​From Script to Screen: How to Make Movies
Friday May 31, 2019 7:30 pm to 8:20 pm ROOM 504 - Reel Heroes
Have a dream in film, but not sure where to start? This panel is for you. Learn the process of filmmaking from pre-production to production to post-production. Learn every aspect of the filmmaking process and you'll be ready to make your own movie. Want to be a writer, actor/actress, director, cinematographer, or anything else film related? Please join us to learn how to take that step to get your movie made.
Panelists: Chelley Canales, Cory Rowe, Mikayla Roberts, Timothy Lee, Sarah Del Rio
 
On Friday night of the newly-rebranded Denver Pop Culture Con 2019 I was looking for some info on how to break into filmmaking, and I was given plenty of advice and inspiration at my first panel, From Script to Screen: How to Make Movies. In the panel, mediator Chelley Canales asked questions of Cory Rowe along with a few key members of his crew, about their experiences on the road to filmmaking. When Cory was 15, he went with a friend to a $1 movie theater. He wrote his first script later that same night... which he says was terrible. Since then he has directed 5 short films including Euphorium: Genesis. Cory’s ‘right hand’ Mikayla Roberts became interested in film while attending the University of Northern Colorado and met Cory in a Facebook group. She is the Assistant Director and Organizer for Euphorium: Genesis. After serving our country in the military for 11 years, Timothy Lee found a new path in filmmaking and attended the Los Angeles Film School, where he met Cory. He is the cinematographer for Euphorium: Genesis. Sarah Del Rio is an actress who also performs stunts and actually met Cory during an audition for a different film. She has always wanted to act, and finally stopped listening to naysayers and pursued her dream. She plays the lead role in Euphorium: Genesis.
 
How do you find the time to balance life and your passion? Cory says that if you have a job that is Monday through Friday, you will have to utilize your weekends for whatever project(s) you want to work on. This can mean sacrificing time you could spend elsewhere, but if your passion is that important, then you won’t let anything stop you. Fortunately, Mikayla’s parents are very supportive, and she is able to have a part-time job so that she can make time for film. Sarah says that she sets clear boundaries. As a mother, she is attentive to all of her responsibilities, but she also makes sure to put aside the time that she needs for herself.
 
What should someone do if they thought to themselves, ‘I have an idea for a movie?’ Cory says to start with the script, and if you can’t write, then find someone who can. Talk to any of your friends who might want to write, and if you don’t have any, then reach out through social media groups, but either way, make sure your script is well-written. Then assemble your cast and crew. Again, start with friends who are interested in your passion project, but don’t be afraid to look online to expand your crew beyond who you already know. There are plenty of people out there who would love to work on a project, but may not know anyone with inspiring ideas. Once you have a more complete idea of the project, then you can start crowd-funding (Cory had more to say on this topic later on). When your vision is more solidified and you are getting closer to filming, start scouting locations, but try to be more creative than just using your own house. There are plenty of free options, like parks or out in the woods, but you can also see if any local businesses would be interested in letting you film there (it might be good for their business!). Once you have all of those pieces, assemble your cast and crew sheets, so everyone knows where they need to be and when. Then start filming!
 
What do you recommend for equipment? Cory says you can just use your phone. Most of the higher-end smartphones are capable of shooting 4K video. Sarah said that she’s seen some shots done on an iPhone, and they looked fantastic. If you want your sound to be a little bit better, you can get a Rode microphone for your smartphone. Also, you can look on FilmFreeway, enter film festivals that are specifically geared towards films made with smartphones, and you could possibly win prize money that you could use to purchase better equipment!
 
How do you get funding for your films? Probably the best way in this day and age is through crowdfunding. Cory uses Seed & Spark which he says is better than Kickstarter or Indiegogo (check out Euphorium: Genesis on Seed & Spark). An important part of your campaign is having a trailer. Cory suggests making two contrasting trailers for your film, like he did for Euphorium: Genesis (which he showed us during the panel). His first trailer was intense, to get the audience excited, but the second one was more emotional, to draw people in. Also, once you think your campaign is ready to publish… wait 3 to 4 weeks before you launch. Give yourself time, in case there are things that you haven’t thought of yet. Have your friends and family look at it and see if they have any questions, comments, or suggestions that might help improve your pitch, so that it is the best it can possibly be before you go live.
 
