Keeping on writing, action figures and storyline ideas.
Claire Little: Do you ever feel like you’ve reached a limit and can’t write any more?
One of the wonderful things about working in television is that you can’t afford to get writer’s block. It’s a show that barrels forward whether you like it or not, so one of the skills you have to learn that if you have writer’s block you write anyway.
Sometimes not as well as you’d like, but you must keep plugging. And it sort of teaches you that writer’s block is absolutely a state of mind, because oftentimes you feel like you can’t write, and you have to, and it turns out alright.
Mark Harvey: Would you like to see action figures made of you and the rest of the writers?
I would love to see an action figure made of me and it would have my husband, he’d be my action figure sidekick, and it would have Diet Coke, and a liberal supply of candy.
Chris Craven: Will you be releasing an album with music from the Musical episode?
There is one in the works, unfortunately I don’t know if it’ll get out before Christmas but there is one in the works.
Abigail Clarke: Will there be any famous guest appearances in future episodes?
We talk about it, we hear tales that various famous people want to be in the show but we sort of shy away from it because it would take you out of the show. Buffy’s such a unique universe and if all of a sudden there’s some famous person it might jar you, so unless it’s a really good gag, or a really good excuse, we won’t do it.
Ray Anderson: Do any of the cast ever come up with storyline ideas?
Yes. For instance, yesterday, Sarah had an idea. There was something in the script she wanted to address, she had an alternate idea and we used it. So, yes.
As a general rule it doesn’t happen a lot because we are usually pretty far ahead in the process for writing and we usually have things pretty planned out. So, even if an actor comes up with a great idea, it may not fit with the season just because we’re already well ahead. Sometimes it does happen, because they’re all creative and come up with some good ideas.
Chris Craven: How far into the season are you filming now?
Halfway through. This is the hardest time of year. This is when we have the least time from start to finish - the most pressure. Then, after Christmas, we get a break and we’re on the home side. Things get easier after Christmas.
Maria: What age group are the Buffy series aimed at? Many of the story lines in the series contain adult material, yet young kids are encouraged to buy the merchandise. Is this a fair deal?
The show is not aimed at a very young audience. The show is actually aimed at late teens, twenties and above. And we don’t, on the creative side, talk about that much.
The merchandising and all that is totally separate and we’re not involved in those decisions. I will tell you that I worry sometimes about children watching the show without parents. I think it’s too scary and too sexually sophisticated at times.
