Pledge to Fan-Finance a Sequel

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

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:16 PM

I will grant you that there have been several threads on this topic in the past - I did actually look into this before I began. The problem is that none of the previous threads have had a coherent idea of how to accomplish it. A few years ago there was an extensive thread in which many fans talked about the amount of money they would put towards a second season of the show or a movie sequel - based on the poll that is still up on this site. But there was no concrete way to track those people or take the next step to get the money to the right place. A second season is unfortunately never going to be a possibility. The actors are largely otherwise committed (Nathan Fillion is on Castle; Adam Baldwin on Chuck; etc.). But they may be willing to do a movie.
As far as the legality, Universal has the legal rights to produce a movie sequel. While people have said that they would do it if DVD sales showed enough interest, a fan investment PRIOR to production would mean a lot more than the possibility of the same return post-production. I believe it would mean the difference between making a sequel and letting it sit. For Universal to even launch a pre-sale, however, there needs to be demonstrated interest, which is where my website comes in. I know other people have batted similar ideas around, but nothing has been flushed out.
Now we just need enough fans to show that a sequel is something they want and would be willing to participate in making.

CHARLIEPEPPER

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 8:17 PM

Hi Lindsay, Just wanted to say I appreciate your effort in continuing something that is so dear to everyone here regardless of what comes of it. I'm not exactly optimistic about the idea but since you've taken the time to set up the page I certainly didn't mind taking a couple seconds to sign up expressing my interest. if this goes as far as actually collecting money, which from your quota of pledges will be quite a while coming if ever, I will worry about making sure my money is going to see a return (or return itself) etc then, before I ever consider sending it. I wish you luck with your endeavor and will encourage my local Browncoats to sign up their interest as well.
Also, if you haven't already, you should set up a link on facebook and seriously check out Browncoats: Redemption. They've got a pretty healthy following already, I mean the trailer screening room at Dragoncon filled to over capacity 10 minutes before the screening. I had to watch the first run of it through a peephole outside the door, and even in a tiny, tiny, format it looked pretty darn awesome.

-Mal, your dead army buddy's on the bridge!
-He ain't dead.
-Oh.

LINDSAY

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 8:24 PM

Thanks so much for your support. I have set up a facebook group that is linked from the main page of the website. It is "I would pay $50 for a Serenity sequel."
I definitely understand your concerns about not wanting to throw money away on a scam or something that never materializes. That's why the most important aspect of what I am doing now is to generate enough interest to get Universal to take up the cause of collecting money. I don't even want to use the term "collecting" because the way I think this would work best is to sell DVDs. It would work just like any other DVD sale - if you never get your DVD, you get a refund - and Universal is a big enough company to be trustworthy and accountable. The difference is that the DVD would be a long time coming. And you would have to put a bit of faith in the Serenity powers that be that you are buying a DVD of an un-made movie. The whole point is to shift the risk from the production company to the fans. The production companies are the ones who usually front the money to make a movie, taking on the risk that it won't be popular enough to make their money back. I want Serenity fans to take on the risk and show that they will front the money because they know it is worth it.

ECGORDON

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 11:33 PM

It's probably too late now, but a fourth option should have been in the poll, a pledge for more than $50.

Also, do you have it set up to accept only one vote per unique IP address? If not it could be flooded with duplicate votes. I think that is one thing Universal would be suspicious of.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

SIGMANUNKI

Thursday, October 15, 2009 7:45 AM

You didn't search very well. It's been mentioned on this very site that this, not only has been tried before, but money exchanged hands. Barriers were found and listed and the money was returned to those that donated it. Similarly for ideas similar to yours.

I'm starting to think that there is a logic barrier for you resisting that this is a bad idea. There's reasons why investment like this doesn't happen (at least in those circles)... very good reason. This has been talked about before.

Please stop beating a dead horse.

----
I am on The Original List (twice). We are The Forsaken and we aim to burn!
"We don't fear the reaper"

LINDSAY

Thursday, October 15, 2009 1:25 PM

I do have the poll set up to only accept votes from one IP address - and I tested it to make sure it wouldn't let me vote twice. I thought about a more than $50 option, but I didn't want things to get too complicated right now. I thought the best way to really measure interest would be one vote per person.
And to Signanuki, I get that you're not on board with the idea. That's fine. But there's nothing wrong with other people still believing in it. As far as money changing hands in other cases - that's not what I'm doing. You don't seem to be reading what I've posted. I don't want ANYONE to give me money - EVER. I want to see if there is enough interest for people to give UNIVERSAL money. And if any plan is ever launched to give money, NO ONE would ever be charged unless enough people sign up to make it actually happen. So if Universal wants 400,000 people or 1,000,000 people or whatever, not a single person is charged until that many people sign up to do it. No one's money should ever need to be refunded, because it's never taken until this is a reality.

DAMOVISION

Friday, October 16, 2009 5:23 AM

Lindsay- Keep the hope alive! I'm in! I think the ultimate trick is getting Joss involved. He is doing well with Dollhouse now and FINALLY got an Emmy for Dr. Horrible (growing his name/brand). He sees that there is a new way of doing things (ie: financing and distributing DrH outside of traditional Hollywood channels). Maybe if Joss called someone at Amazon and said he wanted to sell pre-orders of the BDM2, they'd bite and it'd be SO on. Then he could take the numbers from the pre-sales to Universal and financiers to jump into production (assuming the story's there). In fact, I would pay Universal $50 TODAY for just a straight-to-DVD pre-order on Amazon of Serenity 2: 电动 Boogaloo. Regardless, Joss has got to be in.

Signanuki- Shaddup. Your stupid link is dead. Stop posting it as the definitive answer. And who, exactly, is beating a dead horse? Why are you even responding to this thread if you don't think it's possible? Move on, know-it-all, let the rest of us dream. 該死的響亮口.

TARIM

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 10:30 AM

As many other people have said, you need to start networking like crazy!
This is a good start, but your plan still needs a LOT more work. Right now, your website looks goodhearted but, a bit naive. If you want to convince people this could actually work, and thus fueling their desired interest, you'll have to start doing research on how to set up a credible fund and find a way to guage Universal's initial position towards your plan.

And yes, getting blessings from Joss or other Verse big-uns wouldn't hurt either!

If I see this thing evolving into something real, I'd throw in a lot more than 50 bucks, I promise. ;)

Cheers,

Tarim

PS, I voted on your poll.

LINDSAY

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 4:05 PM

Thanks so much for the positive posts! I know the biggest issue is networking, so I hope all of you are spreading the word. I thought about going straight to Joss when I came up with this and started researching the numbers a few months ago, but it seemed like the best thing to do was to demonstrate interest before going to anyone - obviously, my interest alone isn't enough. I am hoping that showing that the fan base is there will get things going. As far as knowing how to collect funds, as I've said above, I frankly don't have the know-how or the funds to do it myself. But I know Universal would be able to collect the funds if they think there is interest enough to make it worth their while. There is a fan-owned soccer team in England that did a similar project to get fans to chip in to buy an actual soccer team - they pay annual dues in ownership.

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