GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

25 minute presentation about Serenity and Firefly

POSTED BY: ORCBLASTER
UPDATED: Saturday, March 19, 2005 15:54
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VIEWED: 5948
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Saturday, March 19, 2005 2:44 AM

ORCBLASTER


Hi,

This year I have decided to do my presentation about
Firefly, for school.
Now, I have about 30 people in my class to introduce to Firefly/Serenity.
Of course I have to talk about how Firefly came to be, about the pilot, how Fox messed with the order of the episodes, how great the show really is written/directed/performed etc etc.
But what is the best way to get the Firefly message across in 25 minutes? I mean, I could talk for 25 minutes and people still don't know much (besides, Firefly is very hard to explain to people) so I thought it'd be best if I would show them some precious Firefly moments from my dvd-set. But it is a requirement that I speak for at least 10 minutes, so I have 15 minutes of video to show.
What is the best way to do this? Should I begin with video and later explain what i showed them, should I mix the video in the speech.
It'b really cool if I could get 30 more browncoats in 25 minutes! :-)
Can someone help me out here ;-)

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 2:58 AM

RAVERN


Try starting off with a five minute intro off one of the episodes. tension build.
Then after the song - you can go in to your talk for about five -ten minutes. Interweaving 30 second clips, showing all the different techniques used. You know humour, camera angle, script, graphics.
And end with the Gag reel which always makes me laugh.

Hope all goes well.
keep the pace though and don`t let them relax too much.

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 3:00 AM

PURPLEBELLY


If it was me, I'd use the opening of The Message: you see each character, so you can link your talk to the most important element of the show; it's funny, so it disarms those alienated by the SciFi-Western mix; it's intriguing, so people may listen to you hoping for the answers.

You only have 25 minutes, though, so you may want to minimise screen time
- unless you play it muted in the background

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 3:10 AM

INEVITABLEBETRAYAL


I actually tried coming up with something, but on further reflection, just do what Ravern said.

Oh, yeah--further proving that I have precisely zero original bones in my body, I agree that you should use the trailer from The Message.
_______________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 3:11 AM

INEVITABLEBETRAYAL


Double post.

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 3:39 AM

JUSTCALLMESIMON


I hope you're not in public school. And don't ruin any of the suprises.

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 4:08 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Another suggestion - the birthday party scene for Simon in OoG. All the crew members are in the mess, enjoying each other's company and laughing. It shows the audience who everyone is - Book and his monastic humor, Zoe and Wash are married,Simon the doctor,etc - and their 'part' on the ship. And there's the cool shot of the fire being sucked out into space, and you could end it as the bay doors close..

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

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 4:34 AM

ORCBLASTER


Thanks you guys!
This really helped me figuring out a lot!
I think I'm gonna go with The Message intro.
Then when I'm talking about the different characters I'll put in the birthday party scene from Out of gas like AURaptor suggested (But the fire might take up too much time, so I may have to cut it when the lights go off when Simon blows out the candles (it might even get them curious)

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 4:58 AM

NYWOE


Great work, Browncoat! You make us proud! *wipes tear* Be sure to let us know how it goes.

Quote:

I may have to cut it when the lights go off when Simon blows out the candles (it might even get them curious)


Make sure they at least see the explosion...

I think it's a great idea to use this scene. If you need something else to fill the time, you could find one of the better music videos out there. Are you showing this stuff off of a computer or off of a TV?

Back when I was a kid, we didn't have no fancy "multi-media" presentations. We had to stand up front and just talk, using little pieces of paper called "notecards." Kids these days! Also, I had to walk to school every day in the snow... uphill... both ways.

I have heard of a place where humans do battle in a ring of Jell-O.
--Teal'c

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 5:51 AM

ORCBLASTER


Quote:

Originally posted by Nywoe:
Great work, Browncoat! You make us proud! *wipes tear* Be sure to let us know how it goes.

Quote:

I may have to cut it when the lights go off when Simon blows out the candles (it might even get them curious)


Make sure they at least see the explosion...

I think it's a great idea to use this scene. If you need something else to fill the time, you could find one of the better music videos out there. Are you showing this stuff off of a computer or off of a TV?

Back when I was a kid, we didn't have no fancy "multi-media" presentations. We had to stand up front and just talk, using little pieces of paper called "notecards." Kids these days! Also, I had to walk to school every day in the snow... uphill... both ways.

I have heard of a place where humans do battle in a ring of Jell-O.
--Teal'c



Yeah, I'm gonna do it on a computer connected to a beamer wich projects it on a big screen, so it's like a semi-theater hehehe. If my classmates are interested (and I hope they will be) we can even watch some episodes after class!


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Saturday, March 19, 2005 5:52 AM

AURAPTOR

America loves a winner!


Glad we could help out. Sounds like you're gonna have fun w/ this, I'm so envious. heh heh. I had to go back and re-watch the intro to The Message. Cracked me up to see Wash talking to the cow fetus....and of course, Jaynes hat. His ," Why'd y'all order a dead guy?" line is classic.

