"Serenity" preview in LONDON !!!!!! by CapnEric

Although, those with their name on the list for the special screening can`t disclose the location, might I suggest the following.

I would like to suggest a `meet and eat` in the Pizza Hut at 29-31 Regent Street, SW1Y 4NQ at around say 5pm?

Anybody Interested? I can try to get a sign/ place marker made out to make i.d. easier.

Darin (Zol.)

p.s. any other ideas? or would people like to meet earlier? or a different location? or both?

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Tuesday, February 1, 2005 10:39 PM

HILARYJANEUK

Quote:
Originally posted by Zol:
I would like to suggest a `meet and eat` in the Pizza Hut at 29-31 Regent Street, SW1Y 4NQ at around say 5pm?QUOTE]

5.00 pm might be pushing it if there's a lot of people. Pizza Huts in Central London tend to get crowded and you may have to wait a while for a large group of people to eat. If there are a lot of people in the group it is likely to take at least an hour or more for the meal.

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 12:28 AM

I'm going!

I'm so exciting that it's really quite pathetic.

Good idea about meeting up beforehand, but I would say it has to be somewhere almost on top of the venue to make sure we all get there on time.

Curse Your Sudden But Inevitable Betrayal!

www.alantudyk.net

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 12:37 AM

KITTYKAT

*sighs enviously*

Tell us everything (in a non-spoilery way), every word - including intonation and facial expressions.

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 12:39 AM

PETITRHINO

Quote:
Originally posted by DoubleShiny:
I'm going!

I'm so exciting that it's really quite pathetic.

Obviously, you didn't see me jumping up and down and suddenly shouting 'Woo-hoo!' in the middle of a crowded street.

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 1:04 AM

SLOOPYJON

my gf and i are going ... it should be good

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 1:19 AM

SLAYERFEST

The official release date for Serenity in the UK is November 4th. My contact at UIP told me it was alright to release this information as it is "on the calender now".

Andy

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 2:43 AM

SBOOK

Glory Glory Hallelujah! Thank you Slayfest!

"If wishes were horses, we'd all be eating steak."

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 6:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by HilaryjaneUK:
Quote:
Originally posted by Zol:
I would like to suggest a `meet and eat` in the Pizza Hut at 29-31 Regent Street, SW1Y 4NQ at around say 5pm?

5.00 pm might be pushing it if there's a lot of people. Pizza Huts in Central London tend to get crowded and you may have to wait a while for a large group of people to eat. If there are a lot of people in the group it is likely to take at least an hour or more for the meal.

Well I hope to be sat down ready to order at 5pm - so I may be there at least 1/2 hour earlier than that - Basically, I will be hoping on eating at that time and anyone is welcome to join me.

Zol.

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 8:05 AM

ROBSTHELL

Well you might not be able to give away the location for the screening on here, BUT I guess we could just happen to see you in Pizza Hut and follow you

I really wanna go! Thoughts? (What a crap way to end this post heheh)

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 8:26 AM

Hey Sarah, I'm not sure how I'm getting to Serenity Con, currently. Still in the process of debating that out, LOL

Ahhh, a pizza hut meet up sounds so nice. Pizza Hut is like, my restaurant obsession LOL. Unfortunately I'm not going to get to Euston til 5:48 so I'm gonna have to meet you all in the queue!

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 10:49 AM

KISSTHESTRAWBERRYLOVERMRTAM

If you going to come to Pizza Hut - just pop in and say you are meeting friends,shouldn`t be a problem. I`m sure I`ll have a sign or something & more than likely a browncoat on the back of the chair

If you don`t get there before 6.30pm we`ll probably see you at the specified location at the specified time

Darin (Zol.)

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 1:43 PM

Hi Phoebe,

Thats fine, the offer is there if you want it thats all.

Hava a brilliant time at the preview, you are everyone else who is lucky enough to go!

Sarah

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Wednesday, February 2, 2005 1:45 PM

ROBSTHELL

You're so lucky! I might come along to the Pizza Hut thing anyway... then either bribe someone at the certain place or hope that they're picking random people out to answer questions on...

Yeah, don't worry about me... I'm not a stalker or anything... or obsessed... just desperate!

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Thursday, February 3, 2005 2:15 AM

Hi guys

Anyone who's going to the screening next Tuesday will have a PM on the way about a possible meeting place after the screening, can you PM me back with your response please?

Sorry, I have an inbuilt need to organise!

www.alantudyk.net

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Thursday, February 3, 2005 4:07 AM

Colour me stupid, but I don't even know how to acces PMs

*looks*

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Thursday, February 3, 2005 4:34 AM

It will usually come through your email.

www.alantudyk.net

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Thursday, February 3, 2005 11:51 AM

PETITRHINO

Is anyone interested in meeting BEFORE the preview?

