"San Diego On Screen" - a panel from San Diego Comic-Con Panel 2026

San Diego shows up on-screen in everything from the Top Gun films to TV shows like Veronica Mars and even this year’s best picture, One Battle After Another, with filming locations all around the city and county playing a role. We’ll discuss the historical context, logistics, and economic impact of filming in San Diego with Beth Accomando (KPBS Cinema Junkie Host, founder of Film Geeks SD), Greg Sowizdrzal (president of the local IATSE 122 and leader of the San Diego County Film Initiative), Jake Rowlett, Ph.D (SDSU researcher in media and tourism geographies), as well as J. Stephen Peace and Costa Dillon, who co-created, co-wrote, and acted in the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes franchise from 1978 through the 2026 release Organic Intelligence. Moderated by Melissa T. Miller. Video shot and edited by Zachary Bright. Resources: Filming San Diego: Hollywood's Backlot (article with images and filmography, San Diego History Center): https://sandiegohistory.org/journal/2... San Diego County Film Initiative: https://sdcfilminitiative.com/ Sign the petition to encourage leaders to adopt the Film Initiative: https://sdcfilminitiative.com/take-ac... Film Geeks: https://digitalgym.org/film-series/fi... Media Arts Center San Diego: https://mediaartscenter.org/ 48 Hour Film Project: https://www.48hourfilm.com/sandiego IATSE 122 Pre-Apprenticeship Program: https://www.iatse122.org/iatse-local1... IATSE 122 Apprenticeship Program: https://www.iatse122.org/faq-items/ho...