Do we want a sequel? (discussion)

[artemisek.livejournal.com]

Hi, I'm just trying to start a discussion... Do you guys think/hope that there'll be a sequel someday? Or do you want to leave the story as it is, no questions asked?

Comments

[spikedluv]

It's always nice to imagine seeing the boys again, but when it comes to sequels, I'm always afraid that the writers are going to do stuff to make me unhappy, and I want to remember the boys in their 'happily ever after' moment, and make up for myself what happens to them next. *g*

[isa-ironic.livejournal.com]

i have the same oppinion like spikeluv.
i would love that there will be a sequel but i guess they will not make one :(

[dragontatt.livejournal.com]

While the idea of knowing what the writer had in mind as a future for Zach and Shaun is tempting, I really hope there is no sequel cause they rarely live up to my expectations. Besides I can always write what I want to have happen if there is no sequel....

[equally-dour.livejournal.com]

I prefer to leave them in their happy place. :) And since generally sequels suck I don't really mind they won't make another movie. On the other hand I'd love to see them together as a family... Thank god for fanfiction. :D

[fizzerbass.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see a sequel, but like everyone else, I'm almost worried what they'd put in it. If you think about it, the original was about Zach's coming of age...about his discovery not only that he is gay, but that he actually can be in control of his own life. In other words, he got his shit together. So what would they do in the sequel? What would be his challenge this time? Infidelity to Shaun? Jeanne getting her act together and coming back for Cody? Zach's actual commitment to his new lifestyle?

Realistically, and I cringe as I type this, I think a sequel would actually show Zach and Shaun breaking up for a good long while. Zach is extremely co-dependent in the original, he needs people to need him in order to feel worthwhile and loved...and let's face it, Shaun is not that needy of a person. I imagine (and quite vividly, too) that Zach would start to drift towards someone who needs him more than Shaun does and that Shaun would just let him go in order for Zach to be happy. It would take something cataclysmic (?sp) to happen...Zach getting involved with a drug addict or someone else equally hard to "save"...for Zach to realize how unhealthy his relationships have become and to get some help. I can totally see Shaun waiting for Zach to come back to him...but it could take years.

Or Shaun could face the challenge this time. He could find out he fathered a child back in his experimental days, he could have his head turned by a rich, influential publisher or - gasp - he could discover he has a life-threatening illnes like cancer or something. That way, Zach can show more growth and maturation as he weathers the storm and the sequel can show his final evolution into a man.

Gee, think I think about this too much?

[silksashes.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'd want a sequel with too much angst in it, although in keeping with Jonah Markowitz's philosophy that a film about gay men can have a happy ending I would hope that a sequel would too. But I don't think I need it.

But do you really think that Shaun doesn't need Zach as much as Zach needs him? In the film I felt that after the first kisses he was reasonably confident that Zach would come back for more and was able to be patient with him, but after the break-up in the car he was desperate that Zach didn't respond to his attempts to contact him, and when he does come back, Shaun is almost afraid to believe it because it means so much to him.

Anyway, no sequel - I'd rather use my own imagination and that of the writers here.

[sleeper6.livejournal.com]

I've thought about this too, but I say, why mess with perfection? As much as we all would like to see more of these guys happy together, I think it best not to see them do something stupid that threatens their relationship in the sequel. I mean, the movie's gotta have obstacles, right? No, I think just imagining the what ifs are better than having our own futures for them messed up in some way. Now, I'm not saying Mr. Markowitz would necessarily do that, but I'm thinking he wouldn't be able to please everyone, so someone's idea of what happened after would be ruined in some way.

Sequel

[jimandersatl.livejournal.com]

I met the producer JD Disalvatore this past summer in LA. She said she wouldn't be involved in a sequel. I begged her and offered seed money. She's very talented and a delightful person. But the rights are owned by here! networks (Paul Colichman and Steven Jarchow) and perhaps Jonah Markowitz. These are the guys that must be convinced...

[yana-ambf.livejournal.com]

I don't know about this. Even if a sequel were possible, I think it'd be a huge gamble. Of course I would luv to see a snapshot of Zach and Shaun's life post-movie; a sequel offers the possibility to return to the loveliness and squishiness of the first film. However, a sequel could also be a disaster, utterly failing to recapture any of the magic and chemistry of the original. This movie is such my happy place that I don't know if I could stand tampering with that in any way.

Plus, my mind's eye sees them continuing in perpetuity in their little blissful state, staying happy like they were at the beach forever. I don't think I could stand anything in a sequel that compromised that. I see them continuing to make things work. I used to worry about Zach starting school and meeting someone in that environment. However, after my 20393874th viewing, I no longer see that as a threat. It took a LOT for Zach to let Shaun in, and once that happened, that was it, Shaun has Zach forever, completely. I think Zach so adores Shaun (and is so elated that he can have Shaun AND Cody), he wouldn't take a chance on anything ruining that. I don't think either one would let anything jeopardize the relationship. In spite of everything in the beginning, I see things going quite smoothly between them. I don't know what sort of conflict a sequel would introduce (Jeannie maybe? But would she really want to be saddled with raising her own child?), but I want to envision them going on in sappy bliss forever.

[jess-d-10.livejournal.com]

I think that everyone is desperate to know what happens next after seeing a movie or reading a book that they love. But I have to agree with most of the people here and say that I think a sequel would only dissapoint us. What most of us really want to see is two hours of Zach and Shaun living in domestic bliss without facing any problems, but what kind of a movie would that be? Of course, they would need to face obstacles, and I think that fizzer is right: they would likely come in the form of Zach and Shaun spending time apart. Not only is it going to be difficult for Zach to be with someone who doesn't depend on him (and arguably, who he depends on more), but he has just discovered that he's gay. Do we really think that he isn't going to at least be tempted to explore a little more? As clear as I think it is that Zach and Shaun love each other, relationships get complicated no matter what, and I think that there is plenty of opportunity for complication between these guys.
Of course, there are other obstacles they could face, things that have been brought up like Jeanne getting back into the picture, or Shaun facing some sort of challenge himself, but I don't think any of these things could happen without putting stress on Zach and Shaun's relationship. Now, I realize I'm writing a sort of sequel myself (which will eventually be updated, I promise), and I haven't challenged Zach and Shaun's relationship much yet, but that's to come. And while I think my little story is fun for fanfiction, I don't think it would quite work for film. Movies need more conflict, and seeing Zach and Shaun go through that conflict may be disappointing to a lot of us. Or, the movie might be horribly done and could totally suck the magic out of Shelter. That wouldn't be good either!