In 2009, Casey Pugh publically invited “SW” fans to assist him in a project to “remake” “Ep IV: A New Hope” by contributing a recreation of any scene from the original film they wanted however they wanted with the only stipulation that cannot be longer than 15 seconds. Finally the the piece has been released on YouTube and I am wondering if this is arguably the greatest expression of fan “ownership” to date?

I haven’t watched all of it, but I have been utterly impressed by styles, imagery and sheer love that this project shows. I congratulate both Casey Pugh and all the fans that chose to take part and I am sure for every section chosen, there were hundreds of entries, and I certainly do not envy Casey and his associates for the choices they had to make.

Watch for yourself and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have:

Wendy

To be able to see more photos, please go to their Facebook page, here

We decided to kick of this special year for the UK (both the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics) with a bit of culture as when Shawna Trpcic retweeted a link to a forthcoming production of a “Firefly” themed production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” by the Stanford Savoyards (based at Stanford University), how could we not resist in speaking with them?!

Although we will not be able to attend their production, I was pleased to find this complilation video on YouTube of some of their past productions:

So if our interview with the lovely Lisa whetted your appetite and you want to find out more about the Stanford Savoyards or if you want to book a seat for one of the performance of the Firefly themed Pirates of Penzance go and visit their website here!

As always, we hope you will enjoy the show and if you do, you can leave comments here or on our Facebook page or Twitter

You can find our podcast on itunes, here is a direct link to our page, and if you like us please make sure you leave us some feedback!

Of course you can also download the show directly from here!

Wendy and Odile

“Castle” also won the Favourite TV Crime Drama category and we extend our congratulations to the cast and crew.

Wendy

Hot on the heels of the announcement that MMO game developer, Multiverse has officially closed down, the Browncoat year kicked off already with a report that their source code for the “Firefly” MMO (announced in December 2006) may not have disappeared into the ether and according to massively.joystiq.com, they were contacted by Tristan Bacon from Multiverse Foundation saying that they have acquired the source code and ”starting work full-time on the actual MMO creation platform.” Bacon says that if there is still interest from fans, the team intends to use the platform to make a Firefly MMO.”  Unfortunately this is where it all starts becoming a little sticky as if you go direct to the Multiverse Foundation website, not only is it under construction (but there are forums!), you are greeted with this message from Mr Bacon:

“For those of you who have come here looking for news of the potential FireFly MMO – the idea is only being discussed, and nothing has been finalised. Despite what has been written on various MMO sites, we have not officially decided whether we will pursue the idea, as we would need to secure IP rights from both Fox and Mutant Enemy Productions.

Feel free to sign up to our forums and follow us on Twitter (@MultiverseMMO) to be the first to know.

Thanks,

Tristan Bacon

Director of Communications

The Multiverse Foundation”

Unfortunately it is worth pointing out that the reason why the original MMO was never finalised to the point of actual online gameplay was to copyright/licencing issues, and as both Odile and myself have discussed on various shows over the last few years, as much as we applaud efforts like this; there is, however, a danger of announcing such ventures early, enjoying the benefits of fan interest and involvement only to see it all dissolve into disappointment and disillusionment when the venture enters into the “long night”of R&D, obtaining rights, etc without regular updates or gets to the point of where the project has to be abandoned without announcement.  Meanwhile the Firefly Universe Online MMO, whom we interviewed during 2011, appears to be gathering momentum with updates on their Facebook page, here, posting current information regarding the game.

As expected there was a minor discussion on Whedonesque.com where long-term contributor (and former SaW guest) Gossi was able to shed a small light on the matter, here.

QMx gave Wendy a fun birthday present by posting photographs of the 12-foot Reaverized Serenity miniature built by Grant McClure Design for “SERENITY” spotted during a recent visit to Universal.  If you have not yet viewed the page (and why are not you subscribed to the QMx Insider?), please click here.  Also on YouTube there is footage of the miniature being filmed:

We received a lovely email from the lovely William Pace, 2011 Global CSTS Organiser:

“To everyone at Sending a Wave,

On behalf of the 2011 Global Team at Can’t Stop the Serenity and volunteers of CSTS worldwide, we’d like to take this time to thank you for your generosity in support of our charities through your gracious donations.  Your support as a sponsor during the 2011 season helped us raise over $130,000 for Equality Now and dozens of local charities.  The money raised this year will help women and children worldwide who are subject to slavery, sex trafficking and laws and traditions that deny them freedom, justice and a voice.  We are so very grateful for your help.

