New offensive - Dreamworks and Spielberg

OK, guys and gals. I just spoke to someone at Dreamworks. He was in the "Taken" department, and seemed very interested (The initial receptionist, when told that I was calling about Farscape, said, "I love that show"). He asked if there was a website where they could look into it, so I gave him the farscape.wdsection.com addy. When asked if there was an individual or department to whom we could send letters requesting support, he said to send them to Dreamworks, not Amblin, with ATTN: Taken.

So here's the contact info:
DreamWorks SKG
ATTN: Taken
100 Universal City Plaza, Bldg 10
Universal City, CA 91608, USA

I'm still working on a fax number. I'll let you know what I find out

So let the letters flow!!!

[katyaz]

Wow, that's great, Dalantmm. Is it all right if I pass this message around to other boards?

Katya.

[Red]

That's some really interesting information there.
Well whatdya know. Cool.

What an incredibly good idea... See if you can find a Fax #.. Im out of stamps

Here's what I wrote:

I’m writing you in regards to the Dreamworks production “Taken” to be broadcast on the SCIFI Channel later this year. There’s been a development that could severely impact its viewership. SCIFI has chosen to cancel its critically acclaimed, award-winning show, Farscape. I realize that Farscape is not a Dreamworks production. However, should SCIFI’s decision to cancel Farscape stand, I will not be watching that channel anymore on principle. And I am not alone in this conviction. Farscape fans everywhere feel the same way. Consequently, we will not be watching “Taken” when it airs in December.

The reason I am contacting Dreamworks is that Steven Spielberg is one of the most influential men in Hollywood. If he should choose to exert his considerable influence, I’m certain the executives at SCIFI could be persuaded to reconsider their rash and short-sighted decision. And I’m equally certain that should he support our cause, every Farscape fan will watch every single installment of “Taken” when it airs.

Please feel free to visit the Campaign’s website at farscape.wdsection.com. This is the Star Trek of our generation. The letter writing campaign has already gotten national attention, and it’s only just beginning. Please do everything you can to help us keep Farscape on the air, and we will be eternally grateful. I thank you for your time and consideration.

Resolutely,

What a great letter. Very well written and concise. I wish I knew if Taken had been bought by the UK Sci Fi Channel because then we could begin to threaten them also!

OK, I just called to try to get the fax number. I asked the receptionist for whoever was handling the publicity for "Taken", and was given the phone number 310-360-2481, which turns out to be Ian Valentine, a programming exec at Sci-Fi Channel. THE ENEMY!!! Aaaargh!

I then spoke to my contact again, and said that his department had limited resources regarding faxes. And we don't want to get them angry at us for flooding them. We want them on our side. So here's the general numbers for Dreamworks:

Phone: 818-733-7000
Fax: 818-733-7574

I'm addressing my faxes directly to Mr. Spielberg.

BTW, everyone I spoke to at Dreamworks was very kind and helpful. So, please, let's return the respect when dealing with them.

Should probably address any faxes Speilberg c/o Taken ... just to make sure that they get to one of the right places... sending mine in a bit

OK, their fax line is busy. I'm hoping that means the offensive has begun. Come on, everybody. It's Steven Spielberg, for dren's sake.

Steven, Steven
He's our man.
If he can't do it,
well, then, we'll keep trying.

NEVER SAY DIE!!!

Well, Dreamworks' fax machine is not answering. Have they unplugged it? Maybe they're restocking the paper supply. If you get through, let me know. Otherwise, let's use snail mail, but do it today!

Wow, if Steven Speilberg even just says he's dissapointed by Sci-Fi's action that would add so much to the press coverage. And I would have new found respect for him that I lost several films ago.
I probably would end up at least giving Taken a chance. Where as currently I have no interest in watching anything on Sci-fi.

I imagine he wouldn't want to cause any tense relations with the network, since their making such a big deal out of his pet project. But I hope he proves me wrong!

They were talking about this in chat tonight, so I thought I'd just bump it.

I'm not sure what to make of this, so I'll just put it out there and let you guys decide.
I spoke with an extended family member of mine who is a movie producer. He doesn't know anything about Farscape, and knows very few people in television. He does however have access to Spielberg. When I asked him about us contacting Spielberg regarding Taken's ratings being affected by us jumping ship, he said that we could try, but don't get our hopes up. Spielberg doesn't really get personally involved in these projects (Taken, I mean) he just puts his name on it, so a million viewers or so in context is like the difference between 100 million dollars and 99million,99 hundred thousand--you get the picture.
He did say we are on the right track with pursuing UPN, Showtime et. al, as long as the reasons SCI-FI dropped Farscape wouldn't impact them financially. In other words, if Farscape is costing S/F money because of low viewership, UPN et al. in all probability won't pick it up. When I explained that this wasn't the case, he said that that's encouraging, and that we should intensify our focus on UPN, Showtime, TNT. In his opinion, SCI-FI doing a reversal on this isn't likely.
Keep in mind, this is one man's opinion, and he is in film, not television.
Thanks, C.

So what do the rest of you think? Should I put this approach aside? If so, please say so. I won't be offended. No sense of putting a lot of energy into something that will have little or no payoff. I just didn't want us to miss any possibility.

I completely agree with you that any and all avenues should be explored.
I think that we should probably pursue it. Because you never know, Spielberg may be in a generous mood that day, or maybe someone in his camp would mention it in passing to someone else, you just never know.
I love Farscape dearly and I couldn't rest knowing that the show was cancelled if I hadn't tried everything. I think we should do it anyway. I just wanted people to know what we're up against.

I'm going to be like a pit-bull on this thing, they're going to have to shoot me to get me to let go.