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 ------------ REPly to topic, QUIt reading STArt new topic, #,#-# read prior PERmanently ignore this topic MARk or UNMark this topic or to continue ? ************ 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