JMS Usenet messages for February 1997. Date: 1 Feb 1997 14:03:38 -0500 Subject: Re: The Long Night ( *Spoilers* ) :I am unaware of any *deliberate* attempt to have people tortured to authenticate information. The deception consisted of several elements." That you may not be aware of it does not mean it's incorrect. I ran across this information in an article in The Los Angeles Times about 8 years ago. It was something of a big deal because the situation had been kept secret ever since the war, and when it came out it caused a great deal of distress (and discussion) about the ethics involved. I called a couple of other people who I talked to when the article first came out, and their recollection of it is the same as mine. I'll try and get around to doing a search on the LA Times database, to see if I can find the exact references, though I don't know if their search engine goes back that far. jms Date: 2 Feb 1997 03:27:31 -0500 Subject: Re: jms graphics note (cgal repost) Mojo: I will point out to you that in my original message, I never even MENTIONED Foundation, or referred to it in any way, manner, shape or form. You did that on your own. You made baseless statements about our entire EFX team coming from Foundation, when you know this is an absolute and utter fabrication on your part. If you've got a problem with this topic being brought up, it's you who did it, so take your concerns to the mirror. Me, I'm out of this. "All I can say is that Joe REALLY doesn't know how to take a sarcastic comment in good stride!" Maybe, in future, if you didn't just drop in "sarcastic comments" randomly, you wouldn't have problems like this. Every time I have made a positive comment about the EFX this season, you have jumped in with sarcasm. Grow up, Mojo. Meanwhile, as far as I'm concerned, this thread is over. jms Date: 3 Feb 1997 01:20:36 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: pat tallman question Unless it's a small stunt where we have to see her face, such as getting tossed against a wall, it's always a stuntwoman for the bigger stuff. Same as all our cast. jms Date: 3 Feb 1997 01:26:15 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: From B5 to Crusade - A Transition $ Q! We're still discussing how the transition would take place. jms Date: 3 Feb 1997 09:09:12 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Is it really you? "He (Mr. Ellison that is) also mentioned that J. Michael Straczynski took over hosting a radio show in the LA area. I haven't ever heard of this before (as opposed to knowing about Cap'n Power- one of my favs as a kid, Ghostbusters, etc.), and I was wondering if it was really you." Yeah, that was me. The show was HOUR 25, a 2-hour weekly talk show covering SF, fantasy, comics, horror, you name it. I hosted the show for 5 years on KPFK-FM. jms Date: 3 Feb 1997 09:12:01 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS -- The Long Night - Something magical happened... That's an amazing (and amazingly gratifying) report...thank you very muc for that. And my best to the NY fans. Thanks again. jms Date: 3 Feb 1997 14:50:58 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS - Choice of Music in "The Long Night" It's not exactly a question of choosing the music: I sit with Chris Franke, our composer, and indicate, "Here's where the music starts, and ends." If it's source music, we discuss the type of music, and he then composes it. We don't choose from library stuff on the show. jms Date: 4 Feb 1997 19:03:51 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS where's Bester? He'll be up in 2 more eps. jms Date: 4 Feb 1997 19:14:28 -0500 Subject: Re: Attn: JMS -- Say cheese! Suddenly this whole photographic/photogenic discussion has taken a frightening turn.... jms Date: 4 Feb 1997 19:13:04 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Regarding Babylon 5: the Sequel Yeah, there will be an arc to the sequel series, but not quite as intensive or rigorous as the one in B5. jms Date: 4 Feb 1997 21:33:52 -0500 Subject: Re: Attn JMS: Background graphics for ITF (no spoilers) We use the Hubble images (provided by them) a lot on the show, including these current couple of episodes. We digitize them, then enhance them into 3D. There aren't any official B5 paintings going on now, the only artwork of a collector's sort now is the collector's plate series from Hamilton, which is very nice (the Delenn plate in particular is *gorgeous*). jms Date: 4 Feb 1997 21:34:49 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS - "Into the Fire" (spoilers) Thanks...and the shadow voice was definitely Ed Wasser. jms Date: 5 Feb 1997 01:44:28 -0500 Subject: Re: Into the Fire ( *Spoilers* ) Over? As Londo said..."Oh, I haven't even *started* with you yet." Was the story of Earth over after WW2? jms Date: 6 Feb 1997 02:06:00 -0500 Subject: Re: Attn JMS: Background graphics for ITF (new spoiler question) Yeah, John Copeland and I picked the specific images used in that one. jms Date: 6 Feb 1997 15:15:20 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN:JMS Yes, when you write a novel, you own the copyright; nobody can touch it without your permission. jms Date: 7 Feb 1997 10:12:34 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Only on Babylon 5 . . . (no ITF spoilers) 1.) The CGI was excellent and seemed very different than in previous episodes, much larger, better defined, darker. Was this an effort on your part, or the post-production department? We're trying some new rendering techniques...I think they're working very well. (Some of the stuff in the next episode has a very realistic feel to it.) 2.) Have you found some way to slow down time or compress the episode into a shorter span? When I finished this one, I swore I had watched a two hour movie. You did. We arranged for a time dilation bubble to appear over your house. 