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1336 lines
56 KiB
1336 lines
56 KiB
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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 category. The posts are copyright by JMS
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(and compilation copyright is by GEnie).
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Posts are from Nov 1, 1993 through Dec 2, 1993
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************
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Topic 1 Mon Oct 26, 1992
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SF-MARSHALL [Dave ] at 18:50 EST
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Sub: Babylon 5 - The Series (Non-Spoiler)
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Welcome to the Babylon 5 category and main topic for the new series. Here is
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the place for all general information on the series. Topic 2 is the location
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for SPOILERS. And please, NO STORY IDEAS are to be posted either.
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368 message(s) total.
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************
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 113 Sun Oct 31, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:48 EDT
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Just an update...on Monday we a) do the final mix on "Midnight on the
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Firing Line," so we'll have two finished and in the can, and b) finish
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shooting Christy's episode of "Grail." (And those of you who've been asking
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for nonhumanoid alien stuff...hold onto your hats for this one.) On Tuesday
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we start shooting "Mind War," with Walter Koenig, William Allan Young and
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Felicity Waterman. Both "Grail" and "Mind War" have been heavy on EFX, both
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visual (on set) and CGI.
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In looking at all the episodes shot to date, from a story point of view,
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I think that "Sky" is still my favorite, in how it ties into the whole 5 year
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arc. From a personal point of view, I'm very fond of "The Parliament of
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Dreams," which is a very funny show, and at times a very emotional show.
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"Parliament" is all over the place...it's got all of our major characters, our
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ambassadors, their seconds, we see lots of group scenes, we're all over the
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station, dipping in and out of three different but interconnected
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stories...it's really a matter of keeping a lot of balls in the air at one
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time, and I think we pulled it off nicely.
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BTW, we've finished assembling the main title sequence, and we're going
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to do one extra little thing to it that's kinda neat...more on this closer to
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airdate.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 123 Sun Oct 31, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:29 EST
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There are a lot of little in-jokes...but I'd rather let you see them than
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ruin the surprise.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 133 Tue Nov 02, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:11 EST
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We sneak in GEnie coordinates from time to time....
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We now have just under half the episodes now filmed, and just finished
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the final mix on "Midnight," so that's two totally completed. It takes a long
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time after an episode is finished to do a final mix, particularly on a show
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like this, since you've got to work out sound, score music, and do any
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rotoscope/Viz EFX stuff. Once you do the first one, after that they fall into
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place on a weekly basis (so next Monday we should have the final on "Purple,"
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then the following Monday we'll finalize "Infection," and so on).
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"Midnight" is very cool, by the way. Christopher Franke's music really
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brings the action scenes to life. It's amazing how much that adds to a show.
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Had an interesting conversation today with one of our crew. I was
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talking to someone else about the writing philosophy on the show, and how it's
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comparable to a tryptich...you line up the stories and you begin to see a much
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broader story after a while. A series of interconnected images.
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And this crew person said that I was wrong, that wasn't how the show is
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being done. Now lemme tell you...we encourage people on every level to speak
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frankly, at any time, to any one, but it takes considerable cojones to say
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something like that to one's exec producer, that he has his own series wrong
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in the description. "Oh?" says I.
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He explains that what it is, is "holographic storytelling." I asked him
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what the hell this meant. He said that the image of pictures side by side,
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linear storytelling, wasn't right. That after he read two scripts, he went
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back and reread the first one, and now he could see things in it that he
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hadn't seen before. When he'd read three, again he glanced over the first,
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and new things had come out.
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"What it IS," he said, "is not side-by-side images, but *overlaping*
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images, like old fashioned photographic plates stacked up one on top of the
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other. Each has a piece of the whole picture. When you line them all up, one
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behind the other, and look through all of them at once, you realize what the
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picture is. It's three-dimensional storytelling."
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I had to think about that one a long time, but frankly, he's right, and
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I'm wrong. That *IS* what we're doing, and I've been describing it
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incorrectly all this time.
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Holographic storytelling...well, live and learn, I say.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 137 Tue Nov 02, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:21 EST
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Not this season, no. Nor are there currently any plans for same.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 148 Thu Nov 04, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:38 EST
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Now that we've finished mixing some shows, we've now seen how Kosh
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speaks, followed through to the end. It's a very unusual system that he's got
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there, and it's *real* creepy to watch/listen to it. The kind of thing that
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makes your skin crawl after a while.
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I love it.
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Today,ter Koenig's 2nd day working in the B5 universe, as a Psi Cop in
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"Mind War." He's doing well, taking part in some very difficult scenes (fight
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scenes and the ilke), and it's a very powerful performance, not at ALL what
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people have seen before. He's a terrific performer when given a role with
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some meat to it. And the dailies look great. I think this episode will wake
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up a lot of people who have never seen Walter as anything other than Chekov.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 157 Fri Nov 05, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:35 EST
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Yes, people will go to the bathroom. ANd yes, they will speak in their
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own languages when amongst their own kind...but just as with a WW II movie,
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when you show the germans talking to one another, it'll be English. On those
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occasions when someone speaks Narn around humans, then of course it's another
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language, and will sound that way.
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The pilot was a tad too dark looking; we've taken a slightly lighter look
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for the series, while keeping the shadows and textures that we want.
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What a weird day...I just get over the flu, this is my first really
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healthy day, and on the way back from the lunch trucks I slip spraining my
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ankle. Now, after I've had the flu, I generally tend to dress warmly for a
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few days, wear my slippers, to avoid falling back. So now here I am typing
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this with a bag of ice on my foot. Either way...I'm doomed.
