Posted by nets4life at pcp02605663pcs.prtmry01.nj.comcast.net on January 10, 2003 at 23:51:54:
Hello, Mr. Smith and other people.
Holy hell, this is the first time I ever posted anything here so bare with me if I come off as a tool.
I'm just writing for a little insight. I am currently a fourth year acting student at Rutgers University, getting set to leap into the burning hellfire fray formally known as the entertainment business. But before that I have to finish my thesis project, which is a play I have been working on the past year. I'm a little nervous because I haven't FINISHED writing anything I ever started since poetry class in high school. (And I don't think poems count.) I did finish this though and I am excited about it. But I wanted to ask some quick things about the themes I'm dealing with.(and anyone who has an opinion please feel free to give one.
Basically my play is about a semi-agoraphobic warehouse architect roommating with a superhero, who decides to help the architect overcome his fears and push him out of his home to "join the human race". But the architect has lost faith in the way of the world and is extremely disinterested in sharing his gift with other people. The two eventually battle over their differing philosophies and even argue over which one is a "true artist.", both feeling their respective way of life is the true humanist's way of life.
My question is, do you think the average public (theatre going public, actually) would understand the relevance of a superhero in this play? To the comic fans of this board, we all know the importance characters like Batman and Superman had on us when we were younger. They played on our(or atleast my) fantasies of being an historical figure, known by everyone, trusted by everyone, saving everyone. That's why I use one in this play to help "save" the main character. We all can see in Kevin's movies, like Dogma, ..Strike Back, and Mallrats, comic figures playing an important role in inspiring confidence within ourselves (Brody and Stan Lee's scene together; classic). But what else? As much as I loved Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man", I felt it didn't really go far enough as it could have to explore the "great power comes great responsibility" side of the character, which I think is the most important. It more or less came off as more action-oriented.
So does anyone here think that comic icons are embedding themselves into pop culture more and more over the years? Or slowly peetering out. True, X-Men and Spider-Man have sequels, there's Daredevil, Blade III, and Hulk movies as well. I do see the comic figure coming out in mainstream media. But just like everything in mainstream (especially nowadays), comics could rise and fall in an instant. And from what people in the actual comic book industry tell me, the books themselves turn in no profit at all anymore without the media department there to rack up income from models, toys, and medium.
What do you guys think? Am I dealing with an iconic figure the non-comic public can warm up to? Should I have used a cowboy instead? Will I have goddamm audience?!
Thanks for any feedback.