The Business: The Business Case For Gatekeeping

Today in "This is why you gatekeep, Young Kings", Fail Simone demonstrates why she's not credible for use on a Star Wars project.

Fail Simone is on the case and getting everything wrong, per usual.

The X-Wing is a heavy fighter. The Y-Wing is a fighter-bomber. It even has a back-seat gunner.

The X-Wing is the F-14, the Y-Wing is the F-111. (The A-Wing is an F-16.)

It is NOT a loser's starfighter. pic.twitter.com/pXgTUuaagd

— Daddy Warpig (@DaddyWarpig) January 23, 2020

This failure of property comprehension is exactly what Lucasfilm's Story Group--and Pablo Hidalgo in particular--is supposed to snuff out like it's Order 66.

If you are the steward of a corporate IP, then it is your responsibility to ensure that every hired gun adheres to the standards you are there to steward. That means writing and maintaining a Setting Bible (something else Lucasfilm failed to do; they rely a lot on fan-run Wookiepedia), and enforcing compliance to that bible's benchmarks. If you don't do it, your audience--your customers--will by closing their wallets, walking away, and letting your goods rot on the shelves- which is exactly what's happening with this property.

Don't tell me this isn't understood in the real world. Marvel's Kevin Feige does demonstrate this with his actions. Gundam and Macross have had decent management in this regard, to use well-known Japanese examples. The various managers for Howard's Conan have likewise varied in competence, but overall it's been good- especially since the '70s Marvel run. The point here is this: if you don't ruthlessly enforce compliance by your hired guns, your guns will shoot up your brand and wreck it. It's bad for business.

Don't hire people who hate you or the property you steward. This includes demonstrating contempt for or ignorance of it in public. That's grounds to discredit and disqualify.