JMS CompuServe messages for May 1998. Collected by John Hardin
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<jhardin@wolfenet.com>.
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Date: 02 May 1998 20:03:03 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Lighting of season5
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{original post unavailable}
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The color of the sets varies by location; DownBelow tends to be
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more in the red end and brown end of the spectrum (hence the term Brown
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Sector that sometimes applies), where most of the command sectors are
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blueish.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 May 1998 19:56:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Will Caraway <73671.2434@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Kosh Poison
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Will Caraway <73671.2434@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Was Kosh actually poisoned or did he just fake it for the
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> natives?
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No, he wasn't faking it. Understand that their appearance as a
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being of light is only how they want to appear; they are life forms
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much the same as many others, and can be poisoned if one knows the
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right combination of substances.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 May 1998 19:56:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: All
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Subject: My Email
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A reminder to all and sundry:
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My private email box is only to be used for confidential or
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deeply personal matters. It is not to be used for jokes, uploads
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without asking permission or informing me in advance (I have had my
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hard drive trashed by viruses sent to me), plot questions or the like.
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You may decide, "Oh, that's a funny joke, I'll foward that to Joe," but
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if 500 of you do that my mailbox becomes completely unmanageable and
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important stuff scrolls off.
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If you have a general question or comment or something to pass
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along, please do so in the public forums, where others can benefit from
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the answer. The private mail box should be used only as a last resort,
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for truly personal or confidential matters.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 May 1998 11:19:11 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: All
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Subject: jms at MIT Monday
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For those in the Boston area, I'll be speaking at MIT on Monday
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the 4th from 7-10 p.m.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 May 1998 22:18:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: David Belt <72142.1365@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Babylon Emporium Help!
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David Belt <72142.1365@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Could you please have him or her contact me?
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> Do you have any idea what Mira Furlan's next project is and what
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> Bruce Boxlietner's next project is?
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Thanks...and try reelkosh@aol.com that may work.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 May 1998 22:18:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Crusade Confirmed
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{original post unavailable}
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Many thanks....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 05 May 1998 00:32:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Shane Shellenbarger <104305.3404@compuserve.com>
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Subject: San Diego Comic-Con?
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Shane Shellenbarger <104305.3404@compuserve.com> asks:
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> and will you be giving a B5/Crusade presentation?
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At this point, I don't know if I can do SDCC or not this year; I
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had to cancel out one convention already around that time, because of
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the need to gear up Crusade. I'd assumed that I wouldn't have anything
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going this Summer, so I booked a number of conventions all in the same
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two month period of time, kind of a post-B5 blitzkreig. Then all hell
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broke loose. So I may either not go (first time for that in 12 years)
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or just pop down on one day for a quick Dealer's Room run-through and
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out. I can't just go for the one day if I do my full
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presentation...I'm too whacked afterward for shopping at the DR, and I
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can do so beforehand because I'm prepping for the presentation. So
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I'm kinda unsure right now what to do, and what I'll have time for.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 05 May 1998 00:32:07 -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: Crusade Confirmed
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{original post had no questions}
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No, A Call to Arms isn't a Crusade pilot, it's a B5 movie that
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somewhat sets the stage for the new show, but is not a part of it.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 06 May 1998 23:34:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: All
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Subject: CC Debate: Over
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Okay, from the beginning of the Claudia Christian departure,
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I've been saying that she quit. At the time, she said she was fired.
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And a lot of people said, "Well, we'll never really know." This
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despite all the basic facts being confirmed by both sides.
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I quote from an interview with Claudia just published in the
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Summer issue of Sci Fi Invasion:
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Question: By you quitting, Straczynski lost Ivanova. He
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couldn't have been happy about that.
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Claudia: I think he feels like I put them out or something by
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quitting the show, when in essence I don't really think it affected
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anything. (small snip) I just didn't think there'd be a lot for me to
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do, and I didn't want to be relegated to one more year of not having my
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any challenges.
