Fic: The Man, Part 2
Sep. 30th, 2014 09:16 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dragonyphoenix
cof_remix.Title: The Man (the Somebody's Watching Me Remix)
Author: Dragon's Phoenix
Fandom: BtVS
Rating: PG (language)
Disclaimer: They aren't mine, not yet, but they will be ... once I've taken over the world. Bwah-ha-ha.
Original story: “Critical Review” by aadler
Note: Strongly influenced by Booster's story, Ten Things That Never Happened in the BtVS Fandom
Note: This is my first remix. I can't wait to read all the stories.
Note: Some of the font changes are mine; some of them are LJ being a bastard.
Note: Two other stories in this universe: Taming the Wild Carousel (what a teen fangirl's blog would look like) and Dream a Little Dream of You (fanfic).
Part 1
… Buffy survives Angel's terrible betrayal but at what cost? It seems that love for Buffy could have allowed Alex to overcome the great tragedy of Jessie's – his first love's – death and to claim Buffy as his one true love but soiled and defeated by the Vampyre, Buffy can never accept that she is good enough for Alex's love. Nothing he says can convince her and so they each move on. Alone.
And so Alex has an even greater incentive to “kick his ass” as he hunts for Angel's castle in the Carpathian mountains …
(It's OK to be a Nerd website, review by Winifred Wells)
Khan Kicks Ass
Leno talks with Chandra Khan, the powerhouse director of the mega-hit move The Man about Alex and Angel, vampires and love.
Leno diGrassi: So, Angel.
Chandra Khan: Angel.
Leno diGrassi: What's his deal? Explain it to us. He's a vampire but he has a soul.
Chandra Khan: That's it. When vampires are Turned – that's the phrase we're using for the creation of a vampire – the soul dies, allowing a demon to step into the body.
Leno diGrassi: Which means vampires don't have souls or I should say most vampires don't have souls.
Chandra Khan: Exactly.
Leno diGrassi: But Angel does.
Chandra Khan: When he killed the favorite daughter of a gypsy tribe, they cursed him by returning his soul.
Leno diGrassi: And here's the tricky part. Angel is worse with his soul.
Chandra Khan: *laughs* That's the twist. Angel with his soul is tormented, wracked with guilt. He's in such agony over his past misdeeds that he's driven to force others to feel the same pain.
Leno diGrassi: And so he kills Jessie.
Chandra Khan: And so Angel kills Jessie, Alex's first girlfriend, and makes a mortal enemy. Jessie's death is the catalyst. Everything that Alex becomes ties back to the knot of that loss, the loss of Alex's first love. Jessie's death drives Alex's rise in the Demon Extermination Initiative and his global hunt for this one specific vampire. But the focus required to finally kill the demon turns Alex away from the world. Much like Doc Savage, after losing his first true love, Alex can never become that attached again. He is alone, isolated, but that sort of separation is necessary for a larger-than-life figure.
Leno diGrassi: But let's go back to Angel. You said he's “wracked with guilt.” Angel seems to be … well, he broods quite a bit.
Chandra Khan: He's the archetypical Byronic … The usual phrase would be Byronic hero but of course Angel isn't the hero. Using the traditional archetype, guilt drives him to overcome his past, to become the hero. Angel, rejecting his guilt, becomes an even bigger villain.
Leno diGrassi: Angel always makes me think of Batman. I'm not sure why.
Chandra Khan: Yes, it's the same archetype: dark, gloomy, brooding.
Leno diGrassi: Romantic.
Chandra Khan: *laughs* He does work that bad boy persona.
Leno diGrassi: Which gets Buffy into trouble.
Chandra Khan: Which gets Buffy into all kinds of trouble.
Leno diGrassi: Some people say you took Buffy's arc too far, too dark. How do you respond to that accusation?
Chandra Khan: For every one of these characters, there is a tragedy. They either become bogged down or they overcome it. Buffy … hers is one of the darkest arcs in the film, possibly even darker than Alex's, but there's a reason for that. The darker the tragedy, the greater the triumph when it is overcome. Remember, Buffy is based on Elizabeth Anne Summers, the greatest Olympian of all time. I'm not saying that Miss Summers' life held the same kind of darkness that Buffy's does, but that kind of strength and determination, it has to come from somewhere.
Leno diGrassi: If Buffy overcame her tragedy, then why did she and Alex never …
(The Illustrated Man Magazine interview, Khan Kicks Ass)
For the first time ever in our countdown, the same song appears in the top ten lists of both the romantic ballad and the anarch-rock categories. Yma Sumac, the Peruvian singer who played Empada, and anarch-rock legend The Bugtown Boys have created this most unlikely crossover hit. Yes kids, the number one hit in romantic ballads this week is “In Loving Memory” from the hit movie The Man.
