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Firefly: A Special Feature

Posted by Hemos on from the looking-into-the-minds-of-people dept.

Philip B. Gaines writes "Philip B. Gaines announces the completion of an independent multimedia commentary project, "Firefly: A Special Feature", a DVD based on the FOX television series created by Joss Whedon. A free examination copy of the project is available for those willing to provide feedback about this media experiment. "Firefly: A Special Feature" is a 3.5 hour multi-module review of Whedon's innovative space western series. The interactive review features a variety of interpretive and analytical components--all intended to further discussion of this seriously underappreciated show. The bottom line of the project is dialogue, not promotion. If you have seen "Firefly" before and found it intriguing--or even if you haven't--this project will make you think, argue, and perhaps even learn a bit. For "Firefly: A Special Feature", I have acted as writer, video/sound editor, and media producer, working with complete independence from the producers of the show or anyone else whose influence might bias the analysis. Plans are underway to do this kind of project again, so I would appreciate feedback on all levels. See the website for a formal description of the project Email pbgaines@pbgaines.com for a copy of the DVD."

10 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why were you surprised? by Enry · · Score: 4, Informative

    Uhm...I'm not sure what you mean by that but:

    1) Fox doesn't show 7th Heaven. That's WB
    2) MWC ran for 10 years, which is a long time for any show. Not sure if it was cancelled or they just ended the series.
    3) Fox also shows the Simpsons, which is decidedly not family-friendly.
    4) Temptation Island, Joe Millionaire, "When X Attack!", "Strangest X ever caught on tape!"

  2. Re:Firefly by bigjnsa500 · · Score: 4, Informative
    Well 14 if you consider Serenity as 2 episodes, which Fox aired as 2 episodes. If there is a 15th episode, I don't know about it.

    Check this out:

    In the USA and Canada, starting on September 20, 2002, Fox broadcast the episodes on Fridays at 20:00 (except for the second hour of the pilot which was shown at 21:00). The order was 2-3, 6; 7-8, 4-5, 9; 10, 14, 1; with 11-13 still unaired.

    The lucky English:
    In the United Kingdom, starting on May 12, 2003, Sci-fi broadcast the episodes on Mondays at 21:00 (except for the first hour of the pilot which was shown at 20:00). The altered episodes of the first season were shown in the originally intended order.

    Source: NationMaster.com

    --
    This is a test. This is a test of the emergency sig system. This has been only a test.
  3. FOX also canceled... by cnelzie · · Score: 5, Informative

    'Space Above and Beyond', which was quite an excellent SciFi show, it lasted something like one and a half to two and a half seasons before having the plug pulled on it.

    It used revolutionary (for television) special effects for the space scenes. If I am not mistaken, I believe that it was the first to use computer generated graphics for the entirety of the space scenes, from the large cruiser/carrier the space marines were using to the sleek starfighters that that marines were using...

    The stories were rather compelling as well. Especially with the whole back history of the clone warriors and the human-looking androids. It's to bad that they ended the whole show as it was beginning to really grow... (I feel that most shows take a good two to three seasons to really get their legs and start running...)

    --
    If you ignore the other uses of a tool, does that make the tool less useful, or you less useful?
    1. Re:FOX also canceled... by Ewan · · Score: 2, Informative

      It was also obscenely expensive, I read something like $2million an episode, just because of the special effects - the actors certainly weren't getting paid for it.

      Because of the high cost, you need a high viewing figure to support it, unfortunately a sci-fi show isn't going to get these kind of numbers.

      I guess today, 7 years later, the cost of all those effects would be much less, but I don't suppose there's any chance of it being picked up again.

      Ewan

    2. Re:FOX also canceled... by kalidasa · · Score: 2, Informative

      BG never "got to Earth." The show was cancelled, then resumed as Galactica 1980 or something, which was set on & above Earth, and 20 years in the putative future, but had only one of the original cast members, Lorne Grene. BG was canceled because it was too expensive to produce; the 1980 version had very cheap effects.

  4. Re:IMHO Firefly sucked. by Atomic+Frog · · Score: 1, Informative

    Hey, I saw a couple of episodes. I have to agree.
    What's so special about Firefly?

    Different characters and scenery, but same ol' story. Been there, done that. Even Andromeda is better than that.

    I'll probably get modded down as a Troll by the authoritarian Slashdot regime, but what the heck.

  5. Nothin but Trash on TV tonight! by Doodleman3 · · Score: 4, Informative

    One of the unaired episodes of Fire Fly is on Space tonight at 8pm EST it's called Trash.

    Space is a Canadian Si-Fi\Fantasy Station.

    --
    Never Underestimate A Human Being
  6. All 15 episode titles by ispinstr · · Score: 3, Informative

    Serenity, Part 1
    Serenity, Part 2
    The Train Job
    Bushwhacked
    Shindig
    Safe
    Our Mrs. Reynolds
    Jaynestown
    Out of Gas
    Ariel
    War Stories
    Heart of Gold
    Objects in Space
    Trash
    The Message

  7. DVDTracks: Also inspired by Ebert by Robotech_Master · · Score: 3, Informative

    You know, you don't have to do a DVD of your own to put in your own commentaries on films. The guy's site mentions he was inspired by Ebert's Dark City track--well, another idea Ebert had, and one that's even been covered by Slashdot in the distant past though I lack the time to dig up the URL for the story, is DVDTracks, a site that hosts do-it-yourself commentaries recorded as MP3s, meant to be downloaded and played simultaneously with the DVDs. I've even done one myself, for the Miyazaki movie Lupin III: Castle of Cagliostro , and it was great fun.

    There's a lot of other great stuff there, too. Check it out.

    --
    Editor Emeritus and Senior Writer, TeleRead.org
  8. Re:The only way I'm going to see any new episodes. by non_linear · · Score: 2, Informative

    Not too familiar with the Fudge rules, but there is a "western"-like space faring rpg in various incarnations:

    Classic Traveller at http://www.farfuture.net/
    GURPS Traveller at http://www.sjgames.com/gurps/traveller/
    d20 Traveller at http://www.travellerrpg.com/T20/

    easy framework to mod and expand on; lot's of material, fan based and commerical. my fave is Classic, 'cause I already have the little black books. two d6 is all ya need for Classic! ;)