veronica_rich (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
veronica_rich) wrote2006-08-02 01:47 am
veronica_rich) wrote2006-08-02 01:47 am
Some RL yay and yet MORE fandom *yawn*
I had a meeting today with the daily paper's main editor and some local charity people to do a series of about 15 human interest feature profiles this fall for Sunday papers September through November. It's my normal freelance rate, but it's extra money and better, it's a chance to write creatively, which I don't get to do much for money anymore (I do a lot of news and business). The editor actually called me two weeks ago and asked if I'd do it; I thought there'd be maybe a handful of us freelancers juggling stories, but as it turns out, he wanted just me to handle the project. I'm not saying I don't deserve the break; it just seems odd, since we have other freelancers who'd like the work too. I'm not a bad writer, but I'm not extraordinary at it, either. But I won't complain! My main concern is ensuring I don't write stuff that is so sappy or sentimental and formulaic that I send readers into Eyeroll Land off the bat.
Anyone else feel sort of shot in the gut after their first viewing of DMC?
Boy, I know I did. I'd read little to no spoilers, so other than broad strokes of actors in the movie as new characters, I had no idea what it was going to be about. I was in such shock at the end of the first viewing, sort of a "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" mindset about the whole thing. For a few hours, I didn't even want to see it again - I called it "the one where everyone backstabs everyone else" and I still call it that.
Hee.
However, I've seen it a couple of times since then, and I'm much more sanguine about it now. There are things I notice that I didn't the first time with respect to J/W. Such as, Jack tries to ask for Will back from Davy Jones twice, but soon feigns disinterest because he understands Davy is catching on to the fact Will isn't just some random crewmember. I also notice Jack depends on Will to help him with the Pelegostos, and then gets him onto Jones's ship to help him with his next mission. One presumes Jack NEEDS that key, so he's sending a trusted agent instead of going himself because him getting aboard the Dutchman is pretty much just what Davy wants.
I don't begrudge the J/E 'shippers their day in the sun; heaven knows many of us have pieced out a relationship for J/W based on less than what they were given in this movie. But I still maintain Jack wasn't very ethusiastic about that kiss, that he seemed to understand something was going on and he was waiting to see what it was. Also, when Elizabeth runs to Will and kisses him on the Isle de Cruces and Jack is looking around, I don't think it's because he minds them kissing - he's looking back and forth out at the water, and immediately asks Will, "How did you get here?" He KNOWS the Dutchman must be out there somewhere nearby, and it makes him nervous. (Meanwhile, in a fun reversal, Will gives a totally bullshit answer to his serious question, which is probably just what Jack deserves for what he's done to Will.)
I've read a couple of fanfic writers who say they got nothing slashy out of DMC, let alone J/W. Do any of you feel that way, and why? Conversely, is there anyone who disagrees or, in fact, felt there was *more* between J/W in DMC than in CotBP? Again, give an example or two.
I admit I am vexed on occasion by the proliferation of J/E fic and meta cropping up out of this. But while I don't mind openly disagreeing when I see a point I don't agree with, I don't discourage the pairing outright because I feel like my enjoyment of J/W doesn't have to come at the cost of a J/E fan's fun - that is, I don't feel like I have to shuffle Elizabeth off the mortal coil, necessarily, to have her out of the way. (I generally like to have her do something interesting on her own, as a matter of fact, or maybe even an adventure with the guys.) It's sort of like running a political campaign - you ought to be able to get recognition on your own merits rather than by slinging mud at your opponent, so to speak.
THAT SAID ... the one thing that *does* annoy the hell out of me are the J/E people who either villainize Will in order to easily shove him out of the way, or they rationalize he's such a boring or unnecessary character as to justify her interest instead in Jack. (Note that I'm not too crazy about J/W fic that turns Elizabeth into SuperBitch to justify their pairing, either. I'm just uncomfortable with making someone totally unsympathetic.) If you as a viewer are not a fan of Will or the actor who plays him, that's fine - but it's untrue to Elizabeth to make it out like SHE doesn't, or didn't, think well of Will. I am damn sick of reading J/E where she just shrugs him off like an old coat and happily runs off into Jack's arms; she was going to voluntarily marry the man, there should be *some* feeling of regret or longing or something, even if she leaves the guy in the lurch now.
Anyone else feel sort of shot in the gut after their first viewing of DMC?
Boy, I know I did. I'd read little to no spoilers, so other than broad strokes of actors in the movie as new characters, I had no idea what it was going to be about. I was in such shock at the end of the first viewing, sort of a "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" mindset about the whole thing. For a few hours, I didn't even want to see it again - I called it "the one where everyone backstabs everyone else" and I still call it that.
Hee.
However, I've seen it a couple of times since then, and I'm much more sanguine about it now. There are things I notice that I didn't the first time with respect to J/W. Such as, Jack tries to ask for Will back from Davy Jones twice, but soon feigns disinterest because he understands Davy is catching on to the fact Will isn't just some random crewmember. I also notice Jack depends on Will to help him with the Pelegostos, and then gets him onto Jones's ship to help him with his next mission. One presumes Jack NEEDS that key, so he's sending a trusted agent instead of going himself because him getting aboard the Dutchman is pretty much just what Davy wants.
I don't begrudge the J/E 'shippers their day in the sun; heaven knows many of us have pieced out a relationship for J/W based on less than what they were given in this movie. But I still maintain Jack wasn't very ethusiastic about that kiss, that he seemed to understand something was going on and he was waiting to see what it was. Also, when Elizabeth runs to Will and kisses him on the Isle de Cruces and Jack is looking around, I don't think it's because he minds them kissing - he's looking back and forth out at the water, and immediately asks Will, "How did you get here?" He KNOWS the Dutchman must be out there somewhere nearby, and it makes him nervous. (Meanwhile, in a fun reversal, Will gives a totally bullshit answer to his serious question, which is probably just what Jack deserves for what he's done to Will.)
I've read a couple of fanfic writers who say they got nothing slashy out of DMC, let alone J/W. Do any of you feel that way, and why? Conversely, is there anyone who disagrees or, in fact, felt there was *more* between J/W in DMC than in CotBP? Again, give an example or two.
I admit I am vexed on occasion by the proliferation of J/E fic and meta cropping up out of this. But while I don't mind openly disagreeing when I see a point I don't agree with, I don't discourage the pairing outright because I feel like my enjoyment of J/W doesn't have to come at the cost of a J/E fan's fun - that is, I don't feel like I have to shuffle Elizabeth off the mortal coil, necessarily, to have her out of the way. (I generally like to have her do something interesting on her own, as a matter of fact, or maybe even an adventure with the guys.) It's sort of like running a political campaign - you ought to be able to get recognition on your own merits rather than by slinging mud at your opponent, so to speak.
THAT SAID ... the one thing that *does* annoy the hell out of me are the J/E people who either villainize Will in order to easily shove him out of the way, or they rationalize he's such a boring or unnecessary character as to justify her interest instead in Jack. (Note that I'm not too crazy about J/W fic that turns Elizabeth into SuperBitch to justify their pairing, either. I'm just uncomfortable with making someone totally unsympathetic.) If you as a viewer are not a fan of Will or the actor who plays him, that's fine - but it's untrue to Elizabeth to make it out like SHE doesn't, or didn't, think well of Will. I am damn sick of reading J/E where she just shrugs him off like an old coat and happily runs off into Jack's arms; she was going to voluntarily marry the man, there should be *some* feeling of regret or longing or something, even if she leaves the guy in the lurch now.