Convention - SDCC 2026 : San Diego Comic-Con Panel Series: Impact24 PR Brings Hollywood's Creative Minds to the Forefront

By Mulder, 09 july 2026

While the biggest headlines at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 will undoubtedly revolve around blockbuster announcements, exclusive footage, and celebrity appearances, one of the convention's most compelling programs once again shines a spotlight on the people whose work is often experienced rather than seen. Returning with its largest and most ambitious edition yet, Impact24 PR will present its annual "Panel Superblock" on Thursday, July 23, featuring three consecutive discussions dedicated to the filmmakers, editors, composers, costume designers, sound artists, visual effects supervisors and storytellers responsible for some of today's most acclaimed film and television productions. Spanning projects including Obsession, Beef, Spider-Noir, One Piece, The Boys, Euphoria, Paradise, Shrinking, Scary Movie 6, My Adventures with Superman, and more, the initiative continues Impact24 PR's mission of celebrating the creative professionals who shape modern entertainment from behind the camera. Rather than focusing solely on actors and directors, these conversations explore the collaborative craftsmanship that transforms scripts into immersive cinematic and television experiences, offering fans a rare opportunity to understand how every creative department contributes to the final product.

The day begins with the 7th Annual Hollywood Game Changers: A Conversation with the Women Behind Popular Film and TV Projects, a panel that has steadily become one of Comic-Con's recurring showcases for women working across every facet of production. Moderated by Marissa Hill, executive producer and co-founder of Shade TV, the discussion assembles an impressive cross-section of industry talent. Composer and recording artist Alexandra Petkovski, professionally known as FJØRA, brings her perspective from You're Killing Me, while two-time Academy Award-winning supervising sound editor Karen Baker Landers shares insights drawn from one of Hollywood's most distinguished careers in sound. Joining them are editor Lauren Connelly, ACE, whose recent work includes Beef Season 2; filmmaker Natasha Mynhier, recognized for Aptitude; Najla Zaidi, director of the MPAC Hollywood Bureau as well as a screenwriter and director; and composer Shirley Song, whose credits include Netflix's XO, Kitty. Beyond celebrating accomplishments, the discussion promises to explore evolving career paths, creative leadership, collaboration across departments and the ongoing effort to broaden opportunities for diverse voices within the entertainment industry. Presented in partnership with the California Post Alliance and the MPAC Hollywood Bureau, the panel continues a tradition of highlighting professionals whose influence extends well beyond the productions listed on their résumés.

Immediately following is the 3rd Annual From Script to Screen: Behind the Camera of Film and TV, which shifts the conversation toward the collaborative mechanics of production itself. Writer and director Chris Rodriguez moderates a discussion bringing together supervising sound editor and sound designer Andy Sisul, supervising sound editor Ethan Beigel, MPSE, CAS, costume designer Ariyela Wald-Cohain, composer Daniel Futcher, composer Greg Nicolett, and production designer Cabot McMullen. Their collective work encompasses productions as varied as Spider-Noir, Scary Movie 6, My Adventures with Superman, Shrinking, Rooster, and Dr. Seuss's The Sneetches. One of the strengths of this panel lies in the diversity of creative disciplines represented. Sound editing, production design, costume creation and musical composition rarely receive equal billing in public conversations despite forming the foundation of every successful production. Bringing these specialists together allows attendees to appreciate how storytelling evolves through constant collaboration, where costume concepts influence performance, production design shapes atmosphere, sound reinforces emotion and music ultimately ties every creative decision together. In an era where audiences increasingly seek to understand the filmmaking process through documentaries, podcasts and social media, panels such as this provide an unusually direct window into the realities of contemporary production.

