Dollhouse, Firefly, Angel, Buffy : news, photos & videos

California Browncoats - Serenityfirefly.com Podcast Interview

Webmaster — 2008-07-16T19:36:17Z

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http://signal.serenityfirefly.com/shownotes.php ?e=4130

Scott Allie - "Serenity" Comic Books - Serenityfirefly.com Podcast Interview

Webmaster — 2008-04-02T20:54:56Z

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http://signal.serenityfirefly.com/shownotes.php ?e=4060

Brett Matthews - "Serenity : Better Days" Comic Book - Ign.com Interview

Webmaster — 2008-03-10T11:25:47Z

Even if you've never watched an episode of the short-lived science fiction series Firefly, the glut of shirts bearing the slogan "Joss Whedon Is My Master Now" is ample proof of the show's cult classic status. The series ran for a mere 11 episodes before being canceled. A few years later, creator Joss Whedon direct a theatrical follow-up called Serenity. It didn't necessarily shatter the Star Wars series' box office records, but it managed to dazzle Whedon's many fans and attract more than a few new followers.

In 2005 Dark Horse released a tie-in mini-series called Serenity : Those Left Behind. Written by Whedon and Brett Matthews and illustrated by Will Conrad, the book was a bona fide hit for the publisher. The series was finally collected in a hardcover last year, and now Dark Horse is set to release the first issue of a new mini-series, Serenity : Better Days, by the same creative team next week. Sensing an opening, we tackled Matthews to find out everything we could about the prequel story. While he was reluctant to give out too many details, Matthews did clue us in on what to expect from the story as well as how the Firefly/Serenity fanbase has evolved over the years.

Warning – there are one or two fairly major spoilers for the movie Serenity in this interview.

IGN Comics : What appeals to you about Firefly and Serenity as a writer ?

Brett Matthews : The characters, I think, are what most appeal to me as a writer. Beyond that, the many fans and just the world Joss has created. I love the merging of genres in the series. But Serenity always comes back to the characters and the ensemble nature of the show. Other things might get you in the door, but that characters are what keep you there.

IGN Comics : You worked as a writer on Firefly while it was on the air. How would you compare writing comics set in this universe as opposed to television episodes ?

Matthews : They're two different media, obviously. Even though they're two entirely different forms of writing, the show is the book and the book is the show. That's the great part about it. They really are very similar. Occasionally things are a little bigger in scope with the comic because we can do anything. We've tried to make the stories a little larger in that sense. At the same time, all the character interaction still spins out of the same place. When it comes to Firefly I think it's actually a very fine line, and intentionally so. I think that's what makes the books worth reading.

IGN Comics : Does that mean you look at both mini-series as being full-fledged, legitimate episodes of the show ?

Matthews : I don't know if episodes is quite the right word. But yeah, I do look at the comics as stories that happen within the Firefly universe. The show is the book is the movie. The comics are things that happen along the way. I certainly accept them as canon, at any rate. Otherwise we wouldn't be doing it at all. [laughs]

IGN Comics : What's the premise behind Serenity : Better Days ?

Matthews : I'm not really a big "reveal the plot" type of guy since I like to think that's why people buy the book. That said, the central premise behind this story is what happens when a job goes right for the Serenity crew. We're all so used to things going wrong for these guys, so what if something went right, or what if something went wrong, but in their favor ? You'd think that would be easier, but as we'll see it brings its own set of complications. In some ways it's even harder. This is sort of an interesting approach to the story, and it shows some different sides of the crew members we're not used to seeing. We'll be learning some new things about them in this story.

IGN Comics : I hesitate to use the word, but is there going to be an actual "villain" in this story like we saw in Those Left Behind, or is this more a case where the crew is their own worst enemy ?

Matthews : I don't think there are ever really villains on the show in the normal sense. So no, there won't be one in this story. It's more the situation they find themselves in. At the same time, there's a lot going on around our guys, as always, and they're certainly being pursued. Things are never simple, and actually a lot of things criss-cross and come together. It's the situation they find themselves in and the sort of inner turmoil that brings. But there are guys chasing them, and it's Serenity, so they're always struggling to scrape by. It's a little of all those things.

IGN Comics : Where does Better Days fit in chronologically with the other stories ?

Matthews : Between the show and the movie. It takes place during the Firefly days for sure. It could be any one of the episodes that happened along the way, and it's certainly taking place before the timeline of the movie. That also places it before the previous mini-series, Those Left Behind, since that led directly into the movie. That's what it was meant to do.

IGN Comics : So that means the entire crew from the show is in the comic again ?

