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1199 lines
39 KiB
1199 lines
39 KiB
JMS CompuServe messages for January 1999. Collected by John Hardin
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<jhardin@wolfenet.com>.
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Date: 01 Jan 1999 22:27:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Beyond the End.
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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: 01 Jan 1999 22:27:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: jms - SiL - thanks
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{original post unavailable}
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Thank you, I appreciate hearing that.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jan 1999 22:27:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: David Holden <100650.243@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Thanks
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{original post had no questions}
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Thanks....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 01 Jan 1999 22:27:09 -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: Season 5 Cards
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SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Do you know if the cards will be available through the usual
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> retail sources?
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Yeah, they'll be out. I've seen the final versions, and I think
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this may actually be the best set to date. What they do, which none of
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the prior sets do, is to choose one key image per episode, and put the
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key phrase from that episode on the back...so that each card kind of
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recreates the feel of the episode. They're very very cool.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 02 Jan 1999 18:07:09 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Thank you ...
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{original post unavailable}
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Thank you, and my best to you both.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Jan 1999 19:15:04 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: jms - SiL - thanks
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{original post unavailable}
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Yes, that was me...I couldn't do it before the very last ep for
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the reasons I'd always stated, and because I was holding it out for
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this moment. Of course I couldn't *say* that since it would give stuff
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away....
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Jan 1999 19:15:04 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: David Manders <100641.1115@compuserve.com>
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Subject: The End
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David Manders <100641.1115@compuserve.com> asks:
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> May I add my congratulations?
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> Assuming that your cameo of turning off B5 was among the last
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> scenes shot, that must have been quite an emotional moment for
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> you - or are you too involved in films or spin-off programmes (
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> History of the Alliance, or Mollari's 'Career' perhaps )<g>?
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Thanks...and yeah, it was tough to do.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Jan 1999 21:07:05 -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: A Call To Arms
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SysOp Dupa T. Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
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> May we assume that there will be no more B5 specific TV movies
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> while Crusade is in production?
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"May we assume that there will be no more B5 specific TV movies while
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Crusade is in production?"
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As far as I've been told.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Jan 1999 21:13:08 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: A Call To Arms
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(blocked) asks:
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> What didn't I like?
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"(BTW, Joe, is Evan Chen doing the music for Crusade?)"
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Yup.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 03 Jan 1999 21:51:00 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: ACTA -- Even Chen
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{original post unavailable}
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Thanks, I think he did a great job.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 13:36:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Re: IMage Laserdisks
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(blocked) asks:
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> How much less likely are they to care about preserving something
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> as ephemeral as a TV show?
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This was a problem on the pilot; WB stored the film and
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negatives, and rats got to a number of film cans, chewing through
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prints and negatives alike. As we found when we went to re-edit, some
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takes are gone forever.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 23:06:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Re: IMage Laserdisks
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(blocked) asks:
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> Isn't it reassuring to know that some things *never* change?
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I suppose we could've stayed with the safe choice, with Chris,
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or done a nice, safe, droning Voyager style score that you don't even
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notice, but we're looking to take chances, and that means some people
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will like what you do, some won't. Some won't like it because it's
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different. Neil Gaiman told me that a number of fans of any form,
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including his own, say they want something new and challenging that
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takes chances...but it they don't like the form of that chance, they
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blame you for somehow doing it wrong...and they want the next new thing
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to be just like the last thing you did.
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I can't tell you the number of people who said "why can't you
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just do the John Williams style music instead of this?" Because it's
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been done, and it's cliche, and by god we're going to push what's
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"expected" to try some new things. Otherwise what the hell's the
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point?
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"Of course, you've been through this before. I seem to recall a lot
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of people complaining when Christopher Franke replaced the composer for
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the pilot. I don't doubt that a lot of the people screaming loudest
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now are the very ones who complained about Franke when he started."
