October is an exhilarating month for both creatives and fans of visual arts, as two major events are taking place. The New York Comic Con will be held from October 12th to 15th, followed by Lightbox Expo 2023 at the Pasadena Convention Center in California. This three-day event, which runs from October 27th to 29th, will showcase the work of talented artists and creators from popular films, animation, games, TV shows, comics, and illustrations. Attendees can enjoy a variety of panels and demos led by industry professionals, who will share their techniques and offer their advice on finding employment opportunities. Not to mention the chance to admire the fantastic work that visual artists produce regularly.
A Conversation with the Artists of Star Wars
We now have the pleasure of exclusively revealing one of the upcoming panels coming to Lightbox Expo. “A Conversation with the Artists of Star Wars,” featuring Lucasfilm designers Christian Alzmann, Brian Matyas, and Benjamin Last. These talented creators will share their experiences and techniques working on the iconic film series and shows. As well as their use of collaboration to achieve their amazing results. The description for this panel is shown below, courtesy of LightBox Expo.
Come join us as we explore the creative journeys of Lucasfilm designers Christian Alzmann, Brian Matyas, and Benjamin Last. Learn about their conceptualization process, collaboration with fellow creatives, and their approach to design challenges. During this session, they will be sharing exciting stories about the process of designing characters, droids, vehicles, and much more!
Meet the Creators
Christian Alzmann
Christian Alzmann has been a concept artist at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) for over 20 years. As a part of Disney’s Lucasfilm, he has created art for several movies and TV shows within the Star Wars franchise. Alzmann’s work has included the adorable and green-cheeked Baby Yoda (Grogu), who became a fan-favorite in the Disney+ series “The Mandalorian.” He also designed the round-bodied droid BB-8, who first appeared in “The Force Awakens” in 2015. Alzmann’s art played a significant role in bringing these beloved characters to life.
Brian Matayas
Brian Matyas has made significant contributions to the Star Wars universe over the years. He started by designing characters and loading screen art for the popular mobile game, Star Wars: Uprising. His talent was soon recognized by Doug Chiang, who invited him to join the Lucasfilm Concept Design Department for the first season of The Mandalorian on Disney+. Brian continued in this role for the second season, as well as for The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Additionally, he created character concepts for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
Benjamin Last
Benjamin Last is a highly experienced designer and creative director with more than 17 years of expertise. During that time, he has designed for feature films, television, and gaming. Currently, he collaborates with Lucasfilm’s art department and Activision/Blizzard. Benjamin has worked on several notable projects, including The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, The Acolyte, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Star Wars Episode IX, among others. His portfolio also includes work for well-known brands like Warner Bros., Marvel, Netflix, Universal Pictures, and 20th Century Fox.
If you’re in the California area from October 27th to 29th, consider attending LightBox Expo 2023. You can find out ticket information here and the full schedule of events here. Additionally, keep an eye out for further announcements from Lightbox Expo and our upcoming interview with the founders of Lightbox Expo Bobby Chiu and Jim Demonakos. Coming soon to Geek Vibes Nation.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
