FIREFLY CONVENTION

[Crostini]

'Firefly' fans resurrect canceled convention

December 9, 2006 10:42 AM PST

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Word comes from Burbank, Calif., that passionate fans of the Joss Whedon TV show Firefly from all over the world have ponied up money to help pay to carry off "REMOVED," the fan convention that was scheduled to begin Friday but was abruptly canceled Thursday.

 

According to Corey Bridges, the executive producer at Multiverse Network, who was in town for REMOVED, people had come to Burbank from all over the place, only to find when they arrived that the event had had the rug pulled out from under it.

 

But never to be told they can't have what they want, the show's fans, known as "browncoats," scrambled and found a way to make it work.

 

"It's a remarkable thing," said Bridges, who explained that the local browncoats had found a way to get fans from all over the place to help fund the replacement event. "To me it's the symbolism of this group of people, the browncoats. They've done this before, having something they're deeply passionate about canceled prematurely and having it resurrected."

 

Indeed, the browncoats are famous for their response to the cancellation of Firefly and the way they've managed to get showings all over the world of Serenity, the film based on the TV show.

 

And it's not only the fans who showed up despite the cancellation. Many of the show's actors appeared, despite not getting paid to do so. Bridges said actor Nathan Fillion had arrived and was giving away Collectables from his time on the show to fans.

 

Anyway, Bridges said that there had been some scuttlebutt in the days leading up to REMOVED that there was trouble brewing. Thus, the local browncoats had begun to come up with backup plans. But at that point, they were told all was well, only to find on Thursday that all was most definitely not.

 

Flash-forward to Saturday where, absent the hotel ballroom the event was supposed to be held in, the browncoats were organizing replacement events at a "secret" location, Bridges said, and a series of color-coded buses meant to ferry the fans there was arriving.

 

"Now this is essentially happening for free," said Bridges, "for everyone who shows up. Because we don't have the list of attendees from the organizers."

Edited December 11, 2006 by Too Tall

[Big_Pants]

Yep I heard it had been cancelled from Debbie who had travelled from the Uk on Wednesday for the "flan." She told me the Browncoats have been amazing and that she got to meet Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin amongst other cast members. How wonderful that these guys have pulled together for the fans with no financial gain whatsoever. I'm eternally grateful to them all, cast and Browncoats, for making Debbie's trip so memorable. Imagine getting all the way to Burbank only for it to be cancelled!

[betrayed-deagol]

awwwwwww, *cuddles* for debs!!! I'm so glad they were able to fix it!!

[Daniel]

Thats awful. Thank goodness for Showmasters

[tiggerific]

do we know why it was cancelled? and wow thats some seriously dedicated fans! great stuff!

[genesgal]

Yes I went to Burbank to attend the Flan and instead attended the Californian BrowncoatbackupBash or as we like to call it B3.

 

All the fun started on the Thursday evening when the realisation that we were not going to be seeing any of the cast was sinking in. the next thing we know is a cheer goes us in the lobby of the hotel.. None other than Adam Baldwin has popped in to see us. The Bedlam Bards start singing the Ballad of Jayne and so does everyone else.. everyones mood soars. Adam then procedes to the bar gets a beer and spends the next few hours chatting with us like we're old friends... a real charming gentleman.

 

The next day we go down to the Browncoat meeting where we're expecting the Cal BC's to tell us if they've managed to come up with a plan .. of course they have their Browncoats .. waiting in the Lobby fresh from a plane ride is Mark Sheppard(Badger) truly one of the nicest, funniest people you could wish to meet . He was'nt suposed to be at the Flan till the afternoon but after hearing what happened he came straight there to cheer us up, posed for pictures and signed autographs.

 

Johnathan Woodward shows up and checks into the hotel and joins in the fun. Later that day we're just leaving the restaurnat when none other that Captain tightpants himself Nathan Fillion walks in carrying a box of personal stuff to give away.. Alan Tudyk was with him which was a bit of a shock as he was supposed to be in Phoenix filming, it transpired that he too ahd heard waht happened and had jumped on a plane to come visit us for a few hours(at his own expense I might add)Nathan does the Captainy thing and gets everyone organised for an impromtue photo session so everyone gets a photo with him and Alan.Then NAthan and Alan have to leave and we spend the rest of the evening in the bar with Johanthan and Mark.

 

Next day we're taken off to a secret location and are shown video clips and get to meet Greg Edmonson who composed the wonderful music for Firefly.. bless him he's such a sweet man and is visibley upset for us and is stunned that we're all determined to have a great time. The Browncoats Captain, a truly wonderful guy called Adam, announces that we're all going somewhere hush hush later that day and we have to be ready to get on the buses at 8pm. We all get on the bus and it winds its way down to Hollywood.. we pull up at a club.. its Clare Kramer form Buffys new club that is'nt due to open for another two weeks but she's managed to get it staffed and we are the only ones allowed in there.if you were'nt wearing an orange braclet you could'nt get in. of course some people did get in without a bracelet.. lets see oh yes Nathan arrived and caused more than a bit of a buss and proceded to do a walkabout(well more of a shuffle really as it was real busy) in the club, Morena, Christina, Michael Fairman(Niska) and Ron showed up too. Marka nd johnathan were of course a wonderful permantant fixture by now and a great time.

 

On the sunday we were lucky enough to have Tim Minear visit, he showed us a clip of his new TV show and did a commentary for the Firefly epsiode Ariel. The man is hysterical.. he then signed autographs for anyone who wanted them... lovely man.He was'nt even scheduled to attend but had heard from one of the actors what had gone on and had decided to show up anyway.

 

Johnathan then proceded to do the Sunday service with Rev Wallet... boy that gy knows how to work an audience.. just love him..he then signed autos he had been with us all weekend at his own expense... a real star.

 

that was it weekend over, but what a weekend thanks to the wonderful organisational skills of a terrific bunch of people called the Cal Browncoats and the generosity and kindness of the cast of Firefly, who BTW had each lost a ton of money in appearance fees, we all had the most wonderful of weekend and were part of something special. Browncoats across the world donated over $4500 in just two days to help out with expenses..There cannot be another programme or cast that would inspire such a wonderful event and I feel honoured to have been a part of it

[Fry]

Yes I went to Burbank to attend the Flan and instead attended the Californian BrowncoatbackupBash or as we like to call it B3.

 

All the fun started on the Thursday evening when the realisation that we were not going to be seeing any of the cast was sinking in. the next thing we know is a cheer goes us in the lobby of the hotel.. None other than Adam Baldwin has popped in to see us. The Bedlam Bards start singing the Ballad of Jayne and so does everyone else.. everyones mood soars. Adam then procedes to the bar gets a beer and spends the next few hours chatting with us like we're old friends... a real charming gentleman.

 

The next day we go down to the Browncoat meeting where we're expecting the Cal BC's to tell us if they've managed to come up with a plan .. of course they have their Browncoats .. waiting in the Lobby fresh from a plane ride is Mark Sheppard(Badger) truly one of the nicest, funniest people you could wish to meet . He was'nt suposed to be at the Flan till the afternoon but after hearing what happened he came straight there to cheer us up, posed for pictures and signed autographs.

 

Johnathan Woodward shows up and checks into the hotel and joins in the fun. Later that day we're just leaving the restaurnat when none other that Captain tightpants himself Nathan Fillion walks in carrying a box of personal stuff to give away.. Alan Tudyk was with him which was a bit of a shock as he was supposed to be in Phoenix filming, it transpired that he too ahd heard waht happened and had jumped on a plane to come visit us for a few hours(at his own expense I might add)Nathan does the Captainy thing and gets everyone organised for an impromtue photo session so everyone gets a photo with him and Alan.Then NAthan and Alan have to leave and we spend the rest of the evening in the bar with Johanthan and Mark.

 

Next day we're taken off to a secret location and are shown video clips and get to meet Greg Edmonson who composed the wonderful music for Firefly.. bless him he's such a sweet man and is visibley upset for us and is stunned that we're all determined to have a great time. The Browncoats Captain, a truly wonderful guy called Adam, announces that we're all going somewhere hush hush later that day and we have to be ready to get on the buses at 8pm. We all get on the bus and it winds its way down to Hollywood.. we pull up at a club.. its Clare Kramer form Buffys new club that is'nt due to open for another two weeks but she's managed to get it staffed and we are the only ones allowed in there.if you were'nt wearing an orange braclet you could'nt get in. of course some people did get in without a bracelet.. lets see oh yes Nathan arrived and caused more than a bit of a buss and proceded to do a walkabout(well more of a shuffle really as it was real busy) in the club, Morena, Christina, Michael Fairman(Niska) and Ron showed up too. Marka nd johnathan were of course a wonderful permantant fixture by now and a great time.

 

On the sunday we were lucky enough to have Tim Minear visit, he showed us a clip of his new TV show and did a commentary for the Firefly epsiode Ariel. The man is hysterical.. he then signed autographs for anyone who wanted them... lovely man.He was'nt even scheduled to attend but had heard from one of the actors what had gone on and had decided to show up anyway.

 

Johnathan then proceded to do the Sunday service with Rev Wallet... boy that gy knows how to work an audience.. just love him..he then signed autos he had been with us all weekend at his own expense... a real star.

 

that was it weekend over, but what a weekend thanks to the wonderful organisational skills of a terrific bunch of people called the Cal Browncoats and the generosity and kindness of the cast of Firefly, who BTW had each lost a ton of money in appearance fees, we all had the most wonderful of weekend and were part of something special. Browncoats across the world donated over $4500 in just two days to help out with expenses..There cannot be another programme or cast that would inspire such a wonderful event and I feel honoured to have been a part of it

 

That actually sounds alot better than any planned event and alot more fun!

[tiggerific]

WOW! it certainly seems like you had an absolute blast!! thanks for sharing that with us!!