#sometimes I wear the professor hat and write about Star Wars

[luninosity]

Always nice to come home to copies of a new academic publication with my chapter in - especially fun when it’s about Star Wars! 🙂

[elizadoolittlethings]

MG - The Man Behind The Genius

(via Get Ready to Love Mark Gatiss)

“Can we just sit here and watch this Spider-Man cartoon?” Mark Gatiss smiles slyly but it’s not clear if he’s completely kidding. We’re sitting on a couch in The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens, New York where a small retro-TV is playing an appropriately retro episode of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. “I love cartoons,” Gatiss tells me. “Did you ever see the old Star Trek cartoon? It’s brilliant. It’s basically like season four.”

The guy sitting next to me might look like Mycroft Holmes, but he barely sounds like him at all. This guy is softer, more childlike, more down to talk about whatever, so long as those things are James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Who, superheroes, Star Trek… In short, if you meet Mark Gatiss, you want to be best friends with him instantly.

For the uninitiated: Mark Gatiss is the co-creator (with Steven Moffat) of Sherlock. He’s also an actor IN Sherlock as Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s  snippy, brilliant older brother. He’s written for Doctor Who numerous times, including last season’s “Robots of Sherwood,” as well as the classic Dickens 2005 episode “The Unquiet Dead.” He’s got a recurring role on Game of Thrones as Tycho Nestoris of the Iron Bank, but has roots in the famous British comedy The League of Gentlemen. In short: he’s done some things that are beyond impressive.

Our chat is talking place two hours ahead of The Museum of the Moving Image’s special screening of the Doctor Who episode “Sleep No More,” which is the one Mark wrote for this season. And yes, I can call him Mark, because he told me to. Glancing over at my open-notebook, full of my chicken-scratch  questions, he spies the word “Gatiss,” at the top of the page complete with a frantic double underline. “Don’t say ‘Moffat’ or ‘Gatiss,’” he coos. “Say ‘Mark.’”

To say Mark Gatiss is disarming would be an understatement similar to saying Sherlock Holmes is smart. It’s not that Mark is disarming, it’s like you and he have been exchanging dog-eared paperbacks for years and this conversation about the animated Star Trek from the 70s is old hat. After we talk about how great the writing is on that cartoon Trek, I ask him if he’d ever want to write for Star Trek.

“The new series?!!“I love Star Trek, so yeah, I wouldn’t say no. Simon Pegg’s writing the new one [Star Trek Beyond]. So yeah. You never know!”

Is there anything else—any other established universe—Mark Gatiss would like to write for other than Star Trek?

“Nooo…No. I want to do something new. But it’s so hard to get it off the ground. I’ve said this many times, and it’s absolutely true. That there is a reason why people revisit brands that are so familiar; it’s because they’re so familiar! And it’s getting harder and harder to try and convince people to take a punt at something new. So, that is absolutely vital. Otherwise, there’s no blood in it—and I say this knowing that I’m associated with two of the biggest reboots in history—and people will always revisit Sherlock Holmes. And I think that now that Doctor Who has really returned after its absence, Doctor Who is imperishable. It will probably stop again one day and then come back again, because that’s what it does. Like anything. But, I would love to do something that people look back on fondly, because it was a brand new thing. But it’s terribly difficult—A. to think of it! B. To get it off the ground. What is the new thing! Sherlock Holmes himself said there is nothing new under the sun!”

What if Steven Moffat left Doctor Who? Would Mark still write for Doctor Who?

“Of course I’d still write for Doctor Who! If they’d have me! It’s a continuing honor and thrill! I would say that unlike Russell [Davies] saying ‘that’s me, done,’ I think that if Steven were to leave, he’d still come back after a few years and do another one. Because he loves it. I mean, Russell loves it too! But, I think Russell saw it as his take on it and that was it. Which is a very grown-up way of moving on. But I can’t resist the urge.”

When you’re hanging with Mark Gatiss, who wants to be a grown up anyway?

Would Mark want to be the showrunner of Doctor Who if Steven Moffat left?

“The truth is I know how incredibly demanding it is. And one of things that makes it very difficult to see is the sort of casual attacks Steven has had to put up with over the past few years. It’s incredibly hard work and they care so much. It’s a 24 hour job. And when people say ‘why can’t you make more episodes!?’ I mean, the episode we’re watching tonight: I was sent the final effect shot the day before I left for New York. That episode is just complete and it’s on this Saturday. There are so many things to consider. But to answer your question, I know how hugely demanding [showrunning] is, but also how hugely rewarding it would be. It’s a huge, life-changing decision. I’m an actor and a writer. I couldn’t act if I did it. Because I wouldn’t have time. The only thing I could act in would possibly be Doctor Who. WAIT A MINUTE! I’ll DO IT!”

