Serenity 'Behind the Scenes' featurette - Firefly&Serenity

This site will work and look better in a browser that supports web standards, but it is accessible to any browser or Internet device.

August 05 2005

Serenity 'Behind the Scenes' featurette. This looks like it would be the promotional trailer that some people saw in movie theaters starting a few days back. It tells the story of how Firefly went from being a cancelled TV show to becoming a major motion picture, and it has clips from Firefly, an interview with Joss, interviews with people from the pre-screenings, and of course clips from the movie itself.

Click on 'Featurette: "An Inside Look"'. Needs Internet Explorer, Flash and Windows Media Player.

Ronald_SF | Firefly&Serenity | 19:41 CET | 56 comments total | tags: documentary, fans, serenity, firefly

Sorry, I see gossi already posted this one... don't know how to remove my post yet...

Ronald_SF | August 05, 19:45 CET

Ditto... This one is a much better description than mine!

gossi | August 05, 19:46 CET

Dang! It says "MSN doesn't support your operating system". Weird. I have a windows media player.

Anyone find anything for Mac?

Willowy | August 05, 19:49 CET

Nathan "Nothing like a major motion picture to make ya feel a little bit better about having your TV show cancelled"

Adam "Redemption"

Oh I love those boys! Thanx for the link Ronald_SF and Gossi!

nixygirl | August 05, 19:49 CET

Oh this is so shiny, I was hoping I would have the chance to see this without actually having to sit through some lame movie (since it is evidently being run with 'Must Love Dogs' and other recent Summer movies). I'll also get to see something new tonight on the Sci-fi channel, I am having a good day!

embers | August 05, 19:57 CET

Dang! It says "MSN doesn't support your operating system".Weird. I have a windows media player. Anyone find anything for Mac?

Microsoft loves to do stuff like this to Mac users.

Shakespeare | August 05, 19:59 CET

Doesn't work on my Mac either. I'm imagining Microsoft wearing blue gloves right now.

Biff Turkle | August 05, 20:04 CET

Can anybody work out how to save the WMV file? It appears they've encrypted the URL with Javascript to stop it being played outside of Windows.

gossi | August 05, 20:10 CET

As glad as I am that I didn't have to sit through a stupid movie to see this, it would have been nice to see audience reactions. Sometimes people watching those things get really into them.

binkaboo | August 05, 20:12 CET

Can anybody work out how to save the WMV file? It appears they've encrypted the URL with Javascript to stop it being played outside of Windows.

>rant on< Isn't that the kind of thing MS does better than anyone else, act like a juvenile? Of course, that hits not just us Mac users but Linux and Unix users, too, I imagine.>/rant off<

I'll have to wait till I get to work to play it.

Drifter | August 05, 20:25 CET

that's what i thought, Drifter. strangely enough, it doesn't work on my work PC either.

injust | August 05, 20:27 CET

Hate Microsoft? It's going to get worse when Vista arrives...

A key part of it is supposed to be encryption and copy protection type stuff.

zz9 | August 05, 20:28 CET

SHINY!!

SillyD | August 05, 20:31 CET

If I could get it to even load for me I could grab it and post a mirror, as I have some tools that would allow that, but it errors out on me :( (yes, even on IE)

zeitgeist | August 05, 20:38 CET

I've got a network sniffer running here to try and grab here, but I'm still getting nowhere. Joy.

gossi | August 05, 20:40 CET

I could only open it in IE. Firefox wouldn't let me. Maybe you Microsoft users should try a different browser?

nixygirl | August 05, 20:54 CET

Not a bad featurette as these official things go. A somewhat cold feeling went down my spine as I thought "Bugger, we've become all corporate".

