Hasn't it occurred to anyone that...

[haesan]

I've heard lots of people mention in various threads recently that no news about Farscape has appeared on Sci Fi Wire, Skiffy's online news service. Everyone who's complained has attributed this to Skiffy's bitterness towards the show, assuming they wouldn't want to relay good news about a show they'd cancelled. But, little as I like to ponder the possibility, there seems to me a much more likely reason for their silence.

What other important source has been silent since the news broke? The Jim Henson Company itself, that's who. They're waiting to announce anything until all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted. Now, if Sci Fi Channel were financing the mini-series, wouldn't they be holding off on the announcement as well? Wouldn't that explain perfectly why they haven't reported it? I may not like it, but this explanation seems more likely to me than a simple grudge against the show.

[Red]

SCI FI is not financing the mini-series. And they likely aren't reporting it because there hasn't been an official announcement.

[waltersgirl]

i don't think Skiffy has a grudge against the show. i think SciFi Wire just isn't reporting it. possibly because there is no "official" source to quote but they may simply be waiting for a more concrete point in the filming, where SciFi Wire would then have more details to report.

[haesan]

Red: You said, "SCI FI is not financing the mini-series." Is that an opinion or a fact?

waltersgirl: I love your new avatar! Hail Braca Vishnu!

[waltersgirl]

:lol ain't it faboo? you can thank red for BracaVishnu. she rocks muchly.

[Red]

It is a fact - the SCI FI Channel is not financing the mini-series.

[haesan]

Darn, should have asked this my last post, sorry:
Was that -- the fact that SCI FI Channel isn't financing the mini-series -- announced at the main page? Somehow I missed that bit of news. (But I'm happy about it!)

[StarsGoBlue]

haesan, if red says it, you can trust it.

it hasn't been posted because there hasn't been an official announcement. but if red said it (and those hacks at IGN *did* post it, although they had nothing to back it up), you can take it to the bank.


*****stars

[Red]

No, it wasn't announced on the main page. Financing has not been officially announced anywhere. I don't have all the details, I'm not privy to much, but I can say that SCI FI is not financing the mini-series and that's not an opinion. :)

[haesan]

*does the "happy Skiffy-hater" dance* Thanks, Red. :D

[StarsGoBlue]

oooooooh, you should trademark that dance, haesan!

:band: :dancin:


*****stars :rollin:

[Judith]

Originally posted by haesan


waltersgirl: I love your new avatar! Hail Braca Vishnu!

His surname is actually Vishnu? Like the god?

[MediaSavant]

Originally posted by haesan
What other important source has been silent since the news broke? The Jim Henson Company itself, that's who. They're waiting to announce anything until all the t's are crossed and i's are dotted.

A lot of other sources that publish entertainment info have said nothing:

Variety
Hollywood Reporter
Mediaweek
Television Week
Broadcasting & Cable

Entertainment Weekly

Picking up on the questions for Red. I'm curious about the use of the word "financing" by your source. Financing can mean different things. There are the production companies of a show who actually finance the production. Their names often appear at the end of the credits--Henson, Hallmark, the Nine Network (for a while), etc. They essentially own a part of the show and will get pieces of whatever revenue comes back (like someone who owns stock).

The network that airs the show is usually a "licensee" or purchaser of the show. But, I can also see people thinking of them as a "financer" of the show. Technically, though, they only have the rights to make money off the show temporarily and only under certain contractual conditions of the license and until their license expires.

When you say with certainty that SciFi is not financing the show, do you mean the stricter definition I descrbed two paragraphs ago or the broader, definition that includes the licensees?

[BritAngie]

Originally posted by MediaSavant
A lot of other sources that publish entertainment info have said nothing:

Variety
Hollywood Reporter
Mediaweek
Television Week
Broadcasting & Cable

Entertainment Weekly

Picking up on the questions for Red. I'm curious about the use of the word "financing" by your source. Financing can mean different things. There are the production companies of a show who actually finance the production. Their names often appear at the end of the credits--Henson, Hallmark, the Nine Network (for a while), etc. They essentially own a part of the show and will get pieces of whatever revenue comes back (like someone who owns stock).

The network that airs the show is usually a "licensee" or purchaser of the show. But, I can also see people thinking of them as a "financer" of the show. Technically, though, they only have the rights to make money off the show temporarily and only under certain contractual conditions of the license and until their license expires.

