Upcoming Firefly Movie Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Yeah right by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 01:21 · Score: 0

It should be a must-see

It said "Nothing to see here. Move along". I am CONFUSED!

Re:Sci-fi? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 01:24 · Score: 3, Insightful

I'm guessing the cruising around in space-part?

Re:Sci-fi? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 01:24 · Score: 4, Insightful

Spaceships, terraforming, and psychic powers aren't sci-fi to you? Okay then.

And sadly, if anything is making people desperate, it's the depths that both Star Wars and Star Trek have fallen to.

"Secret" by toetagger1 · 2004-09-12 01:25 · Score: 4, Funny

"secret behind-the-scenes photos"

I love secret photos, especially when they are on the Internet and /. links to them!

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Good show by macman552 · 2004-09-12 01:25 · Score: 0

Firefly is awesome.. the plot and the way its written make it a space opera/western.

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Re:Good show by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 02:37 · Score: 0

Yes and no. Take the best writing of Buffy and Angel, but limit it to 15 episodes. It combines scifi and western themes in a surprisingly realistic way. I highly recommend it, but then again I'm just an anonymous poster. Seek out the 2-part pilot and decide for yourself.
Re:Good show by Em+Ellel · 2004-09-12 03:34 · Score: 1

I filled in some

#10
#9 Earth: FC
#8
#7 Any Gene Rodenbery show/movie(ST, Andromeda, etc)
#6 SeaQuest
#5 Plan 9
#4 Fox News/Fahrenheit 911 (two sides of same lies)
#3 Sliders
#2 Century City
#1

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RelevantElephants: A Somatic WebComic...
Re:Good show by aled · 2004-09-12 03:39 · Score: 1

What are you talking about? The Core was way better than Moz.. Godzilla and ID4.

#10 Enterprise (at least the two seasons I saw)
#9 The Weapons of Mass Destruction multimedia show (tm)
#8 Stargate the movie
#7 GWB sheet of service
#6 Space and Beyond
#5 Mission to Mars
#4 Matrix 2 (or it was 3?)
#3 Matrix 3 (or it was 2?)
#2 Independence Day
#1 Godzilla

Mentions:
last seasons of Earth Final Conflict.
Stargate series first season.

Mix and match at discretion.

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"I think this line is mostly filler"
Re:Good show by aled · 2004-09-12 03:45 · Score: 1

I had forgetten those: Seaquest and Sliders. The last episode of Seaquest was so bizarre compared to the rest of the series that was almost fun to watch. Kinda Voyage to bottom of sea.

I think I know the quote on your signature but I don't remember where is from.

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"I think this line is mostly filler"
Re:Good show by aled · 2004-09-12 03:47 · Score: 1

I forgot First Wave of old crap. Take it with a little salt, he, he. You got it? Salt. For the aliens. Oh now I remember why I forgot it.

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"I think this line is mostly filler"
Re:Good show by Em+Ellel · 2004-09-12 05:23 · Score: 1

I think I know the quote on your signature but I don't remember where is from.

From another "cancelled before it aired" show - "Crusade" - a helpful advice about the apocalypse box by it's former owner.

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RelevantElephants: A Somatic WebComic...
Re:Good show by NoMoreNicksLeft · 2004-09-12 06:48 · Score: 1

EFC's last season is more than an honorable mention. It is unwatchable. The Core was horrid. I stand by it being the #1. And you filled up the list too quickly, no room left for Ep.5 AoTC.

Stargate the movie was actually kinda cool, what's your grudge against it?

Enterprise is bad, I'll concede. But Voyager consistently outsucks everything to date. Hmm, DS9 does sort of tie Voyager though..
Re:Good show by aled · 2004-09-12 07:05 · Score: 1

I haven't seen yet Episode 2 (or 5 or whatever) Attack of the Clones. My Power of Preview told me it would a waste of money to go theatres or vhs. This month I finally may see it in cable.
Some friends of my don't believe in my Power of Preview that allows me to critic a cliche movie without seeing it. Because of non believers I let that one pass.
The Core was just for fun, and better all around than any of the others. At least they don't take too seriously on themselves.
Stargate, just one cliche after another to me. Budies movie, good commandos without a clue frees a land of an alien tyrant. The people there are incapable of anything, they have to be led by the caucasian white guy, of course. And they end throwing flowers (or something like that) to the soldiers. Nothing to see here, keep moving.
The series may get better, I just watched the first seasons.
You're right with Star Trek. I'll keep with the original series and Next Generation.
Don't remember too many more SF series right now. Someone post more sugestions.

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"I think this line is mostly filler"

I wonder... by TrickFred · 2004-09-12 01:32 · Score: 4, Interesting

Joss as much as admitted that he 'borrowed' the idea for Buffy the Vampire Slayer from a Japanese anime called 'Devil Hunter Yohko' in an interview I read a few years back [in print, sorry, no link] - I wonder what his influences were originally for Firefly?

