NEWS HEADLINE DISCUSSIONS

Whedon & Minear Interview at CFQ

POSTED BY: SARAHETC
UPDATED: Saturday, December 6, 2003 12:53
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 8963
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Monday, December 1, 2003 10:57 AM

SARAHETC


Cinefantastique has posted an article and interview with Joss Whedon and Tim Minear called "The Firefly Episode Guide, Part 1." The article, by Ed Gross, relates a lot of the information we know but the interview adds a lot of interesting perspective.

Excerpt:
Quote:


CFQ: I don’t think you can really blame the audience. I think Fox bungled this one.

JOSS WHEDON: I don’t blame the audience. According to reporters, some people liked it and some people hated. I don’t know who actually hated it. I’m sure there are people who did because it didn’t work for them, but it was never a question of people hating it, it was a question of nobody seeing it. The fan base was as devoted as Buffy’s was after three years in the space of 11 episodes. It was sort of amazing.



Read the whole article here: http://64.5.52.62/%7ecfqcom/nuked/modules.php?name=News&file=article&s
id=166


And it's to be continued!

I'm a dying breed who still believes, haunted by American dreams. ---Neko Case

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Monday, December 1, 2003 12:42 PM

SERGEANTX


Thanks Sarah, that was a good read. Tim Minear mentioned he was working on Wonderfalls. Has anyone heard whether he'll have any involvement in the movie? It sounded like this discussion was a couple of months old, don't we have something like a green light on the movie project now?


SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Monday, December 1, 2003 12:44 PM

AMNON


Someone has to convince Ed Gross to ask some of the *hard* questions - like who *is* the shepherd?
OTOH, the movie is not quite as "go" as we assumed here.

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Monday, December 1, 2003 1:04 PM

THEDUKE333


OK now Im getting a little worried!!!! We dont have a green light yet? This doesnt sound good...

TheDuke333

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Monday, December 1, 2003 3:00 PM

TRAGICSTORY


Quote:

Originally posted by TheDuke333:
OK now Im getting a little worried!!!! We dont have a green light yet? This doesnt sound good...

TheDuke333



I wouldn't worry about it. After all I don't know someone who would go through all the contracts and raise the millions of dollars without looking at a script first. I am sure once they have a script the movie will be fast tracked to the Go-Guy. (That's the green light guy in tinsel town lingo.)

-----------
"Societies are supported by human activity, therefore they are constantly threatened by the human facts of self-intrest and stupidity." --Peter Berger

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Monday, December 1, 2003 5:28 PM

XION47


Quote:

Originally posted by SergeantX:
It sounded like this discussion was a couple of months old, don't we have something like a green light on the movie project now?



It sounds pretty new. Minear made a reference to the recently aired Reagans telefilm.

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Monday, December 1, 2003 6:09 PM

SUCCATASH


Joss says this:

"Last week it was particularly gratifying when they got it over in England and I got to see posts from people watching it for the first time, and in the right order on a regular schedule."

At first I thought, "This article must be old," because I figured Joss was talking about when they showed Firefly in the UK last summer.

But then, an icy cold hand of fear gripped my ballsack when I realized Joss could have been referring to the early DVD release UK people already received.

What's going on? Either this interview is really old, or really new, right?

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Monday, December 1, 2003 6:19 PM

ILLNESS


Quote:

Originally posted by Sarahetc:
Cinefantastique has posted an article and interview with Joss Whedon and Tim Minear called "The Firefly Episode Guide, Part 1." The article, by Ed Gross, relates a lot of the information we know but the interview adds a lot of interesting perspective.

Excerpt:
Quote:


CFQ: I don’t think you can really blame the audience. I think Fox bungled this one.

JOSS WHEDON: I don’t blame the audience. According to reporters, some people liked it and some people hated. I don’t know who actually hated it. I’m sure there are people who did because it didn’t work for them, but it was never a question of people hating it, it was a question of nobody seeing it. The fan base was as devoted as Buffy’s was after three years in the space of 11 episodes. It was sort of amazing.



