Marc Kimball, a 40-year-old animator for a video production company, took an old 8 mm movie that he had shot in 1980 of himself starring as Superman, updated the film's effects with modern computer graphics and distributed the revised film for free on the Internet.

Lawyers representing DC Comics, the company that owns Superman, sent Kimball a cease-and-desist letter a week later. It stated that Kimball's work was unauthorized and accused Kimball of using a DC Comics property without the express written permission of DC Comics. Kimball promptly took down the site he had set up for distributing his film, without contesting the company's claims.

"I thought I had done everything right. The movie had original music and legal music-library stuff, an original story, original special effects," says Kimball. Furthermore, there were no ad banners on his Web site, and he did not sell or make videotape copies of his film. He insists, "I treated Superman with respect. The only thing was I used the Superman logo, name and costume, and they shut me down."

(When asked for its official stance on fan films based on its properties and for comment on the Kimball matter, DC Comics' publicity manager responded to Salon: "DC Comics has a long history of energetically protecting its copyrights and trademarks. Therefore, we stand by our cease-and-desist letter in this particular case.")

While DC Comics takes the hard line, other media giants may be opting for a more enlightened approach -- drawing their fans into the fold.

Lucasfilm, the production company behind the "Star Wars" series, has an informal agreement with "Star Wars" fans: "We love our fans, and we love it when they express their creativity and enthusiasm for 'Star Wars,'" emphasizes Lynne Hale, Lucas' publicist. "When it does cross the line, or when we do have a problem, is when they use 'Star Wars' copyrighted materials for commercial use." Otherwise, "Star Wars" fan filmmakers have the blessing of Lucas himself.

On Nov. 6, the official Web site for the "Star Wars" movies and AtomFilms announced that they will partner to launch the Star Wars Fan Film Network later this year, which will feature fan-made movies. Lucasfilm is going so far as to make sound effects -- from Darth Vader's breathing to the equally recognizable light saber hum -- available from its library for fan filmmakers to use. The Star Wars Fan Film Network even plans to pay fan filmmakers through royalties generated from advertising and sponsorship related to the site.

"Soon, [copyright holders] are going to need those active fans more than ever before," says MIT's Jenkins. "In a world with multiple media options, video on demand and micropayments, fans may become the new gatekeepers who help direct consumers toward interesting and engaging media content. The smart media executive should figure out which direction the media-consuming public is moving, run around in front and shout, 'Follow me.'"

What motivates most fan filmmakers is the desire to see other stories based on their favorite movie, TV series or superhero. Young says fan films can also help to supply a missing piece of the story that, without their creative efforts, might never have been pursued by the original creators.

Young points out that there are no new episodes or shows based on "Highlander," the inspiration for his own creation. And after the critical and box-office drubbing of the last movie, "Highlander: Endgame," the future of this franchise's film series is in doubt. Similarly, Lucas has stated that he will not make a sequel trilogy to his "Star Wars" saga.

"I see the 'Star Wars' fan-film community only growing more once [Episode III is released]," says Young. He feels that fan filmmaking has grown to such a point that "if the creators won't give you more, now you can simply create more yourself."

Considering the extent to which digital filmmaking and broadband Internet technology have already advanced and converged, some of the more extreme possibilities of the fan-film scene may not sound so far-fetched: Will there come a time when fans "take over" TV shows, movies or other media properties? Will fan filmmakers create the next "Star Wars" trilogy in Lucas' place?

"In a few years, there could be 50 [fan-made] 'Star Trek' series online," says Young. "That is very exciting. It also forces the professionals to work harder and really pay attention to what fans want. Hey, we're making what we want to see. If that's not what they're producing, then they should catch a hint."

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