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**BlasterBoy** · 29-11-07, 06:35 PM

Wow, these nominees are amazing! A bit disappointed at the Season 5 love, once again! But, I love these. Amazing

**Jenni Lou** · 29-11-07, 07:40 PM

I just want to say how happy I am that Awakening direction made it through! I voted for it and didn't think it would....Sean Astin did an amazing job!

***Nina*** · 29-11-07, 08:05 PM

I agree with BlasterBoy, I think the nominees are fantastic.
I'm really suprised that Darla in 1898 a nominee is for the best make-up. I love her clothes and hair so much. But I thought that it would never make the nominees in a serie full of fantastic make-up. *yeeh*

**Nostalgia** · 30-11-07, 12:38 AM

I love the nominees.. cannot wait to vote!

***Ehlwyen*** · 30-11-07, 04:09 AM

Please, lets not spam in here. Feel free to discuss the virtues and weakness of each of the nominees.

Gorgeous nominee awards Pandora's_Box!

**skinless** · 30-11-07, 05:12 AM

When it came to Buffy I knew I wanted to Vote for this and that Etc, Etc, Etc, But in this one there are so many Catergories that could go either way that I dont know who to vote for.

**sherrilina** · 30-11-07, 05:29 AM

Originally posted by BlasterBoy View Post

Wow, these nominees are amazing! A bit disappointed at the Season 5 love, once again! But, I love these. Amazing

Me too--blech, my two least fave seasons nominated for Best season!

Plus I'm just so bummed I missed out on the nominations, period! You didn't PM me this time Clement!

Oh well, at least they're pretty good for the most part--and I'm also happy Awakening got in there, lol!

But seriously, how did Spike's monologue mocking Angel from In the Dark NOT get nominated for best comedic moment?! Or Angel's fabulous singing?!

Man is Angel good....some of these are really hard to pick! Lot of good villains on Angel in particular...

**NileQT87** · 30-11-07, 05:30 AM

Originally posted by Jenni Lou View Post

I just want to say how happy I am that Awakening direction made it through! I voted for it and didn't think it would....Sean Astin did an amazing job!

sean astin directed "soulless", not "awakening".

"awakening", while being a total tribute to "raiders of the lost ark" actually had some very weak direction (not that it's easy to beat steven spielberg, but it was one of the worst shot episodes of the season even for the show--imo, outside of wesley invoking dr. henry "indiana" jones, jr. making a booby trap mistake, the other best part of the episode would be david's fading, evil angelus laughter into the credits).

maybe you were thinking sean astin did "awakening" because he was in "goonies", which also was inspired by "raiders of the lost ark". but no, that wasn't his episode. he even did an awesome INTERVIEW about "soulless" (which is so bloody awesome!). he didn't just come in to pump out a random episode of television, but actually had something to say about it.

"soulless" was totally stylized and amazing (and yes, sean did an amazing job). my favorite camera move in "soulless" was the tilting air shot into angelus' cage that slowly moved towards him.

*EDIT* sean astin did an interview, not a commentary. MY IDIOT!

**Jenni Lou** · 30-11-07, 05:43 AM

Originally posted by NileQT87 View Post

sean astin directed "soulless", not "awakening".

I'm so stupid and you are so right. I've gotten those two episodes mixed up since they first aired. What is wrong with me?! *smacks forehead*

And there's a commentary track? Did I ever listen to that? I would think I would have but I don't recall doing so.

Anyway, thanks for the correction and the info. I totally nominated the wrong ep and should have doubled check knowing I always confused the two.

But I am one those few who happen to have really liked Awakening.

Sorry.

**sherrilina** · 30-11-07, 05:45 AM

Originally posted by NileQT87 View Post

sean astin directed "soulless", not "awakening".

"awakening", while being a total tribute to "raiders of the lost ark" actually had some very weak direction (not that it's easy to beat steven spielberg, but it was one of the worst shot episodes of the season even for the show--imo, outside of wesley invoking dr. henry "indiana" jones, jr. making a booby trap mistake, the other best part of the episode would be david's fading, evil angelus laughter into the credits).

maybe you were thinking sean astin did "awakening" because he was in "goonies", which also was inspired by "raiders of the lost ark". but no, that wasn't his episode. he even did a commentary track for "soulless" (which is so bloody awesome!). he didn't just come in to pump out a random episode of television, but he actually cared about it enough to watch some of the show before he did the episode and did a commentary for it. sean always struck me as a good guy.

"soulless" was totally stylized and amazing (and yes, sean did an amazing job). my favorite camera move in "soulless" was the tilting air shot into angelus' cage that slowly moved towards him.

But on the other hand the surprise at the end was good--I mean, I knew it was a dream from the outset from hearing it online, but I didn't realize where the dream had begun--it's very cleverly done in the moment of transition....

