The stuff about outside inspiration you've been talking about on Twitter today reminds me of why I find so many fan films lackluster. They're way too insular and obsessed with the minutiae, rather than focusing on telling a story.

I have not watched very many fan films, but I have been impressed by the ones I see.

For it, it’s just that, telling a genre story from purely genre influences tends to feel a bit worn, no matter how well it’s told.

When you bring in stuff from the outside of that genre, that’s when it resonates.