Putting the wraps on SDCC 2013

Joss Whedon at Nerd HQ — My number one highlight of the ‘Con, hands down. Not only was the cost of attending this event totally reasonable, it was used to help pay for the charity Operation Smile. The tickets went very fast, and they were totally worth grabbing. To add to the awesomeness of this intimate panel, Nathan Fillion shows up to moderate it. The only thing that could have made it better is if Ivey had the guts to ask (in this way only — his idea):

“A lot of people ask the most ridiculous questions at the panels at Comic-Con. I mean, someone actually asked Harrison Ford what Han Solo and Indiana Jones would say to each other if they met! Really?! So, I don’t want to stand here and waste your time with something like that. My question is: since the end of Angel, and throughout the comics that followed, there is one question that has yet to be answered. So, I’d like you to DEFINITIVELY answer this once and for all: if cavemen and astronauts got into a fight, who would win?”

I still giggle and the thought of that being delivered — perfectly and without a smirk — at that panel.

The ONE negative I would give the Nerd HQ panels is how the seating works, even though it worked out in our favor. Those assigned seats mean squat. If you’re late, you lose it. Your row is called in, and you shuffle down the first row with available seats until you hit the next open seat, whether it’s yours or not. Some people were NOT happy. But, it made sense in the way the seats were organized — nobody wants someone climbing over them to get to their seat because some asshole was late. Anyway, Nerd HQ: highly recommended.

Serenity viewing with Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk and “more” — This was how the Nerd HQ event was originally described. Later — after having purchased the tickets — the wording changed to “an appearance by” those two Serenity actors. Pair this with the fact that this was happening the same night as the famed and star-filled Entertainment Weekly party, the writing was on the wall. So, when the hour of the premiere hit, I checked Twitter to see if Fillion and Tudyk were providing commentary during the movie. Nope. Ivey then volunteered to scout out the situation, and he confirmed it. Later I learned at least Fillion gave a good-night wave to the audience in attendance.

While I loved Serenity, I was just too damned tired that night to go sit in the park to watch it again, without the commentary I’d hoped for. I’m sure it was a very cool experience, to share viewing it again with an uber-excited crowd, but I guess I was hoping for more. I was happy to have given the money to help Operation Smile, though.

The random goings on, meet-ups and sightings — This worked out just as well as I’d hoped. Meeting up with Ivey West and Michael Noble — not having seen them in a year — was great as always. This year I was fortunate enough to hang out for an hour or so with Grimm‘s Reggie Lee, someone I’d looked forward to seeing every year for the past three trips to the ‘Con.

Walking through one hotel, I caught Kevin Smith just waltzing through the lobby on his way out. I casually said, “hey Kevin,” and he greeted me back almost as though he knew me, which was damn cool. That sorta thing happens at SDCC more than some who’ve never been realize. In fact, this was the first year I didn’t see Stan Lee eating breakfast a few tables away from me. But Ivey did catch Community’s Dan Harmon walking down the street one day, without an entourage and not caring about whether he’d be assaulted by fans.

So, what else worked and didn’t work …

As far as the panels go, they were run pretty much as usual, and I’m not really sure what could be done to improve them. People who want to get into the bigger panels will inevitably wait in line for hours — sometimes overnight — and you may not have a chance in hell in getting in unless you’re one of them. My favorites of those I was able to attend were actually not TV related: Quick Draw and Cartoon Voices I. These are two panels Michael had been gushing over for years, and I finally had room in my schedule to make it to them; they’re well worth your time, trust me.

The press rooms, where we do the roundtable interviews, still need work. There are basically two methods of conducting interviews in these rooms: either you’re one of the limited few who are granted “camera line” interviews, or you’re in the roundtables. Camera line folks get one-on-one, on-camera interviews with the talent and are typically asked to limit their questions to two for each person. Sadly, most of the people in the camera line ignore the shit out of that request, meaning the roundtable press get the leftovers. That often means we don’t get to talk to everyone. Sometimes tables take up more time than they should as well, but mostly that’s because the moderation of time is so lax. If they’d control that better, we’d probably all be better off.

For me, simply walking around the exhibition hall, the Sails Pavilion and all around the outside of the convention center is great. You never know what you’re going to see or who you’ll bump into. I always make a point of saying hello to Jane Espenson, as she’s done so much for us in the past, though with her busy schedule, I’m in line with the rest of her fans. The outside of the convention center, as I said, is always great — that is, except when you have to get yelled at by lunatic religious freaks trying to tell you you’re going to hell for loving comics.

Another thing I have to admit loving: the cell coverage. This was the first year my AT&T cell coverage was rock solid. Everything I threw at it was great. I even had a Skype call on my iPhone over it, outside in the Gaslamp area! I didn’t bother with the free wi-fi in the convention center; that was useless. It was so much better this year than any other year that it made the whole experience so much better for someone like me, who’s trying to coordinate where our writers go all day long.

I know I said before that this might be my last year at SDCC for a while, but I have to admit I’m already itching to go again. Despite any issues I had, the best part is always the company I have while I’m there and the experiences we share together. I’m already saving my pennies.

We’ve got more posts and videos to come, so keep checking us out here and on our YouTube channel. And if you’re up for helping us out next year — that includes attending these press rooms — we’re still looking for able-bodied writers here at CliqueClack. The more the merrier (unless that means cramming even more people into one hotel room, then … maybe notsomuch).

Until next year …