The following represent a few observations from sessions, special events, and exhibits from this year’s MegaCon held from February 27 through March 1.
Turn Your Idea Into a Television Show
Led by Mark Simon and Jeanne Simon, this session directed attendees how to pitch an idea for a television show. They said that no one foolproof formula exists for adapting a comic book or other literature into a TV series. However, they noted that one approach is always doomed to fail: The pitch with no human element. The story, characters, design, setting, dialogue, and everything else about the show must work toward developing the inherent human drama surrounding the situation in order to entice network executives.
Art of Visual Storytelling
A panel of comic book artists described the difficulties working with editors and writers. In short: The visual should be strong enough to tell the story even without the words. And the story, of course, is essential to developing a strong comic book series, while the style and format are secondary.
Troma Presents
Independent horror director Lloyd Kaufman provided an overview of his films, books, and TromaDance Film Festival. He also advised would-be filmmakers to be as visual as possible in pitching their projects, raising their money, and developing their films because “People don’t like to read.”
Emerald Rose Concert
This Celtic folk-rock band, comprised of Brian Sullivan, Arthur Hinds, Larry Morris, and Clyde Gilbert, proved that fan-inspired songs and music about our pop culture can be melodic and artistic as well as entertaining and funny.
The MegaCon Universal Costume Contest
Judges paid particular attention to details on costumes, the materials used to make them (the cheaper, the better), and the accuracy with which superheroes and movie characters were portrayed. Although it wasn’t a requirement to share the same body type and personality as the selected characters, these factors enhanced the presentation and increased chances of winning.
Genre Writing
A panel of comic book writers shared their views on the industry in this session. They advised spending more time thinking than writing, exploring the Internet rather than chasing print deals, and changing point of view when writer’s block stops someone from progressing on a project. One theory about why The Spirit didn’t translate well from the comic book to the silver screen: A comic book script doesn’t necessarily work as a movie script, unless the dialogue is adjusted accordingly. One absolute rule for comic book writing: Keep the characters moving at all times.
The MegaCon 2009 Exhibit Hall
Shopping on Friday, when attendance was light, provided the best opportunity for fans searching for a specific item to buy from dealers. On Saturday, attendance increased dramatically, making the exhibit hall a virtual wall of people. Many dealers lowered prices on Sunday afternoon to avoid shipping costs and transportation hassles of taking merchandise back home.
Life Imitating (Comic Book) Art
It was impossible not to notice the well-developed heroines gracing the covers of comic books, graphic novels, and science fiction/fantasy artwork. These buxom images abounded in the dealer’s room and among the surgically enhanced, top-heavy female “celebrity” media guests signing autographed photos throughout the weekend. It appears that in order to find film, television, or other media work in the science fiction, fantasy, horror, animation, and anime genres, looking like the women in the artwork sure helps boost careers.
For more information about MegaCon, visit the official website.
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