Re: I wonder... by Black+Parrot · 2004-09-12 02:05 · Score: 2, Interesting

> I wonder what his influences were originally for Firefly?

Supposedly the Jesse James legend, plus presumably every western and space opera written or filmed since then.

Supposedly also it harks back to an original pitch of Star Trek to the studio as "a wagon-train in space".

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Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Re:I wonder... by ajs · 2004-09-12 02:06 · Score: 3, Interesting

Why do there have to be specific influences. In the case of Buffy, Joss has said that he started with the idea of wanting to turn around the "scared girl in the alleyway, attacked by monster" so that the girl kicks the monster's ass. Being a fan, and drawing on anime for the mechanic of that seems reasonable, but if you watch the first 2 seasons of Buffy, the slayer and the monsters (vampires) aren't the focus of the series except in a few episodes. MOST of the show early on is about the contrast between high school and monster-hunting and how high school really is the more frightening element.

In Firefly, obviously there are Star Wars elements. There's also a whole lot of the old TV western series feel (Joss has mentioned that this is deliberate).

For my taste, the concept was a poor one. Telling a frontier story in space makes perfect sense, but you don't have to drive that home with American western metaphor. However, the execution (barring a few jarring elements that Fox demanded) was brilliant, and the show grew on me. I especially liked the development of the culture in large (throwing in Chinese language) and small (the scarcity of fresh vegetables) ways. The show FELT like it was taking place in a frontier setting, and I think that's the highest compliment I can pay to Joss and the crew of the series. The acting was superb. The only character I never "believed" was Jane. Joss has a hard time writing thugs because I don't think he knows enough of them ;-) but the actor did a fine job.
Re:I wonder... by Linknoid · 2004-09-12 02:10 · Score: 1

I can't say with any certainty what really influenced him, but every time I watch Firefly, it makes me think Andromeda, and vice versa. At least the cast is quite similar, my friends always argue that it's extremely different.

Captain Dylan Hunt == Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds

Tyr Anasazi == Jayne Cobb

Beka Valentine == Zoe

Rev Bem == The Shepherd Book

Seamus Harper == Wash

Trance Gemini == Kaywinnit Lee 'Kaylee' Frye

Rommie == Inara Serra

Not exact matches, but there's definitely at least one major similarity between each of the pairs I mentioned above. I have a hard time believing Firefly's characters weren't influenced at all by Andromeda, at the very least.
Re:I wonder... by Loadmaster · 2004-09-12 02:24 · Score: 2, Interesting

Mr. Whedon has said that he was inspired to create Firefly while reading the book, "Killer Angels." KA is a book about the battle of Gettysburg.
Re:I wonder... by kalidasa · 2004-09-12 03:05 · Score: 2, Insightful

For anime, the closest match is obviously Cowboy Beebop, but the feel of the two shows and the setup are quite different. As for the Andromeda fans, try doing a compare of Firefly to Star Trek:

Mal - Kirk
Zoe - Spock
Wash - Scotty
Kaylee - Chapel
Shepherd - McCoy
Jayne - Chekov
Inara - Rand (yeah, I know, Rand and Chekov were never on at the same time)

This is because episodic television (indeed, all episodic fiction) is by its nature formulaic: you look for ways to balance your ensemble, and the chief balances seem to be around the hero. First you create your hero, then you look to his friends (in Trek, the emotionally balanced Kirk has McCoy, the sympathetic one, and Spock, the logical one; in Firefly, you have Zoe, the professional, and Shepherd, the sympathetic), then his love interest (Rand, Inara), then the inept male comic relief (Chekov, Jayne), then the socially inept female comic relief who has a crush on someone (Chapel, Kaylee), and don't forget Mr. Fixit. Of course, since supposedly Andromeda was based on an idea by Roddenberry, structural similarities between Andromeda and Star Trek would make sense (look at the structural similarities between ST: TMP and *Encounter at Farpoint* some time - Decker:Riker::Deltan Ilia:Betazoid Deanna), but I think you could probably look at any other team-based episodic television series and find many common elements.
Re:I wonder... by Rysc · 2004-09-12 03:17 · Score: 1

A better Star Trek comparison might be:

Mal - Kirk
Inara - Spock
Kaylee - Scotty
Wash - Sulu
Zoe - McCoy
Jayne - Chekov
Shepherd - ?

In terms of role the characters serve. The weakest of those is the Jayne->Chekov thing, which is mostly for completeness.

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I want my Cowboyneal
Re:I wonder... by forgotten_my_nick · 2004-09-12 03:40 · Score: 1

OMG people saying Firefly is like Andromanda and Star Trek..

BURN THE HERETICS!! >_'''
Re:I wonder... by Scrameustache · 2004-09-12 04:17 · Score: 2, Interesting

the scarcity of fresh vegetables

I like that too, gives it that extra "ship at sea" feel that a lot of sci-fi doesn't have (because you can't have shows upon shows where they dont land anywhere).

The only character I never "believed" was Jane. Joss has a hard time writing thugs because I don't think he knows enough of them ;-) but the actor did a fine job.