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Funny incident today, though, also at lunch. Walter Koenig joined some
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of the cast members at their table for lunch, and as he came to the table,
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they all stood up at attention. When asked why, they explained that it's
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protocol for junior officers to stand when a senior officer comes to the
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table. It was kind of a nice moment.
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Shooting on "Mind War" continues to go well. Great stuff from Walter.
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Also, I've finally seen the final version of the B5 main title, with the
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addition of Christopher Franke's B5 theme music...and it's just terrific, a
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huge step over the pilot, much as I liked some aspects of that music. It's
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rich, romantic, full, aggressive, and it stays in the mind afterward.
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Looking good....
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 164 Sat Nov 06, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:39 EST
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The B5 soundtrack for the series is built from many different kinds of
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pieces, synthesized (based on one of the most extensive collection of
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musical/audio samples in the world, which Christopher has been in the process
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of collecting ever since he practically hand-assembled his first Moog), and
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symphonic, since we're using the Berlin Symphonic Orchestra for some elements
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of our score. It changes dramatically depending on the subject.
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Re: gunfire...in a way, you'll see them...and in a way, you won't. I
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know that sounds like a Zen koan, but it'll make sense when you see how they
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work.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 174 Sun Nov 07, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:35 EST
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The main problem with using sub-titles under an alien language to any
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real degree is, of course, the probelm with the blind viewership, which is
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especially large in SF, it appears.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 196 Thu Nov 11, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:16 EST
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Well, we've finished finalizing our main/opening titles sequence, and
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done the on-line editing, and now will put it into the process and start
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putting whole shows together. We've decided, in order to emphasize the
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cinematic aspects of our show, that it's taking more of a movie approach to TV
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SF...to do the main titles in letterbox format.
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And it looks really, really cool.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 198 Thu Nov 11, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:38 EST
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Yes, the main titles will be in letterbox format for conventional
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televisions...we're taking the footage that we've shot in 16:9 aspect ratio,
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and shrinking it down just enough to fit, so there's black on top and bottom,
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the same way that, for instance, TNT shows movies in their full aspect ratio.
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And we've custom designed some CGI that also is in that format. (In the case
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of series footage that we're using, there you'll be able to compare the
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regular aspect ratio of the broadcast with what's in the main titles. In
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other words, there's a scene in "Parliament" of a Minbari gathering. In
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regular aspect, as part of the show, you'll see it one way. We've clipped a
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section of that for the main titles and used the full aspect ratio, and in
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that you'll see the far right and left sides normally clipped for standard TV
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aspect ratio.)
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Apparently this is also done on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, I learned the
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other day, so that'll give you some sense of it. It's very effective at
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giving a real cinematic feel to your main titles.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 202 Thu Nov 11, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:13 EST
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No, it won't be rare. And that's the reason why we're NOT doing
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subtitles. This is the difference between something sounding neat on paper,
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but not in reality, and especially not on a TV series.
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If you're doing a feature film, and only have one or two shots of aliens
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talking in subtitles, for brief periods, you can do this; also if you're doing
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an SF series in which you're mainly talking to humans, and only rarely among
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your own kind.
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But in B5, a LOT of our time is spent with our various alien characters.
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And sometimes the conversation can get quite detailed, quite complex or
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political. In one script, for instance, there's a 2 1/2 minute scene with
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G'Kar and Na'Toth, followed by two lengthy scenes with Londo and Vir, and
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Delenn and Vir. So you're talking about maybe 5 minutes here. The
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conversation is very detailed, very elaborate. So are you a) going to put all
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of this complex dialogue on screen, line by line, and b) use subtitles for
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FIVE UNBROKEN MINUTES?
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You'd kill yourself as a series. No one would stand for it, and they'd
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be right. Again, not every good idea is a workable or practical idea.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 208 Fri Nov 12, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:26 EST
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I don't offhand know the answer to the more tech question; the info is at
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the office, and I always get them confused in my head. I'm fairly sure it's
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option c, though.
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RE: composition...the monitor on which the director and DP can watch and
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see what the camera sees has on it demarkations to show the regular aspect
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ratio, as well as the widescreen view. Which pretty much allows them to
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compose for both, for the most part.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 216 Sat Nov 13, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:12 EST
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We're not shooting on videotape, so it's kind of a moot point. We're
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shooting on film, which can be converted to HDTV standards *very* easily. The
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pixel density is a function of where you go once you decide to convert the
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film. It's now being converted to video at standard resolution; when HDTV
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comes into existence commercially, the film will be reprocessed out and
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transferred to video at that level.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 224 Mon Nov 15, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:54 EST
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I really don't know that much; apparently there's something in the works
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about toys, but I don't have specifics. Ditto for comics and the like. I
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tend not to get my head too far into that part of it, because I think that as
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soon as you do, you can get lost in merchandising, and the next thing you know
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you're doing things not necessarily because they belong in the story, but
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because they make great merchandise prospects.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 229 Tue Nov 16, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:44 EST
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Our head of post production, associate producer George Johnsen, pulled a
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number on me today that just struck me as hilarious, and I pass it on to you.
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(We do a lot of silly stuff behind the scenes.)
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Take your hands. Fold in the thumb until it's pointing in toward the
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palm of your hand, but not entirely. Fan out your other four fingers on each
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hand as far as you can. Now put the two hands together so that the index
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fingers touch, and the pinkies are on either side of one another (i.e., you've
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formed a crown or fan). Raise your hands so that your wrists are settling on
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either side of the top of your head.
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Now look at the person sitting next to you and say, "Live, Londo, and
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Prosper." This is the unofficial B5 crew greeting. Apparently some have been
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doing it when they arrive for work in the morning.
