”I’ll never tell my full story” - Sarah Michelle Gellar

[Synch]

I'm sure SMG thought Joss semi left her alone first when he had 2 shows and then more alone when he had 3 shows during Buffy 6 (Firefly production started Dec '01). She actually said it during the EW interview back in the day.

And I'm also sure one of the reasons she stays silent is because part of the actors and crew saw Joss and SMG as both... Well, they were very busy. Or maybe because S6-7 had Marti as co-showrunner and de facto boss on set and maybe SMG and Marti had their own issues.

But thats only my theory...

 

[Cheese Slices]

I have always thought that once the idea of adult life in season 6 was shelved as boring and it was decided to go with the horrid sex it was a ideal time for Whedon, who we knew had issues with SMG to show her who was Boss , Sarah to this day takes her role as a icon very seriously and winning many awards for Buffy what better way for Whedon and his ego than to belittle SMG by to implying Buffy having oral, annal, and BDSM sex, we all know Sarah hated it and disliked S6
Of course I am interested to hear her side especially if you were around when Buffy finished and could read the hate, but that's down to Sarah and her decision, possibly opening up old wounds

So let me get this straight: having oral, anal (even though it's a bit of a stretch to think that) or "BDSM" (which it wasn't really) sex is degrading and people who engage in it should feel ashamed ?
Not to mention that SMG has played roles that entailed more graphic sex scenes and cruder language and implications; Cruel Intentions, that she seems particularly proud of, has her character suggest a wager to her step brother for which his "prize" is literally to have anal sex with her.
It's great that you're so passionate and ready to go to the bat for SMG but this ain't the 50s anymore.

Lastly, as Synch has mentioned, SMG was very vocal about how Whedon was not there and complained about it, and there are many interviews about how Noxon put a lot of her own life story into the show as there was an easy parallel to draw to what Buffy's reaction could be after being resurrected. Nothing to do with SMG whatsoever.

 

[Btvs fan]

I'm sure SMG thought Joss semi left her alone first when he had 2 shows and then more alone when he had 3 shows during Buffy 6 (Firefly production started Dec '01). She actually said it during the EW interview back in the day.

And I'm also sure one of the reasons she stays silent is because part of the actors and crew saw Joss and SMG as both... Well, they were very busy. Or maybe because S6-7 had Marti as co-showrunner and de facto boss on set and maybe SMG and Marti had their own issues.

But thats only my theory...

Sarah is well known for disliking the Balcony Sex scene in Dead Things. That wasn't even in the script and was put in by Joss himself. Steve DeKnight confirmed it.

There had been in issues long before S6.
When Cruel Intentions came out, Whedon was openly making fun of it and calling it porny and the kiddies version of Dangerous Liasons.

In S5 with the UPN move. Sarah had wanted to stay with the WB and even threatened to quit. Joss reminded her she had no say in the matter and was under contract.

After Chosen her husband FPJ was vocal saying somone on set had made his wife's life miserable. Though he didn't mention names. Joss Whedon then fired back that Freddie wasn't there and didn't know what he was talking about.

On the Firefly DVD Commentary Joss makes a crack about cranky Season 7 TV Stars.

Joss was also angry that she didn't do the 100th episode on Angel Season 5 (Fury confirms this)and TGIQ is basically a subtle attack on SMG by Joss who coldly states "she's moved on and so should we"

To suggest there weren't issues or that somehow Marti was responsible (Jesus Christ, fans are so desperate not to blame Joss for anything, that Marti is always the scapegoat) is disingenuous.

 

[Bop]

I have always thought that once the idea of adult life in season 6 was shelved as boring and it was decided to go with the horrid sex it was a ideal time for Whedon, who we knew had issues with SMG to show her who was Boss , Sarah to this day takes her role as a icon very seriously and winning many awards for Buffy what better way for Whedon and his ego than to belittle SMG by to implying Buffy having oral, annal, and BDSM sex, we all know Sarah hated it and disliked S6
Of course I am interested to hear her side especially if you were around when Buffy finished and could read the hate, but that's down to Sarah and her decision, possibly opening up old wounds

I think you're right, I don't follow much about Sarah but I believe I remember her saying she avoided smoking in public and such while filming Buffy, because she didn't want people to see 'Buffy' smoking.
Sarah seems to take pride in Buffy being a role model to young girls so I can't imagine she entirely liked what they had Buffy onscreen doing in season 6. It wasn't even empowering for Buffy after all, it was to escape feeling numb by feeling disgust and pain. A form of self harm.

