Once Upon a Time... Is Now/Issues 025-026
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Once Upon a Time... Is Now (Out-In, Out/In, Out...In) |
| Publisher: | |
| Editor(s): | Jeanne Cloud and Joyce DeBoard (issues #1-#27), Jeanne Cloud, Loreen Vanderkrats, and Linda Lakin (issues #27-#33 -- tho perhaps as far as #45), Jeanne Cloud and Loreen Vanderkrats (issues #46-#60 -- tho perhaps as early as #34) |
| Type: | letterzine |
| Date(s): | 1988 to 1996 |
| Frequency: | sometimes monthly, sometimes bi-monthly, at the end much more infrequent |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | digest-sized |
| Fandom: | Beauty and the Beast (TV) |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Once Upon a Time... Is Now (Out-In, Out/In, Out...In) is a Beauty and the Beast letterzine. It is digest-sized.
See List of Letterzines for similar fanworks.
Contents
The zine is a collection of letters from fans (titled "From the Helpers") of the show discussing aspects of the show including the actors, characters, stories, and fanfiction. This zine also contains photos (both xeroxed and original), some original artwork, con reports, open letters, and sometimes clippings and interviews.
Some regular features were: "OK Good...OK Fine" (the editorial), "From the Library" (zine listings), and "On the Pipes" (fan clubs).
There were 60 issues published between 1988 to 1996.
Issue 25
Once Upon a Time... Is Now 25 was published in August 1990 and contains 28 pages.
This issue contains a transcript of an interview with Victor Lobl. This issue also has many photos (many of Victor Lobl) from Tunnel Con.
From the editorial:
Tunnel Con I is over now and I am not sure any of us who went will ever be the same again. I truly have never experienced anything like that in my life. Names and faces were matched and "old" friends were made. The guest stars were wonderful though a bit stunned by the bonding that took place between the fans. I also noticed a lot of healing going on with various ideas presented and accepted with a "Jet's agree to disagree" attitude. If there was any squabbling or disagreements among fans, I didn't hear bout it. All the letters coming in from attendees have been heaped with praise for a job well done by the committee. We would like to join that chorus of voices and add our own CONGRATULATIONS! It was fantastic! If this convention can be topped, I'm not sure I would survive it/ You will be seeing letters in this and future issues about the con and I'll let them tell you the stories. Hope you'll write and share special moments from the weekend so all may experience the magic of that special time.
From the interview with Victor Lobl:
The network, I think, wanted a different feel to the show. It happened to coincide with Linda leaving the show as well. So how we were going to deal with Linda leaving the show was an issue. If the numbers on the show, if everything had been absolutely beautiful, and the network just wanted to go for a pickup, exactly the way the show was and we discovered that Linda w£s pregnant and was not going to be available, then it might have been conceivable that they would have thought seriously about recasting the part. And that conversation did take place theoretically, but I don't think it ever took place with any real serious intent because the network already wanted the show to go in a different direction. So there was an opportunity now to solve several problems at the same time from the network's point of view...The mix was very complex.
Ultimately, I think the real problem that forced this particular solution was that the network felt the show needed more action and adventure. Whether Catherine was there or not there didn't matter. The issue was how do you inject this other thing into the show. So I think in response to the real needs in order to get the show on the air, I think they made the right choice because I don't think they had any other choice. I think they made a fairly interesting stab at it. I don't think it was in the nature of the show or the creative roots mentality to really answer the network's real problem. They tried to do it with a show that I don't think quite fits the bill.
[...]
I felt as though we had lost the show. That last season, I felt we were shooting a different show. I think everybody on the set felt that and a lot of the concern was how do we find that same core within this new context. It was a battle we went through every day. Ron Perlman was desperately trying to find ways to validate what he was going through in references to the previous seasons. It was very tough...
