=========================================================================== | This text is compiled from posts by J. Michael Straczynski on the Usenet | group rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5. This document contains material Copyright | 1994 J. Michael Straczynski. He has given permission for his words to be | redistributed online, as long as they are marked as being copyright JMS. | This document, as well as other Babylon-5 related material, is available | by anonymous FTP at ftp.hyperion.com. =========================================================================== From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 1 Aug 1994 01:58:19 -0400 Subject: Minbari = Mri? No, I did not use "The Faded Sun" as (to quote you) "a source when (I) created the Minbari." That's called plagiarism. And now I'm going to vent for a moment. Why the fuck is it that every time a TV writer comes up with something, everybody scurries to figure out what book or short story it was swiped from? That standard is virtually never applied to novels that I've seen. But it always comes to us TeeVee types. I have a brain, you know. I'm perfectly capable of thinking up stuff on my own. I've published novels. I've published short stories. I've written plays. I've never read ANY of Cherryh's work that I can recall. Instead of suggesting something was cribbed, all you needed to say was, "So, JMS, where did you get the name Minbari?" And I would've told you that a "minbar" is the name for a pulpit in a Mosque. The first time I heard that, I thought it would be great as a name for an alien or an alien planet. And the people who would live there would be called Minbari. Not everything that comes out of TV is cribbed, okay? End of venting. If I seem a bit pissed, it's not specifically directed at you but at the general sense that TV writers have the creative capacity of blowfish and are incapable of creating *anything* on their own. (And you weren't pointing to just the name but to the whole concept and parts thereof.) I don't mean to flame, but I've heard it enough over the years, and I'm getting a little tired of it. Every TV writer gets it, and almost no prose writer does, and that's simple discrimination and stereotyping. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 2 Aug 1994 01:29:46 -0400 Subject: Re: Minbari = Mri? Aaron, re: Heinlein...now that's comedy.... jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 2 Aug 1994 01:34:54 -0400 Subject: JMS: What was ? "Voice 1" That was a replacement part for a section of the station; they were being given final instructions on placement from C&C. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 2 Aug 1994 01:56:26 -0400 Subject: Question Yes, I would think it fair to say that the Minbari have a thing for triangles and things that come in threes. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 2 Aug 1994 01:57:51 -0400 Subject: UK: BAMN Re: who is Rush Limbaugh.... Leading American proctologist. Trust me. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 2 Aug 1994 01:59:14 -0400 Subject: JMS: Dirt on the Lens!!! (Mini My suspicion is that the shows are sent to the UK via parcel, not via satellite, but that's only an assumption. Won't be starting production formally until August 10th. Gearing up now. Re: satellite...one of the more interesting stories I've heard lately is that B5 is *very* popular via satellite...in Iran and Iraq, both of whom lay claim of one sort or another to the original Babylon. Apparently that a Westerner has set a series in their well-remembered Babylon that is NOT a negative thing but a positive thing has got both countries quite pleasantly astonished. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 2 Aug 1994 01:59:17 -0400 Subject: JMS: response to your Mri vent To nick.plummer...Nicholas...you're quite right, of course, that ideas do not grow in a vacuum. Everyone in SF stands on the shoulders of those who went before. Heinlein invented slidewalks; after that, they were all OVER SF. But for the most part, they're background elements, or sort of the collective unconscious of SF; the line comes when taking a race wholecloth and just filing off the serial numbers (or, in this case, some vowels). We try to walk a fine line on this show, between being as original and innovative as we can...while once in a while giving a nod of respect and acknowledgment to those who preceded us (like the Prisoner). My only suggestion, in future, is that such issues (as we say in Jeapordy) be phrased in the form of a question, rather than an allegation. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 2 Aug 1994 01:59:19 -0400 Subject: JMS: "Free Mars" in "A Voice i Re: was the Free Mars movement a nod to Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars books.... I take your question as polite, and supportive, and genuinely curious, and so I answer back: no, the thread was nowhere tied to Kim's work. Rather it grew out of a sense of history, looking at the tradition of colonies to outgrow their founders, and want to strike out on their own. The United Kingdom being a good example of this. Having now answered politely, I return to my closet to stick very long needles into my eyes.... jms (Nothing to do with you, just the tenor of the day and messages preceding.) From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 2 Aug 1994 02:00:43 -0400 Subject: JMS: Spoo!?! What is spoo? Spoo....is. (Spoo is also Oops spelled backward.) jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 2 Aug 1994 04:21:45 -0400 Subject: JMS: Are You Going to Con Eric...nothing would gladden my heart more than if the B5 pilot won a Hugo (except the series winning a Hugo, which I think is a bit likelier, maybe). It is the highest compliment that can be paid by the SF community of readers and viewers. But one must be realistic, and I just don't see it outpulling Jurassic Park in the ballotting. JP is the proverbial 500 pound gorilla. Or the 50,000 pound T-Rex. While we are only small mammals....granted we're mammals with guns and an attitude, of course.... jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 2 Aug 1994 04:21:47 -0400 Subject: JMS Re: <*> Cryptic message to ...or, y'all are just fucking with me.... jm(where's my passport?)s From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 3 Aug 1994 01:26:26 -0400 Subject: Why Babylon? Before it fell into depravity, Babylon was a center of commerce, and culture, and trade, and diplomacy. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 6 Aug 1994 20:50:35 -0400 Subject: JMS: Is this really you? I haven't seen the message, but that's my ID#, so that much is true. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 8 Aug 1994 02:44:03 -0400 Subject: JMS: You're Back Peter Jurasik is *definitely* back as Londo for year two. The show continues on. The rumor is false. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 8 Aug 1994 03:08:45 -0400 Subject: "Babylon Squared" - Some thoug Re: Garibaldi in the flash-forward scene...no, it wasn't any kind of "homage" to Aliens. (And for the most part, I try and stay clear of any kind of homage unless it's primarily a throwaway; I want my story to be MY story, not a bunch of homages.) The single most moving kind of story for me is the "last man on the bridge"...the last defender who has to hold the line while others get away, knowing he will probably not survive it. This has great power for me, and for many others, which is why it shows up again and again in films, literature, TV and other venues. The Garibaldi scene has NOTHING to do with Aliens, and everything to do with that figure. Re: *why* it is that humans are special...has nothing to do with sacrifice, or dedication (well, that's not quite true, it has something to do with it), but that's not the totality of it. There's one more element you don't know about yet, that won't be revealed until season two, episode one, "Points of Departure." Once you see that episode, you'll fully understand that there is one very particular thing about humans that is very special indeed. And yes, we did see the Grey Council guy in "Squared" who also showed up in "Sky." jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 8 Aug 1994 03:16:53 -0400 Subject: JMS: You BLOW my mind!!!! Yes, you will see the Major Conflict that leads to the situation with Babylon 4. We're building toward a massive conflagration here. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 8 Aug 1994 16:37:09 -0400 Subject: Creation's False B5 info The speakers at Creation have a habit of running their mouths when they don't have a clue what the facts are. I've already had to yell at them once in the last couple weeks, stating that Michael York had been selected as the new Commander. Now this. Frankly, I wouldn't believe a word they say about *anything*. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 8 Aug 1994 16:37:12 -0400 Subject: Untitled I really don't know what the "B5 lovers" thing *is*, let alone how to get you in touch with them. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 8 Aug 1994 16:37:15 -0400 Subject: JMS: IS BACK! Questions! Sheridan wasn't on the Line. Have several options for his middle name, haven't decided which to use yet. Chrysalis is still for October. And we've got plenty of scripts on hand currently; we wanted the same as last year, 6, in hand when we began shooting. We've got that. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 8 Aug 1994 16:37:17 -0400 Subject: Windows .AVI of intro I cannot comment on this sort of thing. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 9 Aug 1994 03:19:40 -0400 Subject: Recent Threads: two thoughts Molly: assumptions right on both counts. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 9 Aug 1994 03:41:11 -0400 Subject: JMS: Babylon**2 question (spoi [noticing similarity with "2001" suit] Yeah, I guess there are some similarities, aren't there? jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 9 Aug 1994 15:55:23 -0400 Subject: JMS: Will every episode be rer I think the majority of eps will have been rerun by "Chrysalis." And all that remain after "Babylon Squared" to be aired are that one, and "The Quality of Mercy." jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 9 Aug 1994 16:28:54 -0400 Subject: Bye Bye Babylon: CANCELLATION Which station are you referring to in your local market? To my knowldge only the Cincinatti station has done this, and we're working on them. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 9 Aug 1994 16:28:57 -0400 Subject: JMS: Babylon^2 Question The triangle only manifests itself for specific reasons, at specific times, neither of which were appropriate to that moment. And yes, the Triluminary is much cooler...and does something quite interesting. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 10 Aug 1994 03:14:18 -0400 Subject: JMS: et all, PSI-Corps Questio Re: who psi's can marry...this question is already being dealt with in an episode tentatively titled "The Customer is Always Right." (season two) jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 10 Aug 1994 03:14:20 -0400 Subject: Re: Creation's False B5 info It's my understanding that the "information" about O'Hare was fed to Creation by -- big surprise -- someone associated with Paramount/ST. You know, they could save themselves *endless* embarrassment (particularly in the "York is new commander" kind of situation, which caused them to send letters/faxes to all their "hosts") if they would, oh I dunno...maybe CALL US for information rather than taking stuff off the grapevine, particularly from anyone with Paramount. (I've also heard just recently that allegedly Paramount is leaning on those who've directed ST episodes, who are free agents and not under any kind of general contract, *not* to direct B5. We've already had one such incident of withdrawl after we'd made arrangements and all parties had agreed to the director doing an episode for us.) jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 10 Aug 1994 05:46:10 -0400 Subject: Re: Plaster-cast of G'Kar. The plaster bust of G'Kar stolen from the B5 offices right before we began shooting Year One is still missing. And again, if this ever shows up at a dealer's room, know that it is stolen merchandise and there is a police report listing it as such. Anyone buying this will be buying stolen merchandise. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 10 Aug 1994 15:12:02 -0400 Subject: JMS: Any new sets for season 2 We've done a lot of work on the sets; refurbished, made better, put in windows that look out onto the Garden, expanded...and built some new sets, including an officer's club, a Bazaar, and other sets. We took a blood oath: each year, bigger and better. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 10 Aug 1994 15:12:05 -0400 Subject: ?? for Joe (B^^2 SPOILERS) [G's flashback seeing Lise] The two flashbacks were designed so that they could run in any order (something you have to consider in syndication). You get a slightly different "feel" from seeing them in a different order, but it still works. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 10 Aug 1994 19:08:37 -0400 Subject: Watching others watch... Hey, as somebody once pointed out, we are vast, we contain multitudes...we are a mass of contradictions. So our characters should be the same. jms (And thanks.) From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 11 Aug 1994 04:21:03 -0400 Subject: JOE AT SAN DIEGO (3) (MIN Neither panel was listed on my badge, and I only learned about them later, after they were over. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 11 Aug 1994 04:21:06 -0400 Subject: > > JMS & All: Worldcon B5 pa My replies, for the panel, in brief: What works? What doesn't? (Most things, some things.) Can B5 become another Star Trek? (God I hope not.) Succumb to second season syndrome? (Year 2 scripts even better.) B5 reflect politics of the 90s? (No. I hate the politics of the 90s.) Survive its 5 year story? (That's up to you.) How handle the inevitable B5/ST comparisons? (They're not inevitable. They're inevitable only if you choose to make them so. ) Action/Character/Special EFX vs. good writing. (Action and character are part of good writing, you don't separate them. EFX must be in the service of the story.) Comparisons with X-Files. (See above.) TV SF's "last best hope." (Only if you've learned that the universe will implode in 4 years.) Why like/dislike it? ("If you like that sort of thing, it's the sort of thing you'll like." Abraham Lincoln.) Plot or SFX more important? (Neither. Character first. Then plot. Then SFX.) Why human female characters still 2-dimensional? (Don't agree with the premise. They're not. Are you still beating your wife?) jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 11 Aug 1994 04:21:08 -0400 Subject: (ATTN JMS, others) Newbies Dan: thanks, good points all. And as you say, patience is key to newbie-greeting. Sometimes when I've been up 20 hours, it's hard, but will work harder at it come schooltime. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 12 Aug 1994 00:51:02 -0400 Subject: B5 Writing, following a master It is *all* designed to tie together. Nothing is just tossed in arbitrarily. Again, the best comparison is a novel. The few freelance writers on the show (I wrote 12 last season) are given specific guidelines on what to include to tie stuff together later. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 12 Aug 1994 15:51:35 -0400 Subject: JMS: LENN? and Comments Re: Delenn/Lennier...there are certain recurring composites and word-segments that show up frequently in Minbari language (as in Rathenn, mentioned in "Voice 1," which resonates with Delenn). I've worked out a system for this, though it's probably not as complex as it should be. And thanks for your kind words. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 13 Aug 1994 21:39:37 -0400 Subject: Why are the Starfury launch ba The outside of the bays are wrapped around and triangular, kind of like cobra heads. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 13 Aug 1994 21:41:03 -0400 Subject: JMS: a casting question... We do tend to try and stay open to gender stuff; usually there's a reason why someone is male or female, so it's cast that way. But as an example...in "Quality of Mercy," the role as originally written was for a father/daughter combination. In the process of casting, we thought, why not mother/daughter? So that's how it ended up. In "Points of Departure," we have one of your requests already taken care of...a part of a war cruiser commander who could've been male or female...cast female. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 14 Aug 1994 00:15:07 -0400 Subject: Re: <*> <*> I've decided youze guys are just messing with my mind. Returning the favor, so to speak. It's certainly been that kind of week...first a file vanishes on my computer, we need to print it, and it's gone...then I can see it again, no explanation...I get a messengered packet from Chris Franke, expecting it contains a tape, but it's flat and soft and I peek inside and I don't see a tape and toss it, wondering what he's up to now...the coffee machine isn't working right...everybody's messing with me, so why not here? jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 14 Aug 1994 00:38:57 -0400 Subject: Babylon Squared --- Way to Go "How are you going to top this one, JMS?" Chrysalis. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 14 Aug 1994 17:26:33 -0400 Subject: JMS: A few minor questions... Promoting Ivanova to running the station would not be logical, since from a military and diplomatic standpoint she has nowhere *near* the level of experience required. It wouldn't be done in real life. G'Kar wasn't needed for the last few eps; he'll show up again in "Chrysalis," and a lot next season. I think there'll be a tech manual eventually. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 14 Aug 1994 17:58:51 -0400 Subject: <*> Joe really need a clue I'm not sure I understand...if there was anything in the package, I didn't notice it, and so just tossed the envelope. It's gone. Why? Was there something I should've known? jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 15 Aug 1994 03:28:28 -0400 Subject: Re: **Spoiler: Chrysalis** There's a couple ships look like Earthforce 1. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 15 Aug 1994 16:03:56 -0400 Subject: JMS: CFPL in London, Ontario, Unfortunately, this sort of thing is outside my direct purview. The best way to deal with this is on the local level, with letters and calls. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 15 Aug 1994 20:37:43 -0400 Subject: Babylon Squared, Part II Yes, you will definitely, at some point, see the flip side of the B2 episode. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 15 Aug 1994 20:37:46 -0400 Subject: Can JMS pull it off? If I didn't have a good, solid, consistent ending, I wouldn't have started the story. I always have the ending before I begin writing the beginning. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 16 Aug 1994 03:51:29 -0400 Subject: Re: <*> Joe really need a clu Okay, okay, okay, hold off the frantic email...I WUZ ONLY KIDDING! I got the card from everybody, and I thank you for it. It was a wonderful gesture. But I *had* to get back at y'all for the weeks of grief leading up to it, yes? Thanks. Really. And don't do it again. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 16 Aug 1994 21:07:14 -0400 Subject: JMS: What to Watch for in Reru Scenes you should look at differently after "Chrysalis"...one that comes to mind offhand is "Sky," in the various Garibaldi scenes (can't be more specific than that right now). jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 16 Aug 1994 22:21:23 -0400 Subject: JMS and the net Best thing about the net is that it forces you to ask questions. The job of the writer is to come up with every possible question about your character and your world, and answer it, giving both greater verasimilitude. But nobody can come up with EVERY conceivable question; but on the nets, you get questions you never *dreamed* of. Which helps. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 18 Aug 1994 01:31:57 -0400 Subject: JMS: Don't do it!!!!! I'm trying to make the B5 novels and comics as much canon as I can. Basically, they take place within B5 continuity, as episodes that might have been. The first four issues of the comic deal with issues that hit the series, but from another point of view/location. The novel uses B5 as background of an event that makes sense within B5 continuity, and may be referred to in future episodes (not as a requirement, but only as background...no different than when you have to give background on any episode of stuff that's happened in the past, like Ironheart's escape, for instance, which we don't have to see/read about, but knowing is nice). I *really* don't want these to be just throwaways media-tie-ins. I want them to stand on their own as good work, *and* be part of our universe. Thankfully, I no longer require sleep, and have transcended to a higher state of consciousness...ommmmmm.... jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 18 Aug 1994 01:48:13 -0400 Subject: Question for JMS Fasten, button. Levi's Jeans