Happy Midterm Week!

Mine is an evil laugh!

Week 6: Out of Gas and Ariel

Out of Gas
The best hour of television ever written.

Written by Tim Minear, directed by David Solomon
Vocabulary for 'Out of Gas'.

Trivia (wikipedia):
In this episode, the ship is crippled by the failure of the catalyzer on the port compression coil. Kaylee mentioned that this part needed fixing twice before: in "Serenity", when she asked Mal to buy a new compression coil for the engine, and in "The Train Job", when she complained that "somebody won't replace that crappy compression coil". In "Serenity", Kaylee alludes to the compression coil as a "nothing part, till you don't got one"; a sentiment repeated by Mal to the salvage crew when he is hailed. In the trash-yards of "Ariel", Wash can be seen finding a catalyzer and throwing it away.

According to the DVD commentary, Alan Tudyk took the big red "recall" button from the Firefly set and presented it to Joss Whedon, telling him that if Whedon managed to get the series renewed, he could press it to call the cast back.
Also according to the commentary, Gina Torres (Zoe) was written out of the bulk of the episode because the filming took place just after her marriage to Laurence Fishburne and they were away on their honeymoon.

One more thing: Executive producer of Firefly and writer of 'Out of Gas' has written some questions for your midterm! oooooo! assa!

Ariel

Written by Jose Molina

Directed by Allan Kroeker
Vocabulary for Ariel

Trivia (from Wikipedia):

The medical shuttle that appears in the episode and is used to ferry the main characters back and forth from St. Lucy's is built from a 2/3 scale model of a Soviet Mil Mi-24 Hind D helicopter. A group of fans have bought the scrapped medical shuttle (from a scrapyard in Mojave, California), and are in the process of restoring it, hoping to show it on the Firefly convention circuit.
Go learn about the Ariel Ambulance Rescue Group! :)

When the crew returns to Serenity after their successful raid of the Alliance hospital, Malcolm grabs Kaylee from behind and pulls her into a friendly hug. This was improvised by Nathan Fillion, and was left in the shot because Joss Whedon felt it was such a natural movement for Malcolm to make.

And, guess what?! The writer of this episode, Jose Molina, also wrote a question for your midterm! :)



Fan art corner!



Out of Gas:

Ariel:

Week 5: Our Mrs. Reynolds, Jaynestown

Our Mrs. Reynolds
Directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall
Written by Joss Whedon

Trivia (imdb):

• This is the only episode in which River does not speak. She had lines in the original shooting script, but they were cut before the episode made it to air.
• The supposedly biblical quote Saffron uses in her seduction of Mal does not appear in the Bible. She may have fabricated it, assuming Mal would not known the difference.

Vocabulary for Our Mrs. Reynolds.

Jaynestown

Directed by Marita Grabiak
Written by Ben Edlund

Trivia (wikipedia): 

• After finishing the episode, Adam Baldwin took the head of Jayne's statue as a souvenir. It was later returned as additional shoots were needed where the Serenity crew first sees the statue. If  one looks closely, they can see the visible crack where the head was broken off and then reattached.
• I know the person who now owns the head. He bid on it at a charity auction. He tweets as @Jayne_Statue. He wrote some questions for your midterm. :)

Vocabulary for Jaynestown.

Homework for today:

1. Assignment #2 due due April 11th.

2. Watch episode 'Out of Gas' and 'Ariel'

Vocabulary for 'Out of Gas'

Vocabulary for 'Ariel'

3. Note: Your midterm is Week 7. It covers all episodes up to and including 'Ariel'.

Fan Art Corner!

Our Mrs. Reynolds:

Our Mrs. Reynolds by tuesdays-gray featuring western cowgirl boots

Chanel ruffle shirt
1,851,670 KRW - farfetch.com

Full Tilt sheer shirt
16,755 KRW - tillys.com

Eyelet skirt
35,815 KRW - maurices.com

Antik Batik elastic waist skirt
181,310 KRW - stylebop.com

Durango western cowgirl boots
ebay.com

Gold plated necklace
39,170 KRW - etsy.com

Red shawl
83,940 KRW - etsy.com

Peasant 50s Saffron Canvas Petticoat with Eyelet Ruffles Size 4/5
53,720 KRW - vintagevixen.com

Jaynestown:

Week 4: Shindig and Safe

Class date: March 25, 2013
Shindig
Directed by: Vern Gillum
Written by: Jane Espenson
Vocabulary for 'Shindig'.

Inara attends a formal society dance, only to find Malcolm there as well, attempting to set up a smuggling job. Mall comes to blows with Inara's conceited date and finds himself facing a duel with a renowned swordsman, and only one night to learn how to fence.*

Trivia  (Wikipedia)The ballgown that Inara wears at the ball was actually made out of costume designer Shawna Trpcic's wedding dress.

Here's a photo of Shawna in her wedding gown.

She wrote an extra credit question for you midterm. :) Click here for an interview with Shawna about her work. And here is Shawna's personal website. Follow her on Twitter.

Safe 
Directed by: Michael Grossman
Written by: Drew Greenberg
Vocabulary for 'Safe'

Mal must choose which crew members to save when one is gravely wounded and two others are kidnapped. Simon finds and uneasy haven in a remote village, but River's uncanny perceptions jeopardize the Tam's temporary safety.*

Homework:

1. Watch Our Mrs. Reynolds and Jaynestown.

Vocabulary for 'Our Mrs. Reynolds'

Vocabulary for 'Jaynestown'

2. Choose a new assignment and start working on it.  Assignment #2 is due April 11th, by 5pm.

Fan Art Corner!