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I don't know about the latter, but I can sure confirm the
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former. And that's why I sometimes wish the viewer responses were
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logged as much as my own have been. When we brought in Chris to
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replace Stewart Copeland, you can't *believe* how much email I got from
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people saying to trash him, fire him, it's that "euro-trash techno-
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crap" most called it. "He uses sounds and banging instead of music,"
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people complained (which he did mainly in the first two seasons), "it's
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distracting and it's not appropriate, get rid of him."
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But we didn't. I told people to give him time to settle into
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the show, and on the other hand to let them get used to a different
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kind of sound than what they expected. ("I guess you couldn't afford
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to hire a real composer like TNG uses," was another popular line.)
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Evan ain't Chris, nor should he be, nor should he *have* to be.
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He is a brilliantly talented composer. This is his first shot at a
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dramatic series, and as he settles in (as Chris settled in), I think
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people are going to be as loyal to what he's doing in Crusade as they
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were to Chris in B5. He's a classically trained composer, who threw it
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all away to come study jazz under some of the best jazz men in
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Chicago...washing dishes to support himself when he had been at the top
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of his field in China...because he loves music, and loves to
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experiment.
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In the course of Crusade, we're going to see some places we've
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never seen before...and thanks to Evan, we're going to hear some things
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we've never heard before. He's a find, and a genuine, fresh talent,
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and I stand behind him 100%.
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And the people who say they are fans of Chris Franke's should
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think twice before doing to him what so many people did so rudely to
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Chris when he first came aboard.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 13:36:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Nick and Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com>
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Subject: ACTA Awesome
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Nick and Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com> asks:
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> A year's worth of his doing the dishes maybe?
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I'm glad it went over well...it's a fun movie.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 13:36:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Paul Owen <100331.2357@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Sleeping in Light
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{original post had no questions}
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Thank you...it's a deeply moving episode for all of us.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 13:36:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: A Call To Arms
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{original post unavailable}
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Actually, Chris Franke is sufficiently impressed with Chen --
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who has never scored a TV show before, this is his first shot and he
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shows much potential, we're very happy -- that he's going to release
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Chen's score to ACtA and later episodes via his own label.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 23:06:14 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: A Call To Arms
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{original post unavailable}
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"Is Franke gone then with the end of B5 and is Chen the Man behind
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Crusade's music? Or is Call an interim step music?"
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Yes and no. If there are any other B5 TV movies, or features,
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we'll almost certainly use Chris. For Crusade, it's Evan.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 23:06:14 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Michael Beemer <71551.1670@compuserve.com>
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Subject: A Call To Arms
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Michael Beemer <71551.1670@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Submitted for your consideration: sometimes the music and sound
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> effects became confused - was that a weapons discharge/hit, or a
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> techno-percussion note? Were the repeated clashing/crunching
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> sounds at the end of the battle mood conveying music, or the
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> sound of the Drahk hatches opening to spew out the bio-weapon?
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"Submitted for your consideration: sometimes the music and sound
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effects became confused - was that a weapons discharge/hit, or a techno-
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percussion note? Were the repeated clashing/crunching sounds at the
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end of the battle mood conveying music, or the sound of the Drahk
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hatches opening to spew out the bio-weapon? I also thought that the
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music was occasionally mixed too loudly."
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The first part of that is a common problem in an action show;
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most of the really interesting music happens at the bottom, using the
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lower frequencies. But the lower frequencies are also where you'll
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usually find explosions, clashing, crunching, banging and the like...so
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sometimes the two get muddy. You clear out one or the other as much as
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you can, but sometimes it overlaps and you get fuzziness in the track.
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As for mixing it loudly...yeah, I've generally done that on B5.
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I like my music loud.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 23:19:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: David Manders <100641.1115@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Secondary Actors
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David Manders <100641.1115@compuserve.com> asks:
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> How, in general, are the 'frequent irregulars' contracted, and
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> how are their parts shot? Are they contracted to be 'on call' or
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> are all their scenes for a series shot in one set of sessions, or
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> perhaps a mixture of both?