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She has finally confirmed it: I told the truth from the
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beginning. She quit. She wasn't fired. She quit.
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This debate is now over.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 08 May 1998 03:31:03 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Kevin Kenney <104102.352@compuserve.com>
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Subject: CC Debate: Over
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Kevin Kenney <104102.352@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Any comment on those assertions, or at least a word on why you
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> won't comment on them?
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I have commented on them. Understand that this is an ensemble
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show. We have (and have had) anywhere from 11-14 regular/recurring
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characters, and it is common for any number of them in a crowd that big
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to feel that they are being under-utilized. I use each of the cast
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members as much as the story requires. That's all I *can* do, because
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nothing else makes sense.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 08 May 1998 13:28:08 -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: CC Debate: Over
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Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Guess what?
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Bingo...that is as true a statement as I have ever read about
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this stuff in general, and this case in particular.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 10 May 1998 00:52:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: New Show
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{original post unavailable}
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That's the funniest rumor I've seen in months.
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Where do they GET these things? And why on earth don't they
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just ASK ME before printing something as silly as this?
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It's not like I'm hard to find....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 10 May 1998 00:48:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Shane Shellenbarger <104305.3404@compuserve.com>
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Subject: San Diego Comic-Con?
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{original post had no questions}
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Again, that's not 100% sure yet, it's all kind of in a state of
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flux. What's the latest the folks at SDCC would have to know either way
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on this?
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 10 May 1998 00:48:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Will Caraway <73671.2434@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Kosh Poison
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Will Caraway <73671.2434@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Following up on my Kosh question, had Kosh learned what was
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> coming from Valen?
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Thanks...and there are some questions I'd like to pass on for
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now.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 10 May 1998 00:48:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Thanks/Regrets
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{original post had no questions}
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Thanks...there's been much that was annoying in the online
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conversation, but more that was positive and enjoyable, and in the long
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run, that's what matters. I don't regret having made the decision to
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stick with it and stay accessible. It's been a trial, no mistake...but
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I'm glad I did it.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 10 May 1998 00:48:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: All
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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Victories come in all sizes; in some ways, this is a small one,
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in other ways this is a big one.
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For four years, we bugged Warner Bros. Home Video about
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releasing B5 on videocassette in retail outlets. But WB has never
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released a series before on tape, it's not something they *do*, not
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sufficiently prestige when compared with their big movies. Eventually
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they were persuaded to let Columbia House try it for mail-order, for
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the first season.
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And CH was *swamped* with orders. Phones rang off the hook, and
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tapes were back-ordered to try and fill the demand.
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And Warner Bros...noticed.
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And this month, they made a big announcement about the coming
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release of Babylon 5 on video through retail outlets all over the
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country. I've seen the cover designs for the first batch, and they're
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extremely good looking montages, each specifically designed for that
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tape. They're putting a lot of thought and effort and time into this,
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and a big campaign. I believe the first batch hits the stands in July
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or August, somewhere in there.
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This is a big victory for us. On a grand scale, it may seem
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minor, but it's the most direct statement of "you were right" we've
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ever had from WB, and they were sufficiently mensches to say so, and
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act on it.
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If these go well, they're also talking laserdisks and DVDs down
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the road, and should THAT happen, I'm going to push like hell to have
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them release the widescreen versions.
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But that's the next campaign. For now, this is a big victory
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for us, and we're mighty pleased.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 11 May 1998 23:40:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: CC Debate: Over
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{original post unavailable}
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No, I don't feel I need to defend it...but a lot of people made
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a big deal about who you should believe...and now it's clear what was
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going on at the time was what I said it was...and a few folks are
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saying, "Well, now it doesn't matter." Well, it does matter, when it's
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my integrity and honesty that's at issue. If the original question was
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worth some folks making a big deal out of it, then getting the facts
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straight should merit as much attention.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 13 May 1998 00:34:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: All
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Subject: More Good News
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TNT has moved up the airdate for "The River of Souls" to
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November 8th (from November 22nd) so that a) B5 fans won't have so long
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to wait, and b) to make sure both that and Sleeping in Light both get
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equal promotion, and one doesn't get lost in the other.
