A Re-run Hell Look at the Un-aired Pilot ("Serenity" Spoilers)
Zombie Elvis
Spoilers for the un-aired pilot "Serenity"
Rather than reward Fox for pre-empting Firefly for two weeks, I
decided to download and watch the as yet un-aired Firefly pilot off
the Kazaa network. I must note that we have no idea how much it will
change by the time it finally airs in December but it's an intriguing
introduction to the series although I can never be sure how I would
have reacted to it if it had aired first. I do know that I liked what
I saw better than "The Train Job," Firefly's second pilot.
It opens with a simple text narration. The narrator has a *strong*
southern accent that would be very comfortable in Ken Burns'
documentary on the Civil War or coming from the mouth of a southern
gentleman in virtually any movie set in that period. This sets the
pace of this show as a story told from the point of view of the losers
in a war of "independence" which history records as a civil war. It
also states outright that the Alliance is spreading its control
throughout the galaxy -- there is no system vs. galaxy ambiguity here
as in the opening narration to later episodes.
The show itself opens with the sight of Mal, Jayne, and Zoe breaking
into a space ship from the outside. We get some nice zero-g effects as
they break in while Wash plays with toy dinosaurs back on the ship
until an alarm sounds. Kaylee rushes to the engine room to shut down
all of Serenity's systems.
A nearby Alliance cruiser observes the ship that they are breaking
into but note that it was "lost with all hands" a few weeks ago. They
deem it unimportant and prepare to move on but a strange sensor
reading prompts them to move in for a closer look. An alert crewman
spots men in space suits moving cargo off the abandoned freighter.
Serenity detaches from the freighter. Her big main engine lights up
and metal vanes spread out to reveal the ship's bright bulbous engine
-- just like with a firefly which not coincidentally is the class of
ship to which Serenity belongs. The engine shines brightly and gives
off a trail of bright green exhaust as the ship moves away from the
camera. Jayne compares the maneuver to "mooning" the Alliance cruiser.
"They wouldn't blame me. I'm just the pilot. I could always say I was
flying the ship by accident."
-- Wash on his role in the heist
Jayne is worried about the cargo and heads for Persephone to contact
Badger whom we saw for the first time in "Shindig" thanks to the
broadcasting geniuses at the Fox network. Zoe feels that Mal is more
worried about the cargo than he is letting on. Wash suggests flying
off someplace after the job is done. They can get some "real" food,
Zoe can bathe, Wash can watch her bathe. But they need Mal's
permission first -- after all Mal is the captain and Wash is just the
husband.
Inara is off working. Her client is quite smitten by her and begins to
suggest that she stay with him but he loses his nerve and trails off.
He leaves and Inara walks out of her bedroom with its exotic decor to
reveal the cockpit of her shuttle. She confirms Serenity's location
with Wash and flys off. It's a very cool looking scene as Inara's
shuttle joins a half dozen or so tiny ships that are buzzing around
Persephone's futuristic skyscrapers.
In stark contrast to the skyscrapers is Persephone's Eavesdown Docks
which are reminiscent of an open-air market in a 20th century third
world country. Serenity lands as Kaylee wants to buy a new compression
coil for the ship's engine while Mal wants her to find passengers. Mal
goes to see Badger who is looking over a new slave -- he checks her
teeth and sends her on her way. He claims that they are late which
alerts Mal that he is trying to put them on the defensive. This is a
signal that something has gone wrong and Mal wants to know what it is.
Badger shows Mal a bulletin about a rogue vessel -- firefly class --
seen conducting an illegal salvage operation. The Alliance stamps
"every molecule" of its cargo and Badger no longer wants anything to
do with the goods he hired Mal to steal. Jayne gets angry and Badger's
hired thugs pull out their weapons.
We get a small recap of Mal's history as a sargent in the war from
Badger. Badger says he's still a sargent in his own mind -- "a man of
honor in a den of thieves" -- he calls him. He doesn't like being
looked down on by Mal, Badger feels that as a "respected businessman"
he should be the one looking down on him. Mal leaves angrily.
Book appears for the first time looking over the ships at the docks.
