Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

The Serenity Browncoats _ Official 'verse news _ Exclusive Interview About Serenity

Posted by: gossi May 18 2006, 06:50 PM

Sci-Fi, owned by Universal, bring this exclusive interview about Serenity with writer/director Joss Whedon.

http://video.scifi.com/v/?linkid=21988.

Posted by: goattrail1 May 18 2006, 07:06 PM

Neat interview and thanks Gossi, but I didnt much like the "Its doubtfull"statement! icon_sad.gif

Posted by: tdbrown May 18 2006, 10:38 PM

I, for one, refuse to give up hope. It sounds like maybe Joss is on the verge of giving up, and we need to do something about that!

My suggestion (which I've made ad mauseum in other threads) is to get as many NEW viewers to come to the Serenity Screenings in June as we can. Get LOTS of media attention, locally and nationally if possible. Make converts, gain Allies, and we might manage to pull it off. Gotta have faith! icon_smile.gif TD/Tim

Posted by: FollowMal May 18 2006, 10:52 PM



I can't give up either.. Joss doesn't say it's over, just that "right now, it's doubtful". Right now doesn't last forever.

When Joss says it's over and there will be no more..then I'll give up hope, until then I think we can keep attempting to show them that there is an audience out here for more. A PAYING audience out here wanting more.

I think the screenings are an excellent idea... good works coupled with getting the BDM noticed and us noticed.

I want more... never was much good at quitting.

Posted by: MrOrange May 18 2006, 11:04 PM

Good: I think he's still a big Serenity fan, regardless of what the studios want.
I thought it was interesting that he thinks the lack of canon on Wonder Woman is a GOOD thing. Tells me he's not enamored of having to follow the leader, and will be able to make a heroine after his ideals.

Bad: Serenity II: Doubtful.
All those snippets of Wonder Woman comics look like Lucy Lawless, if not the wrestler Chyna.




Hopeful: Joss will take the WW franchise in a more cosmic hooker friendly direction.

Posted by: jab1981 May 18 2006, 11:14 PM

Anyone know how to download this video to ones hard drive? I'm starting an archive on my HD of all these videos.

Posted by: Sgt_Ron May 19 2006, 12:15 PM

I too am very discouraged from this interview. It will be years before a new movie if ever. They should just franchise the story to comics or books, in a larger way than current, and let the verse live in those venues.

Posted by: Lady hacks away May 19 2006, 12:51 PM

QUOTE
All those snippets of Wonder Woman comics look like Lucy Lawless, if not the wrestler Chyna.


I though that too, icon_biggrin.gif (not the wrestler though, i've never seen her before)





Posted by: ATLWaffen May 19 2006, 03:13 PM

I have mixed emotions about this interview...I don't think that Joss has given up on a BDSequel but he is being a realist and in the volitale, unpredictible world of Hollywood he has to be, its not his money being spent and he can't rail on his benefactors. Remember as Gossi has on more than one occasion reminded us...Serenity did not make enough money from its theactrical release to kick a sequel or new series into high gear at Universal, it basically broke even and is only now probably starting to make some of the investment back.

As stated before I believe that dvd sales have got to reach the same volume as FF did to recapture Universal's attention, and that took what, two-three years. In the meantime we have to take it one step at a time and keep building/expanding the fanbase one recruit at a time and finding ways to influence Universal in some way. The June 23 Equality Now is just one of those steps. So find your own way to participate.

I too, like all of you want more from this story and these actors, and I ain't good at losing either.


Posted by: Vex Viper May 19 2006, 03:18 PM

QUOTE(MrOrange @ May 18 2006, 04:04 PM) [snapback]210173[/snapback]

Good: I think he's still a big Serenity fan, regardless of what the studios want.
I thought it was interesting that he thinks the lack of canon on Wonder Woman is a GOOD thing. Tells me he's not enamored of having to follow the leader, and will be able to make a heroine after his ideals.

Bad: Serenity II: Doubtful.
All those snippets of Wonder Woman comics look like Lucy Lawless, if not the wrestler Chyna.


Hopeful: Joss will take the WW franchise in a more cosmic hooker friendly direction.


LOL Big time!


Posted by: ATLWaffen May 19 2006, 05:26 PM

ChynaDoll...she uh wow... scares me, quite a lot really.

