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The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5
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JMS CompuServe messages collected by The Green Meddler <kilgalen@tde.com>.
Subj: B5 Mailing Address Section: Babylon 5
To: All Tuesday, August 01, 1995 12:42:08 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#286115
There is a growing diversification in the names and personnel
to whom letters are being sent via the B5 mail drop (which is not
the main studio address). Consequently, it is important to be
absolutely sure to include the words C/O BABYLON 5 on any mail you
send cast or crew at this address: 14431 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 260,
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. Otherwise it may end up being returned.
jms
Subj: <Long Twilight Struggle> Section: Babylon 5
To: John Lester, Tuesday, August 01, 1995 11:34:09 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#286700
"Joe, you do not disappoint."
I'm trying *awful* hard not to. Doing this show right is terribly
important to all of us involved in it. I really want it to be the kind
of show I've always wanted to watch as a fan. And I'm very, very pleased
that the writing is generally satisfactory. Sometimes, when
behind the keyboard, one has grave doubts if it's good enough....
jms
Subj: Great Maker Section: Babylon 5
To: Chris Gardiner, Tuesday, August 01, 1995 3:43:23 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#286265
Who are the 4 different races who all use the term Great Maker?
Insofar as I recall, only the Ikarrans and the Centauri used that term.
jms
Subj: MoreMicrosComing! Section: Babylon 5
To: Rae Augenstein, Tuesday, August 01, 1995 11:34:07 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#286698
As it happens, we've found out, a LOT of toy stores have gotten the
B5 micromachines, but very few actually put them out on the racks, not
knowing anything about the show (our curse continues). In general,
if people go into their local medium/large sized toy stores,
and ask them to check in the back, they appear.
jms
Subj: <Long Twilight Struggle> Section: Babylon 5
To: David Silkstone, Wednesday, August 02, 1995 12:44:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287137
Yeah, we can probably put up a cast shot.
Season 3 airs in the US starting in November (with the last
of year two in October); I think it'll probably start in the UK
in the spring.
jms
Subj: <<DL foreshadowing?>> Section: Babylon 5
To: John McAuley, Wednesday, August 02, 1995 12:44:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287139
We've done a couple of steady-cam/CGI composite shots, but not
that much; in "And Now For a Word," you'll sometimes see a floating
recorder in C&C moving around...that was a steady-cam in use, and we
composited in the CGI. It is, however, time-consuming, so we only do
that sort of thing as required.
jms
Subj: Unlicensed Bumpersticker Section: Babylon 5
To: B.J. Mitias, Wednesday, August 02, 1995 12:59:12 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287161
Pegasus can *say* they are protected all they want...but parody laws
do NOT cover the use of the B5 logo, which has been copyrighted and
trademarked. If it's just text, that's one thing, but to use the logo in
any unauthorized way is infringement.
jms
Subj: Unlicensed Bumpersticker Section: Babylon 5
To: B.J. Mitias, Thursday, August 03, 1995 12:00:14 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287744
We learn by doing.
jms
Subj: <DS9 4th season rumors> Section: Star Trek
To: William A. Swanberg,Thursday, August 03, 1995 12:48:23 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287792
You always have to be careful when a studio says it hasn't turned
a profit on the show. They say this for the primary reason that certain
people involved with series and movies -- stars, creators, executive
producers -- get a percentage of the net profit. Conseuqently, it
is studio and network policy to make absolutely sure that, whatever the
real facts might be, none of their products *ever* show a profit *on paper*.
You always charge something more against the income, and make sure you zero
out the profits to avoid sharing it with anybody else.
It's the oldest gag in the book, and in any public statement, that's
the party line.
jms
Subj: <<TLTS: Shadow ships>> Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Thursday, August 03, 1995 2:05:24 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#288105
The Sigma 957 vessel has no connection to the Shadows.
jms
Subj: <<TLTS: Shadow ships>> Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Thursday, August 03, 1995 10:38:23 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#288536
<So what _was_ it then? (Don't tell me: 'Yes' <g>)>
It was very old.
jms
Subj: <DS9 4th season rumors Section: Star Trek
To: Mike Topf, Thursday, August 03, 1995 2:05:23 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#288104
"...you could ask for a MUCH smaller percentage of gross."
The only acceptable percentage of gross profits is zero.
Unless you're a megastar or megadirector. Other than that,
nobody gets gross points.
jms
Subj: <DS9 4th season rumors> Section: Star Trek
To: Fred DeCosta, Thursday, August 03, 1995 10:38:25 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#288537
Because it gives you at least a shot, if the show is a huge
success, of eventually going in and having the right to examine
their books and at some far distant point, if you're willing
to throw away your career but there's some serious money to be
had, of going after them. (Did you know that the majority of actors
from the original ST, outside the so-called Big Three, have over
30 years received only about $16,000 from ST in merchandise, profit, and
other areas?)
I believe it was Fess Parker who finally sued over profits
from his series, which after 25 years of syndication, was still
supposedly "in the red." It took several years of litigation to
get the money he was owed from his "net."
jms
Subj: Season 3 Starts Shooting Section: Babylon 5
To: Dimitri M LaBarge, hursday, August 03, 1995 2:05:15 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#288102
It's just something I've had to learn out of self-defense;
I've never actually been good with crowds, was always terrified of
speaking in front of a group. But sometimes you gotta do
what scares you....
jms
Subj: Season 3 Starts Shooting Section: Babylon 5
To: Michael Grabois, Thursday, August 03, 1995 10:39:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#288538
I guess I chose "Twilight" because it's just such a kick-ass
episode that works great with an audience.
And yeah, the whole presentation was a hoot.
jms
Subj: Season Three Narration Section: Babylon 5
To: Bob Cazzell, Thursday, August 03, 1995 10:39:07 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#288540
"By the way, your dedication and commitment to your audience is the
coolest thing I have ever seen come from the makers of a series,
sci-fi or otherwise. You have no idea how much we appreciate it!"
Thanks. I guess, really, it's just having been a fan, and still
being a fan in many ways, I just figure fans should be treated the way
I would've liked to have been treated by folks in TeeVee. It's really as
much my pleasure as anyone else's.
jms
Subj: Season Three Narration Section: Babylon 5
To: Tom Knudsen, Saturday, August 05, 1995 12:22:31 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#289498
Yeah, Chris tends to get the lion's share of the credit for
being online, though I've been here since 1984/85, but that's okay;
it's the principle that matters.
I'm glad it's helped to demystify TV, because that's been one
of my goals from the very start. You can't hope to influence or
control something until you understand it.
jms
Subj: U.S. video release Section: Babylon 5
To: Robert A. Russo, Saturday, August 05, 1995 12:22:08 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#289500
We're working on it....
jms
Subj: the NEW sf standard Section: Babylon 5
To: David Chandler-Gick, Sunday, August 06, 1995 12:52:17 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#290359
Let me address the small points first, then go into the major
thesis.
What keeps B5 from becoming a "cult" series if it runs only its
five years? I dunno...lots of shows run only 5 years or less. The
majority of them, in fact. I'd also point out that in the moderately-
hard SF area -- space stuff, star travel and the like -- no show has EVER
gone five years except Star Trek. Even Lost in Space went only 3 years
(September 1965 to September 1968). Prior to the new incarnations of ST,
the original series ALSO didn't make it past 3 years.
So if you really *want* to look at the only non-Star Trek spacefaring
SF series to go (hopefully) five years in, oh, the entire HISTORY of
American television and minimize that by calling it a "cult" series, well,
that's certainly your right. I don't agree with it, but one wouldn't expect
me to.
Twin Peaks, which only went about 2, max 3 seasons, is a short enough
run to be justifiably called a "cult" show. Five seasons is a credible
series in *anyone's* book. Right now, at just shy of year two, we're still
a cult series. By year five we would not be; we'd be in the same ranks as
any successful TV series, and success is defined as 90-100 episodes in the
can, enough to syndicate thereafter. So right from the git-go, the term
being used, "cult series," doesn't apply, I think. It's no more a cult
series than any mainstream series that goes 5 seasons. (Hill Street Blues
just *barely* made it to six years.)
Blake's 7 is a UK series, and to American audiences, that usually
becomes "cult" by definition. And, again, B7 ran only 4 years, from January
1978 - December 1981. Dr. Who, though gifted with a 20+ year run, is also not
much known in the US, and thus comes under a "cult" show heading by that
default. (Because part of the definition of cult show is not a numerical
issue, as you seem to advance, but a philosophical issue, the extent to which
the society at large knows about the show, or elements of that show.)
But to continue using your terminology for a moment...Space 1999, which
you cite, ran only from 1975-1977, three years again, which once more does
not allow for any real momentum to be built up in making the general populace
aware of it. Quantum Leap made 5 years, but since we're talking space-SF at
the moment, and it'sreally more of an anthology series with recurring
characters, that goes into a separate category for now.
If this show goes the full five years -- and it will -- it will become
the only non-Star Trek space series to do so in the history of American TV.
That is a *huge* accomplishment. Will it become widely known and accepted by
the American consciousness, mainstreamed like ST, so that Jay Leno can comment
on Klingons and everybody in the audience knows what he's talking about?
Who knows? Maybe, maybe not. Doesn't really matter to me one way or another.
The show will be there. A painting is no less a
painting for the number of people who pass in front of it. It is what it is.
I could probably help matters a bit by going more for merchandising, put
in some scantily-clad women, doing a lot of stunts...but I've said from the
start, I'm not here to try and make a franchise, I'm here to tell a story.
Some folks will like it, some won't. Them's the breaks.
So the thesis of your panel, in some measure, seems to be, If B5 does
not become as well known as ST, is it ultimately successful or important in
American culture? To me, this is inherently flawed reasoning. ST is only the
measure of ST, and nothing else. I'd even argue that except for the original
series, there really isn't any one thing called Star Trek. There was the 3
season show that Gene did in the late 60s; there was the first movie Gene did
in the late 1970s; the other movies that were done by other people, like Nick
Meyer and Harve Bennet; the TNG series that was created by Gene and David
Gerrold; the DS9 that was created by Berman/Pillar; and the ST:V created by
Piller, Berman and Taylor.
They are all, in many ways, very different creations, that share only one
thing: the brand name. If you renamed B5, STAR TREK: BABYLON 5, the ratings
would go up instantly, and it would become more of a household name than it is.
It would be no different a show, but it would have that brand name behind it.
"What keeps Trek from falling into the "cult" classification is the
ongoing production." Negative. To play one side of the coin for a moment,
the second most of the population knows or recognizes the word "Klingon," it has
stopped being a cult show, *on a philosophical level*. And that happened long
before TNG ever went into production. That happened over the 20 years the
original three-season ST was in syndication.
To play the other side of it...I hate to break it to you, but media SF is
STILL considered a "cult" area, by critics, by networks, by the press, by most of
the population. A very small portion of viewers watch SF, including ST. It may
seem to you otherwise, because as SF fans we're nominally in the fishbowl, but it's
true. In syndication, you need far fewer ratings points to survive. Overall,
neither TNG nor DS9 got anywhere near decent network ratings, though there were a
few times in TNG's history -- the pilot and a couple others -- where it approached
that. Put onto a network series list, they would both be where ST:V is right now...
in the cellar.
So, overall, I think the entire thesis of the panel is flawed, and proceeds
from the trap of accepted cliche, misinformation and fuzzy thinking that has little
to do with the realities of TV and culture.