At this, Mark begins giggling like a madman, throwing his head back and repeating “I’ll do it! This will effect my whole life? HA HA HA HA! I’LL DO IT!!”

The comedian, the sketch-comedy writer version of Mark Gatiss has emerged! Fittingly, we switch our conversation to the importance of humor in his writing. How and why is he just so damn funny? Is Doctor Who and Sherlock nothing without humor?

“Humor is fundamental. I couldn’t agree with you more. There’s a fundamental misunderstanding of why we love these shows. Essentially from slightly humorless people who thinks it needs to be po-faced all the time. The man who created the Daleks—Terry Nation—was Tony Hancok’s writer. He was a very, very funny man who could also write great science fiction. That’s what Russell is. That’s what Steven is. What I am. Lots of people. Humor is bound-up in the DNA of [Doctor Who]. ‘Robots of Sherwood,’ for instance, is a straightforward romp. But, you should no more criticize a show for being too funny—what’s wrong with too funny, anyway? You hear that a lot. Someone says ‘it’s too funny.’ WHAT? Too funny? Would your prefer it was moderately funny? I’d go for much too funny any day. That doesn’t mean you’re messing with the format, that you’re spoiling it. And if you look back at the history of the show, that’s what it’s always been at its best. It doesn’t get much grimmer than “Genesis of the Daleks.” But of course there’s humor. Of course there is. It might be pitch black, but it’s there. And sometimes the level is pitched one way and sometimes the other. But to me, it’s absolutely quintessential to Doctor Who, it’s a fun show.”

Though I would have loved to talk to Mark for hours only about Sherlock Holmes and his favorite stories and which movies are his personally, secret preferences, I decide that since we’re already best friends, we’ve had that conversation in some alternate world. Instead, I’m interested in continuity. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle flippantly didn’t care about continuity. Does Mark Gatiss care about continuity?

“Because we live in such an overly-examined age, in which everything is easily consumed and spat-out, everything has taken on a ludicrous level of importance. If Conan Doyle hadn’t had his famously lax attitude toward continuity, we wouldn’t be able to have the fun we have. From speculating on the strange fact that Professor Moriarty and his brother have the same Christian name, that Watson’s war-wound moves about, that Mary calls John “James”! I’m sure people did write to [Doyle] and complain, because there were always fans! But the thing is, it’s fine. My attitude is this: get it right if you can because if you’re perversely getting it wrong, it looks careless. But. Absolutely frankly: if someone came up with an idea for Doctor Who that flatly contradicted something that happened in 1967, fuck it. Of course fuck it! Someone once said to me ‘six months ago is ancient history,’ in terms of television. That’s true, because you’re talking about the general audience and not the fan audience. AND if you flatly contradicted something that happened in 1967, the fans would find a way of explaining it. I remember—in talking about Star Trek—someone telling me that reason William Shatner has so much eye shadow on in “Journey to Babel”—more than ever—is because Star Fleet officers are allowed to wear a certain amount of make-up during formal ceremonies! WHAT?!! I mean you don’t have to explain it! The Master was a snake at one point!”

Looking smooth, and talking smooth are something Mark Gatiss knows how to do, and that’s partially because he’s a big Bond fan. Could secret government mastermind Mycroft exist in the Bond universe?

“He does exist in the Bond universe! We made an explicit reference. In ‘His Last Vow,’ I say ‘As my esteemed colleague is fond of pointing out, what the country needs sometimes is a blunt instrument. Which is M! From the books! And of course I’d love to write a Bond film. It’s the one that’s eluded me. Me and Steven we both wanted to do Bond. I did From Russian With Love on radio!”

As our time comes creeping up on us, and the Spider-Man cartoon winds down, I ask Mark if there’s a world for a gay Bond? What about a straight Sherlock? The last one gets a guttural laugh from him, and we launch into the territory of diversity among established characters and fandoms.

“The point is to me, none of these things should be done because anyone feels pressure to tick a box. A show like Doctor Who has brilliantly celebrated gay people, incidentally, which to me is proper progress. But I think personally, there should absolutely be a female Doctor, a black Doctor, an Asian Doctor, but it’s because someone comes along who is absolutely indisputably the person for the job. With James Bond, it’s a literary antecedent. If you were for reasons of box-ticking made James Bond gay, that’s not James Bond. By all means have a gay spy! I’ve written about one myself! [Mark’s Lucifer Box novels] If you want to do a gay British Spy, adapt my books! That’s my advice. Do a franchise based on my books!”

