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940 lines
32 KiB
940 lines
32 KiB
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Official Transcript of a formal real-time Conference with
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J. Michael Straczynski, held Sunday, May 21st, 1995, in
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DELPHI's Science Fiction & Fantasy SIG.
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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.Gordie>
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Good evening, everyone, and welcome to DELPHI's Science Fiction &
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Fantasy SIG. For the last few months, we've been having special
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Conferences with authors, giving them an opportunity to share a
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little insight into how they work, and where they might be going.
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Tonight, while seemingly unlike our last few Conferences, we
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actually have a rather similar situation. Joe Straczynski is a
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writer and not just of individual television episodes, although he
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most certainly does that, too. He has written a couple of novels
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as well, and as soon as he finishes with some, ah, other commitments,
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I suspect he will write others. But what sets Joe apart from the
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rest of the crowd is a vision he has. A vision to create a whole
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new form of storytelling. The vision we have all come to know
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as Babylon 5. I hope Joe will share some of his vision with us
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tonight, both for that literary form in general, and for the
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television gem, Babylon 5, specifically.
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<Guidelines for online behavior snipped.>
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With that out of the way, I'll open the floor to Joe for any opening
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comments he might like to make. Joe?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Many folks have noticed that I'm on a LOT of systems, and have
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wondered if it's really me making all these replies. I wish to
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state categorically that it IS me writing all those messages, but
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since there is a limit on time, obviously this is not actually me
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in this conference, but rather someone that I have hired to pretend
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to be me while I'm off pretending to be Rondo Hatton, standing on
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the ledge of a large building, and I'll jump, I swear, I'll jump.
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Go ahead. Ask questions. See if I care. (Boy, is that a long
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drop.) ga
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ALLBELL>
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Do you ever lurk in newsgroups for other shows? Do you find your
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reactions differ when you're in the groups for the other shows? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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No, in general, I don't much lurk in other groups for other shows;
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I have a hard enough time keeping up with all the B5 groups.
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Though I do from time to time lurk on other B5 groups, so that I
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can see what folks are saying when they don't think I'm around,
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because I'm concerned that my presence sometimes may influence a
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group. Unvarnished opinion is a sobering but educational thing. ga
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ALLBELL>
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Have you gotten any ideas about universe building from the flamewars,
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etc. that go on on the Internet?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Negative. The only thing that flamewars do is to give me the chance
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to try out new Ivanova lines (or lines that BECOME Ivanova lines)
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about one's genetic ancestry, cerebral capacity, and other
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wonderfulnesses. ga
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.Lemming>
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What became of the unmade season 1 Gerrold scripts? Will they be
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made? Will there be more Gerrold scripts? Thanks, GA
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STRACZYNSKI>
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There are no unproduced Gerrold scripts. There were, as I recall,
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two outlines that never got to script, but no scripts per se; one of
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those outlines will be coming out as a two-parter in the B5 comic,
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so nothing goes to waste. ga
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.Lemming>
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This is not really unrelated, but bothering me, in _Knives_, Londo
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went one way, his sword the other, then it's back in his hand. Is
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this a production glitch or did a shadow push it over? Thanks, keep
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up the great work! GA
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STRACZYNSKI>
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I think that's a camera thing; we shot that in master and close
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during that sequence, and the thing landed where it was supposed to;
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Londo grabbed forward for it, but I think in the close shot we used,
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you can't really see how far he's had to reach forward, which may
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account for the discrepency. ga
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.Elric>
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I have a two part question. 1, It seems that the FOX affiliate in this
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area has pushed the B5 episodes back to the wee hours of the morning
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instead of the 10:00 slot it once had. Is the B5 series in danger of
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being dropped (God forbid) ?!?!? And secondly, in an episode several
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weeks ago, they opened the novelty shops and I noticed some models of
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the B5 station and of a Starfury. Can fans order these things? If not
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will they ever be available? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Stations have the option of airing the show pretty much whenever
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they so desire; sometimes they shift it good, sometimes they shift
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it bad. It has no real impact on our chances, except in the
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cumulative ratings, if enough put us in crummy slots...