What is the most important piece of advice you can give? Sarah says to not be afraid to fail. In certain types of fitness, they ‘train to failure’ which means that they don’t stop until they fail. You shouldn’t be discouraged by failure, because failure is just part of the process. Timothy says that you should be flexible and ready to change. You should plan and be prepared for the situation that you are going into, but things won’t always go according to plan. You are probably going to have unexpected challenges pop up along the way, and you should be ready to adjust and adapt to those situations. Mikayla says to be a ‘yes person.’ By having a good attitude, and doing what you’re asked to do, people will learn that you are reliable and great to work with. However, this doesn’t mean you have to put up with whatever situation you are in, no matter how bad it gets. Don’t be afraid to pull out if it is a genuinely bad project. Cory’s advice may not be easy, but it is simple: Don’t stop dreaming - Fail, but keep going.
 
The audience Q&A section of the panel began with some elaboration on earlier concepts. What advice do you have for aspiring directors? Cory suggested reading as many books as you can on the various aspects of filmmaking, so you can be well versed in how all of the roles come together. He also recommended the MasterClass online course on directing taught by Ron Howard. Also, a helpful tip to keep yourself organized is to use Excel spreadsheets for all of your information about scenes, locations, actors/actresses, etc., then access these spreadsheets from a tablet so that it is portable. Then Cory and Timothy had some discussion about the relationship between the director and cinematographer of a film. The director may have a visual idea that they will bring to the cinematographer. It’s the cinematographer’s job to hone that idea, based on expertise (education, prior experience, understanding the equipment, etc.) and hopefully a sense of adventure to try something new. Ultimately, however, it is the director’s vision that the cinematographer must be helping to achieve. The same could also be said for working with actors/actresses.
 
What is some equipment you would recommend? Cory says that for editing, something as simple as Windows Video Editor, VideoPad Video Editor, or Adobe Creative Cloud. If you have some money to spend, then get a good lighting kit, but make sure your cinematographer knows what they are doing. If you had to spend money on only one thing, however, Cory recommends spending it on your cast and crew. If you can keep them happy with food and other amenities, they will feel appreciated and be more likely to give you 110% if shooting runs late, or into additional days, etc.
 
If you could be a fly on the wall for any director’s production who and what would it be? Cory would want to observe any and all of the films by Ron Howard, Christopher Nolan, and Quenitn Tarantino. Mikayla would have loved to observe the productions of Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. She would want to see how projects that massive were achieved and how all of the moving parts were orchestrated. Timothy chose his favorite director, Ridley Scott, and Sarah chose her favorite director, Tim Burton.

For more information, go to Cory’s website (5280 Film Company, LLC) or email him (info@5280FilmCompany.com). Tell him Tim from Nerds That Geek sent ya!  

Cue the Law and Order *thunk thunk* sound. Denver Pop Culture Con 2019 was home to a series of very intense, very serious legal discussions. Down in the Coast City room, a bunch of nerdy lawyers gathered for a handful of panels where pop culture’s biggest icons were put on trial. Taking the stand throughout the weekend were characters and moments from Star Wars, Star Trek, the Godzilla universe, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I served as a spectator in the proverbial courtroom for those last two panels, as the panelists discussed the implications of fictional destruction of real-world settings.
 
Each of the panels was hosted by members of “The Legal Geeks”, practicing attorneys who love to geek out on The Legal Geeks blog and podcast in their spare time. On Saturday, Joshua Gilliland, co-creator of The Legal Geeks, was joined by Nari Ely to tackle “Kaiju Law”. The duo dove into a series of legal matters surrounding Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Gamera, King Kong, and more. My two favorite discussion topics pondered whether the president needs congressional approval to go to war with Godzilla and whether the U.S. has a treaty obligation to defend Japan from Godzilla attacks.
 
