Moderator: ok folks we're going back to Moderated mode ...
spitfire: hello
Moderator: don't panic
applejak: OK
R2: ok
MrsSpooky: {{{}}}}
GinaS: we won't
Starlet: hey solitaire
OboeCrazy: Says Douglas Adams
Moderator: Craig, can you type?
Craig: Hello all you I-maniacs!
Moderator: All right!
Moderator: Greetings, chatters. I'm your moderator Glenn Becker, and I'd like to welcome you to another SCIFI.COM chat. Tonight's guest is Craig Silverstein, the story editor for the hit SCIFI.COM series The Invisible Man, and the scribe of the episodes "Ralph," "Liberty and Larceny," "The Other Invisible Man," and the upcoming "The Beholder."
Moderator: This will be a moderated chat. Once I place the room into moderated mode, send your questions to me as private messages. Either double click on my name or type "/msg Moderator" (without the quotes) on the command line.
Moderator: Craig, we've already got some questions queued up. Would you like to dive in?
Craig: Fire away.
Moderator: [OboeCrazy] Hi Mr. Silverstein, thanks for chatting with us! I have enjoyed how your episodes have a great mixture of humor and drama. How do you decide when to add humor, and do you think each of the major characters has a different kind of sense of humor (ie is one more sarcastic then the other?)
Craig: Great question. We had a lot of problems with this early one. "What's too funny, when does funny become silly, when does silly become goofy, etc."
Craig: Hold on, I gotta figure how to type here...
* Moderator juggles *
Craig: Thanks. Anyways, humor is a VERY important part of the show. My basic rule is, if it undermines the emotion or the threat, it doesn't belong. ga!Hey, Moderator, is there any way to make my type window bigger?
Craig: Notepad, cool.
Moderator: [fawkesgirl131] how long does it take to write an episode of the invisible man?
Craig: Ideally, you'd want forever. But basically it should be two weeks. I wrote The Other Invisible Man in one week. (For script, and another week for outline).
Craig: Ralph took longer. Liberty and Larceny was a terror.
Craig: By the way, Lib/Larc was a good script.
Craig: I know you don't believe it, but...
Craig: ga
Moderator: [Starlet] Do the actors have any imput whatsoever into the script, either with dialogue or story ideas?
Craig: Their input is mainly in dialogue, ad-libs here and there (some hilarious)
Craig: Although Vince has called up with some story questions, and I seem to remember Shannon wanting to change a scene once.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [GinaS] How did you come up with that rap for Darien?
Craig: Ha! I actually wrote the rap a couple months ago as a joke for the main titles (the main title stuff was actually written by one of our editors, Andy
Craig: I like making up silly raps, and I had fun with that. I recorded myself and gave it to Vince.
Craig: I'm an idiot, basically.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [aja-blue] Looking ahead, like many popular tv series have done, do you see the possibility of a feature film?
Moderator: chatters, Craig isn't rooting for Georgia -- 'ga' is irc-ese for 'go ahead'
Craig: Wow. And here I am hoping for a second season...
Craig: Uh, no movie plans yet. Although Vince had mentioned that to me once. That would be AWESOME.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [Tabu68] Craig, the trust in recent eppys between Darien and the Keeper, as well as the agency, seems to be strengthening. Will we see this trust at any time seriously tested in the future?
Craig: That trust will strengthen, and be MAJORLY tested.
Craig: I can't say anymore, but just know we're working on it right now...
Craig: ga
Moderator: A reminder: we're chatting with Craig Silverstein, story editor on the
Moderator: popular series The Invisible Man. This is a moderated chat. Please send your questions for our guest to me, Moderator, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on my name or type "/msg Moderator" on the command line - only without the quotes.)
Moderator: [applejak] Q1. How long did it take you to sell your first script?
Craig: Well, this is my first TV job and Ralph is my first script for TV.
Craig: I wasn't expecting to go into TV, just ended up here.
Craig: No complaints whatsoever, how-ev.
Moderator: [Helena] Can you give us an idea of how long you worked at scriptwriting before you began to believe you might actually be able
Moderator: to do this for a living?
