JMS CompuServe messages for December 1997. Collected by John Hardin
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<jhardin@wolfenet.com>.
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Date: 30 Nov 1997 20:45:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Between
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Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Why were there no cameras monitoring Sheridan?
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"Why were there no cameras monitoring Sheridan?"
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Torturers rarely videotape their work, thus assuring that it can
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never be used against them should things not go their way all the time.
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This is kinda pro forma in South America, for instance.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Dec 1997 00:42:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Illegal Script sales
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{original post unavailable}
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This is an iffy area; if someone has just one copy of a script,
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it tends to fall into the area of collectibles. It's when someone is
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making up multiple copies of scripts that we generally go and nail
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them.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Dec 1997 22:44:03 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: John Creigh <75270.423@compuserve.com>
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Subject: from jms on stuff
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John Creigh <75270.423@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Where do I find out information on attending LosCon and schedule?
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It's over, it was this Thanksgiving weekend.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Dec 1997 22:44:03 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: John Creigh <75270.423@compuserve.com>
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Subject: LOSCON Presentation
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John Creigh <75270.423@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Is that something you put together for TNT as a teaser?
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> Do you have her interacting with G'Kar much in season 5?
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The third one I showed was a music video I commissioned a while
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back to pull together the show overall for TNT and conventions.
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We haven't had many scenes between Lochley and G'Kar yet, but
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that will likely change. And yeah, Tracy's doing a great job.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Dec 1997 00:55:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Between
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Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Understood, but why were there no surveillance cameras watching
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> (not taping) such an important prisoner, especially when he
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> wasn't being "interrogated"? Did they just not think of it?
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Mainly because, in the research I'd done, it's just rarely if
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ever done in real life, and real life was my template here. There's TV
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logic, and there's what tends to happen in the real world, and I tend
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to err in the direction of the latter.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Dec 1997 01:12:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Scott J. Epstein <71514.2733@compuserve.com>
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Subject: CD-ROM
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{original post had no questions}
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Thanks, it came out well, I think.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Dec 1997 01:12:02 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Airship Photos
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(blocked) asks:
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> What would the best way be to do that?
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> Dont know if its propoer etiquette to ask you to pass them Bruce?
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You can send them on to me via the B5 mail drop, 14431 Ventura
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Boulevard, Suite 260, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. I'll see they get to
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Bruce and John. (Or you can send them directly to John and Bruce via
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that address.)
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Dec 1997 01:14:02 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com>
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Subject: JMS new Series?
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{original post had no questions}
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A first season hasn't been committed to, at least in contractual
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terms to me, and I can assure you that the series would be
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season-by-season, like any other show. It's never been broached to us
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as a five-year deal.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Dec 1997 01:12:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Claudia
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{original post unavailable}
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Thanks...the spinoff is still in negotiations, but going well
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there.
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And I can't wait for January either.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Dec 1997 12:47:14 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: New Logo?
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(blocked) asks:
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> Diamond's December catalog has a modified B5 logo (standard
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> Babylon 5 logo with the words "Earth Alliance Space Station") on
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> the page with the new 6 inch action figures (yay!) -- is this the
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> new logo you mentioned or is it one I've just never seen? Jeff
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> Sigh Corps - Pat Tallman Division Great Maker huh?
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No, that ain't it.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 05 Dec 1997 02:19:13 -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: I got my pin! <G>
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{original post had no questions}
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The club's gotten about 400 orders in the last week, and we're
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getting them out as fast as possible...a huge batch went out today, and
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we're pretty much caught up.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 05 Dec 1997 02:19:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com>
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Subject: I got my pin! <G>
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{original post had no questions}
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Thanks...yeah, we can finally put those pirated pins out of
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business, there's no way they can produce the same quality pins as you
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just got.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 05 Dec 1997 00:04:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Between
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Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
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> And wouldn't Sheridan qualify more as a legally detained prisoner
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> than a political prisoner?
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Yeah, he's legally detained, but he's being *illegally*
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tortured. That's the distinction. Nothing here is being done for the
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prisoner's benefit, but for the interrogators.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 06 Dec 1997 20:50:11 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
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Subject: JMS new Series?
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Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Stephen Furst mentioned at Creation last weekend that he just
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> signed a 5 year extension - is that standard stuff?
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"Just a curiousity side question... Stephen Furst mentioned at
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Creation last weekend that he just signed a 5 year extension - is that
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standard stuff?"
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No, that was a result of having amended Stephen's contract when
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he did "Misery Loves Company" a while back.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 06 Dec 1997 20:50:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Jose Cabanillas <71020.3316@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Thanks to the cast
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{original post had no questions}
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They're a good bunch.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 06 Dec 1997 20:50:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: SysOp_Dupa_T._Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
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Subject: B5 Link comm device
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{original post had no questions}
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Cool...I want one.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 06 Dec 1997 20:50:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Peter Deeks <113213.3222@compuserve.com>
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Subject: B5ers do it very late.
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Peter Deeks <113213.3222@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Do I get the impression you get the same problem in the States?
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> It's crazy, isn't it?
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Thanks....