Simon | August 05, 20:57 CET

Fear the Senior Partners.

gossi | August 05, 20:59 CET

I've got an evil hand.

zeitgeist | August 05, 21:04 CET

Yea, I had that same feeling. When I tried to open it in Firefox, it came up with a screen saying I needed to dload IE and WinMedia, and I honestly got that pit of my stomach erk feeling. Then I watched it, got all shiny and happy when I saw Joss, and the fans but the VO guy gave me that "look at the freaks" feeling when he spoke. I dunno, maybe that's just me and my late night interpretations. Nothing to really give any credence to my ramblings...cause for the most part it totally rocks!

nixygirl | August 05, 21:07 CET

Well I suppose it's finally hit me that the Whedonverse fandom has moved into a new and bigger stage. Bigger and better profile for Joss of course (which is what we want) but at the same time, we in the fandom will be examined in greater and more prolific detail. Going to be odd for a while but we'll get used to it I guess.

Simon | August 05, 21:18 CET

It really depends on the success of the movie, Simon. If it's big (as in, LOTR big - which is unlikely I'd say) then expect to be flooded.

Of course, the big bad world? Kinda fun.

gossi | August 05, 21:23 CET

I was kinda expecting us to hit the big bad world when we entered the Wonder Woman phase, didn't expect it to be one film earlier. Hmmmm. Must revise schedule.

Simon | August 05, 21:28 CET

"The reason we made the decision not to support other browsers or media players is that we simply wanted to build the best integrated user experience possible for video playback, selection and play list editing," Moore said via e-mail. "Supporting other browsers would have limited our ability to offer the unique and compelling set of features that you find in MSN Video because we use unique aspects of all three technologies."

Which is BS for "Hello? We're Microsoft, we don't WANT people to use anything but our bug ridden cr.. and if there's a way to piss off users of alternative software or even exclude, then you can bet your sorry ass we will do just that."

Seriously, there is exactly NO reason not to offer a direct link to the video, instead of hiding it behind annoying scripts that want to tell me what I have and have not installed *grrrrr* But I'll get to that download somehow. There is no way I use IE, activate ActiveX AND and install the latest "let's analyse your viewing habits"-WMP.

Trienco | August 05, 21:34 CET

Well, true. Bigger badder world, then. I can't think why I never became a writer.

gossi | August 05, 21:34 CET

Yea, it's true Simon. I suppose it is a kind of odd thing for such a small (altho fantastic) and cancelled show to do so amazingly; and for a lot of that to be attributed to it's fanbase.
Or more so, it's fan faith base.
We've done our part to spread the word, and are still doing so.

And in a small way, (I know how weird this sounds but...) it's almost like our baby too. It's like something we've cherished and wished for, and watched evolve, is about to (fingers crossed) take over the globe.

Whether it's successful or not, the very fact that it exists, is a new force in film. So, that in itself makes it (and oddly us) interesting.

nixygirl | August 05, 21:35 CET

Specifically those who run/moderate or frequent sites with names like, oh, I dunno, WHEDONESQUE!?!? /grin Cheers, friends, a new day is dawning for our 'verse.

zeitgeist | August 05, 21:40 CET

A great day comrades, we sail into history! ;).

Simon | August 05, 21:45 CET

I vote Whedonesque.com changes it's name to BlueSun.com/corporate-whore-blog.html ;)

gossi | August 05, 21:49 CET

Adding to that "I'm responsible" feeling, I'm in a state of slight panic about the fact that I'm going to be part of a small group of fans to see the film next Wednesday with a large chunk of the British Press.

I keep getting these "Oh my God, what if they review the fans, instead of the movie" feelings...there's nothing for it, I'm just going to have to hold Gossi's hand.

Anyone wish to give me some advice on impressing the UK Press? So far I've had "dress as a cheerleader" and "show some cleaveage", whereas my plan A was to go for "act normal"!

bubblecat | August 05, 21:51 CET

Microsoft == Blue Sun == Blue Gloves of EVIL.

I am so glad I'm not the only disgruntled Browncoat. It is NO coincidence that there is a higher proportion of Firefox, Mac OS X, and Linux users among Browncoats than among the general population. NOT a coincidence.

Anyone who manages to make this available to those of us who don't have Alliance technology will be a BIG DAMN HERO.

chickenbird | August 05, 21:53 CET

Ha! Gossi, you funny! So we've had two name change suggestions today. I didn't mind the 'Welcome to the Love Spa' one thezeppo suggested either.

