Band Together! Our Show Shall Return!

POSTED BY: CaptainHicks
UPDATED: Thursday, July 29, 2004 21:25
VIEWED: 8221
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ZOID

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 2:59 AM

SergeantX, et al:

Please don't misunderstand. Nothing would please me more than Firefly's return to series television. But I get the distinct impression that Joss wants to get out of the creative straight-jacket that television represents.

TV execs rewrite your stories. They screw up your story by making you tell it out of order, with the exposition winding up as denouement. They tell you your anti-hero has to be sunnier. They tell you your story doesn't test well with 14-25 year old males, and they need you to change it, now, this weekend, or you're not going to air.

Read some of Joss' interviews, as well as listening to the language his star -- Nathan Fillion -- uses when talking about Firefly as a future property. Nathan says he's focusing on the movie. Joss said he basically had no life of his own while fretting over 3 TV shows, and the whims of network execs didn't help. Alan Tudyk (fellow Texican) said its a 3-pic deal, with the last two dependent on how the first one does; he didn't say anything hope-worthy about a return to TV.

Again, I get the distinct impression that Joss -- and Tim, too -- would like to get out of the TV biz altogether. I think Joss wants the (relative) freedom that movies offer. I think he wants the money to spend on effects, costumes and interiors; not having to tell a great story with summer stock production values. Please note: I think the costumers and scenery designers did the best they could with what they could scrounge up from Fox Pictures prop warehouse, but...

(Nota Bene: please note that I do not refer to Fox Pics as 'F*x' as I do F*x TV. I think 20th Century Fox Motion Pictures believes in Joss, and may have had some positive influence in getting the movie rights released to Universal. F*x TV, on the other hand, couldn't pour piss out of a boot with directions on the heel.)

As far as Joss having a lot of story to tell, too much for one movie every two years: Hell, yeah! By switching to the silver screen, he'll be able to tell great stories, other stories, too! Don't limit JW to just FF, BtVS and Angel. He can do more than just fantasy/sci-fi, I'm sure of it.

He can write for TM and others. He can direct. He can exec produce. Mostly though, he can give us quality entertainment, unfiltered through network TV hacks.

I expect great things from Joss. The best is yet to come.

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"Burn the land and boil the sea, you can't take the sky from me." The Ballad of Serenity

Only 268 days, 2 hours, 17 minutes, and 23 seconds left until The BDM!

ZOID

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 3:22 AM

ecgordon wrote:

Quote:
I do not agree that we should not be encouraging people to buy the DVDs. FOX network is getting none of that money, just 20th Century Fox. 20th has supported this show and Joss from Day One, and if it was not for them we wouldn't have the DVDs or the upcoming BDM. The more people who see the DVDs, the more fans who will be eagerly anticipating Serenity.

Hmmm... Perhaps I misrepresented my position somewhat, here. Please allow me to restate, to clarify my stance.

I have a copy of the DVD set. I have given copies as gifts (twice). I would not hesitate to do so again, or to replace mine if/when they get too worn to play anymore. I think everyone should have a similar sentiment. Great art deserves (monetary) applause...

On the other hand, I do not support the idea of spending extraneous amounts of money on DVD sets for the sole and express purpose of showing F*x TV that Firefly -- pretty please -- should be brought back. That money would be better spent in appreciation of Universal getting Serenity flying again. Go see a Universal movie. Go see anything with one of our BDH's in it (I even sat through 'Dodgeball', for gawd's sake! Who thought that was a good idea?).

While it's sad that the geniuses who recognized JW's potential over at Fox Pics have to share a table with their idiot cousins over at F*x TV: That's life! I'm not saying to punish Fox Pics by boycotting DVDs (although I am boycotting F*x TV primetime), I'm just saying it makes better sense to reward Universal's good taste.

Fox Pics have every right to kick the sh*t out of F*x TV execs on sight, IMO, if this loses them money...

v/r,
zed

SERGEANTX

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 5:19 AM

This is the part of the thread where we all take positions and start quoting each other.
Just kidding guys.

