O HO HO!

[alchemyalice]

Ahem. Firstly, hello new friends! I am glad you all love Inception as much as I do!

Secondly...I have had a revelation as how I am going to make my big bang as ridiculous and epic as possible.

The thing that I really wanted to do from the beginning was respect the change of medium that fanfiction creates when its fandom is dedicated to a film or TV show. I wanted to do it particularly for Inception because, as it's been noted on more than one occasion, more than dreaming, the film is about film making. It's a contemplation of its own medium. I'd really like to try to do something similar (though probably not with anything close to the same skill or deftness...I just like a challenge). So, we're no longer dealing with moving pictures, we're dealing mainly with words. And words have a whole different kind of feel to them, a different kind of surrealism. With that in mind, here's what I want to do:

I don't really have a fully planned plot in mind yet, but someone's going to be in a coma (probably Fischer) and we are going to slip and slide our way in and out of different dream levels by way of text

slides--

being replaced on the overhead projector in the auditorium. Arthur blinks, and tries to remember where he was a second ago.
It doesn't come.
Down a level then. Damn.

So yeah. I want to play this just a little bit meta, but not as meta as Jasper Fforde, say. But I want to exploit the fact that we're not using film, we're using words and webspace. So yeah. Unconstructed dreamspace GO. Moreover, unstable constructed dreamspace, DOUBLE GO. And as a result, lots of weird links and word play. Does that make sense? I'm going to need to brush up on my synonyms and puns. And my formatting skillz. 

But more importantly, is this a cool or stupid idea? Am I totally pretentious and need to be knocked down a peg? Tell me before I commit fic! No seriously, tell me if this is dumb. Because it's going to be a hell of a challenge, and so I'd like to know whether it's worth it or going to end in tears.

Comments

[noctemus.livejournal.com]

Being someone that's only been a lurker on your journal till now I don't know if my words count for sh** but I find that idea extreamly luring and would sure as hell not mind reading it. The more I hear about this movie the more I want to see it. So far there's only been rave reviews wherever I look *grin*. So any hoo, I say go for it.

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

Lurking in no way demotes you, although I do love to hear from people! I'm glad you find it an interesting idea--I'm not entirely sure whether I'm capable of making in work in the ways I want it to work, but I figure I'll give it a try.

You should definitely see the movie. It's not nearly as complicated and life-changing as some people make it out to be, but it is a lovely piece of work that has created a very fun playground to play in :)

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

Hello! :D

Yeah, I've definitely stumbled across similar things before as well. I think the key is using the device sparingly, because otherwise the story becomes about the device, rather than the device being used to enhance the story. Kind of like CGI in movies. So I'm hoping I can strike that balance. We'll see, I suppose!

[princess-aleera.livejournal.com]

If you can float it, this would be AWESOME BY EPIC PROPORTIONS.

But it's gonna be damned difficult; to be able to keep track and not let the readers get lost in the formatting.

I say go for it, try, and if it fails, well. It fails. *g*

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I certainly hope so! I think if I just use the effects very sparingly it will work. Hopefully. Or I could fail, which will be a nice lesson in humility. We shall see!

[purlpetrograd.livejournal.com]

OK, now that sounds awesomeee. It will definitely be a tricky, but I think it is definitely worth the risk because it is an epic idea.

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I kind of want to challenge myself a bit, so we'll see how it turns out. I'll be really excited if it actually works :)

[strzyga.livejournal.com]

personally i think the idea is brilliant haha. i'd be willing to help, haha, if you're hitting a rough spot. i'd also like to recommend you look up some e. e. cummings for formatting inspiration, 'cause he plays (er, played) with that kind of shit all the time :)

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'm glad you like it! I'll probably whine at you and everyone else when I get stuck, but I'll cheer you on if you cheer me!

I haven't read e.e. cummings in ages. I'll definitely be checking him out, probably along with lots of other poets. Word weirdness has never been my strong suit, but I think it will be a fun adventure!

[strzyga.livejournal.com]

haha it's a deal. XD i will likely need a loooot of cheering, haha, 'cause i'm horrible about writing. THANKFULLY I HAVE LIKE THE BEST BETAS EVER, but. :)

[carameltrap.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind reading that. It's only a couple of lines but I'm already intrigued. I've seen this format before but I can't remember.

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I've managed to intrigue you! I know I've seen such formatting before as well. We'll see if I can make it work!

[lady81bird.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting. It will need a good attention and commitment from the reader to get it all (and I think that some connections that you will consider obvious will not be noticed by some readers while the others will find things you never thought to write into the story...), but I think it will be worth it.

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

You make a good point. I think I'm going to find myself very thankful for a beta this time around, just to ensure that I'm not spouting nonsense. But thank you for your encouragement!

[prismdropz.livejournal.com]

I'd say it sounds interesting. Maybe with the potential to be very confusing if it gets away from you but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Also, I'm very much looking forward to your big bang. I've read you Inception drabbles so far (which is actually what got me interested in seeing the film so kudos to you) and I think my favorites are the Cobb/Fischer stories although I was fascinated by the precept behind "Defense Mechanisms". Did you have any plans to include those elements in your BB fic? Not that I won't read it anyway, but I'm curious ^.^

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

Yes, interesting but confusing seems to be the general consensus. Hopefully I'll be able to jack up the interesting levels and keep the confusing down to a minimum.

Thank you! Those are very encouraging words. I do hope you enjoy the film, or did if you've now seen it. I'm almost definitely going to be using Cobb/Fischer as the main focus, so you'll see more of that dynamic at least. But who knows, the ideas about projections I was kicking around in 'Defense Mechanisms' might come up too. I'm pretty much willing to throw what ever inspires me first at it and then see what sticks :P

[prismdropz.livejournal.com]

OMG! I just saw the movie a few hours ago and I love it like burning! I wish it was out on DVD. If it was I'd be watching it again already (and again and again...). Thank you for writing those drabbles. I almost never get out to watch films because I don't like going alone, but I am SO glad I saw this one.

As it is, I'm bound and determined (if currently uninspired) to write an Inception/SPN fic!... I just... don't have a plot yet. -.-

Btw, whose picture is your icon based on? Because it's familiar but I can't place it (and it's driving me quietly nuts).

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

HOORAY I'm so glad you liked it! I wish it was out on DVD too--as it is, I keep trying to drag friends to it to see it again. I'm glad I was able to inspire you to take a chance on it.

The icon's Keanu Reeves in 'Constantine', which is basically my favorite guilty pleasure movie of all time :)

[coldthermistor.livejournal.com]

Sounds epic. Go for it! It's really cool, and I'd totally review that fic. Leave love for it. Rec it :D

I've seen one where it was an encoded story, and a fic within a fic for Inception, and I can't express just how much mileage most of us got from that one.

So. Seriously, sounds cool, sounds absolutely, smashingly brilliant :P

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I shall give it a try! It'll be an experiment, but hopefully it will work :P

Would you happen to have a link to that fic within fic? I may have read it already, but now I'm not sure and I want to reread it to make sure I'm not stepping on anyone's toes (and also because I'd just love to read another story like that!).

Thank you for such lovely encouragement! :D

[coldthermistor.livejournal.com]

At the risk of blatant spoilers, it's a porn fic within a fic, so just in case you're vaguely squeamish...

http://apiphile.livejournal.com/2439479.html

It's a really fun read, just frustrating when you try to figure what exactly is going on ;)

[alchemyalice.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thank you! No squeamishness here, for the most part, so thanks for sending that, I shall check it out :D

[coldthermistor.livejournal.com]

No problem (: