Wolfram and Hart Event, LA

[PokerKitten]

I started off by just adding a report of this event in the Angel articles section, but as there is more news now, and it is all good stuff, I thought it deserved its own thread.


This was being reported on BAPS, but Tensai was able to display it for public consumption!

www.spoilerslayer.com/archives/002821.php

ATS: David Fury Comments

The annual Posting Board Party, which is retitled the Wolfram and Hart Annual Revue this year, is this weekend. David Fury was there, mingling with the fans, and had some interesting comments on this season of Angel. One of the attendees, Laurie, has been kind enough to pass along some of these comments.
Wolfram And Hart Annual Revue Report - (Courtesy of Laurie)

Fury was questioned on how Spike had been written this season. Fury indicated he was aware of the criticism and he understood that Spike was in a different place at the end of last season with Buffy, but that sweet, sensitive Spike, though very likeable, would quickly become a very boring character to write. He said he loved Spike with attitude, and that the other issue was that Angel and Spike fall back into old patterns when they come together. More comments:

1. Spike is NOT evil -- he is a good guy. He is -- and this is a direct quote -- "morally superior" to Angel. (!)

2. (Again, close to a direct quote:) Spike and Angel is the true love story of this season.

3. Spike/Harmony sex in Destiny was Joss' idea. Fury tried to argue against it (*would Spike really do this?*), but Joss insisted that Spike needed a "release" -- it had nothing to do with Buffy. He also said that they wanted it to come across differently than it did, but James is too good at doing sex scenes (he said it a bit differently than that, but that's close, I think).

4. Jeff Bell is writing the finale (Joss is off writing the Firefly movie). DeKnight is most likely writing 20, possibly with DrewGod again. (This bit came from DeK.) Fury is most likely doing ep 21. (That came from Fury.)

5. The finale is NOT being changed significantly, if at all. Fury said the ending they had already planned as the season finale also worked quite well as a series finale. Didn't sound like Sarah is returning. Fury commented that the only campaign he'd heard of on the Internet concerning the finale was the one where Spike and Buffy end up together. Some girls then started shouting *Angel and Buffy*. At which point Fury went into this very sarcastic riff about how the *real ending* was going to be that Spike dies, Buffy returns, and she and Angel ride off into the sunset together. Which means, imo, that the one thing we can be sure of is that the show is NOT going to end that way!

6. Fury and DeKnight had a fight over Destiny. Seems DeKnight wrote it that Angel won the fight. Fury told him that Spike had to win the fight. DeKnight protested that he'd already written it, and Angel won. Fury told him to rewrite it -- that Spike had to win. The episode was all about how Angel had made Spike what he was and how Spike had been put upon all those years, and Spike had to win. At which point, a very cross DeKnight (and this part comes from a later conversation with DeKnight, not from Fury), apparently yelled at Fury *Write it yourself!*

7. Later in the evening, Fury was asked to please stop writing Spike as being stupid in all his episodes. Fury was confused, and said when did he write Spike as stupid. He was told that someone says he's stupid in every episode. He again asked for examples. The puppet ep was mentioned -- he pointed out he didn't write that one. :-) He then added that "Spike isn't stupid. Angel calls him stupid, but that's just because he's jealous of him."

8. It was suggested at one point that they sell Angel puppets to pay for a season six. Fury laughed and liked that idea. :-) He also confirmed that he was indeed the guy under the towel in Smile Time.

Anyway, that sums up a very enjoyable discussion. Fury was certainly at his most charming. :-)

Also present at the event: DeKnight, Jeff Bell, Drew Goddard, Tim Minear, Julie Benz, Sarah Thompson, Jonathan Woodward, Andy Hallett, *Gru* (I forget the actor's name), and several demons (the demon on a leash; Skip, and one other). Also the guy who played Prince of Lies/Gnarl -- Camden Toy.

[PokerKitten]

And there is a fabulous LJ report from veggiebelle, complete with pics. Lucky lucky woman!!