Matthews : Yes, absolutely. That's a big part of the reason why we do it this way, because we love those people. That's one of the joys of writing the comic book – that Wash is still alive and Inara is still walking around the ship. I really enjoy playing with those guys again and bouncing them off each other. So, yes, the gang's all there, as they say.

IGN Comics : Are there any characters you would say stand out in this story, or have you been trying to strike a balance between each one ?

Matthews : You always try to give everybody their moment for sure. It's tough, though. It's a very large cast, and sometimes it's difficult. That said, I think we did a pretty good job giving everybody a little bit of the spotlight. On the other hand, I think this comic is particularly interesting as a Mal, Zoey, and Wash story. It's a little more of them and that particular dynamic than perhaps you get normally.

It's all about finding that balance, and I'm never entirely satisfied. You love these people and you want to spend more and more time with them until, at some point, you realize you've gone off on all these tangents. You do get a nice piece of every character this time around, which is definitely something.

IGN Comics : Both Serenity books are only three issues long in a time when it seems like almost every comic mini-series is five or six issues at least. Do you find the three issues to be enough to tell the stories you want ?

Matthews : I think so. That's definitely a big credit to Joss. We're not trying to stretch anything out ; we're just trying to tell a story. I think the comic stylistically is a pretty old school approach to comic storytelling. There's a lot of character – character interaction and character moments – and a lot of dialogue. That's all in keeping with the tone of the show. It's a format we've found that works.

At the same time, that's not to say we couldn't be telling longer or bigger tales. We just don't want to make them longer for the sake of making them longer. So far this approach has worked for us. We don't want the story to be too drawn out or decompressed. You're getting a pretty good, slid chunk of story with each issue. That's important to us, and it works.

IGN Comics : I can't remember when Dark Horse first made the announcement exactly, but it seems like Better Days has been in the pipeline for a while. Did you guys have any problems getting the project off the ground ?

Matthews : Nope. The process of making comics is just what it is. It's actually gone very smoothly. When Dark Horse first announced the series, as companies often do, I'm sure they were all very excited that we were doing another one. The first book was very successful for them. The whole project has gone very smoothly, though, and we're almost done wrapping up the art on issue #3. It looks great, and it's coming together really nicely.

When we make these comics we want them to be really, really good, so we put in the time and effort it takes to make them that way. We just hope the readers agree with us. That's the process, and it tends to find its own pace. We're in a position, too, where we want to ship the issues consecutively, and now we can do that.

IGN Comics : Speaking of the art, the first mini-series had three different variant covers for each issue, which seemed to go over really well with the readers. Are you planning anything like that this time ?

Matthews : I don't think so. Not to my knowledge at least. Adam Hughes is doing all the covers this time around. Every cover forms one central image when they're all pieced together. It's another nice feature that you don't see on your run-of-the-mill cover because they do form a tableau. At the same time, we're not blowing out with 9 different variants all over again. In general that's an idea I think we would recoil from.

With the roster of talent Joss was able to put together for the first mini-series it became a different story. Normally I might cringe at the idea, but I think it actually came together very nicely. It gave every character their moment and they all fit together with the uniformity of the white background. The way the artists approached each character was spectacular.

But it's nothing we wanted to do again this time just for the sake of doing it. You try to do what's best for the story and express the vision of the series. That's what we've tried to do, and this new cover looks very cool. It's a little bit different, but different from last time as well.

IGN Comics : I've read before that Joss Whedon had Firefly planned out to a seventh season before it was canceled. Do you know if any of his ideas have trickled down into the comics so far ?

Matthews : I think yes and no. Movie storytelling is somewhat different, and the arc of a television show is definitely different from a self-contained story. Joss certainly sees the big picture, but I don't think he's necessarily telling stories that would have been in the show as comics instead. He's more interested in what works in terms of a good comic book story for these characters. I'm sure certain ideas do come through and cross over. How many years later is it now and people are still talking about the show and we're still always thinking about it.

All these character interactions and developments would have happened along the way in one form or another. If Firefly had continued on I'm sure we would eventually have done the episode where everything goes right for the crew. Off the cuff that seems like absolutely the sort of thing that would have happened on the show.

IGN Comics : Especially with a story like this, do you find it difficult to work within the confines of the show and the movie ? Do you ever feel limited in the kinds of stories you can tell when you already know what happened before with Firefly and what will happen after with Serenity ?

Matthews : No, and usually that's what bothers me with prequels. You always tend to feel, "Well, if I already know how it ends..." But the tragedy of Firefly was that it was just taken away. The future was lost and it just sort of died this sad, premature death. Part of the joy of the comics is being able to reclaim some of what was lost along the way and occupy that time period where there's still a lot of room to play in.

