Welcome to Everyone Deserves Sunshine. I'm Diana.
And I'm Anusha. We're the girls in the crease.
So Diana and I tried to do something last night
and had a lot of fun doing it, but it is not
ready for primetime because, yeah, it was kind
of a... audio failure type situation. It was
actually both audio, video. So as probably many
of you were doing, we were watching and enjoying
SNL because Connor was what? The person? The
host. The host. Yes. The host of SNL. Do you
usually watch SNL? Was that like your first time
watching since you don't even know the name of
the person who hosts it? You know what? I haven't
watched SNL live. In forever. I mean, it's a
little bit beyond my bedtime because I was usually
like collapsed in bed out of exhaustion on Saturday
at 11. Or maybe I'm out with you. You know, those
are the only two options. Those are the only
two options. But if they were playing it live
at 3 a .m., I would be watching it. Gotcha. Absolutely.
I understand. I actually haven't watched it live,
honestly, in a very, very long time. But I have
been a pretty loyal Chanel viewer since like
the late 90s. I don't watch every single episode,
obviously. pretty regularly. But, you know, when
Connor is hosting. Yes. When Connor is hosting,
you watch live. OK, so what was your what was
your overall take? What was your favorite skit?
What are your thoughts? It's funny because I
was on threads today reading people's reactions
and a lot of people were like, oh, my God, SNL
is not funny. What is wrong with it? I'm like,
what you guys have to understand is SNL is like
80 percent not funny and like 20 percent. And
the 20 % that's fantastic is what makes SNL,
SNL. Connor was fantastic. He's an incredible
actor. He's a trained clown, literally. My favorite
skit was actually when he's the stripper who
was hit by the car. That skit is based on his
prior, like it's like he had created this character.
So they basically recreated his own skit. for
SNL. And so that was really awesome because usually
actors don't get to do that. And that was like
showing so much respect to Connor from Lorne
Michaels and the writers and everyone that's
involved. And that was really cool. I did not
know that. You didn't tell me when we were watching.
That's amazing. Yeah, that's it. That's why he's
a great physical actor. Like the entire sketch
was really hilarious. And now that I know that
it's because like that it's a continuation of
something you did. Yeah, that's kind of even
better. Yeah. So I think that's that's what made
made it so special. And it was Connor's art now
put on display for everyone else to see, which,
you know. It's pretty cool and a good segue into
the fact that this episode is about art inspiring
art. So let's get into it. That is a great segue.
We are on episode eight, How Art Inspires Art.
And for this episode, we have a very special
guest. Today, we are chatting with Melanie, a
self -taught editor who's been editing since
2017, but has been in fandom since 2012. Melanie
made a name for herself in the heated rivalry
fandom. for creating these gorgeous edits. under
the name of a Bucky. Is that is that how we're
saying it? Okay, cool. You have about 18 or so
from what I've counted edits under your belt
for heated rivalry specifically. And you have
recently been offered a position with HBO. So
that's really exciting. So we're getting her
before she becomes super famous and never wants
to talk to us ever again. So welcome to the show,
Melanie. Thank you. We're so excited to be here.
Thank you guys for asking me to come on here.
I'm so excited. Well, I wanted to know, is there
a story behind your A Bucky screen name? So I
made it when I was 17. And I loved Marvel at
that time. I still do. And I loved Bucky Barnes.
So my train of thought just went to him. And
obviously nobody had that name because it's so
weird. So that's how I got it. All right. I love
it. Okay. I like that origin story. How did you
get into heated rivalry edits? How did you get
into the show? Tell us everything. All of the
details. So I was in the 911 fandom before this
and all my friends talk about these books and
these hockey players and they kept posting these
scenes. I mean, they seem to be really fun characters,
good chemistry. So I read the books. It was only
like a month or two before the show came out.
So like pretty new to it. But so yeah, I read
the books and I binged them. I was obsessed.
When I was reading the books, I mean, there's
a huge notepad of songs I wanted to edit. I love
editing and it kind of usually follows me whatever
fandom I go to. I kind of knew once I started
watching the show, I was going to be making edits
for it. So that's kind of how I got into it.
So you started with the books and then you were
like preparing yourself. So you pretty much knew
the whole story, obviously, by the time you watched
the show. OK, then did you watch each episode
as it came out? Yes, I was. It was Thanksgiving
on Thanksgiving night and I was in my parents'
basement and I didn't have headphones. So I just
had to pray nobody came downstairs and I was
watching it on my laptop and I watched every
episode live. I feel like. That is not the way
shows get watched anymore. Even if it comes out
piecemealed, it's usually like a bunch of episodes.
I think it honestly is such a lost opportunity
to not have shows come out weekly just because
I think it helps build hype so much. I mean,
I love being able to binge a show, but I also
think that if you release it weekly, it builds
such a fan base, which is what happened here.
Your edits are... amazing. They're incredible.
My favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite
one is The Falling, The Fall in Love, right?
The Fall in Love Again and Again. I've sent that
one to everyone. And then I was like, wait, when
I saw that you got the offer that I sent it back
to my friends. I'm like, this is the girl, the
video that I've sent you. She now has a job.