3.) Any reaction from the actor or staff on this one? Especially, Ed Wassner? (Might be a bit of spoilers in the answer to this one) Ed wants to come back as an alien. I see no problem with this. jms Date: 8 Feb 1997 02:36:14 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Revellogram model kits I saw the ad copy for the first batch of models when they came through my office for approval...the Starfury is going to be one of the first ones out, and if the ad just came through, then it means they're about to start marketing it, so I'd keep my eyes open. jms Date: 8 Feb 1997 02:38:44 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS & ALL: Very cool web site!! The early information on Vorlons was just put in there to make the studio happy, since I didn't want to reveal what they were -- it'd be kinda hard to explain to business types -- because they wanted *something* to hold onto. The same material includes drawings done again just to help them relax. jms Date: 9 Feb 1997 02:42:19 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Question about scores I think there are certain separated rights...but for the examples you cited, they were probably done via arrangements with the studios, not the composers. jms Date: 9 Feb 1997 02:45:53 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS Ghar...your comments are well and good and have nothing to do with reality. First, the Rangers situation is not a typical military situation. They are primarily from Minbar, both in terms of actual Minbari and humans trained there. They are specifically under Delenn's charge, with Sheridan *sharing* that authority. He did not know Ericsson because they're a large bunch to whom he has not been introduced, and likely they don't have very large records on them. This is a *de facto* army, not a *de jure* (I hope I spelled that right) army...there ain't a lot of paperwork on the Rangers. Second, it was Delenn who sent for this particular White Star, more for its strategic location...which Sheridan used because it was closest to the goal. Your observation is like saying that General Patton should know *instantly* about every soldier on the line in battle, however distant he is. Which is simply absurd. Watch some old WW2 footage someday...there's General MacArthur walking among some troops..."What's your name, son? Where are you from?" By your lights, he should have known that. Third, re: the encryption notice...of *course* they're all encrypted...what Sheridan said was "we're RE-encrypting this message EVERY THREE SECONDS, so be sure to have your system keep up." That's an escalation in layers of encryption so elaborate and involved that it makes the system actually slow down. Before you start flaming, I suggest you stop and consider what you're saying some time, and that there may be other elements at work beyond just what you THINK should be the case. jms Date: 9 Feb 1997 12:55:13 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: I'm going "huminahuminahumina..." Thanks. You can sit down now. jms Date: 9 Feb 1997 12:56:31 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS--Pushing the Envelope (SPOILERS, Into the Fire) Thanks. Now comes more fun...again, it's all about process...going from post-war (Minbari) to an uneasy peace, to showing how a war starts to come about, the actual beginning of a war, its progress, then the aftermath. That arc really is at the core of the show...the changes that take place through this process. jms Date: 9 Feb 1997 13:11:51 -0500 Subject: jms thinkpad story: end notes Just a follow-up since a few have asked.... A while back, I posted about the IBM Thinkpad 560 that I bought, which went kablooey within 24 hours and could not be fixed, and the multiple incompetent attempts to make it work by techs who had never touched this model before. I vented here in my frustration about it all. Well, what then happened was that a Very Nice Man named Robert Kirk at IBM heard about this, and intervened. Through his own resources, he had it checked out thoroughly, and discovered that the motherboard was wired wrong, and badly, with some connections not fully made, so it'd work one minute, and not the next. It's subsequently been replaced, and it has been running fine ever since. I've held back saying anything more until I was sure...but it's a fine little machine, now that it's working. Sometimes, as with any bureaucracy, you have to get their attention, and that's what the nets are good for. I heard from several others who had to go through similar steps..and if you plink them in public, they will sometimes do what they will never do for you in private. jms Date: 11 Feb 1997 19:25:25 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Qs about Crusade "Can you tell us if Crusade is going to be a definite length eg B5 is/was