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1391 lines
54 KiB
1391 lines
54 KiB
Messages collated by Bill Bottke <bottke@organpipe.uug.arizona.edu>
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* Compuserve messages: (Courtesy of The Green Meddler at C.I.U.P.K.C. Software)
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*******************************************************************************
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Subj: M TV & R and B5? Section: Babylon 5
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To: Emily Christensen, 73362,3512 Saturday, March 04, 1995 12:52:20 AM
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~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#131266
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Thanks for sticking with it all this time. It's kind of funny; Mark
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Hamill talks about how he went to several conventions just prior to the
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release of STAR WARS, and practically couldn't get arrested. He'd sit there at
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a table, all alone, and nobody would even come by. Six months later....
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At those first few B5 panels, back when the show was still only in the
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"here's what I'm going to do" stage, before we'd aired a frame of film,
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the usual reaction was "yeah, sure," or hostility, or disbelief, or just no
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reaction at all. But at many of the cons, there was this core group of people
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who believed in the project from the first word...who lent their belief and
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their support to something they hadn't even seen, in the hope that maybe this
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time their dilligence and faith would be rewarded. And to those who make
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Babylon 5, those are the special ones, and we are very mindful of them.
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Stepping out on faith takes a certain degree of courage, and that's not
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something to be taken lightly. So thanks for being one of them.
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Re: your question...at this juncture, I think I'd have to choose "The
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Coming of Shadows" as the one episode I'd use to represent the series.
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That one episode came out so close to perfect, so close to what I saw in my
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head when I wrote it, that the difference is no difference at all. It has all
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the elements I'd feature in a B5 discussion...the CGI, the characterization,
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the complexity, the politics, the language, the performances.
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There are, by the way, some really extraordinary episodes coming up. The
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first one in the next cycle of new episodes, "And Now for a Word," will, I
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think, be very popular, and to my knowledge does something that has never been
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done in SF television before; "There All the Honor Lies" is a fun episode with
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some nice characterization and solid humor; "In the Shadow of Z'ha'dum" is an
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episode that is as emotionally raw as "Chrysalis" with some major revelations
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that force Sheridan to make the most important decision of his life;
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"Confessions and Lamentations" I'd put right next to "Believers" in intensity,
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a terrific Franklin episode; "The Long, Twilight Struggle" is probably the
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biggest episode of the entire two years to date, story and EFX and character
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wise, and will have a profound effect on the series that I'd compare to a cross
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between "Signs and Portents" and "Chrysalis"...and "Divided Loyalties" will
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produce a stunning revelation about one of our major characters.
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The latter half of this season is all about tightening the screws until
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you hit the screaming point. I've got to send this show over the edge,
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because THAT'S where the really interesting stuff begins to happen.
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I have a big sign on my office wall. It's a quote from Franz Kafka. (And
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by big I mean 2' x 3'.) "The point of no return; that is the point that
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must be reached." The latter half of this season will send us tumbling end
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over end beyond the point of no return...and taking many of our characters with
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us.
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jms
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Subj: B5 T-Shirt/Caps Info Section: Babylon 5
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To: All Saturday, March 04, 1995 2:40:24 AM
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~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#131322
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A while back, in discussing merchandise, I mentioned that All-U was doing
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some *great* shirts, but that they were mainly supplying direct to
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distributers. Because of demand, they've begun selling now directly, on
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individual orders. How long this will last is anyone's guess, but they're
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doing it now, and I figured I'd give everybody a head's up.
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They're doing short AND LONG SLEEVE t-shirts and caps. The caps are with
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the B5 symbol embroidered. The shirts are black, with full-color artwork
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from photographs and CGI images supplied directly by Foundation. The shirs are
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of the following kind: cast with station; station with B5 logo and the words
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"the last best hope;" station, logo and the nearby planet; and station, logo
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with a starfury flying past in foreground.
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They're nicely done, without the usual thickness associated with color
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inking on black shirts. These are authorized and approved. When we saw
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how nifty these shirts were, we ordered boxes of them for the stage, and these
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are the same kind worn around the B5 set by cast and crew. (They practically
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flew out the door upon arriving, by the crew in particular.) They're really
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nifty.
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Apparently there are CIS rules about giving out the prices of the shirts,
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so I won't, but I will say they're very reasonably priced. Their phone
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number is 1-800-424-2558, ext. 105. They're a very enthusiastic bunch of guys
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who love the show, and want to do it right.
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jms
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Subj: Sci Fi and Producers. Section: Babylon 5
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To: Richard Cunningham, 71213,3504 Wednesday, March 22, 1995 2:45:03 AM
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~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#149451
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I'm constantly amazed at the quality of work coming out of Matt Wagner.
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His MAGE continues to be one of the best graphic novels out there. And
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while I'm quite enamored of his GRENDEL series in all theirf various
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incarnations (literally), it started as a MAGE backup, and I'd like to see him
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finish the promised sequel one of these days.
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For what it's worth, in case anybody's interested, the books I'm finding
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of constant interest include just about anything from Grant Morrison, Neil
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Gaiman's SANDMAN, the FLASH has gotten really kind of interesting, all the
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ALIENS/PREDATOR stuff from Dark Horse tends to be just briliant, Steven Grant's
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X, the current SPIDERMAN clone-identity stories, Stan Sakai's USAGI YOJIMBO,
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plus BOOKS OF MAGIC, SUPERMAN, the new STARMAN has potential, and it looks like
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DC may finally have gotten LEGION OF SUPERHEROES onto a track worthy of its
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origins.
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(Yeah, if you haven't figured it, I've got about a $40 per week habit at
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my local comics store.)
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jms*
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(*vainly hoping to one day see more MIRACLEMAN titles, maybe this time
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from Alan Moore.)
