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Q#1: I'm looking to support queer composers. I enjoy your work (have listened both your albums on Apple Music!) and would like to purchase them when my subscription runs out. First I want to make sure that you identify as a queer person (since you have written queer characters in your speculative script for the 'Saving Face' sequel). If you don't...can you suggest queer artists to support?
A#1: Thank you for taking the time to listen to both albums! Unfortunately, I do not identify as a queer person (for more detail...you can read my piece that has been published on Comedy To Watch).
https://twitter.com/michellekrusiec/status/1435680188092669952
Really glad that you are keen to support queer artists! Let me know the albums you eventually end up buying! I'd love to give you albums made by queer identifying artists...but I don't have a personal list...yet. Since I'm a composer first and my gender identity is secondary...I usually apply the same approach when listening to music. But if you are generally looking for music recommendations, my brain downloads are in the form of a music discovery project. :)
https://mailchi.mp/906f15fca8fc/stories
Q#2: Why focus the story on Jenny?
A#2: I think that was one of the threads I wanted to explore after coming across a viewer talk about how it could be a way to tackle the sequel. I'm not really hell-bent on proving that there 'should' be a sequel...it's more of...attempting and seeing where the story 'could' lead me.
Of course...after months...of hoping to do that...I'm now left with Vivian as the protagonist and Jon as the antagonist. I'll probably try to figure out how to get Jenny to appear somehow.
Q#3: Are you skittish around sex? I've read your recent draft and there isn't any sort of sex anywhere!
A#3: I think I'm more of a 'family friendly' kind of a viewer...and that has spilled over to my writing as well. Even in my personal entries, you wouldn't see me using any strong language. I guess I'm giving an exception to Vivian and Wil compared to the content in my TV pilot for 'Before I Fall'.
An example that comes to mind is Connie Britton addressing the lack of sex scenes between Tami and Eric in 'Friday Night Lights'. It isn't just something that Kyle Chandler was into (which I think worked out well for the show).
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/69317/17-clear-eyed-full-hearted-facts-about-friday-night-lights
Will I write an 'MA' scene in the future? Unlikely. I guess I'm the sort who'd always find a way to make it either 'M' or even 'PG'.
Q#4: Why is Vivian suddenly all 'mum-centric'?
A#4: You know, I'm trying to work that out, myself. I feel like she would be able to get there. I'm just at loss at what even (or epiphany) that got her there. I know there's a big 'no' from her looking into the film. So...I think the answer would lie into the 'exception' category.
In 2004, Vivian has said that she doesn't like kids. But then there is a photo of a drawing made for her by one of the kids. Could it be the same kid who spilled the beans about Paris while Wil was there? Maybe. So I think my explanation would be: it would take a certain kind of kid to win over Vivian. I'm imagining either before they moved to Sydney, Vivian would have met a kid or two who managed to convince her to either foster them and eventually adopt them. That's a good idea actually...
Maybe the two older kids (Martin and Kayla) managed to forge that bond with her. Add the likelihood of Vivian having a soft spot for orphans, it would have been easier to say yes to take in Pat and Sarah.
Q#5: Why did Jenny move to Sydney?
A#5: I guess that is the big question! The quick answer would be a discussion between mother and daughter. Jenny could have spotted something either about a cruise...or being interested in doing something. Then later something related to Sydney popped up.
Somehow I could see Jenny having a go at being a painter.
Q#6: How was it easy for Wil to leave her mother in New York?
A#6: I'm not sure how the conversation would have gone. But I'd bet that Little Yu would have made it easier for Wil and Vivian to make the move.
Q#7: What is Vivian doing in 2019?
A#7: I'm not keen on having Vivian injured and as a result, she couldn't dance anymore. It's more about leaning towards either age or interest. It would have been easy to say that when Vivian reached 35...the demands of being a ballet dancer (I'm going with Josh Charles' wife who retired from being a ballet dancer...before her early 30's?) would be too much.
But since we're going with the assumption that Vivian really felt called to do some form of modern dance...one pivot would have been that she ended up consulting more for plays and theatrical productions. Building on the fact that she does like mentoring (we don't ever hear Vivian complain about being around with the kids ---- even when one of them spills a secret. She's still always kind). This would give Vivian a more flexible schedule (since consulting pays more and the hours a less) and time with the family.