 

[Dora]

So let me get this straight: having oral, anal (even though it's a bit of a stretch to think that) or "BDSM" (which it wasn't really) sex is degrading and people who engage in it should feel ashamed ?
Not to mention that SMG has played roles that entailed more graphic sex scenes and cruder language and implications; Cruel Intentions, that she seems particularly proud of, has her character suggest a wager to her step brother for which his "prize" is literally to have anal sex with her.
It's great that you're so passionate and ready to go to the bat for SMG but this ain't the 50s anymore.

Lastly, as Synch has mentioned, SMG was very vocal about how Whedon was not there and complained about it, and there are many interviews about how Noxon put a lot of her own life story into the show as there was an easy parallel to draw to what Buffy's reaction could be after being resurrected. Nothing to do with SMG whatsoever.

You seem to forget this program was aimed at young adolescents after 5 seasons in the UK it had to be moved to after the 9pm watershed and was it not reported by the decency committee in the states.The sex was nothing like we had seen in the seasons before or the one after, Sarah said she felt degraded and the balcony sex in the bronze was the thing she had most difficulty with. The protection that the actors have in a series like this once they sign is the is basically what had gone before and the integrity of those in charge. You are correct Sarah is very vocal about Whedon not being on set, never in his office and when they did speak it was hard to have a conversation with someone that just yells at you and yes season 6 was about Noxons poor judgment and hang-ups but she has always maintained nothing happened without Whedon's OK and as Buffy fan has already pointed out Whedon had had the balcony scene in his head for a year before fitting it into dead things

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I can see where she's coming from, that telling her "story" wouldn't really make any difference at this point, and she's definitely not obligated to disclose any information unless she feels comfortable doing so.

 

[thrasherpix]

The talk of where season 6 went makes me wonder, and I'll ask as surely there are people here who can instantly say...who did James Marsters complain to about the bathroom scene between Spike and Buffy?

 

[Cheese Slices]

Sarah is well known for disliking the Balcony Sex scene in Dead Things. That wasn't even in the script and was put in by Joss himself. Steve DeKnight confirmed it.

There had been in issues long before S6.
When Cruel Intentions came out, Whedon was openly making fun of it and calling it porny and the kiddies version of Dangerous Liasons.

In S5 with the UPN move. Sarah had wanted to stay with the WB and even threatened to quit. Joss reminded her she had no say in the matter and was under contract.

After Chosen her husband FPJ was vocal saying somone on set had made his wife's life miserable. Though he didn't mention names. Joss Whedon then fired back that Freddie wasn't there and didn't know what he was talking about.

On the Firefly DVD Commentary Joss makes a crack about cranky Season 7 TV Stars.

Joss was also angry that she didn't do the 100th episode on Angel Season 5 (Fury confirms this)and TGIQ is basically a subtle attack on SMG by Joss who coldly states "she's moved on and so should we"

To suggest there weren't issues or that somehow Marti was responsible (Jesus Christ, fans are so desperate not to blame Joss for anything, that Marti is always the scapegoat) is disingenuous.

Let me state outright that I have no doubt Whedon did and said a lot of shitty things about SMG, however it feels like you're just randomly throwing every hint of hostility between the two that you could think of without there being any relation with one another. Him insulting her film is petty and rude, which is different from him reminding her that she has signed a contract that she has to abide by. It's a shitty situation for her but I don't see how this can be construed as abusive or mean spirited in any way. SMG wanted to make movies, he wanted to keep on making the show, their interests diverged, as they often do between actors and producers. It happens.

As to the last part, don't know if it was direct at me, but I certainly do not "scapegoat" Marti Noxon. I love season 6, think this is the closest the show ever got to having a "female perspective" and think her contribution to the show is brilliant, and yes Whedon (and Fury, and others) had the final stamp of approval and sprinkled his stuff as he always did, but having followed Noxon's other works, you can tell a lot of it is her; hell, she (and others) explicitly stated as much. So yeah, she was in great part responsible - responsible for making a pretty amazing season of TV that was pretty trail-blazing in many ways.

