panel. Featuring B+E Solutions’ Andy Schmidt (CEO, B+E Solutions), Jon Bresman (Star Wars/Mad Magazine veteran), Steve Drucker (VP of IP Development, Hasbro), Josh Fialkov (award-nominated screenwriter, graphic novelist, and video game writer), and Marc Guggenheim (Executive Producer, Arrow).
Friday July 19, 2013 6:00pm - 7:00pm PDT
Room 30CDE
Simpsons collectors of the world, unite! Take a break from the busy Comic-Con floor and get a chance to meet some of your fellow collectors of Simpsons merchandise from all over the country. Meet the other Simpsons collectors you see on the message board and put faces to names. This gathering, hosted by the staff of the SimpsonsCollectors.com website, is a great chance to network with other collectors and share your experiences in the hobby with others.
Launched in June 2012, Shout Factory's Scream Factory DVD and Blu-ray division devoted to fan-favorite retro horror and sci-fi films has taken on a life of its own. With classic titles such as They Live, The Howling, and Lifeforce already out, Scream Factory is just the place for horror aficionados. Cliff MacMillan (Scream Factory DVD producer) and Jeff Nelson (Scream Factory marketing director) take you behind the scenes, introduce exclusive footage, and announce future releases. Also featured is special "Scream Queen" actress Adrienne Barbeau (Creepshow), to coincide with the Blu-ray releases of John Carpenter's The Fog and Wes Craven's Swamp Thing. Moderated by Sean Clark (host, Horror's Hallowed Grounds).
Friday July 19, 2013 6:30pm - 7:30pm PDT
Room 24ABC
The toy aisles have gone retro! Hit movies and TV shows are no longer a "sure thing" for toy manufacturers these days. Instead of chasing after "the new hotness," most toy companies are now looking to trigger the nostalgia centers in fans' brains by bringing back some of their favorite action figure lines from the past 40 years-and not just popular characters, but also that retro "Mego" and "Kenner" style! Hear it all from a panel of expert toy makers who are bringing back these figures and characters of yesteryear as well as adapting some modern licenses to that retro style. Moderator Daniel "Julius Marx" Pickett from ActionFigureInsider.com will be joined by Bill Benecke (Mattel Design), Ed Cato (Captain Action Ltd), Randy Falk (NECA), Jason Lenzi (BifBangPow!), Eric "Cornboy" Mayse (The Four Horsemen Design), Frank Supiot (Super 7), and Chuck Terceira (Diamond Select Toys).
Friday July 19, 2013 7:30pm - 8:30pm PDT
Room 26AB