"Firefly" (2002) TV series 2002-2003

Creator:

Joss Whedon
(more)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

20 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Five hundred years in the future, a renegade crew aboard a small, mobile, spacecraft tries to survive as they travel the unknown parts of the galaxy and evade warring factions as well as authority agents out to get them.

Plot Keywords:

Alliance | Pilot | Captain | Psychic | Future

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Nathan Fillion	...	Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Gina Torres	...	Zoë Washburne (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Alan Tudyk	...	Hoban 'Wash' Washburne (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Morena Baccarin	...	Inara Serra (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Adam Baldwin	...	Jayne Cobb (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jewel Staite	...	Kaylee Frye (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Sean Maher	...	Dr. Simon Tam (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Summer Glau	...	River Tam (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Ron Glass	...	Shepherd Book (14 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Directed by
Joss Whedon		(3 episodes, 2002)
Vern Gillum		(2 episodes, 2002-2003)
Tim Minear		(2 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Writing credits
Joss Whedon		(14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Tim Minear		(4 episodes, 2002-2003)
Ben Edlund		(2 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jose Molina		(2 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Produced by
Gareth Davies	....	producer / line producer (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Lisa Lassek	....	associate producer (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Tim Minear	....	executive producer (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Brian Wankum	....	associate producer (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Joss Whedon	....	executive producer (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Ben Edlund	....	producer (13 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Original Music by
Greg Edmonson		(14 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Cinematography by
David Boyd		(14 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Film Editing by
Sunny Hodge		(5 episodes, 2002-2003)
Lisa Lassek		(5 episodes, 2002)
John Peter Bernardo		(4 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Production Design by
Carey Meyer		(14 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Art Direction by
Colin De Rouin		(13 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Set Decoration by
David A. Koneff		(13 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Costume Design by
Shawna Trpcic		(12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jill M. Ohanneson		(2 episodes, 2002)

