These are messages from J. Michael Straczynski on CompuServe, collected by Michele Worley (michele_l_worley@yahoo.com). --- BABYLON 5: FINALLY SAW IT #846124 DATE: THURS OCT 6, 1994 4:06:25 AM "MORE!" Just 3 more weeks. jms BABYLON 5: CHRYSALIS SPOILER #843485 DATE: MON OCT 3, 1994 7:15:07 PM That explanation is in the very next episode. Complete and in full. Never said otherwise. I've always made it clear that this will be resolved in the first episode of year two. jms BABYLON 5: CHRYSALIS SPOILERS #843491 RESPONSE-TO: AndyL DATE: MON OCT 3, 1994 7:21:02 PM Except, of course, that where everyone goes is important to the rest of the story, and that the purpose of the episode is to introduce massive change into the story overall; when Sinclair says "Nothing's the same anymore," he's deadly serious, and so are we. The changes won't just be transitory or for a season-end hook; these are permanent and substantial changes in the arc. jms BABYLON 5: CHRYSALIS SPOILERS #843847 DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 12:17:14 AM Thanks. I've watched that episode, between rough cuts and producers cuts and mixing and all the rest, something like a dozen times...and it still gets to me. Glad you feel the same. jms BABYLON 5: CHRYSALIS OF COURSE #844818 DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 11:53:14 PM Correct; Garibaldi's aide has *always* been a plant. I seeded him in from the beginning, specifically for that purpose. It was the aide who got Sinclair out of his quarters in "Sky," was the liaison who got Benson on line (also in security, you'll remember), and helped dispose of the body. If you watch his reaction in "Sky," he's the one who brings info to Garibaldi looking to clear Benson; and when Garibaldi sees through it, you can see his aide move off looking very worried. Originally, it was Laurel Takashima who would have betrayed those around her, as this character did. When Laurel was transferred, I had a choice: keep that arc for her replacement (Ivanova), or give this part of it to someone else. Now, knowing how the folks here on the nets and elsewhere think, and knowing that they knew about the Laurel-possible-traitor thread, I figured that everyone would assume that Ivanova would get that part. (And, sure enough, a lot of people did.) This became a wonderrfully convenient blind behind which to build the *real* plant. And thus far, *nobody's* seen it coming. He was right there in clear view, we used him many times (also in "By Any Means Necessary," for instance), and nobody ever paid him the slightest attention. It is, in a way, the classic magician's trick of misdirection: you try to get everyone to look at your hand so they won't look at the huge elephant being wheeled up onto the stage in plain sight. jms BABYLON 5: CHRYSALIS SPOILERS #845725 DATE: WED OCT 5, 1994 9:41:25 "If the Shadows are active on Earth, we need to ask why Psi-Corps haven't picked them up." Yep. jms DATE: THURS OCT 6, 1994 3:08:01 PM #846563 In the pilot, Lyta specifically states that once she's inside Kosh's mind, it's all subjective; and as such, she'll be "seeing" her own body, not his. Hence the hand. jms DATE: FRI OCT 7, 1994 3:59:08 AM #847356 Yeah, we used the photo of LBJ being sworn in as the model when we shot that scene; interestingly enough, the day we shot that scene was the anniversary of the day LBJ took office after JFK was killed. The atmosphere on set was *very* strange that day.... jms BABYLON 5: I NEED SOME EPISODES! #846003 DATE: THURS OCT 6, 1994 12:57:26 "My other two (Babylon 5) tapes mysteriously disappeared." Have you checked the Babylon 4 tape archive? jms BABYLON 5: B5 QUESTIONS FOR JMS #847021 RESPONSE-TO: SIMON GRIERSON DATE: THURS OCT 6, 1994 9:50:02 PM The underground high-tech will be seen again, and will have a role to play. Delenn is acting slightly outside the majority opinion of the Grey Council in her actions. What's going on with Delenn is not supernatural. There's something going on between the Minbari and the Vorlons, but that won't be clear for a bit longer yet. Jason Ironheart won't be returning anytime soon. Not at all, really, in any sense we understand. I don't like omnipotent beings running around in the storyline; makes some things too easy, and other things too hard. No, Delenn does not become Zathras. And no, I'm *definitely* not taking any kinds of ideas for stories, for movies or for episodes, at this time. The point of B5 is that it's a self contained novel, which is already written out. I've got more stories in the B5 universe running around in my head than I could *ever* use in all the episodes, books, comics and so on. In putting together all of the background information, the future story arc, the character histories, I find myself in kind of a Tolkien-ish situation, where I have far more material than I could ever use. Also, receiving any kind of story ideas here on the nets endangers my presence here for legal reasons. Finally...as a note, your message contains spoilers, and should be noted with brackets to keep from ruining the fun for