Serenity DVDs--Not the Safe Bet Everyone Thinks

POSTED BY: StakeTheLurk
UPDATED: Tuesday, November 1, 2005 04:13
VIEWED: 32591
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BRUISERSMOM

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 1:41 AM

If you buy an extra copy of the DVD but don't want to keep it, you can donate it to your local library. That way, people can check it out who didn't watch the movie in the theater and maybe they'll go out and buy a copy if they like the movie.

"You can keep a dog; but it is the cat who keeps people, because cats find humans useful domestic animals."--George Mikes

R1Z

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 3:21 AM

Here's a way to boost Serenity DVD sales with public money: Go to your local public library, and fill out a request form asking them to add Serenity to their DVD collection. You can fill the form out for/at each branch, and you can fill them out before the DVD is released. Most libraries take patron requests very seriously. Library sales will make Universal their profit, and I, among others, buy DVDs for my personal collection after seeing library and rental copies. You can recruit people to our 'verse that you've never met.

To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks. --Robt. Heinlein

AIM2MISBEHAVE

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 4:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Robbs:
... But I'm more curious about what it would take to get it to the SciFi channel or FX or something. I know SciFi passed on it the first time around but this seems to fit well with Battlestar Galactica, SG1 & some of their other shows. Plus I think most of us would enjoy getting back to a serialized version of the show. That being said I have doubts about Universal (or whoever actually owns rights to future versions) giving up those rights to allow it to hit the small screen. Would be pretty sweet though!

Loved Firefly and Serenity, but I too would prefer seeing the series go back to TV -- if only to get back the great multi-cast reparte and character nuances that can't be addressed fully in film. THIS is what made me love FF and then go see the BDM. I'm not sure how Fox figures in with the FF rights either, but unless their ownership has changed recently -- Universal Studios owns USA Cable Network which owns SciFi Channel ... which MAY bode well for "Serenity: The Series" if Josh & crew are up for it.

Regardless, keep recuiting everyone you can to see/buy the BDM and FF. Dare to believe in miracles.

YORG

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 5:13 AM

You know what REALLY needs to be done?

Get FOX or UPN or whoever, strap them down in a comfy seat and make them watch the entire firefly series.

If they don't love the series, then you shoot them. Ok, the shooting part is a joke . . . mostly.

Here's why the dvds/rentals are going to really make Firefly a hit. I hadn't heard of Firefly before the Serenity movie. Even though the preview looked somewhat lame, I was interested enough to see it as there really hasn't been a decent space movie in a looooong time.

So I watched it and liked it quite a bit. The characters really drew me in. So I searched for more and found Firefly. Bought the series and watched all the episodes in 2 days time.

I think that many people didn't bother to see it because:

1. What the hell is this all about?

2. Doesn't seem worth it to pay to see it in theatres.

3. Didn't play at a theatre near them/got pulled early.

So there will be a huge amount of first time viewers watching Serenity in a few months when it comes out to rent/buy. Out of these people, I can guarantee that a large portion of them will be so interested in the movie that they will look into Firefly. The Firefly series will skyrocket again after the dvd release.

Fingers crossed.

THOLO

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 5:38 AM

I feel like the movie and TV companys understand that all movie and DVD sale are down across the board, and take that into consideration. It makes no difference what movie it is. Movies like DOOM that compaired to Serenity are just stupid, but for some reason I have a gut feeling that there will be a DOOM 2 before a Serenity 2. I feel like someone at FOX is on crack(maybe Lucas had something to do with it).
Heck how many of you liked Alien Vs Predator? It has crapy reviews(C) and it made 79mil, and Serenity(A) has great reviews and is at 25mil, hmmm.( I guess AVP had a bigger fan base)

I am new to Firefly and Serenity, but I have been hooked since I saw the BDM. I love the verse and think it was everything the new Star Wars movies werent. I rented the Firefly DVD set and I am on the lookout for a copy at my local store to buy one, and I will buy the Serenity DVD as well.

But if FoxTV puts out crap(how many more seasons of the simpsons can will have, give it a rest! along wiht crazy Fox reality tv, dumb let it go) and kills Firefly, something does not add up. Most of the people I talk to never knew the movie was out. Universal didnt market the movie very well, I didnt see a tv ad every time I watched TV like I did for DOOM(or any other movie).

I think we browncoats need to send letters or email the hell out of SciFi and beg them to take up a new Firefly series. I mean lets face it Stargate was a one bigtime movie and it was not all that, but it had a hell of a fan base, and still does, look at all the DVD sets for sell.

I dont see a Serenity 2 anytime soon and to be honest I dont want one right now, look at Star Trek, every 3 years they made a movie, and then what retirement. I feel like browncoats would be much happier with 6-7 seasons of Firefly 2 tv series, than they would with, 3 movies every 10 years. I mean come on, many more chapters of our favorite crew on tv then in movies. Maybe after 6-7 seasons of Firefly 2 on SciFi then it will have a hell of a bigger fan base and then a new movie will kick ass at the box office.

This is just my opinon take or leave it, hehe
Thanks

STAKETHELURK

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 6:14 AM

I just updated my list of things you can do to boost the DVD sales:

--Spread the River Tam Sessions. (I can't believe I forgot this.) It's debatable as to whether the online viral marketing scheme had enough time to boost ticket sales, but what *isn't* debatable is that we have several extra months to build up some viral steam. Spread the vids to as many folks as you (politely) can. The chief website for this is www.session416.com, where you can download every clip.

Quote:
Originally posted by BruisersMom:
If you buy an extra copy of the DVD but don't want to keep it, you can donate it to your local library. That way, people can check it out who didn't watch the movie in the theater and maybe they'll go out and buy a copy if they like the movie.