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You contract with an actor for 8, 13, 18 or 22 episodes. You
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then use them for those episodes within a given period of time.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 23:19:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Review - Hurrah
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{original post unavailable}
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FYI, it's Dureena Nafeel.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 23:06:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: A Call To Arms
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{original post unavailable}
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I'm content to wait until the SW movies are done.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 23:06:14 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: A Call To Arms
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(blocked) asks:
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> Was this deliberate, or was it just an outgrowth of Chen's
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> different style? Or was it just my imagination?
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I spot the music on everything, from movies to the episodes.
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That means sitting with the composer and saying "music in at 1:07:13
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(one minute, seven seconds, 13 frames), out at 2:23:18." When we did
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the pilot, I wasn't sure how much music it did or didn't need, never
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having done this before, so I went drier than I should have.
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In the case of CtA, I knew we were going to have some wall-to-
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wall music later, so I held back a bit earlier on, otherwise you do way
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too much to fit in, and you over-burden the composer. River was also
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spare at the top.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 23:19:13 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Dave Vincent <75460.1133@compuserve.com>
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Subject: Call to Arms
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Dave Vincent <75460.1133@compuserve.com> asks:
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> Ramming Speed?
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> What the heck is that?
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Ramming Speed.
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If you are approaching a target at speed X, you still have a
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chance to peel away at the last moment. If you are approaching a
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target at the top speed your engines can provide, such that you cannot
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turn away or be deflected, that's speed Y. Speed Y is ramming speed.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 04 Jan 1999 23:06:14 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: Michael R. Marks <104504.455@compuserve.com>
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Subject: ACTA, Fantastic
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Michael R. Marks <104504.455@compuserve.com> asks:
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> March, right?
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I haven't heard firmly on that yet.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 05 Jan 1999 14:11:06 -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: That was great!
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Brian Makuch <104125.736@compuserve.com> asks:
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> What the heck is up with TNT?
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I am in total darkness when it comes to understanding TNT's
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philosophy of promotion. They did little for this, I guess because it
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was the last of B5 in someone's view, promoted the hell out of the
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Houdini flick, which cost about 3 times more than we did...and we ended
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up getting exactly the same ratings. With a little real promotion, we
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could've done even better.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 05 Jan 1999 21:56:04 -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: That was great!
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Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com> asks:
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> If you don't mind my asking --and I'm glad to hear that the movie
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> performed well-- but just what were the numbers?
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It did 2.8, which was a higher number than they were expecting
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(they'd sold the ads at 2.7, which means they made money off it), and
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equal to the Houdini movie.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 05 Jan 1999 14:11:06 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Re: IMage Laserdisks
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(blocked) asks:
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> (Interesting note: One post asked "What $@%&# idiot hired this
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> guy, anyway?"
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It kind of goes to show you how thin the layer of trust
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goes...you'd think by now, after doing 5 years of B5, people would
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think to cut a little slack and give a chance, assume that there's an
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intent here, rather than saying suddenly I'm an idiot for not putting
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in the kind of music they expected.
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What's most interesting, and in some ways most galling, is the
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number of posts I've seen in the last day or so from people who watched
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CTA again, and said, "On second viewing, the music didn't bother me as
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much, and I kind of like it in places." Maybe they should've been a
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little less quick on the trigger and the condemnation.
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As for some of the comments I've seen, basically saying he
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should be killed (literally, someone suggested putting a gun to his
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head and pulling the trigger) to some *very* xenophobic comments about
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his being asian and that's the problem, with *that kind* of
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music...they do not even merit a reply.
