The things we obsess over — the shows, films, characters, and worlds that refuse to stay on the screen.
These fandom essays explore how audiences connect with pop culture, animation, and storytelling. From cult favorites to mainstream hits, fandom isn’t just about what we watch — it’s about what stays with us.
Hollywood spends billions chasing blockbusters, but some of the most beloved cult classic movies in history bombed on arrival. From Rocky Horror to The Big Lebowski, these five films prove that audiences, not studios, decide what becomes a classic.
WonderCon / Visual Effects / Creativity Make It Better A visual effects panel at WonderCon 2018 left me with a creative philosophy that still influences my work today. By David Derks DerksWorld · Originally written in March 2018 Filed Under: WonderCon · Creativity · Visual Effects · Filmmaking Note: This article was originally written in […]
INDUSTRY / Culture / Audience Shift How Audience Participation Is Reshaping Entertainment From anime fandoms and creator communities to livestreams and social discovery, modern audiences are no longer just consuming entertainment — they are becoming part of it. By David Derks DerksWorld · May 26, 2026 Filed Under: Media & Culture · Fandom · Creator […]
Dumpster Fire Toy: The Comic-Con Story Behind the Viral Hit A few years ago at San Diego Comic-Con, the Dumpster Fire toy became impossible to ignore. ASIFA-Hollywood had a booth on the floor that was doing just fine. But right next to us was a booth doing gangbusters business. The entire time they were open, […]
There’s a difference between attending a convention and actually helping shape what happens there. This weekend, I’ll be at WonderCon 2026 in Anaheim, California—one of the largest pop culture conventions in the U.S., bringing together fans and creators across comics, film, television, and animation. I’ll be there as Vice President of ASIFA-Hollywood, and for me, […]
Fandom is the new marketing, and companies that understand this shift are reshaping how brands grow. There was a time when marketing revolved around volume and visibility. Companies purchased television spots, dominated billboard space, and saturated digital platforms with banner ads in the hope that repeated exposure would eventually translate into revenue. The assumption was […]
Why These Events Attract Millions—and Why They Make People So Happy The science behind Comic Cons explains something I’ve been watching unfold for decades: these gatherings don’t just entertain people—they meet deep psychological needs for belonging, identity, and shared joy. I’ve been going to San Diego Comic-Con since the 1980s, back when it was a […]