Eagle-Con made its return this past weekend for the spring 2019 semester.

Initially serving as a platform for students to learn about the film industry and network with industry professionals, Eagle-Con is now an opportunity for students and attendees from all walks of life to come together to explore and learn.

“Over the years, we’ve made it bigger and bigger and we’ve incorporated a lot of different new things,” said Aayushi Hingle, who is part of the organizing committee. “It really is for our campus community and how we can get people more engaged in the future of our students.”

This year’s theme was Amazing Abilities and the Body Fantastic, which promotes combatting bodily superiority by showing the beauty and power in everyone. Panelists from various backgrounds in the science fiction industry helped bring this theme to life.

The panelists shared their own experiences and gave advice to anyone interested in visual effects, production design, art directing and makeup effects.

“Do as much theatrical work, and you have to also know how to do basic beauty makeup for TV,” said Ron Pipes, makeup artist for the 90’s sci-fi show “Babylon 5”. “You have to know how to do it all.”

When the panels concluded, attendees were free to wander in the small maze-like art exhibit full of concept art from various sci-fi movies and shows. The EagleCon Art Directors Guild Exhibition at the Cal State LA Fine Arts Gallery presented concept art and behind-the-scenes pictures from the film “Spiderman: Homecoming”.

“Looking around, it’s pretty amazing. I love Star Wars, so looking at all the concept art is really cool,” said first-year student Khristine Yap.

Alongside the panels were vendors selling memorabilia and nostalgic merchandise, such as vintage video games, VHS tapes, hand-drawn illustrations and more. In addition, vendors offered advice to students looking to develop their own artwork.

“I just want to share my artwork and my experience and it would be cool to share that with other people who are interested to know more about what it’s like to be an artist,” said Rocky, a vendor specializing in pin-up inspired drawings as well as personalized Not Safe For Work (NSFW) illustrations.

Attendees were also free to partake in a drawing workshop with Pierre Bernard Jr., a comedian and graphic designer who performed the sketch “Pierre Bernard’s Recliner of Rage” on Conan O’Brien’s various late night shows. Bernard Jr. brought with him two cosplayers to serve as reference models for people to draw.

Bernard Jr.’s intention while participating in Eagle-Con was to help attendees express themselves.

“I’m a big believer that drawing is a way of releasing stress; it’s another way of developing your creative talent,” said Bernard Jr. “It’s about learning about who you are, what you like and how to express what you like onto paper.”

To cap off Eagle-Con, Cal State LA recognized Oliver Scholl, production designer for films such as “Spiderman: Homecoming” and “Suicide Squad” among others, with the first ever Imaginator Award for Wondrous Achievement in Visual Conceptualization.

Though Scholl’s acceptance of the award marked the end of the 2019 Eagle-Con, students and faculty can continue to visit the EagleCon Art Directors Guild Exhibition at the Cal State LA Fine Arts Gallery from March 1 – 22.