The following is a transcript of a formal conference with Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski held on April 6, 1996 in the Compuserve Convention Center sponsored by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Media 1 Forum (GO SFMEDONE). ======================================================== SysOp Lee Whiteside: Welcome to the SF and Fantasy Forum's Babylon 5 Conference SysOp Lee Whiteside: with Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski. SysOp Lee Whiteside: Hello All, I'm Lee Whiteside, SysOp of the Babylon 5 areas SysOp Lee Whiteside: in SF Media One. SysOp Dupa: SysOp JSL: There is nothing wrong with your screen. SysOp Lee Whiteside: This is a moderated conference. SysOp JSL: We control the horizontal, we control the vertical. <> jms: heLlo I ar a riter SysOp Lee Whiteside: You will need to submit your questions into the question SysOp Lee Whiteside: queue and we will then select them for joe to comment on. SysOp Lee Whiteside: SysOp Adrienne Chafee will be assisting. SysOp Lee Whiteside: Several other Sysops from the forum are here as well. SysOp JSL: On behalf of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Forums, we would like... SysOp JSL: ...to welcome J. Michael Straczynski. SysOp Lee Whiteside: Welcome Joe! SysOp Lee Whiteside: Do you have any opening things to say? jms: Thanks, happy to be here. Happy to be anywhere. Just...happy. SysOp JSL: Remember: if you haven't visited the SF Media Forums, GO SFMEDIA! SysOp Dupa: SysOp Adrienne Chafee: Welcome, JMS! jms: Never eat anything bigger than your head. Never eat food at a place called jms: Pops, never shoot pool at a place called Mom's, and a fool and his money jms: were lucky to get together in the first place. jms: How's that for an opening statement? jms: ga SysOp Lee Whiteside: Sounds good. One note, please do not send Joe any private SysOp Lee Whiteside: messages during the conference. SysOp Lee Whiteside: If you have a question, send a message to one of the SysOp Lee Whiteside: Sysops hanging around. jms: Or we keel you. SysOp Adrienne Chafee: okay, here's the first question...... SysOp Dupa: ------------------------------------------------------------ Shawn D. Ratner asks: Mr. Straczynski, What do you feel was your most challenging episode to make? Thank You! ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: It's a tie between the one that just aired this week, Severed Dreams, and jms: the one airing at the end of May, the two-parter. Both were production jms: and/or CGI nightmares. Took us to the wall and then some. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ John R. Finnan asks: Joe, despite your modesty, does the rapturous applause and adulation you get at conventions like Wolf 359, ever make an impression on you? P.S. Elevator Boy says 'Hi.' ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: (Hi back to elevator boy.) On one level, yes, it means a great deal; a jms: writer writes to affect people, and I take the response as an indicator jms: that I've done my job properly, I've affected people.... jms: the hard part is that I have a hard time relating it to myself; it's for jms: the SHOW, and that's a different entity. For the totality of it, more jms: than for me. It's moving, but I sometimes feel...I dunno...almost like a jms: fake for accepting any part of it. The story is its own creation. jms: (I guess it's hard to buy it because when I look in the mirror I see a jms: goofball.) jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Mark Baker asks: Are we any closer to completing arrangements to have past B5 episodes released on video? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: We're measuring the progress in the movement of glaciers, the slow progress jms: of tectonic plates beneath the surface of Western America. Slowly, slowly, jms: we'll get there. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Doz asks: JMS, Hi. What is your definition of an 'Arc' storyline? Does one have to be completly pre-defined from the start ? or can a theme be added to and expanded as a series progresses ? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: An arc storyline is that which advances the totality of the story, as jms: opposed to a one-off personal story which fills in the characters, but may jms: not actually advance the over-arching plot. Most of these are pre-designed jms: episodes from the outline, others I kinda stumble into. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Ken Grumer asks: Will the "Creating Babylon 5" and "Babylon 5 A to Z" books be availible in the United States? -Ken Grumer ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Dunno, actually. I *suspect* not, because they're tailored more to the UK jms: audience, but the publisher may distribute some here in the US. More jms: succinctly...joe has *no* idea and is vamping. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Ken Isley asks: Will there ever be a B5 game along the lines of Wing Commander... Rebel Assault etc..? Thanks ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I'd certainly love to see one, yes. There have been some conversations jms: about the possibility, probably using a starfury simulator as the basis, jms: but thus far nothing concrete has emerged. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Barbara J. Pfieffer asks: When will filming be done for the current season? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: This coming Tuesday, the 9th. At that point, we will have finished a jms: total number of 66 episodes, plus the pilot, for 68 hours of B5. (Why am jms: I suddenly tired?) jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Charles H. Riggs, III asks: In terms of favorable responses, has Severed Dreams broken all records? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: From what I've seen, plus preliminary reports on the P5 survey, yeah, this jms: one seems to have set a new record. It's been a terrific response, making jms: the grief involved in doing it eminently worthwhile. (Thanks to all.) jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Steve Augustine asks: Has the fourth season been confirmed, or is it still up in the air? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: We're still waiting; we won't know for sure either way until early May. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Kosh asks: Howdy JMS!!...What Is Harlan Ellison like to work with?? Escpecially in regards to the flac he has taken from trekkies for City on the Edge of Forever??? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Harlan is nothing less than terrific to work with. Where you run into a jms: problem is if you mess with his words and don't accord the respect that he jms: is due given his talent, record and suchlike. I respect Harlan immensely, jms: value his contribution, and thus have never, EVER had a problem. He's a jms: joy to work with. (And Joy is also fun to work with.) jms: ga SysOp Adrienne Chafee: Here's a question from JSL: jms: oh rapture SysOp JSL: Yup! Hey, Joe... SysOp Adrienne Chafee: SysOp JSL: During Severed Dreams, they had a "Mystery Alien Sweepstakes"... SysOp JSL: I'm wondering, since one of the prizes is an appearance on B5, is SysOp JSL: that a "good sign" for renewal? SysOp JSL: ga jms: No, I'd say it really isn't a guarantee. There's an out clause in any jms: such contest. If we do get the nod, then the person's in; if we don't, jms: they'd pay the person off, find some other compensation, maybe an afternoon jms: with Jim S. Lyon (if they weren't nice about it), that sort of thing. jms: ga SysOp JSL: Thanks a heap. jms: I live to serve. SysOp Adrienne Chafee: next question..... ------------------------------------------------------------ JohnE Johnson asks: How did Majel Barrett find her way to your B5 universe? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: You take the 5 freeway to the Roscoe offramp and turn right. jms: More seriously.... jms: She had long been praising the show to ST fans at conventions, and urging jms: them to give the show a chance. She said it was the only other intelligent jms: SF on the air. We heard about this, and thanked her, and asked if she'd jms: like to do the show sometime. She said yes.... jms: I was then writing a new script, and crafted a role with her in mind. I jms: gave it to her at a con in England, she read it overnight, and the next jms: morning, she said she'd love to do it. And that, as they say, was that. jms: She was terrific to work with, btw. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ William H. DiPaola asks: Joe, will there ever be a Feature Film set in the B5 universe either before or after the series has ended its run? I'm a great admirer of yours, and thanks for taking the time to answer the question. ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: WB has broached the idea with us from time to time, and they want me to jms: come in and talk to them about it sometime soon, but I'm kinda holding off jms: while I finish the season, and to decide if it's something I really want jms: to do. But it's just talk for now, we'll see. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Neil Blevins asks: In what ways will the PTEN situation affect the daily life of B5? You mentioned you won't write all of season 4, but you wrote all of season 3 because so much happened. Does that mean season 4 will have less arc episodes? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: No, not really. You can still have the same or greater number of arc jms: episodes and still assign out a few smaller ones, or even some arc stuff, jms: to freelancers. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ uj asks: Are there any major characters we have yet to be introduced to? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Depends on how you define "major characters." Major impact? Yes, I'd say jms: there's a few more yet to come. Recurring or regular characters? I'm jms: still playing with this notion. jms: ga jms: (Oops, actually, there is one recurring coming, I forgot.) jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ John R. Finnan asks: Since By Any Means Necessary was SO well received by both cast and audience, is there any possibility of your Spousal Overunit penning another show? (I know you hate nepotism, but she *is* good.) ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Not at this time, no. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Zakalwe asks: How involved were you in the process of desinging the spaceships for B5? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Depends. For the regular, main ships -- Minbari cruisers, Vorlon ships, jms: others -- I was directly involved, working with Ron and the others in jms: discussing and going over the designs. If it's an incidental ship, which jms: we'll only see once, it's often left to their discretion. They ask what I jms: need, I tell them, and they do it. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Chris Johnston asks: You say the story is it's own creation. Does that mean that it's starting to develop a life of its own, perhaps developing away from what you originally set out to produce? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: The direction of the show per se hasn't changed that much; a bit here and jms: there. A story does come to life, though, and things happen that surprise jms: you, which is good, because a writer needs to be surprised if he is to have jms: any hope of surprising anybody else. So yes, that's definitely happening. jms: ga SysOp Adrienne Chafee: Okay, I'm going to turn the reins over to my co-moderator, SysOp Adrienne Chafee: SysOp Lee Whiteside....... SysOp Adrienne Chafee: (and get myself some more chocolate. ) jms: (suddenly it's a relay race) SysOp Adrienne Chafee: SysOp Lee Whiteside: Had some difficulty with the moderation software. SysOp Lee Whiteside: Here's more questions. ------------------------------------------------------------ Lee Burke/Toronto asks: Take it that Talia Winters is gone for good ? ...dissected or something ? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: There are no plans for Talia's return, no. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Penny J. Legner asks: Are you using the script for B5 to intentionally comment on some of the current issues in our society? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: No, I like for the scripts to be as culturally and contextually vacuous as jms: possible. jms: Kidding... jms: Yes, I think that you have to have some elements of this. Mark Twain said jms: that "If you want your fiction to live forever -- and by forever I mean jms: 50 years -- it must not overtly preach or overtly teach, but must covertly jms: teach and covertly preach."... jms: So I do try and make the material relevant, but WITHOUT telling people what jms: they should think about the issue, asking questions and provoking discussion jms: rather than moralizing. It *has* to be ABOUT something, or what's the jms: point? ------------------------------------------------------------ Grey Culberson asks: Hi, is Mojo still working on B5 or has he switched totally to HyperNauts? The CGI continues to just get better and better! ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: As for Mojo, he's still doing B5 stuff, did most of the Severed Dreams jms: stuff. Beyond that, I don't know what else Mojo does in his spare time, jms: and I'm too frightened to ask. jms: ga SysOp Dupa: SysOp Lee Whiteside: Couple of questions in regards to the fan club... ------------------------------------------------------------ Sandra Bruckner asks: I received the application for the B5 Fan Club in the mail today from Jim Lochett. Would it be OK to publish the information request form in this week's Zocalo to get out the information needed to become members of the club? ------------------------------------------------------------ Reece McLean asks: What is the latest regarding the fan club? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Yes, it would. SysOp Lee Whiteside: I take it the mailing has all the pertinent details? jms: We're moving forward now, and taking applications/memberships. Folks will jms: get a membership kit, lots of goodies, and access to the B5 web page which jms: we're building, which will have a virtual B5 where you can actually set up jms: residence, build your room, be an ambassador, hang out in the zocalo, jms: whatever. It's gonna be cool. jms: ga SysOp Adrienne Chafee: sounds great! jms: Lee: yes, the mailing has the pertinent details; I have all the jms: impertinent details. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Jonathan Kass asks: Joe, loved this weeks episode, but here in LA, channel 13 really pasted the commercials right up against the scenes... which job title at a TV station should receive the "constructive criticism" from the audience? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I think any criticism of that sort should probably go to the program jms: director. Assuming it wasn't clipped when WB did the commercial layoffs jms: and insertions. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Joel Hilke asks: Which episode of B5 do you think of as your finest work or your personal favorite? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: At this point, I'd say it's again a tie between Severed Dreams and War jms: Without End, the two-parter. The latter is the most ambitious thing we've jms: done from a *production* standpointt; the former from a CGI standpoint. jms: There's a lot crammed into both. So as of now, those are probably my two jms: favorites... jms: Although, I gotta tell you, the two personal stories coming up in 2 weeks, jms: one with Vir at the center, the other with Michael York (that's the order jms: of broadcast) are just *nifty*, and I love 'em to bits. ------------------------------------------------------------ Barbara J. Pfieffer asks: Any hints you can give on the name of the season finale? Maybe an article? "Of" "The" something?? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Barbara: sorry, I'm holding that back as long as I can. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ randy asks: Will we see a return of Sinclair? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: In the two-parter, yes. He's there a lot, all through it. I think folks jms: are going to be very pleased with the chemistry between Sinclair and jms: Sheridan; they made a great team. It's a *good* story for the two of them. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Nick Coe asks: Joe, would you please suggest some eps to prepare UK viewers for the start of S3 here in a couple of weeks? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Shadow of Z'ha'dum. Fall of Night. (terminal brain fart...I can't think jms: of others.) jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Joe Kubasek asks: Reglion and faith seem to play key roles in many of B5's themes. What responses have you gotten from different religious organizations? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Ranges from support to puzzlement. Sometimes I get letters from folks who jms: assume that because I put in a particular religion, I believe in that, and jms: I'm "slipping in" my own/their own beliefs, and they don't quite know how jms: to take it when I tell them I'm an atheist... jms: Other times I get mail saying thank you for presenting a minority point of jms: view, for being open-minded and even-handed for showing religion...then I jms: indicate that maybe Talia/Ivanova had a fling, and they start to object, jms: when they remember that I did *both* of my own volition, to be even-handed, jms: and that to criticize would be a contradiction... jms: and at THAT point they don't know WHAT to say...it's sort of like playing jms: theological Whack-A-Mole. jms: ga SysOp Dupa: SysOp Lee Whiteside: OK, some spoiler type questions if you haven't seen Severed Dreams yet.. jms: RUN AWAY! ------------------------------------------------------------ Ken Nichols asks: What was the significance of the staff Delenn broke in Severed Dreams and why the electric charge from it? ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------ Asha asks: When Delenn broke the staff did she use her own power or an outside power? What is the Staff? Is it's power symbolic or actual? Is there a story behind the staff? If so, what? What was the blue lightning? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: It's the symbol of the Grey Council, made from one of the Triluminaries jms: they encountered a long time ago. It's also a power source, hence the jms: reaction. jms: ga SysOp Lee Whiteside: One which dissapeared before I could send it wanted SysOp Lee Whiteside: to know if this was the episode where Jerry Doyle SysOp Lee Whiteside: broke his arm. jms: Yes, the final scene where you see Jerry being helped down to the floor jms: (without giving too much away) was shot moments after he broke his right jms: arm. If you watch the scene, you'll see his arm bending in directions never jms: intended by evolution as he drops the helmet. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Mark Baker asks: Joe, I've read that you, Harlan Ellison and Walter Koenig are confirmed for the Chicago Comicon, is there any chance we may see other members of the production crew or cast? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Not at this time, no. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Tim Chandler asks: Joe, are any of the characters you've written in B5 inspired from someone you knew directly? Thanks! ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: No, not really. I mainly drew on my own background, splitting it into jms: diferent people...there's a little or a lot of me in all of the characters, jms: aspects that I like or dislike about myself, what I'd hope I could be, or jms: I'd fear I could be. It's one massive task of psychoanalysis. Then again, jms: sometimes a Centauri is just a Centauri. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Doz asks: If Babylon 5 fails to reach a fifth season, How would you continue the storyline ? and if it does how would you react from pressure to continue it. ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I can't even allow that question in my head, much less answer it. From day jms: one, this show has been an act of sheer will. I can't even consider the jms: question because of that. We'll tell this story. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Kosh asks: Who's idea was it for Chief G. to be a Looney Tunes fan?? Are you?? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: That was my idea, I wrote that. And yes, I *love* the old WB cartoons, and jms: have virtually all of them on disk. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ David P. Watkins asks: Many people (including myself) compare BAB5 in import to TOS. TNS, DS9, and Voyager have all failed to glean this comparison from many. What do you think it is about your show that makes it stand out among the others? DPW ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I was thinking about this earlier today, and what I think it comes down to jms: is passion. I feel strongly about the stories I'm telling, the actors feel jms: strongly about their characters, and in the episdoes the tales are rendered jms: with emotion, and passion, and weight, and that's all too rare on most jms: American TV. I try desperately to make the audience *feel* something, to jms: construct something that echoes myth and the sagas we grew up on in SF.... jms: to reinterpret myths for contemporary times, and point to our past and our jms: future simultaneously. B5 is *history*, a history of the future, and it jms: speaks with the voice of our ancestors and our inheritors simultaneously, jms: and that's a very powerful voice. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ James R. Kapesis asks: Will we see Garibaldi follow up on the data crystal Kosh made from Talia? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Not for the immediate future. It's there as a weapon of sorts if needed. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Colin Glassey asks: Di Delenn use her "ring" in a recent episode? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Nope. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Brian Cooney UK asks: Hi Joe how are you looking forward to a visit to Engaland this year. ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Well, I would except for this guy Brian Cooney who's organizing the thing, jms: he's a pain in the butt to work with and...oops! Er, that is, yes, I'm jms: looking forward to it EVER so much, it's bound to be GREAT fun, and they're jms: all a lot of fun to work with. Especially Brian. (OH, HELLO, Brian.) jms: ga SysOp Dupa: SysOp Adrienne Chafee: SysOp Lee Whiteside: Somene else wanted to know if Bester will be returning? jms: Oh, most certainly. He's up in 4 weeks in "Ship of Tears," which to quote jms: Walter, gave him more to do in one hour than he's done in 30 years of ST. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ uj asks: How canonical are the B5 comics and books? How far does your involvement with them go? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: The books, because they're so large, and go through so many hands, tend to jms: be canonical in the *broad strokes* but often the details don't get done jms: quite right, or things slip past me. The comics I've tried to keep close jms: as possible, and will work harder to make the next batch even closer, even jms: though I won't directly be writing for them this time. jms: ga SysOp Lee Whiteside: A couple of questions/comments on how PTEN has been SysOp Lee Whiteside: handling promotion of the show recently jms: As well as they ever have. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Dean S. Arashiro asks: PTEN, along with just about everyone else, seems to schedule new episodes during sweeps months. This is driving me nuts, especially with regard to B5. Do you think this is something we're just going to have to live with, or can we -- the public (and consumers) -- do something alter this practice? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Short of storming Warner Bros. and throwing tapes out the windows into the jms: hands of waiting folks (which, on reflection, ain't necessarily a bad idea) jms: no, they air only during sweeps as a rule; this April batch is an exception. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Greg & Scott asks: What other work (scripts, books) have you done ? And how did you eventually get B5 on the air ? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I've written 145+ produced scripts, as story editor/writer/producer on shows jms: like THE TWILIGHT ZONE, MURDER SHE WROTE, NIGHTMARE CLASSICS, others, plus jms: 2 novels, 1 anthology and 1 nonfiction writing book being republished this jms: fall, plus 500 published articles, 12 produced plays, 12 produced radio jms: dramas, and Lots Of Other Stuff.... jms: We got B5 on the air by traveling from network to studio for 5 years like jms: Diogenes with his lamp, looking for an honest man, for *someone* who would jms: understand what we wanted to do with the show. After 5 years, we found jms: them at WB and Chris Craft, Dick Robertson and Evan Thompson, respectively. jms: They've been our angels all through this. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ David E. McCloud asks: Have members of the cast ever given you ideas about their roles,inadvertantly or otherwise? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Not as such, no. I do, however, listen to them, and learn about them, and jms: sneak in things that I know will resonate with them, knowing that it will jms: make their performance more real. Listen to Delenn talking to the council jms: in "Severed," and remember she's from Yugoslavia, which tried for years to jms: get others to intervene and help stop the bloodshed.... jms: and suddenly you understand the truth behind the performance, she *knows* jms: what she's talking about, Mira's been there, lived it. The cast knows that jms: I do this, that I'm absolutely not beneath manipulation, and they're I think jms: fascinated and horrified by the aspects of themselves that slip into scripts jms: that they didn't know I'd noticed. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Ken Isley asks: Besides writing our local TV stations, and being rabid followers of B5, how can we let the Cast and Crew know how much we love/support their work? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Mainly by doing what you're doing; writing your stations and WB itself jms: (esp. jms: Bob Daly, head of WB), and thus assist with the process of keeping us on jms: the air. Internet comments and some from CIS do get posted on the stage jms: wall for them to see, however. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ DANIEL ALLEN asks: how do you feel the series has been received in Britain and do you think the start of the new series will generate good or negative reaction compared to the us reaction? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: We've *always* been better received in the UK than the US due to the fact jms: that there we have a regular time slot and good PR. Frankly, I think the jms: reaction there to this new season will be nothing short of cerebral jms: melt-down. They won't be disappointed. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Sandra Bruckner asks: Will we see Ambassador Sinclair again after the two-part episode has aired? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Ask me again after the two-parter. To answer now would be to give too jms: much away. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Reece McLean asks: When will your script-writing book be available (overseas)? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Don't know when or if or how it'll be available there. It might be only jms: via mail order direct from the US publisher. I'll be sure to post the info jms: when it comes out. jms: ga jms: (It's published here in the US in the fall.) jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Rick L. Sharer asks: Is there a bigger and more dangerous species than The Shadows lurking around the corner? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Isn't there always? jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ DChip asks: Long Live B5! At the end of "Severed Dreams" was the last shot cropped in order to show only the NightWatch poster or was there more to that cropped shot? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: No, there's no more to that. We end on the poster. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Mara K. Malovany asks: Joe, my software zapped me out, but I got back in time to see that you answered my question about Jerry's arm. Are threre any other interesting/funny/strange happenings on the set you can share with us? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Not until the statute of limitations runs out on some of this stuff. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Orion asks: JMS.. Some people have compared the Dark Ones with H.P Lovecrafts cthulu beasties ..was this intentional or a coincidence? Also love the show you really brought GOOD SF back to Television... Thanks Dan ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Not really...it's a mythic kind of structure, you can compare the First jms: Ones to a lot of that kind of fiction, also Dunsany, Clark Ashton Smith, jms: August Derleth, others...but if you go further, it has metaphors with jms: Egytp jms: er, egyptian culture, some Indian cultures, it's kind of universal. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Darksun asks: Are there any plans to market models, toys, etc. (other than the Micro Machines)? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: We're doing a few small things, there may be some porecelain figures coming jms: along this year, some collector's plates, maybe a new card set from Fleer, jms: a new soundtrack from Chris Franke, but not a whole lot; again, we don't jms: put a lot of emphasis on merchandising. Tell the story first; the rest jms: will follow if we tell the story *right*. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Tim Chandler asks: Joe, What's the scene that you find funniest that you've written in B5? Thanks again. ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: It's a scene later to come, with Ivanova and a Minbari bed. Well, that and jms: a certain conversation between Vir and Ivanova in about 2 weeks about.... jms: no, I can't say, but it's just fall down funny. You'll know it when you jms: see it. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ DMI asks: Hello, JMS. The situation faced by EF personnel is similar to the one faced by U.S. Army and Navy personnel at the outbreak of the American Civil War. Are you a student of ACW history? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: To say I'm a student of it would be self-indulgent and greater than the jms: truth; I'm a historical dabbler, I look into lots of things, so I know a jms: little about a lot but not a lot about anything, just enough to either get jms: into hideous trouble or find what I *do* need. But yes, I know a fair jms: amount about the Civil War, and other big historical events. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Joel Hilke asks: Was the gobs of scientic and technical information gathered for the Berzerker Probe a way to make it more realistic for Babylon 5 to go private (so to speak)? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: No, not at all. (If I correctly perceive the question.) jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Jim De Vico asks: Joe, you have such a presence on-line. Very unique in the industry. How has this presence affected the overall story, feel or direction of the show? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: It really hasn't, and can't be allowed to. Too much TV is done by jms: committee; the last good things done by committee were Stonehenge and the jms: pyramids. Viewers, much as they like a show, and have good thoughts, are jms: nonetheless a HUGE committee, and if you let that pull you one way or jms: another, the story would become mushed around, directionless, and fall jms: apart after a while. The only thing I can do... jms: is write what feels correct to me to write, and tell the story as it demands jms: to be told, and hope that an audience exists that is as sick and perverted jms: as I am. (And thank you all for coming tonight.) jms: ga SysOp Dupa: ------------------------------------------------------------ karen surtees asks: when the five year arc for b5 has finished do you have any plans for another sf show? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: If it goes it's full five years, I dunno...if they hand me an anthology jms: show, I'd have to say yes. Barring that, or something similar, I think I'd jms: prefer to then retire from TV and go back to writing plays and novels, jms: having said pretty much everything I want to say for TV. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ DANIEL ALLEN asks: Where did you come up with the name for Kosh and who would you compare him to in the modern world? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I went by the sound of the name, something short, one syllable, without ANY jms: clear subtext to the name, a complete cypher. Which fits the character. jms: Who would I compare him to? He's an ALIEN. He thinks like an alien. He jms: shouldn't be comparable to ANY human. (Well, maybe Buddy Hackett.) jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Greg & Scott asks: Ever think of doing a cameo appearance? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Nope. Don't want to. If I see me on the show, it blows the illusion. I jms: need to believe in this place, as much as I can, and if I know I'm in it, jms: then it ain't a real place anymore. So no, you won't see me. Darn near jms: everybody ELSE in the crew, but not me. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Dean S. Arashiro asks: Any thought been given to an "Official" B5 convention, one where you guys can shoot the works? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: We've had some conversations about that...maybe in about a year, via the jms: fan club. jms: ga jms: (We'd do the convention as both educational and entertainment, btw, with jms: lots of workshops.) ------------------------------------------------------------ Grey Culberson asks: An important question: Proxima 3, Epsilon 3, Babylon 5, Orion 7, and a slew of primary worlds. Are there any even numbered planets in the B5 universe? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: No, all planets with life on them are odd. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ JohnE Johnson asks: Could you comment on "And Now For a Word," one of my favorite episodes. ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Comment how? jms: "Good show. Joe like. Hulk smash." SysOp Lee Whiteside: Something along the lines of the approach of the episode and such? jms: Well, it's an episode that at first fans didn't know how to take, they got jms: thrown by the narrative device...but on the rerun, a lot have come around to jms: saying they like it *better* on reflection. It's something I've felt was jms: under-rated. We feel it's imprortant to break the rules from time to time, jms: do something *different*. If we fail, we fail. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Anne/Soolin asks: Will we see the Rangers play a bigger role now that you've upped the stakes and will we see more of Marcus? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Absolutely. The Rangers continue to come forward into the story, and we do jms: a lot more with Marcus; he's a great character, and I enjoy using him in the jms: story. (There's a coming confrontation between him and a Warrior Caste jms: minbari that should prove quite interesting.) jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Darksun asks: How many other ancient races, akin to the Vorlons, will we eventually get to see? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Only a few. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Ken Isley asks: Will we see a return of Brother Theo/Monks in future episodes? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Most of them have passed beyond the rim. Yes, Theo and his gang appear in jms: "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place." jms: ga jms: (Those are two answers; Theo hasn't passed beyond the rim.) ------------------------------------------------------------ Steve Willer asks: Hi there, JMS. I just saw Severed Dreams, and I must say you've outdone even Captain Power now! :-) I noticed that you killed Haig in this episode -- was "cutting off of the character" a response to their sudden change of heart? Would Haig have survived if the actor stayed in the episode? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Hague would've stayed alive, yes, with others having died on his crew. But jms: in the long run, this worked out better dramatically. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Bancroft asks: Do you have a favourite author or authors? (SF or non-SF) Has any particular author's work influenced B5 directly? (eg. in 'look & feel', or background). ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: No, not really. It's its own creation. Favorite authors in general? jms: Bradbury. Ellison. Lovecraft. Eric Frank Russell. Tolkein. Heinlein. jms: Lots of others. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Friends of Elevator Boy asks: "Will we see Anna Sheridan sooner or LATER" Thanks Gerard Keating (Dublin, Ireland) ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Define sooner. SysOp Lee Whiteside: Will track Gerard down for a further definition. SysOp Lee Whiteside: in the meantime... SysOp Dupa: ------------------------------------------------------------ Kwicker asks: You sure do get around, Joe. Btw, one of things you've been proud of is successfully doing a space sf tv series--on budget. How would you spend the money if your budget was doubled? on the crew? the fx? on advertising? make a 10-year story? or double everyone's salary, fx, everything? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I'd pay the cast a lot more, right off the bat, because they earn it in jms: spades. I'd do more planet-based stuff, build more ships, basically make jms: the story *bigger*. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ John R. Finnan asks: Will the monks on B5 (who went there because it was blessed) see the war with the Shadows in terms of REVELATIONS? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Not exactly, no. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Kosh asks: With regards to the Talia and Ivanova relationship.... Will a similar situation come up again for Ivanova??? ------------------------------------------------------------ David P. Watkins asks: Did Ivanova and Talia have a "fling"?? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Ivanova will get involved again with someone, yes; and yes, they did. jms: ga jms: (This will be clarified further in the very next episode, btw.) jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Burrow asks: Regarding the 4th season, how have the ratings been overall? ------------------------------------------------------------ SysOp Lee Whiteside: I think he actually means third season... jms: Very good. The problem overall is in keeping timeslots given the number of jms: stations with commitments to UPN, WB and Fox shows; lots of shows, like jms: Lonesome Dove, have been pulled even though their ratings were good; they jms: just couldn't find enough slots. So we're doing fine, but fighting for jms: timeslots. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Sandra Bruckner asks: Will the blooper tapes and music videos be made available via the Fan Club? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: That's something we're still trying to determine, nothing's set yet. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Friends of Elevator Boy asks: What part of Earth does Sheridan come from, Sheridan is a good irish name, but we irish have spead to the four corners. Thanks Gerard Keating (Ireland) ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Sheridan himself comes from the Midwest US. jms: ga SysOp Lee Whiteside: Clarification on his question about Anna Sheridan . SysOp Lee Whiteside: Sooner is as in the next few episodes? jms: Then the answer is no. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Z. Michael Milutinovic asks: I have a question about G'Kar. Now that he's "Changed", do his followers, fellow Narn, believe what G'Kar believes? In Severed thier actions looked "single minded", "no doubts" side by side with the humans. ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: (Look, over there, a comet.) jms: I'm not sure they all believe exactly as he believes, but they're willing jms: to follow where he leads.] jms: For now, anyway. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Neil Blevins asks: How strong are the narn? I've seen one getting beaten up by a human, and I've seen G'kar smash a giant stone tablet with his bare hands. ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Well, we have no idea from that shot if the Narn in question was wounded, jms: if he'd been through several fights already...because then there's another jms: Narn picking up a human right off the floor as another goes for her. jms: Also the marines were pretty well armored. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ DANIEL ALLEN asks: Is their any character in the show who you would think of as being similar to yourself in outlook and drive? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I'd like to think Delenn. But that's again rather self-indulgent. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Joel Hilke asks: Were you particularly proud of the first season episode "Believers"? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Yes, because it was absolutely unflinching, it didn't compromise, didn't jms: blink, didn't turn away when it came time to show the logical consequences jms: of the actions involved. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Kwicker asks: Sheridan's not from IOWA like a certain other captain who worked in space? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Definitely not. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen C. Smith asks: Perhaps one unforeseen benefit of your success with B5 is that it begat other shows, such as HYPERNAUTS and SPACE CASES. After B5 ends its run, would you have an interest in shepherding to the air other quality SF created by others, or do you want to remain just a master storyteller? GA ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I'm a writer. I never really wanted the pointy hat that says PRODUCER. If jms: I were offered staff writer, for crappy money, no power, but they wouldn't jms: change the words, I'd take it in a hot second. No, I'd rather let others jms: find their own dreams, than sit as shepherd on their creations. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Kosh asks: Will we "see" more Vorlons??? Kosh is one of my all time favorite characters.... ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Oh, yes, most definitely. Sooner than you might think. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Tim Chandler asks: Joe, Will G'Kar find out that Kosh manipulated him (seems like good drama to me...) ? Thanks again. ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Well, look at that, another comet, imagine that.... jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Grey Culberson asks: I especially enjoyed GROPOS, mostly because we were introduced to a number of non-arc/minor characters which most shows never indulge in (unless they need somebody to kill off). Any plans for another similar episode? ------------------------------------------------------------ SysOp Dupa: jms: Not as such, no, but in broader terms all our characters get in that jms: position. jms: (And let's not get personal here, Dupa.) jms: ga SysOp Dupa: ------------------------------------------------------------ Jim H.(SJ,CA) asks: Are they still using a network of Amiga's to do the CGI work? How long does the post production special effects take to do? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Nope, they've ported all the software over to PCs now, and they're pretty jms: fast; don't have the figures here, though. jms: ga SysOp Dupa: jms: Overall, it take 52 days from the last day of shooting to finish an episode jms: in post.) ------------------------------------------------------------ James R. Kapesis asks: Are Lyta's Psi powers enhanced now that she went to the Vorlon Homeworld? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Certain elements of Lyta's makeup have been altered, yes. It's...it's... jms: my gosh, it's another comet! Do you know the odds on this? They're jms: well, astronomical. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ JohnE Johnson asks: How did Delenn learn about pilots merging with a Shadow ship? Is she holding back information from Sheridan? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Yes, she is. She's holding back a lot, more than anyone suspects. And jms: this is going to cost her dearly soon enough. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Colin Glassey asks: Use of force: If the use of the "great machine" would have saved many lives under Sheridan's command, how can he justify NOT asking for Draal's help? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I think it was a matter of feeling this was an internal situation between jms: EA and B5; that if he just called in Draal, it'd be them being saved by jms: another rather than taking a stand themselves. And he's right, he wants to jms: hold back the info that he's made an *alliance* with Draal at this time... jms: because right now, the *ownership* of B5 was in danger, but they likely jms: weren't going to destroy the station itself. Soon that threat may come, jms: and you don't want someone knowing you have an ally, then taking out that jms: ally, so you're defenseless against the HUGE threat coming your way to jms: destroy the place completely. jms: ga SysOp JSL: Folks, we're going to wrap this up in about eight minutes, so... SysOp JSL: last questions! Thanks! ------------------------------------------------------------ Troy Starr asks: JMS - You've mentioned that B5 isn't just about the Shadow war. What can we expect to see on B5 once the war is over? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Well, Earth still has to be dealt with, and then all the falllout from the jms: shadow war. Lots of stuff has to happen. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Darksun asks: Will we eventually learn as much about the Vorlons and their culture/technology as we've been learning about the Minbari? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: You will learn more, but never as much as the rest. They're sneaky that jms: way. jms: ga SysOp JSL: Joe, are the Minbari now "officially" at war with Earth due to SysOp JSL: Delenn's actions? jms: No, Clark isn't that stupid. He'd also hope to do internally and quietly jms: what he'd hope to accomplish in a confrontation. He can't fight a war on jms: too many fronts; he's going to have a hard enough time holding things jms: together back home without starting a war with the very race that nearly jms: wiped out Mankind. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Sandra Bruckner asks: One of the things I loved about Severed Dreams was the strong characterization of Delenn. She's not been a strong force since the first season and I've missed that. Is the change due to the fact that she's now more comfortable with her transformation? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Yes, her whole world and self-perception was changed after that, she didn't jms: know where she fit in, everyone rejected her practically; she's had to jms: adjust, find herself again. She's done that. We all go through periods of jms: adjustment, change, reflection. It's realistic. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Jonathan Kass asks: Will you be bringing back the actor who played the Major (replacing Admiral Hague)? I remember him from other series, always like his work (he was in the Quantum Leap finale (?)) ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: It's possible. jms: ga SysOp JSL: Three more questions! ------------------------------------------------------------ Perry Maniaci asks: Was earths first encounter with aliens the Centari? And did they give them jump gate technology? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Yes to both questions. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Kosh asks: Will we ever find out what Londo saw when Kosh revealed himself???? Or did he see nothing as he said??.... ------------------------------------------------------------ SysOp Dupa: jms: He said just what he saw. (And yes, it was a trade deal, Centauri never jms: GIVE anything to anyone.) jms: ga SysOp Lee Whiteside: In the blooper reel: Londo says "I tawt I taw a Putty Cat, I did" ------------------------------------------------------------ Gordon J. asks: Will shows from the first season be aired again? I would love to see those again to see the story and characters grow. ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: At this point, not until TNT begins showing the series in its totality, jms: after we've finished production, starting around 1998. jms: ga jms: You'd believe a Centauri over me? SysOp Adrienne Chafee: ------------------------------------------------------------ James R. Kapesis asks: How will this end? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: In light. jms: ga SysOp JSL: Not in fire? Sheesh! SysOp Dupa: SysOp Adrienne Chafee: jms: Last episode title is "Sleeping in Light." ------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen C. Smith asks: Any interest at all in doing other projects with your current cast after the run is over? Sorta like Orson Welles and the Mercury Theater, only without the weight gain? GA ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: I'd love to, frankly, if I can come up with something appropriate. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ John R. Finnan asks: As a writer, and an atheist your writing is the one thing you're leaving behind. How would you like to be remembered after the "game is called, on account of Darkness"? I know it's morbid, but it's gone midnight over here. ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: He told a good story. He entertained us and made us think. He tried never jms: to hurt anybody. And he never started a fight...but he always finished it. SysOp Dupa: jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ DChip asks: In the elevator scene with Londo and G'Kar, was any of the dialogue ad-lib? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Not that I can recall. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Tim Sartain asks: Would the WB network pickup B5 if you were'nt under contract with PTEN or has it ever been considered and do you think you would get better publicity and time slots with them? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Well, one of G'Kar's echoes, I believe. jms: No, WBN is a diferent, competitive branch of WB, and they wouldn't do it. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Pat Clifford asks: Is that "Sleeping in The Light" ANYTHING TO DO WITH vONNEGUTT? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Nope. jms: ga ------------------------------------------------------------ Bancroft asks: How accurate is Londo's 'vision' of his death? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Extremely. jms: ga jms: (But there's two pieces of information about that scene you don't have yet.) jms: ga SysOp JSL: This will be the last question, everyone! SysOp Lee Whiteside: Putting pressure on me to pick a good one :) SysOp Dupa: JMS - Ooooooo! SysOp Adrienne Chafee: :) ------------------------------------------------------------ Jim H.(SJ,CA) asks: Is President Clark _really_ that smart? Or is he just a puppet of the Shadows? ------------------------------------------------------------ jms: Hes' a very smart puppet. jms: ga SysOp Lee Whiteside: Shaun, did we need to end things now? SysOp JSL: Yes, Joe's a busy man... SysOp Lee Whiteside: OK, that's all the questions for this conference. SysOp Adrienne Chafee: thanks for being our guest this afternoon, JMS!!! SysOp JSL: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending today... SysOp Lee Whiteside: Thanks for joining us Joe! jms: The pleasure was entirely mine. SysOp JSL: A reminder: visit the Babylon 5 Sections in SFMEDONE... SysOp Lee Whiteside: And for those of you who sat in with us. SysOp Dupa: Joe - Thanks! (and watch out for Comets) SysOp JSL: the SF & Fantasy Media 1 Forum. SysOp JSL: The online home of B5 on CompuServe! SysOp Adrienne Chafee: Go SFMEDONE SysOp Lee Whiteside: We'll have a transcript available, likely sometime SysOp Lee Whiteside: tomorrow in the Babylon 5 Text/General library. SysOp JSL: Our very special thanks to Joe for such a terrific conference. jms: The preceding commercial brought to you by the Psi Corps. SysOp Lee Whiteside: Trust the Corps. SysOp JSL: You are all welcome to stay here (the psi corps) and chat amongst SysOp JSL: yourselves (are your friends)... SysOp Dupa: We're Everywhere for your convienence. SysOp JSL: And now we'll open it up to general discussion. jms: Gotta zip now, boyz and girlz...see you on the flip side. SysOp Lee Whiteside: Thanks Joe, I'm about to open up the floor to general chaos now.. SysOp Dupa: Bye, Joe SysOp Lee Whiteside: % The floor is now OPEN SysOp Dupa: Lee - as opposed to Specific Chaos? James R. Kapesis: Zog Blackadder: cost ya! Sandra Bruckner: Bye JMS Thanks. Grey Culberson: We lie prostrate in your magnificence! Z. Michael Milutinovic: By Joe John R. Finnan: Good night all, from the 4 question man! Kwicker: Should that be the "Sy Corp"? Orion: Bye JMS See ya in Chicago Tim Chandler: Comets make the universe a brighter place. Friends of Elevator Boy: Hello Floor Mara K. Malovany: well, that was fun James R. Kapesis: 3 ques. here MichaelJ: WhAGREAT SHOW Jim H.(SJ,CA): Thanks, Joe, don't get hit by any comets! ;-) Don: Thanks for being everywhere for our convenience, Joe! David P. Watkins: THanks! Ruth Ballam: John - Gone on rub it in why don't you ! :-) Gordon J.: Thanks for the conference, I really enjoyed it. Long Live B5! MichaelJ: Great show Kosh: 4 ques here......... Friends of Elevator Boy: Thanks for a great sesson joe. SysOp Dupa: Grey Culberson: Your aura is devastating! Kwicker: maybe Joe discovered ANOTHER "string" of comets like the ones that hit juptier David P. Watkins: Bye Debra Banach: thanks Joe! Kwicker: thanks,joe! James R. Kapesis: JMS is the great maker! DChip: Thank's joe Gavin(U.K): Thanks Joe Grey Culberson: Standing O. Tim Chandler: Thanks Joe. Bancroft: Great show. Thanks, Joe (& sysops!) John Creigh: Thanks. SysOp JSL: For your info... Joe Straczynski has left... Friends of Elevator Boy: Hi sandra Sandra Bruckner: Fantastic. SysOp JSL: ...and you are most definitely welcome! Jim H.(SJ,CA): Thanks, Sysops! Great conference! Kwicker: nice conference, sysops Carol Naylor: Ruth> You lucky thing. I can't even get back in time forHammersmith Bancroft: Bye, all SysOp JSL: EVERYONE: PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN TO CHECK THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULES... Ruth Ballam: gerard: Um, I'd have to scroll back to check but I think he did SysOp JSL: ...IN SFMEDONE & SFMEDTWO. We have some GREAT guests coming up very soon! SysOp JSL: If you haven't done so, make sure "Notices" is turned ON! SysOp JSL: So you'll see announcements about them! ====================================================================== Transcript prepared by SysOp Lee Whiteside Transcript Copyright (C) 1996 by CompuServe Information Service's Science Fiction and Fantasy Media 1 Forum (GO SMFEDONE). All rights reserved.