*now hiding under my bed*

Posted by: jab1981 May 20 2006, 12:09 PM

I think that they should stop focusing on the movies and look to get back into TV as much as possible. A movie just seems like too large an investment and it really didn't pack any punch in the box office. Sure it's making profit on DVD and anymore studios follow DVD sales more closely than they do the box office because they make more profit there... but you know that nothing it going to green light a sequel more than those massive box office numbers and Serenity just didn't bring it. I think in some ways the movie does more harm than good... outside of the new recruits it brought in. But seeing as it's not brought in all the new browncoats I think it's time to leave the idea of a big damn sequel behind.

That said, on TV the ratings on Sci-Fi seem to be doing brilliantly. The DVD set of the show is still in the higher ranks of sales (atleast on Amazon.com, it's currently 35th in DVD sales - 19th in TV on DVD ) while other Sci-Fi shows quickly drop out of even the top 100. BSG is currently ranked at 181 and 140 for Seasons 1 and 2 respectively. And Firefly has been out for two years LONGER! How is it still on top of these shows? And call me crazy, I don't have the figures on it... but it looks to me like BSG is far more expensive to produce than Firefly. You'd think that everyone involved in BSG would get off their butts and grab Firefly right now! It's a certain thing to be more profitable than BSG at the very least. I just don't get it... it's one of those situations where everyone could win. It's such a sure bet.

Ah well, I guess I'm preaching to the choir here. Anyone know what the sales for Firefly are like on iTunes?


Posted by: Lioness May 21 2006, 09:52 PM

I know that Joss is brillant at multi-tasking but Wonder Woman must take up a pretty large part of his view right now. And maybe he wants to just do something new for a change. He pushed the Spike movie everywhere he could. He put his life and heart into the first Serenity movie (Notice I said first? icon_smile.gif ) now maybe he just wants to look ahead. Wonder Woman seems to have been a difficult write. Who knows how hard the re-write is going to be.

Posted by: jab1981 May 22 2006, 11:23 AM

QUOTE(Lioness @ May 21 2006, 04:52 PM) [snapback]212590[/snapback]

I know that Joss is brillant at multi-tasking but Wonder Woman must take up a pretty large part of his view right now. And maybe he wants to just do something new for a change. He pushed the Spike movie everywhere he could. He put his life and heart into the first Serenity movie (Notice I said first? icon_smile.gif ) now maybe he just wants to look ahead. Wonder Woman seems to have been a difficult write. Who knows how hard the re-write is going to be.


This may be true, I'm not saying I disagree. But I don't think this interview was about that. He seemed to be saying that a sequel was unlikely... I don't think he was saying he wouldn't jump at the chance to do it. I think his comments are meant to say that no one has been calling... because well, no one has. It's not that he could make a sequel but he wants to do other projects... it's that he can't make a sequel. At least not yet.

Posted by: goattrail1 May 22 2006, 03:33 PM

Most of my favorite firefly episodes were neither written nor directed by Joss ... I wouldn't mind it at all if he did like Sam Ramie did with his various TV projects and let mutant Enemy serve like Renaissance or RoseBud... whichever was his... and while exercising creative control for quality assurance let other talents he trusts to take the reigns most of the time ... from the looks of the actors latest projects they should have ample free time in the very near future.

Posted by: gossi May 22 2006, 03:47 PM

Well, the deal -- honestly -- is this; nobody (from a business) wants to make another TV series or movie, at least for the moment. Which sucks, but it is what it is.

Posted by: jab1981 May 22 2006, 04:20 PM

QUOTE(gossi @ May 22 2006, 10:47 AM) [snapback]212989[/snapback]

Well, the deal -- honestly -- is this; nobody (from a business) wants to make another TV series or movie, at least for the moment. Which sucks, but it is what it is.


I'm really prone to believe that if those in charge would stop focusing on a movie so exclusively that TV studios might be up for some negotiations in regards to a return to the small screen. Firefly has been shown to get ratings and as I said above it's easily outselling more recent Sci-Fi TV shows even years after its release. In most of these interviews you just don't hear Joss talking about bringing Firefly back to TV... it's always about the chances for a sequel. And as far as sequels are concerned it's pretty clear that Firefly didn't translate all that well in terms of box office dollars. But I really doubt any network would be all that eager to turn away Firefly... I just think everyone involved is too focused on trying to force out a movie.