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Also...when the fifth season begins again from "No Compromises"
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in the first week of July, it will coincide with the debut of TNT's new
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satellite relay which means that the 5th season episodes will air at
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the same time on both the East and West coasts (I think 8:00 p.m., I
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haven't heard the final on that yet)...AND they're adding a repeat of
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each new episode the same night at 11 p.m.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 14 May 1998 02:06:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: CC Debate: Over
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{original post had no questions}
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"It just seems to me that in the final analysis you have nothing to
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fear. History will be kind to JMS."
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In light of the circumstances of most of my life, it would be a
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kindness both welcome and uncommon.
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I will, however, hope for the best.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 15 May 1998 15:33:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Lennier the traitor
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{original post unavailable}
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Maybe you ought to wait to see what happens this season, and act
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from an informed point of view, than from gossip.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 15 May 1998 23:31:10 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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{original post unavailable}
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Actually, you have better resolution on a good PC monitor than
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the average TV, so it's bound to be sharper there than on the TV. (I
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have a DVD player in my new system, and it's amazing....)
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 15 May 1998 22:07:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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{original post unavailable}
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It's two episodes per tape, and I think it's about $14.95 per
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tape. As for DVD, that's going to be a long ways down the road, so I'd
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grab these while we can. (And if they do well, the odds of DVD
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increase.)
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 15 May 1998 22:07:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Michael Zitaglio <102545.641@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Level 12 Blocks
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Michael Zitaglio <102545.641@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Since Lyta was able to break them thanks to Vorlorn modification,
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> cant she also break Garibaldi's current block ( not being able to
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> kill Bester )??
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You'll see.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 17 May 1998 00:57:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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{original post unavailable}
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I think a second audio/commentary thing might be do-able down
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the road, but only for certain select episodes, not all of 'em.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 17 May 1998 00:57:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Paul Weddell <110213.1364@compuserve.com>
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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Paul Weddell <110213.1364@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Have you considered putting those scenes back in for the video
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> releases - a sort of director's cut - or were the shows that
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> aired exactly as you wanted them?
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No, we can't put the scenes in because it would mean a full
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audio remix, which is very expensive. The director's cut (which is
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often extremely changed when John and I go in to do our version, so
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you're basically getting the producer's cut from which we then cut
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lines and bits) only exists on computer disk, not on film. We'd have
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to go back into the thing and that would take a massive amount of
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money.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 17 May 1998 19:36:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com>
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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{original post had no questions}
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I love AC3...and we've arranged that when we do Crusade, we'll
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be doing a THX quality mix with full 5.1 separation...it's gonna be
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bitchin'....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 18 May 1998 02:47:14 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com>
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com> asks:
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> How are you going to transport the AC-3 signal over the Channel?
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> Or is this for the DVD / LD release only?
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> IF you find a way to send it over normal ways, will it also be
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> available in countries outside the US?
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It's my understanding that this is one of the things that will
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be facilitated by the changeover to HDTV format. But either way, the
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delivery is up to WB, we're just focusing on making it as good as we
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can in this respect, so we're ready for whatever comes.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 17 May 1998 19:36:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Rebecca Costello <71045.3050@compuserve.com>
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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{original post had no questions}
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The funny thing is, the DVDs already cost less than laserdisks,
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and will continue to come down, simply because they're smaller and
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easier to produce.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 17 May 1998 21:29:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Deonaha M. Conlin <102531.2627@compuserve.com>
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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{original post had no questions}
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Actually, the WB tapes will also be available via online
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ordering, through their site and thestation.com, so it'll be just about
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as easy to do so, and cheaper.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 17 May 1998 19:56:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Rebecca Costello <71045.3050@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Season 3 voiceover
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Rebecca Costello <71045.3050@compuserve.com> asks:
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> My sister turned to me and asked, "Why does she say that?