Funny, I think he's one of the most believable characters.
The actor does a fine job playing him because, well, he ALWAYS plays military types. Hell, this guy feels like Animal Mother (from Full Metal Jacket, played by him also) just enrolled on a spaceship after 'nam...
I love how he starts off as a simple thug but then shows different aspects of his brutish personality. He's brave in a fight but cowardly at times, he doesn't want others to know he's a thief, a backstabber... He feels shame, he feels remorse. He's a horrible human being, but he's still a human being (granted, he wouldn't be this human if Mal wasn't there to give lessons in criminal decency). ...the man they call...Jayne...
: )

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You can't take the sky from me...
Re:I wonder... by fishmonkey · 2004-09-12 04:59 · Score: 1

Joss as much as admitted that he 'borrowed' the idea for Buffy the Vampire Slayer from a Japanese anime called 'Devil Hunter Yohko' in an interview I read a few years back [in print, sorry, no link] - I wonder what his influences were originally for Firefly?
Cowboy Bebop, I couldn't say for sure, but some of the music in the first episode sounds exactly the same as in C.Bebop.
The similarities are uncanny.

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generic
Re:I wonder... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 05:05 · Score: 0

cowboy bebop, thats where it came from this time
Re:I wonder... by Geno+Z+Heinlein · 2004-09-12 05:20 · Score: 1

... he doesn't want others to know he's a thief, a backstabber...

Jayne's arc alone should get Firefly Emmys for Joss and Adam. Fox execs must be color-blind to quality. They're quality-blind.

--
Five percent of one year's DoD budget puts us on Mars.
Re:I wonder... by Izmunuti · 2004-09-12 06:15 · Score: 1

When I read your post's reference to "Killer Angels" my brain misfired and I was thinking "Broken Angels" by Richard Morgan (also "Altered Carbon"). Now, I'd really like to see a mini-series inspired by those two books. Probably have to be on HBO, though. hehe
Re:I wonder... by TrickFred · 2004-09-12 09:49 · Score: 1

Thank you - I was looking for something concrete, not just what people were thinking his inluences were. :)
Re:I wonder... by ajs · 2004-09-12 11:37 · Score: 1

I don't disagree that he's a great character, and wonderfully human, I just think that he's not believable in the line-to-line reading. His lines tend more toward the parody of a brute than a brute, where everyone else's comedy comes from the situation, and their natural reactions to it. Mind you, this is a minor complaint, but it's one that stuck with me through the series. I did like the character concept, and I did like the fact that in the end, he was exactly as trustworthy as you expect, i.e. not.
Re:I wonder... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 13:46 · Score: 0

You're nuts. Jayne's lines are perfectly fitted to the comedic situations he was in. I suggest you rewatch the Firefly DVDs again, with your eyes open this time. I suspect you have some kind of negative reaction to the Jayne character or to the actor that prevents you from really seeing what is going on.
Re:I wonder... by wwwgregcom · 2004-09-12 14:13 · Score: 1

Is that the same as witch hunter robin on the cartoon network? I'm not an anime fan, but thats a good show.

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What signature defines me as a person?

Super Sub Secret /. Decoder Ring Engaged by JasonUCF · 2004-09-12 01:33 · Score: 3, Insightful

The guy who wrote the mod just posted some secret behind-the-scenes photos from the set of the upcoming movie Serenity,

Uh...durrr... what's secret about your soon to be slashdotted photos? And if they don't get hosed, which marketing agency do you work for?

Re: Super Sub Secret /. Decoder Ring Engaged by Black+Parrot · 2004-09-12 01:51 · Score: 3, Funny

> Uh...durrr... what's secret about your soon to be slashdotted photos?

OK, make that "soon to be secret" photos.

--
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
Re:Super Sub Secret /. Decoder Ring Engaged by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 03:03 · Score: 0

Uh...durrr... what's secret about your soon to be slashdotted photos?

Gosh, does everything on /. need to be translated from English into nerd-speak? When people say "here are super-secret photos", that means "here are photos that have been super-secret until the moment when I published them on the web". Need any more help with interpreting the meaning of common English expressions?

Re:Sci-fi? by ericdano · 2004-09-12 01:41 · Score: 1

Stargate Atlantis is pretty good. The SG-1 series is getting a little old. It would be really cool to see the two have more interaction.......

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It's either on the beat or off the beat, it's that easy.
I moderate therefore I rule!
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Hmmm by Quixote · 2004-09-12 01:54 · Score: 4, Interesting

Submitter's email address? "tulsa23@hushmail.com".
The "guy who wrote the NVN mod" runs Sixbyte hosting, which is located in..... Tulsa, OK.
Is this a case of Astroturfing ?

To use a slogan from a certain network: I report, you decide!

;-)

Re:Hmmm by Snaller · 2004-09-12 08:57 · Score: 1

Duh - or is it a case of him using his own site to show the photos.

