"Firefly" (2002) TV series 2002-2003

User Rating:

9.5/10   

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:

Space Opera | Nose Bleed | Cult Favorite | Wit | Old War Buddies

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)

(more)

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 (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Ben Edlund	....	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)

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

Series Cinematography by
David Boyd		(12 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 Casting by
Anya Colloff		(14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jennifer Fishman		(14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Amy McIntyre Britt		(14 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		(14 episodes, 2002-2003)

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

Series Makeup Department
Diana Acrey-Doyle	....	key hair stylist / hair department head (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Camille Calvet	....	key makeup artist / makeup 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)
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)
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)
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)
Stella Starlight	....	art department coordinator / graphic designer (unknown episodes)
Val Wilt	....	general foreman (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Mark Cleary	....	sound effects 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	....	sound re-recording mixer / re-recording mixer (11 episodes, 2002-2003)
Bill Jackson	....	sound re-recording mixer / re-recording mixer (11 episodes, 2002-2003)
Tom Perry	....	sound re-recording mixer / 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 / sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 2002)
Fred Tator	....	re-recording mixer / sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 2002)
Mathew Waters	....	re-recording mixer / sound re-recording mixer (2 episodes, 2002)
Susan Cahill	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes)
Robert Guastini	....	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 (13 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)
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)
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)
Rick Williamson	....	stunt performer (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)
Allen D. Easton	....	camera operator (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
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 (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael V. Nicolo	....	casting assistant (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)
Sonny Rhodes	....	musician: main title theme (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Bob Ellis	....	transportation coordinator (13 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)
Elyse Allyn Ramsdell	....	production coordinator (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jain Sekuler	....	script supervisor (14 episodes, 2002-2003)
Cheryl Cain	....	story editor (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Neil Levin	....	script coordinator (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jose Molina	....	executive story editor (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Kelly Wheeler	....	assistant: Gareth Davies (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
James E. Williams	....	production auditor (13 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michael Boretz	....	assistant: Joss Whedon (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jenny Lynn	....	translator: Chinese (12 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	....	choreographer (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
• Fox Television Network

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
• Sci-Fi Channel, The (2003) (UK) (TV)

Special Effects

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

Other Companies

• Almost Human  special makeup effects
• DeLuxe Laboratories  processing
• Meat and Potatoes LLC  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)
Firefly (Finland) [fi]
Firefly (Hungary) (promotional title) [hu]
Firefly - A szentjánosbogár (Hungary) [hu]
Firefly - Der Aufbruch der Serenity (Germany) (DVD box title) [de]

Runtime:

42 min (15 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Mutant Enemy

Trivia:

In the original conception of the show, Joss Whedon was only going to have five main characters on the ship. Throughout the development process, the character list got upped to nine.

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 hues of blue (sky blue vs. indigo).

Quotes:

[opening narration for episodes: Safe, Ariel, War Stories, Heart of Gold]
Mal: Here's how it is: The Earth got used up, so we moved out and terraformed a whole new galaxy of Earths. Some rich and flush with the new technologies, some not so much. The Central Planets, thems formed the Alliance, waged war to bring everyone under their rule; a few idiots tried to fight it...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: North by North Quahog (#4.1)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

The Ballad of Serenity

What was FOX thinking?!

FOX must have the greatest talent scouts in the world, but the worst executives. "Firefly" is the best example. It was simultaneously the best new show, the best western series in decades, and the best sci-fi show on TV (and coming from a die-hard Trekkie, placing them above "Enterprise" is saying something). They didn't have a single bad episode, and some were spectacular. The premise, the characters, the plots and the dialogue were all top-notch. And FOX cancelled it without even really giving it a chance.

Maybe the show couldn't stand in the end. Maybe I'm alone in this, and there aren't enough fans to justify what the show cost. But making that call after half a season, with half of the episodes pre-empted for baseball playoffs was a phenomenally stupid thing to do. That show should have been here to stay, and it got axed without a chance to prove itself. I only pray the movie works out. At least we'll have something.