Craig: I wrote a screenplay in college. Three years and some hard times later (and one cool job at Lucasfilm THX), I got this Iman gig.
Craig: I started as staff writer and moved up to Story Editor.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [GinaS] Are you ever on set during filming and if so, do you ever
Moderator: suggest script changes based on what you see?
Craig: I've only been down to set once, because we're in L.A. and they shoot in San Diego. I went down for The Other Invisible Man prep, 'cause I thought it was a sensitive script. But...
Craig: Whoops, that didn't past.
Craig: Bear with me.
Craig: What I was going to say is that I sat in on the production meeting, and discussed things like
Craig: how big Claire's gun should be (we had to sub out Hobbes regular .45 for a 9mm to make the joke work).
Craig: Stuff like that. But I will be going down for a cameo soon. *groans even to self*
Craig: ga
Moderator: [R2] Craig -- great job on the episodes so far. Question, did you have an invisible friend when you were little? Was that the "impetus" (so-to-speak) for Ralph?
Craig: Uh, no. I had G.I. Joes.
Craig: But it was the first idea I thought of when asked to pitch ideas for shows.
Craig: How great was Landry Albright? (Jessica)
Craig: Actually, The G.I. Joe comment was only half-joke. I learned dramatic structure from those cartoons.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [OboeCrazy] Are you or the other writers planning any long term story
Moderator: arc's now that the IMan "universe" has been created?
Craig: Yep. *grins*
Craig: ga
Moderator: do tell! if you can.
Moderator: :-)
Craig: My main concern is spilling suprises, but...
Craig: surprises, sorry....
Craig: When we return in January, expect NEW STORIES
* Moderator zips lip *
Craig: NEW ENEMIES
Craig: Darien's Voice: "Same old crap."
Craig: ga
Moderator: [dabbers] where do you get your inspiration for the quotes that
Moderator: Darian begins and ends the eppys. You seem well read.
Craig: All I can say is thank god for internet search engines.
Craig: ga
Moderator: Here's one in another direction: [applejak] (strange Q) - do you think it may be harder for women to become screenwriters? it seems like females are in the minority as writers...
Craig: We've had several women in to pitch ideas (check out story by on IHWYDT), and I have several screenwriter friends
Craig: who are female, including my girlfriend. Bottom line is, a good story is a good story.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [Tabu68] Craig, is Darien's gradual buildup of resistance to the
Moderator: counteragent, as portrayed in Tiresias' rats, the same as the way some
Moderator: bacteria build up a resistance to certain antibiotics? And if this is
Moderator: so, couldn't another similar "strain" of counteragent be
Moderator: developed...by say... Arnaud-mayhap as a lure/trap for Darien?
Craig: Hold on while I answer, you rascal...
Craig: Remember that Arnaud was the mastermind behind Counteragent, the ultimate way to control an all-powerful
Craig: invisible man. Claire is trying to find ways out of this all the time (or is she?)
Craig: The bacteria thinking is right on. But it's not that easy to create new strains that won't kill D.
Craig: The stuff flushes chemical residue from Quicksilver out of the bloodstream. The real danger is
Craig: all that heart and adrenaline pumping is going to take it's toll on Darien's body.
Craig: its not it's (my boss would kill me).
Craig: ga
Moderator: Station Identification: we're chatting with Craig Silverstein, story editor on the
Moderator: popular series The Invisible Man. This is a moderated chat. Please send your questions for our guest to me, Moderator, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on my name or type "/msg Moderator" on the command line - only without the quotes.)
Moderator: [Darien-The-Rat] Craig, how long does it take to come up with a script? Do you outline them forever to get everything straight or just jump right in?
Craig: We have these things called deadlines, and these really evil things called AIRDATES, so
Craig: there simply isn't a concept of "forever." It's more like "tomorrow or die."
Craig: Launching this show was very tough.
Craig: Many staff members dropped off, and at one point there were only TWO writers.
Craig: Now, we've got some breathing room.
Craig: The "Back 9" promise to be even better than the front 14, and a whole lot more consistent.
Craig: But thanks for bearing with us. We love you dearly.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [GinaS] Were there any stories you pitched which weren't accepted because they were too 'out there' and if so, what were they?
