Subj: Re:When to Bring in New Peop Date: 96-04-02 01:34:32 EST From: Jms at B5 {What episode would be best to bring new peoplein to watch the show?} I strongly suggest you try this week's episode, "Severed Dreams." I showed it at a small con/fan gathering here in LA on Saturday, before the uplink, and there were several folks there who hadn't seen or been moved to check out B5...and by the time it was over, they'd turned around. jms Subj: Re:To JMS:RE: The One Date: 96-04-01 18:37:46 EST From: Jms at B5 No, the Triluminaries are simply not that important. This isn't a story about a mcguffin, a thing that has to be acquired or protected or regained; also isn't a quest story. If you look at any work of an epic, mythic or saga-based construction, certain elements are universal. Those themes show up in all such sagas...if you look for any kind of real story correlation between B5 and LoTR you won't find them. They're not in any way parallels. jms Subj: Re:Keep up the RAD Work! Date: 96-04-01 18:39:24 EST From: Jms at B5 The show will eventually be stripped daily on TNT when the show's finished. jms Subj: Re:Previews Date: 96-04-01 18:43:36 EST From: Jms at B5 I don't know what the situation is, but will inquire. jms Subj: Re:Dolby Stereo Date: 96-04-01 18:45:01 EST From: Jms at B5 Hrmm...usually we're pretty good about that stuff...I know there was *so much* audio we were mixing for "Dreams" that that one element may have been placed center simply because we were so busy with everything else that it didn't get noticed. jms Subj: Re:Kung Fu, The Legend Ends Date: 96-04-01 18:46:02 EST From: Jms at B5 I haven't heard anything more on this, but would doubt that we'd end up on the WB network because of jurisdictional considerations. jms Subj: Re:Insane? Date: 96-04-01 18:46:57 EST From: Jms at B5 That depends on how you define "the real thing." Check back with me after the next 2 episodes. jms Subj: Re:Life force... Date: 96-04-01 18:48:25 EST From: Jms at B5 No, I wouldn't say there's a corrolation to life force and the shadow ships; they need a living organism as the central processing unit because an organic unit can think faster than most computer systems, and react faster in terms of formulating strategy and the like. jms Subj: Re:ATTN JMS: Extra Date: 96-04-01 18:49:24 EST From: Jms at B5 You need to be a member of the Screen Actors Guild, belong to Central Casting, and be on their lists for extras. jms Subj: Re:Minbari friend quote Date: 96-04-02 01:31:26 EST From: Jms at B5 Hrmm...I'd have to drag out the script for that, and it's tucked away in storage. Will try to drag it out when I get a chance. jms Subj: Re:Gun camera Date: 96-04-02 01:32:45 EST From: Jms at B5 The images continued to be broadcast to the distress probe after it was jettisoned. The ISN team mentioned on-air they were attracted to the time-delay distress beacon on the probe. jms Subj: Re:JMS: Headline in New Sci Date: 96-04-02 01:33:12 EST From: Jms at B5 I think the case is greatly overstated. jms Subj: Re:JMS - WOW! - and a ? Date: 96-04-03 02:25:37 EST From: Jms at B5 {What type of guns are used on B5, and how do they function?} The guns are Phased Plasma Guns, PPGs, which fire superheated helium bursts (in limited amounts, you have to swap out energy caps after a fairly brief period) rather than slugs to avoid puncturing the hull. jms Subj: Re:SD: Author! Author! Date: 96-04-03 02:26:38 EST From: Jms at B5 {Severed Dreams was the best episode to date} James: thanks...I'm just endlessly pleased by the reaction to this episode; we worked *awfully* hard on it. jms Subj: Re:SEVERED DREAMS Date: 96-04-04 01:18:32 EST From: Jms at B5 {When will there be models for purchase?} Nothing's been firmed up yet about models that I know about; soonish, though. And thanks. jms Subj: Re:Next episodes Date: 96-04-04 01:18:59 EST From: Jms at B5 You'll have new episodes all through April and May. jms Subj: Re:Next episodes Date: 96-04-04 01:20:02 EST From: Jms at B5 Oh, I've got plenty of ideas for other shows after B5...just don't know if I want to do them; if I'd've said all I want to say for TV in B5. It's very tempting to go back to writing novels and plays. jms Subj: Re:Hyperspace vs.Normal Spa Date: 96-04-04 01:21:26 EST From: Jms at B5 Once in hyperspace, you can ride the navigational beams between beacons (narrow beam stuff, to cut through the interference, as noted in "Distant Star"), and by corrolating the beacons, know where you have to come out. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. jms Subj: Re:PPGs Date: 96-04-04 01:22:15 EST From: Jms at B5 {How many shots to an energy cap?} I'll have to check my notes, but I seem to recall you get about 12 PPG shots to a standard cap, with some recharge time. A PPG rifle gets about 20-25 shots, with faster recharge. jms Subj: Re:Technical Manual? Date: 96-04-08 04:29:12 EDT From: Jms at B5 Thanks. Eventually we'll do a tech manual, but probably not until after the show has run its course. jms Subj: Re:Getting the word out Date: 96-04-08 04:30:32 EDT From: Jms at B5 A lot of local promotions is done by the stations, with co-op funding from WB, so they all get to determine how it's done individually. jms Subj: Re:SD and cold chills Date: 96-04-08 04:31:36 EDT From: Jms at B5 Thanks. Those are rank insignia on the epaulets; and G'Kar's always been pretty strong. jms Subj: Re:what Susan said... Date: 96-04-08 04:33:08 EDT From: Jms at B5 Yes, I do know what you mean, and you're welcome. No, as far as I know, no one from B5 will be at the big Creation con since it's a ST con. jms Subj: Re:Severed Dreams Date: 96-04-08 04:34:00 EDT From: Jms at B5 No, her exact line was, "No human captain has ever survived battle with a Minbari fleet." Sinclair wasn't a captain. And thanks. jms Subj: Re:Twilight Zone Date: 96-04-08 04:35:21 EDT From: Jms at B5 I think you're primarily speaking of the CBS version; I did only one script for that version, and then 10 for the syndicated version. "By His Bootstraps," I understand, was too expensive to film. jms Subj: Re:DirecTV? Date: 96-04-08 04:36:12 EDT From: Jms at B5 Thanks, and no, there are no plans for not for any WB stuff on DTV that I know of. jms Subj: Re:INCREDIBLE! Date: 96-04-08 04:36:46 EDT From: Jms at B5 The third caste is the Worker caste. jms Subj: Re:JMS: Severed Dreeams/Mira Date: 96-04-08 04:37:53 EDT From: Jms at B5 We found Mira through the casting process, when she came in along with many others. And we've been happy ever after that she did. jms Subj: Re:Speechless! Date: 96-04-08 04:40:02 EDT From: Jms at B5 The best thing to do is mail your local station and show your support there. And thanks.... jms Subj: Re:SD Questions Date: 96-04-09 04:35:32 EDT From: Jms at B5 "Why was it impossible to jump into hyperspace (in the beginning of the show) and not take the Starfuries with the ship? We've seen it done before." No, I don't believe so. You've seen a jump GATE used, but that's different from a jump POINT which basically closes right behind the ship like a rabbit pulling its hole in after it. If the ships stayed behind to protect its rear, they'd be left behind. Ships coming out of a jump point into normal space sometimes will let their fighters zip out AS they're coming out, alongside the main ship. jms Subj: Re:B5 Merchandising? Date: 96-04-09 04:36:41 EDT From: Jms at B5 1) ALL of the B5 models currently being advertised are 100% illegal and unauthorized, and we are taking aggressive legal steps to shut them down. 2) There will be a B5 RPG out sometime late this year/early next year. jms Subj: Re:2 parter Title Change? Date: 96-04-09 04:37:14 EDT From: Jms at B5 "Wasn't the upcoming 2 parter once entitled "World Without End" instead of "War Without End?"" Nope. jms Subj: Re:JMS: SD, All Alone / Nigh Date: 96-04-09 04:38:58 EDT From: Jms at B5 "Hmmmm....I'm not really sure I want to know the answer to this...." Darn, and I was just about to spill the beans...ah, well....never mind. jms Subj: Re:JMS:RE:Grey Council & Duk Date: 96-04-09 04:40:41 EDT From: Jms at B5 "Why was the Grey Council always to be found on a cruiser? Were they ever located on Minbar itself? Or was the cruiser orbiting Minbar? Was it for their protection, or secrecy? Or has this already been answered?" We've hinted at it...the Grey Council always stays on its ship, being part of the universe, giving it an exotic, distant feel for its people...as though among the gods. jms Subj: Re:SD:How did Delenn know? Date: 96-04-09 04:44:47 EDT From: Jms