This article might be better titled, “Where For Art Thou, Firefly Ship Works?” Or maybe “Where For Art Thou, QMx?” As some of you have no doubt noted, there have been no updates here at the Ship Works for a week, and that we currently have a “mind our dust” notice on the QMx main site. These two things are related. And, because you Core-Techs are such good friends, I’ll let you in on the reason why – we’re about to launch a brand new store!
Turns out getting a store launched is a lot of work – who knew? (Okay, quiet down all you webby types – yeah, I know you knew.) Actually, the store is done and working great; only reason we haven’t turned it on is there’s one checkbox certificate that needs to be in place that isn’t, and the company that was supposed to turn it on is out until Monday.
And this part is just between us – our shiny new store (and, really, it will be shiny) will be accessible tomorrow. We even have a special surprise just for you Core-Techs when it does go up, so stay tuned to this channel for a special announcement.
Meanwhile, I got a little homework for you all: I’m working up a little essay on the state of the Browncoat community that The Signal will hopefully want to air at some point, as part of their on-going discussion on the subject. It’s my thinking that Firefly/Serenity fandom has matured to where it is an exciting and vibrant entity in it’s own right, even without more original Firefly content from the source (aka, a movie or TV series). Yes, we want more! But it’s my belief that the community has now grown to the point where it’s producing some great original content of its own.
Anyway, that’s my way of seeing things – more official content would be great, deeply desired, and much celebrated when it finally does arrive, but not required for us all to continue being Browncoats and the fan community to stay relevant.
What do you think?
I agree. I mean, even when things are “liscensed” (like from Qmx) they still aren’t made by Joss. Andy that’s okay! I love the stuff everyone’s been coming out with, and I think The Signal is an incredible podcast that shows us that, yes – we are still here. Every time I log on to fireflyfans.net, I see a newcomer, and that makes me happy. Official content is great, but at this point ANYthing is good. And we have great enough numbers, and creative enough people to come out with some pretty cool stuff.
I think it can-the Bellflower fanfilm is being worked on. But it sure wouldn’t hurt to have another movie or something. Actually, I keep thinking they should do a Serenity video game.
Anyways, excited about the new store surprise
Well, as was recently pointed out to me, let’s not forget Done The Impossible, a real, finished fan film of the highest caliber, the upcoming Into The Black and Big Iron, not to mention the audio fanfic on Tales From The ‘Verse, The Signal, etc. There’s some really great stuff out there, and while we all miss seeing the BDH’s performing the lines from The Boss, what we got ain’t half bad at all.
I would love to have a Serenity video game. I was watching that Firefly MMO pretty close, but in all honesty I’d rather have a story based game from Joss.
Anyway, I have been impressed with some of the things that have come out, especially Done The Impossible like you said, but I will always hope for more from Joss. I think the thing that holds us back from having really great fan made content is the worry of being sued by Fox. Sure, they don’t own Serenity, but we’re all still nervous about it.
Well, if *that’s* the only thing holding people back from doing fanfic, they probably shouldn’t worry. I don’t think even FOX would spend the money to go after a fan writing a story or making a little film, as long as they derived no income from it.
And don’t get me wrong, I will continue to hope for more Joss-derived content. And I sure wouldn’t mind at all if Jane Esperson or Tim Minear wanted to take a crack at doing some extended ‘Verse fic in whatever format they chose. That would be most shiny, IMHO
An article is a good idea Andy and The Signal is a perfect place for it. There are a lot of great places for Browncoats to gather, I personally hang out at the UHD forum the most. These communities are growing all the time and we all share a real connection, sense of friendship and almost a feeling of family. Along with the upcoming releases of the Fan Made series, there are the Joss produced comics which will hopefully soon include A Shepard’s Tale. So no, we don’t have a new series or movie but we Browncoats are far from extinct.
jim
Oh, and I am really looking forward to the relaunch of QMx. I love surprises
jim
Fan Films like “Into The Black”, “Big Iron”, and “Bellflower” all come from the heart of fans, and so I think that they will be well received. Of course everyopne would love more stories from Joss, but he has other projects now, and I think to him the story of Serenity is over. That does not mean the story of the entire Verse is over. There are other ships and otyher tales yet to be told.
To all my fellow browncoats;
Do you ever wonder what it’d be like to be stuck on a Core Planet? Try living in a small town in northeast Kansas. So please forgive me, because this is not only a plea for help in finding more of the verse, but also a shout out, a beacon if you will, to all browncoats in my area…lets get something started! And to all you Core Techs out there, Information please? So far, I have only been here because I want a scale model of my favorite Character…Serenity. But now, I want to help spread the signal. As for the Browncoat community, we’re out here, and hopefully in more numbers than you think.
In response to Staples’s comment about fear of lawsuit from FOX, admin wrote:
“Well, if *that’s* the only thing holding people back from doing fanfic, they probably shouldn’t worry. I don’t think even FOX would spend the money to go after a fan writing a story or making a little film, as long as they derived no income from it.”
Lots of Browncoats have written fan fic, because fan fic is one way to expand the ‘Verse and feed our Browncoat need for more Firefly/Serenity. Fear of lawsuit hasn’t kept me from writing it and I earnestly hope that someday FOX/Universal can see it clear to open the ‘Verse to shared-universe anthologies. If Robert Lynn Asprin can do it with “Thieves’ World”, why can’t FOX/Universal do it with Firefly/Serenity? There is a lot of good-quality fan fic out there and people would buy it if it’s an officially licensed product to support the franchise and keep it alive.
As Sean Kennedy (post above) wrote:
“Of course everyopne would love more stories from Joss, but he has other projects now, and I think to him the story of Serenity is over. That does not mean the story of the entire Verse is over. There are other ships and otyher tales yet to be told.”
There are far too many stories for Firefly/Serenity to ever die. So long as there are Browncoats writing and reading, as long as we fans and QMX keep turning out our labors of love, we’ll keep Firefly and Serenity alive. It’s just one of the many things we Browncoats do.
Hey Admin!
send me an email, please…I want to talk to you re: your essay and some doctoral research I’m doing in a similar vein. Maybe we can team up for something in the future, or at least share some sources! Looking forward to hearing from you!
~Sue
I have to disagree. My fear is that FF/S would descend into the cess pool which has become the Star Wars license. I would become embarrassed by my fandom if they had a Firefly-con.Done The Impossible was good, but also got close to Trekkie territory. I like Star Trek, but I do think you can go overboard. It was a great thing, and there comes a time to let it go. I say all of this being a very hardcore fan-as anybody who knows about this website would be.
Although I would like to see more “official” content from Joss (Please) I love all the fan content coming out. Keep it coming. My only disappointment is the lack of Browncoats near my home…
Hi Sue – A doctoral? Gosh, I was just going to spew my ill-considered opinions and unsubstantiated facts in the essay, like I always do! But, heck, I can always afford a little smartinizing
Atom – I have higher hope for FF/S fans; I know exactly what you mean and just don’t believe Browncoats would ever allow the fandom to sink to that level. Also, I have to wonder if some of the less savory elements of the franchises you mentioned might have been driven by their success, rather than their failure: e.g., the Star Wars prequels or Enterprise?
Ron – amen! Now, what can we do to get some more Browncoats in your neck of the woods?
Actually, it’s YOU I want to smartinize (smartify?) ME! No, seriously. Email me. I’m setting up some interviews for this phase of my research, and dearly want to talk to you (and others, but I’ll be contacting them directly soon). C’mon…I don’t bite…ask Adam!
no bites on that cast. i fear i fish a pond long devoid of life.
oh well i’ll keep flying solo i guess