Awesome Con is June 16-18, 2023

The tenth edition of Awesome Con is June 16-18, 2023 at the DC Convention Center -- it is with great pride that Curls Studio has exhibited at every Awesome Con since 2013! This year Curls Studio will be located at Table G06 in Artist Alley all three days. View the map above where the purple pulse signal circles are so you'll know where to find us. 

Joe Carabeo will be presenting the Awesome Con Short Film Fest. Each year fans gather to watch specially selected short films in the categories of comedy, drama, horror, action, science fiction, documentaries, and more. 

Join us Sunday, June 18 from Noon to 12:45PM for The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators in Room 209 featuring Simon Bisley, Sean Gordon Murphy, Dan Parent, Emily Whitten, and Carolyn Belefski

You have an idea. You write, draw, and concept that idea into a comic book. But the work doesn't end there. You have to either find a publisher or self-publish your work. We will focus on starting out in the comics industry as a small press writer and/or artist. Once you have your first few books created and completed it is a good idea to get out and meet people and exhibiting is a great way to push yourself forward because creating your comic is only the first step. Are you a creator considering exhibiting at Artist Alley or Small Press comic conventions? This panel will give you tips and suggestions on how to create your professional appearances from the POV of being behind the table. We will discuss the metamorphosis from attendee to exhibitor, effective table display design, how to talk and interact with people at your table and how to generate sales with your table pitch.

Below is our schedule and the exhibit hall hours at very bottom. Hope to see you there! 

Awesome Con Short Film Festival: Horror, Sci Fi, Action
Friday, June 16
1:45 PM to 3:45 PM
Bot Stage - Room 202

 
Emoji Comics with Carolyn Belefski
Saturday, June 17
11:00 AM to 11:45 AM
Awesome Con Jr. Workshops - Hall C

10 Years of Awesome Con

Saturday, June 17  
2:15 PM to 3:00 PM
Room 201

Awesome Con Short Film Festival: Comedy and Drama

Saturday, June 17  
3:30 PM to 5:45 PM
Bot Stage - Room 202 

Filmmaker Meet Up

Saturday, June 17  
5:45 PM to 7:00 PM
Room 103

The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators 

Panel Guests: Simon Bisley, Sean Gordon Murphy, Dan Parent, Emily Whitten, Carolyn Belefski 

Sunday, June 18

Noon to 12:45 PM 

Room 206 

 

Awesome Con Short Film Festival: And Beyond! 

Sunday, June 18

1:45 PM to 3:45 PM 

Bot Stage - Room 202 

Exhibit Hall Hours 

Friday, June 16 | 1:00pm - 8:00pm 

Saturday, June 17 | 10:00am - 7:00pm 

Sunday, June 18 | 10:00am - 5:00pm

Awesome Con is June 3-5, 2022

We hope you can join us on June 3-5, 2022 for the ninth edition of Awesome Con at the DC Convention Center. Curls Studio will be located at table A11 in Artist Alley all three days. View the map above where the purple pulse signal circles are so you'll know where to find us.

Curls Studio has exhibited at every Awesome Con and this year will be the first time we will be taking part in Pin Bazaar (Collectible Enamel Pins) with my "Umbrella Watermelon" design, which will be available at table A11.

Kickoff the event on Friday, June 3 from 1:30pm to 2:15pm for The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators in Room 209 featuring John Gallagher, Kami Gracia, Sweeney Boo, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Carolyn Belefski.

You have an idea. You write, draw, and concept that idea into a comic book. But the work doesn't end there. You have to either find a publisher or self-publish your work. We will focus on starting out in the comics industry as a small press writer and/or artist. Once you have your first few books created and completed it is a good idea to get out and meet people and exhibiting is a great way to push yourself forward because creating your comic is only the first step. Are you a creator considering exhibiting at Artist Alley or Small Press comic conventions? This panel will give you tips and suggestions on how to create your professional appearances from the POV of being behind the table. We will discuss the metamorphosis from attendee to exhibitor, effective table display design, how to talk and interact with people at your table and how to generate sales with your table pitch.