Serenity's horse headed cockpit catches his eye. Kaylee notes this and
assures him that her ship is the nicest. Book is clearly familiar with
ships and even notes a modification in Serenity compared to other
firefly class ships. Kaylee asks if he can pay. Book notes that he has
a little cash and opens up a small box. Kaylee practically swoons over
its contents. These are later revealed to be fresh strawberry's. The
scarcity of fresh food beyond pre-packaged rations is a recurring
theme in the pilot and comes up quite a bit later on during the
series.
"I don't understand why we didn't leave that sonovabitch in a pool of
a his own blood."
"We'd get paid. Can't get paid if you're dead."
-- Jayne and Mal
Jayne does some math and notes that his share of the job is currently
"nothing." Mal also notes that unless they get paid, they won't have
enough money to fuel their ship. He suggests turning to a woman named
"Patience." Zoe notes that Patience shot him once. They go through
their list of alternate buyers and come up short of alternate buyers.
Patience it is -- besides her moon, Whitefall is the closest and
safest.
Reaching his ship Mal meets Simon Tam. Simon is elegantly dressed and
debonair. He also has a huge crate with him that he wants treated with
care. Inara arrives in her shuttle and docks with Serenity. Meanwhile
Simon stands over his huge crate looking suspicious.
Mal introduces the passengers to the dining area. Viewers will note a
suspicious looking man next to Book. We know he's suspicious because
it's the pilot episode and this man doesn't appear in subsequent
episodes -- thanks a lot Fox! But in all fairness Fox, this particular
actor (Carlos Jacot of She Spies and numerous bit parts in other genre
shows) always plays a bad guy in Mutant Enemy shows like Buffy the
Vampire Slayer and Angel. There is some small tension between Mal and
Book. Mal tells the passengers that the Alliance has ordered them to
drop off medical supplies on a nearby moon so their arrival at their
current destination (Boros) will be delayed by a day.
Inara shows up and Mal calls her "ambassador." Book takes this
literally, causing Mal to chuckle. He informs Book that she's really a
"whore" and generally makes an ass of himself -- perhaps one reason
why the pilot was delayed. But he explains that Inara is like an
ambassador for them because most planets won't even let them dock
without someone "respectable" -- like a registered companion on board.
"So does it happen a lot, the government commandeering your ship?"
"That's what governments are for, getting in a man's way."
-- Simon and Mal.
At dinner, Books fruits, spices, and vegetables are a hit. But Mal is
still rude to him. Simon is concerned about their detour. The third
passenger hears that a lot of the border moons are in bad shape. Zoe
and Mal explain that like the central planets, the border moons (it
appears that Firefly is using the words "planet" and "moon"
interchangeably at this point -- if a planet is important they call it
a planet, if a planet is not important, they call it a moon -- this is
an interesting semantic point which should be noted for future
reference) have been terraformed but "once they're terraformed,
they'll dump settlers on there with nothing but blankets, hatchets.
Some will make it, some won't." This is a very important point which
explains the primitive lifestyle and lack of technology that is seen
in series. Kaylee and Simon like each other which leads to some crude
jokes by Jayne. Mal banishes him from the dinner table and jokes that
his job on the ship is "public relations."
Book walks into Inara's shuttle. She thinks it is to explain the
"wickedness" of her ways to her. But he is there to apologize. But he
does like her use of the word "terpitude." She lets him know that she
has a strict policy of not sleeping with passengers or crew. He
explains that while he doesn't approve of her business, it is at least
legal. He suspects that is the only business on this boat that is
legal.
Wash detects a signal sent out to the Alliance and alerts Mal -- they
have a mole onboard. He finds Simon in the cargo bay and suspects that
he is the mole. He punches him and pulls out his gun. Book arrives and
tells him that he has the wrong man. Mal turns around and sees the
still nameless third passenger pointing a gun at them. Mal assumes
he's here to arrest him and puts his hands up. But he arrests Simon
instead. Mal asks if there is a reward.
