The Year in Review – Monthly Musings

After looking back on my two years with CliqueClack, I decided to give my future self some advice based on my past self.  Most of these things I’m giving myself advice on, I’ve managed to avoid doing. All the same, I want to make certain I stick to it for 2012. So, from current-day An (December 31, 2011) to future An (you know, the one who reads this piece tomorrow), here’s some advice.

Stick to your guns. Be true to your voice.

I hate saying that because ‘true’ and ‘voice’ are two clichéd terms at this point which only reality TV stars use. But … it’s ‘true.’ You can’t be all things to all people. There’s always the temptation to want people to like you and to softball your views. For awhile, I started including mini-one-sentence explanations in my reviews, after anything I thought people might contest. Ironically, people typically took issue with, and debated, the second statement more than the initial one itself. That’s when I realized I couldn’t write thoughts that I thought people wanted, I can only write from my perspective. Other people can only write from theirs. If we meet in the middle, great — but sometimes we won’t. When we don’t that means there’s a new opinion awaiting discovery in guest clacker form. Anyways, once I threw that fear away, I stopped sitting paralyzed at the laptop for thirty minutes, my posts started writing themselves and my thoughts came across clearer.

So, to future An, don’t write what you think people want to hear, write what you want to say and things will go smoother.  

Be honest. Write what you like.

You’ve managed to do this in the past. But, remember, don’t write positive reviews because you think people want to hear them. Don’t fear rabid fans who could tear apart your on-line carcass. If it’s crappy, they will. And, don’t softball reviews if you really aren’t feeling it. Otherwise the pieces will come across as tepid. Just write what you see. Also, if you see a show you really, really like, don’t pretend you hate it and don’t mute your thoughts for the sake of coolness. Let your adoration shine through.

I was surprised when people picked up my reviews criticizing the Playboy Club and Prime Suspect. I expected someone would lambast me on livejournal instead as hating all shows with female leads. I was doubly surprised when people picked up my reviews lauding Haven  and Grimm. After watching Haven’s season one and two finales, I just HAD to display my blogger-esque joy. Surprisingly, consulting producer Charles Ardai and star Emily Rose came across my season one and two posts respectively and responded to/re-teweeted them. The same went for Grimm’s pilot with producer Sean Hayes (who I LOVE).

So, it just goes to show you, future An, being honest has its own rewards.

Use fewer words. 

When I started writing for CliqueClack, I simultaneously started writing my dissertation. I had to wrestle with my committee to turn in a dissertation under 250 pages. Yet, in that “English” state of mind, I started writing dissertation-length reviews which took me forever to write and proofread. Eventually, I realized it’s okay not to include everything.  When I finally stopped writing the kitchen sink, the household plumbing, and the upstairs bathroom into my reviews, my posts looked crisper and more direct.

So, to future An, relax. You don’t need to write War and Peace’s on-line alternative or the sequel to Coriolanus.

The interview isn’t about you.

The one thing I love about CliqueClack is the ability to interview my favorite writers, actors, producers and/or directors. However, a short interview is very different from a long interview. With a short interview, you’re trying to get information about the show and aren’t necessarily trying to connect to the talent.

My favorite interviews included talking to former English majors like Charles Ardai and Trevor Munson, because they were lengthy and we shared similar backgrounds. But, not all experiences are like that.

If you have fifteen minutes or less, you aren’t there to share your views on world peace or your favorite taffy. You’re there to get the star’s thoughts. I’m still pissed with myself when I think about New York Comic Con. While interviewing Shane West, the press agent informed us the interview would end shortly. Luckily, Shane agreed to answer one final question for me. In the middle of his answer, I said “I agree with you.” Unfortunately, the minute I said that the press agent appeared to escort Shane to his signing. I kept thinking what if I hadn’t said, “I agree with you”? I probably would’ve gotten ALL of his final thought, not just part of it.

So, future An, remember to keep responses to a minimum when time is concerned.

Always be prepared.

When I went to NYCC, I packed my voice recorder, notebook, nook color, and extra batteries. I cleared my camera’s flash card and charged my phone to serve as a back up voice recorder and camera. I also brought along an extra charger for my nook.

Despite copious preparations, by the end of the day, my phone had run of juice, my camera had run out of space and my voice recorder stopped working. Unfortunately, it all happened during my last interview of the day.  Fortunately, I noticed in time and took copious notes.

