Q&A with Gary Berman: Lord of the Rings Fans
Has there been a backlash among hard-core fans when shows or movies become so overtly commercial? Say, when someone comes out with Bilbo Baggins-brand band-aids.
There is some, yes. I can't speak for Tolkien fans, because I am not as familiar. But many Star Trek fans have come to accept the commercialization. They understand that it brings in money for the studios. I don't think anyone really loves to see Mr. Spock on a box of whatever, but people collect those boxes, too.
Despite their willingness to be walking billboards, hard-core fans are often the harshest critics.
That's another thing that the studios have come to accept. If the work is good and the producers and directors acknowledge what the fans want, often the praise outweighs the negativity, and the positive buzz can bring a larger audience. The buzz on the new Superman movie has been very positive because the people involved have been aware of the fan movement and been responsive.
What makes for positive buzz?
The best directors and studios feed the fan movement online with pictures and information. It has evolved to the point where studios have become quite brilliant. Peter Jackson, while making King Kong, released short videos from the set to generate interest.
The studios also seem to be having fun with the fans—the blooper reel that will be shown at the Lord of the Rings convention, for example. What will the fans see?
Ha! You think I've seen them? New Line Cinema has been very protective. Tell me again, when will this article be published?
So you haven't seen the main attraction?
Peter Jackson just agreed to let us show the blooper reel at the last minute, and we have to be very protective of how we show it. We will be searching for cameras at the theater. There's a whole security wand system. We can't even allow people to bring in cellphones because so many of them have cameras. I suppose the security adds to the glamour. –Alex Kingsbury
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