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jms
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------------------------------
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Date: 05 Jan 1999 21:56:04 -0700
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From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
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To: (blocked)
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Subject: Re: IMage Laserdisks
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{original post had no questions}
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Re: Lyta in SiL...okay, if they mentioned Lyta, I'd get nailed
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for not mentioning Na'Toth...or Sinclair...or Keffer...or somebody
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else. You can't do five minutes of roll call in a TV show. That would
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be deadly. They each picked one character to name, because they had a
|
|
close relationship in some way with that character. Who among them
|
|
really had a close relationship with Lyta? Name me that person. (Not
|
|
directed at you, just generally.)
|
|
|
|
Had Zack been there, then yeah, maybe he would've named Lyta (or
|
|
not, given what happens with her later). THAT would have been
|
|
appropriate. But it would NOT have been appropriate to have her named
|
|
just because somebody wants to hear her name called.
|
|
|
|
The persons named were ones to whom they had an emotional
|
|
attachment... Vir to Londo, Garibaldi to G'Kar, Ivanova to Marcus,
|
|
Sheridan to Londo, Delenn to Lennier. Lyta did not have that
|
|
connection to anyone at that table that would be on an equal footing.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 05 Jan 1999 14:11:06 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: SysOp Deonaha M. Conlin <102531.2627@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: A Call To Arms
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
A woman of infinite taste and discretion...but we knew that.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 05 Jan 1999 21:56:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Dave Vincent <75460.1133@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Call to Arms
|
|
|
|
Dave Vincent <75460.1133@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Why not maximum speed or full speed ahead?
|
|
> Does EF rules provide for ramming of other starships?
|
|
|
|
"Seems an odd order. Why not maximum speed or full speed ahead? Does
|
|
EF rules provide for ramming of other starships?"
|
|
|
|
Because it also implies "...and we're going to HIT that ship."
|
|
Ramming speed says both. You could say, "Give me maximum speed, set a
|
|
course to RAM the ship," or you could say "Ramming speed." Same exact
|
|
content, shorter terms. Brevity is our friend. Pedantry is not.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 05 Jan 1999 21:56:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: A Call To Arms
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
It was produced contractually as a B5 movie under the order TNT
|
|
gave for 4 such movies.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 06 Jan 1999 00:02:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: ACTA
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
We have covered all three of the virus concerns in the way we
|
|
built this particular virus, thanks to help from the Jet Propulsion
|
|
Laboratory, which consulted with us on its design. Trust me, it's
|
|
solid, and totally thought-through.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 05 Jan 1999 21:56:05 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: That Music Hubub
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I like the music. I like the edginess of it. I wouldn't do
|
|
that particular style on a regular basis, because I think it would wear
|
|
thin after a while, but for this movie it was right. He's doing more
|
|
thematic stuff for the series, but keeping the approach of using a
|
|
variety of styles, including Chinese scales and stuff, which makes the
|
|
episodes sound nifty and exotic.
|
|
|
|
So yeah, I like it...but I also like the kind of edgy, growly
|
|
stuff Ry Cooder did for LAST MAN STANDING, so go figure.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 06 Jan 1999 13:59:00 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: academic study
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
There's also a book of academic papers published in the UK based
|
|
on an academic conference on B5 last year. It's called THE PARLIAMENT
|
|
OF DREAMS, published by Foundation.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 06 Jan 1999 14:10:02 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Evan Zucker <73067.1455@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Review - Hurrah
|
|
|
|
Evan Zucker <73067.1455@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Was this her first role on the big or small screens?
|
|
|
|
That's the character; the actress is Carrie Dobro.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 08 Jan 1999 14:18:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Re: IMage Laserdisks
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I couldn't agree more.
|
|
|
|
We (John Copeland and I) just finished designing and building
|
|
the main title for CRUSADE...and it may be the best one we've done to
|
|
date.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 09 Jan 1999 23:08:00 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Rebecca Costello <71045.3050@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Call to Arms
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
BTW, regarding Wolf, which you mention...I've now heard that a
|
|
number of our cast members got stiffed for all or part of their fees
|
|
for the Vorcon convention...Michael O'Hare, Peter Jurasik, Pat, Mira,
|
|
others.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 10 Jan 1999 23:02:06 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: What's canon?
