It’s that time of year again: San Diego Comic Con is back, and for the rest of the week Twitter will be abuzz with discussion about comics (of course!), the geekiest fall TV and the year’s next superhero/sci-fi film releases and casting news. There’s also valuable panels and discussions about diversity and inclusion issues in pop culture and fan communities. THURSDAY, JULY 20TH Code Switch: Diversity Behind the Scenes (10AM PT) Official description: Jimmy Diggs (writer, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Voyager) and Gigi Edgley (Chiana on Farscape) lead a diverse panel of science fiction, fantasy, and gaming industry leaders as they share their perspectives from behind the scenes of your favorite franchises. African American, veteran, LGBTQ, and female creatives discuss diversity of background and thought. Learn how obstacles overcome, stereotypes broken, and glass ceilings shattered have fueled creative magic Be Your Own Superhero: Intersectional Feminism in Comics (12PM PT) Official description: Representation matters, both on and behind the page. Sam Maggs (Wonder Women, Star Trek: Waypoint), Susana Polo (Polygon), Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex), Robbie Thompson (Supernatural, Silk), Christina "Steenz" Stewart (Lion Forge Comics), Cait Brennan (Debutante), and Rose Knight (Women Write About Comics) chat about the strides made in representation of race, gender, and sexuality in comics-and how everyone can do better. It Gets Geekier: Why Queer Representation Matters (7:30PM) Official description: Joshua Yehl (IGN Comics) brings It Gets Geekier back to discuss the importance of including LGBT+ characters in comic books, TV shows, and movies. Host Bryan Pittard (Flame On! Podcast) will lead the talk including Sina Grace (Iceman), Kris Anka (All-New X-Men), Megan Townsend (GLAAD), Mariko Tamaki (Supergirl: Being Super), and others. FRIDAY, JULY 21ST Steven Universe (11AM PT) Official description: Show creator Rebecca Sugar with cast members Zach Callison (Steven), Deedee Magno-Hall (Pearl), Michaela Dietz (Amethyst), Estelle (Garnet) and A.J. Michalka (Stevonnie) for an hour of announcements, and a Q&A with fans. The controversy of the Steven Universe art book (mentioned here) may be addressed as well. The Female Voices of Film Twitter (1:30 PM PT) Official description: Times reporter Jen Yamato is among the journalists assembled to discuss the importance of female voices in movies, movies coverage and social media. Marvel's The Defenders (5:15PM PT) A first look at MCU’s “realistic” superheroes - Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist in their joint series. SATURDAY, JULY 22ND Spotlight on Roxane Gay (10:30 PT) Official description: New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay (Black Panther: World of Wakanda, Bad Feminist, Difficult Women, Hunger) comes to Comic-Con as a special guest! Roxane will discuss her skyrocketing career and literary stardom and will field some questions from the audience during a Q&A session. Star Trek Discovery (2:30PM PT) Deets from the cast and crew of the upcoming show. Women Rocking Hollywood: Female Directors Changing the Faces of Film and Television (1 PM PT) Official description: “Queen Sugar” and “Jessica Jones” (Season 2) made headlines when the shows announced they had hired only women directors. “Wonder Woman” is now the highest grossing live-action film to have been directed by a woman. This panel of female directors will address the importance of representation behind the camera. Kirsten Schaffer (exec director, Women in Film: LA), Tina Mabry (writer/producer/director: Queen of the South, director: Dear White People), Rosemary Rodriguez (writer/director: Silver Skies, director: Jessica Jones, The Walking Dead), Victoria Mahoney (director: Queen Sugar, Gypsy, American Crime), Aurora Guerrero (writer/director: Mosquita y Mari, director: Queen Sugar), Angela Robinson (writer/director: Professor Marston and the Wonder Women, True Blood), and Gina Prince-Bythewood (writer/director: Love & Basketball, Beyond the Lights), the first woman of color hired to helm a superhero film for the upcoming Silver & Black. Marvel Studios (5:30PM PT) Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige will share more clips and spoilers from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But let’s face it, we only just care about Black Panther. Women and Writers of Color Breaking Barriers (4 PM PT) Official description:An eclectic panel of UCLA Extension instructors currently working in the entertainment industry discuss how they got where they are, what issues they continue to face, and what it will take before there is real change. Speakers include Laurence Walsh-Hodson (NCIS, The Dresden Files), Nancy Nigrosh (former agent of Kathryn Bigelow), Steve Harper (American Crime, Covert Affairs), Melinda Hill (Kickin' It, Adventure Time), Deborah Dean Davis (It Takes Two, Daddy Boot Camp), Cynthia Hsiung (Young Hercules, The Real World), Eunetta T. Boone (One on One, The Hughleys), Cynthia Riddle (Puppy Love, The Brittany Murphy Story) and moderator Kim Adelman (independent film producer). “Broad City” (7 PM PT) “Broad City’s” Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer. SUNDAY, JULY 23RD Doctor Who (2PM PT) The panelis a sendoff for former showrunner Steven Moffatt and 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi. But the new glass-ceiling busting new Doctor Jodie Whittaker, or the new showrunner, Chris Chibnall could make surprise appearances. Super Asian America (3 PM PT) Official description: Panelists discuss the state of Asians in pop culture, from Hollywood’s habit of adapting (and whitewashing) Asian stories to the success of shows such as “Master of None” and “Into the Badlands.”What pop organizers can do
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Panels to Watch For:
