I, along with my business partern Steven Fisher, am working on our own Firefly/Serenity fan film called "Browncoats: Redemption".
We’re doing this for two reasons. The first, which is obvious, there really isn’t anything going on in the ‘Verse ‘sides a few comic books that take place before Serenity and, let’s face it, we’re all jonesin’ for our next fix. We want a good story with characters we can connect with and root for. Hell we want the crew of Serenity, but let’s face it…it may be a cold day on Osiris before that actually happens. We do not want to have this look like Just Another Fan Film. We also don’t want to promise you a date yet and not have it done. We're working very hard to maintain a schedule that seems right to have a trailer ready for March 2010 and to show the final film at the Shindig at Dragoncon that same year.
The second, and in our opinion far more noble, reason is to do what we Browncoats do best and raise money for charity. Our approach from a business stand point is a little "left of center". To be clear, outside of covering the cost of production, this project will be 100% non-profit. Our goal is to have our proceeds go, as an equal donation, to:
Equality Now
Kids Need to Read
Dyslexia Foundation
the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center
the Marine Corps - Law Enforcement Foundation
with each DVD selling for a donation of $15.
To give you an idea of why we think this is completely viable, in September '07 release weekend sales figures for the Serenity Collector's Edition DVD sold an estimated 32,396 copies. Now that's just the Serenity Collector's Edition. If we could accomplish that number in our total donations for the DVD we could raise $485,940. That would, roughly, be more than $80,000 for each charity.
Knowing that we Browncoats like to purchase multiple copies to save, loan and watch, and that the DVDs would also be available to each of the Browncoat groups to use at conventions, events, and so on; we could do great things for the collective charities.
So here’s how it is, we’ve reached out to FOX, Universal Studios, Joss’ agent at CAA, and even Mary Parent who is now at MGM. Everyone we’ve dealt with has been extremely helpful and completely blown away the stereotype of what the Hollywood experience is like. And much to our surprise, we even have the blessing of Joss Whedon himself. We’re in the process of procuring whatever legal permissions and licenses we need to make this a reality, but in true Browncoat fashion we're marching forward while we're waiting to get our orders.
We’re also looking to present the idea of our plan and our treatment to Alan Tudyk, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarin and Nathan Fillion to get their support, input and whatever bits of shiny they care to share...that's not money. To be clear, we don’t want their money. They’ve done a great job for us and we really want to give something back as a thank you to them through our charitable donations. If you could help us be able to interview them for the DVD it would be greatly appreciated.
Just as an update, we had a table read of the full script on Sunday the 14th and much to our surprise over 28 Browncoats showed. We showed off the latest version of the ship, our fight coordinator went over the beginning stages of a fight, and a few others. We received some great responses, offers of support, and questions of when will we begin auditions. Just so you all are aware those auditions begin Sunday Jan. 11th and go for every Saturday in January.
We'll be holding rehearsals from Feb through March and filming March through June. Our goal is to have everything in the can and only be working on editing and score through till the 2010 CSTS.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Looking forward to hearing from you and doing some mighty things for the charities and the browncoats in 2010.
Mike Dougherty
Writer/Director "Browncoats: Redemption" A Fan Film for Charity
website:
http://www.browncoatsredemption.comtwitter: @browncoatsmovie
facebook group:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=26555743396
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