Firefly - Did the name hamper its success?

POSTED BY: MattDillon
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 20, 2004 15:26
VIEWED: 7450
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SWITCHY

Saturday, July 17, 2004 6:13 AM

I also worry that "Serenity", in the scrolling font, doesn't demand enough attention. It definitly needs some graphic assistance to convey the intended tone of the story. I hope they try something new with it.

SLOWSMURF

Saturday, July 17, 2004 7:56 AM

I've heard various things about the pricing. Some sources say that it was 2 million an episode AFTER the 10 million pilot cost was added in(averages over the series)

Anyway, I think you do have a possible point. But I feel the advertising killed the chances far more than the name. I was, literally, turned off from the show. The ONLY reason I watched it was because John Doe was on with it and I figured what the heck(John Doe had really good advertising, at least to me).

Then look how that turned out...I stopped watching John Doe pretty much the second Firefly stopped appearing. I just didn't care enough about it.

HORRID

Saturday, July 17, 2004 12:25 PM

I think like Buffy it sounds really silly when your only given a brief description of what the shows about. you really NEED to see an episode to get that it's good

AURAPTOR

Saturday, July 17, 2004 12:50 PM

The Millennium Falcon.

Now that's a cool name for a smugglers ship. But would that alone draw attention of a movie going public if they had no idea about the story? Clearly, Serenity has some initial issues - yeah, it's also a line of incontinence products - , but those things can quickly be dismissed IF the movie does well enough and gets some decent advertising.

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

THELION

Saturday, July 17, 2004 3:59 PM

I really hope they don't start in with the "made by the guy who made Buffy" thing. Because frankly, I really don't like Buffy--never did, and if they had advertised on Fox that it was made by the same person who made Buffy I would've never watched it during its small-screen run. The advertising needs to instead focus on the characters and the setting, as opposed to the director. (Hasn't anyone noticed that when the "Made By" part of an ad gets more attention than the movie itself, it's never good?)

SHINY4004

Saturday, July 17, 2004 7:39 PM

As much as I love the name of Firefly for the series, I have to agree that the name doesn't always convey the message that makes people interested in it. I actually just pulled off my first conversion a few days ago, and my friend was resisting in the beginning just based on the title, because he said he thought it was about teenagers or something. When I explained the premise, he was more than intrigued. After only watching Serenity, he was totally converted and was even looking around for the set to buy!! (oh and he more than gladly agreed to see the movie when it comes out too) Firefly is definitely a show that has to be introduced by people who love it and understand it because the name doesn't always do it a service. As soon as people see it though, they fall in love with it. (naturally)

"Oh I'm going to the special hell."-Mal

SLOWSMURF

Saturday, July 17, 2004 9:08 PM

To the guy who mentioned the Buffy name, that was definetly Apt. The entire point of the name was so you'd know what you were watching, you wouldn't accidentally watch it and get something different, he fought to keep the name there.

WHISPERING

Saturday, July 17, 2004 9:42 PM

No matter what the title is, i'm not gonna be more or less intrested of the serie/movie. For movies its all about the trailer. For series its the TV commercials. Though with Firefly i never saw any commercials, i just started watching it.

I think Serenity is a very good name for the movie. The only name better would have been Firefly.

GROUNDED

Saturday, July 17, 2004 10:31 PM

I thought the name was great. It gives a sense of both optimism, with its connotations of light, and insignificance - a tiny ship in a gigantic space. It's not the most explanatory name obviously but I don't think it makes any difference what name a show has if it's marketed properly. I thought the name Buffy was ridiculous when I first heard it but that didn't prevent me from becoming a fan of the show. People who dismissed Firefly based solely on the title don't deserve to see it.

MATTDILLON

Monday, July 19, 2004 7:48 PM

Thanks for the warm welcome to the board everyone. Firefly fans are obviously a pretty cool group of folks. I look forward to more discussions!

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