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995 lines
49 KiB
995 lines
49 KiB
Babylon 5 posts by JMS for May, 1992
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This file includes a compilation of posts on GEnie by J. Michael
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Straczynski in the Babylon 5 topic. The posts are copyright by JMS
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(and compilation copyright is by GEnie).
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************
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Topic 22 Wed Nov 20, 1991
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SOARON [Bio-Dread] at 19:41 EST
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Sub: Babylon 5
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TWCNBN has been been named! J. Michael Straczynski has managed to bring a new
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quality to television and promises to do justice to TV and SF with a new
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action-adventure SF series of his own design. (NO story suggestions, please.)
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681 message(s) total.
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************
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 288 Fri May 01, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:17 EDT
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Things are okay here, seem to be quieting down. The amazing thing was
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going into the Universal backlot, way at the top of the hill, and looking out
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over the LA basin...and seeing a wall of black smoke. When I saw it, lining
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the horizon as far as the eye could see, like some terrible black shroud, the
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only thing I could think was, "Mordor."
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That, and "Okay, who brought the marshmallows?"
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(Hmm...how about a Tolkienesque detective series...a wizened old P.I. and
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his short companion..."Mordor, She Wrote.")
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I'm now going to run very far and very fast, before the bricks and mordor-
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shells start coming in...and if you're all *very* good, I'll tell you about
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Ambassador Jackarr tonight or tomorrow....
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 296 Sat May 02, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:32 EDT
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For those taking notes, you'll remember Ambassador Londo Mollari, of the
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Centauri Republic...likened in some ways to the fading Roman or British
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empires. At one time, their fist could be felt across most of what is now
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inhabited space. Now...they live on old stories and fading glories.
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The Narns once were very much under Centauri control, and they received
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in many ways the most brutal treatment of any "protectorate" in Centauri
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jurisdiction. A little under a hundred years ago, as the power of the
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Centauri Republic was fading, the Narns broke their chains in open revolution
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and expelled the occuping army, achieving independence.
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The way they were able to achieve independence was through a strong
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military mindset and sense of pride...which though useful then, has since
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become something other...something darker and more menacing. Still smarting
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from two centuries of occupation, they launched a major effort to build up
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their own forces. They strip-mined their economy to get their hands on the
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latest weapons tech, most of it illegally obtained. They began slowly to
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convince themselves that they had a Destiny among the stars...a destiny of
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conquest.
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And over the last few decades, they have been tentatively extending
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themselves, taking over unalied planets here and there on the fringe of the
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Narn system, small places that offered strategic and economic value, but which
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were too far away to fight for, and of too little importance to (in many
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cases) the Centauri republic, which was busy dealing with its own internal
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problems.
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The Narn Regime now is in many ways the X-factor, the new kid on the
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block with something to prove. They're growing awfully strong, awfully fast.
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They're cunning, and determined, and quite deadly.
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Which brings us to Ambassador Jackarr (pronounced JAH-karr), of the Narn
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Regime, married to a female war hero, whose fathers on both sides were also
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distinguihed veterans of a hundred campaigns. In the main, his task is to use
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the facilities of B5 wherever possible to Narn advantage == from arranging
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tech-smuggling to military objectives and so on -- while doing all possible to
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interfere with the basic purpose of the station, to create the peace. Peace
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is not in their best interests, though they give the opposite impression.
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They want to keep all sides divided and at each others throats so that they're
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occupied while the Narns grow and expand quietly in the background. The last
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thing they want is an alliance aimed against them before they're ready.
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One last note about Jackarr...I wanted to create someone specifically who
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folks would gradually come to expect is behind anything that goes wrong or
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afoul. "Oh, he's the bad guy." And to a large extent, for the first part, he
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will be...then something quite surprising will happen, and everything you
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THINK you know about Ambassador Jackarr will be turned completely upside down.
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We've all seen the SF standard of The Villain Who Chews Scenery...I wanted to
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take that and use it just long enough to get folks comfortable with the
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convention...then pull the rug out from under them.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 304 Sat May 02, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:34 EDT
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Jackarr's past is...a contradiction that I'm going to hold back on for
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the time being. There's what he *says*, there's what's on the official
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records...and there's the truth. And that, along with some other surprises,
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is what will turn the character and a goodly part of our story around.
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So for the nonce...I'll pass on any more detailed answer to that
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particular question.
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As for the XXLs, they *still* haven't come in yet, I'm sorry (and vastly
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annoyed) to say. Something about difficulty finding the required number, in
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that size, in Royal Blue. Worse case scenario, they may end up black...making
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them special editions WITHIN a special edition.
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As for Londo, I know he was discussed *somewhere* uptopic, maybe someone
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else here has the specific message number.
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So let's see...I think I've covered all of the Ambassadors: Londo,
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Jackarr (I'm thinking of re-spelling his name G'kar), Kosh and Delenn. I've
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covered Commander Sinclair, Vice-Commander Laurel Takashima, the telepath Lyta
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Alexander, and I *think* I've mentioned Security Chief Michael Garibaldi, so
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that leaves Xenobiologist Benjamin Kyle, is that right? Just so I know where
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to pick this up.
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BTW...to those who are associated with Con-Fiction in Utah, please relay
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the following: Reluctantly, and kinda as I figured, I won't be able to attend.