Rumor has it that the Bugtown Boys were lined up to appear as the original anarch-rock band, Devon and the Dingoes, but that Joe Savage backed out when he learned that the script included a scene where Alex Harris saved Devon's life in a bar fight. After Savage's vocal and vociferous rant about “shoddy historical research,” it was a surprise, even to insiders, when The Dingoes were approached to perform the lead single. Contrary to rumor, the scene were Alex's guitar riff launched Empada to fame had nothing to do with the refusal of the band to appear in the movie. …
(Coast to Coast Countdown Podcast)
… Tags identify the two speakers as Tomás Rodríguez and Nancy Chen. Rodríguez' dreadlocks create an incongruous effect against his tux while Chen's dark bob is more of a stylish accent to her maroon ballgown. Behind them three life-sized Oscar statutes stand surrounded by flowers. Nancy is speaking. “And of course the big talk of the night is The Man.”
“That's right, Nancy. The Man is the runaway action hit of the year. No, it's more than that. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it's the runaway hit of the decade.”
“Don't get in over your head, Tomás.”
“Ha, ha, not me Nancy. This is a sure thing.”
Nancy smiles straight at the camera as she asks how many Oscars The Man has been nominated for.
“Eight,” Tomás replies, “and one of the most unusual of those eight is the soundtrack. While it's not the first movie with an anarch-rock soundtrack – a number of Indie films have gone that route – The Man is the first film to be nominated for an Oscar for an anarch-rock soundtrack.”
“That was a bold move on the producer's part, Tomás.”
“And it paid off. That one anarch-rock love ballad alone has been on the charts for over six months and running.” He starts singing the chorus, “In loving memory.”
“Okay, Tomás, let's leave the singing to the experts. But the soundtrack isn't the biggest Oscar surprise that The Man has for us.”
“No, it's not, Nancy. The Man is the first movie to have not one but two actresses nominated as best female lead.”
“Well, Tomás, everyone knows that The Man does have two outstanding leading ladies.”
An image of the actress Sandra Cassidy appears in a small frame to the right of Rodríguez as he speaks. “That's right. The divine Sandra Cassidy as Queen C, the famous, or infamous depending on your viewpoint, grande dame of society.”
As Chen speaks, Astrid Freberg's face appears to her left so that the images of the two actresses are between the two announcers. “And in a surprise move the relatively unknown Astrid Freberg as Buffy Summers.”
“Not unknown anymore, Nancy.”
“Not after that performance, Tomás. But the question on everybody's lips is which actress will be gracing the arm of Antonio Lopez, the mega-star who played the lead role of Alex Harris.” Antonio Lopez' face appears in frame between the two actresses.
“That's right, Nancy. Aeon pictures has announced that Lopez will be escorting a co-star to the Awards but which girl is the lucky winner has been kept very hush-hush. However I believe our patience is about to be rewarded. The buzz is that Lopez' limo is pulling up now.”
The three frames with images of the actors fade out to be replaced by one frame of a limo pulling up to the red carpet.
“And the winner is …”
“Drumroll, please,” Rodríguez adds.
“Oh. My. God.” Rodríguez is shouting. “I don't believe it. Both actresses. Lopez has arrived with both his co-stars.”
“Yes folks, don't blink or you might miss it. Recreating the scene where Alex Harris took both Cordelia and Buffy to the prom, Lopez has arrived at the Oscars with both Sandra Cassidy and Astrid Freberg on his arms.”
(Oscars Red Carpet Live preceding the 185th Academy Awards)
… “and we are switching to our first live images of Jackson Barker as he is brought into the courthouse. Barker, accused of stalking and threatening the life of actor Gabriel de Rege, is believed to have confused the actor with a character he portrayed, Angel from the movie The Man. Statements from Barker's family suggest that Barker believed that killing de Rege would protect the life of Jessie McNally, who was famously killed by the vampire in the movie. It is unclear if Barker also confused Emmeline Miller with the character she portrayed but it is known that Miller along with Sandra Cassidy and Astrid Freberg, who played Cordelia and Buffy respectively, were placed under protective custody until Barker was arrested.”
If he weren't handcuffed and surrounded by police, Barker would fade into the background. His blond hair and pale skin are almost as drab and forgettable as his tan suit. Neither he nor the officers escorting him have identifying tags displayed on the video feed. Anyone involved in a criminal case is given this anonymity to protect their identity. The crowds, not protected by anonymity, are so heavy that their faces are completely covered by their identifying tags.
(Special Broadcast from Global News Network)
After twenty-five years, what is left to be said about the phenomenon that has come to be know, simply, as The Man? Fourteen actors, seventeen movies, and still going strong. With the export of Alex Harris out to the two colony worlds and sixteen space stations, The Man can truly be said to be a galactic phenomenon.
In retrospect, it's difficult to remember that such a grand venture had a simple and modest beginning, but The Man started with one book, Twice Removed, Faith Willow Pryce's homage to her great-grandfather, a man with a name no one needs to be reminded of: Alex Harris. What we know of Mr. Harris comes almost exclusively from that one text and so, with so little information about the actual man, what can we say about him, this man whose name is ranked alongside Batman, Ripley, and Booker T. as the gods of cinema?
He must have been modest, this man who never sought recognition much less reward. What would he say to the legend that has been built in his name? What would he say to the children whose eyes shine with the desire to be heroes? What would he say to the fireman, policemen, and soldiers who put their lives on the line to help others? I think he'd be proud that his deeds stand as an example in the hearts of men. I say he'd be proud to be, finally and for all time, remembered as a legend.
