Spoiler-free version of Comic Alliance Interview
Comics Alliance was one of the press groups allowed to interview Kripke and Co. at the SPN panel yesterday. I've copied & pasted the spoiler-free version of the article for you guys below (you can find the original link here)
'Supernatural' TV
Posted Jul 28th 2007 11:55PM by Chris Dooley
Filed under: Television, Conventions, Interviews
Today I had two major things I wanted to do, both involved the show 'Supernatural.' The first was a press interview with the stars Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and a few of the writers and producers of the show. The second was to attend a panel with all of the above and see if anything new came out in audience questioning that we might not have thought to ask. Plans being what they are, this didn't work out the way I had hoped. While standing outside the interview room, the line for the panel was so long that security made the announcement that if you are not in line now, you will not be able to get in. I knew that everyone from the show was booked for the next hour, so I was surprised that the room capacity was hit so early. Oh well, it happens.
As I made my way into the interview room I started to get nervous. I had never done an interview before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. There were three large round tables in the room and I was seated at one with four other people. We were told that they would bring one person to each table, then in a few minutes we would switch and talk to someone new. This sounds simple enough but due to time restrictions we only had about five minutes with each person. We were also told that Jared was stuck working on the show and was not able to make it to Comic-Con. ::sigh::
First up was Eric Kripke the Executive Producer of 'Supernatural.' After a quick round of introductions we jumped right into the questions. Someone asked if they had ever considered having "reverse hunters." The idea being that Sam and Dean go around killing the forces of evil, the reverse hunters would go around killing the forces of good. While this isn't currently planned, it does open the topic of good, evil and the shades of grey in the middle. The best stories are those that revolve around the decisions that the guys have to make. They are good guys, but at times they have to do things that may not make them seem that way.
[spoiler]
Another person asked how authentic the spells and mystical items were. Everything that is done on the show is researched. Every haunted house that is mentioned does exist. Everything Sam finds when searching the internet is a real reporting of odd events. While they can't be 100% accurate, everything that they do must be Google-worthy if an audience member looks it up.
Music is a very important part of this show. Is there any music that you would like to use but can't? We would love to use Zeppelin, but they will only sell their music to Cameron Crowe. Aerosmith would be great to have but they are too expensive.
Season 2 ended the search for the yellow-eyed demon and the release of more demons from hell. What's up next for the guys? [spoiler] People have a defense mechanism that lets them ignore things they don't want to see and this will be the case with [spoiler]. This gives the show a lot of flexibility to play off of current politics without being political. Demons act much like terrorists and work in small cells allowing for small quick strikes. Also [spoiler].
Lastly, What inspires you? Classic Rock. Neil Gaiman. Hellblazer. Poltergeist. An American Werewolf in London.
Next to the table we have writer, Ben Edlund. Ben was asked what [spoiler].
Someone asked Ben if he could relate to one of the guys better than the other. While he says that he doesn't identify with one over the other he believes that they make a great comedy team with Sam being the straight man. Dean gets to have a bit more fun, he plays the gags and makes the jokes. Ben finally admitted he liked writing these scenes.
Next Ben was asked if he has a favorite concept or episode. He excitedly told us that his new favorite is an episode he has just finished writing for the new season. It is the first of its kind in that there are [spoiler]. Before this came along his favorite was the bank robbery episode from last season because it was great to bring in a previously used demon and add to their mythology.
Will we see more of the guys legal issues? [spoiler], but it is a storyline that has to be dealt with carefully. If you take it too far, then they can't show their faces in public and can only chase demons in Mexico. :-)
Next up we have writer/producer Sera Gamble. We jumped right into the thick of things as someone asked if we would get to see any of the implications of Dean selling his soul. [spoiler]
In the past Sam has done some questionable things as part of the fight against evil. Will we get to see him turn to the dark side? This is a huge question that the writers are playing with. The circumstances of his life are enough to change anyone, but [spoiler].
When asked about what her job really is she replied that "it is to take two handsome young men and torture them every week."
