Post-Xena Convention Tweet update

I didn't go to this year's convention so I had to rely on the social media outlets to keep updated and to get that stuff out into the Xenaverse. From what I'm hearing there's a mixed back of reactions. Some of it ranges from "awesome" to a mess of con virgins asking the stupidest questions and people going ad nauseam about how Xena affected their lives in positive ways.

I tweeted at one point yesterday evening that Xenites are happiest people on earth or the saddest people on earth with the stories I was picking up off Twitter and from texts. While I could go on at length at convention etiquette, I'm going to let it pass for the time being.

Yes, Brittney and Hudson auctioned off pieces of their clothes again. I think the total ended up being around $7000 for three things. Not sure on that. At one point, Brittney said the Xenaverse has raised around $12M between the Creation conventions and various fan charity fundraisers over the last 15 years.

That said, however, there was a significant event at the convention on Sunday. The first, Tsianina Joelson (Varia) had to cancel her appearance. She was reportedly about to have a baby or something like that. So it was just Jen Sky (Amarice) and Sheeri Rappaport (Yakut) for the Amazon panel.

But that's not the most significant thing. In fact on the scale of most important things, that ranks about a 3 on the Richter Scale of fandom geekiness. I'm talking about an alternate ending to the skit that Katherine did for her stage performance on Saturday.

Before I get to that, however, Lucy and Renee were asked about the movie and what it would take to get them to do a movie and that was a "script" and "budget."

This is the skit from Saturday with Claudia Black playing Xena.

Of course, that was that and there wasn't much to it.

The main event was held until Sunday when Lucy and Renee were to appear. Both did a few minutes of solo bits before going out on stage together. Lucy promised that they would do the "proposal" scene but with an alternate ending.

So, without further adieu...

I'll leave it at that. :)

Another campaign, another let's give it a try

This is not to attack the current Xena movie campaign. In my best guesstimate, this is like campaign movement number 6,520,146. So, it's all been said and done before. I think with each influx of new fans or fans rediscovering the series, there's always an attempt to get the studio (Universal) to recognize the potential that a movie would bring.

The reality is, no amount of writing campaign, postcards, video watching, or Facebook likes will get the studio to budge on something nobody is entirely sure the actors want in the first place.

Yes, I know that Lucy Lawless has stated that she'd love to do a movie; however, given the fact she's stated and re-stated the fact that she's moved on with that part of her life just makes the issue all the more confusing. After all, if knew a good portion of my audience was still Xena fans, I'd probably say things that won't hurt their feelings either. And who can blame Lucy? After the vitriol spewed at her in the year after Xena ended, I'd probably play the safe bet too. The Xena fandom, yeah sure it's all nice and charitable, but when things are said that upset them--they're worse than Xena on a bad day. Now, I'm not picking on Lucy for any particular reason. I speak with fair certainty that she doesn't mean to harm people with saying she'd love to do a Xena movie.

Even if the actors were fully behind the project, that doesn't make it any more possible. The problem is, is that Universal has said repeatedly over the past six years that they are not interested in making Xena film in any shape or form. They asked people to stop writing about it because it's not going to happen.

Why history matters:

Back in the early 2000s, the Firefly fandom raised up holy hell at FOX for canceling the series without giving it a proper send off. Cult favorites tend to generate a firestorm and most never really get what the want. The Browncoats (as Firefly fans are called) started up a writing campaign to get something to wrap up the series. FOX wasn't budging--but Universal said they were interested. More fans wrote in... then in 2005 they got their wish. Universal released "Serenity."

The movie flopped at the box office. Didn't even make back what it cost to film the movie. While the home video sales did well, the reality set in for Universal that taking a series to feature film with the original cast based on a bunch of letters proved to be an utter disaster.

At the time of the failure (or least scary feelings of a possible failure), Universal dropped the Xena movie project in 2005. The "reported" story was conflict over the budget killed the movie. It might have well have been budget, but I think the failure of Serenity sealed the fate of a Xena movie. Universal is in the business of making money, Xena was a risky gamble.