The lawman doesn't believe Mal's story about ferrying medical supplies
and wants to arrest him. Book tries to reason with him but he is not
in the mood. Kaylee barges in and the nervous lawman shoots her in the
gut. Book grabs the lawman's gun and punches him out rather easily --
he's very tough for a man of the cloth. But he refuses to let Jayne
near the man. Jayne pulls a gun on him and Zoe pulls a gun on Jayne
telling him to just tie the man up. As Simon tends to Kaylee a cruiser
hails them and tells them to deliver Simon to them. Simon tells them
to change course or he'll let Kaylee die. It's a tense minute until
Mal tells Zoe to change course.
They get Kaylee into the infirmary. It's interesting to note at this
point that Mal tells Simon that he has a "laser saw" on board. It's
interesting how they do have some advanced technology on the ship but
they still use good old slug throwing guns as weapons. Simon operates
and gets the bullet out. With the immediate crisis averted Mal decides
to get some answers.
While Jayne holds Simon back, Mal opens his huge crate. When the mist
clears away, a nude female form -- lying in a fetal position is
revealed. Mal immediately assumes the worst. He thinks Simon is a
slaver or worse. But girl wakes up and is screaming and scrambling
about. Simon runs to her and calms her down. He explains that the girl
is his sister.
He also explains that he is "very smart" and gives a brief rundown
about how quickly he went through medical school to explain just how
smart his sister River is -- she makes him look like a moron. A
government sponsored academy presented their family with a very
exciting program and they sent her there. But all was not well. They
began to receive strange letters. Simon realized that they were in a
code -- that they (Simon uses the word "us" here, presumably there are
more kids like River out there) were being hurt at the academy. He
managed to get her out with the help of some men who got them to
Persephone.
Mal is angry over this because the Alliance is going to come after
them now. Mal makes things very simple for Simon -- if Kaylee survives
they can get off at Whitefall, if she doesn't they get off sooner,
i.e. they get spaced. There is a lot of debate, Jayne also wants to
kill the federal officer and a large argument ensues. Mal makes it
clear that he's in charge and he alone gets to say who lives and who
dies but he's clearly leaning in Jayne's direction.
Book prays over Kaylee and talks to Simon. Simon picked the ship
because it looked "disreputable." Book takes note of the ship's name,
"Serenity." He suggests that he should "get the lay of the land" and
some "psychological insight." Simon takes a look at an encyclopedia.
This "book" opens up and has a view screen on the right side and data
rods on the left side. The book's narrator has a crisp british accent
and explains that the "Battle of Serenity" was among the most
"devastating and decisive" of the war. The independents held it for
two months against superior Alliance forces. Zoe hears the book and
tells Simon, "we're not in there." She explains that nearly half a
million people were killed in that battle, "a third of them
'winners'." Mal was her sargent in command of "thirty-odd grunts." But
so many officers were killed that Mal was soon in command of 2,000
troops. He kept him together but only about 400 survived. After the
fighting was over both sides left the survivors in that valley and
many of them kept dying. This was why Mal named his ship after the
battle because, "once you've been in Serenity, you never leave. You
just learn to live there."
"If they take the ship, they'll rape us to death, eat our skin, and
sow it into their clothing. And if we're very, very lucky, they'll do
it in that order."
-- Zoe on the Reavers
Wash encounters another vessel -- a very old vessel, without "core
containment." This is "suicide" according to Wash. Mal realizes that
the ship is full of "Reavers." Reavers are mentioned earlier on in the
episode as having a attacked the settlement of one of Mal's potential
buyers whom she assures Zoe is now dead. He gets on the intercom and
makes an announcement to the passengers and crew. A Reaver raiding
party is passing them and may or may not attack their ship. Everybody
is scared but the Reavers don't change course, the ship is safe.
Mal and Jayne interrogate the fed. Jayne pulls a knife and Mal walks
out. He enjoys waving his knife around as he asks the fed what he told
his people about them. The fed, Lawrence, tells Jayne they know
everything but his face betrays him, they don't know a thing. Jayne is
very disappointed at Lawrence's inability to lie. Lawrence tells Jayne
that there is a reward waiting for him if he turns on Mal and delivers
the girl to the feds. River that important to the Alliance.
Kaylee regains consciousness and talks to Mal. She is now even more
fond of Simon and tells Mal that "you've just gotta have faith in
people." Inara gives Simon some medical supplies from her companion
kit and tells him that they are all very fond of Kaylee. Mal walks in
and Inara teases that she "gave the boy a free thrust since he's not
long for this world." Mal is still angry at Simon, everyone on the
ship could be killed because of the fed. He tells Simon that Kaylee is
dead. Simon runs to the infirmary and concludes that Mal is psychotic
when he sees that she isn't. Wash, Jayne, and Zoe agree with this
assessment after they finish laughing.
Mal will only admit to being a "bad man." Mal talks to Patience and
offers her the cargo. She's not bothered by the fact that the Alliance
have tagged it. She actually seems to appreciate Mal's honesty -- not
to mention the steep discount he is offering for the cargo. Mal
realizes that she is planning to shoot him again. Jayne suggests that
they try shooting her this time. Wash notes that "it's her turn." Mal
decides to risk it anyway. Meanwhile Lawrence is working on freeing
himself.
Serenity lands on Whitefall. As she and Mal walk, Zoe notes that this
is a "nice place for an ambush." Mal gets the lay of the land as Jayne
"tests" their transmitters. Jayne takes a position on a high ridge
above the town. They hope that he can take out Patience's snipers
before they can take out Mal and Zoe.
Patience shows up with a heavily armed party. Jayne takes out one
sniper and assumes his position. Mal tosses her a gold bar. Taking off
the golden wrapper, reveals it to a be bar of food stuffs. "One of
those will feed a family for a month, longer if they don't like their
kids too well." Patience tosses him a bag of money and asks for the
rest. Mal tells her to turn around and ride away first. Patience makes
it clear that she's not letting him leave alive.
Mal notes that Patience's best shooter has a nice hat -- just before
Jayne shoots him in the head from his sniper's nest. Mal and Zoe open
fire. and immediately take out three men. Patience shoots Zoe in the
chest and she falls. Jayne shoots more men from his sniper's nest and
Mal pick off a few more. Zoe rises from her position to shoot another
man and complains that her armor is dented. Patience is alone now
alone. Mal shoots her horse and it collapses on top of her. She's
pinned under it -- helpless. Mal tells her he expects to get paid when
he does a job and takes her money. Jayne rushes down to tell Mal that
there is another ship coming. The Reavers followed them.
Meanwhile back on Serenity, Book goes to warn Lawrence that he's in
danger and promptly gets knocked out by the federal officer who has
finally freed himself. He tries to send another signal but his device
is jammed. He pulls a gun. River gets out of bed and asks for Simon.
Lawrence grabs her and prepares to leave. Simon and Wash are up in the
cockpit unaware of what is going on below. Wash explains that he
always worries about Zoe when she is out on a deal Kaylee signals that
Lawrence has taken River.
But a second signal pulls Wash's attention away. It's the Reavers,
their ship is shown entering the atmosphere. Simon attacks Lawrence
and pulls a gun on him when Wash announces the incoming Reaver ship.
Mal, Zoe, and Jayne ride back to the ship on Patience's horses. Their
sound distracts Simon and allows Lawrence to retrieve his own gun
which he promptly puts to River's head. He barely has time to threaten
to kill her when Mal shoots him dead. Mal and Jayne toss his body out
of the ship and they take off.
But the Reavers are in hot pursuit. Wash needs Kaylee in the engine
room. Mal tells Inara to get all the "civilians" into her shuttle and
prepare to take off if they're boarded. The Reaver ship belches smoke
like Al Gore's worst nightmare as it continues to follow Serenity.
Jayne carries Kaylee to the engine room and Book decides to help. Both
ships are slicing through the clouds as Mal notes that the Reaver ship
is trying to "lock us down." Kaylee is still groggy but she gives Book
and Jayne instructions on how to set up a "full burn." Mal suggests
that they try a "Crazy Ivan." Kaylee points a control box to Jayne and
assures him that the procedure is "real simple." Jayne is shocked by
her definition of "simple."