There's some space between the show and the movie, and no doubt there are more adventures and downright ****ty situations the crew ended up in that were never shown. Getting to explore those stories is what makes the comics really cool. It doesn't prove to be a problem at all. It's actually nice that these stories have a place and that they fit. Within that place I think we have a lot of room to do what we want to do.

IGN Comics : Dark Horse is about to release Better Days, and a few months ago there was a new special edition DVD of Serenity put out. Do you get the feeling that there may be a resurgence in popularity of the series ?

Matthews : Well, that's kind of the amazing thing about Firefly. I don't know what the opposite word of resurgence is, but there's just never been a lull. I don't know how something resurges when it's always been so damn alive and kicking. The fans of the show are fans in a profound sort of way that I've never experienced or seen. It's been really great that way. If anyone mentions a resurgence I just ask them where they've been. Firefly has always been there, and it's always had that whole other life. Better Days is just a part of that.

Brett Matthews - "Serenity : Better Days" Comic Book - Comicbookresources.com Interview

Webmaster — 2008-03-08T10:02:14Z

It's been more than two years since fans have been treated to an original story set in the “Firefly” universe, but Joss Whedon and Brett Matthews are about to prove that no power in the ‘verse can stop Serenity and her crew in the upcoming Dark Horse miniseries, “Serenity : Better Days.” CBR News caught up with co-writer Matthews to get the details.

“Better Days” is not Matthews' first foray into the “Firefly” ‘verse. The writer also penned the bestselling “Serenity : Those Left Behind,” a three-issue miniseries bridging the gap between the “Firefly” television series and the “Serenity” feature film. When “Firefly's” vaunted creator Joss Whedon originally asked Matthews to come onboard for the project, it was an offer the writer couldn't refuse. “‘Those Left Behind' actually started life as an anime project set to release with ‘Serenity,' and when that door closed we just told the story as a comic,” Matthews said. “It was also very successful, so getting ‘Better Days' to happen wasn't exactly a hard sell.”

Matthews said that Dark Horse editor Scott Allie has been an ardent supporter of the franchise from Day One. “It's really about having a story worth telling, this time designed from the ground up to be a comic,” Matthews said. “Luckily, the 'verse is rich enough there isn't a shortage of those.”

“Better Days” is set before the events of “Serenity.” “‘Those Left Behind' preceded the film very directly because that's exactly what it was designed to do,” Matthews said. “‘Better Days' is earlier, more in the heart and status quo — in as much as there even is one — of the [television] series.”

Matthews didn't want to give away too much about the plot of “Better Days,” but the writer did go so far as to say it's about what happens when a job goes right for the crew. “Or wrong, but not in the way they're used to,” Matthews clarified. “And why that's maybe harder for them and all the complications it brings.”

As to whether Mal Reynolds and crew have a bright future ahead of them in comics, Matthews said that was up to Joss Whedon. “I'm sure Dark Horse would love nothing more, but what shape it takes is strictly Joss' call, as it should be,” Matthews said. The writer would be decidedly hesitant to spin any “Firefly” yarns set after the events in “Serenity.” “Selfishly, I'd like to see Joss direct that story with his actors one day, in whatever form. I want to see the future Joss has planned on a big screen. Or a smaller one. Or firing off the chips we'll all have implanted in our brains one day.”

As far as Matthews is concerned, when the TV series was cancelled, fans were robbed of countless “Firefly” stories that might have been. “To me, the joy of these books is getting to see the stories that were taken away or weren't able to be told,” Matthews said. “To spend time within the bounds of that and with old friends, just as pretty as they were back then. I guess I wouldn't be as quick to leave it behind. And that's pretty much how everyone that worked on and loved that show feels.”

Matthews attests that the Dark Horse “Serenity” comics exist in the same continuity as “Firefly” and the “Serenity” film. “I don't see these projects as an expanded universe, it's the same 'verse, one consistent and canonical vision,” Matthews said. As such, there are plans in place to clear up some of the secrets that were set up in the series that never had the opportunity to bear fruit. Does this means fans will finally learn the truth about Shepherd Book's mysterious past ? “I'd tell you,” Matthews teased, “but Book would have to kill you. But I do believe there are plans.”

For “Better Days,” Matthews is reunited with artist Will Conrad, who also penciled “Those Left Behind,” and the writer couldn't be happier about it. “Will's great, and his work on ‘Better Days' is really a cut above the last,” Matthews said. “A great deal of back-and-forth hasn't really been required. He gets it and does the actors justice, which is especially important when it comes to all things ‘Firefly'/‘Serenity.'”

Matthews has been blown away by the cover art produced by artist Adam Hughes. “Adam's captured a thing with each character that feels really specific and true to them,” Matthews said. “A look, a quirk, a relationship, an irony. Likenesses really are thankless work in the comics world.”

