COMIC CON: EPISODE IV - A FAN’S HOPE

Description from TIFF 2011 catalog by Thom Powers:

The elaborate title Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope gives a wink to Star Wars fans and anyone else who follows the sequel-prone world of comics and fantasy films. But don’t be fooled: this documentary is a bona fide first edition. Spurred by encouragement from Marvel impresario Stan Lee, director Morgan Spurlock explores the hopes of several fans making the annual summer pilgrimage to San Diego’s Comic-Con. “You’ve got to admire the fans because without them, you’re nothing,” says Lee. As a pop culture maven, Spurlock has great affection for this scene, as does producer Thomas Tull, whose credits range from The Dark Knight to It Might Get Loud. For fans weary of being mocked and misunderstood, this film is a hope come true.

Comic-Con started in 1970 and catered to a few hundred comic book collectors, then grew to encompass Hollywood blockbusters, anime, videogames and more. Today there are over a hundred thousand attendees whose attention is keenly sought by publicists, marketers and celebrities hustling their latest product. Within this fantasy bubble, plenty of real drama takes place. Spurlock stays behind the camera as we follow fans chasing their Comic-Con dreams: Eric, an aspiring illustrator, hopes to impress publishers and land a job; Holly, an amateur clothing designer, hopes her costumes will win an award; Chuck, a long-time comic book dealer, hopes a big sale will pay off his debts; and James, a young fan, hopes his girlfriend will accept a dramatic proposal. Although Comic-Con may be devoted to world-saving superheroes, its heart and soul come from these human-scale aspirations.

Throughout the film, we hear from Comic-Con veterans who have turned their passions into professions, including Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen, Joss Whedon, Matt Groening, Guillermo del Toro, Harry Knowles, Todd McFarlane and Frank Miller. They testify to what makes Comic-Con such an energizing experience for so many people. This film captures the whole spectacle, from the silly to the sublime.

About the director:
Morgan Spurlock was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and studied film at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He received worldwide acclaim for his Academy Award®-nominated debut Super Size Me (04). His other documentary features are Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? (08), Freakonomics (10), The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (11) and Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope (11).

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Read more about the documentary "COMIC CON: EPISODE IV - A FAN’S HOPE" on the Stranger Than Fiction web site. Go to this link: http://stfdocs.com/films/comic_con_episode_iv_-_a_fans_hope/ Stranger than Fiction Thom Powers and Raphaela Neihausen host an exclusive series of screenings for documentary film lovers. IFC Center 323 Sixth Ave. @ 3rd St. Every Tuesday night - 8 p.m. unless noted otherwise

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