You know, it's Interesting. These things, from the outside, it probably seems that there's much more concrete thought that goes into creating a final solution. Actually, the solution always evolves and very often the people affecting the solution have no idea how we got there. Nobody knows exactly what drove us to that point and might not even know what it is that the solution Is in Itself, we had dialogues after we were already shooting, about to go Into shooting THOUGH LOVERS BE LOST, where we were all talking about the same material and it sounded as though we were talking about five different scripts. There was somebody there who was representing the network's point of view. There was Tony Thomas representing his point of view, Koslow representing his point of view. I'm sitting there listening to all these points of view, trying to figure which show am I going to shoot here. And they're all talking as if it's the same point of view, but it's very different. I know the network wants action. Tony Thomas wants some kind of credible balance between action, and what Ron wants which is basically the same show as the previous year, but he's written a completely different piece
Issue 25: Excerpts from the Letters
I saw Ron Perlman over the weekend in "A Few Good Men" in New York City, and let me tell you his character is as far away from Vincent as you can get. When he said the "F" word the first time, I almost died. I, unlike a lot of my B&B buddies, have a hard time seeing Vincent in Ron. I'd catch a movement, a walk, a sigh, or a hand gesture that for a second turned him into that noble lion/man we all love, but for the most part, I just couldn't picture him. That's my problem, folks. Vincent is REAL to me. He is not Ron Perlman. He is his own separate entity. Sometimes it scares me to say that, to even think it. I start suspecting maybe my family and friends (those not into the show) are correct and that I AM crazy. But to give it all up would be impossible. Ask me to stop breathing and I'd have an easier time accomplishing it. Hi, Ron. You are wonderful! So BIG and BROAD. And those THIGHS!! Those HIPS, those EYES, that oops, this is supposed to be a G-rated letter. When you stood up on that stage, your presence was over whelming, commanding.
Needless to say, I clapped like a maniac for all you out in fandom who won't, or can't, get a chance to see the play. I swear, when Ron was taking his bows, he looked straight at me. Yeeh, right, Lorraine. He only had eyes for you. Okay, okay, but I can dream, can't I??
I have to just say that I NEED THE SHOW BACK!!! I say a prayer to God every night about it. I somehow know HE’s a B&B fan, too. Please, Republic, please Witt-Thomas, please ANYBODY connected with this show, let my Vincent go!! Oops, wrong quote.
Loved “No Way Down” last week on CBS. Still hate them, though. Hope they sink through the seas and never rise again. I have been one acquainted with the jerks. Sagansky walks in stupidity like the night. Angrily, I think on thee. See, really I CAN recite poetry.
Take care, all, and keep the faith. We will endure. We will.
I opened issue #23 with great anticipation. Would Jeanne’s experiment in declaring a Time Out be accepted or rejected? I was so glad to see so much outpouring of applause for it, for I heartily agree it was needed.
Most letters supported it but some questioned the decision, wondering if it didn’t in effect call for that dreaded word...censorship. I didn’t think it did and would like to say exactly why: Jeanne’s editorial did not declare the Controversy banished forever; she merely said “Give it a rest.” This is no more than the proverbial “Count to ten when you’re angry- give yourself a minute to cool off.” That’s dam good advice; all the more so when we’re all dealing with very strong feelings and emotions which run extremely deep.
It doesn't matter which "side" one is on in this, for pain doesn't take sides — it hits everyone. We all have to deal with it individually. There is no magical cure. Time is likely the greatest healer—as it is for any grief—and so a policy of allowing time, of stepping back a pace and letting perspective and the cooling of tempers take effect, seems a sound one to me. While I agree that a letterzine rightfully functions as a forum for fan opinion, the exchange of ideas, the sharing of enthusiasm for the series, I can fully sympathize with the wish to break away from the negative and move toward the positive. I also thoroughly support the concept that any publication has the right to determine its editorial policy and to make judgements as to what fits that policy or not.
As one LOC pointed out, not every letter to the editor of your local newspaper is printed. Someone has to decide what’s appropriate or not, and this is neither an easy job nor does its results always please everybody. One just does the best one can. In Jeanne’s case, I feel she was sincerely trying to keep the forum of “OUT...IN” open, not closing it. And judging from the number of LOC’s which stated that the readers had been teetering on the brink of outright cancellation, it was a wise decision and a timely one.
