And another slightly silly question

[eretria]

DVD commentaries on stories.

I've seen several people do them. Really, all the cool kids do it.  And Auburn always said that there should be one on Fates, because, oh my god, the stories we could tell.

The question now: How? How do you do it? What should be in, what shouldn't be? Do you just pick certain scenes and give background informations on how they came to be? Do you post cut scenes? Do you post before and after scenes - meaning how one scene looked before and after the beta? Conversations you had about the story?

More? Less? Is there a certain format required? How long should it be?

(Keeping this unlocked because I'm curious)

Comments

[enname.livejournal.com]

I think the general idea is not so much to post before/after betaing, but to relate the conversations behind the story/scene, the motivation and ideas. The meta. Also to give any outtakes/alternate sections that are lolling around and may be of interest. To answer any questions and themes of discussion that sprang up from comments on the story. You know, when you actually look at a DVD commentary there is the stuff that is all about the technical side of things, character insights, outtakes, episode commentaries (not all sections but the most popular/contentious), problems. You've already given us more than one sountrack.
As for how long? No idea. How long do you have to spare for us? Personally I'd say the more the merrier, but that depends on time and material.
Some of the layouts I have seen are discussion interspersed through the text itself (different coloured font) in relevant sections, footnotes, endnotes, separate documents recounting things, meta ... I am not sure what would work best with something as long as Three Fates though. Perhaps breaking things into either the three timlines, the fates (ends), character studies, individual scene analysis .... we know some of them are named. (Creme brulee)

[eretria.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Something to think about. You're right, I actually shudder to start on Fates, because there is just so much that went on behind the scenes. I mean, we started this in July 2005 (I should probably post the scene I wrote that started it all - it was changed beyond recognition and never really made it into the final version, but, oh, it's so amusing to see it now). And finished in February 2006. And we sometimes wrote up to 20 e-mails a day. There are possibly over 600 e-mails just about Fates. Wading through them will be ... interesting.

[enname.livejournal.com]

Jesus, 600 emails? You and auburnnothenna obviously rule the world. I think you have enough there for a 'Making of' documentary, not just a DVD commentary. *hands you a life rope*
Fates is huge and not just because of word count. It is huge in ideas, in plotting, in characterisation and OCs. What did I say to someone the other day? It is in a small package, but huge like a star that has collapsed in on itself.
It would not only be interesting to see the workings, but it is a way to get more of the story without actually forcing you guys to write from scratch. Heh, fandom within fandom, within fanfic.
I am not sure you could actually run a DVD commentary through the story itself though, because we would need to sit down and read it again. Not that this is a problem, but it is distracting from the story. You've already got fanart from amezri and the soundtracks, maybe you could keep doing it in that vein? Separate posts for different part of the DVD commentary?
Or something. You may also wanna go small and just keep it simple.

[eretria.livejournal.com]

You may also wanna go small and just keep it simple.

*whimpers* Yeah. Definitely. Because if I look at the whole thing, I'm inclined to throw up my hands and run screaming.

(The star collapsing comment? You're insane. *smooches you*)

[enname.livejournal.com]

Maybe pick a few parts that caused discussion then? Or that you and Auburn had fun discussing? Or do a gensis of Fates/outtake version? I think in the comments to the story there are a few places where Auburn said you'd deal/describe more in the commentary.

*smooch back*
Way tired, possibly insane, but nonetheless right. :P

[eretria.livejournal.com]

You know, just for the first couple of e-mails (from June to July) I'm already looking at 10 pages. :o)

[enname.livejournal.com]

You didn't actually plan on going out for the month of June did you?
:P

[tinny]

I really liked how synecdochic did hers for Freedom's just another word:

http://synecdochic.livejournal.com/62080.html

I assume it's easiest, too, because you can glide along on the story and just insert your comments into the flow.

There's no reason against just cutting out pieces you have nothing to say on, either, of course. In case you're worried it will get too long. :)

p.s.: Yay, commentary would rock.

[eretria.livejournal.com]

Oh, god. Do you have any idea how big the file would get or how long it would take to do something exactly like that for Fates? *whimpers*

[auburnnothenna.livejournal.com]

I ain't doin' it, I tells ya! I ain't!

Ah, with that disclaimer out of the way. I loved the way synecdochic did her commentary, but I think it would be overkill for Fates. What about a separate document with links imbedded to the relevant sections of Fates? Then a click back link at the end of the section under discussion?

Excerpts from the emails, some cut or violently rewritten scenes?

Someone might be interested to see the stuff that was radically changed toward the end of part two.

We might mention nearly giving rez_lo a mental breakdown with our intransigence, too.

Wait, what 'we', kemosabe? You, you, you!

[tinny]

Well, yeah. :)

I actually thought it might be a simple way to do it, though. You don't have to think about structure much. It doesn't mean you have to insert your thoughts into every paragraph like she did.

But the way you're planning it, with alternate versions, would require a different format anyway. I'm looking forward to what you'll come up with in any case.

[kyizi.livejournal.com]

I have to be honest and say that I'm lost! *hides* can I be curious and ask what you're meaning?

[eretria.livejournal.com]

You know the commentaries actors and directors do on movies? Imagine something like that for a story. :o)

[kyizi.livejournal.com]

Ooh, fantastic! Excellent *g* I figured it might be similar, but didn't want to sound totally thick! Opted for completely clueless instead ;)

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

*reads* I've wondered myself.

Hey, I have the next part of Out Of Bounds available for monanotlisa (and possibly another, because nothing says "write fanfic!" than having a pile of work to avoid). If you're sending over a care package.

Icarus