others. Other than that...thanks, and I'm pleased you enjoy the show. jms BABYLON 5: CHRYSALIS SPOILERS #843848 DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 12:17:16 AM Main thing is, I'd suggest watching "Sky" just before watching "Chrysalis." jms BABYLON 5: HARLAN ELLISON #837328 DATE: WED SEP 28, 1994 Thanks, and I agree with you 100% about Harlan. He's quite a guy. jms BABYLON 5: GARIBALDI & CO #838193 DATE: WED SEP 28, 1994 Correct, I think that Michael and Bruce are either the same age, or Bruce is a smidge older. jms BABYLON 5: B5 2ND SEASON #848114 DATE: FRI OCT 7, 1994 9:53:10 PM Yes, the season one ender is "Chrysalis;" season two starts the following week; and we do see Bruce in the first episode of year two. jms ----- DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 7:43:25 PM #844492 I think the UK will be running season two starting in December. jms BABYLON 5: YEAR TWO GUEST STARS #839197 DATE: THURS SEP 29, 1994 7:51:07 Just a note to apprise everbody on some of the guest stars on year two of BABYLON 5. We've been doing some pretty nifty stuff. In just the first seven episodes of B5 we've already used the following guest stars: Fobert Foxworth. Michael Ansara. Dwight Schultz. Anna Marie Johnson. Adrienne Barbeau. Michael Beck. Jessica Walters. James Shigeta. Walter Koenig. Russ Tamblyn. Not a bad start, I think.... jms DATE: FRI SEP 30, 1994 12:22:28 AM #839599 Still definitely interested in getting McGoohan one of these days. jms DATE: SAT OCT 1, 1994 4:10:01 AM I don't have any personal contact with McGoohan to answer your questions; just one more admirer of his work. jms DATE: SAT OCT 1, 1994 1:00:12 AM #840685 Oh, we have some very interesting plans for Mr. Bester.... jms BABYLON 5: BOXLEITNER #840687 DATE: SAT OCT 1, 1994 1:00:16 AM #840687 The way in which Sheridan comes into the storyline is *absolutely* consistent with everything that has come before, and everything that follows. jms BABYLON 5: ATTENTION UK B5 FANS! #839011 DATE: THURS SEP 29, 1994 5:19:17 I'm piggy-backing this message onto Brett's for the UK viewers out there. "Chrysalis" airs in just a few days in the UK...Monday evening. I would have much preferred that it air more closely to the US broadcast, or simultaneously, but PTEN chose otherwise. Of all the episodes I wrote for season one, this is probably the best of them. This one works on every single level, including the acting, the directing, the lighting...all of it. It's as close to a perfect episode that we've done. As you'll discover in a few days, at least half of the show's success is in the surprises, and the planned shocks along the way. You'll know what I'm talking about instantly, when you see it. As stated before, we tip over every table we've got. Specific reactions and spoilers posted here will hit people literally WEEKS before it airs. The effect, I think, would be to dilute the impact of the story profoundly. So I would like to take this opportunity to ask our UK friends for a personal favor. Obviously, discussing the episode on local UK systems is terrific, no problem. If it's possible, it'd be wonderful if you could be more general or vague in comments here. If you have specific questions related to the story, I'll be happy to respond to anything posted privately here. I know and appreciate that this would be an inconvenience, and there's nothing that obliges anyone to go along with this. I ask it only as a personal favor. jms DATE: SAT OCT 1, 1994 1:00:14 AM #840686 It's not so much with the hole in Sinclair's mind (though that's touched upon in a major way)...you could say it's to do with EVERYTHING on the show. jms PROS AND PUBLISHING: WANTED - WRITERS #839612 DATE: FRI SEP 30, 1994 12:32:25 AM Of course, depending on how you choose to define "net revenue," and it can be defined so as to make it look as though there ARE no net revenues, regardless of what may actually come in...it's possible that the writers and artists could receive *zero* money. (I work in Hollywood, and I've seen how bookkeeping can make a huge profit into a net loss.) There's no real way of knowing what "net profits" are until and unless one audits your books. It is standard, professional behavior to offer a set fee, X-cents per word, or a flat fee. If you are not doing this, then I can only conclude that something's profoundly wrong about this whole deal. jms BABYLON 5: NO STORY IDEAS PLEASE #843490 DATE: MON OCT 3, 1994 7:21:01 PM Fox doesn't produce B5; it's Warners/PTEN, so Fox can't "can" the show. As for fan fiction...I try to discourage it where possible, primarily if it's in a place where I can see it, to defuse any legal problems such as the one that killed one of Marion Zimmer Bradley's books. There are going to be some B5 novels from Dell, but we're working with the writers of those books to make sure they're *not* just unrelated throwaways, but are part of B5 continuity, and thus nominally canon. jms DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 3:03:01 PM #844240 Incorrect; now that she has been legally burned by it, MZB *is* openly