That’s a good idea BruisersMom, I was going to recommend it myself when we got closer to the actual release. Donating stuff to libraries is always good in general and as you point out, it spreads word of the ‘verse to folks who might otherwise never have heard it. There is actually a systematic campaign to get Whedon’s three shows on library shelves and in other places where the public can access them. It’s called the Whedonverse Multimedia Project and can be found at www.whedonverse.org. Check them out, they are highly regarded for their efforts.

MINEISANEVILLAUGH

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 2:43 PM

I've been reading up on what box office means to studios. Turns out even blockbusters rarely make good profit in the theater. For example, studio spends $100m making and $50m marketing (typical marketing number, not the crappy $10 Serenity got). Then, movie grosses $250m in the theaters - sounds great. but the studio only gets back $125m - 25m less than they spent. As it happens most studios only make about 20% of their profits off theater box office. 80% is made in merchandising - that means DVD sales, movie soundtrack CD, promotional items, novelizations, rentals, sales to TV, pay-per-view.

Additionally, movies showing in little over 2,000 theaters in the widest distribution do not become box office blockbusters. While it would have been nice to blow that expectation out of the water - we continue to make $$ in the US and are doing very well abroad. We should keep it up - but in long the run it will be the post-theater $$ that will determine the eventual fate of this potential franchise. That means - the Serenity DVD is a fine gift for all holidays and special events (and, note, Universal does not get one dime from Firefly). So, while I would not discourage anyone from buying this very fine series - if you are trying to support this rebirth by purchasing for friends or others - you would want to use your $$ for the movie DVD or for any other Serenity related merchanise that catches your eye.

KINGMATTRESS

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 3:33 PM

Any way you cut it, there are still many possibilities and opportunities for a sequel. I'm not worried.

We shall rule over this land, and we shall call it... This Land.

AERYLONBLACKWOLF

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 6:14 PM

First let me say that the show and movie both kick major booty---however, I cannot see buying multiple copies of the series. Its a great show, but I cannot afford to purchase 7 or more copies. The movie is different however, my wife and I and our roommate and my parents and 21 yr old little brother all went to the theatre to see it.

There is one thing no one here has mentioned for ideas that I've noticed thus far--but if I'm wrong, let me know.

What about Bit Torrent? Limewire, etc...? I know your not supposed to download movies as it is stealing and what not, but its already on there. Sooo thats another reason why DVD sales are down across the board. Internet downloading being the hottest thing nowadays is a chance for real exposure. There's conventions too that can be done, if they aren't already. As I am new to this show and such, I'm not hip to whats going on ---yet.

Syndication should also help, but for that to happen, Sci-fi would have to repeat the show like they do SG-1 and Atlantis. SG-1 every day at 6pm my time, then why not FF at 5? or at 7? Each show could be shown with outtakes, deleted scenes, etc. Advertise hugely on other channels like USA, UPN, and FOX. Stay away from the big three (ABC, NBC, CBS, ETC.) Saturate the media with it with interviews on FOX NEWS, CNN, etc. This would mean Joss and cast and crew doing them. Before Serenity came out I watched a FOX NEWS broadcast with their movie guy--he hated the movie, but loved the come-back story. He shot it full of holes on the air, but the answer to that is to do the shows on the CABLE news, to help get the word out.

Another way would be to make sizable donations to Hurricane victims, that alone would get Joss on the news. Its a two-fold thing, and its real life, so in order to get something done, you have to be noticed. Getting noticed is harder nowadays then it used to be. The money would help the victims, and it would get Joss the audience he needs. Perhaps a Shelter or Rec Center called Serenity? (Not wishful thinking I hope.) I know this sounds bad, but logic dictates that one must make waves in order to really get anywhere in life.

Another way, would be to get more sites up on the net and advertise them at the end of each show like SG-1 and Atlantis does. THe original Showtime website for SG-1 is mostly responsible for its huge success.

Another way would be to show up on Shows like the O'Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes, Dayside, etc on FOX NEWS. Print fliers, and put them up in little known mom & pop video stores not Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. For those bigwigs and NETFLIX, you'd have to pester the management until they carried the TV show. As we all know they'll have Serenity.

If the show gets picked up, problem solved. If not, then keep going till it does. The idea of having novels is a good one. You can do so much more with that Universe, that ideas should be pratically unending--( ya right---no writer's block here please.)(They could have a set series based on the TV and Movie Characters, and a set series based on the Alliance, or other ships/smugglers/pirates, etc. Or Joss could take a Matrix-like approach: MASS DISTRIBUTION and Simulateous Releases of the movie on DVD or special edition DVD's for the show at the same time a video game would be launched, and have each item advertise the latter item, so u get equal exposure. Then you use places like Gamestop, Walmart, K mart, to boost your sales.

Or a website can be put up that deals only in selling FF merchandise, but not just any merch---stuff from the movie and show so that the competiont cannot compete with items Joss and his cast and crew have access to, no one else does--that would be an interesting way to make money and to get exposure as well. Advertise on Amazon.com, so if people go there to buy the TV show/movie, advertise for the video game, novels, and mementos, etc.

There are limitless ways to get exposed to a broader audience. Japan would be a hot place for Serenity as well. Maybe an Anime based on the show and advertise the TV show/movie/novels/g

HARSHCRITIC

Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:28 PM

I think there is still some hope yet, especially if it is released before Christmas. I'll buy it as gifts for family members. Also, some movies are not discovered until they are released on video/dvd. The Shawshank Redemption bombed at the theater but later had much success on video and was nominated for several academy awards.

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