--
If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating

Re: Sci-fi? by Black+Parrot · 2004-09-12 01:58 · Score: 4, Interesting

> Which part of Firefly is sci-fi? It seems all that lousy Stargate etc stuff is making sci-fi fans desperate enough to accept anything...

It must be tough making it through life unable to enjoy anything but "real" SF.

While we're on that topic... ISTM that many (but not all) SF fans have a really anal[-]retentive approach to their hobby, i.e. a fixation on definitions, categorization, and list making. Look at the subject headers in an SF newsgroup sometime... "Is this SF?", "10 stories about one-eyed lesbian space pirates", etc. It's funny, in a sad sort of way.

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Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade

Re: Sci-fi? by worst_name_ever · 2004-09-12 02:02 · Score: 5, Funny

Look at the subject headers in an SF newsgroup sometime... "Is this SF?", "10 stories about one-eyed lesbian space pirates", etc. It's funny, in a sad sort of way.

Yeah, no kidding. Some people are just sad. Say, what was that URL for the lesbian space pirates again?

--

In Soviet Rush, today's Tom Sawyer gets high on you.

Andromeda by Karma+Sucks · 2004-09-12 02:05 · Score: 3, Interesting

FireFly is the realised version of a western in space Kevin Sorbo always wanted the Andromeda show to be.

Compare these characters for starters:

Matt --> Dylan
Jayne --> Tyr
Sheperd --> Rev Bem
Kaylee --> Trance
(both Canadian girls who played in similar kid shows incidentally) ...

Lots of similarities with tweaks for the particular environment and setting of Firefly. And of course, Firefly is miles ahead of what Andromeda became.

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(Please browse at -1 to read this comment.)

Re:Andromeda by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 02:41 · Score: 1, Insightful

Who's Matt? There's no Matt on Firefly. Maybe you meant Mal.

And I find River to be a much better comparison for Trance, being the mysterious outsider girl with hidden powers.

That's just my take based on old Andromeda eps, though. I gave up on the show after the first season. Firefly did much better than most other scifi, and with only half a season.
Re:Andromeda by Karma+Sucks · 2004-09-12 03:00 · Score: 1

Right, Mal. There are many other similarities as another poster pointed out in this thread. And sure you could say the Trance character was split into Kaylee+River.

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Re:Andromeda by NoMoreNicksLeft · 2004-09-12 03:02 · Score: 1, Interesting

Andromeda is much more watchable than Voyager even, let alone Firefly. The last episode I've seen, has Harper pulling a neat trick with a space station, to slow down the invaders... he speeds up the rotation, increasing percieved gravity by 400%. If only Star Trek could learn from this.

Matter of fact, I've not seen any dumb pseudo-science on it approaching the level of even the best of Voyager.

The entire premise, with him living 5 seconds what is actually 300 years, due to relavistic effects... that was pretty solid. The Nietzcheans, the Magog, the conflicts all seem real, somewhat important. It's somewhat original, too. It's not as bad a show as I originally thought, even if it's slightly campy at times (maybe it was Farscape that taught me campy isn't always bad).
Re:Andromeda by Scrameustache · 2004-09-12 04:08 · Score: 3, Interesting

Matt --> Dylan

I think you meant Mal, as is captain Malcom Reynolds...

FireFly is the realised version of a western in space Kevin Sorbo always wanted the Andromeda show to be.

And I'm sorry, but Sorbo wanted it to be "Hercules...in space!".

Also, comparing Andromeda to Firefly is unfair. The only similarity is that they both (add Farscape to that to make it 3) were comfortable with campyness. Andromeda by being cheap and using campyness as an excuse to not make efforts (IMO, my wrasslin loving freinds liked it), Firefly by going all the way with the space western motif (they had a cargo of cows, making them officially cowboys), and Farscape with the muppets and the sexy alien space monsters (which are campy, but enjoyable).
: )

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You can't take the sky from me...
Re:Andromeda by Geno+Z+Heinlein · 2004-09-12 05:08 · Score: 1

And I'm sorry, but Sorbo wanted it to be "Hercules...in space!"

Which is sad. Sorbo said that the plots were "too complicated and too clever for the rest of us to understand". That's true in comparison to a lot of television shows, but you didn't need a degree in rocket science to follow along. I also suspect that Sorbo wanted Dylan to be a less ambiguous, more straightforward character. (Mr. T also only wanted to play overt good guys. Smooth move, Sorbo. Good luck with that "acting" career.)

The real tragedy of this is that Robert Hewitt Wolfe was making a gem of a show that I would still be watching and pitching to this day. As it was, I stopped watching when RHW left. I won't waste any time on shows with Sorbo or shows from Tribune anymore.

--
Five percent of one year's DoD budget puts us on Mars.
Re:Andromeda by Scrameustache · 2004-09-12 05:22 · Score: 1

Sorbo wanted Dylan to be a less ambiguous, more straightforward character. (Mr. T also only wanted to play overt good guys.