Thank you.

We would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to lend your support again in the coming 2012 season.  Your donations help us raise awareness of issues that might otherwise go unnoticed and lend a boon to the local volunteers in over 50 major cities the world over.

If you would like to continue as a sponsor, please feel free to contact William Pace about your sponsorship.

Again, thank you.  We could have not accomplished so much without all of you.

-The 2011 CSTS Global Team”

We look forward to continuing our relationship with CSTS during 2012

Apologies to Jen Hilton, 2011 Raleigh organiser for not adding this to one of our last 2011 blogs or mentioning on our show – yet!  Jen contacted us in mid-December to give us some wonderful news, she was having her first sci-fi novel, “Stellarnet Rebel” published!  I’m pleased to say that the novel is now available (published 2 January) and is available on Kindle via Amazon.com in the US (here) and Amazon.co.uk (here).  If you wish to learn more about Jen and the novel, please visit her website, here.  Both Odile and myself wish Jen every success on her writing career.

Lastly, a bit of fun that made me laugh; “Galactic Princess Headphone Covers” available from the Jacquie Longlegs Etsy store here.

Until next time

Wendy

Ah, December – mulled wine, roasting chestnuts and the claustrophobia of the fellow shoppers …

This year Odile had a fabulous idea as to where to record our final show of 2011 – the annual Birmingham German Christmas Market and that’s where we discuss Marc Barnardin’s recent “Firefly” Tumblr essay which you can read here and listen to the rest of Odile’s interviews from her trip to this year’s Browncoat Ball.

If you love this blog’s pic, please go to Cthulu’s Crochet for the pattern.

If you want to learn more about Keith DeCandido, you can check his website here.

All that remains is for both of us to thank you all for being with us in 2011 and hope that you will stay with us for 2012.

As always, enjoy and don’t forget you can leave comments here or on our Facebook page or Twitter

You can find our podcast on itunes, here is a direct link to our page, and if you like us please make sure you leave us some feedback!

Of course you can also download the show directly from here!

See you all in 2012!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Wendy and Odile

Okay, maybe not quite that, but it hard to believe that we are now on the fifth anniversary of this remarkable weekend.  I decided to mark this occasion by putting together a bonus show speaking to people who where there – which multiplied into two bonus shows.

I want to thank all who contacted us.

I hope that you enjoy them and if you wish to hear our coverage of the weekend, please listen to shows 9, 10 and 11.

Wendy

As always, enjoy and don’t forget you can leave comments here or on our Facebook page or Twitter

You can find our podcast on itunes, here is a direct link to our page, and if you like us please make sure you leave us some feedback!

Of course you can also download the show directly from here!

See you all in a week or so!

It is with great sadness that we join the thousands of fellow science-fiction fans honouring the death of one of the most influential female SF writers – Anne McCaffrey.

Her first two novels about the Dragonriders of Pern are amongst my very favourites of the genre .

RIP Anne McCaffrey.

Wendy

Tea and podcasting... how british of us!

November is here and we bring you our show for the month.

We continue Odile’s interviews/chats with fellow Browncoats at this year’s Browncoat Ball, including Matt Black and the organisers of next year’s ball!

We also remind you all about the Whedon Winter Ball in Gloucester, UK in December and then realise that neither of us have anymore news…

Both of us want to say “thanks” to Phil Towle for all the fab work he’s doing on our behalf with this page – believe me, neither of us would have done this!

Enjoy!

As always, enjoy and don’t forget you can leave comments here or on our Facebook page or Twitter

You can find our podcast on itunes, here is a direct link to our page, and if you like us please make sure you leave us some feedback!

Of course you can also download the show directly from here!

See you all in December!

Wendy & Odile

This was produced for Russell Davies’s and Julie Gardener’s final (and subsequently David Tenant and Catherine Tate’s) final “Dr Who”wrap party.

Wendy