Shindig:

I bought this as a t-shirt for my niece. :)

Safe:

*episode descriptions from Wikipedia

Jeremy Jahns reviews Firefly

YouTube reviewer, Jeremy Jahns, reviews Firefly. He talks fast, so listen quick! :) (Don't use the subtitles feature because it totally sucks.)

Week 3: Train Job and Bushwacked

Class date: March 18, 2013
'The Train Job' Vocabulary for 'The Train Job'

The crew of Serenity takes on a train heist commissioned by a crime lord. They steal the goods, only to find it is medicine that is desperately needed by the town. *

'Bushwhacked' Vocabulary for 'Bushwhacked'

Serenity is pulled in by an Alliance cruiser while investigating a spaceship that was attacked by Reavers. Simon and River must hide to prevent capture, while something is wrong with the lone survivor of the attacked spaceship.*

Fan Art Corner!
The Train Job

Bushwhacked

*episode descriptions from Wikipedia

Week 2: Assigments

In this class, you will do 4 assignments. You can choose which assignments you do from the following list:

1. 1000-word paper on the topic of your choice related to the tv series (can be done twice)
2. 5-minute presentation on a topic of your choice related to the tv series
3. Perform a skit for the class
1. memorize a scene from one of the episodes we've watched
2. OR write a new scene that fits the show
3. 2 people (10mins), 3 people (12mins), 4 people (14mins), etc.
4. Art project related to the show - draw, paint, write music, dance, etc.
5. 5-minute video project to be shown in class
6. Your idea - you must discuss it with me first if you choose this one.

Due anytime before 5pm on the following days:

#1 Thursday, March 21st
#2 Thursday, April 11th
#3 Thursday, May 2nd
#4 Thursday, May 24th 

If your assignment requires class time to do, you must consult with me on a date to do it. It must still be done before the due date.
         

Week 2: Serenity (pilot)

Class date: March 11, 2013
Today we start with the pilot episode of Firefly, 'Serenity'. Original air date December 20, 2002. Written and directed by Joss Whedon, writer and director of the blockbuster movie "The Avengers". In the pilot episode, we meet the major characters and are introduced to the world of Firefly.


Get the vocabulary list for the pilot episode, 'Serenity', here.
Get vocabulary common to all episodes here.

Homework:

1. Choose an assignment (explained in the next blog post) and start working on it. 

2. Watch episode 2 'The Train Job', and episode 3 'Bushwacked'. 

          Vocabulary for 'The Train Job'

          Vocabulary for 'Bushwhacked'

Fan art corner!
Each week, I will try to post some fan art inspired by that week's episodes. Today we have some general, non-spoilery fan art. Click the image to go to the artist's website.

Class Information

Robin Hudson

Office: KILC Room 312

Phone: 031-750-5628
robin.gachon.Spring2013 at gmail dot com
class website: http://www.robinhudson.net 
(or fireflyrobin.blogspot.com)

A+ or A0        less than 25%

A0s + B0s      less than 40%

C0/C+            No Limit 
D0/D+            No Limit 

As long as you come to every class, do all the assignments, show up for the midterm and do the final presentation, you won't get less than C+.      

What will you do in this class?

You will view the American television series, Firefly, and the subsequent theatrical feature, Serenity. In each class meeting, you will view one or more episodes and discuss them with your classmates. Each week you will be responsible for watching the episodes at home, in preparation for class discussion. 

What’s the workload like?

You will watch episodes and the movie outside of class and do 4 assignments. Class participation and proper preparation will be important. There will be a written midterm and a presentation in lieu of a final exam. Previous students said it was a lot of work, but it was the best, most interesting English class they ever had.

Grading: 

Attendance                   10%
Assignments                 40%
Midterm exam               25%
Final presentation          25%

Attendance Policy: Students arriving 15 minutes late will not be admitted to class and will be marked absent. I do not accept absence excuses for any reason. Students missing more than four (4) classes will fail.

Cell phone Policy: Cell phones must be switched off and placed on my table during class time.

Plagiarism Policy: Under no circumstances will plagiarism be tolerated. Students who plagiarize work will be given an F for the assignment. Plagiarizing the final presentation will result in an F for the term.

A note on spoilers: Please don’t tell your classmates ANY details of episodes they haven’t seen yet. Also, don’t go looking for information online for episodes you haven’t seen yet unless you want the story ruined for you. Everyone deserves the opportunity to experience Firefly/Serenity from an unspoiled perspective. Feel free to find out everything you can once you have seen an episode or the movie.

Tentative Syllabus:

Week	Content	Homework
1	Course introduction Firefly episode: Out of Gas	get all episodes visit this website
2	Repeat Course Intro Firefly pilot episode: Serenity	Watch Train Job and Bushwacked Work on an assignment
3	Episodes: Train Job, Bushwacked	Watch Shindig and Safe Work on an assignment
4	Episodes: Shindig, Safe	Watch Our Mrs. Reynolds and Jaynestown Work on an assignment
5	Episodes: Our Mrs. Reynolds,   Jaynestown	Watch Out of Gas and Ariel Work on an assignment
6	Episode: Out of Gas Episode: Ariel	Review for midterm exam Work on an assignment
7	MIDTERM EXAM Info on final presentation	Watch War Stories and Trash Work on an assignment
8	Episode: War Stories, Trash	Watch The Message Work on an assignment
9	Episode: The Message	Watch Heart of Gold Work on an assignment
10	Episode: Heart of Gold	Watch Objects in Space Work on an assignment
11	Episode: Objects in Space + DVD Special Features	Watch Serenity (optional) Work on an assignment
12	Movie: Serenity	Work on final presentation
13	Presentations	Work on final presentation
14	Presentations	Work on final presentation
15	Presentations/Done the Impossible documentary Last day of class	Watch the series again with someone you love and tell all your friends to take this class next semester!