at B5 She already knew that civil war had broken out between EA ships and forces, and that B5 had already faced one takeover bid, and that whether or not it happened today or the next day, it was definitely coming. That was unmistakeable. Also, bear in mind that Lennier stayed behind. She would have checked in with him en route and found out what was going on, or picked up the radio broadcasts of the battle in progress. I could've shown this, but that would''ve blown the surprise of her arrival. jms Subj: Re:ATT JMS: Renewal situatio Date: 96-04-09 04:45:46 EDT From: Jms at B5 I responded in both forums. I doubt any such memo exists. And nothing has been said. jms Subj: Re:JMS-Morden & Videos Quest Date: 96-04-09 19:55:37 EDT From: Jms at B5 Folks have already tried writing WB to change their minds about videos; hasn't worked. We're working at it from this end. jms Subj: Re:The rim of known space Date: 96-04-22 22:43:20 EDT From: Jms at B5 Who's behind the shadows? Nobody. The shadows are the shadows (though that's not the name by which they call themselves), a race of their own. Question is, why are they doing what they're doing? You'll find out by season's end. jms Subj: Re:If I were Sherridan:I wou Date: 96-04-23 03:11:40 EDT From: Jms at B5 "I would round up all the destroyed EA/centauri/narin hulls/ships I could find.(Especially the burned out Agrippa) to intimidate others who come with hostile intent. Also it would serve as a parts depot." What's there are burned, blackened husks, which you do NOT want floating around as they become hideous dangers to navigation, and the "spare parts" would eventually start banging into your station, hitting incoming ships and starfuries. What can be salvaged, has been. "I would construtively use my communication command athourity to send letters to the families of the dead." EA has cut off access to Earth; they don't want Sheridan getting information from back home, or relaying instructions to forces there. "I would rig the jump gate to explode on my command." Good idea; cut off the only means of escape for the quarter million people there who don't have jump capable ships. You won't stop an invasion by hostile ships which can make their own jump points, you just end up killing all your civilians. "Make a deal with Drall on the defences, and learn of all his capabilities also the Minbari's." This is already in process, as has been established. "Arrange an accident to happen to one of the shadow creatures on board and get it to Dr. Franklin or Drall." You have to find them first. "Start a propagada campaign against Clark." Better to tell the truth. And, again, home-communications are down. "Unite the renegade ships and offer a home to the missing Narin ship." This is an obvious step already in process. "Have the Minbari make a clone of Morden." They don't have that technology. "Start a spy network." They're doing all they can to get info. "Start propaganda working the non-aligned worlds." See above. "Get some answers from Kosh or kill him(information is everything)." Yessir, that'll work out great. The vorlons are important to winning this; let's torture or kill their ambassador, REAL good idea. "Have Lyta scan all the crew members for spyes and loyalties." When you become obsessed with the enemy, you become the enemy. This would be a Bad Thing. "Move the minbari ships out of sight(behind the planet)." Another good idea; let's put them where they have to come all the way around the planet, by which time B5 is a burned cinder. "Start gathering intelegence on the shadows ships. How many, were are they made, how long to make" Where would you get that information? The only real source is on Z'ha'dum. Basically, everything that can be done, *is* being done. But people have to have some moments to live, or there's nothing worth fighting for. And sometimes a relationship can remind us what we're fighting for. jms Subj: Re:JMS: Harlan Ellison Date: 96-04-23 03:12:09 EDT From: Jms at B5 Harlan's doing much better; up and around and walking and in general in great spirits. jms Subj: Re:Status reports Date: 96-04-23 23:37:47 EDT From: Jms at B5 "So, JMS... how are *you* doing through all this (Harlan, renewal, season's end, taxes, etc.)