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Subj: <TSOZ - Predicatable> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Monday, May 15, 1995 9:12:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#209630
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No, the Sinclair storyline would not have been introduced the same way as
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the Sheridan story vis a vis the shadows. That was kind of my problem as
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I got into this; how to tie him to that part without straining credulity, given
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everything ELSE he was into.
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Science/exploration vessels are privately funded, and go into areas of
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considerable hazard. They arrive by piggy-backing on a larger, jump
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capable ship, with an appointment X-number of days or weeks later with another
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ship to go home. While it's gone, it's on its own. EA can't afford to send
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out more ships into a situation like this, where they have no real idea what's
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gone wrong, and it's a private venture, any more than the US can send out the
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Coast Guard to investigate every single ship that disappears at sea halfway
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across the globe.
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Re: Voyager, I feel that the characters have great potential that has not
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yet been really explored.
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jms
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Subj: <TSOZ - Delenn) Section: Babylon 5
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To: Monday, May 15, 1995 10:04:23 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#209735
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It's not possible to be on the edge of shooting the season, and not know.
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Contractually, we have to notify the cast, for instance, by no later than
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June 10th or so, or be in breach, and that won't happen. There's just a lot of
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details right now still being worked out between the stations and Warner Bros.
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We keep expecting final word literally day by day. Should be soon.
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jms
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Subj: Main corridor scenes Section: Babylon 5
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To: Monday, May 15, 1995 10:04:24 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#209736
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We're *frequently* in the main corridor, or the zocalo, which both have
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the rising floorline. So I'm not sure why you're not seeing it....
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jms
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Subj: Za'Ha'Dum and Mind War Section: Babylon 5
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To: Monday, May 15, 1995 10:04:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#209737
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No, Sakai was never slated to vanish into shadow-lands. This isn't a
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case of transplanting storylines. If things were going to be done in
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exactly the same way with either character (Sinclair/Sheridan) then there would
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be no NEED to bring in another character. Logic.
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Re: the two speeches by G'Kar and Delenn...yes, they were constructed
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specifically to echo one another, because the walkers at Sigma 957 are one
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of the older races that flit through but don't really pay any attention to us
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anymore.
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jms
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Subj: Govts & Embassies Section: Babylon 5
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To: Tuesday, May 16, 1995 2:07:13 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#209894
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Certainly there are some changes coming to the Narns, though not in any of
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the same way as the rest. And no, G'Kar has generally gone along with his
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government.
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jms
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Subj: <TSOZ - Delenn) Section: Babylon 5
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To: Tuesday, May 16, 1995 2:07:14 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#209895
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>>Along these lines, is there any chance we might see -- on the nets or in a
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magaizine -- a >>story on the creation of a random episode, beginning from when
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the script is written to air >>date (including pre-production, filming, and
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post-production)?
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If any magazine ever wants to write that article, we're up for it, but so
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far, no one's approached us on it.
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jms
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Subj: B5 Comics #5 and #6 Section: Babylon 5
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To: Tuesday, May 16, 1995 9:02:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#210954
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The comics vary in applicability. I don't see why the events in the
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current arc wouldn't apply.
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BTW, I'm writing a new 4-issue arc, which introduces a character who will
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be seen in the (one hopes) third season. So this will provide all the
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canon background on the character, and have it out before the airing itself.
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jms
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Subj: Za'Ha'Dum and Mind War Section: Babylon 5
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To: Tuesday, May 16, 1995 9:32:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#211040
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The Rim is the edge of explored or known space.
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jms
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Subj: <Shadow of Za'ha'dum> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:45:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#212073
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Actually, it wouldn't be the first time for a series; Blake's 7 ended by
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knocking off all the characters. Frankly, I find that kind of thing
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vaguely dissatisfying.
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jms
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Subj: <TSOZ> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:45:23 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#212074
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"I distrust any female who bites the male's head off after mating."
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Ah...I see we dated the same women back in college.
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jms
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Subj: <TSOZ - Delenn) Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:45:24 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#212076
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There is just about zero chance of B5 ever ending up on the WB network, as
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those two (WBN and PTEN) are *very* competitive with one another, and
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neither division would allow it. (Unlike other companies, WB is set up as a
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series of competing small empires who are not required to cooperate, in the
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theory that this will make for stronger individual divisions. Not always
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true.)
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jms
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Subj: <In the Shadow ... > Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:45:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#212077
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Re: disliking the idea of god...I don't, and don't feel its correct to
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dislike ANY idea. Ideas are simply that: words and thoughts. The idea
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that one sex or race is better than any other is harmless; the PRACTICE of
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treating one race or sex better than any other, and acting upon that idea, IS
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odious and wrong and must be stopped.
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We should never be afraid of ideas. Good can only be properly understood
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in the context of evil, as balance points on our intellectual fulcrum.
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I've always wondered why the notion "Lead us not into temptation" was something
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to be praised. Rather, I think it should be "lead us INTO temptation," because
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it is only when a belief, or an idea, or a faith is most fully tested, and one
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can REFUSE temptation, rather than just avoiding it, that growth takes place.
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jms
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Subj: What do Shadows want? Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:46:00 PM From: J. Michael
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Straczynski, 71016,1644#212078
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Just for the record...it's J'Quon.
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jms
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Subj: <Shadow of Za'ha'dum> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:46:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#212080
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"Joe is storing a bit of a surprise for us among the Narn."
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Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm....could be.
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jms
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Subj: <Shadow of Za'ha'dum> Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:46:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#212081
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Yeah, I kinda wanted the current arc in the comic to come out around this
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time; it's good for showing a flashback that ties into several parts of
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the story at once. (One biggie is yet to come, at the end of the comic arc.)
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I'm currently writing a new 4-issue arc, which is designed to give all the
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backstory of a new character that will (if we're renewed) be introduced in
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the third season, all of it canon, and which weaves in and out of many of the
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major events we've seen in year two. In theory, the first issue of that would
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hit the stands about the same time the first episode of the series is aired
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(assuming the above).
