Posts Tagged ‘interview’

So Ben Jones of Absolute Radio in the UK was going to interview Jon Bon Jovi about the upcoming Bon Jovi album "The Circle," and he asked fans to submit questions. And Teresa did, first a list of 8 or so and then a few more individual ones.

The interview is being broadcast tomorrow, but you can download the interview now as a podcast from iTunes. And when they got to the fan question part at 20:55, she was the first one up:

This is from Teresa Bridges, who I think must have sent about 5,000 questions, she would much rather be standing here than me, but this is the question: "Help us out, for all of us who are battling our obsession with you: give us a fault or two of yours."

Didn't get a conclusive answer from him to that question (although she did finally learn a new personal fact about Jon that she probably could have done without, and which she realized has been used as the promo for the show for the last few days) but as it turned out, out of the four fan questions Jones asked, two of them were actually from Teres because he mistakenly asked another of hers and attributed it instead to a fan from Edinburgh. Now she's conflicted about how excited to be, and feeling a bit bad for the fan who's real question didn't get used.

(Well, not too conflicted. She's still psyched. Hell, she's been bouncing off the walls for days ever since she got the e-mail response that her question was chosen and "Jon says hi.")

Personally, I think that if two of her questions were chosen out of the hundreds or thousands Jones received, she should get a crack at interviewing Jon herself. Well? Entertainment Weekly? Rolling Stone? Hello?

Note: the podcast may not be the entire interview, we don't know yet. There were a few places where it was edited, and it's supposed to run in four parts from Monday to Thursday, so it's entirely possible there are more questions than just the four. Still seriously cool, though.

Last year I was fortunate enough to grab ten minutes of phone time with the man himself, to talk about all things Horrible.

Click here to read (or listen!) to the interview.

You have a knack for attracting obsessive fans. What do you think they see in your work?

An obsessive fan…

This is an obsessive fan asking that.

Yes, I am one, too. That’s what I am, that’s what I grew up as. The things I love, I love very hard. And that’s the kind of… and it’s usually genre stuff, which also attracts that type. You know, the world of imagination; when people enter any world that’s not our own they’re working in a different way than if it’s just a straight drama, no matter how great. It could be the “West Wing,” it’s great but there’s a different level when you add an element of fantasy. Particularly when you add song. It allows people to lose themselves, and [in an exaggerated arch voice] “find themselves.”

Yes, I am a new-age calendar. But I’m not wrong.

At any science fiction, comics or anime convention, you'll see people in costume. Superheroes, TV and movie characters, cartoons, characters from Japanese anime and manga and video games and more. While it's easy to dismiss them as kids dressing up — and there are certainly plenty of those — in many cases you're witnessing performance art.

"Cosplaying," short for "costume playing," has grown from throwing on a Halloween costume to a full-fledged subculture of people who devote great amounts of time, money and attention on crafting their characters in every detail. Cosplayers often attends cons in themed groups, posing for pictures and role-playing their chosen characters as much as a convention center will allow.

For most cosplayers it's a fun hobby, but Yaya Han, professional costume designer, model and cosplay entertainer (and celebrity guest at this weekend's FX convention in Orlando), does it full time.  She spoke to me recently about being other people for a living.

Why dress up for a convention? What do you get out of it?

It started out as a way to express my fandom. At the beginning it was just fun to portrait my favorite characters and interact with other fans. Costuming makes the most bold statement about what your fandom is, anyone can see what show you like from across the hall. It's a lot more creative and eye-catching than, say, wearing a shirt with the show's name on it, and it brightens the whole convention hall, which without costumers would be just a bunch of people in T-shirt and jeans.

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If you had to pick a word to describe Ben Templesmith's body of work, it would be…

Well, you wouldn't, actually, because trying to boil it down to a single word would probably do nasty things to your brainmeat. But then again, so does his work. It might be easier to describe the sorts of things this Australian commercial-artist-turned-comics-superstar does, and let you draw your own conclusions.

