Something for Pro-Active Firefly fans to do. by Hjermsted

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Something for Pro-Active Firefly fans to do.

POSTED BY: HJERMSTED
UPDATED: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 17:28
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Monday, June 7, 2004 6:49 AM

My favorite film writer happens to also be a film critic... Roger Ebert. The reviews he writes for the Chicago Sun-Times are always interesting because he draws from his vast knowledge of film/art history when writing.

So I thought to myself how cool it would be for him to have seen the Firefly DVD series before he reviews 'Serenity' next April (official release date: April 22).

Next, of course, I thought about how cool it would be if ALL major film reviewers were to watch the DVD set before reviewing 'Serenity'.

Perhaps raising funds to purchase DVDs and send them to film critics is a good place to focus an activist effort on behalf of Firefly! I don't have the time to organize it myself... but I'd be happy to contribute to a (verifiable, trusted) fund drive.

Oh and... YES this would be an obvious and blatant attempt to create a bias in the various critics' minds.

I have no problem with that at all.

Mattro

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Monday, June 7, 2004 7:25 AM

BROWNCOAT1

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

This is a very good idea Hjermsted. I believe something along these lines was posted not too long ago on a thread, but the suggestion was to send the DVDs to local radio DJs.

The movie critic idea has merit. I think if we send along a letter to let them know why they are receiving a copy of the DVD set and informing of the impending release of the BDM might help to set the stage for the movie and help influence a favorable review.

Though I lack the time and necessary finesse to coordinate such an endeavor, I would gladly donate time, money or any other aid I could to such an undertaking.

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

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Monday, June 7, 2004 9:32 AM

SHINY

I imagine influential folks like Roger Ebert get inundated by these requests to view/review stuff. Not sure how much of that actually comes from Fans as opposed to the producers/backers of the films/shows. I support this idea but am very concerned that we don't alienate influential people like Ebert by approaching this the wrong way. Happy to donate money if I can be convinced we are going about it the right way and he will see it as a true fan outreach, with no strings attached and without being overbearing or hassling him, etc. (and if/how it will get by his secretaries/screeners/mailroom folks)

Please help Haken keep this site running by occasionally clicking on some of the sponsored ad links on the side of the page!

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Monday, June 7, 2004 1:47 PM

HJERMSTED

The only way a writer/critic person would NOT like a Firefly DVD set is if they DON'T end up watching it.

However.. I nice little letter explaining the fan nature of this effort may be enough to get a writer/critic person interested in popping in that first disc of the set.

And we ALL know what happens after that, don't we?

The unintended Firefly marathon begins.. lasts 15 hours and ends with "why the f*ck did they cancel this show!!!??"

And THAT is the exact mental state we want the nation's critics to be in before sitting down for Serenity next April.

Just think how many of the reviews (coming from a writer/critic person who had watched the DVDs)would mention the horrible treatment Fox gave this show as part of the information presented in their review.

I'm liking this idea more and more...

Mattro

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Monday, June 7, 2004 2:16 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.

I think the idea has merit too, but my main concern would be that a lot of these critics might already have the DVD set. Certainly some of them saw an episode or two when it was originally on. Why not concentrate first on a letter writing campaign to the critics to find out who is not familiar with the show and the DVDs. That way money won't be wasted on someone already a fan.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

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Monday, June 7, 2004 3:10 PM

ZOID

Yeah, folks, let's not forget that Firefly was a critical success for F*x. Critics loved it, which leads one to presume that they also saw it. Problem is that F*x Entertainment President Gail Berman, a former Joss Whedon associate, is submarining him, Tim Minear and ME in general to make herself look good... "See? I was the true brains of that outfit. Without me they are nothing."

Nothing like kicking your mentor. Loyalty? What's that!?

Respectfully,

zoid

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Monday, June 7, 2004 4:49 PM

ANNIK

This is a good idea at it's core, but I think the target is incorrect. Since critics already have given great reviews of the show (see Zoid's post, above), the idea of donating DVDs should be focused elsewhere.

If your local public library does AV loans, check if they loan out DVDs. Ours does. Anyone can donate new material to them, even making that material specific to a particular branch.

If I weren't poorer than a churchmouse, I'd have done so already to our local branch, if not the whole gorram city, LOL!

Food for thought.

Cheers,
Annik
... my sister's a ship. We had a complicated childhood.