You seem to forget this program was aimed at young adolescents after 5 seasons in the UK it had to be moved to after the 9pm watershed and was it not reported by the decency committee in the states.The sex was nothing like we had seen in the seasons before or the one after, Sarah said she felt degraded and the balcony sex in the bronze was the thing she had most difficulty with. The protection that the actors have in a series like this once they sign is the is basically what had gone before and the integrity of those in charge. You are correct Sarah is very vocal about Whedon not being on set, never in his office and when they did speak it was hard to have a conversation with someone that just yells at you and yes season 6 was about Noxons poor judgment and hang-ups but she has always maintained nothing happened without Whedon's OK and as Buffy fan has already pointed out Whedon had had the balcony scene in his head for a year before fitting it into dead things

The UK was pretty infamous for over-censoring content and honestly, it does not matter. It wasn't the case in my country and the program was aimed at highschoolers (14 yo at the youngest) who grew older with the show. I watched S6 when I was 8 and wasn't scarred for life (ok Anya cutting up her face was kinda creepy).
Ultimately, I'm sorry that SMG didn't have a good experience (though we don't actually know what happened exactly, if it was on the actual shooting side of things or just the story, or both), but I'm not crazy about this trend of blaming writers for not doing what the actors want. The actor not being treated right during the shooting of the scene would be where I draw the line, but AFAIK she has not claimed that was the case. In a ideal world, there would be a more collaborative environment and time to talk things out, but a show on network TV that has to produce 22 hours of content in 2001 is not an ideal world.

 

[Btvs fan]

Let me state outright that I have no doubt Whedon did and said a lot of shitty things about SMG, however it feels like you're just randomly throwing every hint of hostility between the two that you could think of without there being any relation with one another. Him insulting her film is petty and rude, which is different from him reminding her that she has signed a contract that she has to abide by. It's a shitty situation for her but I don't see how this can be construed as abusive or mean spirited in any way. SMG wanted to make movies, he wanted to keep on making the show, their interests diverged, as they often do between actors and producers. It happens.

As to the last part, don't know if it was direct at me, but I certainly do not "scapegoat" Marti Noxon. I love season 6, think this is the closest the show ever got to having a "female perspective" and think her contribution to the show is brilliant, and yes Whedon (and Fury, and others) had the final stamp of approval and sprinkled his stuff as he always did, but having followed Noxon's other works, you can tell a lot of it is her; hell, she (and others) explicitly stated as much. So yeah, she was in great part responsible - responsible for making a pretty amazing season of TV that was pretty trail-blazing in many ways.

The UK was pretty infamous for over-censoring content and honestly, it does not matter. It wasn't the case in my country and the program was aimed at highschoolers (14 yo at the youngest) who grew older with the show. I watched S6 when I was 8 and wasn't scarred for life (ok Anya cutting up her face was kinda creepy).
Ultimately, I'm sorry that SMG didn't have a good experience (though we don't actually know what happened exactly, if it was on the actual shooting side of things or just the story, or both), but I'm not crazy about this trend of blaming writers for not doing what the actors want. The actor not being treated right during the shooting of the scene would be where I draw the line, but AFAIK she has not claimed that was the case. In a ideal world, there would be a more collaborative environment and time to talk things out, but a show on network TV that has to produce 22 hours of content in 2001 is not an ideal world.

No it wasn't directed at you but regardless you responded so I'll respond.

Also They're not just random bits (doesn't make them less true if they were). Her Husband literally cane out and said somone on set made her life miserable. Joss Whedon rresponded.
He even took shots on another shows DVD Commentary

Writers have literally confirmed there were issues between the 2.

Sarah herself has said she doesn't wanted to be associated with Joss Whedons name. Why do you think that is ? Especially given a Buffy movie probably would've made them both a ton of money ?

 

[Plasma]

Let’s not get down on other people’s opinions or interpretations of what happened.

We don’t (and likely won’t) know the true extent of what happened and how it happened, since we weren’t there, so speculation and interpretations are all we have in some situations.

Plus, let’s not forget that the people we’re talking about are very real and have feelings and personal issues to deal with. 🙂

 

[Btvs fan]

Let’s not get down on other people’s opinions or interpretations of what happened.

We don’t (and likely won’t) know the true extent of what happened and how it happened, since we weren’t there, so speculation and interpretations are all we have in some situations.

Plus, let’s not forget that the people we’re talking about are very real and have feelings and personal issues to deal with. 🙂

I agree and that involves speculation that it was Marti not Joss Sarah had issues with though Emma Caulfield said it best though with "we can all guess who"

Sarah Michelle Gellar Returns to Fighting Form: “I’ve Earned the Right to Stand Where I Am”

Twenty years after 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' its star is back with more high school horror as she battles to protect her younger 'Wolf Pack' co-stars — and her daughter — from industry abuses: “I hope that I’ve set up a safety net for these actors that I didn’t have.”

www.hollywoodreporter.com

But let's put it another way then. Let's look at the alternative. Whedon's response to all the allegations and he's said this so its on record is that he doesn't know what they are talking about . Nothing happened, if anything he was to nice on set.