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> Isn't peace more important than victory?"
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> As one person put it, we're just about swimming in the
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> interpretations at this point, so I'd like to ask you: what was
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> your intention with those lines?
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Peace can be a surrender as well as an achievement, especially
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when facing an enemy dedicated to something unpleasant. Chamberlin
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returned from a visit to Germany with a so-called agreement in his
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hands, and announced that by granting concessions to Hitler, he had
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achieved "peace in our time."
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Peace is a byproduct of victory against those who do not want
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peace.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 18 May 1998 02:48:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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(blocked) asks:
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> Will Columbia House still offer the B5 tapes?
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I don't know; I think they had a one-year trial on this thing
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for the first season's worth of tapes, and with WB getting into it, I
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don't know how this will break out down the road when that trial
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expires.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 18 May 1998 14:17:11 -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: Season 3 voiceover
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{original post had no questions}
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Yes, but liberty is never given, only won.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 18 May 1998 14:17:11 -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: WB Home Video Does B5
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Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Did you film B5 in theater dimentions so that it would represent
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> an easily available series which could provide HDTV content for
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> the new stations which will be scrambling for it?
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Yes, B5 was filmed in widescreen and cropped for contemporary TV
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format; same will be the case for Crusade.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 18 May 1998 22:13:10 -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: New Show
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Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
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> You don't hide under the bed anymore?
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"You don't hide under the bed anymore?"
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Not since the monsters moved in down there.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 18 May 1998 22:13:10 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Balancing Act
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Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
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> And, as you're preparing Crusade, are you aware of an optimum
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> cast size, or is it that you see the story, and the story
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> dictates the cast size? In other words, the main difference I've
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> seen between B5 and other series attempting to establish long-
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> term storylines is that other series seem to require continuing
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> guest appearances -- so, how much was the larger cast size of B5
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> (and presumably, Crusade) dictated simply by the story you wanted
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> to tell or your awareness as someone experienced in TV production
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> of the best regular cast-size to accomplish long-term
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> storytelling?
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There's really no best regular size. B5 generally had about 9-
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11 regulars and recurring (i.e., in the main credits) actors in any
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given season, which was necessary because you had 4 different,
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competing forces, each of whom required some representation (Earth/B5,
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Minbar, Narn, Centauri Prime). With an ambassador plus aide, that's 8
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minimum, plus at least one or two others for station operations.
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In Crusade, we're really dealing with one force encountering
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others on a per-episode basis (mostly), so we've got 6 regulars/recurs,
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with a subset of reappearing characters (a la Morden, Bester or Corwin
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in B5). That feels about right to me.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 May 1998 03:24:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: All
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Subject: jms TV Guide Online Chat
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FYI...John Copeland and I will be doing a live chat on the TV
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Guide online site today (Tuesday) at 7:00 p.m. Pacific, 10:00 p.m.
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Eastern.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 May 1998 14:00:07 -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: WB Home Video Does B5
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{original post had no questions}
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No, as far as I know, the only two shows that were shooting in
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widescreen was us, and Lois and Clark. To my knowledge, though I'm
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willing to be corrected, nobody else is doing it.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 May 1998 14:00:07 -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: New Show
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Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Will we be seeing any of these monsters in the first season of
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> Crusade?
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Depends on their agents.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 May 1998 14:00:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com>
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com> asks:
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> How is the stage being build?
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> How is this with B5 or was this toally bullshitting ?
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What I think they're referring to is the level of detail put
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into finishing a set; there are imperfections you'll never see on the
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average 27" TV screen that will be huge and obvious on a 35' movie
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screen. So that may be what they mean. It's common to go for the
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former level of detail than the latter on most TV.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 May 1998 23:49:12 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com>
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Yes, and how is this handled with B5 and soon to come Crusade ?
