FANBOYS ~ GeekSexy

Finally, after multiple delays and more controversy than R. Kelly's home videos, Fanboys graces the theaters this weekend...finally (again). Originally scheduled for release on August 17, 2007, Fanboys had already been screened by George Lucas, who not only gave it two thumbs up, but allowed the filmmakers to use official Star Wars sound FX to enhance the overall feel of the film. Director Kevin Smith was so taken by the screening that he saw that he asked for a cameo in the film, to which the filmmakers gladly obliged. In fact, the film was getting such positive feedback that director Kyle Newman was given extra funding AFTER shooting the film, which he was more than happy to use to shoot additional scenes. The problem with that? He wouldn't be able to get the ensemble back together again until about a month after the movie was scheduled to be released. Now, I'm no expert but I would have to think that may a cause a logistical problem or three. The solution? Postpone the release. Now the film was looking at an early 2008 date. Due to some executive decisions, additional shooting would not take place until around the end of the year and without Newman.

Steven Brill was brought in to "lighten the film". He would remove the main subplot that Linus (played by Chris Marquette) was suffering from terminal cancer and inject the film with more cheap laughs and vulgarities...you know, for entertainment value (must be shooting for an Oscar). Now there existed two versions of the film, so the Weinstein Company decided to screen both version to audiences in Burbank and see which was more well-received. It was decided at this point that the film would now be released around April, 2008. Dedicated fans berated Brill for his uninspired butchering of the film and an online campaign was started to have the film released closer to Newman's original vision. Brill retaliated with barrage of slurs and profanities in response to people's comments, including calling the fans losers and even threatening to hunt one person down.

Newman responded to Brill's action in one interview saying:
"If you're going to go in and re-cut someone's film even though you're not even a fan of the subject matter, just because you want a paycheck, you're not passionate about it, then do that. But don't go opening your mouth and alienating the core audience of that movie. I just thought that was the most low class thing that you could do, especially considering there are so many people that worked years and years and years on this"

Ultimately, the fans' voices were heard and the producers brought Kyle Newman back in to re-edit the film closer to his original vision, including the cancer storyline (which is really the main motivation of the film). Newman and his original team were given a mere 36 hours to come in and re-edit the film. The final version of the film was screened at the 2008 San Diego Comicon, where it was announced that Fanboys would be in theaters on September 19. After the film was pushed back again to November 26, fans eager to see the film began to lose hope that it would ever get released. When the film missed it's November release, it was rumored the Fanboys would now be a DVD release, so when the Weinstein Company announced a release date for February 6 it became a "I'll believe it when I see it" type of situation. Well, I saw it. I believed it. And I LOVED it. I can't wait to see what they do with the DVD considering how much footage they have. It should be...interesting.

FANBOYS 2008 TRAILER

FANBOYS 2009 TRAILER

FANBOYS: BEHIND THE SCENES