So let me ask you, which answer sounds more believable ?

 

[Taake]

To speculate, I think it is entirely possible that Sarah had creative issues on set/possibly wasn’t treated well.

But also that maybe she doesn’t like to re-watch s.6 because Buffy was in a really dark place (not just sex wise) and she can’t relate or connect to that?

Don’t get me wrong, I think SMG is terrific, but I don’t think she’s ever been clinically depressed and may not have connected to that storyline (though her acting was top notch). Also at the time, since she got married at the start of s.7, she was engaged and in love and probably in a really happy place personally. Having very heavy, emotional scenes to film on the daily was probably an emotional and mental challenge. So it seems understandable that she wouldn’t be too eager to re-live memories of a - for many reasons - tricky work situation.

That season means a lot to people who have been in very dark places, and I think she appreciates that, but that doesn’t mean she wants to go back go it herself.


Also, on the sex stuff. Possibly, she really didn’t like it, and I get that. But I don’t think that was her only problem. Freddie Prince Jr was on Howard Stern talking about how she was a girl who was up for anything in the bedroom and just loved to please him (I remember because as mentioned, I’m a prude, and I really didn’t want to hear that and didn’t like it), but SMG seems to have been fine with that. She’s been on Stern herself (a repulsive man who constantly talks sexy stuff, I think he asked her about her shaving habits, ugh), so I don’t think she is quite so prudey as people make it seem.

It is possible she just didn’t feel supported as an actress when it came to those specific sex scenes. Which I get, as I don’t like them myself, but I don’t think they were her only problem on set.

 

[Bop]

SMG seems to have been fine with that.

Sarah can be fine about it for herself but not for Buffy which I think was the case.

 

[Cheese Slices]

No it wasn't directed at you but regardless you responded so I'll respond.

Also They're not just random bits (doesn't make them less true if they were). Her Husband literally cane out and said somone on set made her life miserable. Joss Whedon rresponded.
He even took shots on another shows DVD Commentary

Writers have literally confirmed there were issues between the 2.

Sarah herself has said she doesn't wanted to be associated with Joss Whedons name. Why do you think that is ? Especially given a Buffy movie probably would've made them both a ton of money ?

Where in my posts did I ever deny there was a feud between Whedon and Gellar ? It's been known since before the show went off air. Everyone and their dog knew about it. My point was that, just because we know there was bad blood between them doesn't mean that every single thing that she was made to do on the show and that she disliked were a secret attack on her person. Some might have been, but certainly not all or even most.

 

[The Bronze]

Yeah can't imagine she was bothered about specific sex acts being suggested/depicted. More that the character was at such a low that she wouldn't have been engaging that way with that character previously. Some of it was quite grim in the context.

 

[Synch]

Sarah is well known for disliking the Balcony Sex scene in Dead Things. That wasn't even in the script and was put in by Joss himself. Steve DeKnight confirmed it.

There had been in issues long before S6.
When Cruel Intentions came out, Whedon was openly making fun of it and calling it porny and the kiddies version of Dangerous Liasons.

In S5 with the UPN move. Sarah had wanted to stay with the WB and even threatened to quit. Joss reminded her she had no say in the matter and was under contract.

After Chosen her husband FPJ was vocal saying somone on set had made his wife's life miserable. Though he didn't mention names. Joss Whedon then fired back that Freddie wasn't there and didn't know what he was talking about.

On the Firefly DVD Commentary Joss makes a crack about cranky Season 7 TV Stars.

Joss was also angry that she didn't do the 100th episode on Angel Season 5 (Fury confirms this)and TGIQ is basically a subtle attack on SMG by Joss who coldly states "she's moved on and so should we"

To suggest there weren't issues or that somehow Marti was responsible (Jesus Christ, fans are so desperate not to blame Joss for anything, that Marti is always the scapegoat) is disingenuous.

I don't blame Marti. Never did. Actually I like her as the best number 2 Joss could have in terms of consigliere-type of producer (Greenwalt 1-3 was more a Joss clone and Minear too). She did a fine job in terms of storytelling during S6 along Joss and pretty much alone in terms of overall showrunner (although by that point Joss knew his senior writers ran their own episodes except Espenson who didn't like to be on set, editing etc Thats why her ep had a lot of Joss in pre and post). She was also a key element during Angel 1-2 as a consigliere rewriting stuff and being on of the big 4 in terms of mapping the seasons along Joss, Greenwalt and Minear.