." I'M FINE! ABSOLUTELY FINE! COULDN'T BE BETTER! I'VE ALWAYS WORN A RABBIT ON MY HEAD! IT'S A FASHION THING, OKAY? I'M FINE! YOU HEAR ME? FINE!!! jm(thud)s Subj: Re:In A Glass, Darkly Date: 96-04-23 23:40:37 EDT From: Jms at B5 Yes, there's a certain Jungian influence in the shadows, in that the shadow as Jung referred to it was unbridled want, unbridled need, and that's what they appeal to. jms Subj: Re:JMS: A few questions Date: 96-04-23 23:43:42 EDT From: Jms at B5 Thanks. As far as visual EFX, animators and visual artists are concerned...it's a world apart, one I barely understand. I don't know what's really required or designed to hep succeed...though I suspect the ability to converse freely with squirrels is partly involved. I couldn't advise you on this and have that advice mean much of anything, I'm afraid. For the rest, I can only offer my thanks. jms Subj: Re:JMS - Battle of Camlan Date: 96-04-25 00:28:41 EDT From: Jms at B5 I dug through a number of recent Arthurian texts, and that date come out the most often; I've heard the other date, which was about 20 years later, but the one most often used is the 515 date, at least in what I researched. jms Subj: Re:Wide-screen and fan club. Date: 96-04-25 00:30:36 EDT From: Jms at B5 I believe that France will be showing S3 in widescreen, and the episodes are being transferred to that format even as we speak. jms Subj: Re:Hugo Date: 96-04-25 00:31:18 EDT From: Jms at B5 I wasn't given the vote counts, but it was my understanding that "Coming of Shadows" had received the larger number of vote counts. jms Subj: Re:question Date: 96-04-25 03:46:44 EDT From: Jms at B5 The cold, hard and rather ruthless answer is...if you're not sure, if it's just something you're kinda thinking about...don't do it. The only ones who have a chance of making it as writers are those who can't *not* write. "I am trying to find out what I can do with my life and writing sound like fun." It's not fun, as you mean it. It's agony. It's the hardest thing I do. It takes *years* of work, every single day, day in and day out, before you get any good at it at all. It takes suffering and pain and paying your dues and fighting every single day first to prove you have talen to yourself, then to prove it to others, then to finally begin making a living at it. It's not a case of, "Well, look over there, *that* looks interesting, maybe I'll do that." Either being a writer means everything to you, or it doesn't. If it doesn't, you shouldn't do it. It's not a question of knowing "what you want to do." You *know* it. It's just a matter of the will and strength required to *do* it. Unless that describes you...try something else. jms Subj: Re:Earth history and B5 Date: 96-04-25 03:51:37 EDT From: Jms at B5 "What period of history interests you the most?" All of them, really, for different reasons. The Middle Ages, the Victorian period, the Renaissance, pre- and post-numerical wars and a time in which we didn't have to number them...the present, the cruellest half of the cruellest century...right down to the earliest civilizations. We can learn something from all of them. jms Subj: Re:JMS-What a great guy! Date: 96-04-18 04:35:14 EDT From: Jms at B5 Gordon: thanks. As for the promos...the usual time allocated for B5 promos was taken by the contest, which ends this week. The promos will return shortly. jms Subj: Re:Severed Dreams Date: 96-04-18 04:37:26 EDT From: Jms at B5 Basically, the Marines burned through the outer hull, moved into the inner hull (like any good vessel, this one is double hulled), then came up at a right angle, looking for a good wall to come through. You *don't* want to come up through the floor, because then you have to climb out one or two at a time, which makes you a sitting duck. Better to move off a few feet, and come up via a section between walls and blow your way through so you can come out en masse. jms Subj: Re:JMS' Story Date: 96-04-27 04:33:11 EDT From: Jms at B5 The other thing to bear in mind about all this is the question of a "clean fight." If Sheridan were to bring in alien forces at his order to kill humans, it would pretty much destroy his credibility. Delenn came in at the end but only after he'd made his stand on his own. One of the things that kicked off the French