Boy, I Wish My Life Were Less Boring (But Not in the Chinese Way)

[handful_ofdust]

In work-related news, Steve just finished his Internet-radio adaptation of E.F. Benson’s "The Room in the Tower", which I now have to give a prune and then send off to David & David for approval/notes. The second draft of "The Cage" went so well that they’re already on to casting, and have in fact cast my own mother as the hotsy-totsy Countess who ends up imprisoned forEVA in the titular implement (for the crime of having sex with a guy who may or may not—I’m voting may!—be Satan). Next on the docket: Me going back to the original list of stuff TBD, including "…the Poor Girl…" That thing is kicking my ass; if I ever meet the original author, I’ll really have to punch her in the stomach, or something.;)

School, OTOH, has also suddenly become fairly interesting again. Two years ago, there was widespread talk of A) a Writing Program and B) me administrating it. The former seems (crosses fingers) to at last be coming to fruition; no word as yet on the latter. I know I’m supposed to be submitting (re-submitting, in some cases) a few Course Outlines by Friday so that John can get it up and running by June/July, which apparently automatically attaches me to teach said courses. Frankly, I’m not sure how they’re going to be able to get around the work-hours restrictions if that’s so, short of making me Program Administrator (or whatever), but I guess we’ll see…

So…turns out, there’s only one more "real" issue of Death Note to come (as of July 3/07), with a supplemental "How To Read Death Note" thingie immediately after. And I’ve spoiled myself for the ending, but ya know? I’m okay with that. It goes pretty much the way I knew it would/should.

In the meantime, I’ve been plunging head-first down into that burning ring of fangirl fire known as Death Note online. All the usual accoutrements: Fanart, cosplay, fanfic, fanvids, fanwank. Oh, and you pronounce "Light" as "Raito", which does make a bit more contextual sense. There’s already live-action movie and a sequel (in which the guy playing Light seems to be heinously miscast and people have odd hair-colors, but the dude playing L looks accurate, and they manage to put together some unsettling CGI shinigami F/X), plus an anime series (very well-done, from what I can gather on youtube). And I don’t really want to get sucked into this in any concrete way, but the trends I’m starting to see are already sparking stuff off in my head. The fact is, this is a world and a bunch of characters who appeal to me on many different levels…so perhaps there is number-filing to do, here and there. We’ll see.

Oh, and on much the same...note, I had wanted to talk about how professional TV writer Denis McGrath at http://heywriterboy.blogspot.com has gone out of his way to insult every fanfic author in the world over the last five days, but I don’t have time. Later, perhaps. For now, bad scripts await!

Like my new "I will be the God of a shining new world!" icon?;) It always helps when Thanatic deities are kyuta.

Comments

[strange.livejournal.com]

Wow, that FanFic thing made my brain hurt. I don't really think too much about FanFic as personally it's not really my thing, but I do know it is here to stay. And what can possibly be so bad about something that keeps fans a) talking about the show and b) excited about the show's universe - these are two of the things that keeps people coming back season after season. In a way, to a certain group of fans, that's the best advertising ever - and really, FanFiction is never going to burst out and destroy that which it borrows from, because when compared to overall viewership numbers the FanFic is and will continue to be small. So let people have fun, because in the end that's all it is fun - no one is confusing fan properties with studio properties, so who cares. Right?

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

Well, this is the thing: McGrath's apparently coming at it from the POV of trying to defuse any crazy people who might be thinking of accusing him of stealing from them (osmotically, since he doesn't even read fanfic) by pointing out, not inaccurately, that THEY're stealing from HIM (and every other professional writer). Yet the stakes are just so fucking stacked in his favor...the fanficcers don't get paid for what they do, and I absolutely refuse to believe that his professional reputation could ever be damaged by an unprovable charge lodged by one member of an already-tiny minority of people doing something provably illegal. He calls me naive, I say "eh". And since property doesn't even enter into it, when it's all being given away for free, I see it as just another marketing tool: McGrath, you should kinda thank God they're talking about you at all, in any context, given the state of Canadian TV...as you keep on loudly pointing out, before and after this particular fracas.

Yeah, it's odd when a good writer genuinely prefers to keep it on the derivative down-low, rather than launch into the marketplace and make some H'wood gelt. OTOH, that's another competitor YOU don't ever have to worry about getting beat out to a good project by, isn't it?

[strange.livejournal.com]

Sure FanFic writers are stealing, but personally I have a hard time calling it that when they are doing it for fun and not making a penny off of it (nor like illegal downloading, preventing anyone from getting paid for their work). His argument is a bit silly though. Here's why... he's afraid of either picking up some idea via osmosis from FanFic or being called out by a FanFic writer for copying some idea he obviously didn't, but why should he worry about FanFic alone? Does this writer also not watch other TV programs, read books, etc. where ideas might slip in unconciously through osmosis as well - might those writers also not accuse him of stealing (happens everyday between professional writers too). Point being, the osmosis argument is weak and so is the argument about crazy FanFic writers tarnishing some professional's good name - why? Because there are crazies in every industry (even TV and horror), who could do the same if so inclined.

There are lots of other people's worlds I'd like to play in given the chance, the difference is as a professional I'd only really try to if given the opportunity to appear in an anthology or such (don't have time for dabbling otherwise) - but for the layperson, someone who writes just for the pleasure (community) of it and has no desire to make writing a formal career, I can see how that can be very inviting and exciting. And what's wrong with that? They are celebrating something they love - which like you and I both said, can be an excellent marketing tool (and should on some level be considered a compliment - this show/movie/book whatever was so compelling that it inspired others to continue the story).

[handful-ofdust.livejournal.com]

I'd personally love to read fanfic based on my work, if it wasn't too horrendously out-of-character. For one thing, it'd certainly imply/prove that I had fans.;)

[commodorified.livejournal.com]

I had wanted to talk about how professional TV writer Denis McGrath at http://heywriterboy.blogspot.com has gone out of his way to insult every fanfic author in the world over the last five days,

*reads a couple pages back in his blog*

... I feel like I just had my ankle viciously attacked by an elderly, toothless dachshund. In mistake for my throat. Ew.

You may find this both useful and soothing:

Pro law has professional oversight. We are required to read books on law, pass exams, work with our peers. Admittedly, that still doesn't stop a awful lot of pro lawyers sounding like muppets, but at least they're trained muppets....I'll make a fair offer. If professionally published writers will stop publishing (on the internet) absolute God-awful nonsensical bollocks about law, I'll stop writing fanfic. Deal? (http://legionseagle.livejournal.com/13718.html)

Also, HI!