Pledge to Fan-Finance a Sequel

POSTED BY: Lindsay
UPDATED: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 16:05
VIEWED: 21815
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LINDSAY

Thursday, October 1, 2009 6:26 PM

Today I am launching an experiment to test the power of the Firefly/Serenity fan base. Through my website, www.myserenitysequel.com, I hope to bring fans together for the first-ever fan financed movie. I believe that there are enough Firefly/Serenity fans to produce a chunk of funding large enough to convince Universal Pictures to finance the remainder of the film. Here is the concept:

The Firefly/Serenity fan base is significant, but poor box office sales of the first Serenity film put hope of a sequel on hold. The film reportedly cost $39 million to produce, with another estimated $20 million in marketing, but grossed just under $39 million in worldwide ticket sales. With DVD sales, however, Serenity was officially “in the black” – meaning there are enough fans to make the movie profitable in the long-term.

The problem is, production companies don’t like long-term profit – they want to see returns right away. That is where the fan financing comes in. I don’t want fans to just throw their money away hoping something will get done. I want fans to pay $50 for a contract that Universal Pictures will begin pre-production on a sequel and finance the remainder of the film. In return for each payment the fan gets the guarantee of a movie, and a copy of the DVD when it is released. Essentially, this is DVD pre-sales plus a little funding to convince production executives that making the movie is worth it. Of course, fans would be encouraged to make multiple payments – and get multiple DVDs to give away as gifts.

The first step is to determine interest in financing a sequel to the first Serenity movie. This is done through a simple pledge process, where I hope 400,000 fans will pledge to participate in the financing stage. I hope those that choose to pledge are genuinely willing to put their money down toward producing this movie.

If 400,000 pledges are made by Jan 1, 2010, representing financing of $20 million, I believe this will show Universal that the Firefly/Serenity fan base is dedicated and motivated to see a sequel come to fruition. With the promise of this funding, I hope to partner with Universal to begin the second phase: a collection campaign that will only charge fans if movie production is guaranteed.

This is an amazing opportunity to show the power of a group of fans with a little motivation. The fans have nothing to lose and a Serenity sequel to gain. And I don’t know about you, but “there’s no place I can be, since I found Serenity.”

BYTEMITE

Thursday, October 1, 2009 6:29 PM

Hmm. Well, the idea of a pledge isn't a terrible one, but, listen, you may want to edit your thread title to reflect that it's a pledge.

Unfortunately, just saying "Fan-finance a sequel!" sounds kind of like a scam, and makes people approach the thread skeptically... Or skip it.

LINDSAY

Thursday, October 1, 2009 6:30 PM

Thanks for the suggestion. The title has been updated.

BYTEMITE

Thursday, October 1, 2009 6:34 PM

Now, I personally would pledge, so guess I'll be checking out your site.

Is there anyone who can get involved with this that might lend you some credibility? Well known firefly fan groups, for example? Or people who may have some connections with the studios?

Also, you may need a plan B if Universal vetos a theatrical release. There's always direct to DVD.

And another thing that needs to be considered is the possibility of Fox/Universal friction, since they both have rights to the franchise.

ZEEK

Thursday, October 1, 2009 6:39 PM

I believe that this has been explained in the past as a bad idea. Something about the way Hollywood works. They would take a fan funding drive as offensive or something. I'm sure someone can explain it better.

LINDSAY

Thursday, October 1, 2009 6:44 PM

I would hope they would take it as a source of financing - after all, production companies HOPE to make money back from fans after a movie is made ... why not before?

MANGOLO

Thursday, October 1, 2009 7:09 PM

Who is your contact at Universal?

BTW unless you are working specifically with Universal, you might want to offer pledgers options at different price points.

Ideas:

Would you pledge to pre-buy a Firefly mini-series of 9 episodes for $50? [FYI this would be significantly less than another movie to produce]

Would you buy a season of animated Firefly of 22 episodes for $50? [again FYI this would be significantly less than another movie to produce]

Other ideas?

LINDSAY

Thursday, October 1, 2009 7:21 PM

To be realistic, I think the best way to get the original actors and Joss Whedon involved again is to create another feature film - otherwise they have better things to do with their time. And the point it to show how much interest there is in something like this, if Universal wants to try to offer some lesser option to the fans and see how well that works out, that could be done too. At this point, I am trying to get enough fans together to demonstrate that the fan base is strong and to show Universal that SOMETHING should be done. Also, FYI, Universal owns the rights to Serenity, Fox owns the rights to Firefly.

MANGOLO

Thursday, October 1, 2009 7:52 PM

I'm sure both Fox and Universal are continuing to look at the real numbers of DVD sales, syndication, and VOD.

I work in this business. I'm in negotiations with Gina and Jewel's agents for my current project (Gina is almost a done deal). I've worked with Universal's development people on previous projects.

If you are interested in getting some real results, you need to find some one in development at Universal that is willing to work on a plan with you. A real plan. Pre-orders of DVDs would be a real plan. Many indie films are being financed that way now. Their are many ways to do this.

I'm not here to take the wind out of your sails, but I'd hate you to spend a lot of energy and see no results in this endeavor.

ECGORDON

Thursday, October 1, 2009 10:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Lindsay:
Today I am launching an experiment to test the power of the Firefly/Serenity fan base.

Your name wouldn't happen to be Ace Underhill by any chance?

This has been proposed quite a few times already, at least twice it got as far as a website set up to take donations. Those never went anywhere and unfortunately I don't think this one will either.

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