(25 Year Retrospective of The Man)
…
“Vid off! Proud to be a legend, my ass.”
Subject William Blood moves from the living room to the kitchen.
Camera 3 engaged.
Camera 5 disengaged.
“Where's my damned blood? Ah.”
Subject William Blood pours blood into a mug.
Subject William Blood puts the mug into the microwave.
“Heat. Thirty seconds.”
Subject William Blood lights a cigarette.
“Proud? Legend? If Xander had seen this shite coming down the pike, he'd have begged me to kill him the night Angel offered me his neck.”
Subject William Blood removes mug from microwave.
“And Alex? Just so you know, if you had to change his name, he'd have preferred Lex like that villain in Superman.”
Subject William Blood moving toward camera 3.
Calculate 92.7% likelihood subject William Blood will destroy camera 3 in the next 30 seconds.
Camera 18 (hidden) engaged.
Subject William Blood destroys camera 3.
…
(transcript from automatic surveillance of subject William Blood, aka William Pryce, Spike, William Lee, William Pratt)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 03:47 pm (UTC)The bit with the cameras engaging and disengaging comes from a Babylon 5 episode in the last season. I think it really brings home that idea that everyone's being watched, which is why I wanted the swimsuit scene in here because it has the same explicit relation to being watched.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 06:05 pm (UTC)Sorry,
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 06:11 pm (UTC)...I should probably comment on the story now.
It was brilliant. I loved the Spike moments. I liked how we got to see so many different pieces of it, sometimes with recurring characters. I loved the recap of Cordelia's wedding.
This is just really really good and I'm so freaking glad that you signed up to do it this year!
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 07:05 pm (UTC)Many thanks to you and to aadler (http://aadler.livejournal.com) for running CoF and for inviting me to join in. I've never had an opportunity to be part of a remix before but I've always wanted to.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 07:01 pm (UTC)exactly the way Hollywood would do it. That Oscar's preview scene was a blast to write.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 08:20 pm (UTC)Gabrielle
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 09:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 10:28 pm (UTC)Honestly, this one can be read repeatedly, just for the pleasure of spotting all the subtle, kicky treats. Again, well done.
no subject
Date: 2014-09-30 10:55 pm (UTC)But, oops, I meant Riley to be the one from Alien. I didn't even think about BtVS Riley or I'd have made it more obvious.
I'm so glad you're enjoying it.
no subject
Date: 2014-10-01 12:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-10-01 12:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-10-04 06:58 am (UTC)1. This was your first remix. A lot of people tend to be cautious, tentative, even timid with their first, or else they don’t quite understand how a remix is supposed to operate and turn out something not quite right. You, instead, produced a work one might expect to see from a veteran … an accomplished veteran.
2. You took the story seriously in itself. Something about the remix framework — an original adaptation of someone else’s work, to be completed in four to six weeks — seems to crowd a great number of authors, and they wind up offering something that technically meets the specs but is a step or two up from ‘phoning it in’. To give you an indicator of what I mean, I’ve done eighteen remixes, and only one was shorter than the source material … and on that one, the original was 13,231 words and mine was 12,388, which was in fact the longest remix I’ve ever done anyhow.* By contrast, I’ve been remixed fifteen times, and only two of the remixes were longer than my original. One was from
3. Your story was BETTER than the original. I’ve seen that happen any number of times: good writers produce good work, and a remix from such a writer can outperform its source. I’ve just never had it happen with ME before, and I’m giddy with the result. You took my idea and did better with it than I had, and that was a fantastic gift.
I hope you enjoyed your participation in this remix, and I earnestly hope you’ll be willing to do it again next year. I’ll have to assign you a different author if you do, because I can’t be selfish and keep all the goodies for myself.
Again, thank you.
*I’m not bragging, by the way; on the scale of things, I’m nowhere near the top of remix performance. The most extreme example I know was when
no subject
Date: 2014-10-04 03:39 pm (UTC)This was the first time I was part of an official remix but I have remixed two stories before this. If you go to my Master List (http://dragonyphoenix.livejournal.com/264635.html) and search on remix, you'll see my other remixes. With my first remix, I didn't even change PoV; I just rewrote the story in my own words although I did change the ending.
However your point still holds. Even if I hadn't written those two stories, I would probably have come up with The Man. I basically read a number of your stories on afternoon and that night my brain sifted through them and came up with the general idea I ran with.
I didn't think about length once I knew my story was long enough to match the criteria you set. My second remix, And If My Love Had Never Let Me Go, is definitely longer than the original. I basically took one chapter of a story and made it into my own multi-chaptered tale. And thanks for reminding me of Liz Marcs. She was, I believe, in the second wave of authors I found after I'd discovered fanfic. And *squee!!!* Liz Marcs is on AO3!
Your story was BETTER than the original. Wow. Thanks. That's actually wonderful to hear because I'm still trying to figure out if it's good. The format is so unusual that I'm still feeling uncertain about my story.
I can't guarantee what I'll be up for next year but definitely ask me again. It was fun.
no subject
Date: 2014-10-20 03:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-10-20 03:28 am (UTC)