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We're a sick bunch, but we're fun.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 234 Wed Nov 17, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:00 EST
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The following is *not* a shot, I repeat, the following is NOT a shot,
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okay? It's just...last night, I got in from the stage late, and the last 15
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minutes of the latest TNG effort was on, about the destructive warp engines.
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And I watched, astonished, as the Enterprise was buffetted by rift forces,
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damaged, another ship was damaged, the rift grew, the other ship was
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destroyed...and *all of it* until the very end, at which point they interfaced
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some stock footage with a bit of new stuff, ALL of that other material was off-
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camera, we saw *NONE* of it! It was just like radio drama...we *hear* about
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the ship getting hit, the rift doing this, ships blowing up, but we never see
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ANY of it.
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This came to mind today when I saw some of the new CGI footage from "Mind
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War," which is starting to look quite extraordinary. About every four-five
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episodes, we seem to take a jump in what we can do, how much we can do, and
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how good it looks. The latest batch of stuff is absolutely breathtaking. And
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in addition to everything else, the one thing that I come away with, the one
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thing that *no one* is doing, is the absolute SCALE of the show. In addition
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to sets and CGI as standalones, we're doing some groundbreaking work in
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composites, mattes, virtual sets and other stuff.
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There are moments when I can't *wait* to get this show on the air to show
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people what we've done, and what we're doing.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 248 Sat Nov 20, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:22 EST
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Well, today we finished shooting on episode #11, meaning that we are now
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exactly halfway through production on the Babylon 5 series. This is the fifty
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yard line, still a long way to go, but it's no further ahead of us than it is
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behind us.
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After we'd finished shooting, I fired up bits of our first couple of
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finished episodes for John Flinn, our DP. He watched a bit, then went to get
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some others in the crew. And more came. Before I knew it, the room was full
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of people watching the finished show (or portions) for the very first time.
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The atmosphere was electric...yells of delight and pleasure, cheers and
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applause, whistles...everyone left absolutely stoked. A real boost at the
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halfway mark.
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Monday we begin shooting "Chrysalis." Yowza! After that follows
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"Deathwalker" (with Sarah Douglas in the lead role) by Larry the D.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 250 Sat Nov 20, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:26 EST
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The time for prep on year two, if we were to get picked up, would be
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equal to year one, with the exception that we won't have to build all of these
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sets. We'll have more time in that sense. Again, the stories are pretty much
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mapped out for five years, so that's already done. If we get renewed, we'll
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probably get the word around March, shoot beginning in July '94, and air year
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2 in January '95. But again, this is very premature at the moment.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 259 Sun Nov 21, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:22 EST
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I'd rather wait on that until the series airs....
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 277 Thu Nov 25, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:56 EST
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I have no objections other than those that will likely be raised at your
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sanity hearing.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 281 Thu Nov 25, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:07 EST
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There's been a film crew here already, some time ago, during shooting,
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and several behind-the-scenes pieces have been cut of various length; one
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promotional piece of 8 minutes has already been downlinked. More, of greater
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length, will follow.
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We've now deliered 4 complete episodes to PTEN, and the reaction we've
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heard back has been off-the-scale enthusiastic. They're convinced we've got
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something very special here. I let Walter Koenig see a coupe of shows,
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including the director's cut of the one he's in, and he like what he saw a
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lot, and is convinced it'll be a success.
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So far, so good....
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Today was crash day. I've been running on 4 hours sleep, running around
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like a demented creature, for weeks on end now. (Larry made it a point to
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tell me that if I were to kill myself on this show that he would have to take
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over, and run the show. I pointed out that I've got an Egyptian King clause
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in my will...if I die during production, he gets entombed with me. If I go,
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I'm taking him with me.) So today I never even saw the sun; crashed around 3
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a.m. and didn't open my eyes again until 5 p.m. I feel vaguely human for the
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first time in ages.
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(And kind of a personal triumph; I bought a 4-pack of John Lennon CDs,
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and can finally listen to them. I wasn't a stone Beatles fan, wasn't a
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hardcase Lennon fan, but when he was killed, when that genius was stilled, I
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got so angry, so blindly *furious*...and my heart just died. Ever since that
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time, I haven't been able to listen to Lennon's work without that same rage
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killing my pleasure in the music. I'm finally, finally able to listen to it
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again, and it's playing in the background even as I type this.)
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Saturday is the "Midnight" screening, and we'll see what we see....
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 285 Fri Nov 26, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:21 EST
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Thanks.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 304 Mon Nov 29, 1993
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:02 EST
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In that "no one here is what they appear" scene, G'Kar is talking to
|
|
Catherine Sakai (Julia Nickson), the same one later in the restaurant scene.
|
|
It's a different look for her because that that moment she's in business mode,
|
|
and about to head out to her survey ship, the Skydancer, for which she is
|
|
captain and owner.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 318 Tue Nov 30, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:19 EST
|
|
|
|
A few folks have noted in email that I've been kinda quiet here of late,
|
|
and I just wanted to note that there are two reasons for this:
|
|
|
|
1) Whenever something of mine is aired, or shown, as with "Midnight," I
|
|
tend to adopt a low profile in order to avoid influencing or directing the
|
|
conversation.
|
|
|
|
As for 2)...a word in the ear of every person reading this who uses the
|
|
keyboard incessantly: *BUY WRIST GUARDS*. For the last year or so, I've been
|
|
fighting carpal tunnel syndrome. The problem is that I write 10-12 hours a
|
|
day, and when I'm going at white-heat, I've been clocked at nearly 120 words
|
|
per minute...one person who listened noted that during one particular session
|
|
the click-click-click didn't pause, didn't slow for nearly twenty minutes
|
|
straight. I fall through the screen and come out somewhere else, hours later.