Read the whole article here: http://64.5.52.62/%7ecfqcom/nuked/modules.php?name=News&file=article&s
id=166


And it's to be continued!

I'm a dying breed who still believes, haunted by American dreams. ---Neko Case



I respect the fact that this is your board…

But, Firefly, is the only sci-fi show that I’ve ever boycotted… Of the fans who were at home on Fridays… The powers at fox should’ve done your show the disservice of pissing off the fans of Dark Angel. In fact, I believe we could’ve helped. We’re the kinda of open-minded people who would’ve given Firefly a chance…

I could have loved them both and I’m really sorry things didn’t work out for any of us.

Because of, Dark Angel, I’m certainly no fan of Joss’s. But, I have no hard feelings toward the fans of Firefly. We’re both basically in the same boat now…





Two million years of human evolution and this is what we get.

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Monday, December 1, 2003 6:27 PM

SHINY


Quote:

Originally posted by illness:
I respect the fact that this is your board…

But, Firefly, is the only sci-fi show that I’ve ever boycotted… Of the fans who were at home on Fridays… The powers at fox should’ve done your show the disservice of pissing off the fans of Dark Angel. In fact, I believe we could’ve helped. We’re the kinda of open-minded people who would’ve given Firefly a chance…

I could have loved them both and I’m really sorry things didn’t work out for any of us.

Because of, Dark Angel, I’m certainly no fan of Joss’s. But, I have no hard feelings toward the fans of Firefly. We’re both basically in the same boat now…



What the heck does Firefly have to do with Dark Angel's cancellation? It's not like Joss wanted Dark Angel's time slot...

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Monday, December 1, 2003 6:43 PM

SUCCATASH



Illness, were you boycotting Fox or Firefly? Don't you see, the enemy is Reality TV.

Anyway, can we get the topic back on track - How new is this article?

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Monday, December 1, 2003 7:51 PM

XION47


Quote:

Originally posted by Succatash:


Anyway, can we get the topic back on track - How new is this article?



Uhhh...allow me to repeat my initial post. Minear makes reference to the Reagan telefilm that was dumped (in the last two or three weeks) from the CBS schedule and then picked up by Showcase. This article couldn't be more than 3 weeks old at the most.

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Monday, December 1, 2003 8:04 PM

ILLNESS


Quote:

Originally posted by Shiny:
What the heck does Firefly have to do with Dark Angel's cancellation? It's not like Joss wanted Dark Angel's time slot...



To make a long story short, I don’t think this was ever in dispute. Dark Angel was axed to budget Firefly. Dark Angel, started it's second season in the Friday 9:00pm slot, later dropped to the 8:00pm slot. Dark Angel, was the last show cut from programming and Firefly was the last one added for the next season.

Quote:

Originally posted by Succatash:

Illness, were you boycotting Fox or Firefly? Don't you see, the enemy is Reality TV.

Anyway, can we get the topic back on track - How new is this article?



Fox is not on my program guide! :-]

I would never say I hated, Firefly, I never seen a single episode. For me as a Dark Angel fan, it’s just the “bad apples.”

My point to posting to this topic was the fans that made sure they avoided Firefly. I like all kinds of sci-fi, myself. But, really bitter sentiment toward Fox may have lead to an attitude of, “why start another that will probably be canceled.” Fox canceled a lot of stuff the season before Firefly.



Two million years of human evolution and this is what we get...

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Monday, December 1, 2003 8:21 PM

SERGEANTX


Quote:

What the heck does Firefly have to do with Dark Angel's cancellation? It's not like Joss wanted Dark Angel's time slot...


Its widely believed that Dark Angel was cancelled and more or less sacrificed in order to put Firefly on the air. I'm not sure what happened as I wasn't following the story at the time. It does sound like the kind of thing Fox would do however.

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Monday, December 1, 2003 8:25 PM

SERGEANTX


Quote:

Originally posted by Succatash:

Illness, were you boycotting Fox or Firefly? Don't you see, the enemy is Reality TV.

Anyway, can we get the topic back on track - How new is this article?



