'A LOVE LETTER TO THE CAST AND CREW OF FIREFLY' or 'HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND TRUST THE SUDDEN AND INEVITABLE BETRAYAL OF THE DINOSAUR'.
POSTED BY: viggenboy
UPDATED: Friday, September 30, 2005 07:01
VIEWED: 7274
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You know that feeling? The one that happens the day after that ridiculous road trip that started at 2 in the morning in an attempt to find an all night convenience store because one of you got hungry and the rest of you were bored, and you're listening to your favorite music and quoting your favorite pop culture references, and in general are just being stupid in a way that becomes a second language to you, as you drive along in your friend's piece of shit car that you have to envy because you don't even have a piece of shit? The feeling you get when you remember those moments that were born out of no great agenda, priority, responsibility, or anything that could re remotely construed as "adult"? The subtle feeling that at first only hints to you, but years down the road lets you in on the secret that those stupid moments of nothing are truly as good as life gets? You know the feeling I'm talking about?
This show gives me that feeling. And I love it.
This is a thank you to whomever might read it that was in any way, shape or form involved in Firefly. I'm new. I just got let in on the secret last week. It was demanded of me that I purchase the DVD set and just watch the Serenity episode. I finally did. And then I consumed them. All of them. And in that time of meeting this new universe and the cast of characters who lived there, I began to understand what scores of fans before me have known for years: This show was something incredibly special.
I love the art of storytelling. I've devoted the last 13 years of my life to learning as much as I can, being lucky to be work with true masters of the craft and learning from them as I help with my part in the process. (I'm a documentary film editor). Everybody seems to find their own unique path into the industry, but it strikes me that for many the goal is the same; Give back what you've taken, but in the most selfish way possible. Give the world a story to escape into and characters to act as their guide. Make people feel. Play with their emotions. Give them a gift. And do it all because nothing on earth makes you happier.
Firefly strikes me as the ultimate realization of that goal. On a technical level it is nothing short of brilliant. In the roughly 90 minute run time of Serenity, (as in the pilot episode, not the feature), we get introduced to 9 characters, (10 counting the ship), a new universe with years of history, a horrific foe in the Revers, a more insidious foe in the Alliance, potential love interests, a number of conflicts ranging from the universal level to the personal level, and the sudden but inevitable betrayal of the dinosaur. I think its safe to say that anyone whose ever tried to write and structure a story for television, then shoot it and put it together in the edit bay would say the following: That's F-ing impossible. No way. Uh-uh. You could try it, but it would be a butchery of scenes smashed together just for the sake of exposition. Nothing organic would remain, the audience would pick up on its falseness, and would lose interest.
But thats not what happens. Serenity has something that I as a movie fan have seen very rarely and can't really explain. Somehow it all works. Every piece was in place. The writing formed a perfect bone structure, and the fleshing out of the show somehow started a process that would achieve the exponential: Everything that spindled off from the script not only maintained that same perfection, but made what came before it even stronger. The cast is perfect. Not a single weak link brings down the amazing chemistry of the ensemble. The production design, wardrobe, sets, perfect. The music, sfx, (or lack of), and visual effects, perfect.
In re-reading this I think I'm coming across as a wannabe reviewer which is furthest from my goal here. I'm preaching to the choir. Anyone on this site already knows the magic of this show. What I really want to do here is say thank you, but in a personal way. Storytelling, in whatever form you carry it out, is one of the hardest things
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Damn man, but that was good. Welcome to the 'verse.
wo men ren ran zai fei xing.
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Welcome! And I hope you will (or at least try to) give us a non-spoilery review/commentary on the BDM when you see it on May 26th,
I would be interested in your POV.
It is a joy to bring family & friends to this great show...and it is surprising how easy it usually is, because most people will find something compelling about the pilot episode.
I really hope that on Sept 30th we will have the whole country on board with the Firefly/Serenity loving!
(and I also have the ship as my screen saver...because I think even more than the crew,
I'm in love with the ship!)
don't be a stranger,
Maribeth (embers)
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Viggenboy:
"You use your tongue prettier than a $20 whore."
— Slim Pickens,
Blazing Saddles
Everyone dies alone.
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Ditto. I mean, there's no way I could put it as eloquently as its been stated above. Your emotion and your reaction to the show articulate how we all feel. The crew of Serenity has become family to all of us, whether you watched it from the beginning or are a dvd convert. That doesn't matter. What matters is that intangible, indescribable feeling when watching Firefly - a feeling that all is right and good in the 'verse. So thanks to Joss, the cast, the crew, the fans, and anyone who ever got that little tingle on the back of their neck when they heard those precious words: "Take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand..." Take us there and beyond - we will follow.
***Never judge a book by its movie***
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Wow. If I wasn't such a manly man, I'd have wept. *sniff*
"Invader's blood marches through my veins like giant radioactive rubber pants. The pants command me! Do not ignore my veins!"
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Ah, welcome to our corner of the 'verse. It's a fine one, ain't it?
I've been in love with stories my whole life, too--not as a storyteller but as a reader (or listener or viewer). That's what sent me to a doctoral program in literature, to doing research into popular narrative, and to years of teaching afterwards. And that's what I also love about "Firefly"; it's incredibly well-crafted storytelling of the kind that matters, where real people face real conflict. The fact that I get to go along on the journeys they take as a result . . . well, that's what it's all about, isn't it?
So, if you love "Serenity" the pilot (and probably "Out of Gas," one of the most finely crafted pieces of visual narrative I've ever had the pleasure to watch), well, you're just gonna plotz over "Serenity" the movie. (I saw it last week in Boston, and gladly flew 6000 miles roundtrip for the chance to do so.) It's Joss Whedon-storytelling at its finest (with imperfections, but still gorram good), along with the best acting, editing, cinematography, lighting, and so on. Our BDH's (Big Damn Heroes, if you haven't heard that lingo yet) really come through, especially first-time director Joss.
Btw, if you are in So. Cal. (as you may well be, given your line of work), you should know about San Diego Comic Con (or you may already know). It's in mid-July, it's huge, and as a result the movie studios send their actors, directors, and writers to promote genre films. Last year we had Joss and all nine BDH actors; I expect the same will be true again this year, given the timing. These folks are a delight in person, and it's a chance to hear them talk about their work in crafting these extraordinary narratives.
"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle. . . ."
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Quote:Amen, and seconded. Welcome to our corner of the 'verse.
Originally posted by viggenboy:
Everybody seems to find their own unique path into the industry, but it strikes me that for many the goal is the same; Give back what you've taken, but in the most selfish way possible. Give the world a story to escape into and characters to act as their guide. Make people feel. Play with their emotions. Give them a gift. And do it all because nothing on earth makes you happier.
-----
We applied the cortical electrodes but were unable to get a neural reaction from either patient.
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Hear, hear! Someone bring this man the best whiskey in the house!
That was an incredible little essay. Maybe you can post it on one of the Star Wars or Star Trek message boards. :)
And don't think of yourself as being late to the party. This party's just warming up!
I have heard of a place where humans do battle in a ring of Jell-O.
--Teal'c
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