After the panel join me Friday, June 3 from 3:00pm to 3:30pm for Emoji Comics with Carolyn Belefski at the Awesome Con Jr. Workshops area.

Joe Carabeo will be presenting the Awesome Con Short Film Fest. Each year fans gather to watch specially selected short films in the categories of comedy, drama, horror, action, science fiction, documentaries, and more.

Exhibit Hall Hours

Friday, June 3 | 1:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday, June 4 | 10:00am - 7:00pm
Sunday, June 5 | 10:00am - 5:00pm

Short Film Fest Hours

Friday, June 3 | 4:30pm - 6:30pm | Room 204
Horror, Sci Fi, Action

Saturday, June 4 | 4:30pm - 6:30pm | Room 204
Comedy and Drama

Sunday, June 5 | 3:00 pm - 5:00pm | Room 204
Animation, Docs and More Awesome Films

Awesome Con is August 20-22, 2021

We hope you can join us on August 20-22, 2021 for the eighth edition of Awesome Con at the DC Convention Center. Curls Studio will be located at table D11 in Artist Alley all three days. View the map above where the yellow pulse signal circles are so you'll know where to find us.

Join me Saturday, August 21 from 11:30am to Noon for Create Your Superhero Symbol with Carolyn Belefski at the Awesome Con Jr. Workshops area.

Joe Carabeo will be presenting the Awesome Con Short Film Fest. Each year fans gather to watch specially selected short films in the categories of comedy, drama, horror, action, science fiction, documentaries, and more.

Exhibit Hall Hours

Friday, August 20 | Noon - 8:00pm
Saturday, August 21 | 10:00am - 7:00pm
Sunday, August 22 | 10:00am - 5:00pm

Short Film Fest Hours

Friday, August 20 | 3:00pm - 5:00pm | Room 150AB
Sci Fi, Action and Horror

Saturday, August 21 | 3:00pm - 5:00pm | Room 150AB
Comedy and Drama

Sunday, August 22 | 3:00 pm - 5:00pm | Room 150AB
Awesome Docs and More

Recap: Awesome Con 2019

As I write this, it’s the day after Awesome Con… and I’m exhausted from all the AWESOME events that happened at Awesome Con! Before the show started, it was exciting to read the press coverage. The Washington Post gave a shoutout to my kids workshop and Joe got mentioned in a WTOP article.

This year Joe Carabeo (Astray Productions) and Becky Mezzanotte-Blizard (Programming Manager) presented the Awesome Con Short Film Fest on all three days, expanding it one extra day compared to the previous year. They divided each day based on genres -- Friday was Horror, Action, Sci-Fi -- Saturday was Drama, Comedy -- and Sunday was Documentary and More. Both Friday and Saturday crowds were filled to capacity in seats, then became standing room only with people standing around the walls. From what I’m hearing, feedback was excellent and people are already talking about next year.

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A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Apr 27, 2019 at 7:49am PDT

On Saturday, I made the effort to walk down to the celebrity area and catch a glimpse of Riverdale actors KJ Apa (Archie) and Cole Sprouse (Jughead). In honor of them being at the show, I made art prints for their characters. This was the first time I’ve ever made something special directed at the comic convention specifically. These prints are now added to the store at www.carolynbelefski.com/storewww.carolynbelefski.com/store in case you are interested in purchasing.

We also got to produce new Toast (character from Curls) Dolls, which we will have a few of at upcoming conventions. I don’t know if they will ever be made again so if you are interested in owning you very own slice of happiness with a jelly smile, please reach out to me.

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Another "new" item we have is the "Hello My Name Is Curls" book, which is a collection of the most recent strips with additional illustrations. This item is a convention exclusive and will only be available in-person.

I enjoyed briefly walking through the Batman 80 Years Exhibit, which featured costumes and props from all the Batman films. It was very cool to see Heath Ledger’s Joker outfit and card set. Most of the time I spent at the Curls Studio table so I didn’t get to see very much. Sometimes that can be the flip-side of becoming a creator because you don’t get to be a fan as much at conventions. I feel like I missed out on a few things at this show: making time to say hi to Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner, and catching a glimpse of Creed from The Office. Regrets, I’ve had a few.

