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1354 lines
59 KiB
1354 lines
59 KiB
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The following is a transcript of a formal conference with Babylon 5
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creator J. Michael Straczynski held on April 6, 1996 in the
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Compuserve Convention Center sponsored by
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the Science Fiction & Fantasy Media 1 Forum (GO SFMEDONE).
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========================================================
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: Welcome to the SF and Fantasy Forum's Babylon 5 Conference
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: with Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski.
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: Hello All, I'm Lee Whiteside, SysOp of the Babylon 5 areas
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: in SF Media One.
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SysOp Dupa: <applause>
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SysOp JSL: There is nothing wrong with your screen.
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: This is a moderated conference.
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SysOp JSL: We control the horizontal, we control the vertical. <>
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jms: heLlo I ar a riter
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: You will need to submit your questions into the question
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: queue and we will then select them for joe to comment on.
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: SysOp Adrienne Chafee will be assisting.
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: Several other Sysops from the forum are here as well.
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SysOp JSL: On behalf of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Forums, we would like...
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SysOp JSL: ...to welcome J. Michael Straczynski. <applause>
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: Welcome Joe!
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: Do you have any opening things to say?
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jms: Thanks, happy to be here. Happy to be anywhere. Just...happy.
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SysOp JSL: Remember: if you haven't visited the SF Media Forums, GO SFMEDIA!
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SysOp Dupa: <happy happy! Joy joy!>
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SysOp Adrienne Chafee: Welcome, JMS!
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jms: Never eat anything bigger than your head. Never eat food at a place called
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jms: Pops, never shoot pool at a place called Mom's, and a fool and his money
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jms: were lucky to get together in the first place.
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jms: How's that for an opening statement?
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jms: ga
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: Sounds good. One note, please do not send Joe any private
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: messages during the conference.
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: If you have a question, send a message to one of the
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: Sysops hanging around.
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jms: Or we keel you.
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SysOp Adrienne Chafee: okay, here's the first question......
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SysOp Dupa: <grin>
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Shawn D. Ratner asks: Mr. Straczynski, What do you feel was your most
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challenging episode to make? Thank You!
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: It's a tie between the one that just aired this week, Severed Dreams, and
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jms: the one airing at the end of May, the two-parter. Both were production
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jms: and/or CGI nightmares. Took us to the wall and then some.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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John R. Finnan asks: Joe, despite your modesty, does the rapturous
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applause and adulation you get at conventions like Wolf 359,
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ever make an impression on you?
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P.S. Elevator Boy says 'Hi.'
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: (Hi back to elevator boy.) On one level, yes, it means a great deal; a
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jms: writer writes to affect people, and I take the response as an indicator
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jms: that I've done my job properly, I've affected people....
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jms: the hard part is that I have a hard time relating it to myself; it's for
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jms: the SHOW, and that's a different entity. For the totality of it, more
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jms: than for me. It's moving, but I sometimes feel...I dunno...almost like a
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jms: fake for accepting any part of it. The story is its own creation.
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jms: (I guess it's hard to buy it because when I look in the mirror I see a
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jms: goofball.)
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Mark Baker asks: Are we any closer to completing arrangements to
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have past B5 episodes released on video?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: We're measuring the progress in the movement of glaciers, the slow progress
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jms: of tectonic plates beneath the surface of Western America. Slowly, slowly,
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jms: we'll get there.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Doz asks: JMS, Hi. What is your definition of an 'Arc' storyline?
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Does one have to be completly pre-defined from the start ?
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or can a theme be added to and expanded as a series progresses ?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: An arc storyline is that which advances the totality of the story, as
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jms: opposed to a one-off personal story which fills in the characters, but may
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jms: not actually advance the over-arching plot. Most of these are pre-designed
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jms: episodes from the outline, others I kinda stumble into.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Ken Grumer asks: Will the "Creating Babylon 5" and "Babylon 5 A to Z"
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books be availible in the United States?
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-Ken Grumer
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: Dunno, actually. I *suspect* not, because they're tailored more to the UK
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jms: audience, but the publisher may distribute some here in the US. More
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jms: succinctly...joe has *no* idea and is vamping.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Ken Isley asks: Will there ever be a B5 game along the lines of
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Wing Commander... Rebel Assault etc..?
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Thanks
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: I'd certainly love to see one, yes. There have been some conversations
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jms: about the possibility, probably using a starfury simulator as the basis,
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jms: but thus far nothing concrete has emerged.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Barbara J. Pfieffer asks: When will filming be done for the current season?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: This coming Tuesday, the 9th. At that point, we will have finished a
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jms: total number of 66 episodes, plus the pilot, for 68 hours of B5. (Why am
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jms: I suddenly tired?)
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Charles H. Riggs, III asks: In terms of favorable responses, has Severed
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Dreams broken all records?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: From what I've seen, plus preliminary reports on the P5 survey, yeah, this
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jms: one seems to have set a new record. It's been a terrific response, making
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jms: the grief involved in doing it eminently worthwhile. (Thanks to all.)
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Steve Augustine asks: Has the fourth season been confirmed,
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or is it still up in the air?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: We're still waiting; we won't know for sure either way until early May.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Kosh asks: Howdy JMS!!...What Is Harlan Ellison like to work with??
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Escpecially in regards to the flac he has taken from trekkies for
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City on the Edge of Forever???
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: Harlan is nothing less than terrific to work with. Where you run into a
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jms: problem is if you mess with his words and don't accord the respect that he
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jms: is due given his talent, record and suchlike. I respect Harlan immensely,
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jms: value his contribution, and thus have never, EVER had a problem. He's a
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jms: joy to work with. (And Joy is also fun to work with.)
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jms: ga
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SysOp Adrienne Chafee: Here's a question from JSL:
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jms: oh rapture
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SysOp JSL: Yup! Hey, Joe...
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SysOp Adrienne Chafee: <g>
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SysOp JSL: <grin> During Severed Dreams, they had a "Mystery Alien Sweepstakes"...
