Fanbase Turns Rabid, Needs Vaccinations

"Okay . . . See, my name is John Carter.  Virginia is where I'm from."

For those of you interested, no, I still haven't deleted "Sharknado" from my DVR.

This isn't exactly new news, but sites like Kickstarter and IndieGogo have become a new standard for entertainment projects to be made.  Studios and publishers have a say, certainly, but in this day and age of technology and infinite choices at the touch of a button, not to mention the INSANE connectivity that artists now have with their fans, those who create have more power than ever.

For instance, take into consideration the upcoming "Veronica Mars" movie project.

The show had a pretty dedicated fan base, not unlike shows like "Firefly" and "Six Feet Under", but while "Firefly" was actually made in a major studio motion picture -- mostly due to fan rally -- "Veronica Mars" has taken a different tack.  A film project was created on Kickstarter, and by the time the campaign ended, over $5.7 MILLION dollars (of a $2 million goal) had been pledged.

And of course, if you missed the Kickstarter campaign, you can still pre-order the DVD or Blu-Ray to help support the project.

I have to admit, I never once watched the show, but upon doing some research, I've found more than a couple dozen people who guest starred on the show at one point or another who are now involved in successful movie and/or television projects.  The program seemed to be a gateway for many young actors to have a place to stir it up before finding a niche they fit into nicely, including Max Greenfield from "New Girl", Adam Scott from "Parks and Recreation", and Oscar nominated actress Jessica Chastain.

What was the draw of this program?  How do characters grab hold of us in such a way as to compel us to give away our money?

I put it to you: What television program has made you a die-hard fan, or renewed your faith in the power of television to entertain and connect?

Article originally published on the entertainment blog Geek Goes Rogue.  See the article here.

There Is No Box.
Zach