The first issue of “Serenity : Better Days” hits stands on March 12.

Jane Espenson - "Serenity Found" Book - Trashionista.com Interview

Webmaster — 2007-12-05T20:29:50Z

A doubly exciting author interview this week since we've not only writer and producer of shows such as Buffy and Gilmore Girls, Jane Espenson (right) answering questions, the questions were set by one of our favourite authors, Shanna Swendson (left).

Jane recently edited the essay collection, Serenity Found - about Joss Whedon's TV series Firefly - so some of Shanna's questions relate to the show, but even if, like me, you've never seen the show, there's plenty here to enjoy.

A lot of your TV writing career has involved science fiction and fantasy (Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Battlestar Galactica), but you're also a big fan of Jane Austen (and contributor to Flirting with Pride and Prejudice) — that seems like a complete opposite, but do you see any similarities or parallels between those vastly different genres ?

Parallels ! First off, is life in Jane Austen's England any less exotic and strange than life on Galactica or Serenity ? But the real parallel is a set of characters who seem completely fresh and real and identifiable no matter how alien the world they're inhabiting.

You know what current show I also see as having this quality ? Friday Night Lights. It's a gorgeous show that consistently reminds me of Battlestar Galactica and Firefly — it creates/reflects a real world filled with lots of real and complex characters with consistent but constantly-changing relationships, shot as if the camera just happened to be catching slices of real lives... the fact that FNL is set in small-town Texas instead of on a spaceship doesn't matter one bit to me. Both worlds are a little bit strange to me — what does it matter that one requires artificial gravity and other artificial turf ?

What do you think Firefly fans will get out of reading this essay collection ?

They will not just be educated and entertained, but also delighted and outraged ! Actually, I think they'll get a couple different things. Several of the essays, including the fine ones by Nathan Fillion and Loni Peristere, give an insider's look at the show, that I think fans will find fascinating. Others, like Orson Scott Card's outstanding contribution, discuss the show's place in the history of this kind of production/literature. I found that particularly interesting. Still others analyze the show from a wide variety of social and political points of view that highlight how much viewers can draw from this show to support or challenge their own opinions.

I think everyone is going to come away from the collection with a different favorite essay, and probably a different disfavorite too. (I know, but it COULD be a word.) It's not just a paean to the show — it actually adds to the experience of watching. At least I hope so. Read it, watch, and then let me know.

Do any of these essays change your perception of the series in any way ?

I was fascinated to read about the history of the SciFi-Western as discussed in the essay by Bruce Bethke. I had no idea this had been a pre-existing model and CERTAINLY no idea that it had been a disrespected one and why. I was riveted by this. I also adore the essays by Natalie Hayes and Maggie Burns, both of which shed intelligent light on Joss's treatment of female characters. But the two that most literally changed how I watch the show are probably those by Loni and Nathan — it's the inside knowledge that these two bring that actually pulls me INSIDE the scenes.

Why do you think this series has had such enduring popularity, in spite of being cancelled midway through its first season ?

I'm starting to think that it's as much "because of" as it is "in spite of." There's something about a life tragically cut short that stokes fascination because of the sense of what might have been. "Firefly" is James Dean, you know ? But that's only a small factor. I think the show, with its crystal-clear vision, simply gave people something they were hungry for : a show with a point of view, with something to say, and very human characters to say it. Audiences now are enjoying shows with moral complexity, and "Firefly" had that. The wonderful thing about flawed and complex characters is that you never feel like you've fully gotten to know them, so you keep wanting more. And there you are, around at that James Dean thing again.

What more "girly" stuff (books, TV, movies) would you recommend for the Austen side of the brain ?

I think it's all the same side of the brain, but I have to recommend Margaret Atwood's classic "The Handmaid's Tale" and Kazuo Ishiguro's "Never Let You Go," both books that take a scifi-ish premise and then install strong female (Austeny, if you will) characters that project utter reality.

What are you reading now (or most recently) ?

Roots — "reading" it in the unabridged audio book form, with Avery Brooks from Star Trek : Deep Space Nine doing the reading. It's wonderful and long... fills weeks of commuting time and makes me sorry to leave the car ! I'm also reading (actually reading this time), Stephen Colbert's book, "I Am America (And So Can You)". Hilarious — the marginalia stuff is just the kind of thing that most amuses me.

Your Flirting with Pride and Prejudice essay was a follow-up to Pride and Prejudice. Have you found yourself coming up with additional story ideas for the TV series you've worked on after you've left the staff or the series has been cancelled ? Do those characters keep living in your head, or do you have to move on for the sake of your own sanity ?