Other attempts where made with Rogue Studios (a subsidiary of Universal) in late 2005 and throughout 2006. Over the next few years, rumors went around about a possible direct-to-DVD. That too failed. In 2008 and 2009 Rob Tapert officially announced that the movie was dead and that wasn't going to happen.

This is not to say don't do it. But no matter how many signatures you all get or Facebook likes you get, it won't change that the fact that Universal is NOT going to make a movie.

Questions from the Internet #1

This is part one of a couple different posts where I answer questions that have come up over the last year from different people who've emailed me. Now, I have answered these people privately, but I'm now just getting the question and responses up on the web.

How come the conventions are always held in January or February?

When Creation first started having conventions in 1998, it was customary to have them during the production hiatus which was in January because of TV syndication conventions usually held in either New Orleans or Las Vegas. It made sense, in order for the regular cast to attend, to have the conventions during this time. The only time which this was not the case was in 2001. The series was not in production anymore, so Creation moved the convention to May.

How come Creation charges so much for the Gold tickets?

I honestly don’t know. Compared to other venues (Twilight, Supernatural, or Stargate), the Xena conventions come in second only to the large Star Trek convention held in Las Vegas every year. But if you breakdown the costs of the individual autograph tickets, going Gold is cheaper.

How come Creation doesn’t have more Xena conventions?

Cost. That’s the main reason. In 2007, they had three conventions. The main in January, another in May in New York and a third in October in Chicago, and this was only done because Lucy was doing concerts at each of these cities. I don’t look for them to have additional conventions throughout the year for the foreseeable future.

What advice do you have for first-time convention goers?

Be watching for my guide that I put out every year. I’m currently working on revamping the guide and will launch an online version on the www.xwponline.net website later this year. The first thing that I can offer is respect other fans when guests are up on stage.

Are there any plans for additional sets of Xena to be released onto DVD?

I haven’t heard anything from my contacts about a possible re-release of the DVD sets. (Note: Season 1 was released in April 2010.) I’m not going to say no, but I’m not going to say yes. I honestly don’t know. The sales of the re-release were so-so, but considering the market was already cornered nine years ago with the Anchor Bay release, it would be hard for Universal to sell a product that’s been purchased by the largest potential audience. I’ll keep on it.

How come Universal didn’t have any extras?

Your guess is as good as mine. I can only say that perhaps because Universal just wanted to release the series out onto DVD that they didn’t care about extras, which have become a fixture on DVD releases nowadays. The extras that were put onto the Anchor Bay/Davis sets are owned by Davis Merchandising (aka, the official catalog, aka legendary heroes) and thus can’t be reissued.

Where can I download episodes?

I only answer with legal options. Try iTunes. You can also stream episodes from Netflix. Anything else can be found by simply searching the web. Please note, that by doing that you are infringing upon copyright and you can be prosecuted for it.

Any plans for additional soundtracks? Lucy CD?

Not to my knowledge. Sorry. As for Lucy, I haven’t heard anything about any upcoming CD.

What about the movie, got anything on the movie?

Nope. All I know is that the word from the man who would know (Rob Tapert) said earlier this year that the movie wasn’t going to happen. Contrary to comments from Lucy (which were blown out of proportion by wanna-be-entertainment-websites that use HACKS for writers), she is not hard-up for a movie. I think Lucy could care less at this point. (Meaning, if it happens with or without her is about the same as it not happening at all.)

Was there any mention of the movie at the 2010 convention?

Nothing was mentioned that I can recollect. I think fans have pretty much moved on.

Why isn’t Xena on TV anymore? LOGO would be perfect.

No network has purchased the license to air the series. Oxygen stopped airing the show because they’ve gone to a more Lifetime line-up (gag me with a spoon). While, LOGO would be a good spot (they’re airing Buffy), I think Universal wants to sell the syndication rights to the highest bidder.