I'm not kidding. I'm a big fan because this is
my first fandom as an adult. And it's interesting
for me because I've never watched edits or anything
like that. And now I'm just like, I go to sleep
with edits. I wake up with edits. And yours are
some of the best ones that I've seen. Tell us
what sparked your creativity and where do you
draw your inspiration from? for this it's a big
question like I said I've been editing since
I was 17 and it's honestly just such a fun outlet
for me um I think it really scratches my brain
well when like the beats hit and everything um
I love lining up lyrics with scenes it's just
so satisfying to me a lot of the times what sparks
it is I'll be watching a scene and it kind of
just reminds me instantly of a song and then
I immediately need to edit it um that's usually
how that goes honestly or like Like I said, I
have a notepad of songs I want to edit. And then
as I go through, see if it matches. But I usually
see the edit in my head first. And it kind of
like clicks in my brain. And then I have to make
it before I go insane. Yeah, it makes sense.
Like I, you know, Anusha and I are both writers.
And so... I mean, I'm pretty sure it's the same
for you, Anusha, but like when you are inspired,
when like you're watching something or something
is going on or something happens, it like pours
out of you. Like you have to get it on a piece
of paper. Right. And or, you know, type it, you
know, whatever it may be. So I I totally understand
that. I think we both do. Right. Like you just
need like you feel it. And that's, you know,
that's art. Yeah. And I mean, this podcast gives
that to me, too. That is like that like creative
outlet, like the writing and composing. And it
takes a degree of effort to sound effortless
as we're learning. You know what I mean? Like
you need to and then you edit the voice. You're
trying to put it together. But you know what?
And Diana is a visual editor, too. I have no
visual composition ability whatsoever. And so
what you're describing to me is just such an
interesting way to think about creativity from
that element. her throat and I wish I had more
moments of like that because most of the time
my brain feels like that and then I'll get distracted
by like something mundane and then it goes away
but I love creative activity that you're expressing
in that visual element where you're it's like
you're seeing it in 3D. That is new to me. I
don't know what that looks like. That's amazing.
So I'm definitely a very visual person with the
edits, which I didn't I guess I didn't really
realize until just now. But I definitely do picture
a lot of it in my head. How many times do you
have to like have you rewatched it to make all
those edits? Like do you even know? You don't
know. I don't know. I think at least 15 times,
probably. I mean, I watched episode five on a
loop. I just played it. Whenever the episode
ended in my apartment, I just hit replay. I love
episode five. It's easily my favorite. I watched
it over and over again. I cried every single
time at the ending. I've seen it a lot of times.
I'm shocked at how often I can watch an episode
or a scene and have exactly the same feeling
that I had. when I watched it the first time.
And because we do the podcast, we have also rewatched
it so many times. And that's why I'm asking you
because you're doing visual stuff. Like for me,
I'm like, we rewatched it for like our music
episode, you know, to analyze the music a bunch
of times. But like for you having to make those
edits, like at this point, I would assume that
every single... part of that show is burned into
your brain like you know what happens when it
happens who says what right absolutely all the
scenes that I use like all the hits to the beat
ones I know exactly where they are in each episode
I know where to find them I know where all the
quotes I use are I mean like I really know that
show like the back of my hand which is why I
feel like fan editors are starting to get hired
more in the industry because I feel like we are
able to consume shows and know them really quickly.
We're so dedicated to it that we know it like
the back of our hands. But I think it's interesting
too that you mentioned this is your first fandom.
I've been actually talking to a lot of people
about this. I think about it a lot. I think COVID
really shifted a lot of perspective with fandoms
because before there was such a separation between
fandom and the general audience with the companies,
with the show itself. Like fandoms were kind
of this like hidden, secret, kind of shameful
sort of thing with... pop culture. And I think
COVID with so many people inside, nothing to
do. A lot of people were watching anything and
then they had nothing else to do. So they were
looking up on their phone, whatever. And then
edits started to become really popular on their
For You page. I mean, TikTok was getting really
big at that time. So I feel like it was just
like this huge mix of things that led the general
audience to step over the line more and go into
the fandom space. which I think is great. I mean,
I do think that like it definitely changed fandom
culture. I think it's really fun. I think it's
awesome that more people are watching edits,
consuming people's art. I think it's interesting
too that this is your first fandom because I
think kind of aligns with that almost. So I will
say this is not my first rodeo at all. I get
very obsessed with things and I don't consume
visual media and maybe it's because the I just
said I'm like such a print person. She's like
100 years old, so it makes perfect sense. I'm
very old, so I was born this way. What can I
say? I also am obsessed with Game of Thrones,
but it is way too violent. And the content, violence
against women, like it's like too much for me
to watch. So I have read every recap of the Game
of Thrones. I have not. read the books. So my
story, and I know every character, I know the
details of every character. Hold on, Anusha,
hold on, hold on. I just, I need to like, I need
to like process this. Hold on. You have never
watched the show ever. You have never read the
books ever, but you're in the fandom reading
like. Fan fiction and recaps. And I start with
recaps and then episode analysis. The recap gives
me the plot. And then I read about what are the
deep themes in the plot. I'm shocked. This is
the first time I've heard of it. And we've been
doing this podcast for like two months and we
talked about fandoms and we've never brought
this up. And I'm just, I'm feeling some type
of way about this new information about you.