Wash tells the crew to "hold on to something." He reverses thrust on
the maneuvering engines one at a time to turn the ship around and
gives Kaylee the signal. Serenity's main engine spew out a veritable
fireball of thrust as it rushes out of the planet's atmosphere. Jayne
whoops it up while Kaylee purrs at the engine and beams with a
mother's pride over it. Zoe asks Mal to take the helm as she needs
Wash to "tear all my clothes off." "Work, work, work," replies Wash as
Zoe drags him out by the collar.
"I've been out of the abbey two days. I've beaten a lawman senseless.
Fallen in with criminals. I've watched the captain shoot the man I
swore to protect. I'm not even sure if I think it was wrong."
-- Book
On Inara's shuttle, Book is feeling overwhelmed. Did he pick the wrong
ship? Or is he exactly where he ought to be.
Simon promises River that they'll find a safe place.
Jayne tells Mal that River is a problem. She's special and the
Alliance will keep looking for her. They're best off getting rid of
her and her brother. Mal realizes that the lawman tried to make a deal
with Jayne and asks him why he didn't turn on him. Jayne says the
money wasn't good enough. Mal asks what happens when it is good
enough. "That'll be an interesting day," is Jayne's only reply.
Simon asks where Mal plans to dump them. Mal says that's up to him but
that he would be safer on the move. He tells Simon he needs a medic.
He'll have to live by his rules and keep his sister under control.
Simon asks how he can know that Mal won't kill him in his sleep. Mal
makes it very clear to him, "if I ever kill you, you'll be facing me,
and you'll be armed."
--
Roberto Castillo
cast...@enteract.com
http://www.enteract.com/~castillo
Dustin
I am not saying I have never downloaded things or anything like that but
announcing in a public newsgroup that you have an illegal version of a
licensed show before it has been aired publicly is probably not the best
thing to do.
Again please do not take this as a threat or anything like that. I love
getting the jump on the rest of the viewing public too I am just letting you
know that you probably should not announce it here. I doubt anyone from the
show even comes to this ng so I am sure you are safe. I am just saying I
would be more careful.
ToolPackinMama
>
> Spoilers for the un-aired pilot "Serenity"
Thanks. I'll add that to your other ep summaries.
Laura
ToolPackinMama
> I doubt anyone from the show even comes to this ng
Why wouldn't they? It's a public NG, open to all. If I produced a TV
show, I'd be reading the NG about it. Wouldn't you? How could they
ignore such a fabulous resource that is 100% free and uncensored? Don't
be naive. Of course they read here. Some involved with the show might
even post here now and then, perhaps with a pseudonym. Why not?
Nobody in the entertainment industry is ignorant about pirate/wild
copies being exchanged on the net. They also know about Santa and the
Easter Bunny being unreal. It's not like anybody here is going to
suddenly enlighten them about stuff like that.
Wouter Valentijn
"Zombie Elvis" <DELETE-ME-2-R...@enteract.com> schreef in bericht
news:n0dutugno2sn6qgmg...@4ax.com...
>
> Spoilers for the un-aired pilot "Serenity"
>
>
>
>
>
>
Thanks!
That was very interesting.
--
Wouter Valentijn
Delete 'NOT' in e-mail address.
David B.
>
> Spoilers for the un-aired pilot "Serenity"
>
> Rather than reward Fox for pre-empting Firefly for two weeks, I
> decided to download and watch the as yet un-aired Firefly pilot off
> the Kazaa network. I must note that we have no idea how much it will
> change by the time it finally airs in December but it's an intriguing
Damn, they should've aired that first. It's more sci-fi than the episode
Fox went with to open the series. I think that The Train Job was too
Westerny and that turned people off.
Dan Milburn
> Ummmm,
>
> I am not saying I have never downloaded things or anything like that but
> announcing in a public newsgroup that you have an illegal version of a
> licensed show before it has been aired publicly is probably not the best
> thing to do.
I doubt they'd care. If they did, it'd probably be a better bet to go
after the people who *post* the episodes in alt.binaries.multimedia.scifi.
Which, being in England, is where I download my episodes from.
