SYFY IMAGINES GREATER... CARS AND YACHTS AND BUILDINGS, OH MY...

Hollywood, CA (Pop Culture Today) 7/9/12

by Alicia Hollinger

The Syfy channel has always had a huge presence at Comic-Con but this year they are outdoing themselves, planning what they call an "all-out assault" in order to give fans an introduction to their new "transmedia experience," Defiance. And they're not kidding. It seems it will be hard to have your eyes open and not see a Syfy logo somewhere in your peripheral vision...

The main target of their campaign is Defiance, a partnership between Syfy and Trion Worlds, which combines a TV series and a Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) game, which will debut in April 2013.

Syfy will also present panels for its current original series Alphas, Being Human and Warehouse 13. Instead of their usual Eureka inspired Cafe Diem restaurant takeover of years past, this year attendees will get their first "taste" of Defiance as they transform the Hard Rock Hotel restaurant Maryjane’s into Defiance Café, where fans can “Watch. Play. Eat.” and be completely immersed in the world of the new show and game.

Although they are no longer sponsoring the infamous Saturday night Comic-Con celebrity-studded bash at the Solamar Hotel, they are now sponsoring the Eisner Awards, Comic-Con's version of the Academy Awards. And launching what appears to be the hugest marketing campaign ever... Read on for details.

The question is, will all this marketing work as intended or is it overkill? Comic-Con attendees are very different from, let's say Cannes Film Festival goers who love everything big, splashy, glamorous and in your face. The geek crowd may see right through the marketing ploy and rebel. Or start chanting in unison "Bring back Stargate!" After all, it's Comic-Con, somewhere over the wormhole, we're not in Hollywood anymore Toto...
 
This year's Syfy’s San Diego Comic-Con 2012 events:
 
CONVENTION PANELS

Friday, July 13
 
DEFIANCE    6:45PM – 7:45PM    ROOM 6DE

Syfy and Trion unite television and gaming with "Defiance," which they claim is "the biggest entertainment event of 2013" defying everything known about traditional storytelling. Panelists will include stars Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Stephanie Leonidas, Tony Curran, Jaime Murray , Mia Kirshner, Executive Producer Kevin Murphy, Nick Beliaeff (SVP, Development, Trion Worlds), Rob Hill (Senior Producer, Trion Worlds) and Mark Stern (President, Syfy Original Content & Co-Head of Content, Universal Cable Productions). Moderated by Los Angeles Times/Hero Complex writer Geoff Boucher.
 
Saturday, July 14
 
WAREHOUSE 13     10:00AM – 10:45AM    BALLROOM 20

Once again, America’s top-secret, artifact-finding agents have returned to Comic Con. The panel will feature actors Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek, and Allison Scagliotti along with Executive Producer Jack Kenny, for a look inside the new season of Syfy’s series Warehouse 13.  Moderated by TV Guide magazine’s Damian Holbrook.
 
 ALPHAS   2:00PM - 3:00PM
INDIGO BALLROOM, HILTON BAYFRONT HOTEL

The panel features the stars of Syfy’s Alphas as they discuss the new season premiering Monday, July 23rd. Scheduled to appear are David Strathairn, Malik Yoba, Ryan Cartwright, Warren Christie, Azita Ghanizada and Laura Mennell. Moderated by Los Angeles Times/Hero Complex writer Geoff Boucher.
 
BEING HUMAN  3:00PM - 4:00PM
INDIGO BALLROOM, HILTON BAYFRONT HOTEL

Talent Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, and Sam Huntington join Executive Producer Anna Fricke to discuss the forthcoming third season of Syfy’s current series about a vampire, ghost and werewolf – all just trying to be human. Moderated by Drusilla Moorhouse of Zap2It.com.
 
 
SYFY IMAGINES GREATER... CARS AND YACHTS AND RED CARPETS, OH MY...

Syfy is making every effort to stand out among the pop culture media frenzy. “Syfy has never launched a media campaign of this magnitude at Comic-Con and we defy fans to miss out on Defiance,” said Michael Engleman, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Global Brand Strategy, Syfy. “Nearly four years in the making, Defiance is a groundbreaking weekly scripted television series and Massively Multiplayer Online game, converging to create a singular, interactive and epic story. Comic-Con is the largest gathering of savvy superfans and they comprise our audience of Igniters. It is the perfect platform to unleash the seismic, multi-pronged messaging behind this extraordinary program.”
 
Highlights of Syfy’s Defiance campaign include:
 
·         San Diego Airport – Throughout the entire Airport, from arrivals and departures to baggage claim and security, Syfy will present special Defiance elements. This will include branded security bins, video units, spectaculars and wall wraps in Terminals 1 and 2, along with Defiance bags at all HMS retail locations.