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I'd hoped to be able to send along some material to be used at the con, but as
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matters stand now, many of the designs and materials are in a BIG state of
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flux, and there's some business stuff that I've got to attend to that could
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affect some of our plans in a small way, so due to all of that, I alas can't
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even send anything along. This will all be remedied in time for Media*West,
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happily, but not for Conduit (Oops, I misspoke myself in the first line of
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this paragraph, I said confiction when I meant to say Conduit...sorry.)
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My regrets on this matter, and my best to the con organizers. Next year,
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however, be assured that there will be a big B5 presentation made available to
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Conduit. On my word.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 426 Mon May 18, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:05 EDT
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Yikes...111 messages since I left...okay, several points. I'm going on
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no sleep in -- let's see -- over 24 hours now, so if there are typos, or it
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gets sloppy, or brief, please bear with me.
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One quick piece of business out of the way: the XXLs are *finally* in.
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They'll arrive at the office Monday, and will start going out this week. And
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yes, they ran out of blue, so they'll be in black. Haven't seen them yet, but
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I hear they look terrific.
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Okay...so where have I been?
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I haven't been away from a keyboard, not working, for more than two days
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at a time in over 4 years. With B5 gearing up, and another season of M,SW to
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take care of along the way, I needed to escape and clear my head and prepare.
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I also needed to do some research on areas of use to B5, and to get a sense of
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*time*, odd as that may sound.
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So for 11 days I was in Ireland, mainly in Dublin, then down south of
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there in (and I'm gonna mess up htis name bigtime) Glendalough (or
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Glendaloch), and then up north in New Grange, visiting the neolithic burial
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mound that was 1,000 years old when Stonehenge was being built; it's the
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oldest human made edifice on the planet, older even than the pyramids.
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Stood in the very center of the burial chambers. Talk about getting a sense
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of time....
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Then finished there, and spent a few days in London before returning
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today to L.A. nonstop from Heathrow. (The Irish had considerable cause for
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amusement at my name...the usual reaction I got was a widening of eyes, a
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shaking of heads, and a muttered, "God bless you" said with something between
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pity and awe. So after a while I started saying it was Gaelic. I don't think
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they believed me.)
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To the message way uptopic...stra-chin-ski or stra-zin-ski are both
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equally acceptable; the former is Old Country, the latter the New World
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pronunciation.
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One bit of information I should pass along:
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The plan, initially, was to air B5 on November 17th, with the other two
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series/projects to air in February. Now this has always been a little
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problematic, not from a production standpoint -- we've been ready to go for a
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long time -- but logically, if you're running a new consortium of stations,
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it kinda behooves you to start it all at once. Because we would be ready
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early, and the other two shows, which got later starts, wouldn't be, the
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initial decision was to split them as mentioned above.
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As of this time, all three will be airing at the same time, in February,
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instead of splitting them. I will admit that I wasn't exactly thrilled about
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the delay, for obvious reasons (mainly because it would put us head to head
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with another certain show, rather than giving us a head start), but grudingly,
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it does make a certain sense: you put it all on line at the same time, you get
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more bang for your PR buck, there's cross promotion, and in the final analysis
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it'll probably bring *more* viewers to B5 than would have seen it on its own.
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There are also a number of good business reasons for it as well, including
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details about actors options and the like.
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The new airdate for the B5 movie will probably be in the third or so week
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of February, whenever Sweeps happens to be. We've re-adjusted our production
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schedule to accommodate the new airdate, and on one level, even that works
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out. It'll give us more time to polish the effects and maybe do even more
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than we'd planned.
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Not a crisis, not a problem, just business. And while I'd like to be
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cranky about it, it *does* make considerable sense. (And I have reason to
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believe that at February, we'll *still* beat DS9 to the punch, given that
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there's still not even a completed script, or wasn't when I left two weeks
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ago.) So we're now scheduled to begin filming the second week of August.
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Tomorrow (Monday), I meet with one of the candidates for cinematographer, and
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will see the new designs that were developed in my absence for approval. The
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final edits (mine, mainly, plus a few cuts for time) on the script go in on
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March 24th.
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Meanwhile, on all other fronts, things continue to go well. The studio
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still has no script notes, loves the draft, has approved our final budget, and
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we're hiring more people. Figure casting at about early or middle July. (And
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to an earlier query...yes, we'll be casting mainly actors who are good,
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classically trained performers, but who may not be household names...yet, as
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was the case was Jonathan Frakes and others.)
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As to the question above, how do you prevent B5 from becoming space
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opera...define "space opera" a little more in detail and I'll let you know.
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Anyway, that's it for now. I'm physically exhausted, absolutely dead on
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my feet, but mentally refreshed, which is what I needed before launching into
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the main prep work on B5. Also took the opportunity to just *think* about the
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show, and the script, and work out some more details in my head that I'd
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missed in the current draft. Saw many interesting things (went up to the seat
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of the old High Kings on the hill of Tara in Ireland, and generally had a fine
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time).
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Will post more info once I've had some sleep, and have had a chance to
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check in with my associates and see what's transpired in my absence. ("Ron?
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Who said anything about putting 1950s fins on a Narn ship? Ron? Ron?")