I could read the books, but I don't know why.
And I need to make fun of you for it. So we will
regroup. It's really weird. to talk about it
because I've like literally never watched one
scene or read one page. Like I go, I read insane
levels of detail, like, but I do that for a lot
of shows. So now my first rodeo. So you were
into 9 -1 -1 before this? Yes. And then before
that, Percy Jackson. I mean, I've been in so
many fandoms throughout the years. Like it's,
I've had every phase. What was your favorite?
What was your favorite fandom? Yeah. That's hard.
I mean, like. Once you're in a fandom for long
enough, you see every side of it. So like any
fandom is going to have its really great sides
and some not so great sides. The Percy Jackson
fandom gave me like my absolute favorite people
in the world. I have a friend group that have
been, we're like into our third year of knowing
each other. There's 11 of us. We go on trips
together. They've come to my apartment and be
like my absolute favorite people. And I wouldn't
have met them if it wasn't for Percy Jackson.
So I think. That will always hold a super special
place in my heart because of that. But I also,
I mean, the heat rivalry fandom has been so much
fun. I've met so many cool people. It gave me
my absolute dream job. So I think because of
that, it's probably heat rivalry, but it's also
like... recency bias yeah so I think there can
be an argument made for any of them but I think
Percy Jackson for the people I met he a driver
for the content for the opportunities I got um
9 -1 -1 I also had so much fun with I kind of
got my love again for editing with 9 -1 -1 so
also special place in my heart for that um so
again I mean I feel like it's kind of like a
roundabout answer and not really an answer at
all. This is your answer. Yeah. It's like each
gave you something and like sparked your creativity
in different ways and also provided something
that you needed or wanted at that time in your
life. I love that it gave you connection because
I do feel a little bit like that culture is sort
of like, you know, poo -pooed baby, as you said,
dismissed, which. very much is also the way romance
is treated. There's a lot of overlap in this.
Yeah, definitely. You know, I love fandom so
much. I'm such a huge advocate for them. I think
that it's such a great way to meet people you
never would have met. And I feel like I've learned
so much about different places and different
people. And I just learned so much about life.
It sounds so weird. I feel people don't think
about it, like you said, but I've learned so
much. They've helped me grow so much. They've
helped me in so many different ways. I'm going
to one of their weddings in October. Like, yeah,
it's an entire community. Like, that's amazing.
Like, how could you how could you poopoo something
that helps you not only build a community, but
like, I don't know, make you feel part of this
world that sometimes we don't, you know, we don't
feel like we belong or whatever, you know, and
further like you got your dream job. Can you
talk about it? I posted, I mean, obviously my
edits online stuff and then. I posted the previously
on edit, the really, really fast one. Not sure
if you saw it, but I saw one of my friends sent
me a screenshot of Instagram threads and somebody
posted it there. So I posted the edit there and
then did really well. And it was New Year's Eve.
And I happened to check my hidden DM requests
on threads. And there was this guy there and
he said that he works at HP. I was like, yeah,
sure you do. I honestly didn't believe it. I
wouldn't have believed it either. And then I
looked him up on, like, LinkedIn online. I was
like, no, I think this is actually real. And
then we ended up talking and I sent him my...
Well, what did the DM say? Yeah. If you can share.
He was just interested in, like, talking about
my work. Okay. Okay. So, yeah, I sent him my
portfolio that I have. And I kind of was just
thinking, like, it might be a conversation about,
like, the industry or just, like, a one -off
sort of fun fan thing. And then I didn't hear
back for a bit. And then I got a phone call.
And this... Person was on the phone and they
were just like offering me a job. And I was so
confused. I didn't even know what was happening
at first. And then and then I was on the phone
with my sister and I got the call back. I say,
hey, I think I have to go. I think HBO is calling
me. And then, yeah, we talked and she offered
me the job. And then I met with some people the
following week once. And then that Friday I got
the actual offer. Literally happened in the span
of a week. It was absolutely insane. They were
all so incredibly nice, so excited to have me,
which is so mind blowing. People online are so,
so kind about my edits. I'm so grateful. And
like, I don't think I'm bad by any means, but
like there are people who have been in the industry
for so long or who are trained in this. And it's
just so mind boggling to me that they're willing
to like take a chance on me. I'm so extremely
grateful, but I'm also just like, why? Be grateful.
Yeah, that's amazing. Did they tell you which
edit of yours like kind of grabbed their attention?
It was the previously on. previously on yeah
oh i like that one too that was good we will
link all of your edits to this interview yeah
um you know what a congratulations that is awesome
so happy for you like um like Doing something
you love and then getting recognized for it and
then getting opportunities for it is truly one
of the greatest feelings in the world. To be
recognized, to have your work out there, to have
people recognize your talent, enjoy it. Pay you
for it. Yeah, I mean, pay you, but like have
it resonate, right? With like others. Like it's
a great, it's an amazing feeling. That's why
I'm so excited we're talking to like artists
like you. So congratulations, A. And B, when
you started putting these out. Were you nervous
about putting this out, like how it would be
received? Or were you just kind of like, I know
I'm good at this and I'm just going to put it
out into the world? Well, you had prior editing
experience. Right, right, right. That's true.
