Research Memo
Three
When you’re as big of a Disney fan as I am, you understand that your position lends itself to having met some of the biggest names in the Disney family. However, the people that affect me the most in my community are those whom I don’t really show off, but are the ones who are just like me. In reality, no one is really like me, but so far, the individuals I have found to represent the Disney fan base have truly impressed me.
I’m very excited to officially get started. I feel as if each of my members will be extremely unique from the next. Based on some of my questions and the prospects that some of my participants have lain out, my research could potentially range from stories to work to even performances. I’m, pretty confident as well that some of my participants will even surprise me with what they bring to their individual sessions. I have also took on the helpful advise of my business associate who will help me to organize the final “look” of the project and provide feedback on how I should organize the structure of my film.
Thus far, I have a number of friends who have agreed to participate in my visual research project to talk about and display their Disney fandom. I have also taken it upon myself to find students at George Mason University who have strong ties with Disney. I really wanted to see how people outside of my friend group and also how people my age appreciate Disney in the ways that a true Disney fan would. I have a few highly prospective candidates that I’m still screening at the moment to see where they stand on the “Disney spectrum.” I have also been blessed with the support of some friends in Walt Disney Imagineering who want to be a part of my project. I think it will be of great impact to my project to have the professional who actually made the parks.
I hope that all of my work and preparation will pay off by showing the world how significant and impactful Disney is to a great many people. My hope is that the Disney fan base gets recognized as a respectable fan base (much as with sports fans) and not just a childish obsession. I think my community will gain outside interest in the fact that people will understand the being a Disney fan is so much more than liking it (especially in the case of the Imagineers). I truly think that viewers will really understand that Disney is a lifestyle for some and a beacon of dreams, happiness, and hope for others. What will I gain out of this? I will have the pride of displaying the passion of [what I call] my family. Just one man's opinion.