With Sci Fi Studios all about inviting and nurturing new talent and feedback in entertainment, it reminds us just how the industry has been shaken up thanks to fandom. No longer is "the biz" such a remote mystery:  As fanzines begat professional writers and editors, as CGI visual effects begat a whole generation of space battles and fantasy armies created on a laptop, so now are digital cameras, editing and Internet video channels opening up the booming "hobby" of genre fan films to nearly anyone who takes the leap.

It's a no-brainer for our theme in Issue 3. Fans have been capturing their dreams and inspiration on film for ages (somewhere there's a certain college Star Trek parody on videotape, but I'll never tell), and the revolution of access the last few years is incredible, cutting across all franchises. Still, why do fans plunk down thousands of their own dollars for their passion? Are they crazy? Or just getting a calling card or demo reel for a hoped-for craft?  

Well, check out Alan Anderton's "Insider's Perspective" for a good entrée—and then segue to his visit with James Cawley, producer of the most high profile of the Trek fan films, New Voyages. Scott Brody provides another layman's look checking in with J.T. Tepnapa of the long-running Hidden Frontiers Trek series. Chris McQuillan chats with actor Steve Hammond of Star Trek: Intrepid, and music is the topic of Shari McVoy and Rachel Pierce's piece with Starship Farragut composer John Seguin.  

Writer Carlos Pedraza, linked to both New Voyages and Hidden Frontiers, fills in Wendy Gamble on the ever-increasing world of professionals working in "fan films." Finally, going well beyond the Federation, horror fans should look for Robert Pyatt's talk with Jonathan S. Kuri about his Hellraiser: Prophecy project.  

But there's still a lot more to Issue "Trey." The hottest story in genre fandom has been the "nutsy" protest to save Jericho, and now CBS has actually offered a reprieve: See Chris McQuillan's story and deadline update on this feel-good fandom saga. You'll also find reviews of the near-future science drama Children of Men and Michael Crichton's novel Next, both by Shari, while Chris takes a critical look at the troubled cast dynamic on Stargate Atlantis and wonders about the solo attraction of the series in one Rodney McKay. And Wendy continues her book reviews with Dr. Robin Cook's medical thrillers Fever, Brain and Godplayer.  

Wendy also acts as our tour guide this issue for exposing the realm of SFS itself, taking us "Inside the Mind of István Szabó" and his contribution to the story in development on the website called Medsci.  

For the science-minded, Jeffery Mahr delves into the research behind "Stem Cells: A Baby's Gift," while Charles Ivie presents the third in his series on interstellar travel with the ever-informative "What Must You Worry About When You Go Really, Really Fast."  

Finally, all you Harry Potter experts can jump in on this one as Scott, Wendy and Shari invite you to indulge this questionnaire and provide your predictions regarding Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. We'll summarize them so all can see how they stack up against fellow fans-and then SFS Issue 5 will bring a Harry Potter special, where we'll compare the actual movie outcomes with all your predictions.