lurkers-guide/ftp/CompuServe/cs98-08

JMS CompuServe messages for August 1998.  Collected by John Hardin
<jhardin@wolfenet.com>.


Date: 01 Aug 1998 22:08:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 on Laserdisc

 Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com> asks:
> But are there actually fully edited widescreen versions of the
> entire series?

"But are there actually fully edited widescreen versions of the entire
series?"

      Yep, everything but the pilot.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1998 22:08:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com>
Subject: Gary Cole

 Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com> asks:
> Or is that just another Hollywood legend ?

      No, that one's true.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1998 22:08:08 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Gary Cole

{original post had no questions}

      I'm starting to worry about WorldCon...this thing isn't letting
go as fast as I'd've liked.  I'll be seeing a doctor again on Monday to
let me know if I'm in any condition to go.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 03 Aug 1998 13:51:06 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 on Laserdisc

 Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com> asks:
> Why not the pilot?
> Is the movie not in Widescreen available?
> are already available for a Widescreen release?

"Why not the pilot? Is the movie not in Widescreen available?"

      Wasn't shot that way.

"Also I read somewhere that B5 has been broadcasted in Widescreen in
Portugal, does this mean that all the SFX etc. are already available
for a Widescreen release?"

      That's correct.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 04 Aug 1998 00:50:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com>
Subject: River of Souls

{original post had no questions}

"In all honesty, I suspect that scene cut a little too close to home
for some guys.  I know it left me squirming uncomfortably in my chair
wanting it to just end."

      Then it had the desired effect.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 04 Aug 1998 02:05:13 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Julie Mehta <113367.1506@compuserve.com>
Subject: UK Showing - ep 517

 Julie Mehta <113367.1506@compuserve.com> asks:
> Are there any more details in it about the devices that might be
> useful to know?

"I agree the coldness was disturbing, but I feel this reveals the deep
emotion she feels at Byron's death and her consequent ruthless
determination to achieve his goals."

      This was the point I was going for with people who were saying
that the Byron thing was totally extraneous.  To get Lyta to this point
as a character -- remembering her "I'll sue" tirade as the last time
she even sorta kinda got mad -- she would *have* to go through the
fire, and lose something that meant enough to push her to this point. 
So you had to let the relationship with Byron go full term, follow it
over time, and see what it meant to her to justify and motivate what
happens to and with her in the last part of the season.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 04 Aug 1998 00:50:08 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: All 
Subject: jms out of worldcon

      This is a short version of what I sent to the Internet earlier
today. In brief, as most folks hereabouts know, I got hit about a week
ago with walking pneumonia, and have been taking serious antibiotics
and other stuff to get past it, in the hope of being able to attend
WorldCon.

      A follow-up today with my doctor resulted in him saying that
even though I'm past some of the worst of it -- though weak as a kitten
 -- I'm in that perilous situation where if I push it at *all*, if I add
stress, I will almost certainly go right into acute or bacterial
pneumonia, which would result in certain bedrest or even
hospitalization.  Right now was the worst time to push it.

      So basically, I got bushwacked.  Even Harlan threatened dire
results if I even tried to board a plane.

      More than anything, I've been looking forward to this, because
as a fan, I know what it means to be a Guest of Honor at a WorldCon;
it's one of those once-in-a-lifetime things, and the perfect end to the
B5 5 year arc. But if I go, I seriously risk falling down, and if I
fall down, the company falls down, and I *can't* do that.

      So with regrets...I can't go.  The one positive light: we're
sending B5 fan club director Julie Walker (also previously the head of
the MST3K fan club) to the con, equipped with all the videotapes I
would otherwise be showing, so there will be a presence there, and
you'll see all the stuff I would have been showing.

      So there's that...but I'll confess that I'm seriously bummed
about this.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 04 Aug 1998 17:38:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Costello <71045.3050@compuserve.com>
Subject: jms out of worldcon

{original post had no questions}

      Because we're shooting this week, the first few days on Crusade,
I'm still coming into the office, but taking it easy and not pushing
it.  The main problem was the trip and the stress of a full-blown
convention, the recirculated hotel air, shaking hands with a whole lot
of people who may have colds and the like...it was a disaster waiting
to happen under the current situation.