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"Yes, and how is this handled with B5 and soon to come Crusade ?"
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It will be handled...well, of course.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 May 1998 14:00:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Steven Gaskell <101700.2032@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Lochley - No Of episodes
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{original post had no questions}
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I think she ended up doing about 10 for us. And "Corps" was
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Bester's last episode for B5 the series.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 May 1998 23:49:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Season 6?
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{original post unavailable}
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Then be of good cheer, there's the CRUSADE follow-up series.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 May 1998 23:49:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: unauthorized books
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{original post unavailable}
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I'm surprised...no, astounded, really, that you would ask me
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this.
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What you are saying is that you want me to help your friend to
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find a way around the problem of publishing an unauthorized book that
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would not exist were it not for Babylon 5, but for which your friend
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does not want to share any of the money or profit for that book with
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the studio and entity that created it. Granted that my portion of any
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of this is barely enough to register...nonetheless, he is going to be
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basing those trivia questions based on characters, dialogue and
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situations that I created...but he does not see any reason why I, as
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the person responsible for the material he is going to print, should
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benefit from this book.
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If your friend wants to do a B5 trivia book, then I suggest he
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take the very simple steps involved in doing so in an authorized, legal
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and responsible fashion.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 May 1998 23:49:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Loveunrequited lennier
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{original post unavailable}
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Yes, Lennier is in next week's episode...and as for the outraged
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few: frankly, if folks go around reading spoilers that are taken wildly
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out of context and get bugged by what they see (but don't
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understand)...they got what they deserved.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 May 1998 01:19:05 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Gar Harris <76657.3333@compuserve.com>
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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Gar Harris <76657.3333@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Question Joe: When you shoot on wide screen do you block so that
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> the primary action is centered for the 4:3 TV screen or does post
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> have to do a pan and scan process to make it work on today's TV?
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We protect for the center of frame, yes.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 20 May 1998 11:38:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com>
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Subject: unauthorized books
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Michael Kalus <100265.3065@compuserve.com> asks:
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> What would someone have to do if he would be interrested in
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> writing a part of the B5 Universe history?
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That's something we're discussing in-house.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 20 May 1998 11:38:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Guy Schwartz <103343.116@compuserve.com>
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Subject: More Good News
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Guy Schwartz <103343.116@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Does that add to $$$ for WB, or you, or do they allready pay for
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> the right to air twice, thrice, etc?
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No, they paid for the rights for a given period of time, during
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which they can run it as many times as they want.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 20 May 1998 11:38:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Sean P Reiser <110427.1773@compuserve.com>
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Subject: unauthorized books
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{original post had no questions}
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I considered that, but the original message was exploring WB's
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"level of comfort" with an unauthorized book, you don't inquire about a
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"level of comfort" if you're just going to go ahead and do something
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authorized.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 May 1998 01:29:03 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Darran Williams <101656.2143@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Crusade Pilot?
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Darran Williams <101656.2143@compuserve.com> asks:
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> You said recently that 'A Call to Arms' was a lead-in to Crusade
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> and not a pilot, does this mean will be doing another feature
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> length pilot for Crusade or will the first episode be of normal
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> length ?
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No, the first episode will be of normal length. A Call to Arms
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is primarily a B5 movie, which sets the incidents in place that lead to
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Crusade, which then hits the ground running with its first episode,
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regular length, same as the other 21 TNT has signed for.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 May 1998 01:29:03 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: unauthorized books
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(blocked) asks:
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> Final question: can you point him in the right direction with a
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> name/phone/email or whatever so that he can attempt to become
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> 'authorized"?
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There's not much secret that Del Rey Books is doing the licensed
|
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B5 books these days. That would be the place to go.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 May 1998 01:29:04 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
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To: Brian Makuch <104125.736@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Creating Crusade?
