|
From
BBC Online:
Jane
Espenson is a producer and writer for BUFFY.
When she joined us for a webchat in October, we received thousands
of questions.
Here's
how it went...
Kitty
Squires: Hey! Where do you get the ideas for the monsters,
demons, vampires etc?
Interestingly
enough, we usually don't start with the idea of a cool monster
or demon. We usually start with the emotional problem
that Buffy is going through and then demons come from that through
metaphor. So if Buffy fights an acne monster, you know
why!
Dave
Dickson: I'm currently at the University of East Anglia doing
a screenwriting course. How do I go about submitting a
BUFFY/ANGEL
script?
BUFFY
and ANGEL
only accept submissions through agents. Also, and this
is true of all US TV shows, if you submit a script for a show,
you submit a script for a different programme. So you
use a BUFFY
script to get a show on CHARMED,
or SOPRANOS
to get on BUFFY.
There is no system for submitting ideas for us to turn into
episodes - we like to come up with the ideas ourselves!
Lizzie
Spears: How many is on the team of writers?
There
are six of us, including Joss.
Alex
Wells: Do you have any funny stories about the actors?
All
the actors are delightful and humorous people. There are
no funny stories that the BBC censors would let me tell!
Buster
Pike: Does the Internet affect your script writing? If
so, how?
Sometimes
it does affect the stories in exactly the opposite way that
you might think. If we see that everyone on the Internet,
who visit fan sites, has an expectation that we might go one
way with a story, we'll go the other way, because we're evil!
Rachel:
Is there a lot of arguing about what's going to happen in an
episode?
Yes!
There is a lot of arguing until Joss Whedon comes in the room
- our boss - then he tells us what the right answer is.
At that point there is no more arguing!
Cath
Goth: Is it more interesting writing for slightly older characters
now that everyone is older and has some "history"?
Our
characters have always been a tremendous amount of fun to write
for. But I think it does get more interesting as they
accumulate more of a history. We know that there are experiences
that you, the audience, are aware of, as well as us, and we
can draw on those.
Dan
Stondin: Who came up with the idea to give Angel his own show
and why did it come about?
That
decision happened before I joined the writing staff at the beginning
of season three. I'm sure it was Joss's idea, and I'm
sure it happened because he knew he'd exhausted the Buffy-Angel
love story. And that in the face of a love that could
not be, it was kinder to separate them than to keep them together,
when they were unable to be together. Also, we like having
two shows!
Liz
B: Who is your favourite character to write for?
I
love Anya. She speaks just like I do. I find her
very easy and funny to write for.
Dirk:
Do you fancy Angel?
David
and Angel are both attractive and interesting people/vampires!
Helen
Beveridge: What would your ideal episode of BUFFY
involve?
The
episode BAND
CANDY
was the first BUFFY
episode I wrote. In a way, that's my ideal episode.
Beyond that there would be a lot of crazy, funny alternate universe
humour!
Sara
GamalEldin: How did you get the job of writing for the show?
I
started out writing for American sitcoms, and decided that I
would rather write for a drama. BUFFY
was my favourite drama, so I asked my agent if he could send
my material to the show. So he sent an episode of ELLEN
that
I had written and a spec episode of NYPD
BLUE .
Based on those scripts, I got an interview.
Lloyd
star: How do you keep a complete script interesting?
That
has to do with what we call the act break, the moments that
happen before each commercial. They are the first part
of a story that we decide on, and they are what keeps you coming
back to the show. Also, Joss is a genius, and he knows
how to tell a great story every week.
Suzie:
Would you ever set an episode of the show in England?
Especially since so many of the characters come from there.
We've
talked about that. It would be very expensive to go there,
but I wouldn't be surprised to see us involving maybe the Council
of Watchers sitting in a room that we say is in England.
That wouldn't be too expensive!
Paul
Andrade: What's your favourite BUFFY
episode that you HAVEN'T written, and why?
I
like the one called TED,
starring our guest star, John Ritter, a funny American actor.
The episode aired when I was still just a fan of the show, and
I was blown away! I completely fell for the mislead that
it was simply a story about Buffy using her slayer power inappropriately,
so the twist that he was a killer robot was amazing! A
wonderful example of a funny and smart episode at the same time.
