Willow: That's a work ethic! Buffy, you're developing a work ethic! Buffy: Do they make an ointment for that?

'Beneath You'


Buffy 4: Grr. Arrgh.  

This is where we talk about Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No spoilers though?if you post one by accident, an admin will delete it. This thread is NO LONGER NAFDA. Please don't discuss current Angel events here.


Cindy - Jun 12, 2003 6:55:03 am PDT #2566 of 10001
Nobody

A friend, yet another former-Boston, now SoCal Bronzer (and sometimes Buffista lurker - so everyone wave hi to Claris) sent a letter Salon yesterday, about the FOX auction. She said to share it if we felt like it, so...

Dear Amy :

As a Buffy watcher that echoed the "amen" of many a fan when Jaime J. Weinman published her article on Spike ruining Buffy as we knew it, I thought that Salon might be interested in this one. Amongst the online communities that I circulate through, Salon has a decent reputation for being straight shooters, so when this came to my attention, you were the first people I thought of.

Right now, Fox is auctioning off memorabilia from the set of Buffy. Everything from the telephone in the Summers' kitchen to, if you can believe it, the claddaugh ring that caused so much freakin' hullabaloo in the Buffy/Angel romance. (I'm not so much a B/A 'shipper myself, but when I saw that it was not only on e-bay, but up for over $4500 as of today, even I went, "That is wrong on so many levels.")

Now, needless to say, these auctions are bringing in big money. The question is, who's keeping the cash.

In the past, such auctions were for charity. When the Posting Board Parties held live auctions with items donated from the Buffy and Angel sets, the profits from that went to Make-A-Wish. These auctions were known to raise as much as 12k in a four hour period of time, so we're not talking about auctioning off signed napkins here. Wolfram & Hart briefcases, jewelry worn by the female characters, even a stake signed by Sarah Michelle Gellar that was finalized for $2500.00 to the bidder. All to charity.
(www.pbparty.com)

During the fan campaign to save Firefly, several items from the set, including the official press kit, were put online for bidding in order to raise funds to run ads in Variety and cover other expenses. When Firefly was finally cancelled, all the remaining revenue was then donated to charity. This was most likely a contribution of about $500.00 - I'm not entirely sure of the specifics on it.
(http://www.fireflysupport.com/)

When Nicholas Brendon put items online from the set, the profits went to the National Stuttering Foundation. Through his official website (www.nickbrendon.com), he generously donated the hard hat worn in the episode "Pangs" in S.4, along with the hospital bracelet that Xander wore right after he lost his eye this season. I believe that the total for both of those auctions was around $1000.00.

Just by taking a look at today's listings, Fox stands to clear and estimated $20k on the first 12 items listed alone. And the bidding isn't even over for them.

Today's auction listings

Now of course, with all the backing and capital that Fox has, it's going to use this as a way of helping others. I mean, what better way to not only clean house of a show it's not longer producing *and* have a phenomenal PR break. Rather obvious, there. So, to what worthy charity is Fox sending the proceeds of its auction to, one might ask?

Why themselves, of course. Who else?

If you think you're donating to a charity, or that this is going to a good cause - you're wrong. In fact, Fox is citing that they're using the auction to help pay for the Buffy wrap party. And to top it off even more shiningly....how do you know you're getting a one of a kind item? Case in point :

Someone bid for and won Buffy's diploma from high school. Last I heard, it went for around $1200.00. Pretty unique momento, wouldn't you think? One of a kind, none other like it. Except...maybe not.

Take you back to Season 3 - Buffy graduates (okay, she blew up the school too.) The diplomas in that ceremony? The ones that went flying?

EVERY SINGLE ONE had the name "Buffy Summers" on them. The prop master at the time hand-lettered them himself. Fox actually had hundreds of them.

Unique? One of a kind? Not so with the much, I'm afraid. Whoever you are - well, sorry. *shrug* But hey - you put $1200.00 to a good cause. Oh, wait. No, no you didn't. Sorry again.

Now, for most fans, we'd given up on Fox a long time ago. Between delayed DVDs, a soundtrack that took forever to come out, and various other slings & arrows over the years, any online fan of Buffy will hear the name "Fox" and most likely issue a derisive snort in that direction. (And that's if we're being kind.) So when this broke amongst us, we mostly just threw up our hands and thanked Fox for one final slap in the face.

However, it recently came to my attention that at least one cast member of Buffy also thought the profits were going to charity, and was outraged to find out they weren't. Which would lead one to wonder if things were donated & signed because the people giving them thought the profits were going to charity. And wouldn't that be an interesting point to ponder, indeed.

"There is no god today, just the memory of a religion, an empty church whose relics are up for grabs on e-bay. "
- Ogre, online Buffy fan.

Thanks for taking a second to listen
~ Claris
claris@nodignity.com


Griffyn - Jun 12, 2003 7:04:55 am PDT #2567 of 10001
A person's concepts should exceed their vocabulary, or what's a metaphor?

If Claris is lurking, way to go. Thank you for putting all of my revulsion concerning the sutuation into such lovely words.

I really wish I had something to add to that, but I don't except to lend my support to every word beyond the introductory paragraph.


§ ita § - Jun 12, 2003 7:05:34 am PDT #2568 of 10001
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.

golf claps


Aims - Jun 12, 2003 7:06:50 am PDT #2569 of 10001
Shit's all sorts of different now.

Claris, GREAT JOB.

I hope that it gets sent to Fox.


Trudy Booth - Jun 12, 2003 7:08:34 am PDT #2570 of 10001
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart

Griffyn! Good to see you!


Cindy - Jun 12, 2003 7:19:13 am PDT #2571 of 10001
Nobody

I hope that it gets sent to Fox.

Me too. I hope Salon publishes it, too.

Ummmm Aimee - the weddingdressthatcostmorethanyourown... that you mentioned in Bitches, is it the Buffy Vera Wang?


Aims - Jun 12, 2003 7:26:32 am PDT #2572 of 10001
Shit's all sorts of different now.

No. It's Anya's. I want it. I want it bad. It's tacky and I love it.


Sophia Brooks - Jun 12, 2003 7:32:29 am PDT #2573 of 10001
Cats to become a rabbit should gather immediately now here

Does anyone know if they are selling Anya's pj's from OMWF? I know they are selling Xander's.

The thing is, I bet even the costumes have more than one copy-- at least one for actor and one for stunt double. And maybe an extra if it gets torn or whatever.


Consuela - Jun 12, 2003 7:36:55 am PDT #2574 of 10001
We are Buffistas. This isn't our first apocalypse. -- Pix

Excellent letter, Claris. And the sleight of hand regarding Buffy's diploma is particularly heinous. Sheesh.


Frankenbuddha - Jun 12, 2003 7:44:46 am PDT #2575 of 10001
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

Thoroughly excellent letter. However, I sadly think that shame is not high up on the list of Fox network executive personality traits - these are the same people who call Fox News Channel "fair and balanced" with a straight face, after all.