Now to the main point of *my* thesis here.
I'm frankly tired as hell of "ST vs. B5" or "ST/B5" panels, however they're
couched. They are separate shows, they have nothing to do with one another,
they're as different as night and day, and the only reason to put them into the
same panel is to start a fracas or take a philosophical position by defined
contrariness. And, fundamentally, it continues to put ST at the center of the
universe. We're going on our third season now, and things look good for seasons
thereafter. We've carved out our own identity. why can't we be taken or discussed
on our own? Why does there always have to be this nutty feud?
Are you going to be doing ST/Quantum Leap panels? Will there be any X-Files
/Star Trek panels? No, because they're nothing like Star Trek, AND NEITHER ARE WE.
Yet everywhere we go, ST follows us around like Marley's Ghost, rattling its chains
and dominating the conversation.
"Can Babylon 5 replace Trek as THE icon of SF?...without a continued run."
First off, THE icon to whom? To core ST viewers? Of course not. To core B5
viewers? In many cases, it already has. You equate numbers of episodes to
quality of episodes. Many SF writers have written MORE novels than Robert Heinlein...
but how many have written them BETTER? And which is more an icon of SF? Who is
this person who decides what a media or print SF *ICON* is?
The Oxford American Dictionary defines "icon" as, "a painting or mosaic of
a sacred person, *itself* regarded as sacred." If that's the Pointy Hat under
discussion, I'd rather pass, all things considered. I don't WANT this show to
become an ICON. I want to tell this story, about these people. You can't sit
there worrying if it's going to become a Huge Eternal Monster, or some revered
icon, or anything that comes after the fact. That way lies madness. You can
only concentrate on telling the story, and making the program, as best you can. If the audience finds you, and likes it, you get to stay on the air and finish
your story; if not, you don't. That simple.
Nothing personal in this, btw, this isn't a flame, and I'm not annoyed,
I'm just trying to answer the question honestly. And yes, the info you
provided re: BB was most helpful.
jms
Subj: <DS9 4th season rumors> Section: Star Trek
To: Alan Mulvie, Sunday, August 06, 1995 12:52:19 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#290360
"Surely that sort of thing <trick accounting to hide profits from the cast
andproducers> is illegal, if not immoral?"
It's Chinatown, Jake.
jms
Subj: Cresent City Con Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Sunday, August 06, 1995 1:42:15 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#290397
Actually, it's fairly well known that Ron Goulart ghost-writes the
TekWar novels for Shatner.
jms
Subj: the NEW sf standard Section: Babylon 5
To: SysOp J. Shaun Lyon, Monday, August 07, 1995 2:39:03 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#291470
<I would like to further point out the following: CompuServe is a
fair sampling of science fiction fandom hooked up electronically to
online services, and while this branch of fandom is still a minority,
I would say it is fairly smaller but still representative cross-
section of fandom.
And on CompuServe's SF & Fantasy Media Forum, Babylon Five has been
the single *highest* trafficked message section since the Forum's
inception in October 1994. (I don't have the figures before the split
off hand.)
Star Trek has been, for the past six months, number three.>
Well, hell, if that's the case, then I'm owed some *MAJOR* perks
around here. That official food taster never DID arrive, you know....
jms
Subj: the NEW sf standard Section: Babylon 5
To: David Chandler-Gick, Monday, August 07, 1995 2:39:19 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#291473
Understood. No healing needed; it wasn't directed at you as much
as the topic.
I do understand your point; but I still don't think it's valid.
If by cult you mean, as you say, "anyone who is a fan of something that
is no more," not being produced, then EVERY TV series ever produced,
that is now no longer being produced, becomes a "cult" show. Again, that
broadens the definition to the point where it's essentially meaningless.
Specificity In Language Is Our Friend.
The other point that I forgot to bring up in an already overlong reply
was this: you ask, can B5 "become the mainstream reference to SF?" For
starters, it shouldn't, because then, for the mainstream SF = B5, and I don't
think that's correct. The whole point of the exercise is to broaden out and
encourage MORE SF on the air. What is the mainstream reference for cop shows?
Is it CANNON? HILL ST. BLUES? NYPD BLUE? DRAGNET? There are so many of them,
there isn't one clear point of reference. That is the goal with SF, to get
people to understand that there isn't any one thing that is a reference point
to SF.
What would it be in literature? Heinlein? Asimov? Clark? Ellison?
Ashton-Smith? Russell? Simak? Bradbury? Anybody who says that Writer X is
THE reference point in SF would be laughed out of the room. The only reason
that ST has kind of "been" that by default is that there hasn't been much
ELSE in 30 years that's been even moderately successful. Once that changes,
you'll get to the *proper* definition of SF, as advanced by (I believe)
Asimov, who said, "SF is whatever I point to when I say, 'That's SF.'"
(Which, by the way, is one of Paramount's greatest fears. Until now,
they've had a lock on the genre, and ST has thus been special, and they're
worried that if there are lots of space genre shows around, that ST won't
be *special* anymore, and will have to compete on its own merits.)
The other thing to consider in all this is the cultural aspect. Will
there ever be another Beatles? No. Because as well as their artistic
contributions, the Beatles occupy a very special place in music history;
they were nominally the first really big breakthrough for what we now
consider modern rock. They were the biggest. They changed the field of
rock forever, redefined it, gave it tools that did not exist before, gave
it a measure of legitimacy it did not have before. Many other bands since
have sold more records, but none will ever occupy that primary, pivotal
position in our culture. There cannot be another Beatles, and you cannot
define another group in that light, despite every six months somebody
coming out and saying that X is "the new Beatles."
Ditto Star Trek. It is very much a product of its time, and it fills
that same kind of pivotal role in SF television. It changed SF TV back in
the 1960s, no mistake. It occupies a unique niche in American television
that cannot be replicated. Which is why I've always run from reporters who
ask if this is the next Star Trek, if I'm "the next Roddenberry," and the
like, because there can't be either, any more than somebody is the next
Beatles.
The fundamental problem is that after ST went off the air, nobody
picked up the ball they'd created and ran with it. They chipped at the
stereotype of SF, and broke some of it, but nobody followed through with
another show. DRAGNET changed forever cop shows; prior to then, they were
always considered low-ratings shows, of interest only to those who like
police procedurals. For all its stiffness, DRAGNET showedcops with real
lives, drinking problems, debts, marriages, dinners, dating...and in
very short order, other shows followed suit. Had that not happened, cop
shows that came 20 years later would've been compared with Dragnet, since
that would be the only reference point. But it *did* happen with Dragnet
..and it *didn't* happen with Star Trek.
The larger the possibilities, the less likely ANYthing is to be a
"reference point." And that, to me, is the goal.
jms
Subj: Who is Heinlein? Section: Babylon 5
To: Chris Gardiner, Sunday, August 06, 1995 3:17:13 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#290885
Heinlein is one of the great figures of SF; STRANGER IN A STRANGE
LAND, THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS, STARSHIP TROOPERS, THE ROADS MUST
ROLL...the list of his works is enormous, and were pivotal in shaping
much of modern SF.
jms
Subj: Who is Heinlein? Section: Babylon 5
To: Daniel M. Upton, Monday, August 07, 1995 2:39:09 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#291472
I just put the titles out in the order they came into my fevered
brain, there's no contextual or priority order there.
jms
Subj: B5 at general cons Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey, unday, August 06, 1995 3:17:15 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#290886
That really honks me off; here Michael comes to be the GoH at the con,
and some folks object to having his work on B5 shown there because it isn't
ST. Whatta buncha meroons....
Re: showing letterbox...no, because we have not yet gone back and re-
telecine'd the footage back to its original aspect ratio. We strike edit
and master prints from the negative that are regular aspect ratio. To
later make the widescreen versions we'll have to strike all new prints in
the original format.
jms
Subj: Interesting Note... Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Monday, August 07, 1995 2:39:02 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#291469
It's hard to tell; I think SQ is certainly in megatrouble unless they
make substantial philosophical changes behind the desk. If they don't,
well, the ocean's *real* deep, and a sub can sink and never be seen again.
Especially if its torpedoed by a network.
jms
Subj: Sinclair - Sheridan Section: Babylon 5
To: Benoit Langevin, Monday, August 07, 1995 2:39:07 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#291471
No, the Sheridan arc is completely different from the Sinclair stuff.
If it were just a continuation, then there'd be no need for the change.
The whole REASON was to do stuff we couldn't do otherwise.
Book 3 will be out later this month. No plans on hardcover. DC keeps
saying book 11 is the last, but I've been told by WB that the deal to extend
the comic to #24 at least has been agreed to, so I don't know what the heck
is going on.
jms
Subj: B5 CD in LA Section: Babylon 5
To: All Monday, August 07, 1995 2:46:27 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#291475
BTW, for those here in the Valley in LA, the Tower Records store on
Ventura near Van Nuys has about 10 of the B5 soundtrack CDs just sitting
there in the rack, waiting for pickup by those who've been looking for them.
jms
Subj: Interesting Note... Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey, Monday, August 07, 1995 4:28:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#292036
Focus groups are the tools of the devil. Nothing good EVER comes
out of them. Ever. And if they're looking, as you say, to the 4-12 year
old market...you can pretty much forget the show altogether.
jms
Subj: Season 3 Starts Shooting Section: Babylon 5
To: Richard Cunningham, Monday, August 07, 1995 3:49:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#292001
I guess some fears we just have to live with for a while, y'know...?
And thanks re: OtherSyde.
jms
Subj: B5 Soundtrack CD Section: Babylon 5
To: Gary Weinfurther, Monday, August 07, 1995 3:49:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#292002
Yeah, thanks...I love the soundtrack. Especially track 12.
jms
Subj: B5 Soundtrack CD Section: Babylon 5
To: Gary Weinfurther, Monday, August 07, 1995 4:28:00 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#292034
Thanks. Yeah, I've listened to it constantly, since it wandered
into my office, and continue to do so. It's just nifty.
jms
Subj: B5 at general cons Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey, Monday, August 07, 1995 4:28:02 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#292035
Yes, that's correct, season 3 will be provided to France, Germany and
potentially the UK in widescreen version; I thought you were asking about
stuff *currently* available.
jms
Subj: Season Three Narration Section: Babylon 5
To: Tom Knudsen, Tuesday, August 08, 1995 12:44:05 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#292609
I use a good old-fashioned standard QWERTY keyboard. As it happens,
one reason I'm as fast as I am (100-120 wpm) is that knowing I was going to
become a writer, I took 3 years of typing in high school, and by the time
I finished I was *blazing*.
jms
Subj: Demon on the Run? Section: Babylon 5
To: Les P. George, Tuesday, August 08, 1995 12:44:08 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#292610
Demon's on hold until it's finished. No season one/arc special eps will
be aired prior to the debut of season three.
jms
Subj: <<SLAP>> Section: Babylon 5
To: JohnB, Tuesday, August 08, 1995 12:44:09 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#292611
<I know this is a rather shallow question, but after watching "In the
Shadow of Za'ha'dum" again this past weekend, I was wondering how many times
(i.e. 'takes') Andrea got to smack Bruce in the Medlab scene?>
Only twice. Mainly 'cause she tended to whack him real hard.
jms
Subj: <SLAP> Section: Babylon 5
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot Tuesday, August 08, 1995 11:22:21 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#293718
<Twice?
