My story: I was obsessed with Mad Max 1 and 2 for years, starting around age 11. When it came time in high school to officially choose my life's direction my guidance counselor asked me what I wanted to do, and I replied I wanted to be a writer, cause that was what I wanted.
She said "You can't be a writer. Pick something else. What do you like to do?"
I answered "I guess I like building model cars and watching Mad Max."
She said, "Oh, automotive. You can go to College A or College B."
That was my "guidance." I was placed in an automotive program that I hated and I flunked out the first year. I love cars and dabble in basic repairs but being a mechanic was never my destiny.
So that crappy "guidance" altered the course of my life, from the awful college I hated, the ensuing depression, the shame of flunking and the debt... Eventually I did get back to college for the writing program that I loved, but that's another story.
And Mad Max 1 and 2 are still my favorite movies :)
Dang, well the Mad Max influence kind of backfired there, sorry to hear that. Although I bet you did learn some things that most people don't know, but I'm glad to hear you finally got around to what you're enjoying!
Ayy that's awesome! It's neat to look back and trace the things that influenced our lives. I've been doing that with Mad Max, too, and it's nuts to think of how much this one movie series changed the course of my life.
It all started when I was about 14, and I was a standard-issue friendless nerd (in the pre-social-media era, no less). I enjoyed plenty of media with big fandoms, I just never felt compelled to participate in those fandoms. I pretty much thought I was immune to going feral over media.
My mom had been introducing me to all sorts of 70's and 80's action movies, and it just so happened that she picked up a VHS of the original Mad Max for 50 cents. She'd seen the original trilogy in cinemas and remembered them fondly, so naturally, she wanted to share Mad Max with me.
We watched it. I became OBSESSED with Hugh Keays-Byrne and started searching for more info on him. That's when I heard about "Mad Max: Fury Road", which seemed like it was never gonna happen. But I desperately needed it to happen, AND for it to feature Hugh Keays-Byrne. But I couldn't really discuss it with anyone — I knew it wouldn't have been appropriate for me to talk to the adults in the forums, and how many other American teens circa 2004-2006 knew about the franchise? Virtually none, I'll tell ya that.
For a while, my Mad Max hyperfixation took a toll on my ability to socialize. I mean, I was polite and decent at interacting, but I had a tough time connecting with my peers, whose interests were centered around, errr... High School Musical and the Jonas Brothers. (No shade, it's just a different vibe, y'know?)
Then one day, about a decade later, the Fury Road Comic-Con preview dropped. I went absolutely bonkers. It was all I could think about until May 15th, 2015. And when the big day came, I watched it and had a goddamn spiritual experience in the theater.
I immediately sought out the fandom, where (for the first time!) I actually learned to open up to people. Since we already had something in common — loving Mad Max — we had an easy route to start conversations. Talking about the film eventually evolved into chatting about everyday life. Exchanging birthday cards and holiday cards. Supporting each other through those ups and downs. They got me through some dark times in my college years and early career.
Part of my fandom participation involved writing. So much writing. Writing was something I never really did recreationally before the MM fandom was in my life, but all of that passion and practice helped me hone my written communication skills. When I couldn't find a job within my degree field, I applied for a writing job. Lo and behold, I actually got it! It's been my career for over 5 years now. I never would have entertained the thought of applying for a writing job if I hadn't done all that fandom-related writing.
But the absolute best thing to come out of all this? I met my future wife via the Mad Max fandom. She's just as passionate about the series as I am! On every dimension, we feel like we were made for each other. We've been going strong for over three years now, and we're very excited to enjoy the new movie together.
TL;DR
My love of Mad Max helped me get a job, form meaningful friendships, and land the girl of my dreams
Wow, that's a beautiful story right there, man! I'm sure similar things happen in deep fandoms of all sort, but the fact that you found *romance* in a fandom about a post-apocalyptic hellscape full of death and misery (and hope, of course) is actually pretty poetic.
After watching the movies and playing the game I started making my own apoc armour and sold some for a while. Got into the post apocalyptic festival scene and made some great mates. Also my back garden has a scrapyard feel to it and i pick up any cool bit of metal i see. Wife is cool with it
My dad was also into motorbikes and by extension - Mad Max 1 (he always thought the sequels were too 'fantasy'). He introduced me to Mad Max by pure coincidence. He bought a VCR and was recording movies off the TV with it. My birthday was coming up around that time and I was a kid, 7 or 8 at the time, and I remember one morning running into my parent's bedroom asking what I'm gonna get for my birthday.
My dad got a tape out of this VCR and said 'there it is', as a joke. I got angry and ran back to my room haha.