Hey now, don't drag Mr. T into this : )

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You can't take the sky from me...
Re:Andromeda by Geno+Z+Heinlein · 2004-09-12 05:42 · Score: 1

Hey now, don't drag Mr. T into this : )

Sorry, comparing T to Sorbo was uncalled for. Didn't mean to dis the T. 8-)

--
Five percent of one year's DoD budget puts us on Mars.
Re:Andromeda by Scrameustache · 2004-09-12 16:04 · Score: 1

The Nietzcheans, the Magog, the conflicts all seem real

An entire race that has to wear bracers to support their silly forearm barbs seems real to you?

To each his own I guess.

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You can't take the sky from me...

Re: Sci-fi? by Black+Parrot · 2004-09-12 02:16 · Score: 3, Funny

> Say, what was that URL for the lesbian space pirates again?

I suppose this will have to do.

--
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade

What about the publicity? by rfunches · 2004-09-12 02:23 · Score: 2, Interesting

It'll be interesting to see as production and post goes on how the publicity works out. Remember that wonderful network called Fox and their marketing department that royally screwed over this show? Since Universal bought the movie rights to a defunct show, it obviously has more of a vested interest in Firefly, but are they looking to be The Next Big Thing in Hollywood or simply appeal to Firefly fans.

Re:What about the publicity? by tommyboyprime · 2004-09-12 14:37 · Score: 1

I once met the president of Universal at a cocktail party and he seemed to be able to pick quality as much as I could bight myself on the ass.

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This parrot has ceased to be!

Bah, where is the cute engineer girl??? by doormat · 2004-09-12 02:25 · Score: 4, Funny

No photos of her =^(

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The Doormat

If you're not outraged, then you're not paying attention.

Re:Bah, where is the cute engineer girl??? by Em+Ellel · 2004-09-12 02:43 · Score: 1

She was on Wondefalls... before that got canned (or to be more exact, AFTER if got canned, her episodes never hit the air). And a brief guest spot on Dead Like Me. It always surprises me to spot her though, because she somehow looks MUCH different in Firefly that in anything else.

-Em

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RelevantElephants: A Somatic WebComic...
Re:Bah, where is the cute engineer girl??? by br0ck · 2004-09-12 02:43 · Score: 3, Informative

Check her blog. Actually, now that I go there, it is interesting that she says they're already done filming. Cool!
Re:Bah, where is the cute engineer girl??? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 02:56 · Score: 0

Done filming? Heck, there's shaky-cam footage of the teaser from a recent comic con. Here is a wmv version, and here is a torrent for an avi. A warning for both of them: so-so video quality, atrocious audio.
Re:Bah, where is the cute engineer girl??? by Teese · 2004-09-12 03:49 · Score: 3, Informative

It always surprises me to spot her though, because she somehow looks MUCH different in Firefly that in anything else
According to the commentary on one of the firefly episodes, she says that "they" wanted her to put on weight for the role of kaylee. Yea, put on weight! in Hollywood! for a television show! on a girl! crazy.
I think it worked, very cute she was in the show.
("they" where not precisely defined, that I remember. If it was Joss himself, or the other exec. producer, or Fox (I doubt it), or the casting director, or Santa Claus was not mentioned.)

--
"I'm a Genius!"*

*Not an actual Genius
Re:Bah, where is the cute engineer girl??? by RasputinAXP · 2004-09-12 05:50 · Score: 1

After watching the episode of Dead Like Me that she was in, I find it amusing that I've now watched her get railed up against a wall in TWO series.
Re:Bah, where is the cute engineer girl??? by Dr.+Smeegee · 2004-09-12 07:47 · Score: 2, Funny

"very cute she was in the show."

Watching our TV you do Master Yoda? Surprised we are!
Re:Bah, where is the cute engineer girl??? by Snaller · 2004-09-12 09:09 · Score: 1, Flamebait

they" where not precisely defined, that I remember. If it was Joss himself

It was joss. And as *i* recall, she does mention it on the DVD's

--
If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating
Re:Bah, where is the cute engineer girl??? by Teese · 2004-09-12 12:04 · Score: 0, Offtopic

It was joss. And as *i* recall, she does mention it on the DVD's
D'oh! and here I am without my Firefly DVD's to confirm your story. But I concede defeat (bet you didn't know we where in battle, did ya) to the superior firefly fan. I pledge to work harder to complete my geekdom.

--
"I'm a Genius!"*

*Not an actual Genius

Linkage by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 02:29 · Score: 3, Informative

Here's a link to a story talking about Firefly when it first came out. Whedon talks about the book in it and why it inspired him.

Firefly

One eyed lesbian space pirates by Mudcathi · 2004-09-12 02:52 · Score: 1

subscribe

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"He who throws mud, loses ground." - proverb

Firefly is fundamentaly different Andromeda by Em+Ellel · 2004-09-12 03:01 · Score: 4, Insightful

It's like saying shows are same because they both have characters in them.