Tim Minear mentions the 'A' rating from Entertainment Weekly. How old is that review?


SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Monday, December 1, 2003 9:17 PM

ZENTERTAINMENT


I'm glad to see so many of you are enjoying the Firefly piece that we're running on the CFQ site right now. To answer the question that many people seem to have, I wanted to let you all know that the interview with Joss was done in late October, while the interview with Tim did not happen until this past Saturday, November 29th.

By the way, there is a full-page story on Firefly in the new CFQ, and you can also find that story on our site. Also, I read the comments about Dark Angel here and would say it's ridiculous to blame Firefly in the slightest bit for Dark Angel's cancellation. Say what you will about DA, that show barely lasted a second season, and between it's extremely-high production costs and extremely-low ratings, it was dead in the water long before Firefly was added to the network's schedule. Maybe there is some behind-the-scenes stuff I'm not privy to, but at the very least, your problems shouldn't be with Joss or the show, but rather the Fox network. Don't take this as a slam on DA, as that show was a guilty pleasure of mine, but I loved Firefly for its brief run and am sure you'll all love the DVD collection due out next week as much as I do...

Sean Jordan
CFQ Sr. Editor

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Tuesday, December 2, 2003 2:24 AM

CALHOUN


Luv the bit ur running on your site Zentertainment!

Gorramit! I need to hear we got that green light though.

And I agree with a previous posting that "harder" questions need be asked of Joss. Specifically, some background on shepherd Book.

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Tuesday, December 2, 2003 2:42 AM

11THHOUR


Sean Jordan,

WOW. Thanks so much for taking the time to answer the queries raised in this thread... answers straight from the source!

Also appreciate your clear-headed words regarding the misplaced "Dark Angel rage" toward Firefly. An unfortunate
aftermath that prejudiced many potential Firefly fans.

Many thanks to CFQ for making the interview with Joss and Tim available online. I'm a long time fan of Cinefantastique - still have all my issues saved, right back to high school.

Yes! We are all SO LOOKING FORWARD to the Firefly DVD set. And, Tim Minear's comment about the 3 unaired episodes as being like crack to the Firefly fans? Pretty much right on the mark!

11thHour

__________________________________________________________

"Doing the impossible makes us mighty." - Malcolm Reynolds

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Tuesday, December 2, 2003 9:54 AM

STILLSHINY


Some of the best reading I've done in a while.


You think I look good now, wait till you see me in my new "Browncoat T-shirt"

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Tuesday, December 2, 2003 10:55 AM

SHAMBLEAU


It still isn't clear to me whether the movie's been green-lighted or not. Wouldn't CFQ have added an editorial aside to mention that Joss's comment was out of date, if it were untrue?

Sean? Do you know?

I loved Tim's love for the Bushwhacked pull-back shot from Simon and River clinging to the ship. That scene was amazing on any number of levels.


shambleau

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Tuesday, December 2, 2003 12:19 PM

SERGEANTX


Quote:

...I loved Tim's love for the Bushwhacked pull-back shot from Simon and River clinging to the ship. That scene was amazing on any number of levels.


Oh yeah! That's been my favorite scene, as far as cinematography goes, since it aired. I especially like the contrast of their reactions to the vast unknown of the Black. River's delight compared to Simon's horror.

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Wednesday, December 3, 2003 9:30 AM

HJERMSTED


Great interview! Can't wait to read the episode-by-episode notes Tim and Joss make.

When is Wonderfalls debuting?

Did that get bumped to mid-season?

mattro

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Wednesday, December 3, 2003 9:58 AM

STILLSHINY


Oh to have been a fly on the wall to watch every episode as it unfolded, and to think that somwhere on a cutting room floor there is stuff & banter we'll never see. kinda sad and beautiful all at once.

You think I look good now, wait till you see me in my new "Browncoat T-shirt"

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Wednesday, December 3, 2003 10:17 AM

BROWNCOAT1

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


Very good interview.

Thanks for posting Zentertainment and clearing up the "when" of the interviews.

