Angle On: WonderCon 2010
(The following was devised and hand-written on an 11 X 17 original drawing of a porpoise wearing camouflage dipping below the surface to catch the tail of a mutant fish. Since I returned from the 2010 WonderCon alive, I have had the recollection transcribed. With the exception of some grammar issues, and a very obscene fourth paragraph involving a dark smudge and much cursing, all of the verbiage is accurate and necessary.)
Greetings from San Fran WonderCon!
Sgt. Angle here, on duty but at ease. I’m giving my barking dogs a break to bring you a spot of movie-related recollections regarding this glorious multi-media event.
First up, TRON LEGACY’s faux protest on Friday night revolving around a “rare press conference” from Encom, the fictional technology development company featured in Tron.
The event has been mysteriously hinted at through viral marketing for months, with fans ordering badges and preparing homemade signs. Friday morning, while sipping coffee slowly and observing the absurdity of Starbucks sandwiches (tasteless, compared to The Undergrounds), I glanced at all of the “FLYNN LIVES” posters in store windows, advertising a meet-up to happen before the official conference at 8 PM. These posters held true vintage font and feel, with the look of weathered wear and much overexposure.
The meet-up took place in the ballroom at the Hyatt Regency, where fans, geeks, nerds, and organizers gathered, passing out posters and T-shirts. Then, the leaders told us what was to happen, how we were to “infiltrate” Encom’s press conference and turn to focus to Kevin Flynn’s unknown whereabouts since leaving Encom 20 years ago.
At the outdoor stage (quite bothersome, considering the amount of icy wind and a near-hour’s wait in the cold), Encom’s logo floated ominously as Alan Bradley (Bruce Boxleitner) took to the stage, in full character, and gave us all a history of Encom, while waxing nostalgic about Flynn. He announced that a new version of Space Paranoids would be debuting soon (will we see it for real, or did he just mean Tron Legacy?), and awkwardly left the stage.
Timing failed in the stunt, needless to say a very well-painted helicopter buzzed by twice, until finally hovering and…releasing a parachutist into the night winds. Spinning in circles, this man tumbled into a barricade in a plaza, clearly off his intended target. He was whisked away fast, and our protest group spouted a few more chants of “Flynn Lives! Where is Flynn?” before the crowd dispersed, posters, t-shirts, and pins in hand.
Saturday, I made my way to the Lionsgate booth with Ben to collect a free pass to the night’s Kick-Ass screening. It was a sign that the day would be filled with goodness, and good the day was, until the night.
After many laps around the floor, watching artists shake hands with artists, fans snap photos of…other fans in costume, the Semantink team took a moment to enjoy pot pies at The Cravery. They were delish and pristine.
The film panels were in process as I entered the Ballroom, watching as Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, and Paul W.S. “What Shit” Anderson spoke about yet another Resident Evil movie. The most revealing moment came when Anderson confessed that his next movie would be The Three Musketeers in 3D, not necessarily news, since it’s been around since September of 09.
Next up was the swell Warner Brothers Panel. We got a look at some sizzles out of The Losers, and the entire case was present — save for the ferociously funny Idris Elba — and Zoe Saldana caressed my all desires confessed that she’s “turned on by violence”. She and Jeffrey Dean Morgan flirted on stage like a couple of sex addicts old friends. Chris Evans (soon to be seen as Captain America) bulked up his arms for this Q & A, and the audience respectfully accepted the fact that this was a LOSERS panel, not a CA panel. He did go on to say that he accepts a lot of comic book roles because, well, that’s what’s being made. Also, the characters are rich and always interesting.
WB next showed us a thrilling scene out of the new Nightmare on Elm Street reboot (awesomely produced by Awesome Michael Bay), and the young cast of semi-unknowns answered a couple questions about “how great the script was” as Jackie Earle Haley wiped the floor with his articulate and thoughtful answers. After being asked about how he accepted the role, he said he had heard of the online campaign to get him the part before even being approached, and that “some of you must think I’m a little creepy or something.”
It’s also great to hear that, while Haley took much time to research serial killers for the role, he soon stopped when he re-watched the original movie and realized he’s in an absurd version of reality, playing a not-so-serious killer. He goes dark, but not real.
We then were shown an awkwardly paced clip of Splice, which is produced by Guillermo Del Toro. The director, Vincenzo Natali (Cube), provided insight into the making of the film, claiming he shot it entirely independently, it took 12 years to make, and that he was lucky to have Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley in it. The film looks alright, a creature feature with some stars, but I’m on the fence about it. The scene they showed was incredibly stilted and rather bland.
Finally in the WB panel was a “surprise guest,” Christopher Nolan. He took the stage to a thunder of applause and introduced a four-minute clip reel of his next film, Inception. The footage looks fantastic, and the story is going to be a mind-bender in the truest sense. Plus, the cast — DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Michael Caine, Cillian Murphy, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Tom Hardy, Lukas Haas, etc.etc.etc…
Nolan was very direct in his answers, saying he approached the film’s story eight years ago as more of a heist film than science fiction, hearkening back to the genre’s better days, and declaring his influence to be more Blade Runner than Star Wars. He wouldn’t go into too many more plot details, but it’s safe to say that DiCaprio plays some sort of dream extractor, who specializes in security for the unconscious.
At this point, I was joined by the suddenly solid Ash, who erupted in furious hilarity when the entire ballroom BOOED the Twilight Eclipse trailer that somehow snaked its’ way into the trailer park feature of the day.
Finally, the last panel of the day — Kick-Ass. If you haven’t heard of Kick-Ass as of right this second, then go on and board a boat, next stop Not Here. Panel had the entire cast — save for Mark Strong — and also a surfer dude..wait, that was Nicholas Cage, with a voice like a “black blues singer on tour” (his words).
Panel was funny and everyone handled crowd questions with grace — especially Cage, who appeared shocked that he was even here, yet answered each question seriously even when audience members became antsy. When asked what superheroes they would be for a day, co-producer and artist John Romita, Jr., said he would be Superman, so he could go around and kick everyone’s ass who deserved it. Cage chose Silver Surfer, so he could kick Superman’s ass and fly around the galaxy, feeding Galactus planets. Christopher “Don’t Call Me McLovin’” Mintz-Plasse chose Galactus.
Some spoilers were revealed — by no less than Nick Cage — but overall the panel was fun and built up steam for the flick. Quote of the day: “I didn’t know how I was going to get around shooting a 12 year old girl in the chest. It made me really uncomfortable.” — Nick Cage.
Speaking of which, why give out Admit One passes for a sneak peak as “WonderCon exclusives”, but then hand out way too many passes? You make people line up at 5 PM for an 8 PM movie, DURING WONDERCON, as a way to “Thank fans?” No, no, marketing department. That’s not an exclusive. That’s a standard sneak preview, with no bells and whistles, so go back to your Alma Mater: F.U.
In the end, our feets was hurtin’ and our minds were racing with goodness to recollect — especially when watching Vinyl Addiction at the finest after party one can wish for.
So long San Francisco, see you again soon.
You are dismissed!
Sgt. Angle