Series Makeup Department
Diana Acrey	....	key hair stylist / hair department head (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Camille Calvet	....	key make-up artist / make-up artist (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Allan B. Holt	....	makeup effects lab technician (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Kerry Mendenhall	....	key hair stylist (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Robert Hall	....	special makeup effects: Almost Human (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Mary Kay Witt	....	key make-up artist / key makeup artist (2 episodes, 2002)
Christopher Burdett	....	special makeup designer (unknown episodes)
Leo Corey Castellano	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Jason Collins	....	supervisor: Almost Human, Inc. (unknown episodes)
Jake Garber	....	makeup artist / special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)
Roxane Griffin	....	hair stylist (unknown episodes)
Margie Latinopoulos	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Debbie Mezera	....	office manager: Almost Human Inc (unknown episodes)
James Ojala	....	special makeup effects technician (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Michael Cedar	....	unit production manager (14 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Athena Alexander	....	second assistant director (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jana Ludwigova	....	second second assistant director (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Ellen Marie Blum	....	first assistant director (6 episodes, 2002-2003)
Tony Schwartz	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2002-2003)
Brenda Kalosh	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2002)
John P. Aguirre	....	second second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Lisa Chu	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)
Ellen Rosentreter	....	dga trainee (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Steven Fidler	....	construction coordinator (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Dylan J. Hay Chapman	....	graphic artist (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Stella Starlight	....	art department coordinator / graphic designer (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Keith A. Cuba	....	lead person (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
David Goldstein	....	paint foreman (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Randy Eriksen	....	property master (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jeffrey Moore	....	property master (2 episodes, 2003)
Banner Agundez	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Will Batts	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Ron Cobb	....	conceptual artist (unknown episodes)
Skip Crank	....	property master (unknown episodes)
Rick Heyer	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Happy Nakamura	....	property assistant (unknown episodes)
David Saltzman	....	assistant property master (unknown episodes)
Val Wilt	....	general foreman (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Mark Cleary	....	sound effects editor (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Robert Guastini	....	dialogue editor (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Mike Marchain	....	supervising adr editor (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Cindy Rabideau	....	supervising sound editor (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
David Yaffe	....	production sound mixer / production sound designer (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Deb Adair	....	re-recording mixer (11 episodes, 2002-2003)
Bill Jackson	....	re-recording mixer (11 episodes, 2002-2003)
Tom Perry	....	re-recording mixer (11 episodes, 2002-2003)
Devendra Damon Cleary	....	boom operator (11 episodes, 2002)
Kevin McCullough	....	sound effects editor (10 episodes, 2002-2003)
Joe Barnett	....	re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 2002)
Fred Tator	....	re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 2002)
Mathew Waters	....	re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 2002)
Susan Cahill	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes)
Kevin Hyde	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Brian D. Lucas	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer (unknown episodes)
Steven Morrow	....	sound mixer: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Bruce Minkus	....	special effects coordinator (14 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Visual Effects by
Loni Peristere	....	visual effects supervisor (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Emile Edwin Smith	....	visual/digital effects supervisor / digital effects supervisor (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Justin Ball	....	senior systems engineer: Zoic Studios (10 episodes, 2002-2003)
Kyle Toucher	....	visual effects artist / animator / ... (4 episodes, 2002-2003)
David R. Morton	....	digital artist (2 episodes, 2002-2003)
Raoul Bolognini	....	visual effects coordinator (unknown episodes)
Brent Burpee	....	systems engineer (unknown episodes)
Aram Granger	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Jon-Marc Kortsch	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Errol Lanier	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Michael D. Leone	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Mark Lipsmeyer	....	digital artist: Zoic Studios (unknown episodes)
John McGinley	....	visual effects modeler (unknown episodes)
Jose Perez	....	visual effects (unknown episodes)
Kevin Quattro	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Bryan Whitaker	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Nick Brandon	....	stunt coordinator (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Todd Warren	....	stunts (4 episodes, 2002-2003)
Scott Workman	....	stunts (3 episodes, 2002-2003)
Andy Dylan	....	stunts (2 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael Gaines	....	stunts (2 episodes, 2002-2003)
Lin Oeding	....	stunts (2 episodes, 2002-2003)
Craig Appel	....	equestrian / utility stunts (2 episodes, 2002)
Chris Daniels	....	utility stunts (2 episodes, 2002)
Cheryl Bermeo	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Charlie Brewer	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ken Clark	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
John Dixon	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Brian Duffy	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Roel Failma	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Bryan Friday	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
James Giaquinto	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Mike Gunther	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jes Hellwege	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Nicola C. Hindshaw	....	stunt double: Jewel Staite / utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Mark Kubr	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Cheryl Lawson	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Larry A. Lee	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Will Leong	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Christopher Leps	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Michael Li	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Sam Maloof	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Mike Massa	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Brandon Molale	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Caryn Mower	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gloria O'Brien	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
J.J. Perry	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Marcus Salgado	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Christie Sanders	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Felipe Savahge	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Paul Anthony Scott	....	stunt double: Nathan Fillion / stunts (unknown episodes)
Paul E. Short	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tim Sitarz	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Clark Tucker	....	utility stunts (unknown episodes)
Jim Vickers	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gary J. Wayton	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Lee Whittaker	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Dennis L. Peterson	....	chief lighting technician (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Bubba Sheffield	....	key grip / key rigger (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Chris Stanman	....	electrician (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Allen D. Easton	....	camera operator (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Josh Stancil	....	rigging grip (7 episodes, 2002)
Gregory Beard	....	best boy grip (unknown episodes)
Brian Cantrell	....	best boy electric (unknown episodes)
Keith Davis	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Ron Eisenberg	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Samuel Fischer	....	best boy electric (unknown episodes)
Tom Hutchinson	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Chris Lewis	....	rigging gaffer (unknown episodes)
Dan Ming	....	additional first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
George Santo Pietro	....	dolly grip (unknown episodes)
Jonas Steadman	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
James Stiritz	....	best boy grip (unknown episodes)
Troy White	....	best boy electric (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Lonnie Hamerman	....	casting associate (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael V. Nicolo	....	casting assistant (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Anya Colloff	....	casting by (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jennifer Fishman	....	casting by (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Amy McIntyre Britt	....	casting by (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Lee A. Miles	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Karen Hare	....	costumer (1 episode, 2002)
Lori Rozzi	....	specialty costumes (1 episode, 2002)
Jayme Bohn	....	assistant costume designer (unknown episodes)
Susi Campos	....	set costumer (unknown episodes)
Philip Maldonado	....	costumer (unknown episodes)
Lawrence Quon	....	costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Aaron Miller	....	post production coordinator (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Sam B. Bollinger	....	assistant editor (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Marilyn Moore	....	assistant editor (6 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Music Department
Tim Isle	....	music editor (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
David Klotz	....	music editor (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Bob Ellis	....	transportation coordinator (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
John Magoo McGivern	....	transportation captain (unknown episodes)
Beau Reed	....	transportation co-captain (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
John J. Gray	....	assistant: Tim Minear (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Neil Levin	....	script coordinator (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Stacey Levin	....	head publicist (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Elyse Allyn Ramsdell	....	production coordinator (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jain Sekuler	....	script supervisor (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Kelly Wheeler	....	assistant: Gareth Davies (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael Boretz	....	assistant: Joss Whedon (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Cheryl Cain	....	story editor (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jenny Lynn	....	translator: Chinese (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jose Molina	....	executive story editor (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
James E. Williams	....	production auditor (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Peter M. Robarts	....	location manager (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Tony Rudenko	....	programming: computer graphics / computer graphics programmer (11 episodes, 2002-2003)
Anne Fletcher	....	choreography / choreography by (3 episodes, 2002)
Robert Earl Craft	....	location manager (2 episodes, 2003)
Ted Bayard	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Tami Fernholz	....	payroll accountant (unknown episodes)
Ryan Ford	....	assistant accountant (unknown episodes)
Sam Greenmun	....	spacesuit technician (unknown episodes)
Steve Karnes	....	weapons armorer (unknown episodes)
Shaun McNally	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jim Roberts	....	medic (unknown episodes)
Caroline Vandenberg	....	assistant production coordinator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Mutant Enemy
• 20th Century Fox Television