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
That question would take me hours to answer...more of it is now
|
|
than was before, because I started to get more hands-on with it.
|
|
Certainly the new novels from Del Rey that I'm writing the outlines for
|
|
are canonical, the Drennan novel is nearly all canonical, much of the
|
|
Cavelos novel is canon, and so on.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 14 Jan 1999 13:43:02 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Michael J. Kersey <73642.3137@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Babylonian Productions
|
|
|
|
Michael J. Kersey <73642.3137@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> I was just curious if Babylonian productions has been looking at
|
|
> producing any outside (B5) projects or if it has been focusing
|
|
> just on "Crusade"?
|
|
|
|
It's all we can do to focus on one project at a time just now,
|
|
particularly at the launch of a new show.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 16 Jan 1999 20:59:09 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Rising Stars
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Thanks...no, the book is my own creation, a 24 issue miniseries,
|
|
and I'll be writing all 24 of them. Issues 1, 0 and the Preview Issue
|
|
script are all in, and they're planning to make it their main big event
|
|
for the year.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Jan 1999 22:33:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Rising Stars
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I think #1 is slated for May or June.
|
|
|
|
Because the Wizard Top Cow issue is coming out a month sooner
|
|
than they had anticipated, apparently the 0 issue will have the Preview
|
|
script, and the Preview issue will have the 0 script, 'cause it's
|
|
essential that the Preview come out first, one way or another.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 17 Jan 1999 22:33:04 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: JudyL <72520.216@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Cross Stitch--Boom Today
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Thanks, will have to check it out.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 18 Jan 1999 17:30:10 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Rick Shelton <72560.3114@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rising Stars
|
|
|
|
Rick Shelton <72560.3114@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Wow, you don't take too much time off, do you?
|
|
|
|
"Wow, you don't take too much time off, do you?"
|
|
|
|
Not since I was 17. That was when I started writing, at a level
|
|
of 10 pages per day, and I haven't stopped running since.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 19 Jan 1999 16:02:03 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rising Stars
|
|
|
|
Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Didn't you tell me last year that after season five wrapped that
|
|
> you were going to make more of an effort to take some time off
|
|
> and enjoy some of the simpler things in life that you never have
|
|
> time for, such as watching a sunrise or something?
|
|
|
|
No, for me it's never a problem as far as the writing goes.
|
|
It's usually all the OTHER stuff that makes me nuts...the dealing with
|
|
studios and networks and suits and the like. The writing is the reward
|
|
for dealing with the rest. In particular as far as RISING STARS
|
|
goes...this is a form that is still fairly new to me, so it's an
|
|
ongoing learning experience, and that's great, it uses parts of the
|
|
brain that don't normally get used in this way.
|
|
|
|
I don't think you can ever get burned out on something you love
|
|
doing.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 19 Jan 1999 16:02:03 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rising Stars
|
|
|
|
T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> So the "Top Cow" issue will have the preview?
|
|
|
|
The Top Cow/Wizard issue will have the script for the preview
|
|
issue, which will be published as issue 0...and the book that will be
|
|
published as the preview will have the script for what would be issue
|
|
0...the thing is to make sure that the various parts and pieces come
|
|
out in the correct sequence.
|
|
|
|
They're both 16 pages, both similar in all the same production
|
|
elements, it's just the sequence of the story we're trying to make sure
|
|
stay right.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 20 Jan 1999 23:40:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: JMS would never ruin B5
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
There are continuing references to B5 in the series...we just
|
|
finished shooting one last week that brought the Excalibur to B5
|
|
itself, in fact.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Jan 1999 14:26:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brad Walrod <76702.1043@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rising Stars
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
"My new Crusade hat is off to you!"
|
|
|
|
Available now at www.thestation.com.....