The afternoon concludes with the 3rd Annual Fan Favorites: Behind the Scenes of Popular Film and TV Shows, a session designed specifically for audiences fascinated by the craftsmanship behind today's most discussed streaming and television hits. Moderated by creator Monse, better known online as CVNELA, the panel features editor Aaron I. Butler, ACE, editor Eric Litman, ACE, editor Jennifer Barbot, ACE, costume designer Blair James, visual effects supervisor John L. Weckworth of Onyx VFX, and composer Matt Bowen. Their combined credits encompass Euphoria, One Piece, Spider-Noir, Obsession, Paradise and The Boys, productions renowned for distinctive visual identities and ambitious technical execution. Particularly notable is the representation of multiple editors, underscoring the often-overlooked reality that editing is where pacing, emotional rhythm and narrative structure ultimately converge. Alongside insights into costume design, visual effects and scoring, attendees can expect firsthand accounts of how memorable sequences are assembled, refined and elevated through countless creative decisions made long after principal photography has wrapped. As streaming productions continue pushing technical and artistic boundaries, conversations centered on post-production have become increasingly valuable for both aspiring filmmakers and passionate fans eager to understand the artistry behind their favorite series.

The programming extends beyond formal panels through the Behind the Camera House Film & TV Creatives Meet Up, taking place later that afternoon at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel Bar. Unlike badge-restricted Comic-Con programming, this networking event welcomes creatives from across the entertainment industry without requiring convention admission. Designed as an informal gathering, the meetup reflects a growing emphasis within the industry on building professional communities that extend beyond studio lots and festival venues. Writers, artists, editors, composers, technicians, designers and aspiring professionals will have the opportunity to exchange experiences, establish new collaborations and celebrate the beginning of Comic-Con weekend in a more relaxed environment. Networking events of this kind have become an increasingly valuable complement to traditional convention programming, reinforcing the idea that many future productions begin with conversations rather than contracts.

Taken together, the four Impact24 PR events illustrate a continuing evolution in Comic-Con programming. Once dominated almost exclusively by franchise marketing and celebrity presentations, the convention now increasingly embraces educational programming that celebrates the artistry of filmmaking itself. By placing editors alongside composers, sound supervisors beside costume designers, and visual effects artists next to directors and writers, the Panel Superblock reminds audiences that every unforgettable scene is the result of hundreds of creative decisions made by specialists whose names often appear only in the closing credits. For aspiring filmmakers, industry professionals and passionate fans alike, these sessions promise an exceptional opportunity to hear directly from the people responsible for shaping some of today's most talked-about entertainment.

Events recap : 

7th Annual Hollywood Game Changers: A Conversation with the Women Behind Popular Film and TV Projects
Where: Room 7AB, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. PT.
What : Celebrating women shaping today's film and television industry, this panel features Alexandra Petkovski (FJØRA), Karen Baker Landers, Lauren Connelly, Najla Zaidi, Natasha Mynhier, and Shirley Song, moderated by Marissa Hill. The discussion focuses on leadership, creativity, collaboration and the evolving role of women across multiple disciplines of entertainment production.

3rd Annual From Script to Screen: Behind the Camera of Film and TV
Where: Room 7AB, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m
What : Moderated by Chris Rodriguez, this panel explores how productions move from concept to screen through the work of Andy Sisul, Ariyela Wald-Cohain, Daniel Futcher, Ethan Beigel, Greg Nicolett, and Cabot McMullen, whose credits include Spider-Noir, Scary Movie 6, My Adventures with Superman, Shrinking and other productions.

3rd Annual Fan Favorites: Behind the Scenes of Popular Film and TV Shows
Where: Room 7AB, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m
What : Hosted by Monse (CVNELA), this discussion gathers Aaron I. Butler, Blair James, Eric Litman, Jennifer Barbot, John L. Weckworth, and Matt Bowen to examine the creative process behind productions including Euphoria, Obsession, One Piece, Spider-Noir, Paradise and The Boys.

Behind the Camera House Film & TV Creatives Meet Up
Where: Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel Bar, San Diego, California.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
What : An open networking event welcoming entertainment professionals, aspiring creatives and industry enthusiasts for an informal evening of conversation and community-building. No San Diego Comic-Con badge is required to attend, making it one of the most accessible networking opportunities surrounding the convention.

(Source : press release)