Remix - How To

[cap_ironman_fe]

So you’ve signed up for the remix (or are planning to), but aren’t sure how to approach it. Don’t worry! This post is here to give you some ideas of where to start.

First off, there is no one right way to do a remix. That might be intimidating at first, but it’s really not so different from creating fanworks for original content. And you've already done that! Much like fan creations can adhere closely to canon or diverge wildly, a remix can range from changing only one facet, such as the POV, to divergent adaptations that change many aspects or that have entirely new scenes or imagery based on the original.

Remixing Examples and Ideas:

Let’s take a theoretical piece and look at some examples of how we can remix it.

First, it’s handy to summarize what’s going on. Who is present? Where are they? And what is the action in the picture or the plot in the story?

If you’ve already identified a piece you want to remix and think you don't have one or more of those--maybe it's a portrait or introspective ramblings--consider why you want to remix the piece. Maybe you want to let Steve be privy to Tony’s insomnia fueled fever-engineering via mind meld, or perhaps you want to zoom out of the portrait and show Steve presenting it at an art gallery. You aren't necessarily backed into a corner without setting or action, but giving yourself fewer knobs to tweak may put more pressure on you to differentiate the remix while keeping some essence of the original.

Here’s the summary we’ll be using as an example: Steve and Tony are on the helicarrier. Steve is angry with Tony and they’re arguing.

Fic Remix of Fic

- Change the POV character
If the piece originally shows the frustration Steve is feeling, then moving the narrative into Tony’s POV will shed light onto his side of things and potentially give you a whole new set of emotions to explore. You could also change the POV to a third character--maybe Natasha thinks they’re both being idiots.

- Change the setting and/or time frame
Maybe the argument doesn’t start on the helicarrier, maybe it simmers in the back of Steve’s mind before the proverbial camel’s back breaks. Or, consider using a different universe. An argument in a world where they coexist as Director/Commander could turn out totally different. If you're setting the story in a different time period, say the Regency, then changing the writing style to the time period can also be a great touch.

- Change the structure
You could tell events backwards or nonlinearly, such as starting at a point where they aren’t on speaking terms, and then revealing why. You could also explore the events that lead up to the fight, or how they might (or might not) make up afterward, especially if the original story is short. (Nothing wrong with having a remix that’s longer than the original!) You could even set your story farther in the future, with your POV character recounting the events or wondering what they could have said differently.

- Change the focus of the story
Maybe the argument isn’t the main plot of the original, maybe it’s a flashback or minor scene that you want to expand on. Maybe there was a brief reconciliation in the original, and you think it would be great if one or the other was more contrite (or conversely, more stubborn). Or maybe the original doesn’t have the reconciliation--maybe it’s features in another drabble in the series. It’s okay to pull the pieces for your remix from more than one piece your assignee wrote (as long as they aren’t designated as safe stories).

- Change the genre/trope
Along the lines of changing the focus--maybe you want to play up the angst and give Tony something he’s hiding and feels he can’t share with Steve (like an injury, or a secret identity). Or maybe you want to use it as setup for some belligerent bedroom antics.

- Use different narrative tools
You can try incorporating epistolary or diary type entries. (Maybe you recreate the fight via text message, and show the inner turmoil of one as he waits for the other to reply.) You could also switch tense, from past to present, or the narrative pronouns (first to third, or vice versa).

Art Remix of Art

- Change the perspective angle
How might framing the scene from either above or below reinforce Steve or Tony’s feelings and positions in the argument?

- Change the setting and/or time frame:
Maybe instead of MCU Tony and Steve arguing it’s Skinny 1940’s Steve berating Tony the Reckless Adventurer from Noir. And in the latter case, since the helicarrier hasn’t been invented, where are they? The airship? Deep in the heart of some jungle?

- Change the style
Maybe the original piece is just screaming to be rendering in pointillism--or maybe a take in the style of traditional japanese art?

- Change the mood
What are their expressions? How serious of an argument is this? Are they having a blowout fight or is Steve actually just flustered because Tony keeps teasing him? Adding heavier shading can create a more dramatic feel, and choice of color can reinforce emotion or create jarring sensations.