That's just my own personal opinion. I have no evidence to back it up, at least no more than anyone else's got... I'm just basing it on interviews. TV just doesn't seem to be a focus any longer and I think it really should be.

Posted by: gossi May 22 2006, 04:32 PM

From a TV point of view, it's not returning. There's many reasons why, but primarily it's a money thing. The show was very expensive - at least twice that of a cable show like BSG, yet it only managed sub-4 million viewers in the ratings. Or, in other words, it didn't initially made money - it lost it. It got really bad ratings.

That's not to say the show isn't good - it is - but from day one it wasn't a "Lost" (which opened to over 20 million viewers).

20th Century Fox (or rather, Joss - really) tried to sell the show to Sci-Fi, ABC (etc), but nobody bit. Universal bought the motion picture rights -- at still has an option to make 2 more movies if it chooses.

Ultimately, going forward, either Universal exercise those rights, or nothing happens. There's always the option of ABC, NBC etc trying to get the TV licensing rights from 20th Century Fox, but the reality is they don't want to.

The movie was not the first option Joss (etc) explored.

Posted by: lilbird May 22 2006, 06:31 PM

QUOTE(MrOrange @ May 18 2006, 04:04 PM) [snapback]210173[/snapback]
All those snippets of Wonder Woman comics look like Lucy Lawless, if not the wrestler Chyna.


Hopeful: Joss will take the WW franchise in a more cosmic hooker friendly direction.


very scary!


plus... when I first glimpsed the pic hurriedly
I thought it was the head of Uma Thurman from Pulp Fiction on... some other body

Posted by: loisblue May 23 2006, 12:51 PM

Don't know about the rest of you, but I intend to hold til Mal gets back !

Posted by: tdbrown May 23 2006, 01:58 PM

Me too, but our biggest enemy is Time. I was watching the Pilot episode yesterday and I watched the BDM right afterwards. You can see the difference that time makes in the appearance of the Actors. Joss can "freeze" the characters by putting them in comics or (my favorite choice) Novellas. To have a sequel, however, the Powers That Be need to move quickly. The only alternative would be to set the next Movie (or series, mini-series, whatever) a few years after the BDM's storyline. JMHO TD/Tim

Posted by: Roseivy May 23 2006, 02:43 PM

This particular 'Verse has never followed the rules. It's broken boundaries of "the Biz" with some luck, granted, but that luck could never have happened without the people who have stood up for it. Our love of the ideas within the 'verse applies to our lives and sequel or not, series or not, money or not, we do NOT grant permission for anyone to take that away from us.

"You're fighting a war you've already lost."

"Yeah, well I'm known for that."

Posted by: jab1981 May 23 2006, 04:59 PM

QUOTE(gossi @ May 22 2006, 11:32 AM) [snapback]213027[/snapback]

From a TV point of view, it's not returning. There's many reasons why, but primarily it's a money thing. The show was very expensive - at least twice that of a cable show like BSG, yet it only managed sub-4 million viewers in the ratings. Or, in other words, it didn't initially made money - it lost it. It got really bad ratings.


Yeah I understand the series has been a hard sell. And I know he tried to get the series picked up before going ahead with the movie, but like I said the movie is quite obviously a questionable move for the studios to consider. I'm just saying, TV seems like the more likely of the two options. If either format was going to give it's hard to argue the numbers. Heck even when you take in DVD sales, Firefly has held in alot longer than Serenity... meaning it's still bringing in great money for Fox.

That aside, I'm curious of some of your numbers. When you say it got four million in viewers, is that on Fox or on Sci-Fi in repeat?. If you're talking Fox... there's a reason why the numbers failed there. And it had nothing to do with the show imo. I was under the impressions that Sci-Fi was brining in really good ratings on the show (though to be fair I never checked how they were in relation to Battlestar) but still considering they're re-running an already cancelled show against one that's still being produced it's an uphill battle. One of the things the movie did succeed in doing is to bring a whole new level of exposure to the show. My whole point is that it's obvious a sequel isn't going to do much more good to help us get more Firefly... it's done all the good I think it can do. It got Firefly out there to alot of people who hadn't heard of it before.

