Edgar Wright on aging alongside your characters

Great new interview of Edgar Wright on KCRW's "The Treatment."

The interview covers one of the Rabbit's favorite themes in comedic creativity: how to address the fears and challenges of getting older?

During the interview, Wright discusses how the characters that he has created through the years, along with his partners Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes, have each been age-specific. In other words, when the group was in their 20s, during the creation of "Spaced", they wrote about themes such as finding a career path, exploring new identities, struggling for integrity and understanding their own emotions. As they moved towards 30, with "Shaun of the Dead," they started to address the great questions of that decade: how long one should wait before truly taking action? When should you get on with your life? And do you have to wait until zombies attack your town to answer these questions?

With their third collaboration, "Hot Fuzz", the team started to address the issues that one faces after already excelling in a particular field. The lead character is old enough to actually know who he is and what he is good at -- but he is held back the classic bugaboos of encroaching middle age: small-minded superiors and backwoods boredom.

Happily, Wright says that the team is working on a fourth project which will deal with the biggest threat of middle age and beyond: the gross dangers of attempting to relive the glories of one's youth. That could be the best one yet.

You can hear the interview here.

Dreams to Do Come True

Very busy at work at the moment, so not much time to write today. Just dropping by to say that a small dream of mine came true today -- found a clip that somehow magically features both Keith Olbermann and Simon Pegg. (Pegg in the U.S. this week to promote the U.S. release of "Spaced" on Region 1 DVD -- so we can all fall in love with it again. Now if only Amazon would deliver *my* copy . . .)

Anyway -- I'll be back soon. Till then, here 'tis:

"Spaced" Region 1 DVD Release and Simon Pegg at Comicon

When did Comicon become the place to be if you are a comedy nerd who never reads comic books?

I haven't read a comic book since age 8, but I'm certainly dreaming that I could be there now. For starters, Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright and Jessica Hynes be will be on hand to discuss and screen episodes from the brilliant and charming 1999 series "Spaced". I adore that series and could watch it over and over again. The script is quick and clever and it manages to be a sweet, warm, timeless friendship story while also remaining a perfect period piece -- a memory of happier times for those of who came of age during the 90s. Above all, it does a wonderful job of exploring how difficult it is to find your creative voice in your youth and how tricky it is to sort out the feelings of love and devotion that seem to sneak up on you without warning when you spend time with someone who just "gets" you. It reminds me a bit of the original Office in its exploration of that latter theme (even though the Office explored it from the view of folks who happen to share an job space rather than individuals who are forced, by economic circumstances, to share a flat). As I think about it, it is an especially impressive feat when you consider how many other shows over time have done a horrifyingly corny job of exploring the "mismatched roomies thrown together in wacky circumstances" meme.

In happier news for those Yank Britcom fans who can't be in San Diego this weekend, "Spaced" was just released in Region 1 DVD! Yippee!! You'll have to buy it, of course, because it has new material that your old copy doesn't have including, as per Amazon, " . . . everything Spaced's fervent following would demand. Each episode is complemented by the original commentaries as well as newly-recorded gabfests that also feature American friends of the show, including Kevin Smith, Patton Oswalt, Quentin Taratinto, Matt Stone, Diablo Cody, and Bill Hader. There are deleted scenes and outtakes, and, best of all, an hour-long 2007 Q&A with Wright and the cast, in which Pegg allows that, had there been a third series (and we can still dream), it would have provided viewers hoping that Tim and Daisy would ultimately get together with "a moment to make every hair of your body stand on end." You will see such a moment if you "skip to the end" of the essential near two-hour series retrospective." Oh, really? When can I see this?!?!?

But loyal fans should def hold on to your original Region 2 copy if you want to maintain your Nerd cred.

Note: Demand was apparently grossly underestimated by Amazon staff as they are already sold out and if you order today you'll have to wait a bit before they can send you a copy. But that only builds the sweet anticipation, doesn't it?

Back to Tim and Daisy dream land.

xoxo, Rabbit