No-one expects the Fannish Inquisition!

Did I mention I interviewed Felicia Day last week? I did?

Blah blah blah I've been really busy - yeah, I know you're bored with hearing that so here's a post that isn't about me writing my book, doing interviews and hanging with the stars like Felicia. Instead, this is about two great interweb events you may have missed.

And now for something completely different

Monty Python is now officially on YouTube! As they have put on their channel:

"For 3 years you YouTubers have been ripping us off, taking tens of thousands of our videos and putting them on YouTube. Now the tables are turned. It's time for us to take matters into our own hands... 

We've launched our own Monty Python channel on YouTube....

But we want something in return.

None of your driveling, mindless comments. Instead, we want you to click on the links, buy our movies & TV shows and soften our pain and disgust at being ripped off all these years."

Yay for the Great British Compromise! 

Fannish Inquistion? Shurley Shome Mishtake!

And one of their great sketches (which isn't yet officially available but you can find easily if you look...) is the Spanish Inquisition. Were you expecting that? In a clever twist there is a relatively new site that has nothing at all to do with Monty Python but everything to do with the news that matters most - Sci-fi news! The Fannish Inquisition has been going for a few months and already there is some brilliant coverage of Firefly and Stargate conventions including lots of interviews, podcasts from the events and photos.

Creation Con in Burbank, LA 

The latest reports are from the Stargate and Firefly Conventions in Burbank which were held on Nov 21-23 2008. There is so much to read about the event! I am totally in awe of the attention to detail, depth of interviews and reporting and the quality of the photos. Stunning. Plus there are podcasts interviews, too! Ron Glass, Jewel Staite, Adam Bladwin, Summer Glau and Gina Torres were all at the event and I a sure that you won't find better coverage than this. You know I've been busy but I couldn't help but spend far too much time reading up on what my favourite stars have been up to! So for everyone who, like me, didn't get to go, this is the next best thing.

Things that passed me by...

Isn't it weird how the world doesn't stop, even when you do?
I've missed a lot, that's for sure. Some of it has gone forever but that's ok, I'm in the mindset to go with the flow. There's a few things, though, that I'd like to bring to your attention. Chances are you know about them already (you being so discerning and all), but it doesn't hurt to post about them.

Felicia Day Watch Updates
So many things going on for our favourite actress/writer/producer at the moment! Here's some recent highlights:

The Guild Season 1: Pre-orders are now being taken! You can order Season 1 via WatchTheGuild.com and if you do pre-order before August 1st there's free shipping (sweet!). Look out for the brilliant, exclusive extras available that include never-before-seen gag reels, interviews, commentaries and subtitles. I ordered mine and then realised I was sending it to the wrong address - Doh! I can't get used to this technology stuff, it was totally my fault for not updating PayPal with the right details. But thanks to Felicia it's actually going to be sent out to the right address - she really cares!

EPIC FU of the week - it's Felicia. Now I know everyone is busy busy busy but if you are in any way interested in why I seem to be slightly (!) obsessed with Ms Day, this is a good place to start. The interview goes to the heart of what makes her special and why The Guild and Doctor Horrible are so important. If you have any interest in the Internet/TV/movies, watch this interview. Yes, I guess that does mean all of you. And because of that interview she also makes the front page of Revision3.com, which is pretty cool.

Which brings us to the next part - Doctor Horrible!

Doctor Horrible Official website is up!
The next exciting news is that there is now a great trailer to watch AND a schedule of release dates for the 3 episodes. There was an in-depth article on TVGuide.com:

"Dr. Horrible, written during the writers' strike and filmed in six days this spring "on favors and waivers" by a crew of longtime Whedon loyalists, will be streamed for free in what Whedon cheerfully calls an "Internet miniseries event" on the show's official website (www.drhorrible.com) in three chapters. Part 1 will be available Tuesday, July 15, with the following segments (each roughly 14 minutes) available July 17 and 19. All three parts will stay up only through July 20, but deals are currently underway to make it available for downloading shortly thereafter."

