| 22/4/01 - Niall: I'd love to know which the man himself thinks are his best and worst scripts... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Niall, don't you think it'd just be so tasteless of me to say? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22/4/01 - nakatomi: Would it be tasteless to say which ones came closest to how you imagined they would turn out? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Okay! That's a neat way for me to feed my narcissism and still look as though I'm all modest and self deprecating. I LIKE it! AYNOHYEB is probably the one thing of mine that came nearly spot on to what I had in my head, from the camera work to the casting to the demon effects to Rob Kral's evocative score. So there. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25/4/01 - natalie: btw tim, do you mind us asking you questions? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: never hurts to ask, natalie. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 28/4/01 - natalie: How did you find us here on uk.media.tv.angel? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Well, not that it helps diffuse the image of self absorbed Americans... but I typed my name into a search engine. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14/5/01 - Desiderata: Who the heck is this Chief Seattle guy? Have been lurking on this group for some time, and just have to ask, who is this guy, is he a wannabe novelist? a failed critic? or is he training to be a 'note-taker for the deaf' [an actual career btw whereby a hearing person takes very detailed word for word notes of such things as lectures, and builds up their speed by practising on tv progs]. Has he got nothing better to do? Does anyone actually read these reviews or does everyone, like myself, immediately go onto the next message? There are probably more words in his reviews than in the original scripts!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Well, I read 'em. Though with all the verbiage you'd think the guy could mention the writer's name once in a while. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27/5/01 - Tim: Please can you get the show to be sold exclusively to the BBC and force them to show it at a time when it can be uncut? Thus avoiding all the evils of Sky and Channel 4? Pretty please? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: I wield only the power of death. Not syndication. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29/5/01 - Andrew: Could you please fill us in, on the exact structure of the show's producation team - i.e. the shape of the heirachy that you, David G & Joss form? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: David runs the show with Joss. I help. I could get more specific if you give me more specific questions, then I wouldn't have to work so hard at answering, you see. I'm game, if ya like. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29/5/01 - Helen: Who has the ultimate say on production issues? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: "Production issues" is a rather
wide-ranging subject. But Joss has ultimate say. But, for example, on my
last episode, "Through The Looking Glass," | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29/5/01 - Helen: Who decides the arc ... and does this mean each writer has a specific task eg a particular point to get across? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Again, Joss guides all. But we all discuss it and everyone chimes in and contributes. In fact, and I can say no more than this -- and this really isn't a spoiler so don't worry -- but a large part of the upcoming season 3 arc is an idea Joss had just after I'd made an off-color joke. We all must play our parts. So Joss is a genius and I have a potty mouth. It all works out in the end. So far as specific writers for specific tasks -- less than you might think. The story pretty much dictates what comes next and it's more or less a line up of who's up next. For instance, I've done my share of the comedy/arcy/stand-alone/ and angsty. But I will say that it's also true that sometimes someone with some, er, seniority, might request a specific storyline. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29/5/01 - Helen: If Joss says jump, do you say: (a) How high? (b) In which direction? (c) Would that be "the dance of abject submission" you are after? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: All of the above. But slobbering worship aside, I've worked for other "name" guys before, and Joss is not only by far and away the most talented, but just simply the best guy. What a pleasure these last two years have been for me. This concludes the sincere portion of this posting. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29/5/01 - Helen: Do you draw straws to see who gets to write the season finale ... or does the person with the best idea win the day? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: DG writes the season openers and closers. At least, until I put my junta into play. I won't give away how I'm going to wrest away control, but let's just say I've got a plan so cunning you could stick a tail on it and call it a weasel. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29/5/01 - natalie: do you prefer writing or directing? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: directing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29/5/01 - natalie: i guess i should have asked why also (hindsight, such a handy thing to have). is that what you started out in, but ended up writing, or the other way round? does that mean you might sometime in the future give up the writing part (which would be a shame but...)? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: The "why" is this: writing is fucking hard. One sits there, having to make something out of nothing, pulling what's left of one's hair out, watching the clock tick ever closer to a deadline. It's lonely, second-guessing pain. Directing, on the other hand, is what you do once the (for me) hard part is done. And you've got 100 talented people there to help you do it. You move from here to there and there's always a chair under your butt when you bend your knees. Plus, donuts. Don't misunderstand me -- I love, as I said recently on alt.angel, having written. But in order to get there, ya gotta do the work. And I do love directing a script that's mine -- so I'm pretty well stuck with the writing part. And to answer the other part of your question -- is that where I started? In a way. I grew up here in Southern California and was one of those odd children with a super eight movie camera and made films from the time I was about 10 years old. I happened into writing when I graduated to sound film -- but for me it's always been about making "movies." I wouldn't want to be a TV director, per se. But as a writer/producer in television, directing one's scripts can be quite rewarding and has been. Is anyone still reading this self serving tripe? I'm posting it and I stopped reading it around back around the "oh woe is me" section. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 31/5/01 - Niall: Tim, would you mind if we archived your answers to questions asked here? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Niall -- so far as I'm concerned, once I hit "send" it's yours. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1/6/01 - Mattia: What do you think about the cutting of the 'Previously on..' segments for the Buffy Season 2 DVD release? OK, so that's not your puppy, but basically it boils down to whether or not you consider the 'Previously on..' segments to be part of the episodes or not, I guess. I mean, they're scored, on Angel you've even got different people doing the VOs, so...would you be annoyed at Fox leaving them out of, say, and Angel DVD boxed set release (please, Joss, let it be soon!)? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: We do cut those ourselves, and I do
think they're important. I generally try to slip in important information
without spoiling the episode. For instance... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1/6/01 - Mattia: Another quick semi-related question: which episodes (if any) would you like to do a commentary track for? You know, for the DVD releases, whenever those might be..I should probably add 'and why?'. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: I've already done one for "AYNOHYEB." I also wouldn't mind doing them for eps I directed as well, since I'd have more to gab about. "AYN" was easy because I was on set the entire time for that one. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1/6/01 - Niall: Some eps ('Hero' and 'Reunion' being the first two that spring to mind first, although I know there are others) are written by you and somebody else. How does the creative process work in those cases? Do you block out a story and then each do specific scenes, or do you take it in turns to make modifications to each others drafts? Or does one of you provide the outline, and one do most or all of the writing? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: We work out the story, then we'll do a scene-for-scene outline. Then someone will take Teaser, Acts One and Two and the other person will take Acts Three and Four. Generally, anyway. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1/6/01 - natalie: i'm going to ask a couple more things, because it never hurts to ask, right? so...is there a particular character that you enjoy writing for more than others? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Not so much. It's all in service to the Story. Cordelia's a lot of fun. And I tend to be "into" stories that tend to focus on Angel. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1/6/01 - natalie: and do you intend to stick with angel crew for a while to come, or rather, what's next after angel? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Dunno what's after Angel. But I suspect I'll be with Angel as long as it's around or Joss will have me. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1/6/01 - natalie: oh, and do you enjoy reading what the fans think of episodes, even if it's less than complimentary? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Yep. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13/6/01 - Reality: Sorry.. had to say.. How do you know that this IS tim?? Could be a fat bloke in a nappy ?? Evidence please :) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Hey, could be the real me and be a fat bloke in a nappie. I mean, could happen. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27/6/01 - Mattia: While at Nocturnal (a great time was had, Joss is a party animal, as are J, Andy, Amber, James...but I digress ;) Andy and J were basically teasing us with stories of how funny and well put together the gag reels for Angel are. Are there any plans to release that in any shape or form (give a copy to the DVD mastering people..) or possibly ways to get at, oh, say, a bootleg copy? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Hadn't really thought of releasing them on the DVDs. Good idea, though. Not going to start offering "bootlegs" of course. But if you're even in LA stop by, I'll run it for you. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27/6/01 - Mattia: While I'm on the 'convention' topic (well, sort of), how 'bout trying to get these organisers to invite a few more of the writers/producers to events like this? I read that Marti was a little dissapointed she didn't get an invite to Nocturnal. I for one would've loved to see her and/or you and/or a number of other members of either writing team, to be honest.. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Jane Espenson and I attended Dragoncon last year. They didn't ask us back this year (or maybe it's just me? Jane hasn't said anything....) But we're all publicity whores, so we'd love to go to cons whenever it would work out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27/6/01 - Mattia: Have you had episodes where you were forced to cut things that you really, really didn't want to cut, but basically HAD? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TM: Okay, does it count as spoilers if it's stuff that never ended up in an episode? Just in case...(spoilers for 'Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been'). But, more often than not we're short instead of long. Example: the Wolfram and Hart scenes in 'Sanctuary" where L,L and L are hiring the bug assassin and the whole "the first assassin didn't assasinate anyone until the second assassin..." scene I wrote later to pad for time. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
28/6/01 - Mattia: This came out of an ongoing argument that's taking place over in the uk Buffy newsgroup, and relates to widscreen 16:9 footage. The BBC is the only country that I know of that has shown Buffy in widescreen (making me wish they, and not Channel 'Lamoes' 4 had the rights to Angel), and next up for release is the third season of Buffy; hopefully Angel will come out in R1 first... The question is this: from what I've gathered, the shows are shot (Angel from day 1, Buffy since S3, save a few action sequence shots) on 35mm film, so 16:9 footage exists. I'm assuming (based on Buffy S4) that post production work is applied to the full frame 16:9 version, not just the 4:3 version. Is this true? Can we expect widescreen Angel on DVD in the future (ie is the shot framed for 16:9)? As I understand from reading an interview with (I think) Michael Gershman (can't seem to find it) the dalies are transfered to digital format, cropped to 4:3, cutting is done, then it goes back to film (fullframe?); I believe this was an old article, 1998 or possibly 1999, but I could be wrong. Basically I'm curious about the technical 'how is it edited/cut/produced' aspect of it all, and what this means as far as widescreen footage and source for DVD transfers is concerned: do they make fresh transfers from a final 'master' film print, or do they take it from some other source (DigiBeta? I'm not too familiar with the formats..) I realise that it's Fox Home Entertainment that's putting the stuff together, but still... Oh, and if you happen to know (or could find out from David G or Joss, for example ;) if Buffy's third season was framed and shot for 16:9, inlcuding post-production FX work, or if that only started in season 4, I'd be extremely happy to hear about it. Sorry for all the strangely technical questions, and thanks a million for answering them (well, in the past. No pressure! I wouldn't dare! :o), but I gotta keep busy while I wait for new episodes, right? I guess I could study or something, but that's no fun... | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TM: From what I understand, we do allow for letterboxing (this for when TV goes high def). Greenwalt and I have been having conversations with the network about possibly running Angel in widescreen, but I don't see it happening this season anyway. Dunno about for DVD. Also, don't be surprised if when the frames go wider for some of our eps you see grips and teamsters scratching themselves unappetizingly on the frame's edge. 1/8/01 - SaintlyRaven: Mr. Minear, why is
it you come and talk to us? Is there something enjoyable about meeting the
people who watch shows you've writen, or is there something else?
Altruism? | TM: Of course it's enjoyable to meet the
folks who watch the show. Let's face it, here are a group of people who
chat about what I spend my days doing. How cool is that? And I'm
supposed to stay away? Not probable. | 6/8/01 - SaintlyRaven: Oh, don't even try.
I've found it quite enjoyable reading your posts but I'm used to fans
being treated in a less than friendly manner by the writers/staff of other
shows. Does it ever make your job harder? We've said some rather
critical things... | TM: The critical posts don't make my job
harder, I don't think. In fact, getting a sense of what's working and
what's not - that's of the good. Maybe the time-sucking aspect of the
internet makes things harder sometimes, but that's about it,
really. | 25/11/01 - Andrew: Now I know you were only
involved with the show for a year or so, and not at the beginning; but can
you set the record straight. Was [the name Lois and Clark a
deliberate pun, and did anyone get it? | TM: It was a pun. And, I mean, *I* got it.
