Babylon 5 posts by JMS for Jan 1, 1993 - Jan 18, 1993 This file includes a compilation of posts on GEnie by J. Michael Straczynski in the Babylon 5 topic. The posts are copyright 1993 by J. Michael Straczynski with compilation copyright by GEnie. ************ Topic 1 Mon Oct 26, 1992 SF-FANTASY [Yog Sysop] at 18:50 EST Sub: Babylon 5 Welcome to the Babylon 5 category! As always, offering or requesting copies of copyrighted material, whether it's the B5 Newsletter, photos, or the actual movie/episodes violates copyright law and SFRT policy. 397 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 73 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:01 EST Will, jeez, that's amazing...you should've said something, the B5 family would've been there with cards and letters. How're you doing now? I know it can be a very traumatic experience, even once you're physically 100%. One more thing, Will. Email me your address. On other fronts.... One week from today, we will (or should) be finished with sound/music/looping edits and the B5 pilot will be complete. It's both exhilirating to think about that...and there's also that post partum depression that hits whenever I finish a big project, a novel, or an episode of a series. In my head, all I can play over are the things we should've or could've done to make it even better...the scenes we should have trimmed, the scenes we should've dropped back in again, THIS angle on a fight instead of THAT one...you can play with these things forever. At some point, you just have to let go. Then the next phase _ the series _ rests in large measure in your hands, in terms of how fast we can get this puppy in gear. It's kind of funny, meanwhile...I've gotten a number of private responses to stuff I asked here, and one person told me a rather remarkable story, alongside Will's...without naming names, he'd taken it upon himself to proselytize about the show as much as possible, to tell as many people about it as he could. Apparently, he was on one system, and saw a young woman on-line, and called her into chat, something he was normally to shy EVER to do before. They began talking about the show _ she'd apparently heard a little about it, but not much _ and over time they began corresponding, and, in the words of the person who sent me the note, "We fell in love with each other." They've now met, and it looks like it might get serious indeed. Amazing. (When the person gives me his permission, I'll post the full note; he's a little sheepish of her finding out he said anything.) I think it's really kind of cool. Oh...one last thing. Several people have inquired privately how to send notes or stuff hard-copy. An address where I can be reached is 14431 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 260, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. Onward. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 89 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:21 EST What an amazing group of posts...I'm speechless. It's gratifying to see that the process works, that this medium can be used to such good effect. Something that has always been important to me is de-mystifying the process. Lee mentioned somewhere uptopic that the on-line stuff has been going on for a long time, across various shows, from RGBs and Power through Zone and now to this. To de-mystify writing, Harlan writes in bookstore windows...I do this. I just got a private note today (oh, and speaking of notes, just address hard-copy mail to my name; it's a private mailing address, not a studio) from one fellow who just managed to get a development deal with a studio. It ain't big, but it's a start...and because of the discussion here, and elsewhere over the years, he has a better idea of what to expect, and how to prepare. This is an extremely tough business to crack. And the largest part of the problem is just getting accurate information. When I came to LA originally, I didn't know squat, and a long time _ a LONG time _ was wasted, time I now very much regret losing, because I just didn't fully or accurately understand How Things Worked. If this process can make the entry easier for another writer, or de-mystify what happens behind the screen, then all the better. And, selfishly, it has been great to get the input, to hear the questions, especially those I can't answer...because down the road you just KNOW that that question will come up eventually, and better to be hit with it now than blindsided later on. It's a rewarding, fascinating and challenging exchange. I suspect that a LOT of shows would be considerably improved for this kind of direct communication. Oh, yeah...and re the newsletter...if you ask Christy nice, I'm sure she'll send you the back issue. Tell her I said it was okay. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 94 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:42 EST That would be telling.... jms "And they were carried off to Babylon...." ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 124 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:05 EST I really don't know how to make an e-mail mailing list, and it would seem inappropriate to ask anyone here to go through the hassle of doing it for all 1800-2000 people here to accommodate the handful with dishes. Or silverware, for that matter. If someone here would like to be your "Dish Buddy" and send you a note when it goes on, that might be one way of doing it. Re: kids/robots...the exact phrasing of that has gone through various permutations and paraphrasings; the specific line is "No kids or cute robots." The latter specifically entails entities such as Twiki (got the spelling right this time, thanks to whoever corrected me), who should be run down by a truck at the first opportunity. (In fact, I can say without hesitation that if you ever DO see what passes for a cute robot on this show, keep a close eye on it, because you'll probably see somebody drop an anvil on it REAL fast.) So this allows us to explore the question of robotics, but to do so in a fairly serious context. Because logically, 200+ years in the future there are going to be some changes; robotics will be more common, though likely in some different form. (If you've seen the promos or the pilot, you've seen the maintenance 'bot that checks out the hull of B5; it has arms, it moves, it's independent, it's a robot. It just doesn't begin its report with "Bida-bida- bida.") On the topic of kids...it's a deliberate decision to steer clear of that part, not because I think it's invalid, but because a) it's been done on another show, and its spinoff, rather intensively, and b) it's part of the SF stereotype, "We have to have kids because SF is a kid's genre." Might there be a story about a family of refugees who come seeking sanctuary, or opportunity elsewhere? Of course. But any kids in that family won't be at the *center* of the story. And they'll be gone by the end of the episode. It's also a matter of context; absent the scenario just posed, this is a place for businessmen, travelers, mappers, traders, diplomats and others, it's not a place for kids. It's also potentially a very DANGEROUS place. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 126 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:29 EST Rumors are exactly that...and as I've indicated, anything that happens of substance _ good, bad or indifferent _ you'll hear it from the source. How can PTEN be dead when it hasn't even AIRED yet? I've hered this same rumor from others, and have to say that if Creation is spreading this that they are being *highly* irresponsible. The facts again are these: the first night of programming goes on later this month. B5 airs the following month. Based on the ratings for all of the shows, they will then open a second night, or modify the first. And that will determine where (and when) B5 lands. It's a logistical question about when to expand. If anyone wanders back in that topic's direction and would like to re- post this as an official rebuttal, you're welcome to do so. I also hear they're showing the E! piece...guys, if you want to help us, there at Creation...don't jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 160 Mon Jan 04, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:30 EST My sense (what there is of it) is that in every show, you have to make choices. What, fundamentally, is the story you are telling? Who is your story about? Is it for adults, or children? I don't watch LA Law regularly, but I sort of poke my nose in from time to time, and I don't see a lot of kid's stories. One could well go to the producers of that show and say, "Why aren't you doing kid stories?" to which the only answer is, "That's not our show." I already said above that if families come through, there may be kids along. The point of clarification for me is that I don't want to do shows with kids at the center. First to distinguish us from other shows, and second because that's not the area that I want to concentrate on just now. Of course people still have kids, and of course some will come through B5; it's where one places them in the story that's at issue. It's often kinda funny...people say, on the one hand, "Yeah! Fight them studios! Don't let them tell you the kind of stories you oughta do!" Then, "But you've GOTTA do a story with kids!" or "This is the sort of story you HAVE to do." The only answer to that _ said without sarcasm, honest _ is "Do what I did...sell your own show." I don't mean that in any way harshly, I'm very serious about that. Whether it's a novelist, or a short story author, or a TV writer, or a screenwriter, we each of us has to decide fundamentally what it is we want to write about it, and define our choices. Would you call Larry Niven and say, "Listen, while you're in the middle of the Mote In God's Eye sequel, we need a really good section about kids." You let the man tell his story his way. This, for me, is just one of those areas on which I have planted my feet and sunk roots clear to the center of the planet. Now, it's altogether possible that some day long down the road, one story will occur to me, and I'll deal with that when and if it happens. But in the interim...it's vital, from my perspective, to make B5 a show by, for and about adults in adult relationships; not to invalidate the other stuff, but only as a sense of where this show's emphasis is. It's time to let the studios and the suits and the networks know that an SF series can survive without putting in the required child or teenager. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 162 Mon Jan 04, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:54 EST Postscript to the preceding: that doesn't mean that I (or any other member of the B5 team) shouldn't be challenged on stuff like this. Challenges are good. First, they keep you on your toes. Second, it makes one verbalize why one has taken a certain stance, and it's at that point that weaknesses and fallacies in the argument become apparent. "The unexamined life" and all that. As I've noted before, sometimes the only way to get pertinent information is to ask impertinent questions. I love a good philosophical knock-down-drag-out. Meanwhile, on other fronts... I will tell you the truest thing I have learned about television in the process of making the B5 pilot. That quality is rare is not really remarkable; what's remarkable is that it gets done at ALL. Any show, regardless of quality. There are millions of details, the tiniest things that require constant shepherding. You're in the midst of doing one thing and somebody calls involved with another part of the show and says, "Look, we've got some question about whether the doors should go SHOOP! or BLOOP!, George thinks SHOOP, and we think he's right...unless you'd rather come listen to them youreself." And it's very easy to say, "Okay, just take care of it," then find yourself sitting there a month later and saying, "Damn, why did we end up with a SHOOP! effect?" It's physically impossible to be in every place at all times, and you particularly don't want to be in a position where you start giving your people less room to play and be independent. There are just so many details that it's very easy to say, "Okay, fine, deal with it," or to not bother with something, that it becomes quickly apparent why it's so hard to find real quality out there. That kind of attention is a major pain in the butt. When you see it from this side, you're just amazed that it gets done at ALL. Just a thought for the day... BTW, for those who might be interested (all four of you), the very last episode I wrote for this season's "Murder, She Wrote" will air this coming Sunday. I haven't seen anything on it _ no dailies, no rough cuts _ so I have no idea how it came out, though I *hear* it came out well. Just FYI. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 180 Tue Jan 05, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:35 EST RE: cliffhangers...not between episodes, certainly. Between seasons, it's...hard to explain. There are, or will be *changes* that happen from one season to another (as planned), specific events that take place that should bring one up short...but "cliffhanger" in the sense of leaving some guy hanging from a string over a lake of fire...no, no plans for such at this time. RE: kids...boy, that one sure hit a nerve on both sides, didn't it? That's good. An argument like this is what a show or story should do, get people discussing the issues. Meanwhile, on other areas.... ****WOW**** I was in the editing bay today during the pre-dub of B5 (which I'll explain more , which btw has a nifty huge projection screen, twelve or fifteen feet across, so I got to see some of the show as if at a theater...plays pretty well. Anyway...what a pre-dub is, is this: those who saw the earlier version of the pilot will remember, for instance, the scenes in the main corridor of the station (well, one of them, anyway). You have Sinclair and Garibaldi talking. It's an un-mixed scene...just as filmed, there are just two guys talking. All the rest of the set is silent. But now...NOW...you're in the editing bay, and now you add in the background voices, human and alien...mechanical sounds nearby...an intercom voice advertising station services...then layer in the music, and suddenly it's a MOVIE! Someone said that sound is half of a movie, and you forget that until it hits you in the face. The pre-dub is where you layer in the voice tracks (original, from the production; adr (automatic dialogue replacement) for lines that were not sufficiently audible or need to be looped; incidental dialogue (computers, background characters) and walla (general crowd sounds). You decide how much of any of these is too much, how much more you need, what the balance is...if you need to use the surround capability to put this voice HERE or THERE.... Then we previewed some scenes with music, and did a little of the same there (we'll do more during the final mix Thursday through Tuesday). For instance...most music cues are anywhere from a few seconds long to maybe a minute or more. Ours tend to be longish...the longest is a cue that lasts 7.5 minutes, and goes inside the station, outside the station, to different *parts* of the station, and the music continues throughout. We figured that we needed to better differentiate the sound inside vs. outside the station...so in the music cue, we drop the electric guitar out of the mix for the inside scenes, and put it back in for the outside scenes, for instance. The result, basically, being that it becomes a *M*O*V*I*E* for the first time. And boy, it cooks, lemme tell you. There are moments of absolute and inutterable self-doubt in a project like this, especially when paired with the monumental press machine from elsewhere which is doing everything possible to bury us in the interests of preserving an economic monopoly and critics who figure we're a clone of another show. But then you turn around and see something like this, and you know it's going to work...and it really helps. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 208 Thu Jan 07, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:44 EST Ah, except, Gary, for the reason I picked that particular metaphor; this ain't Sudden Death, as with football. This one's going to the judges at the end of the round, and the case will be decided...win, lose or draw...on the merits of the performance in the ring, not on hype (on either side), not on good feelings, but on the quality of the work, which is as it should be. Only thing I've ever asked at any point in my life is a fair fight on a level playing field. Then let things fall as they may. And as for the judges...look in the mirror. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 223 Fri Jan 08, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:41 EST Yeah, I agree, the pointing-rods-and-magically-changing-colors on hair and stuff is kinda old (though it surfaced in Total Recall). No plans for it, that's for sure. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 230 Fri Jan 08, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:46 EST Aquila...let me try this again, since you may have missed it in other postings. Our current situation is ironic in that it has nothing really to do with our show, but rather with the network. The chronology, and our situation, is simple. 1) November 1991: Time Trax, Kung Fu and B5 contend among each other for the first night of programming on the new network. There are ONLY TWO SLOTS AVAILABLE, two hours. B5 and TT have the inside track, but there's a question as to whether or not B5 can be done for TV *at all* given what we were promising (a huge saga, state of the art EFX, a large cast, that sort of thing). So we have to answer that question by making a pilot. The other two shows go into series production at that time. 2) They start filming episodes in August, about the same time we start the pilot. 3) We finish the pilot (barring our current last phase of post production). Warners LOVES the show. The stations, which have always been big on the show, WANT the show. Warners tries to convince the local stations to open up a second night of programming, with B5 as the anchor. The stations love the idea...but don't want to open up a second night until they get the ratings on ALL THE SHOWS. Not just B5. If all the shows are big hits, then they open the second night with Bt as the anchor. If one doesn't perform, then B5 becomes the replacement. Point being...and I can't stress this enough...there is no _ repeat, NO - - problem with Warners or the stations in terms of confidence or anything else. They're chomping at the bit to go with it. The only problem is that their "box" in which to put programs currently can only fit two one-hour shows. Either they take one out, or get another box, but they can't give us a go until one or the other happens. It's not like a big network that has 7 days of programming a week and can just drop in a show wherever it wants...or a straight-ahead syndicated show. This is part of a new network, and is dependent upon the internal workings of that network. Which is fine by me, it's just the way things are just now. Does that address your question? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 243 Fri Jan 08, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:43 EST Ninety percent of the stations taking the PTEN lineup have news from 10- 11, so that only leaves 8-10 for programs. The deal is that the stations and Warners pay 50/50, as I understand it from the trades, for the shows, and I don't think Warners would want to set the precedent of paying 100% for any given number of shows. And because they're 50/50 partners, it would be politically inappropriate for one arm to unilaterally order X-episodes of anything. As for the rest, there are options on top of options, all in our favor. Re: post production timing and budget...we budgeted plenty of time and money for post production. When the sound folks came back and asked for an additional day, just so we can be sure we have time for whatever little corrections are required by then, that wasn't a problem. As it is, we'll be delivering the show next Thursday to Warners, and it won't even go out on the satellite to the stations for a full month, and doesn't air for nearly six weeks from the time of completion, so we're WELL ahead of schedule in that respect. They only actually needed the show 4 weeks ahead for screening/reviewer purposes; we extended that by two full weeks. Another busy day in post today...but it's coming together well. We have basically just two more acts to finish, and will probably give all of Monday to one of them, since it's massively complex. (Usually you can do at least two or three acts in a day.) BTW, and totally aside...I finally saw the tape of my last MURDER, SHE WROTE episode, and it actually came out quite well, minus one or two very minor glitches. It airs Sunday. (And there's a bonus to the Captain Power fans contained in the name of one of the characters....) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 257 Sat Jan 09, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:09 EST I can understand about the feeling re: coming information and the wait until February. It's very easy to post info as we go into production, and during production...but once it's finished here, which it will be as of this coming Tuesday, the process is more or less complete. I've tried hard over this process not to blather on, but to say something if there's something worth hearing. I hope I can find new items to keep the topic(s) going as we near airdate. jms (P.S. The current newsletter is finished, and will be going out in the mail this week, I'm told.) ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 269 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:14 EST I have no problem with married couples, none whatsoever, serving the EA. And, as I've said before, there is no problem having a kid in the background, as one of a family passing through, for instance, but I do not wish to center a whole *story* around one. Someone said "But they can do it on TNG and DS9," which is one more reason for NOT doing it here, to keep the identities separate and distinct. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 275 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:26 EST Mark, I've answered this question about as many times as I intend to...if you want to go back into the discussion and read the info, you're welcome to. That article, for starters was put together LONG before the general meeting with the stations at which point a true reading was gotten re: the show. Warners *cannot* commit unilaterally on any series without the go from the stations, and that won't come until they've got a fix on how ALL the shows are doing. You're asking Warners to do something they wouldn't do for ANY show at any time. I'm not cranky, it's just that I've now answered this about six times here. Now exiting harrumph-mode. Re: supernatural elements...not per se, no. There is some element of mysticism and spirituality, but (one hopes) not quite so ham-handed. My feeling is that if it's there, DO something with it other than use it as a way into (and out of) a plot device, thereafter dropping it. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 278 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:49 EST I don't think we have to worry about Warners, folks, really...it's okay. And we've got contingencies up the wazoo. All is well. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 288 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:39 EST You can jump into the B5 story at *any* point...only thing is, the more you watch, the more you get the nuances. PICKET FENCES is a great example of this. And if the waiting to hear when and under what umbrella B5 will be picked up is killing YOU.... jms (Umbrella = same night/second night, not to start any rumors.) ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 295 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:45 EST I am NOT stubborn. I don't care WHAT you say, I'm not changing my opinion about that, I'm NOT stubborn. And yes, the plan is to definitely have the PTEN expand to additional night, just as Fox has done. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 299 Wed Jan 13, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:03 EST There's been some talk of my appearing on H25 the Friday before the broadcast, but nothing firm. And offhand...I'm sorry, but I don't recall the date of the show with Ron. I'm sure it's written down somewhere...but you've never actually SEEN my desk, have you? Then again, as I think of it, *I* haven't seen my desk lately.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 310 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:20 EST The inter-relationships between FOX, PTEN, the FCC and any and all other acronymical organizations is utterly beyond my ken, and I would no sooner try to explain it or understand it than I would attempt to build a tesseract in the back yard. In what I *hope* will be a relatively definitive word on this kid topic...yes, I can write a story with kids. I've done it...I did it for the Twilight Zone and other shows. The question is still one of making choices. Is that what this series is ABOUT? You could drop in a chapter on badminton techiques into The Lord of the Rings or Debbie Does Cleveland, the question is, does it BELONG there? Is that what the show or the story is attempting to address? If there were no other shows with kids around, then I would be more inclined to do one with kids at the center. But there are plenty of them around, particularly in SF...you've got kids aplenty on TNG, on DS9, I just saw a kid story on Space Rangers...this is simply a different kind of show. My point is simply this: B5 is meant, in a very real sense, as noted in my message on 2, to be an SF novel for television. If it were just random stories skittering hither, thither and yawn, that would be one thing. But as any novelist can tell you, you have to ask, "Whose story is it?" and stick pretty close to that, even though you may swerve in and out of other POVs and indulge in omniscient narrative. That requires certain choices about tone and attitude and what you include, and what you choose to exclude. Doesn't invalidate one type of story or another, it only says "THIS is what my story's about." There are plenty of other SF shows with kids. Let's have something a little different. (That's one of the ironies that crops up about this show...often people say "We want innovation," and when asked for specifics, they ask to make it more like other shows. "Well, TNG does this kind of story, why can't you?" We can, but we're not. Because we're not TNG. Just as we will do some stories that I *guarantee* you ST wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 325 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:55 EST Yes, there's considerable training involved. In the pilot, Lyta talks about it in one exchange, about the "years of training" required for a P5 classification, and that most of those who try "burn out." As for the Fox station question...bear in mind that most stations that broadcast Fox shows are not actively OWNED by Fox, they are only loosely AFFILIATED with Fox. They're still independent stations that have a deal to buy X-number of programs from Fox Television. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 337 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:36 EST Actually, JoJo's...uhm...outfit is probably the best thing about the show...not for pure asthetics, of course, just...I dunno...I just kinda like the dynamics of it... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 342 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:22 EST Indeed, they might withhold such participation, which the PC would be obligated to honor. Non-PC telepaths would be a different situation entirely, of course...and a danger...which only a PC (or one of the other government's own 'paths, if any) could work against. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 355 Sun Jan 17, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:01 EST The "Making of B5" piece is being re-edited; originally, the E! piece was going to be the one shown, but...well, no need to rehash all of that. The piece is being recut, and new stuff put in to replace the old stuff. It should be finished next week, I hear, and then provided to the stations. Great news about Arisia, Arne. Any other reactions come to mind? Re: using my posts for articles...by all means, proceed. BTW, it appears that the deal for a B5 game has been closed, and the winner is Electronic Arts. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 358 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:47 EST This goes back to a very basic philosophical question: can you have thought without language, or language without thought? At one point in our evolution, we became conscious...was there language, or did language then come as a *result* of consciousnes? Or did the slow development of language *lead to* the development of true consciousness? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 375 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:38 EST I'll know more about the game in the weeks ahead. Apparently, Creation has licensed some stuff...mainly shirts and mugs and patches and the like, nothing major, but it's there. I got the first t-shirt design roughs today, and have some notes, but nothing too major. More as this is developed. BTW, does anyone know if there are any SF conventions this coming weekend in Dallas? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 379 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:00 EST Licensing Corporation of America. Based in New York. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 2 Wed Nov 20, 1991 SOARON [Bio-Dread] at 19:41 EST Sub: General Information Babylon 5 will premiere with a two-hour movie entitled "The Gathering" early in 1993. The creator of the series, J. Michael Straczynski joins us on-line to answer your questions. (No story ideas please...) 699 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 298 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:06 EST When someone asks, "What kinds of specific things have you gotten out of this interaction?" I think I will point to the question just uptopic about food. I've given this a *fair* amount of thought, mainly in the sense that there are hydroponic gardens (referred to in the script) and other areas for oxygen reclamation, I'd figured that there were also areas where alien- environment food was to be raised, and finally a third area where food that is simply impractical to grow on B5 would be synthesized. But the question opens up additional areas that I haven't given that much thought to...and many possibilities. Let me (so to speak) stew on this and get back to you. Thanks for yanking my blanket. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 302 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:03 EST Jonathan....please, for my sake, one question at a time...pick one. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 310 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:23 EST K'wicker (than a speeding bullet?)...I ain't fussy. My friends just call me Joe. (Usually preceded by, "That Pain In The Ass") jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 314 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:44 EST The station is owned by the Earth Alliance, and if you're going to be staying there, you pay a fee. Station employees are charged a fee against their salaries...which some of them aren't happy about. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 318 Sat Jan 02, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:39 EST Dolphins are another area that I haven't gone into in any great degree since the odds of any of them showing up at B5 are minimal, for production reasons. Dolphins make for difficult actors, and their agents are even worse. The homeless question brings me to a difficult point in the discussion _ generalities are okay to discuss, Jonathan, but the more specific the questions get about plot points of the series, the less I can say. The five- year arc is triple-encrypted in my computer for a *reason*. And, as much as it pains me, I know that printups of this category go to a certain other studio...and would rather not give too many specifics for obvious reaons. I'd like us to do them first. Alas, we're not having this conversation in a vacuum. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 320 Sat Jan 02, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:17 EST Just as with the early days of ocean travel, you would generally have three levels of travel: first class, one just below, and down deep below decks, those traveling steerage. A small group can also pool all their resources, for instance, charter a ship one-way just far enough as B5, and hope to find work or new opportunities on far-away worlds. When this doesn't happen, they linger...sometimes for a long time. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 336 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:56 EST Dave: Bingo! And re: genetic moofky-fooky...yes, it's a definite issue, and is referenced at least once in the pilot. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 345 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:07 EST BABYLON 5 meets ATTACK OF THE GIANT CRAB MONSTERS, I like it.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 349 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:30 EST Actually just handled this up in topic 1. Rumors are the bane of science fiction...and people at conventions who speak should try and get their facts straight first. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 351 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:55 EST There's been some disagreement over that...I prefer the idea that he's uplifted. (It's between me and the prosthetics design team.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 357 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:09 EST Hey, there's an idea...come up with a totally bogus B5 five-year arc and let it get accidentally uploaded and distributed to throw folks off... except of course folks might well believe it, which would work against us in the long run. Ah, well.... Any telekinetics on board Babylon 5? you ask? No. At least, not yet. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 388 Tue Jan 05, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:49 EST Pets is okay. Ah lahkes pets. Pets be cool. And cats be coolest. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 407 Wed Jan 06, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:31 EST There's haze in some scenes where you've got a lot of traffic, and food cooking, and braziers, and the like. The quarters don't have that. As it happens, Pat Tallman has pets...two bunnies and two chinchillas. I pointed out to her that she now has both food and clothing concerns taken care of. She's still not speaking to me. Saw the DS9 pilot tonight. Heh.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 422 Wed Jan 06, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:01 EST Katherine: oh, snarf you.... Bear: a 16 pound cat? Wow...some good eatin' there.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 428 Thu Jan 07, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:42 EST Eric...imagine two boxers in the ring, each bloodied and exhausted after 11 grueling rounds. It's now the last round. You've each got one last shot in your heart. Your opponent comes in with a big name, with the sports critics approval, with fancy clothes and a twelve million dollar windup. He pulls back and lets you have it with everything he's got. Then you look around...and you're still standing. And you're thinking "THAT was their best shot?" Because everything he had was intent on one hard shot to knock you out of the ring...speeded training, massive amounts of promotion, just to knock you out. And you're still standing. And you smile. Because now it's YOUR turn. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 441 Thu Jan 07, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:01 EST I can't remember when I was last this tired. (Well, that's a lie, it was during the last 2 days of filming on B5, but the former made for a better opening line.) After getting zero sleep (nervous with anticipation, running the pilot through my head over and over again to prepare for today), I went in with a number of the production people today on the first day of the final sound/dialogue/music mix. Ten straight hours, one half-hour break during which we ate at the mixing tables. Trying different combinations, re-showing scenes with slight modifications, over and over and over, until your eyes _ focused for 10 hours on the same focal distance, blinking against bright lights so you can make notes _ start to melt out of your sockets. And there are three more days to go of this.... But man, this thing is really coming together. It's exciting to watch it happen. To the question about music...the music in this thing is just terrific...dynamic, evocative, moody, exciting...and while it took me a while to get it into my head (as with the theme from the Equalizer, which has similar resonances), the theme definitely stays with you. Along wund editors, Stewart Copeland came by, as well as various of the film editors, the cameraman, others...and Richard Compton, our director, was also at the helm for the whole ten hours, as was our line producer John Copeland (no relation). People just wanted to come by and see it. It's gonna be a hoot, ladies and gentlemen.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 465 Sat Jan 09, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:59 EST Leslie, the stuff you mention is in either the computer EFX topic in this category, or the B5 science topic, one or the other. My messages can by all means be sent elsewhere; just not anyone else's unless you secure permission. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 482 Sat Jan 09, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:13 EST There's something about the Lyta/Garibaldi dynamic that I like, as others here have noted as well. I keep playing with one scene I'm dying to write, where he's trying to pick up on her, and says, "Listen, what do you say we go by my quarters, I'd like to show you my favorite thing in the whole world." She gives him THAT look. "Okay-okay-okay, my SECOND favorite thing in the whole world." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 492 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:04 EST Right...and there was a lengthy discussion of how the Links tie into the B5 central computer, and how it operates in relation to those Links (which are computer segments themselves) in either the SFX or the B5 Science topics. BTW, a thought, for anyone to jump in on who wants to...as noted uptopic, on Tuesday my job is basically done. The B5 pilot will be finished. Between now and the show's airing 5 or so weeks from now, what areas would you be interested in discussing? What things would you like to see done here? (I briefly considered the idea of uploading one page of the script per day between now and the time B5 airs, but then I realized that a lot of folks would probably prefer to see it produced, not see the script _ the ultimate spoiler _ and thus jettisoned that idea.) I guess my main fear is being dull...not that that's *too* likely to happen with this crowd...but I take the "okay, so now what?" note uptopic somewhat to heart. Or we can just keep doing what we're doing.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 511 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:22 EST I'll have to check w/Wareners re: the script thing, but under the WGA contract, I own the physical script and its disposition. Maybe the idea of excerpts _ filmed stuff, or stuff we cut, missing scenes _ might be the best way to go. (And even at the rate of 1 page per day, you'd only get through the first third of the script by the time it aired anyway.) Will advise. To the question of promotion above...Warners will begin a real push on this subsequent to the 18th of January. They want to concentrate their efforts on the month just prior to airing. So far, we've been dragged into articles often on the basis of the controversy between the various shows...but both Warners and I feel strongly that it's important to establish our separate identity, not in relation to anything else. Now that the other shows have aired, we can now have an easier time doing this. What can I ask others to do? Mainly to just keep the word out there; if you see a local article mistakenly labeling B5 a copy, to let the guy know the facts. But probably the single *most* important thing is what can be done when the show itself airs...and that's to write to both your local station and Warners to let them know your feelings. But that's if and ONLY if you genuinely like what you see, and for no other reason. Will think about this stuff some more, maybe post some thought later. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 518 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:29 EST Synopses of upcoming episodes....? No. I'd much prefer to see them first on B5 than elsewhere. All good things come to those who wait...or as someone once said, "Good news can wait, and bad news will refuse to leave." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 528 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:43 EST Re: sign off tags...pruff...that stuff's for sissies. The jms is sufficient for my needs (and looks kinda like a revolver pointed right). Have seen the whole movie now with final EFX, sound, music, dialogue, all that jazz. Looks better than I'd hoped possible. Will be cleaning up a few spots in the next two days, and then watching the final product one more time, this time on a regular TV set rather than the studio's projection system and sound system, to better gauge what will and won't be audible on a home TV. By mid-day Wednesday, we be done. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 532 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:23 EST Haven't yet seen Time Trax, so can't comment. I don't see "a lot" of shows "taking place on space stations," at this point, only two, unless you count the outpost stuff in Space Rangers. Personally, my feeling is that the more good SF, the better. It's my understanding that very likely B5 *will* be released theatrically overseas as a feature. More on this as I can talk about it. Guest stars? Of course. Many and varied. Re: scripts...for the first year, there will be only two people on staff: me, and Harlan Ellison, as creative consultant. So the majority of the scripts will be freelance. For that first season, we've already locked down our writers. They will come from one of two groups: a) a small group of writers who I've worked with over the years and have trained to my tastes, and b) another small group of leading SF writers, many of whom don't work for TV anymore, but will break that absence for B5. Part of the reason for this is to establish ourselves firmly during the course of that first season, get our feet wet, firm up our identity, and other hits by the same name. It does no good for freelancers on the outside to try a script until they've seen at least one season, as well. Finally, because there will be a certain amount of continuity and developing storylines from episode to episode, that requires a certain degree of direction from in-house on stories. Very often we'll go to a writer and say, "Here...in this story, X has to happen. Beyond making sure that X is included, do what you want." An outsider won't have access to knowing what that X is. Still, there will be episodes totally separate from the arc, and those are far more wide open. One disservice that TNG has done the SF writing community is its _ in a way _ tendency to *use* SF fans as idea mills. Hundreds of scripts arrive each month, they're read through, good ideas are plucked out, they pay a couple hundred bucks for the premise, then write it in-house. Part of the reason they're always so desperate for material, and driven to this length of soliciting scripts from fans, is that they don't have a terrific reputation in the writing community. Some of it is undeserved, a hanger-on from previous administrations, and some of it seems to have some basis in terms of the fact that you will never have the chance to see your script through to the end. That problem does not exist with B5. Our writers are already lined up and ready to go. Starting with the second season, assuming we get that far, we will open things up more and be willing to look at finished scripts with a release form. I think that providing that opportunity is important. But it won't be such a cattle-call in the way it's handled. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 547 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:15 EST Yes, I've asked David (and he's agreed) to write the novelization, which will probably commence within days of the series go being given. And there have been many screenplays published over the years, in script form/via paperback or hardcover; I have a rather extensive collection of same (including the aforementioned T2 book, which is extraordinarily good). It might be a good idea to do one for B5, with annotations, but not including the "how to write for tv" material mainly because that's a) covered in my writing book, which b) I intend one of these days to finish updating to Writers Digest Books can stop yelling on me. Some random observations and thoughts which might be of interest.... We've pretty much finished the final mix, as stated, which we'll review tomorrow morning to be sure that it sounds okay on a small set. But for those of you out there with surround systems, and stations that will broadcast in surround...me boyos, have YOU got a treat coming your way. We did a *lot* of work on this thing to emphasize the surround. One act had over 100 passes to make the sound as layered as possible (an average show has maybe 30 per). The movement is quite distinct and compelling. The sound EFX are also quite good...the sound made by the weapons is also quite good. One thing we did with the weapons is to try, again, to be fairly logical. If it's a BIG weapon _ rifle size or better _ then you're going to have a quicker recharge time (if any) between firings, though you may have to change packs more often. At one point, you'll see a smaller, hand-sized gun being fired a few times. And each time, you'll hear a power whine as it builds up the required power to fire off another round. A gun that small simply wouldn't have the capability to fire off one after another after another without some power buildup that might not be present in a larger gun. (Smaller guns are generally things you'd want to smuggle on board, and might be as useful, in those ways, as a Derringer, which could only fire one or two shots, as opposed to a machinegun or gattling gun brought openly into battle, and which is intended to be used a lot.) Someone mentioned the positive aspects to building the maximum population of a space station around available supplies and other very real considerations. We're trying, consistently, to ask "How would this work in reality? What are the SCIENCE considerations in doing SF?" In general, we've found that if you Ask The Next Question and try to be logical, you get MORE options, and you get more INTERESTING options than if you just throw all that to the winds. (Often networks say, "Ah, screw the science on it, you'll just limit yourself." Not true.) During the final mix-down, a group of cub scouts came through the mixing facility on a tour. So we invited them in for the play-back on the next-to- the-last act...this is the one where we kick over the table and it's pretty much nonstop action. Wanted to see the reaction of kids to the show, because if there's a more relentlessly honest audience than kids that age, I don't know what it is. The fidget factor is enormous when they get bored. They didn't BUDGE. For some of the shots, they sat there, slack jawed, at what they were seeing. Which is also good to know, that the show can appeal to kids as well as adults WITHOUT making any dumb compromises (i.e., writing down, sticking in kids) to that audience. I heard them later talking about it among themselves, and though one kid was a bit unnerved by the whole thing, the rest just went on and on about it..."awesome"..."cool"..."that was great." So far, so good. Onward. In thinking a little about the discussion, and what role I've tried to play (and if I've seemed a bit brief or short of late, my apologies; the workload is immense just now), and I don't want anyone to think that I'm playing coy or just teasing about the series when questions about same come up, insofar as story possibilities or plot stuff is concerned. Obviously, I don't want to give out stuff that would constitute the Ultimate Spoiler. But there are generalities that I *can* talk about. When this topic first began, I was able to talk a little about what was hoped for in the movie...to let people know what we were talking about, and what to expect in exchange for the interest. (I've always believed that you have to put your money where your mouth is and earn loyalty by keeping promises and being straightforward in what you do.) So what *can* be said about the series, what would you have to look forward to? You will find out what happened to Sinclair, for starters, during the Earth/Minbari war. In that respect, the pilot movie is like the first chapter of a novel. For nearly 10 years, Sinclair has worked to convince himself that nothing happened to him on the Line other than what seems to be the case: that he blacked out for 24 hours. He's just managed to convince himself of this. Now, suddenly, someone comes into his life and with seven words _ you'll know them when you hear them _ completely unravels the self-deception. He knows then that something DID happen to him, that someone DID mess with his mind...and he is going to find out who, and why. This he will do. And the ramifications of that discovery will have a major influence on the series, on his relationships, and the future of not only his character but many others. You will see what a Vorlon is...and what it represents. And what it may have to do with our own saga, and a hidden relationship to some of our other characters (watch the reception scene carefully). We'll discover that there are MANY players in this game. One thing that separates this show from others is that on other shows, very often you do things to them to make for interesting drama...you take them prisoner, you make them kids, whatever...in this show, it's what's INSIDE the characters that will pose the greatest problems...and the greatest possibilities for drama. Most every major character is either running to, or away from something in their hearts, or their pasts, or their careers. Garibaldi's past will catch up with him in a very difficult way that will affect his role and make him a very different character for as much as a full season, and have lasting effects thereafter. Lyta will take part in a voyage of discovery that will very much change her character. Some of the established empires will fall. Some will rise. Hopes and fortunes will be alternately made or destroyed. At least one major group not yet known even to EXIST will make its presence known, but only gradually. Some characters will fall from grace. Others will make bargains whose full price they do not understand...but will eventually come to realize, and regret. At the end of the first season, one character will undergo a major, MAJOR change, which will start the show spinning on a very different axis. The first season will have some fairly conventional stories, but others will start the show gradually moving toward where I want it to go. One has to set these things up gradually. Events in the story _ which is very much the story of Jeffrey Sinclair _ will speed up in each subsequent season. Someone he considers a friend will betray him. Another will prove to be the exact opposite of what Sinclair believes to be true. Some will live. Some will die. He will be put through a crucible of terrible force, that will change him, and alter his destiny, in a profound and terrible way...if he goes one way, or the other, will determine not only his own fate, but that of millions of others. He will grow, and become stronger, better, wiser...or be destroyed by what fate is bringing his way. In sum, it is a story of hope against terrible adversity and overwhelming odds. That, in broad brush strokes, is a *taste* of what I plan to do with the series. I note this here because when the pilot airs, I am going to ask for your continued help in supporting the endeavor for the series, and it occurs to me that you ought to have at least SOME idea of what you're buying, and being asked to support. One should never be asked to sign a blank check on the bank of one's conscience. Reactions? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 549 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:42 EST What happens at the end of the five year arc? The "Babylon 5" series ends...if I have anything to say about it (and I do). If something esle follows, we'll see what that is, but it won't be the same series, or the same title, or really the same characters. Barring that very distant possibility, at the end of the five year arc, I take a very, very, VERY long nap.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 582 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:42 EST Thanks, all. My only mortal dread in putting this stuff out there is based upon the fact that the basic *story* of the pilot movie is fairly straightforward, the way you make a prologue to a novel fairly simple, but plant the seeds for that which will follow. My terror is that people will look at it, expecting ***GALACTIC EMPIRES IN COLLISION!*** and see a rather basic story, and say, "Huh? Where's all the other stuff?" It's in the series. Trust me. I wouldn't lie on you. In a way, it's a question of establishing context. Take, for instance, the two TERMINATOR movies. The plots of both are incredibly simple, and essentially identical: Character A comes out of the future to kill Character B; Character C also comes out of the future to stop Character A. When you come *right down to it*, that's all the story there is. But it introduces the background, and the context, and that informs the story. The actual *story* in the B5 pilot is similarly basic (also for the reason that it became easier to slip past folks)...it's the context and the characters that are introduced that matter. And there's a *lot* to introduce...a new universe, new technologies, new races, NINE regular characters, histories, wars, alliances...there ain't much room for anything too complex. It's like a foundation poured of concrete; it ain't pretty, but it's *solid* enough to hold one hell of a house. And speaking of which.... Basic fact: all you can do is the *best* you can do. You do your job, second-guess yourself into hysteria, and hope it works. Which is a long way of saying...the B5 pilot is now complete. Nothing remains to be done. We had the final run-through and playback on TV set speakers (modifying a few things here and there, but not much), and now it goes to the studio, and from there, the stations. There was only one other modification I made today: remembering some of the confusion and uncertainty here about how the Kosh hand scene was framed _ why it was the way it was, he said vaguely _ I decided at the last minute to bring in Pat Tallman to record one additional line of dialogue to clarify things. Once again, the discussion here has directly affected something in the pilot. The criticisms, I felt, were accurate, and needed to be addressed. This was done. That said...it's a strange feeling knowing that this stage is now complete. No take-backs, no second chances, nada. The film lives or dies now on its merits, as it should be. There's exhiliration, and a measure of _ I dunno _ hollowness, I suppose. And now the need grows to get Phase Two going. And one way or another, it *will* get going. For five years, people told me that B5 could never be made, that even if you could find a studio to back it, it might never get aired; and even if you got both those two, you'd never be able to exercise the creative control required to make it worth the agony. Five years is just a whole lotta NOs. But it got done. And, of course, the chorus returns about the series...but it will get made, if I have to move heaven and earth to do it. Onward. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 602 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:03 EST Re: using the background TVs to show newscasts of recent events... what an utterly, utterly, majorly COOL idea. The frown on my face is only from wondering why the hell none of US thought of that. (Hmm... y'know, there were invariably one or two guys in the crew running around videotaping everything and anything...if you could have them also videotaping scenes as we were filming them...splice in EFX footage as needed...wrap the whole thing around the B5 Newscast Logo (and yes, we have one, it's in the pilot, albeit in BG), it'd give you something nifty to have going on, and would make sense. What a wonderful and simple and effective idea.... Thank you. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 605 Thu Jan 14, 1993 n the other day, and as we were watching it, he kept shaking his head at all the things he would've done differently if he'd known then what he knows now, and if he'd had the programs/techniques then that he has now. Just the few months since we finished photography have given him a number of tools that he didn't have then. We talked a little about what's capable now, what he can do now, and what's coming up, and it makes what's in the pilot look like nothing by comparison. (A lot of the critics talked about the extensive work that went into the DS9 jello-man effect, not to mention the cost involved; he turned his associate Paul into the same thing in a test that worked just as well and took one night and no money, just a little while behind the keyboard.) Once we get the go, he and I are going to spend a couple of days just sitting and talking about what can be done now, so that I can take full advantage of this new stuff. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 627 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:46 EST "Bob" will never be seen talke, for any reason, in B5. I'll personally run a truck over him first, newscast or not (unless I think I can get a good gag out of it...). Re: my mental state...I'll know better in a week or so. I try not to get too personally involved with my own life. Basically, itf in ever___ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 652 Sun Jan 17, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:05 EST BTW, to correct an erroneous statement of mine earlier, there is not a species named Vee'lons that will be introduced on DS9. The Vee'lons will be introduced on Space Rangers. Some days, I just can't get a break.... s ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 672 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:42 EST I take great joy in being politically *incorrect* at every possible opportunity. I believe in the motto someone at the BBC once voice: "There are some people we WANT to offend." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 685 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:47 EST Re: starships from Earth...yes, you'll be seeing a wide range of ships, from smaller transports and trading vessels to big mothers. It is something of an empire, and the ships come in as many varied forms as we have cars and trucks and semis and tanks and on and on.... Re: talking vs. action...there's a shade more exposition than I'd like in the pilot, mainly because there's so damned MUCH background to establish, so much ground to lay...it'll be more evenly proportioned in the series. I like action. For me, the #1 crime of any TV show or movie is that it should bore. When in doubt, kill somebody. Or blow something up. Re: technology...yes, the point about the sudden jump via new technologies is exactly dead on. It *did* have a tramautic impact, and to varying degrees still does. The effect of technology, and the desire for same, will be a recurrent thread. There are some technologies that are considered too radical for some species, and are thus kept off limits, with prison sentences or even death sentences for smuggling certain kinds of technologies. One such tech-runner appears in the pilot. The parallel, I suppose, would be our current concerns with the spread of nuclear technology. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 3 Tue Nov 03, 1992 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:09 EST Sub: BABYLON 5 - Computer EFX Tech-Talk Some of the new computer EFX used in BABYLON 5 will be revolutionary, a new approach never seen before on this scale. It's all new tech, and this topic will try and address the new technologies involved. 497 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 3 Message 349 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:27 EST I use Windows a little more than I used to, but overall I suspect (well, know, really) that I'm not getting the most bang for my buck because I don't understand the mechanics of configuring either Windows or the computer itself. I'm sitting here with a killer megasystem, and...the best comparison I can think of is an australian aborigine who's found an F-16 figher plane and mainly uses it to shelter his sheep and goats under the wings when it rains.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 3 Message 385 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:12 EST I've tended to lean more in the direction of individual computers _ multi-gigabyte systems small enough to fit on the wrist, which also serve as communications systems called Links _ that are generally networked into the B5 database/central computer system. Ninety percent of any information you're likely to need you probably already have in the Link; anything additional you need, or if you need a direct interface with Babylon Central Computer, that can be accomplished with a simple voice command. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 3 Message 391 Mon Jan 04, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:23 EST Just as a point of clarification, Links are only used by station personnel, not visiting aliens, or any visitor, human or otherwise, for whom multi-use terminals have been set up in their quarters. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 3 Message 407 Tue Jan 05, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:53 EST Basically, I think that there should be something on-screen if there NEEDS to be something on-screen. For instance, in both Sinclair's quaters and the briefing room, you'll see monitors on the wall in BG and later used for important stuff. (That should be quarters, not quaters, which is what you find on the moon.) When not *actively in use* they display only the B5 logo, sort of a carrier wave. When a signal comes in from local, you get the BabCom logo, then the signal. When a signal comes in from a ship, or the computer provides information, you go right from the B5 symbol straight to the display. When it's over, you go back to the static symbol until it's needed again. The only real exceptions to this are a) the consoles in the observation dome, which are going at all times to monitor incoming and outgoing ships, and b) displays in the business areas which show the internal B5 Newscast and commercials. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 3 Message 447 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:05 EST Isn't Lexicor the company owned by Lex Luthor...? jms ______ ************ Topic 4 Tue Nov 03, 1992 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:12 EST Sub: BABYLON 5 - Cast and Characters For discussion of the actors who will be bringing BABYLON 5 to life with their performances...for information before, and discussion after the airing of "The Gathering" pilot. 501 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 376 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:08 EST After a crocodile named Leviathan? Er...I think that it's likely a reference to the book of Job, where he is asked by god, "Canst thou draw out Leviathan with an hook; or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?" (JOB 41:1) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 378 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:04 EST They don't exactly get along, that's for sure. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 381 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:28 EST There's a mid-season story that deals *precisely* with this issue. Hence...I'm forced to remain mute for the moment. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 398 Mon Jan 04, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:25 EST Ta-daaaa...Gary, take another look at the pilot. Every time you see Lyta, you will notice a silver insignia on her lapel. It's the Psi symbol set against a bronze background. That is, indeed, the preferred form of reference. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 401 Mon Jan 04, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:14 EST Bill Warren suspects more than he knows, and knows less than he suspects. And any resulting opinions are simply that, and though written are nowhere near writ, holy or otherwise. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 406 Mon Jan 04, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:36 EST The amount of contact required varies according to the telepath's strength. Lyta at P5 needs a little help. A P10 could nail you from across the room. And I want to have some fun with the commercial funding aspects of B5...ads, gov't support, commercials, all that stuff. That's an issue that I feel really needs to be addressed...who pays for this neat stuff? And what happens when the money runs out? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 418 Tue Jan 05, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:41 EST Yes, we'll definitely see them in their civvies, and there will be a range of entertainment possibilities, including TV (again, there are shots of an internal newscast on B5, and commercials as well). Thee's _ er, there's _ one little thing that I'm gonna do the first episode or so to establish that that's so off-beat and (one hopes) funny that I'm sure you'll like it. If only I can get Warners to release the footage.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 426 Wed Jan 06, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:04 EST Yeah, that was the hard part with the actors...they're so used to seeing one costume actors in SF that even though they HAD other stuff to wear, it was hard to shoe-horn them into it. But that'll change. As for skivvies...who knows...there's a shot of Sinclair emerging from bed wearing just about nada until he gets his robe on that several women on the show kept re-running, saying "yum...". jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 450 Thu Jan 07, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:04 EST I can't remember height ever even being discussed, except once, when we were debating about two possibilities for a given role. I don't think it really matters. As it happens, it probably won't ever come up because both Michael O'Hare and Jerry Doyle (and I think Johnny Sekka) are all well over 6' tall. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 458 Sat Jan 09, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:01 EST Lonnie, let us not tempt the universe.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 467 Sat Jan 09, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:16 EST Jack...er...so, you noticed those initials, eh? Probably noticed that Garibaldi's first name is Michael, too, huh? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 469 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:06 EST The two tallest are Michael O'Hare and Jerry Doyle...and I think they're about the same height...unless Jerry's just a squidge taller. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 473 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:24 EST Just checked their resumes, and their heights aren't indicated. I will have to get back to you on this. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 5 Tue Nov 03, 1992 T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] (Forwarded) Sub: Grid Epsilon Irregulars - News & Info. This topic is for information about Babylon 5 fan groups, newsletters, fanzines, get-togethers, B-5 at conventions, and other general fun. 222 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 5 Message 172 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:08 EST The current newsletter is due out this week, and any who sent in subs requesting #1 will probably receive them at the same time. Re: merchandising...we have several deals in the works, the only one I know for sure involves a computer game from a major company. There will be some supplementary stuff...shirts and mugs and hats and patches and stuff...around the time of the pilot, at least so I'm told. Luckily, my contract with Warners requires my consultation on marketing, so nothing embarrassing will come out if I have anything to say about it. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 5 Message 174 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:31 EST Don't know yet; will probably have more info in a few weeks. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 5 Message 182 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:26 EST The software company involved is a good one, and the designers are first rate. As soon as I can announce the details, I will. And yeah, I get one of everything. I may need a bigger house.... The best way to make sure one gets in on any upcoming marketing is probably to write Warners marketing (I believe it's the Licensing Corporation of America...maybe someone here has an address) and ask to get on a mailing list for info. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 5 Message 189 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:32 EST Great, Rob, many, many thanks. So yeah...anybody who wants to get on a mailing list for merchandise related to B5, drop a note to the address contained in message 187. Be the first on your block.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 5 Message 218 Wed Jan 20, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:00 EST Yep...the "beep" stuff will all be clear by the end of the pilot. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 6 Tue Nov 03, 1992 T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] at 06:43 EST Sub: Where is Babylon 5? TV stations... Babylon 5 is a cornerstone of Warner's new Prime Time Network. Here is where one can find the station information.... 290 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 230 Wed Jan 06, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:06 EST Leviathan...as a local, mayhap you could ring up Dana Hersey and fill him in on the background, just so's he knows it ain't a DS9 riff. This is probably the single biggest problem I know we're gonna have with reviews. On every other level, we'll stand on our own; I just don't want that inaccuracy surfacing and skewing the review. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 252 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:19 EST WVTV Milwaukee. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 287 Wed Jan 20, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:02 EST I'm scheduled for Gallifrey One Goes Forth? Oh.... Er...when exactly is that, again? jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 7 Tue Nov 03, 1992 J.HUDGENS [Fenn Shysa] at 23:07 EST Sub: Babylon 5 _ POTENTIAL SPOILERS If you've seen the B5 promos or the sales info packages and want to mention specific items or situations without worrying about spoiling it for others, post & comment here... THERE BE SPOILERS HERE! 429 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 291 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:17 EST If I see one more message with a one-liner on top and then ten zillion lines of white space, which at 2400 baud go by too fast for me to read the damn thing, so I have to then go back and find the number of the message, and replay it time after time while hitting ^S to try adn stop it before it scrolls past again, I am going to do someone serious damage. (Well, everyone ELSE was having a tirade....) Paula...you're responding to and arguing with something that only you heard because it doesn't exist in the pilot. The line that Sinclair says is, "I managed to take out a fighter before they hit my stabalizers. I was losing control, I'd lost my team...." etc. Not vertical stabalizers. Just the device that keeps the ship from spinning end over end by controlling the various thrusts. No matter WHAT system you're using, you have to be able to go from A to B, and the minute adjustments required, particularly if you're in the midst of battle, are too complex for one person to make on the fly. It has to go through a computer. If the system _ hydraulics, pneumatics, air thrust, fusion, whatever power you happen to prefer _ is damaged, it's going to screw you up. THAT was the line. And the Line. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 293 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:13 EST I keep hearing Alladin's more of a pain than it's worth, which is why I generally do all my writing/reading on-line. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 320 Wed Jan 06, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:13 EST Just one other little item you're forgetting, Paula...these are individual fighters, which are made to operate in and out of an atmosphere. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 322 Thu Jan 07, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:21 EST Several reasons...first, she wouldn't be able to tell for sure if his memory had or had not been "doctored" to eliminate the memory of the action. (An upper-level Psi could notice the seams in the memory; she's basically a business-transaction person who's a teeny bit over her head in what she's doing, and she knows it.) Second, I'm playing constantly with how our society will deal with this kind of telepath. The idea is always "innocent until proven guilty." Now, you can bring someone to trial, and a psi can scan them, and boom, you know one way or another. But does that violate our judicial tradition of a trial BY JURY, and put 'WAY too much power in the hands of telepaths? Because bear in mind, we still have to take their word for what they "see" in someone's mind. They can function as key witnesses, but it's my sense that they would be SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED from going into the mind of an accused person to determine their innocence or guilt, *even if so invited*. There are others, but those are, in my mind, the key reasons for this. It's a matter of trying to be logical and consistent in how these things are used; you don't want to have something (or someone) become the Magic Wand that solves every problem, a Deux Ex Lyta, so to speak. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 324 Thu Jan 07, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:47 EST Yes, Lyta's always had an affinity for alien races from a telepathic standpoint. As for telling reality from subjective; as soon as it goes in your eyes, it becomes subjective. So that's the only POV from which she can act. It's easiest when it's straightforward visual or auditory impulses, not much open to coloring by the subjective aspect. If the person being scanned is unbalanced, then 1) it becomes VERY uncomfortable for the psi, and 2) there are signature aspects of the scan (colors, hallucinations, delusions) that would tip off any good psi that this may not be a very valid perspective. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 332 Thu Jan 07, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:09 EST Yes, there are shields available, mainly implants, sometimes drugs, and cyberalteration techniques to mind-wipe people temporarily so they can't be read easily. Re: perjury, there are Psi review boards, as with the AMA (and of equally debatable power) that could be called into play in the case of suspected perjury, as well as other abuses of the Psi-Corps authority. If a review board or other PC arm finds you're in violation of standards, the next step is the psi-cops. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 349 Sat Jan 09, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:19 EST The background on that business meeting is similar to all such uses of telepaths: both sides agree to the presence of a telepath to monitor the negotiations. If one were to demur, the deal would be off because the person clearly has something to hide. Which is why there is a good market for various kinds of shields that don't LOOK like or feel like shields unless the telepath knows what to look for. You can also just try and hide it and hope that the telepath isn't looking too deep or isn't really paying attention, which is what that guy was doing. (May have been reciting the "tensor" rhyme trying to keep his brain occupied.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 353 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:31 EST How much combat is in the movie? Not terribly much...I wanted more of a dramatic series with action than an action series with drama. The series will alternate...some with lots and lots of action, some with less. The budget is classified. Re: the total population of B5...this is something that I went round and round with as the designers and I worked on this thing. They haven't given me an exact figure yet; I imagine I'll get it eventually. It's in the *area* of a couple hundred thousand, though. I *think* they said the max capacity was around 250,000 but I could be wrong. (This is one of those things where the writer can't just set a figure and wave a magic wand. B5 is a particular given size...now you have to figure out how much space is required by hydroponics, station systems, infrastructure and so on...subtract that from the total available volume, determine how large the individual living quarters are, with some variance, and then finally zero in on how many people that could accommodate without squeezing everyone in like sardines. All I know is that there's math involved....) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 361 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:45 EST No, they're not. And someone trained to know what to look for in a scan would pick up on it...but those are few and far between. Ah hates math. I failed bonehead math twice in junior college, and only passed the third time when the professor, seeing me one more time in his class, said in despair, "Just...go. I'll give you a C-, just go." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 366 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:23 EST I can more or less hold my own in math UNTIL such time as suddenly we're dealing with numbers AND letters. For some reason, I'm absolutely hard-wired for language. Letters are part of a word, a number is for math. When someone says "A = 9" my immediate response is, "A what? *A* dog? *A* horse? What?" I know what the theory is on all this, that there are groups, sub-groups, universes, all that jazz...the theory is fine...but when I look at a number AND a letter in an equation, my brain goes into vapor lock, I get confused and fall down. I don't even want to TALK about the scams I ran in order to pass my semester of Statistical Psychology to get my B.A. in clinical psych. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 369 Wed Jan 13, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:05 EST . . . . . ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 377 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:51 EST To get past the language requirement, I took two semesters of German. German I and German II. Simultaneously. From 9-10:30 twice a week we were nice and safe and snuggly in a very basic German class...and from 10:30 to 12 noon twice a week (same days), we were dropped screaming like souls into Dante's Ninth Circle masquerading as German II, where the instructor would ONLY speak to us in German. Which we didn't understand. It was kind of a trial run, an experiment to see if it would work, and the conclusion at the end of the semester...at which point half of us were stark, staring mad, and the other half were plotting to annex the Sudetenland...was that it didn't work. My basic problem (even though I passed) was that I was always week on English grammar...so when I had to slam a word through the various forms and declensions, I would...well, you've seen what happens when someone throws an equation at me...it's a lot like that, only with a bunch of umlauts thrown in for color. That was the same semester in which I realized that I wanted to get the hell OUT of college and into writing full time, and started cramming courses. I think I had something on the order of 23 or 27 credits that semester alone, in violation of university limits (I crashed courses that were beyond the proscribed limits). And they weren't monkey classes, either, lemme tell you...6 units of German, plus classes in Statistical Psychology, Biology, Literature, Philosophy, and some other stuff (along with the 1-2 writing workshops I took every semester). To this day I'm still amazed that I actually got THROUGH that semester. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 398 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:50 EST There are actually several languages heard on B5, though you have to work to hear them. (Those with surround will have an easier time.) For instance, in the customs area, announcements are made first in English, then in Interlac. In the bazaar area, you'll hear chirrups and whistles and clicks and a wide range of language-sounds. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 400 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:12 EST There are about as many as now...with a few extras developed on the Mars and other colonies. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 408 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:29 EST Re: asking telepaths on a date...it would be verbal, assuming we're talking PC hrized scans are illegal, and thus they would not be "dipping" to know your intentions. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 416 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:48 EST (A job like that could take YEARS....) jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 8 Tue Nov 03, 1992 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:41 EST Sub: Behind The Scenes Production Designers, Art Directors, Costumers, Director, others...this is the place to discuss the production-aspects of B5...it's look and the process involved. 306 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 90 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:01 EST I'm finishing B5 post production this coming week, and writing my third novel, and am helping out a friend on another series (said friend having gotten in over his head a bit, through no fault of his own) doing rewrites and a few scripts. Just something to keep me busy while waiting to gear up for the series. (Also took time to write out a synopsis of each of the first 22 episodes for B5's first season, which will then be assigned as needed, interposing new ideas as they're suggested by other writers. Also finished an hour-length B5 script, which will be one of the mid-season shows to be shot.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 94 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:19 EST All I can say is when Warners gives us the production go, we'll be ready. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 97 Mon Jan 04, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:39 EST That'll probably be decided by forces wiser than I. And just FYI, all the PTEN shows are given 22 episode committments per season. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 99 Mon Jan 04, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:00 EST Who...? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 102 Tue Jan 05, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:56 EST That's simply a standard unit of measure. Some series do more than 22, but those are more rthe MURDseasons generally ran 22 episodes. 22 x 3 seasons is 66, which is enough for long-term syndication, if barely. And there won't be a Joe Jr. One doesn't go through a vasectomy for lack of anything better to do on a Friday night.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 106 Tue Jan 05, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:45 EST Nope, B5 is shot right here in LA County. It helps that my Spousal Overunit is also a writer, and understands what it means when I come out, eyes like poached eggs, staggering towrad the coffee pot, mumbling, "Deadlines...deadlines...." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 110 Thu Jan 07, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:22 EST They sure do cost a lot. We plan to do some such shots for the series, in the zero-g section of the garden, and possibly in the zero-g cargo section that rides on top of B5. My mandate to Ron is to come up with a way of doing it that looks good. Once we have that, we'll do the story. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 120 Thu Jan 07, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:10 EST The series standard opening will be a variation on Londo's narration at the top of the pilot. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 122 Fri Jan 08, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:43 EST Yeah, Londo seems like the *least* likely person to do the opening narration for a show like this; you don't even see him for nearly two full acts, and it's the kind of thing you'd expect the Commander to do. But there are reasons for everything.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 126 Sat Jan 09, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:07 EST Re: the voices....I can't do it, I can't tell him.... Re: the narration at the beginning...actually, I suppose there's no reason why I can't put it up here. LONDO (older voice): "I was there at the dawn of the Third Age of Mankind. It was the Earth year 2257. Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations, located deep in neutral space. It was a port of call for businessmen, smugglers, diplomats, businessmen and travelers from a hundred worlds. It could be a dangerous place, but we accepted the risk because Babylon 5 was our last, best hope for peace. Under the leadership of its final commander, Babylon 5 was a dream given form...a dream of a galaxy without war, where species from other worlds could exist in mutual respect...a dream that was endange one man on a mission of destruction. Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. This...is its story." That's from memory, and as I look at it, some of it ain't *exactly* right (that should be "species from different worlds" not "other worlds," for instance, but the sense of it is correct, and it's probably 90% textually correct. (I also see I repeated businessmen twice...which means I left something out, but having now been up about 20 hours, I'm too tired to remember what or to look it up in the script.) I'll try to remember to dig out the exact wording and put it up, if anyone's interested. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 137 Sat Jan 09, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:23 EST "I was there at the dawn of the Third Age of Mankind. It began in the Earth Year 2257. Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations, located deep in neutral space. It was a port of call for refugees, businessmen, smugglers, diplomats and travelers from a hundred worlds. It could be a dangerous place, but we accepted the risk because Babylon 5 was our last, best hope for peace. Under the leadership of its final commander, Babylon 5 was a dream, given form. A dream of a galaxy without war, where species from different worlds could exist, side by side, in mutual respect...a dream that was endangered, as never before, by the arrival of one man on a mission of destruction. "Babylon 5...was the last of the Babylon stations. This...is its story...." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 140 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:10 EST That is the only narration in the show. When we get to the series, I plan to adjust the narration and keep it as a stet opening. Probably it'll be something along the lines of, "I was there at the dawn of the Third Age of Mankind. It began in the Earth year 2257. Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. This is its story...." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 147 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:38 EST Oh, yeah, the "mission of destruction" thing ONLY relates to this particular episode, the pilot. It'll be gone from regular episodes. For the series, my feeling is that the intro should be as short as possible, almost more for mood than for information. The intro may also change slightly each season.... As for software, I use plain old Word for my writing, though I just got 7.0 and will change over as soon as I decide I have nothing else of value in my life to deal with. I am but a simple man from a simple land of simple values.... The computer itself is kind of a hum-dinger...a 486/50mhz, 330 meg hard drive, 650 meg rewriteable optical drive (for a total on-line of about 1 gigabyte), NEC 4FG monitor, 64 megs of RAM, SCSI 32 bit system, and due to arrive any day now, the 6-disk Pioneer CD-ROM jukebox. Also have the Thunderboard sound card, Diamond Speedstar 14F video card, and a bunch of other goodies. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 150 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:52 EST Actually, there's a weird typo in there; it should be Wordstar 5.5, not Word (ecch). jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 161 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:37 EST The background visuals for the narrative will be much the same for the series as the pilot...a montage of the station, people and locales. Difference between an exec producer and a producer? A producer can be a line producer, who handles mainly production problems, or a writer producer, who mainly writes, sits in on casting and stuff. An exec producer is the guy In Charge...otherwise referred to as a Show Runner, who sets the direction for the series or project, makes final decisions on casting, music, sets, all that jazz. On B5, I share exec producer status with Doug Netter...basically, we divide it up that Doug handles most of the deal making (which he loves) with agents, other business stuff, and I get to play. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 167 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:54 EST "Mankind" was being used by Londo specifically in relation to humans, not sentient aliens including his own race. Earthers. Which was one reason (of many) I wanted his character to be the narrator, someone looking in from the outside. As for the Third Age, it's _ oh, darn, look at the time, have to go.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 178 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:50 EST I only said that the story will *concentrate* on B5 the first two years in terms of locations. We'll branch out, certainly, after that. Mike: your Third Age thought is very close to being correct. It's only the object of your sentence that's incorrect. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 184 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:29 EST Yes, it's repetitive. Yes, it's deliberate. It brings you back to the beginning of the narrative, which is a space shot that more or less matches the other shot. (Makes a visual loop, in other words.) Telestro: certainly one of our characters might go the way of Saruman....and one might go the way of Aragorn...and Gandalf...ah, well, that's always uncertain, isn't it? "Expect me when you see me." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 185 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:33 EST And then again...maybe not. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 194 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:28 EST WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT PLANET GAWOOMPKI?! EGADS! THERE'S A LEAK IN OUR OPERATION! (Actually, there *is* a leak in our organization...the funny thing is that it's me.) Re: Sinclair and Ambassador-ship...there's a very logical questoin (or question) that has to be dealt with. (Again, we go back to that same point, asking the next question.) Why is a *Commander* serving on the station, and the Advisory Council, and representing Earth? Wouldn't they have a regular Ambassador present? This is a question that we will resolve. As well as the one implicit in the foregoing: why is a *COMMANDER* _ lower in rank than a Captain _ entrusted with this responsibility, rather than an Admiral or some other high- ranking individual? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 195 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:33 EST BTW, ironically, this is the only area that worries me in showing the pilot. People are going to say, "Waitaminnit! This doesn't make any sense! Why is a COMMANDER running this thing? And what about this bit over here...?" It's kinda risky to deliberatly program in what look like errors, but are story points that will be raised and resolved later. Ah, well...you gotta take chances.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 205 Wed Jan 13, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:10 EST Yeah, I'm *pretty much* staying to Naval terms, mainly because the introduction of starships will probably be under that heading as vessels, and that seems to follow. Additionally, if all of the various major militaries of various countries were combined into one Earthforce, then there would be some standardization, and naval terms *seem* to be more standard than others across services, but my research there isn't as deep as it probably should be. Would be nice to work in some variations, however.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 224 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:57 EST The EA is governed by political figures, just as today, though some of the structures have altered to accommodate a more world-spanning form of government. (Instead of senators elected from states, they're now elected by country, and so on.) As for language...the DICTIONARY defines language, PEOPLE screw with it until distinctions blur...as with the distinction between "fewer" and "less." "There were less people in attendence this week." No. There were FEWER people in attendence. This is what people do. This is your language. This is your language in people...any questions? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 233 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:11 EST That's an extremely good point about species/races; I'll be careful about that. I don't *think* that came up in the pilot, and now it won't in the series. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 238 Fri Jan 15, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:27 EST BTW, it's my understanding that the monitor screens on TNG are not inserted in post; they're regular TV screens with edges that come out and cover any bends in the tube, thereby giving it a flat look. At least, that's what I hear.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 251 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:53 EST I agree re: universal translators. Most everything in the ST universe is bent toward making the process easier, less challenging; I want to show the process of overcoming. I think it's great if an alien shows up from a previously unvisited planet, and they spend days trying to communicate with it. I think that some computerized stuff might work, as in the case where someone programs a machine to go from one specific language to another (sort of a species-specific interpreter), but thats about it. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 261 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:37 EST The language facilities of aliens will vary; probably the most fluent (by virtue of necessity) are the ambassadors, whose english is perfect or nearly so (cyberlink to the brain dumping the English equivilants of their own language and grammar directly into the brain, very expensive and not a little painful). The drawback is that some cultural references or some contextual areas may not be as clear as required. (Londo wondering about ramoras, Delenn unsure for a moment about poetry....) Re: language in general...I agree that all languages must be "living languages" in that they are free to grow and expand and add new terms. There is a difference between this and a *collapsing language* in which the distinction between terms (the aformentioned less and fewer) becomes degraded, and meanings blur through misuse. Ase gradually becomes less precise. A language should be graded on how well it manages to communicate the thoughts of one to the other. If it begins to fail in that regard, then it is not a living but a dying language. (Another example: the way that "anxious" and "eager" have come to mean the same thing. "Anxious" carries with it some degree of worry or dread or fear; "eager" is a pleasant term, connoting something wonderful and nice for which one is longing. So when someone says, with a smiling and expectant attitude, "Yeah, I'm really anxious to see the new Lucas movie," it's a misuse of the term, unless there's some reason for worry.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 268 Sun Jan 17, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:11 EST In terms of the EFX, I think it's all Amigas, with some IBMs being used for general computing (letters, schedules, etc.). jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 281 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:49 EST Re: TRON v2.0....I'd rather write kids in space. Re: places of origin...my sense is that they have their own unique names. We don't call our planet Terra (well, not really), or Hum (for Human) or Planet Human. Because some of the names are difficult to pronounce, the logical approach is to note them by designation, i.e., "And shall be shipped off to the Narn homeworld." That is the only time or I should say context by which we refer to their places of origin. The only exception to this, and I don't recall if this is in the pilot or not, is the Centauri homeworld, designated Centauri Prime. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 288 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:35 EST Yes, there are definitely other human settlements...colonies and outposts and co-operative projects on other worlds with other species. It's mainly from this overlap that the EA draws its non-human members, though a few worlds have chosen to ally themselves directly with the EA. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 9 Wed Nov 11, 1992 T.RESTIVO [Little Guy] at 18:27 EST Sub: Babylon 5 Humor From *Beep Beep*, to Top Ten Lists to full-blown paradies, this is where to put your funny bone in writing! 162 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 9 Message 122 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:11 EST I...no...never mind...forget it...some things are too gross even for me. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 9 Message 132 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:13 EST Suddenly sounds began emitting from the producer's office...witnesses later described them as twin shrieks.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 9 Message 150 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:24 EST Kosh as in "gosh." There's actually a last name, btw...Naranek. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 9 Message 156 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:50 EST Pronounced Nuh-RAH-nek. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 10 Thu Nov 12, 1992 SANDMAN [Henry] at 19:25 EST Sub: Sex in Babylon 5 Can't do without this one!! 99 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 10 Message 84 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:20 EST Actually, I said that Sinclair will have a steady VERTICAL relationship with.... Don't hit me, I'm a sick man. And nothing in life is permanent, not even relationships. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 11 Sat Nov 14, 1992 J.SHEEN1 [Leviathan] at 18:09 EST Sub: B-5 ADRIFT! BABYLON 5 Topic Drift If you feel like talking about it, but it doesn't fit anywhere else... If its only connection to B-5 is that you thought of it in this CAT... This is where to come and get it out. 367 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 271 Thu Jan 07, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:12 EST I've lost all track of how much time I spend on BBSs; two-three hours a day here, plus 1-2 per day on CIS, and then other services. I'm on several where I don't post messages, and the folks there engaged in SF-TV discussions don't know I'm looking over their shoulder. Why? Because if people know you're there, they tend to speak more politely about you, and your projects. They're free to be brutally honest...and lemme tell you, it brings one up short sometimes. But I think that's both good and essential. Sort of a control group approach...see what the opinion is like of folks who don't have direct access, and only hear stuff second-hand. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 274 Fri Jan 08, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:45 EST Yes, GEnie is still my first choice. You'll note I didn't call the locale for B5 Central Interstellar System or anything dopey like that; only referring to it (in bible now, eventually in script) as Grid Epsilon (GE). I post only a few messages there per week; this is home. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 296 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:13 EST Yes, we'll definitely see some EVA suits of various kinds, human and alien. In the pilot, though it's farther away than I would've liked, you can see a shot along the side of B5, with a couple of ships streaking past, and a flashing light up in the upper left-hand corner on the hull of the station. Freeze the frame, and look closely, and you'll see th at it's a guy in an EVA suit repairing a micrometeor puncture (or some other problem) with a welder of sorts. We'll do more, better, and closer, later on. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 303 Tue Jan 12, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:30 EST Apparently, it's not difficult at all to digitize an actor's face and put it inside an EVA suit's facemask. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 319 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:19 EST Someone back a while ago suggested "Fivers," and that's kinda nice. Re: Captain Power...yeah, that's a show that is an example of what to strive for, and how sometimes good intentions can get derailed. We genuinely wanted to come up with a long-term story, and by and large, we succeeded. The problem was the marketing in front of the show, and the merchandising behind the show...we got killed from both sides. There's an entire second season of unproduced CP scripts, story edited by Larry DiTillio, in which he follows up on the arc that I and others established during the first season. You would have found out what Dread became, what happened to Power's mother, where Eden was (and there would be direct contact), what the secret was in Soaron's programming, and so on. It was a good experience, though, and it let me cut my teeth on multi- season story construction. It was the experience on Power that led me to believe that something like B5 could be done. (And yeah, I still have much the same reaction to the last episode...it's a real tough one to watch...which was the point.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 323 Fri Jan 15, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:48 EST Definite no on the question of matter transmitters. That's a little too much in the magic/science-fantasy area for my preferences. Space travel is done in ships. Re: Captain Power...it aired in 1987/88 in syndication. Was set in the future, after the MetalWars, in which one man, who caused the war (in the best interests of humanity) decided that to save humanity it must be digitized and stored in machines for the day when perfect metalloid bodies could give mankind immortality. Re: Twilight Zone...yes, I worked on the syndicated version. Among the episodes I wrote (I was also story editor) are "The Mind of Simon Foster," with Bruce Weitz; "Dream Me a Life," with Eddie Albert; co-wrote "The Curious Case of Edgar Witherspoon," with Harry Morgan, and co-wrote "Our Selena is Dying" posthumously with Rod Serling, from a long lost TZ outline. Other TZs that I wrote around that time, but whose stars I can't consistently recall: "The Wall," "The Call," "What Are Friends For?" "Something in the Walls," "Acts of Terror," "Special Service," "Rendezvous in a Dark Place," and have another shared writing credit on "The Trance." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 356 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:50 EST No, I wasn't previously aware of "Agony" (except what I've gone through these last six months), but will look for it in future. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 12 Wed Nov 18, 1992 B.WIST [Brad] at 18:12 EST Sub: Babylon 5 Sightings Post here when you've spotted Babylon 5, whether it be on Television, Magazine, or somewhere else. Let us know where we can find it/see it, too. 166 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 12 Message 133 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:48 EST Aquila: give me the name of the paper and the reporter who wrote the article. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 13 Mon Nov 23, 1992 T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] at 21:00 EST Sub: BABYLON 5 - Science and Technology Jump gates, nanotech, high-tech weapons, starship drives, sound in space, and other subjects of science and technology in Babylon 5. 163 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 63 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:08 EST Rob: from where? Re: telepaths...there are definite limits, and I most definitely do NOT wanta it to be a deus ex machina, the solution to every problem. If anything, it IS a problem itself. M.Morgan...yes, absolutely, that's what I had in mind all the time. Yeah, that's it, that's the ticket.... And tachyons...can't forget those pesky tachyons.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 72 Sat Jan 02, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:39 EST The computer system is quite good, based on a crystalline technology that's a mesh between alien and human-developed stuff. As for defense, you'll see a full demonstration of this in the first season; for now, let's just say that that smooth looking exterior is laced with sections that can open and reveal all kinds of interesting things. Imagine a five mile long Swiss Army knife.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 75 Sun Jan 03, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:03 EST Yes, the middle section of the station is the Garden, and is still an O'Neill type environment. And over the course of the series, it's my intention to bring in all the various organizations and sub-organizations required to make a place like this work. I really want to try and convey the sense of a Working Environment, not a set. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 82 Tue Jan 05, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:52 EST Doctrines and Covenants? Are we talking here Mormonism or Scientology? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 85 Wed Jan 06, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:12 EST HEY! NO FAIR! NOBODY TOLD ME THERE WAS GOING TO BE MATH INVOLVED! I DIDN'T STUDY! I WASN'T TOLD THIS WAS GONNA BE ON THE TEST! AAAKKKK! jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 88 Wed Jan 06, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:09 EST I forget.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 103 Fri Jan 08, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:54 EST I'm still hammering down the rules on hyperspace...what can and can't be done. My first thought was that they travel blind, but given that it's heavily traveled, I realized after a while that you'd *have* to be able to see your surroundings in order to avoid collisions. The point you raise is quite conceivable. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 117 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:40 EST Keyboards are still in use, mainly because there are always going to be things that you don't want someone to hear, so you'll always need some kind of non-verbal input system. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 119 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:50 EST I dunno...I kinda like glasses...but I know the reality is that it may be fixed by then...there are some in the pilot, in BG. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 121 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:39 EST It looks cool. Also, bear in mind that often different gravities require different atmospheres; alternating atmospheres between floors in the same section is a bit more difficult than setting aside one whole sector that would be, say, for methane breathers, and which has a varied gravitational level as a further accommodation. (If they require standard 1g, there are other areas.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 134 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:58 EST Yep. You'll see 'em in both the pilot and the series. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 136 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:16 EST I agree. I wear glasses. I could go to contacts (glass or plastic), try surgery, all this stuff...but ain't nobody going near my eyes with pieces of glass or knives or lasers, I don't care HOW safe it is. Just my luck to hit the one in a million power surge and I'll end up looking backward out where my brain stem used to be. It's interesting to see how in pop SF, there is a tendency to assume that Major Changes will take place. Take a look sometime at a film _ the first SF musical motion picture _ called "Just Imagine," produced during the 30s. It talked about a future world in which everyone would have personal flyers, no one would have names any longer, only numbers, children would be manufactured and people would eat pills instead of food. The time-frame in which all this amazing stuff was to take place? The 1980s. As somebody said, the future ain't what it used to be. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 152 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:02 EST The defense system for B5 consists of a system of moderate level defensive grids, hull-mounted weaponry (which is generally concealed behind large plates, which would be blown off with explosive bolts to reveal the weapons beneath), and a small number of individual fighter craft stored in a docking bay at the rear of the station. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 158 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:37 EST The two things on front _ the spikes, as it were _ are on either side of a second loading bay, this one expressly for cargo held in the zero-g cargo hold. The vanes in the back are heat radiators, as I recall from the original design notes. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 14 Thu Dec 31, 1992 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:59 EST Sub: Lurkers/Introductions: Please Sign In A place for newcomers to come in, say hello, whether you want to jump into the conversation or not, just to let us know you're here. 151 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 14 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:13 EST Great! A hi to all the folks who've come out and introduced themselves. Good to have you aboard. It's interesting to know who all is out there...the varied backgrounds and fields and "what brought me me here" is intriguing. A fine buncha folks....welcome. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 78 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:15 EST Actually...y'know...it's funny, but I've been trying to come up with a name for the folks who just sorta roam B5, the "homeless" or others who have enough resources to get there in hopes of jobs or new worlds, and don't have enough to get off again...and who play a running game of tag of sorts with B5 security..."Lurkers" ain't bad.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 132 Sun Jan 17, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:15 EST Hey, Mark, good to have another H-25er around. Pat: I taught at Grossmont College for about one semester, it's a pretty good place. (Went to San Diego State and meself.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 135 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:52 EST I taught writing (what else?)...I *think* it was around 1979 or 80. After a while, everything blurs. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 143 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:59 EST Re: SDSU, no, I had very little to do with the cinema/telecom dept. there. I crashed two courses _ mainly because I wanted to learn from a particular instructor, Norman Corwin _ and had one or two others, but that's it. My interest was in other areas...one degree in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Philosophy; another in Sociology with a minor in Creative Writing, that sort of thing. BTW, if you go down to the offices of the Daily Aztec, and ask to see the archive volumes of the paper around 1977/78 or thereabouts, you'll see several zillion articles by me in there. At more or less the same time, I was the resident book reviewer, film reviewer and theater reviewer, had two weekly humor columns ("A View from the Rabbit Hole" and "A Modern Cynic's Dictionary"), as well as regular feature articles and profiles, and the occasional investigative article, including one on the CIA. The frequency of articles led some to describe the paper as The Daily J. Michael. At the same time I was doing cover stories for the San Diego Reader, the Daily Californian, features for the SD edition of the Los Angeles Times, and entertainment reviews for KSDO-AM Newsradio. But the Daily Aztec stuff was great fun. I worked without pay, the only one on staff who did, in fact...because I didn't want to be beholden to anybody, could write what I wanted, nobody had any leverage. Which was all for the good, given the massive numbers of angry letters and the occasional bomb threats elicited by what I wrote. Can't imagine why.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 147 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:57 EST Yes, a VERY large blunt object. The one point of any possible interest to draw from this comes from something I tried to beat into incoming students when I was an orientation counselor at SDSU: if you go to college, and all you see are the class rooms, the bathrooms, the parking lot and the cafeteria, you will cheat yourself of 99% of your possible education. Any university or college has vast opportunities for writers and others. In the former case, write for the university newspaper, or the university theater (and most schools have an ongoing one-act production program)...take classes in acting or film, to get a sense of history, or the hands-on process of being on stage...the range of experience open to you is enormous. Don't just follow your major to its conclusion. There is a world of experience you can get while you're there *that you may never have the chance to experience again*. Take it. End of sermon. I shouldn't even be here, frankly, this is for the new folks and others to sign in and introduce themselves...both for the interests of our own private party, so we know who's come into the room, and for any possible future mailings or opportunities. Let's hear from y'all. jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 15 Thu Dec 31, 1992 J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 21:29 EST Sub: BABYLON 5 - Alien races Aliens races in Babylon 5... their politics, abilties, technology, history, and any other discussion specificly about non-humans. 80 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 2 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:19 EST I'll have to be a little circumspect here (damn it, you're doing it again....). The Narn Regime is not currently at war with the Centauri Republic, which occuped the Narn homeworld for nearly a century before finally being driven off by the Narn resistance. Their resources depleted they are not currently in a position to make war on anyone; being naturally rather paranoid, and having just been more or less enslaved, they have a dread of other races getting together and possibly harming them, as well as a hunger for the technology that might protect them down the road (as Russia feared invasion its Eastern Front after WW2). There's a rough alliance between the Earth Alliance and the Centauri, since theirs was the first race we encountered. (They told us at that time that they were the biggest guys around, that they ran everything, that we were a lost colony of theirs...which eventually was disproven by genetic examination. The rest of their claims were also BS. They were trying to impress the natives.) There's some movement toward making nice with the Minbari, but also a GREAT deal of resistance, given the recent war. Here's one little extra for you: only one person aboard Babylon 5 has any idea of what a Vorlon is, inside that suit, and only one race has had dealings with the Vorlons before. Watch the reception at the end, and see if you notice anything unusual in the way the various people respond to Kosh. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 8 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:13 EST Jonathan...............YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! One at a time, please! The only questions I can remember...the vorlons have never fought a war with any other race. (At least none has ever been recorded.) And right now in the Minbari race there's a big split that took place after the Earth/Minbari war between the religious leaders and the military leaders, which culminated with the suicide of the Minbari commander at the conclusion of the war. They've now arrived at an uneasy truce, but with time, who knows? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 12 Fri Jan 01, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:50 EST Anyone who will take the job. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 27 Sun Jan 10, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:41 EST By the way...someone on another CIStem posted a note about one of the two upcoming DS9 episodes, that one of the alien species they would encounter are named Vaa'lons...anyone else heard this? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 34 Mon Jan 11, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:43 EST Actually, I disagree...the basic "model" of the human form is very well tailored and may be more general than we might suspect. Legs for walking, probably two because all closed up sideways we present less of a silhouette for predators, and two legs are more nimble, can slip through narrower places than three. Arms to lift, and hands to manipulate objects (show me a culture without a good opposable thumb) required for the birth of technology. Sensors (eyes/ears/nose) at the very highest part of the body, best for observational purposes, hunting and the like. There are zillions of species on Earth, but you rarely seen anything above spider-level with more than six legs. Now, I'm not saying that it's impossible to have other forms, not at all...only that the humanoid form may in fact be far more common than anyone suspects. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 45 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:19 EST Heh...I like that....I have sudden images of two aliens, one in a mustache, curly black hair, glasses and a big mustache...the other in a triangular cap, curly black hair, pushing an ice cream cold-box...his name is pronounced Chee-KO, the other Gro-CHooo..."Getta you tootsey frootsey ice-a cream, getta you tootsey frootsey ice-a cream...." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 49 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:29 EST Actually, for the pilot in particular, Kosh only has to move very stately and slowly from point A to point B, so there wasn't much that needed to be told. For a longer period, on the series, he would be played more as a cypher...the less that can be revealed, the better. The only people directly involved who had to know was the director (for certain attitudes) and the costume designer (to incorporate certain elements and leave room in appropriate sections). jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 71 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:01 EST Yeah, that's one thing I've kind of slated in as a B story in a given episode...an alien comes aboard and they just can't quite manage to communicate, it's just too damned foreign in its thinking. (What I'd love is for them to find out at the end that it's some other alien's damned cat or something, and they've been spending all this time trying to communicate with something that ain't sentient...but with aliens, how can you tell sometimes?) jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 16 Fri Jan 15, 1993 T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] at 01:02 EST Sub: "No kids or cute robots, ever!" This is a topic for discussion of the unofficial slogan of Babylon 5. 35 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 2 Fri Jan 15, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:31 EST On the other hand...maybe it might be better if our Sysoptrix took the last, oh, 100 or so messages from 1 about this and transplanted 'em here. Get the whole context in place. And lord knows, it's not like she has anything ELSE to do, other than nudzhing me.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 10 Thu Jan 14, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] (Forwarded) The inter-relationships between FOX, PTEN, the FCC and any and all other acronymical organizations is utterly beyond my ken, and I would no sooner try to explain it or understand it than I would attempt to build a tesseract in the back yard. In what I *hope* will be a relatively definitive word on this kid topic...yes, I can write a story with kids. I've done it...I did it for the Twilight Zone and other shows. The question is still one of making choices. Is that what this series is ABOUT? You could drop in a chapter on badminton techiques into The Lord of the Rings or Debbie Does Cleveland, the question is, does it BELONG there? Is that what the show or the story is attempting to address? If there were no other shows with kids around, then I would be more inclined to do one with kids at the center. But there are plenty of them around, particularly in SF...you've got kids aplenty on TNG, on DS9, I just saw a kid story on Space Rangers...this is simply a different kind of show. My point is simply this: B5 is meant, in a very real sense, as noted in my message on 2, to be an SF novel for television. If it were just random stories skittering hither, thither and yawn, that would be one thing. But as any novelist can tell you, you have to ask, "Whose story is it?" and stick pretty close to that, even though you may swerve in and out of other POVs and indulge in omniscient narrative. That requires certain choices about tone and attitude and what you include, and what you choose to exclude. Doesn't invalidate one type of story or another, it only says "THIS is what my story's about." There are plenty of other SF shows with kids. Let's have something a little different. (That's one of the ironies that crops up about this show...often people say "We want innovation," and when asked for specifics, they ask to make it more like other shows. "Well, TNG does this kind of story, why can't you?" We can, but we're not. Because we're not TNG. Just as we will do some stories that I *guarantee* you ST wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 21 Sun Jan 17, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:19 EST Something I forgot to mention uptopic, when asked if I can write a story with kids...it's appeared in a lot of my prose. The two leading protagonist in my most recent novel, OTHERSYDE, were around 16...the lead character in one of the first short stories of mine ever to be published ("Your Move," in Amazing SF) was about 13, and the second story of mine published ("A Last Testament for Nick and the Trooper," Shadows 6) featured two kids maybe 19. Provided only for the sake of completeness. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 26 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:03 EST Absolutely. I love being proven wrong. Though there are few survivors to carry the story.... jms ______ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ Topic 17 Tue Jan 19, 1993 C.STOBBE [Colin] at 21:02 EST Sub: BABYLON 5 - Merchandising A place to discuss all the neat Babylon 5 merchandising coming out (hopefully) soon 11 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 3 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:00 EST I'll know more about the computer game next week or so. Best thing in general is to write to Licensing Corporation of America to get on their mailing list for future B5 promotional stuff and merchandising. The Creation designs for shirts look okay, if a tad prosaic...there has got to be one central image to promote this show, but I'm darned if I can figure out what it is at this stage. The logo looks swell, though, in any event. jms ______ ************ Topic 1 Mon Oct 26, 1992 SF-FANTASY [Yog Sysop] at 18:50 EST Sub: Babylon 5 Welcome to the Babylon 5 category! As always, offering or requesting copies of copyrighted material, whether it's the B5 Newsletter, photos, or the actual movie/episodes violates copyright law and SFRT policy. 555 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 337 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:36 EST Actually, JoJo's...uhm...outfit is probably the best thing about the show...not for pure asthetics, of course, just...I dunno...I just kinda like the dynamics of it... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 342 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:22 EST Indeed, they might withhold such participation, which the PC would be obligated to honor. Non-PC telepaths would be a different situation entirely, of course...and a danger...which only a PC (or one of the other government's own 'paths, if any) could work against. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 355 Sun Jan 17, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:01 EST The "Making of B5" piece is being re-edited; originally, the E! piece was going to be the one shown, but...well, no need to rehash all of that. The piece is being recut, and new stuff put in to replace the old stuff. It should be finished next week, I hear, and then provided to the stations. Great news about Arisia, Arne. Any other reactions come to mind? Re: using my posts for articles...by all means, proceed. BTW, it appears that the deal for a B5 game has been closed, and the winner is Electronic Arts. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 358 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:47 EST This goes back to a very basic philosophical question: can you have thought without language, or language without thought? At one point in our evolution, we became conscious...was there language, or did language then come as a *result* of consciousnes? Or did the slow development of language *lead to* the development of true consciousness? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 375 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:38 EST I'll know more about the game in the weeks ahead. Apparently, Creation has licensed some stuff...mainly shirts and mugs and patches and the like, nothing major, but it's there. I got the first t-shirt design roughs today, and have some notes, but nothing too major. More as this is developed. BTW, does anyone know if there are any SF conventions this coming weekend in Dallas? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 379 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:00 EST Licensing Corporation of America. Based in New York. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 403 Fri Jan 22, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:03 EST You say, "New characters and sets apparently do not work." The basic problem, you seem to feel, is that it's the same show, and how do we go about making B5 different? I think that the question is more accurately phrased as, "How does one make DS9 more like TNG?" I'm going to do this absolutely as non-pejoratively as humanly possible, because this is fundamentally the truth. When TNG first went on the air, a lot of the legwork was done for them already. Much of the universe was established: phasers, the Enterprise, starfleet, klingons, warp speed, doors, terminology, on and on. There was additional material added on, but the basic *foundation* is the same. This is neither good nor bad. One can do (and there have been) good stories within this format. What it *is* is a continuation of the same universe. You can do good stuff with that, but it's still fundamentally the same universe. Now comes DS9, and again, it's much the same situation: it builds upon and integrates what went before. We have the Federation, stuff introduced in TNG (Bajorans, Cardassians), some overlapping characters, and a carry-through of many pre-existing stories and themes. Once again, and let me be clear about this, this doesn't mean you can't do good stories here. It's just that it's the same universe. It's not a question, really, of "sets and characters," it's a question of the universe overall, and the fact that it's really a repackaging of the same show, with some modifications. B5 simply does not take place within that universe. Every frame of film reminds you of this. Without making a qualitative judgment for a moment, consider ST vs. Battlestar Galactica. Both are space shows, but very different in tenor, tone and universe. (BG and Star Wars is, of course, a very different discussion.) The comparison I've always made has been to say "What if all the space science fiction stories ever published were written by Larry Niven?" Yes, they would be fine stories...but one kinda wants something different after a while. He might change characters, create different empires, but it's still a Niven point of view. And that _ to get to the heart of your question _ is the point re: B5. It's a question of *voice* as well as all the physical elements you see on your television. The *voice* is the underlying philosophy of a show and its creators, the perspective they bring to it. Babylon 5 brings in a whole different voice. Better or worse, that's a question for the viewer to decide...but it IS different. We don't really have to try to be different from DS9 or TNG because we were never like them in the first place. As opposed to DS9, which is linked to another show, and proceeds from the same producers/writers, and to which they have an obligation to make it, to whatever degree, much the same as TNG. Those who have seen the two shows have no problem telling them apart. And future B5 stuff will continue to remain separate and fresh for the same reason that the pilot is different and fresh: because it proceeds from another voice. Just as Clarke's stories have always been different from Asimov's has been different from Ellison's have been different from Bova's have been different from...well, you get the idea. No comparison of quality implied there, only as examples of voice. (One final note: B5 has always been conceived as, fundamentally, a five year story, a novel for television, which makes it very different as well.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 405 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:33 EST That's not a bad notion. As it is, the date given in each season of the show will change. I.e., "I was there at the dawn of the third age of mankind. It began in the year 2257." Then, "I was there at the dawn of the Third Age of Mankind. It was the year 2258." And so on. So it not only tracks the storyline, it'll be easier for folks to know which season they're coming into as soon as they tune in. BTW, y'know, I was thinking about this discussion as I sat chewing my lemon sesame chicken at the Good Earth Restaurant in Glendale this evening (my Spousal Overunit insists that I eat something healthy once in a while, apparently not believing that one can actually SURVIVE on beef jerky and little chocolate donuts and Crystal Pepsi)...and I was thinking about how this on-line discussion has now generated _ what? _ 7,000+ messages even before the show airs. So I got to thinking...what's going to happen AFTER this sucker airs? I kinda suspect that either a) we will see a lot of "I WUZ ROBBED!" notes followed by a silence vast as space, or b) this category is going to explode in the biggest blast since Tunguska. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 421 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:28 EST So, Denny, any comments of David's that you'd like to repeat here, or provide for PR use? If not, that's okay. Yeah, I'm inclined to think that there will be an upswing in interest. What intrigues me is the notion that we actually will have two audiences out there: those who've followed this discussion, and will be able to read into things the various background information posted here...and those who will see it totally absent any background on the characters or the universe. An offhand comment in the pilot would have more meaning for those who've been following this, and can fill in the blanks. As a writer, though, you can't expect anyone to bring prior knowledge of your story TO the story, it has to be self-sufficient, so we'll see how well it functions on that level when the new folks arrive. I'm sorry if it seems like there's an awful lot of self-examination going on here...my tendency is toward being hyper-critical of the work, rather than to try and make excuses for it. And again, I must selfishly admit that I learn a *lot* from these exchanges, and the diversity of opinions here, and the depth of the answers to questions asked, is quite striking and most invaluable. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 436 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:47 EST Funny thing is, I hadn't checked to see when the pilot would be aired in L.A. Kind of amusing...and appropriate, given the probability that the audiences will overlap. (The article to which Brett refers, btw, is a piece in the Palm Latitudes section of the LA Times Magazine that hit the newsstands today, which talks about the discussion here on GEnie, and has a photo of yr obdnt srvnt stuck inside a computer monitor which should probably be burned...the photo, that is...and as if that weren't bad enough, it's a Mac.) One other aside...Denny's friend David is the *first* civilian on theh planet to see the totally completed B5 pilot, with sound, music and credits. Hence the current sub rosa exchange. Katherine: yeah, I know there's a Good Earth in Studio City...was hoping Spousal Overunit wouldn't find out about it, but she did...sigh. By gosh, give me a hamburger, fries and a chocolate shake! The heck with this so- called health food. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 447 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:02 EST Hah! Phooey! Why do you think I grew up...as much as I did, anyway? So I wouldn't have to eat that stuff anymore. When I'm found dead at 90 in front of my TV watching Babylon 5: The Next Generation, let it be with a coke in one hand and a chocolate bar in the other. As Mark Twain said, "If you can't get to 70 by a comfortable road, don't go." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 450 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:37 EST BTW, I'm giving some thought, since I'm going to be appearing at Con-Dor in San Diego this March as GoH, to bringing along some of the scenes we ended up cutting from the pilot, just to see folks' reaction to the stuff. (Filmed and cut, not cut before filming. There are about half a dozen extensive scenes available.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 454 Tue Jan 26, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:57 EST Don't know if these will ever show up down the road; in a few cases, where they're set pieces, we may actually be able to take one whole scene which is pretty much independent of the plot and drop it into an episode as part of a teaser. (One, for instance, is an encounter with an alien hooker, the other invovles a smuggler.) They were cut for reasons of time: we were 25 minutes over length, and something had to go. Several somethings, actually.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 470 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:34 EST Correct, that's the shot seen in the magazine. Re: the B5 commercials...please drop me a line reminding me of this prior to con-dor, or I'll forget. (Jeez, between the commercials and the cut scenes, this is starting to add up to some considerable viewing time.) Coke, Pepsi, who cares as long as it's got caffeine? Katherine: I made a discovery, a better deli than Jerry's or Arts: Solley's, on Van Nuys two blocks up from Ventura, in the same complex as the multicinema. A good deli, and a great restaurant, with stuff I haven't seen elsewhere. (Corned beef and fried egg sandwich...might as well inject the cholesterol right into your veins and get it over with.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 478 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:45 EST How the various shows interface, and how one is linked to the other, is best understood only by deities and studio guys; we'll have to see. Only problem with coke is that they changed the formula and now use sweeteners other than sugar. Though apparently they put out kosher Coke at passover. Eventually I'll have to get a proper dispenser with Coke syrup and seltzer, since the syrup apparently *does* still have the s ugar in it. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 494 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:57 EST No, I have no knowledge of the article in question; could you upload it to me in email? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 519 Fri Jan 29, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:00 EST Katherine: my condolences on your recent assignment to a previously undiscovered circle of Dante's Inferno. Surely your current task is prohibited under the Geneva Convention.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 535 Sat Jan 30, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:13 EST So, I like the number 5. Actually, the length was something set with Ron at the time, and he produced the 5 miles figure (which is a bit short, in fact, of the "actual" length as it came out). And I didn't make up the L5 stuff...hey, it's synchronicity. Ohmygosh _ and I've been typing this with five fingers on either hand (well, nine actually, the left thumb doesn't actually DO anything that I'm aware of). Re: NATPE...Warners DID have a presentation doing on B5 there. Not a big presence, because they've already sold it to just about all the stations that'll be carrying it, and selling is pretty much the point of NATPE, but in any event, it was there. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 1 Message 548 Sat Jan 30, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:41 EST (BTW, Walter Koenig saw the pilot and said it was "a winner," adding that he thinks it "should get a lot of the Trek fans, plus a lot of more mainstream viewers.") How much of the basic "saga" is in the pilot? Some...bits and pieces. The problem, always, is that we have a whole new universe to establish, with all the backstory that goes with that. As it is, it's fairly "information intensive," as one person put it. We find out about the Earth/Minbari war, the curious surrender, Sinclair's past, the missing 24 hours, the relations between the various governments and their own personal agendas, and a hint of what's to come. This while establishing the backstory of all our characters, and telling a story in present time (for them). I think you will find indications of what we've talked about for the series present in the pilot. Which is why it bears watching more than once; you'll pick up more information and more of a sense of the world the more closely you inspect it. (We tried to come up with a pilot that actually BENEFITS from close inspection, rather than falling apart if you look at it too closely.) Had a meeting the other day with the folks who're going to be doing the B5 games. (As to platform...variations are being planned for ALL of the various platforms...CD-ROM, IBM, Amiga, Mac, Sega and so on.) It was a terrific meeting, with top of the line people. What was interesting was the fact that they seemed shell-shocked from dealing with other producers, the heavy restrictions, the interference, the hassles...my attitude on this show has always been, "Here...we're creating a whole universe for you to go and play in. Do so." So they're going to have a lot of freedom to come up with stuff. I *want* to be surprised. Hell, I want to play the games. Because of the need to avoid any substantial conflicts with the general arc of the story, I gave them a peek into the five year arc, a few things that had to happen. As long as things didn't cross into these areas, the territory was completely open. And knowing that going in, there are no surprises down the road to sabotage them. They seemed...well, there were a lot of very wide eyes when I explained some of what we were going to do. They also saw the pilot at the screening that night, and apparently loved it. We're cooking along, folks.... jms ______ ************ Topic 2 Wed Nov 20, 1991 SOARON [Bio-Dread] at 19:41 EST Sub: General Information Babylon 5 will premiere with a two-hour movie entitled "The Gathering" early in 1993. The creator of the series, J. Michael Straczynski joins us on-line to answer your questions. (No story ideas please...) 