Will Mark Gatiss fulfill his dreams of creating the next “new” thing that we will all love and obsess over? What is the future for our beloved Doctor Who/Sherlock writer? In addition to a film, more Doctor Who and the three new Sherlocks, that is. What is Mark’s secret project he hasn’t talked about yet?

At this he narrows his eyes, pats my leg and says with a Mycroft twinkle and almost a sneer:

“Can’t talk about it.”

Mark’s Doctor Who episode “Sleep No More” airs this Saturday.

[heidissswritingsss]

Crossing Paths- Chapter 4: A Night In

Read on AO3 

http://archiveofourown.org/users/HeidisssWritingsss

Betty and Jughead continued sitting next to each other in class, he would see her when he went to get coffee during her shift, and she would see him when she went to the bookstore. They would chat in the hallways when they ran into each other, but nothing more had happened even though both of them wanted it desperately, even if they didn’t want to admit it yet.

It was a thursday afternoon after school and Betty headed towards the coffee shop to start her shift. Once she got there she put her purse and jacket away when Lex came up behind her and made her jump.

“Gosh, Lex!” she exclaimed, “I didn’t know you were here yet”

“I’m always here early” she smirked

After a rush had died down, Betty sat down to relieve her feet.

“So… how’s things with your ‘friend’ Jughead?” she asked with finger quotes as she leaned back against the counter.

“We are friends Lex.. that’s all…”

Lex giggled “Ok Betty whatever you say, I’m just teasing. And I only tease you because I see the way he looks at you, and all you do is blush around him for Christ's Sake. There is something there, you guys just haven’t figured it out yet”

“You think?” Betty asked unseriously. “and what do you think I should do about that Lex?” she asked raising an eyebrow and smiling.

“I don’t know ask him on a date or something”

“I can’t ask him on a date yet, that would be awkward!”

“Fine then ask him to come over and chill at your house”

“Hmmm” Betty thought for a moment as Lex went to the counter to help a customer.

I guess that couldn’t hurt, she thought. I’ll ask him during class tomorrow. She had after all been looking for an excuse to do something with him since they had coffee. Seeing each other in class just wasn’t enough anymore, she just hoped he felt the same way.

Betty walked into class on Friday morning and saw Jughead already sitting in their usual spot. She smiled when he looked up at her and she walked over and sat next to him.

“Hey, how are you?” he asked

“I’m good, so glad it’s friday”

“Me too I can’t wait to just chill all weekend”

Heres your chance Betty, Take it

“Hey I was actually kinda wondering if you would want to come over to my house tonight. We could order pizza and just chill and watch movies or something…” she asked hesitantly

“I would love to Betty, after all food is the way to my heart…”

“Ok great” she smiled “When do you get off work today?”

“Umm, 5 I think”

“Ok, I’ll see you at 5:45 then?”

“Sounds good, can’t wait” he smiled before the professor started class and everyone started paying attention.

It was 4:30 and Jughead’s head was racing as he rushed to get the rest of the books from the back onto the shelves before he went home. Am I overthinking this, does Betty really like me, I thought it was just me, just keep your cool man, you don’t wanna be this nervous when you go over to her apartment.

He was nervous but very excited that she had asked him to come over because he had been looking for another way to spend some more time with her and hadn’t come up with anything yet, so he was kind of relieved that she said something first.

It was finally 5pm and Jughead headed home to get ready to go over to Betty’s. He knows he shouldn’t feel nervous, after all this is what he has been waiting for but he couldn’t help it. When he got back to his apartment he dropped off his coat and went straight to the bathroom. He took off his hat and sighed at how his hair looked, he grabbed a comb and went to work, once it finally looked ok, he placed his beanie back on, carefully without messing up his hair. He washed his hands then reapplied some deodorant. He then went to his kitchen and grabbed some beers to bring over. He slipped on his shoes and headed up the stairs to the 6th floor.

He approached her door and took a deep breath to calm himself before knocking.

“Hi!” Betty said as she opened the door

She was wearing a pair of high waisted blue jeans with a cropped floaty white top. She is beautiful, he thought.

“Hi” he said smiling

“Come on in. Here you can set those down here” she gestured towards his beers.

“So what kind of pizza are you feeling?” she asked

“Um.. pepperoni and... sausage?”