Maybe this hit differently. It's not as niche
as it is. It's like so much. I mean, Percy Jackson,
definitely worldwide. You know, 9 -1 -1. Yes.
But this one is like really viral, you know,
at baseline. Anytime you move a fandom, it's
kind of a little. There's some uncertainty that
comes with it. I mean, like meeting people, are
your edits going to do well here? Like, are they
going to resonate? Because each fandom really
is so different. But I mean, the first edit I
made was after the first two episodes, I made
an edit to Mr. Brightside. And I think it got
like close to 10 ,000 likes on Twitter. And I've
never done those kind of numbers ever. I mean,
in previous fandoms. I think like the max I hit
was 5 ,000 likes, which is still a lot of likes,
but like I got 10 ,000. I mean, I had to like
build to that sort of thing. And getting 10 ,000
on the very first one. I mean, I love editing.
I do it for fun. I mean, now I do it for work,
but I mean, it also isn't the worst thing to
get, to have your edits do well. those numbers
come in so i was definitely more excited to keep
making those edits because it's so rewarding
to put out something you love and that you had
fun with and that really made an impact on you
while making it and seeing that same impact on
people watching it um people were so insanely
nice about the editing so excited i was saying
this fandom in particular really loves edits
which is so different than other fandoms. So
it's so wild to me to be part of a fandom that
loves edits this much. Like that's so not typical,
at least in my experience. I think that the particular
audience for the show is re -watching the show
more than they've ever re -watched anything ever,
ever, ever. And I think the edits specifically
are giving them, at least for me, they're giving
us this like needed hit of like dopamine because
when you don't have time to watch the entire
episode again, a quick hit is... and edit, right?
You know, we could be sending each other like
horrible news articles, which is what we used
to do. Which is what we used to do. Or he could
be doing drugs, you know? He could be doing drugs.
Growing up, I had so many obsessions. My family
was like, this is not good. And I'm like, I could
be doing drugs right now. But instead, I'm watching
TV. Like, take the win. Take the win. It's okay.
I always say that too. If the worst thing about
you is you're obsessed with a TV show or a book,
like, that seems pretty good to me. You know?
It taught me a career. It's so crazy looking
back. I started at 12 years old in the house
of Anubis fandom. It was, again, such a taboo
thing. I mean, I was also 12. I probably shouldn't
have been in the fandom space at 12 years old,
so I get it. I feel like I always had it with
me, and I learned so much, and I started editing,
and I found this thing I loved, and now it's
a career which is so baffling to me. I still
can't wrap my head around it. The concept of
making trailers, promos, all these insane things
that I've been doing for fun as a job for shows
I love is so mind -blowing. Is your... educational
background in film or anything like that or marketing
actually marketing okay gotcha but we didn't
do any sort of thing in film we didn't have any
classes and with that we had really I mean I
loved being a marketing major it was it was fun
um which I feel like isn't gonna be shocking
news to anybody I mean we did like influencer
marketing classes we did brand marketing it was
really fun I loved it and I think that'll also
be helpful hopefully yeah that will that definitely
will so you have like a business savvy you have
like a marketer's eye and then you have your
creativity so that's what I'm saying You're like
the whole package. The whole package. I mean,
no, you said it, not me. I'll take it. I guess
I can say I know I'm a good editor and that feels
really good, too. I mean, it's super validating
for people to watch my edits and also think that.
But I think part of it also comes from I feel
like with fan spaces, I'm so like firm on fandom
etiquette and creating good spaces for fans.
And I feel like part of that is like. the second
one fan is deemed as kind of like more important
in the fandom as another fan, it creates this
really uncomfortable space for everybody else.
And I've hated seeing it. I don't like the feeling
of it, like on either side of it. And like, I
don't think I'm better than somebody else in
like that kind of way. Like, again, I think I'm
a really good editor, but I don't think that
makes me a more important person than somebody
else. And I think I kind of just keep that in
my mind. Or a bigger fan, you know what I mean?
Like you're not more important in the fandom.
Yeah. Yeah. And like, I feel like part of like,
like me brushing off compliments is like my fear
that i'm going to be perceived that people are
going to think i think i'm better than somebody
else and like i care so much about fandom spaces
they've given me so much they've given me such
great friendships and opportunities and like
i want to keep those spaces that for other people
and to help nourish that but i also do feel like
i've maybe overcorrected i feel like i can also
um admit that like i do think i'm a good editor
and i do think that i've earned these opportunities
so i love that and i and i i think I think that
alone, that realization that you want to keep
like this like safe space of fandom and be respectful
is another wonderful attribute of your personality.
And I think you're going to go far with that
because not only do you recognize your own talent,
but you recognize that like there are other a
lot of other talented people out there that may
have not have the same look, for example, that
you may have had. So I love that. I have two
burning questions. Okay. As someone who gets
easily obsessed and I say this is a time management
problem for me because I do have other things
I need to do in my life that aren't heated rivalry.
This is horrible. It's actually horrible. The
life is getting in the way of my heated rivalry.
But what do you do? Like, do you let go of your
prior fandom when you go into a new fandom? I
don't mean your friends and the people you meet.
