In the vast landscape of podcasting available to internet users, there is no doubt many of the these feeds are devoted to aspects and opinions on the many channels of pop culture. Standing high above all of them when it comes to the point of view of what it means to be a fanatic is Team Jack, part of the Smodco Broadcasting family brought to you by Kevin Smith.
Jack Morrissey, the namesake of Team Jack, was approached by film maker Smith to podcast due not only to his knowledge of pop culture, but for his radio voice, as he dubs it. Instead of focusing directly on the mediums of film or otherwise that Jack and his co-hosts Matt Cohen and Greg Yolen are interested in, his podcast became focused on the voice of, the analyzation of, and the sense of community in being a fanatic.
Edward vs R: Why ‘Warm Bodies’ is not ‘Twlight’. Photo from ScreenCrush.com
Here we are again, dear readers. Another blog where I truly do not want to get personal, but this article is about more than the namesakes it features. This is about hopefully distinguishing some large arguments in regards to film comparisons by taking a fanatic point of view and applying it with facts as well as reasoning. Looking beyond aesthetics and dissecting the subjects at hand. Basically, in layman’s terms, I really hope after reading this, people stop whining about why “Warm Bodies”is the same thing as “Twilight”.
Meet Fong Sam. Fong runs Haxbee, which is the Headquarters of Blacksparrow Auctions. Wait, what in the heck is a “Haxbee”?
“Haxbee is a made up name, I’ll be honest with you,” he says. “But what I’d like for it to stand for is, if I do my job right, is to stand for honesty and excellence.”
Okay but seriously, what does Haxbee do? “We are primarily a company that deals with collectibles, pop culture and entertainment related. I’ve been doing this for 14 years, and this is me going out on my own, doing what I enjoy doing.”
If Fong looks familiar to you, then you might have seen him on Syfy’s Hollywood Treasure. The reality show was based on the inner workings of Profiles in History, which Fong parted ways with on good terms to start this new venture.
Fong has recently taken in an expansive collection of hero costumes from The Hunger Games starring Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, and more powerhouse actors. Worthwhile pieces to mention are the leather hunting boots of Katniss Everdeen from the beginning of the film, colorful pieces from the character Effie Trinket, and wonderfully flamboyant outfits belonging to the charismatic Caesar Flickerman.
“What I really want to do is take this [the collection] out on the road and get engaged with fans,” “Do things where I can interact more with fans.”
“I’m just trying to live in the moment,” Fong says humbly, despite a bright and involved year ahead of him of tours and more. May the odds be ever in his favor!
Her name is Emma Clark. You may not know her by that name, however. If one were to mention YouTube’s Nuttymadam, or “the crying Twilight fan”, or “AMAZING BOOOOK”, that may ring more of a bell. Emma is a Twilight super fan, and the eyes of the pop culture community are on this young woman as the Twilight film series is drawing to a close. Part Two of Breaking Dawn is slowly releasing around the globe, and though the DVD/BluRay will be out months from now, the fans have reached a bit of a mourning period of the saga ending, which Emma agrees with via Twitter.
Though the film series has drawn to a close, Emma has gained a lot of recognition over the years for her dedication to the Twihard fandom due to her outspoken and spirited views on Twilight with all things that go with it. I’ve even interviewed her quite a few times on my BlogTalkRadio show HERE. Aside from watching her YouTube videos, check out THIS, THIS and THIS for some great recent interviews or final movie coverage she has done for large media outlets who have taken notice of her, including celeb gossip blogger Perez Hilton, who is her biggest fan!
What is best in life? An open mind, a butt-comfy seat and a copy of “Arnold’s Army” by Randy Jennings, a novel about the fan community of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Whether you are a fan of Arnold, a skeptic of the actor due to his controversies, or just into anything fan culture related, there is something for anyone in reading this piece. As much as one would think that this is all about Arnold, it is more so about the cult following from his contributions to pop culture, fitness, philanthropy, and most of his fans would agree in politics. From tattoos to collections to stories of encounters with the iconic actor, this book has it all!
A personal recommendation for highlights in this book lie in Chapters Thirteen and Fourteen - terrific views into Randy’s life, as he gracefully shares some of his encounters with The Oak (or Austrian Oak, which are just some of Arnold’s nicknames). He also shares that his mother visited Arnold’s homeland, giving her vivid written description as a fellow fan on the overseas trip complete with photos. Randy is also encouraging his son to follow in his Arnold admiring footsteps, as seen in the above photo.