|
|
|
|
The downside of which being...I'm having *real* problems with CTS right
|
|
now. As we gear up for the last part of the season, I'm behind the keyboard
|
|
constantly, when I'm not in editing. During the Thanksgiving break, I was
|
|
averaging 20 pages a day. Early in that process, the CTS settled in bigtime.
|
|
The pain is nearly constant, all day, all night. To pick up a can of soda is
|
|
an exercise in profound discomfort. To *type* is beyond description. I'm
|
|
doing everything I can to minimize it, including sending for some new wrist
|
|
supports and wrist braces, but apparently this stuff is cumulative.
|
|
|
|
It's not stopping the writing, not by so much as a comma, but it makes me
|
|
more inclined to quick, short messages than my usual mini-novels.
|
|
I learned a long time ago how to burn through pain, so it's not a problem on
|
|
that level. Once the season's over, we'll evaluate where things stand, and
|
|
whether this can be ameliorated by exercises or surgery or whatever. But I'm
|
|
a *writer*, and that means I'll write if they cut off my arms and legs and I
|
|
have to type with my nose. Nor is this message intended for sympathy. No
|
|
sympathies are expected or requested. This is just one more challenge to B5.
|
|
|
|
|
|
My only thought at this moment is with those reading this: if you do lots
|
|
of work behind the computer, take breaks, wear wrist braces, get a support for
|
|
your keyboard, do wrist-hand exercises. You wouldn't like this. Trust me.
|
|
|
|
This show has been an act of sheer will now for nearly seven years. So
|
|
what else is new?
|
|
|
|
By Friday we finish shooting "Chrysalis," which looks *gorgeous*. Then
|
|
comes "Deathwalker," with Sarah Douglas and Robin Curtis. It's another of our
|
|
very tough episodes, written by Larry the D. With "Chrysalis" it's 12 down
|
|
and 10 to go. We're on the downward slide, and it's coming up fast.
|
|
|
|
Later.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 322 Tue Nov 30, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:03 EST
|
|
|
|
Happily, the energy level here isn't flagging at all; if anything,
|
|
there's been an infusion of energy, partially through being able to show some
|
|
of our crew finishd episodes, so they can see the whole elephant rather than
|
|
only isolated parts (to great reaction), and partly through the reactions at
|
|
the con. We're all feeling very renewed and rededicated toward the show.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 330 Wed Dec 01, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:13 EST
|
|
|
|
I can't dictate as fast as I can type; and I don't think in verbal terms,
|
|
I have to see it on the scren. I tried it once, but found I'm just not a very
|
|
good dictator (crew comments notwithstanding).
|
|
|
|
A guest actor really can't add much beyond the episode in which he or she
|
|
appears. But behind the scenes...some of our cast learned a lot while working
|
|
with Revell, and McCallum, and some of our other classically trained guest
|
|
actors. They were enjoyable experiences. As far as the experience they
|
|
had...all of our guests have to date expressed a hope to return in other roles
|
|
at some point. They've uniformly been treated well, and with respect,
|
|
particularly those who've made their careers in SF, and are viewed as "senior
|
|
officers" in a sense. Some have described it as the best working experience
|
|
they've had.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 331 Wed Dec 01, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:17 EST
|
|
|
|
Have just uploaded starfury.gif to the Babylon 5 library here in the
|
|
SFRT, file #730. Just FYI.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 341 Thu Dec 02, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:39 EST
|
|
|
|
If the file takes 6 minutes to download at 2400, why did it take me 18
|
|
minutes to upload at 2400?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 343 Thu Dec 02, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:54 EST
|
|
|
|
Just uploaded two more; 749 and 750...rescue.gif and starlit.gif. The
|
|
former is a shot of a Starfury alongside the starliner Asimov; the latter is
|
|
an unusual angle on B5 angled with the star behind it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 352 Thu Dec 02, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:21 EST
|
|
|
|
Part of the problem is that I was using compression/error-free protocol.
|
|
I turned that off, and the others went up faster.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 354 Thu Dec 02, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:03 EST
|
|
|
|
Darn, I hadn't noticed that. See, starfury.gif is one of the very
|
|
earliest graphic renderings we had of the fighter, mainly for in-house. The
|
|
logos had been put on mainly for place orientation. It's not like that
|
|
elsewhere...I'll upload a more current version. I simply didn't notice that.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 362 Fri Dec 03, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:47 EST
|
|
|
|
If Job could take it, I can take it.
|
|
|
|
And yes, that's the bottom of the starfury.
|
|
|
|
The GIF of the Starfury is letterboxed/wide. Most of the others that'll
|
|
be uploaded are conventional aspect ratio.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 2 Wed Nov 20, 1991
|
|
STARR [Arne] at 19:41 EST
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 -- The Series!! >>SPOILERS<<
|
|
|
|
May 28th, '93, Babylon 5 officially became a series. There will be 22 hours,
|
|
plus the 2 hours of the pilot, for season one. Airs Wednesday's at 8PM in most
|
|
places starting Jan. '94. This is the Spoiler topic where anything goes.
|
|
|
|
415 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 312 Sun Oct 31, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:50 EDT
|
|
|
|
The bay is pressurized, with drop doors beneath each fighter. A ramp
|
|
extends to the fighters individually, bringing on pilots. The bays are
|
|
depressurized as the pilots (in flight suits) prepare. Then the drop doors
|
|
open, the fighters pivot to nose-down position, and launch.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 322 Tue Nov 02, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:12 EST
|
|
|
|
Tom: the rotating lights were dumb and we dropped them.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 324 Wed Nov 03, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:58 EST
|
|
|
|
Yup. We learn. Slowly, but we learn.
|
|
|
|
Food...good. Fire...bad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 337 Sat Nov 06, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:40 EST
|
|
|
|
It's "Your time has come and gone! It's OUR turn now!"