394 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 114 Fri Jan 15, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:25 EST Speaking of EFX, I was talking to Ron Thornton during the final mix down the other day, and as we were watching it, he kept shaking his head at all the things he would've done differently if he'd known then what he knows now, and if he'd had the programs/techniques then that he has now. Just the few months since we finished photography have given him a number of tools that he didn't have then. We talked a little about what's capable now, what he can do now, and what's coming up, and it makes what's in the pilot look like nothing by comparison. (A lot of the critics talked about the extensive work that went into the DS9 jello-man effect, not to mention the cost involved; he turned his associate Paul into the same thing in a test that worked just as well and took one night and no money, just a little while behind the keyboard.) Once we get the go, he and I are going to spend a couple of days just sitting and talking about what can be done now, so that I can take full advantage of this new stuff. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 127 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:46 EST "Bob" will never be seen talking anywhere, at any time, for any reason, in B5. I'll personally run a truck over him first, newscast or not (unless I think I can get a good gag out of it...). Re: my mental state...I'll know better in a week or so. I try not to get too personally involved with my own life. Basically, it's lots of fatigue. During the five days of editing, there was so much going on (the music/sound/dialogue edit), I was so obsessed with making sure it all fit together, that for two nights out of that I got no sleep at all, not so much as a minute...I'd crash, and just stare at the ceiling, brain chasing itself in ever-smaller circles, until gradually light started to come in through the window slats. (Did you know that Danger Mouse is on at 6:30 a.m. out here? I'd wondered where that show had gone.) This happened two nights in a row, so by the end of the fourth day, without really any sleep at all, I had elevated to a whole new plane of consciousness. The day after we finished, I slept for something like 18 hours straight. I tend to live crisis to crisis, and I guess right now my mental state is mainly one of concern for how the show does when it airs. First was the concern about getting the show made; then the concern about getting the show made RIGHT; then the conern about post-production; then the concern about...well, you get the idea. There's this great character in Eric Frank Russell's "Men, Martians and Machines" about a photographer who, on return starflights from the ship's exploratory missions, sits and does nothing but worry about his pictures coming back intact. The one time he DIDN'T worry, they were destroyed. So now that's what he does: sits, stares, and worries. That's about how I get through on shows like this. BTW, for those interested, the magazine Aboriginal SF has an article by Susan Ellison about B5, including an extensive commentary from Harlan about his involvement with the show. (The issue just hit the stands.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 152 Sun Jan 17, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:05 EST BTW, to correct an erroneous statement of mine earlier, there is not a species named Vee'lons that will be introduced on DS9. The Vee'lons will be introduced on Space Rangers. Some days, I just can't get a break.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 172 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:42 EST I take great joy in being politically *incorrect* at every possible opportunity. I believe in the motto someone at the BBC once voice: "There are some people we WANT to offend." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 185 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:47 EST Re: starships from Earth...yes, you'll be seeing a wide range of ships, from smaller transports and trading vessels to big mothers. It is something of an empire, and the ships come in as many varied forms as we have cars and trucks and semis and tanks and on and on.... Re: talking vs. action...there's a shade more exposition than I'd like in the pilot, mainly because there's so damned MUCH background to establish, so much ground to lay...it'll be more evenly proportioned in the series. I like action. For me, the #1 crime of any TV show or movie is that it should bore. When in doubt, kill somebody. Or blow something up. Re: technology...yes, the point about the sudden jump via new technologies is exactly dead on. It *did* have a tramautic impact, and to varying degrees still does. The effect of technology, and the desire for same, will be a recurrent thread. There are some technologies that are considered too radical for some species, and are thus kept off limits, with prison sentences or even death sentences for smuggling certain kinds of technologies. One such tech-runner appears in the pilot. The parallel, I suppose, would be our current concerns with the spread of nuclear technology. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 205 Fri Jan 22, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:05 EST Matt: the most entertaining thing for a writer is creating a character; the second most entertaining thing is killing off a character. Believe me, as you'll see in the Fight To The Death in the pilot, I have no problem dropping a body. And as far as I'm concerned, only 2 or 3 characters in this series are indispensible...the rest are open to all kinds of interesting fates. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 206 Fri Jan 22, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:10 EST P.S. If you want," check out the Captain Power two-parter I wrote, "Retribution." That should answer the question.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 216 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:35 EST Yes, I *strongly* believe that there has to be diversity among our alien races...accents, political beliefs, religion, name it. I think that is VERY important. Yes, from time to time, you want the monolithic, perfectly homogeneous aliens, but if so, you want them to stick out a bit in contrast to the rest. As has been noted, there's a *big* split currently going on between the Minbari warrior and religious castes, for instance. More will come later. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 227 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:31 EST What happens if something happens to one of the actors? We'll deal with that when it happens. (Was that okay, Mr. Director...?) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 230 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:03 EST "Do not tempt the hand of fate...." Gee, I'm getting good at this. There may be a political career ahead of me. The best way to help the show get the attention it deserives, and to get feedback on everyone's efforts, is to contact your local station and Warners after the show airs. (Er, that should be "deserves" above. One of these days I'm gonna try Aladdin.) Right now, it's all in the hands of the one-eyed god of television PR.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 231 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:09 EST BTW, before I forget, in addition to the People Magazine ads (and others that'll be popping up soon enough), there's an article on Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar) in the current Starlog, which came out pretty well, and an A.P. story that features B5 that should show up in various papers in the next day or so. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 240 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:56 EST The comment re: Twin Peaks is correct; I loved TP dearly, but if you missed one episode, you were screwed. The way the story is constructed, you can come in at any point, even miss episodes, and still be able to follow the thing. It's just that the *more* you watch, the more you'll get out of it, the more things you'll pick up on. It's a very difficult task from a writing point of view, but worth the effort, I think. Re: the actors...yes, there was a great degree of comitment on their part. The head/hairpiece for Londo worked fine, but just to add to the authenticity, Peter Jurasik shaved his head for the duration of the shoot. All of the actors did research into their characters, got books on SF if they didn't know much about the genre, on and on. They *very much* got into it, down to consulting about their wardrobe and having input into prosthetics (to some degree). We want them to be comfortable, otherwise they can't do their best work. They're all certainly committed to doing the 5 year stint; as for being forever inserted into SF...there's the question of typecasting, and we've tried to circumvent that in some sneaky ways (who's going to recognize Mira or Andreas outside of their makeup?). Nimoy had problems because it was his face and head, just a pair of ears stuck on. If we have lots of alien makeup, we try to hide the actor's face (while allowing for varied expression) so they can do other stuff. I think it's important to try and think of your actor's well being and career...because then you create a good and healthy environment for them, and it serves you well in the long run. I've not been consulted re: closed captioning, and must confess that I don't have the info on this. Will see if I can find out. Yes, I was consulted about the ads, and while accepting the graphics, provided alternate copy for the ads, which I thought were a tad heavy handed. But overall, I'm quite happy with the approach that's being taken. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 242 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:16 EST I think that talk would be premature; let's see if it GETS that kind of attention, or if folks want to run us out of town. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 250 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:29 EST A video index...oh man...you're *deliberately* trying to make my life a living hell, aren't you? (More than it is already.) We'll see. It's something I'll mention, and see how they react. Meanwhile, here's a little something I came across in my computer this evening. I had always sensed that the Londo introduction/narration at the top of the pilot was the way to go. But it never hurts to try other avenues...you discover the darndest ideas that way. Anyway, I came up with an alternate introduction, just to see if it worked or not. I rather liked it...and still do, to some degree...but finally opted to go with the Londo intro instead, which is what we'll stick with. But since it's not going to be used, I figured...why not let y'all take a look at what would've been an alternate opening for the pilot? BABYLON 5 Insert/Prologue FADE IN: ON STATIC. Then: a BLACK SCREEN, OVER which we HEAR the FEMALE voice of a news broadcast in progress: FEMALE VOICE (vo) _ continue to bring you updates on the Interplanetary News Network. And now, gradually, a PICTURE begins to emerge from the darkness _ grainy, slightly washed out, a VIDEO IMAGE of Babylon 5. FEMALE VOICE (vo) In other news, the Earth Alliance space station Babylon 5 celebrates its first year in operation with the imminent arrival of an ambassador from the Vorlon Empire. And now: a MONTAGE of shots from within B5, and some EFX shots from outside...the casino, the customs area, the bazaar and other areas. During this, the IMAGE BEGINS TO SHRINK, to recede into the distance, and gradually the stars begin to come out on all sides of the picture, framing it. This UNDER: FEMALE VOICE (vo) Located in neutral territory, Babylon 5 has exceeded all expectations in dealing with the many life forms that pass through the five mile long station. As a result, Earth Central has approved an appropriations bill to keep the orbiting freeport open to travelers, businessmen and diplomats for another five years. And now the image shifts, and the picture continues to recede into the distance, now only a few inches across...a grainy black and white image: FEMALE VOICE (vo) Meanwhile, a new binary star discovered by Mars colony scientists has been named Kennedy Proxima, after 20th century president John F. Kennedy, born 340 years ago this week. And now, in the small picture framed by stars, receding more rapidly from view, we SEE footage of JFK speaking before the Democratic convention the eve of his presidential nomination: KENNEDY I believe that the times require imagination, and courage, and perseverance. I'm asking each one of you to be pioneers toward that New Frontier. My call is to the young at heart, regardless of age; to the stout of spirit, regardless of party; to all those who respond to the scriptural call, "Be strong and of good courage. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed." For courage, not complacency, is our need today. UNDER this, Kennedy's image recedes further into the distance, growing smaller and smaller until he is now one of the many surrounding stars splashed across the blackness of space. A moment, and the MUSIC RISES, brave and martial, as we TILT and PAN ACROSS to reveal Babylon 5 itself, up close and personal in all its huge splendor. PUSH IN on the station as a ship approaches, and we HEAR: LAUREL (vo) Confirmed, Delta Gammer Niner, you are clear for docking. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 251 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:33 EST That should be Delta Gamma Niner, not Gammer Niner. Typo. Sorry. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 265 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:17 EST Generally speaking, I agree with the sentiments expressed, and what you've picked up on are the reasons that I decided against using this particular form, even though there are things I like about it. What was, for me, the #1 reason for not using it is that it's...for lack of a better term, fairly prosaic. A news cast as opposed to the voice of the story teller, a sense of future-history you get through Londo's voice and the identification of him as the storyteller. Although I agree about the Kennedy tie, and that it can be somewhat problematic, what I like about it is that it fed into what I've been after with this show from day one...to tie our past, our present and our future. Done properly, it could've been fairly classy, I think. And there's Kennedy's voice _ I have the tape of his speech _ which rings powerful and true in that speech. It set a tone. But as has been noted here before, writing and acting and directing are fundamentally about making choices...this move rather than that, this attitude over that attitude. The Londo choice was the *better* of the two, even though there's much about this version to commend it. (A quick aside re: the MURDER question...the episode you cite was one done under my watch, but not the one I mentioned as the last I'd have anything to do with for this season. That one, which I wrote, aired about two weeks ago. The one you saw this weekend was from last season, as is the one coming up this Sunday, an episode of mine called "The Committee," a fairly gothic episode that actually came out quite well. The mystery element may or may not be that strong, but for me, MURDER was always a character story first, onto which you graft a puzzle.) Well, review copies of the pilot are going out, and have gone out. I heard through back channels that a major reviewer for a major magazine saw the pilot on Thursday last and his head exploded, thought it was terrific. The one comment that I keep hearing back from people is that it redefines SF on television. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean it's the best thing since sliced bread, but in terms of character and SFX and the general, more adult approach, it redefines what you can get away with. Which is all to the good. As for what I'm doing now...writing a script for a friend who's in a bind, ratcheting up the PR on the show a little more, giving interviews and suchlike, trying to get a leg up on my next novel so I'll be able to continue with it once this thing gets going to series, and some other stuff that, for the moment, is classified. It's now less than a month until this thing shows nationally. And just a tick over two weeks until those with satellite dishes pull the show out of the general ether. By February 22nd, I fully anticipate being a complete and total basket case. Fortunately, it's unlikely anyone will notice.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 272 Tue Jan 26, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:09 EST Rob: the scenario you posit is a viable one. Nuff said. RE: the making of stuff...rather than a half-hour show, the stations (which in some cases had a hard time breaking loose a full half hour) will be getting promos from a minute-thirty to 20 minutes in length, which they can drop in as they wish, giving them more flexibility. It *may* go out to them along with the B5 downlink, but I'm not sure. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 275 Tue Jan 26, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 07:17 EST (What the hell am I doing up at 4:15 a.m. my time? Watching B5 for the ten zillionth time. Picking it apart. Making notes. This is nuts. I'm going to bed. See you all in the afternoon..... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 288 Tue Jan 26, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:58 EST Artisan: I think j.roy's got some graphics that qualify; nudge him into e- mailing them. Nothing to pick at? Oh, dear. Stand with your face half an inch from the mirror, and tell me you see no imperfections. We all see the things others miss. Tell you what...at some point after the pilot's aired, after things have settled down, I'll go through my list of things to do better in the series, things we should've done different in the pilot, on and on. But that's the *purpose* of a pilot, to try a show out for size, see how it fits, and make adjustments. But no matter how good it gets, everything is open for improvement in some way. You have to keep constantly questioning and re-evaluating. The unexamined life and all that jazz. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 294 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:36 EST Hmm...y'know, given the reaction here, maybe I'll fax the intro over to Warners PR and see if they can use it for a promo. Like I said, I liked it as well, it just wasn't up to the level of the rest of the show, I thought. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 295 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:53 EST From the Associated Press article by Scott Williams on the new crop of SF TV series (specifically here, DS9, Space Rangers and B5), quoting David Gerrold. "I've seen the pilot, and it's [Babylon 5 is] the best looking of the three. I really do think that Babylon 5 will be the one for grownups to watch." (Article appeared in various newspapers over the last few days across the country.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 302 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:01 EST "The Committee," which airs Sunday, is an episode of Murder, She Wrote, for which I was producer/writer until recently. Sorry, thought I was clearer. BTW, I recently made a horrific discovery about GEnie posting. In the past (since I compose on-line), I'd hit the carriage return at the end of a line...and nothing would happen. I'd wait. Hit CR again. Then I'd get the new line...and figured it just took a second to kick in. Turns out that every time that happened, apparently the buffer or something was getting full, and half the line wasn't getting through each time it happened...so there have got to be some sentences of mine that make even less sense than usual. Now that I'm aware of it, I'm going back and revising the line when I see the delay at CR. I'm meeting Friday with the computer game design people for a few hours to kick around the structure for the thing. Should be interesting; main thing will be determing the degree to which this thing should interface with the overall acr of the story, or exist totally outside of that arc. To the question raised 'way uptopic about comics _ yes, there may in fact be one. And I'm actually quite pleased with the idea (being a comics fan). Imagine what could be done by a Neil Gaiman or a Grant Morrison could do with the B5 concept. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 314 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:18 EST Y'know, when I posted the original idea for an introduction, I had no idea it would generate so many different responses. And all with some merit. Rob, the points you raise are correct: I've always felt very strongly that in this show, and in SF in general, it helps to connect the future to the present, to show the continuity of the species, of the common coin of our shared humanity, our cultures, our languages. I think there are other ways of doing it, and will do so. But given the "pro" response, maybe there might be some way of using this thing, whether it's as a promo or somehow using it in the show. (Y'know, it *could* be used in the course of a regular episode, as I think of it; no reason why it couldn't....) Well, one thing's for sure...if it ever DOES get used, it'll in large part be because of the reaction here. Thanks. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 318 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 06:54 EST Well, it's almost 4 a.m. I was going to give you three guesses as to what I've been watching _ again _ but I figure by now that's kinda pointless. I know, I know, obsessive/compulsive. Sue me. It's now 2 weeks and 1 day until those of you with satellite dishes see the pilot. I'll be very interested in seeing (well, reading) your reactions. I must confess that as this dialogue continues, I find myself learning more, and questioning more, and digging deeper for information that had been glossed over before. I very much appreciate your comments, your suggestions, even the occasional outbursts of Attitude. There will shortly be a private screening of the pilot on a real movie screen, just for cast and crew. The only time that I know of that this thing will be shown in the US on a big screen. Have been going over what I'm going to say to the assembled folks...how does one properly thank another for the fulfillment of a dream? How do you quantify five (now six) years of struggle, now given life by people you had hardly met one year before, but have given their blood and time and effort to see someone else's dream realized? During the filming, as I would be standing on stage, off camera, and we'd take a break between shots, invariably someone _ the camera operator, the costumer, an actor, a carpenter _ would come up alongside and say, "Is this close to what you saw when you wrote it? How are we doing on the dream?" They knew what it meant, the long road to get here, that it wasn't just a *job* for me and many others; it was something we wanted to do out of passion. And they responded to that...slept nights on the set rather than going home, produced work above and beyond the call of duty...how do you properly thank someone for reaching into your head and pulling out a vision and giving it form and weight and light and substance? I don't know. I don't know. Whatever the future holds _ win, lose or draw _ I think we've done something special here. And it's interesting to see how that sense pervades everything...the casting, the production...and now even this. I have noticed - - I do a LOT of bbsing, much to my spousal overunit's dismay _ that the tone on this category seems vastly different than it is elsewhere. I don't know...a give and take, no flame wars, a sense of community, the VERY SAME sense present on the set, in the dressing room, behind the camera. In the cold light of morning (when I manage to see it, when I'm not coming at 4 a.m. from the opposite direction), I tell myself it's just a television show, and six months from now, or ten years from now, no one will notice or remember. At night, as I watch the show again for I no longer know how many times, I allow _ just for a second _ the notion that we've carved out a little piece of history. Win, lose or draw, we got it on film, when everyone said we couldn't. And now it's yours. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 325 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:57 EST Bear: you're an evil man. I like that. Re: "Night of the Living Dead," yeah, that's Patricia Tallman in the lead role. Which is where I saw her for the first time, and decided at that moment that I *had* to use her in something. She's dynamite. I saw her at a number of gatherings in LA, including the Horror Hall of Fame parties at Universal, but didn't say anything because...well, when someone comes up to you and says, "Hi, I'm a producer, I'd like to use you in my next big project," it's invariably perceived as a come-on. So I waited until the right opportunity arose. Knowing she'd be perfect for B5, I had her called in to audition. As she was waiting in the hall, nervously practicing her lines, I stepped outside to tell her that I'd seen her work, that she was terrific, and that I looked forward to working with her. Apparently she didn't have any idea who I was...but found out when she was brought in to do the actual audition a few moments later. There was never any question in my mind about her doing the role, and it was one of the smartest decisions I made in this thing. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 345 Fri Jan 29, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:49 EST Re: the Trek story...no, that was very much of its form and of that universe; it wouldn't fit in the B5 universe. Anything else in the past to compare with B5? Probably the closest has been the novel writing, especially the one I'm working on now. But overall, no, this is the biggie. If it works, it'll probably be the single largest task of my career. If there's any one thing that I'd want to be remembered for, it's a B5 series. BTW...just a general note for those who are cycling in and out of the conversation...be sure to be around a week or so before the airing of the pilot. Many folks have asked how they can help; at that point, I just may put you to work, and take you upon that generous offer... jms (that should be up on, not upon...) ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 353 Fri Jan 29, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:21 EST EEEEEEEEEKKK!!!!! I just read the first eight messages in the new topic 19 (mine). Jeez, what a flashback. What redundencies. Did I really sound that gleepy? Oh, man. It's like looking at your high school yearbook photo. Are you guys *really* sure you want to do this? Eek, I tell you, Eek! jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 363 Sat Jan 30, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:20 EST Agreed on LBJ...he was something of a thug. Flat-out wasted tonight...we had a private screening this evening for cast, crew, some critics and some Warners execs. About 400+ people at the theater in the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in North Hollywood (in the shadow of a 50 foot Emmy). I don't think I've ever been as nervous, because here's where all the people who worked their butts off get to see if we screwed it all up for them or not. Everyone liked it bigtime. The few critics who said anything (most headed out, as is standard, you don't want to tip your hand) loved it...one CNN person said he hoped it would run for 10 years, another critic said it was the best SF television pilot he'd seen in the last 10 years...I think they liked it. Sitting here now with a MASSIVE headache from fretting over all this, so will probably make this short tonight. (Harlan kept hitting me in the shoulder after the screening, smiling and saying, "Will you for chrissakes ENJOY this? It's your night! It's a hit! It's wonderful! This kind of night only comes once in your life! Enjoy it!" I will...as soon as we get the series Go. Nothing can be allowed to distract from that.