A good indicator?

Thanks to the people who have already responded to my posting of last week, regarding the Fanderson UFO Script Book. Help and advice from just 10 people has dropped into my mailbox since, which I make as just 2.2% of the SHADO population. I'm composing a single posting in response to the comments raised, but doesn't anyone else have anything to say about this, or do the comments already made reflect your views?

Nick Williams, Fanderson secretary and treasurer


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I would love to get the script book but at the moment I'm trying to recover
from a huge Vet bill for my cat. Also as I'm a carer I don't have a huge
amount of spare money and can only buy when funds allow. At the moment
buying anything that's not an essential is out - maybe I'll be able to get
it with Christmas money.

Cheers,
Lesleyxx


> Thanks to the people who have already responded to my posting of last
week, regarding the Fanderson UFO Script Book. Help and advice from just 10
people has dropped into my mailbox since, which I make as just 2.2% of the
SHADO population. I'm composing a single posting in response to the comments
raised, but doesn't anyone else have anything to say about this, or do the
comments already made reflect your views?
>
> Nick Williams, Fanderson secretary and treasurer

Hi Nick,

Sorry for not responding but the Autumn term is a busy time for me and I
have had new hard disk installed in my computer which means that I have got
to reset and re-install everything.

I don't buy script books because I am not interested in them.

I would prefer to buy fiction from the club. In fact I would rather by fan
fiction which can be produced fairly cheaply and is usually written by
authors who are at least interested and usually knowledgeable by their
subject rather than fiction created by professional writers who are not
knowledgeable and often not interested because clubs can't afford to pay
them enough!

I am very sorry, but I really don't like E.C.Tubb as an author, so I am
unlikely to purchase any of his work, especially since I am not overly fond
of Space 1999.

I hope this contributes to the discussion.

Katie
[hidden email]

I did buy the script book not long after publication, but have to say
apart from the a brief flick through I have more or less filed it
away. I would have to say as far as UFO product goes, script books are
way down my list priorities. I would personally prefer to see more
good quality UFO model kits. If we are strictly talking about books I
would like to see an authortive book on the series taking us the
genesis in Dopelganger through to early 1999. Packed with photo's good
quality pull out drawings of the craft, a merchandising round up.
Maybe some of the script variation would have been better saved for a
project like this.

I like, most on this list am eagerly awaiting the soundtrack CD's more
than anything else.

The space 1999 book/novel is also a turn off to me as well, and I will
not be buying it.


Marty............



--- In SHADO@y..., "Nick Williams" <nick@f...> wrote:
> Thanks to the people who have already responded to my posting of
last week, regarding the Fanderson UFO Script Book. Help and advice
from just 10 people has dropped into my mailbox since, which I make as
just 2.2% of the SHADO population. I'm composing a single posting in
response to the comments raised, but doesn't anyone else have anything
to say about this, or do the comments already made reflect your views?
>
> Nick Williams, Fanderson secretary and treasurer
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Forgot to mention that I reckon on-line ordering would help. Not
neccersarily for speed, but for ease of ordering.


--- In SHADO@y..., "hopkirkmarty" <russell_smith@n...> wrote:
> I did buy the script book not long after publication, but have to
say
> apart from the a brief flick through I have more or less filed it
> away. I would have to say as far as UFO product goes, script books
are
> way down my list priorities. I would personally prefer to see more
> good quality UFO model kits. If we are strictly talking about books
I
> would like to see an authortive book on the series taking us the
> genesis in Dopelganger through to early 1999. Packed with photo's
good
> quality pull out drawings of the craft, a merchandising round up.
> Maybe some of the script variation would have been better saved for
a
> project like this.
>
> I like, most on this list am eagerly awaiting the soundtrack CD's
more
> than anything else.
>
> The space 1999 book/novel is also a turn off to me as well, and I
will as
> just 2.2% of the SHADO population. I'm composing a single posting in
> response to the comments raised, but doesn't anyone else have
anything
> to say about this, or do the comments already made reflect your
views?
> >
> > Nick Williams, Fanderson secretary and treasurer
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 04/11/02 19:47:34 GMT Standard Time,
[hidden email] writes:


> I would prefer to buy fiction from the club. In fact I would rather by fan
> fiction which can be produced fairly cheaply and is usually written by
> authors who are at least interested and usually knowledgeable by their
> subject rather than fiction created by professional writers who are not
> knowledgeable and often not interested because clubs can't afford to pay
> them enough!
>
I couldn't have put it better, thanks Katie I have to agree


Nick Steed
Fanderson Member


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I second the thought, I have been loving these stories and would not mind
buying form this group. The group has a feeling with the characters.
Elaine


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Bleathman" <[hidden email]>

> Hi Nick,
>
> Sorry for not responding but the Autumn term is a busy time for me and I
> have had new hard disk installed in my computer which means that I have
got
> to reset and re-install everything.
>
> I don't buy script books because I am not interested in them.

Depends on how they're done...
With a few good pics of his Edness in all his angelic glory, I might get
tempted...
;-)
Seriously, scripts have to be different enough from what was in the actual
episode to be attractive to me. Also, there are some on Marc's site...
<shrug>
I dunno...
It would be an impulsive buy on the web, I guess...

> I would prefer to buy fiction from the club. In fact I would rather by fan
> fiction which can be produced fairly cheaply and is usually written by
> authors who are at least interested and usually knowledgeable by their
> subject rather than fiction created by professional writers who are not
> knowledgeable and often not interested because clubs can't afford to pay
> them enough!

Truer words...!
I'm seconding that!

> I am very sorry, but I really don't like E.C.Tubb as an author, so I am
> unlikely to purchase any of his work, especially since I am not overly
fond
> of Space 1999.

Heh.
Space 1999...
8-/

> I hope this contributes to the discussion.

Well, someone wanted to know!
;-)

--Anny

I have to agree with other members who feel that the script book alone is not of great interest to me. I think it is something I would just browse and file away on a shelf and some of the scripts are already available online. I agree with Shawn (and others group members) that new novels/fan fiction would be more interesting. I would also purchase music CDs.

Another comment regarding the ability to order over the internet was also relevant. I am far more likely to go to a site and purchase an item off of an internet site than I am to mail in a form. I would say that if I really really wanted the item I guess I would go out of my way to mail an order in but this past month my two UFO purchases (cafe press.com and Konami figures) and about thirty non-UFO purchases were
made via the internet. In addition, if I wasn't a member and wanted to purchase an item it would be nice if I could purchase it (perhaps at a higher cost to encourage membership) regardless of my member status. Members could be rewarded with lower prices or the ability to order as many of the item as they wanted.

Hope this helps Nick.
Lorraine

Nick Williams wrote:

> Thanks to the people who have already responded to my posting of last week, regarding the Fanderson UFO Script Book. Help and advice from just 10 people has dropped into my mailbox since, which I make as just 2.2% of the SHADO population. I'm composing a single posting in response to the comments raised, but doesn't anyone else have anything to say about this, or do the comments already made reflect your views?
>
> Nick Williams, Fanderson secretary and treasurer

Hi all,

It's been interesting to read how many folks aren't
that interested in Fanderson's UFO script books. I recall
that when I was adding UFO scripts to my website there
certainly seemed to be a lot of interest. Are there
people here who are interested enough in UFO scripts
that they'll look at them if they are freely available
on a website, but not interested enough to buy a Fanderson
script book? If so, then perhaps I should try harder
to get some more UFO scripts and add them to my website...

Marc

At 08:26 PM 11/5/02 -0500, you wrote:
>I have to agree with other members who feel that the script book alone is
>not of great interest to me. I think it is something I would just browse
>and file away on a shelf and some of the scripts are already available
>online. I agree with Shawn (and others group members) that new novels/fan
>fiction would be more interesting. I would also purchase music CDs.

I'm slightly confused here. The last several posts are calling for more
fan fiction or more licensed novels? Fan fiction is inexpensive to produce
and pretty easy to find for free on the internet. If you want to hold a
"real" book buying a fanzine is also a bit cheaper than buying from
Fanderson because you don't need a membership to buy a fanzine.

I think Fanderson produced one (?) or maybe a couple of fan fiction
collections years ago. I became a member around the time of the Space 1999
soundtrack so it was before my time as a member.

