fanfilm
Unofficial devotee production
A fanfilm is an amateur movie made by enthusiasts of an existing franchise—Star Wars, Star Trek, superhero universes—using those characters and settings without official authorization.
Fanfilms range from low-budget tributes shot in basements to polished productions with professional effects.
Studios generally tolerate them as long as creators don't profit: The fanfilm reimagined Darth Vader's origin story.
Costing relatively little
- DIYAmateur home projects
- homemadePrepared at one's residence
- indieProduced outside majors
- self-fundedPaid with own resources
noncommercial · grassroots · hobbyist · self-taught · improvised · makeshift · homegrown · unofficial
Dressing as media characters
- conventionsAccepted social practices
- fanficUnofficial stories using existing characters
- fanartUnofficial creative homages
- communityCollective of connected people
subculture · shipping · headcanon · roleplay · devotee · enthusiast · collector · merchandise
Expression of deep respect
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- celebrationFestive event marking occasion
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- acknowledgmentConfirmation of receipt
recognition · reverence · reimagining · adaptation · parody · spoof · recreation · reinterpretation
Film's written blueprint
- directorOne who leads
- cinematographyMotion picture visual craft
- editingRefining content for clarity
- soundtrackMusic accompanying visual media
CGI · props · costumes · greenscreen · post-production · casting · storyboard · lighting
low-budget
Costing relatively little
self-funded · noncommercial · grassroots · hobbyist · self-taught · improvised · makeshift · homegrown · unofficial · guerrilla
cosplay
Dressing as media characters
- conventionsAccepted social practices
- fanficUnofficial stories using existing characters
- fanartUnofficial creative homages
community · subculture · shipping · headcanon · roleplay · devotee · enthusiast · collector · merchandise · panels
homage
Expression of deep respect
- appreciationRecognition of worth
- celebrationFestive event marking occasion
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
acknowledgment · recognition · reverence · reimagining · adaptation · parody · spoof · recreation · reinterpretation · pastiche
screenplay
Film's written blueprint
- directorOne who leads
- cinematographyMotion picture visual craft
- editingRefining content for clarity
soundtrack · CGI · props · costumes · greenscreen · post-production · casting · storyboard · lighting · VFX
- fanworksfanfic, fanfiction, fanart, fanzine, zines
- adaptationsmovie adaptation, TV adaptation, TV adaptations, stage adaptations, screenplay adaptation