Dan
Dan Milburn
> Dustin wrote:
>
>> I doubt anyone from the show even comes to this ng
>
> Why wouldn't they? It's a public NG, open to all. If I produced a TV
> show, I'd be reading the NG about it. Wouldn't you? How could they
> ignore such a fabulous resource that is 100% free and uncensored? Don't
> be naive. Of course they read here. Some involved with the show might
> even post here now and then, perhaps with a pseudonym. Why not?
Tim Minear reads and occasionally posts on the 'Angel' newsgroups. I'm
kinda surprised he hasn't shown up here yet. Probably too busy at the
moment. :)
Dan
Zombie Elvis
A lot of this depends on who "they" are. I'm sure that Fox doesn't
like to hear about people downloading episodes of their shows. Joss
Whedon on the other hand has admitted to getting a vicarious thrill
when two episodes of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer which were shelved by
the WB for months in the wake of the Columbine shootings were heavily
pirated by fans who didn't want to wait until the WB was done covering
their ass to see these episodes.
As for binary newsgroups, it's simply much more difficult to go after
Usenet than it is to go after a "peer to peer" service like Napster
which has centralized servers run by a company which can be sued out
of existence. "True" P2P services like GNutella or Kazaa are somewhere
in between these two extremes. On the one hand, there is no central
server to shut down. On the other hand, there are usually a few key
users with enormous content libraries that the companies can go after
and make an example of. In any case, it's usually not worth the effort
for companies to go after individual users.
--
Does this .sig make my butt look big?
Karen Marie
>
> Spoilers for the un-aired pilot "Serenity"
>
> Rather than reward Fox for pre-empting Firefly for two weeks, I
> decided to download and watch the as yet un-aired Firefly pilot off
> the Kazaa network. I must note that we have no idea how much it will
> change by the time it finally airs in December but it's an intriguing
> introduction to the series although I can never be sure how I would
> have reacted to it if it had aired first. I do know that I liked what
> I saw better than "The Train Job," Firefly's second pilot.
<snip>
You are a delicious man, ZE <G>.
Thank you; thankyouthankyouthankyou.
--
******************************************
Karen:)
Fangrrl #1
KM Cookie Inc.
APWW HOF 2001
ICQ# 62834295
MSN Messenger
Capricorn, YOTRooster
--------------------------------------------------------------------
You don't fuck around with the infinite -- *Mean Streets*
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan Milburn
> Dan Milburn wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 23 Nov 2002 17:40:24 +0000, Dustin wrote:
>>
>> > Ummmm,
>> >
>> > I am not saying I have never downloaded things or anything like that
>> > but
>> > announcing in a public newsgroup that you have an illegal version of
>> > a
>> > licensed show before it has been aired publicly is probably not the
>> > best
>> > thing to do.
>>
>> I doubt they'd care. If they did, it'd probably be a better bet to go
>> after the people who *post* the episodes in
>> alt.binaries.multimedia.scifi.
>> Which, being in England, is where I download my episodes from.
>>
> A lot of this depends on who "they" are. I'm sure that Fox doesn't like
> to hear about people downloading episodes of their shows. Joss Whedon on
> the other hand has admitted to getting a vicarious thrill when two
> episodes of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer which were shelved by the WB for
> months in the wake of the Columbine shootings were heavily pirated by
> fans who didn't want to wait until the WB was done covering their ass to
> see these episodes.
And he probably wouldn't mind me, who has no legitimate way to watch the
show as yet, downloading 'Firefly'. Of course, if/when it makes it to the
UK, I'll probably watch it on TV, and buy any DVDs that come out, but,
well, none of this makes it any less illegal.
> As for binary newsgroups, it's simply much more difficult to go after
> Usenet than it is to go after a "peer to peer" service like Napster
> which has centralized servers run by a company which can be sued out of
> existence.
Which was kinda my point. If they can't or don't go after the people who
post to the binary groups, there's really no point in worrying about
merely mentioning having illegally downloaded episodes here.
