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JANE ESPENSON

| 06.09.2006 |

Former writer for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", Jane Espenson has written episodes for shows including: "Angel", "Firefly", "Gilmore Girls", "Ellen", "The O.C.", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", "Dinosaurs", "Jake in Progress" and others. She is currently working under a development deal with NBC/Universal television.

Jane is also the co-executive producer of "The Inside", "Tru Calling", "Buffy", "Gilmore Girls" and "Jake in Progress".

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Marilyn: Hello Jane. First of all, thank you very much for being part of our festival.

Jane Espenson: Hi.

Marilyn: You have written many episodes for "Buffy". What do you think about Tara Maclay's development compared to the other characters?

JE: Tara joined our little ensemble late in the process, but the character actually developed a lot over a short time.   She began as a very shy and withdrawn girl -- more Willow than Willow, and turned into someone much more strong and confident.  It was a wonderful arc.   And the audience accepted her as Willow's love, which was so necessary to make her death the powerful blow it turned out to be.

Marilyn: According to you, do you think that Tara was the kind of girl Willow was in the first seasons of the show. She was lacking in confidence, shy and insecure. Or do you think that they were totally different?
 
JE: Well, I see I've already answered this.  There were certainly similarities between the two.  But, obviously, there were differences too.  Willow always had a bit of a "cutely snarky" side, that we rarely saw from Tara.  When Tara attempted it (as when she refered to the Aprilbot as practically having "made in Taiwan" stamped on her butt)*, she always seemed like she was trying to push herself out of her shell, while Willow, in a similar situation, would have read as someone letting their true self peek out.
* S5#15 - I was made to love you - "TARA: Well, she practically had "Genuine Molded Plastic" stamped on her ass. (...) Just ... tryin' a little spicy talk."

Marilyn: If you have a magic wand, would you re-write Tara's story in order to let her live? Or do you think that there was no getting away from her death?
 
JE: Tara's death was inevitable.  It completed Willow's dangerous flirtation with magic that had begun long earlier.  Story-wise, it was very effective -- you can tell because it aches.

Marilyn: What do you think about Amber as Tara?
 
JE: I can't imagine anyone else as Tara.  It was a very tricky thing we were asking the audience to accept.  Many actresses would've alienated the audience in this role.  Amber endeared them.  Fantastic!

Marilyn: Could you say a few words about Amber?
 
JE: Amber is one of those people whose talents have been revealed to me gradually.  I knew her to be an excellent actress.  Then I learned she was a filmmaker.  Amber is amazing and she's going to be a force to be reckoned with for a very long time.  Go Amber!

Marilyn: And as a "Guest fan" of the festival? 
 
JE: A fan of Amber is a fan of more than a beautiful face.  You've chosen a young woman of substance and accomplishment to admire.  I always speak well of her.  And your choice speaks well of you.

Marilyn: What about your current and future projects?
 
JE: I am currently just entering into a development deal with NUTS (NBC/Universal Television).  I will be working on shows that they produce and also developing pilots with them, and I'm very excited about it.  I am already involved in writing an episode of Battlestar Galactica for them, and hope to work on one of their up-coming comedy series.  I also recently co-wrote the two-part season ender of "The Batman" with Doug Petrie.

Thank you so much Jane for everything.

Tomorrow, read Jane Espenson's point of view about Amber as Allison Davis in the episode "The Perfect Couple" ("The Inside").

Official website:

JaneEspenson.com

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