Gutter_Rhymes, why does this site exist?
Who are Flight of the Conchords anyway?
Flight of the Conchords are the 4th most popular digi-bongo-folk-parody band in New Zealand. They're a real life (comedy) band. They also featured in a radio programme aired by the BBC, and then in a popular show on HBO. The former was a sort of 'mockumentary', the latter a more straightforward musical sitcom. In both, they played fictionalised versions of themselves. Flight of the Conchords are Bret McKenzie (slight, curly-headed, often beardy) and Jemaine Clement (glasses, gappy teeth, looks like an ogre who works in a library). Their fictionalised alter-egos are portrayed as hugely naïve, lovable and well-meaning losers, trying to make it in the big city (London in the radio show, New York in the TV show).
This doesn't explain why you're writing naughty fanfiction about them.
Indeed it doesn't. And if you're not into slash (gay fanfic) or not into Flight of the Conchords, you'll probably never understand. In the end, the world presented to us in the FOTC TV show is an endearing one, full of colourful and memorable characters that are fun to write. And the fictionalised Bret and Jemaine live in each other's pockets, frequently tag along on each other's dates and play up their 'bromance' to a point that almost invites fanfic. Also, they're hot.
This seems like a pretty niche market.
Yeah, it's pretty niche. But not unique. For a while, when the TV show was at its height, there was a small but dedicated group of people from all over the world contributing their stories and artwork to the still-viewable but now pretty much dead Conchords Slash livejournal site. I was one of them, and I think I can safely say one of the most prolific. The quality of writing and art was consistently high, and I dedicate this archive to all the wonderful people whose work (or, perhaps, play) made me laugh, cry and retire to my bunk.
I don't get half the jokes/references in your stories.
Is that because you haven't watched much Flight of the Conchords? I can't explain all the references in my stories, but here's a non-exhaustive list of things you need to know.
True. As the fandom grew, it began to embrace other, related characters, in particular one called Taika. You won't find Taika (the character) in any episode of Flight of the Conchords, but you might spot his face in a cameo or his name in the credits. Because he's a real person - supercool NZ actor/director/writer/comedian/artist/ninja Taika Waititi. Or Taika Cohen. He's awkward like that. In fact, he's awkward every which way. Most famously, he feigned falling asleep at the Oscars. He directed several episodes of FOTC, collaborated with Bret and Jemaine on early projects, and directed the movie 'Eagle vs Shark', featuring Jemaine Clement. In fanfiction he tends to be portrayed as mischievous, irreverent, confident (sometimes to the point of smug), passionate, and several degrees cooler, more mature and more 'together' than Bret and Jemaine.
So...wait...are you writing about real people? Or fictional characters?
To be honest, it's probably best not to think about it too much.
Do you own Bret, Jemaine, Flight of the Conchords or any related intellectual property? Do you get paid for writing this stuff?
Of course not, stupid.
Flight of the Conchords are the 4th most popular digi-bongo-folk-parody band in New Zealand. They're a real life (comedy) band. They also featured in a radio programme aired by the BBC, and then in a popular show on HBO. The former was a sort of 'mockumentary', the latter a more straightforward musical sitcom. In both, they played fictionalised versions of themselves. Flight of the Conchords are Bret McKenzie (slight, curly-headed, often beardy) and Jemaine Clement (glasses, gappy teeth, looks like an ogre who works in a library). Their fictionalised alter-egos are portrayed as hugely naïve, lovable and well-meaning losers, trying to make it in the big city (London in the radio show, New York in the TV show).
This doesn't explain why you're writing naughty fanfiction about them.
Indeed it doesn't. And if you're not into slash (gay fanfic) or not into Flight of the Conchords, you'll probably never understand. In the end, the world presented to us in the FOTC TV show is an endearing one, full of colourful and memorable characters that are fun to write. And the fictionalised Bret and Jemaine live in each other's pockets, frequently tag along on each other's dates and play up their 'bromance' to a point that almost invites fanfic. Also, they're hot.
This seems like a pretty niche market.
Yeah, it's pretty niche. But not unique. For a while, when the TV show was at its height, there was a small but dedicated group of people from all over the world contributing their stories and artwork to the still-viewable but now pretty much dead Conchords Slash livejournal site. I was one of them, and I think I can safely say one of the most prolific. The quality of writing and art was consistently high, and I dedicate this archive to all the wonderful people whose work (or, perhaps, play) made me laugh, cry and retire to my bunk.
I don't get half the jokes/references in your stories.
Is that because you haven't watched much Flight of the Conchords? I can't explain all the references in my stories, but here's a non-exhaustive list of things you need to know.
- Murray is their entirely inept Band Manager. He works at the New Zealand consulate. He is terribly official, insisting that the two-man band participate in a roll-call at the beginning of each meeting. He has a fraught on-again-off-again relationship with his wife Shelly, and a crush on Mel.
- Mel is their one fan. She is a class-A psycho. She frequently stalks the guys in the presence of her long-suffering husband Doug.
- Their best friend Dave works in a pawn shop. He believes himself to be a badass and a ladies' man. In reality, he lives with his parents and there is no evidence of him ever having been with a woman. His speech is littered with foul language and mis-said or misunderstood words. He cannot get it into his head that the boys are from New Zealand, and consistently gets their nationality confused.
- Eugene is their landlord. He's very strange and a bit creepy. He appears at odd moments for no apparent reason.
- Bret wears animal jumpers and tends to throw himself into hobbies such as karate, dancing, a mould farm and making a helmet that looks like his hair. He once had a crisis of confidence which Jemaine wrongly but confidently identified as 'bulimia'. During this crisis, he was visited by David Bowie in a dream.
- Jemaine may or may not have once put a wig on Bret while he was sleeping and spooned him. This is a very contentious topic.
True. As the fandom grew, it began to embrace other, related characters, in particular one called Taika. You won't find Taika (the character) in any episode of Flight of the Conchords, but you might spot his face in a cameo or his name in the credits. Because he's a real person - supercool NZ actor/director/writer/comedian/artist/ninja Taika Waititi. Or Taika Cohen. He's awkward like that. In fact, he's awkward every which way. Most famously, he feigned falling asleep at the Oscars. He directed several episodes of FOTC, collaborated with Bret and Jemaine on early projects, and directed the movie 'Eagle vs Shark', featuring Jemaine Clement. In fanfiction he tends to be portrayed as mischievous, irreverent, confident (sometimes to the point of smug), passionate, and several degrees cooler, more mature and more 'together' than Bret and Jemaine.
So...wait...are you writing about real people? Or fictional characters?
To be honest, it's probably best not to think about it too much.
Do you own Bret, Jemaine, Flight of the Conchords or any related intellectual property? Do you get paid for writing this stuff?
Of course not, stupid.