- Switch which character is doing what
Maybe Tony is the angry one. Is there a dialogue bubble? If so, would it make sense coming out of the other character’s mouth? How might that change the dynamic?

- Incorporate or remove elements to change the scene’s focus
Put a ring box in Steve or Tony's hand and the dynamic immediately changes.

- Incorporate the original into a larger framing
Maybe this argument happens to be in front of a security camera (oops) and the rest of the team is seeing it on a monitor. Or maybe it’s a photo tucked into Fury’s psychology files on the two.

- Change the format
Instead of capturing the argument at a single moment in time, turn it into a sequential story. Are there any hints in the original as to why they started yelling in the first place? How do you imagine the fight ending?

- Change the media
Maybe you have some pastels you haven’t use in ages? Watercolor?

Art Remix of Fic and Fic Remix of Art

One thing to keep in mind when remixing one type of fanwork into another is that you are not aiming to illustrate a fic or describe what is going on in the picture. This is a remix and the goal is to change the original in some way, interpret what’s there and translate it into a fanwork of your own, which could be done by changing the focus, introducing a new element or a twist, or by skipping over scenes.

Setting your remix before or after the events in the original can help you easily achieve this, but don’t simply create a sequel or prequel. In general, “what if” and “what would” questions are your friend. Say Steve threatened to throw Tony off the team in the original image, what would happen if he followed through with it? If the reader left the room with Steve in the original, what if they’d looked back at the door and saw Tony breaking down into tears?

Other easier to translate remix ideas are changing up the setting, switching which character is performing specific actions, or trading character dialogue.

What You Shouldn’t Do

- As this is a Steve/Tony fest we expect everyone is aware that the main pairing should very obviously not be changed. The same goes for all other side pairings in the fic. You can make them not come up, but don’t break them up. We will allow you to turn gen stories and friendship stories focused on Cap and Iron Man into something that has Steve/Tony romance, as we expect all participants to be okay with the Steve/Tony angle. All the other pairings need to remain untouched though.

- Create a fanwork without any connection to the remix piece.

- Fret if you still feel stuck. Send an ask to @cap-ironman, an email to cap (dot) im (dot) events (at) gmail (dot) com, or drop by the irc chat. We have tons of friendly people in the community that love to brainstorm.

Further Reading and Remix Meta

If you’d like to read more on the topic of remixes, last year’s Cap/IM Remix had a post where some of the participants discussed their process, or what they enjoyed seeing in other remixes. Other good places for reading about remix meta are the old metafandom Delicious and musesfool's Remix memories. And navaan made a post about her 2015 Remix Redux experience and some of the remixes that came out of it.

A different approach that might help you is to go and read some remixes and the stories they are based on. It can give you an insight into other people’s approaches to remixing and perhaps will give you the brilliant idea you’ve been looking for. Check out last year’s Cap/IM Remix collection.

You can also check out the Remix Redux AO3 Collections or look at challenges like avengers_remix (AO3 Collection here.) Other fandoms also run their own Remix challenges.

Here’s some more Steve/Tony related Remixes for those of you who want even more:

Something Like a Hero (The Red, White, and Blue Remix) is a remix of So Heroes Get Made.
Be No Stranger (All Your Saints and Soldiers Remix) is a remix of it should follow, you know this (like the panels of a comic strip)
Mornings Most of All (Truth or Consequences remix) is a remix of Might Fill Me Up
Impulse Control is a remix of Worst-Case Scenario
Summer Skeletons is a remix of Just Until You're Safe
Team Building (The Texting In Reverse Remix) is a remix of I'll Take Those Odds
Please (Don't) Leave Me (Can't Quit You Remix) is a remix of Love in the Third Person
Going To War (The Saving The World With Robots Remix) is a remix of To the Sky

Please mind the warnings and tags on all fics.

Do you know of some interesting Steve/Tony remixes or general remix discussions we should link to here? Ever written a remix and have thoughts? Still having trouble starting? Discuss away in the comments.