William Gibson hangs out online to talk about his work and the new movie and CD-ROM game based on his 1980 short story, "Johnny Mnemonic." Gibson wrote the screenplay to the movie, out in May, and worked with director Robert Longo to make the project a reality. Check out the Wired article on the movie, the game, and a piece by Gibson himself in the June (3.06) issue.
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Our guest tonight is author William Gibson, creator of the "cyberpunk" genre. He is the author of "Neuromancer," "Virtual Light" and other works of fiction, inclding "Johnny Mnemonic". His non-fiction work has appeared in WIRED MAGAZINE. Also with us tonight is Andy, from WIRED Magazine. Welcome, Andy...
WIRED MAG
Hey everyone.
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And Welcome, William Gibson!
WilliamGib
Hi, y'all!
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Greetings from your fans on AOL, Mr. Gibson!
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Mr Gibson has written a screenplay based on his short story "Johnny Mnemonic". The movie is scheduled to open May 26. And Sony Imagesoft has developed an interactive CD-ROM game. William Gibson is here to answer your questions about Johnny Mnemonic... the shortstory, the motion picture and the CD-ROM. Our first question happens to be about Johnny Mnemonic :-)
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Bazilisk wants to know
Question
What do you think of the book of the script of Johnny M.?
WilliamGib
Very well-produced. I mean, I did write the screenplay...
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Sluggo22 wants to know
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Mr. Gibson, just curious if the character of Sally Shears (or Molly Millions, etc...) will be in any of your future stories. If love all your work, but she is my favorite (aside, perhaps, from the rastas in space in Neuromancer).
WilliamGib
I sometimes think about writing a book about Molly's early days, before she had the work done...
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NERFIN has a question for you
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I know you must get this all the time, and you must be tired of it, Buuuut: What inspired you to design this whole cyberpunk genre?
WilliamGib
It seemed to me that all of this stuff was already there, in larval form, but it seemed as if nobody noticed it.
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I know that the CD-ROM and the movie have differnces. ACME Stev wants to know
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Mr. Gibson - is Keanu Reeves the sort of person you had in mind when you wrote Johnny m?
WilliamGib
Keanu became Johnny for me. He opened up the character in a way that was extremely useful.
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Tell us about writing the screen play. Joe's Brain says
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Mr. Gibson, how did you like writing a screenplay, and will you do it again soon?
WilliamGib
Writing a screenplay and writing prose fiction are amazingly unlike one another. I enjoy both, but I can write a book all by myself.
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GayeG has a question about the game
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When will the CD-ROM be released and does it contain video from the movie?
WilliamGib
The game is released next week. It incorporates one scene from the movie, but the game itself IS a movie in some new and very real sense.
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Como Mark wonders
Question
Where did you get the character for Molly
WilliamGib
Molly was inspired by the photo of Chrissy Hynde on the first pretenders album, and by the music of Patti Smith.
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Up2 Here wants to know what's next
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What is your next project?
WilliamGib
A novel IDORU, about virtual pop stars in the Tokyo of the VIRTUAL LIGHT universe. Out next year from Berkeley Putnam.
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We've had several questions about this
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"You conceptualized a lot of the ideas people are kicking around today. Is the future unfolding the way you thought it would?
WilliamGib
Gee, no, notice how I failed to predict AIDS or the collapse of the USSR?
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Trilliann is asking more about the game
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were you directly involved in the production of the cd rom?
WilliamGib
No, I was busy with the movie. The game was a total surprise. I was delighted with it, though. It's quite dark and gritty.
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Here's one from Talkytoas
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Any developments on a Neuromancer or New Rose Hotel movie?
WilliamGib
NRH is in turnasround at Pressman Films. NEUROMANCER the movie is just a twinkle in my eye...
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GayeG wonders
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Weren't you going to write a book called "The Wreck of the Mustang Sally"? Is it still in the works? And have you bronzed your typewriter?
WilliamGib
MUSTANG SALLY fell victim to a contract dispute. I've cast my typewriter in lucite and use it as a door stop.
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Here's one from PoetGreg
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The genre you created inspired the creation of various films. As with most films repetition has ruled. Do you feel this film has added something new to this genre?
WilliamGib
I would hope that this film will be seen as the REAL THING. Finally. At least I tried.
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We have several questions here about the differences between the CD ROM and the movie
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How does the game differ from the movie?
WilliamGib
Different director, diff. cast, diff. sets.
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Does Bono from U2 have anything to do with the music for the movie or CD Rom?
WilliamGib
Bono and Edge wrote one song. It's on the soundtrack CD.
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GayeG has another question about the CD
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"The game itself IS a movie in some new and very real sense." Care to explain further?
WilliamGib
There's no on-screen interface device. No cursor. When the image "letterboxes" you have options for keyboard control.
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Linenoiz wonders about influences
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I love your short informationally dense style. Who influences your work?
WilliamGib
Thomas Pynchon, Wm. S. Burroughs, Hunter Thompson, all kindsa people.
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SueShap wonders
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I know you have never been online before what do you think of the real cyberspace experience
WilliamGib
Kind of like ham radio... Wait til the interface design is completely transparent. When there's no learning curve.
