WonderCon's Big Hollywood Movie Panels: Did Fans Fall for the Prometheus Hype?

By Liz Ohanesian Mon., Mar. 19 2012 at 12:40 PM

Categories: Conventions, Cult Stars

Liz Ohanesian (via Instagram)

WonderCon swag.

Last weekend was WonderCon, the large, three-day pop culture convention organized by the same people who bring us San Diego Comic-Con every year. Normally, WonderCon takes place in San Francisco. Due to remodeling at its hometown convention center, however, this year's event moved to Anaheim.

It was the first time in its 25-year history that WonderCon took place in Southern California. It was also the first time I was able to attend the convention. More importantly, though, WonderCon 2012 was the place where I sat in on my first Big Hollywood Movie panel.

That must sound odd. I've covered San Diego Comic-Con for three years, but I've never been inside Hall H at the San Diego Convention Center, home to SDCC's Big Hollywood Movie programming. Though I've been to press conferences, I've never seen studios make the big blockbuster push directly to fans via convention panels.

At WonderCon, a friend texted me to see if I wanted to check out the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter panel. Why not? Thanks to rain and horrible Disneyland traffic, I had already missed Adventure Time, which was the only panel I wanted to see.

Together, we walked to Ballroom 3, where my friend immediately remarked that it reminded her of Hall H. There was one difference, though. At shortly before 1 p.m. on a Saturday, it took less than 20 minutes to get through the entry line.

I haven't done the Hall H thing mainly because it is an all-day mission. Lines are long and start early -- I've even seen people camp out for a spot -- and this causes a problem when you're running around trying to grab so-and-so for an interview.