Or is it a call to produce more officially licensed novels in the spirit of
the old UFO and Space 1999 novels of the 1970's?

In my mind there is a big difference between Fan Fiction and officially
licensed novels. I'm not speaking about the quality of the writing here,
just the difference in the production of the works and the idea that one
editor can oversee an entire line of books thus creating an "epic" series
of novels that compliment each other while a fan fiction writer is off on
their own and being their own editor. So each work of Fan Fiction has to
stand on it's own, so to speak.

I was just getting confused in the thread as to which type of work people
were interested in. The individual fan fiction, produced by various
writers or a line of books with one editor overseeing the line of books
(And the continuity and the interpretation of the original source material)

>Another comment regarding the ability to order over the internet was also
>relevant. I am far more likely to go to a site and purchase an item off of
>an internet site than I am to mail in a form.

Most items I buy (I've mostly been buying DVD's lately) I buy off the
internet. The major roadblock with Fanderson used to be the method in
getting US funds over to England. Now that they can accept credit cards by
mail it really isn't that much of a hassle at all. I believe all the
orders are processed by one person, maybe two or three??? Can that few
people handle an influx of orders over the internet on web page (And update
and maintain that page?) Also, when I order something off the net, I'm
used to getting it fast, in a couple of days, like deepdiscountdvd.com or
amazon.com and all the rest (HLJ is an exception but they did fill the
pre-orders fast when the product became available!) Could Fanderson
provide that type of speedy service? I think everyone in Fanderson is a
volunteer and everyone has their own "regular" jobs and at some point a
life too.

So from that POV it's probably easier for fanderson to process these mail
in orders. It's still a fan club...a fan club that produces some amazing
products but still a fan club.

> In addition, if I wasn't a member and wanted to purchase an item it
> would be nice if I could purchase it (perhaps at a higher cost to
> encourage membership) regardless of my member status. Members could be
> rewarded with lower prices or the ability to order as many of the item as
> they wanted.

This is an idea that might be helpful to Fanderson. I'm not sure if they
would consider it, depending on the circumstances that they are allowed to
produce material but still, if they were allowed to they could charge extra
to non members for books or soundtracks and funnel the extra money into a
NEW soundtrack or book! : - )

Phil/Nick:

I think if Fanderson adds Web purchase -- it should be made clear (on the Web
site) that orders will not ship any faster, that they are simply eliminating
extra post coming into the Fanderson mailbox. If I were a member, I certainly
wouldn't mind waiting if it meant not having to go to the Post Office and buy
international mail stamps, etc.

Just my .01 Euro

Anthony
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Merkel" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 9:41 PM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] A good indicator?


<snip> <snip>

At 10:23 PM 11/5/02 -0500, you wrote:

yeah, it would eliminate that but when I sent my last Fanderson order in
(Which Nick has received) it cost me about .80 I think.

Maybe a little bit more? No I think it was 80 cents. But I have two post
offices very near my house and I maintain a PO Box for a non profit in one
of them so I'm there every other day picking up my mail. I can see if it's
a hassle getting to the PO (With long lines...there's never a long line in
Sound Beach except for Christmas) but the cost isn't that much more then
mailing a letter in the US. You could probably stick 3 or 4 first class
stamps on the envelope and it would still get there. Probably should write
airmail somewhere on it though!

"Marc Martin" wrote:
Yes, I suppose I do feel that way. Personally I wouldn't be
inclined to buy or read a script book for its own sake, but
it's nice to have some of them on the web as reference
material.

James

--- In SHADO@y..., "Nick Williams" <nick@f...> wrote:
> Thanks to the people who have already responded to my posting of
>last week, regarding the Fanderson UFO Script Book. Help and advice
>from just 10 people has dropped into my mailbox since, which I make
>as just 2.2% of the SHADO population.

I think some people do not have group messages sent to their
mailbox;many - like me - come to the webpage and read archived
messages perhaps once a week. Admittedly its not very timely,which is
why I only just posted my views. Also I think we have to be honest
that whenever views are asked on matters such as these
(scriptbooks,novels,etc)its only a minority who ever reply.