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Brian Makuch <104125.736@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Is there a chance something like that might come to fruition?
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I'm sure somebody will do it eventually.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 May 1998 01:29:04 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
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To: Don Berg <74147.1753@compuserve.com>
|
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Subject: Lochley - No Of episodes
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Don Berg <74147.1753@compuserve.com> asks:
|
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> Does this mean the Garibaldi / Bester arc is left hanging?
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Yes and no.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 May 1998 18:06:08 -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: WB Home Video Does B5
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Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
|
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> How much of a cost does that impart?
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"That was smart. How much of a cost does that impart?"
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It's negligible, it's mainly a little more time-consuming.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 May 1998 18:06:09 -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: Crusade Pilot?
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Ed Brandt <100274.2672@compuserve.com> asks:
|
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> When will you start filming Crusade?
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We start filming around the end of July/first of August.
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jms
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------------------------------
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|
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Date: 21 May 1998 18:06:09 -0700
|
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
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To: (blocked)
|
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Subject: A Word of Support
|
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|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
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Thanks...it's been a hard road, but in the final analysis, it
|
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was the right thing to do.
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But it does illustrate the weaknesses in the Usenet system,
|
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however well intentioned, that I've practically *never* had to post a
|
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note like that here on Compuserve, which doesn't allow such behavior.
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jms
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|
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 May 1998 18:06:09 -0700
|
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
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To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: More Good News
|
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|
|
Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
|
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> So there's no real roadblock to the B5 Network?
|
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|
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I like it...All B5, All the Time....
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jms
|
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|
|
------------------------------
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|
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Date: 21 May 1998 18:06:09 -0700
|
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Deonaha M. Conlin <102531.2627@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
|
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|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
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|
On the other hand, as far as I know, Columbia only acquired the
|
|
rights to sell the first season, because they weren't sure how it would
|
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all work out. So it might dovetail well into the WB tapes for the
|
|
episodes thereafter.
|
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|
jms
|
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|
|
------------------------------
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|
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Date: 21 May 1998 18:06:08 -0700
|
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Paul Knibbs <106345.2745@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Season 6?
|
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|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I've no idea at this time.
|
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jms
|
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------------------------------
|
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|
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Date: 22 May 1998 17:43:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Deonaha M. Conlin <102531.2627@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
I don't think misled is the word...I think they were intent upon
|
|
acquiring them down the road, but now that WB is doing all of them,
|
|
that may become more problematic.
|
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|
jms
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------------------------------
|
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Date: 22 May 1998 17:43:09 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: WorldCon
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{original post unavailable}
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If I can swing by, I will, thanks.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 22 May 1998 17:43:09 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: FRANK J. FURFARO <74031.1005@compuserve.com>
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Subject: B5 video release
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FRANK J. FURFARO <74031.1005@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Is that how WB is handling the release, or will they also be
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> available individually? Also, do you know how many eps are going
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> to be in the first release?
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I think the 3 pack is the initial release, but all will be
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available individually.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 23 May 1998 23:25:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Bill Hirst <104106.431@compuserve.com>
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Subject: More Good News
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Bill Hirst <104106.431@compuserve.com> asks:
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> But what about Crusade?
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Funny thing is...I've written about 200 or so produced episodes
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of TV. Assuming a bit over one third of that is animation, figure 80
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half hours and 120 one-hour shows...that's 160 hours of TV...the
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average network programs series from 8-11 p.m. 7 days a week, that's 21
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hours a week...so it would fill 8 weeks of prime-time programming on
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one network, plus the five B5 movies.
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Suddenly I have the profound urge to take a nap....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 22 May 1998 17:43:10 -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: No more Bester?
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Vadim Naroditsky <72133.1175@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Is it true?
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> Will he be in Crusades?