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Bear in mind that the C4 programmers put it late because they
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received many calls from B5 viewers asking for a later slot, since they
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said C4 was treating the show as a kid's show...so this is a situation
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where C4 gets yelled at whichever way it goes.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 06 Dec 1997 21:08:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Rumors
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{original post had no questions}
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It's utter crap, like all such rumors. These people put them up
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and come up with ways to make it sound real, but it's crap. TNT is in
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love with what they're seeing, we've had no problems with them, they've
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given us the biggest PR campaign in their *history* to launch the new
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show and reruns... these rumors are put there by people who enjoy
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making others jump around and respond to them, and put out fires.
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They're no different than the kinds of folks who light grass fires near
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homes and watch from cover giggling as the firefighters come out to
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deal with it all...makes them feel important, because their lives are
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sad and pathetic and basically irrelevant.
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Like the rumor that I had a heart attack on the way to the
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stage; the phone calls that came into the stage tied up phone lines and
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ended up as a huge hassle for everyone.
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Look, it's really this simple...and I'm not mad at you, I'm mad
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at them...if there's a problem, I WILL TELL YOU. I've been doing that
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for five years now. Every time one of these rumors comes up, everybody
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goes running around like chickens with their heads cut off until I can
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calm everyone down, and then two weeks later it's the same thing over
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and over, one manufactured crisis after another that takes up your time
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and my time in responding.
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So this is just one more BS stupid rumor by an online jerk, of
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which there are many. Just take that line and cut and paste it on the
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next stupid BS rumor.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 07 Dec 1997 15:34:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Rumors
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{original post had no questions}
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"But I'm not certain that in this case the people putting up the posts
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are the jerks responsible for the rumors. In at least one case I'm
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pretty sure it was a somewhat panicky *fan* of the show who heard
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something and didn't think it through to see how ludicrous it was."
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I've been on the nets for a long, long, very long time, and I've
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yet to see a case of this where the person actually *heard* this, until
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after it had long gotten into the fan community. People *say* they
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heard these things just to give it some credibility and someone to
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blame so they don't have to take the rap for it themselves. If they
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*really* heard it from someone, then post that person's name. They
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were willing to post the rumor, which caused hurt and confusion and
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distress, why not post the person's name who said it, so that this
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person can be enlightened and corrected? But they never do, because
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there never IS "the other person."
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They're sickos, liars, flakes, yoyos, yipyops, yahoos, bozos and
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kadodies.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 07 Dec 1997 15:34:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: PAUL REYNOLDS <110152.1243@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Rumors
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{original post had no questions}
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Interestingly enough...I saw what they were doing for
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commercials initially, and it wasn't really what I had in mind, it was
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the same basic actino stuff WB did that didn't get the right audience.
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So I wrote up a commercial and had our editors put it together. I sent
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it to TNT and said this is kinda what I had in mind. I also showed it
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at a couple of conventions as an example of what I thought the promos
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should be like.
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To TNT's credit, they decided that our approach was better, and
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went in that direction. This is really quite extraordinary, as most
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corporations get very entrenched and it's their way or no way, but TNT
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wants to do right by this show, they believe that we know the show well
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enough to know how to promote it, and make it, and they've given us
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tremendous leeway and support.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 07 Dec 1997 22:24:14 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Rumors
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(blocked) asks:
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> Yes, but what do you *really* think of them?
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Not your fault, you have nothing to apologize for.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 06 Dec 1997 21:08:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: PAUL REYNOLDS <110152.1243@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Rumors
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{original post had no questions}
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"...well half of this one was probably true from what i've heard
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nobody liked the pilot as aired including JMS."
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Well, actually, if NObody liked the pilot we *wouldn't* have
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become a series. But the ratings were very good, and a lot of folks
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*do* and did like the pilot. It just could've been better, which is my
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take on it, and now that we've gone in and adusted it it, is *is*
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better.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 08 Dec 1997 12:53:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Rumors
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{original post unavailable}
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Go to your room.
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It's the one with the alligators.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 08 Dec 1997 12:53:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Status check?
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(blocked) asks:
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> How is filming coming?
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> What episodes are done?
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> etc.?
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> How is the special effects work going?
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> Is anything new or interesting happening there?
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"How is filming coming? What episodes are done?"
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Filming is going great; we're shooting 513 as I speak, with John
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Copeland directing (John did "Endgame"). We shoot through 514 then we
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break for Christmas, coming back on the 4th. The first 6 episodes have
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been completely finished (technically mixing the sixth one tomorrow,
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but it's a fine distinction), and delivered to TNT, which has had
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nothing but praise for the stuff this season.
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"How is the special effects work going? Is anything new or
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interesting happening there?"
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Fine there; the most interesting stuff has been in the prequel,
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and now in Thirdspace as we start producing stuff for that, since both
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movies are very ambitious. We're doing more compositing stuff for the
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series, trying some new things, getting progressively closer to the
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objects in the show to give a dynamic realism to them. But most of the
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interesting stuff this time around tends to be in the story and the
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personal relationships, and changes everyone's going through.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 09 Dec 1997 01:11:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com>
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Subject: B5 Link comm device
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Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Speaking of watches, have you seen Men In Black yet?
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Yeah, same watch on all counts, it's the Hamilton Ventura.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 09 Dec 1997 01:11:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Schmulenson <72447.224@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Rumors
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Schmulenson <72447.224@compuserve.com> asks:
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> I may be missing something but I haven't seen any adds for the
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> show in the paper or promo's(but I don't watch tv often)-where
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> are they?
