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535 lines
16 KiB
535 lines
16 KiB
JMS CompuServe messages for September 1998. Collected by John Hardin
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<jhardin@wolfenet.com>.
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Date: 01 Sep 1998 21:17:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Mail Drop
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Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Is that still possible?
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Yes, it's still there for that, but it's better overall to go
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for the fanclub mail address.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 09 Sep 1998 12:31:03 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Mike Bjorkman <71603.3207@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Dark Genesis standalone?
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Mike Bjorkman <71603.3207@compuserve.com> asks:
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> I'm looking forward to reading Dark Genesis, and I'm also
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> wondering - would it make sense to someone who had never watched
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> B5? That is, would it make a reasonable introduction to the B5
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> universe for friends who haven't yet been turned on to the show?
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Actually, it's more accessible to a new reader than any of the
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prior B5 books...it's a totally self-contained work that begins long
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before any of our regular characters are born. I wanted this to be a
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solid novel that could exist entirely on its own, absent any knowledge
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of B5, but which would tie into the arc for anybody who knows the show.
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I think it succeeds admirably.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 09 Sep 1998 17:09:01 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Crusade Crisis??????
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{original post unavailable}
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At this time, officially, I cannot confirm or deny the report.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 10 Sep 1998 16:19:04 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Crusade Crisis??????
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{original post had no questions}
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"...now all those old uniforms are going to go to waste more than
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likely, meanwhile, they're a hell of a lot better than that cheesier
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new design they've come up with; a pity."
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Funny, everybody said that about our Earthforce uniforms when
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the first pictures appeared. Now they're the preferred standard.
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Further, those uniforms are specific to the mission of the
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Excalibur, as uniforms vary within the real military. The regular
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Earthforce uniforms are still very much in use in the Crusade universe.
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Y'know, I'd've thought that, after learning the lessons on B5
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about not judging things too quickly -- the costumes are stupid, who's
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the guy with the big hair -- that people would have learend to not
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prejudge things before they actually see them on film.
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Guess I was wrong.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 10 Sep 1998 16:19:04 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Crusade Uniforms
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{original post had no questions}
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Let me suggest that the photo does not show the uniforms off to
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best advantage. They are based strongly on West Point uniforms, with
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some variation. The photo is an awful photo, it looks like a polaroid,
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and makes them look pretty flat and unattractive. On actual film, lit
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well, they look very nice.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 11 Sep 1998 16:35:10 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Michael J. Kersey <73642.3137@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Dark Genesis standalone?
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Michael J. Kersey <73642.3137@compuserve.com> asks:
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> It worked for me in Ken Burns "Civil War" documentary, how about
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> fiction?
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Thanks, and yeah, it's pretty damn canon. The rest, we'll see.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 12 Sep 1998 21:00:05 -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: Crusade Uniforms
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Deonaha M. Conlin <102531.2627@compuserve.com> asks:
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> BTW - how are YOU feeling?
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> How long do we have to wait now?
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I've been looking at that photo some more, and the more I stare
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at it, the more it bugs me, because it's just awful in how it was
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taken: you can see the shadows from the flashbulb, it's not composed
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well, it looks like a snapshot taken by somebody non-professional, and
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the more I think about it, the more I'm not sure where the hell that
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shot came from. We sure as heck didn't provide it.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 13 Sep 1998 23:48:11 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Gideon Symbolism
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Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
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> So was the biblical reference related to the genesis (pardon the
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> pun) of this character's name?
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There are certain reasons for that name choice, yes, which is
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all I'll say for now.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 17 Sep 1998 20:04:03 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Babylon 5 (general)
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{original post unavailable}
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Wasn't any kind of particular inspiration, just hard work on a
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concept until it made sense.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 Sep 1998 16:38:09 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Crusade Crisis??????
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{original post had no questions}
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The TNT memo was apparently real; however, the egregious points
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have now been withdrawn, and on top of that, TNT has allocated a big
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chunk of change to let us build some new sets and expand stuff.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 Sep 1998 22:59:11 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Crusade Crisis??????
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(blocked) asks:
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> Joe, how is everything going with production?
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> And, more importantly, how are you feeling?
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Things are going well overall; we've filmed 5 episodes, and have
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just extended a planned 1 week production hiatus (we take two such
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hiatuses -- hiati? -- every year, one in the fall, one in the spring)
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and added three paid weeks in order to allow time for construction on a
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number of new sets.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 19 Sep 1998 22:59:11 -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: Crusade Crisis??????
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{original post unavailable}
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I think that to dwell on the thing would be to just open wounds
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that are better left healed.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 20 Sep 1998 15:07:09 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: WizOp Wes Meier <76703.747@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Crusade Crisis??????
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{original post had no questions}
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> The TNT memo was apparently real; however, the egregious points have
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> now been withdrawn, and on top of that, TNT has allocated a big chunk
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> of change to let us build some new sets and expand stuff.
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> Hey! That's WONDERFUL news!
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What we've done is to try and expedite this so we can have the
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new stuff in hand for the maximum number of episodes as quickly as
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possible. We always take a one-week hiatus in every block of episodes
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we shoot, all the way through B5's history and now. One week around
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the start of October (depending on the start of filming), then the
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Christmas break, then another one-week hiatus midway through the last
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10 episodes.
