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Post by Fritz on Oct 25, 2004 16:54:13 GMT -4
Ghostbusting 101By Iain Bennett, Ben King, and Fritz Baugh 1973 Peter Venkman goes to college, looking for coeds and an easy A. But then he gets roomed with an eccentric fifteen-year old science prodigy named Egon, and his life would never be the same... ------------------------------------- This story first appeared on GBN in a radically different form. Ryan Harness was Andy Harness and Ray was introduced as well, and instead of Chumboro House the final incident took place at Ray's grandmother's farm. It was a cool story, but as far as the Timeline was concerned was full of holes--so I asked Iain for permission to rewrite it into a more Timeline-friendly form. Changing Andy to Ryan was part of this, and officially Ryan is the uncle of the character seen in the ETGB and GBWC stories. Shortly after this, Kingpin came to us with a version of the meeting of the future Ghostbusters; though again it had some problems Timeline-wise, there were some great scenes that were integrated into the story. The biggest change is that it leaves the story of Venkman and Egon's meeting with Ray Stantz untold. But I am positive that that story will be told sometime in the future...
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Post by Kingpin on Oct 25, 2004 17:27:37 GMT -4
Fritz: Definately, I can't say anything definate, but after some talks with Vincent, I think a sequel is in the can  And yes, it touches the currently unused introduction of Ray Stantz to Columbia University. |
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Post by Fritz on Oct 2, 2005 9:53:54 GMT -4
Bumping. And as we've seen, CJ and Kingpin both are working on follow-ups to this.
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Post by SuperStantzio on Oct 2, 2005 11:10:23 GMT -4
Cool I can't wait to read it.
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Post by Kingpin on Oct 3, 2005 9:54:45 GMT -4
Actually, as of right now we're collaborating on the sequel... I orignally had my doubts, but the work I've seen from CJ's half of it's been prooving fun and intriguing to read. I think people will enjoy the sequel... as we tie up some loose ends. |
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Post by Fritz on Sept 4, 2006 8:37:20 GMT -4
2006 Annual bump
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Post by Dr. Vincent Belmont on Sept 8, 2006 20:18:42 GMT -4
CJ had contacted me about doing a write-up on Prof. Ben Belmont. I gave it to him...and now I'm waiting to see how you guys wrote up Ghostbusting 102.
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Post by Fritz on Sept 10, 2006 9:42:40 GMT -4
Benjamin Belmont? Curioser and curioser. It could put a whole new spin on things.
Not to say it's unprecedented--Andy Harness's uncle was in GB101 after all.
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Post by Dr. Vincent Belmont on Sept 11, 2006 19:56:33 GMT -4
Benjamin Belmont? Curioser and curioser. It could put a whole new spin on things. Not to say it's unprecedented--Andy Harness's uncle was in GB101 after all. Ben Belmont enters the classroom. Dr. B: "The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things...of shoes and ships and ceiling wax...of cabbages, and kings; and why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings." Venkman raises his hand. Dr. B.: "Yes, Mr. .... Venkman?" Venkman: "Uh, yeah...forgive my curiosity, teach, but what the hell does that have to do with Parapsych?" Dr. B: ""Everything, lad...or perhaps nothing....or maybe something in between...that will be for you to decide, nae? Isn't it a profound statement, though? I mean, considering the class you're all taking..." Venkman (looking mortified and perplexed): "Sorry, sir...I'll never question you again..." ______________________________ Dr. Belmont: "Ah, Mr. Venkman...how was that frat party? I see you're up early today...you've changed out of your pajamas into the clothes you wore last night....(grins)...how frugal!" _______________________________ Dr. Belmont: "The right answers are wrong...and those wrong answers are also right...it is all about truth, and all of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view." ______________________________ Dr. Belmont: "True science is hands on...it is not mere speculation. Toss away your textbooks, and make your discoveries on your own. To trust blindly upon the facts of others is to make THEIR fallibility YOURS...Do not let your ears hear nor your eyes see nor your mind think of that which you cannot account for..." ________________________________ Dr. Belmont approaches Spengler, Stantz, Venkman, and Draverhaven while working on their term project. Dr. B: "Oh? That's very fascinating, gentlemen...you'd get along so famously with my youngest boy...you should see what it is HE'S into...(chuckles)... oop...there...right there...your grammar's a wee bit off, lad. I think you mean "Wai'ona Lohe A'u A Ho'omaliu ku'u hea....not Ho'omun...(looks at watch) oops...I have a meeting to get to. Can't wait to see the finished product! Good day, gentlemen!" |
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Post by Kingpin on Sept 14, 2006 18:49:40 GMT -4
One thing I think we should be careful to avoid is ''Sam Beckett as Elvis'' syndrone.
The above syndrome was founded when the particular episode of Quantum Leap aired. The idea being that Elvis didn't make himself famous, it was someone else who had little real impact to the events after one particular moment.
No offense intended to the character of Benjamin Belmont... But I feel we shouldn't be attributing too much credit to him then we already need to... the guys are already on their way so I think mostly some careful guiding.
I know it might seem selfish, as my Professor Thompson was such a 'free spirit', likely anachronistic for the time... but we should certainly be very careful.