Q#8: What is Wil doing in 2019?
A#8: I'm going with the idea that Wil went to be interested in research to further reconstructive surgery techniques. So it'll be a combination of teaching and still pulling shifts at a private hospital (and maybe sometimes in the public ones?). Again, more time to spend with Vivian and the kids.
Q#9: How did Wil and Vivian manage to quit smoking?
A#9: I actually almost forgot about that! Wil doesn't smoke indoors but Vivian does and it's interesting that it is yet another commonality that they share. There's a moment at the vending machine that Wil is trying to work out Vivian. I'd guess that the scent of tobacco would have helped Wil along? Though with the remnants of cigarette smoke...it is quite a challenge to determine if the person smokes or had just spent time with smokers in an enclosed area. Maybe I'm lucky that it didn't result in me becoming a smoker at any point despite having friends who were. I realise now that smokers are likely to have immense anxiety (whether they know it or not) and the fact that Wil and Vivian both have it in their lives just shows the immense pressure they face.
Though it got me thinking if they were actually heavy smokers or just turn to nicotine to take some of the edge off. This would mean that it would be slightly easier to quit? Plus moving to Sydney where smoking isn't as rampant as say in Paris. I'm going to probably need some input from those who have either been light to heavy smokers to understand the process of completely quitting. So far though...I've heard how difficult it is (from those who have managed to ditch it).
Q#10: I watched the film with my father-in-law and as I feared. He didn't enjoy the film. There were a few laughs, but I'm convinced that if the protagonist and love-interest weren't lesbians...he would have laughed more. Should I have not shown it to him?
A#10: What I've learned is that it is important to give people a chance. Did you feel like it was something he'd appreciate?
It's quite tricky with film recommendations. Sometimes they are best to let the people in our lives watch them on their own (I think Alice had shared a version of this in relation why she went with Netflix for 'The Half Of It'). Maybe the nudity was too much? Did he stop laughing at a certain point? Or was the whole thing pretty much consistent in how he would have reacted if he didn't like a film (even if you were convinced he'd enjoy it)?
You can have him watch an episode of 'Modern Love' about a queer couple (both men) in the process of adopting a child. I think it's one of my favourite (if not favourite) from the series. I laughed and also was in tears. It was unexpected...since I was ready to write off the show (the early episodes weren't indicative of how awesome the later episodes would be).
One thing I learned about extroverts is that they do say a lot. Sometimes we're actually hearing what's going on in their brain. Depending on the kind of extrovert you're dealing with...you may not be hearing judgements about a specific scene of the film (or character), but just random thoughts. Maybe it reflects his views...maybe not. At least you gave him a chance right? There's also the fact that it takes time before a person changes his outlook. Watching 'Saving Face' might not be the film that allows him to see queer people as those who he can have an enjoyable dinner with...and that's okay. You did your part. If he wants to talk about something in particular...go for it. But if it's not time for him...then...you'll just have to wait until it is.
If you want to follow up? How about putting up one of those viewer recap and commentary about the film during the drive next time you go on a roadtrip to test out a new restaurant? Here's a thread with some of my favourites:
https://twitter.com/LeighLim/status/1413520647511289858
Then if he doesn't say anything after two episodes ask if he'd like to listen to an episode of his favourite podcast. At least his subconscious wouldn't be pissed at you for hogging the vehicle's audio system for the whole trip. Because...you never know...a miracle might happen: he might ask you for another episode or just plainly say: “No, it's okay. You can go with what you were planning to listen to next.” :)
Q#11: You do know that writing something that happens immediately after the events of the film would require some digital de-aging for Michelle and Lynn...right?
A#11: I did realise that (well after writing the prologue)! I guess...if this does end up...picked up...I'll have to rewrite that scene to something that can be easily filmed without any CG magic.
Q#12: How would you rate your spec so far?
A#12: I could go as far as 6/10...but then realised that there are scenes that are incomplete. Not sure that it's enough to get it there...so 4/10 (enough for me to make it to the end but not enough to pass on to someone else as complete if it were to be shot).