Though I don't know how much that has to do with direction...*shrugs*

Originally posted by Jenni Lou View Post

Anyway, thanks for the correction and the info. I totally nominated the wrong ep and should have doubled check knowing I always confused the two.

But enough people must have liked it for it to have been nominated, right? Or were there few enough nods that it didn't matter?

**NileQT87** · 30-11-07, 05:56 AM

ack, sorry. not commentary. interview. lapse in memory mixing up an old interview with thinking it was audio (for some strange reason i had his voice in my head when i read the interview--did i mention i read this several years ago?). my doink.

IGNFF: And you're definitely diversifying, especially with your recent directing gigs. I enjoyed your episode of Angel and thought it was very well done?

ASTIN: Oh, thank you so much! That's a very good compliment, and I'll take that compliment?

IGNFF: Well, I give it freely.

ASTIN: It was harder for me, that episode, than I thought it was going to be. My work in it, I think? I got better in the learning curve throughout the episode. But I know that if they get picked up for another season and they let me play with them again, as they've indicated they would, then my work will be even better next time.

IGNFF: Usually when a director comes into an establish, arc-based show like that, the direction of episodes within that arc tend to have a certain workmanlike, formulaic style to them. Your episode, on the other hand, tended to have quite a bit of style to it.

ASTIN: My feeling is that I approached it with such passion and such determination, that I think certain members of the cast and crew kind of appreciated it, and I think honored the fact that I was approaching it in that way. It's a long marathon for people on a show. They always say that "the guest-director is double-parked," but I really care about what I'm doing while I'm doing it. A good friend of mine has given me his working definition of power, which is being really focused on doing what you're doing while you're doing it. That's how I feel. I didn't really have much time with the editor, or any time really, and my grand illusion ? or delusion ? of generating a lot of editing notes for them didn't happen, and so I basically provided them with the footage and they assembled the show in my absence, and so I was a little discouraged to see that there were even more stylistic things that I did that didn't get in there. I haven't quite finished mourning the loss of those things yet. But I really appreciate your comment, regardless.

IGNFF: What was the learning curve, going into a situation like that?

ASTIN: Well, it was pretty steep. I mean, it was like a right angle, really.

IGNFF: The last TV you had done was what, Perversions of Science?

ASTIN: No, I think I did 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd since then. I did observe on West Wing and Six Feet Under and Family Law, and a TV show my brother did called The First Years, with Tim Busfield, and I followed Charlie Haid around on The Court. I invested a great deal of time on following world-class television directors around and studying them. So I think I had the benefit of all that recent experience going for me when I stepped into the chair there on Angel. But mostly it's really a writer and actor's medium I think, largely, most of the time. And certainly on a show like that, the edict is to service Joss's vision, and Joss wasn't really there that much ? he was somewhere else ? so it's a difficult and exciting challenge to try and duplicate, or at least in some way honor, the creativity of the creator of a show. But also there are very narrow lanes for the directors on a show like that. If you're not really close to Joss and they don't know you very well and you aren't fully into the culture of the show totally, there are narrow lanes. You know what your job is. It's a very proscribed kind of circumstance. So for me, trying to figure out where I could put my imprimatur there, and all the while fulfilling my obligation to not derail the train that they've spent years getting going ? and also operating within the very narrow time constraints of broadcast television is very painful? I wanted to do so many more things than I was able to do, so dying 15-20 creative deaths each day and trying not to be discouraged and trying to have 30 creative births beyond those ? that was emotionally traumatic.

IGNFF: Was there ever a point where they were comfortable enough with you that they let you lay a little of your own track?

ASTIN: No, I don't think so. But I don't think that impugns me in any way. I just think that all the people who would be in a position to do that ? the writers were busy writing their next thing? they just needed to make sure that it wasn't going to get screwed up. I mean, maybe with the actors a little bit. I gained a little bit of confidence with some of them. Vincent (Kartheiser) in particular, and I think David Boreanaz were responsive to my suggestions and ideas and thoughts, and I was wholly admiring of what they were doing. Alexis Denisof, I think, is a real talent. But in terms of the show ? Kelly Manners, the producer of the show, in my heart of hearts I felt like he wanted me to succeed. And I think he was forgiving of me in ways that it was important he was forgiving of me ? in terms of not crushing my spirit ? and I think he went above and beyond the call of duty to help me learn the culture of the show. I mean, I had observed David Greenwalt for an episode and Tim Minnear for a couple of episodes, so I was in the anteroom of the Angel family for some time before I stepped in, but I don't think it would have been appropriate for them to say, "You have carte blanche to do what you want" or "You have the latitude to steer this in your own direction." I had the latitude that a visiting director on an episodic hour drama gets ? as much as any director would, I would think? I just didn't take liberties or do more than I might have wanted to, because I didn't think it was appropriate. So it's more a question of how I tried to assert myself and learn what was achievable and what wasn't. You know?