“Sounds good, I’ll just order quickly, I’m starving!” she said

“Me too”

She ordered the food and they went to sit on the couch while they waited for it to show up.

“It’s nice having you here Juggie, after both of us being friends with Archie for so long, we finally get to be friends”

She just called us friends “Ya I agree, I really have enjoyed spending some time with you” he said.

“Hey let’s crack open some of those beers shall we?”

“Ya sure that sounds great” she said

He got up while smiling to get them both a beer. He opened two and walked back over and handed her one.

“Thanks”

“So how has it been since you moved here?” she asked

“Well it’s been pretty good, i enjoy school mostly, I like getting to study what I want to which means a lot of writing, and my job is really great, it seems my life kind of revolves around writing...but I don’t know many people and I get pretty lonely sometimes, thanks for inviting me over by the way”

“My pleasure...I get lonely a lot too, it’s not easy moving to a new place where you don’t know anyone. I’m glad we have each other to talk to at least, I’m glad Archie introduced us” she said

“Ya me too, I’m starting to think he was just doing it to make sure I wasn’t lonely for the rest of my life”

“Haha, well at least he cares about you right?”

“Ya, he’s a great friend”

“Ya he is”

They continued chit chatting for a while before they heard the door bell

Ding Dong

“Oh! the pizza, I’ll get it hold on”

She brings the pizza over to the couch and sets it on the coffee table. Jughead takes a piece and basically inhales it before reaching for another one.

“Wow you can really eat”

“Ya well there are few things I love in this world and one of those is food”

“What are the other things?” she asked

“Writing, books, certain people... I don’t know”

“I agree, those are some great things”

They continue eating and talking until the pizza is gone.

“Do you want another beer, or some water?” Jughead asks

“I’ll have some water thanks”

He goes to the kitchen, and opens the cabinet to look for a glass.

“Wow! You have quite the mug collection”

“Haha ya, they’re really fun to collect”

“Wow this one’s cool!” he says as he pulls out a Star Wars mug with the original movie poster on it.

“Ya, I got it at a thrift store, it’s one of my favorites”

“We could watch Star Wars if you want” she says

“That sounds great” He said, visibly excited

He got her water and grabbed his beer and walked back over to the couch where Betty was putting in the movie.

They watched the movie and didn’t do a lot of talking until it was over.

“Man I forgot how good that movie was” Jughead said

“Yeah, I could watch it all the time. I love having a stash of my favorite movies and shows to rewatch when I’m feeling down”

“Ya, binge watching is one of my specialties” he said smiling

“You know I never thought when we were 15 how similar we might be and now I feel like we really are” she said

“Ya, I haven’t had many friends except for Archie in my life until now, and that’s mostly just because I don’t relate to a lot of people, or they rub me the wrong way...but you are different”

“Thanks...you’re different too, in a good way. A lot of friends I have had in the past were very surface level, and to be honest, I feel like I can really trust you in a weird way even though we haven’t really known each other for that long” she said

“I feel the same way about you…”

Betty started tearing up and started to feel a little self conscious for doing so in front of Jughead

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked softly

She sniffed before gathering courage to keep talking and opening up “It’s just that I don’t think anyone has ever felt about me that way, and it makes me feel comfortable, and tonight is one of the only nights where I haven’t wanted to curl up in my bed and cry from anxiety”

“I’m sorry Betty I didn’t know you had anxiety that bad...” he thought for a couple moments “I hope you know that you can always talk to me, I’m here for you, and not just because Archie told me to be, I promise” he said sincerely

“Thank you Juggie” she said bringing back a slight smile

He moved slightly closer to her then on the couch so he could lightly put his arm around her, hoping to provide some comfort.

“I’m really glad we’re friends” she said

They talked for a while longer before deciding it was probably time for Jughead to go home

They both stood up, and Betty followed him to the door, he put his shoes on and was about to leave when Betty hugged him. He was in shock for only a moment before he hugged her back.

“Thanks for coming Juggie” she whispered before leaning back from his arms and smiling

“Anytime, I had a great night. I’ll see you soon, I promise we will spend more time together” he said before waving bye and turning down the hallway.

She watched him walk away and stood in the doorway for a couple moments longer before retreating back into her apartment.

She got in bed and was freezing because her heating wasn’t working in her bedroom. What is this place’s deal, she thought before getting up to grab a blanket from the couch. She stuffed it down under her comforter and crawled in. She pulled it up to snuggle. It smells like Jughead she thought before snuggling it in closer to her face and smiling as she fell asleep.