Band Together! Our Show Shall Return!

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

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 9:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
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'm not entirely certain on that point - television does present a story-telling technique that simply isn't available in movies - the ability to go into detail, to develop characters gradually and to focus on individual matters for 45 minutes should you so wish (and the ability to go completely off the wall and turn in a musical or a puppet show once in a while).

The problem with movies, unless you are Spielberg, is that the money men still control things totally. Think they can't cancel a movie? Exorcist:The Beginning stands as the most recent example. Even Scorcese had to bow to the Weinsteins on Gangs of New York.

I think Joss is carving out a reputation in both TV and movies, giving him the opportunity to try and tell his tales in the best venue for each individual story.

"I threw up on your bed"

LITTLEMANLOVESFIRE

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 9:56 PM

You guys should probably realise that CAPTAINHICKS is taking the piss out of you / us?

Unite! Indeed...

MISGUIDED BY VOICES

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 10:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Littlemanlovesfire:
You guys should probably realise that CAPTAINHICKS is taking the piss out of you / us?
Unite! Indeed...

Oh, you cynic you - someone coming onto the board and posting just days ago and posting in just one topic?

Shame on you for having such cynical thoughts.

"I threw up on your bed"

ZOID

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 11:05 PM

In keeping with SergeantX's fervent desire that we should quote one another and then debate the relative merits of others' arguments -- which I think is a great idea:

Misguided by Voices wrote:

Quote:
I'm not entirely certain on that point - television does present a story-telling technique that simply isn't available in movies - the ability to go into detail, to develop characters gradually and to focus on individual matters for 45 minutes should you so wish (and the ability to go completely off the wall and turn in a musical or a puppet show once in a while).

The problem with movies, unless you are Spielberg, is that the money men still control things totally. Think they can't cancel a movie? Exorcist:The Beginning stands as the most recent example. Even Scorcese had to bow to the Weinsteins on Gangs of New York.

I think Joss is carving out a reputation in both TV and movies, giving him the opportunity to try and tell his tales in the best venue for each individual story.

While I agree that a serial format has its advantages -- specifically, the ability to elaborate on smaller issues and build suspense on larger ones -- it also has severe limitations on network TV. Specifically, one must beware the censors, and one must be vigilant of Nielsen ratings and associated demographic data; you have to please the guys whose job it is to please the advertisers. In other words, salesmen. (Suddenly reminded of lyrics by Rush)

Movies have the advantage of cutting out most of the commercial filters between art and audience. Universal have been keeping their noses out of Joss' process thus far, according to reputable sources. I think they'll let him do it his way. The fan support seen at Cons and on the Internet should influence Universal to keep it that way. Just think if the original pilot Serenity had been a theatrical release: We might have seen Inara nekkid during that bathing scene... I know it's crass, but, hey, I'm a guy with perfectly good eyesight and natural drives. YoSafBridge in the buff? No apologies.

Lastly, I have never much appreciated the series TV characteristic 'cliff-hanger' episodes that leave one waiting all Summer for resolution. Of course, if JW decides to 'hang' one of the movies, we'll be in a worse state; but, I'll take my chances on that score. Since the fate of the next two movies depends on how the first does in receipts, I don't see Serenity having a non-ending. If we're gonna get 'cliffed', it'll happen at the end of movie #2, not #1 or #3.

I'd just like to join Joss, Nathan and Alan in asking folks to give the movie format a chance. You never know, you might like it better as a movie than you did as a series. In fact, I'm betting Joss' odds that you will...

A final thought: Debating a lawyer may be crazy, Misguided, but it's my kind of crazy...

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

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

Only 267 days, 6 hours, 3 minutes, and 32 seconds left until The BDM!

SERGEANTX

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 11:09 PM

I also remember hearing Joss on the ComicCon mp3 saying that he definitely wants to see Firefly continue in every format. He's just focused on the movies right now. I honestly think that there are contract or political(within the industry) reasons why he isn't hyping a series return right now.

When the movie idea first started gaining momentum, Joss specifically mentioned the issue. He stressed that if Universal thought he was just trying to get the series back on the air they wouldn't take him seriously.

Maybe now that he's there he likes the movie format better. But I definitely think there's reason to believe he has at least the desire to see Firefly back as a series.

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

SERGEANTX

Wednesday, July 28, 2004 11:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
In keeping with SergeantX's fervent desire that we should quote one another and then debate the relative merits of others' arguments -- which I think is a great idea...

Ahem,... There you go again, you're misrepresenting my position and distorting my argument. I for one believe that teh te thentn teh ast ttehsknt ,hs the, furtheremore, tebhhe theheht iesmri blah thiesj. There's plenty of evidence to support my positions.

Ok, dumb joke.

One thing, everyone seems to be thinking of a Firefly series on broadcast TV. That's far from the only option, and one I'd rather not see actually. Far better for HBO or Showtime to take it on. Other, less proven, options have been discussed, but I agree the limitations of broadcast television are not good for Firefly. I'm just after a format where we get more regular stories.

I'm thrilled that we're getting a movie though, so don't take it as a complaint that I want more.

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

ZOID

Thursday, July 29, 2004 12:04 AM

SergeantX wrote:

Quote:
Ahem,... There you go again, you're misrepresenting my position and distorting my argument. I for one believe that teh te thentn teh ast ttehsknt ,hs the, furtheremore, tebhhe theheht iesmri blah thiesj. There's plenty of evidence to support my positions.

Which is exactly why you're one of my Most Quotable! It's precisely this sort of insightful commentary that makes me wonder why you haven't pursued a career in politics...

Or, perhaps, you have! You would happen to secretly be a Texican, or that guy who invented the Internet, would you?

v/r
zed

P.S.
No, I don't mean that poseur Tim Berners-Lee, either!

CAPTAINHICKS

Thursday, July 29, 2004 12:30 AM

This isnt what i wanted. I didnt want in fighting between the browncoats. I wanted to put an idea out there that people could rally behind like so many have before with all the other efforts you guys had made. Yeah i wasnt there to help out then but i am here to help now. I guess my ideas and plans didnt inspire the support i was hoping for but this movie truly is our last shot. Ill post later when I have formulated a better plan so get our show to return. This is our Serenity Valley and we cant lay down arms, we have to win this fight. Unite! and never lose hope Browncoats.

SERGEANTX

Thursday, July 29, 2004 12:52 AM

Don't let the semi-witty banter fool you Capn, we're all on the same team here. Your suggestions are appreciated in spirit, but many of us have been through the darkest of days, grinding through all the options you mentioned. We haven't given up at all, we just have to follow what Joss thinks is best. Right now that's the movie. What he'll decide to do with it after that is really the issue. Thus, the discussion.

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

ZOID

Thursday, July 29, 2004 1:58 AM

CaptainHicks:

Dude! We was playin'! Nobody takes themselves that seriously around here. SergeantX made a joke; I thought it was funny; I riffed on it. Didn't sound to me like anybody else was hurt or offended; if so, it was never my intent.

No hard feelings. Like I said in my original post to you, I can feel your pain vis a vis Firefly's cancellation. Someday, we may all get fired up about getting the show back on the air. But, right now we've got a movie to promote. Joss leads by example: he's focused on the movie, and so am I. Let's not put the cart before the proverbial horse...

Still friends?

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

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

Only 267 days, 3 hours, 10 minutes, and 34 seconds left until The BDM!

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