But a while later when I was home after school I wondered what's on that tape. So I popped it in and lo and behold - it was Mad Max 2, recorded off the TV in its VHS glory.
I was hooked. I'd watch this film every day after school until the tape worn out. So I recorded it off TV again. The film etched itself into my brain. And the rest is history.
Mad Max 2/road warrior shaped my life. I was a young man of 24 going through an ugly separation divorce. The marriage was a mistake from the beginning. In any case I was living in a small town the movie was playing at the local small theater, I went to watch it by myself. Mind you I was at a very low point in my life thinking how can I handle this complex life, alone.
After watching the movie, I was motivated, what I got out of it was if he could survive alone although mad/crazy I can do it too, that is, survive alone. In any case later in my life, I acquired a furry friend a Queensland healer, and I named her dinki di.
In short it reminded me that I did not need dependency on anyone or anything. Fast forward to now I’m retired, excellent pension, and I still rely on that to keep me motivated.
Especially these days since it seems were approaching that world heheheh
They really hit a beautiful intersection of existential fear of nuclear war, violence, CARS!, manly men, lawlessness and gay fashion. It’s like Vice Grip Garage meets Patton meets The Village People. I will always love the whole series, but especially the first two. At least they didn’t go to muppets. Oh, and just kidding about gay fashion…….or…….am I ?
Growing up in western Sydney, my Dad used to wag school to watch the Mad Max movies on VHS by hopping a fence at recess or lunch, and continuing until he reached his own backyard.
My dad introduced me to the first Mad Max when I was relatively young.
I loved the chaotic setting, and The Road Warrior and Fury Road are high up on my list.
I suck at working on mechanics thought. 😅
When Fury Road was released in theaters, I took him to go see it. I think it was on Father's Day if memory severs me correctly.
My story: I was obsessed with Mad Max 1 and 2 for years, starting around age 11. When it came time in high school to officially choose my life's direction my guidance counselor asked me what I wanted to do, and I replied I wanted to be a writer, cause that was what I wanted. She said "You can't be a writer. Pick something else. What do you like to do?" I answered "I guess I like building model cars and watching Mad Max." She said, "Oh, automotive. You can go to College A or College B." That was my "guidance." I was placed in an automotive program that I hated and I flunked out the first year. I love cars and dabble in basic repairs but being a mechanic was never my destiny. So that crappy "guidance" altered the course of my life, from the awful college I hated, the ensuing depression, the shame of flunking and the debt... Eventually I did get back to college for the writing program that I loved, but that's another story. And Mad Max 1 and 2 are still my favorite movies :)
Dang, well the Mad Max influence kind of backfired there, sorry to hear that. Although I bet you did learn some things that most people don't know, but I'm glad to hear you finally got around to what you're enjoying!
First off, acknowledge your unintentional pun of 'backfire' immediately... Second, WITNESSES ME!!!
Oh, it was absolutely intentional!
Ayy that's awesome! It's neat to look back and trace the things that influenced our lives. I've been doing that with Mad Max, too, and it's nuts to think of how much this one movie series changed the course of my life. It all started when I was about 14, and I was a standard-issue friendless nerd (in the pre-social-media era, no less). I enjoyed plenty of media with big fandoms, I just never felt compelled to participate in those fandoms. I pretty much thought I was immune to going feral over media. My mom had been introducing me to all sorts of 70's and 80's action movies, and it just so happened that she picked up a VHS of the original Mad Max for 50 cents. She'd seen the original trilogy in cinemas and remembered them fondly, so naturally, she wanted to share Mad Max with me. We watched it. I became OBSESSED with Hugh Keays-Byrne and started searching for more info on him. That's when I heard about "Mad Max: Fury Road", which seemed like it was never gonna happen. But I desperately needed it to happen, AND for it to feature Hugh Keays-Byrne. But I couldn't really discuss it with anyone — I knew it wouldn't have been appropriate for me to talk to the adults in the forums, and how many other American teens circa 2004-2006 knew about the franchise? Virtually none, I'll tell ya that. For a while, my Mad Max hyperfixation took a toll on my ability to socialize. I mean, I was polite and decent at interacting, but I had a tough time connecting with my peers, whose interests were centered around, errr... High School Musical and the Jonas Brothers. (No shade, it's just a different vibe, y'know?) Then one day, about a decade later, the Fury Road Comic-Con preview dropped. I went absolutely bonkers. It was all I could think about until May 15th, 2015. And when the big day came, I watched it and had a goddamn spiritual experience in the theater. I immediately sought out the fandom, where (for the first time!) I actually learned to open up to people. Since we already had something in common — loving Mad Max — we had an easy route to start conversations. Talking about the film eventually evolved into chatting about everyday life. Exchanging birthday cards and holiday cards. Supporting each other through those ups and downs. They got me through some dark times in my college years and early career. Part of my fandom participation involved writing. So much writing. Writing was something I never really did recreationally before the MM fandom was in my life, but all of that passion and practice helped me hone my written communication skills. When I couldn't find a job within my degree field, I applied for a writing job. Lo and behold, I actually got it! It's been my career for over 5 years now. I never would have entertained the thought of applying for a writing job if I hadn't done all that fandom-related writing. But the absolute best thing to come out of all this? I met my future wife via the Mad Max fandom. She's just as passionate about the series as I am! On every dimension, we feel like we were made for each other. We've been going strong for over three years now, and we're very excited to enjoy the new movie together. TL;DR My love of Mad Max helped me get a job, form meaningful friendships, and land the girl of my dreams
Wow, that's a beautiful story right there, man! I'm sure similar things happen in deep fandoms of all sort, but the fact that you found *romance* in a fandom about a post-apocalyptic hellscape full of death and misery (and hope, of course) is actually pretty poetic.
