Characters That Shouldn't Have Origin Stories (video essay)

I do not endorse the opinions of any of the weird little old men I quote in this video.

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References & Further Reading/Watching

Intro/Part 1

I use “Art Sins” as used (coined?) by CJ the X here:    • 7 Deadly Art Sins  
Their Rick and Morty video was also a major influence on this piece.

Hayley Whipjack watched all the Shrek there is, and is also making a fantastic Once Upon a Time recap series: @haleywhipjack

Director Mike Disa tells the horror story of his brief time as director of the attempted Seven Dwarfs prequel:
http://bit.ly/47Lh2b4
Dopey movie trailer: bit.ly/3Ogmw6O

“Not Every Character Needs an Origin Story,” Amelia Tait, Wired.com: https://www.wired.com/story/prequels-...

Part 2

Digital images of early edition Wizard of Oz book: https://www.loc.gov/item/03032405/

My favorite source on all things Oz is @ theozvlog on TikTok.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (may be affiliate links)
The ebook is free with Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/48AOZwd
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/95396/97800609...
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OgmZG6


Part 2B

Dr. Casey Fiesler (​​professercasey on tiktok) is one of my favored sources for explanations on IP law. Her YT video on Steamboat Willie is a good crash course on public domain and the way characters can be “partially” under copyright:    • Steamboat Willie is in the public dom...  

Gregory Maguire Interviews:
Video - AG 90:    • Gregory Maguire, AG90: What inspired ...  
Text - Broadway World: https://bit.ly/3u6FpSU
Text - The Guardian: https://bit.ly/47GVSec

Part 2C
Neil Gamon addresses changing the Chesterton quote: https://bit.ly/3HPcbv7
Text of Tremendous Trifles by Chesterton: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/8092/...


Part 3

Interview with Gene Wilder:    • Gene Wilder on Willy Wonka Remake, Yo...  

Paper on “textual whitewashing” of oompa-loompas in revisions and adaptions: https://bit.ly/3O9K6Sr
More on Roald Dahl’s legacy from TIME: https://time.com/5937507/roald-dahl-a...
Interesting analysis of an early draft with a Black Charlie: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/bo...


All films referenced: (letterboxd list)
https://letterboxd.com/babbity_kate/l...

TV shows:
Once Upon a Time (ABC) 2011-2018
The House of the Dragon (HBO/Max) 2022-
Game of Thrones (HBO/Max) 2011-2019
Better Call Saul (AMC) 2015-2022
The Adventures of Puss in Boots (Dreamworks/Netflix) 2015-2018

Books: (goodreads links)
THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES, Suzanne Collins, 2020
  / the-ballad-of-songbirds-and-snakes  
The Chronicles of Narnia series, C.S. Lewis, 1950-1956
  / 11127.the_chronicles_of_narnia  
TREMENDOUS TRIFLES (anthology), C.K. Chesterton
  / tremendous-trifles  
WICKED, Gregory Maguire, 1995
  / 37442.wicked  
Stage Shows:
Wicked, premiered 2003

00:00 Intro
02:45 What Is My Problem
23:06 Wicked
29:13 The Public Domain
39:07 Good & Evil
43:54 Willy Wonka
56:44 Kisses