Sunday was a busy day because I had a kids workshop and a panel. I started to lose my voice late Saturday afternoon, so having a bit of rest helped. I also tried to drink more water and brought snacks, but unfortunately didn’t have a full meal until after the convention. Taking care of myself at conventions should be a better priority for me, but I don’t like to leave the show and miss out on people that visit the table (especially at NYCC when it takes over an hour away when you leave to go to the restroom, so I end up not drinking much water and holding it until the show day ends).

The kids workshop I led was called “Design Your Own Superhero Symbol with Carolyn Belefski” and the benefit was the outcome! Several of the children came by my booth after to show me their final art and even gift the art to me. They were very creative and it was interesting to see them “open their shells” because at first some of them were shy to talk to me about their personal superhero symbol. By the end of the seminar the children talked on and on about their powers and what their logo symbolized. It was rewarding to see that growth in just a 45 minute session!

Then shortly after I had “The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators” panel with Mark Mariano and Laura Lee Gulledge. We gave great advice about the process of becoming an exhibiting comic creator and our history of getting involved doing shows. Audio of the event will soon be up on the Carolyn and Joe Show podcast.

After the show we grabbed a bite to eat and then watched Game of Thrones. It was a busy and eventful past few days (including the days leading up to the show in prepping mode) and I’m thankful to be a part of Awesome Con -- we have been there since the beginning and it’s been quite the experience seeing this show grow in leaps and bounds. Thank you to the Awesome Con staff, volunteers, fellow exhibitors, guests, and attendees for an AWESOME event.

You can catch us this coming Saturday at The Amazing Comic Shop in Fairfax, VA (near George Mason University) for Free Comic Book Day.

Awesome Con is April 26 - 29, 2019

We hope you can join us April 26-29, 2019 for the seventh edition of Awesome Con at the DC Convention Center. Curls Studio will be located at table R12 in Artist Alley all three days. View the map above where the purple pulse signal circles are so you'll know where to find us.

So here's the deals. Yes, I wrote DEALS (plural): Get the new Curls book (convention exclusive), one print, one button, and a sticker for $10 buckaroos. Thanks for all your support -- our fans are AWESOME.


In addition to exhibiting, we have a few panels and workshops we'll be taking part in -- plus Joe is producing the Awesome Con Film Festival, which is in it’s third year. Check out all the details below:

Create Your Own Superhero Symbol with Carolyn Belefski
Sunday | 2:00-2:45PM | Kids Stage

The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators
Sunday | 3:30-4:15PM | Room 149

Are you a creator considering exhibiting at Artist Alley or Small Press comic conventions? This panel will give you tips and suggestions on how to create your professional appearances from the POV of being behind the table. We will discuss the metamorphosis from attendee to exhibitor, effective table display design, how to talk and interact with people at your table, and how to generate sales with your table pitch. We will highlight the process of starting a comic book tour on a low budget and methods of attracting potential readers by promoting your appearances and will take questions and comments, as this will be a conversation on multiple subjects regarding how to build rewarding convention appearances from the ground up.

Panelists: Laura Lee Gulledge, Mark Mariano, Carolyn Belefski
Moderator: Joe Carabeo

AWESOME CON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

HORROR, ACTION, SCI-FI
Friday | 2:00-3:45PM | Room 101

DRAMA, COMEDY
Saturday | 12:00-1:45PM | Room 101

DOCUMENTARY AND MORE
Sunday | 12:00-1:45PM | Room 101

Recap: WeDC Fest 2018

On Thursday, September 27, 2018  from 11AM to noon Curls Studio was invited to speak at the first-ever WeDC Fest at the National Union Building in Washington, DC.

WeDC Fest was a three day conference (September 26-28) for the innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and government leaders who make Washington, DC the nation’s Capital of Inclusive Innovation. The event featured unique programming and networking opportunities to showcase collaboration and innovation in the world’s most powerful global city.