|
|
|
|
Thankyew....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 21 Jan 1999 14:26:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: JMS would never ruin B5
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
VISITORS FROM DOWN THE STREET is a very funny and very unusual
|
|
episode that kind of puts the conventions on their head...and for
|
|
another reason, which I won't even comment on for now, because it kinda
|
|
has to be seen to be appreciated.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jan 1999 00:40:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: JMS would never ruin B5
|
|
|
|
Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> A visit to the old homestead?
|
|
> How much of an increase has been necessary to allow for the
|
|
> continuing requirements of new sets for the locations in Crusade?
|
|
|
|
There was a slight increase in budget for Crusade, but all in it
|
|
averages out to only about $20,000 per episode. We're still mainly
|
|
doing things smart, not expensive.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 22 Jan 1999 00:40:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rising Stars
|
|
|
|
Carl Cantarella <105030.3700@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Joe, Will we be able to purchase RISING STARS online once it gets
|
|
> released? Will it be available through the Emporium perhaps?
|
|
|
|
What you have to remember is that at one time or another, with
|
|
the rare exception of celebrities, every published novelist was an
|
|
unknown, unpublished novelist...every screenwriter or television writer
|
|
was an unknown, untested writer. I came to LA with no friends or
|
|
contacts in the industry. I came out of the streets of New Jersey and
|
|
elsewhere, sans silver spoon in mouth.
|
|
|
|
The work, and the quality of the work, is what ultimately makes
|
|
the difference, if you're willing to stay with it and if the qualitiy
|
|
is, in fact, there. I'm an annoying person; I'm a perfectionist; I'm
|
|
cranky and far from politic. By all rights I should be hard-core
|
|
unemployable; I've always been this way. And I've always worked.
|
|
Because when the moment comes to put black marks down on a white sheet
|
|
of paper...I do it fairly well.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 23 Jan 1999 18:15:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Graham Smith <74010.764@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rising Stars
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Yeah...it's always a mug's game. I've been fairly lucky that
|
|
way; I'd say that about 80% of what I've written has been either
|
|
published or produced. The one area where things have sold or been
|
|
optioned but never produced has been in the area of non-TV movie
|
|
screenplays. I guess it's in part because my heart isn't in it as much
|
|
as television, and because the stories I tend to do in screenplay form
|
|
tend to be little character stories, which are fun, but not big
|
|
smash'up adventures, which seems like all they're buying these days.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jan 1999 22:20:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: JMS would never ruin B5
|
|
|
|
T.P.Chai <104674.3064@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> does that mean you had to rebuild B5 sets?
|
|
|
|
"does that mean you had to rebuild B5 sets?"
|
|
|
|
No, we still have the lion's share of the main ones available to
|
|
us.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 25 Jan 1999 21:29:05 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: All
|
|
Subject: GEnie
|
|
|
|
I know this is the wrong service to ask on, but...does anybody
|
|
know what the heck happened to GEnie? I've been trying for days to get
|
|
on, via various access numbers, and none of them seem to be working.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Jan 1999 20:28:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: B5 sim
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
I believe it's slated for July.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Jan 1999 01:01:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: (blocked)
|
|
Subject: Psi Corps Book thanks
|
|
|
|
{original post unavailable}
|
|
|
|
Thanks, it's one of our best books to date...and the second one,
|
|
which features Bester throughout, is a total knock-out. I'm very
|
|
pleased with them.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 26 Jan 1999 20:28:11 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Comics Types
|
|
Subject: Rising Stars
|
|
|
|
I just got back from a meeting at Top Cow (a division of Image),
|
|
which is publishing RISING STARS, a 24 issue miniseries I'm writing.
|
|
I've turned in the preview issue, issue 0, 1 and 2...and they've
|
|
decided to make this their number one priority for this year. Some
|
|
copies of the preview script have been leaked to a few places by TC,
|
|
and the reaction has been enormous. A number of comics retail chains
|
|
are going to throw their weight behind it, several magazines are
|
|
planning major stories on it, there have already option inquiries by
|
|
studios...anyway, it's fun. This is an arena I haven't played in that
|
|
much, and the reception that the material is getting is just nifty.