And yep Simon, we surely do. In a few months stories are going to be clicking down that board so quickly it'll be mayhem.

*sigh*
I want him to succeed, I want him to succeed /inner chant.

nixygirl | August 05, 21:57 CET

32 comments and no sign of a Mac-viewable version yet, huh?

@theonetruebix | August 05, 22:03 CET

Hey... when the movie is about to come out and the media blitz is upon us, how will we follow everything on Whedonesque? I hate having to click 'Archives' to see links I missed from just a day ago. Is there a way to make it so that all the posts from the previous 2 days (or even 1 day) are visible on the front page?

Ronald_SF | August 05, 22:05 CET

I tried getting a working 'non-MSN' version but failed. It's DRM protected and everything.

gossi | August 05, 22:14 CET

I tried getting a working 'non-MSN' version but failed. It's DRM protected and everything.

And all for a lousy quality video, sandwiched between an ad and a Dukes of Hazzard promo, which I really didn't want to watch, and which took over my whole computer to the point that I really couldn't break out of with anything less than the three-finger salute.

Rather than bash MS, I'll just consult Occam's Razor, and note that it's no worse than what I've been treated to with video from a lot of major media. Gorram arrogant media designer, that's the Big Damn Problem.

MissKittysMom | August 05, 22:24 CET

Well, in unrelated news, "Serenity Sneak Peak" has been BitTorrented. Thankfully it turns out it's NOT the movie (relax...), but the Best Buy DVD preview.

gossi | August 05, 22:27 CET

I vote Whedonesque.com changes it's name to BlueSun.com/corporate-whore-blog.html ;)

Dammit, gossi, don't give me ideas...

Caroline | August 05, 22:36 CET

DID YOU SEE THE COLOR OF JOSS's JACKET? or should I say coat?

Chirp | August 05, 22:57 CET

I like the swirly newspaper montage—very stop-the-press-golden-age-of-Hollywood. Most of all I love the snippet of Joss saying “Action!” as he directs his first motion picture. Yay!

There is that little twinge of protectiveness battling against wanting all things Joss to have a bigger audience. I want Serenity to do well. Extremely well, in fact, but not so much that Serenity II and III are used to sell cereal or happy meals. This film is so much more than entertainment or a flavor of the month sci-fi flick to a lot of people. I can’t think of it as a product a studio is trying to sell to the masses. We’ll share, just be open to new or different sensibilities and treat it with respect. As for increased scrutiny of the fans, I think we can take it. We are mighty, after all.

bloodflowers | August 05, 23:05 CET

Did y'all note that in this feature we're "legions of fans" now instead of a cult, and that the series was "mysteriously cancelled". Shiny!

Hasufel | August 05, 23:08 CET

Oh I want to see this! And I can't - not even on my officially approved at work high speed IE. No chance at home with my Opera/Firefox dial up. sigh.

Lioness | August 05, 23:13 CET

Same here, Lioness...just won't work for me for some reason even though it should.

m'cookies actual | August 05, 23:17 CET

Try this link:

http://video.msn.com/video/p.htm?t=1&p=Entertainment_Movies&i=4a4d6484-7cf3-424b-9e3f-64e9660b5c9c&rf=

You will need various unfirewalled ports and stuff, so if you're at work it might well not work.

I'm going to ask for a raw version to put online as quite frank: MSN are poop.

gossi | August 05, 23:25 CET

I can't see it at work because of all the security, and I have a Mac at home, so it'll be a long time before I see it.

Personally, I wouldn't mind if Serenity got to be big enough to sell breakfast food or anything else as long as Joss retained control. I have faith he would use the power that kind of success would bring to deliver more of his vision rather getting lost in wooing the lowest common denominator.

Actually, for a while now, everything in me has screamed that this movie is going to be VERY BIG but I have been controlling myself, not saying it out loud and saying to myself "You never can tell about these things." over and over.

Bottom line: Simon, revise your timeline...I think we might need a bigger boat.