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Post by Dr. Vincent Belmont on Sept 14, 2006 22:23:16 GMT -4
One thing I think we should be careful to avoid is ''Sam Beckett as Elvis'' syndrone. The above syndrome was founded when the particular episode of Quantum Leap aired. The idea being that Elvis didn't make himself famous, it was someone else who had little real impact to the events after one particular moment. My apologies, but I don't get the above reference. If I'm reading it right, my guess is that you think that the character was intended to "guide the guys into their chosen profession." Think about it for a moment. Look at Ben's philosophies and ideals. If the guys REALLY were "students" of his, they wouldn't think or act anything like they are....especially Egon. Ben's a philosopher, not a scientist. He's teaching Parapsychology through Disputatio, not by Letcio. If his teachings TRULY molded the GBs, Ray and Egon wouldn't be so quick to spew out scientific facts and explainations and theories. He's really only meant to be an "esoteric" character at best, as well as a character to be a complete pain in the ass to Dean Yeager. Well, no offense on this end...but I hope you don't take offense when I say that it might be YOU who's giving him too much credit. He's merely another character the Ghostbusters know...who was merely one of their professors...memorable because they thought he was a complete fruitcake. Again, I'm not sure what you're getting at. I'm not out to replace the man you made the Ghostbusters' mentor. Granted, he presents a "unique" view to Parapsychology....one he's really only ever passed on to his sons and a few select others, but as we all know...the Ghostbusters haven't come to approach their profession that way... ...and that I feel is proof enough that Ben's methodology didn't have that big of an impact on them. After seeing what may have given you the wrong idea: I'd also have you take note of some of the example quotes I threw out. When Venkman replied "I'm sorry sir, I'll never question you again...", it wasn't out of abject humility or sincere thought. It was Venkman's expected sarcasm. In the back of his mind, Venkman is probably thinking "Wow. ask a simple question, get a mad hatter answer...I think Bellevue is missing one of their patients" Ben's methodologies are also anethema to what Spengler would think, which already puts them at odds. Think of their attitudes this way: Spengler: Indifferent; doesn't agree with his teachings, but allows them to do what research they wish...and he's fine with that. Venkman: Thinks Ben's a fruitcake. Constantly questions Ben's mental state. (ie: "Are you sure you've taken your meds today, teach?" to which Ben would ask a question back that has nothing to do with the subject) Stantz: The only one of the guys who may have "gotten something out of" Ben's class. Not much, mind you, but Ray's delving into the world of the paranormal was never purely scientific, anyways. Draverhaven: Hates Ben. He hates his "corrections," he hates his nonchalant attitude, he hates his "unprofessionalism." Would LOVE to see Yeager get the best of him. Again, I think you're reading a bit too far into it. I try to make all of my characters interesting. If you think that his role is "overshadowing" Prof. Thompson's....then don't have him in there. I don't wish to "change him," or "tone him down," or "dumb him down," as he's based on my real grandfather, and some of the real advice and teachings he's passed on to me. He can always be placed somewhere else. In short, perhaps it would be better to not have him in GB102 if you feel that this is really a potential problem. |
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Post by Fritz on Sept 15, 2006 8:36:47 GMT -4
One of these days we'll have to figure out where to put Ian Epimetheus in all of this.
Though I find myself answering my own question when I think about the fact that only Egon seemed to know who he was, so he may have been at MIT before Egon went to Columbia. I'll have to recheck on that...
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Post by Kingpin on Sept 15, 2006 20:25:54 GMT -4
One thing I think we should be careful to avoid is ''Sam Beckett as Elvis'' syndrone. The above syndrome was founded when the particular episode of Quantum Leap aired. The idea being that Elvis didn't make himself famous, it was someone else who had little real impact to the events after one particular moment. My apologies, but I don't get the above reference. If I'm reading it right, my guess is that you think that the character was intended to "guide the guys into their chosen profession." Don't worry, I usually do that. Quantum Leap, I'm sure you're aware of Sam Beckett's 'kisses with history'? He either inspires someone without realising it, or has a chance encounter. Well, one episode he didn't just have a brief encounter with Elvis, he leapt into Elvis... and it was up to him to make sure Elvis got to the gig that would eventually set him on the road to fame. It effectively meant that it was Sam Beckett that got Elvis famous. How I apply that here, is we shouldn't make it Ben Belmont be the guy who makes the Ghostbusters go down the road to fame. But, I don't want to sabotage the character as he is coming in and will have a guiding hand in their development. Thankfully enough, it's nothing like 'Ben Belmont suggested the idea of a PKE Meter to a young Egon Spengler'. Yeah, totally agreed with that. Maybe I just phrase the point poorly. It's likely I am checking the cake before it's baked. I shouldn't be doing that. Probably and hopefully explained above. By no means, Thompson is only a secondary character... and I wonder if I went a little overboard in his creation. My main point was like the above mentioned 'Belmont suggested the PKE', although that's an exaggeration. I'm not explaining this very well, am I? Or he was someone only Egon came into acquaintance with... posibly in his first year before Peter and Ray materialised? |
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Post by Dr. Vincent Belmont on Sept 15, 2006 20:43:09 GMT -4
Ben Belmont: "What's this gadget here?"
Spengler: "A psychokinetic energy meter"
Belmont: "Oh? Like some sort of geiger counter for the spooky stuff?"
Spengler: "Erm....indeed."
Belmont: "Hmmm...well, young man, I'd say that merits a definite passing grade! (chuckle)
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Post by Kingpin on Sept 16, 2006 18:27:48 GMT -4
Heh. |
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And yes, it touches the currently unused introduction of Ray Stantz to Columbia University.
