lurkers-guide/ftp/CompuServe/cs98-09

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


Date: 01 Sep 1998 21:17:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
Subject: Mail Drop

 Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is that still possible?

      Yes, it's still there for that, but it's better overall to go
for the fanclub mail address.

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 09 Sep 1998 12:31:03 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Mike Bjorkman <71603.3207@compuserve.com>
Subject: Dark Genesis standalone?

 Mike Bjorkman <71603.3207@compuserve.com> asks:
> I'm looking forward to reading Dark Genesis, and I'm also
> wondering - would it make sense to someone who had never watched
> B5? That is, would it make a reasonable introduction to the B5
> universe for friends who haven't yet been turned on to the show?

      Actually, it's more accessible to a new reader than any of the
prior B5 books...it's a totally self-contained work that begins long
before any of our regular characters are born.  I wanted this to be a
solid novel that could exist entirely on its own, absent any knowledge
of B5, but which would tie into the arc for anybody who knows the show.
I think it succeeds admirably.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 09 Sep 1998 17:09:01 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Crusade Crisis??????

{original post unavailable}

      At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 10 Sep 1998 16:19:04 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
Subject: Crusade Crisis??????

{original post had no questions}

"...now all those old uniforms are going to go to waste more than
likely, meanwhile, they're a hell of a lot better than that cheesier
new design they've come up with; a pity."

      Funny, everybody said that about our Earthforce uniforms when
the first pictures appeared.  Now they're the preferred standard.

      Further, those uniforms are specific to the mission of the
Excalibur, as uniforms vary within the real military.  The regular
Earthforce uniforms are still very much in use in the Crusade universe.

      Y'know, I'd've thought that, after learning the lessons on B5
about not judging things too quickly -- the costumes are stupid, who's
the guy with the big hair -- that people would have learend to not
prejudge things before they actually see them on film.

      Guess I was wrong.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 10 Sep 1998 16:19:04 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
Subject: Crusade Uniforms

{original post had no questions}

      Let me suggest that the photo does not show the uniforms off to
best advantage.  They are based strongly on West Point uniforms, with
some variation.  The photo is an awful photo, it looks like a polaroid,
and makes them look pretty flat and unattractive.  On actual film, lit
well, they look very nice.

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 11 Sep 1998 16:35:10 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Michael J. Kersey <73642.3137@compuserve.com>
Subject: Dark Genesis standalone?

 Michael J. Kersey <73642.3137@compuserve.com> asks:
> It worked for me in Ken Burns "Civil War" documentary, how about
> fiction?

      Thanks, and yeah, it's pretty damn canon.  The rest, we'll see.

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 12 Sep 1998 21:00:05 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Deonaha M. Conlin <102531.2627@compuserve.com>
Subject: Crusade Uniforms

 Deonaha M. Conlin <102531.2627@compuserve.com> asks:
> BTW - how are YOU feeling?
> How long do we have to wait now?

      I've been looking at that photo some more, and the more I stare
at it, the more it bugs me, because it's just awful in how it was
taken: you can see the shadows from the flashbulb, it's not composed
well, it looks like a snapshot taken by somebody non-professional, and
the more I think about it, the more I'm not sure where the hell that
shot came from.  We sure as heck didn't provide it.

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 13 Sep 1998 23:48:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
Subject: Gideon Symbolism

 Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
> So was the biblical reference related to the genesis (pardon the
> pun) of this character's name?

      There are certain reasons for that name choice, yes, which is
all I'll say for now.

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 17 Sep 1998 20:04:03 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Babylon 5 (general)

{original post unavailable}

      Wasn't any kind of particular inspiration, just hard work on a
concept until it made sense.

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 19 Sep 1998 16:38:09 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
Subject: Crusade Crisis??????

{original post had no questions}

      The TNT memo was apparently real; however, the egregious points
have now been withdrawn, and on top of that, TNT has allocated a big
chunk of change to let us build some new sets and expand stuff.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 19 Sep 1998 22:59:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Crusade Crisis??????

 (blocked) asks:
> Joe, how is everything going with production?
> And, more importantly, how are you feeling?

      Things are going well overall; we've filmed 5 episodes, and have
just extended a planned 1 week production hiatus (we take two such
hiatuses -- hiati? -- every year, one in the fall, one in the spring)
and added three paid weeks in order to allow time for construction on a
number of new sets.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 19 Sep 1998 22:59:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: Crusade Crisis??????

{original post unavailable}

      I think that to dwell on the thing would be to just open wounds
that are better left healed.

                                                                  jms

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



Date: 20 Sep 1998 15:07:09 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: WizOp Wes Meier <76703.747@compuserve.com>
Subject: Crusade Crisis??????

{original post had no questions}

> The TNT memo was apparently real; however, the egregious points have
> now been withdrawn, and on top of that, TNT has allocated a big chunk
> of change to let us build some new sets and expand stuff. 

> Hey!  That's WONDERFUL news!

      What we've done is to try and expedite this so we can have the
new stuff in hand for the maximum number of episodes as quickly as
possible.  We always take a one-week hiatus in every block of episodes
we shoot, all the way through B5's history and now.  One week around
the start of October (depending on the start of filming), then the
Christmas break, then another one-week hiatus midway through the last
10 episodes.

