ANGEL—
PP: Well, let’s move on to Angel. This show gave you your start in the biz, is that right?
BC: Yes, in a way. Daniel Pass, wonderful soul, created Angel Season Six, which was a continuation of the end of Season 5 that was aired on TV. His intention was to write Season 6 for a more suitable ending. But, partway through the season Daniel became bogged down by other things in his life and couldn’t keep up with the series by himself, and was just going to end it with something like 8 episodes.
PP: But that’s not what happened.
BC: Exactly. He put out a writers call, and a few of us applied, including myself, Jenn Stickwood, and Emma Hayden. He recruited the three of us to help him write the rest of the season. We were all just beginning. I mean, I’m sure we had written something before, but personally, I hadn’t written anything along those lines. A script I mean. I had never written in that form before. It was actually very daunting.
PP: The end results were quite entertaining.
BC: Thanks. We all worked really hard to achieve a goal, and I think we pretty much got there.
PP: So, in a way, Daniel Pass gave all of you your start.
BC: Yes. If I remember correctly Emma dropped out of the list of writers for Season 6 to pursue her own interests, which was probably thinking up and creating what was then VTV. Jenn and I stuck around though.
PP: You wrote four episodes last season.
BC: Yes, I wrote four, Jenn wrote one. I think Jenn was still finding her way to her creative and talented-ness. She’s amazing now, and I know Daniel, and I, both saw that back then as well.
PP: So tell us how Season 7 came to be.
BC: Well, like I mentioned earlier Daniel intended his season to be the last, and it wasn’t going to be like a virtual series. Just a one shot deal. But I saw something more there. Potential. And truthfully I thought that his ending left people hanging just like the original series ending did. So I decided to continue it.
PP: That seems like a daunting and scary task.
BC: More like terrifying. I wanted to plan another season, but I knew that I needed to get some other writing under my belt, so I created a summer miniseries. The ideas were there, but my writing was a little weak. But I think it went over fairly well.
PP: Then came Season 7.
BC: Right. And that’s progressing pretty nicely.
PP: You’ve had a number of different problems this year. Setbacks. One of the biggest was the passing of Daniel Pass. How did that set you back?
BC: It didn’t really set me back in terms of my writing. Well, I mean, it did somewhat. We stopped in mid January this year and reevaluated our season goal. I think we lost a lot of viewers on our home site, but hopefully that will change when the season airs on VTN.
PP: Daniel wrote an episode of this season, didn’t he?
BC: Yes, he did. He was slated for a few more, but then he passed. We picked up the slack, but he was and still is sorely missed. This was a man who was like my right leg. I threw all my ideas at him and he bounced them back with some of his own, or pointed out plot holes so we could iron out the details. When he wasn’t there anymore, it was like I couldn’t walk on my own. I had to find that right leg again. Half of it is still missing, but I’m hobbling how.
PP: I’d say you’re doing a little better than hobbling.
BC: Well, I picked up a wonderful writer named Dai Ford who helped out a lot with the season, and I started turning to him to bounce ideas off of. He wrote quite a few episodes this season, and really helped out a lot.
PP: So where is Angel headed this year?
BC: Well, right now he’s trying to take down Wolfram & Hart, once again, but the stakes are higher since he crushed the Circle of the Black Thorn two seasons ago, and now a Senior Partner, Mr. Suvarta, has come down to this plane to make sure that revenge is sweet.
PP: Any tidbits that you can give us would be helpful.
BC: (laughs) Always prying for more information. Well, I will at least tell you that this years ending will be shocking, that many will not see it coming, and that the season will end with episode 22.
PP: More with the cryptic you’re famous for.
BC: I think all show creators and writers are famous for it. I can’t help it. I wouldn’t have viewers if I divulged every little detail.
PP: There have been rumors, even statements, by you, that this season will be the last. Is that true?
BC: I’m still not sure at this point. I want to continue, just not right now. I can’t make up my mind. This series is like my home, and I don’t want to let go of it. I’m not as giving as Daniel in that respect—I wouldn’t want someone to take over for Season 8 and then completely nullify everything we have spent two seasons doing. I can’t believe Daniel’s bravery in letting me take over. But then, he had seen some of my earlier work with the episodes I wrote for him.
PP: So basically what your saying is that you’re still not sure but if it does end, you most likely will not let someone else take over?
BC: It largely depends on who that person is, and what they can provide for the series.
PP: Do you have ideas for a Season 8?
BC: Oh, do I?! I surely do. Many of them in fact. Daniel and I came up with some before his passing, so I would love for those to be portrayed. Most likely if there is a Season 8, it will be after Season 7 finishes airing on VTN. And that’s only because I want time to work on Faith.