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SysOp JSL: I'm wondering, since one of the prizes is an appearance on B5, is
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SysOp JSL: that a "good sign" for renewal? <grin>
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SysOp JSL: ga
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jms: No, I'd say it really isn't a guarantee. There's an out clause in any
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jms: such contest. If we do get the nod, then the person's in; if we don't,
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jms: they'd pay the person off, find some other compensation, maybe an afternoon
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jms: with Jim S. Lyon (if they weren't nice about it), that sort of thing.
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jms: ga
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SysOp JSL: Thanks a heap. <grin>
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jms: I live to serve.
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SysOp Adrienne Chafee: next question.....
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------------------------------------------------------------
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JohnE Johnson asks: How did Majel Barrett find her way to your B5 universe?
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jms: You take the 5 freeway to the Roscoe offramp and turn right.
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jms: More seriously....
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jms: She had long been praising the show to ST fans at conventions, and urging
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jms: them to give the show a chance. She said it was the only other intelligent
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jms: SF on the air. We heard about this, and thanked her, and asked if she'd
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jms: like to do the show sometime. She said yes....
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jms: I was then writing a new script, and crafted a role with her in mind. I
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jms: gave it to her at a con in England, she read it overnight, and the next
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jms: morning, she said she'd love to do it. And that, as they say, was that.
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jms: She was terrific to work with, btw.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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William H. DiPaola asks: Joe, will there ever be a Feature Film set in
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the B5 universe either before or after the series has ended its run?
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I'm a great admirer of yours, and thanks for taking the time to answer
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the question.
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: WB has broached the idea with us from time to time, and they want me to
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jms: come in and talk to them about it sometime soon, but I'm kinda holding off
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jms: while I finish the season, and to decide if it's something I really want
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jms: to do. But it's just talk for now, we'll see.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Neil Blevins asks: In what ways will the PTEN situation affect the
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daily life of B5?
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You mentioned you won't write all of season 4, but you wrote all
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of season 3 because so much happened. Does that mean season 4 will
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have less arc episodes?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: No, not really. You can still have the same or greater number of arc
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jms: episodes and still assign out a few smaller ones, or even some arc stuff,
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jms: to freelancers.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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uj asks: Are there any major characters we have yet to be introduced to?
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jms: Depends on how you define "major characters." Major impact? Yes, I'd say
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jms: there's a few more yet to come. Recurring or regular characters? I'm
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jms: still playing with this notion.
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jms: ga
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jms: (Oops, actually, there is one recurring coming, I forgot.)
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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John R. Finnan asks: Since By Any Means Necessary was SO well received
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by both cast and audience, is there any possibility of your
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Spousal Overunit penning another show? (I know you hate nepotism,
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but she *is* good.)
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: Not at this time, no.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Zakalwe asks: How involved were you in the process of desinging the
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spaceships for B5?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: Depends. For the regular, main ships -- Minbari cruisers, Vorlon ships,
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jms: others -- I was directly involved, working with Ron and the others in
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jms: discussing and going over the designs. If it's an incidental ship, which
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jms: we'll only see once, it's often left to their discretion. They ask what I
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jms: need, I tell them, and they do it.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Chris Johnston asks: You say the story is it's own creation.
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Does that mean that it's starting to develop a life of its own,
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perhaps developing away from what you originally set out to produce?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: The direction of the show per se hasn't changed that much; a bit here and
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jms: there. A story does come to life, though, and things happen that surprise
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jms: you, which is good, because a writer needs to be surprised if he is to have
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jms: any hope of surprising anybody else. So yes, that's definitely happening.
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jms: ga
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SysOp Adrienne Chafee: Okay, I'm going to turn the reins over to my co-moderator,
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SysOp Adrienne Chafee: SysOp Lee Whiteside.......
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SysOp Adrienne Chafee: (and get myself some more chocolate. <g>)
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jms: (suddenly it's a relay race)
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SysOp Adrienne Chafee: <g>
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: Had some difficulty with the moderation software.
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: Here's more questions.
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Lee Burke/Toronto asks: Take it that Talia Winters is gone for good ?
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...dissected or something ?
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jms: There are no plans for Talia's return, no.
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jms: ga
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Penny J. Legner asks: Are you using the script for B5 to intentionally
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comment on some of the current issues in our society?
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jms: No, I like for the scripts to be as culturally and contextually vacuous as
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jms: possible.
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jms: Kidding...
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jms: Yes, I think that you have to have some elements of this. Mark Twain said
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jms: that "If you want your fiction to live forever -- and by forever I mean
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jms: 50 years -- it must not overtly preach or overtly teach, but must covertly
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jms: teach and covertly preach."...
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jms: So I do try and make the material relevant, but WITHOUT telling people what
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jms: they should think about the issue, asking questions and provoking discussion
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jms: rather than moralizing. It *has* to be ABOUT something, or what's the
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jms: point?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Grey Culberson asks: Hi, is Mojo still working on B5 or has he
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switched totally to HyperNauts? The CGI continues to just get
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better and better!
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: As for Mojo, he's still doing B5 stuff, did most of the Severed Dreams
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jms: stuff. Beyond that, I don't know what else Mojo does in his spare time,
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jms: and I'm too frightened to ask.
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jms: ga
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SysOp Dupa: <g>
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: Couple of questions in regards to the fan club...
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Sandra Bruckner asks: I received the application for the B5 Fan Club
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in the mail today from Jim Lochett. Would it be OK to publish
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the information request form in this week's Zocalo to get out
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the information needed to become members of the club?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Reece McLean asks: What is the latest regarding the fan club?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: Yes, it would.
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: I take it the mailing has all the pertinent details?
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jms: We're moving forward now, and taking applications/memberships. Folks will
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jms: get a membership kit, lots of goodies, and access to the B5 web page which
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jms: we're building, which will have a virtual B5 where you can actually set up
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jms: residence, build your room, be an ambassador, hang out in the zocalo,
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jms: whatever. It's gonna be cool.
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jms: ga
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SysOp Adrienne Chafee: sounds great!