      So what we did here was to add on three weeks to the hiatus,
starting Tuesday.  Well, three paid weeks off for most of the crew
directly involved with the actual filming, anyway.  Construction, art
department, props, wardrobe and other departments will still be working
away to build and dress the sets and stuff so we can get right back
into shooting on with the new stuff in place.

      We're talking here improvements to the corridors, to the
quarters to enlarge them, adding a wardroom/mess hall, an exercise
area...other stuff. We generally add sets each season, and wanted to do
these down the road, but now we have the chance to do them now.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 20 Sep 1998 22:22:14 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
Subject: Music

 Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is Christopher Franke still part of the team, or do you bring in
> someone new?

      We haven't yet set a composer for Crusade; we're giving a shot
to Evan Chen, a chinese-born classical composer with a strong jazz
background, on A Call to Arms.  How that turns out will determine much
that follows.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 21 Sep 1998 00:25:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Music

{original post unavailable}

      Evan's an amazing composer...he came out of Shanghai, studied
music in Russia and Germany, was fast becoming a leading, classically
trained composer, and discovered jazz in his twenties, dropped
everything to come to Chicago and study under some of the best jazz men
around (even if it meant washing dishes to get by).  His stuff is the
most amazing blend of asian influence, classical instrumentation, jazz
and rock backbeats I've ever heard, even using asian scales (somewhat
different from western musical scales) in unexpected places to make
western music sound totally different.

      For a show as different as this, I wanted a completely
different, totally unique sound, something I've never heard before, and
Evan Chen has it.

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 21 Sep 1998 23:17:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com>
Subject: Music

 Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is he working with any groups that are recording?

      Not that I'm aware of.  I think we got in and found him before
anybody else could get their hands on him.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 21 Sep 1998 23:17:10 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Ray Pelzer <70475.1263@compuserve.com>
Subject: Crusade Crisis??????

 Ray Pelzer <70475.1263@compuserve.com> asks:
> Withdrawn?
> I realize you probably can't elaborate too much on the
> circumstances, butdid they back down because of YOUR fury,
> because of viewer complaint, or did you go the quick and easy
> route and sic Harlan on 'em?? On a note of more immediate urgency,
> how is your recuperation going?????

      All that matters is that wisdom prevailed.

      And I'm well past the pneumonia, and doing much better now.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 23 Sep 1998 12:56:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: WB Home Video

{original post unavailable}

      They'll handle all five years.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 23 Sep 1998 12:56:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rick and Cindy <71561.3255@compuserve.com>
Subject: Mimbari Language

 Rick and Cindy <71561.3255@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is there a mimbari word that Means Titanic?

"Is there a minbari word that Means Titanic?"

      Trk'voy-ahgr.

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 24 Sep 1998 20:59:06 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Mimbari Language

 SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> Message text written by JMS: >> "Is there a minbari word that
> Means Titanic?"

"Well it's taking a bloody long time to sink to the bottom."

      That Celine Dion just *won't* let go, will she?

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 24 Sep 1998 20:59:06 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Steve Kuziel <74150.350@compuserve.com>
Subject: WB Home Video

 Steve Kuziel <74150.350@compuserve.com> asks:
> Will it also include the movies subsequent to "The Gathering"?

      No, I was referring to the WB deal, which was what you asked
about.  I do know that the WB home video covers all five seasons, I
don't know about Columbia House for sure.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 24 Sep 1998 20:59:06 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Joe- Spec vs Story Idea?

{original post unavailable}

"So, how do you want to work wild-eyed speculation on plots for a
program that hasn't hit the airwaves yet?  Or shall I sit on my twisted
speculation (ouch!) until January?"

      Well, since nothing's aired yet, I think speculations are
probably best suited until after one sees the show...

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 25 Sep 1998 22:14:03 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Mimbari Language

 SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> BTW, who (or what) would you choose to sing the B5 theme song (if
> any)?

"BTW, who (or what) would you choose to sing the B5 theme song (if
any)?"

      Billy Joel.  No contest.

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 26 Sep 1998 21:41:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Will Caraway <73671.2434@compuserve.com>
Subject: Dark Genesis spoilers

{original post had no questions}

      Yeah, it's a great book, thanks...I really wanted it to be one
that stood entirely on its own.  If you never saw a frame of B5, you
could pick up this book and enjoy it.  It's a kick.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 26 Sep 1998 21:41:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Mimbari Language

 SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> The obvious next question: Is there a B5 theme song?
> Or is this waiting for "Babylon 5: The Musical?"

"The obvious next question: Is there a B5 theme song?"

      If there is, it's probably aired on Dr. Demento by now....

                                                                  jms


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



Date: 27 Sep 1998 15:42:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Ponderings of a B5 fan

{original post unavailable}

      1) He was speaking metaphorically.  You're being too literal.

      2) No.

      3) There are language derivations in common dating back to prior
encounters.

      4) He would've gotten security to assist with this.

                                                                  jms

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

Date: 27 Sep 1998 20:57:06 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Carol Naylor <100645.2613@compuserve.com>
Subject: Minbari Language

      Or from Fastball....

      "You can see the Shadows wandering off somewhere
      They won't make it home but they really don't care
      They wanted the highway
      They're happier there today...."

                                                                  jms


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