- Artist and co-creator with Steve Niles of "30 Days of Night" (and many spinoffs), about a vampire gang living in Alaska. Became a movie with Josh Hartnett, Melissa George and Danny Huston. Nominated for an Eisner Award, comics' highest honor. Won the Spike TV Scream Award for Best Comic.
- Creator of "Wormword: Gentleman Corpse," about an extra-dimensional sentient maggot that embodies corpses in order to drink Guinness and, occasionally, save the world. Hardback collection made the New York Times Bestseller list.
- Artist for "Fell," written by Warren Ellis, about an honorable detective in a city gone feral. Nominated for an Eisner Award three years running.
- Creator of "Welcome to Hosford," where a prison run by Russian werewolves gets a new inmate/hunt victim named Ray Delgado, who turns out to be just the right kind of delusional murderer to fight back.
- Artist for "Groom Lake," written by Chris Ryall, about the day-to-day job of keeping UFOs secret.

Templesmith will be attending the FX convention in Orlando this weekend, and took a moment to talk to me about it.

Vampires, werewolves, corpses, inexplicable Nixon-mask-wearing nuns… Is the inside of your head a safe place to be?

Absolutely. It's the guys that draw cutesy crap, the Mickey Mouse guys, who you need to worry about. They internalize everything, until it all boils over. Me? I get it all out onto the page, so I'm honestly a nice guy if you were to meet me face to face. Well, except for my small baby eating habit.

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As we get closer to FX 2009, the massive pop culture convention coming to Orlando this weekend, it's time to dig a little and see what you can expect. First up, a few words from FX's Director of Exhibitions Michael Herz.

As we get closer to FX 2009, the massive pop culture convention coming to the Orange County Convention Center this weekend, it's time to dig a little and see what you can expect. First up, a few words from FX's Director of Exhibitions Michael Herz.

It's been 20 years. How did FX get started?

The first show was actually in Tampa in 1989, it was promoted by Bruce Zalkin and called the Tampa Toyfest. Meanwhile, I was promoting the Character and Collectible Show in Maryland. Bruce and I got together in 1990 and in 1991 changed the name to the Florida eXtravaganza (FX). We ran it together until 1997, and I bought it back from him in 2004. In 2007, the show became to big for me to run myself anymore and I took a corporate partner, that's when it became FX International.

What have your attendance numbers since it started?

We've gone from maybe 300 in 1990 to 10,000 in 1996, to 3,500 in 2004 and back up to an expected attendance this year of at least 20,000.

How do you set yourself apart from MegaCon and other scifi/comic conventions in the area?

My dream has always been to be different from the other big events. We want FX to be everything for everyone: A collectible toy show, a comic-con, a sci-i-fi show, a horror show, a sports show, with anime and gaming events and panels and celebrities,your basic pop-culture overload circus! I have always strived to bring in new and different genres and cutting edge activities. This year we have added the celebrity poker challenge, the Drink and Draw, The Disney Pin event, the Sports Pavilion and Project Vinyl has been amped up from prior years. I am always very interested in anything that supports art and artists of any genre, so we have a lot of art-centered events this year.

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John Hodgman, knowledge-haver, PC, and occasional "Daily Show" correspondent, participated in a live chat at the Washington Post yesterday and expounded on being mean to Jon Stewart, the myth of Chicago, which type of computer he actually uses, and his new book, "MORE INFORMATION THAN YOU REQUIRE."

New Orleans:
What is the force of a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick?

John Hodgman: The force of a single roundhouse kick from Chuck Norris=one American Chuck.

In England, however, they use the old Imperial Chuck, which is the equivalents to 1.34 American Chucks. 

That is all.

For more than twenty years people have been picking up books because of the design skills of Chip Kidd. The iconic "Jurassic Park" cover, the snazzy Elmore Leonard reissues, David Sedaris' "Naked," even the New Testament.