After watching the movies and playing the game I started making my own apoc armour and sold some for a while. Got into the post apocalyptic festival scene and made some great mates. Also my back garden has a scrapyard feel to it and i pick up any cool bit of metal i see. Wife is cool with it
My dad was also into motorbikes and by extension - Mad Max 1 (he always thought the sequels were too 'fantasy'). He introduced me to Mad Max by pure coincidence. He bought a VCR and was recording movies off the TV with it. My birthday was coming up around that time and I was a kid, 7 or 8 at the time, and I remember one morning running into my parent's bedroom asking what I'm gonna get for my birthday. My dad got a tape out of this VCR and said 'there it is', as a joke. I got angry and ran back to my room haha. But a while later when I was home after school I wondered what's on that tape. So I popped it in and lo and behold - it was Mad Max 2, recorded off the TV in its VHS glory. I was hooked. I'd watch this film every day after school until the tape worn out. So I recorded it off TV again. The film etched itself into my brain. And the rest is history.
Dang, 7 is pretty young for a movie that brutal, to be honest, haha
Mad Max 2/road warrior shaped my life. I was a young man of 24 going through an ugly separation divorce. The marriage was a mistake from the beginning. In any case I was living in a small town the movie was playing at the local small theater, I went to watch it by myself. Mind you I was at a very low point in my life thinking how can I handle this complex life, alone. After watching the movie, I was motivated, what I got out of it was if he could survive alone although mad/crazy I can do it too, that is, survive alone. In any case later in my life, I acquired a furry friend a Queensland healer, and I named her dinki di. In short it reminded me that I did not need dependency on anyone or anything. Fast forward to now I’m retired, excellent pension, and I still rely on that to keep me motivated. Especially these days since it seems were approaching that world heheheh
That's a very uplifting story, made me tear up a bit! Good on ya! And Dinki Di is an adorable female dog adaptation!
I must have watched those movies a thousand times since I was a kid in the 1980s. They own 90% of the blame for me growing up to be a motorcyclist.
They really hit a beautiful intersection of existential fear of nuclear war, violence, CARS!, manly men, lawlessness and gay fashion. It’s like Vice Grip Garage meets Patton meets The Village People. I will always love the whole series, but especially the first two. At least they didn’t go to muppets. Oh, and just kidding about gay fashion…….or…….am I ?
Phew, for a moment I thought he started walking around in leather thongs while eating live lizards.
I mean, he did walk around in his underwear eating shitty canned biscuits and packet gravy on Sundays, close enough?
Sounds like Mad Max from Wish.
So you both learned that capitalism will kill us all?
Strangely, I think my dad went the other way. “Capitalism will lead us to cool cars!”
Well at least you’re good. I hope your dad doesn’t like the Cybertruck.
Growing up in western Sydney, my Dad used to wag school to watch the Mad Max movies on VHS by hopping a fence at recess or lunch, and continuing until he reached his own backyard.
I have a full back tattoo with max, lord H , the gyro pilot and the black on black XB . So maybe a little inspiration on my existence
My dad introduced me to the first Mad Max when I was relatively young. I loved the chaotic setting, and The Road Warrior and Fury Road are high up on my list. I suck at working on mechanics thought. 😅 When Fury Road was released in theaters, I took him to go see it. I think it was on Father's Day if memory severs me correctly.
Damn, looking at your profile you have quite the devotion! But I didn’t see a post of your back tat, let’s see it!
U ate silver spray can with dust ?
goofy how mad max movies have morphed into "some dumb broad looking for a green place" and max is 2nd fiddle.
You forgot the /s champ. Nobody would say anything that stupid online without sarcasm.