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


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Wednesday, December 3, 2003 6:55 PM

CANTTAKESKY


The movie greenlight question is cleared up in the introductory article (called Firefly: Superfly) to the interview series.

Quote:

Not long ago, a movie version of Firefly seemed like a certainty, but the announcement that Universal had picked it up came a bit prematurely, and the project has not yet been given the go-ahead. “The interest is genuine, but it’s up to me to turn out a script that is worth making, which is what I’m trying to do,” Whedon says. “I’m dealing with good, smart people, which is both good and bad. It’s good because of the interest they’ve shown in the project, and it’s bad because I can’t pull one over on them. So it’s really up to me. I should know soon.”


The article can be found at:
http://64.5.52.62/%7ecfqcom/nuked/modules.php?name=News&file=article&s
id=136


Or click on the Firefly link at the top of the interview page, and it will take you to the index page for all the Firefly articles. Super Fly is found at the bottom.




Can't Take My Gorram Sky

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Wednesday, December 3, 2003 7:01 PM

SUCCATASH



Universal is waiting for DVD sales results.


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Wednesday, December 3, 2003 7:35 PM

SUCCATASH


Quote:

Originally posted by canttakesky:
The movie greenlight question is cleared up in the introductory article (called Firefly: Superfly) to the interview series.

The article can be found at:
http://64.5.52.62/%7ecfqcom/nuked/modules.php?name=News&file=article&s
id=136


Thanks very much, I was looking all over their site for this article but didn't find it. I'm wondering why no one is commenting on the part where Serentiy crew saves the world in the movie.

Joss:
“Coming up with an idea and seeing it through to screenplay is the hardest thing I’ve tried to do, because the show is designed as a show, and the movie needs to be true to that and completely separated from the series.

You need a story that’s bigger than life.

So to take them and put them in a situation that is so dire — as the one in the movie is — ... The fate of the world is in the hands of these schlemiels....”


So Mal and Gang are going to save the world from Reavers?

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Wednesday, December 3, 2003 7:51 PM

CANTTAKESKY


Quote:

I'm wondering why no one is commenting on the part where Serentiy crew saves the world in the movie.


Yeah, what an exciting glimpse of things to come! I guess Star Trek is always saving the world in every movie, why not Firefly?

I just wonder if it might be a bit ambitious for our somewhat low-rent, albeit beloved schlemiels. I mean, isn't it taking all they've got just to keep themselves alive in every episode? Would saving the verse might be a bit out of character for them?

And what would they save the world from? Reavers? Alliance? Blue-hand people? Any thoughts? There are so bad guys in this verse!

Can't Take My Gorram Sky

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 1:27 AM

DRAKON


Quote:

Originally posted by Succatash:

So Mal and Gang are going to save the world from Reavers?



Umm.... which one? There are plenty of worlds out there. Are they going to collect them as well?

"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 5:12 AM

SUCCATASH


Drakon, you disappoint me. Usually your posts are long and thoughtful.

I'm surprised you seem to think this topic is unimportant. The TV show was character driven, and the characters were "actual size" not larger than life.

But now, the movie demands them to be larger than life and they must "save the world." To me, this a big deal.

I'm sure the world they save isn't some barren mud moon. I bet the Reavers threaten the core planets, and Mal and crew find themselves trying to save the Alliance. Hah, that would be ironic.

Maybe a new unknown is scaring the Reavers and forcing them from the Black, into civilization.

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 6:25 AM

GTHING


Quote:

Universal is waiting for DVD sales results.


I don't doubt that. No matter what Universal thinks of the project's nature, they want to make sure they will profit from it.


Excerpt from My Genre Geek Resume:
~huge Odyssey 5 fan (despite its cancellation)
~dangerously obsessed with BtVS and Angel
~former Andromeda fan

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 8:40 AM

BROWNCOAT1

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


Quote:

Originally posted by GThing:
Quote:

Universal is waiting for DVD sales results.


I don't doubt that. No matter what Universal thinks of the project's nature, they want to make sure they will profit from it.



I agree. It makes sense that Universal would want to wait to see what sales are like for the DVD through the end of the year and perhaps the first quarter of 2004 before they make a decision.