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As for the toys used, they were just made up for that episode, and
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don't exist in reality, nor are they for sale anywhere though you
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can take a pretty good guess where the Londo and G'Kar dolls ended
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up, and where the station model will end up after the series is
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finished. ga (Daffy duck voice: MINE, MINE, MINE!)
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.Gumby>
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Any truth to the rumour that Sheridan is history and that Sinclair
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is back as Station Commander in the 3rd season? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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The rumor is not true. ga
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.Gumby>
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As well, how much input do you have in the novels and comics (which
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are both great, by the way)... ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Total and complete. I review both in detail in outline and in
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draft form, I approve the script/pencils/inks in the comic, suggest
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stories, and I'm writing a 4-issue arc. The 3rd novel was a bit
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off-kilter (no fault of John's), and I sent it back for considerable
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revisions, which put it back a month, but I'd rather have it right
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than fast. ga
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.Gumby>
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Right on !!
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.Gordie>
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Are there any plans to do some kind of multimedia product?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Yes, a CD rom is in the works, but not for a while yet. I'm less
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interested in ancillary marketing, merchandising, and all that
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than just Telling The Story. I've seen merchandising get in the
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way too often. ga
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.John>
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Will Commander (ambassador) Sinclair and his organization play a larger
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part in the upcoming season or is he bowing out of the show? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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All I can say for now is that we will see a lot more of the Rangers
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in the coming season (assuming we're renewed). As for the rest, I'd
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rather hold back just now. ga
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.CompuJohn>
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Are the rumors true that the last 4 episodes of season 2 won't be
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shown in the US until October ?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Yes, they are correct. Ain't my decision. The Powers That Be
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figure that if they hold off the last 4, they can use them to lead
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up to the start of the (hopefully) new season in November, and get
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us off to a good start. They say that HUTS (Households Using TV)
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figures are very low for June, July and August, since everybody's out.
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In September, you're right up against the new blockbuster network
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shows, and their PR machine, so that leaves October. My opinion...
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...is my opinion. ga (I can chew glass too when required.)
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.CompuJohn>
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B5 has just the right amount of humor sprinkled in... Is the wall
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hanging of Daffy Duck in Garibaldi's room available in stores? GA
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Yeah, I think it's a commercial print, so it probably is. ga
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(It may be on velvet.)
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.Neil>
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Hi Joe. Dunno if you remember me, but I was six inches and 90
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degrees to your left at the I-Con banquet last year. I've heard a
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rumor that you're considering compressing the series should a year
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four not look to be in the cards. Total BS? Or is it still a total
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fight for survival on your end?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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I'm not sure it CAN be condensed, and certainly I have no current
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plans in that area. But it's always a fight to get this thing done
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right, and to see it through to the end. But if it was easy,
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everybody'd be doing it. ga
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.Neil>
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Yeah, the offer I made before to send a screener of that film I
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translated still stands. Interested at all?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Would you like to see the stack of tapes on my desk that I haven't
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looked at yet? I appreciate the offer, but....
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.Neil>
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Gotcha... Maybe some year...
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STRACZYNSKI>
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...my time is zilch; the only films I've seen in the last 9 months
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have been on airlines. 24 hours a day, B5 is my life. ga
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.Colin>
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There are many subtle (and not so subtle) references to classic SF. To
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what extent have you been influenced by EE Doc Smith's Lensman series?
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(Humans bail out the galaxy.) (Or for that matter, Heinlein, Clarke,
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movies, etc...) ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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I've been influenced in a generic sense, rather than in any
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particulars; I grew up on the big sagas of SF and fantasy literature
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and I'd always wondered why nobody ever did something on that scale
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for TV, and the answer is, "Because nobody's done it." ....