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jms: Lee: yes, the mailing has the pertinent details; I have all the
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jms: impertinent details.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Jonathan Kass asks: Joe, loved this weeks episode, but here in LA,
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channel 13 really pasted the commercials right up against the
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scenes... which job title at a TV station should receive the
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"constructive criticism" from the audience?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: I think any criticism of that sort should probably go to the program
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jms: director. Assuming it wasn't clipped when WB did the commercial layoffs
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jms: and insertions.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Joel Hilke asks: Which episode of B5 do you think of as your finest
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work or your personal favorite?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: At this point, I'd say it's again a tie between Severed Dreams and War
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jms: Without End, the two-parter. The latter is the most ambitious thing we've
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jms: done from a *production* standpointt; the former from a CGI standpoint.
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jms: There's a lot crammed into both. So as of now, those are probably my two
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jms: favorites...
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jms: Although, I gotta tell you, the two personal stories coming up in 2 weeks,
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jms: one with Vir at the center, the other with Michael York (that's the order
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jms: of broadcast) are just *nifty*, and I love 'em to bits.
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Barbara J. Pfieffer asks: Any hints you can give on the name of the
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season finale? Maybe an article? "Of" "The" something??
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: Barbara: sorry, I'm holding that back as long as I can.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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randy asks: Will we see a return of Sinclair?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: In the two-parter, yes. He's there a lot, all through it. I think folks
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jms: are going to be very pleased with the chemistry between Sinclair and
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jms: Sheridan; they made a great team. It's a *good* story for the two of them.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Nick Coe asks: Joe, would you please suggest some eps to prepare
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UK viewers for the start of S3 here in a couple of weeks?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: Shadow of Z'ha'dum. Fall of Night. (terminal brain fart...I can't think
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jms: of others.)
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Joe Kubasek asks: Reglion and faith seem to play key roles in
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many of B5's themes.
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What responses have you gotten from different religious organizations?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: Ranges from support to puzzlement. Sometimes I get letters from folks who
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jms: assume that because I put in a particular religion, I believe in that, and
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jms: I'm "slipping in" my own/their own beliefs, and they don't quite know how
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jms: to take it when I tell them I'm an atheist...
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jms: Other times I get mail saying thank you for presenting a minority point of
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jms: view, for being open-minded and even-handed for showing religion...then I
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jms: indicate that maybe Talia/Ivanova had a fling, and they start to object,
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jms: when they remember that I did *both* of my own volition, to be even-handed,
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jms: and that to criticize would be a contradiction...
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jms: and at THAT point they don't know WHAT to say...it's sort of like playing
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jms: theological Whack-A-Mole.
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jms: ga
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SysOp Dupa: <or Whack-A-Lawyer>
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: OK, some spoiler type questions if you haven't seen Severed Dreams yet..
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jms: RUN AWAY!
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Ken Nichols asks: What was the significance of the staff Delenn broke
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in Severed Dreams and why the electric charge from it?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Asha asks: When Delenn broke the staff did she use her own power or
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an outside power? What is the Staff? Is it's power symbolic or actual?
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Is there a story behind the staff? If so, what? What was the blue lightning?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: It's the symbol of the Grey Council, made from one of the Triluminaries
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jms: they encountered a long time ago. It's also a power source, hence the
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jms: reaction.
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jms: ga
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: One which dissapeared before I could send it wanted
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: to know if this was the episode where Jerry Doyle
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SysOp Lee Whiteside: broke his arm.
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jms: Yes, the final scene where you see Jerry being helped down to the floor
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jms: (without giving too much away) was shot moments after he broke his right
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jms: arm. If you watch the scene, you'll see his arm bending in directions never
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jms: intended by evolution as he drops the helmet.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
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Mark Baker asks: Joe, I've read that you, Harlan Ellison and Walter
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Koenig are confirmed for the Chicago Comicon, is there any chance
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we may see other members of the production crew or cast?
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------------------------------------------------------------
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jms: Not at this time, no.
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jms: ga
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------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Tim Chandler asks: Joe, are any of the characters you've written in
|
|
B5 inspired from someone you knew directly? Thanks!
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: No, not really. I mainly drew on my own background, splitting it into
|
|
jms: diferent people...there's a little or a lot of me in all of the characters,
|
|
jms: aspects that I like or dislike about myself, what I'd hope I could be, or
|
|
jms: I'd fear I could be. It's one massive task of psychoanalysis. Then again,
|
|
jms: sometimes a Centauri is just a Centauri.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Doz asks: If Babylon 5 fails to reach a fifth season, How would you
|
|
continue the storyline ? and if it does how would you react from
|
|
pressure to continue it.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: I can't even allow that question in my head, much less answer it. From day
|
|
jms: one, this show has been an act of sheer will. I can't even consider the
|
|
jms: question because of that. We'll tell this story.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Kosh asks: Who's idea was it for Chief G. to be a Looney Tunes fan??
|
|
Are you??
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: That was my idea, I wrote that. And yes, I *love* the old WB cartoons, and
|
|
jms: have virtually all of them on disk.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
David P. Watkins asks: Many people (including myself) compare BAB5 in
|
|
import to TOS. TNS, DS9, and Voyager have all failed to glean this
|
|
comparison from many. What do you think it is about your show that
|
|
makes it stand out among the others? DPW
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: I was thinking about this earlier today, and what I think it comes down to
|
|
jms: is passion. I feel strongly about the stories I'm telling, the actors feel
|
|
jms: strongly about their characters, and in the episdoes the tales are rendered
|
|
jms: with emotion, and passion, and weight, and that's all too rare on most
|
|
jms: American TV. I try desperately to make the audience *feel* something, to
|
|
jms: construct something that echoes myth and the sagas we grew up on in SF....
|
|
jms: to reinterpret myths for contemporary times, and point to our past and our
|
|
jms: future simultaneously. B5 is *history*, a history of the future, and it
|
|
jms: speaks with the voice of our ancestors and our inheritors simultaneously,
|
|
jms: and that's a very powerful voice.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
James R. Kapesis asks: Will we see Garibaldi follow up on the data crystal
|
|
Kosh made from Talia?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Not for the immediate future. It's there as a weapon of sorts if needed.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Colin Glassey asks: Di Delenn use her "ring" in a recent episode?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Nope.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Brian Cooney UK asks: Hi Joe how are you looking forward to a visit
|
|
to Engaland this year.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Well, I would except for this guy Brian Cooney who's organizing the thing,
|
|
jms: he's a pain in the butt to work with and...oops! Er, that is, yes, I'm
|
|
jms: looking forward to it EVER so much, it's bound to be GREAT fun, and they're
|
|
jms: all a lot of fun to work with. Especially Brian. (OH, HELLO, Brian.)
