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4287 lines
142 KiB
4287 lines
142 KiB
JMS CompuServe messages for August 1996. Collected by John Hardin
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<jhardin@wolfenet.com>.
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Date: 01 Aug 1996 12:12:02 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Eng Lit & B5
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(blocked) asks:
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> I am curious to know what else is your favourite
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> poetry/literature?
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> - but I am interested to know what else it is you like, or has
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> influenced you?
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My interest in poetry is fairly eclectic, and eccentric. I go
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from the classics to the obscure, but I'm not *really* as informed
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about poetry as I should be. My favorite stuff comes from the
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Shelley/Byron period of English literature. Tennyson is also obviously
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a favorite. Coleridge. But then I jump right over into e.e. cummings
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and Lawrence Ferlinghetti (no, I never really recovered from beat
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poetry, some of it still works for me). I tend to go for the more
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structured poetry; free verse is okay to a point, but often gets
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misused or used as an excuse for sloppy writing.
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jm(look upon my works ye mighty and despair)s
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Aug 1996 12:12:05 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Larry Rosenblum <72122.1555@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Kosh/Sinclair-WWE
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Larry Rosenblum <72122.1555@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Is my memory incorrect, or am I missing something?
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No, you're correct...but he could only recognize him once he
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actually saw him, and that didn't happen until he arrived at B5, after
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which he wasn't in any condition to talk to anyone until after things
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were over.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Aug 1996 12:12:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Jeff Smith <76702.2572@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Old Archives
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Jeff Smith <76702.2572@compuserve.com> asks:
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> This would certainly explain why a lot of info is 'missing' that
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> one might think should be around, but why didn't the info
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> survive? If the Vorlons/Minbari fought the shadows a thousand
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> years ago, and had the FTL ships they obviously had, why don't
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> they have records from that time?
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It was also a very devastating war, and one of their mistakes
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was that their were those who were entrusted to keep the past, sort of
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a more advanced version of storytellers, who put all their data in one
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basket, as it were...very possessive and jurisdictional. When they and
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that center of data were taken out, a lot was lost. One drawback of a
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very rigid and structued society.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:39:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
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{original post had no questions}
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We don't know who did or didn't receive stuff until we hear
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back; send email to jplb5@aol.com...he's sending out batches of stuff
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all this week to those whose deliveries got screwed up.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:51:15 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Old SciFi series
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{original post unavailable}
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That would be telling.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:51:17 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Kosh & Kyle/pilot
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Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Kyle's reactions?
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No, from where I sit, he looked and spoke pretty awed. So I
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can't account for your interpretation; certainly I think the general
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concensus was that he was massively impressed.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:51:20 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Eng Lit & B5
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Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Lewis and Tolkien's cronies) "Taliesin Through Logres?"
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Yes, I'm very fond of William Blake's work.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:51:22 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Brent Barrett <70530.2521@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Voice in the Wilderness
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{original post had no questions}
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Who can say...?
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:51:24 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Voices of Experience
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Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Do you find it more of a challenge to write from the perspective
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> of one (individual, society) who is less experienced than
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> yourself (regain lost innocence) or one who is more experienced
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> (project 1,000 to 1,000,000 forward), or is there no difference?
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I don't think there's really a difference. (Also,
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philosophically, I think one can be experienced and still retain a
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certain measure of innocence, but that's another discussion for another
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time.) I think we all have that part of ourselves which wishes to
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believe, needs to believe in a cause or in other people , however many
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times experience slaps us in the face with the contrary position...and
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there is always the part which is tired and weary and burned out and
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refuses to trust again. We are all these things at different moments.
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The difference with writers is that we must be those different things
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on command, and articulate those feelings through the voices of our
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characters as they experience them in new contexts.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Aug 1996 21:01:04 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: B5 New Season
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(blocked) asks:
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> Can someone fill me in?
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Expect new eps around the first week of October, at which point
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there will be 9 new shows aired in a row.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 00:21:30 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Jeff Smith <76702.2572@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Old Archives
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Jeff Smith <76702.2572@compuserve.com> asks:
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> One follow up though, would such an event as described above have
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> to occur well after the war to have such an effect, since if
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> happened while there where still Minbari alive with personal
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> experience in the war the records could still be mostly
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> reconstructed?
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Certainly it would've occured in the last days of the war.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 00:21:32 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Al Lipscomb <75204.2225@compuserve.com>
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Subject: IaE in UK
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Al Lipscomb <75204.2225@compuserve.com> asks:
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> The first question that needs to be asked is why did _most_ of
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> the first ones leave? Were they tired of thousands of generations
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> of war with the Shadows? Tired of this small galaxie?
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> Or was there a general agreement to leave this place to the
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> Shadows? Could the Shadows be higher levels of natural selection?
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> If the clues we have about the death of a Vorlon support Minbari
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> theology then what do the Shadows want? What is my bet?
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Some of the first ones just got bored after millions of years,
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and went off in general. The rest, for the most part, went beyond the
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Rim for the same reason you cut down old trees to make room for new
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ones.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 00:24:55 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: All
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Subject: John Copeland on SFC
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Babylon 5 Producer John Copeland will be on "Vortex," a new show
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on the Sci-Fi Channel, tomorrow evening, along with Majel Barrett
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Roddenberry. Time you got to seem some of the other friendly folks
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involved in making this show.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 14:49:04 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: B5 New Season
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{original post unavailable}
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Haven't heard anything yet.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 14:49:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Doom and Despair
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Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Have we only reached the tip of the Iceburg of despair?
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There's always light at the end of the tunnel...but things have
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got to get REALLY bad first, there has to be some major stuff for
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everyone to overcome to make the light mean something.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 14:49:10 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
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(blocked) asks:
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> Have all the Membership kits been sent yet?
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They're going out.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 14:49:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: B5 Tech & Other Stuff
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{original post unavailable}
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I don't think the diagram has been posted anywhere; and as for
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trouble coming in threes...most definitely.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 14:49:14 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Info please!
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(blocked) asks:
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> I hate to be a bother, but could you explain some stuff to me?
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> What is the relation of these episodes to each other?
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It'd be hard to explain in a few paragraphs...may I commend to
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you the lurker's guide on the internet: http://hyperion.com, which will
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bring you wonderfully up to speed.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 21:13:41 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
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Subject: TV GUIDE article
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{original post had no questions}
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Yup...well said.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 21:13:43 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: IaE in UK
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(blocked) asks:
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> What's beyond the Rim?
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A really, really, really MASSIVE Baskin and Robbins....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 21:13:45 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Robert Pierce <76752.717@compuserve.com>
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Subject: JMS: Offbeat Qd.
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Robert Pierce <76752.717@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Could the Soul Hunters out there sense when Kosh "died"?
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It's not that easy a question, or that straightforward a
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situation, as you'll see soon enough.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Aug 1996 21:13:47 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: WWE-Sinclair
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(blocked) asks:
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> What I mean to say is, how was it originally written?
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The Valen aspect was set up in the first season, long before
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anything was decided about Michael. Also, I won't be at
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Fantasticon...gotta write....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Aug 1996 15:08:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
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Subject: TV GUIDE article
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Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Did you say WB was interested in a spinoff?
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Yes, they seem interested.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Aug 1996 15:08:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
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Subject: John Copeland on SFC
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Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
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> For those of us beknighted souls whose cable companies don't see
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> the value of the Sci-Fi Channel, how about getting B5 movers and
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> shakers a gig on "Politically Incorrect?"
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Actually, Harlan's been on Politically Incorrect twice so
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far....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Aug 1996 15:08:10 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Have a slice <G>
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Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Zen Buddhism: What is the sound of cake baking?
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Now that's comedy....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Aug 1996 15:08:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Track12 B5 CD different?
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{original post unavailable}
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Listen to how the final track fades out; one has the strings in
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dominant form, the other has percussion. The early version of the
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European disk came out only briefly, so if this is a recent purchase,
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it's probably the same as the US version.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Aug 1996 15:08:15 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
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Subject: IaE in UK
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Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
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> How many flavors?
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> Seriously though, what is meant by "The Rim"?
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The rim of the galaxy.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Aug 1996 23:02:34 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Shadow Theory.(ATTN JMS)
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{original post unavailable}
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It's an interesting theory. Got nothing to do with where the
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story's going, but an interesting thought nonetheless....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Aug 1996 23:02:36 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Shadow Motives & Stuff
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{original post unavailable}
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Er...well, no, actually, it's not in the ball park. But a good
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thought.
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And yes, Sheridan has doubltess noticed by now that Delenn is
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holding stuff back from time to time...may even mention this in a few
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episodes.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Aug 1996 23:18:09 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Responsibility/Forgive
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{original post unavailable}
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That was really excellent. Let me explain to you how excellent
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it was: I was taking a break on CIS because I was trying to work
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through the heart of a scene between Delenn and Sheridan in script 403.
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It was a little fuzzy there in places, and I usually log off and putter
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around rather than trying to write it when it isn't all there yet in my
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head. Your analysis helped me clarify something in my own mind which
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was there in the first place but hadn't yet racked into focus yet. It
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would've done so eventually, it always does, but you may have saved me
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an hour or two of going back over their relationship in my head and
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pulling out the emotional and thematic undercurrents of what's been
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established over the last couple of seasons.
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Good stuff.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Aug 1996 14:57:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
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Subject: TV GUIDE article
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{original post had no questions}
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"I figured everybody in Hollywood would be rooting to get you out of
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television"
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Well...*almost* everybody....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Aug 1996 14:57:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
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Subject: IaE in UK
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{original post had no questions}
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Jump gates go where gates have been constructed by long-range
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explorer vessels. Nobody near our tech has ever built anything outside
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the known galaxy, or frankly through about 80% of what IS known. Going
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beyond is a one-way ticket.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Aug 1996 14:57:17 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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|
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: JMS : WWE1: Sheridan
|
|
|
|
Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> When lady Morella told Londo not to kill the one that is already
|
|
> dead, was she referring to Sheridan? IF this is so, do the words
|
|
> of Arkady in "Second Foundation" have significance to Sinclair?
|
|
|
|
Unfortunately, I've forgotten what Arkady said, so it's kind of
|
|
an open question.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 05 Aug 1996 00:17:03 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: IaE in UK
|
|
|
|
Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Crossing from here to say the Adromada galixy probably would take
|
|
> a great deal of time though even in hyperspace huh?
|
|
|
|
For one thing, it's a long, LONG trip outside the known
|
|
galaxy...it takes 3 days to go to Earth from B5, it's not
|
|
instantaneous...so you can well imagine how much time is involved in
|
|
getting outside the galaxy. Second, a ship like the Aggy isn't
|
|
configured or capable of constructing a jump gate, that's up to the big
|
|
Explorer-class vessels. Finally, the further you range afield from the
|
|
established series of hyperspace beacons, the greater the odds of
|
|
getting permanently lost out there, since points of reference outside
|
|
aren't on a one-to-one basis with hyperspace. (And outside the galaxy
|
|
you'd have little in the way of more conventional references as well.)
|
|
So any trip would be a one way trip, at least at this point in our
|
|
technology.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 05 Aug 1996 12:32:42 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: JMS : WWE1: Sheridan
|
|
|
|
Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> She said 'A circle has no end'?
|
|
|
|
No...the notion that a circle has no end is a lot older than
|
|
that.