As I write this it is exactly one week since I returned home from TunnelCon. That was such an emotional high for me, I didn’t come down for days. Without exception, almost, my expectations of what the Con would be were met. The entire Con Committee turned in such a super job. They made me feel as if this were the party to end all parties.
My only regret is that I didn't see any of the videos. That happens when I decide to come to the Con as a dealer.
This past seven months have been an emotionally wrenching time for so many of us. The disappointments, anger, and recriminations have hurt each of us as individuals and done fandom a great deal of harm. But what I experienced during Tunnel Con was a time of catharsis and regeneration. I believe we have turned an important corner and won't fall back into the dark pool we just crawled out of. Keeping the spirit of the show alive and vital is what is important now. We can look forward to the birth of the new B&B as a feature film.
I was heartened to find that the general direction of fandom has taken a peaceful turn; well before the editorializing of OUT...IN issue #21, many publications had reader comments and LoCs which were reflective of a mature level of quality discussion. There are other letterzines out there and certainly OUT...IN stands among them,but it is not the only one in which the calm breezes have blown through the meadow.
Fandom, as an entity, was showing definite signs of healing and reunification as the editorializing was happening, I believe as part of a larger process in fandom. I think there was a spontaneous call from many different directions; there was evidence of the peaceful stage in the evolution to be found in many places.
Personal feelings have continued to be expressed, thankfully, in more than just one place. In most publications, there truly has been a more tolerant, cooperative tone while still allowing for, yes—even welcoming the constructive clash of thought and point of view.
Take heart; there are many safe havens now, numerous chambers of wonderful expression out there — just waiting to be discovered. We have grown through the stage of "beasting out" and we seem to be calmed.
As a co-editor of a soon-to-be-published fanzine, I know my creativity has certainly flourished these past few months and I look forward to catching up on the stacks of unread zines that have come into my office, published by my fellow fan editors. Ah, such happy reading! As for rules and limitations — I hope there will be no need to dwell on them. Hopefully fandom will endure, and flourish, in a natural way — as it seems to be doing lately.
My first impressions of B&B were: Vincent isn't scary enough, and I hate his hair — looks like a cheap wig. But it was Ron Perlman's acting that hooked me. How that man can say so much with just a glance or tilt of the head!
During the second season, I found myself yelling at Catherine: "There she goes with that whiny voice again!"and "You're so stupid!"... I guess I was mad at her for not committing herself more to Vincent.
Before B&B, my life (my painting and writing) was aimless and disconnected. But now, it has a purpose, a direction, and I'm connected to a dream, and a very large fandom, and it all makes sense.
Issue 26
Once Upon a Time... Is Now 26 was published in September 1990.
Issue 26: Excerpts from the Letters
This is my first letter of comment, but it hopefully won’t be my last. I’d like to be active in this fandom, have fun, and share my love for B&B. I feel like we fans can ideally be like the inhabitants of Father’s world: not related by blood, but a family, nonetheless.
Come and see us up New York way. In addition to all the usual NY attractions, we’ve got Ron now!! His play, “A Few Good Men” is wonderful and Ron is terrific in it. His character is about as far from Vincent as you could possibly get. He truly sines, and his scene at the end of the play steals the show! Getting used to seeing Ron with almost no hair has been the hard part. For this play, the mustache has come off and his hair is cut in an extremely short crew-cut!! Quite a different Ron than was seen in the California play, “Self Storage”! Rumor has it that they are going to be making a movie of “A Few Good Men” and that James Woods and Stephan Lang (who created the role Ron is playing) are fighting over the part. Since I think that whoever plays Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep is almost sure to get a best supporting actor nomination, wouldn’t it be great if our Ron Perlman got the role! Hmmm...I wonder what would happen if we wrote a few letters.
TunnelCon was an experience that followed me home, a candle in the window at a time of great uncertainty and anxiety over the future of our show. For all who were unable to make it, I will simply say that love and friendship are still very much alive and well in fandom, and the family reunion was a great success. The people who sponsored TunnelCon did more than this fan ever could have imagined or even hoped for; it was more than great, better than first-class. Better than good, better than better, as Mouse would say.