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 445 Mon May 18, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:28 EDT
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I hope you're right, Soaron...I just got my Media*west mailer, and the
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ONLY things on it were two Sunday panels, one on TRGBs and the other on BBSs,
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*nothing* for B5. And a second letter (this was all in the mail I picked up
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today, which filled a 3x3' box) from the video guy said he only now heard
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that I'd be bringing the B5 movie (!?), and it wasn't on the schedule, but I
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could run it by myself after 10:30 pm if I so desired. Obviously, someone's
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miscommunicating.
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If there isn't a B5 presentation scheduled, there's absolutely no point
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to my going...so if anyone here can clarify this (calling Lori got me nothing,
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she knew nothing of it), I'd appreciate it, because otherwise I'll have to
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cancel. I ain't flying to Michigan to do the two above panels alone.
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About up and down...there won't be one really in this show, because
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remember, the B5 station *rotates*. So we will always be reminded of this
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fact. Ships coming in to dock will have to adjust their rotation to match
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that of the station.
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Had a bunch of B5 meetings today with the ever-growing production
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team...including the director, Ron Thornton, and the guy we're considering for
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director of photography, who we think is right. To cap the meeting, Ron
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showed the Vorlon ship(s) on video. Now, I'd just been expecting still
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frames, no motion...and then it came on the screen, and it MOVED. And it did
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stuff that no other ship I've seen before on TV has ever done (yes, back to
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that again).
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I have to tell you -- and this isn't hype, even though *I'm* hyped at
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this moment over it -- I was just absolutely wog-boggled, as was every person
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in the room. Ron Thornton is an absolute *genius*, I swear to you. And the
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ship is simply the most alien-looking thing that I have ever seen. (Which
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makes sense, since Ron is about as close to an alien mind as you will find.)
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I had them keep running it back and showing it again, over and over. It's not
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just technically interesting, it's actually *beautiful*, in a strange and
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wonderful way, and you just enjoy watching it.
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It's *so* neat looking. I can't stand it.
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We also got to see the first actual B5 movement tests, with the various
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sections rotating. And a good shot of the Vorlon ship against the background
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of the planet and moon in the vicinity of B5, and the planet also looke nifty.
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It's just amazing stuff. If you know Ron's work at all (and some of you do),
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you know that what he brings to this kind of project is not just the
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scientific background on how it should work, but he ALSO has the tech
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background on computer graphics, AND he's an incredible artist. Put those
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elements together with a mind that has clearly escaped from the Hitchhiker's
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Guide to the Galaxy, and you have something wonderous indeed.
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Now that the studio has approved our director, I guess I can now announce
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who he is: Richard Compton, an *extremely* well-regarded director from both
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film and TV, who has just fallen in love with the project. He has been
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working with us to make it more visual, he'll be involved in the casting
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process, and he's absolutely brilliant. For television, he's directed such TV
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movies as "Desperado" (very nice stuff there), ST:TNG, a whole *bunch* of
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episodes of "The Equalizer" (which is close in some ways to the look we want
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for B5), "Hill Street Blues" (lots of those, too) and other shows and movies
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and TV movies.
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This is a very exciting time right now on the project. In a way, we will
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also be served by the new airdate because we'll still be delivering the
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finished film before the end of the year, so that gives us about 6 to 8 weeks
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to let the stations publicize the film, and get reviews, and show either
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portions or the whole thing at conventions between December 28th (our delivery
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date), and the final airdate in February.
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Anyway, just thought I'd pass all that along. Much better today, was
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semi-conscious at best when I posted the other note. More news as it
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develops.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 454 Tue May 19, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:08 EDT
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The motion tests are *complete*, fully ray-traced, full color, the whole
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bit. That's what makes it so spectacular.
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I'll see Ron this afternoon, and will ask about a Genie RTC. I'm sure
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he'd be up for it, probably sometime later in the year, closer to airdate
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would be best.
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May have something interesting to upload later today. Or not. Depends
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on what Ron has for me.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 457 Tue May 19, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:05 EDT
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Okay, everybody, here's something spiffy.
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I just uploaded two GIF files to the televison library here in the SFRT.
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They are numbers 4238 and 4239. The first is a shot of the planet around
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which B5 orbits, and the moon, and just emerging out of shadow...a Vorlon
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ship. It's a little dark around the ship, and that's deliberate, because
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there are some details we're trying to keep, um, fairly secret from prying
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eyes. But this should give you a pretty good idea.
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The second file is a shot of the new B5 station itself. It's a nearly
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straight-on shot, with the docking bay in the foreground, the station trailing
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away in the distance, against space.
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These are not, I hasten to mention, simply illustrations or paintings,
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these are the actual shots from the film. I mention that because they're SO
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gorgeous that it's hard to believe that they'll actually move. But they do.
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The files will be available as soon as the sysops clear them.
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Let me know what you think.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 459 Tue May 19, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:45 EDT
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To avoid charring this topic, I'm going to leave my screed about
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Media*West in that topic. Those involved there can check it out. The
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rest...stay tuned here. I mention this here only because of the B5
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presentation originally "slated" to take place there.
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We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 462 Wed May 20, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:33 EDT
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Well, Katherine, you're always welcome to come by the house or the office
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to see the actual video anytime, y'know....