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jms
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Subj: Za'Ha'Dum and Mind War Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:46:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#212082
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Anything I write can be reposted anywhere else (and usually is).
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jms
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Subj: B5 Comics #5 and #6 Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:46:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#212083
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Thanks. The 4-issue arc I'm writing is fairly large in scope; it goes to
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an area near the Rim, to Minbar, Earth, Narn, Centauri Prime, Babylon 5,
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and involves the majority of our characters, plus we learn a lot more about the
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Rangers.
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(Why do I seem genetically incapable of just writing a simple little
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story...?)
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jms
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Subj: BABEARLON 5 INFO Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:46:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#212084
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That bear, by the way, also provided our best dailies...there, on screen,
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was our EFX supervisor standing against a blue screen, a cockpit window in
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front of him, and a long pole stuck up the bear's butt, slamming it into the
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glass, over and over and over....
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I *live* for this sort of thing.
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jms
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Subj: Big Bang Section: Babylon 5
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To: Wednesday, May 17, 1995 8:46:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#212086
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The Big Bang convention is not a B5 convention, and is deliberately NOT
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sanctioned or endorsed by either Warner Bros. or Babylonian Productions.
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We've taken considerable pains to distance ourselves from it.
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jms
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Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
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To: All Friday, May 19, 1995 1:13:19 AM From:
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J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#213448
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Bits of this and that....
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1) Claudia Christian, Bill Mumy and I will all be appearing (in separate
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appearances, I believe) at the Creation Mega-Show in Ahaheim, CA at the
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Anaheim Convention Center the weekend of May 27-28. I don't know which day(s)
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they'll be appearing, but I'll be there that Sunday. For more info, call
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Creation at 818-409-0960. Should be a big convention.
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(Side-note: Creation has produced some *very* nifty B5 jackets, some in
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denim, others in suede/leather, with the station embroidered on the back.)
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2) To parents of small children who watch B5...next week's episode,
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"Confessions and Lamentations," is a very strong, intense, uncompromising
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episode. You *may* want to watch it first, in order to better decide if it
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should be seen by them, and what you may want to discuss later.
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3) To sum up various threads here...yes, Warner Bros. has decided that the
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last four episodes of this season will be aired in October, in order to
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get a running start on a (hopeful) third season in November, though there has
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as yet not been any confirmation about a third season.
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4) For our Irish viewers, Peter Jursasik will be blipping in for a one-day
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appearance in Dublin this weekend. Contact Gerard Keating here on CIS for
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more info.
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5) A number of cast .avi files have been uploaded here; they can be
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re-uploaded to other systems, and are a great deal of fun. You may want
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to check them out.
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jms
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Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
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To: Friday, May 19, 1995 8:01:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#214141
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The last new ep for this month is "Confessions and Lamentations," next
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week. Then the long wait.
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jms
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Subj: <In the Shadow ... > Section: Babylon 5
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To: Friday, May 19, 1995 11:37:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#214380
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"Are people in the 23rd century REALLY this naive?"
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Are people in the 20th century really this naive?
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Answer: Senator Joseph McCarthy. J. Edgar Hoover.
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jms
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Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
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To: Friday, May 19, 1995 11:37:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#214381
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You can probably contact Creation about the jackets at 818-409-0960.
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jms
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Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
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To: Friday, May 19, 1995 11:37:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#214382
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With luck, sometime in the coming week we'll get the formal word. The two
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sides involved in the negotiations between PTEN stations, and Warner Bros.
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will both be back in town again, and with luck they can lock down the deal
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points remaining to be settled.
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jms
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Subj: <TSOZ - Delenn) Section: Babylon 5
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To: Friday, May 19, 1995 11:37:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
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71016,1644#214383
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At this point, Warners seems to think that if 1st season eps are repeated,
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folks'll get confused by seeing a different CO.
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jms
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Subj: <TSOZ - Delenn) Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Friday, May 19, 1995 11:37:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#214384
|
|
|
|
I have zippo control over this. It's strictly a PTEN decision, based
|
|
primarily on sweeps periods and the like. The reason they don't want to
|
|
run new eps after May is that in June-August you have the lowest HUTs
|
|
(Households Using Television) figures of the whole year; folks are out,
|
|
enjoying the weather, going places, on vacation. September puts you right up
|
|
against the major network releases, and syndicated shows get *killed*. Year
|
|
three would, one hope, debut in November...so that leaves October, after the
|
|
new shows have settled down, and it's a non-sweeps period.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <In the Shadow ... > Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Friday, May 19, 1995 11:46:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#214406
|
|
|
|
You're making a mistake in semantics. First, if someone is trying to
|
|
introduce legislation based on this anti-female POV, then that is an
|
|
action based upon the idea, and as I've said, that is where you now draw up
|
|
sides and try to convince the majority that this idea is wrong.
|
|
|
|
More importantly, the issue at hand is the right simply to *express* or
|
|
hold unpopular beliefs. A free society allows all kinds of ideas. A wise
|
|
society chooses with care which ideas it implements. At its best, we must be
|
|
both free and wise.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 20, 1995 4:45:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#215006
|
|
|
|
Not so much the future of PTEN, no; every year they go through various and
|
|
sundry negotiations, some more intensive than others.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Tribute to Wise Guy? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 20, 1995 4:45:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#215007
|
|
|
|
No, Wiseguy did not have any influence on writing my show. The story arc
|
|
was written 7 years ago, long preceding that show.
|
|
|
|
Nor was Ivanova's ankle-break a tribute to anything, since it was written
|
|
in to accommodate a real accident in which Claudia broke her foot.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Shadow of Za'ha'dum> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 20, 1995 4:45:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#215008
|
|
|
|
The grapevine's info is wrong. We have not yet been formally or
|
|
officially renewed.