Andrew
Galbraith: How much research do you do into all the demons and
spirits, myths and legends? Do you yourself have to do
any at all?
None
at all. We make it all up! Sometimes we look up
a name so that we have a name to give to a demon, but usually
it's all made up! We also make up the teenage language
on the show.
Duncan
Oates: All the characters are so imaginative, are there ever
any experiences that you write into the show that reflect your
personal life or your character?
Oh,
certainly. Anya, for example, usually says what I would
say in any situation. Many of the stories came out of
experiences that the writers had when they were younger.
Marti Noxon is particularly good at capturing the heartbreak
of being a young person and transferring it to the screen.
Gyre:
You say you make up the teen language. Have you noticed
any of that language being adopted by the teens of America?
I
don't listen to teenagers in America! Let me clarify...
I don't know many teenagers, although the teenage fans that
I talk to online seem incredibly intelligent. I would
be flattered if they adopted any of our language!
Jo
Goodman: Are you surprised by the way BUFFY
has turned into such a cult?
It
was already a cult when I joined the staff, and I was a happy
cult member, so I'm not surprised at all!
Simon
Pulman: Did you always have aspirations to go into television
and writing, or did you career find you?
No.
This is what I always wanted to do, even when I was a little
kid, I knew I wanted to write for TV. I just didn't think
it was possible. I can't imagine what I would have done
if I was born before there was television - I would have had
to invent it!
BBC-Host:
Would you like to write for radio?
I
think there are a lot of jokes that work better on radio because
often jokes work better on the radio because you don't see them.
I'd love to write for radio.
Magali
Perret: If there's a BUFFY
movie, will you write some of it?
I
don't know if there will be a movie. It always strikes
me as so funny because it was a movie before the series.
If a movie does happen, I'm sure Joss will write it.
Alex
Stansfield: Would you recommend becoming a writer and if you
do, what qualifications do you require to become one?
I
absolutely recommend becoming a writer! It's fun and it
pays incredibly well. The qualifications are minimal.
You just need a general education - that always helps.
It simply requires the ability to do the job, but no particular
qualifications.
Jamie
Talbot: Do you manage to meet the actors?
Yes.
We can go down onto the set anytime we want. Our offices
are right next to the sound stages. Also, we all attend
the same parties, so we see the actors all the time. They
are delightful.
Steven
Tandy: Do you sometimes get confused with the plot?
I
do, but I don't think the other writers do - they're smarter
than I am! Sometimes I have to remind myself of the difference
between the episode the way we filmed it and the original idea
we had that turns into the script. I find it easy to forget
which one actually happened.
Barry
McKean: Is there any other TV show you have seen that you think
would have made a great episode of Buffy?
Interesting
question! Sometimes I'll see an idea on a show and I'll
think that we could have taken it and turned it into something
very BUFFY.
But usually the way we approach the story is so different than
any other show that there's not very much of the original that
would be left. And we like to come up with our own ideas
anyway!
Drusilla:
Would you ever be tempted to star in an episode yourself?
Oh
dear God no! I'm not an actress, although if you look
carefully in the background of BAND
CANDY,
you can see me as an extra. I'm a cafeteria lady in the
background with a green smock. I was terrified!
I did not like being an actor, even just as an extra!
Gemma
Walsh: Do the writers get any say in the actors/actresses who
are cast for parts?
Yes,
we do. Once you get the title producer, or a higher title,
you start attending casting sessions and you can help to choose
the actors. I find this nerve-wracking. I get nervous
on behalf of the actors that are auditioning.
Dan
Revell: If you could write for any other show on TV, which would
it be?
Nothing
is as good as BUFFY!
We have a show in America called THE
WEST WING
about life in the White House that is very, very good.
But I would still never leave BUFFY.
Keith
Waller: How do all the writers co-ordinate their scripts to
work as a season?
Again,
a very good question. We never get tangled up because
Joss is in charge of the development of every story. He
has the overall arc for the series worked out at least a year
in advance at all times, so we know where we are going.
And we write the scripts slowly enough that usually you can
read the script that comes before yours at about the time you
start writing it.