Looking at the calendar that's - eek! - less than a week away. Joss Whedon, Felicia Day, Nathan Fillion, Neil Patrick Harris, cast of tens - this is one Internet Event you really don't want to miss.

Can't Stop The Serenity - Jewel Staite answered my question!
We had such a great time at the Vancouver Serenity Screening, I can't thank Serena, Gayle and all the other organisers enough. I'm just sorry that I couldn't Blog about it before now due to recent events. I'm going to do a full post about it next week but for now just this little teaser - I have the answer to a question very close to Firefly/Serenity fans' hearts (but no, it doesn't have anything to do with a new film/series - sorry!).

And Finally (but not least)
Thank you again for all your well-wishes, stories, comments and prayers. It makes things easier to deal with when you know you are not alone and it has proved to me again that 'virtual' friends are friends in a very real sense. I'm glad that I decided to share the news. I hope that other people will see that they are not alone, and that things will get better.

The Serenity crew as you've never seen them...

I learned a new Japanese word this week!
A new post on the Vancouver Firefly MeetUp site introduced me to 'Amigurumi', and a great collection of....well, we'll get to that in a minute. 'Amigurumi' means crocheted animals and other anthropomorphized objects that has come to mean anything cute and crocheted with a face. And over at Geek Central Station the new creations are the complete cast of Firefly lovingly rendered (with fantastic accessories) in crocheted form. These are amazing, wonderful and have to be seen to be believed. And if that wasn't enough, the GeekCentralStation Flickr site boasts a whole range of figures from The Fellowship of The Rings, Futurama, Star Wars....check them all out.

Update on Vancouver Serenity Screening
Unfortunately, Jewel Staite will not now be able to attend in person to do a Q&A before the screening, but she is going to record a message and answer some questions and this will be screened before the main show. It's a bit disappointing but the day is still packed with great activities and a great time is assured for everyone. And some people will get their questions answered in an exclusive video, and that is very special. Check out the official blog for a list of all the great prizes on the silent auction plus door prizes, costume competition, songs from Cindy Turner and Brandon Klassen....it will be a great day and tickets cost only $15.

Win a Signed Photo of Jewel Staite!

The ever-cheerful Kaylee is up for auction.
Kids Need To Read have another wonderful Firefly/Serenity auction at the moment that gives you the chance to bid for a fantastic 8x10 signed photo of Jewel Staite as Kaylee, the genius mechanic from Firefly and Serenity. Jewel is currently starring in 'Stargate: Atlantis' and has a very loyal fanbase - check out her MySpace page! The auction is on eBay so finish off your snowglobes and head over there before 30th May.

Why support Kids Need To Read?
Sometimes it seems like everyone is after your hard-earned cash. Well, that's because they are! If you support a foundation like Kids Need To Read, though, your money is doing more than allowing you to expand your collection. Your money goes towards funding literacy projects that put books into the hands of children who would otherwise not have them. Reading is such a fundamental part of society. Without a grasp of reading, children are doomed to never fully participate and will always be on the outside. Key to developing a lifelong reading habit is access to a wide range of books, and this is where Kids Need To Read are making a real difference. If you want to know more about the impact they are having, please go to their website and read the wonderful letters they have received from grateful schools and projects.

KNTR: Supernaturally Good!
And in more news this week, KNTR have announced that Team Winchester http://teamwinchester.com/wp/ (a fan effort to promote the CW series Supernatural) has adopted Kids Need to Read as one of their official charities. Team Winchester have already donated an item for auction, so look out for that in the near future.

Jewel Staite Q & A, Plus - No BSG!

A week to reflect
Battlestar Galactica is not on tonight but will return next week. So, has this final season lived up to the enormously high expectations I had for it so far? Well mostly, yes. Without going into any details there has been some stunning set-pieces and some absolute jaw-dropping moments, and we were left with a cliff-hanger last week that really took me by surprise. There has been less explosions and more inferences and dark looks, but I don't mind that, especially if it is all building up to some spectacular fireworks.

