In an issue that speaks to the long-term business implications of writing, FOX put the kibosh on the fan-run Buffy-the-Musical sing-a-longs.
For the uninitiated, Buffy was a hit show centered around a young girl cursed (or blessed) to slay vampires, kill demons, and fight evil. In one of the episodes, a demon caused the the entire town to break out into Broadway-style song and dance routines. Since the end of the television show's demise, the musical episode has been shown in theaters along with a "cast" that sings and dances along. However, the studio lawyers are causing it all to end. See:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5if4Fv5TkZWZp21xkz1xzWjbRMJ2wD8S7TQT80
The basic gist of the problem seems to be that the Hollywood business structure (union fees, etc) doesn't know how to handle the issue; canceled television shows generally don't re-air in movie theaters years later. Although to be fair to the studio, if the Buffy sing-a-long crew is making a profit, I can see the need to step in.
Joss Whedon, the show's creator, responded negatively to the news and promised do everything in, "... my power to find out the exact reasoning for this and try to convince those responsible what a mistake it is." See:
http://www.ifmagazine.com/new.asp?article=5200
What do you think? Writers' rights? Evil studio oppressing the people's freedom? Allow profit-earning third-parties to use a creator's work in any way? Other?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
First, does Whedon own the rights to the series? For the image use of Spike and Angel in comic book form he signed those rights away, and now that he's doing Buffy Season 8 (as a comic book) he has to pay or something to use those characters. Anyway, if he doesn't have the rights to the series itself, then at the very least I don't think his rights are being violated by the corporation not doing what he wants.
Second, the show isn't public domain so any business (or group of people accepting money) that is showing the musical episode for profit ought to pay the rights holder (Whedon, Fox, whoever). If Fox is unwilling to set up a price or take money in anyway for this, that is a shame, but doesn't make it right for anyone to make a profit of the product.
Third, if this means the people can't watch the show at a price in a theatre, boo hoo? The episode and soundtrack is out on dvd and cd, and in the privacy of their own homes they can watch the episode and sing as much as they want with their friends and fellow fans.
I'm going to make the assumption that Whedon does not have the rights to the show. Buffy the movie and then Buffy the tv series were his first big projects. To get the funding and a studio backing him he probably had to sign the rights to the show over to them (this is what happened to Matt Groening and The Simpsons anyway). I'm sure he really is empathetic to his fans on this, but I'm not sure if he'll really be able to do much about this.
In closing, I have the Buffy series on DVD and if any of you guys ever want to watch the musical episode and sing along (after alchool) you give me a call.
Tickets are $8.50.
Post a Comment