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 341 Sat Nov 06, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:56 EST
|
|
|
|
Christopher Neame was an unvarnished joy to work with, and he did a truly
|
|
spectacular job as Knight Two in "Sky." Forceful, dynamic, and his
|
|
performance at the very end in a much quieter scene with Sinclair will make
|
|
your hair stand on end. It's just something he says, but the implications of
|
|
what he says, and the way he says it, is just killer. I'd love to find a way
|
|
to bring Knight Two back at some point, and the door was somewhat left open to
|
|
facilitate that possibility.
|
|
|
|
In any event, both Christopher and Judson Scott were both terrific to
|
|
work with.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 347 Sun Nov 07, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:24 EST
|
|
|
|
Because the promo wasn't put together by us, but by others, whose main
|
|
concern is finding good images which may not necessarily be associated.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 360 Tue Nov 09, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:47 EST
|
|
|
|
No, on balance, I'd say that it has not given me a dislike for all things
|
|
Trek. I think it comes with the turf.
|
|
|
|
There are three things that I put to *some* degree on the same level, at
|
|
least from a sociological level (though there are obvious differences in true
|
|
or perceived quality): the Beatles, Star Trek, and Stephen King. All are
|
|
media phenomenon, all are very much of their time. When people say, "Oh, so
|
|
and so is the next Stephen King," that's nonsense, because King fills a
|
|
particular slot that no one else can really hit; same with the Beatles.
|
|
Groups may come along that may sell more records than the Beatles ever sold,
|
|
may be even more popular, but no one else will ever play the specific social
|
|
role that the Beatles played in their time; no one else will ever be at that
|
|
specific juncture. They are all icons.
|
|
|
|
When the Rolling Stones made Phase Two of the British invasion of the
|
|
1960s, they were constantly being compared to the Beatles, evaluated in terms
|
|
of the Beatles, and it pissed them off mightily, because they weren't the
|
|
Beatles, didn't play the same kinds of songs as the Beatles, and the only
|
|
thing they had in common was that they were both British. But the American
|
|
media, basically unfamiliar with the British scene, lumped them into the same
|
|
category.
|
|
|
|
Star Trek played a pivotal role in TV SF. There can be no mistake about
|
|
that. Other shows may someday supplant it in longevity, or ratings, or
|
|
popularity, or following, but no other show will ever take that show's place.
|
|
No other show will ever be "the new Star Trek." Not even the, well, the new
|
|
Star Trek(s). Trek provided a terrific foundation; it's unfortunate that in
|
|
25+ years, not much has been done really to build upon that foundation and
|
|
take SF-TV to the next logical level. Maybe B5 can do that. I certainly hope
|
|
so. Maybe not. I could be living in a fool's paradise. But if not us, then
|
|
sooner or later, someone will take that next step.
|
|
|
|
I've always liked the original Trek series, and always will. Even wrote
|
|
an issue of the ST comic, "Worldsinger," for DC.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 364 Wed Nov 10, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:48 EST
|
|
|
|
Next up is "Survivors."
|
|
|
|
"Born to the Purple" got mixed this past Monday. We'll be delivering all
|
|
three episodes this Friday to PTEN; after that, it'll be once a week. Just
|
|
like clockwork. We're well into the groove now.
|
|
|
|
Christopher Franke is developing themes for each of the characters, plus
|
|
themes for the station, for space in general, and for our various
|
|
aliens...something that carries a sense of the minbari, the grey council,
|
|
others. He even wrote a wonderful little Narn libretto for G'Kar, a la
|
|
Gilbert and Sullivan. Some elements carry across shows, but in each show
|
|
there are new and different pieces that work wonderfully. He's nothing less
|
|
than terrific.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 372 Thu Nov 11, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:20 EST
|
|
|
|
Actually, I think it is "turn."
|
|
|
|
Sinclair's opening narrative over the series main titles:
|
|
|
|
"It was the Dawn of the Third Age of Mankind, ten years after the
|
|
Earth/Minbari War. The Babylon Project was a dream given form, its goal: to
|
|
prevent another war by creating a place where humans and aliens could work out
|
|
their differences peacefully. It's a port of call, home away from home for
|
|
diplomats, hustlers, entrepreneurs and wanderers. Humans and aliens wrapped
|
|
in two million, five hundred thousand tons of spinning metal...all alone in
|
|
the night.
|
|
|
|
"It can be a dangerous place, but it's our last, best hope for peace.
|
|
|
|
"This is the story of the last of the Babylon stations.
|
|
|
|
"The year is 2258.
|
|
|
|
"The name of the place...is Babylon 5."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 379 Fri Nov 12, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:31 EST
|
|
|
|
My sense is that we have Sinclair narrating from some point in the
|
|
future. The transition of grammar takes place as we push into the station,
|
|
from the outside in. This was the last of the Babylon stations, and this
|
|
particular segment of it is set in 2258. (Season two would say, "The year is
|
|
2259." And so on.)
|
|
|
|
Many here will remember a show called "You Are There." The usual
|
|
narrator would say, paraphrasing here but keeping the grammar, "The year 1776
|
|
was crucial to our nation's history. The founding fathers were on the brink
|
|
of declaring independence. It's a moment of great importance. The year is
|
|
1776...and You Are There." It's along those lines. The purpose of the
|
|
narrative changes to transition us into the story.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 383 Fri Nov 12, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:37 EST
|
|
|
|
The tense shifts are intentional, and go with the scenes we're seeing.