"Zack" and Richard Biggs both flinched convincingly. Was the first
take the one that was used in the episode? Did Andrea & Bruce conspire
to do this?>
Yeah, the take you see is the first one printed.
jms
Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5
To: All Tuesday, August 08, 1995 7:21:25 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#293427
For some time, I've been cautioning people dealing in pirated
material; videotapes, Links, PPGs, the whole gamut. The usual
reaction from those involved is, basically, screw off, on the grounds
that there's plenty of ST pirated stuff out there, and nobody does
anything about it. Well, for starters, that's because there's a lot
of grey about the copyright during the period during which ST wasn't
being produced, and the copyright wasn't being enforced. Second...
we're not ST. A mistake many pirates continue to make, to their
detriment.
To the pirates out there, be warned: Warner Bros. is prosecuting
these cases to the full extent of the law. Case in point: I saw
bootleg copies of B5 episodes for sale at the Chicago ComicCon,
confiscated them, and told the person selling them, David Scott,
*not* to do this anymore, because if he did, we would come down on him
..hard. His reaction was basically a shrug.
So this same person showed up at San Diego Comic Con, selling the
same B5 tapes. WB was notified. And the FBI showed up and seized the
material. And that of the other shows he was selling. He tried to make
light of it at the time, nobody follows through on this stuff, after
all. Wrong again. He has been prosecuted by Time Warner Entertainment,
with charges filed in United States District Court (case number 92-1602
H POR), and there has already been a judgment rendered to the tune of
*thousands* of dollars.
To the pirates out there: be warned. We're not kidding around. We
will take you down, hard. Especially those selling the poor-quality
videotapes, and those selling supposed "real props" from the series,
which are simply cheap knockoffs with expensive price tags to separate
fans from their money.
(And to the OTHER dealer in Chicago, who was selling fake PPGs and
other items, from whom I confiscated the illegal goods, and has since
been mouthing off to other dealers that in lawfully confiscating this
material I "shoplifted" -- and I confiscated this stuff in front of
several witnesses, and put the dealer on notice as to what I was doing --
by all means, continue running your mouth; you assiduously didn't have an
address anywhere available, and your behavior will simply make it that
much easier for us to find you.)
One of the reasons that I'm very careful on what we do and don't
license is that I want them to be done *right* when they're done; as a
fan, I've grown to despair over cheap knockoffs whose exorbitant price tags
only feed the sharks that made them. I won't have inferior quality products
out there, licensed or otherwise. We take great pains to make everything
involved with this show of the highest quality, and will not allow anyone
outside to hinder that effort.
jms
Subj: Harlan Ellison/TREK Book Section: Star Trek
To: GREG LASH, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:10:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294974
The limited edition is numbered and signed by Harlan.
Under the terms of the Writers Guild Basic Agreement, to which all
the major studios are signatory, the actual physical manuscript remains
the property of the writer, *not* the studio, under the Separation of
Rights clause. So it's 100% kosher for Harlan to reproduce the material.
jms
Subj: Harlan Ellison/TREK Book Section: Star Trek
To: Doc Zimmerman, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:10:09 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294977
Thanks, yes, Mira is a great lady, in the classic sense in which that
word is used.
As for the book, it puts forth a lot of documentary evidence, and the
opinions of others outside Harlan (Nimoy, Takai, Koenig, Fontana and others)
so it's much broader in tone than that.
jms
Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5
To: Stephen Burrow, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:10:09 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294972
BTW, on the subject of marketing/merchandise...I've now seen the final
prints on the Fleer trading cards, and they're *beautiful*...also, the text
on the cards does a nice job of synopsizing the episodes and in a way, the
series overall, making them great and useful "cheat sheets" for those new to
the show.
jms
Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:09:22 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294966
There were no negotiations. He showed me a prototype jacket (little
did I know there were a whole bunch already made up, though he told me
there were only two), and an associate of his showed me a prototype PPG,
again saying no others were out there. I said they were promising, but they
would first have to contact WB and make a deal before anything could be done
or said. They never did...and began selling the jackets anyway.
And I've now seen the exact same PPGs now at various conventions, and
we're in the process of tracking them down.
jms
Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:23:06 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294993
PS...word on the street, which I'm trying to confirm, is that he's split
for parts unknown, dropped off the face of the earth, leaving *more* people
unpaid (including those who provided security).
jms
Subj: <Comes the old ST> Section: Babylon 5
To: Ian Macey, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:10:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294969
<Having just seen some episodes of series one again I can only say: Please,
please, please, *more* of Vir, Lennier and Ivanova!! Bill Mumy and Claudia
Christian in particular had much better parts, and enriched the program because
of it, in series one.>
We have interesting things planned for all three this coming season,
rest assured.
jms
Subj: Sand Garden Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:10:08 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294976
We've actually kept the Zen garden, in one form or another.
The pilot was rough in places, but still the potential was there.
jms
Subj: B5 Music Videos Section: Babylon 5
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:10:16 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294979
Professionally done by a fan of the show, John Hudgens.
jms
Subj: <Twilight Struggle> Section: Babylon 5
To: Christopher R. Turn, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:23:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294992
No, B5 isn't on DSS.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: COLIN BRAKE, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:10:04 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294970
I loved Picket Fences...but this last season, I dunno, something's
gone weird with the writing, it seems like all the characters I liked are
self destructing, turning unpleasant.
jms
Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeff Frank, Thursday, August 10, 1995 1:01:13 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#295517
Yes, the Pegasus Publishing bumpersticker has arrived here...and
has been forwarded to Legal Affairs...who are now bringing in the lawyers
who eat raw flesh and warming them up.
jms
Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5
To: Jason Moore, Thursday, August 10, 1995 10:30:17 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#296182
There are 3 companies currently bidding on the CD rom encyclopedia of
B5; we'll see which gets it. A CD rom screensaver, with some additional
stuff, will be out soonish from Sound Sources.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Martin Colloby, Thursday, August 10, 1995 10:30:15 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#296181
Yeah, I put together a little something on the side; <jms's
recent series proposal to WB> just as glad it didn't go, as it would've
been a major effort, and B5 has to takeprecedence.
jms
Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5
To: Bob Danielson, Friday, August 11, 1995 1:24:27 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#296714
Depends on how you define knockoffs. If she walked into a store and
found xeroxed copies of her book for sale, that's absolute, blatant copyright
infringement, and can be confiscated. This is a similar situation. But you
don't just "fill your bag with the offending items and depart." You go
directly to the person running it, show them the item, and tell them exactly
what you are doing, why you are doing it, what law they have broken, and that
you are confiscating this illegal material.
If they make a fuss over it, then what you do is to go find the nearest
security person or police officer, put them into contact with the WB Legal
Affairs office, and they will fax a note authorizing the police to not only
confiscate the material, but to seize any *related* material, AND to press both
civil and criminal charges against the person. If that means bringing the
FBI in, so be it. They have a whole division specifically to protect tv and
film product against copyright infringement, particularly video pirates.
So it's in the best interests of the person at the dealer's table to
cooperate. I'm fully authorized to do this, and they don't have a legal leg to
stand on, and they know it. So it's best to just warn them, and take it, and
hope they stop. They get one chance to do it right. After that....
If they choose to turn cranky, well, that's their perogative, and I won't
carry anything out...I'll just have their butt arrested, charged, and fined.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Martin Colloby, Saturday, August 12, 1995 9:26:25 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#298175
Well, it was understood at the start that if the other show *did*
get going, I couldn't and wouldn't be involved with it in the same fashion
as B5; I'd have to get a different person to be show-runner, and just keep
an arms-length involvement with the production.
jms
Subj: Harlan Ellison/TREK Book Section: Star Trek
To: Leslye-Ann Lubkin, Saturday, August 12, 1995 9:47:11 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#298198
CITY was only published once before, in an anthology of SF play scripts,
something like 20 or so years ago, and has not been seen since, nor is the
original available.
Two things I forgot to mention: the limited edition is a numbered edition
SIGNED by Harlan, and the longest afterword is by David Gerrold, who I
inadvertantly left off the list of contributers.
jms
Subj: Harlan Ellison/Trek News Section: Babylon 5
To: Michael Beemer, Sunday, August 13, 1995 3:17:10 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#298384
What's also worth pointing out is that, thus far, the new producers of The
Outer Limits have shown no interest in doing a follow-up to Demon, which is short
-sighted, to say the least.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Martin Colloby, Sunday, August 13, 1995 6:04:20 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#298908
It would be difficult, but do-able. It would've run like this:
I hire a writer/producer as show runner on the every day aspects of
running the series; all scripts go through me after he's done his work
on them for any final thoughts from me (outlines also); the show runner
handles casting of guest stars, but I'd be involved in the casting of
regular/recurring cast. We'd work together where time allowed. But for
the moment, it's a moot issue in any event.
jms
Subj: Series 3 - UK !!! Section: Babylon 5
To: Martin Gillibrand, Sunday, August 13, 1995 6:20:03 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#298915
Not going to happen. We get a broadcast schedule from PTEN that
tells us when new episodes/reruns will air, and we book our delivery
schedule accordingly; this allows us maximum time to finish tweaking
the episodes by taking advantage of the rerun periods. The only way
C4 can run them straight through without interruption would be to start
running them in late February or thereabouts.
jms
Subj: Sacramento Con 8/13 Rev Section: Babylon 5
To: C. Bussjaeger, Monday, August 14, 1995 1:34:06 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#299353
Vir is staying on as a recurring character; his appearances this year
will be pretty close to what he did for us last season.
jms
Subj: Sacramento Con 8/13 Rev Section: Babylon 5
To: Ed Schlotman, Monday, August 14, 1995 1:34:05 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#299352
Vir is *not* leaving the show. We're making some room for him to do
his new sitcom; he's in episodes 3 and 5 so far, and more to come, of
season 3.
jms
Subj: Centauri Question Section: Babylon 5
To: Rae Augenstein, Monday, August 14, 1995 1:40:13 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#299357
They believe in a variety of afterlives; the god you worship, of the
centauri pantheon, holds dominion over a given "heaven" or afterworld.