Distributors

• Fox Film Corporation
• Viasat3 (2007) (Hungary) (TV) (original airing)
• TV6 (2008) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release)
• CanWest Global Communications
• Fox Movies SF Horror (2008) (Japan) (TV)
• Fox Network (2002-2003) (USA) (TV)
• Sci-Fi Channel, The (2003) (UK) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc) (complete series)

Special Effects

• Almost Human
• Radium (visual effects) (2002)
• Zoic Studios (visual effects) (2002-)

Other Companies

• Almost Human  special makeup effects
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• DeLuxe Laboratories  processing
• Meat and Potatoes  title design: main titles
• R!ot  post-production services
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  sound post-production

Also Known As:

Firefly: The Series (USA) (long title)
Joss Whedon's Firefly (Australia)

Runtime:

42 min (15 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12 (12 episodes) | UK:PG (2 episodes) | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

The sound made by Mel's hand gun is the same sound as the titular character's hand gun in the Spaghetti Western Django (1966), played by Franco Nero.

Goofs:

Continuity: The Chinese characters for "Blue Sun" change from episode to episode. On Jayne's T-shirt, "Blue Sun" is "qing ri", but in logo signs, it's "lan ri". "Qing" and "lan" refer to different colors (green and blue, respectively).

Quotes:

[opening narration for episodes: Train Job, Bushwacked, Our Mrs. Reynolds, Jaynestown]
Book: After the Earth was used up, we found a new solar system and hundreds of new Earths were terraformed and colonized. The central planets formed the Alliance and decided all the planets had to join under their rule. There was some disagreement on that point...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Re-Lighting the Firefly (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Ballad of Serenity

Could have been great

As with BtVS, the world is divided into people who get Firefly and people who don't. In this series Joss Whedon created one of the most realistic post-war visions of the future ever committed to tape, that at the same time spoke about yesterday and today. Maybe a little too much today for its own good.

The series is anti-corporate, anti-government and, while it takes the stand that some things are worth fighting for, it is largely anti-war. No wonder FOX did everything in its power to kill it off, including airing episodes out of order, skipping weeks after airing only three eps and, inevitably canceling the show without even airing episodes 12, 13 and 14 (out of 15). This was particularly damaging, as Firefly had a greater sense of ongoing plot than any other Whedon series in its first year. Viewers were left wondering, on more than one occasion, when a character would reference something we hadn't seen yet.

The backstage dramatics aside, Firefly is intelligent and, like Buffy, mythic - except this time Whedon is dealing with the myth of America: the Frontier, the Civil War, the rise of the Corporation, etc . . .

Firefly is a demanding show. It asks its audience to appreciate the shades of grey in its characters' moral scale. The villains are not comfortingly dressed as an alien race. In 500 years mankind will still be its own worst enemy. Technology will be in the hands of a privileged few, and others will in "The Black" - Whedon's frontier third world - where it is possible to exist without the interference (or benefit) of civilization and government. Things will be dirty, and used. Firefly creates a universe that almost totally opposes that of (that bastion of television sci-fi) Star Trek: its Federation-like central power (the Alliance) is interpreted as being oppressive and dystopic. We are on the side of those who resisted (like the Maqui) and lost.

The acting is strong, the writing as excellent, funny and moving as on any Whedon show, and the effects and sets create a consistent, believable world. It is a shame the series didn't have a more hospitable environment in which to grow and become all it could have been.