I mean like the actual content you're making.
Like you can't possibly be making the level of
content like additively, right? So what happens?
I feel like I'm definitely, I mean, I have like
raging ADHD. So like my, I fixate so hard on
things. And I think that like, for me, I'm just
so focused on this thing that I can't. all my
energy is being put to that. I mean, I still
post about like 901 or Percy Jackson here and
there. But like, if you look at my account, you
would think it's only heed rivalries. Yeah, I
do think that those things definitely do take
a backseat when I move to another fandom. Of
course, there are new songs, new ideas that come,
but I feel like the burning desire I have to
edit is usually in a new space where I have all
the possibilities of new music, new scenes. So
I think that's kind of what drives me to edit
more of a fandom, if that makes sense. is very
interesting. My second question is related to
Heat of Rivalry. Do you have a favorite edit?
And do you have like an edit that has like, that
was the hardest or like really bugged you or
you like lost your like, whatever? What is the
version of writer? Editor's block? Editor's block?
Yeah, yeah. So tell us about that if that has
happened. That's a great question. I mean, I
actually almost gave up on the previously on
edit. So I added to that edit weekly. So I started
it with the first two episodes and then I added
on to it with every episode that came out. And
then by the time I finished, I was like, I watched
this edit like every day for the last month.
It's lost any excitement for me. And I just did
not want to post it. My friends were like, just
post it. Like, you worked so hard on it. May
as well just post it or whatever. People are
going to like it. Because I also posted a little
sneak peek of it. I was like, do people want
this? And it got like 6 ,000 likes. And I was
like, damn, I wouldn't mind this. They wanted
it. I was joking. I'm like, I love attention.
So I was like, you know, may as well post it.
And so it completely blew up. And I'm like, if
I didn't post that edit, I don't know if I, I
mean, I like to think maybe HBO would have reached
out for a different edit. But like, I don't know.
I mean, that's the one that. Like they sent around
the one. I was just talking to somebody else.
And he told me that like there was like a discussion
with like these girls at the lunchroom at Netflix.
And they were talking about it and then showed
another executive there. And like he liked it.
And I was like, that's mind blowing to me that
people were watching this edit and like talking
about it. It was just so wild to me. So I'm so
grateful that I just posted the edit. But yeah,
I do love that one. And so like other edits,
I mean, will usually take me like three, four
hours. Like the Sweet Dreams one only took me
like three hours, I think. Wow. I also do love
that one because that one blew up. I mean, the
blinding lights one, I could not post it on TikTok.
I was so annoyed. I kept trying and it got flagged
every time. I noticed that this fandom more than
any other, I'm not sure if it's like TikTok being
homophobic or what, but whenever I have like
a law shot to them kissing, it gets flagged,
which is so wild to me. But the blinding lights
one isn't even that crazy. I feel like at one
point, at least this is how I see some of my
hit to be edits. Once I keep doing them, I feel
like I'm a little repetitive with it because
like there's only so many shots of like Shane
doing a clap that will hit on me or something
like that or like a hockey stick. So like I've
used every single hockey scene in the show in
my edits. And I think like at some point they
all kind of start to blur together. So like but
that one I really liked. I think that was fun.
Is that the one where I may have seen that one?
Is that the one that made it look like it was
a show about hockey? I don't know. I mean, like
a lot of my edits do that. People comment a lot
saying why you really made this show look like
it's about hockey. I'm like, okay, well, it kind
of is. There was this one, I don't know if it
was yours, but it was literally, I'm like, oh
my God, if I had only watched this edit, I would
have thought that it was just a show about hockey
and that's it. That's so funny. People are really
doing a good job at maximizing the hockey scenes.
I've used every single shot I possibly can. yeah
i think so like oh i also like the um the rivalry
actually one it's like the huge rivalries of
rom -com oh yeah i've seen that that one is fun
um yeah i feel like the ones i like the most
are the ones i like had the most fun with creatively
so like It's hard to choose. It's hard to choose.
There's so many and they're so good. So this
episode is primarily about how art, great art,
inspires other great arts. My question is like
in the time of turmoil, which we're kind of living
in right now, do you think something like this
hits even more so and inspires people more? Or
do you think it has nothing really to do with
that? And it's just like the show that like randomly
came, gave us happiness and boom, like people
are just inspired to be creative. What are your
thoughts? There's no right or wrong answer. I
mean, I didn't expect a queer show to do as well
as it did, to be honest. I feel like I'm so used
to seeing them kind of brushed aside. And it
was always super disappointing because these
stories are so important. And I think, I mean,
there's no openly gay hockey player in the NHL
right now. And I feel like this kind of story
really opens up the chance for somebody to maybe
even just feel a little more sense of belonging.