discouraging fans from "playing in her fiction," as you put it. jms DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 12:17:17 AM #843849 A fan wrote an extended piece of fan fiction set in Zimmer's universe, which ended up being very close to what Marion was working on. The publisher, aware of both, spiked Marion's novel for fear of being sued. A year or two of work down the drain. jms DATE: THURS OCT 6, 1994 12:51:10 #845997 "I'd be more than happy to sign a waiver as long as she would do the same." Why should MZB *have* to sign any kind of waiver? It's her universe. jms ====== John Brobston: It makes sense for MZB to sign a waiver relinquishing rights to the fan's work. ====== DATE: FRI OCT 7, 1994 3:55:17 AM #847350 I don't think you're seeing my point; my question was why MZB would have to sign a waiver, not the other person. Getting a waiver or disclaimer from the fan is, of course, fine. But for MZB to sign a waiver means that she is giving up rights to her own creation...why should she have to do that? jms DATE: SAT OCT 8, 1994 1:38:29 AM #848386 Your suggestion is fine except that it has nothing to do with the publishing business. jms BABYLON 5: NO STORY IDEAS PLEASE #843851 DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 12:17:21 AM I know I'm on for some kind of national symposium thingie (could I possibly sound any stupider?) in February; that's all I can recall offhand. I'll be sure to post more info the closer we get to it. jms BABYLON 5: B5 MERCHANDISE #844241 DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 3:03:02 PM The CD Rom was planned for January, but there have been a lot of recent shakeups at Compton's, so that may get pushed back. I'd expect LD's sometime in the spring. jms ========= QUESTION #844432: Will the LDs be single or multiple episodes? ========= DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 7:43:26 PM #844493 Haven't heard for sure, but I'd imagine that they'd be two to a disk, one on each side. jms BABYLON 5: COMIC BOOK #843850 DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 12:17:19 AM I think it'll be out the first week of December. jms STAR TREK: DS9 2ND PART WAS AWFUL! #846002 DATE: THURS OCT 6, 1994 12:57:25 Hey, give 'em a break...after all, there's no holodeck on DS9 to use for creating false stories...had to do *something*...couldn't have any of this stuff actually *happen*, now could they? jms STAR TREK: TREK IS DYING? #844239 DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 3:03:00 PM The last season one episode, the quasi-cliffhanger "Chrysalis" airs around October 24th, with the first episode of year two following the week thereafter. jms DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 3:37:06 AM #843967 Thanks. One thing that I think commends B5 to people is the sense -- which as Henry Kissinger said, "has the added benefit of being true" -- that the show is made by folks who *genuinely like SF*. The majority of people who work on B5 are fans...you walk down the halls and you see evidence of this all over the place (particularly in the art department). So it's really a case of people making a show they'd like to watch themselves. It means respecting the audience because they/we *are* the audience. jms DATE: TUES OCT 4, 1994 1:49:19 AM #843925 Hey...there's always section 13 if you want to look around a little.... jms DATE: FRI OCT 7, 1994 12:16:00 AM #847197 "I like B5, but it's NO Star Trek." Thank you. Weren't meant to be. That's not a dig, simply a statement of fact and intent. From some of the research done on the show, a *lot* of ST fans tuned in to B5 expecting something kinda like ST...and when they saw it wasn't it, figured it was a bad version of ST, rather than seeing it simply as something utterly different. One could say, of NYPD Blue, "It's NO Cagney and Lacey." Well, no, it's not. That's rather beside the point. jms BABYLON 5: B5 AND COMMERCIALS #848387 DATE: SAT OCT 8, 1994 1:38:30 AM All b5 episodes consist of a teaser, four acts, and a tag. I believe that ST is 5 acts and a teaser. Our acts tend to be of uneven length; we just write whatever feels appropriate. Sometimes an act can be 7 minutes, or 13 minutes, whatever is best for the story. Overall we have the same number of commercials as ST or any other syndicated series. jms ============ QUESTION #845650: In S&P, wasn't Sinclair ordering the self-destruct & evacuation? ============ BABYLON 5: SINCLAIR'S FUTURE MISTAKE #845726 DATE: WED OCT 5, 1994 9:41:02 The voice you hear in B2 is not Sinclair. Also...1) check the name spelling, and 2) unless you append my CIS ID-number, I won't see this unless I do a full scan of topics. jms BABYLON 5: GARIBALDI'S MOTORCYCLE #846994 DATE: THURS OCT 6, 1994 9:35:16 PM I believe the bike in question was a Ninja. And Jerry Doyle is something of an enthusiast, which is part of what led us to that. jms BABYLON 5: EXECUTION SQUAD #845716 DATE: WED OCT 5, 1994 9:31:11 As noted in "The Quality of Mercy," there are still executions, usually spacing, for treason and mutiny, so that mainly only affects military. jms