Dan
AstroNerdBoy
>
> Rather than reward Fox for pre-empting Firefly for two weeks, I
> decided to download and watch the as yet un-aired Firefly pilot off
> the Kazaa network. I must note that we have no idea how much it will
> change by the time it finally airs in December but it's an intriguing
> introduction to the series although I can never be sure how I would
> have reacted to it if it had aired first. I do know that I liked what
> I saw better than "The Train Job," Firefly's second pilot.
>
<snipped>
That's funny because as soon as I knew "Firefly" was going into
reruns, I went to WinMX and got both parts (poor quality, but
watchable). As a pilot episode, it's not bad at all (IMO). I was
ticked when Fox had aired all of these teasers about the pilot, then
didn't show it. Smeg heads! I just hope Fox doesn't axe the show.
As for the P2P issue, well I view it as a way for the consumer to get
what they want. I don't know why Fox refused to air the pilot (I'll
have to search and find out), but I wanted to see it and I've been
able to see it. AND I'm sharing it with those who want to see it as
well. Should it ever come out on DVD, I'm pretty sure I'll pick it
up. After all, no matter what video flicks I have on my HD, it (at
present) will never beat my sitting in my comfy chair watching those
same flicks on my TV.
-Earl
GeeTeeExx
wrote:
I still don't get why networks don't just make high-quality copies of
their shows available for download at a price. From the healthy sales
of DVD-versions of television series it seems that a lot of folks
would be willing to do the same. If they don't like the file-sharing
bonanza then the best way to beat it is to join in, do it better and
charge a reasonable fee. I'd buy and d/l.
Launce Haught
>I still don't get why networks don't just make high-quality copies of
>their shows available for download at a price. From the healthy sales
>of DVD-versions of television series it seems that a lot of folks
>would be willing to do the same. If they don't like the file-sharing
>bonanza then the best way to beat it is to join in, do it better and
>charge a reasonable fee. I'd buy and d/l.
>
>
If you are actually interested in the print side of the coin, go to
http://www.baen.com/library/ and take a look what author Eric Flint has
to say on the subject...
It is a different marketplace, but it does go to show that if they made
work available it would be beneficial.
--L
Feek O'Hanrahan
> I still don't get why networks don't just make high-quality copies of
> their shows available for download at a price. From the healthy sales
> of DVD-versions of television series it seems that a lot of folks
> would be willing to do the same. If they don't like the file-sharing
> bonanza then the best way to beat it is to join in, do it better and
> charge a reasonable fee. I'd buy and d/l.
I'd buy, too. My way of thinking is, I'll download and watch something on my
computer, but I'd *much* rather watch it on the TV (especially with all the
neat-o goodies you get with a DVD).
GeeTeeExx
wrote:
Thanks for the link. It was nice reading something by someone with
sense and a level head. He really put the whole situation into
perspective and I think the link should be forwarded to the entire
staff of both the MPAA and the RIAA. If they'd wake up from their
fits for a minute, they could change the face of entertainment and
likely increase profits for studios, elevate their public image
(wouldn't take much) and generally create happier consumers.
What a concept...
GeeTeeExx
Yep, and if you check out the link Launce provided in his response to
my first message, you'll see that providing the first issue/episode in
a series and then charging for the rest is an excellent idea. I'd
still buy the DVDs since the quality's better, it's ready to view on
my TV (although the TV out on my vid card allows that, too) and comes
with (usually) fun and interesting extras.
Peter Hanson
says...
> I'd buy, too. My way of thinking is, I'll download and watch something on my
> computer, but I'd *much* rather watch it on the TV (especially with all the
> neat-o goodies you get with a DVD).
Your DVD can probably play VCD's (not that i'm suggesting anything :)
Launce Haught
>>If you are actually interested in the print side of the coin, go to
>>http://www.baen.com/library/ and take a look what author Eric Flint has
>>to say on the subject...
>>
>>It is a different marketplace, but it does go to show that if they made
>>work available it would be beneficial.
>>
>>--L
>>
>>
>
>Thanks for the link. It was nice reading something by someone with
>sense and a level head. He really put the whole situation into
>perspective and I think the link should be forwarded to the entire
>staff of both the MPAA and the RIAA. If they'd wake up from their
>fits for a minute, they could change the face of entertainment and
>likely increase profits for studios, elevate their public image
>(wouldn't take much) and generally create happier consumers.