|
|
|
|
And the line re: Sinclair was "he is the closed circle, he
|
|
returns to the beginning."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 05 Aug 1996 12:32:43 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: JMS : WWE1: Sheridan
|
|
|
|
Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> The ship that Zathras hooked up to whitestar in looked helluva
|
|
> similiar to one of the ships you can get in 'Privateer' - I have
|
|
> heard that you are a bit of a Wing Commander buff, was this a
|
|
> deliberate homage?
|
|
|
|
Nope. Only coincidence.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:34 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Eng Lit & B5
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> How about books?
|
|
> Just curious - many thanks (will you ever write a book of How B5
|
|
> Came to Be, and What Went Into It - people, books, skills, etc.?
|
|
|
|
Mentioning or referencing books is tougher, because any segments
|
|
are less concise in general, less instantly recognizeable and
|
|
self-contained. And half the fun of the poetry references is the
|
|
lyrical aspect of it.
|
|
|
|
As for a book...maybe someday, down the road.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:36 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Possible later projects
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> How do you plan to change TV in these new projects?
|
|
|
|
"How do you plan to change TV in these new projects?"
|
|
|
|
To quote Sinclair, "That is a far more interesting question than
|
|
you might suspect."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:38 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Bill MacIntosh <70275.1372@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Shadow suit
|
|
|
|
Bill MacIntosh <70275.1372@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> When we see a "Shadow" are we seeing an encounter suit, a
|
|
> projected imaged like a Vorlon does or a "naked" Shadow?
|
|
|
|
Well...all of the above, I suppose, would apply in various ways.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:43 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Babylon 5 , CC Game
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I can't look at ANYthing related to B5 products unless and until
|
|
they're licensed; if you're doing these without WB licensing, you're
|
|
going to get into a heap o' trouble. If you're serious about a game,
|
|
then you have to get it licensed; otherwise I can't look at it, or I'd
|
|
be spending 18 hours a day looking at possible proposals that go
|
|
nowhere.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:46 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Mark Sloan <100407.3462@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: The Ranger Belt Buckle
|
|
|
|
Mark Sloan <100407.3462@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> What are the figures which make up the Ranger belt buckle?
|
|
|
|
Er...I don't remember offhand....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:48 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: War Without End
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> There are a few little bits, like the repaired time stabliser
|
|
> that The One gets from Zathros (in Babylon Squared), that's
|
|
> Sheridan's isn't it? Did you sit down and write these episodes at
|
|
> the same time?
|
|
|
|
Actually, that would've been Delenn who finally got the repaired
|
|
time stabalizer. And no, I didn't write them at the same time, but I
|
|
did a basic outline of what the follow-up (WWE) would be, so it'd all
|
|
match up when the time came to show that half of the story.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:50 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Valen questions
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Valen did not have any children. And there's some difference of
|
|
opinion over exactly what Valen's final fate was.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Aug 1996 19:40:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Batman <104635.1044@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Just some thoughts.....
|
|
|
|
Batman <104635.1044@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do they skip over those and just release 418, or do they reprint
|
|
> them?????
|
|
|
|
"Think of how annoying it will be, in ten years time, when this stuff
|
|
will be a valuable collector's item, and having to explain that there
|
|
was never any issues 1-4, THEY STARTED ON 5!!!!!!"
|
|
|
|
That's *exactly* what I was thinking of....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Aug 1996 20:13:50 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Eng Lit & B5
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
What books I like....
|
|
|
|
I generally recommend the dark fantasist Jonathan Carroll to
|
|
anyone who'll listen, his work is superb. Beyond that, these days I
|
|
mainly read nonfiction.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Aug 1996 20:13:51 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Babylon 5 , CC Game
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
You would contact Warner Bros. Licensing in Burbank. But they
|
|
don't deal with individuals, it would have to come through a company
|
|
that was prepared and capable of doing the licensing.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Aug 1996 20:13:54 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Kosh/Lyta/Kyle Question
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Being seen by one person is automatic, no strain involved, it's
|
|
almost an autonamic reflex...it's extending the influence to more than
|
|
one person that's difficult.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Aug 1996 20:13:56 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: War Without End
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
When there's a time-flash, everyone has a vision forward or
|
|
backward. The vision of Lise Hampton long AFTER the one we saw
|
|
nominally from Sinclair's POV. We never saw specifically what
|
|
Garibaldi saw at that same moment.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Aug 1996 23:47:29 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5: The Sequel?
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
NO! NO, no, no, no, no....NO GUESSING ABOUT THE SEQUEL, because
|
|
guesses about the sequel is basically putting out reams of story ideas.
|
|
If someone comes up with an interesting notion...guess what? I CAN'T
|
|
USE IT BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF LAWSUIT. So this discussion could
|
|
kill any hope of doing a sequel along any interesting lines.
|
|
|
|
I've already said...the sequel would be built to some degree
|
|
around the rangers. Let it go at that.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Aug 1996 23:59:22 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Your Anticipation
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I'm definitely looking forward to the reaction. Today, for
|
|
instance, we did the final audio mix of "Z'ha'dum," our third season
|
|
ending episode. All of the EFX were in place, the sound, the
|
|
music...and after we did the piecemeal mix, layering in things in a
|
|
stop-and-go fashion, we did our playback, watching it straight through.
|
|
I don't think anyone was breathing for the fourth act. Everyone was
|
|
just wog-boggled. The emotional impact of it all is quite strong.
|
|
|
|
When the lights came up, and I looked around to the stunned
|
|
faces in the room, the only thing I could say was, "Welcome to history,
|
|
gentlemen."
|
|
|
|
Looking forward to reactions? Oh, yeah, I suppose you could say
|
|
that....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 08 Aug 1996 16:37:53 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: War Without End
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Sinclair: What...What was that?
|
|
|
|
Hey, who're you gonna believe, Krantz or me?
|
|
|
|
Besides, it could've been a sequence from the fall of B5, but
|
|
not that exact MOMENT, so it WOULD be different, so NYAH.
|
|
|
|
(suddenly I'm five years old)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 08 Aug 1996 23:29:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Chris Croughton (UK) <100014.3217@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Your Anticipation
|
|
|
|
Chris Croughton (UK) <100014.3217@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Out of interest, who was there watching it?
|
|
|
|
No, the only people in the room are those involved in the mix,
|
|
this isn't a screening, it's part of post-production. It's me, John
|
|
Copeland, co-producer George Johnsen, the sound editors, mixers, sound
|
|
supervisor, a few others on the periphery.
|
|
|
|
At one point, one of the mixers was working on putting in the
|
|
sounds as he went, hadn't yet gone through it all...and kept telling
|
|
the sound supervisor (who was asking questions about how we wanted to
|
|
handle some later scenes) "don't let me hear this, I don't want to
|
|
know, I just want to see what happens next, this is great." Which in
|
|
this town, from folks who work on a lot of shows, is a good reaction.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 08 Aug 1996 23:29:14 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Your Anticipation
|
|
|
|
Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Are there any of the episodes that we particularly avoid the
|
|
> spoilers on??
|
|
|
|
Certainly avoid any spoilers on the last two episodes of year
|
|
three.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:51:51 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Day in the Strife
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Nope.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:51:53 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 : Writing is Art?
|
|
|
|
Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is this intentional in your work, or just something odd that I am
|
|
> feeling when I encounter it???
|
|
|
|
It's definitely intentional. The purpose of any kind of art
|
|
should be to make you feel something. If it's created with passion,
|
|
then the work mirrors the intensity of emotion felt by the creator,
|
|
passing it along to the viewer, who may not even recognize what's
|
|
happening, or be able to pin it down...but it's there. I write very
|
|
passionately, and the show needs to feel passionate to be what I need
|
|
it to be. Otherwise what's the point?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:51:54 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Any other suggestions for checking on the status of an order?
|
|
|
|
He's dancing as fast as he can, another 1,000 went out this
|
|
week. We have 5,000 members now and just two people manning the club.
|
|
We hope to expand that soon.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:51:56 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Eng Lit & B5
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> any titles?
|
|
> is he available in the UK????
|
|
|
|
If by "he" you mean Jonathan Carroll...yeah, he's actually
|
|
bigger in the UK than the US. Start with "Bones of the Moon" or "The
|
|
Land of Laughs" and take it from there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:52:00 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Toby Johnson <104305.1442@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
Toby Johnson <104305.1442@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Any other suggestions for checking on the status of an order?
|
|
|
|
It's coming....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:52:00 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Kevin P. Kenney <104102.352@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: DS9's Homage
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I see...and this, by you, is a good thing.
|
|
|
|
Well, we have very different views of the universe, that's for
|
|
sure.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Aug 1996 20:48:16 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Promoting B5
|
|
|
|
Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Could you direct me to someone who could help me go about this?
|
|
> Also, I attended Fantasticon this past weekend and wondered if
|
|
> you'd consider attending next year, if invited (as if you need
|
|
> one more thing to do)?
|
|
|
|
I'll try to attend next year; I was just in writer hell this
|
|
weekend, and had to focus on the work.
|
|
|
|
Your best bet locally is to contact the program director or,
|
|
above him, the station manager of the station you're after. They make
|
|
the decisions.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Aug 1996 20:48:18 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Soul Hunters
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Does any race beyond the Soul Hunters know the Soul Hunter's
|
|
> motives?
|
|
|
|
Definitely.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 10 Aug 1996 21:36:49 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Eric Rochkind <70671.302@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: X Men on Babylon 4!
|
|
|
|
[Reply to message #556812, which is no longer available]
|
|
|
|
It's a door wheel which has been on that particular wall since
|
|
year one.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:14:42 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Promoting B5
|
|
|
|
Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Like, is there a promotional pack that can be mailed to the
|
|
> station, or someone who handles new stations? Or do I just direct
|
|
> them to Warner if they are interested?
|
|
|
|
No, we don't have any material like that at all. That's all
|
|
handled by WB, we're not in any way involved in distribution. If
|
|
they're interested, they'll know who to contact.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:14:44 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Vorlons & Minbari
|
|
|
|
Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> What is the relationship between the Vorlons and the Minbari ?
|
|
> We have seen a couple of Vorlons on Minbar, is their relationship
|
|
> like ours and the Narn for example ? We get the impression that
|
|
> the White Star is not as powerful as the Vorlon ships, but surely
|
|
> as well as having Vorlon shielding wouldn't it have the powerful
|
|
> Vorlon weapons & flower propulsion thingies (those petals) ? Why
|
|
> is there a Minbari crew, not one vorlon insight and why do they
|
|
> let Sheridan be the captain ?
|
|
|
|
The Minbari built the White Star, borrowing some Vorlon tech, so
|
|
it's primarily Minbari, and built with their sensibilities, all the
|
|
controls are in Minbari, and so on. They allow Sheridan to command it
|
|
because Delenn said to do so, and in battle an unpredictable human
|
|
might have options that a more regimented Minbari might not.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:14:51 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Disbarring a doctor
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Bear in mind, though, that we're talking Earthforce doctors, who
|
|
are part of the military establishment, and we don't know the full
|
|
structure of how that exists 200 years from now...certainly if
|
|
someone's actions caused the death of 250,000 sentients and a major
|
|
Earthforce base, I'd suggest that that could be sufficient grounds for
|
|
ending somebody's career....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:14:52 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Alcohol & Minbari
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> In "Matters of Honor", Marcus makes a comment to Delenn and
|
|
> Lennier about the effects of alcohol on Minbari and I was
|
|
> curious: What are those effects?
|
|
|
|
Makes 'em paranoid, and psychotically violent.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:14:53 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: All
|
|
Subject: New Cast Addition
|
|
|
|
Just a general announcement: Patricia Tallman, also known as
|
|
Lyta Alexander on B5, will be joining the regular cast in year four,
|
|
appearing in the main title sequence. We're extremely pleased to have
|
|
her on board.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:20:22 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Worst B5 Episode
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Actually, the White Wolf paperback version of Harlan's "City on
|
|
the Edge of Forever" book is *now out*, with an even further expanded
|
|
introduction.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:20:23 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Valen questions
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Theo was named for Vincent van Gogh's brother. Hence, Brother
|
|
Theo.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:23:46 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 : Writing is Art?
|
|
|
|
Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Don't you think there are very few passion those days?
|
|
|
|
Passion, as I've noted elsewhere, has become passe. It's old
|
|
fashioned; the proper attitude now seems to be detatchment and
|
|
cynicism. It doesn't help that so much of TV is done by rote,
|
|
recycling the same stories from place to place. Interestingly, I think
|
|
we're seeing *less* of that in the last few years than in the entire
|
|
decade preceding, so maybe this is a good turn.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:23:51 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Darran Williams <101656.2143@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: New Cast Addition
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
No, the item referred to Lyta.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:23:53 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Grey Council Ship ??
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Do all the members of the Grey Council live permanently and
|
|
> exclusively on that ship? Do they ever take vacations?
|
|
> Does the ship have a name and a class?
|
|
|
|
They stay on the cruiser almost entirely during their tenure in
|
|
the council, only leaving for personal family crisis/situations and the
|
|
like.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:23:55 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Alan P. Biddle <73260.1450@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: EA Civil War
|
|
|
|
Alan P. Biddle <73260.1450@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Can you say when we will get some additional info without
|
|
> compromising anything?
|
|
|
|
I'd say you can expect that thread to pick up again after about
|
|
the first third of year four.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:23:58 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Disbarring a doctor
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Nope. Actually, I don't think I've ever heard of his work
|
|
before, let alone ever read anything.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:24:00 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Antony Jackson <100025.2004@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: More UK Media Articles
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Well...sort of backhanded compliments, but I'll take them.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:24:02 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Neville White <101352.1023@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: No Kosh's body?
|
|
|
|
Neville White <101352.1023@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is this because she knows something about the nature of Vorlons,
|
|
> or is it because she knows something of the nature of Shadow
|
|
> attacks? Do the shadows consume their victims?
|
|
|
|
More about the Vorlons than the shadows.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Aug 1996 17:25:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 Comic
|
|
|
|
Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Has there been any plans to start another run of B5 comics?
|
|
> Can we expect another one of those anytime soon?
|
|
|
|
Several companies are circling around the rights to the B5
|
|
comic, and are currently in negotiations. And after some initial
|
|
problems with the contract between WB and Sendai, they hope to begin
|
|
putting out more issues of the B5 magazine, yes.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Aug 1996 17:25:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: 1st season questions
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
No word yet on tapes, and no, none of the cloaking suits are
|
|
still in anyone's hands on B5.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Aug 1996 17:25:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Bill Hirst <104106.431@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: New Cast Addition
|
|
|
|
Bill Hirst <104106.431@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Pat Tallman is back?
|
|
> Joe, do you have to make many adjustments to the story line to
|
|
> work her in?
|
|
|
|
You just gotta learn to dance while life is throwing chainsaws
|
|
and chickens at you...after the first few cuts and pecks, it's easy.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:36:16 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Worst B5 Episode
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"Dream Corridor" is still coming out, as new graphic novels; the
|
|
next one should be out shortly, as all the pieces are now in.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:43:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: 1st season questions
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
It's a question without a stated answer for now.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:43:15 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: JMS on Newsgroups
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Are you also available on the B5 newsgroup for questions, etc??
|
|
|
|
Yes, you can find me over on rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated.
|
|
It's a fun place to hang out.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:43:17 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 Fan Club Mailing
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Will do.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:43:19 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hart Trevor <100705.1222@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Shadow Tactics.
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
No, that's not it, not at present, certainly.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:48:21 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Little "one Liners"
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Red Five is not from Star Wars...it's standard Air Force
|
|
designation on various teams, Red One, Blue Three, others in some
|
|
cases, Alpha One, Bravo Two in others. People in and out of the
|
|
military have been color coding fighters and the like long, long before
|
|
there was a Star Wars. There's a danger in assuming that the first
|
|
place you heard it was the place that invented it. There are some ST
|
|
fans who *insist* that ST invented the term tachyon, since that's where
|
|
they heard it first, and even have given me and other shows a hard time
|
|
when we use this actual scientific notion.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:14 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Ray Pelzer <70475.1263@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Your Anticipation
|
|
|
|
Ray Pelzer <70475.1263@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> On a lighter note....the music comment reminded me: Any timeframe
|
|
> yet for the release of the second CD?
|
|
|
|
I think Chris is going to time the second CD to coincide with
|
|
the new season, so he can piggy-back on the PR.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:15 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: PW Notes Screenwriting
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
That's good to know, thanks, I'll go get it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:16 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Composition
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> That makes me curious,since Babylon 5 is actually shot in a
|
|
> widescreen format how do compose your outer space shots? Come to
|
|
> think of it, how do you compose shots in general? Do you have to
|
|
> make compromises so a scene will look good on a regular TV now,
|
|
> as well in the future when the show is out on laser disk and
|
|
> HDTV?
|
|
|
|
That's more a Foundation question, I suspect...basically, I
|
|
think they all just sorta do what looks cool....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:21 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Alan Mulvie <100566.1444@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Little "one Liners"
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
There were initially some throwaway lines to reference outside
|
|
SF, but soon it became a hunting expedition, with people paying more
|
|
attention to that than was correct. It got in the way, and this show
|
|
has to define itself in its own terms...so the practice stopped.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:22 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Worst B5 Episode
|
|
|
|
Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> BTW, does Harlan have YOU writing anything for it yet??
|
|
|
|
Yeah, I'm supposed to adapt "Someone is Hungrier" for the book,
|
|
when I have the time (insert crazed, manaical laughter here).
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:24 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: War Without End
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
It's too hard to synopsize here...try the Lurker's Guide.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Aug 1996 21:56:15 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Mark Sloan <100407.3462@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Something big out there?
|
|
|
|
Mark Sloan <100407.3462@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Was it a Shadow ship he saw?
|
|
> Are there types of Shadows ships as yet unseen?
|
|
|
|
At least one, yes.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Aug 1996 21:56:17 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Arwel Parry <100336.623@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Eeek!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
But what the heck does it mean...?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Aug 1996 21:56:19 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: More Vorlon Questions !
|
|
|
|
Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Are their different sexes of Vorlon ?
|
|
> Do Vorlons have babies, if so...how ?
|
|
> How long can the Vorlon keep his Psychic shield up ?
|
|
> And how did Kosh get to the Garden, to save Sheridan...did he
|
|
> just pass through walls..? And finally, did Vorlons "invent" the
|
|
> Angels in the different races ? oh BTW - Is there a technical man
|
|
> from B5 on the Net whom I may contact about general tech
|
|
> stuff....a tech advisor ?
|
|
|
|
Kosh was right there in the garden when Sheridan fell, so that's
|
|
how he got there. And the only tech person on B5 is me.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Aug 1996 21:56:21 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: ATTN: JMS <Kosh>
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
It's likely a matter of both, choosing an element which is
|
|
strongest in the other person, which for Sheridan and G'Kar would be
|
|
their respective fathers, who would also be authority figures to
|
|
them...so it's both manipulation and emotion.
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14 Aug 1996 12:19:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5: Time to kick butt
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Yes, Peter, that's very good, now sit back down and finish your
|
|
broccoli or you can't have any Neapolitan ice cream.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 14 Aug 1996 23:02:34 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: New Cast Addition
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Bringing actors in and out, and changing their characters, is
|
|
more or less always a story issue, so it's never a problem. Londo,
|
|
which you mention, was always intended to go on his arc from comic
|
|
relief to something darker and more tragic. That's his story; it was
|
|
his story long before any actors were ever hired.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 14 Aug 1996 23:02:41 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: TV Guide Letters
|
|
|
|
SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Did you read the Letters section of next week's TV Guide?
|
|
|
|
Yeah, it was great...the "Babylon Edging Out Trek?" column is
|
|
quite a bit away from their initial reaction to B5, to wit: "...they
|
|
hope will become a series. Fat chance."
|
|
|
|
I have this suspicion people are finally starting to figure out
|
|
what we're doing here....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 14 Aug 1996 23:02:43 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Goodbye Old Friend..
|
|
|
|
Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> But how could you leave Garibaldi in the lurch like that?
|
|
|
|
Thanks, the Sinclair material was very moving, I thought.
|
|
|
|
As for the kiss...I knew everyone would be waiting for that
|
|
first kiss, so I made sure it was different, that it was a first kiss
|
|
for one of them, but not the other, that it was natural and totally
|
|
unforced and surprising. So for Sheridan, his first kiss of Delenn was
|
|
actually his second (by a long ways), and his second, when it comes,
|
|
will be her first.
|
|
|
|
Just can't do anything the conventional way on this show....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 14 Aug 1996 23:02:47 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Lyta--Season 4
|
|
|
|
David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> How you get to those milestones is dependent on who you have to
|
|
> play with at the time, true or no? Do you look with anticipation
|
|
> these unexpected opportunities? Do they make your work more
|
|
> exciting because it keeps you on your toes? But I wonder if you've
|
|
> experienced the same thing you've experienced in writing your
|
|
> novels, that is new characters ask to be born, others ask to die
|
|
> and others ask to have their fates changed? I assume that is the
|
|
> case with adding Sheridan and killing off Kosh, but was that the
|
|
> case with Marcus? Was he planned all along?
|
|
> Did Lyta's appearances in Season 3 and Patricia's availability
|
|
> make Lyta's character *demand* more time? Finally, has it ever
|
|
> gotten to the point where you literally have to rein in your
|
|
> characters before they make a shambles of your carefully designed
|
|
> and laid-out plot?
|
|
|
|
Actually, the progression of the B5 story has been almost
|
|
exactly the same as the way I write my novels. I start off knowing
|
|
where the story has to go, what benchmarks I need to hit en route to
|
|
the end, what my repertory group of characters consists of, and then I
|
|
start writing.
|
|
|
|
As someone said of a battle, an outline never survives contact
|
|
with the enemy, which in this case is the actual writing. The outline,
|
|
for me, is a safety net whose purpose is to keep me nominally on track
|
|
while allowing me the freedom to bounce around the landscape, adding
|
|
new threads, broadening out the storylines, fleshing out the
|
|
characters, and reorganizing how the characters move in and out of the
|
|
story. That makes the work organic. I still end up exactly where I
|
|
wanted to end up, but the road there is much more interesting than if
|
|
I'd just hewed to a very rigid structure.
|
|
|
|
It's like driving from LA to San Diego...you can just jump on
|
|
the freeway, or knowing the freeway is there, jump off from time to
|
|
time to grab lunch at Pea Soup Anderson's or a quick ride or two at
|
|
Disneyland.