And I feel like with the art that everyone's
making right now, I feel like it just really
shows that this story is resonating with so many
different people even if you're not necessarily
the target audience for the story i feel like
people are really resonating with the emotions
behind it and the impact of the story and what
the method they can do um and the importance
of it the art just shows that people are connecting
with it and help spread it shows how they see
the show and it shows how like what the show
did for them what you're saying is i think and
correct me if i'm wrong that like the more art
that is created based on the show or that in
the spy that the show has inspired the more people
will get to experience it in different ways in
addition to the show being so wonderful the art
is lifting up the stories too and and i I hope
that people continue creating in these times
because it's meaningful to all of us, especially
since it is very clearly also, like it did for
you, building a community, which a lot of us
really need right now, especially. And I also
think the thing about what you said about what
it evokes, representation is important, but also
the emotions that you remember, like that lives
with you. Art has that ability to evoke an emotion
that stays with you, even if you don't quite
remember every single scene or, you know, crying
or anything. You just remember the feeling. And
in a time where that is very hard to actually
convey in social media, because social media
tends to be instant and fleeting. The feeling
sometimes that evokes is like not a great one
all the time. And then, but then you see this
stuff and you're like, this is beautiful. And
even if you don't remember every single piece
of it, that feeling stays with you. That for
me is one of the things that is really beautiful
about the show is that it is able to evoke that
for so many people. Yeah. And I think like I,
the I'll believe in anything scene at the end
of episode five is like. That's like the scene
of the entire show for me. Every aspect of that
scene was so impactful. The emotions that that
scene evoked really landed with people. This
show reached more people than I ever expected
it to in the best way possible. And I think that
it just really opened a lot of people up emotion
-wise and the impact of the show completely blew
me away. The actors did such a phenomenal job
conveying every single emotion. I definitely
also think what you said about community too.
I read a story or I watch an edit, you can definitely
see how that person perceived the show and how
it impacted them. It's such a cool experience
to see what that show meant to them. It brings
people together. I love all the art with the
show. I think it's amazing. Well, thank you so
much for joining us today, Melanie. We're so
excited for your career. Thank you. Thank you
for having me. Yeah, absolutely. Enjoy HBO. They
got themselves a great, great person. That's
so sweet. They're lucky to have you. They're
lucky to have you. Thank you so much. I appreciate
it. Thank you. Bye. See you. Take care. Diana,
I really enjoy talking to Melanie. I mean, I
don't know if you believe in fate or whatever,
but she literally got a job at HBO from a DM.
doing something she loves. And she didn't almost
post the edit that got her her job. I mean, chills,
right? I love when social media makes things
better for a change. Yeah, which is which is
rare, which is rare sometimes. Yeah. And also
a great reminder that you really never know,
like, what is going to land and change your life.
And actually, same with Connor's story, right?
Like, what, three months ago, he was or like
six months ago, he was a waiter. And now he is
hosting hosting SNL. Right. So it's kind of amazing.
You never know. And I also keep thinking about
when she said that fandoms. This fandom loves
edits more than any other fandom she's been in.
And I think that part of it is the dopamine hit.
But maybe also this particular show at this particular
moment needs art, right? We need an outlet. We
need an escape. Because the world is a complete
shitshow. Agree, agree. And to paraphrase a friend,
even in turbulent times, there's art and music
and love. And I think so many of the elements
that this show... is portraying right like so
authentically and beautifully immigrants and
freedom to love who you love acceptance even
like reading the actual book right it's just
under constant attack i mean like are we at war
now who knows like everything feels absolutely
chaotic. We feel completely paralyzed. You know,
I'm all about finding patterns and chaos. And
like for the life of me, I can't find anything.
I can't make sense. I just don't know what to
do. And I think that's when maybe we need to
be creative the most. Not using art to escape
the clusterfuck, you know, but more like using
it to sustain us through it, you know, just kind
of get us through it. Because we talk a lot about
joy. and how this show makes us so happy. But
it's not as if we're not talking about the bigger
things that this show makes us think about, right?
Like these larger thematic elements. We're still
thinking. I mean, I would say we're thinking
pretty deeply. Yeah, I think so. And the editors
and people making this art are also thinking
that way. And I keep coming back to this Toni
Morrison quote because I remember in 2016, right
after the election, she said, you know, I was
feeling unable to write staring out the window
in this dark mood and a friend interrupted her
and said no this is precisely the time when artists
go to work not when everything is fine but in
times of dread that is our job this is the precise
time that we speak We write, we do language,
and that is how civilizations heal. Like I remember
feeling that and reading that. And that's when
I started writing a lot more. And like that is
kind of like what clicked for me because like
my writing just became natural and organic. Like
I needed to get it out. Right. And I think that
quote really like stayed with me from that moment.
And like right now it just feels important, you
know. honestly, more so than ever, when our rights
are being threatened, when institutions are,
you know, feeling unsafe and weaponized and the
world is just tilting. Artists don't stop. You
know, they draw, they write, they edit, they
create. That's what this feels like, that that's
what Melanie is doing and many others are doing.
They're doing the work. They're not randomly
creating. They're like literally responding to
the moment. Melanie also said something that
struck me. She is so conscious that it's not
just one voice that speaks for the fandom. She
mentioned it specifically in her interview that
it's part of the etiquette. It's part of what
makes the fandom. nourishing and so it feels
almost like egalitarian in a time where that
concept feels like really far out of reach right
i mean we're all screaming into the void and
and maybe if enough of us scream into it together
like together not just as one one voice leading
the charge right yeah like maybe we'll make a
difference maybe the inertia and the paralysis
that we feel will be overcome. And in a small
way, we can, you know, bend the arc of the universe
towards justice. You know, as Martin Luther King
said, you know, it's supposed to go that way.
