
Lightsabers, ghostbusters turn up in Hunter for Lake Mac's POP BAM!
Picking up a lightsaber and ready to go, lucky Hunter residents got to learn the art of Star Wars combat at the Lake Mac POP BAM! festival.
The annual popular culture festival arrived at the Hunter Sports Centre in Glendale on Saturday, July 26.
Cosplayers and popular culture fanatics immerse themselves in the worlds of their favourite movies, TV shows and comics.
Organiser Cathy Shay said everyone had a great time, with between 1000 and 1500 people in attendance.
"We had lots of great feedback about the new venue," Ms Shay said.
"There was a real buzz in the foyer, some very popular stalls, plus activities and talks, LEGO and D&D."
There were also some professional cosplayers, including a woman dressed as Chewbacca, who had many in awe due to her sheer size.
"The very little kids get very excited to see in real life something they've only seen on TV, like Chewbacca, and because it's so large, it takes your breath away, and the kids were just mesmerised," Ms Shay said.
EVER wanted to be part of an epic sci-fi battle scene?
Picking up a lightsaber and ready to go, lucky Hunter residents got to learn the art of Star Wars combat at the Lake Mac POP BAM! festival.
The annual popular culture festival arrived at the Hunter Sports Centre in Glendale on Saturday, July 26.
Cosplayers and popular culture fanatics immerse themselves in the worlds of their favourite movies, TV shows and comics.
Organiser Cathy Shay said everyone had a great time, with between 1000 and 1500 people in attendance.
"We had lots of great feedback about the new venue," Ms Shay said.
"There was a real buzz in the foyer, some very popular stalls, plus activities and talks, LEGO and D&D."
There were also some professional cosplayers, including a woman dressed as Chewbacca, who had many in awe due to her sheer size.
"The very little kids get very excited to see in real life something they've only seen on TV, like Chewbacca, and because it's so large, it takes your breath away, and the kids were just mesmerised," Ms Shay said.
EVER wanted to be part of an epic sci-fi battle scene?
Picking up a lightsaber and ready to go, lucky Hunter residents got to learn the art of Star Wars combat at the Lake Mac POP BAM! festival.
The annual popular culture festival arrived at the Hunter Sports Centre in Glendale on Saturday, July 26.
Cosplayers and popular culture fanatics immerse themselves in the worlds of their favourite movies, TV shows and comics.
Organiser Cathy Shay said everyone had a great time, with between 1000 and 1500 people in attendance.
"We had lots of great feedback about the new venue," Ms Shay said.
"There was a real buzz in the foyer, some very popular stalls, plus activities and talks, LEGO and D&D."
There were also some professional cosplayers, including a woman dressed as Chewbacca, who had many in awe due to her sheer size.
"The very little kids get very excited to see in real life something they've only seen on TV, like Chewbacca, and because it's so large, it takes your breath away, and the kids were just mesmerised," Ms Shay said.
EVER wanted to be part of an epic sci-fi battle scene?
Picking up a lightsaber and ready to go, lucky Hunter residents got to learn the art of Star Wars combat at the Lake Mac POP BAM! festival.
The annual popular culture festival arrived at the Hunter Sports Centre in Glendale on Saturday, July 26.
Cosplayers and popular culture fanatics immerse themselves in the worlds of their favourite movies, TV shows and comics.
Organiser Cathy Shay said everyone had a great time, with between 1000 and 1500 people in attendance.
"We had lots of great feedback about the new venue," Ms Shay said.
"There was a real buzz in the foyer, some very popular stalls, plus activities and talks, LEGO and D&D."
There were also some professional cosplayers, including a woman dressed as Chewbacca, who had many in awe due to her sheer size.
"The very little kids get very excited to see in real life something they've only seen on TV, like Chewbacca, and because it's so large, it takes your breath away, and the kids were just mesmerised," Ms Shay said.