I generally move onto a new show right away, and I always think the characters have gone away, but I have to say that at least once a week I'll think of some little joke or funny observation that references pop culture and I'll think to myself, "Ooh, maybe I could work that into my next script — Anya or Willow could—" And then I'll remember that there's no way to joke a pop culture joke into Battlestar.

If you were going to suggest a topic for another pop culture book, what topic would you choose ?

Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert and their fake news empire. I'd love to read more about the backstage workings of putting together those shows, and more about their impact, too. I'm baffled by the way they put those shows together four nights a week. Genius !

Is there an essay you're dying to write about some aspect of pop culture ?

I want to write a book about how to write for television, but that's not really the same thing. An essay about pop culture ? Well, I'm very interested in the evolution of joke styles in broadcast comedy — from radio to classic television to today. Not just the topics of the jokes, but the way the information is presented in the joke. I think there's an interesting analysis to be done there.

Jane Espenson - "Serenity Found" Book - Pinkraygun.com Interview

Webmaster — 2007-11-13T14:56:32Z

Breaking In : True Tales from Women on the Rim with Jane Espenson

We're taking a break from our regularly scheduled programming for an interview with TV writer Jane Espenson. Check back next week for the third chapter of my Hollywood journey.

Though her literary travels have taken her to the rim of space, TV writer Jane Espenson is far from the rim of Hollywood. This genre-hopper's credits include an impressive array of shows, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica, Gilmore Girls, Firefly, Angel, Andy Parker, P.I., and Ellen.

Her success and talent alone serve as a great inspiration to young female writers, but what makes Jane particularly unique is how she has reached out to aspiring TV writers on her blog. At JaneEspenson.com, she offers free daily spec-writing lessons, providing guidance to those still learning to navigate the Hollywood terrain and encouraging budding talent to apply to the Disney•ABC Writing Fellowship Program, where she got her start.

Serenity Found : More Unauthorized Essays on Joss Whedon\'s Firefly Universe (Smart Pop series)Jane graciously agreed to answer some questions for PinkRaygun as she promotes her new book Serenity Found : More Unauthorized Essays on Joss Whedon's Firefly Universe, the sequel to Finding Serenity, which was released last year. If the untimely demise of the Firefly series and the lack of promise for a Serenity sequel has got you down, exploring Whedon's short-lived universe with the likes of sci-fi writer Orson Scott Card, our favorite space captain Nathan Fillion, and, of course, Jane herself, will help tide you over while the strike delays the release of Whedon's latest creation, Dollhouse.

Appropriate for Jane's e-book tour, here is my e-interview with everyone's favorite writer-producer-blogger hyphenate.

Why did you choose to edit Finding Serenity and now its sequel Serenity Found ?

Finding Serenity : Anti-Heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon\'s Firefly (Smart Pop series)I was approached by the publisher, BenBella Books. They had already set up the first book when they contacted me about guest-editing it. My involvement on that one didn't begin until all the essays had been collected. I was more involved on the second one, helping select some of the contributors and giving more detailed notes on the essays. In both cases, I wrote introductions for the books and for each essay. I loved the work — getting to read Nathan Fillion's essay in progress, for example, was a blast. Oh, and by the way, you can buy the book here.

How did you find the essays for the book ?

For those contributors I selected myself, I simply contacted the writers and explained the project. They then wrote the essays from their own experience or expertise. I think the collection turned out to have a great variety of points of view on the show and movie. It's not a dry academic text. It's a fun read, and I think some of the inside insights are going to increase your appreciation of the show. I hope so, anyway !

If there were another book in this series, let's call it Serenity's Sequel Greenlit, what are some other topics you'd like to see explored ? Are there any particular writers you would like to see contribute ?

I would love to hear from Joss himself, of course, and from some of the other writers, actors, directors and crew people. I once got to participate in a DVD commentary session with Shawna Trpcic, who did the Firefly costumes, and she was absolutely fascinating. I'd love to read something detailed from her about the experience of working on the show. Tim Minear, I'm sure, could also contribute something sharp and hilarious.

How do you think things have changed since you broke into TV writing ? Do you have any advice for handling these new challenges ?

Battlestar Galactica - Razor (Unrated Extended Edition)Well, there are a lot more opportunities to write for wonderful, imaginative cable shows now than there used to be. And there's a lot more content being written directly for the internet. There are opportunities for writers to learn how to tell stories through editing in the world of reality television. But, really, the basic job hasn't changed one bit. If you work on a television hour or half-hour show, the job still involves sitting in a room with other writers, breaking story, and then writing the script. The challenge is simply met by being able to work with others, and being able to turn in good solid writing under a deadline. I think if you took a good writer and plunked ‘em down into Hollywood, they'd make their way, no matter what decade you plunked ‘em down into.

