Serenity mini-series

POSTED BY: History
UPDATED: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 20:49
VIEWED: 3964
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HISTORY

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 1:23 PM

Next step?
Longer than a movie (larger canvas); shorter than a television series (defined cost, single story thread, still pilot potential as with recent success of Battlestar Gallactica on SciFi).

Personally, I an surprised at how enthralled I am in Joss' Firefly/Serenity epic. I haven't had a fictional work elicit such excitement nor create such a personal emotional attachment since I discovered "The Lord of the Rings" many (oy, too many) decades ago. I am definitely buying too much Sereinty/Firefly merchandise--but loving it and having a great time doing so--and searching the Web for more FF/S information and stories. There are some pearls among the fan fiction.
Which brings up another issue: Joss' love for his FF/S creation is self-stated and well-evident. How can he keep himself from further writing in his universe? Great self-control? Or is he prevented by Fox/Universal; or he is a realist as well as an artist and does not revisit moribund creations that cannot (at this time) put food on the table?

Thanks for letting me share.

Respectfully,
History

BROWNCOAT1

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 2:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by History:
Next step?
Longer than a movie (larger canvas); shorter than a television series (defined cost, single story thread, still pilot potential as with recent success of Battlestar Gallactica on SciFi).

Personally I like the thought of a mini-series to test the waters on the Sci Fi Channel & compare the ratings to their flagship series SG1. I have the distinct feeling if the time slot was right it would outperform SG1 or any other show on the Sci Fi Channel.

I am not exactly clear on the tv rights other than Fox still holds them. I have no doubt if Sci Fi/Universal/NBC threw enough money at Fox that they would part w/ the tv rights like they did the right to make the movie, but would the cost be worth it to Sci Fi? Would there be enough left to make it profitable once you factor in production costs & marketing? Sure they have sets & costumes from the movie they could use, but I imagine it would cost more now per episode to make than it did for Firefly.

Quote:
Originally posted by History:
Which brings up another issue: Joss' love for his FF/S creation is self-stated and well-evident. How can he keep himself from further writing in his universe? Great self-control? Or is he prevented by Fox/Universal; or he is a realist as well as an artist and does not revisit moribund creations that cannot (at this time) put food on the table?

Well, we all know that Joss is a very busy guy. He is working on Goners & writing the script for Wonder Woman, then there is his work on the X-Men comics, his family, & who knows how many small projects related to Serenity he has to look over. I know he had to okay the novelization for the film, the RPG, the dozens of tv & magazine interviews, etc. Not sure how he does it all except for his freakish ability to cut sleep out of his routine & his power to warp the space-time continuim & squeeze another three hours into his day.

My guess is he stays so busy he has little time to dwell on what all he would like to do w/ the 'verse he created for us, but when he does I have no doubt he is jotting notes and the like to refer to later.

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/

http://www.richmondbrowncoats.org

HISTORY

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 2:50 PM

Thank you for your reply, Browncoat1.

(1) Mini-series: Would be a great format, I concur, for potentially reviving the series--however, as with (and likely better than) the Serenity movie format, I am suggesting that it provides perhaps the ideal medium for telling a single rich story within the 'verse. More time for character development and interaction which, imho, is what makes FF/S so appealing.
Fans here have spent many many posts conjecturing about "rights" issues. Understanding this is an issue, it's ben discused; and it is not my intent to revisit it.
But what do Browncoats think of the mini-series format?

(2) My impression/experience of creators of 'verses as full of potential as Joss's FF/S, is that they have more ideas about the stories in their created 'verse than ever get written (or staged, ftm). They often (and cannot help but)think about, and write down, potential ideas for stories, events, characters, histories, etc.--even if working on "other projects." I am only surmising that Joss, whose love for the 'verse has been well-stated and displayed, has more to share, but not divulged (for various likely worthwhile reasons--e.g. no paying market).

Respectfully,
History

KSC

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 2:54 PM

I think that would be an excellent idea. Ive always wondered though, would a TV revival take place after the events of Serenity, or would we get to have Wash and Book back?

HISTORY

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 4:18 PM

Dear KSC,
Thank you for your post.
It is fun to conjecture (which is one reason why we all visit here, I surmise).
I was shocked (and disheartened)by the killing off of Book and Wash at my first viewing of Serenity though later came to appreciate Joss's (and Alan's) view that these deaths serve a purpose: heightening the dramatic tension of the story from a movie-making perspective, and creating a continuim of life (from the old familiar Firefly to the new future) that gives this sci-fi/western a "reality" unique in comparison to other series. As with Mal and the fall of the Independents, "War's over. We're just folk". Life goes on.

I would suggest, so should the next installment of FF/SS--though flash backs revisiting Book and Wash filling out their stories would be possible (and wonderful):
(1) Book's history with the Alliance and his decision to become a Shepherd is a story that he will need to tell us one day (despite Book's Serenity resposne "No. I don't").
(2) How Zoe went from "I don't like him (Wash)" to becoming his wife. Especially as her grief and (I hope) the discovery that she's pregnant with his child (something she was pushing for in "Heart of Gold").
(3) Other FF storylines for future exploration: a. River may no longer pose a threat with the revelation rrgarding Miranda and the Reavers--but she still is valuable (a powerful telepath, foreteller, intellectual genius, and trained warrior) and the Alliance will want her even outside of revenge. A return of the blue men could be anticipated.
b. I'd love to see the return of Saffron ("Our Mrs. Reynolds" "Trash").
c. Jayne and his Mom
d. Mal and Inara contrasted with Kaylee and Simon

Just some thoughts.

Respectfully,
History

DONCOAT

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 4:53 PM

e. Inara's reasons for leaving the Academy, and the contents of that mysterious syringe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

HISTORY

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 5:10 PM

f. Badger. I note he is not among those killed off by the Operative (unlike the twins in "Serenity"). Perhaps this will give him the opportunity to grow his "business" and have further run-in with Mal over who is more "respectable."
g. Niska. I think he is someone who may hold a grudge, don't you think? Might even be willing to "help" members of the Alliance Parliment if they covertly would like revenge on Mal and the Serenity crew.

Respectfully,
History

PACRAT

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 5:13 PM

Call me mis-informed but:
I thought Joss retained all the rights to Firefly when it was on Fox, and when Battlestar was re-introduced, it was as a miniseries, which is now a series (decently rated, I believe).

So my though is this: IF SG1 is actually going into the sunset in the next year (that rumor has been around for 2 years), Seems that Scifi will be looking for a new, hip and happening kind of show...soooo, whats to stop our beloved crew from taking to the air one more time??

Just a thought.
pacrat

KSC

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 5:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DonCoat:
e. Inara's reasons for leaving the Academy, and the contents of that mysterious syringe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I don't disagree on any particular point.

I figured her needle contained an overdose of something. If your ship was taken by a group that raped you to death, ate your flesh, and sewed your skin into their clothing, you may wanna opt out for a less painful method.

STAKETHELURK

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 5:25 PM

Quote:
I figured her needle contained an overdose of something.

Except in the commentaries they explicitly say that it wasn't any kind of suicide dose, as one would logically assume. That's why it's so mysterious.

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