Secondly, how much does BSG cost and why couldn't Firefly be made for around the same budget? I don't see why that would have to be true. The quality of BSG is relatively high and I see no reason why Firefly wouldn't be able to return under similar costs. But regardless... even if it costs alot more. Let's say Joss refused to make it at a lower cost and said the only way he could stay true to his vision would be to toss out a show twice the price as you suggest. We all know here that TV stations are reaping massive amounts of money on DVD's. In alot of cases the shows make more on DVD than they make on the air (especially with a show like Firefly). So let's look at that angel... even though the show's been getting good ratings on repeats on Sci-Fi it might still be seen as a ratings risk because of those low Fox numbers. But you know the station will make that up in DVD sales. The very fact that BSG has already dropped out of the top hundred so quickly while Firefly remains atop the charts says volumes. It's a clear sign to the studios that Firefly will make more money and has some impressive staying power. Even if the show would end up being more expensive... the DVD sales would more than make up for that. It wouldn't matter if BSG was half the price when Firefly is selling that many copies. At least if we're comparing BSG to Firefly.

Again it seems pretty obvious to me that bringing Firefly back to TV would be almost a sure thing in terms of ratings and a certain thing when it came to those MMMDVD (Massive Money Making DVD's!). At least that's how it seems to me. I think immediately after the show was cancelled it was a bit too soon to shop the other networks. They needed time to see that the show would be profitable. Now that time has come. Sci-Fi ratings are supposedly good and the DVD is still selling like crazy... it's sheer staying power is remarkable. Add to that the fact that Universal put Firefly out in front of just about everyone with Serenity and right now I'd say Firefly has the most potential in terms of ratings and money than it's ever had before. NOW is the time to think about TV.

Posted by: tdbrown May 23 2006, 08:02 PM

I think a mini-series picking up right after the BDM could prove very attractive to a network. Most likely NBC or Sci-Fi, both associated with Universal which in turn are ALL associated with GE (who I just happen to work for! icon_smile.gif). Kind of like the miniseries of Farscape that was broadcast years after the original series. Only in this case, leave the ending open for another miniseries or series.

Now, as far as cost... Firefly was done on a shoestring budget, in order to afford all the cgi work that was added. I see no reason to assume Joss wouldn't be as cost-conscious a second time around. BSG probably costs a lot more, IMO. -And here's a thought: I for one would cheerfully donate the props I bought from PropStore to the Production, and I'm sure other BCs would as well. It's a drop in the bucket, but ANYthing to lower costs, right?

It's a thought... icon_smile.gif

Posted by: TVChick May 24 2006, 01:16 AM

QUOTE(loisblue @ May 23 2006, 06:51 AM) [snapback]213909[/snapback]
Don't know about the rest of you, but I intend to hold til Mal gets back !



QUOTE(Roseivy @ May 23 2006, 08:43 AM) [snapback]214012[/snapback]
"You're fighting a war you've already lost."

"Yeah, well I'm known for that."


I couldn't agree with you guys more. When I read about this story ending, I honestly cry a little. I am NOT ready to let go. I'm also not ready to start buying comics. So the story has GOT to continue on TV or in film. Makes no odds to me, but I love it too much to let go. It's not an option. It's got to just be a matter of time. It's GOT to be.

*sniff*

Posted by: thewatch May 24 2006, 08:08 AM

If the profile of the cast increases too that could certainly help the chances of a sequal too surely? Especially Nathan Fillion. If he starts moving up the actor ranks with his films being popular would that increase the chances of a sequal.

Universal would get more interest from an audience unrelated to Browncoats that way, which is what they want and another movie would need.

Posted by: Vex Viper May 25 2006, 04:34 PM

QUOTE(thewatch @ May 24 2006, 01:08 AM) [snapback]214853[/snapback]

If the profile of the cast increases too that could certainly help the chances of a sequal too surely? Especially Nathan Fillion. If he starts moving up the actor ranks with his films being popular would that increase the chances of a sequal.

Universal would get more interest from an audience unrelated to Browncoats that way, which is what they want and another movie would need.


I agree.


I'm just curious as to how they advertised Firefly, Serenity and Slither? I mean when Slither came out, I hardly ever heard anything about it. I would talk to my other Sci Fi fan friends out there and they would go "Slither who?" I mean come on, someone must of stepped on someone toes or pissed someone off. Hollywood is so ruthless, devious and cruel! I mean it seems that someone out there is deliberately sabotaging sci fi films that have to do with any of the actors from FireFly?

