FOX Broadcasting Company: Firefly

SCRIPT TO SCREEN PROJECT

Curious about the production process? Interested in the various twists and turns a scene undergoes as it progresses from concept to final product? Wonder no more! For the next several weeks, the Firefly Web Team is going deep undercover at Mutant Enemy headquarters to explore the mysterious world of television production. Care to join us?

We’ve selected a scene from "War Stories" (episode #9). First we’ll post early breakdowns of the scene. Then we’ll sit in on a production meeting with our trusty video camera (and post the footage, naturally). A first draft of the scene will then be posted, followed by the subsequent drafts (up until the final shooting version). We’ll then follow the actors around on the day the scene is shot, and upload a mini “making of” documentary. Then we’ll post the dailies and the visual effects shots in various stages of completion. Then, at long last, we’ll invite you to sit back, relax, and watch the final version when it airs on television. It’s like watching your baby being born, but without the medical bills!

All video requires QuickTime.

12/03/02: Kyle, Kelly and the rest of the Firefly Web Team remind you to watch “War Stories” this Friday at 8PM/7C! You’ve come this far, so go the distance!

11/20/02: Welcome back! Since we last posted, the production team has been hard at work shooting the next few episodes (“Heart of Gold” and “Objects in Space”) while the visual effects team puts the finishing touches on “War Stories.” Join us as we head over to Zoic Studios to interview Loni Peristere, Emile Edwin Smith and the rest of the Firefly visual effects magicians:

Zoic Studios Mini-Documentary

10/30/02: The Web Team hunts down and posts the dailies from Scene 25 and Scene 26 (nerd alert: view tape spines). Since Scene 24 is purely a visual effects shot, it doesn’t appear in the dailies (though keep checking back, as we’ll begin to post visual effects work as soon as possible). Check ‘em out:

Scene 25:
(Broadband | Modem)

Scene 26:
(Broadband | Modem)

10/23/02: Kyle and Adam (The Web Team intern) head over to the set at 7 AM (ouch) to videotape the filming of “War Stories,” scene 26:

Mini-Documentary
(Streaming Broadband | Streaming Modem)
(Non-Streaming Broadband | Non-Streaming Modem)

10/16/02:

Ring…Ring…

“This is Kyle.”

“Hey Kyle, it’s Kelly. We have a new draft in, but there aren’t any changes to your scenes. There is, however, a new episode title.”

“A new title?!?”

“Yep. ‘War Stories’ is the new name.”

“Plural?”

“Yep.”

“Cool, thanks. Bye!”

“Bye!”

10/14/02: Kelly faxes Kyle an interim draft of episode #9, now titled “Oaths of Loyalty.” We find that Scenes 20 and 21 have been magically transformed into Scenes 24, 25 and 26 (Cover Page | Script Page). So we’ll…uh…use those three from this point on. Isn’t this fun?

10/10/02: Web Team members Kyle and Paul (yes, the same Paul of FOX Lounge fame!) head over to meet Kelly at a preliminary visual effects production meeting. Check out who was in attendance, then experience the magic:

Part One
(Streaming Broadband | Streaming Modem)
(Non-Streaming Broadband | Non-Streaming Modem)

Part Two
(Streaming Broadband | Streaming Modem)
(Non-Streaming Broadband | Non-Streaming Modem)

10/9/02: Kelly faxes Web Team member Kyle a rough episode “beat sheet,” and informs us that Scene 21 will be our scene (Cover Page | Scene 21). “See you tomorrow,” she says. We start charging the ol’ camera batteries.