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
SysOp Dupa: <g>
|
|
SysOp Adrienne Chafee: <chuckle>
|
|
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: Somene else wanted to know if Bester will be returning?
|
|
|
|
jms: Oh, most certainly. He's up in 4 weeks in "Ship of Tears," which to quote
|
|
jms: Walter, gave him more to do in one hour than he's done in 30 years of ST.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
uj asks: How canonical are the B5 comics and books?
|
|
How far does your involvement with them go?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: The books, because they're so large, and go through so many hands, tend to
|
|
jms: be canonical in the *broad strokes* but often the details don't get done
|
|
jms: quite right, or things slip past me. The comics I've tried to keep close
|
|
jms: as possible, and will work harder to make the next batch even closer, even
|
|
jms: though I won't directly be writing for them this time.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: A couple of questions/comments on how PTEN has been
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: handling promotion of the show recently
|
|
jms: As well as they ever have.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Dean S. Arashiro asks: PTEN, along with just about everyone else,
|
|
seems to schedule new episodes during sweeps months. This is driving
|
|
me nuts, especially with regard to B5. Do you think this is something
|
|
we're just going to have to live with, or can we -- the public
|
|
(and consumers) -- do something alter this practice?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Short of storming Warner Bros. and throwing tapes out the windows into the
|
|
jms: hands of waiting folks (which, on reflection, ain't necessarily a bad idea)
|
|
jms: no, they air only during sweeps as a rule; this April batch is an exception.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Greg & Scott asks: What other work (scripts, books) have you done ?
|
|
And how did you eventually get B5 on the air ?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: I've written 145+ produced scripts, as story editor/writer/producer on shows
|
|
jms: like THE TWILIGHT ZONE, MURDER SHE WROTE, NIGHTMARE CLASSICS, others, plus
|
|
jms: 2 novels, 1 anthology and 1 nonfiction writing book being republished this
|
|
jms: fall, plus 500 published articles, 12 produced plays, 12 produced radio
|
|
jms: dramas, and Lots Of Other Stuff....
|
|
jms: We got B5 on the air by traveling from network to studio for 5 years like
|
|
jms: Diogenes with his lamp, looking for an honest man, for *someone* who would
|
|
jms: understand what we wanted to do with the show. After 5 years, we found
|
|
jms: them at WB and Chris Craft, Dick Robertson and Evan Thompson, respectively.
|
|
jms: They've been our angels all through this.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
David E. McCloud asks: Have members of the cast ever given you ideas
|
|
about their roles,inadvertantly or otherwise?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Not as such, no. I do, however, listen to them, and learn about them, and
|
|
jms: sneak in things that I know will resonate with them, knowing that it will
|
|
jms: make their performance more real. Listen to Delenn talking to the council
|
|
jms: in "Severed," and remember she's from Yugoslavia, which tried for years to
|
|
jms: get others to intervene and help stop the bloodshed....
|
|
jms: and suddenly you understand the truth behind the performance, she *knows*
|
|
jms: what she's talking about, Mira's been there, lived it. The cast knows that
|
|
jms: I do this, that I'm absolutely not beneath manipulation, and they're I think
|
|
jms: fascinated and horrified by the aspects of themselves that slip into scripts
|
|
jms: that they didn't know I'd noticed.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Ken Isley asks: Besides writing our local TV stations, and being rabid
|
|
followers of B5, how can we let the Cast and Crew know how much we
|
|
love/support their work?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Mainly by doing what you're doing; writing your stations and WB itself
|
|
jms: (esp.
|
|
jms: Bob Daly, head of WB), and thus assist with the process of keeping us on
|
|
jms: the air. Internet comments and some from CIS do get posted on the stage
|
|
jms: wall for them to see, however.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
DANIEL ALLEN asks: how do you feel the series has been received in
|
|
Britain and do you think the start of the new series will generate
|
|
good or negative reaction compared to the us reaction?
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: We've *always* been better received in the UK than the US due to the fact
|
|
jms: that there we have a regular time slot and good PR. Frankly, I think the
|
|
jms: reaction there to this new season will be nothing short of cerebral
|
|
jms: melt-down. They won't be disappointed.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Sandra Bruckner asks: Will we see Ambassador Sinclair again after
|
|
the two-part episode has aired?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Ask me again after the two-parter. To answer now would be to give too
|
|
jms: much away.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Reece McLean asks: When will your script-writing book be available (overseas)?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Don't know when or if or how it'll be available there. It might be only
|
|
jms: via mail order direct from the US publisher. I'll be sure to post the info
|
|
jms: when it comes out.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
jms: (It's published here in the US in the fall.)
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Rick L. Sharer asks: Is there a bigger and more dangerous species
|
|
than The Shadows lurking around the corner?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Isn't there always?