·         Rental Cars – Defiance messaging will be displayed on nearly 1,500 Hertz Never Lost navigation systems, reaching every consumer while the navigation device loads.

·         Defiance Café – Hard Rock Hotel San Diego restaurant Maryjane’s will be transformed into Defiance Café, the official hub for Defiance at Comic-Con inviting attendees to “Watch. Play. Eat.” For the duration of the convention, hungry fans will enjoy all things Defiance - including the opportunity for exclusive gameplay – as they take in set pieces from the show and become immersed in the rich world that will come to life in both the game and show next April. Defiance Café will also be the site of an exclusive, star-studded press event.

·         TV Guide Magazine’s Yacht – The TV Guide Magazine yacht is a celebrity destination Thursday through Saturday of the convention and this year offers Defiance experiences from game play to co-branded gift bags.

·         G4 – Syfy teams with G4 as a Comic-Con broadcast partner with on the ground Defiance coverage and shared interstitial content.

·         WIRED Café - Syfy and Trion put Defiance directly into the hands of celebs and VIP’s with a presence at WIRED’s popular hangout.

·         Mobile Billboards – Upper decker buses, to and from the airport as well as around San Diego, will serve as mobile billboards.

·         Building Wrap – Syfy and Trion will partner on a massive Defiance building wrap on the Marriot Marquee hotel adjacent to the Convention Center.

·         National Print Media – Syfy will have ads for Defiance in special Comic-Con issues of Entertainment Weekly and TV Guide.

·         Social Media – The #DiscoverDefiance Sweepstakes will challenge Comic-Con attendees to find Defiance promotions, take a picture and upload it to Facebook or tweet it out via Twitter with #DiscoverDefiance. Participants will be entered for a chance to win a trip to the premier of Defiance in April 2013.

·         Facebook – On Sunday, July 15th, Syfy will host its first ever Social Media viewing party on Facebook.com/Defiance and Facebook.com/Syfy. For four hours consumers can watch videos of Defiance panel from Comic-Con, the official Defiance television show trailer, exclusive one-on-one interviews with Defiance cast, crew and developers and Defiance coverage developed exclusively for Syfy by G4.

·         The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards – Syfy will sponsor of the 24th annual Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards – the “Oscars” of the comic book industry.



Defiance is in collaboration with Trion Worlds, with the Syfy series and Trion’s multi-platform shooter MMO poised to debut simultaneously. Defiance stars Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Stephanie Leonidas, Tony Curran, Jaime Murray, Fionnula Flanagan, Mia Kirshner and Oscar-nominee Graham Greene.  Set in the near future, Defiance introduces a completely transformed planet Earth, inhabited by the survivors of a universal war.  Forced to co-habitate, the disparate group struggles to build a new society among the devastation. The dramatic tapestry of the series and the intense action of the game will exist in a single universe where their respective narratives will inform one another and evolve together into one overall story.  Defiance is executive produced by Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives, Caprica, Hellcats) and Michael Taylor (Battlestar Galactica).  Kevin Murphy serves as showrunner. Defiance is produced by Universal Cable Productions.
 

Comic-Con just wouldn't be Comic-Con without a geek's must-have fashion accessory--the official Comic-Con bag. Fans drool in anticipation for their first taste of swag as they check-in, and grown-ups become little kids again as they clamor to get the bag of their choice

This year, over 130,000 of the over-sized 24”x29” bags — which have been called Comic-Con’s “ubiquitous accessory” by Entertainment Weekly and “a must have” by Deadline Hollywood — have been produced and will be provided to Comic-Con attendees as they check in to the convention. The 2012 edition will be a messenger-style bag with shoulder strap and a poster-protecting pocket.
 
Designed by Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Marketing, the bags feature double-sided artwork. Each will have the all-new Comic-Con 2012 official design on one side, with the other highlighting Warner Bros. titles: Arrow, The Big Bang Theory, DC Nation, Fringe, Supernatural, The Vampire Diaries, Man of Steel and Pacific Rim.

Fans are thrilled to get these collectible bags to hold all their swag  and geek goodies and for Warner Bros. it serves as convenient mobile billboards for the studio’s key Comic-Con titles. A win-win for all.
 

Adult Swim Rocks 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International

This year at San Diego Comic-Con, Adult Swim will once again take over the convention room at the Hilton Bayfront – Indigo Ballroom (located directly next to the convention center) for a day of Adult Swim programming featuring creators, producers and actors from The Venture Bros., Childrens Hospital, NTSF:SD:SUV::, Robot Chicken, Aqua Something/ Squidbillies, and Black Dynamite.  Adult Swim stars will include Rob Corddry, Paul Scheer, Jackson Publick, Doc Hammer, Seth Green, and "Happy Days'" the Fonz --Henry Winkler.  Fans will also get an exclusive preview of some of the new series coming to the network.