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There are ads all over the place...especially on TNT. You'll
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see more as we get closer to air.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 09 Dec 1997 01:11:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
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Subject: I got my pin! <G>
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{original post had no questions}
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It's the same design and materials used in the ones being sold
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by the fan club.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 09 Dec 1997 01:11:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Rumors
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{original post had no questions}
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Also flips, twists, gleeps, geeks and creeps.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 09 Dec 1997 12:08:02 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: DotD Schedule question
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
We shot it out of story-sequence to give us more time to prep
|
|
512, which was a big episode. So it'll actually be aired as 513.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Dec 1997 12:08:02 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Roseann <103510.1542@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: ll
|
|
|
|
Roseann <103510.1542@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Did you know that the executives at Paramount didn't want to do
|
|
> that? How do you not take them in a head lock down the hall and
|
|
> hold their heads in the toliet and flush it a few times? Do they
|
|
> not *know* how to market the shows or what?
|
|
|
|
Here's the stupid thing about the syndication worry: it's
|
|
nonexistent. The stations invariably grab shows in production order
|
|
unless something is specifified to the contrary on the inventory
|
|
sheets. Every so often, some of the animated shows I worked on years
|
|
ago will show up...and they're *still* being played in correct order,
|
|
and I doubt very much the station is trying to do so, it's just a
|
|
matter of going in numerical order off the charts. This is a concern
|
|
that goes back to very early syndication that doesn't hold anymore.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Dec 1997 23:04:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Roseann <103510.1542@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: ll
|
|
|
|
Roseann <103510.1542@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is this the only way they can feel important?
|
|
> So, can we do a JMS and Harlan in 2000 for the white house?
|
|
|
|
"So, can we do a JMS and Harlan in 2000 for the white house? <just
|
|
kidding>"
|
|
|
|
If nominated I will not run, if elected I will not serve, if
|
|
impeached I will burn the tapes, write a book, build a library and
|
|
become an elder statesman.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Dec 1997 23:04:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Craig M. Bobchin <102354.3246@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Marshall Teague returns?
|
|
|
|
Craig M. Bobchin <102354.3246@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Is that true, is Ta'Lon making another appearance?
|
|
|
|
"Is that true, is Ta'Lon making another appearance?"
|
|
|
|
Yup.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Dec 1997 23:04:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp_Lee_Whiteside <76711.2660@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rumors
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Yeah, they also plan on bus posters, billboards, subway posters,
|
|
you name it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Dec 1997 23:04:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 Link comm device
|
|
|
|
Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> You don't happen to know if they still sell them, do you?
|
|
|
|
Yeah, they still sell 'em. Interesting history...the Hamilton
|
|
Ventura was the first electric watch produced. When the art deco case
|
|
went out of fashion (as if art deco *ever* goes out of fashion), they
|
|
discontinued it. As I understand it, and this is only based on what
|
|
I've been told, I have no first-hand knowledge here, back a few years
|
|
ago, when I bought mine, they had found some of the original parts and
|
|
pieces and casings and released a small number of them. They were all
|
|
snapped up, and Hamilton decided it might be a good idea to release
|
|
them for real in a newly manufactured line.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Dec 1997 12:55:14 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Roseann <103510.1542@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Books, Music & ???
|
|
|
|
Roseann <103510.1542@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> He's a pretty smart kid, but a little emotionally immature (but
|
|
> after all he is ten), would the B5 books be "over his head" or do
|
|
> you think he would grasp it? Any suggestions on other titles I
|
|
> could get for him?
|
|
|
|
That's an okay one to start with...I'd also suggest the Hobbit,
|
|
and if you can find it the Mad Scientists Club and A Wrinkle in Time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Dec 1997 22:17:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 Dolls
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
The ones under discussion, the 6" figures, are killer...they're
|
|
even closer in appearance, sleeker, their faces are great...and
|
|
apparently they'll be available from both Toys R Us *and* Diamond (via
|
|
comics stores). These are definitely the ones that'll go on my desk.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Dec 1997 22:17:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: TNT's Rumor Responce
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"What about the one that jms isn't really from this planet, and TNT is
|
|
knowingly collaborating with (albeit) benevolent alien races that just
|
|
dig good scifi"
|
|
|
|
Oh, well, that one's true...but how did YOU find out?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Dec 1997 13:13:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Great Maker Photo
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Does Andrew Porter have a time machine?
|
|
> Have you seen the photo of yourself on page 15 of the November
|
|
> Science Fiction Chronicle? What's that about?
|
|
|
|
No, I haven't seen it yet. Will look it up. On the other
|
|
project, not much to say until paperwork comes.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 12 Dec 1997 13:13:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Neville White <100335.2721@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Superlatives fail me..
|
|
|
|
Neville White <100335.2721@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Would you care to share any pointers about what might have
|
|
> happened to the character Ivanova in the future?
|
|
|
|
Thanks...as for what Claudia would've been doing this season,
|
|
some bits of that have been sliced off and put into other characters,
|
|
so I can't comment until it hits the air.
|
|
|
|
And thanks again...it's a good end for the season.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Dec 1997 02:22:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Official Guide CD-ROM
|
|
|
|
Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I could be wrong,but I'm pretty sure jms himself even said
|
|
> so,since he still uses 3.1? To any of you who already have it,does
|
|
> it run *at all* on Windows 3.1? Am I just being silly to think
|
|
> that there's even a small chance that it'll work?