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So I figured, may as well be me. As for specifics, I grew up on
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all the main writers of the genre... Heinlein, Clarke, Bradbury,
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Ellison, Matheson, Asimov, you name it...plus my models in many other
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ways were writers like Norman Corwin, Rod Serling, Paddy Chayefsky,
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Reginald Rose and others who loved language and weren't afraid to
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have someone talking for more than 2 lines at a time. ga
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.Colin>
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Thanks. Just wanted to say that I really look forward to each episode,
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and enjoy everything except the size (or rather lack thereof) of the
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comic. Any plans to expand it? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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No, all DC comics are the same length, 24 pages. That's immobile. ga
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.NumberSix>
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This follows nicely upon Colin's question. The references to
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_The_Prisoner_ in B5 are fairly clear, and I've started some
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discussions here and elsewhere as to whether there is an equivalent
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to No. 6 in B5. Any comments? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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First, there is a difference between a nod and a one-to-one
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reference or template; if you look for ANY character in B5 to echo
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somebody else in another story or series, you won't find it; I didn't
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work 5 years to sell this thing just to do the Prisoner or Lord of
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the Rings with the serial numbers filed off; this is a unique and
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independent story; I nod out of respect, not to leave a knive where I
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have extracted something. Second: the REAL number six would NEVER
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identify himself as such... so I conclude that you are an IMPOSTER!
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Delphi police, arrest this man! ga
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ALLBELL>
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He is not a free man. He is a number.
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.NumberOne>
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Thanks! And yes, there is much more to B5 than a Prisoner clone.
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STRACZYNSKI>
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(The B5 CD soundtrack is playing as I type this. Buy it. It's
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great.)
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.Rich_L>
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Was it your intention to make the Shadows insectile to generate a fear
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reflex in the viewers, or did it just end up that way? GA
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Certainly when I thunk them up, I wanted them to scare the bejeezus
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out of people when they appeared; we went through several different
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design elements, and that was the one that creeped me out the most,
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and thus we went with that one... I'm not sure I said, going in,
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"I want big honking bugs," but what we got, I like, and when you look
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real close they're not quite as insectlike as they may appear. Very
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alien looking. ga
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.Rich_L>
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It scared my wife enough to give her nightmares for a week... Any
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chance we will see more of the enigmatic aliens that Sinclair's
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fiance encountered that one episode? I liked them a lot.
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Hurm.........no comment. ga
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GRAGEM>
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Do you know when the pilot will be released or rebroadcast?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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My hope is that it'll be soonish, summer or fall, but I don't know
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that for a fact. ga
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.Rob>
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Artifical intelligence is already under development in today's time.
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Will we learn that sophisticated, human-level artificial intelligence
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has been been perfected by B5's time and is in commercial and/or
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govermental use? As an aside, I *want* a Sheridan Bear (I assume you
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can be bribed?:)
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STRACZYNSKI>
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I can't be bribed, but I can be rented...
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.Gumby>
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<lol> :)
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STRACZYNSKI>
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I've kind of set aside a lot of the AI stuff, on the grounds that
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it kinda gets in the way, and once all the fooforah is done with, I
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suspect that people will want their computer systems to be seen and
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not heard, and reasonably obedient. Certainly the B5 system is very
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intuitive, but not AI in the sense that we've come to expect it might
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be. I dunno...every time I think about trying it, I see Twikki, and
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I fall down. "Open the pod bay doors, Hal." Ehhh...I just dunno. ga
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.Rob>
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::chuckle:: What's up with Keffer? Will he back? Will he stick
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around? Will he play a more involved role in the story?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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The last four episodes of this season show Keffer a lot more. (We
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build a little of that in the next ep) ga
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DEBGREEN>
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How do feel about using things routinely today, that were SF 50 years
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ago?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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I suppose on one level, it's amazing, as you say, but at the same
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time, what was incredible 100 years ago was perfectly real 50 years
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ago, it's part of human social and scientific evolution. I think if
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we weren't constantly amazed, we'd be dead, but on one level, I think
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we kind of take it for granted after a while. (I used to own a Kaypro
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II with 64K and a 180K floppy, and now I have 2 gig, a 17" monitor,
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with amazing facilities and 64MEGS ram and it ain't enough yet. We
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are engaged in the parade of humanity toward the future, and imagining
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it is fascinating for what is, and what isn't done...
