No Serenity In South Africa

POSTED BY: Dreadlord
UPDATED: Friday, December 2, 2005 01:21
VIEWED: 6840
PAGE 1 of 1

DREADLORD

Wednesday, November 2, 2005 3:08 PM (P)

Hi guys

South Africa was also hit with the cancellation, twoz supposed to open up on Nov 19

According to Numetro cinema spokesperson, after having been emailed:

" I hate to have to be the one to tell you, but the Distributors have decided not to release it theatrically - it will go straight to video/DVD.
"

Thats unfair and sucks a$$, i've been around when the movie was just an idea and not yet even greenlit, now I dont even get to see it...

Heck we're even getting that stupid 'Into the flippin Blue' movie which made less money...

These guys have made a mistake cancelling, now most ppl will watch it pirated if at all, when they wouldve gone to see it at the movies...dvds are not cheap down here...

This is a slap in the face for the worldwide fans...

EMBERS

Wednesday, November 2, 2005 3:17 PM (P)

Oh I am really shocked, here I had been thinking that the expense of translating prints of the film and all new advertising in new languages, were the reasons for the other cancelations...
but South Africa, surely it would have opened in English, right?
They would have used posters that looked like what was used in Australia and New Zealand...
why cancel in South Africa?
It makes no sense to me

**********************************************
watch the R. Tam Session vids: http://www.hittarivertam.nu/
and buy the 'Serenity' comics published by Dark Horse,
and have you joined the Browncoats yet?
http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?fuseaction=tools.invlink
&u=embers&linkID=36

DREADLORD

Wednesday, November 2, 2005 3:24 PM (P)

They had a huge international poster for it as well, about 2 weeks ago...at this one mall, i looked at it and couldnt stop smiling whole day..

I went back there last week and it was gone..

praying the lady was wrong...but not much hope if they're cancelling everywhere else...

yip dont make no sense since we do speak english down here, its just bout cutting costs now it seems..

ROONBLAH

Monday, November 7, 2005 7:35 AM (P)

It's completely bummed me out. I'm trying to find out when the distributors are releasing it on DVD here, but I figure I might as well preorder from Amazon.

KAZZAHDRANE

Monday, November 7, 2005 9:40 AM (P)

Damn, no chance of me recommending my relatives out there to go see it now. Oh well, rental recommendation it is then.

And yeah, DVD prices down there suck much like CDs etc since they have to be imported. Pity the South Africans! (but envy their excellent rugby team).

DREADLORD

Monday, November 7, 2005 1:22 PM (P)

I received this email from one of the numetro cinema chain's reps..after i asked her who i needed to kill for not bringing it at all

"Let's try not to actually kill any executives - after all, it's only a movie! I heard after responding to that query of yours that the distributors, United International Pictures, had decided to release it straight onto video/DVD. You can contact the at +2711 883 3710 if you want to take it further"

Only a movie??? is she nuts...

so if any of you browncoats wana call and see what you can do..go ahead...thats a south african number there...(so use relevant codes) give em a shout out and raise some hell for them not showing it!

Browncoats4eva

ROONBLAH

Monday, November 7, 2005 5:38 PM (P)

Just a movie? Are they completely farbot?

Okay... yes. Seeing as how they cancelled Farscape here too. But I was looking forward to this darn it. Count me in as someone phoning that number tomorrow.

BRITCHICK

Monday, November 7, 2005 5:52 PM (P)

Hi all

Remember when phoning - be polite. Tell them how disappointed you are that Serenity is not being released, ask them if there is anything that can be done to change their minds...petition, guarantee of audience, anything.

On NO ACCOUNT make any threats, even in jest. We Brownciats are getting a bit of a reputation, and we don't want to give people any cause to think we are nutters :-))

Good luck with the calls!

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see links on homepage

KNORMOER

Tuesday, November 15, 2005 2:44 PM (P)

OK,

So I called... A lady named Carol said that while she didn't have a definite release date, she's sure Serenity is not going straight to DVD. In fact, it sounds like they are planning something for January. More info next week when their boss is back...

I hope I'm not getting hopes up for nothing, but that's the news.

Undercover browncoat,
Lude

KNORMOER

Wednesday, November 23, 2005 9:51 AM (P)

Serenity Now! ... not

OK,

Brenda Murphy of UIP confirmed that Serenity is canned. She would not go into details as to why (trade secrets and what not).

The next best thing happens on 16 January 2006, when Ster-Kinekor Home Entertainment releases the DVD for rental. The retail release should be 3 months later, in April.

Signing off,
Lude

SAMEERTIA

Friday, December 2, 2005 12:19 AM (P)

Sounds to me like a new case of letter writing and begging.
There is no really valid reason for our South African fans not to be able to see Serenity on the big screen!
I don't mean to tease, but she really looked BEAUTIFUL up there!

SIMONWHO

Friday, December 2, 2005 12:36 AM (P)

Just to remind you; Serenity is only a movie. It is not a cure for cancer. It will not improve your sex life. It won't bring your pet goldfish back to life.

It's a great movie. But nonetheless, it is just a movie. Death threats, even when made as an obvious joke, will still alarm your average cinema rep and add to our already troubled reputation. Sure, complain, plead, encourage. But threatening the company that made this film in the first place? Do you think any of the makers want that?

KHYRON

Friday, December 2, 2005 12:50 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
Just to remind you; Serenity is only a movie. It is not a cure for cancer. It will not improve your sex life. It won't bring your pet goldfish back to life.

It's a great movie. But nonetheless, it is just a movie. Death threats, even when made as an obvious joke, will still alarm your average cinema rep and add to our already troubled reputation. Sure, complain, plead, encourage. But threatening the company that made this film in the first place? Do you think any of the makers want that?

I don't think you realise how things work in SA. Sometimes threatening somebody with bodily harm is the only way to get things done around there.

SIMONWHO

Friday, December 2, 2005 1:02 AM (P)

Every day is a negotiation and sometimes it's with guns, eh?

Remember, you crucify a Universal executive and it'll be us that gets the bad publicity. I think you'll also be made to pay a fine. I think it's about 30 rand for movie executives.

KHYRON

Friday, December 2, 2005 1:21 AM (P)

Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
I think you'll also be made to pay a fine. I think it's about 30 rand for movie executives.

30 Rand already! Sheesh, inflation has really pushed the prices up since I left.