Craig: Hmm, let's see. I did pitch this one
Craig: where Darien went to Las Vegas and went up against this magician-thief.
Craig: I had scenes with Darien (as an undercover stage magician) quicksilvering stuff on stage
Craig: in front of applauding people who thought it was just "magic."
Craig: And a cool climax in a hall of mirrors, but...
Craig: I guess someone said fake-magic doesn't work on TV, so no go.
Craig: I did have some other rejected stories
Craig: but I want to re-pitch 'em later so mum's the word for now. Thanks for asking!
Craig: Darien was also at the craps table having fun.
Craig: "Oh craps" ga
Moderator: [Nebula] how often do all the writers disagree on a topic?
Craig: What exactly do you mean, Nebula?
Craig: A topic can mean lots of things...
Moderator: [Nebula] when writing a script
Craig: We're in a constant flux of agreement and disagreement.
Craig: But everyone knows gold when they see it.
Craig: And if I don't get my way I scream. That often gets results or a smack in the face.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [Darien-The-Rat] Craig, do you consult with the actors on the show to
Moderator: find out where they would like to see their characters go? And how
Moderator: much do you listen to feedback from the bboards?
Craig: I read the boards from time to time...
Craig: And I've even posted. My handle is R2.
Craig: Seriously though,
Craig: I do listen to you guys (just look at TOIM!)
Craig: As for the actors,
Craig: They've trusted us so far.
Craig: And we trust them. They're awesome.
Craig: This cast is a blessing.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [spitfire] I'd like to know a bit about your background as a writer.
Craig: It's unfolding for you as you watch. I've written a couple feature screenplays that hopefully one day you'll see.
Craig: I've always wanted to write movies ever since
Craig: Raiders Of The Lost Ark.
Craig: I studied film at University Of Michigan, and
Craig: moved to L.A. in 1997. I've written stuff since I was a kid. Comics, scripts, you name it.
Craig: But writing something that people actually see, that's something new altogether!
Craig: ga
Moderator: [GinaS] Is there a 'series bible' you can refer to so that there
Moderator: aren't contradictions/continuity errors among episodes?
Craig: Yep. Unfortunately not everyone reads it *LMAO*
Craig: Matt Greenberg left us with a great bible.
Craig: I'm looking at it right now.
Craig: Most of it still applies.
Craig: And some of it has yet to be written...
Craig: ga
Moderator: [Starlet] The cast really looks like they're all having a great time doing what they're doing and enjoying the material. Does that have any affect on what and how you write for the show?
Craig: Yes.
Craig: What we first saw is this
Craig: incredible...
Craig: amazing...
Craig: thing...
Craig: going on between Vince and Paul. Darien and Hobbes just GO when they're onscreen.
Craig: It writes like buttah, and it's when the show sings, for me.
Craig: Also, little things like Eberts.
Craig: I love that character,
Craig: and you'll see him getting lines in all eps I write.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [Helena] A constant debate on the bboards is the "will they or won't they" question regarding Darien and Claire. Personally, I would prefer that such a relationship never occur unless alcohol is involved. Can you give us a hint
Craig: Watch the next few episodes. Things might go in a different way than you're expecting...
Craig: ga
Moderator: [Tabu68] Craig, is there an anger/guilt (guilt for the death and anger
Moderator: because of his predicament) complex with Darien regarding his brother's death and will it be addressed?
Craig: It was addressed in Ralph BUT CUT!
Craig: The whole quicksilver-problem with Jessica was
Craig: supposed to stem from guilt projection due to Kevin's death.
Craig: I even had a flashback/dream where Kevin pushed him out of the way
Craig: in the corridor and Jess was standing there.
Craig: Anyways,
Craig: it will be addressed in the very next ep, Reunion.
Craig: ga
Moderator: Station Identification: we're chatting with Craig Silverstein, story editor on the
Moderator: popular series The Invisible Man. This is a moderated chat. Please send your questions for our guest to me, Moderator, as private messages. (To send a private message, either double-click on my name or type "/msg Moderator" on the command line - only without the quotes.)
Moderator: [fawkesgirl131] are we ever going to see the bloopers from the show??