|
|
|
|
In retrospect, the only problem with having given nods of respect to other
|
|
works of SF is that now it seems that's the main thing people look for,
|
|
seeing it even when it's not there. The show was never intended to be a
|
|
pastiche, but that's how some choose to, incorrectly, perceive it. "Oh, this
|
|
is a tribute to the Spock/Kirk pon farr fight." NO it's not. Part of the
|
|
problem may be in the frame of reference; those with backgrounds in literature
|
|
see parallels to Homer or MacBeth; those who primarily have an SF background
|
|
see it all as riffs on Blake's 7 or somesuch. It's enough to make me consider
|
|
yanking OUT all nods and references forever down the road, to avoid people
|
|
saying, "Oh, he's just doing X" when the simple fact is that I never SAW X in
|
|
most cases, wasn't doing X, have no DESIRE to do X, and I thunk up this scene
|
|
myself while sweating blood at 3 a.m. It's kind of hard to go through that
|
|
much pain, creating a scene, and then have someone say, "Oh, he based that
|
|
scene on the cabbage sequence in "Mighty Mouse.""
|
|
|
|
So I'm giving some measure of thought to this whole issue.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 20, 1995 4:45:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#215009
|
|
|
|
No, the UK will shows the episodes straight through, without a break, and
|
|
will see the last 4 eps months before they're aired in the US.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 20, 1995 4:45:12 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#215011
|
|
|
|
No, the Warner stores generally carry little to nothing from their series,
|
|
including B5.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 20, 1995 4:45:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#215012
|
|
|
|
I think Creation can do mail order or phone orders via their Glendale
|
|
office, 818 409-0960.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 20, 1995 10:06:25 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#215312
|
|
|
|
It's legally possible for a station to do a marathon, I just don't think
|
|
it's likely.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 20, 1995 10:06:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#215313
|
|
|
|
Right now, there's nothing much to be done until they finish their
|
|
negotiations. It's in the lap of the execs....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Thanks for the AVI's Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 20, 1995 10:06:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#215314
|
|
|
|
A few lines were suggested by WB PR, and a bunch of others I wrote.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Shadow of Za'ha'dum> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Sunday, May 21, 1995 10:17:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#216296
|
|
|
|
Hey! A reasonable, thought-out message! Stop that, you know the rules on
|
|
that sort of thing....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: UK B5 ratings? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Sunday, May 21, 1995 10:17:23 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#216299
|
|
|
|
We don't do the sound of engines droning all the time, but we do a fair
|
|
amount of audio mapping, very subtle stuff, most noticeable if you run it
|
|
through a good Dolby surround sound system. If you're running it through a
|
|
straight TV set, you may lose a fair amount of it.
|
|
|
|
The UK ratings are published somewhere, but I don't have it at hand.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: B5 Jackets Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 22, 1995 12:41:25 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#216403
|
|
|
|
The expensive jackets are leather, and quite nice; but they also make a
|
|
denim version as well, which should be far less.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Confessions and Lamen> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 22, 1995 12:52:26 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#216404
|
|
|
|
On one level, this does indicate that we really *are* crazy over here at
|
|
B5. Here we developed this race for nearly two years. Developed their
|
|
culture. Mentioned them prominently just last episode. Had them speak before
|
|
the full Council (in "Long Dark"). Spent substantial amounts of money making
|
|
them the biggest single alien group we've got (some of the group shots had
|
|
40-50 or more Marcabs, all in full prosthetics and full costume)...and now,
|
|
never to be seen again.
|
|
|
|
It couldn't be a race we've never seen before, not if it was to have the
|
|
impact I wanted. It had to be a group that's been with us from the
|
|
start.
|
|
|
|
In Council scenes for the balance of the season, the Marcab seat remains
|
|
empty.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Data Crystals Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 22, 1995 7:24:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#217128
|
|
|
|
There's a code imbedded inside the crystal itself, which though the camera
|
|
doesn't pick it up, can be read fairly easily by the naked eye. If you
|
|
try to change the code, it requires breaking the crystal, which defeats the
|
|
purpose.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Conference? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Tuesday, May 23, 1995 1:01:31 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#217562
|
|
|
|
Well, I *did* stop in for the Tallman CO here briefly. And yes, the
|
|
narration should be shorter next year.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644Tuesday, May 23, 1995 12:17:15 PM
|
|
~From:
|
|
|
|
Joe:
|
|
|
|
Q: How many PTEN Executives does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
|
|
|
|
A: Two. One to screw it in 4/5 of the way, and the other to come along four
|
|
months later and finish the job.
|
|
|
|
man, it's going to be a loooooooong Summer . . .
|
|
|
|
- Steve
|
|
|
|
Subj: UK B5 ratings? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Tuesday, May 23, 1995 8:08:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#218423
|
|
|
|
>>Is Babylon 5 filmed in widescreen format?
|
|
Yes, it is, and eventually it'll be released in that format.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: RoB5: 'Cheezy' quotes Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Wednesday, May 24, 1995 2:56:19 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#218783
|
|
|
|
I actually couldn't believe that episode. I hadn't watched the show in a
|
|
very long time, and finally set aside time to look at it...and the ship is
|
|
menaced by the deadly cheese virus?
|
|
How could *anyone* pitch this with a straight face?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Wednesday, May 24, 1995 8:32:07 PM From:
|
|
|
|
<<Send your complaints <<re B5 schedule mess>> to:
|
|
|
|
Dick Robertson, President Warner Brothers Domestic Television
|
|
Distribution 4000 Warner Blvd. Burbank, CA 91522 United States
|
|
|
|
tel. (818) 954-5877 fax. (818) 954-5820>>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Confessions and Lamen> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 25, 1995 8:17:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#220833
|
|
|
|
"No disease in human history is 100% fatal."
|
|
|
|
Not correct. The Black Death was fatal to everyone infected by it. It
|
|
was not, as Drafa, 100% contagious, but it *was* about 90% contagious.
|
|
The Black Death wiped out *three-quarters of the entire European population*.