I produced and organized the "Using Comics to Illustrate Ideas" panel. Here is the description: 

As studies show, people are using visual mediums now more than ever to get attention. This panel will focus on the value comics add to build your brand with humor and authenticity. Comics are a valuable visual asset that have the potential to achieve results and feedback from audiences. Learn how words, pictures, and infographics are used together to tell your story. Join us as we discuss how to write exciting content, collaborate with cartoonists, and inject an element of fun into your upcoming projects.

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Had a great time presenting "Using Comics to Illustrate Ideas" at #WeDC this morning with @astrayj @laughingredhead. Enjoyed being able to show slides of visuals and get feedback discussion going at closing of our time slot. Thank you for having us! View my stories for behind-the-scenes photos. ✏ WeDC Fest is a three-day conference for the innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and government leaders who make Washington, DC the nation's Capital of Inclusive Innovation. The event features unique programming and networking opportunities to showcase collaboration and innovation in the world’s most powerful global city. Thank you to the sponsors: @wdcep @lyft @amazonwebservices @capitalone @broccolicity @dcstartupweek @newseum @202creates @nationalunionbuilding @astrodoughnuts @benseverything and more. #wedcfest #cartoon #comics #acreativedc #ideas #washingtondc #publicspeaker

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Sep 27, 2018 at 12:14pm PDT

Thank you to the Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP), the Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), event staff, volunteers, and other who helped to make the event happen.

We also appreciated the catering from Ben's Chili Bowl and Astro Doughnuts.

Recap: Awesome Con 2018

Curls Studio celebrated our sixth appearance at Awesome Con this past weekend. For me the show was very enjoyable and it brought back feelings of the first Awesome Con. That was special because the show has grown so much and this one felt comfortable and less overwhelming than other years. I had fun seeing the guests, participating in a panel, and having more time at our table this year.

For those of you who don't know about Awesome Con, it's a three day extravaganza of all things awesome: fandom, sci-fi, comics, movies, cosplay, celebrities, voice actors... they have it all!

On Friday I was on the "The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators" panel with Thom Zahler and Chrissie Zullo. We gave great advice about the transformation of attending the show as a spectator and transforming into an exhibitor. Audio of the event will soon be up on the Carolyn and Joe Show podcast.

Great, filled to capacity, crowd during day 2 of The Awesome Con Short Film Festival: Comedy and Drama today. Here's the view during @atothedoublej short film "Lines" #awesomeconshortfilmfestival #awesomecon18 #ac18 #lines #amyjojohnson #shortfilm #awesomecon

A post shared by JOE (@astrayj) on Mar 31, 2018 at 8:01pm PDT

Joe continued to produce the "Awesome Con Short Film Fest" to a standing room only crowd on both Friday (Horror, Action, Sci-Fi) and Saturday (Comedy, Drama) afternoons.

On Friday I had the opportunity to meet WWE wrestlers The New Day and get their autographs. I was wearing their t-shirt, so it was exciting to represent the power of positivity!

I was hyped that the guys from the TV show Boy Meets World (Ben Savage, Rider Strong, Will Friedle) were going to be at Awesome Con the moment the show made the announcement! Boy Meets World and Freaks and Geeks are hands down my favorite TV shows of all-time. Apparently this was Ben Savage's first convention. It started with Will Friedle as a guest at last year's Awesome Con (I got the opportunity to moderate his panel with Grey DeLisle Griffin -- you can listen to the audio here). Will has done several conventions and then he started to get Rider interested in attending them as well. Now they brought in Ben!

A great day at Awesome Con meeting @dbmcn! You know him as Harley from Boy Meets World, my all-time favorite television show (along with Freaks and Geeks). It was wonderful that he was at the show and took time for a photo. Thank you, Danny for everything you give back to the fans. #AwesomeCon @awesomecons #awesomepanels18 #awesomecon2018 #ac2018 #BoyMeetsWorld #BMW #GirlMeetsWorld #TGIF #whenitsboymeetsworlditsboymeetsworld

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Mar 31, 2018 at 6:43pm PDT

Saturday was the Boy Meets World panel and I was lucky to have a moment to step away from the table and attend the panel -- to my surprise actor Danny McNulty who plays the bully Harley Keiner was in the audience! That was so cool that he came to the show. I got to tell him how much I love BMW and how he is a legendary like "A Christmas Story" bullies. After the show, I found him on social media and he is doing a lot of good working on anti-bulling efforts. Yet another message BMW continues to share years after and with the Girl Meets World series.