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

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 6:07 AM

NYWOE


Now that I think about it, doesn't that Out of Gas scene have Inara talking about "whorin' stories"? I don't know how old you are or whether you go to a public school, but that might not be "appropriate" as Simon would say...

Just food for thought. You would know better than me what is acceptable.

I have heard of a place where humans do battle in a ring of Jell-O.
--Teal'c

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 6:16 AM

KNIBBLET


I'm looking at this from a different perspective. The perspective of a Toastmaster and an experienced public speaker.

If you want to make people interested in this show, you really have to make them believe YOU love this show.

Use the least amount of video as possible. Talk more about What draws you to firefly and why you're devoted to Serenity and her crew.

Write your speech as if you couldn't have more than a photo or two. Write 25 minutes of love - then add video and pare down your script to work the perfect scenes into your descriptions.

Hiding behind 15 minutes of video tells the instructor you were too lazy to write a 25 minute speech.

If you really want to use video, use teensy clips as you describe each character. Put together a montage if you like. Jayne 'ordering the dead guy', Jayne with his 'thrilling heroics' even Jayne begging for his life.

The clip of Inara tending to Book's head injury would show the depth and conflict of characters - but be sure to describe that depth to your listeners.

If you need more help, write me off-line (formatted to outwit email harvesters) at knibblet @ hotmail.com

Barbara Jungbauer
Advanced Toastmaster Silver
www.toastmasters.org

"I'm gonna rip you a new puppet hole, bitch!"

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 6:41 AM

ICCLEDAMES


Well, I'm currently in my first year at University and the other day I was sat in my flat, trying to get some work done. Whilst I was working I had "War Stories" on. Anyway, one of my flatmates came back from his lesson and he came in. We were talking for a while and then he asked what I was watching. I told him it was Firefly. He said it was 'shiny' (But apparently that's just normal where he comes from). Now normally he hates sci-fi but he actually sat watching it and at the end, said he liked it. I was impressed.

But anyway, a couple of days later, being rather skint (ie. having no money - I don't know if that's just a local word we use lol), the 5 of us in the flat were stuck in. I said did anyone want to stick a film on, and the same guy suggested putting some Firefly on!

I can't remember which episode we watched but at the end, another guy said "I think I could get into this one" or words along that line. I couldn't believe it because they're not really the sci-fi type if you know what I mean.

So good luck with your presentation! I think that at the least you can make your class aware of the fact that Firefly isn't just some geeky Star Trek show. Sure, it's in the same genre but by no means does it carry the same geeky connotations. At least, nobody I know who has seen the series has ever linked the two.

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 7:29 AM

ORCBLASTER


Quote:


I think that at the least you can make your class aware of the fact that Firefly isn't just some geeky Star Trek show. Sure, it's in the same genre but by no means does it carry the same geeky connotations. At least, nobody I know who has seen the series has ever linked the two.



Well, the problem would be that I don't have the time to show them a full episode to get them hooked, but maybe if I show them some very good moments of the show, talk about it from my heart, they will maybe pick up the sense that this is not Star Trek but something far more beautiful.


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Saturday, March 19, 2005 7:39 AM

ORCBLASTER


Quote:

Originally posted by Nywoe:
Now that I think about it, doesn't that Out of Gas scene have Inara talking about "whorin' stories"? I don't know how old you are or whether you go to a public school, but that might not be "appropriate" as Simon would say...

Just food for thought. You would know better than me what is acceptable.

I have heard of a place where humans do battle in a ring of Jell-O.
--Teal'c



Don't worry, I'm 16 (and so are my classmates) and I live in the Netherlands and "whorin' stories" are not a problem over here. :-)

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 7:56 AM

ORCBLASTER


Quote:

Originally posted by Knibblet:
I'm looking at this from a different perspective. The perspective of a Toastmaster and an experienced public speaker.

If you want to make people interested in this show, you really have to make them believe YOU love this show.

Use the least amount of video as possible. Talk more about What draws you to firefly and why you're devoted to Serenity and her crew.

Write your speech as if you couldn't have more than a photo or two. Write 25 minutes of love - then add video and pare down your script to work the perfect scenes into your descriptions.

Hiding behind 15 minutes of video tells the instructor you were too lazy to write a 25 minute speech.

If you really want to use video, use teensy clips as you describe each character. Put together a montage if you like. Jayne 'ordering the dead guy', Jayne with his 'thrilling heroics' even Jayne begging for his life.

The clip of Inara tending to Book's head injury would show the depth and conflict of characters - but be sure to describe that depth to your listeners.

If you need more help, write me off-line (formatted to outwit email harvesters) at knibblet @ hotmail.com

Barbara Jungbauer
Advanced Toastmaster Silver
www.toastmasters.org

"I'm gonna rip you a new puppet hole, bitch!"



Well, talking about Firefly is easy with someone who has seen the show. I have to do a presentation in front of 30 people who basicaly have no idea what this show is about. So to write a 25 minute speech would be very difficult.
Of course I won't overload them with video, because that is not what a presentation is.
The basic idea is to have a topic (For example: River's story) and then first talk about what it is, give some backstory, and then I show a clip (about 2 or 3 minutes) and show some good moments without giving too much away.
I can do about 8 or 9 topics that way.
And, I'll also create postcards for my class with the Serenity logo and the release date of the movie on it so they won't forget to go and see the movie :-)

Thanks for the help though, I'll definately think about it.