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News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
George Lucas brings the force to Comic-Con in historic first visit
Comic-Con fans pulled out their lightsabers Sunday to welcome "Star Wars" creator George Lucas to the prominent pop culture convention for the very first time. Attendees lined up for hours to grab a seat inside the 6,500-person capacity venue in San Diego, California to see the legendary filmmaker behind the "Indiana Jones" franchise speak at the event on its final day. Comic-Con, which draws some 130,000 attendees, has become an important platform for movie studios and their stars to showcase the latest film and television offerings, especially those with a genre fan base. "We've been waiting five decades for this!" said panel moderator Queen Latifah, who oversaw the discussion by Lucas and other filmmakers. Instead of discussing his film works, however, Lucas graced the convention to preview the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art -- opening in Los Angeles in 2026 -- which the director co-founded with his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson. "I've been collecting art since I was in college," Lucas, 81, told the crowd, adding that he has amassed tens of thousands of pieces in his collection. "I've been doing this for 50 years now, and then it occurred to me that what am I going to do with it all because I, I refuse to sell it. "I could never do that, it's just, it's not what I think art is -- I think it's more about an emotional connection," the director said. In his description of the museum, Lucas said the institution will feature a blend of works. They include illustrations by Normal Rockwell, Jessie Willcox Smith and N.C. Wyeth; artworks by Frida Kahlo, Jacob Lawrence, Charles White and Robert Colescott; and pieces by cartoonists and artists like Winsor McCay, Frank Frazetta and Jack Kirby. "This is sort of a temple to the people's art," he said in summation. The museum, housed in a sleek, curved building, will also feature items from Lucas's films and other exclusive pieces. For the "Star Wars" mastermind, the museum aims to be a tribute to the importance of narrative art. "When you're born, the baseline is fear. And as you go through life, you're curious about things, but you're especially curious about things you don't understand, and therefore that's a threat to you. "And as a result, you make up stories to make it feel good," he continued. "Science fiction is a myth... but we've made it real because of science fiction books and art." - 'A critical moment' - Among the other members of the panel were Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro and production designer Doug Chiang, who shaped the aesthetic of the "Star Wars" universe for decades. "What's remarkable about George is that he leads from the heart, and this museum is him," Chiang said. Del Toro, who will release his latest film "Frankenstein" in November, said many of the museum's pieces will celebrate freedom of speech. "We are in a critical moment in which one of the things they like to disappear is the past, you know, and this is memorializing a popular, vociferous, expressive and eloquent moment in our visual past that belongs to all of us," Del Toro said. The fantasy filmmaker also described comics as a medium with "a lot of social conscience" and joked that comic artists "were the first one to punch a Nazi" in their works. "What a panel!" said attendee Jesse Goldwater, who traveled to San Diego from Los Angeles. "They are the embodiment of Comic-Con itself, without them Comic-Con wouldn't exist."


