BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: ONCE MORE WITH FEELING SCRIPT BOOK. Buffyverse.
Elizabeth Rambo | Vanessa
Knights
Ed. Micol Ostow, with Lisa A. Clancy and Lisa Gribbin. New York: Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), 2002.
Introduction, by Joss Whedon:
Mostly self-satirically humorous, in typical Whedon style—“Yes, gentle reader, this is your chance to gently read all about the trials and triumphs […]” (ix), but also not without its sincere moments:
I was surrounded by such talented folk that anything I could turn out that was even adequate, they could make extraordinary. I mean my cast, of course, but also the crew, the arrangers—all the people interviewed within. […] I loved this show. I love musicals, and whether mine is forgotten in thirty seconds or remembered for minutes to come, I’m proud to have made one. (ix)
Preface: “Going Through the Motions”: Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer…
Exactly what the subtitle promises, the Preface recaps the end of Season Five and beginning of Season Six, up to the point at which “Once More with Feeling” begins.
The script itself follows, title page revealing that this is the third (“pink”) shooting draft, completed on September 21, 2001.
“Life’s a Show”: Musical Terminology from the Script
Includes not only technical definitions for terms such as “harmonies,” “fourth wall,” “melodies,” and “arias,” but also references to particular musicals and musical-numbers such as “That’s Entertainment,” “Lord of the Dance,” “West Side Story,” and “Seventy-Six Trombones.”
“Behind the Scenes”
All about the “making of” the musical episode, including documentation of David Fury’s videotaping of the “behind-the-scenes” documentary, which we are promised will be included in season 6 DVDs (already available in the United Kingdom), and interview commentary from members of the cast and crew. A side-bar in the “Behind the Scenes” chapter explores the parallels between “Once More with Feeling’s musical curse and Hans Christian Anderson’s tale, and the movie (loosely) based on it, “The Red Shoes” (73). Another side-bar explains “Lethe’s Bramble,” also an important ingredient in “All the Way” and “Tabula Rasa” (79).
“Epilogue: Where Do We Go from Here?”
Sums up the remainder of Season Six in two pages.
Eight pages of color photographs from the musical.
Sheet music for all the songs.
Works Cited
“Once More with Feeling”: The Script Book. New York: Simon Pulse, 2002.Biography:
a brief introduction by Joss Whedon
a preface explaining the context of the episode (‘Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer’)
the original shooting script for the musical episode "Once More With Feeling"#6ABB07
a glossary of musical terminology from the script
a behind the scenes look at the process of making the episode that includes:
o
background information on musicalso
how the episode came abouto
commentary from§
composers/music arrangers Chris Beck and Jesse Tobias§
producers Marti Noxon and David Fury (on rehearsals)§
choreographer Adam Shankman§
production designer Carey Meyer§
makeup supervisor Todd McIntosh§
FX designers Joel Harlow and Robert Hall§
costumer Cynthia Bergstrom§
director of photography Ray Stellaa summary of and excerpt from Hans Christian Andersen’s children’s story "The Red Shoes", which is referred to in the script
information on Lethe’s bramble, the ingredient used by Willow in the spell to make Tara forget their fight over Willow’s growing abuse of magic
commentary on the songs and performances from Whedon, Fury, Beck, Noxon and Tobias
an epilogue detailing the rest of Season Six
stills from the episode complete with quotes
design sketches for Sweet
the Season Six cast photo
sheet music for the songs
As with the CD and poster for this episode, the artwork is by comic book legend Adam Hughes. Curiously on the back of the cover the episode is erroneously referred to as "Becoming, Park One" and "Becoming, Part Two".