Joss cuts off ties with Fox by Sniper

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Joss cuts off ties with Fox

POSTED BY: SNIPER
UPDATED: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 09:01
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Monday, October 25, 2004 6:36 AM

Just found this on SciFiWire:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon has ended his TV production deal with 20th Century Fox TV, effectively shuttering his Mutant Enemy production company and putting a close to his TV plans for now, Variety reported

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Monday, October 25, 2004 6:41 AM

SUCCATASH

What?

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

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Monday, October 25, 2004 6:42 AM

BIKISDAD

OK, so much for Angel coming back in tv movies...

Apathy on the Rise. No One Cares.

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Monday, October 25, 2004 6:52 AM

DANFAN

And this on the heels of the recent news that the suits were hot for an Angel movie. This seems so abrupt. How strange.

Makes you wonder... do you suppose they were negotiating for an Angel movie and then the suits started gettin' all up in Joss' bidness about who he should cast and how the story should be told?

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:16 AM

BIKISDAD

Quote:
Originally posted by danfan:
And this on the heels of the recent news that the suits were hot for an Angel movie. This seems so abrupt. How strange.

Makes you wonder... do you suppose they were negotiating for an Angel movie and then the suits started gettin' all up in Joss' bidness about who he should cast and how the story should be told?

You could be right. Joss has made several comments about how great Universal has been in allowing him complete freedom to film Serenity the way he wanted. Maybe the contrast was just too much for him and he couldn't deal with going back to the controlling tv environment with the WB.

Apathy on the Rise. No One Cares.

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:24 AM

SUCCATASH

Apparantly Variety scooped this story, and the whole article is here: http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=upsell_article&articleID=VR111
7912408&categoryID=14&cs=1

You have to be a paying member to read it, though. Is anyone a subscriber?

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:31 AM

SIMONF

Yahoo! News has the Variety article in full

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/variety/20041024/va_tv_ne/whe
don_wants_out_of_tv_1

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:46 AM

RHYMEPHILE

Here's what I don't quite understand:

Quote:
Whedon had a little over a year left on his overall pact with 20th Century Fox TV. Under terms of his departure, the scribe can't work on TV projects anywhere else. And if Whedon decides to return to TV, 20th gets first dibs.

Does this mean that rather than stay at 20th Century for little over a year and get paid for not making anything, he would rather leave and he had to negotiate something that said he couldn't do any TV anywhere else *and* if he came back it had to be with FOX? That's a lot of signing your life over when he could have just sat out the rest of his development deal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My office! Burgled! Plundered! Purloined! Ha ha ha...loins."

-- Phil Sebben, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:50 AM

PIZMOBEACH

... fully loaded, safety off...

"Whedon had a little over a year left on his overall pact with 20th Century Fox TV. Under terms of his departure, the scribe can't work on TV projects anywhere else. And if Whedon decides to return to TV, 20th gets first dibs."

Man, that's just bleak.

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:54 AM

ZEEK

uh....what do they mean when he comes back it will be with Fox!? Does that mean he said no matter when he finally wants back on TV he still has to give Fox first dibs?

Talk about adding insult to injury. Not only is Joss really really out of the TV biz for a while but even if he does come back it has to be with Fox.

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:59 AM

SPOOKYJESUS

He hasn't cut his ties with Fox - if anything he's hanging onto them.

He could have sat around and done nothing TV related for one more year and recieved money both personaly and through his company Mutant Enemy. After that year was up he then could have turned around and not renewed his contract with Fox thus leaving them behind.

But he didn't do that -

Joss said at the Kerry thing he's working on a new movie. Clearly that's where he's focusing his career now - as a movie guy writer/ director(as he should and was clear he would once Serenity was announced).

But if one day he gets an idea for a tv show or if he makes a movie that he'd like to see a spin off of as a TV series he can call up Fox and set something up. In fact he has to set it up with Fox - and that's clearly the way Joss wants it!

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Monday, October 25, 2004 8:04 AM

BLINKER

"Skein"... "laffer"... "prexy"... reading Variety articles always makes me want to break things.

Quote:
Talk about adding insult to injury. Not only is Joss really really out of the TV biz for a while but even if he does come back it has to be with Fox.

I think that refers to Fox the studio, not Fox the network. Far as I know, Joss and the fans have no major issues against the studio.

_________
Sliders: Gate Haven - http://slidersweb.net/blinker

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Monday, October 25, 2004 8:08 AM

RHUTTNER

Quote:
Originally posted by RhymePhile:
Here's what I don't quite understand:

Quote:
Whedon had a little over a year left on his overall pact with 20th Century Fox TV. Under terms of his departure, the scribe can't work on TV projects anywhere else. And if Whedon decides to return to TV, 20th gets first dibs.

Does this mean that rather than stay at 20th Century for little over a year and get paid for not making anything, he would rather leave and he had to negotiate something that said he couldn't do any TV anywhere else *and* if he came back it had to be with FOX? That's a lot of signing your life over when he could have just sat out the rest of his development deal.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My office! Burgled! Plundered! Purloined! Ha ha ha...loins."

