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Monday, September 12, 2016

Salt Lake Comic Con Highlights and Pictures (2016)



As many of you know, I went to Salt Lake Comic Con recently. I absolutely loved it, even more than last year! Last year was my first year doing panels. Ever. This year went better because I knew what to expect and didn't have to do two panels back-to-back (with the second including a powerpoint). Instead, I had one thing each day. (Perfect.)

But I did have a new first this year: I moderated a panel--one on Fantastic Beasts. I think I did all right--either way, I got some good experience doing it. (And got to show some Hufflepuff pride by wearing Newt Scamander's scarf ^_^.) The fun part about that one, is we showed the trailer and everyone cheered after. I love Harry Potter audiences.


Hufflepuff scarf!

On Saturday night, I had a panel on Harry Potter theories, which is perhaps even better than speculating about Fantastic Beasts. I loved weighing in on some, sharing some, and hearing some from the audience. So many people came to that panel that there wasn't enough seats and some people had to stand in the back! And I had five people come up after that one to talk to me and ask me questions. In fact, three of us got in a lengthy discussion about exactly how Horcruxes are made and who Voldemort used to make them. Did I say that I love Harry Potter fans?

I got some good responses and feedback from my class on writing humor, too. In fact, a humor writer herself came up to me afterwards to thank me for my list. ^_^ Thank you to everyone who came to my panels and those who couldn't come, but supported me from a distance.

I went to Billy Boyd's (Pippin from Lord of the Rings) Q&A session, and he was awesome! So entertaining and fun. You just wanted to hang out with him. He serenaded us with some guitar and singing. Not only did he sing "The Last Goodbye" and "Edge of Night" but graced us with Britney Spears's "Baby One More Time." (You can watch that cover here if you are reading this in newsletter format, otherwise, it's below.) He even called Dominic (who plays Merry) while he was on stage and they razzed each other.




I also saw Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood). I met her in Florida before, but I'm never going to complain to seeing her twice. And I learned something new this time. Someone asked her what her favorite magical creature is, and she said Jigglypuff.

And later, someone gave her a Jigglypuff hat.

By the way, she says her life ambition is to become a cat.

I mean, it's hard not to love Evanna.


On the way home, my family and I were talking about how cool it is that Salt Lake Comic Con invites voice actors because other than conventions like this, voice actors don't really have the opportunity to interact with their fans, and some of them play some of the most iconic characters (for one, we had Kelly MacDonald who voices Merida from Brave). We also got Steve Blum, who voices Spike in Cowboy Bebop.

One of the most requested events at Salt Lake Comic Con is called "Twisted Toonz," where they take seven or eight voice actors and read a script in other people's voices. So, like, for this year, they did Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. And for each scene, they not only assign out which voice actor plays who, but in what voice they play them. For example, one time Harry Potter had to be played in Michael Jackson's voice (hilarious), and Hermione in Hulk's voice, and the narrator in Morgan Freeman's voice, and Lupin in Arnold Schwarzenegger's voice and Hagrid as Jack Sparrow. It was hilarious and so spot on!

Here is a video of the full event. It's rated PG-13 for language and innuendo, just a heads up. Below are time stamps for some of my favorite voices:

The narrator from the Haunted Mansion ride in Disneyland (hilariously perfect), start at 28:40

Michael J. Fox (as from Back to the Future) for Lavender 45:27

Michael Jackson/Harry Potter, start at 54:30-ish
Going into the next scene, we get Michael Jackson/Harry Potter talking to Arnold Schwarzenegger/Lupin

Narrator as Jeff Goldblum 1:01:17 1:04:57

Morgan Freeman Narrator-- 1:14:45



Other than the programming, I of course loved all the booths and costumes! So many cool things to see. I could just wander around all day (and on Saturday, I pretty much did). We took my niece and nephew to kidcon there, and this year they had a whole activity course based on Harry Potter. It was awesome. They also had some old-school arcade games in another room that were fun to play with the kids.

And of course, what would Comic Con be without everyone wandering around in costumes?

Here are some fun pictures of the convention:



No Face from Spirited Away











We found Albus and Scorpius! 


We found our professors :)



Can't wait for next year!

2 comments:

  1. This is fantastic! I'm so glad you had such a fun time. ^_^ One of these years I really will get to go to SLCC and I can't wait. Thanks for sharing memories. Definitely have to check out that voice actor video.

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