If you appease the god sufficiently during life, it will accept you into
that afterworld, in preparation for the day when all heavens are united;
if not, you will have to be reborn and choose another until one accepts you.
jms
Subj: <CON Report> Section: Star Trek
To: Timothy Young, Monday, August 14, 1995 1:49:29 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#299363
Creation Entertainment's main office is in Glendale, California, that's
an 818 area code. They're listed in the phone book, and in directory
information. If you have problems with someone running a convention, you can
contact their main office there, and speak with Adam Malin, who with his partner
runs CE.
jms
Subj: Sacramento Con 8/13 Rev Section: Babylon 5
To: John Sheridan, Monday, August 14, 1995 1:27:19 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#299792
Yeah, that seems to be the tendency; each time we've introduced
someone, it's gotten hammered...nobody liked Ivanova in the beginning,
they said she was nothing but an ice maiden...they made fun of Vir,
said he was nothing more than comic relief, ridiculous, had no business
being assigned to Londo...there were grave doubts about Londo and the
hair...Sinclair got hammered in the beginning...Sheridan got hammered
in the beginning...and each time people assumed that what the character
seemed to be at the start was all the person would ever be. Even when
it was shown that other characters grew into something other, still it
was hard for a lot of folks to assume that this new character would do
the same, and become interesting over time.
jms
Subj: Harlan Ellison/TREK Book Section: Star Trek
To: Randall Chrisman, Monday, August 14, 1995 1:27:21 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#299793
The Trek book is now at the printers, I've seen the typeset pages,
so it has been delivered, done, and is now being bound. So yes, it's
real Real. And the cover art/wraparounds on Slippage just came in, so
that should be out soon as well.
jms
Subj: Joe on Genie-3rd season Section: Babylon 5
To: Sandra G. Bruckner, Monday, August 14, 1995 1:40:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#299805
Actually, for story reasons, I've moved the discussions about the
two-parter so it'd fall closer to episodes 12-13.
jms
Subj: Centauri Question Section: Babylon 5
To: Daniel M. Upton, Monday, August 14, 1995 7:49:04 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300176
Then your soul drifts forever. Which is one reason to worry about
the number of gods you may have pissed off over time.
jms
Subj: Mr. O'Hare/StarQuest '95 Section: Babylon 5
To: Patrick Morrissey, Monday, August 14, 1995 10:31:25 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300370
Thanks, I'm happy that it has gone as well as it has, and wish
the con all good luck.
jms
Subj: B5 Future Episodes Section: Babylon 5
To: Paul Sulkowski, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 12:48:29 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300833
Of course, Morden has never had any income since then in Earth
jurisdiction, so there's no taxes to pay.
jms
Subj: Centauri Question Section: Babylon 5
To: Rae Augenstein, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 6:33:11 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301154
The religious beliefs of the majority of our alien races have
been worked out to varying degrees, also their sociology, culture,
art, methods of reproduction, relative strengths, and so on. Seemed
prudent.
jms
Subj: Germany / B5 videotaped? Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 6:48:27 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301181
Kann ich spreche deutsch? Nein, nein....nur English, nicht
Hochtdeutch oder Plattdeutch....
jms
Subj: Germany / B5 videotaped? Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 11:53:03 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302632
Yes, Mind War is a very nice episode, lots of stuff happens, and
some great character stuff.
jms
Subj: Quickies Section: Babylon 5
To: All Tuesday, August 15, 1995 11:34:16 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301473
Look for Jerry Doyle on the Mike and Maty Show on ABC on Wednesday,
and on Entertainment Tonight on Friday.
Articles forthcoming in Cinescape (out now), and Cinefantastique
(first a regular sized one, then a cover story).
And for those who've asked...one of my better Murder She Wrote
episodes, "The Committee," airs Thursday on USA.
jms
Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5
To: Matt Allen, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 1:37:13 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302015
To this day, I don't think anyone at WB has ever had any kind of
problem with fan computer art, freely distributed, based on the show,
or altering images into something new and different.
jms
Subj: End of Second Series Section: Babylon 5
To: Pat Clifford, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 1:37:22 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302019
WB wanted to hold the last 4 for October to lead into new eps
in November.
jms
Subj: BIG BANG Section: Babylon 5
To: Linda Swiebocki, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 4:08:16 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302138
Tom:
So good of you to emerge from seclusion to post this via Linda. I
wish your message touched the facts at two contiguous places, but one
cannot have everything. I do hope this won't be another post-and-run
situation, because there's much to clarify here.
So you're saying that because Michael O'Hare initially said he
wouldn't be coming, you fined him the $5,000 remaining on his fee, and he
agreed to this. Aside from the loathesome mentality behind this excuse,
please explain to me why it was that on the Sunday of Chicago Comic Con,
Michael had been told, by you, that you would be present by 12 noon, with
that very same $5,000 owed as his balance...and never showed up. If he had
agreed to this, then why was he still awaiting this payment, and why were
you saying you would have it for him?
Simple answer: because Michael O'Hare agreed to no such thing. This
is a cover story to excuse non-payment of Michael's fee. Further, you
told some users on this very system that Michael had been paid the balance
of his fees, in phone conversations, even offered to send a photocoy of the
canceled check (which of course never happened). You really should work
more on getting your story straight.
We have begun documenting, in writing, some of the destructive and
hurtfulthings you have put out on the rumor mills about Michael, myself
and others...so your assertion that you "would never hurt" anyone doesn't
carry much weight at this end of the modem.
I have had a good conversation just today with Deborah Smolinski at
Visions, and we are working closely with them on this situation. Certainly
they should notbe faulted for falling for rumors started by others. The
purpose of the convention is not, and never has been, the issue. As for
your statement that "I have never spoken to Bob Mcgloughlin since the Big
Bang show in June," Deborah said about 90 minutes ago that you and he had
spoken just recently about this situation. Who am I to believe?
"JMS wants CMC and myself out of the science fiction convention
business." No, I simply will not allow the offenses and incomeptence on
record to stand without comment. Even after the Planet Hollywood debacle,
in which I sent you a several-page letter explaining what would be required
to fix the apparent problems, there was the spirit of cooperation until such
time as you began selling unlicensed B5 jackets, patches, and posters for a
non-existent charitable cause that used our name. At that time, I told you
that Babylonian Productions was withdrawing all support from this convention,
and I would caution my cast in this regard, though leaving them to make their
own decisions. Some of them went out of concerns for the fans who had
purchased non-refundable airline tickets and would be screwed otherwise.
And as long as you're here, some additional points.
Mark Hamill has been stiffed by you to the tune of $21,000. The check
for his speaking fee has, he tells us, bounced. Another check made out to
cover first class airfare and accommodations has also bounced. Why hasn't
Mark been paid? Why do you write checks that can't be covered?
I have received messages from many people...the photographer you hired
to shoot the convention, travel agents, security people...who say that they
have not been paid by you. Why have they not been paid? They come to me
because you promoted this as a B5 convention, so I have inherited the
problems you created by default.
Why did you have someone working on designs on the fraudulent Project
Starfury months after you had been told to cease and desist from such
endeavors, with this individual putting in $5,000 worth of work that has
now been wasted?
Why were you telling people -- and we have now written documentation
to that effect -- that I had been "tossed out of the Writers Guild" when
such is not true?
Many users here and on other systems have repeatedly asked you for
refunds on their tickets. Why has this not been forthcoming?
In your newsletters, and your talks, including your May 28th meeting
with fans in Schaumburg, IL, you stated that one of the major features of
the convention would be the transformation of the Odeum theater into
"Outpost Odeum," with massive role-playing aspects, props, and a scripted
game which would include appearances by paid actors performing with the
"Outpost Odeum" game. Many went for this reason. Yet no such event
was presented. You promised, in detail, a Sandman reenactment from Logan's
Run; what happened to *that*?
Would you care to comment on the assault on a dealer by staff, when he
attempted to document poor conditions in the dealer's room, which led to
hospitalization and surgery for severe injury to his eye?
An individual began selling video tapes of our actors appearances at
Big Bang. He was told, by you, that you had contractual freedom to make and
distribute these tapes, when, in fact, the contracts stated clearly that
no such video or audio sales of the performance could be done unless a
seperate agreement were entered into and signed by the actors. Why
was this person misled?
For months now, many people here and on the other nets have been
posting their dissatisfaction that what was promised by Big Bang was not
delievered upon. Since you clearly have access to the nets, as shown by
your posting, why have you not previously addressed the concerns raised by
so many people who attended your convention?
Finally, let me repeat once more: my concern, ever since the Planet
Hollywood event, was that the Big Bang convention was being poorly and
incompetently run, and would hurt fans, and I wondered at the capacity of
CMC to deliver on its promises. The reactions from virtually every person
attending the convention bears out my concerns. Cast members returned saying
uniformly that it was the worst-run convention they had ever seen, and some
had been attending conventions for over 20 years. It was a disaster, and has
left a pile of debris that you have yet to clean up, and which comes to
*my* attention because they can't find *you*...with phone numbers that get
disconnected, calls that don't get returned...and always you try and
blame others.
Everything I have said about BB has come true; your statements,
however, are another question altogether.
jms
Subj: BIG BANG Section: Babylon 5
To: Linda K. Swiebocki, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 11:53:12 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302635
Except that Michael O'Hare has already been dragged into this.
And Tom's latest message does it again. On the one hand, he says Michael
is a good man...and then, by implication, by alleging that Michael agreed
to do the Big Bang without receiving the second $5,000, implies that Michael
lied to and defrauded the fans at Comic Con. That fundraiser was done
because he did not receive the balance of his payment. According to Tom,
there *was* no balance of payment. So clearly, someone here is fabricating.
By his message, Tom is implying that Michael lied to me, and to the convention
goers who came to his support. Or that we both lied about it.
We didn't.
jms
Subj: Joe on Genie-3rd season Section: Babylon 5
To: Don Hardin, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 11:53:00 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302631
Yes, there's a five-year arc. The final 4 eps of this season air in
October, with the new season beginning in November.
jms
Subj: <Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Friday, August 18, 1995 1:39:27 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304390
I'm also on GEnie, Internet, Bix (sometimes), here, AOL, and I
lurk at a couple of other sites which function as control groups,
minus any interference by or awareness of my being there.
jms
Subj: <Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Friday, August 18, 1995 7:15:00 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304766
"What're you, omniscient?"
Yes, I am.
And stop that.
jms
Subj: <Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Friday, August 18, 1995 9:37:06 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304969
<I mean, Mr. Straczynski is many things, but he's not
omniscient.
I think.>
I knew you were going to say that.
jms
Subj: BIG BANG Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey Friday, August 18, 1995 1:39:00 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304391
Thank you. Over the years, I've worked extremely hard to develop
a rep based on trust, and loyalty. That this has sometimes gotten me
into trouble goes almost without saying. It's one of the things that
matters most to me, because I've been in positions when I've been
screwed, and vowed never to do it to anyone when I was on the opposite
side of the desk.
Here, for me, is the most telling thing. Talk to anyone who's ever
visited the B5 set and production office. The one sound you hear the
most often, in either place, is laughter, people *enjoying* their work.
That is probably one of the things I'm most proud of.
Whenever you hea a producer say, "Oh, we're one big family," you know
nine times out of ten they're lying. And, in fact, we're not like a family;
more like a bunch of guys who get together ten months out of the year to
have fun, make a show, play around and hang out with each other. Everybody
has lunch together behind the stage, whole huge groups go off on vacation
together, after hours lots of them hang out, have dinner...we look after our
own. We are one of the very few studios -- and this includes the majors --
that provides health insurance for our employees whose premiums are 100%
employer paid. During the time after the big quake, we pulled carpenters
off sets to help several people save their homes from water damage and other
problems until real construction could be done; when the fires hit, we had
teams ready to drive into fire zones to evacuate our DP when it looked like
his house might go up. We take care of our own.
And as much as is ever possible, we try and look out for our viewers as
well.
jms
Subj: BIG BANG Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey, Friday, August 18, 1995 7:28:10 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304773
You really do have to be totally and completely monomanaical to do this
job if you're going to do it right. So B5 is my life. If I'm not writing
or directly working on it, I'm watching dailies or thinking about where to
take the show. I have a pad beside my bed and frequently I wake up in the
middle of the night with a scrap of dialogue or a plot solution, so
I scribble it down and leave it where my feet land so I'll remember it's there.
I don't get a hell of a lot of sleep during the week, and try to crash on
weekends.
