Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy (2003) - Plot & Excerpts
Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy is a wonderful read for anyone who is a fan of Whedon's work or admires his talent as a writer or director. It focuses mostly on Whedon's early career and the development of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but it also delves into Angel and Firefly. This book gave me a new respect for Whedon. Actors, writers, produces, and various other coworkers gush about how kind Whedon is. Does he expect the very best? Yes, but he is not cruel or arrogant in his attempts to maintain quality. He is kind and respectful to all people, which seems to be a quality often lacking in the entertainment industry.By examining Joss Whedon's personal experiences, Candace Havens provides greater insight into the workings of Hollywood and network television. This may sound dry on the surface, but it's actually quite interesting. I never knew how writers (despite being essential to movies and TV) held such a low status. As Whedon puts it, "...writers are still pretty much the part of the pole that's stuck in the ground so that it will stay up."Since the book was published in 2003, it's a bit outdated, but it's still informative and interesting regarding the topics Havens covers.To sum up, if you're a fan of Joss Whedon, you'll probably enjoy this book. Even if you aren't a fan, check out the quotes on the back of the book if you find a copy (they're hilarious!).
An interesting but somewhat fluffy look at Joss Whedon's career. This book has the same almost naive as the Mary Tyler Moore biography I read last year. The book was written at a time when Buffy and Angel were both on the air. Firefly though floundering was still on the air but there's no mention of the upcoming film, Serenity.What the book doesn't admit to is the possibility that Joss could burn out -- which it appears he has from recent interviews. Joss is clearly very driven and clearly loves his work but does he know how to slow down?I found the insights into the storylines fascinating. Joss clearly lives by the adage of "write what you know" and it shows in his work. Can you tell that I'm a fan? :)
What do You think about Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy (2003)?
