AMBER BENSON: SLAYING WITH SHADOWS

[raul grau]

<A HREF="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/mugshots/amber_benson.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/mugshots/amber_benson.jpg" hspace=10 ALIGN="LEFT" ALT="Amber Benson"></A><i>By Remy Minnick, Comixfan Staff Writer</i>

Amber Benson may be best known as Tara Maclay on Joss Whedon's hit TV series <b>Buffy The Vampire Slayer</b>, but her talent does not stop there. She's written comics for Dark Horse, and co-created <b>Ghosts of Albion</b> alongside Christopher Golden for the BBC. She went on to star in the independent film <b>Chance</b>, which she not only wrote but directed and produced. Comixfan caught up with Amber Benson as she added another comic book series to her resume, <b><i>ShadowPlay</b></i> for IDW.

<b>Comixfan:</b> You've worked in television, animation, movies and comic books. What about the medium of comic books has kept you coming back to do more work in it? Do comic books offer you anything creatively that you are not able to do in another medium?

<b>Amber Benson:</b> The reason I’ve come back to comics is because it’s become the only place that I have true autonomy. This may not be the case for every writer, but for me I have had the most freedom in the comic world. And that is an extremely appealing thing.

<b>Comixfan:</b> Your first comic work was doing <b><i>Willow and Tara: Wannablessedbe</b></i> for Dark Horse comics. What have you learned about writing comics since then?

<b>Benson:</b> I was lucky enough to work with Chris Golden on my first few forays into the Comic World. He’s an amazing teacher and friend who has helped me to become-I hope- a better writer. He made sure that I didn’t mess anything up too badly on the Willow and Tara stuff. Now that I’m doing work on my own, I just try and write what I’d like to read and leave it at that.

<b>Comixfan:</b> How did you get involved with IDW, and what interested you the most about doing <b><i>ShadowPlay</b></i>?

<b>Benson:</b> I actually got involved with IDW through a friend, Steve Niles. <b><i>Shadowplay</b></i> was originally supposed to be for his <b><i>Bloodsucker Tales</b></i> series, but there were some changes and we ended up creating something original for IDW instead.

<b>Comixfan:</b> Ashley Wood came up with the title for the mini-series, but what does <b><i>ShadowPlay</b></i> mean to you?

<A HREF="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/idw/shadowplay1templesmitha.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/idw/shadowplay1templesmithat.jpg" WIDTH="100" HEIGHT="150" hspace=10 ALIGN="RIGHT" ALT="ShadowPlay #1"></A><b>Benson:</b> Shadowplay… the quiet desperation played out by all the odd little creatures that exist in the shadow of our own reality

<b>Comixfan:</b> Each issue of <b><i>ShadowPlay</b></i> contains two separate storyline, one by you and one by Christina Z. What is your story about?

<b>Benson:</b> <b><i>Demon Father John’s Pinwheel Blues</b></i> is about…well, if Oliver Twist and a vampire mated this would be their cuddly little baby.

<b>Comixfan:</b> What has it been like working with Ben Templesmith?

<b>Benson:</b> Ben is an amazingly gifted artist. It’s been such an honor to get to work with him. He brings my little world to life in incredible detail, rendering my ideas so beautifully. The stuff looks absolutely gorgeous.

<b>Comixfan:</b> You are currently filming in Romania. What project are you working on, and how is it going?

<b>Benson:</b> I’m making a film for the Sci-Fi channel called <b>Gryphon</b> in Romania as we speak. I get to be a warrior princess and kick a little ass. If only they knew the real, clutzy me, they’d have never let her near the sword and the cross bow and the horses.

<b>Comixfan:</b> In any medium, what do you find to be the biggest strength of your writing and what do you think a good story needs to capture today's audience?

<b>Benson:</b> It’s taken me a long time to realize that the only person you can ever creatively please is yourself. Now I strive to create things that move me, things that I would enjoy reading. Then it ceases to matter what anyone else thinks about your work. You can only do what is inside you and you must learn to never second guess yourself. Yes, other people’s input can be helpful, but your must follow your own instinct and do what you think best suites your creative endeavor. A good story can encompass the life span of a single tear or the epic history of an entire civilization… The writer has to create a story that has a unique voice, that’s all.

<b>Comixfan:</b> You've worked with Christopher Golden on <b>Ghosts of Albion</b> for the BBC, what was that experience like and is there more <b>Ghosts of Albion</b> to come? How does directing an animated series vary from directing live action?

<A HREF="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/idw/shadowplay1templesmithb.jpg" TARGET="_blank"><IMG SRC="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/idw/shadowplay1templesmithbt.jpg" WIDTH="100" HEIGHT="150" hspace=10 ALIGN="LEFT" ALT="ShadowPlay #1"></A><b>Benson:</b> Chris and I just completed a novel based on the GOA universe for Del Rey which will be coming out the beginning of November. Creating that series for the BBC was really invigorating. We got to create a whole new world, and then see it come to life in half the time it would take in film or television. I actually directed the first animated installment, which meant that I was in charge of creating the soundtrack for the piece. I worked with the actors and created the soundscape – music, sound effects, etc. The whole thing wa a wonderful experience. But it didn’t differ that much from live action directing, as I was still working on a one on one basis with the actors.

<b>Comixfan:</b> What other projects do Amber Benson fans have to look forward to?

<b>Benson:</b> I’ve got the <b>Ghosts of Albion: Accursed</b> coming out from Del Rey in November, I've got <b><i>Shadowplay</b></i> in October, and three movies hopefully coming out next year, as well as <b>Gryphon</b> for the Sci-Fi Channel. I’ve been a pretty busy girl this year.

[Maclay]

I'll probably miss Gryphon. Blast my living in another country.

I've never been disappointed by any of Amber's work, and she never ceases to amaze me.

I guess I'm a fanboy.

[Keithius]

she's wicked. her stuff is pretty good and everyone should give it a shot before they knock it down!

[Alan Lynch]

Ghosts of Albion was quite smart. Took a bit of getting used to, but I was quietly impressed. The lady has talent.

[Andrew Stoneham]

MMMMM..ShadowPlay sounds interesting I think I'll give it a shot!

[Rictor]

She's a talented one alright. Ive been mightily impressed with what Ive seen so far, so ill be sure to look out for all amber-related goodies in the future.

She was also very sweet in Buffy too and MAN,, can that girl sing!?!?!?!?!

[Adelfi]

Indeed, she was the only girl on the show who could actually sing.

[Rian Singh]

She was my favourite. Definitely following her.

[Steven Paul]

You know, I'm not the biggest fan of her as an actress. But as a writer imo she rocks.