This week sci-fi fans around the world are imploding with emotion as Peter Capaldi was announced as the new Doctor Who. As I write this, Twitter is working overtime with excited fanboys and fangirls speculating, debating and outright arguing about the new Time Lord’s potential. Modern fandom is a peculiar phenomenon.

TV and film enthusiasts are as old as television and film itself, but the advent of the internet has meant notice-boards, chat rooms and other forms of media have brought them all together, to the point where ‘Whovians’, ‘Twi-Hards’, and whatever Harry Potter fans are called, can summon the kind of numbers usually seen at political rallies.

While not belonging to any fandom in particular, being a movie geek means I dip into those worlds occasionally. I’m a huge fan of Star Wars, Star Trek, superhero movies and even visited Harry Potter world on my last birthday.

As a 29-year-old man I thought I’d stand out, but, in reality, the attraction had more adults than kids, including a hen do in witch hats. But then, it has always been about the films for me. I’ve never read fan fiction, gone on fan websites or dressed up as a character – well, I went to a fancy dress party as Luke Skywalker at university – but the point is, I can appreciate the level of passion these franchises bring out in people. Every so often, however, you see a level of passion that’s hard to fathom.

My job occasionally brings me into contact with these super-fans and it can range from feeling sorry for them, like the shivering young Jonas Brothers fans waiting for hours outside the hotel where their press conference was held, to downright being afraid of them (every once in a while I get an angry email or tweet from a fan of a movie I’ve slated).

The example that sticks out in my mind is in the middle of Twilight mania. I was visiting a friend’s house and someone brought up their teenage niece, explaining to me that she was a big Twilight fan and teasing her, saying “you’ll never guess who he’s met!” I explain that I’ve interviewed Robert Pattinson on a couple of occasions for the earlier Twilight films (lovely chap, although he seemed a little overwhelmed by his success). The girl starts to uncontrollably sob, taking everyone by surprise (especially me!), regaining composure just long enough to murmur “d-do you k-know how lucky you are?!?” Before running off and leaving me feeling awkward and guilty in equal measure.

With hindsight, as jarring as that experience was, it sums up why I love cinema. There’s enough for everyone to get passionate about. It brings out the strongest of emotions, it’s a medium that can reach out of the screen and touch just about anyone, whether you’re moved by the great classics of filmmaking or just have a crush on a moody vampire.