Whedonesque : Comments on 13734 : New York Daily News feature on Buffy season 8.

Thanks, Simon. (And, you know, Joss).

Bloody Joss, what's he ever done for us, eh ?

Nice article and quotes from Joss.

It's really wonderful how Season 8 is considered such a success and that it's introducing new customers to the comic world.

maje | July 15, 19:17 CET

Great article, but I'm sure SMG, James, Alyson, Nick or Michelle must have heard something about the Season 8 series. Someone is bound to ask them about it. I'm sure they'd be happy their saga lives on, no matter how their noses are drawn.

impalergeneral | July 15, 19:40 CET

Excellent article, thanks for posting it, Simon. I'm kinda' curious about the comment that "Goners" was in slow development. If I recall correctly, Joss wasn't even planning to start that project until early 2008. Granted, that was while he was still working on "Wonder Woman", but I was under the impression that work on "Goners" was proceeding well. Did I miss something?

Madhatter | July 15, 20:08 CET

Fun article, but: "Whedon said he needed an escape to the four-panel world of comic books."
Are all comic books four-panels?

embers | July 15, 22:01 CET

Madhatter, Joss (as I understand it, from interviews) worked on a rewrite of Goners for a fair amount of time earlier this year, but Universal then didn't put it into production. The original idea -- again, as stated in interviews -- was to look at shooting this year. I can't see that happening now. Unless I'm wrong.

It has been slower than Joss had imagined, I think. But then, good things come to those who wait. Along with Guinness.

gossi | July 15, 22:43 CET

Are all comic books four-panels?

Nah, in fact almost none are (these days at least) unless the writer's deliberately trying something with a specific structure. Warren Ellis' (excellent) 'Fell' started out at 9 panels per page for instance (partly because he was trying to fit the same amount of story into fewer pages - 'Fell' is only 16 pages to keep the cost down) but Ellis dropped that self-imposed constraint after it seemingly became too limiting (and even from the start he'd have 'splash' panels across three grid sections).

Basically, it varies, but with comics you get used to the mainstream press making gross over-simplifications, comes with the sickle ;).

ETA: BTW, 'Fell' #1 is available free online for anyone that's interested in having a look.

[ edited by Saje on 2007-07-15 19:53 ]

Saje | July 15, 22:50 CET

Ahh, thanks Gossi. Well, I rather Joss stick to his story than fold to the film studios. I'm perfectly willing to wait a spell.

Madhatter | July 15, 23:29 CET

Saje posted:

Are all comic books four-panels?

Nah, in fact almost none are (these days at least) unless the writer's deliberately trying something with a specific structure. Warren Ellis' (excellent) 'Fell' started out at 9 panels per page for instance (partly because he was trying to fit the same amount of story into fewer pages - 'Fell' is only 16 pages to keep the cost down) but Ellis dropped that self-imposed constraint after it seemingly became too limiting (and even from the start he'd have 'splash' panels across three grid sections).

Basically, it varies, but with comics you get used to the mainstream press making gross over-simplifications, comes with the sickle ;).

And explaining that would be a bitch to fit into a one-sentence sum-up blurb meant mainly to move from one section of the story to another.

Love's Bitch | July 16, 00:20 CET

...but I was under the impression that work on "Goners" was proceeding well. Did I miss something?

Kind of.

Back in May, Joss said he'd submitted the script and would hear "in a few weeks" if he was going to be shooting it later this year.

One month later, he expressed some frustration, saying that "hopefully within the year I'll be doing something other than turning in drafts of scripts, which after 18 months of Wonder Woman is getting a little old".

Then at the very end of June, he said of his forthcoming Comic-Con (personal note: *cry*) panel:

Really lively would be announcing that I’m actually moving ahead on a greenlit filmed entertainment. Dontchya think? Pretty sure that’s not gonna happen by then....

The One True b!X | July 16, 00:32 CET

Thanks, b!x, I was gonna laboriously assemble that, but as always, you were already there with the skinny.