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


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Thursday, December 4, 2003 9:26 AM

SHINY


Quote:

Originally posted by BrownCoat1:
Quote:

Originally posted by GThing:
Quote:

Universal is waiting for DVD sales results.


I don't doubt that. No matter what Universal thinks of the project's nature, they want to make sure they will profit from it.



I agree. It makes sense that Universal would want to wait to see what sales are like for the DVD through the end of the year and perhaps the first quarter of 2004 before they make a decision.

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




Then this is our chance to really make a difference! Buy all your friends and relatives Firefly DVDs for Christmas! Get them to buy all their friends Firefly DVDs. Ask the Suncoast/SamGoody/Warehouse/Blockbuster/etc salespeople if they "still have any Firefly DVDs left" every time you go to the mall. Let's sell out those DVDs and get this movie made! (and then get this show back on TV!)

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 9:29 AM

SHAMBLEAU


It's depressing to me that the show isn't green-lighted. As you-know-who says, how come it never goes smooth?

From what I understand, sales at Amazon put us roughly 50th for DVD sales right now. Is that enough? I'm gonna have to stress about this during Christmas, as if that by itself didn't stress me out enough?

Maybe the larger-than-life thing is actually a drawback. It ups the production costs if you make it epic. Universal might take a chance more easily on a smaller, less costly film.

Although you'd think they'd be fairly secure if they'd just looked at the various tv eps Joss has done. You can't guarantee audiences will come for almost any film, but at least you can guarantee that the direction and writing will be tops. What else do they need? Don't answer that, I'm already semi-depressed.


shambleau

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 9:44 AM

KERNELM


"Save the world" doesn't really make much sense in the context of the Firefly 'verse. Really, what world would you be talking about? To Mal, Serenity pretty much is his world. I think Joss is being much more metaphorical than literal, even if he's telling the truth. I've learned to take anything Joss says (with regard to future plot developments) with a grain of salt.

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 10:37 AM

SUCCATASH


Quote:

Originally posted by KernelM:
"Save the world" doesn't really make much sense in the context of the Firefly 'verse.

That's the problem.

In the past, the crew of Serenity did small jobs like helping whores and stealing medicine and just trying to survive.

Now, according to Joss, they will "save the world." I don't think the question, "Which world?" is the most important one to ask. It seems obvious that Joss is speaking metaphorically. To "save the world" is an expression, meaning to save a TON of people, to save life as they know it, perhaps even the essence of humanity itself. Something BIG.

Hmmm, I wonder if Serenity crew will do a job in the movie, then realize that the illegal cargo has universal (no pun intended) ramifications.

Maybe some weapon against the Reavers?



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Thursday, December 4, 2003 10:55 AM

SARAHETC


Quote:

Originally posted by Succatash:

Hmmm, I wonder if Serenity crew will do a job in the movie, then realize that the illegal cargo has universal (no pun intended) ramifications.

Maybe some weapon against the Reavers?



"It's a Callahan, full-bore, autolock, customized-trigger, double cartridge thorough gauge. This here's my very favorite civilization ray."

If the Reavers come anywhere near Serenity, they just shoot them. Politely.

I'm a dying breed who still believes, haunted by American dreams. ---Neko Case

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 12:22 PM

HUMBLE


i think everyone is sweating the small stuff. if hollywood can make "dude, where's my car?", why wouldn't they want to make a "firefly" movie? also, i think you're all missing an obvious movie premise: the resurgence of an independent rebellion against the dreaded alliance. i mean, doesn't the original pilot for the show kind of write the movie by itself? parallel to "star wars". anyone agree/disagree?

humble

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 1:53 PM

SUCCATASH


Hmmm, good stuff to think about.

About the "Dude, Where's my Car" logic: It seems most people actually like crappy movies and crappy TV shows. Why did Firefly get cancelled? It makes no sense, and I agree with your logic, but for some reason the Entertainment industry seems to be working backwards.

Your idea of a second civil war is interesting. It could be a way to introduce the whole Alliance vs Browncoat situation in a way that is also new for fans.