IGNFF: But on a lot of hour dramas, you can get away with not being too stylish. On a show like Angel, if you're not stylish enough, it comes off as flat ? because it is a highly stylized show.

ASTIN: I think Ross (Berryman), the cinematographer, deserves a great deal of credit, because it's his job to hold the line on the visual look of the show. And as fast as I moved and as many setups as I wanted to get and as much as I pushed pushed pushed to get stuff done, I think he did a really good job of keeping intact the look of the show. And then tonally, the young writers were there, and would kind of ? if I had a slight misstep tonally, or I wasn't getting something as it was intended, I felt like they would have questions about that, and that helped me too. I mean, there is a lot of support as a guest director on a show. A lot of support for me, and a lot of concern that the show come off good. I take the credit for doing my job well, but I also have to recognize all the various components that went into enabling that style that you alluded to.

IGNFF: Who brought you into Angel?

ASTIN: David Greenwalt, initially, and Tim Minnear went to bat for me and Kelly Manners approved me.

IGNFF: Had you known David and Tim prior to that?

ASTIN: I met David through Dan Petrie, Jr., who's one of my mentors and lifelong friend from when he directed me in Toy Soldiers when I was 20 or something. And so in a social setting he introduced me to Greenwalt, and I knew him for a couple of years. Then when I got back from Lord of the Rings, I just said, "Greenie, I want to direct Angel." And he said, "Well you'd have to come and hang out and learn the show a little bit." And I said, "Well, I'm committed to doing it. I'm serious about it, and I'm willing to do that." So he invited me in, and I accepted the invitation, and ultimately it yielded a great opportunity for me ? my first network hour drama directing gig ? so I will forever be grateful to David Greenwalt for that.

**Pandora's_Box** · 30-11-07, 11:35 AM

But enough people must have liked it for it to have been nominated, right? Or were there few enough nods that it didn't matter?

I don't remember the number of votes right now, but I can tell you I voted for it. Call me stupid but I didn't found out it was a dream, so I found that episode, both writings and direction very surprising and visually sophisticated, the man with the words on his skin, the Indiana Jones traps, the ball of light...Very epic, plus it gives an interesting perspective on how things could have been and how they finally are at the end of season 4. And Angel's laugh is sooooo vicious, I like vicious!

**selenspuffy** · 30-11-07, 01:37 PM

Nominees are great

Sure, results will be too!
I hadn't watch Ats the time I started watching Buffy and honestly I wasn't expecting such a fantastic tv series, I'm addicted now! I'm eager to finish every every episode, I couldn't yet

but I will, soon!

**Nostalgia** · 30-11-07, 09:41 PM

I'm banking of "A Hole In The World" beating all of its nominees.

**BlasterBoy** · 01-12-07, 12:29 AM

Originally posted by Nostalgia View Post

I'm banking of "A Hole In The World" beating all of its nominees.

UNFORTUNATELY, you're probably right. That episode IS extremely overrated

Sean Astin did an awesome job on "Soulless", never really thought that there was anything great about the direction in "Awakening"

**Jenni Lou** · 01-12-07, 12:58 AM

Originally posted by NileQT87 View Post

ack, sorry. not commentary. interview. lapse in memory mixing up an old interview with thinking it was audio (for some strange reason i had his voice in my head when i read the interview--did i mention i read this several years ago?). my doink.

Thanks for the interview! I actually read that when the ep was aired but I appreciate it nonetheless! I'm glad I wasn't going crazy wondering how I missed a commentary track like that.

Too bad Astin didn't get a chance to direct an ep in s5 too.

**Nostalgia** · 01-12-07, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by BlasterBoy View Post

UNFORTUNATELY, you're probably right. That episode IS extremely overrated

Wow.. I don't think you have ANY way of backing that up.

That's equivalent to saying The Body is a mediocre episode.

**BlasterBoy** · 01-12-07, 06:59 PM

Originally posted by Nostalgia View Post

Wow.. I don't think you have ANY way of backing that up.

That's equivalent to saying The Body is a mediocre episode.

Um, I do

A Hole In The World has many, many cheesy lines. It's cheesy. Very, very cheesy. Like, "Two words: Winifred Burkle. Go team."

The Body showed death like it really is: scary, depressing, strange, unknowing. It had no music and showed how much everyone cared for her. In AHITW, it did not have that realism and fantastic writing. It had fantastic acting, but that's not enough.

I liked the episode, an 8.5 or 9, but nothing more.

**Pandora's_Box** · 01-12-07, 07:18 PM

"Why can't I stay? Why can't I stay?"
For me, the better line of Angel...

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