Casting Call 01.08.09: Issue 86 - I, Fanboy

Posted by Jason Chamberlain on 01.08.2009

411's Jason Chamberlain returns with his first Casting Call of 2009, and takes a look at what it means to love all things fantasy and sci fi in a world that labels everything and everyone; are we geeks, or are we fanboys?

Happy 2009! I hope everybody had a happy and healthy holidays and that the new year is already bringing you blessings wherever you are.

For my part, the blessings just keep coming! For one, I continue to make a living doing something as effortless as writing in these times of economic turmoil. For another, I continue to have an audience (I hope) on this site, which I am continually grateful for.

This is my 86th Casting Call, and it's hard to believe it's been nearly two years since I first landed a gig here on the site. It's been a great run so far, I've met (digitally of course) some great people. Plus, one of my long time ‘real world' friends, Seth Gumbs, has come aboard and is kicking ass on our MMA channel with his new column "Split Decision". If you're into the sport, be sure to check his columns out. He knows his stuff, and he's never shy about sharing his opinions! Trust me, I've known the dude since second grade.

Okay, back to me. I'm 15 columns away from the big 100, which is pretty cool. In fact, after giving it some thought, I've decided I'll be shutting down the "Casting Call" upon reaching that plateau. I won't be leaving 411, far from it. With the Heroes review, retro Buffy reviews (and soon, Angel) and other site platforms, you'll be seeing plenty of me.

For Casting Call, I'm simply running out of ideas, and in a way, motivation. There are only so many characters I dig enough to devote a column too. There are obviously an endless amount of characters in the realm of film and TV, most of which I haven't and won't get to, for one reason or another. To date I've touched on a great deal of the ones I love, and I'll continue to do so over my remaining columns.

But before I do that, I want to share something with any readers I am lucky enough to have; though it's probably become clear to you at this point, let me assure you if you have any doubts.

I am, what some would call, a geek.

A huge geek. A big time geek. A comic loving, movie quote reciting, pretend lightsaber fighting geek.

Why label myself like that? Well, only for the purposes of turning around and tearing that label down. I don't like labels. And with my list of interests and passions, that pesky 'geek' label can be attached to me quite easily.

Labels, to begin with, are stupid. Human beings (myself included of course) seem to have an insatiable need to label things, and not just things, but other people. To box people in, categorize them into headings and subheadings. He's a geek. She's a goth. That guy's a jock. You're a liberal. I'm a conservative, etc etc.

When it comes to hobbies, especially those involving fantasy, science fiction, comics, games, whatever, the geek word gets thrown around a lot. We've all heard the clichés. "Episode 3 was released today, and throughout the world millions of unwashed geeks emerged from their mother's basements'.

Ah the mother's basement, the bedrock of geek stereotyping.

Well, I don't really want to believe that something as complex as a human being can be summed up in one word. And I certainly don't think that just because someone likes Star Wars (or Star Trek, if you prefer) or anything else that doesn't meet with approval from the 'cool people', he is a geek, period, end of story.

Listen, I went to see Episode 3 not once, not twice, but a very fitting three times on opening day with my best friend. The day before that, we sat down and watched the original trilogy, then Eps 1 and 2, then the clone wars cartoons to prepare ourselves for the holy experience that was Revenge Of The Sith. A whole shelf of my book case is dedicated to Star Wars novels, and I could name at least ten Star Wars planets without stopping to think.

But I'm not a geek. And neither are you, unless for some reason you decide to believe that you are.

Geek is just a word. I play hockey and I go to the gym 4 days a week, but I'm not a jock. Jock is just a word too. Unlike that nonexistent 'typical geek' with the unwashed hair, the stained shirt and the mom's basement, I have had a couple girlfriends in my life. I'm willing to bet you have too. Or boyfriends, for the girls reading. Or vice versa, if that's your thing. It's all good.

My point is, I don't accept the label of geek just because I love Star Wars, or comic books. I don't accept any label. I ask people to call me by my given name (or a nickname chosen with humour and affection) and accept me for who I am, everything I am, which very much includes comics, a giant DVD collection and an encyclopaedic knowledge of that galaxy far, far away.

So my words of wisdom for whoever reads this would be, if at any time some unenlightened person has tried to condemn you and your hobbies with the 'g' word, shrug it right off.

We're not geeks. We're all just people.

But if you must.... call me a fanboy!

With that said, I look forward to using my remaining columns to let my fanboy colors really fly, and to enjoy the characters that really get my creative juices flowing. From Indiana Jones to Captain Jack Sparrow to Lord Vader himself... you ain't seen nothing yet!