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 465 Wed May 20, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:14 EDT
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Mind, this isn't a 24 bit Amiga image, though it *began* that way,
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certainly, but it would take an hour to download. So it's been converted to a
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standard 640x480 (or in one case, 751x520) 256 color image. But it still
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looks pretty spiffy, though the blue nebula got a bit "chunky" in the
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transition to a Gif image.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 468 Wed May 20, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:03 EDT
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The shirts arrived this past Monday, the 18th.
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I guess CSHOW, available on most BBSs, will work even on a 16 color
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monitor, though I don't know how good it'll be. Might be okay. Regular 256
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color VGA is pretty good, though a little ragged. Looked at here, on an NEC
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4FG and an Orchid Fahrenheit card with 1 meg video memory, it looks terrific.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 22
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Message 478 Wed May 20, 1992
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:49 EDT
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I'll talk to Ron, see about a 24-bit JPEG. My main thought was not so
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much in excellence of individual gifs, but to get the most accessible files to
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the most amount of people in the least amount of time. (I get the feeling
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that there's a math equation in there somewhere....)
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A funny aside, btw...it's an uphill battle getting the word out about B5
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to *most* places...but you would not believe how many TNG production people
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have been calling over the last week or so, offering to jump ship. So I guess
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SOME people are hearing about it....
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I'm *really* looking forward to reactions to the photos here. I've been
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rattling on about all this stuff for so long, and the majority of you here are
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pretty much taking me at face value, which is okay, but I think it's so much
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better when one can PROVE the point. As stated: talk is cheap. Now just
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about any person with a color VGA monitor (or even a CGA, I suppose) can
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actually get a visual sense of what we're doing, and SEE for themselves at
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least a little of what we have in mind. And to me, that's exciting.
|
|
|
|
So now that the Media*West stuff has finally been ironed out, I'm really
|
|
looking forward to seeing the reactions there when I trot out the new
|
|
tape...with a moving B5 station...and a moving Vorlon ship...and some other
|
|
neat stuff. We *really* want to knock people's socks off, Ron most of all.
|
|
Every night, he goes to bed muttering to himself, "Emmy...Emmy...
|
|
Emmy...Emmy."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 480 Wed May 20, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:14 EDT
|
|
|
|
Yep. The numbers I had for them were 4238 and 4239. I'm in the process
|
|
of finalizing some edits on the script, tightening a bit here and there, a
|
|
nip, a tuck, cleaning up the dialogue, all by hand on the manuscript, and I
|
|
keep the Vorlon gif on my monitor while I work to keep me "inspired."
|
|
|
|
I've got to get a life....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 492 Thu May 21, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:18 EDT
|
|
|
|
The reason that the sections are round is because that's the most logical
|
|
and accepted scientific approach that we can figure out. Which is something
|
|
also different about this show, and the look of the station: though some of
|
|
the inner sections will be flat floors, by and large all of the main corridors
|
|
will be *rounded* or curved. Hence, a curved exterior.
|
|
|
|
Glad you're enjoying the "view" -- and, again, just a reminder that these
|
|
aren't illustrations, but actual video from the project.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 499 Thu May 21, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 13:37 EDT
|
|
|
|
Thanks for the thoughts. (And I wish I'd had that info on the Orchid
|
|
Fahrenheit before I spent DAYS trying to find a program that would show gifs
|
|
with it, ending with VPIC at last.)
|
|
|
|
The upper right hand portion of the station is the cargo loading and
|
|
unloading area, which is in zero-g. If you look at it, you realize that the
|
|
flat top that runs the length of the station is connected at either end, so
|
|
that the components revolve, but the top remains motionless, rather like a
|
|
barbeque spit. (There will be a counterweight at the end to balance it
|
|
out...our techhies say that this is the correct way to build such a
|
|
station...remember the ship from 2010, and the counterweight there.)
|
|
|
|
As for the Vorlon ship being a bit dark...remember, that's actually
|
|
deliberate. I picked the one shot of them coming out of shadow and into
|
|
light, and had it further darkened down just enough to conceal some stuff that
|
|
I don't want revealed for the moment. But enough remains clear that as others
|
|
have noted, it's still pretty cool looking.
|
|
|
|
The rectangular opening in the front is the docking bay, and ships
|
|
approaching will adjust their own rotation to match that of the opening so
|
|
that it appears to be motionless from their POV.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 504 Thu May 21, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:54 EDT
|
|
|
|
Thanks, all...now you're starting to understand what I've been trying --
|
|
inadequately at times -- to convey all this time. And bear in mind that I'm
|
|
only letting out the *least* of the images we now have on hand. Take the B5
|
|
image, get it moving, layer in the planet in the background, have it
|
|
surrounded by ships moving in and out like bees, and NOW you're talking.
|
|
|
|
Remember when I said this show would have a look unlike anything you've
|
|
ever seen before on television? Now you have at least some indication that I
|
|
was telling the truth.
|
|
|
|
If you haven't gotten your shirts yet, it's probably because you ordered
|
|
XXL, and those only came in this week, and they're now in the process of going
|
|
out. Be patient. If you don't get your stuff by the end of next week, lemme
|
|
know and I'll look into it.
|
|
|
|
After that, I may open up a window for others to purchase the shirts
|
|
straight out -- about $10, I guess, including shipping and handling -- until
|
|
they're gone. The other half of the order I'm keeping for handing out at
|
|
conventions.