|
|
|
|
For those who've inquired, here's more of the skinny: the
|
|
preview issue, and issue 0, will be published in March/April. The
|
|
former will be packaged free with bagged copies of Wizard Magazine
|
|
(it'll be the Top Cow issue). It really gives you a sense of the book,
|
|
and where it's going. So if you want to check it out, I'd strongly
|
|
suggest getting the preview book.
|
|
|
|
The first actual issue appears on newsstands in June. They want
|
|
the two months for heat to rise after folks see what's in the preview
|
|
and the zero issues.
|
|
|
|
Basically, what I've tried is to do in the comics form what we
|
|
did with B5...and so far, it seems to be working. A few reporters I've
|
|
spoken to who've seen the material think it may be the big event of the
|
|
year in comics (which is very flattering, but I'm always skeptical of
|
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such pronouncements; only the readers can decide that).
|
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|
Anyway, for those who are B5 or comics fans and want to check it
|
|
out, them's the figures. There may be shortages, I'm told, even though
|
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they're going for a huge print run on issue 1 and the preview issue, so
|
|
you may want to place an order with your local comics store to hold 'em
|
|
for you.
|
|
|
|
The great thing, for me, is that even though we're doing this
|
|
story for adults, with a lot of hard hitting stuff, it's a) at heart,
|
|
in the end, an optimistic story, and b) though it has adult themes, and
|
|
some elements that may be controversial, they're handled in a way that
|
|
parents shouldn't worry about their kids seeing 'em, as B5 dealt with
|
|
themes in such a way that they crossed generational lines.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, if you couldn't tell, I'm *real* proud of the book, and
|
|
wanted to pass that along.
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|
|
jms
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|
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------------------------------
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|
|
|
Date: 27 Jan 1999 20:55:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Paul Weddell <110213.1364@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: GEnie
|
|
|
|
Paul Weddell <110213.1364@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Did I hear you're on Prodigy as well?
|
|
|
|
Never been on Prodigy.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 27 Jan 1999 20:55:01 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Andrew S. Troth <74663.3614@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Rising Stars
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
Thanks for providing that; hopefully some kind soul will place
|
|
that info elsewhere, such as the newsgroups, so they won't get shorted
|
|
when the things hit. Thanks again.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Jan 1999 22:26:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Brian Makuch <104125.736@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: Psi Corps Book thanks
|
|
|
|
Brian Makuch <104125.736@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Any word on the release date for volume II?
|
|
|
|
It should be out literally at any time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Date: 28 Jan 1999 22:26:08 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: Bill Dugan <71016.576@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: GEnie
|
|
|
|
{original post had no questions}
|
|
|
|
The area code changed to 323, that's what threw me, thanks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: 29 Jan 1999 22:38:12 -0700
|
|
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
|
|
To: FRANK J. FURFARO <74031.1005@compuserve.com>
|
|
Subject: More Crusade rumors....
|
|
|
|
FRANK J. FURFARO <74031.1005@compuserve.com> asks:
|
|
> Any chance of you setting us straight on this latest rumor?
|
|
|
|
The plug has not been pulled by TNT, which cannot pull the plug
|
|
because we don't work for TNT, we work for WB. TNT is a distributer.
|
|
|
|
All I can say for now is that, like Oliver Stone's project for
|
|
TNT, Witchblade, we have found that TNT (known primarily for westerns,
|
|
historical dramas and wrestling) is not SF-friendly in terms of really
|
|
getting what SF is about, and it may not entirely reconcile with what
|
|
their core audience expects from them...and that a new, more SF
|
|
friendly venue is being explored.
|
|
|
|
So if folks wanted to drop an encouraging note to, let's say,
|
|
the Sci-Fi Channel, for instance, that would certainly be okay by me.
|
|
|
|
But in the interim...no, we're not canceled. We're taking off
|
|
next week to allow WB to work its magic, but that's about it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
|
|
------------------------------
|
|
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|