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
DChip asks: Long Live B5!
|
|
At the end of "Severed Dreams" was the last shot cropped in order
|
|
to show only the NightWatch poster or was there more to that cropped shot?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: No, there's no more to that. We end on the poster.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Mara K. Malovany asks: Joe, my software zapped me out, but I got
|
|
back in time to see that you answered my question about Jerry's arm.
|
|
Are threre any other interesting/funny/strange happenings on the set
|
|
you can share with us?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Not until the statute of limitations runs out on some of this stuff.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Orion asks: JMS.. Some people have compared the Dark Ones with H.P
|
|
Lovecrafts cthulu beasties ..was this intentional or a coincidence?
|
|
|
|
Also love the show you really brought GOOD SF back to Television...
|
|
Thanks Dan
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Not really...it's a mythic kind of structure, you can compare the First
|
|
jms: Ones to a lot of that kind of fiction, also Dunsany, Clark Ashton Smith,
|
|
jms: August Derleth, others...but if you go further, it has metaphors with
|
|
jms: Egytp
|
|
jms: er, egyptian culture, some Indian cultures, it's kind of universal.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Darksun asks: Are there any plans to market models, toys, etc.
|
|
(other than the Micro Machines)?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: We're doing a few small things, there may be some porecelain figures coming
|
|
jms: along this year, some collector's plates, maybe a new card set from Fleer,
|
|
jms: a new soundtrack from Chris Franke, but not a whole lot; again, we don't
|
|
jms: put a lot of emphasis on merchandising. Tell the story first; the rest
|
|
jms: will follow if we tell the story *right*.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Tim Chandler asks: Joe, What's the scene that you find funniest that
|
|
you've written in B5? Thanks again.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: It's a scene later to come, with Ivanova and a Minbari bed. Well, that and
|
|
jms: a certain conversation between Vir and Ivanova in about 2 weeks about....
|
|
jms: no, I can't say, but it's just fall down funny. You'll know it when you
|
|
jms: see it.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
DMI asks: Hello, JMS. The situation faced by EF personnel is similar
|
|
to the one faced by U.S. Army and Navy personnel at the outbreak of
|
|
the American Civil War. Are you a student of ACW history?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: To say I'm a student of it would be self-indulgent and greater than the
|
|
jms: truth; I'm a historical dabbler, I look into lots of things, so I know a
|
|
jms: little about a lot but not a lot about anything, just enough to either get
|
|
jms: into hideous trouble or find what I *do* need. But yes, I know a fair
|
|
jms: amount about the Civil War, and other big historical events.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Joel Hilke asks: Was the gobs of scientic and technical information
|
|
gathered for the Berzerker Probe a way to make it more realistic
|
|
for Babylon 5 to go private (so to speak)?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: No, not at all. (If I correctly perceive the question.)
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Jim De Vico asks: Joe, you have such a presence on-line. Very unique
|
|
in the industry. How has this presence affected the overall story,
|
|
feel or direction of the show?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: It really hasn't, and can't be allowed to. Too much TV is done by
|
|
jms: committee; the last good things done by committee were Stonehenge and the
|
|
jms: pyramids. Viewers, much as they like a show, and have good thoughts, are
|
|
jms: nonetheless a HUGE committee, and if you let that pull you one way or
|
|
jms: another, the story would become mushed around, directionless, and fall
|
|
jms: apart after a while. The only thing I can do...
|
|
jms: is write what feels correct to me to write, and tell the story as it demands
|
|
jms: to be told, and hope that an audience exists that is as sick and perverted
|
|
jms: as I am. (And thank you all for coming tonight.)
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
SysOp Dupa: <Yeah, that's us all right>
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
karen surtees asks: when the five year arc for b5 has finished do you
|
|
have any plans for another sf show?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: If it goes it's full five years, I dunno...if they hand me an anthology
|
|
jms: show, I'd have to say yes. Barring that, or something similar, I think I'd
|
|
jms: prefer to then retire from TV and go back to writing plays and novels,
|
|
jms: having said pretty much everything I want to say for TV.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
DANIEL ALLEN asks: Where did you come up with the name for Kosh and
|
|
who would you compare him to in the modern world?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: I went by the sound of the name, something short, one syllable, without ANY
|
|
jms: clear subtext to the name, a complete cypher. Which fits the character.
|
|
jms: Who would I compare him to? He's an ALIEN. He thinks like an alien. He
|
|
jms: shouldn't be comparable to ANY human. (Well, maybe Buddy Hackett.)
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Greg & Scott asks: Ever think of doing a cameo appearance?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Nope. Don't want to. If I see me on the show, it blows the illusion. I
|
|
jms: need to believe in this place, as much as I can, and if I know I'm in it,
|
|
jms: then it ain't a real place anymore. So no, you won't see me. Darn near
|
|
jms: everybody ELSE in the crew, but not me.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Dean S. Arashiro asks: Any thought been given to an "Official" B5
|
|
convention, one where you guys can shoot the works?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: We've had some conversations about that...maybe in about a year, via the
|
|
jms: fan club.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
jms: (We'd do the convention as both educational and entertainment, btw, with
|
|
jms: lots of workshops.)
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Grey Culberson asks: An important question: Proxima 3, Epsilon 3,
|
|
Babylon 5, Orion 7, and a slew of primary worlds. Are there any even
|
|
numbered planets in the B5 universe? <g>
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: No, all planets with life on them are odd.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
JohnE Johnson asks: Could you comment on "And Now For a Word,"
|
|
one of my favorite episodes.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Comment how?
|
|
jms: "Good show. Joe like. Hulk smash."
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: Something along the lines of the approach of the episode and such?
|
|
jms: Well, it's an episode that at first fans didn't know how to take, they got
|
|
jms: thrown by the narrative device...but on the rerun, a lot have come around to
|
|
jms: saying they like it *better* on reflection. It's something I've felt was
|
|
jms: under-rated. We feel it's imprortant to break the rules from time to time,
|
|
jms: do something *different*. If we fail, we fail.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Anne/Soolin asks: Will we see the Rangers play a bigger role
|
|
now that you've upped the stakes and will we see more of Marcus?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Absolutely. The Rangers continue to come forward into the story, and we do
|
|
jms: a lot more with Marcus; he's a great character, and I enjoy using him in the
|
|
jms: story. (There's a coming confrontation between him and a Warrior Caste
|
|
jms: minbari that should prove quite interesting.)
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Darksun asks: How many other ancient races, akin to the Vorlons,
|
|
will we eventually get to see?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Only a few.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Ken Isley asks: Will we see a return of Brother Theo/Monks in
|
|
future episodes?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Most of them have passed beyond the rim. Yes, Theo and his gang appear in
|
|
jms: "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place."