[JIG]

WOW she is one lucky woman, i would of loved to of been there but i guess everyone would of lol

[PokerKitten]

True, true! ;D

Ghostgirl/Yani has made a couple of LJ entries about the event - www.livejournal.com/users/ghostgirl13/66124.html
www.livejournal.com/users/ghostgirl13/66529.html

[PokerKitten]

SciFi Wire
scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2004-02/23/11.00.fandom

09:00am ET, 22-February-04

Angel Fans Aid Charity

Fans of The WB's Angel donated $15,000 to charity on Feb. 21 at the fan-organized Wolfram & Hart Annual Revue ball in Los Angeles. Proceeds from a raffle and auction of Angel costumes, props and memorabilia went to the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center, a neighborhood nonprofit group aimed at helping disadvantaged children. Angel cast and crew members also made individual donations, including star Alexis Denisof and his wife, Alyson Hannigan, and former Firefly star Nathan Fillion.

About 250 fans of the canceled vampire series gathered Saturday night at the Century Plaza Hotel in L.A., joining Angel cast and crew, including actors Andy Hallett, Sarah Thompson, Julie Benz and Jonathon M. Woodward, as well as writers and producers David Fury, Jeffrey Bell, Tim Minear, Drew Goddard and Steven S. DeKnight.

"We want to express the gratitude and love we feel for all of you guys," Fury told a cheering crowd. "I want to say in my seven years working in [series co-creator Joss Whedon's] universe I've never worked with a greater staff of writers, which is really to diss everybody at Buffy. No, this has been the most fun I've every had."

Ron Glass—who starred in Whedon's last series, Firefly—accepted the charitable donation on behalf of the Wooten Center, of which he is chairman of the board of directors. "We are beyond ecstatically happy tonight, given that ... you set out to give us $10,000, and you've given us $15,000," Glass told the fans. Angel is in its fifth and last season.

[azazel]

1. Spike is NOT evil -- he is a good guy. He is -- and this is a direct quote -- "morally superior" to Angel. (!)

Like we had any doubts

but James is too good at doing sex scenes (he said it a bit differently than that, but that's close, I think).

Snerk

[PokerKitten]

Apparently he was described as being a jackhammer, or something, by Fury. And yeah, I got that - hated that scene. James has had Spike have hot, sweet and sensual sex at different times. The Sparm crap made me wanna hurl!

[azazel]

Never seen him as a Jackhammer, but maybe that scene he was. I think Fred is more his type. Anyway great reports sounds like it was a good gig

Have you not seen it yet, Az? He sure was. It was most unlovely - PK

[nightnurse]

;D Jackhammer....oh dear Lord *THUNK* now look what you did...

[PokerKitten]

I prefer more technicque, less jackhammer, meself!

Anyway, woud you like some more reports? Dachelle has delivered the goods in her LJ - www.livejournal.com/users/dachelle/90145.html#cutid1
www.livejournal.com/users/dachelle/90457.html#cutid1

[PokerKitten]

And still they come!mm From halfrek2 - www.livejournal.com/users/halfrek2/6847.html#cutid1

and her pics are nice.

[PokerKitten]

Dark Worlds
www.darkworlds.com/ls/art_13266.html

DW NEWS EXCLUSIVE: ANGEL "Annual Revue" event report

DARKWORLDS' Amy Berner attended the Wolfram & Hart Annual Revue charity event in Los Angeles this weekend, where she had a chance to chat with ANGEL insiders about the show's recent cancellation. She filed the following report for us:
Approximately 250 people gathered at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 21 for the Wolfram & Hart Annual Revue, including BUFFY, ANGEL and FIREFLY cast and crew members like Andy Hallett, Jonathan M. Woodward, Julie Benz, Jeffrey Bell, David Fury, Drew Goddard, Stephen DeKnight, Camden Toy, Tim Minear, James C. Leary, Mark Lutz and Ron Glass. Darling Violetta, the band responsible for the ANGEL theme, were the featured musical guest. The event was held to benefit the Al Wooten Jr. Heritage Center, of which Glass is the Chair of the Board of Directors. The Wooten Center is a community center in South Central Los Angeles. It provides tutoring and a safe place to play for children and teens from the neighborhood. The event goal was to raise $10K through the silent auction, but the event surpassed it and raised $15K. The silent auction included autographed scripts, shirts, posters, props, and individualized items such as two plush panthers autographed by J. August Richards (ANGEL's Gunn) and a spoon autographed by ANGEL writer/director Ben Edlund. Highlight items included one of Angel's leather coats and Spike's amulet from the BUFFY series finale CHOSEN, which went for $2,500.