Kevin Costner must of pissed off some big wig in Hollywood, because now a rumor “YES RUMOR” has started that he went in for a massage and instead masturbated in front of the masseuse. I heard this on the radio today.


This whole thing is so frustrating and confusing.



Posted by: Mr.Random May 25 2006, 09:31 PM

What's wrong with comics? And novellas? 'Cos I gotta tell ya, being a fan of shows like Farscape and Firefly has taught me to cherish each moment I can spend in these 'Verses. Sure, it'd be shiny to see more of the crew of Serenity on tv or at the cinema, but I can wait. I think that Joss has proven once already that when he wants something bad enough he can get it, and I also think he's wisely biding his time, waiting for his moment.
It would be daffy to push for more Serenifly at this point because it's too soon. Pursuing a it at this stage would lose him credibility, make it seem he was flogging a flagging mule. As much as I love this phenom, I can wait.
Our time will come again.

Posted by: goattrail1 May 26 2006, 04:28 AM

QUOTE(Vex Viper @ May 25 2006, 11:34 AM) [snapback]215927[/snapback]


Kevin Costner must of pissed off some big wig in Hollywood, because now a rumor “YES RUMOR” has started that he went in for a massage and instead masturbated in front of the masseuse. I heard this on the radio today.
This whole thing is so frustrating and confusing.




What you meen youe not supposed to masturbate in front of the masseuse?? ... Wow then I am embarrassed and should probably send her a fruit basket or something.. at least a card...

Posted by: Wendy May 26 2006, 08:34 PM

QUOTE(goattrail1 @ May 18 2006, 03:06 PM) [snapback]210035[/snapback]

Neat interview and thanks Gossi, but I didnt much like the "Its doubtfull"statement! icon_sad.gif



Oh dear God, not Joss too.
O CAPTAIN! my Captain!
That interview made me sad. If he's starting to loose hope...
Well, we'll not think of such things.

IF there's one thing we all know (and remember, our numbers grow by the day) it is that we will not rest in getting Firefly back.
We will never loose hope.
We will never give up.
We will never stop fighting for Firefly.

Posted by: tdbrown May 26 2006, 10:03 PM

I'm with you, Wendy! TD/Tim

Posted by: FollowMal May 26 2006, 10:41 PM


Me too, I ain't goin' nowhere.

Posted by: Vex Viper May 27 2006, 02:42 AM

When are you gonna come down
When are you going to land
I should have stayed on the farm
I should have listened to my old man

You know you can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
I'm not a present for your friends to open
This boy's too young to be singing the blues

So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough

Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road

What do you think you'll do then
I bet that'll shoot down your plane
It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics
To set you on your feet again

Maybe you'll get a replacement
There's plenty like me to be found
Mongrels who ain't got a penny
Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground

Posted by: csnow May 27 2006, 03:26 AM

NICE!! icon_biggrin.gif

Posted by: Solo4114 May 30 2006, 01:11 PM

I've always preferred the TV format. I loved the film and all, but looking back on it, it just doesn't do the potential story justice. You can't cram 1 1/2 seasons into a 2 hour film. I mean, you're basically talking, what, 36 hours of footage being chopped down to 2? It just doesn't work as well. We lose one of the things Joss is best at (and known for): character development. This, in turn, makes some of his "emotional beat" moments come across as pure manipulation for manipulation's sake which frankly I don't like. However, I don't mind it when it's done for BOTH the sake of manipulation AND to then explore how a character reacts.

IE: Oz sleeps with another werewolf on Buffy and says "I have to leave." Big tearjerker moment. Ok, clearly emotional manipulation, BUT we then see the after-effects on Willow and how it propels her into another relationship AND leaves her conflicted when Oz returns AND how Oz's decision to leave and Willow's response then affects Oz himself.

That ain't just manipulation there, that's deep exploration of characters. And I dig that. And you just can't do that in a 2 hour movie format.


The problem is, Firefly/Serenity doesn't have the history behind it to justify a network taking a chance on it. For that matter, none of the Firefly/Serenity properties (with the exception of the comics maybe) seem to justify (in the studios minds) spending more money and taking a risk. They're hard to advertise. They don't immediately appeal to people who just want a slam-bang action or sci-fi flick. The show just doesn't fit neatly into a niche. And while shows like Buffy and Angel were far more than just teeny-bopper WB/UPN dramas, they could still be MARKETED that way, and that's I think what the studios care about.