      At least filming is going well.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 05 Aug 1998 12:33:04 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Dust to Dust

{original post unavailable}

      No, it wasn't meant to be in 3D...and I don't have any plans to
let anyone release those books for a bit; I'd rather my first new book
out be, well, a new one.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 05 Aug 1998 14:42:09 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: jms out of worldcon

 Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
> Did you get any more money per ep to make this series?
> Also, is it going to be more expensive not to have the crutch of
> the fixed B5 sets (I know your set designer was sorta a genius at
> creating mix and match theater style sets)?

      We have a bit more money...though not a lot.  We'll do things as
we always do: smart.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 05 Aug 1998 14:42:10 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Darran Williams <101656.2143@compuserve.com>
Subject: 520 - Title?

 Darran Williams <101656.2143@compuserve.com> asks:
> Any comments?

      Wheel is the correct title.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 05 Aug 1998 17:40:08 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Bancroft Gracey <100532.1747@compuserve.com>
Subject: UK Showing - ep 517

 Bancroft Gracey <100532.1747@compuserve.com> asks:
> Quick q's (with a slow answer, I suspect): did you 'see' the
> Lyta/Byron thing back in the beginning? And, given the cast
> changes over the seasons, would it have been Lyta at this point,
> or someone else - a 'revived' Talia, say, or Ivanova?

      It's no secret that I would've had Ivanova becoming somewhat
linked to Byron romantically (she would see him as a character like
Marcus, which is why there are certain similarities, and she would take
a chance only to find it wrong this time, underlining that she'd missed
her one major opportunity thus far for a good relationship).  This was
expressed to Claudia toward the last part of S4, so she knew at that
time that her latent ability would be coming out, and that she'd have a
big part in S5.

      In this scenario, Lyta would have become a devoted follower of
Byron's, much as she has, but it would have been more love from afar:
protective, somewhat unrequited but hoping for more...so that when he
met his fate, Lyta would end up right where she is now, just by a
different road.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 05 Aug 1998 23:31:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: jms out of worldcon

 SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> Will the new Crusade sets be added to the existing B5 sets or
> will you have to put some of the older sets in storage?

      Most of the B5 sets are now in storage.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 06 Aug 1998 15:44:12 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: jms out of worldcon

{original post had no questions}

      Yeah, it's just a matter of preparation and forethought; 30% of
any series budget goes on waste, frankly.  We cut that down to
basically zero.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 07 Aug 1998 15:08:14 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Mike Lovitt <75021.1731@compuserve.com>
Subject: Garibaldi

 Mike Lovitt <75021.1731@compuserve.com> asks:
> How did he and Sinclair meet?
> Why hasn,t he talked more with Dr. Franklin about Bester's
> telepathic block?

      They met on Mars, as chronicled in one of the comics.

      Garibaldi has/will try a different approach to his problem.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 08 Aug 1998 23:24:05 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: sNoW whiTe RedUx

{original post unavailable}

      I have only done one cute thing in my life.  That was it.

      Continue this discussion and I keel you slow....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 08 Aug 1998 23:24:04 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 at Bucky

{original post had no questions}

      Great report, thanks.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 09 Aug 1998 18:59:14 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Hugos

{original post had no questions}

      Yeah, he's correct.  Basically, B5 episodes took up the slots
from 6 through 11; nearly every episode got nominations.  Any two of
them put together would've put it atop the nominations.  They were just
too many episodes that got noms, and spread the thing out too far.

------------------------------

Date: 09 Aug 1998 23:22:04 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Hugos

 SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> If a B5 episode or one of the movies makes the Hugo ballot next
> year, are you going to Australia?

      If I'm up for a Hugo, I'll go anywhere.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 10 Aug 1998 12:17:02 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: sNoW whiTe RedUx

 Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
> What...pray tell...is "The Shy Stegasaurus of Cricket Creek"?
> Joe...did you write something "for kids"?
> ...did you sell out?

      No, didn't sell out...it just came out looking a hell of a lot
cuter than I had been led to think, and it's kind of a cute
story...hell, it is what it is....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1998 12:17:02 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: History

 Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
> And for the last five years, I've been trying to develop a
> dialogue with the SF communityNot just, "Here's what I'm doing,
> here's the show, watch it, give us ratings, and be quiet," but
> rather, "Here's what I'm doing...how close is this to what you've
> been wishing someone would do? What are you tired of?
> What do you think of this part over here?"

      Boy, if I'd only known what I was setting myself up for....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1998 23:07:14 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com>
Subject: History

 Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com> asks:
> Will you continue to do this with Crusade?
> In the same way?
> More selective?