|
|
|
|
Had a great meeting today at Warners. Showed them the new tape, and they
|
|
were just astonished. When we first proposed this project, there were a lot
|
|
of folks who didn't think we could actually DO it, at least not without
|
|
spending billions on the budget. (And I can't blame them in the least...what
|
|
we proposed was, and still is, pretty amazing...inclusive of stuff that I
|
|
haven't even MENTIONED here, because I want *some* things to be a
|
|
surprise...so that skepticism was absolutely warranted.) But now that they're
|
|
actually seeing what we've been doing, they've become some of our strongest
|
|
supporters. One fellow in the room, who's worked on quite literally *dozens*
|
|
of SF projects for the studio, after viewing the new tape said, "I've NEVER
|
|
seen anything like this. Amazing." We've really broken through a whole new
|
|
level of technology...Ron estimates we're at least two years ahead of nearly
|
|
everyone else in the country, and one year ahead of ILM, which is the only
|
|
one that comes close to what we can do.
|
|
|
|
There are, I confess, times that I just sit here and smile. Makes up for
|
|
the four years of effort and grief that it took to get here.
|
|
|
|
Mostly.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 506 Thu May 21, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:51 EDT
|
|
|
|
Quick aside...if you're going to MWC, you'd best check out that
|
|
topic...where I'll probably be stoned to death momentarily.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 533 Fri May 22, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 13:38 EDT
|
|
|
|
To the two questions raised above...as indicated before, B5 will use a
|
|
mix of storytelling elements. I'm a strong believer in the notion that each
|
|
episode of a series MUST be able to stand on its own. Although I loved it
|
|
dearly, that was the problem with TWIN PEAKS. If you missed even one episode,
|
|
you didn't know WHAT the heck was going on. And, further, that show asked
|
|
questions that it never seemed willing to answer.
|
|
|
|
I've constructed the B5 writing scenario more or less as follows:
|
|
|
|
1) Each episode will be able to stand alone. If you come in on season
|
|
two, without having seen anything else, you'll be able to get into it.
|
|
|
|
2) Questions asked in the course of an episode or a season will be
|
|
answered in that episode or season.
|
|
|
|
3) BUT...if you continue to watch the show, then over time a story writ
|
|
on a much larger scale will begin to emerge. Consider it like a triptych,
|
|
something out of Hieronymous Bosch...each individual panel is sufficient unto
|
|
itself, but put them all together, and suddenly you see connections and a
|
|
whole picture that wasn't there a moment earlier.
|
|
|
|
Relationships will change. People will live, and die. Alliances wll
|
|
shift. And at one point or another, everything you THINK you know about these
|
|
characters will be turned upside down. But there won't be cliffhangers or
|
|
that sort of thing between episodes. There may be such between seasons, but
|
|
not in the course of a season.
|
|
|
|
Funny thing...there are two characters in the show whose roles are going
|
|
to be COMPLETELY reversed by the middle of the run. But I wasn't absolutely
|
|
clear on how to do that, I had only a general notion in my head. Then, in
|
|
Ireland, while standing on the hill of Tara, in the seat of the old High
|
|
Kings...it hit me. And the last bit of information I needed came through.
|
|
|
|
There will be continuity. I've mapped out what will happen, in general,
|
|
in about half the episodes in any given season...incidents that will
|
|
eventually form the tapestry of the larger story. But the other half of any
|
|
given season are left completely open to what our writers might come up with.
|
|
I like being surprised, and want the show to remain open to changes in tide
|
|
and wind.
|
|
|
|
As for the Toaster stuff...Ron would know more about that than I would.
|
|
All I know is what I saw when I visited his digs the other day: he's got --
|
|
let's see -- six? seven? computers, all with 3 accellerators each, hooked up.
|
|
There's new cards and devices and programs that very literally didn't exist
|
|
two weeks ago; he's having them designed to his specs. Speed-wise, in terms
|
|
of rendering, it now functions as fast as a Cray computer. Walking into that
|
|
place was like walking into Frankenstein's lab...amazing stuff.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 540 Fri May 22, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:25 EDT
|
|
|
|
Quickies: in the Vorlon gif, yes, the ship is moving from left to right.
|
|
And regarding the B5 gif...bear in mind that there are no other objects in the
|
|
frame to give it a sense of perspective. Absent that, there is no way to tell
|
|
how big it is, which is why there will be stuff there at all times later on.
|
|
The actual dimensions we've worked out in terms of length is that B5 is ten
|
|
kilometers long. The rest you can work out from there.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 545 Fri May 22, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:33 EDT
|
|
|
|
The components are spherical, yes, arranged one after another with
|
|
bridging between. Rounding kilometers to miles, if you figure on about 5
|
|
miles length, the width is about 2 or 2.5 miles, so it's fairly rectangular.
|
|
|
|
Marymom: just send the note and the money to the same address, and tell
|
|
Susan the situation, saying you checked with me and it was okay. No problem.
|
|
(And just $10, please, not $11.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 572 Sun May 24, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:32 EDT
|
|
|
|
Long day, so this'll be quick, but I just wanted to let y'all know that
|
|
there's an interesting mention of B5 in the current (June) issue of STARLOG,
|
|
in Kerry O'Quinn's "From the Bridge" column. Kinda reinforces what we've been
|
|
saying all along in terms of our attitude and approach on this show.