The panel was amazing -- all the guys are so charismatic and charming and funny. So many great BMW lessons and behind-the-scenes memories were shared during the audience Q&A. I loved being there with a huge audience full of BMW fans. Discussing topics that are still relevant today like Shawn and Angela's relationship, #MeToo movement, and more. The day was also actor William Daniels's 91st birthday and they talked about their respect for Mr. Feeny.

Sunday was Easter, so I went to mass in the morning while Joe covered the table responsibilities. We had a blast hanging out behind the table with our neighbor Jessica Howard, the creator of "Love Metal."

I asked him how the marmalade business was doing and he gave me a thumbs up! #paddingtonbear #trouble #AwesomeCon #awesomepanels18 #ac2018 @awesomecons #awesomecon2018 #insidertrading #paddington #marmalade #bear

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Apr 1, 2018 at 6:50pm PDT

I met Paddington Bear! Also Phil LaMarr came to our table to chat and I told him all about the 100 Sad Fish I recently drew. So. Much. Awesome.

Mega thanks to the Awesome Con staff, volunteers, fellow exhibitors, guests, and attendees for an AWESOME event. I can't wait until next year and hope to be back -- mark your calendars for April 26-28, 2019.

As of right now, the next comic show will be a new one -- Fairfax Comic Con -- on August 25-26, 2018. There might be smaller appearances that could pop up, but I don't envision doing a big show before that. This will give us time to produce a new book. One of the benefits of going to shows is meeting people in-person. I value the interactions of chatting with people in real life, but it does take time to make comics and many creators struggle with the tour schedule and finding time to make new books. Not to mention sometimes the touring is our actual "vacation" time!

You can also catch me this Friday -- I'll be a guest at DC Web Fest. I won't have any comic displays, but I will hanging out if you want to say hi!

Awesome Con is March 30 - April 1, 2018

We hope you can join us this weekend for the sixth edition of Awesome Con on March 30 - April 1, 2018 at the DC Convention Center. Curls Studio will be located at table R17 in Artist Alley. View the map above where the pink pulse signal circles are so you'll know where to find us.

In addition to exhibiting, we have a few panels we'll be taking part in:

The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators
3/30/2018 / 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM / 202 B
Are you a creator considering exhibiting at Artist Alley or Small Press comic conventions? This panel will give you tips and suggestions on how to create your professional appearances from the POV of being behind the table. We will discuss the metamorphosis from attendee to exhibitor, effective table display design, how to talk and interact with people at your table, and how to generate sales with your table pitch. We will highlight the process of starting a comic book tour on a low budget and methods of attracting potential readers by promoting your appearances and will take questions and comments, as this will be a conversation on multiple subjects regarding how to build rewarding convention appearances from the ground up.
Panelists: Chrissie Zullo, Thom Zahler, Carolyn Belefski
Moderator: Joe Carabeo

Awesome Con Short Film Fest: Horror, Action, Sci-Fi
3/30/2018 / 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM / 101
Finish your day of insanity at Awesome Con by grabbing some popcorn, all your friends, and a seat, as Joe Carabeo (Director, Astray Productions, Project Resolution) brings to Awesome Con for the second time, The Awesome Con Short Film Festival! Day 1 of the fest is Sci Fi, Action and Horror Edition! You won't wanna miss watching some selected works of, Kuni Ohi, Hunter Brumfield, Stuart Willis, Sonja O'Hara, Joe Carabeo, Brian Pennington and Karen Gill-Pennington and more! These films will send you to another planet, or give you nightmares. The filmmakers will also have a Q&A Conversation after the screenings.