What would YOU ask Jewel Staite?
It's getting closer to the Serenity Screenings and in Vancouver we are lucky enough to have Jewel Staite attending a Q & A before the screening. This is a real honour and makes the event even more special. I'm not sure how the Q & A works and I've never been to a panel (or any other type of event like this) so I don't know what to expect. So if I got the chance, what would I ask? What would you ask Jewel?

Waiting for the Post
I've been spending time on the Universal HD Message Boards. I have mentioned them before because of the Saturday Shindigs over there. Quite simply, these message boards have been set up by UNIVERSAL - the studio that funded Serenity, the studio that has the rights to Serenity, the studio that could produce a sequel, or three. Being active on these boards is important because the more activity, the more unique people over there, the more Universal can see there is support for a sequel (see this thread for more information). So Cordrone, one of the Moderators, suggested that I ask if Jewel knew about the Universal HD message boards. Because if any of the Actors (or Joss himself, he'd be welcome too...) posted on the Board it would really help to persuade Browncoats to rally to that one point (as well as all the other places we hang out at the moment). And it would send a message to Universal, too. So, if I get the chance I will ask Jewel if she knows about all the message board like the Universal one, and whether she would ever post on one. Worth a try, don't you think?

Cap'n Mal's monkey and other happenings..

Terrifyn' Space Monkey - Nathan-style
Here's your chance to bid for a Terrify’n Space Monkey signed by Nathan Fillion - Captain Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly/Serenity. Nathan Fillion is also the co-founder, with 'The Softwire' author PJ Haarsma, of Kids Need To Read, a Literacy foundation that is helping to send exciting new books to under-funded schools and libraries across North America. This latest auction from Kids Need To Read runs until May 25th so swing over to eBay - the bidding has started already!

Wil Wheaton and Star Trek: The Manga
And there is another on-going auction by KNTR at the moment, too. I've not forgotten about Wil, I still lurk on his blog and follow him on Twitter, I just haven't got around to posting about it with everything else that's going on. But this auction by KNTR gives me a great excuse to do just that. In case you didn't know there is a now a Comic Manga series of Star Trek and this auction is of a copy of the second volume to be published by TOKYOPOP entitled Kakan ni Shinkou or "To Boldly Go." Ten assorted artists and writers present brand new adventures featuring the classic Star Trek (TOS) line up of characters. Wil Wheaton (a huge comic book fan) was one of the contributing authors and he has signed this copy. When he was first asked to write for it he blogged about how much of an honour it was for him. This is another great auction and it closes on May 23rd so beam over to eBay and get those bids in.

Jewel Staite to be full-time on Stargate: Atlantis
Over at Whedonesque there is the news that Jewel Staite will be staying on for season 5 as a regular. In a quote from sliceofscifi.com:

Also this season, Jewel Staite will become a full-time cast member as Dr. Jennifer Keller. Staite described Keller as growing more comfortable with her place in Atlantis this season. “She steps up to the plate a little bit more,” Staite said. “She’s becoming more courageous.”

Update on Other Blog
I've posted 'Future Entertainment Part 2: Anticipating Doctor Horrible...' on my other 'Worldofhiglet's Weblog' so feel free to pop over there and take a look.

Jewel Staite To Do Q&A before Vancouver CSTS on June 22nd!

Hot news just in!
The Vancouver Charity Screening of Serenity just got even more exciting! Here's an extract from the Firefly MeetUp Board:

"We are excited to announce that Jewel Staite (Kaylee, of course!) has accepted our invitation to do a half-hour Q & A before the movie. She will also be autographing some items for the silent auction.