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
jms: (Those are two answers; Theo hasn't passed beyond the rim.)
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Steve Willer asks: Hi there, JMS. I just saw Severed Dreams, and I
|
|
must say you've outdone even Captain Power now! :-)
|
|
I noticed that you killed Haig in this episode -- was "cutting off
|
|
of the character" a response to their sudden change of heart?
|
|
Would Haig have survived if the actor stayed in the episode?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Hague would've stayed alive, yes, with others having died on his crew. But
|
|
jms: in the long run, this worked out better dramatically.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Bancroft asks: Do you have a favourite author or authors? (SF or non-SF)
|
|
Has any particular author's work influenced B5 directly?
|
|
(eg. in 'look & feel', or background).
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: No, not really. It's its own creation. Favorite authors in general?
|
|
jms: Bradbury. Ellison. Lovecraft. Eric Frank Russell. Tolkein. Heinlein.
|
|
jms: Lots of others.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Friends of Elevator Boy asks: "Will we see Anna Sheridan sooner or LATER"
|
|
|
|
Thanks
|
|
Gerard Keating (Dublin, Ireland)
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Define sooner.
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: Will track Gerard down for a further definition.
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: in the meantime...
|
|
SysOp Dupa: <Sooner: one who lives in Oklahoma>
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Kwicker asks: You sure do get around, Joe. <g> Btw, one of things
|
|
you've been proud of is successfully doing a space sf tv series--on budget.
|
|
How would you spend the money if your budget was doubled?
|
|
on the crew? the fx? on advertising? make a 10-year story?
|
|
or double everyone's salary, fx, everything?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: I'd pay the cast a lot more, right off the bat, because they earn it in
|
|
jms: spades. I'd do more planet-based stuff, build more ships, basically make
|
|
jms: the story *bigger*.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
John R. Finnan asks: Will the monks on B5 (who went there because it
|
|
was blessed) see the war with the Shadows in terms of REVELATIONS?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
jms: Not exactly, no.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Kosh asks: With regards to the Talia and Ivanova relationship....
|
|
Will a similar situation come up again for Ivanova???
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
David P. Watkins asks: Did Ivanova and Talia have a "fling"??
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
jms: Ivanova will get involved again with someone, yes; and yes, they did.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
jms: (This will be clarified further in the very next episode, btw.)
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Stephen Burrow asks: Regarding the 4th season, how have the ratings
|
|
been overall?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: I think he actually means third season...
|
|
|
|
jms: Very good. The problem overall is in keeping timeslots given the number of
|
|
jms: stations with commitments to UPN, WB and Fox shows; lots of shows, like
|
|
jms: Lonesome Dove, have been pulled even though their ratings were good; they
|
|
jms: just couldn't find enough slots. So we're doing fine, but fighting for
|
|
jms: timeslots.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Sandra Bruckner asks: Will the blooper tapes and music videos be made
|
|
available via the Fan Club?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: That's something we're still trying to determine, nothing's set yet.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Friends of Elevator Boy asks: What part of Earth does Sheridan come from,
|
|
Sheridan is a good irish name, but we irish have spead to the four corners.
|
|
|
|
Thanks
|
|
|
|
Gerard Keating (Ireland)
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Sheridan himself comes from the Midwest US.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: Clarification on his question about Anna Sheridan .
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: Sooner is as in the next few episodes?
|
|
jms: Then the answer is no.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Z. Michael Milutinovic asks: I have a question about G'Kar.
|
|
Now that he's "Changed", do his followers, fellow Narn, believe
|
|
what G'Kar believes? In Severed thier actions looked "single minded",
|
|
"no doubts" side by side with the humans.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: (Look, over there, a comet.)
|
|
jms: I'm not sure they all believe exactly as he believes, but they're willing
|
|
jms: to follow where he leads.]
|
|
jms: For now, anyway.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Neil Blevins asks: How strong are the narn? I've seen one getting
|
|
beaten up by a human, and I've seen G'kar smash a giant stone tablet
|
|
with his bare hands.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Well, we have no idea from that shot if the Narn in question was wounded,
|
|
jms: if he'd been through several fights already...because then there's another
|
|
jms: Narn picking up a human right off the floor as another goes for her.
|
|
jms: Also the marines were pretty well armored.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
DANIEL ALLEN asks: Is their any character in the show who you would think
|
|
of as being similar to yourself in outlook and drive?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: I'd like to think Delenn. But that's again rather self-indulgent.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Joel Hilke asks: Were you particularly proud of the first season
|
|
episode "Believers"?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Yes, because it was absolutely unflinching, it didn't compromise, didn't
|
|
jms: blink, didn't turn away when it came time to show the logical consequences
|
|
jms: of the actions involved.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Kwicker asks: Sheridan's not from IOWA like a certain other captain
|
|
who worked in space?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Definitely not.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Stephen C. Smith asks: Perhaps one unforeseen benefit of your success
|
|
with B5 is that it begat other shows, such as HYPERNAUTS and SPACE CASES.
|
|
After B5 ends its run, would you have an interest in shepherding to the
|
|
air other quality SF created by others, or do you want to remain just
|
|
a master storyteller? GA
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: I'm a writer. I never really wanted the pointy hat that says PRODUCER. If
|
|
jms: I were offered staff writer, for crappy money, no power, but they wouldn't
|
|
jms: change the words, I'd take it in a hot second. No, I'd rather let others
|
|
jms: find their own dreams, than sit as shepherd on their creations.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Kosh asks: Will we "see" more Vorlons??? Kosh is one of my all time
|
|
favorite characters....
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Oh, yes, most definitely. Sooner than you might think.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Tim Chandler asks: Joe, Will G'Kar find out that Kosh manipulated him
|
|
(seems like good drama to me...) ? Thanks again.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Well, look at that, another comet, imagine that....
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Grey Culberson asks: I especially enjoyed GROPOS, mostly because we
|
|
were introduced to a number of non-arc/minor characters which most
|
|
shows never indulge in (unless they need somebody to kill off).
|
|
Any plans for another similar episode?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
SysOp Dupa: <that's Uranus>
|
|
jms: Not as such, no, but in broader terms all our characters get in that
|
|
jms: position.
|
|
jms: (And let's not get personal here, Dupa.)
