Hi {name},

Assembling this July's MUSEletter. has been something else! I've been working on all these different little endeavors while at-the-same-time trying to refine and expand on what I do here, every second Tuesday. But First –

How are you?

Drop me an update, I'd like to know how you're holding up over the Summer. Until then; let me start this thing...

• • Go Doggo!
  • Q&A with The Sandman cast
  • EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK!
  • Cool Stuff Dept.

July began with the surprise invitation to a preview with Q&A for The Sandman season 2. You may recall my lamenting a recent break from writing movie reviews (not one MCU movie yet this year) so I had to accept this special invite. This event was different than the typical preview screening, and not just because of a Q&A with stars; it was a virtual event. I could participate at home. Considering the timing of this missive, the 24 hour head-start demanded a different kind of write-up entirely. If you were thinking of watching it you've probably started, it premiered on Netflix on the 3rd. So if you'd like to read my first impressions, you can find that on my blog.

Below you'll find an excerpt from my write-up of our Q&A instead. It featured actors Tom Sturridge (Dream) and Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Death)as well as writer/showrunner Allan Heinberg. It was moderated by *Aaron Sagers.

What was your experience of fan reaction?

Alan Heinberg: I am not on social media, so I've sort of been sheltered from a lot of it. But what the nice people at Netflix tell me is that the fans really liked season one, and it made my job more joyful in many ways, knowing that there were people who were getting what we were doing, because the show is so unique and so odd and so - I don't know.

Kirby Howell-Baptiste: Yeah, I think we've always said that the fans are an integral part of this show. And after Season One, people know this material so well, there were, essentially calls for certain episodes, people had their favorites they would love to see and particularly knowing it was wrapping up, it was like - "I'd love to see this, and I'd love to see that." What's really been beautiful for me is it feels like a lot of the stories fans asked for, we are bringing in this season, and that feels really, really satisfying. I think it's a unique show, it feels like a two way conversation with the fans. Yeah, and Tom, you especially, you had no easy task bringing this character to life. But what was your thought?

Tom Sturridge: You know, the extraordinary thing after it came out was, was just meeting people in the flesh, people who care about The Sandman as much as I do, and who loved it. The kind of the cross section of humanity who loves this story is amazing, and you know, it's a privilege to be able to tell it, and that people who you know feel represented within it.

How do you adapt the remainder of the comic series into a single season?

Alan Heinberg: We started the season two writers room right after we wrapped season one, and the version of the show that we developed with the writers was very different. Then once the information came in from the season one premiere, there was sort of a mandate to make it less the anthology series that the comic was, and to drill down deeper into Dream's [the character] story. It allowed us to tell the rest of Dream's story in season two. So the build of season two changed radically after the premiere of season one.

So it actually was a way to look at the comics, which are, you know, they're dense, it is a sprawling epic – and really distill the essence. What is Dream's story? How do you make all of these successive graphic novels into one arc? And I think that has really helped us hone all of the stories. And I feel like you're always, I don't know how you feel about it, Tom, but it did feel very much like we were taking Dream from one place at the beginning of the season to the very end, and it is all one story, in a way that imakes the ending feel awesome.

Tom Sturridge: It's difficult to, kind of distill the things I was excited about. I mean, this is a season which goes from ancient Greece to the land of the fairies to William Shakespeare every day. That was something utterly beguiling to live through and describe. It's hugely emotional and I think the comic is really all over the show. You know, it ran for 10 years, so there were a lot of protagonists in it, and just staying with Dream's story and his interiority and emotional journey allowed us to go really deep in ways that we couldn't have if we were going to proceed with the original plan for season two.

*Sagers uses the title Paranormal Journalist, (a pro-level-nerd? geek? I need to know more) his bio includes expert knowledge in the topics of pop culture, travel, paranormal history, folklore, and tiki cocktail culture. He has researched and presented on topics such as, but not limited to, the “1939: The Year of the Batman,” “The History of Mars in Pop Culture,” "History of Paranormal in Pop Culture," "Truth And Fiction Behind Curses In Pop Culture," "Marvel & DC Movie-verses," "Zombies In The Media," "A Decade of Zombies: 2004-2014."

He sounds like he'd be fun to talk to.

I really ought to set some time aside to write out how this thing I've been working on fits into my timeline of projects, but this isn't that. Instead, it's a first look specifically for Wulin compatriots who receive these missives. The project is still in beta-testing, but for those whose work might fit in this description, click for more –

So what's Wulin? 

Wulin (武林 martial forest) refers to the subculture of the martial arts community, both in fiction and real-life Chinese martial arts. 

I need more stuff for my Cool Stuff Department. Are you working on something cool? I bet you are -  tell me about it, so I can add it here.

I'll keep my goodbye brief, this time around...

–BEST!
PLUGO