I mean, where is it? I don't know. It feels like
I can't quite see it. But there's something about
that idea that not a single person can do it
alone. I don't know why it feels so mind blowing
because it feels very basic. When you feel maybe
it's our ego, maybe it's this idea that you feel
like the weight of the world is on your shoulders
and you're the only one drowning in it, you know?
And I feel like that's what art reminds you,
that you're not alone, that this has happened
before, that you're going to move through it.
And because a lot of traditional media spaces
like actually feel like hostile and exclusionary.
But this fandom, you know, it made art more accessible,
organic. Anyone can, well, not anyone can make
an edit, but if you have the talent to do it,
you can make an edit. If you have the talent
to do it, you could write fan fiction, you can
draw, right? So then it gives us these characters
that aren't static, like in the art, like they
live in these paintings and digital illustrations.
And oh my God, claymation. Like, have you seen
the claymation? that one you have to see the
claymation like you there's this like mixed media
art too it's gorgeous and embroidery there's
posters like the fandom is just beautiful and
it expands the canon and and that's why we just
like keep coming back to it OK, you use the word
canon because I'm now very proud of you because.
Thank you. I'm so excited. I know I literally
just started using the word canon, like literally
like and then canonically. I'm like, oh, my God,
look at me. You are you're in it, girl. I mean,
I. OK, so can I tell you there? I've been holding
on to the story. And you said the word canon.
And it really, really made me think of this because
there is this one Reddit take or a story or a
fan fiction or something about Yuna's background.
And it was so perfectly on point that I just
couldn't remember if I read it in the books or
if I watched it on the show. Like it was, it
just is in my canon now. It just like lives in
my head. And it was just such a, I mean, it was
so on point about sort of her immigrant background.
I literally can't remember. Did that happen in
the show? Did that happen in the book? That does
happen often. I know. And I think that's the
thing about the show in a nutshell or fandom
or art that it's inherently the intention is
to connect. Do you know, like, I do that all
the time now, too. Like, I will remember something
and I'm like, was that in a book? Which book
was it? And then I'm like, was it just someone's,
like, thread post? Like, I do that all the time.
But I do keep thinking about, like, why this
show in particular? Like, why he did? Again,
maybe this is not the case. Because, again, this
is my first fandom. So maybe there are other
fandoms that also generate this much excitement
and art and whatever else. But I do think, like.
I don't think so. Not like this. Not so. I mean,
I think Harry Potter, all of those, but it's
all, it's not like this open. Interesting. Well,
you would know. It's not this mainstream. Okay.
You would know. You know what? That's a good
word because you're right. it is mainstream because
people, like you said, like usually like fandoms
are like small and tight knit, right? And they're
like hidden, as Melanie said, you know, in subreddits
or whatever else. So you're right. So this one
is definitely mainstream. And I'm like, why does
this one particularly generate so much art? And
I think it's because it's got to be the regulation,
right? It's regulating something in us. It centers
tenderness in like a very brutal cultural moment.
We talked about it in our anti -dystopia episode,
right? Like Jenka wrote about this because we're
living in a time saturated with like violence
and cynicism, right? Where like masculinity and
public life looks loud and brittle and authoritarian.
And the show gives us the opposite. And that
feels radical, you know. And so the art is also
giving us that like oxygen that we need right
now. And it's regulating our nervous system.
And that's why we just keep going back to either
watching the show or watching the edits or looking
at the art or looking at pictures. Yeah. About
this idea of like a soft power. Yeah. Yeah. And
I don't think it always needs to be. One of the
most beautiful things I've read recently is something
Amanda Gorman wrote after the horrific killing
of Alex Pretty in Minnesota. From her poem, she
said, to know that to care intensively united
is to carry both pain, dark horror for today
and a profound daring hope for tomorrow. We can
feel we have nothing to give and still believe
this world waiting. trembling to change if we
cannot find words may we find the will if we
ever lose hope may we never lose our humanity
and i'm like tearing up I love her so much and
she always has the and again she's an artist
she's a poet she's creating while we're in this
yeah it's beautiful like yeah it speaks to this
it's not naivete or like this insane and like
inane belief that like everything is fine I mean
I don't think that you don't think that I mean
maybe it's like this idea that you know maybe
never even if we lose hope maybe never lose our
humanity you know we're longing I think everyone,
I think at the very bottom of ourselves, I think
we're all longing to touch base with our collective
humanity. I think that's what we all want. I
just don't think we know how to do it, like how
to get there. Right. And the... the idea of longing
is just kind of perfect for this conversation,
right? Because like, I think that the structure
of the show itself, right? There's so much longing
there as well. And it's built around longing,
right? I know those two, I know what you said
in terms of longing and the way show is, like,
it's not exactly the same, but longing, whether
you're longing for collective humanity, like
you said, or longing for someone you love, right?
