What if 'Serenity' had been called 'FIrefly'?

POSTED BY: OPPYH
UPDATED: Sunday, June 27, 2010 18:13
VIEWED: 5984
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TWO

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 12:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 11thHour:
I'm fairly sure there was a thread started here before the movie was announced posing the question if "Serenity" would be a good movie title. I seem to remember several people, including myself, having misgivings about a Firefly movie being titled "Serenity".

My apprehension was that people unfamiliar with the 'Verse would see that title and think "chick flick", or even worse... "boring". Now there could be some who might make the leap and wonder if the name was one of those purposely sarcastic titles meant to put the audience in a headlock and whip them around a good 180 degrees, as anyone who has seen "Happiness" can attest.

See the thread "Serenity" Listed as One of the Most Unfortunate Movies Titles Ever www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=2&t=31560

If I had my way, Serenity 2 would be called "Killer Angels". Ironic titles like "Serenity" don't work for me. My other favored Serenity 2 alternative titles are "Kamikaze River" and "River's Revenge". That's me -- irony free.

The Joss Whedon script for "Serenity", where Wash lives, is
Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/two

JONGSSTRAW

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 12:12 PM

It really is a shame that the movie was titled Serenity. I think there are millions of sci-fi fans out there who still have no knowledge of our wonderful 'verse. A better movie title might have increased the ticket sales, but all evidence seemingly points to Joss really not caring about that. He knew what he was doing. He did the BDM for the Browncoats, no one else, and sequel be damned!

Funny, now years later, our BDH's are the biggest stars on TV. Nathan, Morena, Summer, and Christina are all recognizeable household names now. I'd like to see an effort for a made-for-TV movie special that re-unites them all for a new Firefly adventure.

BYTEMITE

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 2:59 PM

Hmm. I think neither one is a bad name for a FRANCHISE.

The only downside of both is that they don't immediately say "I'm a space sci-fi" or "I'm a space western" to any would be fans. I suspect Firefly may have had a problem attracting sci-fi fans while it was on Fox for that reason, same as Serenity not attracting sci-fi fans.

A possible alternative for Serenity would have been to give the movie a more sci-fi sounding sub title, kind of the reverse of Star Wars (sci-fi sounding franchise title): A New Hope (non sci-fi sounding sub title). It would also have suggested the promise of further movies.

As for Firefly itself, it's hard to not like the title referencing the type of the ship, and the look of a Firefly is a nice design. Plus there's this whole eastern connection about how Fireflies ferry around souls, which is perfect. definitely the ship should remain a firefly class, and keep its design.

But, I dunno. Maybe they could have called Firefly "The Rim" or something? The series mostly takes place out there, and it's about kind of continuing the spirit (in helping River) of the Independents (representing the Rim worlds) fight against the Alliance. It's also close to the concept of an "edge" without stepping on the toes of pre-existing series. Maybe it has a kind of western frontier feel to it, also? Like the rim of a wagon wheel spoke, which would've been a title drop in the pilot, from Badger. Something that suggests what people might expect when they see the name of the show.

Might have an association with "rimshot," which could be good or bad. Comedy suggestion, not so good. Suggestion of "rimshot" broadcasting, better. Gunplay, better. Suggestion of being shot out to the Rimworlds, better.

There also might be a crude slang term this reminds me of, but I can't think of it right now.

TWO

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 4:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
But, I dunno. Maybe they could have called Firefly "The Rim" or something? The series mostly takes place out there, and it's about kind of continuing the spirit (in helping River) of the Independents (representing the Rim worlds) fight against the Alliance. It's also close to the concept of an "edge" without stepping on the toes of pre-existing series. Maybe it has a kind of western frontier feel to it, also? Like the rim of a wagon wheel spoke, which would've been a title drop in the pilot, from Badger. Something that suggests what people might expect when they see the name of the show.

Might have an association with "rimshot," which could be good or bad. Comedy suggestion, not so good. Suggestion of "rimshot" broadcasting, better. Gunplay, better. Suggestion of being shot out to the Rimworlds, better.