      No, I'll be pulling back quite a bit after B5 is over.  It's
that or go mad.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1998 14:52:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: All 
Subject: Recommendation

      Okay...I told you about Squirrel Nut Zippers, and Portishead
(those of you with good taste got that one, feh on the rest), and
Cherry Poppin' Daddies and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy before most anybody
else...and South Park just a bit before they broke out....

      Well, here's another recommendation, in the direction of the
surreal and the very funny and very weird.

      Sifl and Ollie.  MTV, weeknights at 12:30.  When you see what it
is, you'll think I've lost my mind to recommend it.  But just trust me
on this. Give it a chance.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1998 23:07:14 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Lee Whiteside <76711.2660@compuserve.com>
Subject: ComicCon

 SysOp Lee Whiteside <76711.2660@compuserve.com> asks:
> What's the likelyhood you'll feel up to making it down to San
> Diego this Saturday for your ComicCon presentation? Or should we
> expect a telecommuting jms presentation?

      I should be able to make it down for ComicCon, though just for
the afternoon of the presentation.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 11 Aug 1998 15:42:12 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: WizOp Wes Meier <76703.747@compuserve.com>
Subject: History

 WizOp Wes Meier <76703.747@compuserve.com> asks:
> UseNet?
> AOL?

      I'll still be here.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 13 Aug 1998 14:01:01 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: jms out of worldcon

 (blocked) asks:
> Are you sleeping at least 8 hours /night?

      Had a bit of a rebound, for that reason, haven't been getting as
much sleep as I should've wit the first weeks of filming...not
monstrous, but vastly annoying.  It's exactly what I was told would
happen, but not as bad as it would've been if I'd've gone to WorldCon.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 14 Aug 1998 20:54:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: jms out of worldcon

 SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> BTW, Joe, did anyone save a Bucconeer doubloon for you?

      No, don't know anything about it.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 14 Aug 1998 13:38:12 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: All 
Subject: B5 at ComicCon Canceled

      I've left email for the folks at San Diego Comic Con, but
haven't yet heard back, and I want folks to have the most time to
adjust their schedules.

      As the doctor predicted, the pneumonia -- after a week of
feeling a little better -- has rebouned with a vengeance.  Going back
in today for a follow-up exam and more workups.  It's not as bad as it
would've been had I gone to WorldCon (that's what they keep telling me;
feeling as I do I have a hard time believing it because if it's true, I
can't even imagine what that would be like given what it's like *now*),
but it's laid me pretty low.

      Consequently, I won't be able to do the B5 presentation at San
Diego Comic Con on Saturday, or be there for the autographing session. 
There isn't any way to set up a replacement person and material, so
it's going to have to be canceled outright.

      SDCC is one of my two favorite conventions, that and LosCon; I
haven't missed either in something on the order of 12 years.  (If
nothing else I go to SDCC just to shop in the dealer's room for cool
Superman stuff.)  But this record has to be broken, much to my
considerable dismay.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 17 Aug 1998 02:29:03 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Paul Worthington <112063.2437@compuserve.com>
Subject: Real-life B5 technology

 Paul Worthington <112063.2437@compuserve.com> asks:
> Perhaps the developer was taking notes while watching Babylon 5?

      Cool...we're ahead of our time.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 17 Aug 1998 02:29:03 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: JudyL <72520.216@compuserve.com>
Subject: looking for quote

 JudyL <72520.216@compuserve.com> asks:
> Any suggestions?

      I wouldn't even know where to start.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 28 Aug 1998 01:08:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: THE OFFICIAL UK FAN CLUB

{original post unavailable}

      Just one correction: the UK fan club is a local UK group, and is
not official in any way, manner, shape or form.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27 Aug 1998 14:51:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Music and Magic

 (blocked) asks:
> How are you feeling?
> Did you have fun at the Wrap Party without making yourself
> sicker?

      Thanks, it was fun...still a little weak around the edges, but
better.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 31 Aug 1998 00:34:04 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: JudyL <72520.216@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 Cross Stitch

{original post had no questions}

      Cool...will check it out when I can.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------



Date: 31 Aug 1998 12:49:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com>
Subject: Dark Genesis

 T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com> asks:
> JMS, could you tell us how closely you are involved in the
> Psi_Corps trilogy? the concept and name of the "kith", was that
> from you or the author?

      The kith idea came from the author, and was a perfect way of
exploring the relationships there.

      Basically, I wrote detailed outlines for all three books, and
Gregory went away and wrote the books.  Frankly, I think this first Psi
Corps novel may be the best one to date, and that's saying a lot.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------