Incidentally, while we are on about 'non-responsiveness' to your
original question,can I just say that when Powys Books first Space
1999 novel was published a few months back(new fiction,as Fanderson
is contemplating publishing)I emailed a review to Fanderson with a
view to it perhaps being published in the Fanderson magazine. It
hasn't to date appeared (and I am quite ok about this) but it would
have been nice to perhaps have a brief acknowledgement? So I have to
say that' lack of response' cuts both ways....

Simon Morris

James Gibbon <[hidden email]> wrote:
"Marc Martin" wrote:
Yes, I suppose I do feel that way. Personally I wouldn't be
inclined to buy or read a script book for its own sake, but
it's nice to have some of them on the web as reference
material.

James

To interest me, a script would have to have more then just the Script itself. Are these illustrated in any way, or have other interesting tidbits? I have bought all of the Star Wars script books because they have extras like behind the sence photos, conceptual art, and things like that.




Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ 


scene


---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
HotJobs - Search new jobs daily now

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>To interest me, a script would have to have more then just the Script itself.
>Are these illustrated in any way, or have other interesting tidbits? I
have
>bought all of the Star Wars script books because they have extras like
behind
>the sence photos, conceptual art, and things like that.

The Fanderson UFO script books have several pages up front
with behind-the-scenes information, plus a few behind-the-scenes
photos. Also it has a center section with color photos from
the series and behind-the-scenes.

Marc

Robert:

Good question. I see Marc beat me to the punch but since I already started
this note...

According to the Fanderson Web site, this is what is included in the first
UFO Script Book:

"The book includes 12 pages of colour photos featuring production stills,
behind the scenes pictures and deleted scenes. Introduced by Chris Bentley who
highlights the differences between the scripts and the finished episodes and
the reasons for the changes.

204 page oversize format (128 x 197mm) perfect-bound paperback. Published by
Century 21 Books."

The above is one of the reasons that I would have liked to see a few select
pages of this book on Fanderson's Web site.

I think that script books are for the "completist fan" -- the fan who wants as
much information as possible about his favorite series. They are not for
everyone and certainly are not material that you cuddle up with in bed on a
regular basis. They're reference material and should be treated as such.
They're probably best produced similar to the UFO script book -- with extras
such as pictures and if possible authoritative commentary on the differences
between the script and produced episode and the reason for the changes (not
sure if the UFO book contained such editorial material).

I know I'd like to see a script book for Space:1999. :)

Anthony

----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Thomas" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 06, 2002 2:52 PM
Subject: Re: [SHADO] Interest in UFO scripts...


<snip>
> To interest me, a script would have to have more then just the Script
itself. Are these illustrated in any way, or have other interesting tidbits? I
have bought all of the Star Wars script books because they have extras like
behind the sence photos, conceptual art, and things like that.
>

Some UFO episode in 16mm films for Auction on Ebay at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1579927987
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1579925528
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1579923218
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1579920425
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1579918277

--
Angelo Finamore
--

Marc, it isn't really a lack of interest per'se it's just that with the
notable exceptions of trivia lookups and fan-fic research, there is not
much 'use' of the script books. If I have a few coins to rub together by
far my first choices for UFO collectables is going to be models, DVDs, CDs,
novels and the like. Most of the reason for this is that I can DO
something with all of these other things but the scripts just mostly sit
there. If I want to run through the episodes then the DVDs really do that
best. Don't get me wrong, I like the availability of the scripts and its a
very good thing to have them available but at the same time I don't believe
they will ever be terribly marketable and will always occupy a very tiny
niche. Free on your site is great but even if they weren't, I would
probably just watch the DVDs and do without rather than buy them from
anyone.
S



Date: Tue, 5 Nov 2002 18:01:15 -0800
From: "Marc Martin" <[hidden email]>
Subject: Interest in UFO scripts...
Hi all,
It's been interesting to read how many folks aren't
that interested in Fanderson's UFO script books. I recall
that when I was adding UFO scripts to my website there
certainly seemed to be a lot of interest. Are there
people here who are interested enough in UFO scripts
that they'll look at them if they are freely available
on a website, but not interested enough to buy a Fanderson
script book? If so, then perhaps I should try harder
to get some more UFO scripts and add them to my website...
Marc