This document discusses the growing power of fans and their ability to influence media industries. It provides examples of fans banding together through online campaigns to force changes to films, like getting alternate cuts of Superman II released or getting the independent film Cherrybomb a wider theatrical release. The document also discusses how George Lucas reduced the role of Jar-Jar Binks in Star Wars Episode II after fan backlash, and how the website Ain't It Cool News, launched in 1996, has been able to positively or negatively impact films through early reviews and leaked information that studios pay attention to.

1. Pawns of the Media Industries or
Powerful Players?

2.  It could be argued that the power of the fan
has never been greater.
 The internet now offers people the chance to easily
find and contact like-minded people; fan sites are
common across a wide and diverse range of areas from
videogames to football teams.
 Individuals who were once a lone voice can band
together to force Hollywood studios to alter film
endings, change marketing strategies or even find
themselves part of the industry.

3.  ‘Film fan's campaign pays off ‘
 Today viewers can see Superman as they have never seen him before - thanks to
an obsessed fan who has conducted a worldwide internet campaign from
his bedroom. It is definitely Christopher Reeve in the red cape and blue tights
and it is Margot Kidder as the infatuated Lois Lane, but the footage in Warner
Home Video's Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut, has been largely
unseen until now.
 ‘Potter star's film secures release after Facebook campaign’
 After the independent film Cherrybomb, which premiered at the Berlin Film
Festival, failed to attract a distributor, Actor Rupert Grint’s supporters set up a
campaign to petition for its cinematic release. Cinephiles from as far afield as
Mexico and Los Angeles contacted The Little Film Company, its sales agent, to
enquire about its release. And the “people power” campaign has now paid off.

4.  Another examples of this can be seen in Star Wars
Episode II where, after a mauling by the ‘fans’ in which
Jar-Jar Binks found his role somewhat reduced, George
Lucas realised that his franchise depended as much on the
older fans as it did on attracting a new generation.

6.  Harry Knowles of www.aintitcool.com is not your
archetypal Hollywood player; but the internet has allowed
him to make or break a movie and become part of the
industry.

7.  Aint It Cool News was launched in 1996 by Harry
Knowles
 The website garnered national attention in 1997 with the
release of Batman & Robin. Knowles posted several negative
reviews from preview screenings. When the film performed
poorly at the box office, studio executives complained that it
had been sabotaged by the leaks to the Internet.
 Occasionally, filmmakers interact with fans on the site.
Sylvester Stallone answered numerous questions from fans in
the site's message boards while publicizing the release of Rocky
Balboa as well as The Expendables. Bruce Willis also posted
on the website briefly to promote his film Live Free or Die
Hard