Revolution was the allegation that the King had brought in or was bringing in Prussian troops to help put down dissenters. As long as it was all more or less in the family, that was one thing...but to bring in outsiders was an absolute affront to them. (One of the singular incidents that started the fighting itself was a group of Prussian soldiers sighted sitting in a cafe having lunch, which caused this rumor about outsiders coming in to spread like wildfire, and led to the some of the first major incidents of rioting.) Two brothers may fight one another, but let a third unrelated person come in and shove one of the brothers around, and they'll *both* turn on him. During the worst days of the civil war, even Lincoln was offered assistance in troops from at least one other country; he declined, because it was an internal matter, and had to be resolved by those involved, not outsiders. Sheridan's logic was exactly the same. It had to be a clean fight. jms Subj: Re:Questions Ad Infinitum Date: 96-04-27 04:34:31 EDT From: Jms at B5 No, Londo and the bugs had nothing to do with any notions about the Shadows. Sheridan is a war historian, with his main interests in the civil war, where one of his ancestors fought. He's very big on Lincoln. jms Subj: Re:Guest on Season Finale Date: 96-04-27 04:35:16 EDT From: Jms at B5 Melissa is in two episodes; light in one, heavy in the other. jms Subj: Re:Avalon references Date: 96-04-27 04:36:36 EDT From: Jms at B5 Yes, there were several books I consulted about this...unfortunately, they're nowhere near at hand, so I can't drag out the names just now. I'll try to remember to drag them out soonish. jms Subj: Re:JMS: 4 questions Date: 96-04-27 04:39:25 EDT From: Jms at B5 1. What gave you the idea to create a show with a time line? I wanted to do a saga; sagas take time to tell. The Lensman books, the Foundation books, Dune, others...they can take from a few years to hundreds of years to tell. (I love "A Canticle for Liebowitz," which compresses an amazing timeline into one volume.) Doing decades worth of story would be impossible for TV's format, but a one-to-one year-to-season structure was do-able. 2. What were some of your first ideas for this series? I don't quite understand the question. 3. How good of a chance does B5 have for being renewed? 50/50. 4. How is Harlan Ellison doing? Much, much better. jms Subj: Re:writing a wild ride! Date: 96-04-27 04:41:35 EDT From: Jms at B5 I write pretty much all the time, day or night. I prefer night writing because the phone rings less often, and I can blow through a lot of work without interruption. Lately, though, I find that I do get a little tired come around 2-3 a.m., which I didn't used to, so some of it has switched back to daytime or early evening. My advice is to just find what's most comfortable for you as a time to write, and stick to it. jms Subj: Re:Marshal Teague and Hard C Date: 96-04-27 04:43:02 EDT From: Jms at B5 I haven't seen the material, and thus can't comment. All I know of Marshall is what I see on the set, and he has always been a gentle, friendly, gracious performer. jms Subj: Re:SoT Question (Spoilers) Date: 96-04-28 19:22:50 EDT From: Jms at B5 Well, to follow the book, there still has to be a knowledge of the language. You need to have a dictionary around, which is what was used. The comparison, I suppose, would be those who say that Jorge Luis Borges' work can only be most truly appreciated in the original Spanish. There's a *translated* version, which someone has gone through and made the translation for you, written it all out in English...or you can learn the language, and then read the original manuscript. Garibaldi doesn't know Narn, so how other than with a dictionary could he read the original material, except by sleeping with it under his pillow and praying for divine intervention. jms Subj: Re:Two questions Date: 96-04-29 01:39:47 EDT From: Jms at B5 "Avalon" and "Vir" were reversed in order to a) finish effects on Avalon, and b) to give a lighter episode after "Ceremonies" (also to hold York for sweeps). That may account for some of your feeling here. And yes, Earthgov sees B5 in much the way China now sees Taiwan. (Though on reflection that may not be the best metaphor....) jms