|
|
|
|
No, it's specifically for Win 95. A version I got for proofing
|
|
stuff was for 3.1 but for release purposes, it has to be one or the
|
|
other to have all the bells and whistles. Virtually *everything* out
|
|
now is for nothing less than Win95. (Just bought Riven, the Myst
|
|
sequel, and can't play that either until I upgrade, which I'll do when
|
|
I have time.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14 Dec 1997 00:55:07 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp_Dupa_T._Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Great Maker Photo
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Thanks. I haven't been able to find the issue; can you tell me
|
|
what specifically it said?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 13 Dec 1997 22:48:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Craig M. Bobchin <102354.3246@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Cd-ROM Comments
|
|
|
|
Craig M. Bobchin <102354.3246@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Who chose the characters for the directory?
|
|
> Could you give a bit of a hint where I should start looking?
|
|
|
|
"Who chose the characters for the directory? There are a few noteable
|
|
exceptions that probably should have been included. I'm talking about
|
|
Bester, Talia, Morden and both Koshs."
|
|
|
|
The conceit of the disk is that it's a guide to the station as
|
|
of the end of the 4th season. That's why neither Vorlon is listed,
|
|
since they're gone by that time, ditto for Morden who was never
|
|
actually a resident or officially a part of B5 and wouldn't be listed
|
|
in any event, and of course Talia was gone a while back.
|
|
|
|
"You mentioned that there is kind of an easter egg hidden on the disk
|
|
somewhere. Could you give a bit of a hint where I should start
|
|
looking?"
|
|
|
|
Just keep poking around until you find something that sounds
|
|
right.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14 Dec 1997 15:22:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Colin Heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rising Star
|
|
|
|
Colin Heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> As for Ivanova's departure, isn't it amazing what a 10-second
|
|
> voice-over can achieve? One complaint though, what am I going to
|
|
> do with my time until season 5 comes around?
|
|
|
|
Thanks, and after we're gone...well, yer on yer own.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 14 Dec 1997 23:51:07 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: All
|
|
Subject: re: jms email
|
|
|
|
Just a note to remind folks that my email address is to be used
|
|
only for stuff that can't or shouldn't be discussed publicly, for
|
|
personal stuff. It's starting to fill up with general questions about
|
|
the themes of the show, plot stuff and the like, questions which would
|
|
serve better in the open forums where the answers would profit other
|
|
people, and save me from having to answer the same question X-times
|
|
privately.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 15 Dec 1997 11:36:05 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: the wedding
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
No, it was never shot, so there's no still from it either.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Dec 1997 23:16:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: DougP <70760.2440@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: TNT Ads
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Cool...with luck I'll get a copy soonish.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Dec 1997 23:22:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 ITB TNT trailers
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"JMS indicated once the budget for these movies wasn't much greater
|
|
than the shows (basically that of two episodes if I remember right). I
|
|
don't believe it! It looks a lot better... do I have some wrong info or
|
|
something?"
|
|
|
|
We did the movie for less than $3 million, which *technically*
|
|
is 3 episodes worth to pay for 2 episodes worth of running time,
|
|
*except* that rates tend to go up across the board for movies, so when
|
|
you adjust for that, yeah, it ain't much above episodic stuff. What
|
|
you're seeing is the result of what we've been learning as we've gone
|
|
along over the 4 years of the show. Remember, our blood oath has been
|
|
the same from the start: each year we *have* to do better than the year
|
|
before, we don't have the luxury of any sort of established name,
|
|
quality is our only recourse.
|
|
|
|
We implemented more of the lessons we've learned there, and in
|
|
the fifth season. It's more a philosophical thing, in how we do what
|
|
we do, than a money thing.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Dec 1997 13:55:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 ITB TNT trailers
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"Which makes me wonder if you've ever heard from a viewer that they
|
|
started watching due to Boxleitner or someone...?"
|
|
|
|
Lots of folks, actually.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Dec 1997 13:55:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Columbia House old/new
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I've no idea if CH will do the special edition or not...my guess
|
|
is not, since TNT will likely want to remain the only place to find it
|
|
for a while.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Dec 1997 13:55:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Darran Williams <100563.322@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: ThirdSpace
|
|
|
|
Darran Williams <100563.322@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Any comments ?
|
|
|
|
No, it would be about mid-fourth season.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19 Dec 1997 00:15:07 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Stephen Edwards <101741.771@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Last episode #
|
|
|
|
Stephen Edwards <101741.771@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I know you do not want to do a sixth season of B5 but are you
|
|
> planning to do any spin off's set in the B5 universe, Like Star
|
|
> Trek did with Voyager ??
|
|
|
|
Yes, there are plans for a follow-up series. A back issue of
|
|
Dreamwatch has a lot of info about it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Dec 1997 18:04:03 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Premiere Parties
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Short answer before the long one...obviously I cannot go into
|
|
any establishment, or have TNT do so, and have them contravene their
|
|
usual policies on smoking or drinking on our behalf...that's not
|
|
something that's in my purview.