SergeantX

"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock

JK

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 2:34 PM

As much as I hate to say it, I have to. Firefly is dead. But Serenity continues.

To be honest, I fell in love with Firefly, the series. I haven't yet fallen in love with Serenity, the film, although you can bet your arse that I'll be there for advance screenings and every day after that until the cinemas stop showing it. But I'd rather the series had continued. The story seems better suited to a series (naturally, because it was one).

But the series is dead. FOX have the rights for ten years, and no-one's waiting that long for it. I have sincere doubts that they'll let go of those rights so Universal, or others, can make money out of a new series. Praying for that seems foolish. Pray instead for more films. That's where our baby has gone.

That's not giving up. That's being realistic. It's the future, baby, and that's where our BDH's are.

JK

SOUTHERNMERC

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 2:56 PM

You might be right. The series might be dead, and the movies are the only thing left.

But, then again, there was no movie deal before the DVD's hit. And there were no DVD's til the fans hit.

I accept that, for this moment, there is only the "Serenity" movie coming up, with a possible two sequels. But I also know the power of the fans. We have all seen it here, and we might, hell, WILL see it again. If that changes a few minds, and puts this grand story back into a medium that can tell it over an extended period, without being compressed to fit into a handy two-hour window, then I'm happy, too.

Never give up folks. Be practical in your thinking, your day-to-day lives, but NEVER give up hope.

Jayne: "You got yourself lookin' mighty hideous!"

CAPTAINHICKS

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 4:44 PM

You guys are saying the seris is dead? that there is no chance for it? and you call your self Browncoats still? The moive coudl bring back our show every week 4 hours a month in stead of having t wait a year for 2 hours. Movies spawn shows. Such as Buffy the Vampire slayer. How can you guys just give up hope and settle for something. Fans have a voice as many of you said getting the DVD set out and getting the movie deal, you cant give up. With this moive we could bring back everything we had hoped for. Never give up cause then we truly do lose. Fox still owns the rights to the show so they can still bring it back. Never lose hope! Unite!

JUSTDAVID

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 5:06 PM

You need to stop implying that we're not worthy of being called Browncoats. We've been supporting Firefly in lots of ways, and are smart enough to realize that right now the only outlet is movies. If someone comes up with a workable idea to bring the series back, we'll do whatever it takes. But just telling us to unite doesn't help.

"Light it."

EMBASSY

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 5:11 PM

Joss was pretty clear on a return to TV at the Comic Convention last Sunday: "Now that I've got them on the big screen, I can't imagine them on the small screen anymore."

He clarified that a return to TV wasn't impossible, but they were totally focused on the current movie, and getting picked up for a trilogy.

My impression, having shared a room with 4300 browncoats, is that the suits at Universal must have been thrilled at the turnout and enthusiasm. It leaves me wanting to go see other Universal pictures (The Bourne Supremacy, Thunderbirds, whatever) and if I could send the message that I was there in part because of Universal's support for Serenity I would.

BROWNCOAT1

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 5:37 PM

I agree w/ Sarge; I think if the BDM is a hit then we could possibly hear about negotiations for a revival of the series. As I said above, the potential for money and ratings will cause Universal to move mountains if need be.

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

CHRONICTHEHEDGEHOG

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 8:06 PM

Hicks, I think you need to sit back and actually take a look at all the great stuff the fans have already achieved by uniting two years ago when the show was cancelled, rather than just telling them to unite now without any clear mission statement. We have a movie to look forward to, a series of movies in fact. How many other cancelled shows can say the same?
Joss Whedon used to say he'd do anything to get it back on TV, but again that was about two years ago. He's got it back in the form of movies, a form he is more than happy with. He's almost guaranteed 3 movies. The show CANNOT return contractually for a long time. Throw your enthusiasm into campaigning for the movie, rather than telling people what they need to do. Your enthusiasm comes off as insulting, and it looks like you think the fans did nothing until you signed up for the site yesterday.

check out my WIP firefly roleplay system at www.estador.co.uk/firefly

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