The annual San Diego Comic-Con convention might be a great venue to take a sneak peek at upcoming movies or television series, but for most, it is the main source for a look at the pop culture world that has birthed the megahits “Star Wars” and “Lost” and retained the classics such as Superman, Batman and other comic-book heroes.
“It is a one-stop location for pop culture, from comics, movies, television, memorabilia and also interactive gaming,” said David Glanzer, the convention’s director of marketing and public relations. “We have a nice eclectic and dynamic mix so that everyone has a good time.”
This year’s event, the 39th, will be held Thursday, July 24 through Sunday, July 27 at the San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive. Organizers are expecting big crowds again after last year’s 125,000 attendees converged at the center during the four-day weekend. Massive lines formed outside forum rooms, with some people lining up at 4 a.m. each day.
Although many of the rooms have the capacity to hold thousands, many attendees waited in lines for hours without ever getting inside. Anticipating the same number of people this year, personnel took new measures to help curb the wait time.
Ticket purchases and badge registration can only be done online, at the Web site, www.comic-con.org. There will be no onsite ticket booth sales. The event has already been sold out, according to the Web site. Those with four-day passes can now attend the sneak preview of the exhibit halls on Wednesday, usually reserved for VIP holders. There will also be fewer booths and displays this year to accommodate more room in the exhibitors hall.
“We might be losing some revenue, but safety does come first,” Glanzer added.
Concerns over last year’s lines flooded the organization via e-mails and letters. During last year’s feedback panel, always held the Sunday of each year, audience members complained of the overwhelming crowds and missing their forums. Event planners believe the new regulations will control the masses and limit the long lines.
“We are always cognizant of safety issues, and we all take it very seriously and try to address each issue,” Glanzer assured.
Notices of the new regulations have been posted on the Web site for a few months.
“Part of the experience of the Con is in the lines ” it’s a chance to meet new people and make friends,” Glanzer added.
Planning for each Con literally begins the day after the last one ends, by a staff of 15 to 20 full-time employees plus temps. There is also a 13-member board of directors, 80 committee members and 3,000 volunteers working the affair. Part of the process includes securing the convention center ” which organizers have until the year 2012 ” and contracting with local hotels and vendors. Planners are also in contact with movie and television studios on a year-round basis, encouraging them to have a basic outline on what they plan to promote at the upcoming event. However, a chunk of their programming is scheduled just a few short weeks prior to the Con starting date.
“It’s like a giant Rubik’s Cube, creating a schedule “¦ to avoid any complications where one person is booked at two different forums or arranging a schedule that flows cohesively so that people don’t have to do too much deciding on which forum they want to attend,” Glanzer explained.
Run mostly by volunteers when it first started as a showcase for comic-book enthusiasts, it soon began as a launching pad for other pop media outlets hoping to introduce attendees to their genre. Hollywood took notice a few years ago of the power of the word of mouth from those attending film screenings or viewing sneak-peek trailers. Word about movies such as “Spider-Man,” “Lord of the Rings” and “Iron Man” and television shows such as “Heroes” and “Lost” spread like wildfire amid their introduction at the Con. One major success story is the promotion of George Lucas’ “Star Wars,” in 1976. With only a small booth in the exhibit hall and an equally small screening room, the movie became a phenom by the time it hit the big screen, all because of the Con. Studios big and small hope to garner the same success when they preview their newest movie or television show. Event organizers have to turn away many applicants because they can’t fit it all.
“We try to have movies that actually fit the genre that appeal to our audiences. We try to accommodate everyone, but of course we can’t always do that,” Glanzer said.
A noted component of the Con is providing the fans the opportunity to meet and talk with their idols. Hosted panels of writers, producers, directors and actors give them direct access to posing questions they would never normally have the chance to ask.
The schedule is as follows: Wednesday, preview night, 6 to 9 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday, 9:30 to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 9:30 to 5 p.m.
There will also be late-night programming for film showing, gaming and the Masquerade Ball.
For more information, visit www.comic-con.org.