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Wednesday, June 9, 2004 12:59 PM

HJERMSTED

I agree that TV critics have already scene/reviewed Firefly to some degree.

However, I'm not convinced that FILM critics have seen Firefly. I doubt film critics have much time to watch TV (except for advance DVDs for reviewing... which plays right into OUR hands nicely)

TV critics and film critics are different beasts entirely.

The idea put forth is about sending the DVD sets to Roger Ebert (and the other thumbs up guy), Leonard Maltin, Harry Knowles, Shalit, Lyons and the film critics at New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today etc. etc. Obviously there's a chance the DVD set made it to them somehow already... but not for an official writing assignment.

Perhaps a letter writing campaign urging the TV department of these entities to turn over their Firefly DVD sets to the film department is in order?

mattro

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Wednesday, June 9, 2004 3:02 PM

SHINY

I guess I'm just a little skeptical that 1) we could get the DVDs to them, and 2) they would watch unsolicited DVDs sent to them even if we did.

Now, if we could get some sent to their families and close friends to watch and then pester the critics about watching it with them...

"I left my heart in Serenity Valley"

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Friday, June 11, 2004 1:25 PM

KIARA

annik wrote:
If your local public library does AV loans, check if they loan out DVDs. Ours does. Anyone can donate new material to them, even making that material specific to a particular branch.

Great idea! I thought I'd check to see if I could donate to the library cause, but mine already has it! Incredible. Bless the heart that gave it.

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Friday, June 11, 2004 1:28 PM

KIARA

Just checked the details - our fine city (Portland, OR) has fourteen copies in the library system, and there are fifty-nine holds on them! Fans in the making!

Shiny!

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Friday, June 11, 2004 1:35 PM

MER

I would like to say, yes it has effected my speech. Either on purpose to get away with cursing or by accident.
Just like Buffy, Angel, and Southpark.

*laughs* I actually attempted to curse a guy who was driving weirdly in front of me and instead sputtered in Mandrian. I have no idea what phrase flew out either.

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Friday, June 11, 2004 3:26 PM

ANNIK

Quote:
Originally posted by Kiara:
Just checked the details - our fine city (Portland, OR) has fourteen copies in the library system, and there are fifty-nine holds on them! Fans in the making!

Shiny!

Woo hoo! Shiny indeed, Kiara! Thanks for letting me know!

Cheers,
Annik
... my sister's a ship. We had a complicated childhood.

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Tuesday, June 29, 2004 8:15 AM

KYAPHAS

I know this has nothing to do with the topic but I am trying to responed to a email that Kiara sent me. I can not contact you without an email, so pleasse try again.

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Tuesday, June 29, 2004 8:51 AM

WREN

Quote:
Originally posted by Kyaphas:
I know this has nothing to do with the topic but I am trying to responed to a email that Kiara sent me. I can not contact you without an email, so pleasse try again.

Don't know if this is any help, but:
go to Kiara's post in this thread. Click on her name. Her profile should come up. On the left hand side of the screen is a message box. This is set up to automatically direct messages to Kiara's e-mail address.

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Tuesday, June 29, 2004 1:12 PM

KYAPHAS

Shiny, thank you so much!!!!

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Tuesday, June 29, 2004 4:34 PM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!

Donating $ for the troops over in the MidEast to be able to watch Firefly - Yes

Donating $ for pampered, over indulgent movie critics who get PAID very well to watch such things, as well as who knows what in attempts to curry a favorable review? - Not a gorram chance in hell.

I like the pro active attitude - a lot. But I think we tend to over think things when trying to get the word out. Perhaps those who have the DVD can burn a copy and send it to critics, or d.j.'s..... that's cool. I'm up for more ideas, just not forking over $$ to BUY them freebies.

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

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Tuesday, June 29, 2004 5:28 PM

SWEETVINEGAR

Hopefully this will make sense

It seems to me that a fan of Firefly reviewing a Firefly movie would be viewed as a biased critic by people who have never seen the show and are reading the review pondering whether or not to see the movie. I want critics that praise the movie because it's a good movie that stands on it's own, and I want people to read the reviews of THOSE critics and see the movie because they trust that the critic went in unbiasedly and left loving it.

We need to trust that the movie will be GOOD, which it will be, because Joss Whedon is a GOOD writer. We don't need to do all this underhanded stuff in the hopes of tainting reviews to make them positive, when, if the movie was any good anyway, that would not be necessary.

So was it senseless rambling, or what?

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