supposed to be 5 years (still hanging on for season 5 announcement and sadly for season 4 to start showing in UK)." There's a definite ending in mind, yes, but there's some room to play within that framework. Again, there's an arc, but not quite as rigorous as with B5. jms Date: 12 Feb 1997 20:16:19 -0500 Subject: Re: ATT JMS: Proportions of writing Thanks...at last, I'm well proportioned.... I've always preferred the arc, both inside an episode, and between episodes, and even in the course of a season, where there's the resolution and then there's time to consider, reflect, and show the impact of these things. It's not just about solving the technical problem that way...it's about the people who solve the problem and how they are affected by the problems and solutions. jms Date: 12 Feb 1997 20:22:12 -0500 Subject: Re: ATT:JMS Into the Fire ( *Spoilers* ) Yes, if Sheridan had not pushed Kosh into the trigger event that started to accellerate the story, the events that followed...wouldn't have. jms Date: 14 Feb 1997 07:11:24 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Thanks for the job! Thanks...the show can be a nudge, but only a nudge...you have to do what needs to be done, and you did exactly this. All praise and responsibility rests at your feet; I got nothing to do with it, but I will, with thanks and appreciation, reflect for a moment the sunshine of your accomplishment as though I actually had something to do with dawn. Good luck. jms Date: 14 Feb 1997 07:14:02 -0500 Subject: Re: Attn: JMS B5 Soundtrack Vol. 2 The two songs may show up somewhere someday, but I'm in no rush...I like the soundtrack being instrumental. jms Date: 14 Feb 1997 07:03:39 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Comparison to "Lucifer's Hammer" I agree, it's often the aftermath that holds the greatest interest. The Civil War tells one kind of interesting story; the Reconstruction that followed, which endured for many years longer than the war, tells another, just as interesting story. There's a line one of the characters will say soon, "The duration's going to be a lot longer than the war." It's a very true comment. One of my favorite books is "Alas, Babylon," by Pat Frank, which is about a nuclear war (written in the early 60s). But the war happens entirely off-stage, way in the distance...and the book focuses on one small township dealing with the after effects, and the day-to-day realities of surviving in a changed world. I've always been partial to that kind of storytelling. jms Date: 14 Feb 1997 15:12:56 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: How could you? -- SPOILERS for 'Epiphanies' "Was this your intention - to get a response from those of us who follow the Sheridan and Delenn story line closely? Some how, I feel manipulated and very disappointed." Yes, as I sat in the editing room, I thought, "Hmmm...if I do this, it'll get the Sheridan and Delenn fans' knickers all in a knot...." Every scene goes through some editing...there is barely a scene we film that doesn't get a line or two or three snipped. Sometimes the edit is noticeable, sometimes it ain't. The only thing you can decide is, "Does this move the story along or not?" I was chasing about another 20 seconds (which was all we're talking about here), and the back-and-forth didn't really add anything to what was already in that scene. I treated it the same as I would treat any other scene. jms Date: 14 Feb 1997 15:13:42 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: A request for a "final curtain bow". We've been considering something along those lines, but even broader, which is all I can say about it for now. jms Date: 14 Feb 1997 15:13:57 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Holographic storytelling and irony I'd say that about 75% of the ironies are deliberately planned, and 25% come out of the general ether as I'm writing. jms Date: 14 Feb 1997 15:14:35 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: promised end vs. non renewal "As you seem to be very quiet about the possible futures, here is my question: What do you *want*? :-)" To tell stories. It's all I've ever wanted. As for the future of B5, whatever happens...I proved that it could be done, when the Industry said it couldn't. What I set out to achieve, I've achieved...now it's just surviving the last stages of it all. jms Date: 15 Feb 1997 09:59:01 -0500 Subject: jms quickies For those in the Los Angeles area, I'll be doing a B5 presentation at Gallifrey, at the Airtel Hotel in Van Nuys, including a new blooper reel and scenes from episodes yet to come. I'll also be at Megacon in Orlando, Florida in about a month. Preliminary, unofficial word is that we got a 4.1 rating for the second new episode, our highest in 2 years. Also, the new issue of Sci-Fi Universe has two articles by Stephen Smith, one of which, a week following the production of B5, is probably the best and most comprehensive article ever written on the subject. I commend it wholeheartedly. Finally, Antioch Publishing is hitting the bricks shortly with a line of B5 nifties, ranging from bookmarks to bookplates, and other stuff. It's beautiful stuff, made for readers. jms Date: 16 Feb 1997 06:06:32 -0500 Subject: Re: ATT: JMS No Models from Revell? "recently I read that you saw ads for the model ships to be made by