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"Just Imagine," a B&W SF MUSICAL in the 1930s showed life in the 1980s,
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50 years hence, with private aircars, pills instead of food, people
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with numbers instead of names, and little/none of it's true. It's
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scattergun. We live in the future; it's ALL amazing. ga
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DEBGREEN>
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When do you expect to find out about next season's pick-up/cancellation?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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We keep hoping on an almost daily basis to get the word; the folks
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who make the decision will be back in town come Monday, so with luck
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we'll hear something this week. ga
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SLOMICHAEL>
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If KOSH is one of the few remaining old ones, and the Vorlons helped
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fight with the old ones a 1000 years ago, does this mean he is not
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a Vorlon or there is only one Vorlon-him? Also I believe that the
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Minbari on the planet below Babylon 5 will be seen again in the fifth
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season. ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Kosh is a Vorlon. The Vorlons fought the Shadows. There are many
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Vorlons, back home. (The Writer committed an error in that he used
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too many pronouns in that segment of dialogue.) And we'll see Draal
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again *this* season. ga
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.Lor>
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Will we see the original doctor (from the pilot) again or hear more
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about what happened to him?
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STRACZYNSKI>
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See? No, no plans for now. Hear about? Yes. ga
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.Lor>
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This season? Or later? GA
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Sorta/kinda both. ga
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.Lor>
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Thanks! GA
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CEKELLEY>
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With the war started, and only two seasons down with three to go
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how much/how often can we expect to see space and or GroPo combat
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scenes? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Not that much gropo stuff, but you're going to be seeing a LOT more
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space combat stuff, particularly later this season. There's some
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amazing stuff coming, including probably the single biggest engagement
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we've shown yet. Something on the order of a dozen fleet-sized capital
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ships, plus a couple hundred fighters wizzing around, new and unusual
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weapons, and some long-range tactical strategy, rather than everything
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at close range (several thousand klicks apart). Nifty stuff. ga
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.Gumby>
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Cool !
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PATGIBBS>
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What are the prospects for a successful letter writing campaign to
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reverse the PTN decision to delay broadcast of the last 4 Season 2
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episodes from June to October? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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If I were to comment on this, or suggest anything, it could be
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problematic in my relationship with PTEN. Verstehen Sie? ga
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PATGIBBS>
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Does PTEN know and or care about the success of B5 on the net? GA
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Stark cold reality: if you added up every single person on the nets
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who watches B5, it wouldn't be .0001 in the ratings and that's all
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they care about. I'm here out of respect for the fans, as part of an
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experiment, to get a sense of the room and to learn more about my
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characters by answering questions; I don't think the networks really
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understand/care about the nets sui generis. ga
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.Clint>
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Can you give us a hint about why Mars is important? Is there a link
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to the Shadows? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Possible. Look for the conclusion of, and the current story arc
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in, the comic as now being published. GA
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.High Res>
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In comic #1, Rathenn tells Sinclair that the soul migration has been
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going on for nearly six thousand years. In "Points of Departure,"
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Lennier tells Sheridan that it's been going on for a much shorter time
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period--one or two thousand years, I forget which. Would you be
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willing to comment on the discrepancy between the two time periods? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Rathenn spoke incorrectly. ga
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.High Res>
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In book #2, Accusations, why does G'Kar appear on the cover and not
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in the book? And, on page 252, there's a brief reference to Sinclair.
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Was that a typo? That's all. ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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The covers were done in advance of the books being written; I'm not
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thrilled about this, because it can be as misleading as our promos
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tend to be. This will, one hopes, be amended in future. ga
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.High Res>
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And the reference to Sinclair? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Which reference?