I went back for more on Sunday, dropping in for the panel about law in the MCU. This one warranted a star-studded legal team; Gilliland and Ely were back, but this time they brought Bethany Bengfort (U.S. Courts), Mollybeth Kocialski (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), Mark A. Lemley (Stanford Law School), and… drumroll please… Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser! These legal minds delved into a whirlwind of fiery debate about everything Marvel. Was Tony Stark’s use of Spider-Man child endangerment? Does Star-Lord have a rightful claim to ownership over the Infinity Stone he found on Morag? Could Thanos be prosecuted for his snap? And who gets all the property left abandoned by that snap? The Sokovia Accords? All the damage done in all the battles? There are real legal ramifications to the Avengers’ actions and The Legal Geeks team got to the bottom of them in hilarious fashion.
 
These panels truly lived up to Pop Culture Classroom’s mission, by making U.S. statutes, world treaties, and high court legal rulings fun and engaging to talk about. It is very obvious that the panelists love what they do – both for work and for play. Their passion was on display during the sessions and is evident in each blog post on their website (all of which are an absolute blast to read). When you can rope the state’s attorney general in for a day of nerdy legal fun, you know you’ve got a winner of a panel.
 
I also appreciated that DPCC packaged The Legal Geeks’ sessions as a track throughout the course of the weekend. It was nice to follow a series of panels with one common theme (law) as they journeyed through several different pop culture topics (Godzilla, Marvel, etc.). DPCC accomplished this with other threads, too. For example, they had a series of NASA presentations, a set of Shakespearean Star Wars performances, and various March Madness-style tournaments where different movie characters and franchises faced off. Themes like these brought consistency in panels throughout the convention.
 
The law panels are just one example of DPCC and Pop Culture Classroom accomplishing their goal of making topics accessible through pop culture. I sat through a seemingly endless number of courses about Supreme Court rulings and legal policy when I was getting my Public Policy degrees. Those courses could have used some sprucing up from The Legal Geeks. While the panels did get a bit in the weeds at times, they were engaging and understandable overall – not to mention, quite a lot of fun! If any of the topics from the panels mentioned above got you thinking, be sure to check out The Legal Geeks blog for a ton of entertaining discussions. Many of the topics from DPCC can be found in blog form there, as well as coverage of everything from Daredevil and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to Supergirl and Star Trek. Exploring the law with The Legal Geeks will be the most fun you’ve ever had with an attorney.

​Celebrity meet-and-greets are an integral part of conventions. Fans can get up close and personal with their favorite actors and actresses, TV stars, comic book creators, and authors through panels, photo-ops, and autograph sessions. All of these were on full display at Denver Pop Culture Con 2019, which drew big names from across the entertainment spectrum. DC and Marvel were well represented, as was the Harry Potter universe, the world of Critical Role, and countless other fandoms. For me, though, the big jaw-dropping draw was the Back to the Future guests: Christopher Lloyd and Tom Wilson.
 
Personally, I haven’t opted for many celebrity photo ops in the past. There have been plenty that I’ve been tempted by, but the little voice inside my wallet has stopped me from spending the extra money on an autograph or a picture. Costs and the pressure of trying to find the perfect thing to say to a celebrity hero have kept me away; I’ve been satisfied by just going to the public panels or interviews. But how do you pass up the opportunity to share a moment with childhood heroes? Sometimes you can’t. There have been two photo-ops thus far that I couldn’t pass up: Lou Ferrigno and, now, the BTTF team.
 
Leading up to DPCC, I reflected on how big of an impact Christopher Lloyd and his storied career had on my moviegoing as a kid. Back to the Future is easily my favorite movie franchise, so obviously that was the major draw. But Lloyd was a constant presence in so many other favorites. One big one was his role as the kooky librarian (and later the titular character) in The Pagemaster. I loved to read as a kid, so it was easy to put myself in the shoes of Macaulay Culkin as the protagonist as he wandered into a library, stumbled upon the librarian, and got lost in a world of literature. Though Lloyd’s screen time wasn’t extensive in the movie, he made the most of it, stealing scenes with his trademark exuberance. He played key roles in a smattering of other films from my childhood, including Angels in the Outfield, Dennis the Menace, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. 
 