|
|
They're *supposed* to shift, with the visuals, in order to bring us into the
|
|
present from the future, at which point this story is being introduced.
|
|
|
|
BTW, does anyone know if the GEnie/Internet relay is down or something?
|
|
Usually there's 50 or so messages a day in my mailbox here from the Internet
|
|
relay, and the last 2 days or so there's been nada.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 399 Sat Nov 20, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:08 EST
|
|
|
|
Yes, he's a nifty guy, no mistake. And I think we might be able to work
|
|
out something....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 402 Tue Nov 23, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:25 EST
|
|
|
|
Because PTEN is very high on the shows we're delivering, there may be
|
|
some modification in airdate scheduling, to create real momentum, but I don't
|
|
know anything firm about that yet.
|
|
|
|
The date I hear most often re: the debut is January 26th.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 405 Wed Nov 24, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:24 EST
|
|
|
|
The rotating sphere you saw was probably the starliner Asimov; the thing
|
|
in the asteroid field is...a command and control vessel. A command and
|
|
control vessel for *what*...I won't say.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 406 Wed Nov 24, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:27 EST
|
|
|
|
So, Fenn...you liked it, eh? I forgot to mention that I haven't yet seen
|
|
the material; it should be arriving at the office tomorrow. I imagine they
|
|
highlighted the action, and the CGI, and the aliens (which is pretty much
|
|
stet), since it's hard to really indicate characterization in a quick promo.
|
|
Any other reactions?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 409 Thu Nov 25, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:00 EST
|
|
|
|
Just saw the promo. The Narn woman is Caitlin Brown (Na'Toth). What is
|
|
in the promo is taken almost entirely from the first two episodes, with just a
|
|
smidge from #3. Which may give you some indication of how much action is *in*
|
|
the first couple episodes (and in many epiosodes thereafter)
|
|
-- definitely keeping the thing moving.
|
|
|
|
I'd say that n'grath would count as a non-humanoid alien, yes? (Just
|
|
keeping an eye on my promises here....)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 3 Tue Nov 03, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:09 EST
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 - Computer SFX Tech-Talk
|
|
|
|
Some of the new computer EFX used in BABYLON 5 will be revolutionary, a new
|
|
approach never seen before on this scale. It's all new tech, and this topic
|
|
will try and address the new technologies involved.
|
|
211 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 3
|
|
Message 167 Tue Nov 02, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:14 EST
|
|
|
|
No comment at this time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 3
|
|
Message 192 Wed Nov 10, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:52 EST
|
|
|
|
Actually, we're not using the Harry. First, it wasn't up to the level we
|
|
wanted to strive for, and second the best harry guy we could find had some
|
|
"theological problems" with "Soul Hunter" and we felt that we weren't getting
|
|
as good as we could. So we've switched over to a new system.
|
|
|
|
The rotoscope and other visual EFX are now being done on computer, as are
|
|
the cgi. On a Mac, to be precise, by an EFX designer who's one of the best in
|
|
town, possibly the best, who's known locally as "Mr. Electricity." He did the
|
|
same kind of work on T2, Total Recall and other features. He's interfaced
|
|
with our other technical people, and the result is really *very*
|
|
extraordinary, considerably more extensive and better looking than what's
|
|
usually done on TV.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 3
|
|
Message 195 Fri Nov 12, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:31 EST
|
|
|
|
Nope. Kevin Kutchaver.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 3
|
|
Message 201 Sun Nov 28, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:52 EST
|
|
|
|
We did some library stuff in the first few eps, but as we've ben (been)
|
|
spending more time, we've built up more, and generally we have 3-4 new
|
|
establishers per ep. So there's less and less of it the deeper you get into
|
|
the series. (And when you come down to it, a shot of the station against a
|
|
planet is going to be pretty much the same in general, unless there's specific
|
|
activity going on around it.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 3
|
|
Message 206 Wed Dec 01, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:14 EST
|
|
|
|
And airplanes will never be commercially successful.
|
|
|
|
BTW, I've gotten permission to upload a few images after all, and may do
|
|
so in the next week or so....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 4 Tue Nov 03, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:12 EST
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 - Cast & Characters
|
|
|
|
For discussion of the actors who will be bringing BABYLON 5 to life with their
|
|
performances...for information before, and discussion after the airing of "The
|
|
Gathering" pilot.
|
|
424 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 4
|
|
Message 378 Wed Nov 10, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:53 EST
|
|
|
|
Once the decision was made to make her definitely female, that led us to
|
|
modify the makeup. Also, the original make up was done with very little lead
|
|
time, and some things we liked, some things we didn't. It's now sleeker,
|
|
more attractive, and easier to apply and take off.
|
|
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|
jms
|
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------------
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|
Category 18, Topic 4
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|
Message 380 Thu Nov 11, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:12 EST
|
|
|
|
Since we only really got a good look at one Minbari, it's kind of a moot
|
|
point. The new lines are generally consistent throughout Minbari.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 4
|
|
Message 408 Tue Nov 30, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:21 EST
|
|
|
|
If it's the pilot review, which I've seen...yeah, the only thing the guy
|
|
likes is ST, it seems. We had a long go-round. Old news.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 4
|
|
Message 410 Tue Nov 30, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:01 EST
|
|
|
|
We've just delivered tapes to PTEN publicity, so critics should be
|
|
getting it soon enough. My *hunch* is that they'll probably get copies of
|
|
"Midnight" and "Soul Hunter."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 4
|
|
Message 413 Wed Dec 01, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 14:02 EST
|
|
|
|
If the CGI were cheesy, please explain to me the Emmy currently sitting
|
|
on Ron Thornton's desk....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 4
|
|
Message 420 Thu Dec 02, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:44 EST
|
|
|
|
Fast question: I saw a flier at LosCon for some room party, over a couple
|
|
of days, that had @! inside an Earth Alliance badge silhouette, and talked
|
|
about docking bays, open for business, that sort of thing. Do any of you who
|
|
attended know *anything* about what this was?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 12 Wed Nov 18, 1992
|
|
B.WIST [Brad] at 18:12 EST
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 Sightings
|
|
|
|
Post here when you've spotted Babylon 5, whether it be on Television,
|
|
Magazine, or somewhere else. Let us know where we can find it/see it, too.
