News From October 14, 2005
The Latest From Joss
At the end of a very strange week for Browncoats, with the second weekend of Serenity not suggesting that there will be a sudden burst of audience, and a drop in theater count of around 23% for the third weekend, Joss popped up on the official boards this morning.
Joss_Whedon
Serenity Cast/Crew
Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Posts: 19Posted: 14 Oct 2005 10:18 am
Post subject: Joss made a post from typings!Hello, young lovers, wherever you are. This is Joss, coming to you live via technology. I thought it would be fair to give you all my little State of the Onion before I descend into the depths of the Warren to pound away at my keyboard, munch lettuce and ignore that annoying nerd Fiver who keeps saying something bad is coming, like he can tell or whatever. I'm excited to beat this Wonder Woman script into shape (and munch lettuce). Mostly, to be honest, I'm excited to (deliberately split infinitive) not be a Professional Serenity Barker. I love you guys, I loves me some Serenity cast, but I am yammered out. By Spain it just got surreal (I think Nathan and Summer will back me on that one). Selling is not my strong suit. Actually, my strong suit is Kevlar, but it bunches in all the wrong places.
So I have read much over the past weeks: we have Won! Lost! Triumphed! Failed! and have, of course, agreed with every single thing I read (one of the exhausting things about having no personality). But in the dark blue of early morning I do have some perspective, and it runs thus:
I'm very content. I think the movie is really good. That was hard to a)do and b) realize. The response has been terrific, the majority of the reviews extremely positive: people GOT IT. What's more, an impressive number of people saw this movie who never would have, and even more still will. This is not spin: I know we didn't do the expected numbers our first weekend, we didn't have an unprecedentedly small drop-off the second (which was my personal fantasy.) I've been to some dark places, just like you guys. But the movie has legs, and people who loved it LOVED it crazy, the way love is supposed to be. Europe has been a nice boost (and a lung-splitting shout out to my UK and Aussie UIPeeps -- they're dears, and efficient as hell). We'll keep soldiering on, until we can't crawl and we find DVD to carry us. I see us kind of like the Shawshank Redemption without all the Oscar nominations (unless Best Feet becomes a catagory). People who were befuddled by the title or lack of premise hook will finally pick it up, and keep picking it up... They may miss out on the big-screen exitement, but they'll see our little tale and take it to their hearts. Takes a while. Just like the show.
I've seen a couple of posts with Browncoats beating themselves up about not having done enough. I never want to hear that again. You guys have gone above and beyond above and beyond. The people who are above and beyond are looking at you guys and going "Man, don't they ever quit?" Your efforts, and your investment (emotional as well as tickety) have done an enormous amount for this film and my battered heart. No more self-flagellation, unless it's the healthy, what-every-young-person-needs-to-learn-about-their-body kind.
And what about Da Fyoocha? (And why did I need Arnold to say that?) I have no idea. It could be that this tale is told. Or it could be that down the line, dollars accumulate and some exec says, "let's spin that wheel again." Or who knows. I'm not resting my hopes on it, but it's not a concept I'll ever close the book on. In case the 30,000 reporters I told didn't get this message out, I love this crew like Nick loves Nora, like Hellboy loves Pancakes, like Bridgitte loves Bernie (and if you're old enough to get that reference, my condolences.)
Thank you all. I'll be in touch again, but I have an Amazon to rassle. Remember that this is not over; every dollar (or Euro) counts, every new convert is a friend for life. But don't fret too much on what's to come. Enjoy the remarkable things we've accomplished. You're Big Damn Fans. Have some lettuce.
All love, Joss.
News From October 6, 2005
Watch The First Nine Minutes Of 'Serenity'
Ever on the watch for things to tide you over until your next trip to see Serenity? Trying to find new ways to entice new people to go see the film? Then go ahead and try the first nine minutes, courtesy of the international arm of Universal Pictures.
News From October 3, 2005
Joss To Browncoats
Joss has been popping up on the official boards over the weekend, talking to the troops, as it were. What follows are his posts from the last three days, beginning with Saturday morning's.
Joss_Whedon
Serenity Cast/Crew
Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Posts: 18Posted: 01 Oct 2005 1:15 pm
Post subject: 3.9So, it starts. We've all heard the good and bad about the B.O., but what does it all mean? 3.9, not huge on the richter scale, but it's the aftershocks that count. I talked to the Uni execs and they were very cool. This is less than projected, but they understand (as I've been saying since before I made the thing) that this is about slow growth. Word of mouth. We got some crazy sweet reviews, but more importantly, people are having fun. I saw it with some family last night: the crowd was not big at all, but they really enjoyed themselves and that's what matters. Remember what I said about holding? That's how it's done. (Oh, and people like you all, dragging your friends and seeing it multiple times -- don't think I've forgotten your crazy love.) Normal drop-off for a film is 40% in the second weekend. I really think we can beat that. There's nothing normal about this one, guys, which is why Uni gets such props for taking it on and hanging with it. Remember, "Rome" wasn't filmed in a day. (I'm not sure if that means anything, but it giggles me.) We'll see if we can push Saturday a little harder, maybe even muster up a little Sunday brawn. Then let people get to school, the office, let them talk about it. We've got a long way to go, and it would have been very relaxing to have smashed through to destined success on opening night. But we're not a bunch known for relaxing. You guys have been in the fight for so long, I expect you know that resting everything on opening night is exactly the paradigm this movie is trying to unravel.
Remember, we're still too pretty to die, although I am jowly enough to be mortally wounded. Thanks, my peeps, for always remembering the first rule of flying. I'll check in soon. -j.