Sera is very excited about the [spoiler] and thinks that they will win the fans over in spite of themselves.
One big question for writers is always are there stories that you want to do, but haven't been allowed to? Luckily she couldn't think of one. She did continue by saying that there were stories that couldn't be done at the time, usually because they did not fit into the current storylines, but most have been used later when they would work better.
Lastly, Sera was asked "what inspires you and what are your favorite TV shows?" Her inspirations are other people's works and song lyrics. Her favorite tv shows include American Idol, Top Chef, Top Model, House, Rescue and many of the HBO originals.
Last but not least is the star of the show, Jensen Ackles. Since this has always been a show about two brothers, he was asked how he felt of the [spoiler]. He was on the set until 2:30 last night, flew to San Diego first thing this morning and was brought directly to the convention center for several hours of panels and meeting fans. [spoiler]
While he knows that [spoiler].
With time running short, the last question was "How does it feel to see your face on shirts, mugs, cards and toys?" Jensen said that "It is what it is" but it was still odd seeing his face on things. On several occasions he has received phone calls from his mother asking about specific items and usually he has never even seen it. When she lets him know of new items, he goes searching to see what they look like.
At this point all of the 'Supernatural' team were ushered from the room and directly into a room full of adoring fans. This gave me time to sit for a few minutes and collect my thoughts. I had a great time meeting everyone and have a better idea of how it all works and promise to come prepared with more questions next time.
EDIT: Also, SignOnSanDiego.com has a nice little blurb about the panel here. It's also spoilery, but most of what's said was already covered by Comic Alliance, EXCEPT FOR THIS:
In an interview before the panel, an impressively fresh-faced Ackles talked about how much “Supernatural” love is too much, and how much is just right.
“It does protect us from the writers,” Ackles said of the fans' proprietary interest in Sam and Dean. “The fans love Dean driving the car and Sam shooting a big gun, and those are the things we love as well. Jared and I are very protective of the characters, and the fans are, too.”
The article also had a new (non-spoilery) picture with the caption: "A lucky "Supernatural" lover got a break during a jammed autograph session when star Jensen Ackles took a fan's camera and performed the photographer's duties himself." (!!!!!)
'Supernatural' TV
Posted Jul 28th 2007 11:55PM by Chris Dooley
Filed under: Television, Conventions, Interviews
Today I had two major things I wanted to do, both involved the show 'Supernatural.' The first was a press interview with the stars Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles and a few of the writers and producers of the show. The second was to attend a panel with all of the above and see if anything new came out in audience questioning that we might not have thought to ask. Plans being what they are, this didn't work out the way I had hoped. While standing outside the interview room, the line for the panel was so long that security made the announcement that if you are not in line now, you will not be able to get in. I knew that everyone from the show was booked for the next hour, so I was surprised that the room capacity was hit so early. Oh well, it happens.
As I made my way into the interview room I started to get nervous. I had never done an interview before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. There were three large round tables in the room and I was seated at one with four other people. We were told that they would bring one person to each table, then in a few minutes we would switch and talk to someone new. This sounds simple enough but due to time restrictions we only had about five minutes with each person. We were also told that Jared was stuck working on the show and was not able to make it to Comic-Con. ::sigh::
First up was Eric Kripke the Executive Producer of 'Supernatural.' After a quick round of introductions we jumped right into the questions. Someone asked if they had ever considered having "reverse hunters." The idea being that Sam and Dean go around killing the forces of evil, the reverse hunters would go around killing the forces of good. While this isn't currently planned, it does open the topic of good, evil and the shades of grey in the middle. The best stories are those that revolve around the decisions that the guys have to make. They are good guys, but at times they have to do things that may not make them seem that way.
[spoiler]
Another person asked how authentic the spells and mystical items were. Everything that is done on the show is researched. Every haunted house that is mentioned does exist. Everything Sam finds when searching the internet is a real reporting of odd events. While they can't be 100% accurate, everything that they do must be Google-worthy if an audience member looks it up.