|
|
448 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 12
|
|
Message 406 Thu Nov 18, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:29 EST
|
|
|
|
He tried.
|
|
|
|
I was.
|
|
|
|
It isn't.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 12
|
|
Message 413 Fri Nov 19, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 14:01 EST
|
|
|
|
I haven't seen it, but understand there's a piece on Ron Thornton in the
|
|
new WIRED...page 88-89.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 13 Mon Nov 23, 1992
|
|
T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] at 21:00 EST
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 - Science & Technology
|
|
|
|
Jump gates, nanotech, high-tech weapons, starship drives, sound in space, and
|
|
other subjects of science and technology in Babylon 5.
|
|
504 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 442 Thu Nov 04, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 14:31 EST
|
|
|
|
There is nothing wrong with the launch sequence. It causes them to move
|
|
directly away from the station, on a slight spiral, facing out to the stars
|
|
from the pilot's POV. Whether or not it looks funky has little to do with
|
|
whether or not this is the most efficient means of doing this. I think it's
|
|
kind of funky that the space shuttle flies upside down while in orbit, its
|
|
cargo bay facing down toward Earth, but that's the way it's done, and there
|
|
are good reasons for it. We sat down for a very long time with a bunch of
|
|
designers and techies who know physics and know math and know flight dynamics,
|
|
we ran computer models, and the physics are right.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 463 Mon Nov 08, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:34 EST
|
|
|
|
If what you think I said is correct, then what you think I said is what I
|
|
said. If what I might have said was not correct, then what I might have said
|
|
is not what I said, incorrectly.
|
|
|
|
This message will self-destruct as soon as anyone manages to parse the
|
|
grammar....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 481 Sun Nov 21, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:49 EST
|
|
|
|
There are no tractor beams in use, or available, for the most part.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 484 Sun Nov 21, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:44 EST
|
|
|
|
Our medical advisor tells us that regen technology should be well in hand
|
|
within the next 100 years, so you can grow back damaged internal organs and
|
|
the like, and avoid having to do transplants. Also that the system of surgery
|
|
is moving toward non-invasive procedures, using light in more and different
|
|
ways.
|
|
|
|
He went on past that, but there was some math involved...
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 491 Wed Nov 24, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:14 EST
|
|
|
|
Many of the huge transports that'll be coming to B5 were never meant to
|
|
operate within an atmosphere, they're strictly deep range starships, to which
|
|
you transfer using atmosphere-capable shuttles. We're not talking little
|
|
flits, we're talking about ships that can be as big as a mile across.
|
|
Dropping something that huge down into the gravity well of a planet is just
|
|
unworkable. If you want something that can handle lots of big ships, it *has*
|
|
to be in space...as in a station.
|
|
|
|
You could park a big ship near a planet, and use lots of shuttles to
|
|
unload it down to the planet (gravity well, heavy cargo, lots of fuel, lots of
|
|
time, more accidents), then haul it right back *up* again when it's sold or
|
|
transferred...or you could build a station in zero G where your big transport
|
|
just parks alongside, loads or unloads its cargo in zero gravity, and transfer
|
|
it where needed.
|
|
|
|
And the atmosphere of the planet is no longer breathable.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 500 Wed Dec 01, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:41 EST
|
|
|
|
The explosion damaged the auto-configuration system which keeps the
|
|
rotation/flywheel system working smoothly. (This is also indicated in
|
|
dialogue in the observation dome.) That more than anything else would cause
|
|
real problems.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 24 Fri Jun 04, 1993
|
|
J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 21:11 EDT
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 - Weapons and Warfare!
|
|
|
|
For discussion about the weapons, counter weapons, armor, shielding, tactics,
|
|
logistics, and so forth, of small combat and large scale war in the Babylon 5
|
|
universe.
|
|
323 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 322 Fri Dec 03, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:04 EST
|
|
|
|
They are both guns.
|
|
|
|
The canopy closes and locks. If hit, there's at least the opportunity
|
|
for the canopy section to eject from the rest of the craft before it's
|
|
destroyed.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 25 Fri Mar 12, 1993
|
|
S.SHELLENBAR [>> SHANE <<] at 08:47 EST
|
|
Sub: J. Michael Straczynski Speaks in Public
|
|
|
|
This is the place to find out where and when JMS will be appearing next. JMS
|
|
has honed his skills as a public speaker and is taking his act on the road.
|
|
394 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 25
|
|
Message 351 Wed Nov 17, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:40 EST
|
|
|
|
I get the sense that this room -- large as it is -- may end up packed.
|
|
We will be showing "Midnight." Plus some scenes from other shows. Plus we
|
|
may have some cast members present. Plus the funniest out-take from the show.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Better grab your seats early; this'll be a biggie. And probably the only
|
|
West Coast showing of an episode prior to airing. (Probably the only showing
|
|
anywhere, at least as of this writing.)
|
|
|
|
(Those who've seen sections of both at cons...I assume that "Midnight" is
|
|
the better episode to show, since it's got more action, and takes the time to
|
|
reintroduce all of our characters...though I like "Soul" as a character
|
|
episode a *lot*. Thing is, only Delenn is there of our group of ambassadors.