forever! jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 18 Aug 1994 01:48:19 -0400 Subject: JMS lying? (was Re: Voyager Ca If Sinclair was simply to be *gone*, we had *plenty* of time to edit OUT the scene in B4 that you saw and refer to. It was self-contained, occupied only about 30 seconds, and could've been easily deleted (we ran long on that episode, and cut a shot of Delenn leaving the Minbari cruiser setting course for B5, which could easily have been put into the show in that scene's absence). We only delivered that episode a few weeks before airdate, and the news re: Sinclair was announced MONTHS before that, while we were still in the process of editing it. (And we can make changes literally up to a week or so before delivery.) We could've deleted it, and left it a mystery, just as with Sigma 957. We're not afraid to do that. In addition, the first four issues of the B5 comic will NOT be about the new Captain, they will be about *Sinclair*, and where he is, and where he's gone, and what he's doing. Since at this point it would be hideously expensive to show that in the series, we're doing it in the comic. And will continue to do it from time to time in the comic, AND in occasional shots in the series. This is NOT what you do when the network comes to you and says, "We want this guy GONE." When that happens, he's *gone*, period. No, people should not believe everything they are told. Nor should you assume that everyone is lying all the time. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 18 Aug 1994 17:42:15 -0400 Subject: JMS:Mephisto in Space? While the TP themes in "Quality" go back through the history of SF, including the Demolished Man, among others, the basic storyline (re: Talia) came out of the pilot. At the time, I was asked -- frequently -- "Why didn't Lyta scan Sinclair to determine if he had tried to kill Kosh?" My answer then -- which is in some of the archives -- was that it would violate the right to due process, that a defendant cannot be scanned to determine guilt or innocence (in fact, I recall a rather heated debate about that here a while back). I promised that this would be elaborated upon down the road, and mentally logged in to do a show with that premise...and I'd already decided about the death penalty, and the use of telepaths in it. So "Quality" came out of that, long before "Mephisto" was even written. At one point, knowing that there were some common story areas, I called Harlan to tell him the "Quality" story, so that if there were any problems, I could revise it, but he said he saw no problem. jms Date: 8 Aug 1994 03:08:45 -0400 From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 19 Aug 1994 16:06:12 -0400 Subject: "Mercy" -- SPOILERS of course They cannot carry out the original sentence because the body is now dead, which would tend to diminish its social acceptability. Dr. Franklin did not know that Mueller had yet found Rosen, or even knew of it. There are no Babcom systems in DownBelow quarters. To send a security team, when they're out searching, without cause, is neither realistic nor sensible. He did the correct thing: to go and warn her, while at the same time making sure that security knew where he was going, and if they didn't hear anything, to send in a team. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 19 Aug 1994 16:06:22 -0400 Subject: JMS: Give us a chance! I think participants of this usenet group should be given a chance to come to your house, Paul,and tell you how to make love as a group project. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 19 Aug 1994 20:11:19 -0400 Subject: JMS: Lose the Hyperion. Bad De That design will never be seen again. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 20 Aug 1994 04:37:49 -0400 Subject: What if a crucial actor/actres No, that sort of thing can't be done on an episodic TV budget; when time comes to do the flip side of Bsquared, we'll integrate the first season footage, but the second part hasn't yet been shot. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 20 Aug 1994 04:43:21 -0400 Subject: JMS: Na'Toth casting? The woman who will be playing Na'Toth next season is Mary Kay Adams; we're introducing a character who will be a Squad Leader for Zeta Squadron (the one that arrived in "Survivors"), Warren Keffer, which will be portrayed by Robert Russler. (Many people noted that logically you would have a regular squad leader as well as in some situations the Commander going out, and most times it's the Squad Leader who's out there doing this kind of stuff. And they're correct.) jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 21 Aug 1994 04:10:25 -0400 Subject: A message to jms Thanks. All of us involved in Babylon 5 work very hard at it, and your words of encouragement are a great help. As an aside...the first season isn't *quite* over. Our final episode, "Chrysalis," will be aired the week before the second season proper begins, figure the last Wednesday or so in October. I think you'll find it most intriguing.... jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 23 Aug 1994 06:16:36 -0400 Subject: [B5] Liar liar pants on fire.. Normally, this thread wouldn't even be worth my time to respond, moreso since I missed the original message, and can only see the replies. But that said...maybe because I've been up nearly 30 hours breaking my back on this show, to try and provide an occasional hour's entertainment, and I'm cranky, I figured I'd just say a few quick things. Unlike Mr. Glover, who I believe is the same person who's been spreading this "JMS is lying about everything" crap on various nets, including Fidonet, every post that I have written about Babylon 5 for the last *three years* has been archived, organized, filed, and indexed for easy reference. I would suggest that in three years of his own posts, you would probably find lots of contradictions in Mr. Glover's posts. He is free from this kind of scrutiny. I am not. That said...if I were running around fibbing left, right and center, as he implies, because there *is* that vast pool of material, it would've been caught out *ages* ago. I know that everything I write gets saved, and thus it behooves me to be as *abolutely* correct in what I write as I humanly can be. From time to time, as the story has progressed, I've refined a small character point or two, but overall I've been pretty damned consistent. And I have been *particularly* consistent in what I have said about Michael O'Hare. I have said that it was mutual and amicable. I said that we came to him first. Those are not, as Mr. Glover would suggest, mutually contradictory statements. Someone has to go first. And let me just toss a note in Mr. Glover's direction...what the fuck is it to you what happens between Michael O'Hare and his employer in the privacy of their offices? Suppose for the moment he quit because he saw me courting his pet chicken...what the fuck is it to you? Who says you're entitled to ANY information? How'd you like it if we went digging out information on how your employer treats you? On why you were fired from your last job? What business is it of