Revell/Modello, and thought they'd be out soon. I rushed out to the local hobby shop, where the owner had heard nothing new on the subject." These were ads that were coming through my hands for approval. They won't be appearing for a while yet...but definitely later this year. They wouldn't be sending me ad copy if they weren't planning to do something. Since the ads just came through, they wouldn't have shown up in the latest catalog. jms Date: 16 Feb 1997 06:08:45 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: GenCon Attendance? No, nothing is currently in place for GenCon. jms Date: 16 Feb 1997 06:09:59 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN:JMS The PTEN logo remains because that's what owns B5; the thing is no longer functining as it did, but on the books it remains. jms Date: 16 Feb 1997 06:11:17 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS Epiphanies (spoiler My suspicion is that they're dropping the B5 promo into what was the Kung Fu promo spot, since KF ain't no more. They can't put in any more commercials because they're up to the maximum limit, and most fans have indicated wanting to see the longer promo not the short one, which is often cut off. jms Date: 16 Feb 1997 06:16:46 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Question about B5 novels In the past, we've taken pitches, but overall I've felt that the books strayed too far from canon by doing it that way; the latest batch were more directly influenced. One is taken right out of B5 canon, the Anna/Icarus story, and it's one of the best to date; the second one up is based on a premise I wrote up and was assigned to the writer (it's the weakest of the three, set on Centauri Prime while G'Kar was still held prisoner, but still okay); the third is also based on a premise, and follows Sinclair after leaving B5 to form the Rangers...I worked very closely with the writer here to ensure that virtually *every line* is canon. Frankly, if anyone asks from now on, "What happened to Sinclair after leaving B5?" I can point to this book and say, honestly, "It's all in there." I think we'll continue to work this way more in future. Dell only works with published authors with agents and credits. jms Date: 16 Feb 1997 06:17:02 -0500 Subject: Re: JMS: quickies (Was: jms quickies) Sorry...Megacon is the weekend of March 15th. jms Date: 16 Feb 1997 06:19:21 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: 14th April for season 4 in UK? "I had written to them about the repeats of Season 1 (which we're not getting in Wales) and after explaining that their commitment to Welsh langauge programming did not allow them sufficient airtime for as many repeats as the main C4, they went on to say, "However, you'll be glad to know that the next series has been provisionally scheduled to start on the 14th April 1997 on Channel 4. That series will definitely be shown by S4C, although I am unable to give you a date and time at present."" This is the first time I've heard a specific date, so I can't comment with any kind of competence one way or another...I can only nod wisely, as if I knew what the hell was actually going on.... jms Date: 17 Feb 1997 05:08:24 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Complete Book of Scriptwriting Thanks...no, haven't written any other technical books, and all my fiction is currently out of print. jms Date: 16 Feb 1997 13:33:31 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN:JMS - WB Mixed Signals, Ratings... Yeah, it's enough to drive a Vorlon to hyperventilate.... jms Date: 19 Feb 1997 21:05:32 -0500 Subject: Re: Attn JMS: audio problem during "The Illusion of Truth" My guess is it was caused by the downlink, but I'll try to verify. jms Date: 20 Feb 1997 04:43:26 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS Master story tellers are never boring Thanks...and yeah, I'll be at Marcon this year, story-bag in hand.... jms Date: 20 Feb 1997 04:57:29 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Question about B5 novels "Is this book consistant with what happened to Sinclair in the first few issues of the DC comic? Or is the DC comic now non-canon?" It's *absolutely* consistent with the comic, the events of which are mentioned at some length in the novel. I'm telling you...it ties in the comics, the first year, the following year, the development of the Rangers, what happened to Marcus and his brother, what happened to Catherine Sakai, we learn a lot more about Valen...it's going to be pretty cool. jms Date: 20 Feb 1997 17:00:09 -0500 Subject: George is Here! I just saw the first message I can remember from George Johnsen, B5 co-producer and head of Post Production on BABYLON 5. His message here was signed George Johnsen . For those interested in the details of post-production -- sound, music, editing, CGI, other stuff -- George is the guy to ask. George is one-third of the Terrible Triumverate without which B5 would not happen, and even if it did happen, wouldn't be a fraction as good as it is. (The other two being me, one presumes, and John Copeland, one fears.) Everybody join in welcoming George...make him feel at home...and feel free to ask him all the technical questions you've considered asking me, but knew you wouldn't get back an even reasonably intelligent reply. (Insert evil laughter here.) (George also makes