My first encounter that evening was with David Fury, ANGEL's executive producer. He was there early and stayed the entire time. I think I talked to him more than anyone else, sometimes as part of a knot of people, and sometime one-on-one. Here are some interesting tidbits from our conversations:

* He chuckled about some of the internet rumors about what happened with the cancellation. Here is what he said REALLY happened. Series creator Joss Whedon went to the WB and basically said, look, please don't repeat what happened last time and leave us hanging until after we wrap the season. If you're canceling us, tell us so everybody can find other work. If not, tell us so we can start working out next season. The WB agreed that he was right, ANGEL's producers deserved to know one way or the other. The next day, they were told that they were canceled. They were NOT expecting that, especially after all the recent good press surrounding the show's 100th episode and the success of the DVDs.

* Fury believes the show isn't going to be saved, no matter what campaigns pop up (not that the campaigns aren't appreciated). Surprisingly enough, ANGEL is one of the cheapest dramas on network despite the high production values and effects. They do a lot with a little. However, the cancellation is still a money issue: a drama is more expensive than a reality show or a sitcom. Cable channels and the "netlets" really can't afford to take it on. The major networks and HBO and their ilk won't either. They might have had a shot with an HBO if the show was only two or three years old, but after five seasons? Won't happen.

* A lot of people are sending in postcards saying "Don't have Buffy end up with Angel" or "Don't have Buffy end up with Spike." These people are wasting their money. This issue will not be resolved. Fury was certain Sarah Michelle Gellar won't appear on the show and even if she did, they wouldn't resolve it.

* Fury doesn't know what he'll do after ANGEL wraps - take some time off, probably, and then maybe write a movie or come up with a new television show. Or, he'll work for "some crappy show" that's on now.

Darling Violetta performed a fantastic set from 8-9 PM, and after the show I met up with FIREFLY's Ron Glass. As I was checking out the auction items and the current prices, he walked up next to me to see how it was going. I asked him about the FIREFLY movie, and he said (with a smile) that he could not "officially" say that he was going to be in it. He was so appreciative of the event benefiting his pet cause, and was very happy about what the center does and how it helps teenagers.

I was talking with former ANGEL producer Tim Minear when current ANGEL producer Jeff Bell walked up; the pair commiserated about ANGEL's untimely cancellation and joked that soon ANGEL's entire crew would make the move to Minear's upcoming series, WONDERFALLS. I talked with Bell about this past week's episode, SMILE TIME, and he couldn't say enough nice things about Ben Edlund and the work he did on that episode. Bell also gave huge props to the gentleman who created the puppets, Scott Johnson. The "Vampire Angel" puppet moment was a VERY expensive effect, Bell said, because not only did they have to morph it, but they had to have an entire new puppet made for it. Still, it was such a funny idea that they couldn't NOT do it. Bell told me he is writing and directing the final episode of the series because Whedon will be too busy with the FIREFLY movie, which he was already committed to.

The event was winding down when I ran into Camden Toy and his wife. Toy's name may not be familiar, but he has portrayed some of BUFFY's most unforgettable characters, including one of the Gentlemen, Gnarl and the UberVamp. I knew all this, but I was surprised to learns he was also the Prince of Lies from the recent ANGEL episode WHY WE FIGHT. He loved that he was finally able to do a comedic character with the Prince of Lies, and had a blast doing him. He has a hefty theater background, and he told me that the work he's done on BUFFY and ANGEL was a lot like Commedia dell Arte and its use of masks. For a guy who can be so creepy (the cast and crew of BUFFY let out a collective "Ew!" when he was filming a scene as Gnarl, something he's very proud of), he was incredibly nice.

The charming Andy Hallett (Lorne) concluded the evening with a surprise performance, taking over the stage and belting out three songs, inviting party guests to be his back-up dancers. The event officially ended at Midnight, but the guests stayed long after in order to talk with the ANGEL cast, crew, and staff.