I will be in London from lunch hour, with nothing better to do than meeting other coats and acting like crazy flans the whole afternoon. Then meeting still more flans to eat pizza

Anyone wants to join in, do tell so we can arrange a meeting place.

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Thursday, February 3, 2005 1:27 PM

Well Petitrhino,

I`m figuring on spending some time at the London Aqaurium, possibly Shakespeares Globe Theatre & maybe some other London sights too, oh and must visit the Forbidden Planet Shop whilst I`m down in the area - going to make a day of it. I might even be tempted to fly on the Millenium Eye if the weather is good (for viewing)

So, if you want to do any of that, just pop me a line and maybe can arrange to be in a certain place at a certain time

Darin (Zol.)

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Friday, February 4, 2005 12:56 AM

Hi guys

Thanks to everyone who PMd about meeting after the screening. I'm now going to PM the map of the pub and my mobile number in case anyone gets lost.

Oh, and my email is kirsty@alantudyk.net

www.alantudyk.net

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 11:18 AM

Cross posted all over the place ...

I don't want to put a dampener on things, but I'm a bit concerned that Tuesday's screening is being seen by some fans as something it isn't, so I'm posting this for the very small minority who seem to have misunderstood the reasons for this event (although I suspect they all post elsewhere).
It isn't a generous gesture by Universal for loyal Whedon fans.
It isn't the studio's attempt to quantify "Serenity"'s possible fan base.
It isn't a publicity stunt to generate interest in the film to make sure it's a box office hit when it's released.
It's all about marketing: they need to figure out how to pitch the movie to appeal to the largest viewing market.
If the cinema is full of loyal Whedon fans, shouting out his praises and applauding every scene (which I know I will want to do) then Universal will have NO IDEA how the film is likely to be received by the general public.
When the test screening was shown in LA a few weeks ago, most of the audience were Firefly/Whedon fans who, naturally, loved what they saw and were apparently not shy in saying so. The studio had to re-arrange another screening, keeping details as secret as possible, in order to properly assess a general audience's viewing of it.
Yes, I feel honoured and excited to be going, and wouldn't miss this opportunity for the world. And yes, I will want to hoot and applaud and whistle at my BDH's on the big screen, but I won't. I'll be there mainly to make sure Universal get it right. I feel I owe Joss that much.

I love my cap'n

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 11:44 AM

Unless you work directly for Universal, you can`t exactly say what they intend - perhaps they do need to know what a `foreign` market & the fanbase is like - but this IS speculation.

I will enjoy it for what it is, and then, when asked for feedback, I will give them honest feedback and not sing it`s praise just because it`s firefly with Joss at the helm.

You must remember that Universal won`t know what to expect until after the screening.

Darin (Zol.)

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 11:53 AM

Well, the tickets that Sean Harry has supplied were given to him by Universal (or whoever) on the understanding that Firefly fans would go to see it. There's no doubt about that, they know exactly what sort of angle that we're coming in at.

I imagine there will be "civilians" there as well. Perhaps when the film ends we should all walk towards them with our arms outstretched "Join us! Join us!". No, that might put a few of them off.

But as to the "purpose" of the screening, who really knows? Certainly the number of existing Firefly fans in the UK is practically neglible (there's maybe, what 40,000 of us out of 60,000,000, that's less than 0.07%) so inviting even one of us there is going throw the demographic completely off. If it was purely a market research exercise, we wouldn't have been asked along.

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 12:08 PM

Valid comments, both, and I'm sure that fans who post here do get the whole screening thing. It's just that I'm aware of a small group who seem to think it's going to be like a mini-convention or similar fan event.

SimonWho - love your idea of "Join us! Join us!" - that would be fun!

I love my cap'n

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 12:27 PM

PETITRHINO

I'm not seing it as a mini-convention my own self. The audience won't be representative of the UK, and I think Universal knows that, seeing how they gave many tickets to fans going to the april convention. Nevertheless, I'll try my best to make constructive comments, even if I know I'll love every second of it.

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 12:42 PM

LOL yeah I think I'll find it difficult to be constructive when I've already decided I'm gonna love every second of it

I love my cap'n

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 1:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by helygen:
It's just that I'm aware of a small group who seem to think it's going to be like a mini-convention or similar fan event.

It`s going to be nothing of the sort, but at the same time, it`s also possible to meet people who are going to the `Serenity` Con as some of the ticket holders will be going to both.

It`s good to see everybodies points of view - I think as there will be quite a few fans of firefly at the screening, Universal will have to expect some reactions & at the end you can always feedback the reasons for your reactions.

Darin (Zol.)

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 1:27 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zol:
Quote:
Originally posted by helygen:
It's just that I'm aware of a small group who seem to think it's going to be like a mini-convention or similar fan event.

It`s going to be nothing of the sort, but at the same time, it`s also possible to meet people who are going to the `Serenity` Con as some of the ticket holders will be going to both.