To the rest you cite...there isn't time for much of anything else. I've
seen a grand total of 1 or 2 movies at theaters in the last eight months; I
haven't gone to a single party for longer still; except for twice weekly
dinners with Harlan, we don't see anyone for dinner, I haven't had a chance to
read a novel since the start of the year, I barely follow the news anymore...
it's literally a round-the-clock job. But it's okay, because this is what
I've been working toward since 1987.
jms
Subj: <Shadows> Section: Babylon 5
To: Nigel Nixon, Friday, August 18, 1995 7:14:19 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304763
<Just a thought, but Ed Wasser, in an interview in TV Zone, refers to
what we've been calling the Shadows, in the singular, the Shadow,
a couple of times.
BTW Whatever you're paying AK and PJ it isn't enough, they have been
wonderful throughout the series, but in The Long, Twilight Struggle,
Comes the Inquisitor and The Fall of Night they were superb. I hope
you have them under cast-iron contracts for the rest of
the run.>
I think it must've been a mis-statement by Ed.
And believe me, we've got firm contracts with Andreas and Peter.
jms
Subj: Jump Gates and Travel Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Friday, August 18, 1995 7:14:22 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304764
They have to ride the signals between beacons; you can't just
go wandering around or you'll get lost, so you have a highway of
related beacons.
jms
Subj: Babylon 5: Quickies Section: Babylon 5
To: Bob Perse, Friday, August 18, 1995 7:15:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304767
<BTW way Joe -- does Garabaldi have his own, personalized Starfury?
I just wondered, since (although he hasn't gone off base often)
the markings on it match his helmet.....after his "Daffy Duck" thing,
all I could think of was maybe his code name was "Tony the Tiger">
Yes, he does; I think it is tiger-striped, in fact.
jms
Subj: Ship Spec Section: Babylon 5
To: Bill MacIntosh, Friday, August 18, 1995 9:37:04 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304968
No, I haven't had a chance; what might be most profitable is to
leave a note here or in email for Paul Beigle-Bryant (he's in the
directory) of Foundation Imaging, since he helped build the thing.
jms
Subj: Jump Gates and Travel Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Saturday, August 19, 1995 11:00:02 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#305864
Yes, you can follow the beacons while in hyperspace, that's
rather the point; but you still go from one to the other, riding the
"wire."
jms
Subj: Jump Gates and Travel Section: Babylon 5
To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, Saturday, August 19, 1995 11:00:04 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#305865
<Joe,
Do you think you could add some more of the background history behind
the explorer ships and jump gates to an episode in the third season?>
I'll try and work it in where possible.
jms
Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5
To: Martin Gillibrand, Sunday, August 20, 1995 4:42:26 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#306373
<Joe.
I've got a couple of pictures taken from the show (via a TV card),
would there be any problems uploading them to the forum (I think I
have to include "Copyright 1995 Warner Bros")?>
I don't know for sure, I'd say probably there's no problem,
but the notice would have to be (c) 1995 PT<E>N Consortium.
jms
Subj: Centauri Question Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Sunday, August 20, 1995 4:43:00 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#306374
I kinda doubt that Dell would want any of the novels to become
more or less textbooks on alien cultures, and it's hard to bend the
freelancers to doing stories that touch on those areas anyway. But
eventually some of this will probably find its way out, in some form or
other.
jms
Subj: Jump Gates and Travel Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Sunday, August 20, 1995 4:43:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#306375
<How like the early airways beacon system. One of the features you
can still find is that every beacon is within sight of a flyer over
another one. When flying was new, pilots could literally fly from
one beacon to the next all the way accross the continent. Were you
consciously using this as a model?>
It's a model I considered, yes.
jms
Subj: <The Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Hugh Kennedy, Sunday, August 20, 1995 4:43:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#306376
We shoot to protect the central area, but fill out stuff in the
edges, and often compose for widescreen, which is why sometimes
characters are a little off-center in the screen.
jms
Subj: B5 Comics Section: Babylon 5
To: Jonathan Hoopingarn, Monday, August 21, 1995 11:19:22 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#307628
The regular series ends with #11, but DC has already committed
to a followup series of 12 more issues, in one-shots, and 4-issue
mini-series. This is a done deal.
jms
Subj: Babylon 5: Quickies Section: Babylon 5
To: Richard M. Perry Monday, August 21, 1995 11:19:23 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#307629
Yes, Sheridan's icon is the Flying Tigers symbol, which is used
with the express permission and support of the real Flying Tigers
organization.
jms
Subj: <Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey, Tuesday, August 22, 1995 1:12:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#308093
Unfortunately, I don't yet seem to have this infallibility
stuff down right yet....
jms
Subj: BIG BANG Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey Tuesday, August 22, 1995 1:12:04 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#308094
I've thus far not dreamed an episode; but work is often in
my dreams, so I guess it balances out.
jms
Subj: BIG BANG Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Tuesday, August 22, 1995 11:12:00 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#308769
<Jawa #2 demands--no I mean, DEMANDS--to know who else
will be scriptwriting in Season 3.
(Throw a name this way--she's vicious!)>
So you're saying that if I don't give you any other names,
Jawa 2 will do terrible, mean, unspeakably rotten things to you.
...
So, like, what part of this is a problem?
jms
Subj: Janeway in Murder..... Section: Star Trek
To: Gregory D. Smith, Tuesday, August 22, 1995 3:05:27 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#308182
<Did anyone else see a recently-aired episode of Murder, She
Wrote in which Kate Capshaw starred?
She played the role of a wife to a rich old man who is murdered.
I did not watch the whole episode, but she did have incredibly
long hair. Her character was very scared....she was
always hanging onto Angela Lansbury (a.k.a Jessica Fletcher)
and crying.
Quite a difference from the stern Janeway that we know.>
To show what a small world it is, check out the names of
producers on that episode.
jms
Subj: Babylon 5: Quickies Section: Babylon 5
To: Morris L. Gavant, Tuesday, August 22, 1995 11:12:30 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#308768
<I presume that if you ever show city landscapes on Earth that we
will see old and new combined? I mean if Europe is full of 300-500
year old buildings that are still functional there is no reason why
we can't assume that 20th century man can actually build something
that will last as long. . . . for instance, the Statue of Liberty or
the Capitol or Buckingham Palace, etc. etc. Do you think these will
be still be here in 4-5 centuries?>
Yes, I definitely think they'll be here still; and in some
cases when we've shown BGs of Geneva, through windows, we've tried
to keep that.
jms
Subj: The name game Section: Babylon 5
To: Julia E. Linthicum, Wednesday, August 23, 1995 9:34:18 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#309711
<I was just glancing through a couple of recent articles on B5 and
discovered an odd sight: your name had changed. We're used to either
J. Michael Straczynski, JMS, or Joe, but not odd combinations of the
above. Example? Saying how "Joseph Straczynski's Babylon 5"
may not come trippingly off the tongue.. well, they might be wright.
Then elsewhere in the same article they use your full triple-barreled
name: Joseph Michael Straczynski. Did someone forget to proofread
something?>
This is doing terrible things to my sense of identity....
smj
Subj: The name game Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Thursday, August 24, 1995 2:51:00 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#309859
Joe Straczynski looks like a very small engine pulling a huge
caboose.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Joseph Straczynski is too hard to say, even for me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J.M. Straczynski just looks dorky and cumbersome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. Michael Straczynski, however, gives you a chance to sneak up
on thelast name...a little squib, one letter, nice and inoffensive,
then a longername, and then the big one. It looks balanced on-screen.
It's fairly easyto say.
It's also a good "gatekeeper" of sorts; if the phone rings and it's
someone who asks for Michael, I know instantly it's nobody I know
personally.
jms
Subj: BIG BANG Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Wednesday, August 23, 1995 9:34:19 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#309712
<>>Jawa #2 demands--no I mean, DEMANDS--to know who else will be script
writing in Season 3.
(Throw a name this way--she's vicious!)<<
Calm down child. Now tell us, just how many Jawas are there living
between your ears anyway? <GD&R>
Oh, the delightful possibilities....
jms
Subj: BIG BANG Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Thursday, August 24, 1995 2:50:26 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#309858
<Will Peter David be writing for B5 this season?>
Peter and I have talked, and it remains a possibility. Harlan
and I have talked, and it remains a possibility. I'm still determined
to get Neil Gaiman.
Other than that, the ones in hand so far are all jms scripts.
jms
Subj: UK B5 Vids Section: Babylon 5
To: Neil Carter, Thursday, August 24, 1995 2:42:08 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#309851
<Anyone noticed the minor problems with the cover to volume 4?
If not take a little look at the titles on the spine.>
Okay, what's the glitch...?
jms
Subj: <The B5 Final Four> Section: Babylon 5
To: David Chandler-Gick, Thursday, August 24, 1995 2:51:03 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#309860
<I have just finished viewing the Final Four... Man, I have to tell you; WOW!>
Gradually, we're getting this TeeVee thing figured out, I think.
jms
Subj: <The B5 Final Four> Section: Babylon 5
To: Michael "GANDALF" Kalus, Thursday, August 24, 1995 1:31:04 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#310219
Didn't create Captain Power, only served as story editor and
primary writer on the only produced season. Didn't end, just sorta
stopped.
jms
Subj: B5 Comics Section: Babylon 5
To: Robert Miller, Thursday, August 24, 1995 1:31:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#310220
<Will this include the 4-issue arc you mentioned a couple of months ago,
which introduces a character who will later show up in the series?>
Yes, it includes that as well.
jms
Subj: Babylon 5: Quickies Section: Babylon 5
To: Richard M. Perry, Thursday, August 24, 1995 9:10:31 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#310634
<Cool. Is that why Sheridan chose it, because of the Flying Tigers
thing? If so that could tell us a little more about the character.
So, uh, is that a screamin' eagle I see on Ivanova's helmet?>
Yes, Sheridan chose that traditional marking. And it's a
traditional Russian eagle on Ivanova's helmet.
jms
Subj: BIG BANG Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Thursday, August 24, 1995 9:15:08 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#310636
<I'M strange?
The Jawa
Kidism Patrol
Unarmed & Dangerous>
That was very brave of you to admit that. Remember,
acknowledging your problem is the first step in dealing with it.
I think there was a typo, though, since there was a question
mark at the end, and it's clearly such an obviously intended direct
statement, given our prior experience. I figured you'd want me to
point that out.
jms
Subj: B5 CD: Where can I order Section: Babylon 5
To: John Stetzer, Thursday, August 24, 1995 9:15:09 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#310637
There's ordering info in the B5 library, section 5.
jms
Subj: Quick Questions Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Saturday, August 26, 1995 10:10:17 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312474
Claudia is a hoot, not mistake.
The Writers Guild is the chief bargaining unit for working
writers in TV, film and radio in determining minimums, residuals,
and the like.
jms
Subj: Comming of Shadows Section: Babylon 5
To: Will Gearhart, Saturday, August 26, 1995 10:10:20 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312475
<In "The Coming of Shadows", what was the deal with the human and
two minbari in the centauri throne room as the prime minister was
told of the emporer's collapse?>
They were discussing possible use of a world on the fringe of
Centauri space for something of, they hoped, benign use.
jms
Subj: Pouchlings? Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Saturday, August 26, 1995 10:10:22 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312476
Yes, there are pouches; Narns, despite public perception,
are marsupials.
jms
Subj: SpecialFX Section: Babylon 5
To: Elyse M. Grasso, Sunday, August 27, 1995 12:32:02 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312551
The B5 model in the gift shop in "Honor" is now in Sheridan's office,
bronzed, as is his right as captain.