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
SysOp Dupa: <g>
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Jim H.(SJ,CA) asks: Are they still using a network of Amiga's to do the CGI
|
|
work? How long does the post production special effects take to do?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Nope, they've ported all the software over to PCs now, and they're pretty
|
|
jms: fast; don't have the figures here, though.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
SysOp Dupa: <Intel and Dec Alpha RISC systems>
|
|
jms: Overall, it take 52 days from the last day of shooting to finish an episode
|
|
jms: in post.)
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
James R. Kapesis asks: Are Lyta's Psi powers enhanced now that she went
|
|
to the Vorlon Homeworld?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Certain elements of Lyta's makeup have been altered, yes. It's...it's...
|
|
jms: my gosh, it's another comet! Do you know the odds on this? They're
|
|
jms: well, astronomical.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
JohnE Johnson asks: How did Delenn learn about pilots merging with a
|
|
Shadow ship? Is she holding back information from Sheridan?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Yes, she is. She's holding back a lot, more than anyone suspects. And
|
|
jms: this is going to cost her dearly soon enough.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Colin Glassey asks: Use of force: If the use of the "great machine"
|
|
would have saved many lives under Sheridan's command, how can he
|
|
justify NOT asking for Draal's help?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: I think it was a matter of feeling this was an internal situation between
|
|
jms: EA and B5; that if he just called in Draal, it'd be them being saved by
|
|
jms: another rather than taking a stand themselves. And he's right, he wants to
|
|
jms: hold back the info that he's made an *alliance* with Draal at this time...
|
|
jms: because right now, the *ownership* of B5 was in danger, but they likely
|
|
jms: weren't going to destroy the station itself. Soon that threat may come,
|
|
jms: and you don't want someone knowing you have an ally, then taking out that
|
|
jms: ally, so you're defenseless against the HUGE threat coming your way to
|
|
jms: destroy the place completely.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
SysOp JSL: Folks, we're going to wrap this up in about eight minutes, so...
|
|
SysOp JSL: last questions! Thanks!
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Troy Starr asks: JMS -
|
|
You've mentioned that B5 isn't just about the Shadow war. What can we expect
|
|
to see on B5 once the war is over?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Well, Earth still has to be dealt with, and then all the falllout from the
|
|
jms: shadow war. Lots of stuff has to happen.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Darksun asks: Will we eventually learn as much about the Vorlons and their
|
|
culture/technology as we've been learning about the Minbari?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: You will learn more, but never as much as the rest. They're sneaky that
|
|
jms: way.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
SysOp JSL: Joe, are the Minbari now "officially" at war with Earth due to
|
|
SysOp JSL: Delenn's actions?
|
|
|
|
jms: No, Clark isn't that stupid. He'd also hope to do internally and quietly
|
|
jms: what he'd hope to accomplish in a confrontation. He can't fight a war on
|
|
jms: too many fronts; he's going to have a hard enough time holding things
|
|
jms: together back home without starting a war with the very race that nearly
|
|
jms: wiped out Mankind.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Sandra Bruckner asks: One of the things I loved about Severed Dreams was
|
|
the strong characterization of Delenn. She's not been a strong force
|
|
since the first season and I've missed that. Is the change due to the
|
|
fact that she's now more comfortable with her transformation?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Yes, her whole world and self-perception was changed after that, she didn't
|
|
jms: know where she fit in, everyone rejected her practically; she's had to
|
|
jms: adjust, find herself again. She's done that. We all go through periods of
|
|
jms: adjustment, change, reflection. It's realistic.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Jonathan Kass asks: Will you be bringing back the actor who played the
|
|
Major (replacing Admiral Hague)? I remember him from other series,
|
|
always like his work (he was in the Quantum Leap finale (?))
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: It's possible.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
SysOp JSL: Three more questions!
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Perry Maniaci asks: Was earths first encounter with aliens the Centari?
|
|
And did they give them jump gate technology?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Yes to both questions.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Kosh asks: Will we ever find out what Londo saw when Kosh revealed
|
|
himself???? Or did he see nothing as he said??....
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
SysOp Dupa: <give? sell?>
|
|
jms: He said just what he saw. (And yes, it was a trade deal, Centauri never
|
|
jms: GIVE anything to anyone.)
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: In the blooper reel: Londo says "I tawt I taw a Putty Cat, I did"
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Gordon J. asks: Will shows from the first season be aired again?
|
|
I would love to see those again to see the story and characters grow.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: At this point, not until TNT begins showing the series in its totality,
|
|
jms: after we've finished production, starting around 1998.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
jms: You'd believe a Centauri over me?
|
|
SysOp Adrienne Chafee: <g>
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
James R. Kapesis asks: How will this end?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
jms: In light.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
SysOp JSL: Not in fire? Sheesh! <g>
|
|
SysOp Dupa: <or a Whimper?>
|
|
SysOp Adrienne Chafee: <G>
|
|
jms: Last episode title is "Sleeping in Light."
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Stephen C. Smith asks: Any interest at all in doing other projects
|
|
with your current cast after the run is over? Sorta like Orson Welles
|
|
and the Mercury Theater, only without the weight gain? GA
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: I'd love to, frankly, if I can come up with something appropriate.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
John R. Finnan asks: As a writer, and an atheist your writing is the
|
|
one thing you're leaving behind. How would you like to be remembered
|
|
after the "game is called, on account of Darkness"?
|
|
|
|
I know it's morbid, but it's gone midnight over here.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: He told a good story. He entertained us and made us think. He tried never
|
|
jms: to hurt anybody. And he never started a fight...but he always finished it.
|
|
SysOp Dupa: <and "BOOM!">
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
DChip asks: In the elevator scene with Londo and G'Kar, was
|
|
any of the dialogue ad-lib?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Not that I can recall.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Tim Sartain asks: Would the WB network pickup B5 if you were'nt under
|
|
contract with PTEN or has it ever been considered and do you think
|
|
you would get better publicity and time slots with them?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
jms: Well, one of G'Kar's echoes, I believe.
|
|
jms: No, WBN is a diferent, competitive branch of WB, and they wouldn't do it.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Pat Clifford asks: Is that "Sleeping in The Light" ANYTHING TO
|
|
DO WITH vONNEGUTT?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
jms: Nope.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Bancroft asks: How accurate is Londo's 'vision' of his death?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
jms: Extremely.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
jms: (But there's two pieces of information about that scene you don't have yet.)