It`s good to see everybodies points of view - I think as there will be quite a few fans of firefly at the screening, Universal will have to expect some reactions & at the end you can always feedback the reasons for your reactions.

Darin (Zol.)

I'm one of the Con ticket holders, and I'm looking forward to meeting up with loads of fellow fans, before and after the screening. Hopefully the movie will convert some new ones, too

I'm just concerned, as I said, that Universal won't get quite the unbiased audience they may have hoped for but I guess they must know what they're doing

I love my cap'n

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 1:45 PM

Just don`t come wearing the following

A Dark Suit & blue nitrile gloves

A Blue Sun T-shirt (especially with River fans around)

& of course don`t come dressed as a Beagle, you may just find yourself kidknapped & sold on another planet

See you there.

Darin (Zol.)

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 1:56 PM

I know what you mean about the "mini-con" feeling but we'll have to see, eh?

I must admit that it is by no means guaranteed that I will love or indeed even like it. I've been disappointed by hyped up movies before, even from film makers I trust, even when all those concerned have been merrily insisting that it will blow us away (Helllllllo Matrix Reloaded). I may very well walk away from the movie going "Pooey."

That would not change how good the TV show was, nor my appreciation of it. It would put a bit of a downer on my week, to say the least, plus there's always the possibility that it would be "fixed" in time for September but I have a feeling, one way or another, I'll know the truth in 48 hours.

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 1:59 PM

Nope, I'll just be wearing the obligatory brown outfit

See you there!

I love my cap'n

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Sunday, February 6, 2005 3:54 PM

YORKY

Chris Buchanan:

"Almost every seat in the theater is reserved for our fans and no other "general public" folks are invited." (30.1.2005)

I imagine that there will be test screenings where the majority of people have never heard of firefly. Just enjoy it and provide honest feedback.

I don't know anything about a mini-convention, but I also don't think there will be many people there who are new to the Firefly 'Verse.

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Monday, February 7, 2005 12:23 AM

I suspect that what Universal are doing is testing their two clear markets, sci-fi and action fans who haven't seen Firefly and are certainly not Buffy and Angel fans, and Firefly fans.

If Universal release the movie without having tested the established Firefly audience, they will be taking a huge risk. This is their core, their guaranteed cash, and they aren't going to assume that fans will go along with everything presented in the movie. This isn't TV where a badly handled storyline can be eradicated part way through. Joss has never directed a movie before, who knows whether he's going to be able to pull it off, where other TV directors have crashed and burned working on the big screen?

Universal need our opinions, because if we don;t like the film, we won't go and watch it again, and we won't recommend it to anyone. I know that if I told my friends and acquaintances that I didn't think much of the movie, they would think twice about going.

It's the same with any genre film, Universal know who their core audience are, and everything about this movie says 'risk' to them, so they need our input and re-assurance.

www.alantudyk.net

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Monday, February 7, 2005 1:45 AM

RUTHIE

Just declaring myself as another screening attendee - will be meeting the group in Pizza Hut beforehand, and hoping to stay to disect it afterwards too :)

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

*******************
Ruthie
*******************
By the data to date, there is only one animal in the Galaxy dangerous to man - man himself. So he must supply his own indispensable competition. He has no enemy to help him. (R.A.Heinlein)

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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 2:03 AM

ATHERTON

I'll be there at the screening tonight too although at the moment I'm just about to catch my train and I still don't know where exactly its going to be held! Mild panic is starting to set in!

Just hope I can make it to Pizza Hut on time!

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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 4:22 AM

I won't be at pizza hut, but I'll try to catch some of you guys in the queue and afterwards. I know its not a mini convention but it'll be cool to try to catch some of you. If any of you see a short girl, looks about 15 (pssh, I'm 18 this spring), obnoxiously pink trousers, white coat, purple bag... that'll be me. *waves* See you later. No brown coat for me unfortunately, LOL.

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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 8:26 AM

SAKRYSTA

I'm so jealous of you guys! I hope you all have a lovely time! :D Don't forget your camera! Take lots of pictures of each other and enjoy the evening!

Oh, and then come back here and do lots of spoiler-free gushing, 'kay? :D

...still a little whimsical in the brain pan...

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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 1:39 PM

SPLOCK

Just got in after seeing the preview. One word review: Wow!

For I dipt into the future
As far as human eye could see
Saw a vision of the World
And All the wonder that would be

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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 1:53 PM

MIKEYD

Like Splock says WOW!!

I've also just got back from seeing the Serenity preview and words cannot expres how good this movie is!!

Shiny

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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 3:00 PM

Okay, obviously, no spoilers follow but this is just to give you a taste of the experience.

We met at BAFTA off Piccadilly Circus, were checked for cameras, videophones and data recording orbs (sorry TWG) and ushered into the cinema (where they had guys walking around checking with infrared for cameras that had slipped through).

