Okay. Ever since I put up my website (and, by “I,” I mean my evil genius husband, Tony), I’ve been meaning to blog. But somehow it just never happened. I guess I was waiting for something sufficiently spectacular to happen so I could write about it.

AND IT JUST DID!!!!!!

Tony and Rita and I went to the Buffy Musical Sing Along (for more good pictures, check out Rita’s blog. Thanks, Rita!) which was part of the LA film festival. Who says we’re not sophisticated and cultured???? Aside from being an awesome time with raucous singing and bubbles and, of course, kazoos, we also had a AMAZING surprise!!!!! Be prepared for greatness….

JOSS WHEDON WAS THERE!!!!

Yeehaw! After the show, he got up and said a few words and I felt like I was at a Beatles concert. Screaming women (and men) jumping up and down. At least no one fainted. I was so psyched to see him in person.

Why? Because of Buffy and Willow and River and Inara (and Zoe and Kaylee and Tara). Joss Whedon creates INCREDIBLE stories, with INCREDIBLE women (and men too!). He creates new worlds for us to occupy and explore and love. He is a man who asks interesting questions and comes up with powerful and entertaining answers.

What if the ‘blond girl’ in the dark alley, featured in almost every horror movie, kicked ass instead of getting smushed?

What if space turned into the old west?

What if the bad guy becomes the good guy and the good guy becomes the bad guy?

He answers his questions with a depth and truth and a commitment that can sear the screen at times. I have never seen anyone portray the reality of death so realistically or heartbreakingly as he did in Buffy’s The Body. Nor have I been intrigued by a conspiracy as much as I was by River’s ‘hands of blue.’ Fans not only become invested in, but often intertwined with Joss’ characters. Such relationships are difficult to cultivate in just 14 episodes, like Firefly. I imagine it may be even harder to do for 7 seasons, like Buffy.

But Joss Whedon pulls it off because he is a masterful storyteller. He may not get it right every single time (you just have to watch the original Buffy movie to know what I mean). But he aims for wonderfully complex stories with simple, thrilling concepts at the core. He challenges and stretches the imagination, for which I am grateful.

About 6 months ago, in a desperate attempt to avoid revising my novel, I rewatched all the Buffy episodes in a very concentrated period of time. *This actual length will not be devulged in these pages.* Despite my goal of procrastination, I ended up learning a lot about telling stories. How does a character evolve over time? How do you introduce a storyline and how does it emerge? How do you save a dying story? (With a musical, of course!).

Anyway, through my love for Joss’ stories and his kick-ass heroines, I was rewarded with a new understanding of the craft. And, if possible, an even greater appreciation for the man who created such complicated and fun characters. My life is richer for having a window into Joss’ imagination. Thank you, Joss!

Grrr! Arrgh!!!

Posted in Nifty happenings

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