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.High Res>
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Right after the Joint Chiefs of Staff schedule a review for Ivanova,
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and it cuts to action with the Asimov docking on the station. The next
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sentence starts out "Sinclair" and then switches to Sheridan. ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Typo. Not My Fault. ga
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.phil athans>
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Is there any opportunity for freelance writers like me to write
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for B5? And if so, how does one start that process? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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In the past, I've always tried to stay open to newbies, and the
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like, but in this case, bear in mind that we're not looking for
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outside stories. We've GOT all the stories. I don't take pitches,
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I assign stories out of my outline to writers, usually writers I've
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worked with before, or who come with sterling credentials. So, alas,
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we're kinda closed. ga
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.phil athans>
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Oh well... Have you thought about a role-playing game based on B5? ga
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STRACZYNSKI>
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Would love one. Nobody's approached us formally yet. ga
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.phil athans>
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I'd be willing to try. ga
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52RANGER>
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A steely eye just opened at Wizards of the Coast ;)
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STRACZYNSKI>
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You have to have your company, or A company, approach WB and
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|
formally license the thing. ga
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
Let me sneak one in here... How do you decide how much of the greater
|
|
arc to reveal each week? The balance between saying too much and not
|
|
saying enough has to be tricky.
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Mainly, you just have to feel your way through on instinct and
|
|
planning. For instance, in planning for the (hopefully) third year,
|
|
I pulled out my notes, and 22 index cards. Went through my series
|
|
outline, and picked the eventsI needed at the start of 2260, and the
|
|
end; then pulled out all the other incidents that had to happen in
|
|
that year, and began assigning one-two to each card, putting the cards
|
|
in order so I could see the whole season at a glance if an item seems
|
|
light, I may pair it up with another incident, or if it's too arc-heavy,
|
|
pull it out and pair it up with a lighter episode. It's all very
|
|
subjective. ga
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
So the pacing really got locked in when you came up with the whole arc.
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Mostly. There's some room to maneuver in there, so I can slide stuff
|
|
around to make things interesting, and keep the arc fresh but in
|
|
general, yeah, it's set. It's a novel, with outline. You always veer
|
|
a bit once you hit the book/script, but for the most part, it's set. ga
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
I've missed several crucial episodes both this season and last. Are
|
|
there any plans to release old eps into syndication or on video once
|
|
the series' run is complete? ga
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
This season will be rerun to within an inch of its life. First
|
|
season will not, on the theory that folks'll get confused by seeing
|
|
a new CO, though I understand that the tapes for year one will be
|
|
out later this summer. ga
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
Your theory, or Someone Else's? <g>
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Not mine, jack. ga
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
One more quick yes-no question: Was Sinclair's departure planned from
|
|
the start?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
That's a much harder question to answer than you know; but I'll try
|
|
to surround it a bit; this may take a while... I always knew, going
|
|
in, that I was going to have a hard time folding all of this baggage
|
|
into Sinclair's duffel; survivor of the line, head of B5, missing 24
|
|
hours, Minbari soul, AND with a connection to the shadows? It
|
|
stretched credulity to a tremendous extent. I figured, once I got
|
|
into the writing, it would work itself out. It did so by saying,
|
|
"Y'know, it'd be a better solution to bring in a new character, and
|
|
move Sinclair off the chessboard. It'd let you focus more on Minbar,
|
|
bring in the Rangers more smoothly, have someone to bounce new info
|
|
off of for newbies to the show, tie in the Shadows, and allow more
|
|
conflict and an escalation of the arc." So I looked at that, and saw
|
|
that it fillled the areas of the outline that sagged a bit. Remember,
|
|
nothing to me is sacred but the telling of the whole story. Nothing
|
|
gets in the way of that, including any personal relationships I may
|
|
have with cast, writers, crew, anybody. So I went to Michael, and
|
|
said, "If we do this, I can do a lot more things than I can do now."