Hollywood and TV-land are extremely risk-averse. They don't like taking chances and most of the time when they do, they end up regretting the decision. Partially that's their own fault for not knowing how to present the show, but I'd say with a show like Firefly, it's pretty darn tough to explain to someone outside of saying "Look, just watch a few episodes, ok?" You can call it a "space western" but that doesn't do it justice. And even if you do, westerns are the red-headed stepchildren of film and TV these days.

Posted by: goattrail1 May 30 2006, 04:56 PM

Solo4114

True except that when I watched the show Firefly broadcast on FOX and it got shafted I and many other fans got vocal and stayed that way ... and we got Serenity... why would this not work again? icon_wink.gif

Posted by: BrownCoat Viper May 31 2006, 04:15 AM

QUOTE(goattrail1 @ May 30 2006, 04:56 PM) [snapback]218895[/snapback]

Solo4114

True except that when I watched the show Firefly broadcast on FOX and it got shafted I and many other fans got vocal and stayed that way ... and we got Serenity... why would this not work again? icon_wink.gif



Money $$$

Actually I was under the impression that the props were cheap that's why it was so unique to make the show work?


Anyway Goat. I want to make an avatar with Bill and Hillary Clinton shaking hands with Al Gore and Grey Davis wearing blue gloves. What did you use? Paint?

Posted by: Sera Swift Jun 2 2006, 10:48 AM

A failed TV series. Now a Movie !!! "We have done the impossiable & that makes us mighty."

Hold !! Gorramit HOLD !!! There will be more TV or Movies. Stand fast Browncoats. We will prvail. I watched as the Enterprise burned in the atmo. I will not leave Serenity to the same fate. Not on my watch.

OK. Done. How can the PTB overlook all the most excellent acting from the Series & the Movie. How can they?
Nutters. I'm not giving up on Joss or Serenity.


Just my 2 platinums.

Posted by: tdbrown Jun 8 2006, 10:58 PM

Well said, Sera!

icon_smile.gif TD/Tim


Posted by: Vex Viper Jun 11 2006, 06:29 PM

QUOTE(Solo4114 @ May 30 2006, 06:11 AM) [snapback]218745[/snapback]

You can call it a "space western" but that doesn't do it justice. And even if you do, westerns are the red-headed stepchildren of film and TV these days.



hmm Ok then explain Broken Trail? This is coming out soon. This also confirms my point about Holywood. Is this another risk they're taking?

Read about Broken Trail here http://www.fulcrum-books.com/productdetails.cfm?SKU=605-8

Posted by: Solo4114 Jun 19 2006, 01:41 PM

QUOTE(Vex Viper @ Jun 11 2006, 12:29 PM) [snapback]227713[/snapback]

hmm Ok then explain Broken Trail? This is coming out soon. This also confirms my point about Holywood. Is this another risk they're taking?

Read about Broken Trail here http://www.fulcrum-books.com/productdetails.cfm?SKU=605-8


Westerns do still get made. They just don't do particularly well. And no, Brokeback Mountain doesn't count as a western in the genre sense.

Honestly, I think there are two huge enemies in terms of getting more FF/S:

1.) Time. The longer it takes to get something back, the harder it is to get all your ducks in a row to bring the cast and (ideally) crew back together. Writers, crew, cast, all can end up committed to other gigs -- possibly long-running ones. Morena, for example, has been appearing on the OC. I think she's a regular even, though I'm not sure (I don't watch the show). Alan's career is taking off some and while, yeah, Wash is dead and all, there could still be issues as far as flashback/hallucination/dream episodes. Personally, I'd love to see him return as a recurring hallucination for Zoe as she slowly looses her mind over the course of a season while trying to deal with the grief. But that's as may be.

Anyway, the longer it takes, the harder it is to pull it all together. That's not to say it's impossible, just that it IS harder. Plus, contracts can expire so having the cast under contract for two more films (if they even are) is tricky.

2.) Stupid suits. Like I said, Hollywood sucks in many many ways. Weigh your options as a TV/Film studio exec: I can go with (a) another Jack Black/Ben Stiller/Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn comedy, (b) a superhero comic book film/show, © a clone of an existing successful format (cop drama, courtroom drama, etc.), or (d) a product that has commercially failed (in my executive studio boss's eyes anyway) not once but twice in different formats -- not only that, but one that's a pain in the ass to market since I can't simply put up posters that shows Rob Schneider as a human stapler, or a simple superhero logo, or whathaveyou.