The doors will open at 11 am and an array of activities will continue until 6 pm, including sing-along filking with local filker & Browncoat Cindy Turner; our own Brandon Klassen performing his Serenity songs, including "Sail the Sky"; a costume contest; door prizes and more. And, of course, the screening of Serenity! Keep checking our blog site for a list of prizes and up-to-date information.
We will be holding a silent auction, with some great items, which will be listed on our blog. Cash or cheque only for the auction, please.

In addition to raising money for Equality Now (Joss's favourite charity), this year 10% of the net proceeds will be going to support the BC Women's Hospital and Health Centre, so let's show them how generous Browncoats are!"

Screening details
When: Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 11:00 AM 2008

Where: The Norm Theatre, Student Union Building, 6138 Student Union Boulevard. Vancouver , BC V6T 1Z1

It promises to be a brilliant day out so order your tickets today via the official blog (the link for PayPal is right at the bottom of the page).

New release of Firefly is confirmed!

A Blu-Ray release of Firefly is coming...
Whedonesque has a link to TVshowsondvd.com today. TVshow... contacted FOX after Jewel Stait had mentioned at her recent appearance at the recent Supanove Expo in Melbourne that she was recording a commentary for a new release (see serenity2.com for more details of Jewel's Q & A session). The new release is still at the planning stages so far so no word on when it will be out, but this has to be good news for fans!

New Auction for Kids Need To Read - collectors item!
A signed copy of 'The Search for the Red Dragon' by author and illustrator James A. Owen is now being auctioned on ebay. The first book in the series The Chronicles of the Imaginaruim Geographica is called 'Here, They Be Dragons' has already in it's sixth printing and has been picked up by Warner Brothers for a film. Not only is this copy of 'The Search for the Red Dragon' signed by James A. Owen, it also has an original sketch by him on the title page. You can see more details and pictures on the KNTR auction page. A great opportunity to buy what will surely be a well-loved book.

'The Guild' has a spanky new site
Anyone wondering what 'The Guild' phenomenon is all about can now check for themselves even more easily at the newly-updated WatchtheGuild.com. 'The Guild' stars Felicia Day as Codex, a person who has trouble making boundaries between her on-line life as Codex (a healer in a World of Warcraft-type game) and 'real' life, especially when her online 'friends' meet up in real life. Don't worry if you have never played a computer game in your life - these videos will strike a chord with you. Who hasn't angst-ed over the conflict when two parts of their existence collide?! The characters are fully-fleshed and the situations all-too-believable, so it's no wonder that 'The Guild' has already won awards. And speaking of awards, because fans voted in such high numbers for the YouTube Award for Best Series (which 'The Guild' won hands-down) there is an hilarious reward, as promised by Felicia. Check out the 'Latest Video' on the front page for proof that even beautiful actresses can sometimes be, should we say, less than graceful...

Jewel Staite joins in to help Babz Chula

You can help raise funds and win a chance to dine with Jewel...
(Thank you to Val for her post on the Vancouver Firefly Meetup board)
Some major stars have stepped in to help out Babz Chula, a Vancouverite actor, who has again been diagnosed with cancer. Go to the Babz Chula Lifeline's inspirational website to find out more about this courageous actor and the auctions that are being held.

Jewel Staite(s) the case for more Firefly!

Good news, everyone!
Serenity2.net has a great post this morning about the Supanova Expo in Melbourne this weekend. Included is a brilliant videoclip of Jewel Staite (Kaylee from Firefly and Serenity) talking about Kaylee and news that there is going to be a special edition of Firefly released later this year. Fly over to Serenity2.net to find out what Jewel would like to see happen for Kaylee in any future Serenity/Firefly...

Alan Tudyk and Nathan Fillion, reunited again
Thanks to Felicia Day for putting me onto Google Alerts in her blog. I don't know how I managed to fill my inbox without it! But it did bring me news of some great photos from a recent 'Halo 3, The Show' taken by danregal. There are 118 photos of the panel, with a concentration of shots of Nathan and Alan. The accompanying description is short but sounds like a good time was had by all, especially the Browncoats.