When you say with certainty that SciFi is not financing the show, do you mean the stricter definition I descrbed two paragraphs ago or the broader, definition that includes the licensees?

I take it to mean that at the moment sci fi has *nothing* to do with "that which cannot be named (tm)". I'm also guessing Red is saying as much as she can say or knows. Does she have to give blood too? :lol:

[grapeshot]

Actually, I've never noticed that SciFi Wire has trafficked in unsubstantiated rumors. Most of their reports are something that was an official announcement - or a press release, or an interview with someone who's just signed on to a project, or an interview clearly aimed at publicizing a current project. Unlike Cinescape, or IGN, which reports any rumor, SciFi Wire seems mostly driven by press releases. And we all know that there has been no press release by ANY party close to the production.

I was actually rather surprised by the TV Guide mention IN PRINT, and can only suppose that they have a reliable source. I don't think SciFi Wire has those same "reliable" sources. And, website mentions are still far less substantial than mentions in print, and there have been VERY few "in-print" mentions. (Just two, I think. One in TV Guide, and one in a Sydney paper, which presumably has its own reliable source on its own continent.)

While I do believe that a miniseries is a fact, I respect the press organizations that haven't run with any half-baked stories. I have no doubt that in the fullness of time all will be made clear to us.

[MediaSavant]

Originally posted by BritAngie
I take it to mean that at the moment sci fi has *nothing* to do with "that which cannot be named (tm)". I'm also guessing Red is saying as much as she can say or knows. Does she have to give blood too?

Of course not. I hope I wasn't giving that impression.

She didn't have to say anything on this subject at all.

But, part of the outcome of spilling what Red spilled is that she is going to get more intense questions. It's inevitable.

[Red]

But, part of the outcome of spilling what Red spilled is that she is going to get more intense questions. It's inevitable.
And I'll answer what I can. However, there's really nothing more that I'm able to contribute to this particular discussion.

[LadyCrais]

I'm really surprised that, while not in print, that the website of the creature makers (can't remember the name right now) stating specifically that they're working on the mini-series hasn't been picked up on as official enough for various print media to consider it confirmed. It's not like they're fly-by-night nobodies, especially after this last project of theirs. In fact I've found it a bit strange that there's never even been a news item on our front page linking to them. At least I totally missed it if there was. All I ever saw about it was the thread.

[BritAngie]

LadyCrais I guess it's about professionalism and etiquette. Some news sources will wait for official announcements from the source of the news rather than just announce from other equally honest sources.

If everyone just went to other sources then why would anyone ever bother even announcing anything officially?! :lol:

I think it's really about it being Henson's dance not anyone elses and alot of news places still respect that and will wait. :)

[waltersgirl]

sci fi has *nothing* to do with "that which cannot be named (tm)".

you mean the miniseries that's currently in production at Sydney Waterfront Studios?

[Red]

In fact I've found it a bit strange that there's never even been a news item on our front page linking to them.
Well, we didn't mention it because ... we, uh, didn't mention it. We just didn't.

The thing is, when I made the announcement of the mini-series, it was because I could. I know that what I said is the truth, I know that I wouldn't post something like that on my site that I didn't know was at least as true as possible. I guess I just haven't felt the need to back it up with varification from other sites, including image creative - not that I don't want to, or that I'm not pleased by the verification, but rather that I just simply haven't thought about it because I know what I posted is true. Honest to god, it just never crossed my mind to do so.

[BritAngie]

Originally posted by waltersgirl
you mean the miniseries that's currently in production at Sydney Waterfront Studios?

I might do. :P :lol:

[jeffrabb]

Originally posted by MediaSavant
Of course not. I hope I wasn't giving that impression.
You did

Originally posted by MediaSavant
She didn't have to say anything on this subject at all.

But, part of the outcome of spilling what Red spilled is that she is going to get more intense questions. It's inevitable.

Oh? Is there something she has done over the course of this campaign that would warrent having her word and integrity questioned? Unlike some people on this board who made it no secret that they believed that there was no chance in getting Farscape back. Then when the show is back they are either happy to jump back on the bandwagon (fair-weather warriors) or to question the integrity and sincerity of the person who brought the news to us (backstabbers). If Red were way out into left field with this news, why did TV Guide put it out in print last week? I have a copy of it at home if you need me to send you a copy of it. They even say it's probably going by way of sindication too.

