fandabidozi

May 14, 2010 7:41 AM

Jane Graham in the Guardian on the new wave of fan films, with links to notable examples. "... fan films have come a long way from two fat blokes with beards running through a forest waving pound-shop light sabres."
posted by nthdegx (11 comments total)

...two fat blokes with beards running through a forest waving pound-shop light sabres.

I am much more interested in seeing this hypothetical than any of the films she links in the article ...but only because I've already seen them all.

Also, no Italian Spiderman?
posted by griphus at 7:53 AM on May 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

It's over a decade old by now, but TROOPS is still pretty funny.
posted by Pope Guilty at 8:15 AM on May 14, 2010

Of these, the ones I've seen I really enjoyed. I've got some good viewing ahead of me when I get home. Thanks for posting.

Why are people using URL shorteners in their online journalism? I don't get it.
posted by ODiV at 8:22 AM on May 14, 2010

It'll appear in print, too, ODiV, I imagine.
posted by nthdegx at 8:27 AM on May 14, 2010

Wow, TROOPS was released in 1997? The rise of YouTube hosted shorts has definitely changed things in the last few years, but clearly the quality of fan-made spoofs has been pretty high for a while. Not knocking the article for it's coverage, but for the notion that this is something new. Perhaps the virility outside of the geek communities is the novel aspect?

ODiV - Why are people using URL shorteners in their online journalism? I don't get it.

nthdegx - It'll appear in print, too, ODiV, I imagine.

Along with print, there are "pro" options for some link shorteners, allowing link views to be tracked, which could shape future stories or advertising agreements/deals.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:09 AM on May 14, 2010

Heh. How new is new? I think if you're discussing cultural trends, "new" is valid for a little longer than it is for, say, internet virals. Much longer. And in any case, I think the selection of the term "new wave" is probably multilayered, and at least a passing comparison to New Wave music.
posted by nthdegx at 9:27 AM on May 14, 2010

Wow, TROOPS was released in 1997?

Hardware Wars predates it by twenty years, and parts of it still make me giggle.

"Basketball is a peaceful planet!"
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:44 AM on May 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

And having a JPG image of a YouTube video at the top of the article? Really? I was clicking on the little play arrow and cursing for fucking ages til it dawned on me... Too early, way too early.
posted by jontyjago at 10:01 AM on May 14, 2010

I guess the youtube picture is how it appeared in print...
no Turkish Star Trek?
posted by yoHighness at 10:23 AM on May 14, 2010

Just a shout out to the 2 Star Trek TOS fan shows: New Voyages/Phase II and Starship Exeter. Two different approaches: New Voyages is more of a updated/continued Star Trek, with James Cawley as Captain Kirk. Exeter tries to be a as close as possible to how Star Trek looked, but takes place on a different starship with a different crew.
posted by Harry at 3:14 PM on May 14, 2010

Pound shop sounds so much more awesome than dollar store. You can get junk in grey or any other colour.
posted by Babblesort at 3:24 PM on May 14, 2010