Abstract

To obtain an insider perspective on contemporary industry/fan relationships, we brought together Ivan Askwith, Britta Lundin, and Aja Romano to discuss how their own identities as fans inform their work as media consultants, creators, and commentators. Ivan Askwith is the former head of the Digital Media division of Lucasfilm, and has planned and run the most successful fan-centric crowdfunding campaigns of all time, including Veronica Mars (2013), Reading Rainbow (2014), and Mystery Science Theater 3000 (2015). Britta Lundin is currently a writer on the CW series Riverdale (which, it should be noted, had not begun airing when this conversation was held), and author of Ship It, a young adult (YA) novel focused on fan culture scheduled for publication in 2018. Aja Romano has written extensively on fan and geek culture for The Daily Dot, and is currently a web culture reporter for Vox.com. Below, they discuss how industry/fan relationships are changing, and being shaped by shifting production practices and emergent technologies.