|
|
He liked the idea and there were some things he wanted to do, so we
|
|
parted company amicably, with the notion that down the road, we might
|
|
intersect again for some elements of the story. So parts of the
|
|
parting were *indicated* or prefaced by the story going in, but I
|
|
didn't know the *shape* of that resolution until I got there. ga
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
OK, thanks! ga
|
|
|
|
.Scott>
|
|
Any plans for a map of the galaxy, where the homeworlds are in relation
|
|
to each other and such?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
We have one, kinda, in the office, for our use, but no plans for a
|
|
general map. ga
|
|
|
|
.Scott>
|
|
Loved the baseball in "knives"...is football far behind? Thanks for a
|
|
great show. ga
|
|
|
|
.Matt>
|
|
When will we learn what the Third Age of Mankind is? ga
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Eventually. ga
|
|
|
|
.Matt>
|
|
Hehehe..Well, that's definitely non-specific :) We've heard rumors
|
|
that there will be new actors for season 3 - Is that true? If so,
|
|
can you give us names?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Yes, and no names.
|
|
|
|
.Matt>
|
|
Ok, thanks...All of us at StMOO (telnet moo.ravenet.com 1701) would
|
|
also like to say thanks :)
|
|
|
|
.Karen>
|
|
I appreciate that B5 mentions God routinely...but Why?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Karen...why not? (Stand by, folks, looking for her reply.) ga
|
|
|
|
.Karen>
|
|
No, no, I really glad. Your characters have more depth.. and you've put
|
|
a Jew in space!
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Okay, background here... I'm an atheist. My attitude is that we must
|
|
respect those who wish to believe, and those who choose not to, in
|
|
equal terms. Consequently, I must properly respect the notion that
|
|
in 250 years, religion will still be here and people will still be
|
|
wrestling with it in many ways... Bear in mind that, in early history,
|
|
science and religion emerged as ways of trying to understand the
|
|
universe around us, using very different methods - faith vs. the
|
|
scientific method - but the desire and the intent are twin impulses so
|
|
why not give respect to the idea that some believe? Hence, I
|
|
don't keep religion out of my show. It seems to me that it's the only
|
|
way to go if I am to be HONEST in how I portray the future, and my
|
|
characters. And the first obligation of a writer is to be honest in
|
|
his writing. ga
|
|
|
|
.Karen>
|
|
Well an atheist who can include an ex-Jessuit and a Jew can't be all
|
|
bad!
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Absolutely. I'm just a wonderful human being and a force for good in
|
|
my time. Also a snappy dresser. ga
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
LOL
|
|
|
|
.Rich_L>
|
|
rotflmao
|
|
|
|
.Robert>
|
|
(geez, it's Bill Shatner)
|
|
|
|
.Gumby>
|
|
<LOL> :)
|
|
|
|
.John_Drake>
|
|
Sorry to keep switching names & numbers, but it's hard to find oneself
|
|
in v-space... Since Ellison is 'conceptual consultant,' do you know
|
|
if he's still as adamant about the terms 'speculative fiction' as
|
|
opposed to 'sci-fi' as ever? BTW, thanks for providing hours of work
|
|
tracking down the multitudes of literary, historical, and cultural
|
|
references. ga
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
That's m'job. As for Harlan, yeah, he hates Sci-Fi; says it's the
|
|
sound of crickets screwing. ga
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
LOL again
|
|
|
|
.Gumby>
|
|
Definitely ROFL !!
|
|
|
|
.Rich_L>
|
|
snorts of disgust.
|
|
|
|
.John_Drake>
|
|
Quick followup; any comment on Inonova's possible telepathy?