Once the show is finally off the air, be assured that the model will
end up in THIS captain's office.
jms
Subj: The name game Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Sunday, August 27, 1995 12:32:07 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312553
Thanks, yeah, slowly, very slowly, we're starting to crack through
the glass ceiling (if I can borrow that phrase) and get noticed in more
and more of the right places.
jms
Subj: AOL Chat Room for B5 Section: Babylon 5
To: William H. DiPaola, Sunday, August 27, 1995 12:32:13 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312555
It's my understanding that in the next few weeks/month, there will be a
separate B5 area on AOL, and I suspect this will help facilitate chat rooms.
jms
Subj: Rerun chopped? Section: Babylon 5
To: David Fox, Sunday, August 27, 1995 12:32:15 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312556
I couldn't tell you without seeing the actual footage.
jms
Subj: Pirate Warning from jms Section: Babylon 5
To: Bob Danielson, Sunday, August 27, 1995 8:10:23 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#313225
No, I understand the dilemma <pirate tapes existing because
WB won't release official versions>, believe me...and on this end,
we're dancing as fast as we can to get WB moving.
jms
Subj: Pouchlings? Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Sunday, August 27, 1995 8:10:24 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#313226
"And you called ME strange!"
Well, yes, but that was journalism....
jms
Subj: B5 Comic discontinued? Section: Babylon 5
To: Dana Wright,Sunday, August 27, 1995 8:10:27 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#313227
DC is cutting back on *all* their licensed properties; however,
they've committed to essentially 13 more issues to be done as one-shots,
and 4-issue miniseries/graphic novels.
jms
Subj: Pouchlings? Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Monday, August 28, 1995 12:51:13 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#313746
Shooting goes fine. Just walked out onto the stage a few moments
ago, while they were setting up a shot. Aircon is off, fuse went out,
but that should be corrected shortly.
And I'm just kidding with you.
jms
Subj: sq and b5 Section: Babylon 5
To: Nik Scott, Monday, August 28, 1995 12:54:24 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#313750
It's been established in the series that when we made first contact
with the Centauri, when they entered our space, they gave us a leg up on
technology, including jump gates, as part of a trade program.
jms
Subj: sq and b5 Section: Babylon 5
To: Michael "GANDALF" Kalus, Tuesday, August 29, 1995 1:09:23 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#314362
<will there ever be a book availabel (perhaps a CD) which explains
WHAT thebackground of B5 is?
Like a description of all the Alien Races etc. Their Culutre,
technology andso on.>
The hope is to do all that in a cd rom, which is currently being
considered and discussed with several possible designers.
jms
Subj: Babylon 5 Party success! Section: Babylon 5
To: Jason Moore, Monday, August 28, 1995 11:17:26 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#314300
When next you see Bill Loebs, tell him I love his work on the
Flash book.
jms
Subj: More books? Section: Babylon 5
To: Mark D. Smith, Tuesday, August 29, 1995 1:09:24 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#314363
The books have sold well, and the third is coming out in the next
week or two. Also, Dell has committed to 3 more at this time, including
one by S.M. Stirling, and another by Neal Barrett Jr.
jms
Subj: sq and b5 Section: Babylon 5
To: Michael "GANDALF" Kalus, Tuesday, August 29, 1995 2:59:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#314984
<>>The hope is to do all that in a cd rom, which is currently being
consideredand discussed with several possible designers.<<
Like the Interactive Technical Manual for Star Trek?>
Better.
jms
Subj: Babylon 5 Party success! Section: Babylon 5
To: Michael Grabois, Tuesday, August 29, 1995 3:21:29 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#315006
We're talking here William Messner Loebs, right? So I'm confused,
then; I've seen his credit endlessly...I guess I'm having prolonged brain
fart, because I could swear it was on Flash (but you're right on the Mark
Waid part...senility is definitely creeping in).
Whether or not GG is making a mess in Comics Forum is not the issue
for me; he's *there*, and as such the forum members are vulnerable to being
quoted out of context, without their permission, in his mean-spirited little
rag, and I refuse to make that process any easier for him by being there.
You should definitely have Rob Davis call Laura Hitchcock at DC, if he
is interested; we're doing 13 more issues -- one-shots and 4-issue miniseries
-- so there's room to play.
jms
Subj: B5/Roswell ? Section: Babylon 5
To: Alan Crump, Wednesday, August 30, 1995 1:41:29 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#315643
<The facial resemblance between the aliens at Roswell <shown in the recent
tv special> and B5's Minbari was rather striking.>
Do you really think there's that much resemblance? I don't much see it,
myself, but this too is in the eye of the beholder.
jms
Subj: Sci-Fi (Age) TV Article Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Thursday, August 31, 1995 1:23:18 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#316945
I'm looking forward to seeing the article, haven't come across
it yet. As for posters, we can't do that, it has to come out of Warner
Bros. via someone licensing the product. And yeah, we do seem finally
to be getting some heat out there....
jms
Subj: TCOS queries Section: Babylon 5
To: Michael Beemer, Thursday, August 31, 1995 1:23:20 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#316946
The emperor was referring to Londo and Refa. And if the Centauri
telepaths suspected or picked up anything, to tell anyone would almost
certainly lead to a quick demise. When you're that high up in the royal
court, you learn to keep your mouth shut.
jms
Subj: <TLTS> Section: Babylon 5
To: Andy Wright, Thursday, August 31, 1995 1:23:28 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#316948
Agreed. The use of different tactics and weapons at different distances
gives a sense that there is a *strategy* behind what's going on, that it's not
just two ships coming with city blocks of one another and clobbering each other.
Strategy implies intelligence, and to see intelligence in the shadow vessels
is scary indeed.....
jms
Subj: Sci-Fi (Age) TV Article Section: Babylon 5
To: Anne L. Warner, Thursday, August 31, 1995 12:45:23 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#317450
<The mag said somewhere that it's also from a branch of Warner's.
They ought to be able to do something about the lack of posters...
Oh, one last thing in the article. Whoever (Dan Perez) wrote it
seems to think there's a good probability of doing all five years.>
From his lips to Warners' ears.
jms
*******************************************************
* SPOILERS FOR FINAL FOUR SEASON-TWO EPISODES FOLLOW. *
*******************************************************
Subj: <Long Twilight Struggle> Section: Babylon 5
To: Steve Trease, Tuesday, August 01, 1995 1:14:06 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#286149
<I've just finished watching The Long Twilight Struggle. Wow!
What can I say? By far the best episode yet.>
Thanks. It's definitely one of my favorite episodes.
The intensity is terrific.
jms
Subj: <<TLTS: CGI>> Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Tuesday, August 01, 1995 3:56:17 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#286284
<I know Andreas is going to get much well-deserved praise for his
performance this week, but I'd like also to extend my appreciation
to your CGI crew - I don't think I have _ever_ seen a space battle
portrayed so well that I actually felt like it was real, that a
camera had somehow managed to record the events portrayed, as the
one between the Narn and Shadows.>
Thanks. Yeah, that scene is one of my favorites; a lot of work
went into it, and I think it shows.
jms
Subj: <<DL foreshadowing?>> Section: Babylon 5
To: John McAuley, Tuesday, August 01, 1995 3:56:20 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#286285
<Is that the first time the camera has moved in a composite live
action / CGI shot?>
Oh, heavens, no...we often move the camera in composite shots;
all of the push-ins to the Zen garden are that way.
Hard stuff we do all the time; it's the impossible stuff that's
fun.
jms
Subj: <<Long Stug:Twiglght>> Section: Babylon 5
To: Simon Grierson, Tuesday, August 01, 1995 11:23:18 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#286690
<I was convinved Last weeks episode was top notch. But this weeks
episode! WOW!>
Thanks. It's difficult to keep topping each season, and each episode,
but we're dedicated to continuing to try.
jms
Subj: <Great Maker> Section: Babylon 5
To: Chris Gardiner, Wednesday, August 02, 1995 12:43:22 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287135
< The Long,Twilight Struggle just aired in Britain yesterday and I
loved it. After stretching out our souls and hammering them with a
mallet in 'Confessions and Lamentations' then delivering a steel-shod
kick to the heart in 'Divided Loyalties', 'Long, Twilight Struggle' almost
finished me off.>
Thanks; the reaction to "Twilight" has been terrific, and I think it
bodes well for us in the coming year.
jms
Subj: Shadow ship influence? Section: Babylon 5
To: Scott Belgarde, Wednesday, August 02, 1995 12:43:27 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287136
Not really, re: stealth ships, but there is something in us all that responds
nervously when something large and dark and menacing flies overhead, particularly
close-up. Maybe it's second-cousin to the instinct that makes baby ducks run
for cover when the shadow of a hawk falls over them. Either way, it's
compelling, and that sense is what I wanted in that shot.
jms
Subj: <Divided Loyalties> Section: Babylon 5
To: Malcolm Pemberton, Wednesday, August 02, 1995 12:44:02 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287138
Yeah, I wouldn't waste much time on the gun-hand, frankly.
jms
Subj: <<TLTS: Shadow ships>> Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Wednesday, August 02, 1995 12:59:14 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287162
Actually, what's probably confusing is that the shadow vessels are
bi-level, so when two come together it looks like four or so; but it's
just the two.
jms
Subj: <<TLTS: Shadow ships>> Section: Babylon 5
To: Richard Fincher, Thursday, August 03, 1995 12:00:11 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287742
Ron and I discussed the shadow designs, and he went off and developed
this into what you see, and as soon as I saw them, I approved them, as they
were very close to what I had in mind.
jms
Subj: <Narn Heavy Cruisers> Section: Babylon 5
To: Mark Sloan, Thursday, August 03, 1995 12:00:09 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#287740
There are various kinds of ships the Narns have, some older than others;
the ones in the first ep were older ones.
jms
Subj: Season Three Narration Section: Babylon 5
To: Brett Sherris, Thursday, August 03, 1995 2:06:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#288106
"The Babylon Project was our last, best hope for peace.
It failed. But in the year of the Shadow War, it becam something
greater: our last, best hope...for victory. The year is
2260. The place: Babylon 5."
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Martin Colloby, Tuesday, August 08, 1995 3:57:26 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#293226
Why bring up Sebastian's past? Because it's integral to who he is
now, and what he's doing, and why he's doing it. Also, there's something
very important here about greying up the Vorlons a little; of all the people
they could've chosen for this job, why THIS kind of person? It makes them a
trifle more morally ambiguous, which is necessary.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Nigel Nixon, Tuesday, August 08, 1995 7:29:30 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#293448
What happened is...basically...Joe is a moron.
I did my research. I called up the info on the encyclopedia, got all
the dates right, and my eyes saw East End and for whatever stupid, idiotic
reason, my fingers typed West instead of East, and nobody, NObody, caught it
until now. I'd loop it, but alas the line is on his face, and it'd look real
stupid, and the delivery is *so* perfect as it is; if we looped it,
we'd destroy it.
