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Firefly's Demise: An Interview with Sean Maher
September 07, 2006
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The writing is so clear and specific. That must be a relief to play.
Really, again, it goes back to Joss. It’s a relief to have him be the ring leader, because not only does he write this fantastic script, but he steps onto set and knows exactly what he wants. You’re really just being guided along with this incredible energy that feels so right and then you get this finished product, and it’s “Wow!” He directed the pilot obviously, and he directed the “Objects in Space” episode -- he’s this full package.
He also handpicked the crew, so a lot of them came from Buffy, and a lot of them came from Angel, and so they had this relationship and had known each other for years and to step into that was an incredible environment to work in. It’s sad to say, but I didn’t realize how lucky we had it until the show was cancelled and you end up in other work situations. Not that they’re miserable, but they don’t stand up to kind of the set that Joss ran. So, working on a production of his was a gift.
Are you still friends with the rest of the cast?
Yeah, it’s funny because I think people, not that they don’t believe it, but we clicked in a very easy manner, and Joss always says that, too. That’s the way he cast the show, by the person. He saw tons of brilliant actors, but unless he connected well with the person, he didn’t want to cast them. We gelled together and we’ve stayed friends. Some of them are like family. Morena (Baccarin, who played Inara) and I always look at each other and say that we just didn’t realize how good we had it until you look back and say, “that whole situation was incredible.”
It’s such a large mythology and the sad part of it’s cancellation is that we didn’t get to see how far that the story could have gone. Were you all aware of where you were headed?
It could have gone on for seasons and seasons and seasons. I don’t think I really knew where ultimately it would lead. I mean, Joss would run set and let us know where things were going, episode to episode, but in the grand scheme of things -- obviously the Reevers were a big deal.
The scariest thing in the pilot is this idea of these things that you don’t know what they look like, but you know they’re terrifying. There’s the scene where Inara takes out the syringe and once you get to the movie, you realize why. You can’t survive after seeing them or that it’s better to kill yourself before they get to you, you will become a reever, this life of everlasting torture and misery. We got to do that in the movie finally, but we only had one season.
Simon gets punched a lot. But he doesn’t often punch back.
We talked about this evolution of Simon in Season Two. We were doing this gradual thing with costume and hair and make up, sort of bringing him more to be part of the crew and I was really excited about that. Joss and I talked about how to get him to be tougher, and getting him off the ship. I always had to stay behind, because I had a stick up my ass the whole time. So we were gonna toughen him up a bit. Which we took that into the movie a bit. I hit Mal and I kill a Reever. That was a big day for me.
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Comments
Denise wrote:
Thanks for posting the Maher interview. He's very candid about what happened with Fox, Firefly and Serenity. I have to say that it's a joy being a fan of this man. Hopefully, he'll get another tv project on another network, other than Fox.
posted at September 11, 2006 10:07 AM
Tammy wrote:
That was a lovely interview. I just got the Firefly visual companion and was a bit disapointed that there was no 'new' interview from Sean like there was for the other actors, just one that was re-used from the press tour of the film.
So it was nice to see something new from him. On the subject of his new A&E movie. Hmm, wonder what his roll was and why the interviewer didn't make a big deal of it like the press seemed to with 'Brokback Mountain'.
posted at September 11, 2006 10:59 AM
Ben wrote:
Thanks for the Sean interview! Why Firefly was ever cancelled is completely befuddling to me. It is simply the best TV series I have ever seen and in the grand scheme of all modern entertainment, it holds it's own with anything. The characters, plotlines and stories were exciting and emotional, yet realistic. I just wish I was paying attention when it debuted (along with other people), so it would have lasted longer. I am still hoping Joss can bring our beloved 'verse back.
posted at September 11, 2006 12:33 PM
Carrie wrote:
I love Firefly, I love Serenity, and I respect Sean Maher a good deal. Thanks so much for posting this; it had me laughing at some points, about ready to burst into tears at other. The comments about the fans really made my heart tingle with happiness. It takes one hell of an actor and show to get that response out of me.
posted at September 11, 2006 02:36 PM
Sean Collins-Smith wrote:
awesome guys, thanks for posting this great interview
posted at September 11, 2006 08:10 PM
di wrote:
Thanks for posting this. It's always good to hear something about Firefly/Serenity behind the scenes. And it's nice, as a fan, to be called part of the cast. :)
posted at September 12, 2006 02:19 AM
Katharine wrote:
Long-time reader, first-time poster. What a nice interview: very straightforward and pleasant. I really hadn't seen much from Sean Maher off-screen, so this was a good read. Thanks for bringing it to us.
posted at September 12, 2006 07:37 PM
Cheryl wrote:
Great interview, and thanks for posting it. Now a probably crazy idea: take the number of DVD sales and pitch the owner to each chip in $10, $20, or whatever to finance making straight-to-DVD episodes. Maybe the idiotic networks would get the idea and the series could be resurrected? I'll put my money up for that chance. How about the rest of you?
posted at September 17, 2006 08:42 AM
Nicki wrote:
Thanks for posting the interview. And thanks to Sean for his honesty. Browncoats all over will love this interview.
posted at September 17, 2006 02:52 PM
Mary Girven wrote:
I loved reading this interview with Sean Maher, as he is one of my nine favorite actors! I discovered Firefly/Serenity in February, 2006 and have been a huge fan ever since. I love everything about this story and, like everyone else I know, DEMAND more! It is SO easy to convert new fans; you just lend your DVDs to people you know who haven't seen Firefly/Serenity yet and let them do their magic. I'm so excited now with more showings of Firefly apperaing on other channels and with Serenity showing on HBO. Surely there are many more fans now than when Serenity was released just a year ago! Fans need to stay vocal and keep pushing for more of the best story ever written! People are hungry for a good story and it just doesn't get any better than this one.
posted at September 24, 2006 10:05 PM
PirateCat wrote:
Hey what a great show, Firefly is the best not to mention the best characters ever. Too bad Fox did not get it. Its like alias Smith and Jones meet Bladerunner. I believe it topps Star Trek and Babylon 5. Thanks Sean. Maybe Fox in Chineese means Blue Sun. Hmmmm
posted at October 2, 2006 10:16 PM
AnonymousBrowncoat wrote:
Firefly was, and still is, my favorite show of all time. As much as I love Serenity, it still pains me to think of how GREAT it would have been to watch these stories develop over seven+ seasons. At any rate, great interview! Keep Flying! Serenity Now!
posted at October 11, 2006 11:36 PM
Kendra wrote:
This show was brilliant. Too bad Fox has their head up their ass when it comes to programing. Thanks for posting this interview!
posted at October 12, 2006 01:47 PM
Jacki wrote:
How sad that the network execs at Fox couldn't trust a creative genius with two hits out of two attempts to bring a fan base to the new series and produce another megawinner.
The pain is eased somewhat by the knowledge that studio execs have an even shorter shelf life than new tv shows...and those idiots are likely long gone.
posted at October 12, 2006 05:35 PM
Christopher Woods wrote:
Ace interview, thanks for plopping it onto the interwebs.
posted at November 4, 2006 07:42 PM
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