QuoterGal | July 16, 00:52 CET

As for the original cast, Amber Benson is probably the most likely to have actually read a Season 8 comic book, considering she wrote a couple of Buffy comics (i.e. the limited "Willow and Tara" series and one of the "Tales of the Slayer" stories). I consider it ironic, since her character hasn't appeared in Season 8 yet.

Reminder to self: schedule Joss tirade in my next Buffy dream. At least he'll have to listen to me there, unless my subconscious goes evil and does "the funny Jossian twist."

Anyway, Chris Golden introduced Amber to the comic book world, and she admits she's a voracious reader of pulp fiction.

quantumac | July 16, 02:40 CET

And if I take the challenger below a 11.50, I will need a roll cage. Choices, choices.

Madhatter | July 16, 03:09 CET

I think Goners taking so long to get greenlit is an ominous sign. I seriously doubt that Joss's first script was that lacking. Maybe Mary Parent and Universal have soured on Joss doing more films for them because they think he can't break past his fanbase?

I'd feel bad if Goners doesn't get made, but if it all ended up with Joss doing tv instead, I'd hardly be crying.

shambleau | July 16, 05:35 CET

I would cry if Goners doesn't get made...

UnpluggedCrazy | July 16, 08:18 CET

"It's like a weekend at a spa," says Whedon, comparing the comic book industry to Hollywood.

Interesting.

Sunfire | July 16, 08:42 CET

And explaining that would be a bitch to fit into a one-sentence sum-up blurb meant mainly to move from one section of the story to another.

True, but fitting minus two words (or minus one hyphenate) into a one-sentence blurb is remarkably easy i.e. if the journalist had just left "four-panel" out then his article wouldn't be wrong. And we all like not being wrong, right ? ;)

Saje | July 16, 10:07 CET

About the "weekend at a spa" comment - Joss has said before, and continues to say in this interview, that Hollywood grinds up people. Suits meddle and create an environment where one must give so much in so little time. Everything there is rush-rush with hard budget constraints, and the constant "editing" of one's ideas by the suits can make an artist feel very frustrated.

Here's hoping Joss will be able to return to Hollywood on his own terms.

quantumac | July 16, 18:22 CET

Maybe Mary Parent and Universal have soured on Joss doing more films for them because they think he can't break past his fanbase?

Mary Parent has spun off things with her own company, as I understand it. I'm willing to say she's a huge fan of Joss' work and wants to work with him -- she once described herself as a "Whedon stalker" in an interview. Which is a joke I stole, but then people appeared to think I was serious, which wasn't so funny. (I struggle to get to work on time, so I don't think stalkin' is for me).

The average Hollywood, big screen movie, it is claimed, takes seven years from concept to release. In my experience (I like to follow projects), that's about right. So if Goners appears next year, Joss has shaved 2 years off the industry average.

[ edited by gossi on 2007-07-16 17:50 ]

[ edited by gossi on 2007-07-16 17:52 ]

gossi | July 16, 20:49 CET

"You have a creative concept and instead of going through an endless array of suits to realize it," he says, "instead of spending millions of dollars of someone else's money to realize it - which is why the suits come along - you give it to an artist."

I am sadly reminded of Orson Welles' description of movies as "the only medium where the artist can't afford his own working materials."

It also makes me daydream about the someday viability of applying the microloans web concept to film-making. For any not familiar with the idea, this allows individuals to loan what amount they can directly to another individual (thereby bypassing banks/suits.) It's nice to imagine Joss' fanbase to be able to participate directly in funding his work. (I know there is a commercial example of this concept online, but the only one I can remember is the philanthropic model at Kiva.org.

skreechowl | July 16, 21:31 CET

Mary Parent has spun off things with her own company, as I understand it.

Although she does constantly show up in my Google News alert for

"Mary Parent" Universal

The One True b!X | July 16, 22:33 CET

Well, haven't we heard that Tom Lenk gave Alyson Hannigan some season 8 comics? And it then seems likely that word could trickle down to some or all of the others through her (assuming that Tom hasn't contuinued hooking actors up with copies). If they hadn't already learned through the press or elsewhere...

LKW | July 17, 02:43 CET

July 15 2007