So I content myself with the notion that it's west...of B5.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go shoot myself.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Tom Knudsen, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 12:57:08 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294259
<Well, you could always say the West End fell into the ocean
and what used to be the East End is now the West End.<G>
Or one could say it's West of Babylon 5.>
No, no, it's hopeless...I'll have to turn in my writer's card.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:09:26 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294968
Unfortunately (yes, we discussed this), he says the line *on camera*,
and the shape of the mouth for West is very different than for East; also
the performance wouldn't be nearly as good. So there it is....
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: COLIN BRAKE, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 12:57:06 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294258
Yeah, it's always the dopey, small stuff that slips past, and nobody
notices until it jumps out at you when it's too late.
Should have something official about the comic shortly.
jms
Subj: <Comes The Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:09:23 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294967
They SNIPPED the shot of G'Kar slicing his hand? You're kidding! I find
that quite astonishing; it was done discreetly. I'm dumbfounded. No wonder
there was confusion about that scene.
jms
Subj: <Comes The Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Richard McLaren, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:10:07 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294971
<As regards the knife, I am sure that this was not shown on our version.
Perhaps C4 has been using its own knife, they have done so in the past.
For some reason the British censors have a real problem with knives. Rape,
torture, nudity, language, you name it seems to get past the censors but
you never see anybody even accidentally cutting himself.>
You're right, btw; I was informed in another message here that they did
snip that piece of G'Kar's action. Suffice to say I had *no* idea, and now
that I *do* have an idea...I'm simply wog-boggled.
jms
Subj: <A Question for JMS> Section: Babylon 5
To: Mike Aragona, Wednesday, August 09, 1995 11:10:06 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#294975
<Could we say that the Vorlon telepathy constantly being referred to in
terms of a song is something akin to the "Heavenly Choir"?>
A choir, yes; heavenly remains to be seen.
jms
Subj: <A Question for JMS> Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey, Thursday, August 10, 1995 1:01:15 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#295518
<>> A choir, yes; heavenly remains to be seen.
Was Karl Edward Muller's compilation of a "choir to sing me into heaven
when I die" significant in any way that will be important later?>
Who can say?
jms
Subj: <A Question for JMS> Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey,Thursday, August 10, 1995 10:30:14 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#296180
Yes, I have a voice like five thousand moths dying simultaneously
in a very large bowl of tea.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Martin Colloby, Thursday, August 10, 1995 1:01:17 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#295519
I tied him <the main characer in CTI> to a specific person because
in writing, you *always* try to go for specifics, because generalities don't
really work. It's the difference, in prose, between, "The room smelled good,"
and "The room smelled of cinnamon and fresh coffee." Also, the specific
connotations to who and what Jack was were essential and integral to the
storyline.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Martin Colloby,Thursday, August 10, 1995 10:30:19 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#296183
Sebastian was played by Wayne Alexander, a British actor of great skill
who hasn't been seen much on TV before this, but should now, with this
performance as a calling card. It was a stunning performance.
jms
Subj: <Comes The Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Chris Gardiner, Friday, August 11, 1995 1:59:17 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#296295
Your analysis is *exactly* correct.
Also, check Sebastian's reaction when he asks Delenn what if she's wrong,
"have you ever considered that? HAVE YOU?"
She responds, softly, "....yes."
Look at his face when she says this. It rattles him. It's not the answer
he expected, but more important, it's not the answer he wanted, needed to hear.
He needed to hear her say that she had never had the slightest *scintilla* of
doubt, that as he had been, she was a True Believer, a fanatic, incapable of
doubt of mistake...and thus doomed to failure. He can't even meet her gaze; he
turns, looks away, and suggests an "intermission" that is more for his benefit
than hers.
There's an awful lot going on in this show, a great deal of it sub rosa,
under the surface, implied in gestures or hesitations or looks, some implied,
some stated outright. He *hates* the memory of Jack; it's not his name, the
one thing that is his...remember, he is caught up with "who ARE you?" and his
answer to that is lost in the persona created by history...his true name, is
what's totally forgotten to history.
jms
Subj: <<Comes the Inquisitor>> Section: Babylon 5
To: Chris Gardiner, Monday, August 14, 1995 1:40:15 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#299358
I'd say that those are good and accurate points all around, well
considered. As for locale, it was similar to, but not exactly the same
as the one in which the Marcabs died, though I did want to somewhat evoke
the memory of that when I indicated the set I had in mind.
jms
Subj: <CtI - Names & Things > Section: Babylon 5
To: David Gillon, Monday, August 14, 1995 8:06:00 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300195
Of course, his real name was never Jack Sebastian; "Jack"
is his working name, Sebastian could be a first or last name.
jms
Subj: <DL & TLTS> Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 3:24:13 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300531
It wasn't intended that Delenn should touch Draal; it sorta
happened on the set, and no one really noticed, and it wasn't worth
going back and reshooting the whole thing. My sense is that if it's
like a virtual reality situation, she would "feel" it even though
it's not there, if the image was impinging correctly on the brain.
But in either event, the image is not and should not be considered
to be solid.
As for Londo's shot...the director called "cut" I think a bit too
soon, we used every frame we had to extend that shot (and, in fact, we
even went so far as to freeze the final frame and extend the shot by a
smidge, if you look at it carefully). Nonetheless, I think it works
pretty spiffily.
As for the mass drivers, the amount of energy required to move
something that big would generate huge amounts of heat, possibly making
them even white-hot, hence the glow.
Anyway, thanks for the comments; I do think it's possibly either
the best, or one of the best shows to that point.
jms
Subj: <The Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Tuesday, August 15, 1995 12:48:31 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300834
<_The Fall of Night_ has just finished, and all I can say is that
this has got to be the most 'OH MY GOD' episode ever! I don't
know how you are going to top this one...>
Thanks. That last sequence is the single biggest effects
sequence done for TV, insofar as I know. There are 34 composite
shots in a matter of just a few minutes. Our guys nearly went blind
doing it, but it's cool. The whole feel, I think, is quite nice.
jms
Subj: <The Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Tuesday, August 15, 1995 3:02:11 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300944
<One thing I wondered about - when Lanz made that little speech about
'peace in our time' I sat bolt upright, because it sounded akin to
what Chamberlain said when he got back from Munich in 1938, having
just signed a non-aggression treaty with Germany.>
Yes, it was a definite nod to Chamberlain, and a bit of foreshadowing
for ominous things to come.
jms
Subj: <The Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Spencer Collyer Tuesday, August 15, 1995 6:33:19 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301157
Oh, yeah, I'd think that most folks will get it over here; and
those who don't, just won't notice it, and will take it on face value.
jms
Subj: <The Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Danny Phillips, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 1:37:06 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302013
There are a number of metaphors in the show that operate on many
different levels; it can't be a one-to-one corrolary to WW II, because
that limits and makes predictable your story.
In musical terms, it's almost a tonal piece, taking elements to
which we respond, almost subconsciously, and then rearranging them into
something that is, one hopes, a new construct. You can find here echoes of
Vietnam, of Kennedy, of Chamberlain, of WW II, of Korea, of the Mideast;
in a way, it's a thematic piece that touches how we have come to think of
war, and conflict, across the development of the 20th century, and the
role of the individual in that regard.
We have learned to think of war as something now on a huge scale,
an entity in itself. Once upon a time, before the gatling gun and the
automatic rifle, combat was something individual, even in larger wars,
one person against the enemy...and that person was honored, one person
could turn the tide against the enemy. In a world in which weapons of
mass destruction exist, where then is the individual? Where then the
bravery, the struggle, the triumph...and the failure? Where,
fundamentally, is the responsibility?
All of that is intertwined with the storyline, and to communicate that
I'm not averse to taking elements of history that resonate with that theme
and reworking them, knowing that on a cellular level, we *recognize* that
aspect, we've seen it...but now in a new context, we can see it differently,
discuss its implications, *learn* from it.
This is one of the things I rarely talk about, because it's the kind of
thing that is best left simply implied, or implicit, in the work, and because
if you have to draw attention to something in the work, somehow I think it
lessens it, because it works best unspoken. And because I guess it sounds
kinda presumptuous, and high-falutin' and self-indulgent. But it's one the
things that matters to me in the context of the story.
jms
Subj: <The Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Glenn Curtis, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 11:53:30 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302630
C4 can't repeat the show in widescreen, because it hasn't been
delivered in that fashion, it'd require going back to the original
wide negatives; but they are negotiating to show season 3 that way
(Germany and France have already signed on for that).
jms
Subj: <KOSH!!!!!!> Section: Babylon 5
To: Laurence Moroney, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 12:59:17 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300843
<I was right!!!
Kosh is an angelic/christian image.
It was made clear that he is an angel, but not which one, if that
can be revealed within this show.....>
Actually, no, not really; Kosh is what you see when you look at
him. And if a Drazi looks at him, the Drazi sees something different
than a Minbari; yes, a being of light, BUT....
Is that what they actually ARE, or how they have programmed us
to react when we see them? As Sheridan said, have we been *manipulated*
to seeing them a certain way, seeing a certain image? We may not be
seeing what they ARE, but what they WANT us to see.
It goes a heck of a lot deeper than what it seems.
jms
Subj: <KOSH!!!!!!> Section: Babylon 5
To: Jeannette Fornadel, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 3:02:03 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300941
Take Kosh at face value? No, not at all, never my intent.
And yes, my spousal overunit wrote "By Any Means."
jms
Subj: <KOSH!!!!!!> Section: Babylon 5
To: Lawrence Duru, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 1:37:11 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302014
<>Kosh is what you see when you look at him.
Does that mean that Kosh would appear different to a Hindu, a Buddist
and the members of all the other human religous belief systems?
Will there ever be widescreen videos of B5, and, if not,
when are the laserdiscs due to be released.>
Yes, there would be some amount of variation among humans, though not
in terms of beliefs that may have come along post-Vorlon influence. This
sort of thing has been implanted almost at a genetic level, and they do
have a hand, or a mind, in activating it when seen. The more people who see
them in different ways, the longer they must maintain that, the greater the
strain on them.
And someday, some happy, distant day, we do hope to have widescreen
laser disks, but that day is not yet in sight.
jms
Subj: <Kosh is .....> Section: Babylon 5
To: IMRAN NAQVI, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 6:33:15 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301155
<P.S. Is it just my imagination or has Ivanova gone back to the severe hair
pulled back look from before her friendship to Talia began?>
Her look varies depending on mood, day, and circumstance.
jms
Subj: <Kosh is .....> Section: Babylon 5
To: Martin Gillibrand, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 12:59:20 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300844
<Kosh is........... an Angel???>
Is he? Or is that how we've been manipulated to see, as Sheridan
notes?
jms
Subj: <KOSH ID, jms, SPOILERS> Section: Babylon 5
To: All Tuesday, August 15, 1995 2:47:17 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300918
Since "The Fall of Night" has now aired in the UK, and word is getting
out, herewith a post I left on GEnie about Kosh's now-revealed identity.
I thought it came out fairly well, so I'm repeating it here.
*****
Okay. Here it is. I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna reveal Kosh.
I'm not kidding. Bail now if you're looking in and don't want to
know.
No backsies.
I mean it.
Last chance.
Okay, this is it.
"If he leaves his encounter suit, he will be recognized."
"By who?"
"Everyone."
"The First Ones taught the younger races, explored beyond the rim,
built civilizations...."
Kosh is what you're pointing at when you say "That's Kosh."
"Yes, the Vorlons have been to Earth, the Vorlons have been everywhere.
The Vorlons *are*."
They *are*.