|
|
|
|
Other than that...I'm bushed. Very productive and good day, some major
|
|
stuff got done. Will try to get through some of the issues raised on a later
|
|
post. And will talk to Ron about getting a 24-bit image at some point in the
|
|
future. Right now he's mainly focusing on getting the main B5 stuff done, and
|
|
anything else is a distraction. Give me time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 584 Sun May 24, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:49 EDT
|
|
|
|
On average, neither TNG nor DS9 come up in topic much over at the B5
|
|
offices. When it does at all, it's often in the sense that they seem to have
|
|
grown rather complacent. Really, when you come right down to it, they haven't
|
|
had much competition over these last five years, and that's bound to lead to a
|
|
sense of complacency.
|
|
|
|
We hope, very shortly, to release a mouse in the elephant's cage.
|
|
|
|
Imagine if there were only one cop show on the air. No competition, and
|
|
a nominally captive audience...if you like cop shows, this is the only game in
|
|
town. The first time something else comes along, though, it forces you to
|
|
maybe work a little harder, do a little better. It challenges you and that's
|
|
always a good thing, I believe.
|
|
|
|
As I think I mentioned before, as soon as all the personnel are ensconced
|
|
in their offices, I plan to have a large metal sign made up, which will go
|
|
right over the inside front door: IF YOU'RE NOT HERE TO KICK ASS, GET OUT.
|
|
Though I don't think that will be much needed, given the team we're
|
|
assembling. That attitude comes through in many ways. In both the Vorlon and
|
|
B5 gifs, for instance, you'll notice the blue nebula in the background. Blue
|
|
is very difficult to deal with in EFX. It's a flare to all concerned. Ron
|
|
points to that and to the objects in the foreground and keeps smiling as he
|
|
says, "See? NO MATTE LINES!"
|
|
|
|
It's that kind of attitude that, I think, will lead to the general
|
|
betterment of BOTH sides. Nothing makes your mind work with astonishing
|
|
clarity than to suddenly find yourself being chased around the room by a
|
|
lunatic with a ball-bat....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 588 Mon May 25, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:34 EDT
|
|
|
|
What will happen next year...only next year can tell. Who knows, I may
|
|
be on the corner of Hollywood and Vine selling pencils.
|
|
|
|
By the way, on Friday David Gerrold and D. C. Fontana came by the house
|
|
to see the new B5 effects (moving Vorlon ship, moving B5, other stuff) on
|
|
tape. They were both absolutely stunned, and said so. David in particular --
|
|
having also read the script -- has taken up the task of spreading the word,
|
|
telling people that this is "the show TNG should have been." Coming from two
|
|
of the primary lights of the original Trek, their support means quite a lot.
|
|
|
|
I've gotten a number of private messages and calls from people asking
|
|
what they can do. And really, it comes down to two things: 1) Tell your
|
|
friends. As many as possible, *if* you like what you're seeing. We don't
|
|
have as well-known a name as TNG, or the ST coat-tails to ride on, all we have
|
|
is the goodwill of the fan community, and word of mouth. And 2) When the show
|
|
finally airs, and if again you like what you see, then it is of the utmost
|
|
importance that you communicate this to the television station in your area
|
|
that broadcast B5. This one is absolutely crucial to continuing to enjoy the
|
|
amount of creative freedom we've experienced so far.
|
|
|
|
Rarely in life are we afforded an opportunity to make a difference. I
|
|
believe, down to my marrow, that B5 can make that difference. And I equally
|
|
believe that the viewing/fan community can make every bit as big a difference
|
|
in supporting that endeavor, and getting the word out to others.
|
|
That, to me, would be the best gift of all.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 598 Mon May 25, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:28 EDT
|
|
|
|
I see no conflict with being able to attend, and since we'll have just
|
|
finished filming about a week earlier, I should have all KINDS of stuff to
|
|
bring. What I have to do now is contact the programming people there and try
|
|
to set it up. Given the magnitude of the con, it's one that I think I should
|
|
definitely attend.
|
|
|
|
Basically, what I plan to do during filming is to set aside certain
|
|
scenes from dailies as we see them, and thus cumulatively build up a demo reel
|
|
as we go. Then lay in the EFX shots (some of them, anyway), and by the time
|
|
we're finished, the demo should be ready to go.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 599 Mon May 25, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:31 EDT
|
|
|
|
Ray...given what came back to me about your earlier "discussion" with Mr.
|
|
Gerrold, don't you think you ought to stay out of his face for a while?
|
|
|
|
(cross-posting is so much fun)
|
|
|
|
BTW...by the end of this coming week, we should be able to announce the
|
|
full production staff. We have all but the casting director and one of the
|
|
line producers, who we'll lock down this week, but have been holding back
|
|
announcing the others until contracts are signed.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 609 Tue May 26, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:04 EDT
|
|
|
|
All sorts of ships use the B5 facilities. It's the only game around for
|
|
several light-years in any direction, so it's a vital place for travelers.
|
|
(Well, maybe "light years" might be a slight exaggeration, but you get the
|
|
idea.) Some military ships come through, from all sides, but there are VERY
|
|
strict regulations...anyone coming on board must be scanned for weapons. None
|
|
are allowed on the base.