Awesome Con Short Film Fest: Comedy and Drama
3/310/2018 / 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM / 101
Take a break from the insanity of Awesome Con by grabbing some popcorn, all your friends, and a seat, as Joe Carabeo (Director, Astray Productions, Project Resolution) brings to Awesome Con for the 2nd time, an Awesome Con Short Film Festival! Day 2 of the festival is the Comedy and Drama Edition! Enjoy selected short films from Amy Jo Johnson, Joe Carabeo, Jai Jamison, Joey Tran, Nick Leveski, Aaron Grant and Megan Holly! These films will ether make you cry, fall out of your seat laughing, or just feel all the feels. The filmmakers will also have a exclusive Q&A Conversation after the screenings. 

Recap: Awesome Con 2017

Curls Studio celebrated our fifth non-stop appearance at Awesome Con on June 16-18, 2017. The show has massively grown from a small section of the DC Convention Center to nearly the full building over the course of five years! It is clear that Awesome Con is a force of pop culture that the Washington, DC area has been craving. Science, cosplay, comics, crafts, geek culture, film, celebrities, and more were represented.

On Friday evening Joe navigated the "Awesome Con Short Film Fest" to a standing room only crowd. As a follow-up on Saturday evening the same filmmakers represented in-person for the "Awesome Filmmakers: Making It Happen" panel. We will be releasing the audio from the filmmakers panel this Tuesday on the Carolyn and Joe Show.

I took part on the "Kickstarter: Dos and Don'ts" panel and "The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators" on Saturday. This was a day of professional development panels for me. I enjoy giving advice to upcoming creative producers. It did seem like some people in the audience are not creators and they came to the panels to discover what our lives are like as artists and writers.

A fan came to my table to have me sign an Adventure Time comic cover I illustrated. She told me she got Ryan North (creator of Dinosaur Comics) to sign it (he was on The Other Side of the Table panel and the writer of the Adventure Time comic). The next day I was able to bring my personal copies of the comic and have Ryan sign our previously unknown collaboration for me.

On Sunday morning Joe and I recorded a live podcast for the "Carolyn and Joe Show" with special guest, Karen Hallion. Karen is a phenomenal artist who has worked with Disney, DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, Her Universe, and many other top brands. We discussed her art career, how she met Gina Torres, and her upcoming project. We also celebrated our landmark 400 episode of the podcast and audio is now available for listening online here.

Later on Sunday I lead the Awesome Con Jr. event sponsored by Nickelodeon with my "Design Your Own Superhero Logo" seminar for kids. Children created a hero symbol for themselves. Some of the logos we created were for "Pizza Man" and "Sloth Man."

Awesome Con provided us with a great feeling to know we had a fun time with fans, friends, and other exhibitors. I was very exhausted after this show, but it was worth it. I am thankful we got to see a little bit of the show by going thru the "Stan Lee Museum" section and seeing many cool comic art pages, film props, and nostalgic items.

Thanks so much to Sean Causley for watching the table while we were gone at panels and thanks to the Awesome Con staff and Brute Squad for organizing a prime event in DC. In addition, thanks to everyone we talked to at the Curls Studio table -- even if you didn't buy anything and only took a promo postcard -- thank you for stopping by. We hope to see you at our next shows this fall -- Small Press Expo, Baltimore Comic-Con, and potentially more to be announced.

Awesome Con is June 16-18, 2017

We hope you can join us this weekend for the fifth edition of Awesome Con DC on June 16-18, 2017 at the DC Convention Center. Curls Studio will be located at table N5. Check out the awesome map above where the yellow pulse signal circles are so you'll know where to find us.

New this year at Awesome Con is Awesome Con Jr., a first-ever family-focused pavilion within Awesome Con, providing hours of fun with entertaining and educational programs just for kids including interactive opportunities with characters from Nickelodeon’s hit preschool series PAW Patrol and Shimmer and Shine. Join us on Sunday, June 18, 2017 at 2PM for "Create Your Own Superhero Symbol with Carolyn Belefski." 

