The Importance of Firefly by DrDredge

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

The Importance of Firefly

POSTED BY: DRDREDGE
UPDATED: Monday, July 25, 2005 10:42
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VIEWED: 3015
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Sunday, July 24, 2005 10:38 PM

I'm just curious. I'm a fan of the show, and of most of Joss Whedon's work. I'm looking forward to Serenity, and I enjoy checking out the boards on occaision.

However, when I read the message boards, I see you guys working incredibly hard to get the word out and recruit new people to the show. Which is cool, I consider myself a loyal but casual fan. I watched every episode on FOX, and was disappointed when it was cancelled. But never felt the need to mail in postcards and whatnot to try and save the show. I'm grateful for Serenity this fall, but if we never got anything else I think I would be content.

I have a friend who is a Stargate Atlantis fan and drives me crazy trying to get me to watch. So much to the point that I don't really even want to talk to them anymore. So when I stop by these boards, and see people saying things like "Recruit, recruit, recruit!" It makes me thing of my Stargate friend. So I guess my question is: What makes you work so hard at getting the word out? I understand wanting to share the show with a friend and I'm not asking this as an attack, I know tone is sometimes hard to understand when written on a message board. But I am sincerely trying to understand. It just seems like a lot of Firefly fans take thier fandom to extremes.

For instance, I have a friend who works in a movie theatre and they get calls on a regular basis asking what films is the Serenity trailer playing on. If it's not on the newest biggest weekend movie, the guy calling gets really upset and not only questions why it isn't on that film but demands that it should be played with that film.

I just wonder that maybe sometimes instead of the positive effect of bringing new people to the show, that some people do more to drive people away than they realize.

Sorry for such a long post!

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Sunday, July 24, 2005 11:28 PM

SIMONWHO

I know what you mean about an overly militant approach, more flies with honey than vinegar, etc. But of course we have to remember that this is still an under the radar film at the moment and pretty much all publicity is good publicity (of course, if the story leaks about Joss, Nathan and the entire New York petting zoo then that theory may be challenged) so at least the movie theatres are learning the name "Serenity" even if they do associate it with loathing and abuse.

Ultimately, we're pushing it because we want bums on seats for the opening weekend. I've seen it and genuinely believe that it will generate good word of mouth but if it tanks that first weekend, that'll be it for the franchise. Even a spirited DVD release won't save it. We need an opener of at least $15m. At least. Now that's roughly 2,000,000 people who have to be persuaded to see the movie in the first three days in the US alone. It won't have a huge marketing campaign behind it in the manner of War of the Worlds or Star Wars.

A lot of it falls on our shoulders and, gosh darn it, we're going to try.

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Sunday, July 24, 2005 11:36 PM

SOUPCATCHER

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
...
(of course, if the story leaks about Joss, Nathan and the entire New York petting zoo then that theory may be challenged)
...

Just Joss and Nathan at the petting zoo is what you heard? Phew. Dodged a bullet on that one.

Aww crap.

/threadjacking

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Sunday, July 24, 2005 11:44 PM

PURPLEBELLY

It's not just potential recruits (

). I'm a Firefly fan, and the fanboys turn my stomach, too

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Monday, July 25, 2005 4:13 AM

NYWOE

I find it difficult to explain why Firefly is so important to me. Mostly, I want the franchise to succeed because it was such a great injustice that it was cancelled. (Against Joss, against the cast and crew, against the fans and all potential fans.) So this is my way of sticking up my middle finger at the bloated, unthinking powers of the world.

There is definately a difference between enthusiasm and harassment, though, and it's important for us to remember that difference. I think most Browncoats know how to behave politely in public. In fact, most that I've met are pretty shy until you coax them into conversation, and then their love of Firefly beams out of their faces like a proud pregnant mother.

When will this baby get born already?!

_____________________________________
If you're an Arizonan and a Browncoat, come join us:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/AZ_Browncoats/

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Monday, July 25, 2005 4:25 AM

CHRISISALL

Any of my family or friends don't feel the need to show up for Serenity on or about opening day I intend to shoot, politely.
Probably just to wound, though.

Sorry, just watched the entire disk one of Firefly last night, I may not be thinkin' so straight yet this morn...

Programmed Chrisisall

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Monday, July 25, 2005 4:32 AM

EMMA

Luckily my friends are all rabid sci-fi fans, scholars interested in analysing the role of religion in visual media or scared of me - I've got it easy!

extremely dimensionally transcendental

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Monday, July 25, 2005 4:50 AM

ZEEK

I just think that Firefly is the best TV show ever.

It has so many great characters, funny moments, intense moments, etc. that I just think everyone should experience it. I also think that it's a show that should apeal to everyone. So, if everyone watches it then everyone will become a fan. If everyone is a fan then the franchise is bound to grow.

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Monday, July 25, 2005 5:08 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Quote:
Originally posted by DrDredge:
I'm just curious. I'm a fan of the show, and of most of Joss Whedon's work. I'm looking forward to Serenity, and I enjoy checking out the boards on occaision.

Welcome DrDredge. Glad to have you here w/ us.