Kidd talked to Time.com about his work, his love of books, his deep and abiding affection for bizarre Batman memorabilia, and his own favorite work:

Aside from ones you've worked on, what are some of your recent favorite book jackets?

The cover for James Frey's A Million Little Pieces. Since all that's happened with that book, the cover is the only aspect of it that has emerged with its dignity intact. The cover works regardless of whether it's a novel or a memoir or what have you.

I have to apologize, I knew about a fantastic podcast two weeks ago — one that mentions SerenityStuff, in fact — and didn't mention it. In my defense, I plead overwork, brain rot, and Saracen attack. But you really need to go check it out because it features our very own Whitefall.

Ben Mund, that is, he of the amazing Firefly and Serenity replicas. Light years ahead of most of the replica designers through his attention to detail and personal style, Ben devised his own stuff for years, often featured here and sold through eBay. His work, unofficial though it was, was even admired by Geoff Mandel, graphic designer for Serenity. Ben was later snapped up by QMx to make even better (and licensed) stuff because QMX are not fools.

Ben talked to the Sending a Wave podcast crew for a satisfyingly long time about his inspirations, how he does what he does, and his love for all things versy.

With a second book of essays about our favorite 'verse, I think Jane Espenson has started a trend. I'll expect another one of these every year or so. (And somewhere she's laughing at me…)

Fortunately, laughing comes easy when Jane's around. Her writing for Buffy, Angel, and Firefly always included wonderful character moments and plenty of humor mixed in with the drama — she wrote the Firefly episode "Shindig," for those of you coming in late — and in the first book she edited for BenBella's SmartPop line, "Finding Serenity," she brought together writers, fans, psychologists, and even a ship's engineer to talk about what Joss Whedon's worlds meant to them. Now this one — written with the knowledge gained from the movie — calls on more writers, more fans, a physics professor, a CG guy, and the captain himself to open up a little. (Check out my chapter-by-chapter review here) She stopped by SerenityStuff on her blog tour to answer a few questions for us. Hi Jane!

SS: For "Serenity Found," did you have a theme in mind? Apart from, you know, "Serenity"?
 
Jane: I can't say there was a conscious theme, although I think everyone involved was focused on the idea of perspectives, if you want to call it that.  The idea was to get intelligent points of view from as many different angles as possible.  I'm really pleased with how there isn't  overlap between the essays — some see the show from the inside, some from the outside, some with an eye to artistic analysis, others to political or social analysis, some looking to fit the show/movie into its larger place in history or sci-fi literature… Every essay has a really different reason to exist and a very individual point to make.  So yeah, let's say "Perspectives." 
 
SS: There has been a surprisingly large amount of excellent essays and commentary written on this half-season show and movie. Are there any more elements of Firefly/Serenity you'd still like to see explored?
 
Jane: How about a book about a second movie?  Who's with me?!
 
Actually, I'm pretty much serious about that.  I'm always even more interested in the extension of a world than the analysis of it.  
 
But in terms of analysis, the thing I'm still waiting for is more from Joss about how *he* sees the show now as he looks back at it.  For now, we'll have to glean it from interviews and such, but some day I hope he writes down his take on the show, the movie, and the robust fandom that still thrives. 
 
SS: If "Firefly" had not been cancelled, how would you have worked Jonathan in?
 
Jane: Ah, Jonathan.  It's hard to get him into space, I guess.  But the actor — the delightful Danny Strong — would've been great as some sort of surprisingly dangerous foe — maybe an unexpected man from Zoe's past.   Of course, Danny's all busy now, writing big movies for HBO.   
 
SS: Staff and actors from Whedonverse shows have been spreading out through other TV shows. Have you noticed Joss' influence on storytelling spreading? Is it some kind of cult thing?
 