Andromeda's main premise is an attempt to (re)build a huge empire. It is highly political (and not in a smart, B5ish way) and highly idealistic (tada - everything is "Good Vs. Evil" like Star Trek and other idealistic "sci-fi")

Firefly's main premise is to keep flying and stay below radar, noone is good or evil, just people who can help and people who can hurt. Main theme is survival.

I think survival is something more people can relate to and makes for a much better science fiction (as opposed to "sci-fi")

-Em

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RelevantElephants: A Somatic WebComic...

Fox is Evil. by Aetrix · 2004-09-12 03:12 · Score: 2, Insightful

Ooh - I get the first chance to say -

Fox is Evil and Bad for canceling Firefly. It's a great show.

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"One touch of Darwin makes the whole world kin." George Bernard Shaw

Re:Fox is Evil. by tommyboyprime · 2004-09-12 14:39 · Score: 1

I'm ashamed to say I never watched the series on TV but I rented the first DVD of the complete series and liked it so much I bought the boxed set. It works like a 9 hour movie.

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This parrot has ceased to be!

Hmm.. by TrevorB · 2004-09-12 03:21 · Score: 3, Funny

Seriously... Are pics like these supposed to demonstrate how the series died off?

(ducks)

(apologies to all, I'm actually I Firefly fan)

(ducks again)

Are you sure this is Firefly? by Our+Man+In+Redmond · 2004-09-12 03:40 · Score: 1

Um, not to be a smart aleck or anything, but are we sure this is Firefly? It looks like Disney's Imagineers took some of the props from Pirates of the Caribbean and scattered them around Tomorrowland.

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Someone you trust is one of us.

Re:Are you sure this is Firefly? by lostOnEarth · 2004-09-12 03:50 · Score: 1

You can see many of the actors of Firefly in the background of the pictures - as well as Joss!
Re:Are you sure this is Firefly? by Our+Man+In+Redmond · 2004-09-12 03:56 · Score: 1

Sorry, I was too distracted by the skeletons, atom sculpture, giant Lego and what looks like the butt end of one of the Star Tours vehicles to get much of a look at the people involved.

--
Someone you trust is one of us.

Joss's Titan AE Contributions by Unicron100 · 2004-09-12 03:40 · Score: 1

Just for the record -- after all the rewrites, Joss' contributions resulted in only four lines of his being left in the final draft. (Including the "Planet Bob" line at the end of the movie). I would hardly say that "Titan AE" is a Joss Whedon movie!

Re:Joss's Titan AE Contributions by sleepcountry · 2004-09-12 12:43 · Score: 1

This interview offers a good look at Joss's work and his experiences with getting his work butchered and mismanaged.

http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?is sue=3731&f=1

Firefly Links by lostOnEarth · 2004-09-12 03:42 · Score: 4, Informative

For those who don't know what Firefly is about here are some links:

The offical Serinity site:

http://browncoats.serenitymovie.com/serenity/?u=tu sk

And the most popular fan site:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/

You can of course buy the DVD's if you want to see this great series too, at Amazon or elsewhere.

Re:Sci-fi? by Scrameustache · 2004-09-12 04:39 · Score: 3, Informative

Spaceships, terraforming, and psychic powers

Laser guns
Flying cars
Sonic rifles
Space stations
Cryogenic transport
That funky soldering tape thingy
Real time non-invasive 3D brain scan imaging
etc.

: )

--

You can't take the sky from me...

where'd they film this? by The+Lynxpro · 2004-09-12 05:04 · Score: 1

To me, the buildings looks like the College of Letters and Science (L&S) compound at UC Davis. Then again, the bottom floor of the L&S compound looks like the re-education facility in "A Clockwork Orange" so who am I to say. And continuing, the "Big Wheel" logo of the City of Davis looks suspiciously similar to the logo of the Island in "The Prisoner." Perhaps the designers were trying to tell the public something...

--
"Right now, somewhere in this world, Scott Baio is plowing a woman he doesn't love," - Peter Griffin, *Family Guy*

Re:where'd they film this? by JabberWokky · 2004-09-12 10:22 · Score: 1

You mean the building everybody refers to as the "Deathstar". We were talking about holding a Paranoia LARP there.
And the "The Prisoner" references are really creepy when you consider how pervasive they are around town. We had a late night diner discussion where we seriously tried to figure out how to put a device in a big pink balloon to control the direction it bounced so we could run it through campus (which is car-free) and the surrounding fields.
--
Evan "I am not a number!!! Well, maybe 19442."

--
"$30 for the One True Ring. $10 each additional ring!" -- JRR "Bob" Tolkien
Re:where'd they film this? by mieses · 2004-09-12 11:46 · Score: 1

the building is Diamond Ranch High School designed by Morphosis.

sorry about the double post, but i just noticed your question.
Re:where'd they film this? by The+Lynxpro · 2004-09-12 18:57 · Score: 1

"You mean the building everybody refers to as the "Deathstar". We were talking about holding a Paranoia LARP there."