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So what we did here was to add on three weeks to the hiatus,
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starting Tuesday. Well, three paid weeks off for most of the crew
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directly involved with the actual filming, anyway. Construction, art
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department, props, wardrobe and other departments will still be working
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away to build and dress the sets and stuff so we can get right back
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into shooting on with the new stuff in place.
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We're talking here improvements to the corridors, to the
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quarters to enlarge them, adding a wardroom/mess hall, an exercise
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area...other stuff. We generally add sets each season, and wanted to do
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these down the road, but now we have the chance to do them now.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 20 Sep 1998 22:22:14 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Music
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Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Is Christopher Franke still part of the team, or do you bring in
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> someone new?
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We haven't yet set a composer for Crusade; we're giving a shot
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to Evan Chen, a chinese-born classical composer with a strong jazz
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background, on A Call to Arms. How that turns out will determine much
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that follows.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 Sep 1998 00:25:11 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Music
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{original post unavailable}
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Evan's an amazing composer...he came out of Shanghai, studied
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music in Russia and Germany, was fast becoming a leading, classically
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trained composer, and discovered jazz in his twenties, dropped
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everything to come to Chicago and study under some of the best jazz men
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around (even if it meant washing dishes to get by). His stuff is the
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most amazing blend of asian influence, classical instrumentation, jazz
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and rock backbeats I've ever heard, even using asian scales (somewhat
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different from western musical scales) in unexpected places to make
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western music sound totally different.
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For a show as different as this, I wanted a completely
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different, totally unique sound, something I've never heard before, and
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Evan Chen has it.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 Sep 1998 23:17:11 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Music
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Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Is he working with any groups that are recording?
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Not that I'm aware of. I think we got in and found him before
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anybody else could get their hands on him.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 21 Sep 1998 23:17:10 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Ray Pelzer <70475.1263@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Crusade Crisis??????
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Ray Pelzer <70475.1263@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Withdrawn?
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> I realize you probably can't elaborate too much on the
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> circumstances, butdid they back down because of YOUR fury,
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> because of viewer complaint, or did you go the quick and easy
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> route and sic Harlan on 'em?? On a note of more immediate urgency,
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> how is your recuperation going?????
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All that matters is that wisdom prevailed.
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And I'm well past the pneumonia, and doing much better now.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 23 Sep 1998 12:56:07 -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
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{original post unavailable}
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They'll handle all five years.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 23 Sep 1998 12:56:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Rick and Cindy <71561.3255@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Mimbari Language
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Rick and Cindy <71561.3255@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Is there a mimbari word that Means Titanic?
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"Is there a minbari word that Means Titanic?"
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Trk'voy-ahgr.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 24 Sep 1998 20:59:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Mimbari Language
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SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Message text written by JMS: >> "Is there a minbari word that
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> Means Titanic?"
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"Well it's taking a bloody long time to sink to the bottom."
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That Celine Dion just *won't* let go, will she?
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 24 Sep 1998 20:59:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Steve Kuziel <74150.350@compuserve.com>
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Subject: WB Home Video
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Steve Kuziel <74150.350@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Will it also include the movies subsequent to "The Gathering"?
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No, I was referring to the WB deal, which was what you asked
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about. I do know that the WB home video covers all five seasons, I
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don't know about Columbia House for sure.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 24 Sep 1998 20:59:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Joe- Spec vs Story Idea?
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{original post unavailable}
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"So, how do you want to work wild-eyed speculation on plots for a
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program that hasn't hit the airwaves yet? Or shall I sit on my twisted
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speculation (ouch!) until January?"
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Well, since nothing's aired yet, I think speculations are
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probably best suited until after one sees the show...
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 25 Sep 1998 22:14:03 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Mimbari Language
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SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
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> BTW, who (or what) would you choose to sing the B5 theme song (if
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> any)?
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"BTW, who (or what) would you choose to sing the B5 theme song (if
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any)?"
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Billy Joel. No contest.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 26 Sep 1998 21:41:07 -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: Dark Genesis spoilers
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{original post had no questions}
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Yeah, it's a great book, thanks...I really wanted it to be one
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that stood entirely on its own. If you never saw a frame of B5, you
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could pick up this book and enjoy it. It's a kick.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 26 Sep 1998 21:41:07 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Mimbari Language
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SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
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> The obvious next question: Is there a B5 theme song?
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> Or is this waiting for "Babylon 5: The Musical?"
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"The obvious next question: Is there a B5 theme song?"
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If there is, it's probably aired on Dr. Demento by now....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 27 Sep 1998 15:42:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Ponderings of a B5 fan
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{original post unavailable}
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1) He was speaking metaphorically. You're being too literal.
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2) No.
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3) There are language derivations in common dating back to prior
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encounters.
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4) He would've gotten security to assist with this.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 27 Sep 1998 20:57:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Carol Naylor <100645.2613@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Minbari Language
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Or from Fastball....
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"You can see the Shadows wandering off somewhere
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They won't make it home but they really don't care
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They wanted the highway
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They're happier there today...."
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jms
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------------------------------
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