Jane: Hee!  I always talk about how Buffy fans, unlike any others I've encountered, indulge in the "Cult of the Writer" — how a lot of us continue to get outsized fan love because of our connection to Buffy, in a way that doesn't happen with alums from other shows.  And, yeah, the Dear Leader of that cult is Joss — he's the one who determined what a Buffy episode was, and in fact, shaped every single story.  He sent us all out into our subsequent jobs asking "What's this story *really* about?"  "Why are we telling this story?"  "What is the emotional impact of this story on the main character?" "How is our hero taking a heroic action?"  So, in that way, certainly, the Buffy Way has spread.  
 
It's also spread, of course, without any one Buffy alum having to be there to do it.  Some Buffy *fans* have shows of their own now, of course, since TV writers were among those who loved the show.  I think you see this reflected in the number of pilots that are being written and purchased now in which drama and comedy and a certain self-aware whimsy are mixed.   
 
SS: Were there essays you didn't use? Enough for, say, a third book?
 
Jane: I think all the berries went into the pie.  If there's going to be third book ("Serenity Regained", anyone?), then we'll have to go out and pick some juicy new essays.  I don't think we'll run out.  There seem to be many ways to look at a firefly.

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"Serenity Found" is on sale now, available from Amazon, from BenBella Books, and from your local bookseller.

Unless, of course, your name is April Norton. In that case you just won a free copy of "Serenity Found," signed by the Jane herself. Congratulations! And thanks to BenBella Books for setting this up. And, you know, for publishing the books. More, please.

Jane is off to her next blog tour stop — here's the full list — but you can find even more Jane at her blog, one of the best off-the-cuff resources for any screenwriter, aspiring or professional. Several times a week she gives you inside tips on writing spec scripts, answers questions about the industry, and occasionally lets slip some fun tidbits.

The summer before "Serenity" came out, I starting to work on a book about fandom. I wanted to try and explain to all those people who mock conventions and online forums and geeks and freaks exactly what being a part of a fan community is all about. I did some interviews with various Browncoat movers and shakers but ultimately I let it go because, being pleasantly antisocial both on- and offline, I was the wrong person to write it.
 
Which is good because Allyson Beatrice's book would have blown mine away. She's the perfect person to write it because she doesn't try to analyze the socioeconomic impact of talent-consumer interaction or the changing trends in the networks' use of end-user-friendly viral marketing. She just wrote a book about herself and her friends.

It's called "Will the Vampire People Please Leave the Lobby?" and if you've ever made a friend online you will not be able to read this book without smiling. Allyson is not just a fan, she's a fan who can mobilize other fans. She started the Posting Board Parties for Angel, led the postcard campaign and wrote the famous Variety ad for "Firefly," and offered support for countless numbers of people she never actually met. And in 17 essays she captures the feel, the love, the responsibilities and affections and fun and manic behavior and cheerful obsession of fandom. She talks about organizing cons, mail-in campaigns, parties, and last-minute weddings. You'll find out how to handle trolls, deal with sock puppets, and argue with uppity showrunners. You'll see the transcript of the night a group of people on a forum abruptly decided to raise money to bring a much-loved, never-met friend over from Israel and the speed with which the thought became the deed will look awfully familiar. You'll laugh and get sniffly and most of all, you'll recognize the people she's talking about because you are the people she's talking about. Sometimes literally, especially if you've ever hung around The Bronze or Whedonesque…
 
Q: You wrote a freaking book! How cool is that?
 
I’m having a hard time letting it sink in. I’ve always had this romantic view of writers, all smart and mysterious behind their typewriters. And then an idiot like me gets published. Standards have gone down the toilet, obviously.
 
I’m so pathetic that I went to Barnes & Noble the day after they shelved it so I could stare at the endcap display and try to burn it into my brain, just in case I never sell another book. I was on the same display with Woody Allen, Gabe Kaplan, and The Big Book of Jewish Humor. I’m on the Jewcap. My people are a funny people, apparently.

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