However, for fear of it happening again, I have since upgraded to a FAR larger GB card for my camera (8 from 4). And, might bring an additional card as back up. Also, rather than let my camera do double duty as a camera and camcorder, I purchased a Sony bloggie to serve as a separate video recording device. I am seriously contemplating purchasing another voice recorder, as backup for my backup.

To future, An, when you think you’re prepared, you aren’t. While you can’t prepare for everything, in the words of the Mars family, “always take Backup” (for your backup)!

What you think you sound like, isn’t what you actually sound like.

When interviewing actors, what you think you sound like probably isn’t what you sound like. For the most part, I do; but, this year, I didn’t. When interviewing Shane West, I thought I sounded like a giggly school girl. Come on, he’s hella hot with wavy brown hair, melty hazel brown eyes, and a kickass chiseled jaw. I have respected him since Once and Again. When he sat beside me at the press table, I literally could not look at him. However, when I played back the video’s audio, I surprisingly sounded absolutely calm and non-stalker-like.

In contrast, when I interviewed Giancarlo Volpe, one of the Green Lantern: Animated Series producers, I thought we had a great conversation with witty back-and-forths. But, when I re-played the Volpe audio, I sounded like an uber-fangirl on crack.

Honestly, I have no advice to you on that, future An, save … wasn’t the Green Lantern:TAS fun and doesn’t Shane West look pretty in sweaters?

Dragon sucks.

OK. That’s a lie. Dragon rocks … when I do direct dictation. However, whenever I voice record my notes and attempt to use Dragon’s auto transcription, I typically get gobbledy-gook. I purchased Dragon because I have carpal tunnel and, I secretly hoped it would transcribe my interviews without getting a CC intern (aka my cat). Alas, that’s not the case. So, I am doomed to re-play interviews with my favorite actors over and over again until I finish fully transcribing them, which isn’t all that bad. So, to future An, take advantage of multimedia wherever possible. After all, it is the future.

Don’t name drop. Your friends really don’t care what you do.

The main perk for writing with CliqueClack is meeting actors, directors , writers, cast, crew and PR people involved with shows you respect. But, at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter when NO ONE in your family or immediate social circle watches that much TV. I would love to drop that I had the opportunity to listen in on a Grimm or Community conference call, except NO ONE cares. At the same time, that’s also what I like about CC. We’re all TV savvy, but no one really name drops, despite getting to meet various actors in person. It’s all fairly, well … professional. I know that’s boring. But, honestly, sometimes I just want to call someone up and squee, “Ohmigosh! I just talked to Silas Weir Mitchell!” and not have my family respond, “Who?”

So, to future An, be grateful to the friends and family who just don’t give a kitty. It’ll keep you grounded.

Give up. You can never write more than Aryeh.

When I started writing for CliqueClack, I thought I’d hit 200 posts easily by the end of my first year. Then, I looked at Aryeh’s post count and tried to calculate how long it would take me to reach his number, if he literally stopped entering posts at that moment for at least two years. Well … here I am two years later, still trolling in the late hundreds while Aryeh has ALREADY surpassed post 1000.

So, future An, give up. Don’t try. Aryeh has tiny trolls that write for him in his sleep. Just write when you can and you’ll be happier for it.

Never mention Wonder Woman. Ever.

Seriously, if you want to see an epic re-enactment of Harry Potter vs. Voldemort  (seriously, watch this) or Jets vs. Sharks or Kirk vs. the Gorn or Trekkies vs. Trekkers or Luke vs. Darth then just drop the dreaded WW phrase in the CC caverns. In an instant, Katie and I will hop to one side, Michael and Ivey to another while Carla throws up her hands, Keith and Debbie quietly shake their heads and new guys Dan and Jeremy silently cower in the corner. I met Bob and Keith for the first time a couple weeks ago. I was fairly certain throughout the entire dinner they kept praying ‘pleasedonotmentionwonderwomanpleasedonotmentionwonderwomanpleasedonotmentionwonderwoman PLEASEDONOTMENTIONWONDERWOMAN.’

So, to future An, if you ever meet Ivey or Michael in person, DO NOT give them a Wonder Woman style beatdown while wearing a strapless bustier. And, if they attempt to bait you … well, just report them to the Anti-Woman-as-Floatation-Device-in-Comics League (I googled and this is what appeared). Honestly, I don’t think CliqueClack can handle WWIII (Wonder Woman Debate part one hundred and eleven).