Influence of Fandom
The X-Files fans have had a massive influence on internet fandom- even inventing the whole concept of shipping. It’s well known that Chris Carter used to trawl the web after episodes aired to find out what the fans were talking about and X-Files writers used names of fans as characters. The relationship between the X-Files, its fans and the ‘net is unbreakable. Frank Spotnitz’s blog is so deeply loved by the fans that at the LA Film Festival recently he got a considerably larger cheer when introduced than Chris Carter or even David Duchovny!
The creators of the X-Files have encouraged fan participation since the very beginning. This is why getting hit with a copyright infringement notice from Fox for hosting an X-Files trailer on my YouTube site irked me so very much. There are thousands upon thousands of X-Files fans all over the world who are doing things that can ONLY help promote the film. Everything from fake film posters, to Lego I Want To Believe posters, to diorama’s based on one of the episodes, to the hundreds, thousands of videos on YouTube, to the Gigabytes of fanfic. The internet, creativity and the X-Files go hand in hand.
At the LA Film Festival, there was a very interesting exchange on stage when David Duchovny talked about watching a fan-made video on YouTube which influenced him and made his see Mulder and Scully from ‘the outside’.
Here is the video they watched.
I have told Fox about that video and asked that it not be deleted. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson are mentioning that video in loads of the interviews they are doing for the release of the film. I think it would make Fox look incredibly bad were they to get rid of it for ‘copyright infringement’.
I hope they listen to me.
I really hope they do too!
It struck me watching that video how big the remove is between the audience/ X-Files fans and the corporation that markets it to those very fans. If ever an ontological shift were required…
Cue a response from Alex in 5, 4,3 …!
And I’m on.
Hey, I was a fan of the X-Files too. I guess I still am.
But if you REALLY want to see crazy over-the-top fans…try going to a Star Trek convention.
It’s scary.
Haha! Should we be pickin’ out china patterns or what!
Yeah seriously, Star Trek is a whoooole ‘nother dealie. It’s also a much older fandom and a bit more analogue, if y’know what I mean. ‘Philes are a completely different species, they seem to be incredibly active and clued in when it comes to communing info on the web and they’re really open to new ways of doing that.
Oh and I’d be terrified of a Trekkie convention. Also, X–Files has characters that look like Mulder and Scully. Star Trek has…well.. Klingons.
I beg to differ…
Star Trek (TV series) had some very attractive women in mini-dresses.
Star Trek (movies) had some hot vulcans (Kim Cattrall and then-young-and-slim Kristie Alley).
And even Mr. Kirk and Spock were considered hotties when they were young.
Full disclosure – one of my best friend was/is a trekie and took me to a few of the conventions – where I met Shattner and Nichelle Nichols.
Same goes for Star Wars fanatics too. I remember watching Star Wars with Gia and Mo’…when Mo’ was 2 I think? I think that was the same weekend I taught Mo’ how to headbang into the couch to Rob Zombie.
Ok, ok I have absolutely no clue ’bout Star Trek but anyway, XF is more my cup of tea, sexy-wise.
Star Wars had Hans Solo and for that it is full of win.
Headbanging to Rob Zombie sounds like an awful lot of fun. Although he freaks the freakin’ crap out of me.
P.s Seriously, Spock was cool but was he ever considered a bona fide hottie? Have you seen Leonard Nimoy? I’m sure Vulcan’s are wonderful people(?!) but nuh-uh.
Come to think of it, Uhura was pretty cool. I think I’d like to have looked like her at some point! Her earrings alone rocked..
I should have joined the FBI when they asked me to. ;-)
Hi Gia. It was REALLY cool to “see” you on Phil Plait’s webchat on Sunday. I wanted to ask you. This month’s Sky at Night magazine says that BBC4 will be showing The Big Bang Machine ( fronted by the lovely Mr Gia : ) as part of their Big Bang Night on July 13th but it must be wrong as it isn’t lited. Do you have any idea when the programme will be aired? I was bigging it up on BA’s blog and now I look even more of a fool than usual : )
I had heard a fair deal about this music video that both David and Gillian talked about. This is the first time I’ve actually seen it. Very beautiful! I can see why it touched both of them as regards to their characters Mulder and Scully.
I’m not sure WHEN Big Bang night is. Let me check and find out. It’s a really good programme – we just got the DVD the other day. I’ll ask him when it is and let you know.
**EDIT** Brian doesn’t know when it’s going to be on, but end of August, first week of Sept perhaps…?
I talked to BBC about obtaining the Gravity (and other Horizon show) but they’re like $300 becasue they have to special ordered. I want to use this for a class presentation so the university will not pay for it, do you know when they will release it to the general public at the standard DVD prices?
Rent it.
Use a small piece of it for a class presentation (don’t charge money).
It is for educational purpose, right?
I smell Fair Use.
Thanks Gia! Message duly passed on to the rest of Phil’s minions. I will keep my eyes peeled and report as soon as it appears on the schedules
Maksim- It *may* be released on DVD if they make a third one, but you’re in the States, right? I’ve no idea what will happen outside the UK.
The cost may be becuase they’d have to convert it into NTSC. To convert 30 minutes of American HDCam to British MiniDV is about $200. I’d guess that 50(ish) minutes of PAL to NTSC on any format could be around $300. :-/