|
|
|
|
Roll that around for a while. Three-quarters.
|
|
|
|
The only thing that saved areas of Europe was that there wasn't as much
|
|
travel then as today between countries; it was reserved for those with
|
|
enough money to afford it, which were very few. There were also fewer means of
|
|
entry; a river and a bridge closed to refugees was often enough to keep people
|
|
out. There is now MUCH freer travel. Had there been freer travel in the 14th
|
|
century, it's entirely possible that the entire European population might have
|
|
been completely eradicated, with those few who might've been immune dying from
|
|
associated diseases, hunger and other problems caused by the presence of the
|
|
disease.
|
|
|
|
One person I spoke with at the CDC (Center for Disease Control) said that,
|
|
hypothetically speaking, the sudden eruption of a disease like this is
|
|
possible. How likely depends on various circumstances. There are, for
|
|
instance, regions in the Amazon and South America where certain kinds of plant
|
|
and animal life can only be found; and those specific lifeforms can transfer
|
|
diseases to humans...diseases that literally melt the flesh off your body, or
|
|
in another case, cause worm-like infestations to burst through the skin
|
|
covering the entire body. (Let me tell you, researching this was just a whole
|
|
lotta laughs.) They are *highly* contagious. The only thing that has (so far)
|
|
prevented a massive outbreak is the fact that by the time you can generally get
|
|
OUT of these remote areas...you're dead.
|
|
|
|
A particularly aggressive disease could perform very much like what is
|
|
described in the episode.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Conference? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 25, 1995 8:17:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#220834
|
|
|
|
It would be bad luck to release the third year title until I know for sure
|
|
if it's been renewed.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Conference? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 25, 1995 8:17:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#220835
|
|
|
|
Perhaps the narration for year five should just be, "RUN FOR IT!"
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: cast change? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 25, 1995 8:17:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#220836
|
|
|
|
Stephen <<Vir>> is definitely not being written out of B5.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Conf & Lam Awesome Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 25, 1995 10:08:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#220984
|
|
|
|
>>Mira Furlan should be getting more Meryl Streep-like roles.
|
|
Thanks. And Mira's terrific, I definitely agree.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Local station: "renewed" Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Friday, May 26, 1995 5:37:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#221631
|
|
|
|
Unfortunately, no. Baseline problem: both WB and the stations want B5
|
|
back, but there are some outstanding, and rather substantive negotiations
|
|
still ongoing concerning financial issues and other stuff that doesn't involve
|
|
us directly, but affects our fate. Those negotiations have not been completed,
|
|
and everything is still in abeyance.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Notes from jms Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Friday, May 26, 1995 10:55:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#221956
|
|
|
|
On the other hand, the new series is from Morgan & Wong, the same guys who
|
|
made the X-Files (with Chris Carter) a great show, so there's hope.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
Subj: RoB5: Bashing... Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 29, 1995 2:20:15 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#223617
|
|
|
|
"...the fact remains that more people continue to enjoy Trek than Babylon
|
|
5."
|
|
|
|
Don't you think it's just the *teensiest* bit unfair to compare a show
|
|
with a TWENTY SEVEN YEAR HISTORY to something that's only been on the air
|
|
less than two seasons? If B5 and ST came on the air at the same time, then you
|
|
could make this comparison fairly. ST has, over nearly three decades, become
|
|
part of the culture; B5 doesn't have that advantage.
|
|
|
|
On the whole issue of so-called "Trek bashing," part of my brain explodes
|
|
every time I see this discussion dredged up from whatever place it rests
|
|
in between sessions. For 27 years, many ST fans held up that show as being the
|
|
Ultimate in TV SF. "Well, X is okay, but it's not as good as STAR TREK!"
|
|
"Show Y really sucks next to Star Trek." And so on.
|
|
|
|
So now somebody says, "Well, Star Trek is okay, but it's not as good as
|
|
BABYLON 5" and suddenly I hear a lot of whining and whinging and "Tell the
|
|
bad mans to stop making fun of us! That's not fair!" Seems to me it's only
|
|
not fair because somebody other than ST fans is saying it. (And please don't
|
|
tell me the former stuff didn't happen; I've been on the nets since 1984 and at
|
|
cons/in fandom since forever, and I've seen it.)
|
|
|
|
Most of the ST fans, I should point out, are quite accepting of B5; what I
|
|
see most often is those who did the most bashing of every other show
|
|
falling entirely to pieces because now they're at the other end of it, as
|
|
though their show should be sacrosanct. To whom I simply say...tough. Deal
|
|
with it, pink boy, it's *your* turn in the barrel, and if you don't like it,
|
|
then maybe you shouldn't have been doing it yourself all these years.
|
|
|
|
This leads to comments like those from (either Berman or) Pillar in a
|
|
recent magazine interview, in which he stated that yes, there are lots of
|
|
other SF shows out there, but because his show has the Star Trek name on it, he
|
|
really doesn't have to keep up with or have any sense of competition with any
|
|
other show, since that name gives them an automatic advantage. That speaks to
|
|
the heart of why many ST fans are now having a problem with that show, whose
|
|
motto seems to be, "We're Star Trek, we don't HAVE to try harder."
|
|
(Reminiscent of the SNL routine, "We're the phone company. We don't care. We
|
|
don't have to.") It's sheer complacency.
|
|
|
|
When some ST fans berate or criticize other shows, they feel they do so
|
|
from a perspective of quality, and thus they're automatically right; if
|
|
another fan of another show does it to them, well, by golly, that's not
|
|
informed criticism, it CAN'T be, because ST is the True One Light, it must be
|
|
BASHING! Screw that. Any show that can't take a little criticism isn't worth
|
|
squat in the first place.
|
|
|
|
And don't even *try* the notion that B5 gets by without criticism. I see
|
|
*plenty* of it...a certain percentage comes from misunderstanding, a
|
|
certain percentage just making trouble...and a great deal of it is quite
|
|
correct. But it's *there*, believe me, I go through it every day of the week.
