TVSquad

Jane -

Did your story get a fair edit? I ask this because some of the best episodes in this series so far have had a scene or two that could have "tied things together" end up on the cutting room floor (for time) - and I would guess that would sting the writers a bit.

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Dusty -- I'm pretty sure her answer will be best if I ask her that after the episode airs, as she hasn't seen the final cut yet.

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And to take that quation a stage futher:

What "authority" does a new writer have to begin a new storyline, which might well need sevarl eps to finish (or more). Or are ALL storylines mandated by the producers upfront?

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Ooops my first post was lost somewhere.

Q: How does a writer manage to integrate the storyline of a new (standalone?) ep, into the multiple integrated storylines of a multi-season show uch as BSG?

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How much funny were you allowed to bring to this show, considering that your reputation is for funniness and this show isn't usually too high on the humor scale?

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I have to know...

Does she feel the show has become stagnant with no direction? Do the producers/writing staff have a new direction that they're building up to or are they scrambling to find one?

This show is dangerously close to being taken off my watch list. I hope her episode doesn't stink because I said I would take it off if next weeks episode did. It just feels like it's flailing around everywhere looking for somewhere to go and just hasn't found it yet. Being in it's third season, we are way past 'Based on the original series' phase and in to the 'Our show is better than the original series and we have to find some way to keep it going longer...' phase.

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I'd love to hear her thoughts on what it's like working with two of the geniuses of TV in the past decade--Joss Whedon and Ron Moore.

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Hey, Jane! We met at the first Writercon but I'm sure it's all a blur to you, now. Anyway, was wondering, given the ensemble nature of BSG and the greater flux in character delineation if you found any character easier or harder to write (keep) in good voice? Also, Lord, I hope you brought some sense of fun back to the show...it surely needs it.

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I have two questions please:

1. What sort of artistic control do you have as a writer? Of course, I'm sure every writer would almost always want more artistic control, but in general do you think what you're given when writing for a show like BSG (or anyone else) is fair? Or do you think perhaps it needs to be improved?

2. This season of BSG has been particularly dark. Any thoughts on the importance and use of humor in a serious show like BSG? Perhaps to give viewers a little hope here and there (e.g., during the darkest hours of World War II, when the UK stood alone, and all seemed lost, Churchill was nevertheless somehow able to inspire by turning it around and calling this their finest hour)?

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How well do you have to know a show to write a stand alone episode? Were you a fan of Battlestar Galactica? Did you watch the series regularly before writing your episode, or did need use the show bible to ensure your script was consistent with the series?

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I'm curious to know how she understands the psychology of the characters used in her episode and how that understanding influenced her writing.

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Bearxor...I don't agree with your post. If anything, the writers/directors/producers of this show have ALWAYS kept us on our toes and have a 95% mark in my book for top notch episodes. My hope is that you stick around to prove me wrong:+)

Question for Jane Espenson...now that we are privy to the Kara/Lee situation...how are you going to intwine this new story arc into the fall finale...if at all?

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Just watched this ep.("The Passage"), and it was BRILLIANT!!!! I'm new to her work..but this ep. was SUPERB!!!! More jane Epenson please!!

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I know this is probably way out in left field, but will there be a lesbian storyline for Battlestar
Galactica. It has been flurted with for several episodes (at least in my mind). The admiral on the Pegasus (very butch but bad) and (latest episode) Sam telling Starbuck "Maybe I'm not what you want", I know the episode implied that Starbuck wanted Apollo but usually straight men say "Maybe I'm not the man you want" when refering to another man. The word "what" gives us (at least me) a glimmer of hope that something else is in the mix. I really would not mind the young lady who is the assistant to the President have more of a character plot. She seems to be only in the background. There I've had my say.

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