Yep, that's the one. During my time there, it was also commonly referred to as either "Hitler's Tomb" or "Stalin's Tomb."

I wouldn't do the pink balloon deal. You are bound to antagonize the midget cop, and after seeing the fury that Gary Coleman dished out when he was a security guard, I wouldn't want to bring that upon anyone else.

--
"Right now, somewhere in this world, Scott Baio is plowing a woman he doesn't love," - Peter Griffin, *Family Guy*
Re:where'd they film this? by JabberWokky · 2004-09-13 04:02 · Score: 1

I wouldn't do the pink balloon deal. You are bound to antagonize the midget cop
S'okay - I've slowly been endearing myself to the powers that be in this town. Note also that I'm not a student but a "reputable looking" adult. That helps quite a bit when performing surreal acts of art.
--
Evan

--
"$30 for the One True Ring. $10 each additional ring!" -- JRR "Bob" Tolkien

Not terribly exciting even for a die-hard fan... by EvilFrog · 2004-09-12 05:22 · Score: 1

I'm a big fan of Firefly, but I really fail to see what is so "must-see" about these photos. As far as behind-the-scenes photos go, these are pretty boring.

Some burned corpses and a shot with Morena (and half of Nathan)... yay.

Question by comrade009 · 2004-09-12 05:28 · Score: 0

If firefly wasn't sci-fi, would you consider the show that it replaced, Dark Angel (a quality show), to be "real" sci-fi?

Re:Question by petsounds · 2004-09-12 06:11 · Score: 1

I don't know, but I would consider Dark Angel, and its setting of a post-apocalyptic society where a corrupt government scrutinized the moves of all citizens, certain members of society were seen as "dangerous", and basic Constitutional rights were seriously abridged, to have been vitally more relevant to the current state of our society in all its Big Brother glory. It was more than a *little* curious that FOX cancelled Dark Angel after 9/11 and the Patriot Act, Homeland Security, and the war machine were all gearing up for action.

Yes, perhaps that's a little conspiratorial, and DA didn't have that good of ratings near the end, but Firefly's ratings didn't exactly wow any tv execs either. Dark Angel just seemed in my opinion to have been cancelled too abruptly, especially since it seems like show creator James Cameron (who wanted the series to continue) would have more pull.
Re:Question by Scrameustache · 2004-09-12 06:26 · Score: 2, Insightful

Dark Angel (a quality show)

You mean the post apocalyptic show where technology was destroyed by EMPs, but everyone had working, brand bew SUVs (with a bit of mud swiped on the hood to make it look post apocalyptic), cell phones, Macs, motorcycles, etc?
The one with freakin' Vincent from Beauty and the Beast?
The one with the genetically enhanced girl that can inexplicably leap over a 20ft fence? Who's rent-a-womb mother (with no genetic link to her) looks exactly like her?

The show with a hot chick that goes in heat?

That wasn't a quality show, that was a hot chick vehicle, there's a difference. The chick was hot, the show was not.

--
You can't take the sky from me...
Re:Question by astro-g · 2004-09-12 09:25 · Score: 1

You obviouslyt watched it. - more than once
I cant have been that bad...
Re:Question by Scrameustache · 2004-09-12 13:13 · Score: 1

You obviouslyt watched it. - more than once
I cant have been that bad...

She's really hot.

--
You can't take the sky from me...
Re:Question by aldwin · 2004-09-13 15:56 · Score: 1

Dark Angel was great in season 1, set the social tone well (borrowing heavily from William Gibson, esp. Virtual Light) and had a hot chickie. Season 2 went crap with all the emphasis on the mutants that have to look half animal. *sigh*

Re:Firefly Links and stupid referral programs by tabacco · 2004-09-12 05:41 · Score: 2, Informative

Oh god, another person trolling their referral link around /.

Re:Not terribly exciting even for a die-hard fan.. by tabacco · 2004-09-12 05:43 · Score: 1

Oh, I dunno. It looks like one of the core worlds where Something Horrible has happened prior to the arrival of Serenity. If you notice, all of the burned corpses are lying in fairly normal places (on the stairway next to a briefcase-like object, etc.) as if they died really suddenly. That seems like kind of a minor plot spoiler if nothing else.

Re: Sci-fi? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 06:59 · Score: 0

It must be tough making it through life unable to enjoy anything but "real" SF.

Yes. Life would be much easier if I could enjoy horse manure, too. And I guess a billion flies can't be wrong, either.

She is right here! by Snaller · 2004-09-12 09:03 · Score: 1

Fans asked if they could interview her, and she said sure, so they whipped out ye olde shakycam:

Jewel Interview

--
If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating

Re:Sci-fi? by Snaller · 2004-09-12 09:24 · Score: 0, Flamebait

Spaceships, terraforming, and psychic powers

Laser guns

Flying cars

Sonic rifles

Space stations

Cryogenic transport

That funky soldering tape thingy

Real time non-invasive 3D brain scan imaging
etc.