Deep down, I don't like it though. I like the Mal who's lost faith and hope. I like the Serenity crew that's still recovering from the first war, stepped on and beaten up and scrapin' by. To me, that IS Firefly.

If the Alliance falls, then Serenity wouldn't have to "keep flying." And I don't think Universal would want a story about the good guys losing. Mal has to win.

Humble, if the new movie is about a second civil war, how do you think the movie would end?



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Thursday, December 4, 2003 5:44 PM

HUMBLE


i don't think the first movie would have to "end" per se. maybe just a subtle move in another direction but keeping with the spirit of the show. some sort of underground subversive movement against the alliance. in the pilot, simon gets river out of the "school" she was in with the help of undisclosed person(s). i like the idea of rebellion because it helps to bring further audience appeal to the show. you know, how people like to root for the underdog (like in the original rocky). also, if the story of nine people is to have continuity, (they can only have so many adventures in space before you start reaching for plausible story lines) you really need an underlying unifying cause that connects all the characters and brings them together towards a sort of light at the end of the tunnel. furthermore, this gives a realistic tie-in with resumption of possible tv series continuation/further movies (maybe a trilogy). what i was ultimately shooting for was that the series was supposed to start off with some adventures to get the audience familiar with the characters, but then grow outside the original parameters of the character-driven show towards something greater than the sum of its parts. look at babylon 5 for example. the first season was alright, but it wasn't until an enemy (the shadows) that threatened everyone that the show really began to get interesting. i mean, if you just have serenity running around having adventures all the time, staying one step ahead of the alliance, avoiding reavers, etc. you're basically using a "dukes of hazard" style of story telling. these are just some ideas off the top of my head, but if you look at any number of successful series (recently enterprise, b5, ds9, stv,etc) they all adopt similar story structure. you have to get something to interest/attract not only fans but NON-fans of the show and make them become invested in the fate of the characters on the show.

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 6:46 PM

CALHOUN


Maybe they could fly into a subspace anomaly and be transported into a parallel timeline where they encounter themselves...

or..

Maybe they could encounter creatures with acid for blood that burst from ya gizzards..

or..

Maybe they discover the alliance is creating a "super weapon" call it oh I dont know a death star or something..

but seriously, I think whatever Joss decides will be way cool. I trust his better judgement.

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Thursday, December 4, 2003 11:40 PM

DRAKON


Quote:

Originally posted by Succatash:
Drakon, you disappoint me. Usually your posts are long and thoughtful.



Ah fear not. I was attempting levity, pass it off as a symptom of my giddy expectation of the movie, and the DVD fest later this week.

Look, Joss is writing it, and he knows his stuff. I am quite confident that he can pull it off. Most of the folks in history are life size, not bigger. Some even go on to save the world, or alter it in some manner that no one expected, (and even a few said could not be done.)

In a few days we'll mark the 100th anniversery of a couple of Ohio bicycle mechanics with a perchance for kites conducting the first successful flight of a heavier than air aircraft. Just a couple guys from Ohio, and they changed the world.

"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"

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Friday, December 5, 2003 12:39 AM

DRAKON


Quote:

Originally posted by shambleau:
Maybe the larger-than-life thing is actually a drawback. It ups the production costs if you make it epic. Universal might take a chance more easily on a smaller, less costly film.

shambleau



Star Wars, the first and original one, was a "larger than life" story about a boy and his robots, who ended up saving more than one world. Yet that cost only 10 million dollars to make in 1977. Not sure what that is in todays money, but Hollywood has seen a string of big budget flops over the past several seasons. Plus you have the added money saving in advancements in special effects, which can make even home movies look epic in scale.

"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"

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Friday, December 5, 2003 12:41 AM

DRAKON


Quote:

Originally posted by KernelM:
"Save the world" doesn't really make much sense in the context of the Firefly 'verse. Really, what world would you be talking about? To Mal, Serenity pretty much is his world. I think Joss is being much more metaphorical than literal, even if he's telling the truth. I've learned to take anything Joss says (with regard to future plot developments) with a grain of salt.