>
>What a concept...
>
>
I think it is awesome, and I for one have bought numerous books that I
*NEVER* would have known about if not for the free webscriptions and the
Pirate access that I have gotten for my digital e-book reader.
I picked up the reader because I was starting to have to travel more
often and carrying enough paper to give me my daily fix was getting
tough, now I carry about 40-50 texts on my REB 1100 (rocket e book, no
longer being made damnit) and I have grabbed numerous things off the net
that I never would have seen or bought from a store, then went back and
bought them just to support the author.
Flint is amazing and in my opinion makes a lot more sense than all the
screaming and yelling that the agencies have done.
--L
Old Guy
Do you get the comic strip Out of the Gene Pool? They did a series of
strips a couple of weeks ago where the recording industry arrested
everyone who had ever been given a copied tape or CD, which is to say
*everyone*.
It was very funny and probably influential. In the end the whole thing
turned out to be a plot by Michael Jackson to destroy the recording
industry. With everyone in jail, nobody was buying records.
Feek O'Hanrahan
It does, but then, what about the neat-o goodies?
GeeTeeExx
wrote:
LOL, I'd love to see it. I read comic strips on the web, but I'm not
familiar with that particular one. Is there a web site?
Old Guy
>On 29 Nov 2002 01:56:23 -0600, Old Guy <Heise...@Uncertainty.com>
>wrote:
>>Do you get the comic strip Out of the Gene Pool? They did a series of
>>strips a couple of weeks ago where the recording industry arrested
>>everyone who had ever been given a copied tape or CD, which is to say
>>*everyone*.
>>
>>It was very funny and probably influential. In the end the whole thing
>>turned out to be a plot by Michael Jackson to destroy the recording
>>industry. With everyone in jail, nobody was buying records.
>
>LOL, I'd love to see it. I read comic strips on the web, but I'm not
>familiar with that particular one. Is there a web site?
There are a couple. You can read the back strips at
http://www.comics.com/wash/genepool/index.html
Read the ones from 11/11 to 11/22.
GeeTeeExx
wrote:
>On Fri, 29 Nov 2002 15:40:22 GMT, GeeTeeExx <g...@polka.bikini> wrote:
>
>>On 29 Nov 2002 01:56:23 -0600, Old Guy <Heise...@Uncertainty.com>
>>wrote:
>
>>>Do you get the comic strip Out of the Gene Pool? They did a series of
>>>strips a couple of weeks ago where the recording industry arrested
>>>everyone who had ever been given a copied tape or CD, which is to say
>>>*everyone*.
>>>
>>>It was very funny and probably influential. In the end the whole thing
>>>turned out to be a plot by Michael Jackson to destroy the recording
>>>industry. With everyone in jail, nobody was buying records.
>>
>>LOL, I'd love to see it. I read comic strips on the web, but I'm not
>>familiar with that particular one. Is there a web site?
>
>There are a couple. You can read the back strips at
>http://www.comics.com/wash/genepool/index.html
>Read the ones from 11/11 to 11/22.
Thanks! That RIAA series was especially funny.
Peter Hanson
feek...@XattbiX.XcomX says...
Which is why you'll buy the DVD's when they are out, but mean while...
of course there may be only 3 left and no DVD's ...
Feek O'Hanrahan
> In article <oNIF9.155511$%m4.6...@rwcrnsc52.ops.asp.att.net>,
> feek...@XattbiX.XcomX says...
>> Peter Hanson wrote:
>>> In article <6UjF9.141839$P31.72505@rwcrnsc53>,
>>> feek...@XattbiX.XcomX says...
>>>
>>>> I'd buy, too. My way of thinking is, I'll download and watch
>>>> something on my computer, but I'd *much* rather watch it on the TV
>>>> (especially with all the neat-o goodies you get with a DVD).
>>>
>>>
>>> Your DVD can probably play VCD's (not that i'm suggesting anything
>>> :)
>>
>> It does, but then, what about the neat-o goodies?
>
> Which is why you'll buy the DVD's when they are out, but mean while...
Exactly.