The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
George Lucas previews Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
Star Wars filmmaker George Lucas has appeared at San Diego Comic-Con to preview his upcoming museum, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which will open in Los Angeles in 2026. Attendees shouted "Lucas! Lucas! Lucas!" and clapped their hands in anticipation of the legendary director's arrival, and gave the 81-year-old Lucas a standing ovation as he took his seat. "The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is a first-of-its-kind institution dedicated to illustrated storytelling across time, cultures, and media," a press release from the museum said. The four-hectare campus, in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, will include a green space and a 27,870-square-metre building with galleries, two theatres, a library, restaurant, cafe, and retail and community spaces. Some of its collection will include art from comic book artist Jack Kirby, painter Norman Rockwell and illustrator Kadir Nelson, as well as a Lucas archive with models, props, concept art and costumes. "I love all art, no matter what it is," Lucas said after showing a video that gave a sneak peek at the museum. The video included renderings of the museum interior and exterior, as well as the museum's broad range of art ranging from more traditional fine art and comic book strips to Star Wars sculptures and installations. Lucas began the panel recalling his days as a college student struggling to pursue his dream of becoming an art collector due to the steep cost of fine art. But the filmmaker found an affordable exception with comic books, sold cheaply in "underground" markets. Now, rather than selling art he collected over around 50 years, Lucas said he prefers to create what he calls a "temple to the people's art." Lucas kept the conversation focused on the museum and did not discuss Star Wars or Indiana Jones. Star Wars filmmaker George Lucas has appeared at San Diego Comic-Con to preview his upcoming museum, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which will open in Los Angeles in 2026. Attendees shouted "Lucas! Lucas! Lucas!" and clapped their hands in anticipation of the legendary director's arrival, and gave the 81-year-old Lucas a standing ovation as he took his seat. "The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is a first-of-its-kind institution dedicated to illustrated storytelling across time, cultures, and media," a press release from the museum said. The four-hectare campus, in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, will include a green space and a 27,870-square-metre building with galleries, two theatres, a library, restaurant, cafe, and retail and community spaces. Some of its collection will include art from comic book artist Jack Kirby, painter Norman Rockwell and illustrator Kadir Nelson, as well as a Lucas archive with models, props, concept art and costumes. "I love all art, no matter what it is," Lucas said after showing a video that gave a sneak peek at the museum. The video included renderings of the museum interior and exterior, as well as the museum's broad range of art ranging from more traditional fine art and comic book strips to Star Wars sculptures and installations. Lucas began the panel recalling his days as a college student struggling to pursue his dream of becoming an art collector due to the steep cost of fine art. But the filmmaker found an affordable exception with comic books, sold cheaply in "underground" markets. Now, rather than selling art he collected over around 50 years, Lucas said he prefers to create what he calls a "temple to the people's art." Lucas kept the conversation focused on the museum and did not discuss Star Wars or Indiana Jones. Star Wars filmmaker George Lucas has appeared at San Diego Comic-Con to preview his upcoming museum, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which will open in Los Angeles in 2026. Attendees shouted "Lucas! Lucas! Lucas!" and clapped their hands in anticipation of the legendary director's arrival, and gave the 81-year-old Lucas a standing ovation as he took his seat. "The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is a first-of-its-kind institution dedicated to illustrated storytelling across time, cultures, and media," a press release from the museum said. The four-hectare campus, in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, will include a green space and a 27,870-square-metre building with galleries, two theatres, a library, restaurant, cafe, and retail and community spaces. Some of its collection will include art from comic book artist Jack Kirby, painter Norman Rockwell and illustrator Kadir Nelson, as well as a Lucas archive with models, props, concept art and costumes. "I love all art, no matter what it is," Lucas said after showing a video that gave a sneak peek at the museum. The video included renderings of the museum interior and exterior, as well as the museum's broad range of art ranging from more traditional fine art and comic book strips to Star Wars sculptures and installations. Lucas began the panel recalling his days as a college student struggling to pursue his dream of becoming an art collector due to the steep cost of fine art. But the filmmaker found an affordable exception with comic books, sold cheaply in "underground" markets. Now, rather than selling art he collected over around 50 years, Lucas said he prefers to create what he calls a "temple to the people's art." Lucas kept the conversation focused on the museum and did not discuss Star Wars or Indiana Jones. Star Wars filmmaker George Lucas has appeared at San Diego Comic-Con to preview his upcoming museum, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, which will open in Los Angeles in 2026. Attendees shouted "Lucas! Lucas! Lucas!" and clapped their hands in anticipation of the legendary director's arrival, and gave the 81-year-old Lucas a standing ovation as he took his seat. "The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is a first-of-its-kind institution dedicated to illustrated storytelling across time, cultures, and media," a press release from the museum said. The four-hectare campus, in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, will include a green space and a 27,870-square-metre building with galleries, two theatres, a library, restaurant, cafe, and retail and community spaces. Some of its collection will include art from comic book artist Jack Kirby, painter Norman Rockwell and illustrator Kadir Nelson, as well as a Lucas archive with models, props, concept art and costumes. "I love all art, no matter what it is," Lucas said after showing a video that gave a sneak peek at the museum. The video included renderings of the museum interior and exterior, as well as the museum's broad range of art ranging from more traditional fine art and comic book strips to Star Wars sculptures and installations. Lucas began the panel recalling his days as a college student struggling to pursue his dream of becoming an art collector due to the steep cost of fine art. But the filmmaker found an affordable exception with comic books, sold cheaply in "underground" markets. Now, rather than selling art he collected over around 50 years, Lucas said he prefers to create what he calls a "temple to the people's art." Lucas kept the conversation focused on the museum and did not discuss Star Wars or Indiana Jones.