Fans can also stop by the Adult Swim booth #3949 to shop for exclusive items and play the Cat Grab for prizes.

Below is a schedule of series panels, fan events and signings. All times, dates and locations subject to change.  

ADULT SWIM PANEL BLOCK
Friday, July 13
Indigo Ballroom, Level 2, Hilton San Diego Bayfront (directly next to the convention center)

The Venture Bros.
Show creators Jackson Publick and Doc Hammer, with the voice of Dr. Venture James Urbaniak, will discuss the original series and answer fan questions.  

NTSF:SD:SUV:: (National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle::)
View a sneak peek of NTSF:SD:SUV:: season 2 and hear from the show’s creative team led by creator and star Paul Scheer (The League), executive producer Jonathan Stern (Childrens Hospital, Newsreaders) and co-executive producer Curtis Gwinn (Fat Guy Stuck in Internet). They will be joined by members of their ensemble cast including Martin Starr (Party Down, Freaks & Geeks), Rebecca Romijn (X-Men,Ugly Betty), Brandon Johnson (Funny or Die), June Diane Raphael (Players), and Rob Riggle (Funny or Die). Rob Corddry (Childrens Hospital, Hot Tub Time Machine) will moderate the panel.

Childrens Hospital
Sneak peek of Childrens Hospital season 4 and a panel with the show’s creative team, led by creator and star Rob Corddry and executive producer Jonathan Stern. They will be joined by members of the show’s ensemble cast of comedic heavyweights, including Lake Bell (How To Make It In America), Erinn Hayes (Parenthood), Rob Huebel (The Descendants) Henry Winkler (Happy Days) and Ken Marino (Party Down, The State). Childrens Hospital explores the emotional struggles and sexual politics of a group of doctors charged with healthy libidos. Paul Scheer (NTSF:SD:SUV::) will moderate the panel.

Aqua Something You Know Whatever / Squidbillies
Show creators Dave Willis, Jim Fortier and Matt Maiellaro will discuss their original series, show footage from the new seasons, and answer questions.

Robot Chicken / Robot Chicken DC Comics Special
Co-creators/executive producers Seth Green and Matthew Senreich are joined by co-head writer/executive producer Tom Root, actor/writer Breckin Meyer and writer Matthew Beans to discuss the Emmy-winning series. DC Entertainment chief creative officer Geoff Johns joins to the panel to share insider scoop about the Robot Chicken DC Comics Special. Come watch a sneak peek and get your questions answered about Season Six. Keith Crofford, vice president of production for Adult Swim, will moderate the panel.

Black Dynamite
Creators and voice talent from the new animated series, based on the 2009 feature film, will give an exclusive preview of the show and answer questions.  The Black Dynamite animated series further chronicles the exploits of Black Dynamite and his crew. Executive producer Carl Jones (The Boondocks) will be on the panel in addition to: Michael Jai White (For Better or Worse, The Dark Knight, Why Did I Get Married?), Tommy Davidson (In Living Color), Kym Whitley (The Cleveland Show, Brian McKnight Show), Byron Minns (Mongo Wrestling Alliance), Debra Wilson (MadTV), Orlando Jones (Rules of Engagement), and Cedric Yarbourgh (The Boondocks). The panel will be moderated by Gary Anthony Williams (The Boondocks). 

ADULT SWIM SIGNINGS

Thursday, July 12
Robot Chicken
Adult Swim Booth #3949

Friday, July 13
NTSF:SD:SUV::
Adult Swim Booth #3949

Childrens Hospital
WB Booth #4545

Saturday, July 14
Black Dynamite
Adult Swim Booth #3949

Venture Bros.
Adult Swim Booth #3949

Aqua Something/Squidbillies
Adult Swim Booth #3949

'William Shatner's Get a Life!' @ Comic-Con
Shatner will introduce the EPIX Original Documentary at a screening directly following the panel on July 14th at Comic-Con. The screening is at 7:00PM @ Reading Cinemas.

Based on Shatner’s hugely popular book, this film examines the mystery, longevity and the cultural phenomena of Star Trek and its long-obsessed fans known as “Trekkers.”  On the surface, the film is an exploration of strangers who have for years attended conventions which looked foolish and almost laughable to some – but Shatner discovers the many secrets and hidden motives behind these individuals’ compulsion to attend these events.  The end result is a film that reveals a fun and touching side of the fanfare surrounding Star Trek, and examines the thrill of what's happening at these fantasy conventions and the enduring popularity of the film and TV series as Shatner further embraces his role as Captain James T. Kirk and his own impact.