Hovering Islands (for the very rich)

Hovering Chandeliers (for the slightly affluent)

Digital paper

Energy forcefields

Organ smuggling (inside people)

--
If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating

Why was it cancelled? by BollocksToThis · 2004-09-12 10:46 · Score: 1

What is with the TV producers in the USA, always cancelling good shows, but continuously renewing crap?

Farscape, Family Guy, Futurama, Hidden Hills, Firefly - all excellent shows, and when I show them to anyone, people love them. All cancelled in their prime... but Girlfriends? No, that shit is being renewed for it's fifth season. There's about a million different "Survivor"s and "Bachelor"-like shows.

I have a theory that it's a conspiracy to make people actually look forward to commercial breaks, instead of resenting them for interrupting something entertaining.

--
This sig is part of your complete breakfast.

Re:Why was it cancelled? by Jedi+Alec · 2004-09-12 11:55 · Score: 1

Farscape: too complicated for Americans. No easy way to say who's the good guys and who's the bad guys. Scorpy's a bad guy, but somehow he's funny and just trying to do what he think's right. Meanwhile Moya's shipmates chop off one of pilot's arms. Ouch, so much for the good guys. No heroic Bruce Willis fighting for the flag and apple pie while asking God to look after his fallen comrades. Waaaaaay too much grey area. Besides, everyone knows only terrorists would try to find a way to make wormholes.

--

People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
Re:Why was it cancelled? by tommyboyprime · 2004-09-12 14:48 · Score: 1

Good shows are cancelled because Hollywood doesn't know bullocks about how to nuture a show. Seinfeld didn't make a hit for almost two years. it got shuffled around until it finally got big. BTW I think, with new tech such as shooting with tape instead of film which cuts costs, Someone should starting straight to disk films and let the market place for them shoot it out.

--
This parrot has ceased to be!
Re:Why was it cancelled? by Scrameustache · 2004-09-12 16:21 · Score: 1

Farscape: too complicated

I try to watch Farscape, but every time I do, everybody is either switched with everyone else's body or the whole episode is playing out in John's head and all the characters are playing other people, or wacky versions of themselves, or whatever the hell is going on that makes it 0% understandable.
And the screeching noise they use as an intro makes me want to hurt them back.
Also, I find the female lead utterly unapealing. Blue chick is kinda cute, but Aerin does nothing for me (yes, I admit that the sexyness of the women involved counts). I guess I just don't have the "repressed lesbian in leather" fetich.

The small bits I've managed to watch and understand made me give some credit to the people claiming its good, but frankly, I can't make heads or tails of that show, not because its complicated, but because its nonsense.
Maybe if I find someone who has DVDs it'll make sense. But for someone who only happens to catch an episode here and there, its impossible to follow.

--
You can't take the sky from me...
Re:Why was it cancelled? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-13 10:53 · Score: 0

Maybe if I find someone who has DVDs it'll make sense. But for someone who only happens to catch an episode here and there, its impossible to follow.

And yet your sig mentions Firefly, and all the signs I saw in that show point to it turning out much the same in the future (when it only had 14 episodes ever it's a little hard to see it that way). You wouldn't have stopped watching it then, would you?

Give Farscape a chance and I'm positive you'll love it. It sounds like you had a string of bad luck and only saw the worst possible combination of episodes - many other episodes are self contained and don't rely on much from previous shows, but I would never recommend anyone do anything other than watch from the very beginning.

the set is Diamond Ranch High School by mieses · 2004-09-12 11:22 · Score: 1

the building in the background is Diamond Ranch High School by Morphosis architects http://www.morphosis.net/.
it shows up in lots of tv commercials.

More than that... by NthDegree256 · 2004-09-12 11:35 · Score: 1

It's hardly just the music. Cowboy Bebop is also known as a "western in space" of sorts. It features a crew taking on odd (bounty-hunting, usually) jobs to manage enough money for a bite to eat and keep their old lunker of a spaceship running. I've seen all of both Cowboy Bebop and Firefly, and I have to say, I'm pretty convinced that Firefly was at least partially inspired (if not in origin, than in execution) by Cowboy Bebop... it feels like Firefly is, as my sister put it, "channeling the spirit of Bebop."

Serenity teaser torrent by mieses · 2004-09-12 11:42 · Score: 1

http://tamara.spacemonkeys.ca/serenityteaser.avi.t orrent/
(from a discussion at imdb)

Previous Firefly Game Mod for Unreal by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-12 13:25 · Score: 0

Whatever became of the firefly map that was on the old fox website site?

Re:Sci-fi? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-09-13 04:40 · Score: 0

Yeah, there's nothing fictitious about it!

Ok what the fuck is going on! by Snaller · 2004-09-14 01:24 · Score: 1

Which idiot moderator keeps modding me flamebait! Idiot - you are abusing your damn position!"

The message is
they" where not precisely defined, that I remember. If it was Joss himself
"It was joss. And as *i* recall, she does mention it on the DVD's"

That's not fucking flamebait, that's damn fact! Moron!

--
If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating

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