a *great* convention speaker, incidentally. Simply a word to the wise.) George also did the closing voice-over in season 1 of B5, by the way. This newsgroup is now officially bi-producial. Bi-producerial. Something.... jms Date: 20 Feb 1997 17:01:50 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: I-CON I'm pretty sure we'll all be there for all 3 days...I know Harlan and I will, pending any last-minute adjustments. jms Date: 21 Feb 1997 04:37:46 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Drooling and muttering Sounds like the drooling has stopped, but the muttering continues.... And thanks muchly. jms Date: 21 Feb 1997 04:52:11 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: MegaCon My main B5 presentation will be that Saturday, March 15th, from 3-4:30, at the Orange County Convention Center there in Orlando. I'll be there with bloopers, some scenes from episodes to air in May, and other gimcracks. jms Date: 21 Feb 1997 04:57:51 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Crusade/B5 ending? ** SPOILERS** "You have pretty consistently said that you would *end* B5, and that there would *never* be a sequel. Instead, you would do something in the B5 universe, but not realated to the B5 storyline. The description sure sounds like a sequel to me." What I have said about this from the beginning, and the ONLY thing I have ever said about this, was that there was a side-story in the B5 universe that could go off from the main story. That has been quoted in many different places, and on line, and definitely includes any plans for "Crusade." BTW, that new characters were mentioned does not exclude any current cast members...doesn't include them, either, but bottom line, that ain't a complete list of characters. There's room and flexibility in there, depending on what happens. jms Date: 21 Feb 1997 05:04:44 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN:JMS-New comics? Yes, here's the skinny: There's going to be a new 3-part story arc for the comics. It'll first appear in the UK, serialized in the B5 magazine (which will be regularly published over there shortly, to coincide with new episodes), then it will be gathered together and published in the US by DC Comics. The books are being written/assembled in-house, to avoid conflicts with editors. I've written the first issue, which brings the Valen story into the foreground, and the second two parts are being written by Peter David. jms Date: 21 Feb 1997 05:02:51 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Complete Book of Scriptwriting "Are there any plans to put any of [my books] back in print?" Ehhhh...no, not really. I'd rather see my next novel come out first, since it's going to be a better book than those preceding it. (Yes, I'm writing it now in my copious free time.) jms Date: 21 Feb 1997 15:21:24 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: You really depress me If it's a little close to home...you have to remember I came out of journalism, that was where I cut my teeth as a writer, working for newspapers and magazines. You see a lot of the tricks, some good, some not so good, used for purposes that are sometimes good or not so good, distortions on the left and distortions on the right. So it wasn't hard to just tweak it a bit. Thing to remember, though, is that this isn't ISN as we've known it in the past, at least not to this extreme. If anything, this ep should point to the difference between journalism, albeit biased, and propaganda, which is all ISN is now, and how only an informed viewership can prevent the one from sliding into the other. jms Date: 22 Feb 1997 21:32:03 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: New book? Thanks. I'm loathe to say too much about the book for now, because I tend to prefer to talk about these things closer to completion, so I know it's something that will *happen*. I can say for now only that it's an SF novel, probably with a good mainstream appeal to it, in a contemporary setting. I'm not able to work on it as much or as often as I'd like, stealing away a few hours here and there, but I'm about 100 pages into it now, and hope to have it done by the end of the year. jms Date: 23 Feb 1997 05:10:26 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Sheridian's model :-) Actually, I think the Starfury model was an illegal one we confiscated. Waste not, want not... jms Date: 23 Feb 1997 05:16:03 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Sonic Images and B5 CD vol2 "You should have gotten her name and asked to speak to the manager (or call back later). I don't think that JMS will be able to do anything about this -- he doesn't work for or manage Sonic Images." No, but it never hurts to make a phone call (which I did)... jms Date: 23 Feb 1997 15:19:25 -0500 Subject: The Illusion of Truth ( *Spoilers* ) Spoilers for The Illusion of Truth "3 - In the Delenn/Sheridan interview, there is a change in the vocal acoustics of the journalist for the "new" questions he asked. " And not just in the voice quality...look at the footage again. He's sitting in a different chair, in a different room. jms Date: 24 Feb 1997 22:08:45 -0500 Subject: Re: Attn JMS: audio problem during "The Illusion of Truth" Hey Folks- The audio problem on TIoT was caused by the uplink at the uplink facility that Warners is using this year. This facility is not all digital, like our facility was last year, and these analog-y problems creep in from time to time. The buzzing mentioned happened specifically on the "hypertext" captions (tell the truth, how many people touched the button pads?), and was caused by the audio channel being too close to video with a high white level. (Video pro alert- yes i know this is an overly simplified explanation) WB is in the process of fixing the problem. Any of the other mentioned problems, voices shooting off into the surrounds, steering effects in stereo, dialog level fluctuations are a local phenomenon. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 24 Feb 1997 22:09:10 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN GEORGE: Equipment question Hey, Lee- Whoa- sounds more like a lightwave mailing list question! :-) The arsenal looks like the following- Alphas for design stations serving 5 animators and one animation assistant (housekeeping and slate specialist). Most of these stations run Lightwave and a couple add Softimage. VERY plug-in hungry. PVR's on every station, with calibrated component NTSC (darn it, I hates ntsc) right beside. P6's in quad enclosures for part of the renderstack, and Alphas for the rest, backed up 2x per day to an optical jukebox. Completed shots output to a DDR post rendering and get integrated into the show. Shots to composite go to the Macs running After Effects, or the SGI running Flint, depending on the type of comp being done, and then to the DDR (8 minutes capacity on the SGI). Boy it sure sounds easy! The only problem is, we have a killer schedule and very picky producers, and ESPECIALLY picky viewers! :-) It is, however, a bunch of fun! George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 24 Feb 1997 22:14:26 -0500 Subject: Re: Attn GEORGE: Interceptors Mark- The interceptors have two components, one that throws a ball of energy at an incoming weapons charge (physical or energy) and causes dissipation, and the other is a net-like energy web that reduces the severity, but does not deflect or absorb, beam type energy. This allows some time for maneuvers after beam contact. Note that Major Ryan (He'll always be D-Day to my brother!) was very reticent to fire on the Clarkstown at all. Knowing that the Interceptors were down made his job all the more difficult. The rear facing beamn on the Alexander is similar in design to the front facers on the Clarkstown. When the C-town fired on the rotating section ofthe Alexander, it did not explode, as the interceptors were still active. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 25 Feb 1997 17:06:46 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS: First question I've ever asked you No, the last name isn't dubbed, only Jarrico was dubbed, because it was mispronounced. jms Date: 25 Feb 1997 18:49:26 -0500 Subject: Re: ATT JMS: B5 in April '97 MacUser Hey Tom! Even though the Joe uses "another" platform, the show actually uses many! Macs have been essential to the creation of the show from the beginning. Even farther back, the Amiga and the Newtek Toaster were employed. Currently we use Pentiums and Alphas for animation, Macs for Editing, Matte paintings and Compositing, and SGI's for Compositing and titling. If that isn't platform independent, I don't know what is! So, Andy can continue to like the show, AND be true to the magazine he works for! George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 (and Mac user since the 128!) Date: 25 Feb 1997 18:49:42 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS or GEORGE--Questions about ISN cameras Jeff- The ISN cameras are not capable of autonomous operation, but they can be progammed within a parameter set. The wand is a control device to change those parameters. Thus, one operator, two cameras (or more!) There was a distinct anti Minbar/Minbari sentiment among this particular crew, as evidenced by the later parts of the show, and it isn't hard to imagine that the bumping was at the behest of the wand wielder. If Lennier was simply annoyed, advantage ISN. If he reacted violently, advantage ISN. I'm sure that footage will be used on another ISN propoganda broadcast. (You can see it on Channel 134 of your cable)(Oh, sorry, Channel 134 is not availbale in all sectors after curfew) George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 25 Feb 1997 20:25:28 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Question on Ethics in Writing The line about meaning what you say is an old saying that goes 'way, way back, long before the O'Toole movie. And as far as Caligula goes, the sense of it is there, but not the details...and even if they *were*, basing part of a story on historical precedent, on actual events, is hardly inappropriate. (And in this case, again, it isn't based on that...evocative of it, yes, but nothing more.) The notion of the Vorlons and Shadows representing Order and Chaos goes back to the Babylonian creation myths, that the universe was born in the conflict between order and chaos, hence part of the reason I decided to name this show after Babylon. That's called *research*. It informs the show, but it is not the show. jms Date: 26 Feb 1997 13:18:52 -0500 Subject: Re: Atonement; slight spoiler "My question is, since we can see that the ship's engine is running, why