What is the deal with Mark Mars?

As far as his scriptwriting... do I even need to defend that, here? If you are a fan of this show it's likely you appreciated the episodes he contributed to and co-wrote.

Aeon Flux DVD release on Tuesday!

(His comments are) "...seemingly demonstrative of a fundamental lack of understanding of the show itself"-- Well, since you understand the show so well, why are you bothering listening to the commentaries?

"I'm just sort of fascinated that such an intelligent show would employ someone like this..." From what I'm told, the show doesn't attempt to make any sense. That is the source of its brilliance.

I will say that his commentaries on the DVD are maybe ironic to a fault. Like his occasional posts...

Peter and the Aeon Flux movie

(Oh-- and mine.)

My opinion hasn't really changed, but I definitely have reconsidered my approach to voicing it, so apologies to anyone I offended here, particularly Messrs. Chung and Mars.

On the other hand, studios may favor those with middling abilities but who won't ruffle feathers in meetings with executives.

I've known Mark since 1980, when we met at CalArts. Unlike some of the seasoned Hollywood writers we tried, he didn't feel uneasy about the how the show was something so "personal". He not only truly understood Aeon's character, he endowed her with traits and speech which matched the sinewy dexterity of her movements and physical appearance.

Her caustic, condescending, yet irresistible seduction of Onan.
Her chastisement of Trevor in Claudius' body chamber.
"The stars in your eyes, they're stolen."
"You can't give it, can't even buy it, and you just don't get it."
Aeon's V.O. in the Deviant Devices section of the dvd. (For which the images do not always match, unfortunately)
Large sections of the Herodotus File.*
An entire script on spec for a second season that never happened.

...I could go on, but we'd be here all day.

*I have to say that Japhet Asher and Peter Gaffney were mostly responsible (and mostly uncredited) for the book's coherence, structure and historical arc. Gaffney wrote the great climactic showdown.

That's very well put Peter. I've always wondered about the inner workings of a production and the personalities involved. I've met plenty of eccentric artists, as I'm sure everyone has. I've always marveled that the Pope hired Michelangelo, who was homosexual and in love with the model he used for his statue of David. How is it the churchgoing public back then accepted that David was in the buff? How well did that go over? Wasn't that supposed to be 'an intelligent show employing someone'? He clearly didn't fit into the Catholic plot.

Good work is good work. Mark once wrote a great little scenario on our forum. A scene of a parade of Breens marching before Chairman Goodchild . It painted a vivid and powerful image of a grey faschist morning in Bregna, and I still see it in my mind as if I watched hidden from some skyscraping cement Bregnan birds nest. I felt I became part of Aeon Flux's world it was so 'real'.

If I can find it again and put it here I will. I think you would be impressed.

Have I been into this show too long?

We should all weep for the past.

I have looked for that great little piece of literature you wrote on our forum when you first came to us and can't find it, you don't remember where you posted that do you? The old forum is half deleted and in disaray. It looks like a war zone.

Anyway, I have just gotten back from a long vacation and have not yet finished unpacking. Which is why I've been remiss in posting.

And thenI'm going to go get drunk...

Lol, I wondered the same thing when I first saw and heard him on the DVD.
Not as in "whats the deal, he's not talented",
but "whats the deal, this guy is nuts"!
:)

He looks and acts like some kind of biker/rocker guy, not what I expected at all. I've known a few biker type guys that were into sci-fi and creative stuff back in the 70's, but they seemed kinda rare and I haven't known one since my youth in berkeley. John Shirley is another Rock and Roll sci-fi writer, so apparently they do still exist. Now I wonder if Mars had a hand in lending a subversive "punk" feel to the series, especially in the long episodes.

I'll admit I also have a hard time following where exactly he's going in some of his posts and commentaries. But they don't sound like HE doesn't know what he's talking about, I'M just not always sure what he's talking about. And doesn't that actually make him perfect for the series anyway.

His commentary for the purge was also really funny. He must be a blast to hang around, if a bit intense.

He is the male AEON

Thanks for posting, Jennifer.
You'll find all you'd want to know (and much that you didn't) relating to Aeon Flux right here.

You can still read the original, now inactive AF forum at:
(Start from the bottom and work your way up)
http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a.tcl?topic=Aeon%20Flux

Mark and I post here regularly. Still confused? Ask away.