Yahoo! Movies, which reaches more than 26 million users a month, will be in full force at Comic-Con this year as it brings to life MOVIELAND, a visually rich, interactive game on Yahoo! created in partnership with several major film studios, including Universal Pictures, Sony, Lionsgate, and Paramount Pictures.
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Taking a page from the success they have seen to date online, Yahoo! will transform a 2000 square foot Comic-Con space into MOVIELAND, so attendees can experience a life-size interactive game board with movie-related content (trivia, quizzes, etc.) customized to some of the summer’s biggest movies, including ParaNorman, Total Recall and The Expendables 2. Highlights from the experience will include: actual movie props, augmented reality photo booths, special visits from actors throughout the week including Christopher Mintz-Plasse (ParaNorman, How to Train Your Dragon, Superbad), and chances to win exclusive on-site prizes, including movie tickets. Sean Phillips, head of movies at Yahoo!, will also be onsite to discuss the latest and greatest from the conference and the summer movie phenomenon.
Throughout the weekend, Yahoo! Movies will also be providing premium and exclusive content daily from on-the-ground at Comic-Con with two new original video programs, “Hello From Comic-Con” and “Comic Connoisseurs.” “Hello From Comic-Con” is hosted by Diane Mizota and Marc Istook and will include five episodes of daily news reports, including interviews with celebrities and talent to breaking news on everything Comic-Con-related. “Comic Connoisseurs” is a long-form interview series featuring A-list fan-favorite movie stars shot at the MOVIELAND location. Yahoo! Movies will also highlight the latest news with photo galleries, exclusive first looks and unique coverage of both the top talent and the wildest fans.
The MOVIELAND space is across the street from Comic-Con (located at 520 5th Avenue) and will be completely open to the public; festival passes are not required. Talent will make appearances there on Friday the 13th, and there will be a photo opportunity with characters from the film.
Born and raised in Dallas, Mark has been a movie critic since 1994, with reviews featured in print, radio and National TV. In 2001 he started the Entertainment section of the Herorealm website, where he contributed film reviews and celebrity interviews until 2004. After three years of service there, he started Bigfanboy.com, which has become one of the Dallas film community's leading information websites. Bigfanboy hosts several movie screenings in the Texas area, and works closely with film and TV studios and promotional partners to host exciting events and contests. The site also features a variety of rare celebrity and filmmaker interviews, and Bigfanboy.com regularly covers the film festival circuit as well. In addition to Hollywood reporting, Mark has worked for many years as an advertising and sci-fi/comic book artist. Clients have included Lucasfilm Ltd., Topps Trading Cards, The Dallas Mavericks and The Dallas Stars. From 2002 until 2015 he managed the Dallas Comic Con, Sci-Fi Expo and Fan Days events in the DFW area. He currently catalogs rare comic books and movie memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, and runs the Dallas Comic Show conventions, but remains an avid moviegoer and cinema buff. 