aren't all of the objects in the hold laying against the bulkhead as a result of the ship's movement? Aside from that, it was a pretty neat effects shot." Because it's accurate; it's the same reason you don't see everything slammed up against the back wall of the shuttle even though it's circling the earth at thousands of miles per hour. jms Date: 26 Feb 1997 18:49:21 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: News release No, the Netter release categorically does NOT state that there will not be a fifth season, only that TNT has the rights to the 88 episodes and is hoping to get them on ASAP...but we're told by WB that this does not preclude year 5, which would (in the case of renewal) run in syndication cuncurrently with the reruns on TNT. jms Date: 27 Feb 1997 04:55:19 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Can you elaborate on Netter Digital Press Release? Happy to explain. "And now this letter comes out from your company which seems to imply there won't be a fifth season." NDEI is not my company. I don't own it, don't work for it, it's entirely Doug's separate company. With a stockholder's meeting coming up, he told his financial PR person to pump out a release to get a little heat going...and there was the TNT deal to pick up the B5 episodes that clicked over at 88 episodes. That is the point at which they can get the show clean, and there's the two movies for TNT to announce as go projects. The financial PR person put this out, rather than the B5 publicists, or WB, and it never went in front of me or John Copeland. It just went out. That TNT gets access to 88 doesn't preclude a possible season 5, which could air concurrently, a la the way Lazarus Man did. When I came in and found email on this, and saw the release, I raised hell with Doug about it. He said "the entire 88 episodes" just refers to what's solid right now, it doesn't mean it's going to be all there is...to which I said it could be read that way, and many people *were* reading it that way, and his person could've saved everyone a lot of hassle if it'd been run past me first. One thing's for sure: This Will Never Ever Happen Again. jms Date: 27 Feb 1997 17:53:01 -0500 Subject: Re: Sound problems? Steve- It is most assuredly NOT the way the sound is done on the show. We do take advantage ofthe extra dynamic range offered by digital post production, and that sometimes results in a 2 or 3 db difference between us and the commercials, but not the phenomenon you describe. I would love to speak with your affiliate to see if there is some help we can offer. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 27 Feb 1997 17:53:48 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS & George Johnsen: hi from .hu Andras- Cineon is not the only processor to have a grain remover/grain adder module in the software. The discreet logic Flint, Adobe After Effects, and Lightwave 3D used on B5 also have various modules and plugins for grain manipulation. We use 'em all the time on composite and blue screen shots to make the generated elements fit into the film elements. We shoot with Panavision Gold super 35. We have tested nearly all of the emultions currently available, and 5298 is what John Flinn III, ASC likes the best, so that is what we use. He feels it preserves the look he is going for the best. I know an EXR test was scheduled, but we haven't gotten there yet. We record all of our CG elements to hard drive and optical disc. The images are created "resolution independent" meaning they could be rendered for anything from video game to Imax, based on user input. For the NTSC version, we output to digital tape, eventually. Hey, advertise Kodak all you want, they make good film. Love that Kodachrome, even thogh it's disappearing. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 27 Feb 1997 21:52:00 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN George Johnson: No more space battles like Long Twilight >Kevein responded to: |> |> I was wondering why we haven't seen any other space battles like |> we saw in the Long, Twilight Struggle. I believe this is the one |> where *SPOLIERS FOR LTS BELOW* |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> Kevin- Well said, well strategized! George Johnsen CoProd, B5 Date: 27 Feb 1997 21:51:29 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN George: No more space battles like Long Twilight Struggle? In article <5f1pep$jff@larch.cc.swarthmore.edu>, fox@allspice.cs.swarthmore.edu (Annie Fox) writes: |> |> I was wondering why we haven't seen any other space battles like |> we saw in the Long, Twilight Struggle. I believe this is the one |> where *SPOLIERS FOR LTS BELOW* |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> |> Peter- There are most likely both types of battles you mentioned plus a few more types we don't imagine as yet. You will see more of the Long Range stuff if the story dictates. Remember that there weren't any Shadow fighters in the scene you indicate, only battlecrabs (yes, now we call them that, too), so the weapon size and distance could be greater. The element of surprise is also a player, as is the fact that these weapons were still quite unfamiliar to those being attacked. Our intention with the closer range battles was to convey several dramatic things. One, a more intense, less