|
|
If maybe people do it a bit *less* than ST, could it possibly, just maybe, be
|
|
because we generally do fewer stupid things and make fewer dumb mistakes? No,
|
|
couldn't be that...it must be blind loyalty, check your cerebral cortex at the
|
|
door and don't question.
|
|
|
|
Nope. We try harder. Work harder. Because we don't have the luxury of a
|
|
27 year franchise behind us. The only thing we have to offer is a passion
|
|
for quality and hard work. We can't rely on the sure knowledge that viewers
|
|
will come back to us every week because of our name. We have to make every
|
|
single episode as close to a home run as we can, because we can't afford even
|
|
*one* foul ball.
|
|
|
|
"...more people continue to enjoy Trek than Babylon 5." Yeah, and more
|
|
people eat at McDonald's than Chateau Marmont. So what's your point? (And
|
|
no, I'm *not* saying that ST = McDonalds, I'm just trying to illustrate the
|
|
numerical fallacy in the argument you proffered.) Numbers prove nothing in
|
|
terms of quality per se. If it did then BAYWATCH would be the Grail to which
|
|
all TV should aspire. I would remind you that more people originally watched
|
|
LOST IN SPACE than ST when it was on the air; that LiS lasted longer than ST
|
|
out of the gate, garnered more positive reviews than ST, and ST was generally
|
|
considered, in newspaper and magazine articles, to be just a "cheap attempt to
|
|
cash in on Lost in Space's popularity," and a vulgar adventure show without
|
|
substance. That's how it was described.
|
|
|
|
Seems to me that ST fans should know their history, and understand when
|
|
they are doing to another what was done to them. (And most do, btw.)
|
|
|
|
The *hardest* part, for me, is knowing how many ST fans ARE open minded,
|
|
and accepting, and living out what was, frankly, Gene's concept of IDIC,
|
|
infinite diversity in infinite combinations. And it's the majority of them who
|
|
are nifty, bright, open people, as opposed to a very small minority of
|
|
whiners. I was at a Creation Convention today, and time after time after time,
|
|
I had people come up to me to say that they like B5, in many cases more than
|
|
ST...and many of them said it with a glance over the shoulder, as though
|
|
nervous that somebody was going to come over and argue with them or berate them
|
|
about it.
|
|
|
|
There's nothing unpatriotic or disloyal about criticizing ST, any more so
|
|
than criticizing any other show. In theory, that's how shows get better.
|
|
Assuming the people in charge are listening.
|
|
|
|
In sum...this isn't a screed or a Jeremiad against ST, or ST fans, or
|
|
anything of that nature. It's just that I get tired of a very few people
|
|
who seem to apply the word "bashing" to the show they've been using to bash
|
|
other shows, and thus dismiss any merit to the critiques by redefining it in
|
|
terms more convenient for their own beliefs. Here you've got this multi
|
|
billion dollar MONOLITH that is *STAR TREK*, 27 years of history, multiple
|
|
series, movies, zillions of merchandising items...and a few people fall apart
|
|
and get hysterical because somebody raises his hand and says, "Err, umm, I
|
|
kinda have a problem with something ST does." Please. At least we have the
|
|
sense to laugh when we see an elephant frightened by mouse, and this situation
|
|
is not terribly dissimilar.
|
|
|
|
(And, once again, the ST criticism tends to come from ST fans who also
|
|
watch B5; there is no such thing as a B5 fan who's never watched ST and
|
|
goes after it. This ain't a B5 problem, it's an ST problem.)
|
|
|
|
The unfortunate part of all this is that ST fandom is generally nothing
|
|
less than terrific; they kept a show on the air, sustained a vision, and
|
|
have been ever faithful. It's only a very vocal few who start vibrating into
|
|
another dimension when the show gets pinked once in a while. The open attitude
|
|
that I've seen displayed by the vast majority of ST fans is to be commended,
|
|
and complimented.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <<Confessions & Lam>> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 29, 1995 1:31:23 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#223602
|
|
|
|
What Colin misses, obviously, is that not *all* of the markabs are
|
|
"mindless religious fanatics," in that Dr. Lazarenn was not one, but that
|
|
was mainly because he had long been exposed to human/outsider ideas, which most
|
|
of his reclusive people are not.
|
|
|
|
Second, y'know, I get asked a lot, "Give us ALIEN aliens." So I do. And
|
|
then I get gigged because they don't act like we'd expect humans to act.
|
|
Sometimes I just throw up my hands....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Confessions & Lament> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Sunday, May 28, 1995 11:30:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#223516
|
|
|
|
Thanks. I was hoping this one would come out okay, since it's kind of
|
|
important that it do so, and I'm pleased that it's had the reception it
|
|
has.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Confessions> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 27, 1995 11:04:24 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#222682
|
|
|
|
You have to listen a little closer. The dormancy period is several days
|
|
to several weeks, as Franklin says; once the disease *comes out of
|
|
dormancy*, then it kills within about a day.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Conference? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 27, 1995 11:04:25 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#222683
|
|
|
|
People of all sorts have good and bad characteristics. To show the one,
|
|
and then the other, is not an inconsistency. SF has been too full of
|
|
all-good or all-bad characters for too long. That ain't life.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Conference? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Sunday, May 28, 1995 11:30:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#223512
|
|
|
|
I don't think his behavior was boorish at all. After a very long day, in
|
|
which (he stated) he hadn't eaten a thing, he sits down in a cross legged
|
|
position for (if you track the time in the story) 3-5 *hours*, alternately
|
|
eating and meditating in a small, quiet room...who *wouldn't* fall asleep?