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
Oh don't be such a stick in the mud Rich :)
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Who said she had telepathy? I never said this. How could I
|
|
comment on something I've never said? Such a strange question. ga
|
|
|
|
.John_Drake>
|
|
My wife said she does :)
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
I should believe somebody who married YOU?
|
|
|
|
WARGAMERDAVE>
|
|
Thanks, have any any TV and/or movie stars asked to be on the show?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
From time to time, yes. We've had folks come to us, but I'm not
|
|
sure if it would be correct for me to say who. ga
|
|
|
|
WARGAMERDAVE>
|
|
If for some reason there is no season 3 would you consider doing
|
|
some theatical movies to tie up the show?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
I can't even consider that possibility. The only way this show has
|
|
been made is as an act of sheer will. I decided that it would have a
|
|
pilot, that we'd get the series order, and we'd go the full run; if I
|
|
allow myself the slightest doubt on that, it'll never happen. ga
|
|
|
|
WARGAMERDAVE>
|
|
Thank You..
|
|
|
|
C_HAMER>
|
|
Is there an earth based outlet for the JS bears? (and B5 soundtrack
|
|
CD), or do I have to scrape one off the nose of a starfury? GA
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
No bear boutiques. Soundtrack CD is available at any record store
|
|
now, from Sonic Images. (The end credits on the show now list the
|
|
ID # for the soundtrack.) ga
|
|
|
|
C_HAMER>
|
|
Followup: What is the count of Amigas in the rendering farm?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
14,287. How the hells hould I know, they tell me it's faerie dust,
|
|
and I believe them. (I think it's actually 10.)
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
(nearly spewed my coffee there...)
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
Matthew, I missed you earlier. You're the host of the B5 Custom Forum,
|
|
invite the nice folks over, and ask your question.
|
|
|
|
.Matthew>
|
|
Ok.. thanks.. :) The CF is 118, btw. And my question is when, if at
|
|
all, will Zathras be making a return appearance?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Eventually, yes. What should I do when I get there? (Can't stay
|
|
long, either, btw.) Even though we don't have an order yet for
|
|
year three, I have to get X-number of scripts ready regardless. ga
|
|
|
|
.Matthew>
|
|
Well, I was going to show you around the forum, if you have the time.
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Oh....s'okay, I stopped by yesterday and ran around the place
|
|
naked. (You should get a heater in there.) ga
|
|
|
|
.Matthew>
|
|
hehe..
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Check your logons and you'll see my tracks. (Alas, nobody noticed,
|
|
except one user who pointed and said, "MY husband has one just like
|
|
that, but bigger.)
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
ROFLMAO
|
|
|
|
.Robert>
|
|
Ouch, hot tea out the nose!
|
|
|
|
.Elric>
|
|
I must say that your team along with Ron Thortons team is a perfect
|
|
match! Do those guys have time for any other projects? And thanks
|
|
for a GREAT SHOW!
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
I've developed several other projects, which are in various stages
|
|
with variuos studios, but haven't pushed too hard since B5 remains
|
|
my first priority, and I wouldn't be running those shows as a result
|
|
the same way I run b5. ga
|
|
|
|
GRAGEM>
|
|
Will Sinclair make another appearance before the end of this season?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Not this season, no. But as I peek over at my outline, I see a
|
|
possible two-parter... ga
|
|
|
|
52RANGER>
|
|
Opening a jumpgate back to reality...2 quick thankyous JMS...One for
|
|
B5...One for your WD Book & column work...Keeps me from straying too
|
|
far :)
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
.Gumby>
|
|
Is Babylon 5 going to released on laser disc any time soon? This show
|
|
BEGS to be seen on laser disc !!
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Eventually, yes; but to do so, we would have to re-telecine all of
|
|
the footage back to its original aspect ratio, then reassemble it all.
|
|
Which we've discussed, and I've volunteered (at great personal
|
|
sacrifice) to screen the first set of disks for QC when this happens.
|
|
But because of the massive work involved, it won't be for a bit
|
|
yet. ga
|
|
|
|
.Gumby>
|
|
Rats !!