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 374 Sat Jan 30, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:50 EST The sound system at the theater was great; we ran it off the D2, the master tape, and it came out very well. The point you raise re: Starlost is one Harlan's made to me. When I was at times feeling a bit low _ I want the series NOW _ he would point out that no matter what happens, we made my show the way I wanted it made, no interference...as opposed to what happened with Starlost, which just yanked his heart out. And it's a valid point. Thing is, it took five years to get this made, and that it HAS been made...it's almost an act of sheer will. I decided five years ago that no matter what happens, this pilot WILL be made. You have to focus in on the goal like a laser beam (tm Bill Clinton). That's been done. Now the next step: the series WILL be made...and now I have to focus in on that one with equal conviction. It's quite literally the only way ANYTHING ever gets made in this town. Ask George. He's been down the same road. As for the question of the show working with non-SF fans...we've actually shown it to a number of people who don't know from SF, and the result has been that they've liked it enormously. The reason, basically, is that it's not a hardware-driven story. It's a character drama with a mystery story element. The solution doesn't come from cross-wiring the ramaframmit with the zigamakawanna, and computing the resonance factors. (And I have to confess that those kinds of stories bore me to tears.) You start and end with character, and drama...and if you're true to those elements, the audience will follow you even into unfamiliar terrain. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 379 Sun Jan 31, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:21 EST (btw...anyone here know of any major conventions between now and February 22nd around the country?) What has been said that's *negative* about the show? Do you actually believe I'll provide *NEGATIVE* information about my own show? You do? Oh. Then okay. Probably the number one comment, when there are any negatives voiced, is that the first half-hour is slow when compared with the rest of the episode. And I have to agree...there's SO much to establish, so much ground to cover, that the first half hour is very dense. Once we've established the foundation, that changes fast, because we now have a common ground of understanding about the universe in which the story is taking place. Let's see...one fellow from Starburst Magazine who was at the preview said that if it were his, he would've rearranged the last few shots. The current sequence is, Action Scene, Transition with Kosh, Confrontation with a Major Character and Sinclair, the Reception, Delenn and Sinclair in the Garden, and the final shot with Laurel in the observation dome. He would've put the Confrontation with a Major character as the LAST scene, and cut the shot of Laurel altogether. His sense is to end on a big scene...my sense is that it's better to end on a note that sets up the series to follow. Not so much a negative as a difference of opinion. Let's see...some didn't like the gun designs (others loved it), some felt we didn't do as much as we could've with the background aliens (some thought we did too much)...mainly they've been matters of taste, rather than someone finding something that Just Doesn't Make Sense, or an EFX shot that looks crummy. There aren't any Real Big Plot Holes, and insofar as I know, nothing major to pick on which is *objective*, only differences of opinion. (As we've seen here with the Kennedy stuff; some liked it, others didn't.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 2 Message 390 Sun Jan 31, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:24 EST I'll be getting in touch with Mr. Jonas. Re: the uniforms...yes, there's a certain traditional look to them, and this is deliberate. Look at any uniform from 200 years ago, and you have certain lines and forms that repeat, and which stay part of the uniform. There is a STRONG sense of tradition and history in any branch of the military. Heck, the navy not long ago went BACK to a more traditional dress after making some modifications. The basic dress uniform for your basic soldier on leave looks about the same now as it did during WW II. Much of what passes for SF uniforms/costuming in the future simply pretends that all that history and tradition just suddenly came to a screeching halt. In B5, we're trying to connect our past, our present and our future, to show the continuity of the human species. jms ______ ************ Topic 3 Tue Nov 03, 1992 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:09 EST Sub: BABYLON 5 - Computer EFX Tech-Talk Some of the new computer EFX used in BABYLON 5 will be revolutionary, a new approach never seen before on this scale. It's all new tech, and this topic will try and address the new technologies involved. 549 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 3 Message 498 Thu Jan 21, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:20 EST While we may indeed have a CGI character down the road, it most assuredly *won't* be a shapechanger. I don't like to swim in somebody else's pond. Re: observatories...we'll be introducing the many other specialists who work at B5 as we go along, from environmental techs to astrophysicists, so we'll definitely find a place for this. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 3 Message 505 Fri Jan 22, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:37 EST Insofar as I can remember (problematic on the best of days), I never cited that the CGI character would be a shape-changer. Because such is not planned...though I suppose I could've been momentarily possessed by an idiot...it could happen. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 3 Message 520 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:45 EST My reaction...it's an interesting idea, yes. It's also a story suggestion, but one K.L. should let slide because I don't think it's a B5 kind of story...more of a TNG story. But the notion of different forms of communication than what we have come to accept or recognize as such is certainly valid and filled with dramatic possibilities. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 3 Message 523 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:19 EST The hardest thing, of course, is making the muscles beneath the skin move realistically and correctly. That apparently has just been licked, though. Ron mentioned the other day that he just got some new software in that will let him do for TV what Spielberg's whole computer operation is required in order to do Jurassic Park. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 3 Message 531 Tue Jan 26, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 07:11 EST I'll ask re: Ron's new stuff. As for the changing technology, I'd like to keep things looking *pretty* much the same, so there isn't a big or noticeable jump, but things just sorta look clearer and better and more real over time, rather than changing things per se. jms ______ ************ Topic 4 Tue Nov 03, 1992 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:12 EST Sub: BABYLON 5 - Cast and Characters For discussion of the actors who will be bringing BABYLON 5 to life with their performances...for information before, and discussion after the airing of "The Gathering" pilot. 505 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 4 Message 505 Fri Jan 22, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:06 EST Also, the contracts with the actors for the series extend to the window at which time Warners *must* either give us a decision. So we're covered. jms ______ ************ Topic 5 Tue Nov 03, 1992 T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] (Forwarded) Sub: Grid Epsilon Irregulars - News & Info. This topic is for information about Babylon 5 fan groups, newsletters, fanzines, get-togethers, B-5 at conventions, and other general fun. 288 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 5 Message 218 Wed Jan 20, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:00 EST Yep...the "beep" stuff will all be clear by the end of the pilot. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 5 Message 267 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:39 EST Hmm...two 3.5 floppies, that's...2.4 megabytes...my last novel was about 600k, so that's....FOUR NOVELS!? Okay, that's it. Everybody pony up a quarter.... Yikes! I was far less tired before I read that. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 5 Message 269 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:34 EST (Hmm...that sounded vaguely like a threat....) jms ______ ************ Topic 6 Tue Nov 03, 1992 T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] at 06:43 EST Sub: Where is Babylon 5? TV stations... Babylon 5 is a cornerstone of Warner's new Prime Time Network. Here is where one can find the station information.... 374 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 287 Wed Jan 20, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:02 EST I'm scheduled for Gallifrey One Goes Forth? Oh.... Er...when exactly is that, again? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 291 Thu Jan 21, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:21 EST Yes, we've got WOR, which will only be blacked out if your local station requests it. If no one locally is carrying it, then it might indeed be available that way. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 305 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:54 EST Okay, here's the deal on the "Making Of" stuff. Many of the stations indicated that they might have a hard time knocking loose a half hour on TOP of the 2 hour running time for B5. So Warners is providing shorter pieces _ 90 seconds, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 15 minutes and 20 minutes _ to the stations, giving them some flexibility. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 309 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:37 EST Don't know the answers to the questions, but will post as soon as I do. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 318 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:35 EST If you're seeing promos for KF and TT, then yes, you'll probably get B5 on the same station. As for the 2 1/2 hour feed...I don't know for certain, but it's *likely* that the making of clips will be included in that feed. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 320 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:05 EST To the questions about airdates and times...there's no one central source for this information, alas; the best thing to do, unless someone else here happens to have the information, is just to give your local station a call and ask the programming or publicity departments. They'll be happy to supply the information. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 323 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:52 EST BTW, a belated but *substantial* thank you to Jim Partridge for sending in the KBHK tape. Yep, they used B5 footage to promote DS9, all right. We just got it over to the Big Boys, and they'll take care of it from here. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 342 Tue Jan 26, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:11 EST Enough stations *are* airing them together that it still causes a problem. Additionally, a "second night" also has financial meanings; the doubling of resources to acquire two more programs, making four series rather than two. So it applies in both ways. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 6 Message 351 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:42 EST Yeah, I'd gotten it, I was just swamped. (Also there was no letter inside, and I had to tear through bags of discarded envelopes set to be recycled to find the mailing label with the correct info.) Would've mentioned it before, it's just...my head explodes sometimes, y'know...? Gary: that's *great* news re: KUSI. San Diego's my old home town, so it's good they're pushing it. Wish I'd known about the promo, I could have bugged some people down there to tape it for me. Ah, well.... jms ______ ************ Topic 7 Tue Nov 03, 1992 J.HUDGENS [Fenn Shysa] at 23:07 EST Sub: Babylon 5 _ POTENTIAL SPOILERS If you've seen the B5 promos or the sales info packages and want to mention specific items or situations without worrying about spoiling it for others, post & comment here... THERE BE SPOILERS HERE! 467 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 398 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:50 EST There are actually several languages heard on B5, though you have to work to hear them. (Those with surround will have an easier time.) For instance, in the customs area, announcements are made first in English, then in Interlac. In the bazaar area, you'll hear chirrups and whistles and clicks and a wide range of language-sounds. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 400 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:12 EST There are about as many as now...with a few extras developed on the Mars and other colonies. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 408 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:29 EST Re: asking telepaths on a date...it would be verbal, assuming we're talking PC hrized scans are illegal, and thus they would not be "dipping" to know your intentions. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 416 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:48 EST (A job like that could take YEARS....) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 433 Thu Jan 21, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:32 EST It's a very difficult area, and I thank Katherine for making the call for me...it becomes hard at this end sometimes to call. My sense, really, is that if there are VERY SPECIFIC plotlines put forth, then it becomes an issue suddenly. As an aside, though, one thing I did hear from the message was the Vorlons as Minbari question. This I can say definitively ain't so. They are two completely different species, with no common points of origin. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 7 Message 451 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:38 EST Cindy: smug because I've *GOT* the script? Cindy baby, I *WROTE* the script! I have not BEGUN to smug.... jms ______ ************ Topic 8 Tue Nov 03, 1992 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:41 EST Sub: Behind The Scenes Production Designers, Art Directors, Costumers, Director, others...this is the place to discuss the production-aspects of B5...it's look and the process involved. 336 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 238 Fri Jan 15, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:27 EST BTW, it's my understanding that the monitor screens on TNG are not inserted in post; they're regular TV screens with edges that come out and cover any bends in the tube, thereby giving it a flat look. At least, that's what I hear.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 251 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:53 EST I agree re: universal translators. Most everything in the ST universe is bent toward making the process easier, less challenging; I want to show the process of overcoming. I think it's great if an alien shows up from a previously unvisited planet, and they spend days trying to communicate with it. I think that some computerized stuff might work, as in the case where someone programs a machine to go from one specific language to another (sort of a species-specific interpreter), but thats about it. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 261 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:37 EST The language facilities of aliens will vary; probably the most fluent (by virtue of necessity) are the ambassadors, whose english is perfect or nearly so (cyberlink to the brain dumping the English equivilants of their own language and grammar directly into the brain, very expensive and not a little painful). The drawback is that some cultural references or some contextual areas may not be as clear as required. (Londo wondering about ramoras, Delenn unsure for a moment about poetry....) Re: language in general...I agree that all languages must be "living languages" in that they are free to grow and expand and add new terms. There is a difference between this and a *collapsing language* in which the distinction between terms (the aformentioned less and fewer) becomes degraded, and meanings blur through misuse. Ase gradually becomes less precise. A language should be graded on how well it manages to communicate the thoughts of one to the other. If it begins to fail in that regard, then it is not a living but a dying language. (Another example: the way that "anxious" and "eager" have come to mean the same thing. "Anxious" carries with it some degree of worry or dread or fear; "eager" is a pleasant term, connoting something wonderful and nice for which one is longing. So when someone says, with a smiling and expectant attitude, "Yeah, I'm really anxious to see the new Lucas movie," it's a misuse of the term, unless there's some reason for worry.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 268 Sun Jan 17, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:11 EST In terms of the EFX, I think it's all Amigas, with some IBMs being used for general computing (letters, schedules, etc.). jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 281 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:49 EST Re: TRON v2.0....I'd rather write kids in space. Re: places of origin...my sense is that they have their own unique names. We don't call our planet Terra (well, not really), or Hum (for Human) or Planet Human. Because some of the names are difficult to pronounce, the logical approach is to note them by designation, i.e., "And shall be shipped off to the Narn homeworld." That is the only time or I should say context by which we refer to their places of origin. The only exception to this, and I don't recall if this is in the pilot or not, is the Centauri homeworld, designated Centauri Prime. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 288 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:35 EST Yes, there are definitely other human settlements...colonies and outposts and co-operative projects on other worlds with other species. It's mainly from this overlap that the EA draws its non-human members, though a few worlds have chosen to ally themselves directly with the EA. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 325 Fri Jan 29, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:08 EST The command level uniforms (Sinclair, Laurel, Garibaldi) are pretty much the same in cut, though Garibaldi's (and all of securityard grey more than blue. Medical uniforms have a somewhat different cut and lean toward charcoal grey. There's a slightly different cut for grunt-level security, and a slightly greener look. Station techs (maintainance crews and the like) generally get yellow outfits with the B5 logo (and are not directly part of the EA structure; they work at and for the station per se). Control techs, in the observation dome, for instance, generally don't wear jackets on duty, but rather shirts with the B5 logo. The shift commander, though, does wear a jacket with his uniform. (When B5 opens, you see Laural give a command to the shift commander, who then relays it to others. You can trace the line of command in the dome from there.) There are, and will be, other variations in uniform, but those are pretty much the ones you'll see in the show. (In addition, of course, to more conventional clothing such as that worn by casino workers, marked only by a glitter-B5 logo.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 327 Sat Jan 30, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:26 EST If the Garibaldi outfit you refer to is on page 30, that's the same cut of uniform as Sinclair's on 34, just a different angle on it. (And there's no white shirt under the outfits on page 28; those are high collars with gold braid.) Now, there *is* another outfit that both he and Sinclair wear, it's a black outfit (pants and long shirt) under a grey flak-jacket, which is a combat uniform. (The flak jackets are composed of various reflective substances that help refract and dissipate some of the impact of energy weapons.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 329 Sat Jan 30, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:53 EST Oops! Nope, you're right, yes, there *are* shirts under the jackts (actually, there are shirts under ALL the jackets, as you'd expect of clothing). I thought you were referring to the collar. My error. Actually, *ALL* of the costumes are layered. G'Kar can remove six different layers of his outfit, Londo can wear the jacket with or without the vest (which can also be removed for the shirt below), the Minbari wardrobe is equally layered and can be played with as well, on and on. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 331 Sun Jan 31, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:27 EST Rob: so what would you suggest? If B5 succeeds, there will be comics published in the same basic universe, as well as novelizations. These will be specifically encouraged to go in different directions, partly for selfish reasons, so they won't mess with my time/character line, and partly because I'd like to see what others can do with this universe...sort of like a shared world anthology. So yes, there's room to play, and with luck, we'll see it there and elsewhere. What other options would you suggest? If I've missed something, let me know. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 8 Message 335 Sun Jan 31, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:31 EST Rob...my friend, it took me five years to get this one show into production. The rest...I'll leave those to somebody else. Re: colors and uniforms...we decided against using color that much as service designation (red for security, and so on) for two reasons: one is that it's so associated with Trek. We're not Trek. We allowed a touch of it in the insignia, but in a very limited way. Second reason, you're dealing with aliens who see various colors and don't see others, and alien sectors where the lighting may wash out or totally change the color codes, which is why we went for specific *symbols* for different areas (security, maintainance, command and so on). If you're in the alien sector that uses red light heavily, and you need help fast, you don't want to try and figure out of that's a blue stripe or a purple stripe when asking somebody for help. jms ______ ************ Topic 9 Wed Nov 11, 1992 T.RESTIVO [Little Guy] at 18:27 EST Sub: Babylon 5 Humor From *Beep Beep*, to Top Ten Lists to full-blown paradies, this is where to put your funny bone in writing! 172 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 9 Message 150 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:24 EST Kosh as in "gosh." There's actually a last name, btw...Naranek. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 9 Message 156 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:50 EST Pronounced Nuh-RAH-nek. jms ______ ************ Topic 10 Thu Nov 12, 1992 SANDMAN [Henry] at 19:25 EST Sub: Sex in Babylon 5 Can't do without this one!! 104 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 10 Message 101 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:49 EST Yep. jms ______ ************ Topic 11 Sat Nov 14, 1992 J.SHEEN1 [Leviathan] at 18:09 EST Sub: B-5 ADRIFT! BABYLON 5 Topic Drift If you feel like talking about it, but it doesn't fit anywhere else... If its only connection to B-5 is that you thought of it in this CAT... This is where to come and get it out. 373 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 323 Fri Jan 15, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:48 EST Definite no on the question of matter transmitters. That's a little too much in the magic/science-fantasy area for my preferences. Space travel is done in ships. Re: Captain Power...it aired in 1987/88 in syndication. Was set in the future, after the MetalWars, in which one man, who caused the war (in the best interests of humanity) decided that to save humanity it must be digitized and stored in machines for the day when perfect metalloid bodies could give mankind immortality. Re: Twilight Zone...yes, I worked on the syndicated version. Among the episodes I wrote (I was also story editor) are "The Mind of Simon Foster," with Bruce Weitz; "Dream Me a Life," with Eddie Albert; co-wrote "The Curious Case of Edgar Witherspoon," with Harry Morgan, and co-wrote "Our Selena is Dying" posthumously with Rod Serling, from a long lost TZ outline. Other TZs that I wrote around that time, but whose stars I can't consistently recall: "The Wall," "The Call," "What Are Friends For?" "Something in the Walls," "Acts of Terror," "Special Service," "Rendezvous in a Dark Place," and have another shared writing credit on "The Trance." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 356 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:50 EST No, I wasn't previously aware of "Agony" (except what I've gone through these last six months), but will look for it in future. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 11 Message 372 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:43 EST Shot on 35mm film. Transferred to tape for post. jms ______ ************ Topic 12 Wed Nov 18, 1992 B.WIST [Brad] at 18:12 EST Sub: Babylon 5 Sightings Post here when you've spotted Babylon 5, whether it be on Television, Magazine, or somewhere else. Let us know where we can find it/see it, too. 190 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 12 Message 174 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:22 EST I think you'll see the biggest push 7-10 days before, yes; and given that the PTEN ratings have been quite good overall, it's kinda hard to argue too strenuously with that approach. I imagine that reviews and stuff will be coming out about the same time. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 12 Message 176 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:01 EST BTW, I've been hearing more and more from our Warners liaison that the reviewers who've gotten copies of the B5 pilot have had their corneas melted by what they've seen. Half a dozen have already scrapped plans for other covers in their weekly television magazine/supplements in deference to a cover story on B5 (and this during Sweeps Week, no less!). Keep your eyes peeled, folkses...the stuff should start hitting the streets in the final week of our countdown. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 12 Message 186 Sun Jan 31, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:29 EST Getouttatown...really? I know Somtow, and I'm surprised he didn't tell me he snuck this in. That's funny.... Oh SOMMMMMMtow...c'mere...I wanna talk wit'cha.... jms ______ ************ Topic 13 Mon Nov 23, 1992 T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] at 21:00 EST Sub: BABYLON 5 - Science and Technology Jump gates, nanotech, high-tech weapons, starship drives, sound in space, and other subjects of science and technology in Babylon 5. 269 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 152 Sat Jan 16, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:02 EST The defense system for B5 consists of a system of moderate level defensive grids, hull-mounted weaponry (which is generally concealed behind large plates, which would be blown off with explosive bolts to reveal the weapons beneath), and a small number of individual fighter craft stored in a docking bay at the rear of the station. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 158 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:37 EST The two things on front _ the spikes, as it were _ are on either side of a second loading bay, this one expressly for cargo held in the zero-g cargo hold. The vanes in the back are heat radiators, as I recall from the original design notes. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 164 Thu Jan 21, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:26 EST Yes, there are definitely different levels in each section of B5. And yes again, down the road there will be both small flyers and individuals with air-packs in the zero-G section at the center of the Garden. Ron's worked out how to do it. How's it illuminated? Quite nicely, actually.