Similarly, Tom Wilson has stayed very busy and has touched many of my favorites throughout his career. He brought Biff Tannen to life like no other actor could have. The charisma, timing, and wit that he gave Biff makes him one of the most memorable bullies in movie history. Beyond BTTF, I loved his work in movies like Blood In Blood Out and shows like Freaks and Geeks. Wilson has done a tremendous amount of voice work, appearing alongside some of my favorite fictional characters in Batman: The Animated Series, Gargoyles, Pepper Ann, and The Angry Beavers, just to name a few. He’s also popped up in shows like Psych and George Lopez, in addition to finding time to do stand-up comedy and art. It’s always a pleasure (and a hoot) to see him, no matter where you come across him.
 
I couldn’t miss the Back to the Future Spotlight on the Captain Colorado stage on Saturday. The panel, moderated by Gigi Edgley, brought Lloyd and Wilson together for a discussion of all things BTTF and beyond. It was an absolute blast. Wilson warmed up the crowd with a rendition of “Mr. Sandman” on his ukulele. Edgley pulled some quality stories out of both actors during her portion of the interview. Before Edgley opened things up to the audience, Wilson played “The Question Song”, his infamous rebuttal to all the common and repetitive questions he’s constantly asked about Biff and BTTF. (If you haven’t yet heard it, there are a few different renditions on YouTube. It’s one of my favorites and it’s worth checking out!) The duo then touched on everything from behind the scenes BTTF stories and their favorite moments for each of their characters to snippets from other points throughout their illustrious careers. One highlight that had me nerding out was when an audience member asked each what their favorite lines from the movies were. It was a thrill to hear Lloyd say “great Scott!” in person.
 
After getting the chance to watch two of my Back to the Future favorites on stage, I knew even more that I had to spring for a photo-op with them. There were several options available: individual photos with each actor, a team-up photo with the two together, or, the pièce de résistance, a photo with both and the DeLorean! I picked the latter and I am extremely happy that I’ll always have the picture to commemorate a fun weekend.
 
Denver Pop Culture Con has emerged as a quality destination for celebrity guests from various sections of pop culture and entertainment. While celebrities can be hard to nail down and while their schedules and cancellations may be unpredictable, DPCC brings both breadth and depth in its guest list with a constant pull of crowd pleasers. For me and a generation of people who love to travel at 88 mph, who love to dream of the past and the future, who idolize that crazy mad scientist and the risible town bully, DPCC 2019 was one to remember. 

Once again, in between covering panels, I visited some great booths at this year’s Denver Pop Culture Con. Here are my top ten favorites, so please check them out and pass on the love. Tell ‘em Tim from Nerds That Geek sent ya!
 
All of the North - Oliver Northwood makes posters, comics, wooden pins, and earrings. Their website (AllOfTheNorth.com) has links to their art, comics, and store. Follow them on Etsy, Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and email them (art@AllOfTheNorth.com) for inquiries.

The Art of Anadia-chan - Anadia-chan is a full-time artist who does a variety of artwork including fan art and original fantasy art. Her website (Anadia-chan.com) includes a gallery featuring her main gallery and sketches/wips, a link to her Knights of Asherah webcomic on webtoons, her bio, contact info, shop, and pricing for commissions. Follow her on Deviant Art, Instagram, Tumblr, and Facebook.
 
Artista LLC - Alex Artista is a painter who will often combine landscapes with abstract elements. Her website (AlexArtista.com) appears to have issues at the moment, but in the meantime, you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and email her (AP@AlexArtista.com) for inquiries.
 
Chasing Artwork - Justin Currie’s art style is known as 'Shattered Vector Painting.' His website (ChasingArtwork.BigCartel.com) has a shop where you can buy artwork, tees, graphic novels, and a novel, and also his bio, contact info, and links to his social media. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Deviant Art.
 
