Post by Just Willow on Apr 10, 2009 14:05:34 GMT -5
I've contacted Amber Benson, and she said she would love to do and interview with us! so start question-posting. it can be about anything. About Buffy, her comic books, her actual books, other projects, everything. three, two, one, GO!
okay, she's going to do 20 questions, and here's what we have so far!
1. JustWillow: it's no secret that there are a few discarded storylines for season 7 that involved Tara's return. could you tell us why all three of these never were part of the show?
-There was a plot that Buffy would be granted one wish and wished Tara back to life.
-In Conversations With Dead People, Tara was supposed to come and talk to Willow as the First, instead of Cassie Newman.
-In the final episode of the series, Chosen, when Willow is doing to spell to spread the Slayer power, she was going to be taken into some place between the world and the afterlife, and she would meet Tara and be able to say goodbye properly. Some people also say that this would cause a sort of power surge that would result in Kennedy's death.
AB: I've never heard the third one, but the long and the short of it is that I was getting ready to got to the UK to work on The Ghosts of Albion and we just couldn't work stuff out.
2. Evilwillowrocker: Will you be co-writing anymore Ghost of Albion books? As they're really good!!
AB: No more Ghosts books at the moment, but you never know. I would love to work with Chris on another installment.
3. PJ: will you be appearing at any comic conventions in the future? & also did you regret not coming back to the 7th season of Buffy?
AB: I will be in the UK (Glasgow) in August of 2009. I think if Buffy had gone on to Season Eight Tara might've come back then.
4. Skytteflickan88: About Ghost of Albion(the animation, not the books) is there a DVD/download release avaliable or planned? Or can they all be found for free online?
AB: Here is a link to the GOA animation: www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ghosts/ - online for free!
5. Greer: Are you interested in doing any Buffy-related projects in the future? Do you know if you'll be involved in the current comic seasons?
AB: At the moment I won't be writing on any Season 8 Buffy comics, but never say never.
6. XanderHarris: What was your favourite moment on the show as an actress on the screen and as a person participating in the project "Buffy" involving all the people that were also a part of it?
AB: I think the Buffy Musical wins as the most interesting and most exhilarating thing I ever did on Buffy.
7. Skytteflickan88: I don't know how much you've been directing before you did Chance, so maybe you were comfortable doing this, but;
AB: As it was my first time directing a film, it was a very nerve wracking process, but James is such a consummate actor that it was easy to direct him. He is a good collaborator and so much fun to work with.
8. Skytteflickan88: And when you wrote the script, did you have James(or any of the other actors) in mind when writing the characters?
AB: I didn't really have anyone in mind except for my friend Ray (the crying guy) and my friend Nate. Nate was ALWAYS the bug man
9. Skytteflickan88: Are there any specific misstakes you've made while making your films that you've learnt from?
AB: I learned so much from directing Chance. I wouldn't say that there were specific things that I did wrong that I'm like "I'll never do THAT again!", but as a whole I've learned not to try and control things so much and to just relax and enjoy the process.
10. Skytteflickan88: Do you have any funny anecdotes from the world of entertainment that you'd wish to share?
AB: Uhm, well, one time when I was working on the film "THE CRUSH" I tripped and accidentally knocked the camera over. Everyone was much more worries about the camera than me.
11. Skytteflickan88: Do you have any writing technique/how-to-books/articles/advice you have to share to aspiring authors?
AB: My advice is always to just do it. Just sit down and start writing. That's the most important part of the process.
12. Skytteflickan88: When writing the comic, how hard was it to decide "This 'scene' can only be three frames, while this 'scene' can only be one". Was it frustrating/hard to try to write a story for only 20-ish pages, or are you as comfortable writing in a "smaller" format as you are books and movies?(I'm assuming that you're comfortable with writing books and movies, since you've had some experience in those areas by now.)
AB: Writing comics is like writing a screenplay and then storyboarding it. And since I love doing those two things...well, then as you can imagine I love writing comics.
13. faithlehane: Do you keep in contact with any Buffy alumn?
AB: I see the Trio a lot, but I'm so busy that it's hard ti keep in touch.
14. faithlehane: Was there a particular Buffy cast or crew member you really enjoyed working with? (Aside from the obvious Christopher Golden or Joss Whedon?)
AB: I loved working with Michelle Trachtenberg. She is such a sweetie.
15. faithlehane: If Tara's character wasn't with Willow, would you enjoy doing any romantic scenes with any other cast member?
AB: Spike and Angel and Xander, oh my!
16. faithlehane: How do you feel about Alyson and Sarah's pregnanices, and do you see children in your future?
AB: I am so happy for both of them - although it makes me feel VERY old. We were all just kids and now everyone's having babies. Craziness.
17. faithlehane: If the Calliope Ripper book(s) were made into a movie, which actress could you see playing the title character?
AB: I always pictured her kinda looking like Zooey Deschanel.
18. VampSlayer: What was your reaction when you found out that Tara was being killed off?
I was a little sad, but I felt it was right for the storyline. I did ask if she could be maimed instead, but that didn't really fly.
19. JustWillow: I heard there are going to be more Calliope Reaper-Jones novels. Any hints you can give us on titles, plots or release dates?
The second book is probably going to come out in March 2010. A good chunk of it takes place in a Las Vegas Target and in ancient Egypt. I really wanted to explore Egyptian mythology and a few of the Gods and Goddesses from that pantheon show up in the book.