-- Phil Sebben, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law

I don't think anything had to be negotiated because it already was. Joss was under an exclusive contract with 20th Century Fox Television for a certain amount of time. This means that he was free to write comics for Marvel, do movies for Universal, but if he did anything for TV 20th has first dibs.

Unless there was something in the original contract that specified a certain amount of deliverables then Joss can basically stop working on TV until the contract runs out, then sign with someone else. However if there was a certain amount of deliverables and it wasn't met, then Joss could be responsible for paybacks. Either way hes probably not getting paid anymore.

There was a similar thing when Sherry Stringfield wanted out of her contract for ER after the first year. She was released but was not allowed to do TV for the remainder of her contract period.

Its important to note that this is the studio, not the network. This contract was with the company that made Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. It is not the company that cancelled Firefly or made Alien Resurrection.

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Monday, October 25, 2004 4:41 PM

THRAWN

Quote:
Originally posted by rhuttner:
Its important to note that this is the studio, not the network. This contract was with the company that made Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. It is not the company that cancelled Firefly or made Alien Resurrection.

This is the key, here.

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Monday, October 25, 2004 4:57 PM

SUCCATASH

I think 20th Century Fox made Buffy, Firefly, etc. and also Alien Resurrection.

Fox TV cancelled Firefly. I think.

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

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Monday, October 25, 2004 5:36 PM

ANOTHERFIREFLYFAN

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
uh....what do they mean when he comes back it will be with Fox!? Does that mean he said no matter when he finally wants back on TV he still has to give Fox first dibs?

Talk about adding insult to injury. Not only is Joss really really out of the TV biz for a while but even if he does come back it has to be with Fox.

That would be 20th Century Fox, which has produced ALL of Joss shows. Not the Fox (

) Network that cancelled our favorite show. So rest somewhat more assured.

I am also interested in hearing why Joss did this, though. And no more Mutant Enemy?? *cries*

Keep flying

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Monday, October 25, 2004 6:22 PM

RHUTTNER

Quote:
Originally posted by Succatash:

I think 20th Century Fox made Buffy, Firefly, etc. and also Alien Resurrection.

Fox TV cancelled Firefly. I think.

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

20th Century Fox TELEVISION made Buffy, Angel, and Firefly

20th Century Fox (the movie studio) made Alien Resurrection.

They are different companies.

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Monday, October 25, 2004 6:22 PM

QUICKSAND

It's only a year. As we're working on this thread, 'Serenity' is six MONTHS away. So that's half the time right there, and Joss will be spending it all working on the film, I'm sure.

The remaining six months, I'd like to think Joss is,

a) Using his newfound-Hollywood power to cast and begin his next Uber-Adventure.
b) Working on the 'Serenity' DVD
c) Lighting bags of poo on fire and leaving them outside the front door of the homes of Fox executives.
d) Having lots of sex with his wife.

Because, you know, if I had that kind of power, that's what I would do.

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Monday, October 25, 2004 6:25 PM

GOJIRO

It's interesting to note that the "prexy" (in English: president) they quote is named Dana Walden. And the ship that shows up promising to save Serenity in OoG was named the Walden.

Big promises are made, then the promiser shoots the promisee in the gut. Makes me look at that scene in a whole different light, now.

gojiro

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Monday, October 25, 2004 6:45 PM

SUCCATASH

Quote:
Originally posted by rhuttner:
20th Century Fox TELEVISION made Buffy, Angel, and Firefly

20th Century Fox (the movie studio) made Alien Resurrection.

They are different companies.

Thanks for responding. But I find the whole 20th Century/FOX/Joss business relationship confusing.

I thought there was just "20th Century Fox" and "FOX". 20th Century produces and distributes movies, TV shows, and home video. FOX broadcasts television which is totally different and they cancelled Firefly.

And I thought the Fox News corp. was a third entity altogether.

I would like a lecture on this subject. Thanks!

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:09 PM

LISSA

i just really want to know what this means for mutant enemy! anyone???

~lissa, spwhore

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:17 PM

SUCCATASH

Quote:
Originally posted by lissa:
i just really want to know what this means for mutant enemy! anyone???

Hi, Lissa. The article says,

"Mutant Enemy is expected to close shop as soon as this week; departing are the label's handful of staffers, including company president Chris Buchanan, who's been with Mutant Enemy since 2002 and is exec producing "Serenity."

Mutant Enemy will continue with Whedon as the sole proprietor."

I thought Chris B. owned part of Mutant Enemy. ?

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

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Monday, October 25, 2004 7:39 PM

LISSA

ok, now i'm sad:(

~lissa, spwhore

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Monday, October 25, 2004 10:26 PM

LIVIDLIQUID

So now we have absolutely no hope of becoming hopelessly addicted to another awesome Joss show. Fantastic.

This really sucks. I'm sure his movies are going to kick ass and all, but once every two years isn't enough Whedon for my addiction.

At least I've got 24 as methodone.

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 4:22 AM

RHUTTNER

Quote:
Originally posted by Succatash:
Quote:
Originally posted by rhuttner:
20th Century Fox TELEVISION made Buffy, Angel, and Firefly

20th Century Fox (the movie studio) made Alien Resurrection.

