Sure, seeing the Watchmen footage was pretty cool, but it was basically just a mild extension of the trailer giving it something of a “Scene it” impression. Also, seeing the first bit of footage from Wolverine was pretty cool (details here), but it was just more of the same. Outside of seeing the VERY impressive teaser trailer for Tron 2 (details here), the Comic Con panel hosted by Entertainment Weekly with directors Kevin Smith, Judd Apatow, Zack Snyder and Frank Miller was easily the most enjoyable thing I have seen so far.
To be 100% honest with you I have no idea what the ultimate goal behind this panel really was. It was called “Visionaries” but it really boiled down to an extended Q&A session beginning with moderated questions and ending with several questions from attendees. It was filled with humor and Kevin Smith’s inner fanboy leaked out all over the stage, as did his belly, but I am not here to judge (but I will say someone needs to talk to Smith because he is looking unhealthy).
The first question asked of the entire panel began and basically ended with Smith. When asked, “Why did you get into filmmaking,” the answer from Smith was simple, “I just wanted to get my cock sucked sir.” The place erupted. Judd Apatow basically reiterated Smith’s sentiments with a personal story from his past, but when Zack Snyder had a hard time verbalizing his answer Smith blurted out, “Thank God your visuals are so good man!” Laughter once again affording Smith the opportunity to begin gushing over Watchmen.
Earlier that morning was the panel for Watchmen hosted by Warner Bros. and featuring Snyder and all of the principals from the film. Previewed was Watchmen footage of which I already commented on, but to say Kevin Smith was impressed would be an understatement. Smith then began leading the charge to try and get the footage shown one more time to no avail. His comment on seeing the footage and his anticipation of seeing the movie was, “[Once I see the Watchmen movie] I’ll be ready to die… my life will have been fulfilled.” He considers his words and rolls his eyes, contemplating what he just said. His excitement was fun to watch.
More questions popped up.
Someone asked about test audiences to which Judd Apatow answered, “I use test audiences to determine how much penis you can show in a movie and not clear a room,” referring to tests for Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
Another question asked the panel about their geekiest moment, which Zack Snyder said, “I was shooting a commercial with Harrison Ford and after a couple of days I naively thought we were pretty much buddies and I got up the nerve to tell him, ‘I, uh, have a Han Solo in carbon freeze in my home… life size,’ to which he said, ‘You probably shouldn’t have told me that.'”
The entire panel was like this. A loose atmosphere and just fun to watch four directors that seemed completely in their element. When asked about what inspired him to become a filmmaker Judd Apatow answered, “I remember seeing Clerks and going, ‘You can do that?'” Kevin Smith quickly pounced yelling, “Yes bitch! Say that shit in print!’ Obviously everyone laughed, but Apatow did mention a few more directors such as Cameron Crowe, but Smith was having none of it, “Fuck those guys!”
The topics even turned to Kevin Smith’s one time involvement with the Superman franchise. He was asked about Superman Returns and said, “I thought it could have been a lot gayer than it was,” but he also went on to encourage the studios to give director Bryan Singer the reins on a follow-up film. He wasn’t even afraid to pick on Ben Affleck who has appeared in several of Smith’s films from Chasing Amy to Jersey Girl. The question came about as Smith is working with Apatow regular Seth Rogen for Zack and Miri Make a Porno and whether or not a Smith/Apatow collaboration was in the offing.
“I think they mean do I get Ben Affleck at some point?” Apatow asked Smith.
“You can have him at this point,” he replied to yet another smattering of laughter.
It really was one of the best times I have had going to Comic Con and this is my third year. I know reading this isn’t the same as being there, but I hope I was able to partially get across how much fun it was listening to these guys talk. I know I didn’t mention Frank Miller outside of the opening, but if you had been there you would have seen just how relevant it actually is to leave Frank in his own element.