|
|
I'd love to show "Mind War," but it won't be ready, since we just finished it,
|
|
same with "Parliament." What does one do when there are so many good episodes
|
|
it's hard to decide? Anyway, "Midnight" seems the best choice to me. Those
|
|
who've seen the two clips...thoughts?)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 25
|
|
Message 358 Thu Nov 18, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:33 EST
|
|
|
|
Matt: okay, if you're sure...I always worry. I've seen the damn thing so
|
|
many times, I lose perspective. I keep thinking it's a tad on the slow side
|
|
at times. Then I look at it again and think otherwise.
|
|
|
|
Last year, when we showed the pilot -- its West Coast debut -- there was
|
|
a near-riot over seating. From what I'm hearing, the Saturday screening is
|
|
likely to be *packed*. Come early.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 25
|
|
Message 366 Fri Nov 19, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:41 EST
|
|
|
|
I think I'll probably go with "Midnight" since there may well be some
|
|
cast members attending, and of our various ambassadors, only Delenn appears in
|
|
"Soul," and if we're going to have any of the others there, it would be a good
|
|
idea to have an episode in which they all appear.
|
|
|
|
BTW, just saw the cut version of "Mind War." It's even better than I'd
|
|
hoped. It *moves* like an express train. And Walter is absolutely
|
|
terrific...those of you who've only seen him as Chekhov will get a whole new
|
|
perspective on him as an actor after this one.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 25
|
|
Message 371 Sun Nov 21, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:22 EST
|
|
|
|
Confirmed for LosCon's B5 presentation: Michael O'Hare, Mira Furlan,
|
|
Peter Jurasik, and maybe more to come.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 25
|
|
Message 381 Fri Nov 26, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:23 EST
|
|
|
|
Just as a reminder...I zone out when I do these things, so if I don't
|
|
immediately recognize you, or note the name, by all means say, "Hey, I'm Brett
|
|
Jaffee," or note your handle, which should be enough to jar me out of my
|
|
trance. When I'm in performance mode, I get vague and just sorta smile and
|
|
nod a lot....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 25
|
|
Message 387 Sun Nov 28, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:19 EST
|
|
|
|
The one thing I asked, as a personal favor, was that a detailed blow-for-
|
|
blow summary *not* be posted for the time being; we've got two months to air,
|
|
and I don't want the show to become old in that time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 25
|
|
Message 392 Sun Nov 28, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:13 EST
|
|
|
|
There were no problems with the projector. We started promptly, and on
|
|
time. I'm a big punctuality nut; we showed the out-take at 11:00 sharp (as a
|
|
bonus to those who were there spot on time), and launched into the screening
|
|
itself by about 11:10-15.
|
|
|
|
(I'm one of those terrible people who always shows up on time for a
|
|
meeting, or early...and is, despite my best efforts, always the first person
|
|
to arrive at a party. People hate me.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 26 Sun Jun 06, 1993
|
|
G.PLANA [Gary] at 01:51 EDT
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 - Episode titles and info
|
|
|
|
This topic is for information about individual episodes -- their titles,
|
|
writers, and any other information JMS may leak!
|
|
141 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 26
|
|
Message 130 Sat Nov 06, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:10 EST
|
|
|
|
By the way...on the Kosh poisoning thread, which was originally to be
|
|
discussed in "Parliament"...we ended up about 3 minutes long on "Parliament,"
|
|
and three minutes short on D.C. Fontana's "War Prayer." So we lifted that
|
|
scene and inserted it into her episode, doing a small bit of ADR to facilitate
|
|
the move. It's now quite seamless.
|
|
|
|
There's some small amount of blurring that goes on in this show; a
|
|
freelancer turns in a script, and things get added. For instance, there was a
|
|
need to really tighten up the story in "Believers," which could best be done
|
|
by bringing in a small B story, which would allow us to streamline and
|
|
intensify the main story. So I wrote the B story and slipped it in. In
|
|
"Grail," for instance, there's a courtroom scene with a character named Mr.
|
|
Flinn that was added to the script (I won't reveal what happens, but it's very
|
|
funny.)
|
|
|
|
And of course nearly all of the freelance scripts have been based on
|
|
assigned stories, something that's developed in-house (particularly if it's an
|
|
arc story) and then given to a writer to do the full outline and script. So
|
|
far the only story developed *outside* our offices first is D.C. Fontana's
|
|
second script, "Legacies."
|
|
|
|
In none of these, however, will you see more than one writer's name on
|
|
the script. Just the writer who did the draft. This is a policy I've had for
|
|
a long time, starting on JAKE. It's somewhat pro forma for some story editors
|
|
or producers to do a rewrite, or add a scene, and then slap their name on the
|
|
finished script...which cuts into the freelance writer's residuals forever
|
|
thereafter. My feeling is that if you're on staff, you are being compensated
|
|
well for your work, and should leave the freelancers alone. The residuals are
|
|
really their only way of making any real money off these things. So we had a
|
|
non-arbitration policy on JAKE, also on MURDER, and now on B5. You'll never
|
|
see a gang credit on this show. Having been a freelancer myself, this sems
|
|
the only fair way to run things.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 26
|
|
Message 135 Thu Nov 11, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:13 EST
|
|
|
|
That's correct.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 26
|
|
Message 138 Wed Dec 01, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:17 EST
|
|
|
|
There's a mistake. Which episode(s) have her listed?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 26
|
|
Message 140 Thu Dec 02, 1993
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:46 EST
|
|
|
|
The scene was cut for time; it may yet appear elsewhere.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|