Echo Chamber - A General Genre Gabfest

Recently, the Internet buzzed with the news that Warner Bros. is contemplating a reboot of THE MATRIX to be the Next Big Franchise to Make All The Moneys. But is this a good idea? What stories are left to tell in that virtual universe? Do we need to know Agent Smith's origin? Do we need to see a young Morpheus? Neo as a child? And what special effects innovation can be the next Bullet Time? Or is there potential for some really good stories yet to be told? Can we dive back into the Matrix after all this time? The panel: Mindy Inlow, Sonya Rodriguez, Thomas Townley, Tim Harvey, Jason Hunt

This month, the Gang of Meddling Kids gathers 'round the table to discuss the Resident Evil franchise. From its first days as an early Playstation game to its current status as the top-grossing horror film franchise of all time, Resident Evil has delivered several iterations. Some good, some not. And with the movie franchise winding down (maybe), is it time for the video game series to do the same? Or is there still room for more games pitting Alice against the Umbrella Corporation? The panel: Ann Laabs, Thomas Townley, Jared Hawkins, David Baker, Sam Sentman

Three weeks after its debut in theaters, ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY is still going strong at the box office. Quickly surpassing Captain America: Civil War, it gained the number two spot for 2016. Critical acclaim, positive word-of-mouth, and even a controversy or two concerning the resurrection of certain characters -- all worked to make ROGUE ONE a hot property. The gang gathers around the table to talk about favorite moments, some quibbles, and speculations about what happens next, especially in the wake of Carrie Fisher's untimely death. The panel: Mackenna Riley, Mindy Inlow, Jennifer Wise, Thomas Townley, Jay McDowell, Jeff Hackworth, Sam Sentman, Dan Handley

On the heels of our discussion about recasting Xena: Warrior Princess, and our discussion about the latest Ghostbusters film, we now turn to the broader topic of remakes and reboots: are they necessary? Is there ever a time when it's a good idea? Depending on who asks the question, and depending on who answers that question, you'll get completely different ideas about where remakes fit in the overall scheme of things. And reboots? Jury's still out on those for some people, as well. And among the panel, there's a spectrum of opinions, too. Some in favor, some not so much, and some are conditional depending on the project. And you probably have your opinions, too. Feel free to share them with us.

It's official: Star Trek fan films now have rules guidelines. And while some fans are balking at the "draconian" measures set forth by CBS and Paramount, others recognize that it's a new common starting point that gives all fan productions a level playing field. Michael Hinman, editor-in-chief of 1701News, and Carlos Pedraza, editor of AxaMonitor, join our panel in an examination of the new fan film guidelines that have been announced in the wake of the lawsuit against Axanar. Will this have a chilling effect on fan films? Will it foster a new round of creativity and innovation? The panel: Michael Hinman, Carlos Pedraza, Ann Laabs, Sonya Rodriguez, Kathryn Sanders, Dave Margosian, Jason Hunt

Continuing our discussions of the Paramount/CBS vs. Axanar Productions, Star Athletica vs. Varsity Brands, and the take-down of X-Men: Danger Room Protocols.Michael Hinman, editor-in-chief of 1701News, joins our panel in an examination of the Star Trek: Axanar production, how it's become the focus of the copyright protection efforts on the part of Paramount Pictures and CBS Television. Is Alec Peters in the right? Is Axanar just a fan film? Is it a threat to Star Trek Beyond? Or is it more the fact that Peters & Company are building a commercial enterprise using the reputation of Star Trek?Plus: if copyright law covers the design of a cheerleader uniform, what impact could that have on the cosplay community? Especially considering that some cosplayers are actually profiting (at least a little bit...) from their work/play in cosplay, will movie costumes fall under copyright protection? Will cosplayers take a hit?

Comic books. They're the source material for billion-dollar movie franchises. They're the inspiration for kids, with their heroes and role models. And especially in the last few decades, they've been home to some pretty good stories that have changed the comics industry. But are comic books literature? Are they telling stories that matter? As we've seen with the debate over the Hugo Awards, is there a big difference between stories that entertain and stories that make a difference? The panel: Dan Handley, Jay McDowell, Jason Hunt

In this first episode of the new year — and an extended one at that — we finally sit around the table and discuss the phenomenon that is Star Wars: The Force Awakens. From George Lucas' comments (taken out of context) to a spoiler-filled chat about the movie itself, and a look at what lies ahead for the franchise, the Gang of Meddling Kids goes to a galaxy far, far away for a look at the latest entry in the record-setting multi-billion-dollar franchise. The panel: Angie Fiedler Sutton, Jennifer Wise, Sonya Rodriguez, Dan Handley, Jeff Hackworth, Timothy Harvey, Jason Hunt