Well it looks like someone has gone ahead a done it – a Firefly fan film has been made and it’s about damn time too.

As most will already know that coming from the highly regarded Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel TV show’s, Joss Whedon’s Firefly carried with it high expectations, however, by mid-December 2002 the show averaged only 4.7million viewers per episode and was 98th in the Nielson ratings. The show was cancelled after episode 11 out of 14 in the very first season.

However, by then the show had already gained a substantial fan following. DVD sales for the TV series went through the roof and combined with large fan campaign the movie based on the TV show, Serenity, containing all of the principle characters was comissioned by Universal Pictures.

The fan film is called Browncoats:Redemption and according to the fan film’s website :

BROWNCOATS: REDEMPTION takes place three months after the events on Miranda and we find Captain Laura Matthews and the crew of Redemption unintentionally thrown into a situation that some view as the potential catalyst for the second unified rise of the Independents against the Alliance, since Unification Day. The Alliance is looking for a scape goat for Miranda while those unhappy with the Alliance are looking for a rallying cry to take action. Through all this, a secret about Laura is exposed that shakes the very core of the crew, threatening to break it up, challenge the trust that she’s earned with the Browncoats, and undo all the efforts she has put into place to keep a sense of peace in her life since the first Unification War.

Premise sounds good to me. I’ve long wondered after watching Serenity many, many, MANY times over what happened in this universe next since the revelations of Miranda. The movie isn’t based on the original characters for obvious reason, but the angle in which the creators have attacked this project is as interesting as it is compelling.

Check out all three teaser trailers of the movie below:

Trailer 1:

Trailer 2:

Trailer 3:

After watching the trailers, I’m in two minds. I’m used to top quality production, the sheer brilliance of Whedon’s writing and characterisation and the undeniable chemistry between the original cast and I judging from the trailers I suspect Browncoats: Redemption will be a long way from what I’m used to.

However, I find myself becoming drawn in more and more by the story and the film is being made for a good reason (besides the obvious awesomeness of the Firefly universe):

We have completed filming our own Firefly/Serenity fan film called “Browncoats: Redemption” with all the proceeds from the DVD’s of the film going to charity.

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 around $15.

Check out the fan film website today and get involved! I know I will be!

And just to prove how ENTIRELY AWESOME SOME FAN FILMS CAN BE, here’s Batman: Dead End! Enjoy!

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