Joss Whedon's Wesleyan University Speech in May 2007 - Fan Report

From Wesleyan.edu - By SaltyGoodness -

Joss Whedon's Wesleyan University Speech in May 2007 - Fan Report

WESeminar 22: Joss Whedon on "The Importance of Being Keanu"

Join this creator of cult figures who will talk about his career, thoughts on education and work, his life at Wesleyan and future plans, plus anything else the audience wants to ask.

Introduction: Jeanine D. Basinger, Corwin-Fuller Professor of Film Studies, curator of the Cinema Archives, chair of the Film Studies Program, and 1996 recipient of the Binswanger Prize for Excellence in Teaching

Presenter: Joss Whedon ’87, film and television writer who was the creator and executive producer of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly; he is known as an "A-list" screenwriter and script doctor, and has written/co-written films that include Toy Story, Alien: Resurrection, and Titan A.E.

I went to this...it was wonderful fun, as expected.

Joss began by sharing his thoughts about Keanu Reeves as an actor; sounds like an odd way to start but it was quite lovely. He explained how Keanu has mastered his own career by embodying a rare and authentic style all his own typified by a sense of compassion for humanity and a subtle detachment. He shared a story about when he was "fixing" the script for Speed and working with Keanu on the character, how Keanu had spent some time with detectives and law enforcement to get a sense of the character and he said he was struck by how polite they were. How they all used "sir" and "Ma’am." Joss was impressed by how Keanu objected to certain lines and actions in the script because they seemed outside of what the character would truly do. He explained how Keanu’s choices of roles has been indicative of his style and how he has kept his private life private. He described Keanu as having an international appeal both by his "pretty" and by his multi-ethnic aesthetic. Ultimately, Keanu is the perfect Neo.

After Joss talked about this he opened it up for questions about anything. I didn’t take notes but a few things stood out as being significant to me anyway. When asked what he felt was his best work ever, he said without hesitation "The Body." When asked about the quality of television today he made a comment that "nothing on tv has ever been as good as Battlestar Galactica." :) When asked what medium he likes the best of comics, movies, or television he said he is definitely more fond of tv and having the time to develop the stories and characters and said he really misses tv.

As for Goners, he did say that he submitted a full script and would find out in a few weeks if he will be shooting it this year (!!!!!) And finally, news to me and very exciting, when asked if he was going to start a comic of Angel S6, he said no but that they were putting out a 12-issue comic series that takes place after Not Fade Away. coming soon.....

Very much fun, sorry I didn’t get to say hello to any whedonesquers who might have attended! I was in the 3rd row with hubby, brother and sisters in law and my adorable 18 month nephew.