Michelle
Lennox: So will Britney Spears be appearing in any episodes
in the near future?
We
aren't sure. It was talked about, but now I think that
I heard that it won't happen. In other words, I know nothing!
Mikolaj
Krzewicki: Do you draw inspiration from literary works and if
so, which ones?
I
am a huge fan of Jane Austen, but so far I have not found this
to be helpful!
Katie
Chatt: Why are Willow, Xander etc called the Scooby Gang now?
It's
a reference to SCOOBY
DOO, WHERE ARE YOU?
- the cartoon show. The characters on our show are very
much immersed in pop culture. They grew up watching reruns
of SCOOBY
DOO,
so that's how they refer to themselves, as a similar group of
evil-battling teens.
Jon
Clark: How long does it take to write one show?
The
actual writing takes anywhere from five days to two weeks.
The plotting of it takes an additional at least one week, possibly
a month, before the actual writing begins.
Jade
Palfreyman: Do the actors ever dislike the scripts?
No!
It's actually surprising but our actors trust Joss as much as
we do. I have never heard one of them express dissatisfaction
about the script - at least not to me!
James:
If you could have the power from any of the characters in the
show, what would it be?
I
guess I'd have to say Buffy - she has the most power.
Although as you will see as more episodes air, Willow has some
extremely cool power! I think what I would like is to
have both their powers, then I could switch between them as
the situation dictates!
Sarah
Lees: Do you think that the show is getting too mature for young
people?
I
think it's always been pretty scary and intense. I don't
think it was ever intended to be a children's programme.
Charles
Littlewood: Do you think Faith should star in a BUFFY
spin off?
I
actually think that would be wonderful. Faith is a wonderful
character and I think she could support a spin-off. The
actress who plays her has become very popular and in demand,
and I assume she would not be available to do a spin-off.
Helen
Beveridge: How many episodes have you written?
I
think 11 or so.
Ian:
Can you tell me about your writing on STAR
TREK?
I
wrote one episode as a freelance writer for STAR
TREK: DEEP SPACE 9.
The episode was called ACCESSION.
I enjoyed the experience a lot - I've always been a huge STAR
TREK
fan. I would write another episode for them in a second,
for any TREK
programme. I've also been fortunate to write for the actor
Armin Shimmerman on both STAR
TREK
and BUFFY.
He played Quark on TREK
and Principal Snyder on BUFFY.
Prue
Halliwell: Do you ever get writers block, and how do you over
come it?
I
find that you tend not to get writers block when you're getting
paid!
Rebecca:
Have you got any tips for upcoming writers?
Watch
television analytically. Make outlines of episodes of
your favourite shows and observe how they put the stories together.
Make up stories in your head about the characters. When
you get storylines that are satisfying to you, write them down.
Then you'll be a TV writer.
Thomas
Freaking: What's the best thing about your job?
Let's
see.... The money is good, the hours are good, you get reflected
glory, and you get to play puppetmaster with the wonderful BUFFY
characters. It's all good!
Kevin:
Will BUFFY ever feature
other classical monsters, like those in Greek mythology?
We
have no plans for that but it could absolutely happen.
Raven:
Do you lie awake at night thinking up ideas for storylines?
Sometimes!
And I think Joss does that all the time.
Holly
Emblem: Do you believe that fan-fiction is a good start for
young writers?
Yes
I do, very much so. Fan fiction gives you the opportunity
to learn how to master the voices of the characters, which is
one of the most important things in writing for television.
I encourage it very much.
Aaron
Weatherley: Jane, please tell me if Amy will be de-ratted?
We've
thought a lot about the de-ratting of Amy. I think it
will happen eventually, but we haven't written a script for
it yet.
Jo
Goodman: Do you personally believe in ghosts, demons, vampires
etc?
No.
Not at all, and yet, when I watch TV, I suspend by disbelief
immediately and believe in everything!
BBC-Host:
And a final word from Jane Espenson.
I
know that in England you're still watching episodes from season
four, and I just want you all to know that there are so many
cool and funny things on their way to you. I bet you'd
love me to tell you, but I won't right now! I'd like to
say thanks to all of you for being here and asking such wonderful
questions. We love our fans. BACK
TO THE TOP
|
