Jenkins (2006) mentions several fan films based on the Star Wars franchise; one example called "Boba Fett: Bounty Trail."
Does fan film hurt or help the franchise? It depends on the film. I believe that mockumentaies and parodies that provide humor can be a way to promote the franchise. However, if there is a serious fan film that attempts to produce an identical reproduction or borrow actual footage or images from the original, then it becomes hurtful and in fact illegal. I can see and appreciate the creativity that goes into the production of fan film; in my classroom, I encourage students to recreate scenes, historical events, characterization, and fantasies that relate to whatever we are studying in class. To me the production of fan films is the technology turn on this same learning concept.
The dangers of letting fans make up their own StarWars-based stories is that in the current culture, people neglect to think of how their story might affect others. Specifically, I can see issues arising when fans begin to create Star Wars-based stories that have unethical, immoral, or inappropriate themes.
Citations
hurler1348. (2006, September 7). Bounty Trail. Retrieved August 9, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watchv=BAU_PCEVMyY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fonline%2Efullsail%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ecfm%3Ffuseaction%3Dassignment%2Emain%26itemId%3D66946&feature=player_embedded
Jenkins. H. (2006). Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide. NY: New York University Press.
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