The well-deserved spokesperson and head of the Arnold fan community through his terrific and long standing site The Arnold Fans, Randy is open in the book about the fact that his fan community, as well as his idol, are not perfect. Yet through all the adversity, he helps to rally up the troops through many measures such as this video “Forever Arnold” after the Governator’s adultery saga unfolded, including cameos from Danny Devito and other show business staples. He also gives a lot of credit to those in the past and present who help him run TAF, as well as displaying the stories of many fellow “Army” members.
Before received a copy of his book, I spoke with Randy on BlogTalkRadio about being an Arnold fan and about “Arnold’s Army” as well as other projects, which you can listen to HERE. Visit Randy’s namesake website The Arnold FansHERE, as well as to purchase a copy of his novel HERE. You can also see a video of Arnold at San Diego Comic Con 2012 thanking fans, as well as Randy asking a Q of the actor HERE at the 4 minute mark.
Christopher Lloyd, who is probably best remembered as Doc Brown from the “Back to the Future” trilogy, or Uncle Fester in “The Addams Family” films, or from “The PageMaster”, or “Taxi” (the list goes on and on), signed autographs for many fans at New York City Comic Con 2012. In this short video, BTTF super fan Kreg is filmed meeting one of his heroes as he gets his Flux Capacitor signed. Oh yeah, and the Capacitor came right out of his Delorean (aka the brand of the BTTF time machine car). LOVE IT.
She was challenged by an overtly religious upbringing and dropped by two record labels, but this didn’t stop Katy Perry from rising to the top of the charts. With the pop star’s great success also came a gigantic following of fans: her KatyCats.
In her recently released DVD/BluRay “Part of Me” featuring behind the scenes of her 2011 tour, bits of her life and full concert pieces, a major element of the film was not only how her fans react to her and her music, but also how they helped her in her time of need (a gut-wreching moment later in the film turns into the most heart warming).
One fan who can definitely relate to Katy’s music, message and beyond is super fan Jack Moore. Featured in a highly viewed Olly Newport film called “Katy & I”, Jack plasters his walls with Katy’s image and displays his playful British humor. Jack also spoke with me about his fandom on my BlogTalkRadio show HERE and you can see an old panoramic view of his room below. Follow Jack on Twitter and buy a copy of “Part of Me” on iTunes, or in person where you buy your media etceteras today!
It’s hard enough when you’re caught in the middle of a scandal in your personal life and having to deal with the inner circle of people you deal with day to day, all the while keeping your chin up. What about when you’re a celebrity under a global microscope of judgmental journalists, hounding paparazzi, catty fans, and an industry obsessed with the idea of unobtainable perfection? Kristen Stewart could tell you about these pressures, but instead at a recent film festival, she simply stated of coming back into the public eye in an Associated Press article, ”Don’t just figuratively put your head down and barrel though it. Be there, appreciate it.”
For those who don’t know, and in the shortest terms possible since this is not a gossip blog, Kristen was involved in a bit of a controversy where in apologetic statements from both parties admitted they had cheated on their significant others with each other. In the public’s eyes, until there is a huge slander or libel suit claiming neither party admitted to this fact, the public believes this has happened and have mostly laid the moral blame on Kristen, despite the man she had her alleged tryst with being a married man with children.
Fans of the Twilight franchise have turned on KStew on the internet and there have even been spoofs about fans reacting to this news on everything from Bruce Willis on The Late Show and Will Ferrell on Conan. What’s curious, however, is what the press picks and chooses to display in regards to the fan’s feelings on Kristen. A few weeks ago, they focused on all the fans who hated her now. The most significant example was when a video from NuttyMadam aka Twilight superfan Emma on YouTube went viral declaring why she couldn’t understand how Kristen could do this. In the video, she overwhelmingly states how everyone should leave alone not only Kristen but her boyfriend (exboyfriend?) Robert Pattinson, who both shot to fame together portraying Twilight characters Edward and Bella. Despite this main message, many articles instead focus on her judgmental statements about Kristen.
Now that Kristen is back in the public eye to promote other projects such as the film On the Road and with Breaking Dawn looming in the distance, the press sways it’s coverage to butter up the celebrity it was only previously demonizing. And of course, focusing on her fans who stick by is their ultimate weapon.
Regardless of how different press sources portray her, or any celebrity caught in a scandal, Kristen is ever grateful for her fans. She has highlighted the significance of her fans in multiple interviews, the best examples with MTV News not only at TIFF this year, but in a 2010 piece where she says she knows what “Krisbians” are (aka female fans who are devoted to Kristen), and calls their support “absolutely, disarmingly amazing.”
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