"For centuries, the Vorlons have helped the younger races, guiding us,
and --" "And manipulating us?" "It is, as you say, a matter...
of perspective."
They *are*...a matter of perspective.
Each race who sees them, sees something out of their own past, their
own legends, religions, faiths. A being of light, if you will, but a Drazi
sees the Drazi version of that, Droshalla; the Minbari see the Minbari
version of that, Valeria; humans see a human version of that.
It is the mirror in which we see our beliefs reflected, but is it
the progenitor of those beliefs...or an implanted image that overlays that
vision on top of the true form of the Vorlon? Is it revelation, or is it
manipulation?
The Vorlons are a cypher. The Vorlons are a matter of perspective.
The Vorlons are guides...or users, emissaries or puppeteers, who wish
to be seen a certain way, so that we will react properly.
Is this good, or is this bad?
And the truth is, even though you have seen a Vorlon, have you seen
THE Vorlon, the one behind the image that dances somewhere between your
optic nerve and your brain?
Or to quote a message I left long ago, paraphrased from memory,
"The hand Sinclair sees is not the hand Sinclair sees, and the hand Sinclair
sees is not the same hand someone else in the room sees, and is not even the
hand that that person sees."
The Vorlons Are.
jms
Subj: <KOSH ID, jms, SPOILERS> Section: Babylon 5
To: Hans Peter Rushworth, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 11:53:15 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302636
<My impression of Kosh was one of relative weakness. I increasingly get the
feeling that Kosh is indecisive and weak. Kosh allowed himself to be poisoned
by a Minbari and, we assume, be attacked by Morden. He needed Sebastian to
determine the motives of Delenn and Sheridan and a Vicar to probe Talia, and
here he needed Delenn to convince him to take action. He seems to use everyone
else but seldom does anything himself. Here he demonstrated the ability to fly
and somehow misdirect those watching. There might have been several ways a
metaphysically-enlightened being could have resolved the situation without
revealing himself. I assume that, for example Ironheart, could have done
something with a simple thought.
I suppose I do find Kosh slighty "rightous" for my taste.>
Thanks. And finding Kosh slightly righteous is pretty much the desired
intent. So you're clicking on all the right cylinders.
jms
Subj: TFoN No spoilers Section: Babylon 5
To: Ruth Ballam, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 3:02:02 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300940
How do we top this? We just do it, because we kinda have to.
jms
Subj: <Season two Finale> Section: Babylon 5
To: Jonathan Colhoun, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 3:02:06 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300942
<I just want to say thank-you for all the hours of enertainment that B5
has brought to my friends and I over the last couple of years - the
quality of the storylines, acting and special effects has converted us
fromStar Trek nuts to Babylon maniacs !!>
I'm very glad to hear that, thanks. It's a great note to go out on.
jms
Subj: <The Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Chris Jay, 100573,2376 Tuesday, August 15, 1995 3:02:08 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300943
<JMS, please keep up the execellent work, please pass on "OUR" thanks to
your production team.>
Thanks, that's truly great to here. A lot of sweat and blood went into
that one.
jms
Subj: <KOSH!!!!!!> Section: Babylon 5
To: Stephen Chatwood, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 3:02:13 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300945
Londo saw what he said he saw.
jms
Subj: <Fall of Night - story> Section: Babylon 5
To: David Gillon, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 3:12:17 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#300962
Actually, the "snitch" was the C&C tech, NOT the pilot, they just
have a somewhat similar appearance.
We've established that klaxons go off elsewhere in the station
during an attack to warn civilians, but they aren't going off in C&C
because they make it impossible to concentrate, as per military tradition
(see "And Now For a Word" to confirm this).
There wasn't time to call Draal, and they can't begin relying on him
for every problem; they have to be able to hold their own. You would only
bring in Draal on something really major.
jms
Subj: <Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Mark Sloan, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 6:33:08 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301152
<Keffer jettisoned his recording as soon as the Shadow ship started scanning
him. But the ISN broadcast showed the Shadow ship turning and firing,
supposedly after the recording had been jettisoned. Was the jettisoned
recording fitted with something that enabled to continue to record up to
the point where Keffer's ship got wasted?>
Yeah, I kinda figured that recorders like this would be outfitted with a
receiver for the ship's gun camera. This would be vital to locate ships that
got lost, and track as long as possible what happened after the log was
ejected, and before the recorder moved out of range.
jms
Subj: <Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Dean Long, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 6:33:09 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301153
<The narrative at the end was novel. Was this intentional or did you
originally plan to do another episode?>
The narrative was a tonal setup for next season.
jms
Subj: <TLTS: Narn Ships?> Section: Babylon 5
To: Colin Glassey, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 6:33:16 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301156
Not much to the secret...they coordinated their firepower on one of
the ships, in hopes of doing damage.
jms
Subj: <A Question for JMS> Section: Babylon 5
To: Mike Aragona, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 11:34:13 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301471
<Will Vir, even metaphorically, get to wave at Morden?>
That would be telling.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Jacqueline Groom, Tuesday, August 15, 1995 11:34:14 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301472
<Sebastian believed he had a destiny, so there must have been a reason
why he thought he was superior to other people.
He threatened to stop Delenn's heart. Either he was using the frazzler,
or the Vorlons changed him, or he could do that before the Vorlons got him.
Ironheart claimed he could do something similar, and he was part of an
experiment to create telekinetics using drugs. Sebastian would have had
easier access to more powerful drugs than we do now. Ironheart also
mentioned that most TKs were insane.
If there is a link between Psy-Corps and the shadows, and if the Psy-Corps
are investigating telekinesis in humans, does that have have any bearing
on why the Vorlons took Sebastian?>
Well...one out of four ain't bad.
Thanks.
jms
Subj: Series 3? Section: Babylon 5
To: Dinie Kloosterboer, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 2:25:17 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301548
<Anyway, I suppose we'll find out sooner or later. Or, *horrors*! What
if jms has it scripted so that we never do find out much more about the
Shadows!!!!>
Don't worry, all will be revealed in time.
jms
Subj: <Fall of Night - eekkk> Section: Babylon 5
To: Arwel Parry, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 2:34:16 AM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#301549
Yes, the camera was still mounted on the Starfury, but cameras even
today are constantly transmitting to other locations; TV cameras don't
just transmit on a cable to the box they're attached to, they are uplinked
to other places. Similarly, the recording device continued to receive
transmission fro the Starfury until such time as it either went out of
range or, in this case, the transmitter was destroyed.
jms
Subj: <Fall of Night - eekkk> Section: Babylon 5
To: John Sheridan, Wednesday, August 16, 1995 1:37:15 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#302016
<BTW, is Keffer doorknob-dead or what ?!?!?!>
He is an Ex-Keffer.
jms
Subj: <<Babcom '95 revisited>> Section: Babylon 5
To: Arwel Parry, Friday, August 18, 1995 7:14:17 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304762
<Back when you were over here for the Babcom '95 con, you showed us a
tape including some goodies from forthcoming episodes. The only one
which we haven't seen in the Last Four [tm] appeared to show Vir falling
from a great height, which caused considerable anguish and discussion
amongst Vir-fans.>
That was from a scene we cut from an episode.
jms
Subj: <Talia Winters> Section: Babylon 5
To: Eric Benson, Friday, August 18, 1995 1:39:25 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304389
<I have some questions as well. It seems that Ironheart should have
picked up on the hidden personality inside Talia's psyche.
It seems that Talia was basicly a good person. Which of her personalities
was the construct, Talia or Control?>
Control was the construct. The alternate personality was dormant at the
time Ironheart was there.
jms
Subj: <Talia Winters> Section: Babylon 5
To: Philip Hornsey, Friday, August 18, 1995 9:37:02 PM
~From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#304967
<>> Control was the construct. The alternate personality was dormant at
the time Ironheart was there.
I have been thinking about this. It seems to me that one would not just
*construct* a personality, you would have to have a starting point.
Was the new personality formed from Talia to begin with? Is the new
personalities name Isabella?>
I'd rather let this aspect slide for the moment.
jms
Subj: <DL and TLTS> Section: Babylon 5
To: AsstOp Pam Jernigan, Sunday, August 27, 1995 12:32:05 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312552
<I have only one burning question - that scene with Delenn and Sheridan
in the garden, where they're discussing the gaps in her vocabulary... was
that by any chance inspired by the long-running thread here about that
portion of Mira's anatomy? <g>>
No, the scene just came out of looking to have some fun with
language.
jms
Subj: <DL> CUTTING ROOM FLOOR Section: Babylon 5
To: David Chandler-Gick, Sunday, August 27, 1995 12:32:10 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312554
<Was there a kiss between two characters that was edited out in
Divided Loyalties?>
Nope, no such scene was cut. It's just a slightly awkward
match in the edited shots.
jms
Subj: <TLTS - Draal - bravo!> Section: Babylon 5
To: Bob Danielson, Sunday, August 27, 1995 12:32:18 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312557
Thanks. Draal's played by John Shuck, who did a great job.
And yes, we'll definitely be seeing him again. (We first met him in
"A Voice in the Wilderness.")
jms
Subj: <Saw FON> Section: Babylon 5
To: Barbara Pfieffer, Sunday, August 27, 1995 12:32:21 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312558
<First, the important stuff<g>-Did Ann Bruice get married? I
noticed an additional name on her credit.
All the spoilers I read didn't make much of this exchange:
Delenn:...unless the Vorlons were prepared to stand against them.
Sheridan: Are they?
Delenn: I do not think so.
That scared the h*ll out of me. Does this mean the Vorlons won't
help against the shadows? If so, we're in deep trouble.
The SFX was great, including the shuttle effects. Can't wait for
season three.>
Yes, Anne got married. As for the Vorlons line..."prepared"
should be taken in the same sense as "ready"...so they may not yet be
ready.
Definite agreement on the shuttle sequence, works nicely.
jms
Subj: <TLTS> Section: Babylon 5
To: Daniel M. Upton, Sunday, August 27, 1995 12:32:25 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#312559
<I just caught TLTS and I just wanted to thank you for staging a space
battle between two opposing fleets instead of just two ships. And for
having the ships engage at a distance too great for them to all fit on
the TV screen at the same time. You have once again raised the bar on
TV SF.>
Thanks. One of the things I wanted to try was to find a way to stage
long-range combat. One of the things everyone says is that even though real
aerial combat tends to be at great distance -- and space combat would be
conducted over thousands of kilometers, you probably wouldn't be able to even
SEE your opponent at that range, just pick up the enemy ships on your scanners
-- you can't do that for TV because you need to have both in frame,
hammering each other short-range, to make it work for viewers.
But I've always liked a challenge, so I thought I'd see if I could make
it work. The two sides are, as noted, thousands of kilometers apart, and take
most of that sequences just to catch up with each other. And frankly, I think
it's probably one of the most dynamic battle sequences we've ever done, so you
can expect more in the future, now that I've kind of got the hang of how to
do this.
jms
Subj: <TLTS> Section: Babylon 5
To: Tom Knudsen, Thursday, August 31, 1995 12:45:25 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#317451
<The Narns fire an energy mine of some sort. Was I seeing things,
or did the Shadow ships "phase" out and then back in to avoid the
brunt of this attack?? If so, it was a VERY interesting maneuver.>
No, they didn't phase out so much as absorb the energy,
at cost of great pain.
jms