Do you have any Hollywood horror stories or funny anecdotes you can share about breaking in or moving up staff ranks ?

Well, the first thing you have to learn is what those ranks are. Your first writing jobs are the only ones in which your title is “writer” or “staff writer.” As you move up, you're a “story editor,” but your duties don't change. You don't edit stories. You're a writer. Next year, “executive story editor,” then “co-producer,” “producer,” “supervising producer,” “co-executive producer,” and then, when you're creating or running your own show, “executive producer.” The higher titles sometimes, but not always, imply expanded duties. But you're still a writer.

I remember being told that if a show won an Emmy, all the writers with producing titles would get a statuette. At the time, my title was “co-producer.” So I grinned. “If our show got an Emmy, I'd get one ?” No, I was told. Co-producer is not a producer. How is that possible ? “Oh,” I was told, “Co means ‘not'”.

The only horror story I can think of is that if a writer moves from being a half-hour writer to an hour-long writer, or vice versa, they often have to start over with a lower title, because the jobs are considered so different. Perhaps this has changed ; I see more writers moving back and forth between the two camps now, but when I went from half-hour to hour, I definitely was considered a new entity in my new world, and had to start over, building my reputation.

What are some pitfalls and roadblocks aspiring TV writers should watch out for ?

Don't gripe and don't settle. When you get your first job, it might not be on your favorite show, or even a show you'd ever watch. It can be tempting to distance yourself a little from the work, to gripe with some of the other writers about the project. Don't do it ! Work hard, help your show runner, be positive ! You don't gain points by being too good for the work, especially if it's your first work. At the same time, don't just assume that since you're working, you should just sink into that first show like a hot bath and not try to plan your next steps. If you want to move on to someplace with a richer pedigree, write spec scripts that position you as a higher-class writer than the show you're currently on. That's right — writing specs doesn't stop when you're working. Keep striving for the job you really want, then let yourself be happy when you get it !

You have worked on many shows featuring strong female characters. What is it like as a woman behind-the-scenes of these shows ? Have you experienced any difficulties as a female writer ?

Gilmore Girls - The Complete Fourth SeasonThe writers' rooms of these shows tend to be more woman-friendly than the writers' rooms of shows with a misogynist bent, simply because it's the show runner's personal beliefs that set the tone for the show. Joss ran a room in which everyone felt equally valued. So does Ron Moore at Battlestar. And in the Gilmore Girls room, women were the overwhelming majority, which was unique in my experience. I've worked at a few shows where I've been made conscious of the fact that I'm a minority presence, but I've rarely felt that the room was a hostile place.

The set, I've found, is more likely to have a more traditional macho atmosphere, but I've never felt so dismissed that I haven't been able to do my job. And, interestingly, it seems to make no difference there what the tone of the show, or the gender of the on-screen hero is.

It is often said that a sitcom writer's room is a tough place for women. In your experience, is there a difference in the gender dynamic of the sitcom vs. the drama environment ?

The sitcom room requires assertiveness. I think as younger women come to the job — women who weren't raised with an assumption that they should defer — they'll find themselves mystified as to why the room was considered difficult for women.

Have you had the opportunity to work with a writer, actor, producer or other artist that you particularly admired or were a fan of from afar ? Can you share your fangirl experience with us ?

Oh, man, Amy Sedaris. She guest-starred on the Andy Richter show I worked on last season, Andy Barker, P.I.. I adore her work, and I was so petrified to approach her and talk to her. I eventually did, but was so overwhelmed that I'm not sure I really made clear who I was or why I was hyperventilating. I think I actually used the word “fangirl.” Geez.

Ellen - The Complete Season FiveI also had the opportunity, years ago, to work on the series finale of Ellen, a show for which we invited, and got, a ridiculous number of stars to come in and do little cameo fake-interview bits. We had Bea Arthur and Jennifer Aniston and Jada Pinkett Smith and Woody Harrelson and Diahann Carroll and Glenn Close… it was something. Among other bits, I got to write a little joke performed by Tim Conway. That was crazy insane cool. I grew up watching him on the Carol Burnett show, and then to get to hear him using my words… holy cow. I don't think I talked to him much. That wasn't the point. It was about watching him work.

News that Sci-Fi ordered the two-hour pilot penned by you, Rockne O'Bannon, and D. Brent Mote left many fangirls jumping for joy. The concept is intriguing. Can you give us any juicy tidbits about your new dramedy Warehouse 13 ?

Oh, I wish I knew myself ! I was neither the first writer on that project nor the last. The script (and the show) is in Rockne's hands now, and I'm confident he's doing a great job. I can tell you that I was proud of my draft, and that I believe in the project wholeheartedly.