|
|
|
|
And yeah, sometimes I have to work to keep the characters in
|
|
line. Londo's the worst. He's always going off and pulling me in one
|
|
direction or the other, he's very peripatetic...and getting him talking
|
|
for dialogue is never hard...getting him to shut the hell UP for two
|
|
minutes so somebody else can get a word in, tha's hard.
|
|
|
|
Writing is a very schizophrenic business.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 14 Aug 1996 23:08:48 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Babylon TV Guide Letters
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Now if the show was all about cute kids, or a cute kid or robot
|
|
> saved the day consistently (whoops, did I say Star Trek?
|
|
|
|
Two quick notes...what I said was that we wouldn't have cute
|
|
kids (or for that matter ANY kids) in as regular characters a la a
|
|
Wesley or the kid from SeaQuest. We have, on rare occasions, had cute
|
|
kids in one-shot episodes...of course, they've generally ended up
|
|
shipped off or conveniently deceased....
|
|
|
|
Also, just a correction: David Gerrold wrote "Believers," not
|
|
me.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Aug 1996 12:09:07 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout Cast
|
|
|
|
Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I just wondered, is Michael really in Walkabout?
|
|
> Or have the Radio Times made a mistake with their cast listing?
|
|
|
|
It's a typo.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Aug 1996 12:09:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: WWE - Hot damn!!!
|
|
|
|
colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> JMS, well, what can one say???
|
|
> The thing that really came across was how much 'face' acting
|
|
> there was, close ups where one or two words and an expression
|
|
> carry a scene, there were so many instances, it's hard to say
|
|
> which really had the most impact, how did Bruce manage to look so
|
|
> hateful / disgusted with Londo? How do you manage to get the
|
|
> performances so consistenty high from your cast and crew?
|
|
|
|
Thanks; all the characters are great in that one, and the line
|
|
was "never use this."
|
|
|
|
Re: "face-acting"...this is something I've been working on a
|
|
bit lately in my scripts, letting the actor have a moment visually
|
|
without words to carry it. When you're starting out in a show, and
|
|
everyone's new, you have a tendency to make sure that the emotions are
|
|
expressed in dialogue, in case the acting doesn't carry it off. Then,
|
|
over time, you learn to relax and start playing the silences, using
|
|
only a word or two here and there. A few scenes in some year 4 scripts
|
|
play almost like haiku. You learn to trust your cast, and they respect
|
|
that trust and return it.
|
|
|
|
I can't think of any of the cast who doesn't strongly believe
|
|
in the show, and the story...they know, on whatever level, that we're
|
|
doing something of value here, something that's going to be remembered
|
|
and talked about for a long time after we're gone. Lord knows it ain't
|
|
the money, none of us are getting rich here. They believe in the
|
|
story, and that's truly extraordinary.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Aug 1996 12:10:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Shadow Question
|
|
|
|
Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do you, however, also think that once we find out what the
|
|
> Shadows want, we shall agree that the methods by which they go
|
|
> about it are justifiable? To put it another way, is the manner in
|
|
> which the Shadows are attempting to achieve their objective the
|
|
> only way in which they can do so, or is there another method they
|
|
> could have chosen?
|
|
|
|
I don't think we'll find the methods appealing, but the motives
|
|
behind it may have some justification.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Aug 1996 12:10:02 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Goodbye Old Friend..
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Thanks...a devious mind is a good thing....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Aug 1996 12:10:03 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Lyta--Season 4
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
No, you can see Pea Soup Anderson right from the freeway, going
|
|
down the 5 south.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Aug 1996 23:52:16 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Michael Beemer <71551.1670@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Comics as a medium...
|
|
|
|
Michael Beemer <71551.1670@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I thought that while I was passing that along to you, I'd ask
|
|
> what you think of comics as a medium to tell *your* stories? Do
|
|
> comics give you the same range that a novel or a TV script does,
|
|
> or do you find them too limiting?
|
|
|
|
In general terms, a comic allows you to do things that you could
|
|
never afford to do in a TV series or movie. There's the constraint of
|
|
the artist you choose...a great artist can elevate a book, a bad one
|
|
can sink it no matter how good the storytelling...and having grown up
|
|
on comics all my life, and enjoyed the work of Miller and Moore and
|
|
Gaiman and David and others, I think they're a terrific form of
|
|
expression and storytelling.
|
|
|
|
In regards the Legion...setting aside the reality that after the
|
|
situation with the B5 comic, which I felt wasn't being done correctly,
|
|
and said so vociferously...if there's any book I'd love to do (after
|
|
any of the Superman titles), it'd be the Legion of Superheroes. It's
|
|
gone through some tough times, mainly in the Giffin days which were as
|
|
much a screwup of the concept as Byrne's Superman, but I have a lot of
|
|
loyalty to the characters, having come into the title back at its
|
|
formation out of the pages of Adventure Comics. I'd do it in a hot
|
|
second, but I'd want to take it a bit back to its roots, and I'm not
|
|
sure they'd go for that.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Aug 1996 23:52:19 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Imran Naqvi <100533.273@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Goodbye Old Friend..
|
|
|
|
Imran Naqvi <100533.273@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> How exactly does the triluminary thingy come into existence?
|
|
> Paradox, no?
|
|
|
|
It originated on Epsilon 3.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Aug 1996 23:52:21 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Lyta--Season 4
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Yes, there's also one on the SD/LA route; I wouldn't have said
|
|
so otherwise. (I know, I've eaten there.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Aug 1996 23:52:23 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout Cast
|
|
|
|
Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I was just wondering, do you consider the posters to this forum
|
|
> 'friends' in the same sense you consider those on GEnie friends?
|
|
|
|
I try to follow as much of the general conversation as I can,
|
|
but it's a lot to track.
|
|
|
|
Re: the CIS/GEnie thing...I was one of the first people around
|
|
town to go on-line in the entertainment business. I was logging onto
|
|
Compuserve back in 1984, when you could only get 300 baud access, off
|
|
the back of a Kaypro II computer with 128k floppy disks. This was my
|
|
first online network, and I've known a lot of the people here for 12
|
|
years. So there's a certain kinship here.
|
|
|
|
With GEnie, that was the first online network to give B5 a real
|
|
chance of being anything; a topic, then two, then a whole category,
|
|
then two whole categories were set aside for it, and they've believed
|
|
in the show for a long time. It took a lot longer for CIS to come
|
|
around and even note the show, or do some of the things that GEnie was
|
|
already doing.
|
|
|
|
Those are pretty much the main distinctions in how I see the
|
|
two.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Aug 1996 23:52:26 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Season 4 Title?
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Have you announced the overall title for season 4 yet?
|
|
> If so, can you share it with us?
|
|
> Have you begun filming the next season yet?
|
|
> And how's the writing coming along?
|
|
|
|
When I can announce the overall year 4 title, I will. Filming
|
|
starts August 26th. The writing is coming well. Actually walked the
|
|
sets today for the first time since we wrapped in May; it's just too
|
|
depressing to walk on a dead set. Lots of work going on now, new sets
|
|
being built, noise and energy and enthusiasm...much better now.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Aug 1996 15:08:51 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Magazine Article
|
|
|
|
colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> maybe", flattery will get you anywhere eh??
|
|
> It goes on, but hey, pretty damn good PR I think nes pas??
|
|
|
|
Thanks, I'd seen the article, and it's a great thing. We're
|
|
starting to pick up more positive articles and reviews
|
|
lately...basicallly, I think journalists are starting to get past their
|
|
preconceptions of what we should be, and what SF is, to see the show
|
|
for what it is.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Aug 1996 15:08:53 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Michael Beemer <71551.1670@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Comics as a medium...
|
|
|
|
Michael Beemer <71551.1670@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I trust you won't object if I pass your comments back to the
|
|
> mailing list?
|
|
|
|
Yeah, I've read the books during the rebuilding period, though
|
|
I haven't had time to indulge my comics habit for about six months or
|
|
so. For some reason, though, it still feels wonky to me. I confess
|
|
that as far as names go I still prefer Sun Boy to Inferno, and some of
|
|
the other renamings have been kinda dopey. If you're going to change
|
|
it (and objectively I know Sun Boy is a bit goofy), you should go for
|
|
something a little better than, for instance, Lightning Lad to
|
|
Livewire. Livewire is just an awful name.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Aug 1996 15:08:53 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: The Dark Is Rising
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
No, I haven't read it; will confess I hadn't heard of it until
|
|
now, my head being entirely in the show; when I'm done with the show,
|
|
and have some time, I will try and take a look at it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Aug 1996 15:08:56 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Triangle on Minbari head
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Let me hold off on this for a bit.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Aug 1996 15:08:57 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: The Copernicus ???
|
|
|
|
Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Copernicus* Earth's first and only Sublight Interstellar
|
|
> "freezer" ?
|
|
|
|
Nope.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:16 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: New Cast Addition
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I haven't heard anything about how KVOS will be handling the
|
|
show yet, so we'll have to see.
|
|
|
|
"Who are you for starters?"
|
|
|
|
I work craft services at the Babylon 5 stage. I make the hot
|
|
dogs. It's a small job, but I'm proud to be there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
(don't read credits, do you...?)
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:18 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Magazine Article
|
|
|
|
Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> And isn't it also possible that journalists skipping their
|
|
> browsers across the WWW like stones across a pond will inevitably
|
|
> run into "cool" B5 sites, which, again, might direct their focus
|
|
> in a more desirable direction?
|
|
|
|
I dunno...don't think enough journalists are online yet to make
|
|
an impact that way, but who knows?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:20 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Magazine Article
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Nothing about the show ever gets easier...it's just the nature
|
|
of the beast
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:23 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Richard M. Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Snow White
|
|
|
|
Richard M. Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Queen: "Mirror, mirror on the wall; who's the fairest of them
|
|
> all?" Miror: "How about a weather report instead?"
|
|
|
|
I hate you...I hate you...I really, really, really hate you....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:25 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Triangle on Minbari head
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> No call yet - to be borne in mind??
|
|
|
|
The call will come eventually.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:27 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Craig M. Bobchin <102354.3246@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Day in the Strife
|
|
|
|
Craig M. Bobchin <102354.3246@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Should that have been the Blackstar the ship he destroyed?
|
|
|
|
Yes, it was called the Black Star.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:29 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Goodbye Old Friend..
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Well, I think it's safe to say that Franklin will finally get
|
|
the point later this season....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:31 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Lyta--Season 4
|
|
|
|
David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do you know of any others that might take the stage as late as
|
|
> Season 5, or haven't they let themselves be known to you yet<G>?
|
|
|
|
Thanks...and yeah, it happened again. I'm writing 405, "The
|
|
Long Night," and there's something that one character was supposed to
|
|
do in the script, that had been the plan all along, that was my intent
|
|
even as near as 1 page from where it was going to happen...then just as
|
|
I got to that scene, another character stepped up and said, "no, let me
|
|
do it." I was kinda flummoxed. "You?! You're the LAST person anyone
|
|
would think to do this." The character nodded. "Exactly." And the
|
|
symmetry was perfect, the impact would be greater...so that's who did
|
|
it.
|
|
|
|
On one level, it's always wonderful when this happens; on
|
|
another, it scares the hell out of me....
|
|
|
|
It's at the bottom of act two, you'll figure it out when you get
|
|
there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:34 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout Cast
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Yup...I was here at the dawn of the SF forum....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Aug 1996 23:19:59 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 at WorldCon
|
|
|
|
SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do you know if the "A1" room will be Big Enough?
|
|
|
|
We'll have to see....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Richard M. Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Comics as a medium...
|
|
|
|
Richard M. Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> So I guess this means you haven't read the Kingdom Come series
|
|
> yet?
|
|
|
|
Kingdom Come is about the only comic I've made it a point to get
|
|
lately; great stuff.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Vorlons & Angels
|
|
|
|
Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do Vorlons just *use* the images of angels from the races, or did
|
|
> they actually *create* the idea of Angels on each of the
|
|
> homeworlds ?
|
|
|
|
In some places they may have expoited what was already there,
|
|
and created it in other places.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:15 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Centauri Home World ??
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Am I recalling the sense of your words approximately correctly?
|
|
|
|
No, the Centauri Republic is where they're from.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:17 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: C4 B5 announcement
|
|
|
|
colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> This week however went one better, now I wouldn't like to say
|
|
> what they were hinting at but the announcement at the start of
|
|
> the program this week was "Special effects WITH a plot, Babylon
|
|
> 5, science fiction as it should be", not biased or anything eh??
|
|
|
|
I hadn't heard that, that's great, thanks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:19 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Fan Club Site
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
It's a feature of not using netscape (assuming there wasn't an
|
|
operating glitch)...you're presented with your own Babcom screen, which
|
|
is you launch point into the rest of the site. Again, it's still being
|
|
added to and worked out, we haven't officially put the darned thing up
|
|
yet.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:23 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Lyta--Season 4
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Thanks. A lot of people are looking back at season 1 and
|
|
finding it better than they remembered, now that they know the
|
|
characters. They also now see the little touches here and there
|
|
pointing forward in the storyline.
|
|
|
|
The plot-recap stuff is difficult to pull off without being
|
|
obvious; you have to slip in the backstory a line at a time, here and
|
|
there, so new viewers can follow it but without annoying the constant
|
|
viewer.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:24 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I found myself wondering if Franklin shall eventually find what
|
|
> he seeks, or if has he already discovered it, and just needs to
|
|
> realise that for himself? And as for the songs...well, Joe, what
|
|
> can I say? Is it pure co-incidence that all Vorlon suits shown so
|
|
> far, with the exception of that belonging to Kosh, are similar in
|
|
> design? Why is his the only encounter suit that I have seen so
|
|
> far, that is predominantly green?
|
|
|
|
Actually, the new Vorlon's encounter suit is more purple/red
|
|
than green. The design is a matter of form following function.
|
|
|
|
And yeah, I figured it might be cool to continue the song over
|
|
the credits. That happens one more time this season.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:41:19 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Snow White
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"Maybe if someone can get the script a production could be put on at
|
|
one of the big cons?"
|
|
|
|
don't...
|
|
|
|
you...
|
|
|
|
dare....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:41:20 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Quickie question : What did Kosh2 see on the door behind Lyta?
|
|
> They sure looked like Shadow warriors to me, but what are they
|
|
> doing following _her_? And why did Kosh2 ignore them?
|
|
> Surely they also followed her onto the White Star....why not
|
|
> wreak havoc then?
|
|
|
|
They weren't following Lyta. We were in Kosh's old quarters,
|
|
and those images were burned into the wall when Kosh died. Bear in
|
|
mind that she doesn't actually meet the new ambassador until the next
|
|
scene.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:41:22 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Did you notice Lyta was wearing her gill dress when she first
|
|
> came on board? Who did the music?
|
|
> Where did the Narn heavy fighter come from?
|
|
|
|
"Who did the music?"
|
|
|
|
I wrote the lyrics, Chris Franke did the music.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 19 Aug 1996 01:55:29 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rerun Order
|
|
|
|
William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is this something that disturbs you as well, or do you take part
|
|
> in the decision making process as to which episodes will air
|
|
> when?
|
|
|
|
It's WB that decides on the rerun order...it's beyond my control
|
|
or influence.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 19 Aug 1996 02:01:32 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I don't suppose I could ask that synopses of the episodes that
|
|
are this detailed be kind of not-done? Brief ones, sure, but a
|
|
blow-by-blow breakdown of every scene is rather disheartening to see in
|
|
a public forum, even one set aside for spoilers.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:51:55 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Chris Franke did the music.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:51:57 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
No signicance to the eyepiece color; no reason to assume
|
|
Vorlons only have one encounter suit their entire life.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:51:58 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is that fine to you?
|
|
|
|
Nothing to apologize for; nothing wrong with asking for a
|
|
synopsis, it was just the extent of it that brought me up short.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:02 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
My concern about detailed synopses comes from a number of
|
|
elements. One of the foremost...a not as detailed synopsis leaves some
|
|
room for surprises. Even if you want to know what happens, to have
|
|
every breath, every line given to you ahead of time diminishes the
|
|
*impact* of what you're seeing. If someone says, "In this episode,
|
|
Kosh dies," then okay, you know it's coming...but you don't know *how*
|
|
it's coming, and that's half the fun.
|
|
|
|
Second, when someone attempts to recreate a scene, inclusive of
|
|
dialogue and action descriptions, the episode itself becomes a hostage
|
|
to how well that's presented. I can't tell you how many times I've
|
|
gotten email from people who said, "I read a detailed synopsis of this
|
|
episode before I saw it, and from the way it was described, it felt
|
|
really stupid...but then I saw it, and I liked it a lot better than the
|
|
way it was presented in the synopsis." It can mitigate against the
|
|
impact, and the quality, of an episode if it's not well presented. A
|
|
simple by-the-numbers, blow-by-blow synopsis can flatten out any of the
|
|
drama.
|
|
|
|
Will they watch it? Likely yes. Will the impact be
|
|
diminished? Yes. Can people approach the episode from a prejudiced
|
|
perspective thanks to a too-detailed synopsis? Yes. There are other
|
|
concerns even beyond this, but those will do for now.
|
|
|
|
(And my problem with the other fellow wasn't so much the
|
|
synopsizing, as that was all he ever did, moments after the show, just
|
|
to be first, and never took part in anything else.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:05 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Again, you don't have to apologize, and I'm not looking for
|
|
one. You can synopsize all you want...I was just encouraging a briefer
|
|
one that leaves some room for surprises here and there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: The Rim anyone ?
|
|
|
|
Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Anyway, in a post once you said to me that the races had only
|
|
> explored as far as they did because they need Navigation Beacons
|
|
> for Hyperspace, did they get to the Rim, is the rim the edge of
|
|
> explored space or the edge of the galaxy ? & why don't they go
|
|
> into hyperspace, keep going for a month then come out ?
|
|
|
|
It's the Rim of the galaxy, and once you come out of hyperspace
|
|
past the galactic rim, all your points of reference are gone, and
|
|
getting back is tough, if not impossible...and you can't just "keep
|
|
going" in a straight line in hyperspace, as it's not a one-to-one
|
|
corrolation to normal space.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Still waiting...
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Will check into this.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: 2 Q's on Walkabout
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
They're not that far apart in age, but yes, Kosh would be a bit
|
|
older
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:14 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Snow White
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I'll think about it....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:16 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Snow White
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Oh, I didn't really do it for the money, there wasn't much
|
|
involved at the time...it's not that I wrote it for money, it's that I
|
|
wrote it when I was *18* and when you look back at ANYdamnthing you
|
|
wrote at 18 the impulse is to shriek and run away.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:19 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hart Trevor <100705.1222@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Private JMS Viewing!!!!!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
It wasn't that I disliked the responses...most of them were
|
|
quite funny in response to my (in jest) offer to come by and see
|
|
them...but others said it was kinda mean (mainly in email) and as I
|
|
pulled back and looked at it objectively, I saw that it could've
|
|
potentially been a UM, and Unintended Meanness. So I had to rectify
|
|
it. And the only way to do that was to turn the in-jest offer to come
|
|
to my office and see them into a real offer. You gots to do what's
|
|
right....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:22 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Detroit problem
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Best if the local fans get together en masse...that tends to
|
|
work.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:25 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rerun Order
|
|
|
|
Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> But have they ever given you any justification for their
|
|
> scheduling?
|
|
|
|
It's all a matter of running new eps during sweeps.
|
|
|
|
What's interesting -- when some fans of ST shows look for
|
|
something to badrap B5 about, using the ST ratings as a bludgeon -- the
|
|
ST ratings have been consistently sliding. For the last several
|
|
quarters, the quarterly rating on DS9 has gone from 7.1 to 6.7, 5.9 and
|
|
as of July 4.6.
|
|
|
|
B5's ratings per quarter have gone from 2.7 to 2.9, 3.0 and
|
|
3.1. Why do I bring this up? Because lately, in reruns, DS9 hit a 3.9
|
|
rating for the first time in reruns that I can think of (usually
|
|
they're in the 4s or low 5s) at about the same time we hit a 3.1 in
|
|
reruns, where usually it's a bit lower. So now there's only .8 between
|
|
us and DS9 in reruns, where the gap used to be huge. So it should be
|
|
*very* interesting to see what happens when new episodes hit the air.
|
|
I imagine they'll still be ahead, but the gap will, I suspect, be much
|
|
smaller.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:28 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Characters' Ages on CD-R
|
|
|
|
Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Are these accurate?
|
|
|
|
I'll have to check this and get back.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:30 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: walkabout questions
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"You OWE me an explanation."
|
|
|
|
No I don't.
|
|
|
|
The series has to stand on its own, for starters, and most of
|
|
the questions you've asked here will be addressed by the last episode
|
|
of this season. Suffice to say he has to trust Delenn...he knows she's
|
|
been holding back information (even says so later this season), but
|
|
until now, has held her in trust, that she must have her reasons. This
|
|
may or may not change soon.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:31 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout propaganda
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
There's really no need for propgaganda. By about now,
|
|
everybody out in this part of space knows the situation...and what's
|
|
going on back home is secondary to winning the war. Also, you can be
|
|
sure that if they set up a network -- and who has time in the middle of
|
|
a war -- you can be sure Earth would find some way to jam it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 14:25:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Joe vs. Bears
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Actually, I've been remembering the script, and I'm reasonably
|
|
sure the teddy bear was added by the director, I don't think it was in
|
|
the script.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 21:09:29 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Comics as a medium...
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Though I've fallen out of my comics habit over the last 6-8
|
|
months, I followed Cerebus since very early in its run, and enjoyed it.
|
|
It's great.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 21:09:31 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Fan Club Site
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
The problem as I understand it is that using Netscape will let
|
|
us do more of the cutting-edge stuff we plan to introduce over the
|
|
course of the coming year than the other systems...avatars, residences,
|
|
other nifty stuff. If we go for a less sophisticated interface, we
|
|
won't be able to do this stuff. At least, that's what we're being told
|
|
by the designers.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 21:09:32 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Private JMS Viewing!!!!!
|
|
|
|
SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I wonder why?
|
|
|
|
It's that parrot, man, I keep telling you....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Aug 1996 21:28:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout propaganda
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Okay, John, lemme ask you a question, since you keep harping on
|
|
this issue of propaganda.
|
|
|
|
You're the leader of an isolated space station with a quarter
|
|
million inhabitants, who need air, food, supplies, space, support. You
|
|
no longer have ties to Earth, no support from there, no money, so you
|
|
have to rely on whatever docking fees you can get from other worlds.
|
|
You're in the midst of a war in which you have few resources, little
|
|
money, allies that have a tendency to turn on one another, nobody's
|
|
giving you a break, your position is tenuous as hell, you're constantly
|
|
undermanned, shorthanded....
|
|
|
|
Now you tell me where the heck you're going to get the time,
|
|
resources, money and manpower to launch a propaganda operation, which
|
|
if you're going to broadcast (and what's the point otherwise?) on an
|
|
interstellar basis is going to require extensive and expensive
|
|
facilities, broadcast repeaters, tacyhon carrier wave generators to get
|
|
around the time-delay aspects, writers, directors, broadcast engineers,
|
|
spokespersons, propaganda specialists, psychologists, technicians,
|
|
camera equipment, space in which to PUT all of this stuff...on and on
|
|
and on.
|
|
|
|
You keep beating this particular horse, but your objection has
|
|
nothing to do with the reality of their position.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 02:39:58 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 Merchandise in London
|
|
|
|
Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I thought it quite odd that the availability of such merchandise
|
|
> has not been mentioned around here before, which made me wonder
|
|
> if it is not fully legitimate...do you have control over such
|
|
> things? Before I splash out $120 on a uniform, I would like to
|
|
> know if these things are legit?
|
|
|
|
If the uniforms are from Janet Lawn, they're legit; no Psi Corps
|
|
pins have been approved for anyone at this point.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 02:44:40 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
One doesn't have to believe in the existence of something to
|
|
write about it effectively...there aren't really Minbari or Vorlons,
|
|
y'know...you just decide to write about it as though it were a True
|
|
Thing. And that's about how I approach religious characters. As a
|
|
writer, you can choose to be honest in your characterization, or you
|
|
can use the medium for propaganda and the advancement of personal
|
|
agendas. The latter holds no appeal for me.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:23 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Snow White
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
At 18 I was trying to get the hang of my craft. I knew some
|
|
stuff, but not a lot. I'm a little closer to that goal now, though
|
|
there's still a long road ahead of me. B5 is something I'm proud of
|
|
now, and will be in future.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:26 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Fan Club Site
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Should work with Netscape 3.0 no problem. And thanks. We do
|
|
want it to be cool...once it's fully operational, with all the final
|
|
parts and pieces added in, it should be nifty indeed.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:28 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Rob Carr <73200.2754@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5
|
|
|
|
Rob Carr <73200.2754@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Yeah, but how come you do so much better a job than those that
|
|
> do? There...there AREN'T?
|
|
> You mean, B5 isn't real life?
|
|
|
|
Never took it *as* criticism....
|
|
|
|
To the question of why more folks don't do it, or as much or "as
|
|
well" (the last in that list being subjective and self-serving for me
|
|
to repeat), I think a large part of the problem may be that very often,
|
|
if you deal with religion in TV, ten gazillion pressure groups from
|
|
either side of the political spectrum jump up and down on your head
|
|
until it's reduced to guava jelly. So folks get very tentative about
|
|
the area.
|
|
|
|
Me, I've been on computer nets for 12 years, I'm used to people
|
|
jumping up on down on my head until it turns into guava jelly...no big.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:32 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I commend C.S. Lewis to you as a writer first, and a theologian
|
|
second. As a writer, he does some nifty stuff...the Screwtape Letters
|
|
alone is worth his having walked among us. The Perelandra (sp?)
|
|
books...are okay, but a bit dry sometimes. His strength was in more
|
|
fantasy than SF. As a theological writer, he had a tendency to set up
|
|
straw man arguments a bit too often and too easily for my tastes, but
|
|
he's certainly worth the read.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:38 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: The Rim anyone ?
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> So when Delenn states that some of the first ones went exploring
|
|
> beyond the rim does that mean they went off expolring the
|
|
> billions of other galaxies in the universe or different
|
|
> dimensions, realms etc ? Is the B5 arc painted on a Galactic sized
|
|
> canvas (specifically the Milky Way) or does it hold consequences
|
|
> for the known Universe ?
|
|
|
|
No, the events take place only in our own galaxy, and only in
|
|
portions of that...it's just too big a place.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:39 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Voltayre WWW Page
|
|
|
|
Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Have you visited "Encyclopedia Xenobiologica" (B5 page) on the
|
|
> World Wide Web ? Would you consider it to be accurate ?
|
|
|
|
Dunno, I haven't seen it...will investigate.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:42 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Patricia Tallman
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Well, she's in the main title sequence with all the other cast
|
|
members starting next season, how's that?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:45 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Who was that?
|
|
> Not me????
|
|
|
|
No, that ain't you, don't worry, that's old news.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:47 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Do you see what I'm getting at?
|
|
|
|
So where is the problem with, let's say, a person putting up a
|
|
spoiler that says what basically happens in the episode, adding, "If
|
|
you want a more detailed analysis, email me and I'll send it along."
|
|
|
|
But bear in mind, again, folks can post here whatever they want;
|
|
I'm not in a position to stop anyone. If I have any moral authority on
|
|
an issue -- dubious since I'm not sure where I left my morals anyway --
|
|
that's fine, but I'm not going to pressure anybody to do
|
|
anything...that ain't how I work. How people perceive me is beyond my
|
|
control, and when the poster here apologized for the long synopsis, I
|
|
told him he didn't have to do so.
|
|
|
|
This really ain't a big issue, folks...I saw something, had a
|
|
gut reaction to it, and said what was on my mind. I can't start
|
|
censoring what I think because someone might take it too much to
|
|
heart...yes, the person has a right to post what they want, and I have
|
|
an equal right to respond as I feel is appropriate. I'm being as
|
|
honest in my reactions as anyone else. Who in this room has a problem
|
|
with that?
|
|
|
|
Unless you're saying I should just shut up when I see something
|
|
I feel strongly about...which seems to me just as bad as anything else
|
|
being discussed here.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:50 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout propaganda
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
John...you're getting too wrapped up in this. For starters,
|
|
having just had a MAJOR WAR with the Minbari, which nearly wiped out
|
|
Earth, and many folks back home *hating* the Minbari...do you think for
|
|
one second that they're going to believe a word of what the Minbari say
|
|
to them? Do you think the government would allow this to go through
|
|
unjammed? Hell, EarthGov would have a field day with this..."See?
|
|
It's all alien propaganda, just like we told you, they're trying to
|
|
destabalize Earth."
|
|
|
|
Second, I don't think the Minbari have the propagandists,
|
|
writers, directors, and others needed to put together a propaganda
|
|
network, and would find the whole idea immoral to begin with...and a
|
|
couple of paragraphs of text are meaningless...Earthgov says "it's not
|
|
true," and it's your word against theirs. That's why you must have
|
|
absolute, unvarnished PROOF, otherwise it blows up in your face, which
|
|
any journalist worth his or her salt knows.
|
|
|
|
Again your suggestions don't touch reality at any two contiguous
|
|
points.
|
|
|
|
Also, I can't keep track of, or answer, 15 or 20 questions in
|
|
one message; if you've got a point to make, do so concisely.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:23:28 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Snow White
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"But he's considering letting me live"
|
|
|
|
The night is young.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:28:07 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Scott Miller <70562.3656@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
Scott Miller <70562.3656@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Wouldn't this image have been worth mentioning?
|
|
|
|
Watch the scene again; the first time the new Vorlon looks at
|
|
the wall, he sees nothing; the next time he looks at it, the lens wide
|
|
open, the image is somewhat distorted around the edges, and now he's
|
|
seeing the afterflash. Only certain types can see it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:28:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Good point.
|
|
|
|
It can sometimes be annoying...I know there was a fan meeting
|
|
of a certain group in the UK at one convention last year where they
|
|
insisted, in NO uncertain terms, that my statement about being an
|
|
atheist was just a cover, and that I was in fact a religious person
|
|
using that as a blind so I could get my views across.
|
|
|
|
Language is a precise thing; if you do not say what you mean,
|
|
you can never mean what you say. What I stated in this regard is the
|
|
simple truth. Anybody who can't handle that...should just have a little
|
|
faith.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:28:14 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Snow White
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
The night is never young on that side of the Atlantic.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:28:15 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Yes, but almost always in terms of *alien* religions. ST
|
|
frequently addresses religious issues, and yes, mostly in a negative
|
|
light...but when was the last time you saw this about a human religion?
|
|
See, that's the easy out. You can say whatever you want about the
|
|
stupid religious beliefs of the blue-furred Erzani of Cromethiom
|
|
Nine...take a shot at the Pope, and you get letters.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:28:18 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Travel times
|
|
|
|
Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Or, is the *3 day* figure just to get to the "Earth Solar System"
|
|
> ? If yes, then what roughly *is* the length of time *in*
|
|
> Hyperspace (outside observers) ?
|
|
|
|
Three days is the time to the jumpgate off Io. Once you're
|
|
within our solar system, it takes another several days or more to reach
|
|
Earth itself. It's fairly common to keep your jump gate a bit removed
|
|
from your "core" planet so you have warning if any agressors come out
|
|
of it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:41:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Arline Williams <102551.2346@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Stealth Production?
|
|
|
|
Arline Williams <102551.2346@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Or are you guys just shy?
|
|
|
|
We're not on the lot. We couldn't find facilities big enough
|
|
for our needs, and if you're on the lot...you're more accessible, and
|
|
people have a tendency to wander in and give you notes. So we're well
|
|
off the lot, and nobody bothers us.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Aug 1996 20:31:42 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Stuff is still going out; another 1500 zipped out the door
|
|
today. It's coming....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Aug 1996 20:31:43 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Also, I think we're sufficiently low-profile that they just
|
|
haven't noticed us yet....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Aug 1996 20:31:45 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Meryl Yourish <103470.2703@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Patricia Tallman
|
|
|
|
Meryl Yourish <103470.2703@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Joe, is Ivanova in the main title sequence next season?
|
|
|
|
All of our regular characters are in our main title sequence for
|
|
the year in which they appear.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Aug 1996 11:47:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Michael Grabois <74737.2600@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: New episode airdates?
|
|
|
|
Michael Grabois <74737.2600@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do you have any closer idea as to when the end of Season 3 is
|
|
> going to be shown in the US besides "sometime in October"?
|
|
|
|
Starts the first week of October, straight through.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Aug 1996 11:47:15 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Richard Hatch
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Did Richard Hatch of Battlestar Galactica read for the part of
|
|
> Sheridan?
|
|
|
|
Trying to remember...Bruce was our first choice, but we had to
|
|
have some backups in case he wasn't available...yeah, we saw Hatch, and
|
|
felt he wasn't right for the role, though he's a good actor. Saw a
|
|
bunch of actors, most of whose names have fallen out of my head.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Aug 1996 11:47:16 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout propaganda
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Yes, they do...but bear in mind that the Minbari are currently
|
|
having their own problems. The Grey Council has fallen apart, the
|
|
Military Caste (as we'll see in one of the next episodes) is having
|
|
some serious doubts about how the Religious Caste is handling things,
|
|
and that much of the support given Earth (by way of B5) has been
|
|
covert; the White Star program was launched in secret, and the greater
|
|
amount of the Minbari population aren't aware they're so much "in bed"
|
|
with the humans (as it were). As far as they're concerned, we're
|
|
apparently necessary to the plan, but not much more than that. So I
|
|
think they wouldn't be warm to the notion of extending their services
|
|
overmuch to Earth.
|
|
|
|
You keep trying to make everything cut and dried, but in the B5
|
|
universe, there ain't no such critter.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Aug 1996 11:47:18 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Jonathan Hoopingarn <73172.1065@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Quakers on B5?
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Hoopingarn <73172.1065@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> With tounge (sp?) firmly in cheek I must ask "What?
|
|
> No Quakers?
|
|
> What civilized society wouldn't still have the Society of
|
|
> Friends?" I guess I do have to ask, seriously, "How fair the
|
|
> Friends in the B5 universe?"
|
|
|
|
Well, if Quakers choose not to use mechanical means of
|
|
transportation, only horse-drawn carriages...then I would suggest that
|
|
this may hinder their progress in interstellar travel.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 00:08:15 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Fan Club Site
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
That's odd, since it doesn't happen when I checked it out a
|
|
little bit ago...will check again.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 00:08:17 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Chris Croughton (UK) <100014.3217@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Quakers on B5?
|
|
|
|
Chris Croughton (UK) <100014.3217@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Or have they been forcibly supressed by EarthGov?
|
|
|
|
Yeah...ten minutes after I sent the message I did a Simpson
|
|
"D'oh!" and realized I was talking about the Amish. Ah, well...we're
|
|
all entitled to one screw-up...
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 00:16:35 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Just out of curiousity, how long ago did you get the newsletter?
|
|
> last week receiving the kit?
|
|
|
|
Jim has sent a public response to the Usenet about the delay,
|
|
and the Zocalo has also published a letter from him about it. In
|
|
addition, I've gone at some length here about what's been going on.
|
|
You may not have seen them, but there have been public replies. The
|
|
email list is too hideously huge to reply to individually. But stacks
|
|
and stacks are going out the door as fast as can be.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 00:16:36 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Private JMS Viewing!!!!!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"I'll show you my Dupa."
|
|
|
|
And the fifteen people on CIS who know Polish found this
|
|
extremely funny.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 00:16:39 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"Roddenberry was an athiest and very anti-religious."
|
|
|
|
And therein lay the key. One can be an atheist for oneself, and
|
|
not anti-religious when it comes to others. The two need not go hand
|
|
in hand.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Aug 1996 15:36:06 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
We figured we'd get an initial membership of about 1,000-1,500,
|
|
and staffed accordingly. We got about 6,000, so all our planning has
|
|
gone straight to hell in that regard. Last I heard from Jim, the last
|
|
batches of stuff should be out by mid-week.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Aug 1996 15:36:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Fan Club Site
|
|
|
|
SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Some of us may want to "roll our own" species, have you given
|
|
> thought of how that could be done? Are there plans for that using
|
|
> security "certificates" or plain old passwords?
|
|
|
|
Yes, there will be security once it's all officially online.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Aug 1996 15:36:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Batman <104635.1044@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Lyta--Season 4
|
|
|
|
Batman <104635.1044@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Ever consider doing a "recap" show, ala the X-Files two "Secrets
|
|
> Of" episodes?
|
|
|
|
We suggested it to WB, and were turned down, on the grounds that
|
|
as a network, Fox can just go ahead and program what the want in those
|
|
hours, if it's a secrets-of special or something else; but PTEN isn't
|
|
really a network, it's a syndication division, and in syndication you
|
|
have to sell each item separately, so they'd have to go out and sell
|
|
that one hour special the same way they'd sell a series, and they were
|
|
loathe to do that.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Aug 1996 15:36:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Would it be possible (and not too much typing) for you to post
|
|
> those lyrics here? Maybe upload them as a library file, so that
|
|
> they wouldn't go away? Pretty please?
|
|
> With a virtual (no calories) hot fudge sundae?
|
|
|
|
Will try to remember to do that soonish....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Aug 1996 15:36:15 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Alan Mulvie <100566.1444@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Questions
|
|
|
|
Alan Mulvie <100566.1444@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is the "keeper in Londo, 17 years in the future, a Shadow?
|
|
> Is the "keeper in Londo, 17 years in the future, a Vorlon?
|
|
> The war that Dellan refers to (17 years in the future) where the
|
|
> enemies The Shadows? The war that Dellan refers to (17 years in
|
|
> the future) where the enemies The Vorlons? In the Babylon 5
|
|
> storyline do the Vorlons become a bigger enemy that the Shadows?
|
|
> Do you think the Vorlons are cheats using time as a weapon?
|
|
|
|
"Is the "keeper in Londo, 17 years in the future, a Shadow?"
|
|
|
|
No. One of their dark servants, a leftover from the war.
|
|
|
|
"Is the "keeper in Londo, 17 years in the future, a Vorlon?"
|
|
|
|
No.
|
|
|
|
"The war that Dellen refers to (17 years in the future) where the
|
|
enemies The Shadows?"
|
|
|
|
No.
|
|
|
|
"The war that Dellan refers to (17 years in the future) where the
|
|
enemies The Vorlons?"
|
|
|
|
No.
|
|
|
|
"In the Babylon 5 storyline do the Vorlons become a bigger enemy that
|
|
the Shadows?"
|
|
|
|
Depends on your definition.
|
|
|
|
"One that you can answer non cryptically : Do you think the Vorlons
|
|
are cheats using time as a weapon?"
|
|
|
|
No.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:44 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Richard Hatch
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Were these people you were just "considering" in your head, or
|
|
> had they actually read for the part? Wasn't John Rhys Davies on
|
|
> Sliders at this time or was this just prior to that? You say Bruce
|
|
> looked like how you pictured Sheridan but just how well defined
|
|
> was the character at this stage? Is there any chance A Martinez
|
|
> might guest star in the future?
|
|
|
|
Many of the names we were considering don't audition; you know
|
|
their work or you don't. Some did. (It's bad form to indicate which
|
|
did what.)
|
|
|
|
While I had a certain idea of the look for Sheridan in my head,
|
|
the one thing you learn as a producer is to keep an open mind when it
|
|
comes to casting, because sometimes something will happen that you
|
|
hadn't anticipated and you go with it.
|
|
|
|
While I had the name Sheridan, I hadn't locked down his ethnic
|
|
background yet, and instructed our casting director accordingly. I
|
|
wanted to see a range of people. So we saw not just Caucasian actors,
|
|
but hispanics, african american, asian...I felt strongly after the
|
|
first season that we didn't have enough ethnic diversity, which is one
|
|
of the reasons we changed casting directors to one that had a wider
|
|
background in this area. As it turned out Bruce was the best person for
|
|
the role, but we went into the process open to whoever walked in the
|
|
door.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:47 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Questions
|
|
|
|
Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> His definition of "bigger," or that of "enemy"??
|
|
|
|
Well...yes, I suppose.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:50 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: WWOR in NY
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I don't know specifically what's going on for Sunday...but I do
|
|
know that the station group to which WOR belongs has stated it will
|
|
keep the second airing, and they are working to move the show into
|
|
better time slots. So going from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. gives us a prime time
|
|
slot, which is *much* better for us. I don't know if they'll keep the
|
|
Sunday rerun where it is, but there will be a rerun somewhere.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:51 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Questions
|
|
|
|
Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Why do the Vorlons hate the Shadows so?
|
|
> Will this be ansered later in the show?
|
|
> I suppose the mystery of what the old ones are so upset with one
|
|
> another won't be known until year 5?
|
|
|
|
After "Z'ha'dum," I think you'll have your answer to this.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:53 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do fan club applications still continue trickle in, flow in or
|
|
> downpour in?
|
|
|
|
The flow of applications have slowed a little, in large measure
|
|
because we've stopped putting the information out there until we get
|
|
caught up on what we've got. Once we've caught up -- and I think
|
|
virtually everything has either gone out last week or will be out this
|
|
week -- then we'll go out and start beating the drum again.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:56 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: More pics here?
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
No reason...just the upload time involved to do it all.
|
|
Anything there can be reposted here. I keep meaning to do it, but end
|
|
up tying up my computer with writing. The folks at WB do the uploads
|
|
to AOL and the WB B5 site; here it'd have to be me, and it's just a
|
|
question of finding the time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:59 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: First Day of Filming
|
|
|
|
Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> So, how was the first day of filming?
|
|
> Are you still alive?
|
|
|
|
It's frenetic, nuts, lots of running around and little fixes,
|
|
we all get a little crazy on first days...but it'll be okay.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:21:02 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> once the email address was published, someone should have been
|
|
> ready to respond (why else publish it?
|
|
|
|
Lemme ask you a question...did your check get cashed? Because
|
|
I just went down the hall and asked Jim what the status was on Jonathan
|
|
Kass' membership, and it wasn't in any of the files, so what I'm
|
|
wondering is if it just never got to us.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:32:00 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Elyse M. Grasso <70302.3304@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: SF as it should be
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
All of them wanted to work more after ST; very few did, many of
|
|
the cast couldn't get arrested. They deeply resented it. It's not as
|
|
if they said, "oh, well, I'm old now, I can retire." At the time, most
|
|
were in their 40s, with Kelley being the oldest one there. One doesn't
|
|
retire at 40 as an actor; you go on. They've all talked about it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:49:46 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Newsletter
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Yes, the first three volumes, as noted in the newsletter, were
|
|
destroyed at the printer's; the fourth mysteriously vanished. Who
|
|
knows, perhaps in years to come, the fourth one will make a
|
|
reappearance....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:49:47 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Chris Franke
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I think he's decided to time it to come out at the same time as
|
|
the November debut of season 4, so he can piggyback the publicity.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:06 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Joseph Coulter <75272.3005@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Thanks. I think in that kind of situation you have to deal in
|
|
the straight emotions of the belief, the honest feelings of those
|
|
involved, and how they view their lives, and that will keep you on the
|
|
heart's true magnetic north...when you diverge into the more doctrinal
|
|
stuff, you will always go astray.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:07 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Now what?
|
|
|
|
Now I go back to Jim and tell him to look again...thanks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Fan Club Site
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I think you can change it, yes.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Richard Hatch
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Nope. Those were some of the folks we were considering. We
|
|
also looked in the direction of Bruce Campbell (who had just had his
|
|
show shot out from under him, and whose agent said he wasn't doing TV
|
|
for a while) and several others. Basically, you look around for who's
|
|
available, who might be good for the role, might bring something
|
|
interesting to it...and then pick the best person.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Since I didn't write Gropos, it didn't happen there....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Jonathan Hoopingarn <73172.1065@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Quakers on B5?