calculated battle. Two, a more personal fight for the participants, as these current fights are at once more desperate and more monumental, Three, these are combination fighter and larger ship battles. In addition to the large capital ships being involved, there are a high number of smaller, more manueverable ships that have no reason to exist, if technology is so great that battles can only be fought from a distance. I am convinced that the distances displayed are plausible for fighter-type battles. In all of the history of pilot to pilot combat, there is always a component of the direct engagement of the enemy. Technology continues to advance, and after every major advance, the battle distances expand out..... for a time. As soon as the pilots figure out how to react to the weapon, and defend against it, the engagement distances close up again. George Johnsen CoProd, B5 Date: 28 Feb 1997 05:52:56 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: The Magic of Intention I'm kinda prohibited from saying anything leading to a neilsen family. I can only look out at the clouds and consider what a pleasant day it is.... jms Date: 28 Feb 1997 05:56:57 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Design of Novels' Covers "What are the chances of the publisher choosing a new graphical theme for the novel covers? The previous covers mistakenly placed the books in a class unworthy of the subject: main character (B5 station), flanked by several alien and beautiful woman/heroic captain caricatures, adorned by dime store typography -- elements straight from Book Graphics 010. " I've been screaming about the covers from day one...and finally just put my foot down. "But it helps give us continuity," they say. "Sure," says I, "cover 1 is a crappy cover, so let's make a whole LOT of crappy covers that are all crappy in the same way so we can make 'em consistent." Jeanne's book is more or less of that mold; the second uses a similar philosophy but is better rendered; and the third book coming up has probably the best cover to date, showing the Minbari temple and some great sketches of Sinclair, Sakai and Cole. jms Date: 28 Feb 1997 11:40:33 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: 'Go' for re-editing the pilot? "Now that TNT has set a definite date for airing the series, have they given you a 'go' for re-editing The Gathering? If so, how much will you be able to put back (the character stuff with Sinclair?) Might you even re-score it with Christopher Franke music?" We're still negotiating that out, but in hopes of this going, we've begun redigitizing the footage so we can get into the main scenes we want to work on. jms Date: 28 Feb 1997 17:17:15 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: I-Con I think Saturday is my main day there. jms Date: 28 Feb 1997 19:45:22 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Do you shoot in advance? (Spoilers? Maybe. Up Somtimes, yeah, we'll gang together shots in one location that will spill across several episodes, and definitely did that in Garibaldi's case. I just figure out what's coming, and write those specific additional scenes prior to the rest of the scripts. jms Date: 28 Feb 1997 21:15:54 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: IMAX B5? Laura darling, Are you trying to kill me? George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 PS- we'd love to do it. Our animation is resolution independent, but there would be much additional work in creating the level of detail that the large frame would require. Would be great fun to do, and Boy, would it sound good! Date: 1 Mar 1997 04:19:35 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Are *you* happy with S4 perceived "rush"? Truth: I go back and forth. The "Into the Fire" thing, for instance...it would've likely been a two-part episode, but it still would've ended up exactly where it ended up. A few more big explosions, but I wonder also if that really adds anything past a certain point. >From a production standpoing, since "Fire" darn near killed us in the CGI department, it's probably a darned good thing it DIDN'T go for 2 eps. That puppy had something around 120 or 140 EFX shots. Overall, I'm actually quite happy with how this season is going, in terms of the intensity of the arc and the emotions and incidents. Parts would've been a bit more laid-back if I had decided not to cover my bets on renewal, and maybe the situation has worked out to the best (again the ABA principle, Art By Accident). So I dunno...all I know is what's in the episodes this season, and it's pretty cool overall.... jms Date: 2 Mar 1997 02:29:26 -0500 Subject: Re: Atonement ( *Spoilers* ) The ship with Marcus and Franklin *wasn't* spinning...hence, no gravity. jms Date: 2 Mar 1997 02:46:31 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Re: Compuserve's 'To Sysops from jms' The CIS situation seems to now be working out; the policy of backrooming messages has been stopped, and the larger policy is being reexamined and may be restructured. Again, it's the B5 rule...if you make a stand, and approach the problem from the perspective that you can make a difference, you can. And it wasn't just that it was me, believe me...it was the many, many people who stood up and said the same thing. You decide to change things, and you change things. jms