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2796 lines
97 KiB
2796 lines
97 KiB
JMS CompuServe messages for July 1997. Collected by John Hardin
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<jhardin@wolfenet.com>.
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Date: 30 Jun 1997 11:58:30 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Delenn`s background
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{original post unavailable}
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"Considering how they refer to "The Children of VALEN" and don't
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bother to mention the name of the WIFE of Valen, I'd say patriarchal."
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Or they pick the more well-known of the two. We often say "Mick
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Jagger's kid" because he's the more well known of the pair.
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Or they could be rather subtly ignoring what they might consider
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just a bit of scandal....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 30 Jun 1997 11:58:32 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Vadim Naroditsky <72133.1175@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
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Vadim Naroditsky <72133.1175@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Will you now have to rewrite/refilm the last 4 episodes?
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"Will you now have to rewrite/refilm the last 4 episodes? I assume
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they were ending the arc and now you have another year."
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No, there's just the replacement for 422, that's all. There's a
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difference between *ending the arc* and providing a *sense of
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resolution.* By the end of 421, things had been settled in a lot of
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areas...but far more were made very clear as being Out There. You
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could view it as an epilog, or a set-up for more down the road,
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depending on whether or not there was a fifth season. Hell, there's a
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great big fat setup for season 5 right smack in the middle of the
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Franklin/Lyta scene on Mars in "The Face of the Enemy."
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This isn't directed at you so much, Vadim, as in general...some
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days I wonder what the hell I'm doing on the nets. We busted our butts
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to get year 5, same as we do every year (though moreso this year),
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because it would be *the most satisfactory way to end the story*. It
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*could* end in year 4, I was prepared to do that if necessary, but it
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wouldn't be as satisfactory to all concerned as year 5. So now we have
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year five. And right out of the woodwork come people -- such as a
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particularly twit-like message forwarded to me from one of the usenet
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groups -- saying that the fifth season was going to be just filler now,
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that the story was over, used up, it's all tied up, there's nothing but
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"dumb old personal stories." No more arc.
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And I would love nothing more than to just thump them.
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I sometimes wonder if they think I was walking down the street
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one day, and I came across this Arc laying in the road. And it's a
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finite package, and once it's used up, it's used up. People, I THOUGHT
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THIS STUFF UP. You watch it, but I make it...and I'm not doing this
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for my health, I didn't fight this hard to do a season of filler.
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Where's the common sense here? My vested interest in making this a
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solid story is a hell of a lot higher than ANY viewer could POSSIBLY
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bring to the table. But again and again, not to you Vadim but in
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general, it's "Oh, it's all done now, it's just filler."
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Yes, I fought and bled to get a season 5 so I could do filler,
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instead of going back to a network show where they'll pay me double
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what I get on B5. Absolutely. That makes a LOT of sense.
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I dunno...maybe I'm over-reacting...hell, I probably *am*
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over-reacting, but it seems like they never let you rest. The end of
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the Shadow War came, and folks said, "Oh, the arc is over now, nothing
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interesting can happen now," and I said there was MORE interesting
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stuff even than that coming up, and sure enough that happened, and it's
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"Oh...okay," and this happens time and time again, and now we have a
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fifth year, and it's "Oh, the arc is over, nothing interesting can
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happen now."
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You'd think that by now we would've proven the point...but every
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year it seems like we have to prove ourselves again and again and
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again. The confetti has barely hit the ground and they move in the
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funeral draping.
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I just get tired of it some days.
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Jerks.
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(Not you, Vadim, a very nice man, just venting.)
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 30 Jun 1997 16:11:14 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
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{original post had no questions}
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I know, I know, I know...I think it's just the way we're all
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hard wired. You can get 100 plaudits, but it's the one meroon who
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busts your chops for something you didn't even *do* that sticks in your
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mind. Never met anyone yet that was different. Ah, well...onward.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 30 Jun 1997 16:11:14 -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: B5 - tnt and WB
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{original post had no questions}
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Yes, TNT is definitely a better home. For one thing, B5 would
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get lost on the SciFi channel among all the other shows; here, TNT will
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treat it as something special.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 30 Jun 1997 16:11:16 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Scott Baker <76072.1744@compuserve.com>
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Subject: You the man
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Scott Baker <76072.1744@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Will you be writting all of season 5, or is the remarkable streak
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> soon to end?
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No, I have no intention of writing all of S5...I'll probably do
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about what I did in S1-2, writing 11-15, with the rest being assigned
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out of the arc. And Neil Gaiman has said he's now in a place where he
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can tackle one, so I hope to work out something with him, a story worth
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his doing, to make that happen at last.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 02:15:34 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Richard M. Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Guest Editorial
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Richard M. Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com> asks:
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> There are generally two questions I get that are on this level:
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> "Why do you like *that* stuff?" (after answering "yes" to "You
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> really like that stuff, don't you?") and "Why are you involved
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> with Boy Scouts?" On a somwhat related note, did you happen to get
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> the Kingdom Come limited edition slipcover? Whose will be done?
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Exactly. And the question is phrased to put you on the
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defensive when there is *nothing* one needs to be defensive
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about...it's "how long have you been beating your wife?" You have to
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redefine the question to something a tad closer to reality.
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Re: the Kingdom Come ltd. edition...no, I didn't know about
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that. Will definitely go out and pick it up next chance I get; that
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was one of the few series I read this year, and I liked it a lot.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 02:15:36 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: You the man
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{original post unavailable}
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I was planning to speak to both those folks.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 02:15:38 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
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{original post unavailable}
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"I say do that same thing you did when you first had this idea-write
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for yourself. Focus on what you want to express. Develop those ideas
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you deem important."
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That's the only way I can do this; only way I ever have or ever
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will.
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"And if you ever need a break, drop by Vegas and share some Corona's,
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limes, and a can of salt with me. We can laugh at the world together in
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the summer sun, watch some showgirls, and throw some bucks at the
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blackjack table."
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I don't drink, don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't gamble...I
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write. Sad, innit?
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"I'll steer you away from any Tyson boxing matches, though."
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I'm just *waiting* for him to get mad at somebody, and have that
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person reel back saying, "Hey, sorry, jeez, don't bite my head off,
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man."
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 02:15:41 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Paul McElligott <70007.3154@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Warners...
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Paul McElligott <70007.3154@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Actually, the show didn't REALLY change hands, did it?
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> This was more of a lateral than a punt....true?
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Not really, no...because the two organizations are *affiliated*
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but they continue to operate as wholly different companies, and neither
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side takes orders from the other. TNT *actively pursued* both the
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reruns (before the companies merged) and the fifth season. And they
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fought like hell to make the deal work.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 02:15:43 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Paul McElligott <70007.3154@compuserve.com>
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Subject: B5 on TNT
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Paul McElligott <70007.3154@compuserve.com> asks:
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> In hindsight, do you think that a deal like you've got now with
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> TNT would have helped the show if you'd gone that route in 93/94?
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> Or is that, like, a totally stupid question?
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"In hindsight, do you think that a deal like you've got now with TNT
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would have helped the show if you'd gone that route in 93/94?"
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Oh...probably, but only about 200%.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 12:43:51 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
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{original post had no questions}
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I hadn't noticed that in the article...well, interesting....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 12:43:52 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: John Vickery in future?
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(blocked) asks:
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> Couldn't you have John Vickery portray a nephew or cousin or even
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> a son of Neroon, who also became a ranger?
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We'll keep our eyes out for a way to bring him around again,
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same as with Wayne.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 12:43:52 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Scott Baker <76072.1744@compuserve.com>
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Subject: B5 on TNT
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Scott Baker <76072.1744@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Could you have gotten a TNT like deal back then?
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Since TNT wasn't making those kinds of deals back then, the
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point is moot.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 12:43:53 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Vadim Naroditsky <72133.1175@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
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Vadim Naroditsky <72133.1175@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Joe, do you or did you write anything besides science fiction or
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> consider to write it? I think you would write excellent "global
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> adventure", I mean something like Frederik Forsait (sp?
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Yeah, I've often done non-SF stuff...comedy, cop shows, mystery
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shows, historical stuff, horror, essays, articles...a little of
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everything.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 12:43:58 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Catherine Becic <73414.2603@compuserve.com>
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Subject: makeup in new movies
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Catherine Becic <73414.2603@compuserve.com> asks:
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> My question: For the move In The Beginning, which is then to be
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> followed immediately by The Gathering on TNT in January, how will
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> you be handling the makeup? Will it be some kind of blend between
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> the pilot and the series? Closer to the series and forget that it
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> looks different from the pilot?
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No, we're using the series makeup, rather than add one more
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permutation.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 12:44:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
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{original post unavailable}
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I'm cutting back on salt, I never see the sun anyway, and the
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showgirls can take care of themselves.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 12:44:01 -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 *only* on cable now??
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{original post unavailable}
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It'll only be on cable, that's correct.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 22:40:51 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
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Waitaminnit...just looked at the name again...is this *the*
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James Morrow? As in the writer?
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jul 1997 22:40:53 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Ray Pelzer <70475.1263@compuserve.com>
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Subject: The 5th Season
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{original post had no questions}
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Thanks...not too bad for a day's work....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Jul 1997 13:44:58 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Alan Mulvie <100566.1444@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
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Alan Mulvie <100566.1444@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Whats the score with Mr Garibaldi?
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> Ditto Valen/Sinclair - his descendants?
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> How did Babylon 5 get destroyed?
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> (from flash forwards) Who/what was on the ship escaping?
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> Will the Narn and Centari find peace?
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> Who where the enemys referred to in War without End (Delann in
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> the future) Does Sheridan Die (in 20 years) or evolve Like
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> Lionheart? Whats the score with Lionheart?
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> Did the Vorlons genetically engineer Telepaths?
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> What else did they genetically engineer?
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> Will Clark get booted out?
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> What happens to Centari Prime (in the future - war without end)
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> What will Sheridans Son be like- Do? If Lyta can be "enhanced2 by
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> the Vorlons, what did the shadows do to their servants? How does
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> the army of Light cope with that? If "Mankind" has some of that
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> technology, what will we do with it? Whats "The Rim" and whats
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> beyond it? Why wont there be a Babylon 6?
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> Will Mars become independent or unify with earth?
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> Now the big boys have gone, are the children gonna fight?
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> Will JMS let someone else write a script?
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> And their are plenty of other loose ends if I take time to think
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> about it, so the question isnt if you will have a season 5 of
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> fillers, but will you have enough episodes to wrap up everything
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> by the end of season 5?
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At least a third of those are resolved in the next batch; and a
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bulk of the rest in the fifth season, plus a lot of other threads you
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missed.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Jul 1997 13:44:59 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Vadim Naroditsky <72133.1175@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
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{original post had no questions}
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No big books, though I've had two medium-sizednovels published
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so far.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Jul 1997 21:36:22 -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 *only* on cable now??
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{original post unavailable}
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I don't know the Canadian situation yet, but can't imagine that
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they would let that market go by the boards for long.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Jul 1997 21:36:25 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Kevin P. Kenney <104102.352@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Now this is Scary...
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Kevin P. Kenney <104102.352@compuserve.com> asks:
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> And I didn't think the father that rabid of a fan?!?
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> Remember the Pinky & the Brain's Beany & Cecil spoof?
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> What are you REALLY creating here???
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Give me them until they're 10 and they're mine for life...insert
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evil cackle here....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Jul 1997 21:36:27 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Meryl Yourish <103470.2703@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Honor the achievement
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{original post had no questions}
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Thanks...y'know, someone else said that the other day, a
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reporter during an interview, that there were now two paradigms of the
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best SF ever prouduced in this country: ST and B5. That's a weighty
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compliment, and my first reaction was to get really, really tired...but
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bottom line, we did what we set out to do, kept every promise we made,
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and nothing can ever take that away. We went the distance.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Jul 1997 21:36:30 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
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Subject: What might be different?
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|
|
Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> This has been bugging me a bit every since the great news about
|
|
> the fifth season got reported, and I can't help but wonder ....if
|
|
> you had been assured of a fifth season going into season four,
|
|
> are there many things you would have done differently? Is season
|
|
> five a mixed blessing for you, coupled with any regret about
|
|
> having had to expedite the arc to end by season four, a year
|
|
> ahead of your predetermined five year game plan?
|
|
|
|
"...coupled with any regret about having had to expedite the arc to
|
|
end by season four, a year ahead of your predetermined five year game
|
|
plan?"
|
|
|
|
This is, again, a misnomer. The arc didn't *end* in year 4, nor
|
|
did I end it. Which becomes utterly evident once you see the final
|
|
episodes. All I did was to more or less isolate the incidents in year
|
|
5 from the preceding year, so we could go into them or not.
|
|
|
|
What you have to do, which I've noted before, is to step back
|
|
for a moment and look at the series as a whole. Every season, we do
|
|
basically the same thing: we end on a cliffhanger, then the first 4-5
|
|
episodes of the next season resolve the threads and the cliffhanger
|
|
from the prior season, and then we're off onto the next thread. They
|
|
overlap by about 4-5 episodes.
|
|
|
|
So what I did was to pull those 4 episodes from the start of
|
|
season 5 into season 4, which would otherwise have ended at 418 as the
|
|
cliffhanger. So there wasn't really that much crammed into 4, and
|
|
everything that was going to be in 5 is still there, with room for
|
|
about 3-4 standalones, which will be a nice break.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 03 Jul 1997 03:20:54 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: The 5th Season
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"When you look back and reflect on what you've accomplished down the
|
|
road, I hope the reality matches the vision you had when you were
|
|
pitching the idea lo those many years ago."
|
|
|
|
A few glitches notwithstanding...it *exceeds* the vision. I'm
|
|
happy. It's the main piece that I will end up putting on the mantle to
|
|
remind folks I was here.
|
|
|
|
"Now, when you're done, could you please do a fantasy series, so I can
|
|
find a job for the troll in the well at the bottom of the hill near my
|
|
barn? He's irritating the hoses and I think he'll work for scale. . ."
|
|
^^^^^
|
|
|
|
Irritating the hoses?
|
|
|
|
May I suggest, rather than fantasy, perhaps a version of "Enema
|
|
Mine."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 03 Jul 1997 03:20:57 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Catherine Becic <73414.2603@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: makeup in new movies
|
|
|
|
Catherine Becic <73414.2603@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> In that case, for the newbies, will there be some explanation of
|
|
> why Delenn changes looks from In the Beginning to The Gathering
|
|
> and then back for the episodes?
|
|
|
|
Well, I could run a crawl on the bottom of the screen...or
|
|
insert a commercial explaining it...otherwise, I think just letting it
|
|
go would be best.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 03 Jul 1997 03:20:59 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 *only* on cable now??
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Columbia House will be releasing the show on cassette via
|
|
mail-order this Fall, I believe.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 03 Jul 1997 03:21:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 finally on Video.DVD?
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
We're *talking* to the DVD folks, and things look positive, but
|
|
that's still a long bit down the road.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 03 Jul 1997 03:21:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Tapes and DVD
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Yes, Columbia House has called to get graphics, so I would
|
|
suggest that it's confirmed on tapes. Don't know the status on the
|
|
movies, but I would imagine they'd be included...DVD is still in
|
|
discussions.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 03 Jul 1997 13:36:54 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: O. C. Alexander <72623.3472@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Thanks...there's an awful lot in those characters and
|
|
situations. I've tried, as best I can, to create a living, breathing
|
|
universe, with stories you follow in any direction and find something
|
|
interesting.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 03 Jul 1997 13:36:56 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Roseann M. Caputo <103510.1542@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: General
|
|
|
|
Roseann M. Caputo <103510.1542@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Why?
|
|
> You don't drink, do drugs, etc?
|
|
|
|
"I know that season 5 won't be filler, because that's not what a
|
|
Master of his craft does. You wouldn't tolerate it from anyone else,
|
|
so you surely will not do it yourself."
|
|
|
|
Bingo. Sometimes when I try to describe what's happening on my
|
|
side of things, I don't find the right words. Thanks for doing so.
|
|
|
|
"You don't drink, do drugs, etc?"
|
|
|
|
Also don't smoke or gamble.
|
|
|
|
"Wow, talk about the clean cut, all american boy! <g> No vices, eh?"
|
|
|
|
Two: Chocolate and coffee.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:07 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: John F Davis <73455.43@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Season 5
|
|
|
|
John F Davis <73455.43@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is season 5 going to be broadcast where I can see it or am I
|
|
> going to have to break down and buy cable?
|
|
|
|
If you're in the US, it's only available on TNT.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Congratulations & Thanks
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Thanks....
|
|
|
|
"And I notice that one episode made the TV Guide list of the top 100
|
|
shows ever."
|
|
|
|
No...don't think so, though it's a great idea.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Yeah, but if it were easy, I guess everybody'd do it.
|
|
|
|
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:15 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 *only* on cable now??
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Will they still be aired by the syndicated stations or will TNT
|
|
> show them?
|
|
|
|
No, the final 4 of S4 will show in October, on regular stations.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:17 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 *only* on cable now??
|
|
|
|
SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Will this be something like Columbia House's special collector
|
|
> subscriptions? For example, you sign up and get a B5 tape every
|
|
> four weeks? Or would they offer the tapes individually or each
|
|
> season as a boxed set?
|
|
|
|
Dunno.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:19 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 *only* on cable now??
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Insofar as I know, yes.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:21 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Renegade???
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Did you write the episode of Renegade that aired (well...cabled)
|
|
> tonight on USA? Or did my ears deceive me?
|
|
|
|
I don't write for Renegade, and thus have no information on this
|
|
other than what you just told me.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:23 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: S5 in the UK?
|
|
|
|
colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do you think it likely that TNT will be showing S5 in the UK?
|
|
|
|
I haven't been apprised of the UK situation in full yet, but
|
|
imagine that it'll go through WB as before, not TNT.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:25 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Script Smart
|
|
|
|
Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> This was a technical manual, wasn't it?
|
|
|
|
Thanks...I'm very proud of that book.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 02:49:28 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Roseann M. Caputo <103510.1542@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: General
|
|
|
|
Roseann M. Caputo <103510.1542@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do you do the gourmet coffee?
|
|
> Joe, any chance that you'll be at the big B5 convention in
|
|
> Pasadena in November?
|
|
|
|
No one's talked to me yet about a B5 con in Pasadena in October,
|
|
so I dunno.
|
|
|
|
And yeah, I do the gourmet coffee thing. Big on Arabian Mocha
|
|
Sanani, and Silewesi, and Sumatran. It's the one "trendy" thing I
|
|
allow myself.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 03:03:25 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Lee Whiteside <76711.2660@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Updates from jms
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"Basically, Warner Bros. was not willnig to fund a fifth season of B5
|
|
for syndication."
|
|
|
|
Incorrect. Not just incorrect but *massively* incorrect.
|
|
|
|
In the past, the PTEN deal had WB and the indie stations putting
|
|
up the money for B5.
|
|
|
|
For year 5, TNT *and* WB are both footing the bill for the fifth
|
|
season. WB *wanted* to do the show, but was finding trouble in the
|
|
current syndicated marketplace with more and more stations, and
|
|
timeslots, being committed to other programs and networks like UPN.
|
|
TNT provided a window, and WB went through it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 03:03:27 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: season5 cast (rumor)
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Jerry Doyle will be in season 5 of B5.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 20:45:06 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Vadim Naroditsky <72133.1175@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Last 4 - have to redo?
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
The two novels are currently out of print.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 20:45:07 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Even more congrats
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> 1) Do you envision writing the entire 5th season?
|
|
> 2) Whose idea is that "AOL Keyword" stuff at the end of the
|
|
> show??
|
|
|
|
No, no desire whatsoever to write all of S5, nor is there a need
|
|
to.
|
|
|
|
And the difference is that AOL has set aside an entire *area*
|
|
just for B5, so they get the notation. It would be as if they renamed
|
|
the sfmedone section the B5 section, there's a massive difference in
|
|
commitment.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 20:45:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Mars Pathfinder
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
There's nothing I can say about the current Mars mission that
|
|
cannot be summed up in the word "cool."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 07 Jul 1997 20:45:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Lee Whiteside <76711.2660@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: General
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Creation counter-programed Loscon?
|
|
|
|
That bites.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 08 Jul 1997 02:10:02 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Michael Grabois <74737.2600@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: San Diego Con plans?
|
|
|
|
Michael Grabois <74737.2600@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> What's the difference between the Saturday show and the
|
|
> Friday/Sunday ones? And is anyone else from the show scheduled to
|
|
> be at the con?
|
|
|
|
I don't actually know what the difference is, except that I
|
|
think the Friday/Sunday presentations involve the videos, and the
|
|
Saturday one *may* just be me running my mouth. (I just sent a note
|
|
asking about this, btw.)
|
|
|
|
I think they've learned what other cons have learned: that it's
|
|
best to take extraordinary measures to deal with B5 presentations.
|
|
People show up. LOTS of people. And a cuter and more inherently spiffy
|
|
bunch I can't imagine.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Jul 1997 21:10:29 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: All
|
|
Subject: jms in san diego
|
|
|
|
Just a quick note to let folks know that I'll be in San Diego
|
|
this coming weekend for ComicCon, at the convention center downtown.
|
|
I'll be doing two (fairly identical) major B5 presentations Friday and
|
|
Sunday at 11 a.m., and a "spotlight on jms" presentation (whatever the
|
|
hell that is) Saturday at 1:30.
|
|
|
|
A word to the wise: in the past, these have always been the
|
|
largest events held at ComicCon, which has about 25,000 guests on
|
|
average. The room they set aside for B5 stuff tends to hold about 2400
|
|
people, so seating is kind of at a premium. Translation: try and get
|
|
there early.
|
|
|
|
I'll be bringing the season 4 bloopers, clips from upcoming
|
|
shows, some nifty videos, and trailers for the two new B5 TV movies for
|
|
TNT. Also, the official B5 fan club will be making its debut at a
|
|
table in the dealer's room this weekend at SDCC, selling some nifty
|
|
stuff including bunches of the Agamemnon cap worn by Sheridan in
|
|
"Knives." It's identical to the prop in just about every way.
|
|
|
|
See you there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Jul 1997 21:50:50 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Updates from jms
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> How can I sign up to the fan club?
|
|
> Also, how can I get one of these boxes signed by someone going by
|
|
> the handle "jms?"
|
|
|
|
You can get info on the boxes, and the fan club, at
|
|
www.thestation.com.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Jul 1997 21:50:52 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Congratulations & Thanks
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Yeah, I know all about the project...they'd asked me to write
|
|
it, and I read the material, but finally had to pass.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Jul 1997 21:50:53 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Internet World Article
|
|
|
|
Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is the story they have true?
|
|
|
|
Yeah, it happened. I haven't seen the article, but apparently
|
|
they chide me for not using a virus checker...but what did the most
|
|
damage was the trojan horse program that use deltree to systematically
|
|
start deleting my hard drive, and no checker can find those.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Jul 1997 21:10:50 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: jms in san diego
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
It's okay, I know what date they hit the place, so I can be out
|
|
of town when it happens.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Jul 1997 21:10:53 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: jms in san diego
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Thanks. I don't do any convention with a direct link to Trek in
|
|
its name, so that would leave Toronto Trek out, despite many friendly
|
|
talks with the con organizers. Bottom line, I get gigged by ST fans
|
|
for "poaching," and it just ain't worth the grief I get.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Jul 1997 21:10:56 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Shawn D. Ratner <73753.175@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Babylon 5 Credit Card
|
|
|
|
Shawn D. Ratner <73753.175@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is that true?
|
|
|
|
It's been discussed with other ideas, but nothing more.
|
|
|
|
The Agamemnon caps made their debut at San Diego Comic Con, and
|
|
were a huge hit.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Jul 1997 21:11:00 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Darran Williams <101656.2143@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Babylon 5 - The Cult
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Hmmm...I don't know. I'll have to check.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Jul 1997 21:11:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
You must understand that Claudia is one of 10 or so actors on
|
|
the show. The other actors understood and understand that we cannot
|
|
renegotiate contracts in mid-stream, and they are *supportive of the
|
|
show*, and gave us extensions on their contracts so that WB could have
|
|
time to make the TNT deal work. They are all, to a man and woman, on
|
|
board otherwise.
|
|
|
|
Claudia opted to not give the extension, where the other cast
|
|
did, and now wants (or says she wants to) renegotiate, now that all the
|
|
other cast members are locked down. To do so in her case, when she did
|
|
not give us the extension, and deliberately embarrassed WB by having an
|
|
article appear in the trades saying she was out and looking for other
|
|
work, would be an insult to all the other cast members who have worked
|
|
with us to date.
|
|
|
|
Further, yes, she's right, in that the contract could not be
|
|
changed so that she could go out and do movies at a moment's notice.
|
|
By contract, we must have first call on an actor's services. That is a
|
|
requirement of ANY TV contract with an actor who is a series regular.
|
|
That cannot be changed for ANY actor, ANYwhere.
|
|
|
|
That said...I already *told* Claudia that, even though we
|
|
couldn't put it in the contract, I would be happy to work with her
|
|
*informally* on this, and that if she said she needed to be gone from
|
|
X-date to Y-date, I would write her out of those episodes so that she
|
|
could do the movies. SHE ALREADY GOT FROM ME THAT PROMISE. I've
|
|
already done similar things for her and other cast members on the show,
|
|
which is how many of them have appeared in other projects. So this is,
|
|
for me, a non-issue.
|
|
|
|
No, from my standpoint, she wanted off the show, and I have no
|
|
idea why she is running up the fans like this unless she wants to avoid
|
|
responsibility for this.
|
|
|
|
Again, this isn't a case of my word against hers. EVERY SINGLE
|
|
CAST MEMBER was there when this went down, and MANY of them tried to
|
|
talk her out of walking off the show. If you don't want to take my
|
|
word for it, ask any one of them who was there, especially Bruce or
|
|
Jeff.
|
|
|
|
I would suggest the fans *not* get into this, because a) you're
|
|
not getting solid or reliable information from Claudia, and b) it is
|
|
simply too late. She opted to pass on season 5, whether she wants to
|
|
admit this or not, whether she's running from responsibility from that,
|
|
I don't know...but it was her choice. I sat with her on Thursday night
|
|
at Midnight and told her, flat out, that I would accommodate her
|
|
request on a personal basis, and that she *had* to either contact WB
|
|
herself or have her agent do so the next day, or she was off the show,
|
|
because we HAD to get the show going. The train was leaving, and she
|
|
could be on it or not as she chose. She chose not to get on board.
|
|
|
|
What you also don't understand is that we start shooting season
|
|
5 in less than one month. We're in the process of writing scripts
|
|
*right now*, and have been since we got the production order right
|
|
about the time we went to Blackpool. You can't whipsaw the writing
|
|
back and forth -- is she in, isn't she in, maybe she is, maybe she
|
|
isn't -- and hope to have anything in shape to shoot. That was why we
|
|
had to know at that date. Normally we have a longer lead time; this
|
|
time we didn't, and this has already put the scripts back a bit. The
|
|
script with the new character is written and in; if I take it out now I
|
|
have to replace it, and there isn't *time*.
|
|
|
|
Claudia knew this. WB knew this. We were up against it. She
|
|
had to choose to be in, or out. She chose out. It's no longer our
|
|
responsibility, and it's flatly too late to bring her back. The door
|
|
is closed on season 5.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Jul 1997 21:11:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Kevin P. Kenney <104102.352@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I answered this in the other thread. Once you read it, you may
|
|
think differently.
|
|
|
|
As for your tone, please take it elsewhere. I have no interest
|
|
in hearing it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Jul 1997 21:35:00 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: C Christian in Season 5?
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I personally told Claudia that we would work out the time for
|
|
her to do a film project prior to the deadline coming for her decision.
|
|
Other cast members knew this, and confirmed it to her.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Jul 1997 21:35:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Alan L. Ravitch <73627.3126@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia sez this..
|
|
|
|
Alan L. Ravitch <73627.3126@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Ask yourself this: why would I have done the TNT promos for the
|
|
> 5th season if I did not want to be involved? This fax was received
|
|
> on Friday, so what kind of game was being played by giving me
|
|
> false hopes throughout the weekend in England?
|
|
|
|
1) This confirms what I said in my note to Brian, that I
|
|
personally assured Claudia of the chance for time off (so Kevin, bugger
|
|
off).
|
|
|
|
2) Neither I nor anyone else in B5 told her that she had until
|
|
Monday. I sat with her Midnight Thursday and said she had to talk to
|
|
her agent and get this to WB *the very next day*, Friday, or that was
|
|
it. Jeff took it upon himself to try and talk Claudia into trying to
|
|
work it out on Monday, out of his concern and a hope that this could be
|
|
saved.
|
|
|
|
3) Her agent was notified several days prior to the deadline
|
|
that it was in place by WB business affairs.
|
|
|
|
4) As noted in my other message, there wasn't time to sit down
|
|
leisurely after Blackpool and discuss this. The first script had to be
|
|
in on July 6th. The second on July 12th. The third one on July 18th.
|
|
Those are the hard and fast deadlines in order to meet production
|
|
requirements for season 5. It is not July 20th. By the time anyone
|
|
could "sit down" we'd be deep into episode 5 or 6, and then what do we
|
|
do? Rewrite all 5 or 6 at the last minute?
|
|
|
|
It's an unfortunate situation. Nobody's denying that. But what
|
|
happened, happened.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jul 1997 01:54:32 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Shane S. Shellenbarger <104305.3404@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Script Smart
|
|
|
|
Shane S. Shellenbarger <104305.3404@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> It's hell being popular, ain't it?
|
|
|
|
Finally I'm popular....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jul 1997 01:54:35 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"I do have a question though. Why did you opt for a new character,
|
|
instead of simply promoting Corwin? Was this simply to save changing
|
|
Corwin's role in S5 or is there another reason?"
|
|
|
|
It involves some things that happen later this season that
|
|
require a certain grade officer in place in S5, and would require
|
|
Corwin to jump several ranks. He's too young and inexperienced for
|
|
that job.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jul 1997 01:54:39 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
The information on residuals is not correct. NO ONE was aske to
|
|
give up residuals on season 5 forever. That simply never took place.
|
|
|
|
To explain:
|
|
|
|
There are different residuals formulas for the various forms of
|
|
TV. The best one is for network, where the fee paid per rerun is quite
|
|
high; then you have syndication, which starts at a much lower level;
|
|
then there is the basic cable residual, which is lowest of all. In
|
|
year 5, B5 is going from syndication to basic cable. That means it
|
|
must now use the basic cable residuals formula. But the cast had to be
|
|
informed of this, and agree to it, otherwise there could not BE a fifth
|
|
season.
|
|
|
|
The basic cable deal is spelled out very clearly in the Screen
|
|
Actors Guild (SAG) agreement, which is standard for all parts of the
|
|
Industry. The rule is that the amount paid to an actor over
|
|
double-scale is *credited against* residuals. Once that amount is
|
|
earned out, the residuals come again. That is standard for basic cable.
|
|
(The closest parallel would be a print author, who is paid an advance
|
|
against royalties; once that advance is earned out, the royalties come
|
|
to the author.)
|
|
|
|
So to make it clearer: let's say for the sake of argument that
|
|
scale is $5,000 per episode. (It isn't that exact figure, but I don't
|
|
have the SAG book in front of me; still, that's close.) Double scale
|
|
would be $10,000 per episode. So if an actor is paid, let's say,
|
|
$12,000 per episode, then $2,000 over double scale per episode is
|
|
credited against residuals, for a total of $44,000. That amount would
|
|
get burned through pretty fast, and then the actor would again start
|
|
getting residuals.
|
|
|
|
That was the situation explained to *all* the actors. NO ONE
|
|
was asked to permanently give up S5 residuals. That simply never
|
|
happened, and *could not* happen under SAG rules. And the rule as
|
|
specified above can be verified in the SAG agreement.
|
|
|
|
BTW...it was stated to Claudia's people that WB *could* drop her
|
|
down to 18 episodes if she wanted to be paid for only those 18
|
|
episodes, but her reps demanded that she should be paid for all 22
|
|
regardless, and didn't take that deal.
|
|
|
|
You must understand that this sort of thing is common. For
|
|
instance, when Stephen Furst wanted to do fewer episodes so that he
|
|
could appear as a regular in the sitcom "Misery Loves Company," he
|
|
said, "Look, I really want to do this, so if you could cut me down to,
|
|
say, 8 episodes, and just pay me for those 8 instead of the contracted
|
|
13, that'd be great." And that deal was made, and made quickly. If an
|
|
actor wants to be reduced in the number of episodes, but still be paid
|
|
for the full number, that makes things difficult for a studio to go
|
|
along with.
|
|
|
|
And as of now, it's a moot point. The boat has left the pier.
|
|
This is no longer an issue that can be altered. She opted out, for her
|
|
own reasons. Heck, that was announced in the trades long before we knew
|
|
what was going on. We have had no choice but to move on.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jul 1997 17:15:25 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Troy Starr <74752.3172@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"In the back of my mind, I wonder why Claudia, her agent, Joe, and the
|
|
WB/TNT folks couldn't sit down together (or conference call, or
|
|
whatever) and talk with each other on that final day."
|
|
|
|
I did. That Thursday night, I sat with her for half an hour,
|
|
urging her to call her agent, and have her agent call WB. Didn't
|
|
happen. We never even heard anything from her or her people until
|
|
literally 1 week after the deadline for scripts to start coming in.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jul 1997 17:51:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Paul McElligott <70007.3154@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
Paul McElligott <70007.3154@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Are the actors who played Major Ryan or Captain McDougal being
|
|
> considered to replace Claudia? Or would that be telling?
|
|
|
|
I'd prefer to put a female in that position, to keep the cast
|
|
relatively balanced. I've actually come up with some very interesting
|
|
ideas on this, which are kinda fun...a way to put a lot more conflict
|
|
into the inner circle, if you will.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jul 1997 17:51:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brian Meloche <75570.2732@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Actually, this would be much simpler if it *were* a
|
|
communication breakdown. But it ain't.
|
|
|
|
Onward.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jul 1997 17:51:14 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Roseann M. Caputo <103510.1542@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Clauduia
|
|
|
|
Roseann M. Caputo <103510.1542@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> If, in the past, you've given your word to someone regarding
|
|
> something specifc, and you've kept it, why all of a sudden is
|
|
> your word not good? How many in your profession would extend that
|
|
> courtesy?
|
|
|
|
Thanks. Yeah...ask any cast member, and they'll tell you that
|
|
when I make a promise, it's kept, no matter what it takes.
|
|
|
|
On the reaction...it goes with the territory. What's been
|
|
difficult have been the emails that have come in suggesting that I
|
|
"watch my back" at the next few conventions I attend. Disagreement or
|
|
discussion is one thing; threats are another.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jul 1997 21:46:03 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Troy Starr <74752.3172@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
There was no pay cut for the fifth season for the cast. And the
|
|
residulas formula is standard for basic cable.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jul 1997 21:46:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Clauduia
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"Joe could write sa character out of an episode or 4, yet the suits
|
|
could insist that the actor be present on the set anyway (or be in
|
|
breach of contract)!"
|
|
|
|
Nope. Wouldn't happen. Has never happened. Would never
|
|
happen. WB has not even given us a creative *note* in almost 2 years.
|
|
|
|
This one's a non-starter. That would simply not happen. If
|
|
you're not in the script, there's no need for you to be there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Jul 1997 20:47:27 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Steven K. Andeweg <72143.674@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: jms in san diego
|
|
|
|
Steven K. Andeweg <72143.674@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> When will they be available through the club via mail order?
|
|
|
|
Yes, the caps can be purchased through the fan club, and
|
|
thestation.com.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Jul 1997 20:47:31 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
One of the problems not just in this, but in general, is that
|
|
there is so much mythology about how TV is done, and so much bad
|
|
information. Any time that can be cleared up, the better.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Jul 1997 20:47:32 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Roseann M. Caputo <103510.1542@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Clauduia
|
|
|
|
Roseann M. Caputo <103510.1542@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I'm just as disappointed as everyone else, but it happens, yes?
|
|
> Why can't everyone just appreaciate you for the sick, twisted,
|
|
> lovable, demented, tortured, bizarre, clever, witty, devious,
|
|
> genius that you are? PS: Being as I'm only 5'2", it will be
|
|
> difficult for me to watch you're back and see what's coming also,
|
|
> perhaps my 6'5" boyfriend will help?
|
|
|
|
"Why can't everyone just appreaciate you for the sick, twisted,
|
|
lovable, demented, tortured, bizarre, clever, witty, devious, genius
|
|
that you are?"
|
|
|
|
Kill me...just kill me now and get it over with....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:00 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Steven K. Andeweg <72143.674@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: jms in san diego
|
|
|
|
Steven K. Andeweg <72143.674@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> When will they be available through the club via mail order?
|
|
|
|
They're probably available right now.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:02 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Bancroft Gracey <100532.1747@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
Bancroft Gracey <100532.1747@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> -bpg- Uncle-at-Large "....'Great Maker', huh?"
|
|
|
|
"They wouldn't like it, but they had to let a certain Mrs Roddenberry
|
|
set a precedent..."
|
|
|
|
1) Majel isn't a series regular, with the contract requirements
|
|
thereof.
|
|
|
|
2) Nobody messes with the Roddenberrys.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:05 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Ron Chusid <74756.3150@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
There is nothing amiss with an actor seeing work as a
|
|
contingency if the current show is not renewed.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hero Games (Sue) <75162.372@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
Hero Games (Sue) <75162.372@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> If that's the case, then why wouldn't/couldn't he put it into
|
|
> writing?
|
|
|
|
"If that's the case, then why wouldn't/couldn't he put it into
|
|
writing? So far as I can tell, that's because although he can do
|
|
everything in his power to keep Ivanova out of four episodes, there are
|
|
higher powers within WB/TNT who could say otherwise. They're the ones
|
|
who hold CCs contract, not JMS."
|
|
|
|
Every studio holds the contract on its actors; that's the same
|
|
for every show.
|
|
|
|
Nothing could be put into writing in the form of a renegotiation
|
|
because all of the actors are on a favored nation basis...if one
|
|
renegotiates in his/her favor, they all get to renegotiate. Any of our
|
|
cast can take fewer episodes if they agree to be paid for fewer
|
|
episodes since that favors WB. Or they can come to me and we'll do it
|
|
unofficially, as has been done with every single cast member for 4+
|
|
years now. Peter wanted to do "The Late Shift," I wrote him out for a
|
|
couple of episodes to accommodate that; Andreas wants to do a movie, he
|
|
asks, and I write him out. This has never, ever been a problem.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hero Games (Sue) <75162.372@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"Again, I'm not saying that JMS did anything wrong, but if the studio
|
|
can supercede Joe (i.e. Joe can verbally say 'I'll do it', but the
|
|
studio still has the right to say 'no'), then I can't blame CC for
|
|
wanting something in writing <shrug>"
|
|
|
|
Any studio can supercede the authority of an executive producer.
|
|
|
|
The question, though, is one of logic.
|
|
|
|
If Character X is not in an episode, is not written in an
|
|
episode, there is no grounds on earth for a studio to force the actor
|
|
to hang around the studio for that episode. Never been done to my
|
|
knowledge on ANY show, anywhere, at any time. Nor would there be any
|
|
reason to do so here.
|
|
|
|
And WB doesn't write the scripts. I do. And they don't bother
|
|
us on that one. We haven't had a creative note since year 2, episode
|
|
2, and that was mainly on a scene they wanted clarified.
|
|
|
|
In the past, with every actor on the show, I have said, "Come to
|
|
me, and we'll work out unofficially time for you to get away." There
|
|
are some occasions when I say, "Look, I *need* your character for this
|
|
episode, I can't do "Severed Dreams" without Sheridan," but that
|
|
doesn't happen too often. We have never had a problem with WB over
|
|
this. And never once have I given my word to an actor about being
|
|
available, and not had it work out.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:14 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hero Games (Sue) <75162.372@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"In her message, CC has quoted Copeland as saying that if TNT/WB want
|
|
her to do the 22 episodes, there's nothing that can be done about it."
|
|
|
|
What John said was that if she wanted to be paid the full amount
|
|
(the 22 episode fee) she had to be in all 22.
|
|
|
|
"However, there still seems to be a question as to whether or not she
|
|
was informed of the correct deadlines or if WB/TNT withdrew whatever
|
|
offer was on the table before that deadline arose."
|
|
|
|
She was. They didn't.
|
|
|
|
On the Thursday before the final Friday deadline, I sat in the
|
|
bar of the DeVere Hotel in Blackpool with Claudia and said, "Claudia,
|
|
the press has announced your departure from the show. WB takes it
|
|
seriously, and I have to start writing *yesterday*. We have to know if
|
|
you're in or out, and we have to know by mid-day (noon) tomorrow. If
|
|
we don't get an indication from your agent that you're in, the offer
|
|
will be withdrawn."
|
|
|
|
The offer was withdrawn at mid-day Friday, as indicated.
|
|
Because to wait any longer would damage the show, and our chances of
|
|
getting going without missing airdates.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:18 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hero Games (Sue) <75162.372@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"CC trusts that JMS will do what he can, but feels that things might
|
|
be out of his hands and puts the question to Copeland who tells her
|
|
(via her agent) that what JMS offered is "Not possible."
|
|
|
|
It is not possible only if one wishes to be paid for all 22.
|
|
|
|
"5. A deadline is set for CC to get in touch with WB to confirm S5.
|
|
According to CC, she was told this by Conaway and not informed via
|
|
normal channels (i.e. via agent, manager, WB). She tries to contact
|
|
her agent regarding this but they miss each other over the weekend."
|
|
|
|
Ken Parks of WB Business Affairs informed her agent. I
|
|
personally informed her as well.
|
|
|
|
"JMS says she had a Friday deadline. CC says she was told Monday by
|
|
Conaway and that neither her agent or manager were informed of this
|
|
deadline."
|
|
|
|
After the Friday deadline passed, Jeff took it upon himself to
|
|
try and convince her to go back to the show. He went to her and said
|
|
that if she or her agent contacted WB on Monday, there might be a
|
|
chance to patch things up. That was the full extent of it. Jeff does
|
|
not represent the show, and was not asked to convey this to Claudia,
|
|
and was acting on his own good will to try and help her out. It had
|
|
nothing to do with deadlines.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:20 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hero Games (Sue) <75162.372@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Nothing was said about any of this online until Claudia began
|
|
talking about it at a convention Toronto and indicating that she had
|
|
been fired, which was not the case.
|
|
|
|
She passed.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:22 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
We'll probably start casting in the next 7 days.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:25 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Vadim Naroditsky <72133.1175@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
Vadim Naroditsky <72133.1175@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> The only 3 women that come to mind are: Lyta (unlikely but we can
|
|
> expect anything from you, can't we? I assume that the idea of
|
|
> keeping this affair to humans is still in effect, isn't it?
|
|
|
|
Nothing to do with being "politically correct," this is the
|
|
least PC show on record. I just like to have a mix of male and female
|
|
characters, and when it tilts too much in o, including Claudia, who has
|
|
three or four web sites devoted to her. She's not exactly out in the
|
|
cold here. Her comments at the convention were here instantly, the
|
|
Variety and Reuters articles were here very quickly, and her online
|
|
note showed up within hours. I don't exactly see that as only one side
|
|
being presented.
|
|
|
|
Second, your observation is cynical and untrue. I've been
|
|
online at CIS since 1984-85; I was one of the first people on CIS on my
|
|
block. I've been here for going on 13 years. I got on here to hang
|
|
out with fellow fans, and talk about shows, and meet people. I'm still
|
|
here now for the same reasons. You can speak to events and specifics
|
|
all you want, but stay out of my motives unless and until you can hire
|
|
a teep to probe around in my cerebellum.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:33 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"I merely wanted to point out that JMS has seemed to USE this forum to
|
|
put over a very onesided point of view."
|
|
|
|
You're right. I put across one side. Mine. You put across
|
|
yours. How many people are supposed to inhabit my body? It's not my
|
|
place to speak for Claudia or you or anybody else.
|
|
|
|
I have not used words in the same way you have used them,
|
|
either; unlike you, I have not characterized the people here. You have
|
|
called me arrogant without a) any meaning of the word, or b) anything
|
|
to back that up other than bile and spirit messages. I have not called
|
|
anyone in this stupid, or malicious, or arrogant.
|
|
|
|
In reviewing your messages here, however, I'm nearly prepared to
|
|
make an exception to the rule.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:35 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"I do not have to sound like I'm in control ALL THE TIME."
|
|
|
|
I don't think you will find anyone in this forum who feels, on
|
|
reading your messages, that you're in control.
|
|
|
|
Mission objective achieved.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:38 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Shane S. Shellenbarger <104305.3404@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: The Couch Critic-Jeff Ja
|
|
|
|
Shane S. Shellenbarger <104305.3404@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> There's a compliment in there somewhere...but for whom?
|
|
|
|
I think it's the closest he will ever come to speaking well of
|
|
the show.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:40 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: John M. Graham <74166.3727@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Script Deadlines
|
|
|
|
John M. Graham <74166.3727@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Why then, was the deadline for Claudia to make up her mind left
|
|
> so short? Is the problem the lack of reruns (meaning you have to
|
|
> get further ahead in case you fall behind without the planned
|
|
> holds in the countdown)? (Also, will Claudia appear in 501 aring
|
|
> as 422, and how does she get paid for 422, since that whole
|
|
> residual problem raises its ugly head?
|
|
|
|
"With the exception of 501 (airing in the 422 slot), you should have
|
|
about 2 extra months to get the episodes in the can. They won't, after
|
|
all, air until January, when they previously aired in November. Why
|
|
then, was the deadline for Claudia to make up her mind left so short?"
|
|
|
|
Because you can't just come in and shoot one episode, then tell
|
|
everyone, "Okay, we're taking a break for two months." The moment you
|
|
begin shooting, the clock is ticking. SAG regulates the span of time
|
|
you have the actors, equipment is rented...on and on. We had to come
|
|
back in time to shoot 501/422, and it's going to be close as it is. It
|
|
takes 52 days of post to finish an episode once it's filmed, so with
|
|
501/422 shooting August 18th, just do the math to see how close this is
|
|
going to be.
|
|
|
|
And once we pull the trigger on 501, we have to go immediately
|
|
into 502. And on and on.
|
|
|
|
Even if this were not an issue with the 422 business, we would
|
|
*still* have to start shooting in August because of the schedule of
|
|
holidays, and TNT's desire to run S5 *straight through* without reruns
|
|
or breaks. That means you have to start early and be finished with a
|
|
lot of shows, and vault them, to be able to then run through them all
|
|
sequentially in 22 weeks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:44 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Clauduia
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"Even if Claudia had no doubt that Joe could steer her around any
|
|
trouble with the suits, the verbal agreement wouldn't carry any weight
|
|
in the outside world."
|
|
|
|
<thud>
|
|
|
|
Y'know, up until this very moment, the whole 4-eps-in-writing
|
|
thing hadn't made sense to me, I couldn't get my brain around it.
|
|
|
|
I don't know if that's it, but it's a helluvan interesting
|
|
thought.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:46 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Clauduia
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Yeah, it's another chance to make the show even more
|
|
interesting.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 00:52:48 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: New Character
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Thanks...it'll be an interesting addition to the mix, given what
|
|
happens in the latter part of the season.
|
|
|
|
And no, she won't be "dead and gone forever." There's the third
|
|
TNT movie, and a possible feature film, and if she wants to approach us
|
|
about those projects, we'll be more than happy to have the discussion.
|
|
That's precisely why I'm not recasting the role.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 20:42:21 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"all I was really saying is that he should keep the business side of
|
|
the show off of this forum."
|
|
|
|
Then you miss two important points.
|
|
|
|
1) This came up at Claudia's convention appearance, and the
|
|
result has led people to ask questions. As in, "What the hell's going
|
|
on?"
|
|
|
|
2) The whole reason I'm *here* is not publicity, but to create
|
|
and maintain a dialogue about How Television Is Done and Why Things Are
|
|
Done The Way They're Done. The business side of it has comprised about
|
|
60% of the discussion from day one. To answer questions about all the
|
|
other business aspects, but pointedly *not* answer them here, goes
|
|
against the reason I'm here, and would imply there's something to hide.
|
|
|
|
Besides, last I heard, you didn't define the range of what can
|
|
be discussed here, that's up to the sysops. If it's jake by them, it's
|
|
jake by me. The problem is yours.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Jul 1997 20:42:23 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: New Character
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
The Sisters of Zathras...now *there's* a convent worth joining.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jul 1997 14:30:28 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hero Games (Sue) <75162.372@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
Hero Games (Sue) <75162.372@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> My question then is, what about the supposed conversation between
|
|
> CCs agent and Copeland? Did this never take place?
|
|
> is the agent lying?
|
|
|
|
The conversation was not fully reported. If an actor wants to
|
|
be paid for 22 episodes, then yes, it is impossible for ANY studio to
|
|
put in writing that they will pay for 22 while getting only 16 or 18.
|
|
None of them will ever do that. Now, if an actor wants to 16-18 and be
|
|
paid for only 16-18, then that's another issue. But the former is not
|
|
possible, and that was what John was addressing. He's kind of gotten a
|
|
bad rap in this, without cause.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jul 1997 14:30:31 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hero Games (Sue) <75162.372@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I have little to quarrel with in any of that, though I will make
|
|
the point that there isn't really *that* much dissimilarity in our
|
|
reports, as others have pointed out...it's the behind the scenes stuff
|
|
and conversations and dates that get jumbled up in some of the reports.
|
|
|
|
It's also a matter of perception...here you perceive that my
|
|
"side" of it, if you want to call it that, is getting more support.
|
|
But on other nets, I've gotten a hideous amount of hate mail, and some
|
|
threats, disguised and outright. So it's a matter of what you see, vs.
|
|
what is. (Kinda like the overall situation.)
|
|
|
|
Finally...as you say, you have no reason to give more weight to
|
|
one side or another in this. But there is one aspect of this to bear
|
|
in mind. People can argue after the fact about how a tossed coin came
|
|
down, can debate whose coin it was, whether it was a dime or a quarter,
|
|
who said what about the ground it came to rest upon...and no one down
|
|
the road may have any reason to believe one report or another...but it
|
|
*did* come down, and it *did* come down either heads, or tails.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jul 1997 14:30:34 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hero Games (Sue) <75162.372@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"No offense, but it's your word against hers, and my point is that we
|
|
don't have any reason to believe either one of you over the other."
|
|
|
|
Actually, that's not quite correct. There were approximately 10
|
|
actors there in Blackpool when all this went down...and they can all
|
|
verify the account that I have described in all this.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jul 1997 14:30:41 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Tim's Apology
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"I am still of the opinion that this business side of the show should
|
|
be kept under wraps and that a simple request for such, on this forum,
|
|
by yourself would have dealt with this matter more swiftly."
|
|
|
|
(sound effect: hysterical laughter)
|
|
|
|
New to the nets, ain'tcha?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jul 1997 14:30:43 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Scott Baker <76072.1744@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Thanks...I'll try.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jul 1997 14:30:45 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Every character but Ivanova has undergone great changes, I
|
|
> presume that her's were to come now with the challenges and
|
|
> stresses of the battle with Psi Corp/Earth and her assumption of
|
|
> Army of Light command? Will the new character be used, more or
|
|
> less, to complete Ivanova's development or will her thread be
|
|
> dropped? Will the new character only have a lifespan of nine
|
|
> years? Could he be assistant king/commander?
|
|
|
|
Whatever you're drinking, you're either not drinking enough of
|
|
it or too much of it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jul 1997 14:30:48 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Hugh Kennedy <70042.710@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Pathfinder pix?
|
|
|
|
Hugh Kennedy <70042.710@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I seem to remember that your CGI people were able to work in some
|
|
> hubble shots as backcloths for some of the earlier scenes? Is
|
|
> there any chance of featuring a certain well known piece of Mars
|
|
> territory? Its just nice to tell sci-fi averse people, ok - its
|
|
> just a story but how can it be purely sci-fi when the backdrops
|
|
> are real?
|
|
|
|
We do get lots of Mars shots from the Space folks, and those
|
|
have been used in the establishing shots this season.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jul 1997 14:30:50 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: T.P. Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Scripts; 501/422
|
|
|
|
T.P. Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> JMS, 1) will 501/422 have season 4 or 5 title screens?
|
|
> 2) since you're shooting S5 straight through, is it going to cost
|
|
> less money?
|
|
|
|
"1) will 501/422 have season 4 or 5 title screens?"
|
|
|
|
It will be a season 4 title sequence.
|
|
|
|
"2) since you're shooting S5 straight through, is it going to cost
|
|
less money?"
|
|
|
|
No, we're not shooting any differently than we ever do. We
|
|
always start in the Summer, usually July, then have a one week hiatus
|
|
midway toward Christmas, then there's the Christmas break, then we come
|
|
back in January, and shoot through to the conclusion with one more
|
|
one-week hiatus, which are given to keep from burning out the crew.
|
|
TNT will be airing them straight through, without breaks for reruns, so
|
|
we're going to have everything done ASAP to meet those deadlines.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jul 1997 14:30:53 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Tom Boon <100334.657@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Hour of the Wolf
|
|
|
|
Tom Boon <100334.657@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Were any publicity shots taken of G'Kar wearing Garibaldi's hat?
|
|
|
|
"Were any publicity shots taken of G'Kar wearing Garibaldi's hat?"
|
|
|
|
None that I know of.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jul 1997 14:30:55 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Bruce "Firestorm" S. <72571.1722@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Clauduia
|
|
|
|
Bruce "Firestorm" S. <72571.1722@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is a creative note kind of like a warning or an order?
|
|
|
|
A creative note is often, "Can you clarify this scene a little
|
|
so that new viewers will get it?" That was, I believe, the last
|
|
creative note we got, back in episode 2 of year 2. They're mainly in
|
|
the form of story suggestions, rarely if ever a Do It Like This
|
|
situation.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Jul 1997 15:22:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: O. C. Alexander <72623.3472@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
No, it's almost impossible for an actor to be a regular on two
|
|
shows at the same time; to make the Stephen Furst thing work, for
|
|
instance, allowing him to be a regular on "Misery Loves Company," we
|
|
had to support his request, and we were happy to do that. Most
|
|
producers would rather not.
|
|
|
|
In terms of guest stars, though, it's pretty wide open. Armin
|
|
has even auditioned for B5 on one occasion. And some of our regulars,
|
|
like Pat, have done work on ST, as well as Andreas, who reprised his
|
|
character there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Jul 1997 15:22:14 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: John F Davis <73455.43@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"JMS was simply not at that fatful alledged meeting between Claudis
|
|
and managment (or at least I've never seen him claim to be there) so he
|
|
only knows what others have told him about that meeting."
|
|
|
|
There was no such meeting.
|
|
|
|
"Now Claudia was alledgely present at that alledged meeting where they
|
|
are alledged to have told her to find another job."
|
|
|
|
Again, there was no such meeting. Claudia was in the UK, at the
|
|
same convention I was attending, when all this went down. And *I* was
|
|
the one who told her that she had to have her agent contact WB to tell
|
|
them she was in, or they'd withdraw the offer.
|
|
|
|
Kinda sticks a pin in that particular balloon....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Jul 1997 15:22:17 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"case in point - Claudia's cut-of date was last week - yet Joe claimed
|
|
that he had written stories that would have to be re-fitted around
|
|
claudia and he didn't have time... but if thats so then he never had
|
|
any intention of writing her in - so there is a whole there."
|
|
|
|
No, the date is incorrect. This all happened at Blackpool,
|
|
which was over the weekend of July 10th-13th. The Friday deadline that
|
|
we have been discussing was July 11th. The weekend of the 17th I was
|
|
in San Diego, which is when Claudia started talking about this at a
|
|
convention elsewhere.
|
|
|
|
I could not have been sitting in a hotel pub with her on
|
|
Thursday night in Blackpool if I was in San Diego at the time. All
|
|
this went down while we were in the UK.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Jul 1997 15:22:19 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Randall A. Schanze <74724.762@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Ok, how about this...
|
|
|
|
Randall A. Schanze <74724.762@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> CC has 2 major plot threads hanging over her, right?
|
|
> Is it plausible?
|
|
> Is it paranoid?
|
|
> Is it likely?
|
|
> Is it totaly stupid and inane?
|
|
|
|
Gone off the Prozac again, I see....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Jul 1997 00:57:24 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Ian & Kathy Taylor <100331.2651@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"reminds me very much of what I was told by someone with good reason
|
|
to know about the loss of Michael O'Hare from the show i.e. that the
|
|
people in charge of the purse-strings basically made the decision."
|
|
|
|
See, here's what kills me about all this.
|
|
|
|
When the Michael situation took place, I came out very openly
|
|
and I said, "No, this was my decision, working with Michael," and very
|
|
few held *me* accountable, they tried to blame WB...here, I came out
|
|
openly and said I tried everything I could to keep Claudia on the show,
|
|
and that her eventual departure was not my decision, it was hers, and
|
|
I'm being given the rap for it. I didn't get it when I *did* make the
|
|
decision (with Michael), and I'm getting it now when I *didn't* make
|
|
the decision.
|
|
|
|
Some days it's enough to make me lose my hair.
|
|
|
|
Waitaminnit....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Jul 1997 00:57:27 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Philip Friel <100647.753@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
Philip Friel <100647.753@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> And the coupla guys that I notice giving you a load of crap
|
|
> around here - I don't ever recall seeing you give *them* any crap
|
|
> (if you had, it might've been different, 'cos then it's
|
|
> *personal* - guns at fifty paces, and all that <bg>), so just
|
|
> what *is* their problem?
|
|
|
|
"I won't say that there won't ever be an SF show as good as B5, as
|
|
you've now set the yardstick, and the rest have something to aim at.
|
|
Maybe, someday, someone will reach or pass it"
|
|
|
|
I'm looking forward to that. I'll be the first one to stand up
|
|
and cheer when it happens.
|
|
|
|
"I'll say one thing about Trekkies, even though B5 fans often beat up
|
|
on them <g,d,&r> - if Gene Roddenberry were alive today, and were
|
|
active online, I just couldn't see him taking even a fraction of the
|
|
flack from online Trekkies as you do from these excuses for B5 fans"
|
|
|
|
Noooo...I don't think so...ask Majel about some of this
|
|
sometime. Believe me, if Gene were online, he'd get the same thing.
|
|
It's the medium, not the person, that's the problem.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Jul 1997 00:57:29 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Tim's Apology
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Yep, that's what precipitated the discussion.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Jul 1997 00:57:31 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Tim's Apology
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
What smug?
|
|
|
|
You said that if I asked people not to talk about it, they would
|
|
automatically stop. I've been on the nets a long time, and that sort
|
|
of thing is so unlikely as to engender the response I noted. Hence my
|
|
question.
|
|
|
|
As if my saying, "Now, stop that" would work.
|
|
|
|
How much power do you think I have?
|
|
|
|
The problem isn't what I'm saying, it's your sensitivity over
|
|
it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Jul 1997 00:57:34 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Third TNT film???
|
|
|
|
Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is this true?
|
|
|
|
Yes, that's correct.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Jul 1997 22:54:21 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: An Open Letter
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Thanks, to everyone on the J&D mailing list. There's been quite
|
|
a bit of positive feedback lately, which has certainly helped.
|
|
|
|
I'm considering strongly pulling back from the nets for a while.
|
|
What a number of people don't seem to understand is that amidst all
|
|
this, with all the name-calling and dead-catting and
|
|
tar-and-feathering, I have to launch the fifth season. I have to write
|
|
these first 5-6 episodes, and make them not just as good as year 4, but
|
|
better. The only way I can write is to push away all the other voices
|
|
until I can hear the small, still voice at the back of my head that
|
|
speaks in the place of the characters. There has been so much going on
|
|
(see above) that this has become difficult at best.
|
|
|
|
Come January, if the shows are crap, from crap scripts, and
|
|
people yell, "How come the stories suck?" it does no good for me to
|
|
yell back, "BECAUSE EVERYBODY WAS YELLING AT ME!" That is a pretty
|
|
silly excuse. The bottom line is: angry email is ephemeral; the shows
|
|
will be on the air for a lot longer. And that is where I have to put my
|
|
emphasis right now.
|
|
|
|
So I'm not yanking the modem out of the wall, but my presence
|
|
will be somewhat reduced over the next little bit, because I've fallen
|
|
*desperately* behind due to all the turmoil over this. If people think
|
|
they're upset over Claudia leaving, and the grief this has caused, the
|
|
truth is they have no idea what those words mean until they've sat
|
|
behind my keyboard and tried to push through it to find the words. And
|
|
then to get yelled at for things I'm not responsible for...I can either
|
|
read it, and get angry, or take a break and get the show in place.
|
|
Even the positive email, welcome as that's been, and there's been a
|
|
lot, has been a reminder of the whole situation, so I basically just
|
|
have to pull back for a bit.
|
|
|
|
I'll be here...but quietly, until I'm caught up. Similarly,
|
|
with regrets (and as soon as I can find the darned email address for
|
|
them), I'm going to have to cancel out on RebelCon in Massachusetts in
|
|
order to try and catch up. I can't justify the time away when we're so
|
|
close to the bone.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Jul 1997 00:14:22 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: DS9 = Babylon 5
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"But then I never watched B 5 even if Chekov was on it. I always
|
|
thought of it as a copy of DS9 because DS9 was in the works longer."
|
|
|
|
Just to correct: DS9 was not developed until about 1991/1992
|
|
(I'll have to go check which one for sure)...B5 was being shown around
|
|
town in full pilot-script and artwork form dating back to 1987.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Jul 1997 00:14:25 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Re: Turhan...yeah, everybody on the set yelled at me when we had
|
|
to kill off Turhan's character. He was one of the genuinely sweetest
|
|
and nicest persons to come work on the show, and they all fell in love
|
|
with him. If there's EVER a way I can figure out how to bring him
|
|
back, I'm up for it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Jul 1997 00:14:28 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: John F Davis <73455.43@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
John F Davis <73455.43@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> how did the British rags figure out what she was GOING to say
|
|
> while she was still saying "I'll be there"?
|
|
|
|
No...let me stress this again: there was never any meeting here.
|
|
|
|
The meeting you *might* be thinking of was the one where we
|
|
brought in the actors to explain to them the differences in syndication
|
|
vs. cable residuals formula. That took place some weeks before.
|
|
|
|
If it helps, let me break down the dates for you a bit:
|
|
|
|
July 9th: the Variety and Reuters pieces appear saying Claudia's
|
|
has left the show. WB wants to know where Claudia stands, and we need
|
|
to know because at this point I've finished writing the new 422, and am
|
|
about to start on 502 (actually the first S5 episode). I hear about
|
|
this when Claudia, I and the rest of the cast are in the UK at
|
|
Blackpool. The WB need for urgent clarification is conveyed to
|
|
Claudia's agent.
|
|
|
|
July 10th: I reinforce to Claudia, at the pub in the DeVere
|
|
hotel, that unless she confirms through her agent by noon Friday, the
|
|
11th, that she wants to be on the show, the offer will be withdrawn,
|
|
that she will have, to all intents and purposes, passed on the offer.
|
|
|
|
July 11th: there was no "final comment," no meeting...again, we
|
|
are still in the UK. For there to be a final comment, she or her agent
|
|
would have had to actually *speak* to someone. But no call came from
|
|
either Claudia or her agent. There was NO response at all. Thus, the
|
|
offer was finally and reluctantly withdrawn because we were simply out
|
|
of time, and having been told that silence = a pass on the offer, there
|
|
was no longer any reason to maintain the offer. She passed.
|
|
|
|
July 12th: Jeff goes to Claudia and on his own, tries to
|
|
convince her to try and work this out on Monday, that if her agent
|
|
makes contact first thing, maybe this can be worked out. This is not a
|
|
position that I told him to advance to her, he did this entirely on his
|
|
own, hoping that she could still come back from her decision. Bruce
|
|
and other cast members also try to talk to her about this, concerned
|
|
about her decision.
|
|
|
|
July 14th (Monday): Claudia leaves the convention mid-day,
|
|
announcing that she is going to go to a photo shoot.
|
|
|
|
The weekend of July 19th-20th: I'm at ComicCon in San Diego,
|
|
where I learn that Claudia, at another convention, has announced that
|
|
she was fired from B5. And that, to paraphrase, is where the blitz hit
|
|
the fans.
|
|
|
|
I know you keep trying to find some way that maybe I wasn't
|
|
there, perhaps to save me from the situation...but I was there for
|
|
every bit of it; having the room 4 doors down from Claudia at the time,
|
|
I couldn't be *more* in the thick of it unless I slept on the floor of
|
|
her room.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Jul 1997 00:14:32 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Claudia Opts Out-JMS
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Ray: extremely, extremely well said. Better than I could have
|
|
said it, and probably better than I *have* said it.
|
|
|
|
You really ought to give this writing thing a shot sometime,
|
|
y'know...?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Jul 1997 00:14:34 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Ron Chusid <74756.3150@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Claudia C fired!
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"Before coming to this forum today I was reading through a ST
|
|
newsgroup on the internet. John Ordover was busy defending himself
|
|
against criticism for things like ignoring rude messages. I'm sure you
|
|
don't find this at all surprising."
|
|
|
|
Yeah, well, John also announced *definitively* (and with
|
|
considerable joy, I suspect) on AOL that B5 had been canceled, and
|
|
there would be no fifth season, so I'm probably the last person to ask
|
|
about this....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Jul 1997 00:14:39 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Tim's Apology
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"Surely you have the power to not reply to certain messages?"
|
|
|
|
Of course I do. And I do frequently.
|
|
|
|
The problem is that the nets are best able to spread complete
|
|
misinformation even faster than they can spread real information. If
|
|
something is stated once in error -- like the person who thought the
|
|
deadline was the 19th rather than the 11th -- others pick it up and
|
|
within a matter of a day or two, there are 10,000 people all with the
|
|
same wrong information, and if you go back to them to correct it later,
|
|
they say, "Well, no, that's not what I heard," even though they may not
|
|
be able to remember where they got that info from.
|
|
|
|
On the nets, the line between "speculation" and "fact" is very
|
|
blurry on the best of days. My feeling has always been that in that
|
|
kind of situation, you put out the facts as best you can, on the theory
|
|
that the folks interested in the discussion are sharp enough to suss
|
|
out the truth, and those not interested in it wil simply not bother to
|
|
read the threads.
|
|
|
|
Also, bear in mind that there was a request put out to email
|
|
bomb me by people concerned about Claudia's situation. A request put
|
|
out *by* Claudia and her people. Now, I can either spend ten thousand
|
|
hours a day responding to each one of those in email, or by public
|
|
messages put a lot of those concerns to rest and save a fair amount of
|
|
hassle when I'm *trying* to put on a show here.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Jul 1997 00:14:42 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Your Pasadena payback
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Well, certainly the more folks retell the story at cons, the
|
|
less I can tell it, so there's that...but the joke has gone about as
|
|
far as it's going to.
|
|
|
|
Until I can think of something better.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Jul 1997 00:14:45 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Richard P. Manny <70762.141@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Onward and upward
|
|
|
|
Richard P. Manny <70762.141@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Cavellos' book (I certainly didn't find anything that jumped out
|
|
> at me as contrary to the tv series)?
|
|
|
|
I'd say that the Cavelos book is pretty canonical, yes...I
|
|
didn't work with the author as closely as with #9, but I agree with
|
|
just about all of the major strokes there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 29 Jul 1997 20:51:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: DS9 = Babylon 5
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Yes, that would be me...and the finale's been filmed, so it's
|
|
out of my encrypted file at last. Look for it at the end of season 5.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 29 Jul 1997 20:51:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: DS9 = Babylon 5
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
The show starts the weekend of January 4th on TNT, first with a
|
|
newly filmed prequel, "In the Beginning," then the original pilot, then
|
|
the next day, Monday, it starts from the very first episode of season
|
|
one and goes straight through, Monday through Friday, 5 nights a week,
|
|
at 7 p.m. Eastern. The fifth season starts mid-January.
|
|
|
|
With the new airings on TNT, we will run through the entire
|
|
first 4 years in 18 week cycles, so everyone will have a chance to
|
|
catch up and see the whole thing.
|
|
|
|
But this thread more properly belongs in the B5 section, so any
|
|
further questions should probably go there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 30 Jul 1997 00:57:30 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Chad Underkoffler <102512.1310@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: but
|
|
|
|
Chad Underkoffler <102512.1310@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Boy shaves his head.") Is there any way for me to strengthen this
|
|
> authorial muscle? Advice?
|
|
> Hints?
|
|
|
|
Basic approach: if you know your characters, then find out what
|
|
they want, how far they will go to get it, and how far someone else
|
|
will go to stop them. From this comes structure, and from this comes
|
|
plot.
|
|
|
|
Put them in *motion*.
|
|
|
|
As someone noted, "The king died and then the queen died" is not
|
|
a story; "The king died and then the queen died of grief" is a story.
|
|
Cause and effect.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 30 Jul 1997 00:57:33 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Alan L. Ravitch <73627.3126@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Bailing on Rebelcon?
|
|
|
|
Alan L. Ravitch <73627.3126@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Joe...is that a definite that you're now NOT going to do
|
|
> Rebelcon?
|
|
|
|
Yeah...I notified the con people the other day. I'm *really*
|
|
distressed by this, because it's the first time I've ever had to bail
|
|
on a con due to work commitments (or any OTHER reason, there's never
|
|
been one before this). But given the distance, the work involved, the
|
|
deadlines looming up ahead of me, and all the rest...I can't justify
|
|
doing it. The show has to come first.
|
|
|
|
And I'm *really* bummed because it's John Flinn's first
|
|
convention, and I really wanted to be there to see his reaction.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 30 Jul 1997 19:37:29 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Chad Underkoffler <102512.1310@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: but
|
|
|
|
Chad Underkoffler <102512.1310@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Out of curiousity, what do you think of Dibell's PLOT?
|
|
|
|
"Out of curiousity, what do you think of Dibell's PLOT?"
|
|
|
|
Dunno, never read it.
|
|
|
|
Don't read books on sex, either.
|
|
|
|
Some things you have to learn on instinct.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|