unleash your inner fanboy
I could leave an essay here on how the internet is a wonder when it comes to the phenomenon of distribution, and mention that it has made the careers of several young animators and filmmakers - but I'd be happier to just show you a couple of Star Wars fan films.
YouTube also has several smaller presentations of the films available for streaming download.
It is still interesting to note the relatively high production quality of these amatuer films put together by what amount to a bunch of bored high-school and college students. The advent of digital filmmaking and now digital distribution have made these guys virtual stars overnight. The tools of production have become much cheaper and more accessible; where once it might be unusual for a public school to have a camera for analog video, even some high-end cell phones now include a respectable digital video camera. Where before it might have been difficult to edit video or add sound and post-production SFX to a production, many computers now include this software as part of their basic installation.
Most importantly, the channels of distribution have broadened and become more accessible to any with an internet connection, lowering the obstacles to achieve your desired target audience. Ryan Wieber certainly parlayed his success into a career with LucasArts, and fans of other popular media have also launched their careers on the back of a successful intellectual property...