Perhaps I'm being a bit acidic here in my remarks but then again, to turn your own phrase back onto you, "It's inevitable".

Seriously MS, if you can't offer something constructive to this discussion or offer a concrete reason why we should believe you over Red, then I suggest you take a hike.

Jeff

[BritAngie]

Okay let's chill guys please.. it's coming up to xmas(goodwill to all men ,women and yes even sci fi channel execs..) and we're getting our show back.. :D

[RydraWong]

Oh? Is there something she has done over the course of this campaign that would warrent having her word and integrity questioned?

Personally, I didn't think MediaSavant was questioning Red's word at all; I simply read her post as saying that, given the information Red has given out, she's inevitably going to get people begging her for more information.

Which doesn't mean she's obliged to answer those questions, and I think we all appreciate that there's stuff she can't say - it's just a statement about human nature.

We all want to lure Red into a dark corner and bribe/threaten/plead with her to spill all the info she has. But instead we have to wait for the official official announcement and try not to gnaw on the furniture too much :D .

[LadyCrais]

Originally posted by jeffrabb
You did



Oh? Is there something she has done over the course of this campaign that would warrent having her word and integrity questioned? Unlike some people on this board who made it no secret that they believed that there was no chance in getting Farscape back. Then when the show is back they are either happy to jump back on the bandwagon (fair-weather warriors) or to question the integrity and sincerity of the person who brought the news to us (backstabbers). If Red were way out into left field with this news, why did TV Guide put it out in print last week? I have a copy of it at home if you need me to send you a copy of it. They even say it's probably going by way of sindication too.

Perhaps I'm being a bit acidic here in my remarks but then again, to turn your own phrase back onto you, "It's inevitable".

Seriously MS, if you can't offer something constructive to this discussion or offer a concrete reason why we should believe you over Red, then I suggest you take a hike.

Jeff


Yo, Jeff! Chill for crying out loud. I am getting really sick and tired of every single time MS asks a questions, it's being interpreted in the most ridiculously negative terms and someone goes to town bashing her. I have yet to even see MediaSavant ask a question that I wouldn't ask myself, but simply because of who she is she's being attacked mercilessly every time. Sometimes by regular folks. Sometimes by a moderator. It's really quite ridiculous.

And if I'm not completely out in left field, this thread IS the first time Red has said unequivocally that Skiffy isn't "financing" it. For MS to have a follow-up question because she knows there are shades of meaning to the term within her professional field hardly makes her question rude, crass or out of line. Sheesh! Give the poor woman a break for a change.

[Red]

Yes, thank you Jeff, however, I do believe Rydra is correct. MS just asked a question and stated such questions are inevitable - and they are, believe me, you should see my inbox. Unfortunately they aren't questions I'm able to give much detail on.

SCI FI is not involved in the mini-series at all, whatsoever, at this point in time. Let us all rejoice. Could the mini end up on Skiffy? Nobody knows right now - the irony would be almost too much to bear. I guess we'll see. It's all very interesting, and, like Farscape, not exactly a typical example of the way these sorts of things usually work, I think.

[Shipscat]

I'm praying it doesn't end up on Scifi.

Oh, and LadyCrais, I put up a news article at Farscapeweb about Image Creative Partnership's website saying that they were going to be working on the miniseries. I thought it was great that they were confirming that they would be working on it. But different places pick different things to write up.

And I kinda think Skiffy's doing it on purpose. I really wonder when they're going to acknowledge the miniseries....

ICP is here:

http://www.imagecreative.net/

[LadyCrais]

Thanks Shipscat. I happen to really get a kick out of their site with all the stunning photography. And it is very cool to read those words "officially" somewhere about the miniseries. It's just my thinking that website is so much fun that made me ask the question. It's not like I think any of the fan sites are being remiss in not mentioning it. Just a tad strange that ICP isn't considered in some way a confirmation to the rumors for those publications that want something more official. But then maybe they just aren't interested and Farscape isn't high enough on their radar to warrent a "news" item anyway. At least those on MS's list. Skiffy's another story altogether.