Eye-Opener: Memo

Wizard World: Philadelphia 2007

Wizard World Tour took place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center from June 15-17, 2007. $25 for a day pass allows one entrance to comic, hobby, and toy vendors with celebrities and special guests from the comics universe.

There are many reasons to attend this convention/gathering especially if you're a comicsphile or aficionados looking for rare editions, to complete one's collections, to hear first hand of upcoming news and events, and many more.

I didn't just go to spend money that I don't have, I went to learn- the comics world is like a subgenre to my interests (this didn't mean that I didn't spend money- I still bought baubles and souvenirs such as magnets, and a mini-figurine).

I wish I went also on Friday instead of just Saturday. If I knew in advance that the session on the art and philosophy of graphique storytelling was going to take place, I would have gone (sigh).

I went on Saturday initially because Hayden Panettiere, the girl from NBC's "Heroes," was having a Q and A session... I also went to chill with my grade school buddies.

Hayden Panettiere: Q and A Session
I got a good seat because I arrived 40 minutes earlier and sat patiently (organized my new phone)... around 12:15, the crowd started filing in the room, and within seconds, it was filled... there's lots of cameras and professional photographers... it was a little insane because most of the people were very fanatical (I learned from my teenage years not to be too fanatical and star-struck because it will just lead to disappointments)...

this person in front of me got a bit pissed at me because my camera flash, momentarily blinded him (I was doing a test shot, and he turned around)... I apologized, but it was just creepy how easily irate he got...

then this woman photographer had the courage to ask me if the empty seat next to me was taken, of course I said no, so she sat next to me, her sandy face was a rockbed (offspring of the Thing)... she had one of those expensive looking cameras and she showed me her press pass, and she started telling me stories about the press earlier were waiting to get pics of Hayden... I was trying to figure her out, was she an obsessed fan or one of those crazy papparizzi? she showed me a dvd of Hayden's movie (Bring it One Part 2, which she recently bought for this event to get autographed), a picture of Hayden and his grandson after a play (in Maine?) and a picture she took of her, which was accepted by Us weekly magazine.

I asked her if she was a professional.. she said no, just a freelance, she didn't go to school for photography, just a hobby (she concluded that she should have gone to photography school)... she basically sends star photos to those celebrity magazines, and if she's lucky, they pick her photos and give her credit.. she was a little out spoken... she was trying to tell the guys in front of us to fix their posture in order to maximize her viewing (they just ignore her)... then she started complaining about the water bottle in the podium, she's arguing that the bottle will block her view of Hayden... I like her approach, she tried networking with Hayden's mother in order to get personal one-on-one time with Hayden

then Hayden just burst in and started walking in the center aisle... camera flashed, there were two really obnoxious photographers who were all up in her face taking pictures of her-- they weren't doing it quick either, they took their time to focus it and block the view...

I didn't ask any questions because I didn't do my research ahead of time... I didn't want to ask questions that could be found in the internet from her previous interview, so I jsut listened to other people's questions and her answers...

Hayden couldn't talk about the second season of "Heroes," which starts filming today. Conveniently, she hasn't read the scripts yet. She was definitely comfortable and in control of the crowd. She knew how to evade and still satisfy the crowd's curiosity. The crowd just need to ask a good question in order to get a good answer.

In an hour with Hayden, I learned that she's from New York, she's typecast as the blonde cheerleader, villians difficult ot sterotype, she's coming out with an album (she serenaded the crowd with "America"), music is more personal to her, acting is more like playing dress up, she likes mustard and ketchup on her hotdog, she likes to go out with guys with brown hair and brown t-shirt, she believes in higher education, charities, and voting for tomorrow's leaders, the acting business the thrill of working, saved a dog hit by a car, wants to have a love interest at the show... and many more.

She knew how to be generous, allowing some time afterwards for pictures to be taken... this was the time that I actually went and got her picture (somewhat semi decent- not one of my best), I was even pushed gently (not shoved) by the security guard to get away...

Walking around the convention with friends
After the Q and A session, i walked around with my friends... they knew what they wanted to get some special edition or a rare toy, I wanted to look at the art and get inexpensive things.. I enjoyed the artists' alley, where I met osme of the creators of the comics universe. I tlaked to the people, whose art fascinated me- in my case it was two people: one liked the simplicity and influence of Japanese art, and the other, the soft colors of pastel...

the day was fun... people in costumes were walking around, there were reenactments of jedi sword fights, little kids were running around with giant swords (fake of course, but the sight is just hilarious)...

besides the Q and A, there were also demonstrations, which unfortunately I missed, but next time I will attend them, especially sessions on "Wizard School" (get pointers on various art techniques like coloring, storytelling, setting, etc.)...

Wizard World was fun and magical!

Posted by Michael Diezmos at June 19, 2007 3:40 PM