Sydney Morning Herald
11 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Mark Hamill was ready to quit but his wife had other ideas
Meanwhile, actor Ryan Gosling brought all of his Kenergy to the Hall H panel for the highly anticipated 2026 science fiction thriller, Project Hail Mary. Gosling appeared with directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, writer Drew Goddard and author Andy Weir, who wrote the book on which the film is based. And they brought their Comic-Con A-game, screening the first five minutes of the film to rapturous applause. In the film, Gosling plays an astronaut named Ryland Grace who wakes up on a spaceship 'with no memory of himself or his mission [and] slowly deduces he is the sole survivor of a crew sent to the Tau Ceti solar system searching for a solution to a catastrophic event on Earth.' Not letting that slide by, Paramount threw down a hefty and hilarious sci-fi gauntlet, teasing an episode planned for the fourth season of their flagship Star Trek title Strange New Worlds, in which the cast and guest characters are all played by puppets. The series will 'boldly explore the puppet-verse,' according to Paramount. A short teaser clip - featuring a puppet-ised Captain Christopher Pike, voiced by actor Anson Mount, was a crowd pleaser in Hall H. (See below for this, and other trailers.) And these puppets will come with real pedigree, created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop. An advance screening of an upcoming episode of Strange New Worlds, titled A Space Adventure Hour, was a part-glitchy debut of the show's famous 'holodeck', and part homage of 1950s-style B-movie sci-fi. While the convention itself was missing some of the majors – no Star Wars projects, and no new movies from either Marvel and DC Comics – DC did send Peacemaker star John Cena, who turned up in full costume, and Peacemaker producer (and Superman director) James Gunn. In the series, Cena plays patriotic mercenary Christopher Smith, aka Peacemaker, who first appeared in Gunn's 2021 film The Suicide Squad. The significance of the character has amplified since, as Gunn has taken over management of the entire DC Comics film and TV franchise. His debut film reboot, Superman, is one of the year's movie hits. Comic-Con's four-day calendar of panels and appearances included Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood, director Rob Reiner, Outlander star Sam Heughan, Captain America Anthony Mackie, NCIS: Tony & Ziva stars Michael Weatherly and Cote de Pablo, Timothy Olyphant (Alien: Earth), Norman Reedus and Melissa McBride (The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon) and Australian actors Sam Reid, promoting Anne Rice's The Talamasca: The Secret Order, and Ryan Kwanten, promoting Primitive War. American sports executive Jeanie Buss - the president and controlling owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers - also made an appearance on the WOW: Women of Wrestling panel, revealing that as a kid, she was an obsessive fan of both Wonder Woman and Supergirl. (Gunn's new Superman movie, in which Supergirl appears, gets a big thumbs up from her.) And Star Wars creator George Lucas is scheduled to close the convention with a Hall H appearance to unveil the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, an 11-acre campus in LA's Exposition Park, 'dedicated to the art of illustrated stories.' The museum, which will focus on painting, photography, sculpture, illustration, comic art, performance and video, will open in 2026. San Diego Comic-Con was launched in 1970, and is now the world's biggest fan convention. The four-day event is sold out, and is expected to sink more than $US150 million ($230 million) into the local economy. The convention wraps Monday, Sydney time.