Craig: Some of the bloopers we keep in the show, but I'll give you a fun one you can see right now.
Craig: Check the pilot.
Craig: Actually, this isn't a blooper, but it makes me laugh.
Craig: Freeze frame Darien leaping for Casey in the hospital.
Craig: In one frame, he looks like a crazy Bat-Darien with fangs, his hands hanging down and everything. It's truly ridiculous and a
Craig: cherished item on my desktop.
Craig: As for a blooper real...
Craig: We'll see. Most of the bloopers they don't "print",
Craig: so even I haven't seen them.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [Helena] In TOIM, in the scene immediately following the injection of Darien by the Keeper at the end, was it your intention that VV portray the death of Simon, or was that an interpretation by the actor?
Craig: It was a major exorcism type thing.
Craig: What I wanted,
Craig: and what Vince did beautifully, is give that look of "Darien" returning afterwards.
Craig: Simon had already died, his memories were being purged.
Craig: ga
Moderator: [pointman] I am very happy with the bad guys that the show has produced so far. I was wondering if there will be a steady ememy and if so ould you maybe tell use what he or she will be like.
Craig: She. And that's all I'll say. *dark chuckle designed to send shivers down spines*
Craig: ga
Moderator: [pointman] In the Pilot episode Darian had a girlfriend and so far she
Moderator: hasn't appeared in the regular series yet. Will she be coming on soon
Moderator: or not at all?
Craig: Nope, but I mention her in "Beholder." Sorry it took so long, I tried to work it in earlier...
Craig: *lowers head in shame*
Craig: Keeper is a much more interesting character, though. Dont
Craig: you think?
Craig: g to the a.
Moderator: [GinaS] Were you a sci-fi fan before IMan (another Wolverine!)?
Craig: Hell yeah.
Craig: All the movies, and I took a sci-fi lit course at UofM (go blue!)
Craig: ga
* Moderator holds up IU pennant *
Craig: That's where Vince (and my Dad) went!
Craig: I almost went to IU.
Moderator: Craig, I was at IU with VV.
Craig: Same time?
Moderator: yes. i was in the grad acting prog ... he was undergrad.
Craig: *steps aside to bask in glow of Moderator*
Moderator: since then he's pulled a bit ahead of me in terms of career! :-)
Moderator: heh
Moderator: here's another Q:
Moderator: [Helena] During your visits to the bboards, were you surprised at the logical debate raging regarding the "science" of the show...did we surprise you with our nitpicking?
Craig: I think it's great.
Craig: I was not surprised, only impressed.
Craig: Especially with some of the later theories.
Craig: You have no idea how close to the truth you are, and yet how far away.
Craig: (Like I know)
Craig: ga
Moderator: [Solitaire-d] Since Vince played Bball will you script an ep where Darien can exhibit this skill?
Craig: I want to, yeah.
Craig: ga
Moderator: One last question & then we'll call it a (very enjoyable) night:
Moderator: [OPENMIND] Dead in TVland is not always dead. The "deceased" can later sprout a halo and wiings or somehow wake up from a very long NDE. Kevin's demise did not sit well with viewers. What are the chances of getting brother Fawkes back in some flesh or spirit form?
Craig: Remember Memory RNA?
Craig: It was originally used for another story...
Craig: That story may yet see the light of day.
Craig: Until then, watch in two weeks.
Craig: I can say more but will be shot.
Craig: In the face.
Moderator: Craig, thanks for your thoughtful answers to fans' questions. This has been a great treat. Any final watchwords to the I-Man faithful?
Craig: It's only gonna get better!
Craig: You guys are fire-stokers for all of us.
Craig: Keep it up, please. And get friends with Nielsen boxes to watch this puppy.
Craig: Until then, *Quicksilver transition to nothingness*
Craig: Love,
Craig: Craig
Moderator: OK ... here we go into UNmoderated mode ...
Moderator: urk ...
OboeCrazy: Thanks for the chat Craig! It was wonderful!!
Moderator: blammo
fawkesgirl131: oh yo!
Darien-The-Rat: Craigh is awesome!!!
applejak: Word to your mutha, Original C
Starlet: yes, thank you