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
SysOp JSL: This will be the last question, everyone!
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: Putting pressure on me to pick a good one :)
|
|
SysOp Dupa: JMS - Ooooooo!
|
|
SysOp Adrienne Chafee: :)
|
|
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Jim H.(SJ,CA) asks: Is President Clark _really_ that smart?
|
|
Or is he just a puppet of the Shadows?
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
jms: Hes' a very smart puppet.
|
|
jms: ga
|
|
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: Shaun, did we need to end things now?
|
|
SysOp JSL: Yes, Joe's a busy man... <grin>
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: OK, that's all the questions for this conference.
|
|
SysOp Adrienne Chafee: <applause> thanks for being our guest this afternoon, JMS!!!
|
|
SysOp JSL: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending today...
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: Thanks for joining us Joe!
|
|
jms: The pleasure was entirely mine.
|
|
|
|
SysOp JSL: A reminder: visit the Babylon 5 Sections in SFMEDONE...
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: And for those of you who sat in with us.
|
|
SysOp Dupa: Joe - Thanks! (and watch out for Comets)
|
|
SysOp JSL: the SF & Fantasy Media 1 Forum.
|
|
SysOp JSL: The online home of B5 on CompuServe!
|
|
SysOp Adrienne Chafee: Go SFMEDONE
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: We'll have a transcript available, likely sometime
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: tomorrow in the Babylon 5 Text/General library.
|
|
SysOp JSL: Our very special thanks to Joe for such a terrific conference.
|
|
jms: The preceding commercial brought to you by the Psi Corps.
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: Trust the Corps.
|
|
SysOp JSL: You are all welcome to stay here (the psi corps) and chat amongst
|
|
SysOp JSL: yourselves (are your friends)...
|
|
SysOp Dupa: We're Everywhere for your convienence.
|
|
SysOp JSL: And now we'll open it up to general discussion.
|
|
jms: Gotta zip now, boyz and girlz...see you on the flip side.
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: Thanks Joe, I'm about to open up the floor to general chaos now..
|
|
SysOp Dupa: Bye, Joe
|
|
SysOp Lee Whiteside: % The floor is now OPEN
|
|
SysOp Dupa: Lee - as opposed to Specific Chaos?
|
|
James R. Kapesis: Zog
|
|
Blackadder: cost ya! <g>
|
|
Sandra Bruckner: Bye JMS Thanks.
|
|
Grey Culberson: We lie prostrate in your magnificence!
|
|
Z. Michael Milutinovic: By Joe
|
|
John R. Finnan: Good night all, from the 4 question man!
|
|
Kwicker: Should that be the "Sy Corp"?
|
|
Orion: Bye JMS See ya in Chicago
|
|
Tim Chandler: Comets make the universe a brighter place.
|
|
Friends of Elevator Boy: Hello Floor
|
|
Mara K. Malovany: well, that was fun
|
|
James R. Kapesis: 3 ques. here
|
|
MichaelJ: WhAGREAT SHOW
|
|
Jim H.(SJ,CA): Thanks, Joe, don't get hit by any comets! ;-)
|
|
Don: Thanks for being everywhere for our convenience, Joe!
|
|
David P. Watkins: THanks!
|
|
Ruth Ballam: John - Gone on rub it in why don't you ! :-)
|
|
Gordon J.: Thanks for the conference, I really enjoyed it. Long Live B5!
|
|
MichaelJ: Great show
|
|
Kosh: 4 ques here.........
|
|
Friends of Elevator Boy: Thanks for a great sesson joe.
|
|
SysOp Dupa: <Gone>
|
|
Grey Culberson: Your aura is devastating!
|
|
Kwicker: maybe Joe discovered ANOTHER "string" of comets like the ones that hit juptier
|
|
David P. Watkins: Bye
|
|
Debra Banach: thanks Joe!
|
|
Kwicker: thanks,joe!
|
|
James R. Kapesis: JMS is the great maker!
|
|
DChip: Thank's joe
|
|
Gavin(U.K): Thanks Joe
|
|
Grey Culberson: Standing O.
|
|
Tim Chandler: Thanks Joe.
|
|
Bancroft: Great show. Thanks, Joe (& sysops!)
|
|
John Creigh: Thanks.
|
|
SysOp JSL: For your info... Joe Straczynski has left...
|
|
Friends of Elevator Boy: Hi sandra
|
|
Sandra Bruckner: Fantastic.
|
|
SysOp JSL: ...and you are most definitely welcome!
|
|
Jim H.(SJ,CA): Thanks, Sysops! Great conference!
|
|
Kwicker: nice conference, sysops
|
|
Carol Naylor: Ruth> You lucky thing. I can't even get back in time forHammersmith
|
|
Bancroft: Bye, all
|
|
SysOp JSL: EVERYONE: PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN TO CHECK THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULES...
|
|
Ruth Ballam: gerard: Um, I'd have to scroll back to check but I think he did
|
|
SysOp JSL: ...IN SFMEDONE & SFMEDTWO. We have some GREAT guests coming up very soon!
|
|
SysOp JSL: If you haven't done so, make sure "Notices" is turned ON!
|
|
SysOp JSL: So you'll see announcements about them!
|
|
|
|
|
|
======================================================================
|
|
|
|
Transcript prepared by SysOp Lee Whiteside
|
|
|
|
Transcript Copyright (C) 1996 by CompuServe Information Service's Science
|
|
Fiction and Fantasy Media 1 Forum (GO SMFEDONE). All rights reserved.
|
|
|