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Mice
|
|
|
|
.Gumby>
|
|
<LOL> :)
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Okay, let's see... How about the narration for year three? Though
|
|
I doubt anybody'd be interested in that... Nah, never mind.
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
Vir?
|
|
|
|
C_HAMER>
|
|
please.. go ahead
|
|
|
|
.Robert>
|
|
Daffy Duck?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
You sure?
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
YES!
|
|
|
|
C_HAMER>
|
|
Yes...Kosh perhaps?
|
|
|
|
.Colin>
|
|
Yes, please!
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Wouldn't want to be a bother. (Not who, but what's said.)
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
Bother away!
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Okay, here t'is.
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
"The Babylon Project was our last, best hope for peace. It failed.
|
|
But in the year of the shadow war, it became something greater: our
|
|
last, best hope...for victory. The year is 2260. The place: Babylon 5."
|
|
|
|
.Scott>
|
|
cool
|
|
|
|
.Rich_L>
|
|
Oh, damn...
|
|
|
|
ALLBELL>
|
|
Victory is not a greater thing than peace.
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Depends on the war.
|
|
|
|
.Colin>
|
|
Definite Coolness!
|
|
|
|
ASCHMUECKER>
|
|
wow!
|
|
|
|
GRAGEM>
|
|
whoa..
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
You'd think these characters would notice sooner or later that
|
|
something earth shattering happens every January.. :)
|
|
|
|
.Gumby>
|
|
Tres Cool !!
|
|
|
|
.Karen>
|
|
YES!
|
|
|
|
C_HAMER>
|
|
Please tell me Lando is going to read it again.
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
You'll get a hint in the last ep to who reads it.
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
_Our_ last, best hope... Ivanova'd be my guess.
|
|
|
|
.Karen>
|
|
YES, please
|
|
|
|
WARGAMERDAVE>
|
|
gotta be her
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Could be.
|
|
|
|
.Gumby>
|
|
Damn straight !!
|
|
|
|
C_HAMER>
|
|
Which won't be till October. :(
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
Could be Keffer, too...
|
|
|
|
.Brendan>
|
|
In which ep did the war break out?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
One sorta slides into the other. As wars do.
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Oh, HR, yours is the last question. No pressure. All these folks
|
|
waiting to see what YOU'RE going to ask.
|
|
|
|
.High Res>
|
|
How do you define atheism?
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
...you call that a question?
|
|
All these people, who gave you their chance to ask a question, and
|
|
THAT'S IT?
|
|
|
|
.High Res>
|
|
It fits the standard definition of a question... Yeah!
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Well, yes, gramatically, it does, subject, object, punctuation...
|
|
Now you want DOCTRINE on atheism? Hasn't the world got enough
|
|
problems?
|
|
|
|
.High Res>
|
|
Hey, you make us go nuts _every_week_. I thought I'd see if I could
|
|
reciprocate. <g>
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
I don't believe it. (There, THAT'S your definition.)
|
|
|
|
.Gumby>
|
|
ROFL
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
Author! Author!
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
(It's true, ANYBODY can get on Delphi.)
|
|
|
|
.High Res>
|
|
Very...elusive. <g>
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
This is kinda like one of those moments when you go to McDonald's
|
|
and the guy in the next booth is screaming about that damned Roosevelt.
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
Well, I want to thank Joe for taking time to spend with us tonight.
|
|
And all of you out there for joining us.
|
|
|
|
.Colin>
|
|
Thanks for the Conference, and most of all, thanks for the show.
|
|
|
|
STRACZYNSKI>
|
|
Thanks, everyone, for supporting the program.
|
|
|
|
.Gordie>
|
|
This CO is officially over!
|
|
==========================================================================
|
|
This transcript was edited to enhance clarity and correct typos.
|
|
==========================================================================
|
|
For more information on upcoming guests for DELPHI's monthly
|
|
Author's Conference series, please send email to:
|
|
Gordie Meyer <biblinski@delphi.com>
|
|
=======
|