Drawn This Way - Robby Cook is an animator and illustrator. His website (RobbyCook.com) has links to some of his animations, illustrations, his bio and resume, and contact info. Follow him on Etsy, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
 
DreamKeepers graphic novel saga - 'Every living person has a unique character in the Dreamworld - their dreamkeeper… Our only defense against the rising nightmare legions.' The website (DreamKeepersComic.com) has links for an intro to the series, a description of the cast, the comic, games (card game, role-playing game, and video game), explore beyond the comic, news, an online store, and a forum. Follow them on Patreon, Deviant Art, Facebook, Twitter, and email them (DreamKeepersComic@gmail.com) for inquiries.
 
False Fox Art - Fionnula Willman is a freelance illustrator, comic artist, and painter.
Her website (FalseFoxArt.com) includes a gallery with her portfolio, comics, tattoo designs, and fan art, as well as her bio, contact info, and blog. Follow her on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram,  Facebook, Patreon, and email her (falsefoxart@gmail.com) for inquiries.
 
Paper Fauna - Nicole Grosjean makes 'layered paper illustrations.'
Her website (PaperFauna.com) has links for her portfolio-paper, portfolio-archive, bio, upcoming events, contact info,and shops. Follow her on Etsy, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and email her (nicole@PaperFauna.com) for inquiries.
 
Stranger Comics - The publisher of The Untamed, Niobe, Dusu, and Erathune (which will become an HBO series). The website (StrangerComics.com) has links to their shop, blog, news, info about their characters, bio, and contact info. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, and email them (Stranger@StrangerComics.com) for inquiries.
 
Tractor Beam Apparel - They 'feature intelligent, brilliantly funny & poignant t-shirts, socks and hats.' On their website (TractorBeamApparel.com) you can save 10% on your next order by using the code 'SAVE10,' and if you wear your apparel, post your photo, and hashtag #TractorBeamApparel they’ll repost! Check out their t-shirts, socks, accessories, caps, and sale items. Follow them on Facebook, and Instagram.

This year we saw several changes from the con we know and love. First, Denver Comic Con became Denver Pop Culture Con, encompassing more of the pop culture we all find ourselves drawn to. Second, Pop Culture Classroom moved from the side of the con, to become the centerpiece. If you didn’t notice, it was also close to the food court, and really, that is just genius. The set up was much larger than it has been in previous years, allowing more space for the kiddies and their activities.
 
So, Pop Culture Classroom helps promote literacy and it brings pop culture into schools, as well as the community. They provide camps, workshops, and after school programs that help children explore comics and pop culture through various avenues, such as art, and they do all this through various schools in Colorado. So, it was only fitting that their area has grown and will hopefully continue to do so. Kids were not only able to play around, draw, and test their Parkour skills this last weekend; they also got to meet celebrities and interact with them in ways most cons do not allow. While Sean Gunn offered acting advice, kids were able to ask him all sorts of questions about his career, including whether or not he knows all the Avengers and the Guardians. Later, Tara Strong did voices for characters, kids helped to create, bringing a new avenue for kids to explore their creativity.

While this is the first year of a new name, the con has been around for quite some time now. Being one of the largest in the country, you expect a certain feel for a con to have. Yet, the feel of this con was completely different from previous years. With layout and entrances changes, there was a lot more space to work with, but even that wasn’t truly it. The overall feel wasn’t necessarily ‘family’ in the traditional sense of the word. It felt more of a coming together. While DPCC is family friendly and bringing the kids is highly encouraged, this year felt as if the community itself came together. The weekend yielded a happy, togetherness, vibe that I didn’t know I was missing until this year. The happy aura of the con wasn’t just felt by me; many had commented throughout the weekend about how happy everything felt. As if some strange vibe had invaded the space. It was absolutely wonderful.

Beyond that, I noticed a lot more cosplays this year. Yes, there have been plenty of those through the years, and while the con still had its number of cosplay guests, this year also felt different on that. As if cosplay had transcended from all generations. The diverse range of cosplays was something I genuinely enjoyed seeing. From the most elaborate to the more simple, every cosplay looked stunning. Above all, every cosplayer looked to be having the time of their life. I’m not one to normally compliment strangers out of nowhere (this is indeed a boldfaced lie. I compliment everyone and have actually stopped complete strangers to ask where they got those cute shoes), and this year I spoke my mind and complimented every costume I could. The looks and smiles I got in return made the weekend completely worth it. Many cosplayers spend countless hours on their costumes, working hard on them, and even if they don’t make them from scratch, often enough the costume is modified somehow. This year all cosplayers put on their A game and were so proud to display their works!