[ edited by newcj on 2005-08-05 21:57 ]

newcj | August 05, 23:29 CET

"Well, in unrelated news, "Serenity Sneak Peak" has been BitTorrented. Thankfully it turns out it's NOT the movie (relax...), but the Best Buy DVD preview."

Gossi is there any number to call Universal in case the movie DOES go on bit torrent come september? We really can't afford people watching a badly filmed bootleg and then trashing the movie to their friends and losing ticket sales. If I ever saw anyone watching a stolen copy of the film then I would gladly rat them out.

eddy | August 06, 00:08 CET

Gossi is there any number to call Universal in case the movie DOES go on bit torrent come september? We really can't afford people watching a badly filmed bootleg and then trashing the movie to their friends and losing ticket sales. If I ever saw anyone watching a stolen copy of the film then I would gladly rat them out.

Yeah, sure... and is there a number to call Universal because some schmuck is putting promo under a non-free format (not "non-free" in the sense "costing money", but "non-free" in software sense)?

Quite angry right now...

Le Comité | August 06, 00:33 CET

Microsoft == Blue Sun == Blue Gloves of EVIL.

Back before the show got cancelled, when we were trying to think of ways to raise its profile and make it more profitable for the network, we did have a product placement idea. The Alliance could be "Powered by Microsoft."

I thought it would have been hilarious to see an Alliance computer screen with the little Windows logo on it.

ETA: I should say by "we" I mean me and Allyson.

[ edited by TimMinearNet on 2005-08-05 22:39 ]

Kristen R | August 06, 00:35 CET

Na, it wouldn't have worked. How can you imagine that Mal could have been beaten by an Alliance with a mainframe running on Windows? ;)

Le Comité | August 06, 01:28 CET

I thought it would have been hilarious to see an Alliance computer screen with the little Windows logo on it.

Blue Sun Screen of Death?

Simon | August 06, 01:30 CET

lol, nice one Simon.

You could've had the hands of blue guys having to reboot their death sticks :)

Paul_Rocks | August 06, 01:37 CET

Those of y'all that have Mozilla or Firefox and are running Windows. You can load the video from explorer. Just open up explorer and then type in the address and load the video from there.

I got the same error message when I loaded from Mozilla, then I loaded it in explorer and it worked fine. Very shiny video!

foreverwes | August 06, 05:12 CET

You said it MKMom. The video quality was lousy. Watched it on my work machine, which has fairly free access (I installed FireFox even though it's "not supported" by corporate IT dept.)

But the production values were first rate. Really good promo for Firefly/Serenity fandom. Everyone actually came across well, including that very pretty (read: intelligent and engaging) blonde in black near the end of the fan interviews. Must be a Whedonesqueteer. Yup.

Drifter | August 06, 06:25 CET

Blue Sun Screen of Death?

You know, after THAT I start to be fairly sure it wasn't a blooper when the trash bin in Trash had Windows on its screen (looked a tad like the hardware wizard that pops up when you plug in something new). I always wanted to see this as a little statement as to where Windows belongs *cough*

Trienco | August 06, 09:55 CET

Those of y'all that have Mozilla or Firefox and are running Windows. You can load the video from explorer. Just open up explorer and then type in the address and load the video from there.

And for those of us who do not have windows (and thus no IE), can you give the direct url of the video? Thx.

Le Comité | August 06, 16:16 CET

can you give the direct url of the video?

Not sure if there is any player that supports that DRM stuff anyway, so even getting the video would require WMP to play it. See, in the wonderful world of MS, encoding and encrypting everything to make it impossible to get the URL and then protecting the video against evil pirates -which just happens to enforce the newest WMP as player- is an absolute necessicity to offer all those cool features. Of course in everybody elses world that is just utter BS.

Seriously, they drag them to court over packaging a video player with Windows, but nobody cares about THIS? They should be sued to hell and back at least twice a month with their business practices.

Trienco | August 06, 17:50 CET

You need to log in to be able to post comments.
About membership.

« Older MSN's Hotlist addresses Serenity f... | Big academic blogger gives Serenit... Newer »