And, so we're sure to get some exclusive content, what did you have for breakfast ?

Breakfast : left-over cold peanut noodles from Chin Chin. Yummy !

To find out what Jane had for lunch and read other invaluable industry insights, visit her blog at JaneEspenson.com. Jane's book can be purchased at Amazon.com.

Tune in next time to hear about my path to Serenity.

Jewel Staite - "Firefly" Tv Series & "Serenity" Movie - Raygunrevival.com Interview

Webmaster — 2007-10-27T13:53:35Z

RGR Interviews : Jewel Staite by Paul Christian Glenn Pg. 13

Ray Gun Revival magazine Issue 32, October 15, 2007

Anyone who knows anything about RGR knows that Joss Whedon's Firefly is a program close to our hearts. The inspiration for this ‘zine came, if not directly, at least indirectly from the adventures of Captain Mal and his ragamuffin crew, and for that, I will always be grateful.

Last month, Universal released a Collector's Edition of Serenity, the big-screen sequel to our beloved series. The film is a brilliant, sometimes brutal denouement that doesn't just capture the spirit of the series, but expands its universe and takes the characters to places, both literally and figuratively, that we've never seen before. Serenity is the rarest of specimens : an old-fashioned adventure story that manages to be both frightening and funny, both heartbreaking and heartwarming, both thrilling and thought-provoking. You know—everything that Star Wars used to be.

The cast of Serenity has since moved on, but Jewel Staite, who played happy-go-lucky mechanic Kaylee Frye, took a few minutes from her work on the set of Stargate : Atlantis to talk with Ray Gun Revival about Firefly, the film, and the future.

RGR : Let's begin with the Collector's Edition DVD of Serenity. To the chagrin of many fans, you were absent from the commentary track. This was due to a massive, ugly falling out you had with Joss, Nathan, Summer, Adam and Ron, right ?

JS : Not so much massive and ugly but more like large and homely. Seriously, I was filming Stargate until midnight the night before my flight was supposed to leave, and my passport was in the middle of getting renewed and hadn't come in the mail yet. I wish it was juicier than that, but there is no juice with us Firefly people. We all get along and love each other and it's really boring.

RGR : How did Joss originally pitch the character of Kaylee to you, and how did that original concept evolve as you brought her to life ?

JS : I read a small synopsis on Kaylee before I auditioned that basically said she was a warm, bubbly, chubby, lovely little individual, and I immediately realized that they would want me to eat copious amounts of cheeseburgers once I got this part, so I made it my goal to be as impressive as possible. I honestly thought I was a bit wrong for it at first and I actually wanted to audition for River, but I was told that Joss was pretty specific in wanting to see me read. Once I had the part and we started to shoot, it was a bit unclear how bubbly Kaylee was supposed to be. Is she just happy or is she more manic ? Is she hiding something and that's why she puts on the happy facade, or is she just drunk ? I figured the best route to go was to play up her innocence, her frankness, and her warmth more than anything. “Out of Gas” put me straight on the whole innocence thing, so after that I added horny flirt to her repertoire.

RGR : One thing we never got to see on the series was Kaylee's life before Serenity. Did you ever imagine her previous life, and if so, how did you integrate those elements into your performance ?

JS : I did a bit of imagining, but I also trusted Joss with any kind of backstory questions I had. I knew she had a great family, maybe not such a well-off one, but a family that was supportive of her and her abilities, otherwise why would they have let her go with someone like Mal ? That's one of the things that was most disappointing for me when the series got canceled so prematurely ; I would have loved to learn more about her life off the ship.

RGR : On the series, you played Kaylee with a sort of childlike innocence ; she was an optimist who saw the best in everyone. In the film, however, she seems to have reached a darker place—doubting the captain, shutting Simon out before he could apologize for leaving, etc. Were these simply functions of the script, or did you make a conscious effort to put Kaylee in an edgier place ?

JS : It was pretty much spelled out in the script what kind of mindframe everyone was in. The crew has reached a dark time, they're sick of being poor and on the run, and because of that, they're not getting along. Joss writes great dialogue ; it's easy to take a character into a different place.

RGR : On the new commentary track, Joss notes that Morena felt she got “lost” in the final cut. With the romance between Kaylee and Simon being such an important part of the series, were you disappointed that it didn't get more time in the feature film ?

JS : Morena's always lost, so that's no big surprise. Honestly, that did kind of suck for her, because she and Nathan had some really amazing, really beautiful scenes. But the movie was too long, so a lot of stuff that wasn't totally integral to the plot had to be axed, and it's a shame, because there's one moment they had in particular that always made me cry. In contrast, I think the amount of romance seen on screen between Kaylee and Simon was just enough ; the movie was about so much more than who gets to finally sleep with who, so I thought that while our moments were important, they were also relatively light and sweet, which gave everything a bit of balance.

