I've written a couple columns about this weekend's large comic book convention and entertainment summit called Wizard World 2009 in Rosemont, Ill.

Not only are there lots of aforementioned stars and celebs attending from out of town, but also some of our own region rising stars are also eager to attend.

In March 2003, Highland native Jason Elkins was already a graduate of The American Academy Of Art Chicago and a certified alumni of Chicago's famous Second City Players Workshop.

He had also hosted and produced his own Northwest Indiana cable access show for three years before he packed

up his bags and headed to Hollywood to aim for bigger goals.

This weekend, he'll be at the convention meeting with publishers about his new comic book.

And of course, he'll also have his varied resume to share with industry top dogs as well.

To his credit, he began hosting and producing, what was once his "local" cable show, to a new and expanded level - as an international audience show via the Internet.

He' also worked as a producer for "The Tom Green Show," filmed and aired via the Internet from the comedian's Hollywood home.

His other producer credits include a soon-to-be-released live action film version of "Jack & The Beanstalk," starring James Earl Jones (as the voice of the Giant, of course), Katey Sagal, Christopher Lloyd, Gilbert Gottfried and Chevy Chase.

And along the way, he's done everything from working as a "ghost writer" for such people as Ben Stiller to creating his first short feature film "A Day In The Life Of Coog" (2005). Elkins wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film opposite Playboy playmate Julie Strain. It was seen by more than 6,000 people at film festivals around the country.

Unfortunately, during the writer's strike in November 2007, he was laid off from his production company and returned to Northwest Indiana to pursue his own projects, including his unfinished comic book.

He had originally hired two Chicago-based artists to work on the book.

But eventually, he turned to his old art school comrade Brian Grabinski, of Schereville, and another couple of old friends from art school, Chris Sajpel of Mokena, Ill., and Mike Mitrevski, of Merrillville, to complete the project.

"The good thing about my book is that in times of economic depression and hardship, people are not buying a whole lot of comic books," he said.

"But it sometimes seems people do want to forget about their problems and get away from their realities for a while and maybe have some laughs. I can't thank God enough for the support of my family and the people I have around me in my life."

He says he already has four other comic book projects in the works and plans to return to Los Angeles in early 2011 to continue pursuing his film work.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.

Today's Celebrity Birthdays

Producer Dino DeLaurentiis is 90. Actress Esther Williams is 88. Actor Richard Anderson ("The Six Million Dollar Man," "The Bionic Woman") is 83. Actress Nita Talbot is 79. Country singer Mel Tillis is 77. Actor Dustin Hoffman is 72. Actress Connie Stevens is 71. Country singer Phil Balsley of The Statler Brothers is 70. Actor Larry Wilcox ("CHiPS") is 62. Actor Keith Carradine and singer Airrion Love of The Stylistics are 60. Country singer Jamie O'Hara is 59. Radio personality Robin Quivers is 57. Actor Donny Most ("Happy Days") is 56. Keyboardist Dennis Drew of 10,000 Maniacs and journalist Nancy Glass are 52. Actor Harry Crosby (son of Bing Crosby) and news anchor Deborah Norville are 51. Guitarist The Edge of U2 and drummer Rikki Rockett of Poison are 48. Rapper Kool Moe Dee is 47. Singer Scott Stapp of Creed and country singer Mark Wills are 36. Guitarist Tom Linton of Jimmy Eat World is 34. Singer J.C. Chasez of 'N Sync and singer Drew Lachey of 98 Degrees are 33. Singer Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry is 32. Actress Countess Vaughn ("The Parkers," "Moesha") is 31. Actor Michael Urie ("Ugly Betty") is 29. Princess Beatrice of York (daughter of Prince Andrew and Duchess Sarah Ferguson) is 21.