Music is a very important part of this show. Is there any music that you would like to use but can't? We would love to use Zeppelin, but they will only sell their music to Cameron Crowe. Aerosmith would be great to have but they are too expensive.
Season 2 ended the search for the yellow-eyed demon and the release of more demons from hell. What's up next for the guys? [spoiler] People have a defense mechanism that lets them ignore things they don't want to see and this will be the case with [spoiler]. This gives the show a lot of flexibility to play off of current politics without being political. Demons act much like terrorists and work in small cells allowing for small quick strikes. Also [spoiler].
Lastly, What inspires you? Classic Rock. Neil Gaiman. Hellblazer. Poltergeist. An American Werewolf in London.
Next to the table we have writer, Ben Edlund. Ben was asked what [spoiler].
Someone asked Ben if he could relate to one of the guys better than the other. While he says that he doesn't identify with one over the other he believes that they make a great comedy team with Sam being the straight man. Dean gets to have a bit more fun, he plays the gags and makes the jokes. Ben finally admitted he liked writing these scenes.
Next Ben was asked if he has a favorite concept or episode. He excitedly told us that his new favorite is an episode he has just finished writing for the new season. It is the first of its kind in that there are [spoiler]. Before this came along his favorite was the bank robbery episode from last season because it was great to bring in a previously used demon and add to their mythology.
Will we see more of the guys legal issues? [spoiler], but it is a storyline that has to be dealt with carefully. If you take it too far, then they can't show their faces in public and can only chase demons in Mexico. :-)
Next up we have writer/producer Sera Gamble. We jumped right into the thick of things as someone asked if we would get to see any of the implications of Dean selling his soul. [spoiler]
In the past Sam has done some questionable things as part of the fight against evil. Will we get to see him turn to the dark side? This is a huge question that the writers are playing with. The circumstances of his life are enough to change anyone, but [spoiler].
When asked about what her job really is she replied that "it is to take two handsome young men and torture them every week."
Sera is very excited about the [spoiler] and thinks that they will win the fans over in spite of themselves.
One big question for writers is always are there stories that you want to do, but haven't been allowed to? Luckily she couldn't think of one. She did continue by saying that there were stories that couldn't be done at the time, usually because they did not fit into the current storylines, but most have been used later when they would work better.
Lastly, Sera was asked "what inspires you and what are your favorite TV shows?" Her inspirations are other people's works and song lyrics. Her favorite tv shows include American Idol, Top Chef, Top Model, House, Rescue and many of the HBO originals.
Last but not least is the star of the show, Jensen Ackles. Since this has always been a show about two brothers, he was asked how he felt of the [spoiler]. He was on the set until 2:30 last night, flew to San Diego first thing this morning and was brought directly to the convention center for several hours of panels and meeting fans. [spoiler]
While he knows that [spoiler].
With time running short, the last question was "How does it feel to see your face on shirts, mugs, cards and toys?" Jensen said that "It is what it is" but it was still odd seeing his face on things. On several occasions he has received phone calls from his mother asking about specific items and usually he has never even seen it. When she lets him know of new items, he goes searching to see what they look like.
At this point all of the 'Supernatural' team were ushered from the room and directly into a room full of adoring fans. This gave me time to sit for a few minutes and collect my thoughts. I had a great time meeting everyone and have a better idea of how it all works and promise to come prepared with more questions next time.
EDIT: Also, SignOnSanDiego.com has a nice little blurb about the panel here. It's also spoilery, but most of what's said was already covered by Comic Alliance, EXCEPT FOR THIS:
In an interview before the panel, an impressively fresh-faced Ackles talked about how much “Supernatural” love is too much, and how much is just right.
“It does protect us from the writers,” Ackles said of the fans' proprietary interest in Sam and Dean. “The fans love Dean driving the car and Sam shooting a big gun, and those are the things we love as well. Jared and I are very protective of the characters, and the fans are, too.”
The article also had a new (non-spoilery) picture with the caption: "A lucky "Supernatural" lover got a break during a jammed autograph session when star Jensen Ackles took a fan's camera and performed the photographer's duties himself." (!!!!!)
