Random Thought #1
Nov. 24th, 2008 01:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
parallax23From Wikipedia as of 11/24/2008 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Angel_(TV_series):
"There have been many rumours surrounding the cancellation of Dark Angel. One such rumour was that the FOX Network and James Cameron had a disagreement surrounding the third season plot, specially surrounding Jessica Alba's character Max. It was told that James Cameron wanted to keep the show going in the same direction as the first two seasons with Max still wanting to date Logan, however FOX wanted Max to date Jensen Ackles character Alec (with the support of an increasing fan base). It is rumoured that this was because FOX wanted to give Alec his own spin off show."
My first thought after reading that was 'Wouldn't it have saved everyone some grief to have them date for all of 2 episodes since he would leave anyway? They've filled the show with worse. Plus this would kick the ratings up a notch.' (Of course, I highly doubt this to be the situation for the simple fact that the original series was difficult in generating the ratings the network wanted and that Cameron would get a producer credit there as well. Then let's not forget the other 200 rumors about government cover-ups, Firefly and behind the scenes actor squalls.)
Then my second thought was, 'Does thinking that make me a sell-out?' It comes on the heels of Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth books becoming a cliche TV series from Sam Raimi. Yeah, the books are always better, but really the show is Hercules meets Lord of the Rings. Fans of the books felt that he sold out.
I mean, if I were Cameron (but I'm not :P), I would've compromised my super-couple because honestly they weren't growing together and it would mean having 2 hit shows with royalties. And also, dating other people wouldn't mean they could never get together in the end. Lots of shows do it very successfully. And I say this as a writer, not as the M/A shipper I am when I write. I felt that the Max and Logan relationship had stalled and they needed to breathe new life into it if it was to continue.
Yeah, I'd feel violated that a group of people I handed my characters over to used them in a way I didn't like. But I'd look at the bigger picture, especially if it wasn't a permanent change. Secondly, not being head writer on a show for which you insist having your way on will lead to you being less likely to have your way. The team was hired by the network and they answer to their whims, not yours, especially if you're only there for one episode the whole season. And yeah, this sucks to remember but you're there to make money for the network. Not that I'd be some organ-grinder monkey, rather I keep an objective view of the situation.
Maybe because I haven't published anything yet or watched it performed I don't truly understand the bastardization of one's own work. I'm constantly rearranging pairings in my own writings (not in a teenybopper show kind of way, but more like okay this couple isn't working out the way I wanted, let me switch gears and I'll look into re-writing later). A few harsh criticisms of my work are often hard to swallow (okay, name one person who likes to hear their work isn't good) though I take it and try to make my work better.
And I've never really thought much of the idea of 'selling out.' I don't exactly view it as a bad thing (maybe because of the way I was brought up, learning that you did anything you could to survive and artistic integrity was for those that could afford it). As long as the original is in tact and you're getting paid, why fuss? It's business. And it's not like someone else isn't waiting around to rip off your ideas. A lot of great works were written so authors could pay the rent. Besides, haven't you earned it?
Writers don't live in their little fantasy realms, they live in the real world. Bills to pay, annoying relatives, crying babies on the train to work at 8am real world. In spite of a few idealist values (hey, we've all got them), I remember that. It's why I can simultaneously admire and admonish those who aren't willing to "sell-out."
"There have been many rumours surrounding the cancellation of Dark Angel. One such rumour was that the FOX Network and James Cameron had a disagreement surrounding the third season plot, specially surrounding Jessica Alba's character Max. It was told that James Cameron wanted to keep the show going in the same direction as the first two seasons with Max still wanting to date Logan, however FOX wanted Max to date Jensen Ackles character Alec (with the support of an increasing fan base). It is rumoured that this was because FOX wanted to give Alec his own spin off show."
My first thought after reading that was 'Wouldn't it have saved everyone some grief to have them date for all of 2 episodes since he would leave anyway? They've filled the show with worse. Plus this would kick the ratings up a notch.' (Of course, I highly doubt this to be the situation for the simple fact that the original series was difficult in generating the ratings the network wanted and that Cameron would get a producer credit there as well. Then let's not forget the other 200 rumors about government cover-ups, Firefly and behind the scenes actor squalls.)
Then my second thought was, 'Does thinking that make me a sell-out?' It comes on the heels of Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth books becoming a cliche TV series from Sam Raimi. Yeah, the books are always better, but really the show is Hercules meets Lord of the Rings. Fans of the books felt that he sold out.
I mean, if I were Cameron (but I'm not :P), I would've compromised my super-couple because honestly they weren't growing together and it would mean having 2 hit shows with royalties. And also, dating other people wouldn't mean they could never get together in the end. Lots of shows do it very successfully. And I say this as a writer, not as the M/A shipper I am when I write. I felt that the Max and Logan relationship had stalled and they needed to breathe new life into it if it was to continue.
Yeah, I'd feel violated that a group of people I handed my characters over to used them in a way I didn't like. But I'd look at the bigger picture, especially if it wasn't a permanent change. Secondly, not being head writer on a show for which you insist having your way on will lead to you being less likely to have your way. The team was hired by the network and they answer to their whims, not yours, especially if you're only there for one episode the whole season. And yeah, this sucks to remember but you're there to make money for the network. Not that I'd be some organ-grinder monkey, rather I keep an objective view of the situation.
Maybe because I haven't published anything yet or watched it performed I don't truly understand the bastardization of one's own work. I'm constantly rearranging pairings in my own writings (not in a teenybopper show kind of way, but more like okay this couple isn't working out the way I wanted, let me switch gears and I'll look into re-writing later). A few harsh criticisms of my work are often hard to swallow (okay, name one person who likes to hear their work isn't good) though I take it and try to make my work better.
And I've never really thought much of the idea of 'selling out.' I don't exactly view it as a bad thing (maybe because of the way I was brought up, learning that you did anything you could to survive and artistic integrity was for those that could afford it). As long as the original is in tact and you're getting paid, why fuss? It's business. And it's not like someone else isn't waiting around to rip off your ideas. A lot of great works were written so authors could pay the rent. Besides, haven't you earned it?
Writers don't live in their little fantasy realms, they live in the real world. Bills to pay, annoying relatives, crying babies on the train to work at 8am real world. In spite of a few idealist values (hey, we've all got them), I remember that. It's why I can simultaneously admire and admonish those who aren't willing to "sell-out."