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KiyoT wants to know about the game
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Who's producing the game? What platforms will it be available on?
WilliamGib
SONY IMagesoft. PC, Mac, Sony PlayStation. MPEG is in the works.
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Marlyb wants to know
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How do you feel about the portrayal of Molly in Johnny Mnemonic?
WilliamGib
Well, she's not called Molly, for franchise reasons. She's Jane and she's extremely hot. Dina Myer. Terrific new actress.
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Grckflint has a question
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How do you define "cyberpunk" as a genre? What commonalities do you see between your work and that of say, Stevenson and Sterling? Will Jonny M. be the 1st "cyberpunk" film, from your perspective, or does it fit into a film trend going back to Bladerunner??
WilliamGib
Cyberpunk = bomehemia + computers. We're all concerned with those two, to some extent.
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Vampyre88 wants to know
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What's your typical workday like as a writer?
WilliamGib
I have to sit a the machine 9-to-5. Sometimes nothing happens. Sometimes it does. Like waiting for the mail.
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PKHorn has this for you
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I'm in the process of reading the 'Difference Engine' now. What was the thought behind a Sci-fi book, held in the past? Pre 'Computer'?
WilliamGib
The Victorian age was entirely about technology. They are our spiritual mirror, as it were.
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Another from Vampyre88
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Do you outline your characters or plot before beginning a novel, or do you just jump right in with an idea of some kind?
WilliamGib
No, I just muddle on.
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Como Mark has another question
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Will there ever be a sequel to Neuromancer?
WilliamGib
There were two already. You didn't notice?
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Several people want to know if you have played the game, and what you think about it
WilliamGib
Yes, but only as a cranky alpha version. It's looks great, though. Very innovative design, from the ground up.
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We have several people commenting on the audio book of Neuromancer. How long did it take to record it and were you satisfied with the results?
WilliamGib
It took four days in the studio. I've never been able to listen to it, because I hate the sound of my own voice, but Edge told me he likes it a lot.
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BLEMM has a question for you
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Do you ever get the urge to try acting in one of your films? Which character would you like to be seen as?
WilliamGib
Actually, no. Maybe an extra in a street scene.
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StayUpLate wants to know about the game
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If not already available, where can one buy the game?
WilliamGib
Next week! Software stores all over the place...
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Garrette wants some advice
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Your stunning story about the holographic aerial dogfights (can't remember the name). What pointers can you give for making memorable a character who by all rights should fade into the crowd of other thugs, as you did so well with your anti-hero?
WilliamGib
Base them on bits of real peoplw, rather than bits of tv characters...
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Crank wants to know
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Are you hoping for Johnny Mnemonic to bring your imagination into the mainstream, in a way that the Hollywood treatment of Neuromancer was unable to do?
WilliamGib
No, not in the sense that I think of Hollywood as a bigger or more important pool. I don't exactly have an agenda or a plan for global conquest. I'm just exploring things to do with art.
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PeterD106 has an interesting question
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In your mind is NAS -- a disease caused by technology -- closer to science or fiction?
WilliamGib
No, NAS is a metaphor, although I don't want to be more specific.
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Here's one from JCGergori
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At what point did the Neuromancer universe become difficult to keep working in and how long do you think the Virtual Light universe will last?
WilliamGib
I never really planned it as a trilogy. It got to feel like trying reupholster a sofa with too small a piece of material.
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SueShap says
OnlineHost
Bill, Marty wants to know are you going to be ready for dinner ontime tonight???
WilliamGib
Yes. I'll be back at the hotel by 9:00.
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JoesBrain wants to know about VOODOO. Will you continue with the voodoo theme in future cyberspace novels?
WilliamGib
Not in the sense that I ever intend to revive them.
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Another from Vampyre88
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Any plans for writing some sort of interactive novel in the future?
OnlineHost
WilliamGib has left the room.
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Well....that was interesting... Mr Gibson will be right back, we think
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A cyberpunt?
WIRED MAG
Hey folks. Sorry about that. Gibson's line just died.
WIRED MAG
he'll be back soon. Hang on.
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WilliamGib has entered the room.
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Welcome back
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What about acting?
Question
Speaking of acting, how about that walk-on in Wild Palms? How did you feel about that?
WilliamGib
A favor to my buddy Bruce Wagner, who wrote it. Not my favorite thing to do, though.
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To what extent do you see electronic technology thinking and actingon its own behalf?
WilliamGib
Well, um, increasingly, right?
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Fyrie wants to know What kind of music do you like
WilliamGib
I'm a big SISTERS OF MERCY fan.
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We can take one more question
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MYQX asks
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How do you feel about the novelization of the movie? Do you feel that the novel, written by someone other than yourself, maintains the feeling of a "Gibson" novel?
WilliamGib
Well, a novelization isn't really a novel... But Terry Bisson, who did this one, is a friend of mine, and a good writer in his own right.
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Our guest tonight has been William Gibson author of Johnny Mnemonic. The movie will be released May 26 and the CD-ROM will be available on May 23. Thank you audience for your wonderful questions!
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Thank you for being with us, William Gibson! It was an honor to have you here.
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Thank you William Gibson!
WilliamGib
Bye-bye, folks! Thanks for coming. Virtually. Heh...