|
|
|
|
I got the list of places last week that will be part of the
|
|
series of open parties, and I'm pretty sure they're all bars of one
|
|
sort or another, for the primary reason that they all have
|
|
satellite/TNT feeds, and have the resources for a party other than one
|
|
that is catered. Most average restaurants don't have those kind of
|
|
facilities. Jeffrey Willerth advised me about this in a memo, because
|
|
he knows my feelings about alcohol. So I asked hilm (he's the one in
|
|
touch with the folks at TNT) to try and find some additional, non-bar
|
|
venues. Whether or not this is possible, especially at this late date,
|
|
remains to be seen, but TNT was nice enough to say they'd try and find
|
|
something. The problem, as noted above, is finding places that have
|
|
the necessary facilities.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Dec 1997 18:04:03 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Toronto, Canada
|
|
|
|
T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Since you are going to be in NY, it's such a short hop to T.O.,
|
|
> would you consider coming up here to do promo if the offer is
|
|
> reasonable??
|
|
|
|
I'll generally go anywhere to help the show.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Dec 1997 12:26:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Toronto, Canada
|
|
|
|
T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> So where does one start to contact you about appearances for
|
|
> promos?
|
|
|
|
They would go through TNT publicity.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Dec 1997 12:26:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Schmulenson <72447.224@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Last episode #
|
|
|
|
Schmulenson <72447.224@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> What is dream watch and where do we get it?
|
|
> A friend(ex's sister had a book dedicated to her(Asimov's
|
|
> Bicential man) she is also a writer and a Friend of Fari Ackerman
|
|
> (Naomi Gordon(Magazner) ) want's to know if you have any plans of
|
|
> doing anything with Bicentenial man?
|
|
|
|
Dreamwatch is a magazine in the UK.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Dec 1997 22:26:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Superlatives fail me..
|
|
|
|
Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> However, if it was tampered with [ie, had it's mass or gravity
|
|
> (and yes, I'm an engineer and I know these two things are usually
|
|
> intimately related] increased) in an effort to increase it's
|
|
> output, who know's WHAT is possible? If the human decendants a
|
|
> million years from now are as advanced as they seem, who know's
|
|
> what technology they could have mastered?
|
|
|
|
And what if you, say, interfered substantially with the mass of
|
|
the sun by, say, causing a series of jump points to open up *inside*
|
|
the sun across several days?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Dec 1997 22:33:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Deconstruction of Sol
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Would that amount to injecting some hefty chunks of hyperspace?
|
|
|
|
You'd also substantially decrease the mass of Sol, which as I
|
|
understand it, would result in the sun going nova.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Dec 1997 22:33:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Guide my Gatherings?
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"Do you recommend viewing it first,before seeing the newer re-edited
|
|
version looming on TNT?"
|
|
|
|
No, see the new one first.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Dec 1997 22:33:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Kevin Kenney <104102.352@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Gathering Additions
|
|
|
|
Kevin Kenney <104102.352@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Can you spare a few words on how you went about the re-edit?
|
|
> Did you start with what you wanted to get back in, or trying to
|
|
> find out how much time you could recapture? I see in the Lurker's
|
|
> Guide you originally had 25 extra minutes of material to re-add:
|
|
> did this trim down to 14, or was that all the room you could
|
|
> make? (or were the other minutes not on the A-list?) Of what you
|
|
> wanted to do, how much were you able to?
|
|
|
|
"Can you spare a few words on how you went about the re-edit? Did you
|
|
start with what you wanted to get back in, or trying to find out how
|
|
much time you could recapture?"
|
|
|
|
The first thing I did was to sit down with the editor assigned
|
|
to the re-edit, Suzie, and go through the original script for the
|
|
pilot. My first words to her were, "Put everyhing in that ain't
|
|
there." To that end, she redigitized all of the footage from missing
|
|
scenes, and had available all of the available footage of the other
|
|
scenes for digitizing as we went.
|
|
|
|
Note that I said all the *available* footage. The folks at WB
|
|
who held custody of the film (we don't keep that stuff, we're not
|
|
allowed to by contract, they store film, negative, prints, all that
|
|
stuff) put the negative canisters into storage...and at one point in
|
|
the intervening 4 years, there had been water damage, and on another
|
|
occasion, apparently rats had gotten in there and chewed some of the
|
|
original negatives (and in most cases there weren't positive struck of
|
|
those takes).
|
|
|
|
Take your reaction to the foregoing, put it in front of the
|
|
Hubble telescope, and you will have mine.
|
|
|
|
However, we lucked out...where there were some takes that are
|
|
gone, we were able to find enough others (masters instead of a
|
|
two-shot, or a close-up instead of an over-shoulder) and B-camera
|
|
footage that we were able to build solid versions of those scenes. We
|
|
didn't always have as many choices as we're used to but there was more
|
|
than enough for our needs.
|
|
|
|
Suzi then dumped all of the newly edited additional scenes into
|
|
the existing pilot, and that gave us the new running time (we added
|
|
about 14 minutes). So at that point, John and I went in and worked to
|
|
slice down the previously existing scenes, doing what we do with B5:
|
|
tightening every loose screw and nut as much as we could. One or two
|
|
incidental, unimportant scenes in the original pilot went out, because
|
|
they added nothing and shouldn't have been there in the first place (a
|
|
total of about 3 minutes). The remaining 11 minutes we made up in just
|
|
tightening scenes, which were *so* lax and slow that it's amazing at
|
|
times.
|
|
|
|
In some cases, we substituted one take for another in the
|
|
pre-existing pilot when we had a better reaction, or played scenes
|
|
closer for more intimacy. (One of the problems with the pilot is that
|
|
it kept the audience far from the action, and the actors far from each
|
|
other, something we changed in our shooting style for the series...here
|
|
we tried to change it when we could and when we had the coverage.)
