Comments on: On the Road: North Carolina + Coming Attraction!!!!!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:40:26 +0000

ksquard, that’s a good question.
I’m closing the comments here so you’ll all go over to the next post so Jane can find your questions more easily.

By: ksquard

ksquard — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:23:53 +0000

Okay, now I have to check out Jane’s blog, though from your comments, I can’t understand why I haven’t before. Band Candy is one of my absolute favorite Buffy eps, really b/c of teen rebel Giles (the expression on his face listening to Cream and lighting the cigarette – priceless) and the great Jane dialogue. I always know I’m in for a great episode whenever her name is in the credits on whatever show she’s gracing with her presence, so am very excited here in Jersey. I think I’d like to ask something about being a strong and funny screenwriter on what seem to be male-run shows (Gilmore Girls notwithstanding) albeit with strong female lead characters (Buffy, Starbuck, Gina Torre’s character [sorry, blanking on her name. I've seen Firefly and Serenity, but am not as fluent as I am in Buffverse. Please don't hate me.]or something like that. Still forming the question…

By: Pam W.

Pam W. — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:24:27 +0000

My joy truly knows no bounds–Jane on Jenny’s site. Ah, bliss. (I got turned on to Jane’s blog by Lani on WWFW–sending her much love for that recommendation!)

Yes, I agree with the Why Wash had to Die questioning. He was so sweet and goofy and had such a wonderful love story with Zoe. Sigh.

I’ve been scared to say I haven’t watched Buffy until just this fall. However, I did finally see the error of my ways and I’m now halfway through season three. I’ll speak plainly here–I’m totally in love. I want to write Buffy, I want to be Buffy, I want Buffy to never end. Sigh.

By: orangehands

orangehands — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:42:13 +0000

and Wash dying. so, so sad.

By: orangehands

orangehands — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:41:22 +0000

ooooo, cool.

my friend and i are rewatching Buffy this year (i think we’ll be able to spread it out till Dec., she thinks Feb.). plus, i haven’t seen every Buffy episode, so i get new ones interspersed with old ones.

(50 seconds in, spike sings. it’s sad how many times i have watched this clip):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuqaCeCWN0Q&NR=1

can’t think of a question but i’ll work on it

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 18:09:17 +0000

Here’s the post about different kinds of funny characters:

http://www.janeespenson.com/archives/00000116.php

Really must do something other than read blogs today….

By: Lani

Lani — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 15:25:54 +0000

You bet! Actually, there are loads of them and no one link to them all, but one of my favorites is the one Jane calls “The Squiggy”:

http://www.janeespenson.com/archives/00000105.php

She’s named so many joke forms and explained them in really straightforward language. Now, most of it relates to screen and television writing, but I’ve found a few of them in novels as well. My favorite post, and I wasn’t able to find it, was when Jane talked about how there are two kinds of funny characters – those who know they’re funny and who we laugh with (Xander from Buffy, Chandler from Friends) and – the more common form – characters that are funny but aren’t trying to be (Xander and Chandler have these moments too, but Michael Scott from The Office is a good example of someone who is hilarious in an unintended way.) Jane has a unique ability to boil the jokes down into what exactly makes them funny, and I find it fascinating, and really helpful, especially because it makes you aware of the groaners (overused jokes) that make their way into your humor vocabulary simply because they’re so overused.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:27:43 +0000

Lani, can you find the URL for that post and put it here?

By: Lani

Lani — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 10:43:52 +0000

Ooooh, fabulous. Jane and Jenny together!

I have a question for Jane: I find your analysis of jokes on your blog absolutely brilliant. It would never have occurred to me to do such a thing, or I would have dismissed the idea immediately, because I think it’s so hard to teach how to be funny. Through what you’ve done, though, I find myself really able to take a look at my jokes and understand them on a deeper level than just “funny” or “not funny,” and I thank you so much for that. Are there any plans to maybe collect all that material and write a book? I think it would be brilliant.

Looking forward to seeing Jane here!

By: Lindsey

Lindsey — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 23:22:09 +0000

Jane Espenson?!?!?! I LOVE JANE ESPENSON!!!! Her work on Battlestar is nothing short of brialliant. I’m so excited that two of my favorite writers are going to be joined on the same blog, however briefly.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 23:16:30 +0000

Good question.
Keep thinking.

I’m in SC and very happy looking at the ocean, but the internet is only in the one public place, so my natural tendency to ramble is curtailed.

Still, I’m lookin’ at the ocean. I’m happy.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 17:17:11 +0000

Yay, Jane! I love her blog. She is delightful. And I thought the thing with Wash was awful and yet totally powerful. I’m not bitter, just still freaking sad.

I’d like to ask Jane if she thinks people who are naturally good at dialogue would be better off writing screenplays than novels.

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 15:25:53 +0000

I just watched Serenity for the first time last night. Oh my Bob, it was freakin’ fantabulous!!!!

Wait, I need a few more: !!!!!

I remember catching I think one episode of Firefly, and really liking it. But my reception for the Pittsburgh FOX station was sucky, and I never could find it again. Probably cause they yanked the show. Jerks.

Really looking forward to the guest blog.

By: gin

gin — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:58:17 +0000

And Shepherd, too. I really wanted to know his backstory, and to see the rest of the crew finding it out.

By: sheagal

sheagal — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 14:53:52 +0000

What a coincidence. I was just chatting with Jane, (okay the conversation was a little one-sided). I was listening to the commentary on Shindig early this morning. I can’t wait. Thanks for arranging it.

I too, and not bitter about Wash. Of course, I had to wait until the second viewing to find out what happened at the end of the BDM. I think I was in a state of shock the first time. But I’m over it now, really. Of course in my own little personal world, Wash is still a leaf on the wind. I’ve block everything else out.

By: Office Wench Cherry

Office Wench Cherry — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:27:39 +0000

Yay! Jane. *happy dance* Funny syphilis. That was the best. I don’t have any questions, I’m just going to bask in the glory.

By: francois

francois — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 12:14:43 +0000

Oh I dunno about the pointless character death. I like it when writers show progress in a character’s story, even if that does mean their eventual death or the death of their partner. There aren’t any of the Serenity crew I’d have been happy to lose, but the plot does have to move on. Unless you’re in The Simpsons (and even there someone died once).

By: Susan

Susan — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 05:50:34 +0000

You should definitely ask her about Wash. Because I consider that an archetypal example of pointless character death. *weeps softly to self*

By: DownUnderGal

DownUnderGal — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 04:03:30 +0000

Now there’s a picture

I’d love to hear advice/tips from someone in the script writing industry. Roll on Tuesday.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 03:30:33 +0000

Okay, I put in a spoiler space. i was thinking since Serenity had been out for over a year that everybody had seen it, but that’s because I live in a Whedon-centric universe. Sorry, sorry, sorry.

However there are more spoilers in the comments and I’m good with that. Because I like talking about story. So I’m thinking anybody with spoiler issues should not read the comments from here on down. And probably on the day of the guest blog because we don’t want to restrict the discussion in any way.

As for all you people who haven’t seen Buffy yet . . . my God, can you imagine having that ecstasy before you? I’m so envious.

And I’m just passing through NC. Got a retreat to go to in SC. No booksignings. My last conference. Lovely empty calendar stretching out before me, lots of time to write Always Kiss Me Goodnight and Dogs and Goddesses, and Wild Ride. If I could, I’d roll around on my calendar like Wolfie on the TV room rug.