There also might be a crude slang term this reminds me of, but I can't think of it right now.

There is a good reason not to use Rim in a Firefly/Serenity movie title: Two movies in development are already using Rim www.imdb.com/title/tt1663662/ www.imdb.com/title/tt1205493/

And then there is the vulgar reason not to use Rim. Ask Jayne to explain. He knows and he'd want to see that movie.

The Joss Whedon script for "Serenity", where Wash lives, is
Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/two

OPPYH

Thursday, June 24, 2010 7:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 11thHour:
My apprehension was that people unfamiliar with the 'Verse would see that title and think "chick flick", or even worse... "boring".

My point exactly. 'Serenity' as a name for a movie is rather bland and unbecoming of such a fast paced sci-fi epic that it is.

I know 'Firefly' could not be used, but I'm sure there could be a better name suited for the film.

-------------------------------------------------

70's TV FOREVER

PHOENIXROSE

Thursday, June 24, 2010 8:33 PM

I can't speak to anyone else, but the movie pulled me in sufficiently to bring me here. I couldn't see what the title had to do with what I saw in the previews (I actually thought Serenity might be the name of the mysterious kick-ass chick I caught a glimpse of, but of course that was River) but the preview made me want to see it, and I wondered what the title might ultimately mean. Of course, my research into the movie's parent show led me to wonder what the heck 'Firefly' was referring to.
Deep as my love is for show and ship, I think both titles have some issues when it comes to widespread appeal. They're rather enigmatic.

[/sig]

PARANOYD

Thursday, June 24, 2010 10:29 PM

Let me speak as a "new fan". I saw the name "Serenity" on the shelves when the movie came out and can safely say, I passed on it.

Two major problems:

1) No big name actors. (An actor with a bit role in Saving Private Ryan - one of my all-time favorite movies - and another supporting actor from A Knight's Tale wasn't much of a draw.)

2) Doesn't at all paint a picture of what the movie is about. "Western Space Wars in the Future" would have been a better title for the non-fan base... as rediculous as that sounded.

My curiosity wasn't piqued until it hit Netflix and I wasn't dedicating money to it. Now I've considering buying it on BlueRay...

MOOSE

Sunday, June 27, 2010 9:19 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Paranoyd:

...An actor with a bit role in Saving Private Ryan...

Bit part? Bah!

He WAS Private Ryan!

I actually used that to get a couple of people to watch Serenity in the theatre.

"It stars the guy that played Private Ryan..."

IMNOTHERE

Sunday, June 27, 2010 4:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
It would have been canceled after the first thirteen minutes.
From the movie theatres.

I think it pretty much was - that's the problem.

The name wasn't broken. The movie wasn't broken. The system is broken: if a film isn't #1 at the box office on its opening weekend it gets dumped - and the only way to ensure that is to have a Big Name, a by-the-numbers plot and lots of shit blowing up in the trailer. There is no time for word-of-mouth to set in.

Its touch and go whether Star Wars IV would have made it today without a big name - even though it had the ideal name.

I suspect that the BDMs other failing was that its main commercial success was to sell another metric shedload of Firefly box sets - for Fox. Had the film and the series been made by the same company, I think we might have seen a second film or a new series.

BYTEMITE

Sunday, June 27, 2010 5:13 PM

That's a good point. So that kinda goes back to the initial lack of success on Fox, which was mostly schedule shuffle, death slot, and not knowing how to market it.

And hand in hand with the last part is the name, Firefly, which people would see and Joss Whedon said they would even ASK what it was. If they have to ask, they're probably not going to watch, right?

...I'm really liking the whole Rim idea, if we could just get it so it doesn't call to mind anything nasty, and more calling up a sense of science fiction.

Rimworld? Multiple planets on the rim, but the poverty and struggle to survive, that's the "world" of Serenity and her crew.

Only problem is, when I googled Rimworld, a page came up called Rimworld.com that I wasn't sure I wanted to click. The next link down, there was a wikipedia article with a cite from Rimworld.com called "All About Balls." It's supposed to be about a rocket launching competition called Balls (ballistic?), but I really don't trust it. ._.

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