Never occurred to me to ask if anyone else did. Beyond the pun, though,
it also indicates that the story was less about Superman and more about
the people -- and by putting Lois first the title also suggested that the
series would be, to some degree, from her point of view. | 26/11/01 - Chris: | Who wants to watch a show about Superman that wasn't really about Superman? ;) I really used to enjoy that show, until the "relationship" started. TM: You mean in the pilot? | 26/11/01 - Loz: I really enjoyed that show
until it become the 'Lois' neurosis of the week' show. | TM: She was neurotic in the, well, pilot.
| 27/11/01 - Loz:Well yeah | TM: Dunno, actually, I only got there in
season four, and we tried to get him back, but couldn't.
| 26/11/01 - Loz: "This week I are mainly obsessing over the fact I'm going to grow
old while Superman isn't..." | TM: Hey, wait a minute... | 27/11/01 - Loz: Oops, sorry, was that one of
yours? | TM: Well, yeah. ;) | 10/02/02 - Niall:
This article says of Angel
(under 'notes') that 'UPN is contractually required to pick up the series
for next season should the WB cancel it'. Can you comment on the validity
of this? It would ease a lot of fan's minds if the show really does have
this sort of safety net. | 12/02/02 - TM I just write the
thing. | Note: Since then, there has been this article, in which David Greenwalt says
(a) that he thinks Angel will be on the WB next year, and (b)
that even if it isn't, it'll be picked up by UPN. Which is
encouraging. | 15/02/02 - Chris Ashby:
Surely we've heard enough about the writing process by now, to realise
that the "written by" credit does not represent the person who conceived
and entirely scripted each episode. [N.B. Minor spoiler for 3x05 in the
original post]. | 16/02/02 - TM: True, as a rule. However, Mere
wrote "Fredless." Joss conceived the story, and Joss and I pretty much
broke it over lunch. | 15/02/02 - Chris Ashby: Writers meet as a
team, to come up with themes and ideas for an ep. They then break it down
into act break events, and then scene beats. What each character is doing
is decided, until they have a step by step breakdown of the
episode. | 16/02/02 - TM: That's about right,
actually. | 15/02/02 - Chris Ashby: The episodes are then
handed over to one (sometimes two) of the writers to write the dialogue,
and flesh out the scenes. | 16/02/02 - TM: Actually, we, as a staff, break
the beats, then the writer usually then writes a more detailed
scene-for-scene outline, then, after notes on the outline, goes off and
writes the script, which is more than just writing dialogue or simply
"fleshing out" scenes - it's writing. But you are, in essence, correct.
| 15/02/02 - Chris Ashby: Then they scripts are
given a final re-write by JW, or DG, or both maybe? | 16/02/02 - TM: Not always. Not in the case
of "Fredless," as for example. Mere did all the rewrites, with one
exception, I think. Joss did take his hand to one scene, that was really
more a speech than a scene. [There's followup to this comment on the S3 questions page.] | 15/02/02 - Chris Ashby: So although the
episode was "written by" Mere Smith, it doesn't necessarily mean that
he/she wrote that line [about Alien Resurrection being boring.
Joss Whedon did a rewrite of the AR script, but it is well-know that he
was very unhappy with the finished film.] | 16/02/02 - TM: She did write the ep. The
joke, however, was mine. Mwa ha ha. | 16/02/02 - Niall: Dang, now I can't tell
whether you're serious or just messing with us! | 16/02/02 - TM: Yes. | 15/02/02 - Chris Ashby: (Is mere a girl's
name or a boy's name?) | 16/02/02 - TM: Hottie girl. | 16/02/02 - Loz: So how is it pronounced,
'Meer' or 'Me-ray' or what? | 16/02/02 - TM: "Mere" rhymes with "hair."
Short for Meredith. | 18/02/02 - Chris Ashby: Thanks for the reply.
I'd based my info on interviews and the DVD commentaries, and some stuff
from "The Watcher's Guide" books. | 18/02/02 - TM: And I thought you pretty much
nailed it, as well. Just giving you a bit of the inside view on this
particular ep. | |
This page was written by Niall Harrison.