RGR : Every actor wants to grow and find new parts that inspire them. How do you feel about being associated with a show that has thousands of fanatical followers who will always see you as the smudgy, smiley mechanic ?

JS : It's kind of funny : I've met some fans at certain events and conventions and things who say I look “sooooo much better” with grease on my face and overalls on. Like, thanks. But at least she's a likeable character ! I never imagined when I signed on to Firefly that this would happen. I think we all knew from the very beginning that we were creating something quite special, so when I meet people that understand and appreciate it, it feels really nice. The whole experience holds a lot of wonderful memories for me. Like when Nathan put hand lotion under the door handles of my trailer and laughed at me when I fell down the stairs. Other than that, I love all those guys, and I miss them a lot.

RGR : If the series had succeeded, how would you have liked to see Kaylee evolve ?

JS : I would have loved to meet her family, like I said before, but I've always had this desire to see Kaylee become a mother. She's child-like in a lot of ways, but also loving and maternal. I think she would have been a really great mom.

RGR : Honesty time : how creeped out are you by the more salacious fan fiction that appears online, and how do you feel about “fanfic” in general ?

JS : I don't really read the “fanfic.” Someone gave me a link to a particular short story involving Kaylee and Jayne getting it on... and then Kaylee and River getting it on....and then Kaylee and Inara (not such a huge stretch I guess, considering they're both ridiculous flirts) getting it on... and I just thought, “What does this say about me ?” There sure are some creative minds out there, but anything involving me and, well, Jayne getting together is just barf-worthy. Adam's like my dad.

RGR : Switching gears, what can you tell us about your new role as Dr. Jennifer Keller on the upcoming season of Stargate : Atlantis ?

JS : I'm having a lot of fun with this one. Keller's such a juxtapositon of so many things ; she's this amazingly brilliant doctor, way ahead in her field, well-respected and perfectly capable of dealing with almost any medical emergency, but she's a scaredy-cat who hates guns, violence, heights.

She's really out of her element in the world of Atlantis. But she's holding her own, and becoming braver all the time. She's got a great sense of humor too, and a natural ease with people. But she's very different from Kaylee. Kaylee's a lot more confident in herself, while Keller's a lot more grown up and practical. It's been really fun getting to know this person and figuring out where she's going to go and how she's going to evolve. This season's going to be a lot different from other seasons, with lots of surprises, but I'm really excited for it to start airing so I can finally talk about it !

RGR : Finally, the upcoming film The Tribe will mark your first foray into the horror genre. How has the experience been different from all the sci-fi you've been involved with over the last few years ?

JS : The Tribe's not a horror movie ! I'm not a fan of horror in general, unless it's done really intelligently, but even then all the guts and gore and cheap scares kind of annoy me. The reason why I signed on to The Tribe was because it was a story about letting go of your fears and being able to take care of yourself. I loved the character of “Liz” ; she starts out as such a meek, nervous little person and grows into so much more. I'd call it an action/suspense/thriller rather than a horror movie. And yeah, it's definitely been a different experience—lots of action, lots of conquering of my own fears, and becoming my own person. I learned a lot about myself on this one. I feel like I can do anything... I feel like Wonder Woman ! (They're still casting that damn thing ? You listening out there ?)

Joss Whedon - "Firefly" Tv Series - Amazon.com Audio Interview

Webmaster — 2007-08-07T06:47:20Z

Click on the link :

http://www.amazon.com

Joss Whedon - "Serenity 2" Movie - The Last Chance

Webmaster — 2007-08-05T13:00:28Z

So give me hope for a Serenity II

JW : Hope for it probably rests with this DVD (Serenity Collector Edition DVD).

Well I'll buy one.

JW : Actually I will too, people ask me why I would buy my own DVD and I tell them do you have any idea how awesome it is to buy your own movie ?

So then you're saying we've got a chance ?

JW : Well it's probably not being discussed in boardrooms right now, but the fact of the matter is if it makes enough money sooner or later they say "hey, this is money !" Also there are paradigms that are much cheaper, it doesn't have to be enormous. But on the other hand I'm happy to say all of my actors are working very hard. It's not the same situation where we all threw in for pennies because we had to finish telling that story. Now that situation might be harder to bring about.

Michael Hitchcock - "Serenity" Movie - Firefly Talk Interview

Webmaster — 2007-07-06T12:23:49Z

Click on the link :

http://fireflytalk.libsyn.com/index.php ?post_id=232061