San Diego Comic-Con went digital final 12 months amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, organizers introduced they might as soon as once more be going digital for 2021, and expressed their hope for a return to normalcy in 2022.
However, this time round they are holding a smaller occasion within the fall: the “Comic-Con Special Edition” is scheduled to happen over Thanksgiving weekend in November, and never everyone seems to be happy about it.
San Diego Comic-Con faces backlash
Per The Hollywood Reporter, there was appreciable backlash from expertise and producers over the Thanksgiving occasion. “We love San Diego Comic-Con and would love to support, but what actor or producer is going to give up their first post-vaccine Thanksgiving holiday with family to travel to San Diego to publicize a project?” mentioned a rep from a studio that has had Hall H occasions previously. They’ve got some extent. It appears fairly unfair for studios to ask their staff to maintain Thanksgiving weekend open on the off-chance they resolve to ship them to this occasion.
Another rep put it like this: “During the pandemic, we’ve had Wonder Woman and The Mandalorian, but what we haven’t had is a hug from our parents and grandparents. Talent are not going to want to give up time with their families at Thanksgiving this year of all years. I have no idea what the organizers are thinking.”
Apart from the Thanksgiving weekend angle, there may be nonetheless a query of security. Yes, of us are getting vaccinated, however instances are on the rise once more with new variants popping up. We don’t know what the world will appear like round Thanksgiving, so to plan an occasion like this appears reckless. I really like San Diego Comic-Con as a lot as the subsequent individual, however I’d somewhat suck it up and wait till 2022 to have the full-blown expertise which can probably be manner safer.
San Diego Comic-Con responds to the backlash
In response to those considerations, SDCC organizers launched a prolonged assertion explaining why they selected the weekend they did, and why they’re having this occasion in any respect. “Of the dates presented with the fewest restrictions, Friday through Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend seemed to be the best balance of available space and our envisioned event,” it reads.
Our choice to carry an in-person occasion in 2021 was pushed by a quantity of elements. Our major hope was to have the ability to collect in-person as a group, one thing we’ve got not been capable of do since early final 12 months.
The assertion additionally clarifies that there’s an opportunity the occasion gained’t occur in any respect, since there is nonetheless a world pandemic to take care of, as if we didn’t already know. The assertion doesn’t say something in regards to the economics of the con. Its absence has been tough for San Diego companies that see quite a bit of income from the occasion.
I assume we’ll see how this performs out within the coming months.
But wait, New York Comic-Con needs to play too!
But San Diego Comic-Con isn’t the one game on the town. According to The Hollywood Reporter, New York Comic Con is planning an in-person occasion.
If SDCC goes to do one thing, then why ought to NYCC be disregarded, proper? Apparently, Reed POP, the corporate that organizes the occasion, is trying into having its personal in-person occasion on October 7-10. There may even be a digital component.
Details have but to be introduced in regards to the capability, panels, and many others., however one thing tells me this isn’t going to go over properly.
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h/t AV Club, io9, SYFY Wire