As a Stupid Suit ™, I'm far more likely to take the safe bet every time. Not only because I am devoid of creativity or originality, but also because it's my neck on the line when I have to explain why I backed said "failed project" for a THIRD time and had it fail again because my marketing department is as doofy as I am and couldn't figure out how to get people's asses in the proverbial chair to watch this product.

So, safe bet or risk....safe bet or risk....hmmmmmm.....

Call me cynical, but I'm guessing the Stupid Suits ™ go with safe bet most of the time.



Now, personally, if Joss was interested, I'd say THE way to go with FF/S to make actual money off the product is D2DVD. TV DVD box sets sell pretty well these days. If the budget can be juggled properly, D2DVD product of the same general level as network TV (in terms of production value), but unfettered by censors or the whims of advertisers (IE: "If you show this episode where [a character turns gay/guns are shown in schools/people drink Pepsi instead of Coke], we're pulling our ads."), can really shine I think.

Sadly, those same Stupid Suits ™ probably don't want to be associated with the same medium that basically brought us such high art as the Carnosaur series. Sooner or later someone will wake up, though. Maybe not with FF/S, but hey, maybe Joss will be tapped to do a D2DVD series of some other sort.

Posted by: Vex Viper Jun 27 2006, 06:48 PM

DVD would be a great move! And you know sales would be very good. Hmm let’s do the math. $30.00 for a season series times 4 million viewers willing to buy the product minus Universals office supply needs of over 10 million per year not including miscellaneous overhead that comes out to some profit… not great! But Good! It’s a step into the right direction.






Posted by: Kane_ Jul 19 2006, 02:48 PM

I think the last thing Joss needs to do is to sicken the money men by constantly going at them with Firefly/Serenity pitches - let him make a few more flicks that get killer reviews and more importantly make massive profits THEN let him say "Hey remember Firefly, check this script out ...?" and see what happens.

Posted by: Comatose Jul 31 2006, 08:53 AM

Does anyone have any idea what it would cost to have a life-size replica of Serenity made? If fans could find a respectable and trustworthy savings account, and donate to it until the money was raised, I think that would speak far louder to anyone in charge than anything. Think about it, im sure it would cost in excess of $1,000,000, but gorram, if each single fan donated $1 a week to the fund that money would be raised in no time. Once it was built, it would be pretty damn hard to deny fans the reward of new filmage. Not to mention, it would utterly prove that people were more than willing to pay for more. Could even be used as a tourist attraction to make money for charity (that is, when it wasnt in use for the current filming, gorrammit).

Am I the only person so obsessed?

I can't be...

Posted by: gossi Jul 31 2006, 01:28 PM

The fan donation thing has been tried before, about 6 months ago. One of the producers got it closed down as legally, they couldn't take the money even if they wanted to (there's all sorts of rights issues and such).

Not sure about the cost of building the set, though. It really depends how fast you'd want it built - they built the Serenity set in a matter of weeks, but I know it cost an absolute fortune - plus it used Universal's biggest sound stage to house it.

Posted by: Comatose Jul 31 2006, 06:23 PM

How could anyone, rights or no, prevent people from donating money to a bank account? Perhaps the donations weren't being sent to a bank account? I see how the Serenity Logo could very well be considered copyrighted, but if a private developer chooses to build his own Titanic or life size Enterprise, noone could stop them unless they profited from it and they used copyrighted symbols and such.

The only problem I forsee is having a person who everyone trusts keep honest tabs on the money (I mean, the obvious perfect person to oversee such an account would be Joss, but thats even further delusional wishing).

I have no delusions about how long it would take, as creating a lifelike replica would probably take the better part of a year to complete, if not longer. Dont matter, it would be worth it a million times over.

If I ever get a million dollars, im gonna build that gorram ship, and Ill be very happy. And Ill invite the planet. Ha. Of course, if I was the sole person doing it, id live in the ship from then on, put a very functional electric generator in the engine room, hahaha, boy am I a dork.

Posted by: ZeroConner Sep 14 2006, 03:52 AM

I'm gonna HOLD but if buying serenity stuff will help I will do that also!

Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)