User blog:Jpearson/Editor Stories: Amplifying the Voices of Community

Hey everyone!

We're kicking off our Editor Stories series for Hispanic Heritage Month. This month will be filled with celebrations and highlighting editors on our platform who create and support inclusive communities. Fandom’s theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is Las Voces. I'm thrilled to introduce a few creators who use their voices to encourage others and amplify the voices of community members here at Fandom. Throughout this series, we focus on the wonderful things that can happen when we encourage others to share their thoughts and words with the world, and the impact entertainment and culture have on these editors.

Today, we’re putting the spotlight on an editor that has contributed over a decade to Fandom and continues to support the community in various ways. Meet the admin who uses his voice to create and expand fictional worlds.

Meet ReverieCode
Say hello to ReverieCode! He’s originally from Brazil, but moved to Spain at a very young age and grew up there, becoming a naturalized citizen there. Currently, he lives in the United Kingdom. ReverieCode enjoys fictional stories in general, whether it’s catching up on his favorite TV series and movies, or playing video games non-stop. “I just love that feeling when a fictional world is well done in a way that when you delve into it, you can easily get lost.” It’s safe to say he’s in great company and loves to explore fictional worlds as much as we do! He also enjoys writing his own stories!

1. How long have you been on Fandom?

ReverieCode: I’ve been on Fandom since 2007, so, about 15 years now, give or take (I did have some long stretches of inactivity at certain points). It was still Wikia back then, and I registered as “Playsonic2” before changing my username much later. I’ve now been a Wiki Representative since 2019.

2. What specifically drew you to Fandom, and how did you get started editing?

ReverieCode: I used to frequent Spanish web forums for some of my favorite video games, and one of these was a Grand Theft Auto forum. At one point they were linking to the Grand Theft Encyclopedia (Fandom’s Spanish GTA wiki) and I got curious. I do love writing, so once I saw that it was possible for anyone to start editing, I gave it a try and was instantly hooked. Fun fact: two of our Spanish-speaking staff members used to be active in that same forum and wiki.

3. What wikis do you contribute to and what do you love most about those communities?

ReverieCode: I don’t edit nearly as much as I used to in the past, since being a Wiki Rep really takes most of my wiki time. But I think the community where I’ve spent the most time and effort was the Spanish Breaking Bad Wiki, which I created myself and am quite proud of. In terms of English wikis, I’ve contributed to the Person of Interest Wiki a lot.

(I’d also give a special shoutout to Arrowverse Wiki, which is probably one of those I’ve visited and read the most, even if I haven’t contributed as much.)

'''4. Fandom’s theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is Las Voces. In your opinion, what doors open when individuals are able to share their voices with the world?'''

ReverieCode: I think that the more people are able to share their voices, the more interesting the world becomes. It just greatly expands the realm of what’s possible for one to experience; for instance, if we focus on fictional stories and their creators, there is a lot of potential for something to inspire and move you in ways you may not have expected. Fiction is a great way for individuals to channel their inner voices and life experiences in a way that is culturally significant. The world becomes a richer place, it’s like stepping outside of a black and white filter and being like, “wow, there’s so much to look at.”

5. What brings you the most joy about your culture and heritage?

ReverieCode: I talked about this with others in last year’s Hispanic Heritage Month panel Fandom had, but there’s this warmth that I can’t really put into words, that when you happen to get back in touch with your culture, it’s like being “at home.” I guess for me, since I moved elsewhere and am not exposed to that on a daily basis, when I do catch a Spanish TV show or movie, or even when I’m listening to music, it brings me back to a time and a place in my life, and that’s just priceless. I think people in general are what bring me joy.

Sometimes even a detail that’s minor when compared to other things can lead to that feeling. For example, I went to watch The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent a few months ago now (a.k.a. the “Nick Cage as Nick Cage” film), and of course, it has the wonderful Pedro Pascal - but then as the movie kept going, I saw that a major character was also being portrayed by Paco León, who is a pretty famous actor in comedy TV/films in Spain. Seeing him instantly brought me back in time… but also the fact that he was sharing the screen with Cage in key scenes made me so happy and proud. It feels silly to mention, as it’s really just one man being cast in a film, but that was a good moment.

6. Are there any Hispanic actors, characters, or creators that inspire you?

ReverieCode: Pedro Pascal is on my mind because of what I just mentioned above - I love seeing him get so many high-profile projects. I'm really excited to see his portrayal of Joel in HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation when it comes out next year. We’ve had a bit of a “Pascal-aissance” since he was in Game of Thrones, which is cool to see.

I also love Danny Trejo. These are both easy answers, but Trejo has had quite a life and built himself into someone very inspiring, everyone should read up on him. I think he’s a guy that motivates a lot of people. And I really like Diane Guerrero, too. I could mention people here all day!

I’d also say that the Narcos and Narcos: Mexico series have been some of my favorite Hispanic series that have become available in recent years. It feels to me like everyone involved was at the top of their game, from actors to people behind the scenes. It was very enjoyable to watch, and it inspires me when it comes to writing, as they had to make lots of interesting choices, since it’s an adaptation of real-world people and events, but that obviously they need to translate into a dramatic and serialized format.

7. Is there a moment in entertainment history that resonates deeply with you?

ReverieCode: I don’t know if it’s something that “resonates” necessarily, but something I’ve been very appreciative of is the fact that streaming services have turned their eyes to content from Hispanic countries, which I think I mentioned last year also. The fact that TV shows like Money Heist and Élite on Netflix, or like El Cid on Amazon Prime Video, are getting these global distribution rights and being enjoyed in various countries is mindblowing to me. (Like, El Cid is a Spanish knight and folk hero that people can see on a TV show now, isn’t it bonkers?)

Of course, it’s not just Spanish countries. In recent years, Dark (from Germany) and Squid Game (from South Korea) have really become some of the biggest hits on Netflix. If those had been released years ago, there’s a good chance they might have stayed in their home countries, or adapted onto English-speaking countries as different media entirely. Having that kind of access to international content in its original language is a dream come true.

Las Voces
We're honored to share the rich history of entertainment from the Hispanic diaspora and highlighting individuals who continue to make an impact! Thank you for sharing your story with us ReverieCode!

Check out our takeaways from ReverieCode’s interview!

Takeaway #1 “In recent years, Dark (from Germany) and Squid Game (from South Korea) have really become some of the biggest hits on Netflix. If those had been released years ago, there’s a good chance they might have stayed in their home countries, or adapted to English-speaking countries as different media entirely. Having that kind of access to international content in its original language is a dream come true.”

Having the opportunity to appreciate international storytelling makes the experience even better. Having that access is inspiring and expands our view in ways we never thought were possible. Can we take a moment to appreciate the power of streaming?

Takeaway #2 “I think that the more people are able to share their voices, the more interesting the world becomes.”

The world becomes more interesting, bigger, and brighter when we have the opportunity to share our voices.

Takeaway #3 Culture is home. Culture is warmth. There are nuances we simply can’t describe, but we feel them nonetheless. It allows us to experience joy and gratitude, and is worth celebrating!

We hoped you enjoyed this editor story! Stay tuned for more profiles throughout the week, and be sure to leave a comment telling us what the theme of Las Voces means to you!