Quote:
Originally posted by DrDredge:
However, when I read the message boards, I see you guys working incredibly hard to get the word out and recruit new people to the show. Which is cool, I consider myself a loyal but casual fan. I watched every episode on FOX, and was disappointed when it was cancelled. But never felt the need to mail in postcards and whatnot to try and save the show. I'm grateful for Serenity this fall, but if we never got anything else I think I would be content.

Yep. We work our butts off to promote the DVD, the series being rebroadcast on Sci Fi, and the movie coming out September. If not for our efforts and dedication there would not be a movie, a DVD set, or even the episodes running on Sci Fi.

We do it because the story grabbed us. The characters were deep, took on a life of their own, just like the story, and there was more to be told. We weren't content allowing the story to be dropped because Fox didn't get it. The show, the story and characters, and it's underlying message were important enough to us to be worth the effort of spreading the word and introducing to new people.

Quote:
Originally posted by DrDredge:
I have a friend who is a Stargate Atlantis fan and drives me crazy trying to get me to watch. So much to the point that I don't really even want to talk to them anymore. So when I stop by these boards, and see people saying things like "Recruit, recruit, recruit!" It makes me thing of my Stargate friend. So I guess my question is: What makes you work so hard at getting the word out? I understand wanting to share the show with a friend and I'm not asking this as an attack, I know tone is sometimes hard to understand when written on a message board. But I am sincerely trying to understand. It just seems like a lot of Firefly fans take thier fandom to extremes.

Some fans can get a bit overly zealous in their loyalty to a show. I have yet to see a fanbase of any show, sport, or anything that does not have examples of extremely passionate fans who come across as pushy or obsessive to others. Certainly there seem to be some fans of Firefly that seem to behave the same way. Don't know any of them personally, but there have been stories.

I think your estimation of "a lot" of Firefly fans taking their "fandom to extremes" is an exaggeration and not realistically reflective of our fanbase.

Quote:
Originally posted by DrDredge:
For instance, I have a friend who works in a movie theatre and they get calls on a regular basis asking what films is the Serenity trailer playing on. If it's not on the newest biggest weekend movie, the guy calling gets really upset and not only questions why it isn't on that film but demands that it should be played with that film.

I have heard fans talk about calling theatres to see if the trailer for the BDM is attached to a certain movie or not, but this is the first I have heard of a fan getting upset or giving a theatre employee grief about it not being attached to a certain movie.

I would like to think that Browncoats (Firefly fans) are above such things, but obviously there are some that aren't. As much as I wish it otherwise, there are those that will allow their passion to overrule their better judgement and manners when dealing w/ others.

On behalf of all Browncoats I would like to offer an apology to your friend and make them aware that not all us Browncoats behave in such a manner.

Quote:
Originally posted by DrDredge:
I just wonder that maybe sometimes instead of the positive effect of bringing new people to the show, that some people do more to drive people away than they realize.

I would say it is safe to say there are some fans whose zeal may drive some people away from Firefly, but you seem to miss the fact that only a very small percentage of the fanbase behaves this way. Human beings are only human. People have quirks and faults and they bring those w/ them into a fanbase when they join. Unfortunately people seem to paint the entire fanbase w/ the same brush they do a single fan they have a bad experience with at some point. That is as silly as a European automatically disliking all Americans because they have a bad experience w/ one rude American. You can't assume all or even the majority of a group are bad based on a single instance.

We don't deny there are some fans out there who may allow their passion to steer some away from Firefly, but you & your friend can not deny that the very vast majority of Browncoats are civil and friendly. We did the impossible (constructively) with our passion and insured the DVD set was released. We pushed on and got the movie greenlit by Universal. A loyal and dedicated fanbase can do nearly anything when the creators and cast stand beside them.

We ask only that you and others do not judge us as a group due to some issues with a single individual or how you might perceive our efforts to introduce the show to new people. I don't think anyone here kidnaps anyone and ties them to a chair with their eyes taped open in front of a tv playing Firefly. We reserve that treatment for Fox execs! LOL!

Stay shiny & keep flyin' DrDredge!

__________________________________________

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/

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Monday, July 25, 2005 5:24 AM

HKCAVALIER

When Firefly was canceled, my perfectly sane, non-sci-fi fan, non-tv fan, adult roommate said, "Why do I feel like someone I know just died?" She was perfectly serious and I understood what she meant. It's as if with Firefly Joss Whedon reached into an alternate reality and pulled nine biographies out and began to share what he found with us in some of the best structured tv episodes I've ever seen. After watching the DVD's for two years I still remember Firefly's commercial breaks, because they were the best I've seen. Every break was a mini cliffhanger--"Oh my god, now what?" I've never seen a tv show that was so eventful. I know there are folks who talk to the tv and think soap opera characters are real, and perhaps now I know a little about how they feel, but I felt like these characters deserved to live. That's the core of it for me.

Also I felt that what Firefly had to say about the merger of government and the corporation was of real political significance. I was new to the world of tv fandom and was unaware that every show that lasts five episodes these days earns a rabid internet fan-base bemoaning its cancellation and sending postcards. The whole "grassroots" political quality to the "movement" kinda fascinated me. It felt to me like something important was happening, so I came to this website and wrote my postcards.

