Attributes!

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Hi! This one might be pretty easy.

I'm hoping for help on characters' physical attributes. Right now, I'm specifically trying to find a good picture showing exactly what color blue Lewis Collins's eyes are (I don't really need the picture as much as I need to know the shade). I can, however, see this expanding to other things.

There's a pretty thorough discussion of Ray Doyle in canon on the Hatstand; if there's something identical for Bodie, that would be perfect. And a Cowley version would be a not-bad thing, either, come to think of it. :D

Thanks!

Comments

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

Like most people, the shade of blue can vary and be lighter or darker depending on circumstances, but here you go:

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the image (and the quick answer!); in most of the pictures I've seen his pupils are fairly dilated / lighting's bright / it's b&w, so the irises are hard to see.

Just needed to pin it down enough to be able to make a particular comparison (and something like, say, Elizabeth Taylor's violet-blue won't work).

A general character guide would be good; I'm hoping I'm just new enough at this that I haven't found it yet. Sadly, I'm nowhere near a point where I could do it, though.

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing you've already seen the Background of the Lads (http://hatstand.slashcity.net/charinfo/background.html) at the Hatstand and justacat's Manifesto Here (http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/pictures/manifesto/ship_manifesto.html), but they both have info on Bodie, depending what you're looking for.

I'm not sure if you're in the UK, but there's a zine by Gryphon Press called "Professional Insight" which gives a lot of character info based on what we see and hear in the episodes.
:-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

The Hatstand actually had pieces on Bodie's background, and also Cowley's for many years before Greengerbil contributed the Doyle background piece - scroll down the home page and you'll find them under Character Information...

Lewis Collins eyes

[(Anonymous)]

I always thought his eyes were the same colour as a new born baby. Baby's are born with that colour and it changes in the first year (I think). But I have seen so many close ups and it is the same blue that you seldom see anywhere else.

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much for the suggestions; I've actually used them... although I just might not have explained this too well.

I'm really interested in physical attributes, like "George Cowley: white hair (once brown), dark blue eyes, 5'8", 55 years old, right-handed, wears glasses, leg injury (in first season)" (this isn't an exhaustive list). I've found some very good official sources for *backstory* (and When the Cow Was A Calf was freaking brilliant) but there isn't much about identifying characteristics - not that I've found outside of fics, anyway. Greengerbil is the only writer I've seen methodically address that for a character (briefly, but it's there).

These details *might* be in the annuals (from what I can tell, Brian Clemens at least mentioned what he'd first envisioned, which would be a guideline). But I'm having problems finding tangibles or seeing them well enough in the episodes to even tell Martin Shaw's eyes are green (! - which is worrisome; I'm nearsighted but should be able to *see* this). And it will take a few more viewings before I really pick this up from the DVDs - which I can't do right now.

"Professional Insight" might have it, but I'm overseas and might not get it in time... :(

Maybe I could look for actor bios; I haven't really tried that. And maybe some of this isn't really known / agreed on; in the whole scheme of things it's not that important to the series. I just figured people are so well versed, if it's out there they'll know. :D

Not trying to be sarcastic or thick (and I definitely respect your knowledge); just trying to avoid turning fanfic into canon.

Re: Lewis Collins eyes

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Baby blues - oooh, that is more helpful than I can begin to tell you. Thanks! :D

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Lol - I didn't think you were being either sarcastic or thick! *g* I don't think there is "definitive" information out there though, because ultimately the only "one true source" is the eps themselves - anything else is either about the actors or is "secondary canon". And if you go with secondary canon such as the novelisations, or what's in various magainzes and annuals etc, then you end up being told that Doyle is "fair haired", has blue eyes, a chain he always wears around his neck with engagement rings on it... If you go with the actor's descriptions, then Doyle must have straight (ish) brown hair and blue eyes.

I think there's variety in the fanon and fics we read because canon comes from the eps themselves, and because they were shot on film stock from the seventies, the colours etc aren't as obvious and specific as digital tv show these days. So Doyle's eyes sometimes look green, sometimes blue - Bodie's blue eyes can be light or dark blue depending on the light.

Professional Insight is great, but it's just another set of observations from people who've watched the show - and via video, not dvd, so their viewing quality was actually worse than ours is now... *g* And brilliant as the various essays at Hatstand are, they're also just individual interpretations of what people have seen/decided for themselves, so they're not actually "canon" either...

I think the only way you can avoid propagating fanon is to go with whatever you see in the eps, and describe it your very own way... And that's what I love about Pros - no one can say "This is how it definitely was" about anything much - that's why there is so much fanfic, I reckon, and why it's been written for over 30 years now... *g*