20. Trey: What was your reaction to finding out Willow got a new girlfriend (kennedy) in season 7?
Iyari is a sweetie, so I was ok with it
okay, she's going to do 20 questions, and here's what we have so far!
1. JustWillow: it's no secret that there are a few discarded storylines for season 7 that involved Tara's return. could you tell us why all three of these never were part of the show?
-There was a plot that Buffy would be granted one wish and wished Tara back to life.
-In Conversations With Dead People, Tara was supposed to come and talk to Willow as the First, instead of Cassie Newman.
-In the final episode of the series, Chosen, when Willow is doing to spell to spread the Slayer power, she was going to be taken into some place between the world and the afterlife, and she would meet Tara and be able to say goodbye properly. Some people also say that this would cause a sort of power surge that would result in Kennedy's death.
AB: I've never heard the third one, but the long and the short of it is that I was getting ready to got to the UK to work on The Ghosts of Albion and we just couldn't work stuff out.
2. Evilwillowrocker: Will you be co-writing anymore Ghost of Albion books? As they're really good!!
AB: No more Ghosts books at the moment, but you never know. I would love to work with Chris on another installment.
3. PJ: will you be appearing at any comic conventions in the future? & also did you regret not coming back to the 7th season of Buffy?
AB: I will be in the UK (Glasgow) in August of 2009. I think if Buffy had gone on to Season Eight Tara might've come back then.
4. Skytteflickan88: About Ghost of Albion(the animation, not the books) is there a DVD/download release avaliable or planned? Or can they all be found for free online?
AB: Here is a link to the GOA animation: www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ghosts/ - online for free!
5. Greer: Are you interested in doing any Buffy-related projects in the future? Do you know if you'll be involved in the current comic seasons?
AB: At the moment I won't be writing on any Season 8 Buffy comics, but never say never.
6. XanderHarris: What was your favourite moment on the show as an actress on the screen and as a person participating in the project "Buffy" involving all the people that were also a part of it?
AB: I think the Buffy Musical wins as the most interesting and most exhilarating thing I ever did on Buffy.
7. Skytteflickan88: I don't know how much you've been directing before you did Chance, so maybe you were comfortable doing this, but;
AB: As it was my first time directing a film, it was a very nerve wracking process, but James is such a consummate actor that it was easy to direct him. He is a good collaborator and so much fun to work with.
8. Skytteflickan88: And when you wrote the script, did you have James(or any of the other actors) in mind when writing the characters?
AB: I didn't really have anyone in mind except for my friend Ray (the crying guy) and my friend Nate. Nate was ALWAYS the bug man
9. Skytteflickan88: Are there any specific misstakes you've made while making your films that you've learnt from?
AB: I learned so much from directing Chance. I wouldn't say that there were specific things that I did wrong that I'm like "I'll never do THAT again!", but as a whole I've learned not to try and control things so much and to just relax and enjoy the process.
10. Skytteflickan88: Do you have any funny anecdotes from the world of entertainment that you'd wish to share?
AB: Uhm, well, one time when I was working on the film "THE CRUSH" I tripped and accidentally knocked the camera over. Everyone was much more worries about the camera than me.
11. Skytteflickan88: Do you have any writing technique/how-to-books/articles/advice you have to share to aspiring authors?
AB: My advice is always to just do it. Just sit down and start writing. That's the most important part of the process.
12. Skytteflickan88: When writing the comic, how hard was it to decide "This 'scene' can only be three frames, while this 'scene' can only be one". Was it frustrating/hard to try to write a story for only 20-ish pages, or are you as comfortable writing in a "smaller" format as you are books and movies?(I'm assuming that you're comfortable with writing books and movies, since you've had some experience in those areas by now.)
AB: Writing comics is like writing a screenplay and then storyboarding it. And since I love doing those two things...well, then as you can imagine I love writing comics.
13. faithlehane: Do you keep in contact with any Buffy alumn?
AB: I see the Trio a lot, but I'm so busy that it's hard ti keep in touch.
14. faithlehane: Was there a particular Buffy cast or crew member you really enjoyed working with? (Aside from the obvious Christopher Golden or Joss Whedon?)
AB: I loved working with Michelle Trachtenberg. She is such a sweetie.
15. faithlehane: If Tara's character wasn't with Willow, would you enjoy doing any romantic scenes with any other cast member?
AB: Spike and Angel and Xander, oh my!
16. faithlehane: How do you feel about Alyson and Sarah's pregnanices, and do you see children in your future?
AB: I am so happy for both of them - although it makes me feel VERY old. We were all just kids and now everyone's having babies. Craziness.
17. faithlehane: If the Calliope Ripper book(s) were made into a movie, which actress could you see playing the title character?
AB: I always pictured her kinda looking like Zooey Deschanel.
18. VampSlayer: What was your reaction when you found out that Tara was being killed off?
I was a little sad, but I felt it was right for the storyline. I did ask if she could be maimed instead, but that didn't really fly.
19. JustWillow: I heard there are going to be more Calliope Reaper-Jones novels. Any hints you can give us on titles, plots or release dates?
The second book is probably going to come out in March 2010. A good chunk of it takes place in a Las Vegas Target and in ancient Egypt. I really wanted to explore Egyptian mythology and a few of the Gods and Goddesses from that pantheon show up in the book.
20. Trey: What was your reaction to finding out Willow got a new girlfriend (kennedy) in season 7?
Iyari is a sweetie, so I was ok with it