Bingo! Plus that line reminded of the old joke,
"Save the universe, collect all five"

"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"

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Friday, December 5, 2003 12:58 AM

DRAKON


Quote:

Originally posted by Succatash:
Hmmm, good stuff to think about.

About the "Dude, Where's my Car" logic: It seems most people actually like crappy movies and crappy TV shows. Why did Firefly get cancelled? It makes no sense, and I agree with your logic, but for some reason the Entertainment industry seems to be working backwards.



I don't think it is that. People like crap because they want to escape from thinking.

We have to think about all kinds of stuff each and every day. Will the car start, if not, how do I get to work and/or fix the car? Where are the kids at this hour? What are the Chinese up to with regard to North Korea and will I get nuked in the next few minutes?

Sometimes you just want to say "Stop!" and go to the movies and relax, let the story wash over you, escape from the concerns of the day. So what you and I would call crap, sells, as escapist fare.

Firefly, well look at the discussions on this board. (Actually look at a lot of Joss Whedon's stuff.) Its never about what it is about. There is always some underlying theme, or point in all of it, even if it is by mere display.

Some of us can't help attempting to divine the secrets of the universe from a bubble gum wrapper. But most folks want just a great adventure story, or comedy, or sex. Which require no thinking at all.

As to a second civil war, would have to look at economic factors, as well as military. I don't think the Alliance can long survive, as it is hard enough to govern a disparate and diverse population on a single continent. Imagine trying to do that with folks strewed about the stars? 70 worlds under a single government? Either that government has a Death Star in their hip pocket, or some other terrible hold on power. Add to the mix the fact they have an aristocracy, i.e. a class system, they are bound to break up sooner or later.

"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"

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Friday, December 5, 2003 3:29 AM

SERGEANTX


Drakon, that was a little more generous that I'd have put it, but it seemed right on target. My brother's a smart guy, but when it comes to movies or television he just doesn't want anything challenging. He wants to pop open a beer and laugh at Jim Carrey making fart jokes - but he hated "The Truman Show". He has intellectual capacity, he just doesn't derive entertainment from using it. Does that make him a bad person? Well, yeah, but he has other redeeming qualities so it kind of balances out.

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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Friday, December 5, 2003 4:18 AM

STILLSHINY


Ok here's a thought......Where's today's installment. I'm addicted to reading this gorram thing. I need my fix and no fix. Must have next part of interview. Rage taking over....

You think I look good now, wait till you see me in my new "Browncoat T-shirt"

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Friday, December 5, 2003 11:27 AM

HJERMSTED


FYI....

Joss and Tim's Firefly episode guide part 2
http://64.5.52.62/%7ecfqcom/nuked/modules.php?name=News&file=article&s
id=169



Joss and Tim's Firefly episode guide part 3
http://64.5.52.62/%7ecfqcom/nuked/modules.php?name=News&file=article&s
id=180



mattro

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Saturday, December 6, 2003 12:49 AM

DRAKON


Quote:

Originally posted by SergeantX:
Drakon, that was a little more generous that I'd have put it, but it seemed right on target.



I was not trying to be generous, I was trying to hit the target.

Look, if everyone were the same, nobody would be different. For some of us, thinking about great cosmic stuff, like philosophy, the meaning of life, why the Cubs can't get to the world series, some of us like that kind of stuff. Some folks don't, they like different stuff, are just tired and/or want to be entertained.

Some in the first group like to think we are better than them. But I don't think better comes into it. They live and breathe, and are happy with their lives, just as we are with ours. Its just different.

"Wash, where is my damn spaceship?"

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Saturday, December 6, 2003 12:53 PM

SERGEANTX


Quote:

Some in the first group like to think we are better than them. But I don't think better comes into it. They live and breathe, and are happy with their lives, just as we are with ours. Its just different.


Actually there's an increasing bulk of evidence showing that people with lousy artistic taste are genetically inferior and a hazard to the environment. Promoting intelligent entertainment is a moral imperative and we must not rest until our nation is cleansed of the evil influence of bad television.

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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