Or, you know, have that, like, it still leaves
space, right? And it creates gaps. artists love
gaps right because that's when they they can
fill them right they love the unsaid they love
the parts that are not showed and fan art specifically
thrives on that right like the longing practically
like demands art to fill it politically culturally
when we feel powerless you know right now like
we can't control what's happening right but like
again we can write we can edit we can draw we
can animate and we can long like for you said,
for a better future, for humanity, for all of
it. Yeah. Oh, oh my God. I think that analogy
actually is really beautiful. It's like longing
in the bigger picture, like that macro and the
micro, like what you want your life to be, to
be good, to be, you know, soft, to be kind, to
be just. Yeah. Those are all the same things
you want on an innate level, right? for you and
your little world. Right, right. You can't control
the world, but you can control what you create
in response to it. Yeah. And that's art. And
the show and the art that comes with it makes
us feel safe and intense at the same time, honestly.
Safe and intense, I like that. But our brain
likes it, okay? Because it's... also safe. Like
it's not just intense. It's not a thriller. It's
not, you know, drama only. Right. And so our
brains like that, both feeling safe and intensity
at the same time, our nervous systems like it.
And the fan art is a way to like stay inside
that feeling longer. Right. That safety and intensity
at the same time, which is probably why we also
keep rewatching the show multiple times. The
show feels like medicine. Because you go back
to it when you're not feeling your best. It's
like the antidote to this fuck show that we're
in right now. Again, art is not going to fix
your problems. It's not going to fix policy.
But it will tell a story that might fix your
heart and soul or at least help in some way.
Yeah, storytelling. Yeah, storytelling. Storytelling.
The best storytelling is the one that... inspires
other people's stories to be told. The show inspired
Melanie. Melanie's edits inspired other editors.
These editors inspire writers and claymation
artists. And I saw a Reddit post about someone
who made, who like rebinds the books and it's
absolutely stunning. It's also very soothing
to watch this video, but it's, you're like, my
God, it's so beautiful. I saw that. Yes. You
saw that? Oh, my God. She's gorgeous. I saw it
on TikTok. Okay. It's so beautiful, right? The
world's a nightmare, but people are still making
beautiful things. And so we're there for that.
Yeah. And we're going to keep doing it. And we're
going to keep saying, like, we're not done with
this yet. And listen, we created this podcast
because it's our art, right? Like, we're putting
this out in the world, too, because... heated
rivalry inspired us to do something that we are
completely new at. We don't know how any of this
works. We just said, let's do this because we
need an outlet for our creativity. And we did
it and we're doing it. And here we are. Yeah.
Yeah. And that's, I think, very true when the
world is trying to take it away. Yeah. Yeah,
absolutely. We are at the time in our show where
we talk about our moment of sunshine. So, Diana,
tell me, what's your moment of sunshine this
week? You know, this was a tough week for me.
I had a lot of, it was a tough week. I'm just
going to put it that way. And I did not have
many moments of sunshine this week. The only
things that kept me from like going deep into
my dark hole was rereading Heated Rivalry and
annotating it this time around. And every night,
regardless of how shitty that day was, I turned
everything else off because I was able to write
in my book and annotate it and just like kind
of focus on that specifically and focus on the
words. And that really, like Melanie said, scratched
my brain in a really good, positive way. Spoken
like the fantastic English teacher that you are.
I am telling you, I love reading, but I have
never annotated a book. Oh, God, I love annotating.
And like people, people, people get upset with
me because they're like, how could you possibly
like write inside a book? And I'm like, how could
you not? Like, it's mine. Like, I'm not planning
on giving it to anyone. I can do whatever I want
with it. All right. What was your what's your
moment of sunshine? So my moment of sunshine,
speaking of art. So my daughter was watching
and she loves. How to Train Your Dragon. It's
a really good movie. And there's four movies,
actually. And so the first one is really good.
The fourth one is actually really, really good.
And there is this part that she always gets emotional
at. The score is so beautiful. Talk about longing,
right? Like that score has that. And it's like,
as soon as the music comes on, she starts tearing
up. And then obviously I'm bawling every time.
And it's like, as soon as that scene, the music
comes on, she is six and able to feel that. Like,
yeah, it's just I think it's like that universality
of those feelings. And it's not just it's not
just it's not as simple as sadness. You know,
it's like. The emotion. She's emotional. She's
not sad. So she watched How to Train Your Dragon,
Hidden World. And I was sobbing watching her
watch this. Can we do something like a teeny
tiny bit different in this one? Yes. Can we have
a joint moment of sunshine? There are no rules.
This is a lawless, lawless podcast. You and I
hung out. on Friday night to celebrate our friend's
50th birthday. And a bunch of our friends came
out, people we haven't, some of the people we
haven't seen in a really long time. And I had
such a great time with you and like everyone
else. We laughed so hard after a crappy week.
That gave me so much, you know, obviously joy,
but like it made me feel alive again. That was
so fun. And oddly having like really deep conversations
combined with... absolutely batshit ones like
chaos mo right just like you're talking about
something so deep and then all of a sudden you're
just cracking about nonsense cracking about nonsense
so um that is that is the mo you know like combo
i think that's that's like a that's the mark
of a good friendship dynamic and a good dynamic
right Next week on Everyone Deserves Sunshine,
we're talking about allyship. Subscribe now wherever
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Or email us at EveryoneDeservesSunshine at gmail
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