From the celebrities, panels, authors, artists, merchants, and displays, this DPCC was the best I have ever had the pleasure to attend. There’s so much potential for even greater things and I cannot wait to see what more this con has to offer.

Normally, when a convention comes to a close, and we are given the opportunity to reflect upon it and share our experiences with others, we tend to immediately discuss the easy stuff. You know what I’m talking about, the vendor booths that caught our eye, the funny moments we shared with our friends, or the outright incredible Iron Man costume we saw on display and we go to the easy stuff simply because, cons are routine in this day and age and sticking with what you know allows for a simpler discussion. It’s something I’m guilty of as well, since my recaps also tend to float in that territory, but as I sat down to write this one, I struggled with routine, simply due to the fact that Denver Pop Culture Con 2019 shattered the norms this year.
​
Because, this is a convention that felt supremely different from year’s past. Sure, it was held at the Colorado Convention like usual. The layout had its similarities like always, but everything about this con, felt like new, and while it would seem too easy to say that the name change is what created the different vibe and the different energy present on the floor, that’s the only explanation I can come up with and here’s why. Because when you take the time to think about it, the phrase ‘Comic Con’ has certain restrictions that come with it, for it makes people think that only a special group of people are allowed to attend conventions that feature that title, and that it only features comics or niche fandoms that don’t apply to all and while that was never quite the case, the switch to Denver Pop Culture Con really seems to have welcomed so many more fans into the fold.

For this year’s con felt more open, as though it belonged to everyone, and while we already know that’s the case, perception means a lot to people and this year’s attendees clearly believed that this was a wide open frontier for them to explore and enjoy and it showed in so many ways. Because the Captain Colorado stage was packed to the brim for the Critical Role panel and every time I walked by Celebrity Summit the autograph lines for the CR cast were also packed, because tabletop gamers felt a kinship at this year’s con, which is wonderful, considering that their fandom is often relegated to a room at conventions and well, the inclusivity of this con didn’t end there. Because I saw a lot of cosplay this year, being worn by others outside of kids and young adults. There were folks in their late forties and fifties rocking some fantastic costumes of their favorite character, and that just spoke volumes to the fact that this is a con for everyone.

Which honestly, should come as no surprise. For DPCC has always strived for inclusivity regardless of its namesake. But clearly, reinvention can reinvigorate a con since the smiles and the eyes of everyone in attendance were wider this year, because knowing that Pop Culture was the focus somehow allowed for everyone to feel at home and that they could truly let their nerd flag fly, and that’s simply glorious when all is said and done and from a personal standpoint, this was hands down the most relaxed DPCC that I’ve ever been to. Because it was just fun through and through and let’s be honest, that’s precisely why we go to DPCC in the first place, to have a good time, to reunite with old friends and to immerse ourselves in the wonder of stories that influence our lives and inspire us and being able to experience all of that this past weekend was downright magical.

Yet, what still has me basking in the wonder of this year’s convention, is the sheer fact that this is merely the beginning. For Denver Pop Culture Con now has the opportunity to improve and tweak an already amazing formula, and that’s exciting to say the least since this year’s batch of memories were outright incredible, and that makes next year’s event and beyond, thrilling prospects, since anyone and everyone who feels the need to geek out is welcome within the walls of the Colorado Convention Center and it’s clear that DPCC is setting quite the precedent, the kind that will extend to other events as they too open their doors to new fandoms and new ideas. Because in reality, we’re all geeks in some form or fashion, it’s simply a matter of what we geek out about and knowing that this convention is going to do everything within its power to bring as many nerds and geeks together has me eager to see what wonders await all of us as Denver Pop Culture Con continues to grow and evolve.