|
|
|
|
As for the "golden boy" thing...I'm forever amazed at how many folks just
|
|
don't learn the lesson. People saw Vir come in, decided he was a comic
|
|
character, a fop, nothing more, and complained about it...until he started to
|
|
show his other colors over time, and to *grow into the role*. And people said,
|
|
"Oh, yeah, he's kinda interesting after all, isn't he?" YES, HE IS, YOU
|
|
LUMMOX, GIVE THE CHARACTER AND ME SOME CREDIT HERE. (Not speaking to you,
|
|
Anne, this is just what goes 'round in my head when the gerbil's not spinning
|
|
the wheel.)
|
|
|
|
What's the number one rule of B5? Nobody's what they appear. What's the
|
|
number two rule? Joe is interested in *process*. You don't start out a
|
|
character at point A and keep that character there forever; the show is about
|
|
change and process. Look at Luke Skywalker. Was he in "Jedi" the same person
|
|
he was in "Star Wars?" No. He went through a growth cycle and maturity
|
|
cycle. Look at Frodo at the start of Lord of the Rings, and at the end. The
|
|
classic hero's journey starts with someone who is breathtakingly unprepared for
|
|
what's coming, and has to develop and grow.
|
|
|
|
Sheridan comes to B5 with a bit of a silver spoon in his mouth and a smile
|
|
on his face. And he's going to get the crap kicked out of him. And he's
|
|
going to grow, and mature, and become someone of importance, and great
|
|
strength, at great cost.
|
|
|
|
So sometimes I lose patience -- probably incorrectly -- with people who
|
|
look at Sheridan and, despite seeing every other character on this show go
|
|
through major changes -- assume that what they're seeing now is all there will
|
|
ever be. On another level, it's kinda wrong for me to feel this way, since
|
|
though I know where the characters are going, nobody else does, and it's unfair
|
|
to expect people to react to something that hasn't been shown yet.
|
|
|
|
What can I say? I'm a writer. I'm a little nuts sometimes.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Big Bang Section: News/Scheds/Cons
|
|
To: Sunday, May 28, 1995 2:29:14 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#222757
|
|
|
|
In addition to your note, the Big Bang Con has just had an ad appear in
|
|
the current STAR WARS INSIDER stating that I will be attending their con,
|
|
when in fact they have known for a very long time now that this is not to be
|
|
the case. This advertising is 100% false.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Shadows in UK Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Sunday, May 28, 1995 2:20:15 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#222756
|
|
|
|
Never said that the great war would be over this season; the great war
|
|
gets GOING this year.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Minbari Family Structure Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 27, 1995 11:05:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#222685
|
|
|
|
Marriages are not arranged per se, but it is generally with the consent
|
|
and blessings of your caste-leaders, to whose authority one submits. One
|
|
also generally tends to marry only within one's caste (warrior, religious or
|
|
worker).
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Local station: "renewed" Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Saturday, May 27, 1995 11:04:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#222684
|
|
|
|
No, this has always been part of the ongoing negotiations ever since the
|
|
big PTEN meeting. As for the rest...as this has dragged on longer and
|
|
longer, I've started to get a little nervous (but only a little), because the
|
|
longer it goes on, the more that internal politics will start to manifest
|
|
themselves, and that always worries me. But there isn't much of anything that
|
|
can be done from outside, so it's just back to wait and see.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Knives confusion Section: The X-Files
|
|
To: Saturday, May 27, 1995 10:49:20 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#222673
|
|
|
|
Yes, "Knives" was originally intended to be shown prior to "Shadow," but
|
|
the heavy CGI requirements of the former caused it to be shown second. It
|
|
doesn't affect the story much, mainly it was there to re-introduce the audience
|
|
to certain ideas and concepts (like the Icarus) before dealing with them
|
|
big-time in "Shadow."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
Subj: What do Shadows want? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 1:48:23 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#212362
|
|
|
|
G'Khamazad.
|
|
|
|
And G'Quon's primary follower/co-prophet was G'Lan.
|
|
|
|
Remember that name.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Shadow of Za'ha'dum> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 1:48:24 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#212363
|
|
|
|
"HAVE YOU EVER ANSWERED A QUESTION STRAIGHT IN YOUR LIFE!!!"
|
|
|
|
Yes and no.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Ratings Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 1:48:25 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#212364
|
|
|
|
UPN is considered a network; PTEN is not; different rating systems.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <TSOZ - Delenn) Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 1:48:26 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#212365
|
|
|
|
What I've lately been led to understand is that PTEN wants to hold the
|
|
last 4 episodes, which I'd assumed would be in July, until *OCTOBER* in
|
|
order to use them to get a running jump on the (not-yet-oficially-approved)
|
|
third season.
|
|
|
|
Take your reaction, multiply it by a factor of 100, and you will have
|
|
mine.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Shadow of Za'ha'dum> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 1:53:15 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#212371
|
|
|
|
"...we have less hair...."
|
|
|
|
Well, boy-howdy, I must be evolving REAAAAALLY fast....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <In the Shadow ... > Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 9:24:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#213256
|
|
|
|
Okay, let's say you identify a "bad idea," to use your phrase.
|
|
|
|
Let's say racism. You, from your POV, define racism as a bad idea. Now
|
|
what do you do about it? Try to eliminate the bad idea? How?
|
|
|
|
Now, that's you. That's fine.
|
|
|
|
But Bob over there, at the Four Square Baptist Church, he thinks that
|
|
feminism is a bad idea. What should he do about that?
|
|
|
|
The problem is many-fold. Who determines what a "bad idea" is? Are you
|
|
willing to let another define that for you? Or define it yourself for
|
|
everybody else?
|
|
|
|
What our system of government does is to guarantee freedom of speech and
|
|
ideas. Even, and especially, the ideas we hate or disagree with. It's
|
|
easy to protect the ideas we like and agree with. It's the others that need
|
|
protection. The day we stop defending those rights, is the day somebody else
|
|
decides that OUR ideas are "bad ideas."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Za'Ha'Dum and Mind War Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 9:24:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#213259
|
|
|
|
Yes, all the .avi files can be uploaded to Genie or elsewhere.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: What do Shadows want? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 8:55:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#213226
|
|
|
|
Nope. Insofar as I recall, I have never typed it as J'Quon.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: What do Shadows want? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 9:24:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#213257
|
|
|
|
Damn...apparently I did misspell it...I must REALLY be tired.
