Joss cuts off ties with Fox

POSTED BY: Sniper
UPDATED: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 19:01
VIEWED: 7522
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SPOOKYJESUS

Monday, October 25, 2004 5:59 PM

He hasn't cut his ties with Fox - if anything he's hanging onto them.

He could have sat around and done nothing TV related for one more year and recieved money both personaly and through his company Mutant Enemy. After that year was up he then could have turned around and not renewed his contract with Fox thus leaving them behind.

But he didn't do that -

Joss said at the Kerry thing he's working on a new movie. Clearly that's where he's focusing his career now - as a movie guy writer/ director(as he should and was clear he would once Serenity was announced).

But if one day he gets an idea for a tv show or if he makes a movie that he'd like to see a spin off of as a TV series he can call up Fox and set something up. In fact he has to set it up with Fox - and that's clearly the way Joss wants it!

BLINKER

Monday, October 25, 2004 6:04 PM

"Skein"... "laffer"... "prexy"... reading Variety articles always makes me want to break things.

Quote:
Talk about adding insult to injury. Not only is Joss really really out of the TV biz for a while but even if he does come back it has to be with Fox.

I think that refers to Fox the studio, not Fox the network. Far as I know, Joss and the fans have no major issues against the studio.

_________
Sliders: Gate Haven - http://slidersweb.net/blinker

RHUTTNER

Monday, October 25, 2004 6:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RhymePhile:
Here's what I don't quite understand:

Quote:
Whedon had a little over a year left on his overall pact with 20th Century Fox TV. Under terms of his departure, the scribe can't work on TV projects anywhere else. And if Whedon decides to return to TV, 20th gets first dibs.

Does this mean that rather than stay at 20th Century for little over a year and get paid for not making anything, he would rather leave and he had to negotiate something that said he couldn't do any TV anywhere else *and* if he came back it had to be with FOX? That's a lot of signing your life over when he could have just sat out the rest of his development deal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My office! Burgled! Plundered! Purloined! Ha ha ha...loins."

-- Phil Sebben, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law

I don't think anything had to be negotiated because it already was. Joss was under an exclusive contract with 20th Century Fox Television for a certain amount of time. This means that he was free to write comics for Marvel, do movies for Universal, but if he did anything for TV 20th has first dibs.

Unless there was something in the original contract that specified a certain amount of deliverables then Joss can basically stop working on TV until the contract runs out, then sign with someone else. However if there was a certain amount of deliverables and it wasn't met, then Joss could be responsible for paybacks. Either way hes probably not getting paid anymore.

There was a similar thing when Sherry Stringfield wanted out of her contract for ER after the first year. She was released but was not allowed to do TV for the remainder of her contract period.

Its important to note that this is the studio, not the network. This contract was with the company that made Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. It is not the company that cancelled Firefly or made Alien Resurrection.

THRAWN

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 2:41 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rhuttner:
Its important to note that this is the studio, not the network. This contract was with the company that made Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. It is not the company that cancelled Firefly or made Alien Resurrection.

This is the key, here.

SUCCATASH

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 2:57 AM

I think 20th Century Fox made Buffy, Firefly, etc. and also Alien Resurrection.

Fox TV cancelled Firefly. I think.

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

ANOTHERFIREFLYFAN

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 3:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
uh....what do they mean when he comes back it will be with Fox!? Does that mean he said no matter when he finally wants back on TV he still has to give Fox first dibs?

Talk about adding insult to injury. Not only is Joss really really out of the TV biz for a while but even if he does come back it has to be with Fox.

That would be 20th Century Fox, which has produced ALL of Joss shows. Not the Fox (

) Network that cancelled our favorite show. So rest somewhat more assured.

I am also interested in hearing why Joss did this, though. And no more Mutant Enemy?? *cries*

Keep flying

RHUTTNER

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 4:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Succatash:

I think 20th Century Fox made Buffy, Firefly, etc. and also Alien Resurrection.

Fox TV cancelled Firefly. I think.

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

20th Century Fox TELEVISION made Buffy, Angel, and Firefly

20th Century Fox (the movie studio) made Alien Resurrection.

They are different companies.

QUICKSAND

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 4:22 AM

It's only a year. As we're working on this thread, 'Serenity' is six MONTHS away. So that's half the time right there, and Joss will be spending it all working on the film, I'm sure.

The remaining six months, I'd like to think Joss is,

a) Using his newfound-Hollywood power to cast and begin his next Uber-Adventure.
b) Working on the 'Serenity' DVD
c) Lighting bags of poo on fire and leaving them outside the front door of the homes of Fox executives.
d) Having lots of sex with his wife.

Because, you know, if I had that kind of power, that's what I would do.

GOJIRO

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 4:25 AM

It's interesting to note that the "prexy" (in English: president) they quote is named Dana Walden. And the ship that shows up promising to save Serenity in OoG was named the Walden.

Big promises are made, then the promiser shoots the promisee in the gut. Makes me look at that scene in a whole different light, now.

gojiro

SUCCATASH

Tuesday, October 26, 2004 4:45 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rhuttner:
20th Century Fox TELEVISION made Buffy, Angel, and Firefly

20th Century Fox (the movie studio) made Alien Resurrection.

They are different companies.

Thanks for responding. But I find the whole 20th Century/FOX/Joss business relationship confusing.

I thought there was just "20th Century Fox" and "FOX". 20th Century produces and distributes movies, TV shows, and home video. FOX broadcasts television which is totally different and they cancelled Firefly.

And I thought the Fox News corp. was a third entity altogether.

I would like a lecture on this subject. Thanks!

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

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