In addition to the workshop, we have several panels we'll be taking part in -- there is something for everyone:

Awesome Con Short Film Fest
6/16/2017 / 8:30 PM - 9:30 PM / 144 A
Finish your day of insanity at Awesome Con by grabbing some popcorn, all your friends, and a seat, as Joe Carabeo (Director, Astray Productions, Project Resolution) and Otessa Marie Ghadar (Director, 2020 Production, DC Web Fest Founder) bring to Awesome Con for the first time, an Awesome Con Short Film Festival! Check out on the fringe films that have been making waves by Otessa Marie Ghadar, Rick Spears, Matthew Lucas, Michele Lombardi, Danny Caporaletti, and Joe Carabeo. Grab your seat fast for this exclusive, first time, Awesome Con mini film festival.
Panelists: Joe Carabeo, Otessa Marie Ghadar, Danny Caporaletti, Rick Spears, Matthew Lucas, Michele Lombardi
Rated PG

Kickstarter: Dos and Don’ts 
6/17/2017 / 12:30 PM - 1:15 PM / 149 
Kickstarter has been proven to be a wonderful platform in helping creators get their projects off the ground. Join our panelists who have each launched successful Kickstarter campaigns as they talk about their first-hand experiences. 
Panelists: Arsia Rozegar (Shahnameh For Kids), Carolyn Belefski (Curls), Jason Rodriguez (The Little Particle That Could)
Rated G

The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators
6/17/2017 / 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM / 149
Are you a creator considering exhibiting at Artist Alley or Small Press comic conventions? This panel will give you tips and suggestions on how to create your professional appearances from the POV of being behind the table. We will discuss the metamorphosis from attendee to exhibitor, effective table display design, how to talk and interact with people at your table, and how to generate sales with your table pitch. We will highlight the process of starting a comic book tour on a low budget and methods of attracting potential readers by promoting your appearances and will take questions and comments, as this will be a conversation on multiple subjects regarding how to build rewarding convention appearances from the ground up.
Panelists: Ryan North, Carolyn Belefski, Dawn Griffin
Moderator: Joe Carabeo
Rated G

Dark Matter Q&A
6/17/2017 / 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM / 150
Melissa O'Neil and Zoe Palmer will discuss their exciting careers and answer audience questions.
Moderator: Joe Carabeo
Rated PG

Awesome Filmmakers: Making it Happen
6/17/2017 / 8:30 PM - 9:15 PM / 150
The legendary Awesome Con filmmakers panel that had everyone talking has returned! Join filmmaker panelists Otessa Marie Ghadar (DC Webfest, Orange Juice in Bishops Garden), Rick Spears and Michele Lombardi (Black Eyes), Matthew Lucas(Moonshot) and Danny Caporaletti (Making Movies is Easy) and moderated by Director Joe Carabeo (Astray Productions, The Magic Trick), as they break the 4th the wall and reveal the realities of being a filmmaker and making it happen in today’s media consuming society. You might even see an exclusive trailer or two or three. A must see for all filmmakers and film lovers at Awesome Con.
Panelists: Otessa Marie Ghadar, Rick Spears, Michele Lombardi, Matthew Lucas, Danny Caporaletti 
Moderator: Joe Carabeo
Rated PG

LIVE Carolyn and Joe Show Podcast "400th Episode” with Karen Hallion
6/18/2017 / 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM / 154
The Carolyn and Joe Show podcast celebrate their 400th episode! Every year one of the best times at Awesome Con is the live recording of The Carolyn and Joe Show podcast in front of a LIVE Awesome Con audience. They've had special guests from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Pulp Fiction, Renowned Animation voices and Walking Dead Actors. This is a panel/recording/live show like no other and it's the 400th episode. What in the world could possibly happen this year? This year artist Karen Hallion will be the special guest! Karen has done licensed work for Marvel, Lucas, Cartoon Network, DreamWorks Studios, Cryptozoic, TOPPS, Her Universe, and Disney. 
Panelists: Carolyn Belefski, Joe Carabeo, Karen Hallion
Rated PG

Create Your Own Superhero Symbol with Carolyn Belefski
6/18/2017 / 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM / Awesome Con Jr.
Every hero needs a logo! Many superheroes have personal branding on their outfits and My Little Pony characters even have cutie marks! Join artist and designer Carolyn Belefski and learn how to incorporate graphic design elements to create an icon and establish your own powerful visual identity.