The Fangirl Project is part photo book, part video documentary and all labor of love. In December 2006, photographer Love Ablan and writer/videographer Jennifer Zern decided to travel across the country in search of the female equivalent of a "fanboy" -- a hardcore devotee deeply immersed in geeky interests like science fiction, fantasy, comic books, gaming, and the like. Eight months later, they're still going at it.

As certified fangirls themselves, the duo embarked on this project for several reasons: to shatter a few myths, to explore a fascinating and wildly diverse subculture, to document the flip side of a presumably male-dominated niche, and to have a good time meeting people with similar passions.

Subjects are photographed in their element -- either at home, at their favorite comic book store, or at conventions -- and interviewed about their obsessions and their views on what it means to be a fangirl.

The end product will be a coffee table-style portrait book celebrating the fangirl phenomena. Video interviews will be posted on YouTube intermittently. Photo exhibits in a number of cities will coincide with the book's release.

 

 

 

Love Ablan (Photography) Love was a member of the Archie Comic Fanclub in 1986, is a World of Warcraft guildmaster and Druid class leader (dr00ds ftw!), has a massive collection of toys and action figures including the G.I. Joe aircraft carrier that's bigger than her couch, owns a minty Sandman issue #1 encased in .4-mil Mylar, still fires up her Super Nintendo console and uses her pulse-powered Pac-Man telephone. Much like the bewinged Silverhawks, she is partly metal, partly real, partly human and partly steel. www.loveablan.com www.bruteyfroo.com

Jennifer Zern (Interviews / Video) Jen has written an extensive catalog of Buffy The Vampire Slayer fanfiction, has a level 70 epic rogue in Azeroth and three dozen alts, used to record Battle of the Planets on a tape recorder, and counts her 1970s Aquaman rubber bendy action figure as one of her most prized possessions. She believes that the power to talk to fish is tragically underrated. www.jenniferzern.com www.bruteyfroo.com

A sneak peek behind the scenes:

Jen interviews Alice in her dorm room

This project would not be possible without the help and overwhelming support of so many awesome people, including but not limited to...

all the amazing fangirls that are participating in this documentary

and Jonathan Woodward for coming to conventions with us and spreading the word • Zern Associates for the airline miles • Mike Segawa for the banner illustration • Donna Segawa for our discounted hotel rooms • Jensen Karp and Gallery 1988 • Wendy Chin • our teamates in The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad: Theresa Donaghy, Josie Morin and Marielena Logsdon • Avie and Dexposure Inc • Jon Gibson and the Nerdcore Gang • Golden Apple Comics • Gloria for babysitting our dogs while we traipse across the country • Honey and Peanut • Secret Headquarters • Rachel Korpella • Josh Simmons • Munky King • Japan LA • Whedonesque • Whedonopolis • Farel Dalrymple • Fantagraphics • Chris O • Jim Hanley's Comics • Jason Paul • Alana for the beachglass gummys • our very supportive friends and family, (more to come)...

...and to all the fangirls and fanboys and otherkin across the entire universe, including virtual and even alternate universes where we might all be zombies or smurfs or smurf zombies.