They are different companies.
Thanks for responding. But I find the whole 20th Century/FOX/Joss business relationship confusing.

I thought there was just "20th Century Fox" and "FOX". 20th Century produces and distributes movies, TV shows, and home video. FOX broadcasts television which is totally different and they cancelled Firefly.

And I thought the Fox News corp. was a third entity altogether.

I would like a lecture on this subject. Thanks!

"Gott kann dich nicht vor mir beschuetzen, weil ich nicht boese bin."

Ultimatly they are all subsidaries of the same company owned by Murdock.

But here is the deal, as I understand it.

20th Century Fox Television makes TV shows such as Buffy, Angel, Firefly, The Practice, X-Files.

20th Century Fox makes movies such as Alien Resurrection, the original Buffy movie, and the X-Files movie.

These are different companies.

20th Century Fox Television owns the rights to the shows. So when the attempt was made to turn Firefly into a movie, the TV division had to find a movie studio to do it. It could have gone to 20th Century Fox, but went to Universal. In either case, the movie studio would have to pay the television studio (either up front or a % of box office) for the rights to make the movie. I believe the side effect of the deal with Universal was to have exclusive rights to the property for 10 years which is why Firefly can't return to TV as a series for that amount of time.

In addition, there is the FOX Network. This is a television network that airs TV shows regardless of the studio that made it. For example, Married with Children was made by Columbia Pictures Television. Networks pay the studios for exclusive rights to air episodes a certain number of times, but the studio still owns it. So FOX the network paid 20th Century Fox Television the studio for the rights to air Firefly.

There is also a distribution division. This is the company that distributes movies to theaters and markets it. So if you go see Star Wars Episode III you will see that it starts with a credit for Lucasfilm, the company that made the movie, then a credit for 20th Century Fox, the company that distributed it. They get a percentage of the box office and the rest goes to Lucasfilm.

But thats not the end of it. There is also Fox Home Entertainment. This is the company we need to thank for the DVDs. They get a percentage of the sales because they make and distribute the property for the Television and Film divisions. So even though X-Files the TV show and X-Files the movie were made by different companies, the home video/DVD is from the same company.

Joss' contract was with the Television studio. The current contract was made after the cancellation of Firefly. People on this board were questioning why he would sign a contract with a company that treated him like go se. Well its because they didn't. The television studio treated him very well. It was the network that treated him like go se. The movie division wasn't that good to him either.

Because there are so many different Fox companies involved, people think its all the same. I recently posted a thread about Amazon having a sale on Season 1 DVD box sets for Fox Television shows. Someone responded with something like he wouldn't buy them and is sorry that Fox is getting a percentage of the Firefly DVD. Well the network doesnt get anything from the DVD sales. The Home Entertainment and the Television divisions do. Thats like saying NBC gets a percentage for the new DVDs for Star Trek.

One last thing to make things even more confusing. Sometimes the networks actually do make the show. NBC was a producer for the first season of JAG. CBS is a co-producer of CSI. In these cases, the network would make money off the DVDs and in syndication since they have partial ownership in the show.

BTW, if you go to IMDB and look up something, there is a company credits link. This will show all the companies involved and what their involvement was. Check it out for things like Buffy, X-Files, and Firefly -- both the movie and TV versions of each. You will see what I have explained.

Hope this helps.

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 6:45 AM

ZEEK

Quote:
Originally posted by AnotherFireflyfan:
Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
uh....what do they mean when he comes back it will be with Fox!? Does that mean he said no matter when he finally wants back on TV he still has to give Fox first dibs?

Talk about adding insult to injury. Not only is Joss really really out of the TV biz for a while but even if he does come back it has to be with Fox.

That would be 20th Century Fox, which has produced ALL of Joss shows. Not the Fox ( ) Network that cancelled our favorite show. So rest somewhat more assured.

I am also interested in hearing why Joss did this, though. And no more Mutant Enemy?? *cries*

Keep flying

That may be true but they're still pretty much in bed with each other. If 20th Century Fox gets a new hit show I wouldn't be surprised if first dibs always go to the Fox Network.

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 8:53 AM

RHUTTNER

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:

That may be true but they're still pretty much in bed with each other. If 20th Century Fox gets a new hit show I wouldn't be surprised if first dibs always go to the Fox Network.

Well it cant be a hit show until it airs so whatever network picks it up is still taking a risk.

But, you are basically correct. Deals are made between the divisions. Im sure that most of the shows made by 20th TV are on, or were first offered to FOX. Same can be said for Paramount and UPN, Warner Brothers and The WB, Universal and NBC.

After the Universal/NBC merger Dick Wolf, the creator of Law and Order, said that now NBC can name its own fee for the show. This means that Dick Wolf's company gets screwed.

There was a recent lawsuit between the creators of "Will and Grace" and NBC who is a co-producer of the show. The producers claimed that NBC undervalued the show to keep it on their network.

So yes there are deals between the sibling companies.

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Tuesday, October 26, 2004 9:01 AM

COSMICFUGITIVE

Quote:

"Why do things never run smooth?"
- Mal, "SAFE"

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