lilserf,

I've seen the marketing information for SERENITY and it doesn't mention the fan campaign. However, it is easy to find out about it by typing Serenity or Firefly into Google.

ita - I can't spell Jamaicans apparently.

But yes, lilserf, you are right - you could speculate there is some cheapness involved in SERENITY marketing. Or you could speculate fans are optionally doing a lot themselves now which takes the burdon off Universal (and gang).

I don't know the answers here. I run the UK Can't Stop The Signal site and host the international trailer, paying for it myself. I have organised box sets of Firefly and Serenity booklets for media critics myself. I do some more official work on things, too. It's all unpaid. It costs me a fortune. Nearly all my holidays for the year have gone on SERENITY. I'm just about to take 3 weeks off to shoot a documentary on it all with Uncle Joss(tm) and friends in Edinburgh. Unpaid.

Why? Because I liked the show. I liked Tim and Joss's work. I like Serenity. Instead of sitting on an internet fence bitchin' about how a trailer doesn't look western enough with no violins, I decided to do something original -- actually do something.

I might well look back at all this next year and go, you know, that was mad. I might not. I'll still be glad I did it, though, as I'm not stupid to think as a fan I made SERENITY, but I like to think I can help get some people to watch the kind of work I like rather than Crazy Dancing Show #316

I suspect that years from now, some people will still be talking about how "Allyson and Kristen's Campaign was responsible for the Firefly DVDs and the Serenity Movie!", much in the same way that some critics talk about "Ex Buffy Writer Tim Minear!"

Or maybe not.

After reading the posts here, I think I'm still a little confused (not to worry, I am having a stupid day - long story) as to exactly what was responsible (or not) for certain things happenning (or not), but I think that whichever version of history is recorded in people's minds, the campaign did something wonderful, and a huge number of people are grateful. Mobilising a fandom in such a way is no easy feat, and regardless of details (which people are always prone to fudge), you guys are part of the Firefly Fan legacy...

I am going to shut up now before the phrase "Vocal Cult" gets lodged in my brain again.

ita - I can't spell Jamaicans apparently.

That Jamaicans are low-key and non-confrontational?

Ha.

Ha.

Ha!!!

That Jamaicans are low-key and non-confrontational?

See, it's not fair to extrapolate from me to all my countrymen.

Man, you're like jamicas.

What were you saying to Cass, then?

Except for the parts where I am not.

t does math

We tend to think the same waiters are nummy.

See? Totally ita.

Yay for Vacation, Kristen! I hope you have a great one.

Am I going to see you this weekend, so I can buy you a drink in thanks for the VM episodes?

What? I go away to D.C. for a week (after my first post), and I come back to learn “The Inside” has been pre-empted tonight? Shoot. Now, what am I going to do before “Lost”?

It makes fans feel good to think that they may have made a difference. It makes good copy in the press and helps promote the movie. It just makes me, personally, twitchy.

Why? I’m new, so, I’m not down w/ the history. I’m catching up…some. But I need to fill in some of the cracks before I weigh in w/ anything. Is there some place (website? message board?) I can visit to learn all about the history of “Firefly” and “Serenity” fans?

Btw, who started the drive to buy Firefly DVDs for the overseas forces?

Just to track back to this: I forget who it was in the FF campaign, but they got the idea from someone in the Save Farscape campaign, who has a husband in the military. SF has been running a series of programs for the last couple of years involving dvd donations to CONUS and overseas military personnel. That and the library donation project were very successful.

Is there some place (website? message board?) I can visit to learn all about the history of “Firefly” and “Serenity” fans?

You can talk to Allyson and Kristen, since they were there.

The woman who planned up the DVDs to the Troops was Susie, and I can't remember her board name.

I can sum up.

Kiba got an email from Kai Cole (Joss' wife) explaining that Firefly was in trouble, and would she help distribute an internet petition to help save it.

Kiba said of course. I emailed Kiba and told her petitions were for chumps. And offered to help if I could.

Kristen got a signed copy of Out of Gas from Tim in the mail with a note, "hope you'll stick with us as long as we're on" or something to that effect.

We got all mama-bearish. Contacted Kiba, told her we were in. Decided on Variety ad and postcard campaign.

Called Chris Buchanan (Mutant Enemy Prez) and said, "we need stuff to ebay to finance campaign. He verily sent stuff. We verily got lots o money.

Encouraged fans to send postcards to FOX. Purchased ad in Variety. Organized nationwide viewing parties. Sent hosts of viewing parties lots of postcards to distribute, along with Nathan Fillion autographed headshot, his gross low-fat bean dip recipe, and a F:IA t-shirt.

Sent press copies of Ariel and asked them to take another look. Sent copies of Variety ad to sponsors saying, "dude, we advertised for you, give us some love and buy more ad time."

Show canceled.

Hooray, it's xmas. We get a tour of Serenity and crew jackets. Yippee.

Sent postcards to SciFi, UPN, wherever Joss was pitching is where we directed postcards.

Fans send us to spa and beautiful flowers. We feel the love and call it quits.