Star Wars, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Mad Max, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter: famed film and novel series that have become cultural phenomena that captivate millions of people worldwide.
In Germany, too, there is now a considerable scene of various "fandoms", ie fan communities in which people pursue their passion for such fantastic worlds together. But what are those people dressing up as orcs or Indiana Jones in their spare time, who can speak every sentence of their favorite characters in the Star Wars movies? Are they all just "crazy nerds" who are nothing to do better with their time?
On the contrary, even though many people may consider such a cultic worship of fictional persons and stories strange, these are now popular and varied hobbies.
For true fans, the subject matter of their dream becomes a constant companion in everyday life, offering refuge and arousing enthusiasm. Often, it even influences the career aspirations or lifestyle, thus becoming a "calling". The film project Fandom Germany accompanies supporters of various fan cultures in Germany, explores their fascination and reflects their passion. In doing so, they are held with unprejudiced eyes and respect.
It's about informing what big sci-fi and fantasy supporters there are in Germany and shows how its members organize and exchange ideas here. We therefore address a wide range of issues:
Can differences be made between the fans in other nations? Are there any fundamental differences between the supporters of different fan communities? What legal peculiarities arise at meetings in Germany? After all, costumes and outfits are often based on billions of "intellectual properties" in the global entertainment industry.
Furthermore, some prominent researchers, especially film and media scientists, who deal with such a fanatic in their academic work, report in the context of the film on their respective subject of investigation. Here is a motivating question, why many people lose so obsessively in fictitious worlds, but in which their attraction may well be dangers.