A guy from Universal (sorry, forgot your name) introduced the film, reminded us that it was a rough cut, then read out a letter from Joss. I can't recall it verbatim but it went something like this:

You're about to see a film called Serenity. This is a very rough cut, the special effects aren't finished, the music is a temp track, the color hasn't been corrected and at least one scene is completely stupid. For legal reasons I can't tell you what scene that is but rest assured in September, the special effects will be amazing, there will be an original score and the movie will be at least 30% less stupid. I hope you all enjoy it, Joss Whedon. P.S. Sorry about our President, still can't figure out how that happened (cue thunderous applause).

Then they showed the film.

Afterwards we all filed out, no report or feedback cards supplied (at least not that I saw).

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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 3:00 PM

Oh, and hi to everyone I met and hi to everyone I didn't. See you at the end of April!

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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 3:06 PM

CAPNERIC

Hey, I've just made it back to Cambridge from London, mildly tipsy from the pub.

I needed the cider to stop shaking, it was pretty powerful. The lack of full effects, color correction and proper music didn't detract very much at all, even the temp music was pretty good. Since everyone there was dedicated we were pretty silent except where appropriate. I felt a bit guilty having a mild cough but tried to keep it to a minimum. There was a guy from Universal, read a letter from Joss, sounded good, see SimonWho's post above.

The story, as expected, was great. The plot twists and humour were pure Whedon. As a fan, I wasn't disappointed except in a couple of spots not worth mentioning (besides, they're spoilerish). In terms of changes from the show, the only thing I'll mention I haven't seen written is that Mal and Jayne's weapons have changed a bit and a couple folks hair is a bit different.

I think it will be pretty accessible to the newcomer but I'd purely love to see it again to try and assess what I think the non-fan will think. We were talking about this in the pub and generally...

I won't predict 'cause that will jinx it. We were saying we'd love to have both this rough cut and the proper version on DVD for comparison.

It was great to see some fellow Browncoats, looking forward to the Starfury Con in April.

Roll on November !!!

"How drunk was I last night?"
"I dunno, I passed out"

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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 4:11 PM

PIZMOBEACH

... fully loaded, safety off...

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
Okay, obviously, no spoilers follow but this is just to give you a taste of the experience.

We met at BAFTA off Piccadilly Circus...

... then they showed the film.

Afterwards we all filed out, no report or feedback cards supplied (at least not that I saw).

Hmmm... thanks for the review of the experience... should I take your non review of the film as a kind of wink-wink, nudge-nudge commentary??!! Or maybe you're just too gassed to be objective right now? Just curious.

I'd like to be king of all Londinum and wear a shiny hat.

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Tuesday, February 8, 2005 4:58 PM

Just got back in after a longish coach ride home - the film will knock you for six! (as it stands at the moment)

Letter for joss said that there was some trimming to be done about 30%

and there was one scene that he thought was `stupid` but neverthe less, that might mean more for the DVD release after the film has done the rounds.

Oh and yes, this is so much better than big budget starwars - for one thing the characters have feeling - a hell of a lot of feeling

Oi stop hitting me!

Cheers to all those we met in Pizza Hut & the Pub afterwards (athough we missed some) & thanks to Petit_Rhino for an interesting day accomplying me around some bits o London.

See you guys in April (those going to the con)

Darin (Zol.)

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Wednesday, February 9, 2005 12:08 AM

CAPNERIC

Hey, Zol!

Is that emoticon an indication of how your head feels after the pub?

I don't think you have it quite right - Joss's letter didn't say he was cutting 30%, he just said it would be 30% less stupid (as SimonWho notes in his post above).

I can think of a couple of scenes that could live with a little nip and tuck but 30% would eviscerate it!

Great to meet you, see you at the con in April!

"How drunk was I last night?"
"I dunno, I passed out"

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Wednesday, February 9, 2005 2:07 AM

Hi CapnEric

Ah, you`re right my head does hurt - it feels like it`s gonna explode - can`t keep all this input

Wish I had a eidetic memory especially one I could conect to a video recorder or a bionic eye (that would do too)

I read between the lines to mean that there would be about 30% cut when joss wrote that, considering the length of the movie at present and about 30% would probbly take it where the studio execs would like it (for a standard ho-hum everyday film [which Serenity is not]) - but lets hope this film remains almost intact.

See you(all) in about 10 weeks - it`ll be a mighty fine shindig for sure.

Darin (Zol.)

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Wednesday, February 9, 2005 3:30 AM

ZOID

UKFlans:

I haven't seen the test screening, but from what I've heard I hope "30% less stupid" means that we'll have 100% of our BDHs by the final scene of the final cut. Two more movies -- with complete cast -- if you please, Mr. Whedon (a.k.a. "God").

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

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

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Wednesday, February 9, 2005 6:52 AM