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It's possible that Bester would appear elsewhere, whether in a
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TV movie or elsewhere, maybe even Crusade, we'll have to see.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 25 May 1998 23:37:10 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com>
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Subject: B5 in Toronto, Canada
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{original post had no questions}
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I haven't really been plugged into this, and while on the one
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hand I can see how it's a pain in the butt, at the same time I can
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understand why TNT would feel this way.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 26 May 1998 01:22:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Marte Brengle <76703.4242@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Easter Egg in Guide?
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{original post had no questions}
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Play in the alarm sounds area.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 26 May 1998 01:22:05 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Rebecca Costello <71045.3050@compuserve.com>
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Subject: More Good News
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Rebecca Costello <71045.3050@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Now, was that the animated "Ghostbusters" that aired back in the
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> eighties?
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"Now, was that the animated "Ghostbusters" that aired back in the
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eighties? My memories are dim because I was only maybe seven at the
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time (showing my youth here) but my brother and I absolutely loved the
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animated "Ghostbusters"."
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Yeah, that was my show. I did the first network season of 13
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episodes, and the syndicated season of 65 episodes...of which I wrote
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something like 16 or 18 episodes. Left it when they insisted on
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changing Janine into a mommy character and knocked all the edges off
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the show.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 26 May 1998 16:45:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Jeff Peterman <75361.430@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Easter Egg in Guide?
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Jeff Peterman <75361.430@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Are there two versions of the Guide?
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> So, are they just a little slow in thier reviews or is their a
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> new version?
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They're just a little slow...there's only the one version.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 26 May 1998 16:45:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: More Good News
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{original post unavailable}
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Thing was, the show was successful *across the board*...all
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ages. It was ABC's number one rated animated series. That's when they
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came to the "Well, anything can be improved...let's call in some child
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psychologists and consultants," which is when the whole thing went to
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hell.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 26 May 1998 22:56:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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{original post unavailable}
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I'm with you, I want 'em on DVD myself (have also made the
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transition, and have to say I love the format, it's massively cool).
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 27 May 1998 01:56:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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{original post unavailable}
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And btw, good to see you back around the old cyberhearth
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again....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 27 May 1998 22:00:02 -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: No more Bester?
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Vadim Naroditsky <72133.1175@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Does it mean you haven't decided or you just don't want to tell
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> us? BTW, out of curiosity - how old are you (at least the age
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> group)?
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Meaning I know but I ain't telling.
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And I'm 43.
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Funny story there...I had occasion to take a cab recently, and I
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get in, and the driver is this Russian guy, medium-accent. He looks
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back, and he says, "I am trying to decide which of us is older, you or
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me." Jokingly, I suggest that it's probably me, and he says, "No, it
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is probably me. I am 52. I am guessing you are...48."
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"Actually, I'm 43," I said.
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"FORTY THREE?!" he says...and damn near drives off the road.
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I shrug. "I've had a hard life."
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"Must be," he said, shaking his head.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 28 May 1998 23:20:11 -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: No more Bester?
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{original post had no questions}
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It would take a hell of a lot more than greying hair and
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wrinkles to make me look respectable.
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And yeah, the show has definitely aged me. I recently saw a
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friend whom I haven't seen face to face since about year 1 of B5, and
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the first words out of his mouth were "Jesus Christ what happened to
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YOU?" (Thanks, great to see you, too....)
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 28 May 1998 23:20:11 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: No more Bester?
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|
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{original post unavailable}
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All my characters are in some way based on stuff I either see in
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myself, or would like to see in myself were I a nobler and smarter
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person.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 27 May 1998 22:00:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Brian Prothero <76711.663@compuserve.com>
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Subject: WB Home Video Does B5
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Brian Prothero <76711.663@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Do you have any suggestions on how to convince WB to release B5
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> on DVD?
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If the tapes sell, they'll almost certainly do DVD.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 27 May 1998 22:00:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
|
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Subject: More Good News
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|
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{original post unavailable}
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I go for what someone at the BBC once said: "There are some
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people we WANT to offend."