|
|
|
|
It *is* G'Quon.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: What do Shadows want? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 9:24:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#213258
|
|
|
|
Ignore previous message. I *did* misspell it in my last note. Creeping
|
|
senility.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: BABEARLON 5 INFO Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Thursday, May 18, 1995 9:24:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski,
|
|
71016,1644#213260 >> Umm, where *is* the bear right now...?
|
|
|
|
I'm not entirely sure either of us really want to know that.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, it was important in the sense that there was a lot
|
|
emotionally at stake for the characters; if it came off as
|
|
arch, or over-wrought, it would fall flat on its face.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: What Do You Want? Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 29, 1995 4:43:16 PM
|
|
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#224100
|
|
|
|
To finish this story.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <Confessions & Lam>>> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 29, 1995 4:43:15 PM
|
|
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#224099
|
|
|
|
The last 4 episodes of this season are being held by
|
|
PTEN until October, in theory to lead into the year three
|
|
(not yet approved) debut in November. I think I finally
|
|
sussed out why this is being done; I heard the other day
|
|
that Voyager is doing the same thing. So that means PTEN
|
|
is counter programming it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: Minbari Family Structure Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 29, 1995 4:43:13 PM
|
|
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#224098
|
|
|
|
No, what usually happens is that you sense a calling one
|
|
way or another early on; you are assigned to (for lack of a
|
|
better term) a teacher, who guides you and sees if your
|
|
calling is sincere (the teacher is from the caste you feel called
|
|
toward), and if the calling is true, you can enter that caste.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: RoB5: Bashing... Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 29, 1995 4:43:20 PM
|
|
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#224103
|
|
|
|
I disagree strenuously with the notion that the universe as
|
|
presented in the current ST series is a "brighter vision of the future."
|
|
It looks to me like humans have left behind everything that makes us
|
|
humans. We've been bioengineered to within an inch of our lives.
|
|
There seems to be no interest at all in what happens back home on Earth
|
|
.politics, changes in culture, fashion, new music. One's job description
|
|
seems to be the end-all and be-all of his or her life. "Recreation" is
|
|
always the sedate card playing type, the nightmare dinner party of the
|
|
1950s, or living out a fantasy world in the holodeck because there's
|
|
nothing much in the real world.
|
|
Passions and spikes in our humanity have all been hammered down and
|
|
eliminated. Remember "Invasion of the Body Snatchers?" That, to me,
|
|
is the Star Trek future...set aside your passions, do all for the
|
|
collective good, it's a better world that way. Maybe you
|
|
call that perfection; me, I call it a nightmare.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: RoB5: Bashing... Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 29, 1995 10:27:19 PM
|
|
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#224435
|
|
|
|
Of course he is, and of course he does. Some folks think the only way
|
|
to get a reaction is to behave in a way that makes people angry. Me, I
|
|
kinda think that's juvenile, but hey, what do I know?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <<Confessions & Lam>> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Monday, May 29, 1995 10:27:18 PM
|
|
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#224434
|
|
|
|
There's another Lincoln quote that you don't hear very often,
|
|
I think it was about a book or play, which I think is great...
|
|
"If you like that sort of thing, it's the sort of thing you'll like."
|
|
That line has gotten me out of more diplomatic situations than
|
|
anything else I can think of.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
Subj: Narns on CNN Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Wednesday, May 31, 1995 3:04:04 AM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#225540
|
|
|
|
Actually, that is a piece relating to one of the shows for
|
|
later in the year. But hey, we'll take it....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: <C&L and Cynicism> Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Tuesday, May 30, 1995 11:50:20 PM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#225390
|
|
|
|
I dunno...I've seen much the same thing. I think, on some
|
|
level, it comes from the top. Seems like every time a politician
|
|
appears on the horizon, propped up as the latest Knight In Shining
|
|
Armor, sooner or later we discover that the armor is empty and the
|
|
knight is off somewhere boffing the innkeeper's underage daughter.
|
|
Maybe we have too many politicians and not enough leaders.
|
|
|
|
Such cynicism can also be self-reflective, though. We're
|
|
still reeling from the hangover of the Me-Generation. Self-
|
|
sacrifice, altruism, these have become "stooge" values, snickered
|
|
at, derided..."You WHAT? You turned in the wallet you found?
|
|
What're you, brain-dead?"
|
|
|
|
Someone made an interesting observation lately, that the WW II
|
|
generation raised their families with the notion that their kids were
|
|
the most important things in the world. The kids grew up and, well,
|
|
kinda believed this, and became the center of the world, with *their*
|
|
kids all too often afterthoughts or part of a process to make *their*
|
|
life richer, where it is convenient for them. I don't think that's a
|
|
wide-reaching generality, but I think it's true in enough cases that
|
|
it merits consideration.
|
|
|
|
Nobody trusts anybody anymore. We all assume the other guy's
|
|
working an angle somewhere. And here, I think, the perception is
|
|
inaccurate, because there *are* plenty of people out there working for
|
|
the greater good of the commonweal; it's just that when the evening
|
|
news rolls around, it's the crooks and the conmen and the latest
|
|
Capital Hill scandal that gets the attention. I dunno...it's a
|
|
conundrum, to be sure.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subj: C&L Date Section: Babylon 5
|
|
To: Tuesday, May 30, 1995 11:50:16 PM
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#225389
|
|
|
|
Yeah, you're right, it probably is in October; I was going off
|
|
a mental countdown, just approximating. The last 4 take place
|
|
between late October and mid-December, 2259.
|
|
|
|
jms
|