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 8:45 AM

ZOID



Hey, Orcblaster:

I tried to find you a link to this, but googling "post-apocalyptic technological levels" only returns thousands of game hits and 'third-eye' gobbledygook.

But... Way back when, I heard a rather optimistic (IMO) projection that human civilization might only regress to a mid- to late-19th century technological level after an all-out nuclear exchange (inclusive of steam and/or rudimentary internal combustion).

I always viewed Firefly this way, rather than as a Western, per se. The tech levels have reverted -- for those on the Rim -- to circa 1860's, as opposed to those that are powerful enough to have access to 500-years-in-the-future modern tech (as in the Core, or Rance Burgess). I would explain that Firefly is not so much a Western, as it is post-apocalyptic (i.e., following the destruction of Earth-That-Was). That should remove some of the Western stigma, for those who might otherwise equate it with "Gunsmoke" and their grandparents... (Inara = Miss Kitty?)

I would definitely open with such remarks, and a good reference to back it; preferably from the AEC or government/military forecasters. You could then show the opening monologue (which you'll have to download from the 'net, since it's not on the DVDs) as proof that this is the Western element's basis. I'll keep looking for that modern-day 'good reference' to support this viewpoint, but I've got to go to work, just now.

However you decide to go, good luck! Win us some new flans.


Respectfully,

zoid

P.S.
I know Joss was thinking of regressed tech from post-apocalypse, too. See my quote below, from the theme he wrote.
_________________________________________________

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

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 9:46 AM

NYWOE


Quote:

I live in the Netherlands


Haha, okay, I'm not worried then.

I have heard of a place where humans do battle in a ring of Jell-O.
--Teal'c

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 10:35 AM

MAUGWAI


Knibblet's right. If you show mostly video your teacher will think you're too lazy to write a paper. I teach English. I'd be impressed if oyu came in not only knowing facts about the show that you couldn't have learned just by watching it, but also by showing how much passion you have for the show in the way you talk about it.

I'm not sure what kind of class this is, but if it's literature or something of that nature, then the best way to do get a good grade is to have some analysis. Talk about the themes of the show. We lit teachers love themes.

Do all that, then show some video to demonstrate what you already talked about. But don't let the video speak for itself. Let it prove your point.



"Dear diary, today I was pompous and my sister was crazy."

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 11:04 AM

ORCBLASTER


Wow, thanks for all the great advice everybody!!

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 11:55 AM

KNIBBLET


Beautifully said, maugwai.
Quote:

Originally posted by maugwai:
...the best way to do get a good grade is to have some analysis. Talk about the themes of the show... lit teachers love themes.
...don't let the video speak for itself. Let it prove your point.



"I'm gonna rip you a new puppet hole, bitch!"

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 2:23 PM

FIREFLYGAL


May I suggest starting with the beginning of the episodes on the DVD, where it flashes everyone's face, then going with some Jayne moments as an opening. Chain of command, I like smacking 'em, twice nothin' carry the nothing, who ordered the dead guy etc I realize it doesn't introduce all the characters but it certainly will show the humor. I would make the video intro only maybe 1 minute though, 5 minutes is very long when you really don't know what you're looking at but it will work as an attention grabber. Also if you can find the opening from when the show was on TV when Ron Glass spoke about the Earth being used up etc, that would be a good lead in also. I'm with Knibblet in that you don't want your presentation to be mostly video but also, let's face it, it's a visual world today too. The OOG party scene is a great one to show and some of the other "dinner" scenes where they're all together. Can you dress in costume or perhaps wear a Firefly t-shirt? I believe you will have no trouble talking about why you love Firefly. List your reasons and then do short video clips as examples of the reasons. Someone has probably said that already, sorry I only skimmed the responses. Hey, even if you only convert 2 friends, then they tell 2 friends and so on and so on. Good luck!

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 2:32 PM

LOCHRAVIN


Quote:

Originally posted by zoid:

Hey, Orcblaster:
(much more cut for simplicity)

You could then show the opening monologue (which you'll have to download from the 'net, since it's not on the DVDs) as proof that this is the Western element's basis.
(some more cutting)

Respectfully,
zoid



Being a new fan...I didn't realize that there was something not on the DVDs...can you point me in the right direction to download this?

Thanks,
Mike

Well maybe I'm not a fancy gentleman like you, with your...very fine hat. But I do business...we're here for business.

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Saturday, March 19, 2005 3:54 PM

SHINY


Quote:

Originally posted by lochravin:

Being a new fan...I didn't realize that there was something not on the DVDs...can you point me in the right direction to download this?



Google "Hello Cowgirl" for rips from the TV eps
You can also Google "Whoa Good Myth" for transcipts and other stuff. (should be the first link listed in both cases)

Jayne, your mouth is talkin. Might want to look into that.

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