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 172 Fri Jan 22, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:41 EST 250,000 is the *maximum* number of beings who can be there at one time; that's not necessarily the maximum number of living quarters. In some ways, B5 is like an airport; you come in, linger, then move on to your eventual destiny (catching a few winks in the customs area waiting for the right ship to come in or go out). jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 187 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:07 EST Yes, if a big ship went into hyperspace on its own power, it would likely have to accellerate first, but if it were near B5, it might well just use the jump-gate that's already there to save on energy and fuel. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 189 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:49 EST I'll ask Ron. This is one of those areas in which I'll have to defer until such time as we get a regular science advisor on the show. I know *some* of this stuff, but fact is, I ain't a techie, and this genre is best served by getting that kind of information from someone who knows what the hell he's talking about. (Which means we *will* be getting a science advisor once this thing gets rolling, btw...no one's set yet, but will probably cull from one or two strong possibilities over at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. My plan is to also bring on a freelance linguistics consultant to invent a few languages for us...and that may be somenoe I encountered right here on GEnie, as a matter of fact, but will wait until something Happens to give more info on that.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 199 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:04 EST As to what happens to their inertia/velocity when they come out, if they accelerate going in...yep, we deal with that. It's in the pilot, and we make it clear that they have to take time to decelerate prior to docking. I think in Kosh's case it took something like 2-3 hours to decelerate. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 214 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:22 EST MATH! MATH! YOU SAID THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY MATH ON THIS TEST! I DIDN'T STUDY! HOW MUCH OF MY GRADE WILL THIS BE?! AAAUUUGGGHHH!!! jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 219 Tue Jan 26, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:59 EST That's actually fairly close to what we were planning...have you been hanging around Ron again...? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 221 Tue Jan 26, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:40 EST Disagreement: the coolest show ever made is THE PRISONER. I hope to capture a little of the flavor of that show, mainly by playing a little with surrealism, what's real and what's not...but it'll pale beside that show. THE PRISONER, for me, is the perfect television program. I've never really seen its equal. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 241 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:24 EST I'd expect a comment like that from someone who watches GI Joe.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 243 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:24 EST Nope, the music is all original to our composer, Stewart Copeland. And it be WAY cool. (On the B5 blooper reel, there's a shot of all these alien faces, and that rock song with the lyric, "Everyone's strange, when you're a stranger, faces look strange, when you're alone" going on in BG. Very funny.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 246 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:59 EST That's probably something that'll have to be worked out between the Language Person and Warners. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 253 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 06:34 EST Okay, okay, I got the lyrics wrong, but I got 'till *right*. Thing is on the language stuff...it honestly isn't my choice. There is a little thing called "separation of rights." Publishing rights would probably accrue to whoever does the language stuff. It's not my call. I would be giving away something that ain't mine to give. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 13 Message 266 Sun Jan 31, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:30 EST Just for clarity, I don't want to "slip Prisoner elements in" in the way described. Was only referencing the show as the kind of show to emulate with a beginning, middle and end, and a sometimes surreal aspect that leaves you questioning what's real and what isn't. jms ______ ************ Topic 14 Thu Dec 31, 1992 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:59 EST Sub: Lurkers/Introductions: Please Sign In A place for newcomers to come in, say hello, whether you want to jump into the conversation or not, just to let us know you're here. 187 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 132 Sun Jan 17, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:15 EST Hey, Mark, good to have another H-25er around. Pat: I taught at Grossmont College for about one semester, it's a pretty good place. (Went to San Diego State and meself.) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 135 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:52 EST I taught writing (what else?)...I *think* it was around 1979 or 80. After a while, everything blurs. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 143 Mon Jan 18, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:59 EST Re: SDSU, no, I had very little to do with the cinema/telecom dept. there. I crashed two courses _ mainly because I wanted to learn from a particular instructor, Norman Corwin _ and had one or two others, but that's it. My interest was in other areas...one degree in Clinical Psychology with a minor in Philosophy; another in Sociology with a minor in Creative Writing, that sort of thing. BTW, if you go down to the offices of the Daily Aztec, and ask to see the archive volumes of the paper around 1977/78 or thereabouts, you'll see several zillion articles by me in there. At more or less the same time, I was the resident book reviewer, film reviewer and theater reviewer, had two weekly humor columns ("A View from the Rabbit Hole" and "A Modern Cynic's Dictionary"), as well as regular feature articles and profiles, and the occasional investigative article, including one on the CIA. The frequency of articles led some to describe the paper as The Daily J. Michael. At the same time I was doing cover stories for the San Diego Reader, the Daily Californian, features for the SD edition of the Los Angeles Times, and entertainment reviews for KSDO-AM Newsradio. But the Daily Aztec stuff was great fun. I worked without pay, the only one on staff who did, in fact...because I didn't want to be beholden to anybody, could write what I wanted, nobody had any leverage. Which was all for the good, given the massive numbers of angry letters and the occasional bomb threats elicited by what I wrote. Can't imagine why.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 147 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:57 EST Yes, a VERY large blunt object. The one point of any possible interest to draw from this comes from something I tried to beat into incoming students when I was an orientation counselor at SDSU: if you go to college, and all you see are the class rooms, the bathrooms, the parking lot and the cafeteria, you will cheat yourself of 99% of your possible education. Any university or college has vast opportunities for writers and others. In the former case, write for the university newspaper, or the university theater (and most schools have an ongoing one-act production program)...take classes in acting or film, to get a sense of history, or the hands-on process of being on stage...the range of experience open to you is enormous. Don't just follow your major to its conclusion. There is a world of experience you can get while you're there *that you may never have the chance to experience again*. Take it. End of sermon. I shouldn't even be here, frankly, this is for the new folks and others to sign in and introduce themselves...both for the interests of our own private party, so we know who's come into the room, and for any possible future mailings or opportunities. Let's hear from y'all. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 152 Thu Jan 21, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:28 EST KBHK Channel 44 in San Francisco. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 160 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:08 EST Shane...imagine, if you will, a slow fuse being lit...as I stare at the name, thinking, "There was something...something I was supposed to do, something...writing?" Then, finally, the fuse works its way through the dense foliage I laughingly call my cerebral cortex and explodes with the words "THE ARTICLE, STUPID! YOU NEVER FINISHED PROOFREADING THE ARTICLE HE SENT YOU!" A thousand apologies, Shane. The piece came in right when I was in the midst of finishing B5 and leaving M,SW, my life was degenerating into stark, staring madness, and I put it down, intent upon taking care of it that evening, and next thing I know...I see your message here. Hope I didn't screw anything up.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 14 Message 165 Tue Jan 26, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:13 EST I forget...which one of us was wearing the rabbit outfit that night? jms ______ ************ Topic 15 Thu Dec 31, 1992 J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 21:29 EST Sub: BABYLON 5 - Alien races Aliens races in Babylon 5... their politics, abilties, technology, history, and any other discussion specificly about non-humans. 128 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 71 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:01 EST Yeah, that's one thing I've kind of slated in as a B story in a given episode...an alien comes aboard and they just can't quite manage to communicate, it's just too damned foreign in its thinking. (What I'd love is for them to find out at the end that it's some other alien's damned cat or something, and they've been spending all this time trying to communicate with something that ain't sentient...but with aliens, how can you tell sometimes?) jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 88 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:40 EST Yeah, you kinda need binocular vision for survival purposes and the utilization of tools. Re: alien plans...that's something that we'll have to work out down the road with our prosthetics people. I don't think we used the full range of aliens (both versions) as well as we might have in the pilot. We get only one medium-long shot of Black Eyes, for instance, and that's one that I feel came out VERY well and should be highlighted more. Some of the others were less effective, but were kept to the background. I'd like to keep a mix going, about 50/50. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 96 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:51 EST An entire planet of mimes.....AN ENTIRE PLANET OF MIMES!?! NUKE 'EM! NUKE 'EM TILL THEY GLOW THEN SHOOT 'EM IN THE DARK! YAAAAAGGGGHHHHH! jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 118 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:02 EST till (til) conj. & prep until ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oxford American Dictionary jms ______ Category 18, Topic 15 Message 122 Thu Jan 28, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 06:38 EST Your teacher was wrong. The dictionary accepts till. If required, I can call Mrs. Nash, assuming she survived the process. Re: aliens...yeah, there was a somewhat naturalistic look to the things that I'd like to experiment with come the series. This was a deliberate choice on Criswell's part. And by and large, it worked out okay. I just think that for the series, it would limit us. Criswell's elves actually did a *lot* of research, trying various textures and color combinations drawn from nature. Of course, that's all nature as would evolve in an oxygen atmosphere, 1g. We have to go beyond that, and I think there's some nifty stuff that can be done down the road. jms ______ ************ Topic 16 Fri Jan 15, 1993 T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] at 01:02 EST Sub: "No kids or cute robots, ever!" This is a topic for discussion of the unofficial slogan of Babylon 5. 99 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 2 Fri Jan 15, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:31 EST On the other hand...maybe it might be better if our Sysoptrix took the last, oh, 100 or so messages from 1 about this and transplanted 'em here. Get the whole context in place. And lord knows, it's not like she has anything ELSE to do, other than nudzhing me.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 21 Sun Jan 17, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:19 EST Something I forgot to mention uptopic, when asked if I can write a story with kids...it's appeared in a lot of my prose. The two leading protagonist in my most recent novel, OTHERSYDE, were around 16...the lead character in one of the first short stories of mine ever to be published ("Your Move," in Amazing SF) was about 13, and the second story of mine published ("A Last Testament for Nick and the Trooper," Shadows 6) featured two kids maybe 19. Provided only for the sake of completeness. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 26 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:03 EST Absolutely. I love being proven wrong. Though there are few survivors to carry the story.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 42 Fri Jan 22, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:25 EST Ah LAHKES Crow an' Tom Servo.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 57 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:47 EST If you can find Harpo, we'll book him on the show.... Or Chico, or Groucho...but definitely not Zeppo...or Flammo, the Marx Brother who ended up on the cutting room floor. "Getta you tootsie-fruitsie ice-a cream...." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 64 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:29 EST Rob: that was very funny stuff. And believe me, I know from Gummo; the Flammo reference was from a play by Louis Phillips, "The Last of the Marx Bros. Writers," very surreal, where they mention Flammo. The play is about...well...the last surviving Marx. Bros. writer, who is living in a one room flat, doesn't go out, and keeps having delusional conversations with God. "Make Me Laugh," God says. The writer starts a joke. "Heard it," God says. Which is, of course, the problem...he's heard ALL of them. BTW, if you're a true-blue Marx Bros. fan, you might want to find (if you already haven't) the book "Flyweel, Shyster and Flywheel," which contains many of the radio scripts of that Marx Bros. show, no surviving audio copies of which have survived. Very, very funny stuff. "How much do you charge to perform?" "Ten dollar." "How much to perform but leave out the rehearsal?" "Twenty dollar." "How much not to perform at all?" "Oh, no, boss, you couldn't afford it...." jms ______ Category 18, Topic 16 Message 81 Wed Jan 27, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:36 EST KL: though it galls me to quote commercials, I heard something on one the other day that's actually quite telling...some restaraunter quoting something his father told him: "The guy who says he never had a chance, never TOOK a chance." What you say is correct: write it, send it out, write another, send it out, write another...on and on and on...if it's good, sooner or later somebody'll notice. jms ______ ************ Topic 17 Tue Jan 19, 1993 C.STOBBE [Colin] at 21:02 EST Sub: BABYLON 5 - Merchandising A place to discuss all the neat Babylon 5 merchandising coming out (hopefully) soon 55 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 3 Tue Jan 19, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:00 EST I'll know more about the computer game next week or so. Best thing in general is to write to Licensing Corporation of America to get on their mailing list for future B5 promotional stuff and merchandising. The Creation designs for shirts look okay, if a tad prosaic...there has got to be one central image to promote this show, but I'm darned if I can figure out what it is at this stage. The logo looks swell, though, in any event. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 21 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:59 EST Jack's message is correct. The only "sale" aspect was that the GEIs in question had to send $1 to help cover postage; the shirt was free. (I hear a few have shown up at auctions for sale; $50 for one, in fact.) And yes, the triangle logo has been pretty much officially dropped. Whether or not we'll find another use for it down the road is an open question, but for now...yep. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 25 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:47 EST Oh, yeah, before I forget (again)...look for ads in People Magazine and elsewhere to start appearing in the next few weeks. And local TV reviewers are going to start getting their copies this week. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 27 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:08 EST Well, this IS a science fiction topic..... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 32 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:11 EST BTW, for anyone going to NATPE _ wherever the hell it is _ this coming week, there's going to be a big B5 display at the Warners booth, and some posters available. I've asked to get one of the posters for my archives. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 39 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:30 EST Boy, those time distortion fields are tricky, aren't they? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 17 Message 42 Tue Jan 26, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 07:13 EST Go ahead....YOU tell G'Kar he's ToTo. Me, I wanna live a while.... jms ______ ************ Topic 18 Fri Jan 22, 1993 SF-LAWRENCE [Katherine] at 01:57 EST Sub: Law and Order on Babylon 5 The sociology of the B5 station is already being discussed and has generated so many messages, they deserve their own topic. Here's where we can discuss Law, Order and Penalties for breaking the law, on B5. 85 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 18 Message 1 Thu Jan 21, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] (Forwarded) The death penalty question is one I've been debating in terms of B5 for quite some time. Look at the math involved...if you find someone guilty of murder, do you spend all the money and time and effort and so on to ship them to a penal colony? The cost would be ENORMOUS. Do you keep them imprisoned on B5? If so, eventually you'll run out of room. So the question becomes, Do you space them? Kill them humanely? There's a B5 story I have in mind that will explore this question, but I'm not yet sure which way I want to go on it. And to the question above...some stations air PTEN shows on different nights, yes, there's some flexibility. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 18 Message 4 Thu Jan 21, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] (Forwarded) Ah, but you see, for starters, the issue may not be one of reform; okay, A kills B, so we transform A into a better person...this by you is a punishment? What is the purpose of the law, to reform or to avenge? Plus you run into the other problem...what of the other species out there who may require death for certain offenses, such as murder of their own species? And consider this: A kills B. B happens to be your little sister, age 12. A gets transformed by the psychs. And you're now living side by side with A, you see him every day, in a closed station...would thisn ot lead to MORE murders? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 18 Message 31 Fri Jan 22, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] (Forwarded) Yes, but of course the problem *there* (making them work it off) is that it begins to institutionalize slavery. How can you safeguard against situations leading to indentured slavery...Person A is *falsely* accused of a crime for the purpose of shipping him off to the work colony where he will slave away for the Company indefinitely? In a way, when you're dealing in this context _ far space _ the question of "is murder humane?" is really less and less the operative question. (By "murder" I mean the death penalty in the above.) You're living in *very* small quarters, when you get down to it. It costs quite a lot in time and money to get there. And to send someone away. How much time and money do you allocate for extradition across, potentially, x-number of light years? The best metaphor, I suppose, is a boat at sea. There are ten people in the boat. A kills B. You don't really have the resources to rehabilitate there. And barring that option, there's no way of knowing if A won't kill C in his sleep...or that D, B's friend, won't kill A at the first opportunity. Meanwhile, you've got to put your attention to getting this ship to port without totally disrupting operations and sinking before you reach port. On Earth, if someone commits a crime, you send them to prison upstate, out of sight, out of mind. But where do/can you send them in such closed quarters? I raise this mainly because what I've always tried to do with B5 is to Ask The Next Question. Very often the answers to those questions aren't easy, or comfortable...but they have to be asked, and answered, if your universe is to make any sense or have any degree of consistency. (And just in general, btw, everyone who comes to B5 operates under EA laws, so Earth laws have jurisdiction under *most* circumstances. But there are always exceptions. And those would be a *real* test.) As to the idea that the death penalty costs more than life...yes, that's true as far as it goes on Earth...but a station wouldn't have time or money or resources for those kind of endless appeals. Justice wold (would) have to be fairly swift, or the entire operation would come to a screeching halt. So what happens to civil rights? To the question of cruel and unusual punishment? Where does one draw the line? They're very hard questions. And the thing is...there IS no right answer. On to other things (meanwhile, feel free to keep this discussion going...there are a lot of sides to this argument, and it's good to hear all of them). Yes, there are starmaps around, some are visible in Sinclair's briefing room, although they got kinda washed out to a light blue and you really can't see them well. We'll fix this later. There are weapons, and we'll see them eventually. Can the station move? Yes, but only marginally, as required to maintain its L5 position. As for the engine room...since this isn't a starship, the engine room is not exactly the same. There's not much of an engine per se; it was built IN one place to STAY in one place. There are maintainance areas and operational sections, the blue-collar stuff, though, and that we will be seeing. Had something great happen today. Got a call from a friend, and there was a guy in town from Magazine X (I can't give the title), which covers computers, and SF, and other related areas. He wanted to see B5 and do a quick interview/review. Now, this guy is very skeptical and not a little cynical, even by his own admission. I said okay, and he came to the house where I cranked up the system and showed him the finished pilot. This is the first time a civilian has seen the *completed film*, sound, music, pic all. And a reviewer, no less. His responce, (response), when the pilot was over? He pronounced it the best SF pilot ever made, the "most significant SF event" he had ever seen. He was just croggled by it. I am a happy man. It's a start. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 18 Message 41 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:03 EST And there I agree...in our current situation, I much prefer live (er, life) imprisonment to the death sentence, first because it allows for more time to correct errors if the person's innocent; and second, if the person's guilty...deny him an easy way out. But again, that's *here* and *now* and may not necessarily reflect the sorts of problems and considerations that may exist on a station such as B5. Leviathan: you say that the law should "protect, not avenge." But protect how? How do you protect against the lover who, in a fit of jealous rage, knifes his fiancee to death? Do we have cameras in every room of every house, monitoring for potentially dangerous behavior? What is the dividing point between privacy and endangerment? Is not the aspect of protection or prevention hinged upon the idea of retribution if caught? If there is no avengement, where then is the prevention? If there is any privacy at all, where is the protection? jms ______ Category 18, Topic 18 Message 53 Sat Jan 23, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:52 EST I think that, to avoid a western-centered show, you have to work from the assumption that the EA has incorporated laws other than those of the good old US of A. Which will add some color to things. As for how dangerous a place B5 is...the comment about the prior Babylon stations is a good and telling one. There are almost two levels of understanding on this...the sense of those who work there and maintain the environment, who know just how fragile this situation really is, and the sense of those who come and go, whose sense of safety has to be reinforced if B5 is to be commercially viable. Which opens up some interesting moral and ethical dilemmas for some of the crew.... jms ______ Category 18, Topic 18 Message 61 Sun Jan 24, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:14 EST Little Guy: there is, admittedly, a certain advantage to throwing a topic out there, and watching a number of intelligent, articulate people who know SF debate the thing...it opens your mind to many possibilities. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 18 Message 66 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:50 EST Jim...hmm...interesting...an inquisitorial system could make for a good adjunct to something I'd been thinking of...something Harlan suggested, actually, during our first B5 brainstorm session last year. Which I'll elaborate on at some point in the future, but in the interim...good idea. jms ______ Category 18, Topic 18 Message 72 Mon Jan 25, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:32 EST Re: the use of psi's in the judicial system...there was a whole long discussion of this in another topic...which answered all of the questions asked. In fear of being redundent...does anyone out there remember where that discussion took place, so we can send this fellow to the right message(s)? jms ______ ************ Topic 20 Fri Jan 29, 1993 SF-LAWRENCE [Katherine] at 06:32 EST Sub: "Babylon 5" - Information Only 2 Topic 1 is for old messages, already archived into the library. This topic is for newer posts, and like topic 19, will remain a CLOSED topic. Get your hot Straczynski messages here! Hot off the topics! 1 message(s) total. ************ ______ Category 18, Topic 20 Message 1 Fri Jan 29, 1993 STRACZYNSKI [Joe] (Forwarded) The command level uniforms (Sinclair, Laurel, Garibaldi) are pretty much the same in cut, though Garibaldi's (and all of securityard grey more than blue. Medical uniforms have a somewhat different cut and lean toward charcoal grey. There's a slightly different cut for grunt-level security, and a slightly greener look. Station techs (maintainance crews and the like) generally get yellow outfits with the B5 logo (and are not directly part of the EA structure; they work at and for the station per se). Control techs, in the observation dome, for instance, generally don't wear jackets on duty, but rather shirts with the B5 logo. The shift commander, though, does wear a jacket with his uniform. (When B5 opens, you see Laural give a command to the shift commander, who then relays it to others. You can trace the line of command in the dome from there.) There are, and will be, other variations in uniform, but those are pretty much the ones you'll see in the show. (In addition, of course, to more conventional clothing such as that worn by casino workers, marked only by a glitter-B5 logo.) jms