The Guinness Book of World Records has recognized San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) as the largest pop culture gathering on the planet. Twice! But have you ever wondered about how such a large, geek-centric event came together? Emmy and Academy Award-nominated producer David Permut and filmmaker Oscar Boyson are working with Mathew Klickstein to answer just that.
Based on Klickstein’s book “See You at San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture,” the trio will be teaming up on a documentary titled “See You at San Diego.”
“See You at San Diego” will show how a group of teenage fans, zine makers, illustrators, stoners, hippies, bookworms, and science enthusiasts linked up with an unemployed comic fan in the late 1960s. And how this mishmash group went on to create one of the most influential pop culture events in history.
Klickstein amassed over 50 interviewees between the book and his 2021 six-part audio docuseries “Comic-Con Begins.” These participants include surviving Con co-founders and early contributors like Scott Shaw!, David Clark, Roger Freedman, Barry Alfonso, Wendy All, and Paul M. Sammon. He also spoke with Gus Krueger, son of co-originator the late Ken Krueger and media professor/”Only at Comic-Con” author Dr. Erin Hanna. As well as a slew of interviews with other key players and celebrity guests.
These interviews will be paired with rare and unseen photos, audio archives, artwork, and memorabilia. There will also be newly discoved footage from a cache of 15 hours of video from the earliest days of SDCC
The Creator’s Thoughts
“It’s been a true honor and privilege over the past five years to become a principal chronicler of the early years of Comic-Con and its original founders, the majority of whom have become close friends and mentors,” Klickstein said. “This forthcoming onscreen expansion will be a perfect coda to our ongoing labor-of-love illuminating the personal story of the early Con years by those who made it happen, all in a compelling form that will inspire viewers and fans everywhere.”
Permut will produce under his Permut Presentations banner, with his Director of Development Alex Astrachan co-producing. Boyson and Ricky Camilleri of Oh Boy Productions will also be co-producing.
“This is the quintessential underdog story — young fanboys and fangirls filled with their passion and dreams — that mushroomed into the birth of what evolved into a global phenomenon,” Permut said.
We will keep you posted on updates about “See You at San Diego” as they become available. The 2024 edition of SDCC is scheduled for July 25th-July 28th.
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning when you click the link and make a purchase, we receive a commission, which helps Nerdbot keep the lights on.
