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I'm gonna make stuff up as it appears relevant. So this might be rather fragment-y.
Yes. Fragment-y.
Erik is the name of the character who has been popularized as The Phantom of the Opera in books, movies, a couple of stage plays and a lot of different kinds of fan fiction.
My version of Erik is based *pretty* firmly on the Gaston Leroux's original. I never read Susan Kay's piece and am frankly unlikely to ever do so. I wave wildly back and forth about ALW's famous musical. REALLY icky interior feelings about the sequel.... and there is just so much damned fan fiction out there you can't even read it all. However, worth mentioning is the wry sense of humor that developed here: f-warp.deviantart.com/gallery/10054463/Evil-Bastards Be sure to check out the "Ask Erik!" clips. f-warp.deviantart.com/gallery/8645427/Funny-shorts They are funny as hell.
I just finished re-reading The Phantom of the Opera for the first time in years after finally acquiring a copy of a better translation. Yeah, as it turns out... the translation that you find in most places is the same one from 1911; and its just not a very good translation. They even cut whole parts of chapters. Its kind of infuriating. Anyways, I discovered that Christine is a much more complex character than originally given credit for (no surprise there) but sadly Erik is actually rendered LESS interesting of a character. Almost an old Hollywood monster... much MORE of a douche bag. I mean... I know some of it is because I am older, but really-- Erik isn't just a bad guy, he's a sick, manipulative twisted fuck at Christine. He just doesn't care about her. Literally.
I was very disappointed. Because the Erik in my own head that I have been oh-so-carefully cultivating for.... um. like 18 years now... (*sigh!*) is much different. My Erik is more awkward, first of all. And as far as it comes to what happened between him & Christine-- my Erik shows some very real sense of contrition. My Erik really loved Christine, even if he had no skills to express said love.
Erik as he stands today has been through some kind of Government rehabilitation program of some kind. I'm not sure what kind. Frankly, I'd probably have to make it up. But suffice it to say that he planned on coming to the united states to get about as far away from anything attached to his past. Naturally, he's going to be pretty tight lipped about the whole thing.
He really has taken the name Erik Delaopera.
For the sake of argument I am going to say tat he probably has some sort of honorary doctorate in something by now. So you can call him Dr. Delaopera or Professor Delaopera if you wish. I'm thinking he will be keen on only allowing people that he thinks he'll be getting to know very well call him "Erik". In the past, "Erik" was the only name he had, so he'll appreciate being called by something new for now.
Since (or more likely, as part of) his treatment, Erik received a little plastic surgery. He looks about as awful as Lon Chaney actually looks in the icons I've borrowed from my most beloved 1925 film. He's got something that sort of functions as a nose and probably a working upper lip. Here's a modern rendition of a makeup artist who has given a really good attempt at recreating the face as crafted by Chaney Sr. seams-unusual.deviantart.com/art/Lon-Chaney-s-Phantom-of-the-Opera-Detail-412333523. I chose the color photo to make my point (Lon Chaney's look only really works in the high-contrast world of early film)
So... far from a monster who needs to stay in hiding..... but still rather unfortunate.
I have some pretty good ideas about how to take Erik's canon background and bring it into a modern era, but I am leaving those secret for now. Also there are some things that I am open to develop with others, so if you feel like you want your character to recognize Erik from say, the semi-Soviet Circuses several decades ago or from Iran (Persia) I would be thrilled to work something out with you!
I am kind of dumb about internets, but I am sure you can talk to me here or else on Plurk under PrincessOutlaw.
Yes. Fragment-y.
Erik is the name of the character who has been popularized as The Phantom of the Opera in books, movies, a couple of stage plays and a lot of different kinds of fan fiction.
My version of Erik is based *pretty* firmly on the Gaston Leroux's original. I never read Susan Kay's piece and am frankly unlikely to ever do so. I wave wildly back and forth about ALW's famous musical. REALLY icky interior feelings about the sequel.... and there is just so much damned fan fiction out there you can't even read it all. However, worth mentioning is the wry sense of humor that developed here: f-warp.deviantart.com/gallery/10054463/Evil-Bastards Be sure to check out the "Ask Erik!" clips. f-warp.deviantart.com/gallery/8645427/Funny-shorts They are funny as hell.
I just finished re-reading The Phantom of the Opera for the first time in years after finally acquiring a copy of a better translation. Yeah, as it turns out... the translation that you find in most places is the same one from 1911; and its just not a very good translation. They even cut whole parts of chapters. Its kind of infuriating. Anyways, I discovered that Christine is a much more complex character than originally given credit for (no surprise there) but sadly Erik is actually rendered LESS interesting of a character. Almost an old Hollywood monster... much MORE of a douche bag. I mean... I know some of it is because I am older, but really-- Erik isn't just a bad guy, he's a sick, manipulative twisted fuck at Christine. He just doesn't care about her. Literally.
I was very disappointed. Because the Erik in my own head that I have been oh-so-carefully cultivating for.... um. like 18 years now... (*sigh!*) is much different. My Erik is more awkward, first of all. And as far as it comes to what happened between him & Christine-- my Erik shows some very real sense of contrition. My Erik really loved Christine, even if he had no skills to express said love.
Erik as he stands today has been through some kind of Government rehabilitation program of some kind. I'm not sure what kind. Frankly, I'd probably have to make it up. But suffice it to say that he planned on coming to the united states to get about as far away from anything attached to his past. Naturally, he's going to be pretty tight lipped about the whole thing.
He really has taken the name Erik Delaopera.
For the sake of argument I am going to say tat he probably has some sort of honorary doctorate in something by now. So you can call him Dr. Delaopera or Professor Delaopera if you wish. I'm thinking he will be keen on only allowing people that he thinks he'll be getting to know very well call him "Erik". In the past, "Erik" was the only name he had, so he'll appreciate being called by something new for now.
Since (or more likely, as part of) his treatment, Erik received a little plastic surgery. He looks about as awful as Lon Chaney actually looks in the icons I've borrowed from my most beloved 1925 film. He's got something that sort of functions as a nose and probably a working upper lip. Here's a modern rendition of a makeup artist who has given a really good attempt at recreating the face as crafted by Chaney Sr. seams-unusual.deviantart.com/art/Lon-Chaney-s-Phantom-of-the-Opera-Detail-412333523. I chose the color photo to make my point (Lon Chaney's look only really works in the high-contrast world of early film)
So... far from a monster who needs to stay in hiding..... but still rather unfortunate.
I have some pretty good ideas about how to take Erik's canon background and bring it into a modern era, but I am leaving those secret for now. Also there are some things that I am open to develop with others, so if you feel like you want your character to recognize Erik from say, the semi-Soviet Circuses several decades ago or from Iran (Persia) I would be thrilled to work something out with you!
I am kind of dumb about internets, but I am sure you can talk to me here or else on Plurk under PrincessOutlaw.