My theory is that the issues were a writers vs actors thing. If you/we pay attention, SMG did not mention Marti, or at least not too much even when she was de facto boss (and, remember "even when Marti first came here, I always went to Joss", EW 2002). Thats why Benson said BTVS was a toxic enviroment starting at the top. Joss writers and top on set bosses (and my theory is very strong here), including directors Contner, Solomon (who did every 144 episodes as producer), Gershman and line producer Davies (again: strong theory) etc Thats why I think SMG perhaps had her own issues with Marti. Maybe the nerds (in a show were the writers were the stars) vs the actors was the big issue.

When he could/had the power to cast his own actors (Buffy started, obviously, as a Sandollar, Fox, WB and Joss effort) with Firefly he came up with actors who, every one of them, are still friends with him. He avoided whatever he didn't like about actors.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

If SMG was so bent out of shape about how she was treated on the set, why was she the one who recommended her friend (from her soap opera days), Michelle Trachtenberg come to the set? If they were friends and SMG had a problem with the production, she would have told Michelle to run the other way. Michelle was recruited by SMG.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

If SMG was so bent out of shape about how she was treated on the set, why was she the one who recommended her friend (from her soap opera days), Michelle Trachtenberg come to the set?

So she wouldn't feel so alone and isolated and at least like she had a friend and someone she could trust.

 

[Btvs fan]

I don't blame Marti. Never did. Actually I like her as the best number 2 Joss could have in terms of consigliere-type of producer (Greenwalt 1-3 was more a Joss clone and Minear too). She did a fine job in terms of storytelling during S6 along Joss and pretty much alone in terms of overall showrunner (although by that point Joss knew his senior writers ran their own episodes except Espenson who didn't like to be on set, editing etc Thats why her ep had a lot of Joss in pre and post). She was also a key element during Angel 1-2 as a consigliere rewriting stuff and being on of the big 4 in terms of mapping the seasons along Joss, Greenwalt and Minear.

My theory is that the issues were a writers vs actors thing. If you/we pay attention, SMG did not mention Marti, or at least not too much even when she was de facto boss (and, remember "even when Marti first came here, I always went to Joss", EW 2002). Thats why Benson said BTVS was a toxic enviroment starting at the top. Joss writers and top on set bosses (and my theory is very strong here), including directors Contner, Solomon (who did every 144 episodes as producer), Gershman and line producer Davies (again: strong theory) etc Thats why I think SMG perhaps had her own issues with Marti. Maybe the nerds (in a show were the writers were the stars) vs the actors was the big issue.

When he could/had the power to cast his own actors (Buffy started, obviously, as a Sandollar, Fox, WB and Joss effort) with Firefly he came up with actors who, every one of them, are still friends with him. He avoided whatever he didn't like about actors.

The problem with this Writers v Actors theory is that it ignores all the Writers (on multiple shows) who've come foward with issues with Joss. When Emma Caulfield said we can all guess who , people weren't guessing Marti.

I think you might be over thinking things. Basically a fully grown Adult who'd not gotten over High School, (Hell the show was about High School) ran his TV show like a High School

As for Actors, Aly Hannigan, Alexis Denisof and Amy Acker are known for having great relationships with Joss both on and off screen. Aly is known for not commenting on the Revelations and its well known she and SMG fell out during Buffy and only recently made up. I did wonder if she was the one Amber Benson had issues with.

If SMG was so bent out of shape about how she was treated on the set, why was she the one who recommended her friend (from her soap opera days), Michelle Trachtenberg come to the set? If they were friends and SMG had a problem with the production, she would have told Michelle to run the other way. Michelle was recruited by SMG.

Gail Bergstram the Make Up Artist told an interesting story. For the Buffy Bot first appearance, Joss and Sarah were arguing over how she should be dressed. Joss wanted her sexy and in leather and Sarah wanted her prim and proper. Joss then basically took his frustration out on Gail by grabbing her Arm Really hard and the end result was a mix of both with the Buffy Bot wearing a long pink skirt and a leather jacket.

The Point is Sarah did have some pull on set. It wasn't all just 1 way

 

[nightshade]

What most scares Sarah Michelle Gellar and how she moved on from 'toxic' Buffy set with new show Wolf Pack

Another interview here, not really about Buffy but how she is on the new set