mine? None. What business is this of yours? None. Except that you have no apparent life but that which you obtain through what you see on TeeVee, in the belief that somehow, by virtue of certain phosphor-dots resting on your corneas for a few seconds, we owe you *anything*. We don't. Bugger off. As for Larry DiTillio...I showed him what was posted on this net from his apperance at LosCon, and he was *very* upset by the quotes, in his sense that they misrepresented what he had said. I have yet to see the alleged quotes where I changed my story on something. I don't think they exist. I think that by describing the majority of viewers here as "sycophants" who "hang on (my) every word)", Mr. Glover attempts right off the bat to discredit anyone who might disagree with him. He insults every member of this discussion in so doing, and I take great exception to that. Anyone who disagrees with Mr. Glover is either a liar, or a sycophant. Sod off, Mr. Glover. And Mr. Glover also over-estimates not only his own importance, but the importance of this system in terms of ratings. If you added up every single person who reads this forum, and all those on GEnie, Compuserve, (AOL and Prodigy on bounce-back), NVN, Bix and all the rest...it wouldn't be even a *blip* on the ratings. Wouldn't even show up. I'm here only because I want to be, and because -- despite the occasional Gloverite who trudges his way in here to sneer at people -- it's fun to hang out. And I am not "A SALESMAN." I am a writer. I'm not here to sell anybody anything. The people who come here are those who watch the show to begin with; those who watch Baywatch and have no interest in B5 don't come in here. There's no point in singing to the choir. Many of those here are those who've already decided they like the show...and others are certainly more than free with their criticism. On another system, the indefatigable Mr. Glover commented that I MUST be lying about O'Hare, because after all if I ever admitted that someone walked off the show on their own, I'd be in trouble with Warner Bros, and I was thus protecting my ass. And I think it was about a week later that I mentioned, on my own, that Caitlin Brown was going off the show, on her own, because she wants to do feature-film starring roles. Boy, I must be some kinda feeb to admit that in public, because I gots to protect my ass.... I said it because it was true. One of the primary reasons I'm here is to try and educate people about how TV is done. When I did the series of articles on the new TZ series for Twilight Zone magazine, I made it a point to include the good and the bad and the ugly, otherwise it has no worth. I've come on here and said which episodes of B5 were great, and which I wouldn't mind if all copies of the negative fell off a pier; I've stated when actors have left on their own, and when we've changed our minds about them, and when deals have fallen through; I've been as hard on the show as anyone else. But for Eugene Glover, whose own life is notably sheltered from public view, this is insufficient, and his own prejudices and internal bile levels, as indicated by the quotes from him, pursuade him that I am a liar. Piss off, Eugene. You're a mean, vindictive little guttersnipe who has nothing better to do than piss in other people's punchbowls, absent of any perceptible life, overwhelmed with your own feelings of self importance and righteousness, when in reality you simply suffer from delusions of adequacy. I rarely use this kind of term, due to its basic offensiveness to SF/ST fans...but Eugene...get a life, get a grip, get a clue, but most of all...get away. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 23 Aug 1994 15:12:45 -0400 Subject: JMS:Are you about to LOSE the I really don't know the ins and outs of the Detroit situation; I'll try and find out a bit more. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 24 Aug 1994 03:53:49 -0400 Subject: JMS: Set suggestion The end of the central corridor was a painting; correct. And I never liked it. So over the break, we *built* another 15 or so feet to the end of the corridor, going up, so now it's quite real, and we can put stuff in there. Much improved. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 25 Aug 1994 02:22:39 -0400 Subject: Thoughts on a close rewatch of One lovely thing about "Signs and Portents," which you picked up on, is something I like to play with; implying one thing while saying the opposite. Look at all the shadow's main representative, Morden, does: he asks people what they want; he gets tossed out of Delenn's quarters; he is pleasant in his demeanor at all times, never yells, always smiles, and is courteous; he takes an action which saves one of our main characters, Londo, from disgrace and resignation, and helps in the process of scragging the bad guys in the episode. And yet everyone walks away thinking that the shadows are bad. Which was of course the intent...by the way in which they did "good." Kosh prevents humanity from achieving immortality, scares the hell out of Talia, never gives anyone a straight answer, doesn't seem to mind it if people fear him...and we walk away with the presumption that he is good, by virtue of the way in which he did things that were "bad." In "The Quality of Mercy," I play a similar subtle game; the first time you hear about the alien device, you're told that it takes the life force from one person, killing them in the process, and gives it to someone suffering a terminal disease to restore them. And everybody goes "yuck, that's awful." But that is *exactly* what happens at the end, and the general reaction is, "That's good." This is something I do a lot in my scripts, which I don't generally see a lot of other people doing. You *really* have to construct the script very carefully to pull something like this off...a little game between me and the audience. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 25 Aug 1994 02:27:02 -0400 Subject: JMS! Episode Titles I think the double-titles would screw up the methods by which the residuals are tracked for writers/directors/actors. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 25 Aug 1994 02:32:45 -0400 Subject: Re: [B5] Liar liar pants on fi Ah, so Glover's message was originally posted in the alt section, where I wouldn't/couldn't see it, and wouldn't have known about it at all had there not been the reply here that somehow bounced. Well, isn't that convenient.... jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 25 Aug 1994 04:14:33 -0400 Subject: JMS: Liars and Flames Thanks; I'm not sure sometimes if this is a good skill or not. Not only had I been up about 30 hours, but because of the way my GEnie news reader/mailbox is set up, I can only reply *on-line*, I can't go off, compose off-line, then upload it...it all has to be written on the fly. (Maybe it comes from being a Jersey street kid, basically; we used to hang out on street corners, ranking each other for *hours*, each one according to the rules having to build upon the one preceding, until they got amazingly elaborate. Or maybe I'm just a pain in the ass.) That said, I try very hard *not* to do that. I don't think it's a good thing in the long run. I see a *lot* of abusive posts, and most of them I let slide simply because it seems the wiser path. But every once in a while, somebody'll poke the bear, and it'll be late, and they'll be completely out of line...and something snaps and next thing I know I'm 110 lines deep into something and my monitor is imploding. As for *why* I was up 30 hours straight...Claudia Christian broke her foot over the weekend. Broke it in *three places*, no less, while running in her back yard. She had a lot of action in the next couple of scripts, and was in the midst of filming an episode currently. So the scripts had to be revised to work around this, and as stated, we were shooting one, and about to shoot another, and it *all* had to be done in zero time. By me. Basically, we're talking about rewriting two full scripts in a couple of days, after which I was half blind and staggering. So I was just a bit cranky that night.... jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 25 Aug 1994 04:14:47 -0400 Subject: Re: [B5] Liar liar pants on fi Morgan...there is a quantum difference between being called a liar, and receiving criticism on a story. If you cannot see that, that is your problem, not mine. "If it wasn't worth your time, then why did you respond?" Because I felt like it. However, to the rest of your points, which are specious and irrelevant, I don't feel like it tonight. I will instead go along with your question, "why respond?" Good suggestion. Particularly when applied to your message. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 25 Aug 1994 04:38:26 -0400 Subject: Re: [B5] Liar liar pants on fi Jim...re: your reply to Morgan...there is a curious neticism that I've seen all the years I've been riding the nets, and it's nothing new. It's this: Person A writes something awful/scandalous/abusive about person B. Person C says nothing. Person B writes a heated reply. Person C *now* speaks up to say what bad form it is to go after this poor person who was just exercising his right to speak, and suddenly person B is the bad guy. It's okay to impugne someone's career, or life, or honesty, or any other aspect...but to call the person out for it...no, no, we can't have that. Nonsense. There is nothing in my agreement with any service that says I must be a non-responsive, unmoving target. A bully is a bully, and needs to get responded to. And character attacks must be responded to, whether or not some people (who had no problem with the original accusation) find it polite conversation. Say what you want about somebody...but god forbid the person should speak up...an intersting philosophy, to say the least. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 25 Aug 1994 04:38:35 -0400 Subject: Change in Rerun of Believers There were no changes in dialogue made in "Believers" subsequent to the first airing. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 25 Aug 1994 22:10:26 -0400 Subject: JMS: 2nd season writing proces It's impossible not to have the characters change to varying degrees once you cast actors to play them. Gradually, Mira's personality has grown into Delenn, Andreas has added a lot to G'Kar, Garibaldi IS Doyle, and Boxleitner is bringing a lot to Sheridan. You get to hear the characters' voices more the deeper you go, season-wise, and that's great. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 26 Aug 1994 05:28:32 -0400 Subject: JMS: Musical Themes? We've done a lot with themes over the season, and plan to do more, developing themes for all our characters. I like interpolating bits and pieces of the B5 theme into parts of the show; the lower-key version at the end of "Signs" has always struck me as very effective. jms (meant to type "minor key." From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 27 Aug 1994 02:02:16 -0400 Subject: Re: [B5] Liar liar pants on fi Michael Heser...I don't just respond to flame-bait. I respond to something on the order of 100 messages a day, out of the 500 per day that I get. In this one pass on Internet via my GEnie mailbox, I've just written about 15 so far, and I've got a bunch more to go through. (And not one was a flame.) This is an aberration, nothing more, and I do reserve the right to plink somebody upside the nose if he gets obnoxious. The occasional aberration is good for you (now if only I could convince my wife of that...). jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 27 Aug 1994 02:02:29 -0400 Subject: JMS: new movie? Correct, I will be writing the screenplay for the GRIMJACK movie, which will draw heavily on John Ostrander's story for the Demon Blood and Demon Wars stories. Whether or not new books are coming I don't know. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 27 Aug 1994 02:19:54 -0400 Subject: Parallelism in TKO (Possible S Yes, there are many subtle parallels between the two story elements, as you note. At its core, is the use of tradition, and respect, as a means for greater understanding. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 27 Aug 1994 21:51:10 -0400 Subject: JMS: Conventions At this point, beyond the Dallas con, and LosCon, nothing much is planned.... jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 01:05:48 -0400 Subject: JMS: Some comments on your "no Actually, there are varying religions within the alien species as well; G'Kar is a follower of G'Quan, while Na'Toth's father followed G'Lan, and Na'Toth herself doesn't really believe in anything (this as noted in "By Any Means Necessary"). So that diversity isn't strictly or exclusively human. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 04:19:38 -0400 Subject: JMS: Warners' Wishlist I don't recall ever mentioning any memo from PTEN "suggesting that something be done with the commander or year two, even if just a bunch of commander-centered episodes." Warners/PTEN said that they would like to see a bit more character-oriented stories, which was jake by me because that's what we were aiming for anyway. By virtue of being at least nominally an action/adventure show, there was always some sense that we had to have a lot of running around; now they're giving us the freedom to have more latitude, which by me is terrific. They've given us no other notes. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 04:34:36 -0400 Subject: JMS: Some questions... You will see the healing machine from "Quality" once more. Part of the reason for that story was to set up something within the B5 universe that will come in handy a long time later (but I'm *not* going to have it lying around indefinitely; it would cause lots of long-term complications). (Some TV shows foreshadow/set-up stuff an act or two ahead of time; we do setups a full *year* ahead....) Never saw "Star Blazers," so the Valen name has no relation there. No idea on coming laserdisk prices. When Zathras shows up in time, it'll definitely be recognizeable as Zathras. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 04:40:08 -0400 Subject: JMS:B5/LSH Parallels Follow-Up Re: the now-mandatory Psi badge in LSH...yeah, I noticed that too. If it is indeed a nod in our direction -- and spontaneous duplication is also always a possibility -- it's actually fun, from my POV. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 04:44:22 -0400 Subject: Re: JMS: LSH/B5 parallel post- This one to Kurt Bose... "We heard about how everything and its mother was derived in some manner from the ideas this hack was pitching around Hollywood." So now I'm a hack. Tell me, Kurt, what have *you* done with your life? I won't post my feelings about my work because that's subjective; but the nominations for Writers Guild, Bram Stoker, Ace and Gemini Awards over there on the wall might have a thing or two to say about this...or the Emmy for Best Animated Series the year I story edited The REal Ghostbusters...or the Inkpot Achievement Award from the San Diego Comic Convention...or the recent award from the Space Frontier Foundation for Best Vision of the Future...shall I go on? To the point of what your screed said in this part...no, I have never said what you pillory me for saying. I have certain very strong feelings about an incident with another series, but that's just the one. You say "We heard about how everything and its mother was derived in some manner" from my work...please cite me where I have said this about anything else. Or I can save you the time...you won't find any, because they aren't there. This is trait #1 of the net-bully...come up with an outrageous statement that someone never made, and then assault them for it. Seen it. "We heard all about how in HIS show, they weren't going to simply make all the aliens look like actors in funny makeup. Well suprise, all the aliens look like humans in funny makeup." Error #1: once again, I never said it. I said we were going to work to avoid the funny-forehead scenario with full-head prosthetics. This we have done. Second, as earth-shattering to your perspective as this may be, there are currently no real aliens that we know of living on Earth. No matter HOW elaborate the makeup, you're going to have an actor in makup (unless you're doing puppets, as a rule, and this isn't a puppet show). Show me any movie or series where the main alien characters have been other than puppets or actors in makup, funny or otherwise. Third...we are the *first* TV SF series to introduce a computer graphic alien, in "Grail," and we plan to do more of this next season. "We were treated to comments from JMS like "Sinclair should really go over well with the ladies." (This in reference to being cast on sex appeal.) I'm sorry, but this comment is so boneheaded and contradictory and illogical that I can't even begin to respond. Re: "no cute kids or robots," I was referring specifically to regular cast members. We do not have cute kids as regular cast members. And we de-emphasize kids in guest-casting. In our entire first season we have had two, one in a B-story, and the other we killed off. I don't see the problem which is making you so apoplectic in this. "If JMS is really saying these things, doing these things, then he's insane." And, of course, I didn't, and haven't been. You're seeing them only in whatever alternate universe you're experiencing through prolonged exposure to your computer monitor's EMF. "What I've heard about here and elsewhere makes me feel that his 'pariah' routine of the put-upon genius whose work is shamelessly copied makes me wonder if there are REASONS for the role he's adopted." First, see response #1. Never said it. What "you've heard" has no bearing whatsoever on objective reality. Nor am I responsible for what may or may not have been posted on other nets by people other than me. I am only responsible for what I say. And what I say is generally archived somewhere, so actually checking the *facts* (I know, another foreign concept) is extraordinarily easy to do. This you didn't do. Second: never adopted a pariah attitude; never felt like one; never said any such thing. Are you feeling okay? Are things all right at home? Do you hear spirit voices at night whispering into your ears the things that you'd have *liked* me to have said? A helpful suggestion: if these voices ever tell you to go save France...don't do it. I've seen that movie, you wouldn't like the ending. Finally, what are these REASONS you're wondering about? Nothing like a little vague innuendo and then zoom-flash out the back door. Speak plainly. You got something to say, say it. (And in a note prior, when someone noticed the LSH telepath pin, I commented that it was probably spontaneous duplication/simultaneous creation. My first impulse, despite your willingness to attribute to me some fanatical attitude, is that it wasn't a lift. My second reaction, as written, is that if it was inspired by the Psi Corps, that it's really kinda cool...SF literature builds on itself, as with Heinlein coming up with slidewalks, which were then used by others. I think it'd be cool if Psi Corps style badges started showing up in LSH; it'd mean that I added something to the genre.) Okay..now let's see...I read through all the notes, responded in a manner without profanity, and ....oh, dear. No profanity. Can't have that. So really, Kurt, and I say this with the love of Jesus in my heart...go fuck yourself. And next time you want to go around calling someone a "hack," be prepared to let us all examine *your* work, okay? jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 05:14:03 -0400 Subject: Send not thine tales for death It does seem unfortunate that we seem to have to go through this fire drill every few months. Look...the reality is, we manage to go through 500 or so messages a day (well, *I* go through them), and very rarely, in ALL the discussion and speculation, does anything come close to being a story idea. As I commented on GEnie, at 500 messages a day, seven days a week (3500 messages a week, counting all the various services I'm on), this has only become a problem *five times*. But five times is five times, and it never hurts to put out a reminder...because it's due to those reminders that it HAS been only five times. Absent those reminders, it would've been more, that you can count on. No one is here begruding the rights of people to speculate and discuss, least of all me. You don't generally see me out here pounding down on people...the discussions here are very freewheeling, which is as it should be. This is the one little area that I ask be set aside, and I just don't see it as a problem. And I *do* wish that people wouldn't get bogged down in the legalities of all this. On one level, while that's the core reason I made the request in the first place, what it comes down to is just courtesy. I am here for hours each day, unlike any other TV producer, every day, and all I ask, as a courtesy, is no story ideas being posted. When did we as a culture hit a point where a request as a courtesy was no longer valid, and everything had to be accompanied by legalistic wrangling and court orders? I ask this one thing as a favor, in return for the hours spent here. Is this really so great a burden? If people want to discuss story ideas, or come up with their own stories, all they have to do is set up a private mailing list to which I don't have access, and they can do so to their heart's content. All I ask is that you don't do it where I can see it. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 05:14:12 -0400 Subject: JMS: Season two episode order? Episode 1 - Prod. #201 - "Points of Departure," written by jms, directed by Janet Greek. Episode 2 - Prod. #202 - "Revelations," written by jms, directed by Jim Johnston. Episode 3 - Prod. #203 - "The Geometry of Shadows," written by jms, directed by Mike Vejar. Episode 4 - Produ. #204 - "A Distant Star," written by D.C. Fontana, directed by Jim Johnston. Episode 5 - Prod. #205 - "The Long Dark," written by Scott Frost, director TBA. Episode 6 - Prod. #206 - "A Spider in the Web," written by Lawrence G. DiTillio, director TBA. The first six will be aired in production order. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 05:15:43 -0400 Subject: Careful with those story ideas One clarification: the problem on GEnie wasn't speculation per se, but a statement, "How about if Joe does a story about...." That in particular turned it (unintentionally, but there it is) into a pitch of a story idea. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 23:02:48 -0400 Subject: Who all should get letters pra Letters can be sent to B5 staff and routed to Warners/PTEN through: 14431 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 260, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 23:04:19 -0400 Subject: How important to the Arc is Sh How critical was Aragorn to the storyline of Lord of the Rings? jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 23:04:28 -0400 Subject: JMS: How many eps? This is from memory, but after we broke down the stories for the second season, and determined who we'd need for what stories, I think it came out to 22 each for Sheridan, Ivanova, Garibaldi, Delenn and Franklin; 13 for Na'Toth, Vir, Talia, G'Kar and Londo; and 8 for our new squadron leader. (Oops, forgot 13 also for Lennier.) Now these are the minimum contracted for, we can use them for more as they're needed. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 28 Aug 1994 23:04:37 -0400 Subject: JMS: Her.? The line, "If I knew who God was, I'd thank her," was as written in the script. We generally don't allow much improvisation on stage. Many thanks. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 29 Aug 1994 03:35:16 -0400 Subject: Syndication Question Okay, I'll try to make this coherent and brief, two concepts that don't necessarily relate. Here's how it works with B5, which is how virtually all syndicated shows work. I created B5. Went to Doug Netter, made a handshake deal to make the series. Five years pass. Finally we hook up with PTEN. PTEN buys the rights to B5, and owns it. They then finance the production of the series through Babylonian Productions, which I and Doug own. But the copyright to B5 belongs to PTEN, as Star Trek has always belonged to Paramount, not Gene R. Rights don't revert to anyone; the rights belong to PTEN unless PTEN should cancel the series, after which I believe there's a period of about two years, after which it *then* comes back to me. As long as PTEN exists, and the show is broadcast, it belongs to PTEN, regardless of how many times it's shown. I don't know, or pretend to know, what would happen if PTEN ceased to exist, though I'm sure that procedures have been set up such that the revenue stream would continue to the original parties in PTEN, and the corporation itself would continue as a means of funnelling those funds. Warners doesn't own PTEN per se; PTEN is a consortium of a core group of TV stations in association with Warners, and this executive committee votes funding on the show. We are in some ways an unusual situation in that we're not a studio in-house production, like KUNG FU and TIME TRAX, which were created from within the Warners corporate structure. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 29 Aug 1994 03:36:47 -0400 Subject: Old Red Eyes He'll be back soon enough.... jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 29 Aug 1994 18:54:06 -0400 Subject: JMS: 'What do you want?' - nod Actually, the origin of "What do you want?" comes from encounter groups I've run, and from other kinds of group psychotherapy, such as the original Synanon games; you ask, "Who are you?" over and over, refusing to take the same answer twice, to peel away the fabric of what the person is. It's a slight jump to "What do you want?" (I knew that degree in Psychology would come in handy one of these days.) As for the B5 reference in "OtherSyde," I always knew it would be a series, because I've never allowed any other consideration. (I think B5 hits Australia later in the fall.) jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 29 Aug 1994 19:13:08 -0400 Subject: JMS: What is this . It came from the prop people at Warners/PTEN, who seem to be watching an alternate-universe version of the series.... jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 29 Aug 1994 20:07:06 -0400 Subject: Sheridan Yes, Sheridan is descended from Gen. Philip John Sheridan of the Union Army. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 30 Aug 1994 02:16:39 -0400 Subject: JMS: Speaking of First Comics. I would *love* to do American Flagg! as a movie; I think it was probably Howard's best moment. I've read a lot of his stuff, but somehow after AF! it never did it for me as much as that one did. (And he certainly went...well, let's say where no comic has gone before...in Black Kiss.) I think the rights might be tied up, however. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 30 Aug 1994 02:22:18 -0400 Subject: JMS: Arcane story twists et al If you look at my scripts, you'll find that generally I write very tight, I don't leave a lot of threads hanging as a rule. Same with the planned series. No important threads will be left hanging by the end of it all. And generally any really significant thread will be wrapped within a year of being introduced. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 30 Aug 1994 21:54:13 -0400 Subject: JMS: Question???????????? Medlab is the smaller facility exclusively for Dr. Franklin, as Chief of Staff. There are larger medical facilities, more like proper hospitals, elsewhere on the station. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 30 Aug 1994 22:01:11 -0400 Subject: A note regarding "V" to jms I guess my attitude toward "V" the series (as distinguished from the miniseries, which was great) is colored by the rather contemptuous attitude of the producers toward SF, and SF fans, leading to their decision to bring on soap opera writers. I think they took a wonderful concept and just trashed it. jms From: straczynski@genie.geis.com Date: 31 Aug 1994 03:02:09 -0400 Subject: ATTN JMS: A few questions The script called for Garibaldi to take up the Big Massive Gun and fire, with a primal YELL that went on forever. Any dialogue at that point which replaced the yell came from the actor. The "you're already dead" was only relevant to the scene, not T2. jms