|
|
|
|
Tiny example: when Kosh falls down upon arriving at B5, that
|
|
sequence ends with a big honking wide downshot of a nearly empty
|
|
docking bay, with Kosh far from us, and Sinclair looking down (away
|
|
from us) when he says "Damn." Then we go from that to a wide shot of
|
|
the medlab. Same framing. So I had Suzie look for a take where we
|
|
panned up from a close on Kosh, to a close on Sinclair for that line,
|
|
so it's more immediate, more personal, and the jump to the next scene
|
|
doesn't feel like the one before.
|
|
|
|
See, directors like to stay wide in their cuts, so you can see
|
|
their nifty camera angles, see the set, the lighting...but after you've
|
|
established where we are, most people want to see the *characters*, not
|
|
the walls or how the camera moves. That was what we tried to fix where
|
|
we could.
|
|
|
|
We couldn't totally re-edit the pilot, because we hadn't been
|
|
given the money for something that intensive (the main expense is in
|
|
opening up all the audio stems in the sound mix). But all the stuff I
|
|
wanted back in, is now in, and the scenes I wanted to fix, I fixed.
|
|
|
|
I also got the thing back to its original format. All TV movies
|
|
are 6 acts. Because PTEN wanted more commercial breaks, I had to
|
|
re-jig the structure of the thing into 9 acts, which meant moving some
|
|
scenes into places where they weren't as effective, and frankly after 9
|
|
acts you just get tired of watching. Here I was able to move scenes
|
|
around and get back to the original 6 act structure that was intended
|
|
for the thing, and that alone makes a huge difference in how the film
|
|
feels.
|
|
|
|
One of the biggest changes is the one least immediately
|
|
apparent. After we finished the original pilot, some folks at WB felt
|
|
that Laurel was too...strong. They will rarely put it in terms quite
|
|
as blatant as that, but that was the message...she was "unlikeable,
|
|
unsympathetic, harsh." Meaning some of the guys felt she was too
|
|
strong, let's cut to the chase, okay?
|
|
|
|
They wanted her to loop her lines, soften their (her) delivery.
|
|
I fought this tooth and nail. I fought this until finally I was pulled
|
|
aside and it was communicated to me that B5 was, after all, still an
|
|
unknown property, could be a big failure, and if we ever wanted to see
|
|
this thing on the air, we'd accommodate this note (which was, I have to
|
|
admit on balance, one of the few they had). The advice was, in
|
|
essence, "Pick your battles."
|
|
|
|
So, reluctantly, I let it get looped by Tamlyn.
|
|
|
|
But now, when the re-edit was commissioned, and with the person
|
|
at the studio who insisted on this now no longer AT the studio, I told
|
|
Suzie, "Screw it, put back her original production track and trash the
|
|
loops." Instantly, Laurel's energy level comes up, the performance is
|
|
better...it just *feels* more natural now.
|
|
|
|
So basically, we did a lot...some of it may not be immediately
|
|
apparent (improving a sound here, altering coverage, adding additional
|
|
sound layers, redoing a composite shot of the garden), but over the
|
|
duration of watching it, it's just *better*. It's still a *tad* slower
|
|
around the middle than I would've liked, but that's a WP (writer
|
|
problem), nothing that can be fixed in an edit. It's just
|
|
exposition-dense there, and nothing of a sort that can be cut.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 24 Dec 1997 15:48:14 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Shawn D. Ratner <73753.175@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Conference
|
|
|
|
Shawn D. Ratner <73753.175@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I was wondering if you are planning on doing any online
|
|
> conferences on Saturday, January 3?
|
|
|
|
Nothing's been scheduled, no.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Dec 1997 00:01:00 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: from jms on stuff
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
There are 9" figures out currently at Toys R Us, and 6" figures
|
|
due out any time now. Also, the Starfury model is apparently out in
|
|
stores now from Revell.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Dec 1997 00:01:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Sinclair
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
There's a faq about this in the library.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Dec 1997 00:01:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 ITB TNT trailers
|
|
|
|
Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do you see Star Trek listed...do you see a seperate section for
|
|
> B5? to all of this, did you find it interesting that the biggest
|
|
> objection that the Trekkies had to First Contact was that Picard
|
|
> actually *showed anger* about having been kidnapped, mutilated,
|
|
> and forced to assist in the destruction of his own race?
|
|
|
|
"You may soon wish to reconsider this POV. IMHO you will soon be
|
|
bigger than Star Trek (why am I suddenly reminded of the Beatles?)."
|
|
|
|
It's certainly a wonderful thought, but here's why I think it
|
|
won't happen.
|
|
|
|
At its core, B5 is a thinking man's (and woman's) show. A
|
|
viewer has to bring a lot to the table, pay attention, and be willing
|
|
to be reflective to get out of it all that the show has to offer. That
|
|
pretty much precludes it from being a big pop-culture phenomenon. I
|
|
think we'll always do well, and we'll be around for a long, long
|
|
time...but as a cult show, as the Prisoner is a cult show.
|
|
|
|
Which is absolutely aces by me. I got to tell my story, and
|
|
make something that'll endure, and that's why I entered the race in the
|
|
first place.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Dec 1997 00:01:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 Dolls
|
|
|
|
Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Will their be a JMS action figure, and will it have a Kung-Fu
|
|
> Grip (tm)?
|
|
|
|
Given my luck when still dating, perhaps there should be a jms
|
|
"no-action" figure....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Dec 1997 19:33:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: John F Davis <73455.43@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Sinclair
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"It does, however, make it interesting in that I think this is the
|
|
first incidence of an AMERICAN made show surviving the loss of it's
|
|
lead actor."
|
|
|
|
Actually, not correct...there have been many cases of this, from
|
|
MASH to Bewitched to other shows. It's not common, certainly, but not
|
|
unheard-of.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Dec 1997 21:42:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: TNT Guide
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> Is this a first?
|
|
|
|
I didn't catch the credit, but if so, yeah, that'd be my first
|
|
as Joe.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Dec 1997 01:05:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Elyse M. Grasso <70302.3304@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: My new home theater
|
|
|
|
Elyse M. Grasso <70302.3304@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> What are the good brands of S-VHS tapes, and what are good places
|
|
> to find them at reasonable prices? What are people's favorite
|
|
> surround-effect scenes in seasons 2 through 4 (which are the ones
|
|
> I have on tape)?
|
|
|
|
Don't forget the subwoofer....
|
|
|
|
I generally go for the TDK SVHS tapes, in general I've had fewer
|
|
problems with those than any other brand.
|
|
|
|
We had good surround when Sinclair is getting "What do you
|
|
want?" bounced back and forth at him, also when Talia is listening to
|
|
the many voices in "A Race Through Dark Places." Overall, you'll get
|
|
most or all of the ship-bys we do, and you'll get the nice separation
|
|
of voices in the S5 title sequence. We use the surrounds to give a
|
|
sense of place, and ambiance, more than anything else. Pop in any
|
|
really busy action sequence and you'll get a good sense of movement.
|
|
|
|
In general, the basic pro-logic setting is usually fine for B5.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Dec 1997 22:34:03 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Hi
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
"Better yet, is there somewhere I can go to get the low-down on all
|
|
this? I want to buy stuff!"
|
|
|
|
http://www.thestation.com
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Dec 1997 18:01:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Sinclair
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Bewitched changed Darrens, and he was as much a major character
|
|
as Elizabeth's character was.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Dec 1997 18:01:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp_Dupa_T_Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: The Guide To B5 on TNT
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Yeah, it's a struggle, and hard work, no mistake, but we also
|
|
have our fair share of fun as well. What makes it more bearable is
|
|
that we've instituted a humane system of film-making. Most shows shoot
|
|
16 hour days and then some. We shoot 12 and that's it. If you plan
|
|
out what you're doing properly, and don't get reckless, you can do
|
|
that. The Directors' Guild has been fighting for 12 hour days for
|
|
years, and been told that it couldn't be done. Then recently they
|
|
heard about us, and their jaws dropped, and they're coming out to do an
|
|
article that says, in essence, see, it CAN be done. And has been done
|
|
successfully for 5 years.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Dec 1997 22:44:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: The Guide To B5 on TNT
|
|
|
|
Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Doesn't the sound of all those jaws dropping give you a headache?
|
|
|
|
I think the only reason we're still amazing them is that they're
|
|
only now finding *out* about us. We're doing what we've been doing for
|
|
5 years now, it's just taken folks this long to notice us (which is
|
|
about what I figured would be the case going in).
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Dec 1997 22:44:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: TNT Guide
|
|
|
|
Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Can I assume that this was a different Patrick Stewart?
|
|
> Was the Joe Straczynski - Master of the Universe header an inside
|
|
> joke (considering your He-Man stint), or just a strange
|
|
> coincidence?
|
|
|
|
Yeah, that's a coincidence, they either didn't know about that
|
|
prior stint, or it just didn't occur to them.
|
|
|
|
I find I'm alternately pleased and chagrined by the attention.
|
|
When I saw that part of it, I kind of cringed, but what they tell me is
|
|
that this is the sort of thing that's useful to promoting the show in
|
|
general. The firsts represented by B5 mainly come from the
|
|
storytelling aspects of it, and that it's really one vision in an
|
|
intense sort of way not really done much before. So that's something
|
|
they can pin their promotion on. It comes out of their real respect
|
|
for what we've done here.
|
|
|
|
It's very weird to look around one day and discover, by doing
|
|
what you've been doing in fair anonymity for as long as you can
|
|
remember, that suddenly you're a celebrity, even a minor-league one.
|
|
You're talking to a guy here who couldn't get a date in high school,
|
|
for cryin' out loud....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Dec 1997 04:06:13 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: David Kuhn <73532.741@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: TNT Guide
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"It looks as if TNT will not give B5 anymore respect than the
|
|
independent TV stations did as to when they will air it. They have to
|
|
be bettter than WSKB though. This torked me off too."
|
|
|
|
This only happened due to the game. There won't be games coming
|
|
on before the episodes themselves, so we'll be on time.
|
|
|
|
And believe me, they've *already* given this show more respect
|
|
than the syndicated stations did.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Dec 1997 21:26:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: TNT Guide
|
|
|
|
(blocked) asks:
|
|
> You too?
|
|
|
|
"betcha the girls that used to know you are more chagrined than the
|
|
ones that used to know me..."
|
|
|
|
Keed, take my word for it, having gone to my 20th reunion a bit
|
|
ago, none of them even remembered me to *be* chagrined....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Dec 1997 21:34:05 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Shawn D. Ratner <73753.175@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Babylon Project: Crusade
|
|
|
|
Shawn D. Ratner <73753.175@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Do you have any updates about the status of Crusade?
|
|
|
|
There's nothing I can say about Crusade for the moment.
|
|
|
|
Soon, though.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 29 Dec 1997 21:37:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: The Guide To B5 on TNT
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I agree...it's just common sense, really.
|
|
|
|
Who knew it was in such short supply?