|
|
|
|
Most of the ships at this time are set for interstellar travel, but there
|
|
are exceptions or variations. For instance, a military mothership would come
|
|
into that space bearing the short-range fighters which would then come out. A
|
|
lone fighter might not be able to make it back without that support.
|
|
|
|
As for the Vorlon ship -- believe me, it ain't comic relief, in any sense
|
|
of the word. I've seen what it can do. And there *is* a utilitarian reason
|
|
behind its design. In addition, we want to show something VERY alien in
|
|
design and construction...and frankly, there's NO reason a ship that isn't
|
|
ever going to enter atmosphere needs to look aerodynamic. In time, you'd
|
|
move toward things that are visually or aesthetically interesting. In this
|
|
culture (Vorlon), art and science are closely allied, so this extension into
|
|
the look of their ships is quite natural. Concepts about what ships are have
|
|
become very rigid and inflexible thanks to the preponderance of SF-TV shows.
|
|
We want to loosen that up. And that look DOES, as stated, have a practical
|
|
aspect about it as well, which will be seen down the road.
|
|
|
|
As for conventions, yes, I'll announce them here. There's currently
|
|
Westercolt, and SD Comic Con, and as more are lined up, I'll note them here.
|
|
Will write to Priscilla about MagicCon asap. And I'm always at LosCon...that
|
|
convention saw the very first presentation of the show, and will probably be
|
|
among the first to see something very close to a finished product, given its
|
|
November schedule.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 618 Wed May 27, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:53 EDT
|
|
|
|
Jeez, what a day...between MURDER, SHE WROTE and B5, coming back from
|
|
hiatus has been a trip. Today was my first full day back on both
|
|
projects...and the B5 stuff is looking good.
|
|
|
|
Met today with the woman we're pretty sure we're going to use as our
|
|
casting director, and as planned, we're not going for "name" actors, no
|
|
"hunks" per se, no one with a lot of SF baggage (no Gil Gerards or Marc
|
|
Singers). We're going for actors with character in their faces, who have some
|
|
classical or general theatrical training...we're going to be scouting L.A.,
|
|
Chicago, New York and London for performers. Big emphasis on fresh faces.
|
|
|
|
Also met again with the director, and other members of the production
|
|
staff, got the EFX schedule and budget nailed down, and so on. As you begin
|
|
to gear up in earnest, you begin to realize how many decisions there are to be
|
|
made...seemingly a million, some days. It's fun, in a rather tiring way, but
|
|
still exhilirating. (The casting director *loved* the script, and commented
|
|
that it was the first time in over three years that a script has sent her to
|
|
the dictionary to look up new words.)
|
|
|
|
Onward!
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 627 Thu May 28, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:17 EDT
|
|
|
|
What came out of the meeting was some good stuff, and strong support for
|
|
some needed areas, and as you can tell I'm limited to generalities. Some
|
|
meetings and conversations have to respect privacy. If execs think that what
|
|
they have to say is going to be splashed all over systems, they have a
|
|
tendency not to have meetings.
|
|
|
|
Don't know if Houston is on the list or not, but I'll look into it as far
|
|
as casting is concerned, and a con.
|
|
|
|
Absolutely bushed today. In the midst of everything else, I got a call
|
|
from one of my editors at Writer's Digest, asking if I'd be willing to
|
|
contribute an article to their scriptwriting issue, due out in November. It'd
|
|
sort of be the thematic article that ties all of the other articles together.
|
|
I wondered if he REALLY wanted me to tell the truth. He said absolutely. So
|
|
I came home, and pounded out 3,000 words that will either inspire a lot of
|
|
folks, or scare the hell out of them.
|
|
|
|
We'll see.
|
|
|
|
More meetings the rest of the week. Will advise as there's anything
|
|
specific to report.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 630 Thu May 28, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 14:46 EDT
|
|
|
|
I don't know the impact yet that the Fox move will have, if any, on the
|
|
B5/Warners lineup, but I'll inquire when I'm over at the studio this Friday.
|
|
It's almost a sure bet, though, that Fox sped up its schedule in order to try
|
|
and block the Warners move.
|
|
|
|
Y'know, I have worked on a lot of shows. A LOT of shows. And I have
|
|
NEVER seen a situation like this where it seems everyone on the planet is in
|
|
our face...that Other Show, Fox, the press (which keeps forgetting we
|
|
exist)...David and Goliath, I don't mind. David and a LOT of Goliaths is a
|
|
*real* pain in the butt.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 631 Thu May 28, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:26 EDT
|
|
|
|
Just a quote from David Gerrold over on another system: "The (B5) effects
|
|
that I've seen are the best I've ever seen done for television, and better
|
|
than many of the effects done for major feature films." This after viewing
|
|
the most recent reel.
|
|
|
|
Meanwhile, our director flies to New York next week, during which time
|
|
he'll start scouting around for possible cast. As cast members are nailed
|
|
down during the next month, I'll pass them along here as soon as we can
|
|
confirm with Warners that it's okay to release the names (meaning that the
|
|
contracts have been finalized).