Finally, I want to say that I have never been a Buffy fan and any interest I had in Angel died about 4 episodes in. Something about Oz driving a van through a wall to save Angel from torture. Joss seems to really be into "jumping the shark." He did it at his soonest opportunity with those shows. I think he gets bored with his premise or with the medium as a whole and starts messing with it from the get go. I think that's why a lot of people like him. Firefly seemed to calm the guy down, to really challenge him and gave him something he didn't want to mess with and that feeling came through in every episode and I felt it too: don't mess with the Firefly!

Oh, and "no sound in space." Half-way through watching The Train Job, I noticed that there was no sound in Whedon's space and turned to my roommate and said, "I already know this is gonna be my favorite tv show."

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Monday, July 25, 2005 8:40 AM

DRDREDGE

I appreciate everyone's responses. And just wanted to let you know that I don't judge ALL Firefly fans based on the actions of a few crazy ones. I do believe the majority enjoy the show and are just happy to recommend it to someone else without trying to force it upon them.

However, as someone who has to constantly put up with a friend of mine trying to "convert" me to a Stargate Atlantis fan, I can say that it can be pretty darn annoying!

I honestly think the movie will do fine. I'm sure Browncoats can only help the film by spreading the word. But even if they didn't and secretly hoped to keep this film all to themselves... I still think the movie would be successful. Unless a film is a sequel to an already well known film, it has to find an audience from scratch too. Serenity is already in a much better position than most films because it is based on a TV show and has a fan base.

Take Star Trek fans for instance. They love their show and movies. However their loyalty and support of the Star Trek universe has hurt the growth of thier fan base. I know many people who are casual Star Trek fans and just enjoy watching the shows and movies. However, the few who do take the time to learn Klingon as a language and dress up in the uniform and wear it while serving jury duty have given the fan base a negative "nerds" only connotation.

I have no problem with people loving a show and doing whatever they want to express thier lvoe and interest in it. If Firefly fans want to learn Chinese to better understand everything that's being said in the show - then more power to them. I just wonder whether John Q. Public will understand the devotion and turn away before they give it the chance.

Again, I just want to try and point out that I'm really not trying to criticize Firefly fans or even any other SciFi fans. I just wanted to mention a concern of accidentally pushing new fans away, before they even give the show/film a chance.

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Monday, July 25, 2005 8:54 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Wow DrDredge. I'm glad you posted this. I'm a late comer to the whole Joss appreciation concept. Friends of mine were big Buffy/Angel fans from the old days. I guess I kinda got hooked on Angel toward the latter part of Season 4, and then Season 5. So when this show Firefly was due to air in Sept., I figured I'd give it a shot. I mean, a show with hookers in space HAS to be good, right? Nope. It wasn't. It was AWESOME! At leats I thought it was. So, my first 'recruits ' were the very friends who got me watching Angel in the 1st place. But thanks to the time slot on Friday nights,bungled airing of episodes out of order, and Major Leage Baseball, ...few were able to follow along. And then it was gone. Before I knew what I was looking at, or how to describe this show... it was done.

I generally don't 'pimp' t.v. shows. If a show is good, I like to think of it as something I can enjoy on my own, with out everyone TELLING me it's a great show. I didn't hate Seinfield or Friends, but when a network and the t.v. culture so utterly embraces a show that it becomes the 'IN' thing to talk about the next day....I sorta tend to end up not watching.

I guess my point is that, while I dig FF/Serenity as much as anyone, I don't really know how to 'sell' the show all that well to folks who never saw it. It WAS cancelled, after all, so being overly hyped up about it to folks who aren't in the know usually comes off as me sounding a bit lame....more so than usual, even.

" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "

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Monday, July 25, 2005 9:00 AM

GREEKTOOMEY

I think the best way to "sell" Firefly is simply to play the DVDs for someone. Either they'll get it, or they won't.

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Monday, July 25, 2005 10:42 AM

NITEFALLS

First of all, nice to meet you, DrDredge.

I'm sorry for those of us that have been way too...shall we say, forceful in their promotion of Firefly and Serenity. There is such a thing as going too far.

That said, I can now admit that, while I havent' gone in on complete strangers, I have been pretty obsesive toward my friends. I've managed to introduce it to most people I know, and have asked them to go and see the movie, and these are the reasons I give:

1. Joss is amazingly brilliant, and he can create these characters, and situations, and bring such horror and humor and compassion together in ways that no one I've ever seen or read has been able to do.

2. The characters are gems. At first, they can seem like such stereotypes of characters, but the actors and writers and directors bring such depth and all these different facets to them, if you just watch. Some times it takes more than one viewing.

3. The television show got the shaft, right as it was getting into a good groove. THat was...upsetting. So now that we have the movie to look forward to, I'm going to go all out with my wacky obsessive love for it. Then again, I'm kind of crazy, so....

4. I believe that everyone is entitled to one big obsession in life. My mom had the Beatles, before that was Elvis, some people have Star Trek, or football/soccar/hockey/insert name of chosen sport here; and all in all, mine could be worse.

As always and in general, nitefalls

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