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Hoopingarn <73172.1065@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Now that all the mistaken identities have been cleared up, and as
|
|
> the final arbiter of all things Babylonian, would the Quakers
|
|
> have made it?
|
|
|
|
I don't know...maybe...it's something that I'll have to
|
|
consider.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Robin L. Small <76640.2012@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rogue Teeps
|
|
|
|
Robin L. Small <76640.2012@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> franklin helped out?
|
|
|
|
Yep, we'll be hearing about this again quite soon.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Aug 1996 21:51:27 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I went to Jim's office again after your last note, and had him
|
|
check the database again by hand; it's definitely not there. So I've
|
|
copied your email to him, and he should be in touch soon, or he'll go
|
|
ahead and add it to the list. It's conceivable that if your check got
|
|
caught up in a bundle it might've missed being processed by us. As far
|
|
a I know this is the only time it's happened; but we never know about
|
|
it until and unless someone tells us about it. Thanks for bringing it
|
|
to our attention.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Aug 1996 21:51:29 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Yeah, I kinda wear my heart on my sleeve more than I should;
|
|
sometimes even I'm appalled at what I find my subsconscious has given
|
|
away once I can step back and look at a script objectively.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 15:46:22 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
That's the question that's hard to answer, because stuff is
|
|
going out the door as fast as possible. One batch of 1500 went out on
|
|
Thursday. Was yours in there? I don't know. Part of the consistent
|
|
problem we're having is the Post Office. They told us what the postage
|
|
should be for each packet and newsletter, first class (we sent the
|
|
first batches off bulk, and they got dumped, lost, delayed...never
|
|
again, we'll just take the loss and deal with it). So we use that, and
|
|
turn it in at the post office. Depending on which postal worker takes
|
|
the parcels, it goes through, or they send them back for more. So now
|
|
we're increasing the postage to make sure they don't do this to us
|
|
again. It's making Jim crazy.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 15:46:25 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Private JMS Viewing!!!!!
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> By the way, do you have a cat?
|
|
|
|
Well, there's a neighborhood cat who comes around, sort of a
|
|
rent-a-cat that gets fed and tolerated, but that's all.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 15:46:27 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Quakers on B5?
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Just increased your insurance policy, didn't you? I can
|
|
tell....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 15:46:31 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Richard Hatch
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> What was it about Bruce that made him your first choice?
|
|
> Was it a particular quality or characteristic he expressed in a
|
|
> previous role, or did he just have "the look"?
|
|
|
|
It was a number of things. He looked like what I thought
|
|
Sheridan would look like, and had the right attitude. He had a
|
|
reputation for being an actor associated with lightweight dramas
|
|
(though he was capable of much more), and I knew this would play in my
|
|
favor in that people would be set up for one thing, and then I'd yank
|
|
it in the other direction; even made sure that I gave him lightweight
|
|
dialogue, had a jolly attitude, for most of his first few episodes on
|
|
the show (exempting "Revelations").
|
|
|
|
So when the first eps aired, and people were going on about
|
|
"smiling jack," I knew I had them set up for the whack-upside-the-head
|
|
that was coming down the road at them, and the character.
|
|
|
|
(It's sometimes like an elaborate game of chess...I try to
|
|
anticipate the viewer reaction so I can, well, turn this on them and
|
|
use it to my own advantage. Look at folks' initial reactions to Londo
|
|
and Vir as another example of this. I've said before that I'm not
|
|
averse to taking aspects of the actor -- Mira's background in
|
|
Yugoslavia -- and using them for the benefit of the story, so you can
|
|
bet I'd be willing to do that with the audience as well. I say if
|
|
people are going to apply their preconceptions to a character or an
|
|
actor, then it's perfectly fair game for me to turn this around on
|
|
them. So those who saw depth in Londo or Vir -- and were ploinked for
|
|
it -- got to see their suspicions confirmed (good result) and those who
|
|
thought they were just buffoons got to have their brains splattered
|
|
when they saw the depths that emerged (also a good result). So why not
|
|
do this with Bruce?)
|
|
|
|
Other reasons...Doug and John had worked with Bruce before, and
|
|
knew him to be a stand-up guy, loyal and honest and hardworking, a team
|
|
player, and a genuinely nice man who was far more talented than the
|
|
roles given to him before had let him show, more range and more colors
|
|
than he had previously had a chance to display. He's also a stone SF
|
|
fan, both in media and literary SF, so I knew he'd have a great respect
|
|
for the story.
|
|
|
|
I've been remembering some of the other choices we were
|
|
considering for Sheridan...James Earl Jones, John Rhys Davies, Barry
|
|
Bostwick, Michael York, Michael Moriarity, A. Martinez...but for me,
|
|
Bruce *was* Sheridan, and when it came time to make a decision, it was
|
|
him, hands-down.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 19:56:16 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"Our great government efficiency at work again! Do you think THEY
|
|
think it's coming FROM Babylon 5?!"
|
|
|
|
Dunno about that...but it sure looks to me like the Post Office
|
|
is being run by the Shadows.
|
|
|
|
(Hmm...I wonder if they saw "Avalon" and are still smarting over
|
|
the Post Office humor...?)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 19:56:19 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Won Bin . Lee <76770.162@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"...he preaches all day on why religion should be eliminated, his
|
|
future goals of ruling the world and wiping out such religion, and not
|
|
only that, but arts as well, thinking they are "useless"."
|
|
|
|
Mr. Stalin, meet Mr. Hitler. Mr. Hitler, meet Mr. Stalin.
|
|
|
|
"his future goal of ruling the world"
|
|
|
|
First though he has to stop living in his mom's basement and
|
|
collecting balls of string and wrapping aluminum foil around his head
|
|
to keep out the Martian death rays....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Aug 1996 19:56:21 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: War Council
|
|
|
|
Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> One question: I was under the impression that Sheridan was the
|
|
> military leader of the Army of Light, is this not correct? Is this
|
|
> to be a war by committee? How exactly is the Army of Light
|
|
> organized?
|
|
|
|
Sheridan commands the Army of Light, Delenn as second. If the
|
|
AOL speaks with one voice on something of importance, they have to be
|
|
listened to. When Sheridan put himself on the front lines, he was then
|
|
taking on the role of soldier, not commander. They also felt it risked
|
|
leaving them without said commander if it went wrong.
|
|
|
|
Bear in mind that their orders in *no* way compromised his
|
|
actual mission, or over-rode his decision. They were sending along a
|
|
secondary mission to keep an eye on the primary mission. I don't see a
|
|
conflict here.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Aug 1996 00:53:41 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Fan Club Site
|
|
|
|
SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is the area affiliation (Earth Force, PsiCorp, etc.) going to do
|
|
> more than affect the graphical gizmos on the BabCom window?
|
|
|
|
We'll do more with the affiliations later on once more parts of
|
|
the station go on line. For instance, we'll have various chat areas
|
|
set aside. If you're Earthforce, you can get into Earharts...if you're
|
|
a Centauri, you can't, but you'll have another area you can get into.
|
|
When you get your quarters set up on B5 (you'll be able to actually
|
|
rent a residence on the station), if you're a Narn it'll be in the
|
|
alien sector, if you're Psi Corps it'll probably be Red
|
|
Sector...basically, we'll try, as much as possible, to replicate what
|
|
it would be like to actually live there. Eventually we hope to
|
|
introduce avatars in the chat area so you can appear visually in the
|
|
room as the species of your choice...with the thought that, in time,
|
|
people will be able to upload images of themselves and use those in the
|
|
chat area with the avatars...it's going to grow into something very
|
|
elaborate.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Aug 1996 00:53:45 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Richard Hatch
|
|
|
|
William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Wait a sec ...you wanted Bruce first???
|
|
> Nevertheless, what made you go with O'Hare?
|
|
> The two are like night and day for a variety of reasons, and was
|
|
> Bruce unavailable initially? How did you learn that he was
|
|
> interested in coming aboard?
|
|
|
|
Let me clarify, so I won't be misunderstood...Bruce was our
|
|
first choice after the change-over from Sinclair. Bruce would not have
|
|
been right for the choice of Sinclair, but was right for Sheridan.
|
|
Michael was right for Sinclair, would not have been right for Sheridan.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Aug 1996 01:03:28 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Private JMS Viewing!!!!!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"It'd be a whole lot funnier if Ed Wasser hosted the flight."
|
|
|
|
Tell that to the crew of the Icarus....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Aug 1996 01:03:30 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: War Council
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Just some comparisons to illustrate...during WW II, the head of
|
|
naval operations for the Japanese fleet insisted on being on board
|
|
during several of their more pivotal missions. His subordinates
|
|
insisted that additional ships be sent as escorts given his importance
|
|
to war strategy. That's a very rigid military structure, but when
|
|
*all* the subordinates get together on something, to go against it
|
|
causes more problems than it's worth.
|
|
|
|
Even within the context of a conventional military situation,
|
|
there's flexibility. If a commanding officer gives an order which is
|
|
immoral, illegal, or against the rules of engagement, a subordinate can
|
|
refuse to implement that order, even give a countermanding order which,
|
|
depending on the situation (such as a nuclear missile firing) would
|
|
take precedence over the CO's order (though you'd first have to relieve
|
|
the CO of command, and if you do that, you'd darned well better be
|
|
prepared to back it up with every legal and moral means at your
|
|
disposal, or it's mutiny). Heck, it was just this kind of dilemma that
|
|
was at the core of the movie "Crimson Tide," and was brought up in the
|
|
recent war crime trials going on investigating what happened in Bosnia,
|
|
with a soldier being asked why he didn't refuse to carry out an order
|
|
to kill civilians.
|
|
|
|
Ain't a lot of black-and-whites in the world, but a whole lotta
|
|
greys.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Aug 1996 11:58:38 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Jim's just done a hand-search of applications, and still can't
|
|
find anything on your membership. He's asked if you could send a xerox
|
|
copy of your canceled check (both sides) to him at the fan club
|
|
address. Once we have that in hand, we'll zip everything out the door.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Aug 1996 15:56:34 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 on tape.
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
In the fullness of time, they'll be out here....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Aug 1996 16:05:36 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Valerie Williams <104047.2451@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Richard Hatch
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
That's good to hear, and I'm sure a number of other folks
|
|
started with the show when Bruce came on. Whatever the cause, I'm
|
|
pleased with the effect.
|
|
|
|
And don't feel bad about your initial attitude (assuming you
|
|
did); lots of folks had the same initial resistance, often out of a
|
|
sense of perceived loyalty to ST. We learn by doing.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Aug 1996 23:20:37 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Valerie Williams <104047.2451@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Richard Hatch
|
|
|
|
Valerie Williams <104047.2451@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> If you get asked to come back next year, will you?
|
|
> Truth to that?
|
|
> Any thoughts as to also releasing videos of the episodes?
|
|
|
|
Thanks. To your questions...I haven't yet been invited back to
|
|
Marcon (I don't know if they've finalized their list yet), but if that
|
|
should happen, work schedule allowing, I would likely be there; and
|
|
yes, B5 has been sold to TNT for runs after the show has gone its
|
|
course, which will be the first time we'll have had a national timeslot
|
|
and a big network.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 29 Aug 1996 12:06:16 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Walkabout
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Not coincidences, no, but not quite asx tightly linked as you
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suggest. Thematically indicative more than anything that points to
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story specific elements.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 29 Aug 1996 12:06:17 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Richard Hatch
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{original post had no questions}
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S'okay...that generally happens on the show. When we brought
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in Vir, lots of folks moaned about what a mistake it was, "flounder in
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space," they said...same with Walter Koenig...there were any number of
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messages suggesting we lose Londo, and others...and after a while, when
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they see what we're doing, they turn around. Vir is now many folks'
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favorite character, and Bruce has hit it as Sheridan for most everybody
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now.
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Doesn't bother us anymore.
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jms
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------------------------------
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