|
|
|
|
What I'm going to say now is going to sound a little strange, but there
|
|
are reasons for it. Though we already have some ideas, when we end up casting
|
|
the actor for the part of Delenn, that is the only role and the only actor
|
|
that I will try very hard NOT to announce prior to airdate. So that's one
|
|
topic that I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep mum about for as long as
|
|
conceivably possible. (No, it's not likely to be a Big Name, anyone you're
|
|
familiar with, so that's not the reason.)
|
|
|
|
When the time comes, you'll understand why.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 633 Thu May 28, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:14 EDT
|
|
|
|
Actually, funny thing about the WD article...the focus of the piece, and
|
|
the issue, is "Breaking In." I was told the deadline was the end of July.
|
|
But the more I thought about it, the more I began to see what I really wanted
|
|
to say. I jotted down a couple of notes. Then an opening paragraph. Next
|
|
thing I knew, I was well into it, and burned through the 3,000 words almost
|
|
all in one sitting.
|
|
|
|
Whether or not it's what anyone really wants to hear, I'll find out, I
|
|
guess.
|
|
|
|
(And I *did* catch the reference, Sue. So, YOU'RE the one who reads my
|
|
column....)
|
|
|
|
BTW, there's something familiar about your name, but I can't place it for
|
|
some reason...though maybe I'm just hallucinating again.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 638 Thu May 28, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:40 EDT
|
|
|
|
There's a text file in the library here that should function as a press
|
|
release, I think...that is, I *think* I uploaded it...take a look, and if
|
|
there's not a release file, let me know and I'll upload it.
|
|
|
|
The Gifs may be further uploaded, with the copyright information
|
|
contained in the library here attached.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 658 Fri May 29, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:26 EDT
|
|
|
|
On the shirt, Elissa...I'm about to log off, so if you can leave me a
|
|
note in mail, I'll send you the info.
|
|
|
|
On the topic of the LA visit in June...I'd have to say that's really up
|
|
in the air. I don't know yet what my schedule is going to look like. My
|
|
suggestion: once you get into town, call me at Universal Studios. If nothing
|
|
else works, we can say hi over the phone. If things aren't as crazy as they
|
|
tend to be, maybe we can do it in person.
|
|
|
|
I *suspect* that the B5 picture in AmigaWorld is the earlier version of
|
|
the station, though I haven't seen it. If it's grey/white, then that's what
|
|
it is. Still cool, but not as cool as the current version. But I'm glad to
|
|
know it's there, and the word is getting out.
|
|
|
|
Will see what I can do about putting up some information on Ben Kyle
|
|
sometime soon.
|
|
|
|
Up to my butt in meetings today re: B5. All good stuff. Met with our
|
|
director again, who's going out of town for a bit, to discuss the latest
|
|
revisions on the script that I've made. Also met with the studio exec who's
|
|
our liaison, and -- well, this probably isn't going to make much sense to
|
|
anybody, but see, all this time, I've been using my own script binder for the
|
|
B5 screenplay, the color logo, that sort of thing. Well, when the studio exec
|
|
showed up, he'd brought along a copy of the script as generated by Warner
|
|
Bros.' script department, with the WB logo, and all of the things that come
|
|
with a studio's name...and it was just cool, it made it seem strangely real
|
|
all of a sudden.
|
|
|
|
And speaking of becoming real, we're gearing up more and more, with
|
|
additional hirings and stuff. By June 10th, we're actually going to have our
|
|
SET MODELS! Our production designer has been busily constructing them and
|
|
sculpting them and doing floor plans and blueprints, and within two weeks,
|
|
we'll actually be able to see three-dimensional renderings of what the station
|
|
is going to look like. We then have about a week to futz with the designs,
|
|
then it has to be nailed down so we can begin actual set construction.
|
|
|
|
*Everybody's* jazzed. Everyone loves the script, we've got a great crew
|
|
assembled -- top-flight from top to bottom, some of the best and the brightest
|
|
-- the EFX are stunning, all that remains now is the cast...the sense you get
|
|
from everybody is that this one is *different*, it's got something special
|
|
about it. And the work everyone's putting into it really demonstrates that.
|
|
Everyone's going above and beyond the call of duty, beginning even before
|
|
they're being paid, just to be able to spend that much more time working it
|
|
out and getting it just *right*. In a town where it seems everyone's out for
|
|
the bucks, to see people saying, "Look, it's gonna take a week to set the
|
|
deal, how about if I just start now, screw the payments right now," is just
|
|
astonishing.
|
|
|
|
This is *such* a kick.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 663 Sat May 30, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:30 EDT
|
|
|
|
Hmmm....maybe it IS the current version...I must investigate.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 22
|
|
Message 680 Sun May 31, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 16:28 EDT
|
|
|
|
That's one of the good things about Ron...he knows the Toaster and
|
|
related technologies inside out. In addition, he has an associate -- I
|
|
believe provided by NewTek -- who is providing new codes, and new systems, and
|
|
new hardware customized per Ron's requests. Stuff that no one had ever
|
|
thought to put into a computer because there'd never been a call for it
|
|
before. As a result, Ron has capabilities and software that very literally
|
|
did not exist two months ago or, in one particular case, two WEEKS ago.
|
|
|
|
The other result will be in everyone's benefit, in that this stuff is
|
|
fast becoming VERY advanced, much more powerful than anyone had previously
|
|
conceived. Which fundamentally benefits the consumers.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|