William Shatner’s Get a Life! will premiere July 28 at 8pm EST on EPIX
For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com

Comic-Con is a huge marketing platform for the studios and every nook and cranny from elevator doors, bathroom mirrors and hotel key cards are used for branding, marketing and advertising. Warners Bros. just announced its new collectible hotel keycards to promote three new TV shows this fall...

Warner Bros. Entertainment plans to be the "key" to excitement at Comic-Con. The Studio has once again created a set of limited-edition collectible hotel keycards, which will be in use at top hotels throughout the San Diego area during Comic-Con 2012. This marks the fifth consecutive year for the popular room key program, giving fans instant access to a usable — and collectible — piece of artwork.

The Arrow keycard features star Stephen Amell as the Arrow

Over 40,000 branded room keys will be available to fans at 38 participating San Diego–area hotels, courtesy of Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Marketing.


The Revolution keycard
 

The 666 Park Avenue keycard


About the series:
 
666 Park Avenue:

Anything you desire can be yours … for a price. Lost’s Terry O’Quinn and Desperate Housewives’ Vanessa Williams headline this scary, seductive drama from Alloy Entertainment as the owners of a Manhattan apartment building who recruit an idealistic young couple to manage the historic site with a dark history. The series also stars Rachael Taylor (Charlie’s Angels), Dave Annable (Brothers & Sisters), Robert Buckley (One Tree Hill), Mercedes Masohn (The Finder), Helena Mattsson (Iron Man 2) and Samantha Logan (Law & Order: SVU). Matthew Miller (Chuck), David Wilcox (Fringe), Leslie Morgenstein (The Vampire Diaries), Gina Girolamo (The Secret Circle) and Alex Graves (Fringe) are the executive producers. Based upon the book series by Gabriella Pierce and from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Alloy Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television, 666 Park Avenue will air Sundays at 10/9c on ABC this fall. Watch the full-length pilot at Warner Bros. Television’s Preview Night screening at Comic-Con on Wednesday, July 11, or during the 666 Park Avenue session on Friday, July 13.
 
Arrow:

From executive producers Greg Berlanti (Green Lantern), Marc Guggenheim (Green Lantern), Andrew Kreisberg (Fringe) and David Nutter (Smallville), hard-hitting action series Arrow reinvents the DC Comics hero. After being marooned for five years on a remote island, billionaire Oliver Queen returns home with a mysterious agenda and a very lethal new set of skills that he uses in a war on crime. The series stars Stephen Amell (Private Practice), Colin Donnell (Pan Am), Katie Cassidy (Supernatural), David Ramsey (Dexter), Willa Holland (The O.C.) with Susanna Thompson (Dragonfly) and Paul Blackthorne (The River). From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, Arrow is based upon characters appearing in comic books and graphic novels published by DC Comics and will air Wednesdays at 8/7c on The CW this fall. Watch the full-length pilot at Warner Bros. Television’s Preview Night screening at Comic-Con on Wednesday, July 11, or during the Arrow session on Friday, July 13.
 
Revolution:

What would you do without it all? In Revolution, an epic adventure thriller from Supernatural’s Eric Kripke, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and Iron Man’s Jon Favreau, a family struggles to reunite in a post-apocalyptic landscape of empty cities, local militias and heroic freedom fighters where every single piece of technology — phones, computers, cars, even lights — has mysteriously blacked out … forever. Revolution stars Billy Burke (Twilight films), Tracy Spiridakos (Being Human), Anna Lise Phillips (Animal Kingdom), Zak Orth (Wet Hot American Summer), Graham Rogers (Memphis Beat), J.D. Pardo (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), David Lyons (The Cape), Maria Howell (The Vampire Diaries) and Tim Guinee (Iron Man films) and is executive produced by Kripke, J.J. Abrams (Fringe) and Bryan Burk (Fringe). Favreau directed the pilot and will serve as co-executive producer of the series, with Kathy Lingg (Fringe) and producer Athena Wickham (Fringe). From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions, Kripke Enterprises and Warner Bros. Television, Revolution will air Mondays at 10/9c on NBC this fall. Watch the full-length pilot at Warner Bros. Television’s Preview Night screening at Comic-Con on Wednesday, July 11, or during the Revolution session on Saturday, July 14.
 
For additional information about Warner Bros. Television activities at Comic-Con, follow them on Twitter @TheWBdotcom (hashtag #WBSDCC) and visit www.thewb.com/comiccon.