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 27 May 1998 22:00:02 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Laura <102701.3660@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Lochley - No Of episodes
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Laura <102701.3660@compuserve.com> asks:
|
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> But, what about Garibaldi?
|
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> How is he going to get back at Bester if Bester isn't going to be
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> on the show anymore?
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Watch, and learn.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 28 May 1998 04:02:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Cast Decline Crusade
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|
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{original post had no questions}
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To clarify:
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Jerry was never offered a contract on Crusade. When he
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negotiated his deal on "A Call to Arms," WB attempted to get an option
|
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on him for the series, as a matter of due course. They did so for
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everyone appearing in the movie, including Jeff and Tracy, since it is
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in many ways a set-up for Crusade. This is a pro-forma thing done in
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such situations by any studio when they're dealing with a new series
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being set up. It doesn't exclude any kind of appearance in Crusade on
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a guest basis or more than that.
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Frankly, I think Jerry would do better on a per-episode
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negotiation (and would be better featured that way) than to get tied up
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with an option. And told him so when he approached me for advice on
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whether or not to let himself get saddled with an option.
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The best possible situation would be a central core of new
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characters who can move through the B5 universe, and run into our
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familiar characters, on an as-needed basis, as determined by the story.
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It gives the story maximum flexibility, and lets the actors negotiate
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sort of "a la carte," if you will, which means they'll almost certainly
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get more than if they get locked down and have to do X-number of
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episodes at a pre-negotiated price.
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And that seems to be pretty much what we're heading toward. In
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addition, I think we need to have the B5 cast available for a feature
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film that is getting more and more probable by the day. That, to be
|
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honest, is where they're finally going to make the kind of money
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they've all earned by staying with this show for this long.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 28 May 1998 12:53:10 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Cast Decline Crusade
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|
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{original post had no questions}
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One last follow-up to underline why I suggested Jerry not go for
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the option. A CONTRACT is a *guarantee* that you will pay X actor Y
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dollars to appear in Z episodes. An OPTION ensure's the studio's
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*right* to your services, but does not *guarantee* them. So you can be
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under option, and at the last moment, the studio can decide not to
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exercise that option...and you get nothing.
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Why is this important? Because all of the actors are out now
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looking to build on what they've established in their careers over 5
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years of B5, with possibilities of leads on other better-paying network
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gigs, features, who knows. But if you go to network A and they want
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you, but find out that someone else has an option on you that may
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preclude you from working for them, then they're going to find someone
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else.
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An option like this ties you down, with the possibility of not
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getting any other work, and in the end may not even be exercised.
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Coming hot off the big fifth year promotion, I can see why this might
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not be high on someone's list of possibilities.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 28 May 1998 14:11:04 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
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To: Steven Gaskell <101700.2032@compuserve.com>
|
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Subject: Cast Decline Crusade
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{original post had no questions}
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As far as I know they'll be handled by WB international, same as
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B5.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 28 May 1998 12:43:05 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
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To: (blocked)
|
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Subject: Meditations on the Abyss
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|
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{original post unavailable}
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Thanks....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 30 May 1998 17:52:00 -0700
|
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
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To: David Crader <104635.1044@compuserve.com>
|
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Subject: B5 video release
|
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|
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David Crader <104635.1044@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> How many episodes per tape???
|
|
> Will they go the excellent Fox route ala The X-Files and put two
|
|
> on a tape, or will they take the Paramount Star Trek screw-job
|
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> route and have only one?????
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It's two per tape.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 31 May 1998 23:10:04 -0700
|
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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:
|
|
> I was wondering who owns the rights to Crusade, Warner Brothers
|
|
> or TNT? How is Crusade's development going?
|
|
|
|
WB owns the rights to Crusade...and we're in serious
|
|
preproduction now on Crusade (casting, design work, other stuff).
|
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|
|
jms
|
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------------------------------
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