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 29 Dec 1997 21:37:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: TNT Guide
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{original post unavailable}
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Oddly, the newspapers had it right, TV Guide didn't.
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But they're going to be airing the Guide sandwiched in between
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the two TV movies airing next Sunday, so we're golden.
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(ItB got a great review in TV Guide...called it "stunning" and
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"riveting.")
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 29 Dec 1997 21:37:09 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com>
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Subject: "The Guide" on TNT
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{original post had no questions}
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The scary thing is to look at the promos John and I did for WB
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for the pilot and first season. I didn't have a grey hair on my head,
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and there was more of it; John had a few, but has since gone totally
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grey-white from the rigors of this show, all in five years.
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Thing is, though, I look at the promises we made in those early
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interviews, and by golly, we kept every one of them.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 29 Dec 1997 21:37:09 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Ed Brandt <100274.2672@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Babylon Project: Crusade
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Ed Brandt <100274.2672@compuserve.com> asks:
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> True,untrue?
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"I have heard that Thirdspace might be the pilot or lead-up to
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Crusade. True,untrue?"
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Untrue.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 29 Dec 1997 21:37:10 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: B5 on DVD
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{original post unavailable}
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There may be one episode to test the waters, but nothing's been
|
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discussed yet about anything broader.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 30 Dec 1997 02:21:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: The Guide To B5 on TNT
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|
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{original post had no questions}
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It's both. Even in the first two years of the show, we kept to
|
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12 hour days by virtue of making sure we were always 3-4 scripts ahead
|
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of where we were shooting, which is what makes all the difference in
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the world (on most shows you're lucky if you're one ahead, and
|
|
sometimes pages are landing on the stage while you're shooting). You
|
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get your writers working early, and make your notes clear, to minimize
|
|
mistakes.
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Also, bear in mind that with the exception of maybe a half-dozen
|
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scripts, most of them by Larry, all but one of the freelance S1-2
|
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scripts were based on premises I assigned to the writers...which in
|
|
turn were based on my notes, which I give to John each season as a kind
|
|
of crib sheet for the overall production of that season's shows,
|
|
allowing our people to have months of cognitive lead time (where
|
|
possible) on sets, costumes, that sort of thing.
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jms
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|
------------------------------
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|
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Date: 29 Dec 1997 21:37:10 -0700
|
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
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Subject: Each Episode Intro
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|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
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|
|
Nowhere available but the episodes.
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jms
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|
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|
------------------------------
|
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|
|
Date: 29 Dec 1997 21:37:08 -0700
|
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: TNT Guide
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"I suppose now would not be the time to bring up the old one about the
|
|
starlet who was so new to Hollywood she slept with the writer..."
|
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|
|
But that was only because she heard that in Hollywood,
|
|
*everyone* screws the writer.
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|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
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|
|
Date: 29 Dec 1997 21:37:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 ITB TNT trailers
|
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|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"I know you did this story for people like us, but I suspect you may
|
|
open wider the gates of speculative fiction in doing so."
|
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|
|
If that should turn out to be the case, then all the effort was
|
|
worth it.
|
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|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 29 Dec 1997 21:37:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: B5 Dolls
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"Well you could give it "attributes" and show all the girls what they
|
|
were missing..."
|
|
|
|
Too dangerous...the accompanying magnifying glass could get
|
|
broken during shipping.
|
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|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 30 Dec 1997 02:26:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp_Dupa_T_Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: TNT Guide
|
|
|
|
SysOp_Dupa_T_Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> is that from ITB?
|
|
> (if so, he sure lost a LOT of hair between ITB and The Gathering
|
|
> <g>) Or did Londo do Rogane? is that from a season 5 episode?
|
|
> Or is B5 hosting the World Cup?
|
|
|
|
"Regarding the one shot of Londo with hair down to his forehead... is
|
|
that from ITB? (if so, he sure lost a LOT of hair between ITB and The
|
|
Gathering."
|
|
|
|
Yeah, well, so did I....
|
|
|
|
"Also, the scenes of what looks likes a riot on the station... is that
|
|
from a season 5 episode? I don't recall those scenes in season 4."
|
|
|
|
They're from Thirdspace.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 30 Dec 1997 23:33:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: TNT Guide
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I have a directTV satellite dish, and I have to tell you I would
|
|
*never* go back to cable. The quality is substantially better, you
|
|
have far more options, it never goes out, the per-month charges are
|
|
about the same, for more services, and the initial cost of the setup
|
|
has dropped dramatically in the last few months to just a couple
|
|
hundred bucks for a basic system.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 30 Dec 1997 23:45:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Ray Pelzer <70475.1263@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: TNT Guide
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
And in an NC-17 movie everybody gets the girl and one guy gets
|
|
the guy and everybody feels bad about it later while they sit around in
|
|
a French cafe reading Kirkegaard....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|