Joss_Whedon
Serenity Cast/Crew
Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Posts: 18Posted: 02 Oct 2005 9:50 pm
Post subject: Worst. Movie. Ever.was probably "Summer Holiday" with Mickey Rooney. Can you believe that kid was the biggest star in the world? Funny world.
Meanwhile, I'm just rounding out the weekend with a little praise for my dear peeps. Considering everything we've had to overcome, this is an extraordinary achievment. And you guys have been in the front lines. I lurk, I know all. So thanks. Some of you might know that this flick means more than a little to me.
Yes, the second weekend will tell all, as we've always known. I'm not here to push you guys -- you push yourselves way harder than I could anyway. I'm just trying to figure out how to get the message out to the guys that aren't you, that don't know any of you, and that don't run into someone who saw the film. I'll be hounding the extremely patient Uni execs on that very subject. Like the lady said, "People have to know".
It's not that there HAS to be a sequel. It's just that I've got so many IDEAS...
Joss_Whedon
Serenity Cast/Crew
Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Posts: 18Posted: 03 Oct 2005 10:20 am
Post subject: Well. Here I am.So I was flouncing (that's lurking but fancier) about WHEDONESQUE (for which I have forgotten my password yet again) and I couldn't help but see the little CHUD.com hate-bomb that Devin wrote. I don't mind that he doesn't love the film, but things like "It failed in a big way" and "It's over" are about as charming -- and journalistic -- as "I was right." I am being totally realistic when I say the weekend grosses did not meet expectations -- but those expectations were based on models that don't apply to this situation because, seriously, nothing does. The industry is not calling this a failure, just a slightly soft version of a normal opening in a generally weak weekend.
Now I did meet Devin, and he's not a dumb guy. But he seems to have a real animus against you Browncoats, and that's the thing I wanted to comment on, 'cause that doesn't sit well with me. He actually blames you guys for making sci-fi fans stay away from the movie. Says you should be ashamed for having adopted a name, that you will start finger-pointing and bickering now that you've 'caused' the 'failure' of your film. He blames other things as well -- the title, the ads -- but that's fine. If one --ONE -- of you guys reads that column and takes it to heart I'll not sleep. You guys did an amazing thing this weekend -- and the exit polls showed how much you guys were out there, and how much business you dragged in with you. Not to mention everything you did for the months - sorry, YEARS -- before it opened. I'm crazy proud of you. Yes, there is an exclusionary element to some fandom that is inevitable, but this group has fought that as well or better as any, and maybe I'm a nerd, but being compared to a Trekker (or even a TrekkIE) doesn't offend me a bit.
We all know this remains an uphill battle. We all know that next weekend is crucial -- and a lot of it will rest on us. A lot will rest on the studio reaching people we can't. And factors we can't see coming. But I don't especially appreciate people calling Time of Death while I'm still operating. I don't like smug defeatism. And nobody disses the 'coats without me wading in. That's all.
The question remains: Did Early die out there in space, or did some passing ship show up at the last second? There's no answer yet, but I sure as hell know how I'd write it.
-j.
We'll repost others here, as they show up over there.
Opening Weekend Box Office Estimates
Earlier on Sunday, the box office estimates for this weekend came out, and Serenity was pegged as coming in second with a take of $10.1 million.
Prior to opening, predicts floating around were putting the film as taking in $15-18 million opening weekend and taking first place at the box office.
Focus now has turned to the all-important second weekend, during which the norm is for films to make less than they do in their first weekend -- in some cases of science-fiction films, as much as 40% less.
Now is the time to urge anyone you know you did not manage to get to Serenity this past weekend commits to going this coming weekend.
News From October 1, 2005
'Serenity' Audience Reaction Report #1
Now and then, as people send them to us, we're going to post some reports on people's experiences and observations from theaters around the Portland-area. We will be removing any material which includes spoilers for the movie itself. Here's our first report..
I saw a Serenity last night at about 7:45 at the Century theater in Beaverton with some of my grad school classmates. I had gotten there about an hour and a half early to get my ticket. I didn't see many people gathering for Serenity, so I got a little concerned. Luckily, once 7:00 rolled around, there seemed to be a massive swarm, and theater staff had to organize lines around the theater. I was chatting with a couple of the people who were in line, and it seemed that they were mostly Browncoats. A few people walking into the theater seemed bewildered walking into the theater wondering what the huge line was for. One group actually walked in and was asking for a movie recommendation. Of course, those of us in line encouraged them to see Serenity. We were validated when one of the theater staff really urged them to see Serenity as well. Unfortunately, they did not seem to be sci-fi fans. A few of the people who were marveling at the line did seem like they wanted to see what was creating the hype.
While the showing didn't appear to be sold out, there seemed to be only a handful of empty seats, so it looked to be a good showing of people. As I overheard conversations, it seemed that most of the audience were already Browncoats. One of my classmates (a Buffy fan) was a fairly recent convert, as she said that she had spent the last week trying to familiarize herself with the Firefly universe.
For the most part, everybody in the theater seemed to absolutely love the movie. I know I did, as did the rest of my party [spoiler removed] . Boisterous laughs and applause throughout the move. As I walked out of the theater, however, I did hear one person complain... saying something to the effect, "I would have rather stayed home and watched the DVD's." He was definitely a minority.
I know a few people in my party are definitely planning on seeing it again. A few of our other classmates are Joss fans but weren't able to make it to last night's screening, so some of us will be making repeated viewings with those who haven't yet seen it. My girlfriend will be coming up to visit in a few weeks, so even though she also watched it last night in Arizona, the two of us will be showing our support by viewing it at least once more, this time together.
To submit a similar report, click the "Send A Report" link in this site's upper left-hand corner, right beneath the link to buy tickets.
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