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2433 lines
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2433 lines
100 KiB
Babylon 5 posts by JMS on GEnie for February, 1994
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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
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JMS (and compilation copyright is by GEnie).
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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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455 message(s) total.
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************
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 6 Tue Feb 01, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:19 EST
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Boy, this has been some kinda day....
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Phone goes off *early* in the morning, "Just making sure you know about
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the satellite interviews today." I'm in bed. Scratch. Snuffle. Look at
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clock. Snuffle. Scratch. "Satellite interviews...when?"
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"In about two hours, across town."
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WAAAAAAUUUGGGHHHH!
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Never a jump gate when you need one. Haven't moved that fast in ages.
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Me and Claudia for about 5 hours, on and off, giving interviews to TV stations
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around the country. Plus one segment with just Claudia and Peter...of which
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the *funniest* stuff was in-between, while waiting for NY to come on line, a
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mass of improv, all of it going out over the station...Peter and Claudia
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improv'ing lunch at a NY deli, a fashion conversation between J. Edgar Hoover
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and Eleanor Roosevelt...on and on and on, put *everyone* away.
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The camera loves them both. Me...at the moment I went on camera,
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hundreds of people around the country no doubt started calling America's Most
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Wanted and screaming, "I SAW HIM! HE'S ON TV!"
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Then a zip back to the studio to meet with Larry and give story notes on
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his new script, "TKO," which has a *very* interesting Ivanova B-story; then
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another meeting; then race across town to spot (slug where music and sound EFX
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go) one episode, finish the mix on another episode, race back to the stage for
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a final meeting, leave late this evening, find literally *hundreds* of
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messages on various systems now that the show is airing (this in the last 24
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hours), plow through those...and now will be up the rest of the night writing
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the second part of the two-parter we're shooting this season, "A Voice in the
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Wilderness."
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Yikes!
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(And lest anyone think I'm not paying attention...*many* thanks for the
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many kind comments here.)
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 13 Tue Feb 01, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:13 EST
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eeeek!
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 41 Thu Feb 03, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:37 EST
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Oh, god, did the Dance Theater of Harlem line get in there? I don't
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believe it....
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Yes, you'll see places in the show where they can and do congregate; the
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briefing room, the conference room, the mess hall...the observation dome is a
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place to *do* stuff, not so much talk about stuff.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 44 Thu Feb 03, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:33 EST
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Re: blue collar nuts and bolts types..."By Any Means Necessary."
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 48 Thu Feb 03, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:05 EST
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Yes, post away.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 73 Sat Feb 05, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:31 EST
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What a weird day...filming "Babylon Squared," and one minute I'm standing
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in the anteroom/hallway of a Minbari cruiser that leads into the Great Hall
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and the chambers of the Grey Council...a few minutes later I'm standing in a
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section of Babylon 4, and the whole atmosphere of the crew is *very*
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different, the whole sensibility is strange...very strange.
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Just cast Theodore Bickell in an episode entitled "TKO," written by Larry
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DiTillio. Also Greg McKinney appears in that episode.
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Finished writing the second half of our two-parter, "A Voice in the
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Wilderness." We go off the station for this one.
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Just one last episode to write, and we're finished with the scripts for
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this season. How weird. Seems like we barely started. Finishing filming on
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#17.
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"Babylon Squared" has a *very* different look to it, and a very eerie and
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foreboding feel about it, which I like a lot. Jim Johnston, who directed
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"Soul Hunter" and several others is doing it. Very moody.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 84 Sat Feb 05, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:19 EST
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At some point this season we will go down to the planet, yes.
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And yes, Babylon 4 is the one that vanished. And the end of this one
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should raise a LOT of new questions....
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 98 Sun Feb 06, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:51 EST
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Chris and Terry...general agreement. With a point to add: when I've
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spoken highly of this series, from my POV I'm talking about the series as a
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whole being something very different. Yes, you'll see it in flashes here and
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there, but the cumulative effect is what I'm going for. (Now obviously you
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can't expect everyone to see the whole thing, that's not going to happen, and
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I'm not planning on it, every episode *must* still stand nominally by itself
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and be entertaining on its own terms.)
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To use a metaphor, this is a marathon. I intend for this show to go
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further than has been seen before. Some people, seeing that only a faew first
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steps have been taken on that journey, say they're not impressed because it
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hasn't gone very far. And they're missing the point. We're barely out of the
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starting gate, and we have miles to cover.
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But they're *entitled* to feel this way, and I have no real problem with
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it. I have been very patient for seven years; now we wait, we put the show
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out there, we ride out the ST comparisons...and then, gradually, as the show
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goes on week after week, people are going to begin seeing where we're
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going...and wondering just how far we'll manage to go with it.
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So by the end of the season, the full cumulative effect will be there.
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Fortunately, most folks will have a pretty good sense of what that is
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after episode #6, "Mind War." I don't think someone should have to wait
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around a full season to start picking up stuff and seeing, for lack of a more
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original term, the shape of things to come.
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This is going to be a revolutionary series, with the emphasis on the word
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SERIES. Some episodes -- like "Parliament," "Sky," "Mind War" and others --
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are definitely extraordinary. But for me, it's always been the series as a
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whole.
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I'm glad the episodes are doing well, and glad they hold up to some
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pretty close scrutiny. But this is a marathon...and we have far to go.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 108 Sun Feb 06, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:47 EST
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I watch *every* version. I watch the daililes. I look at the director's
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cut. Then John Copeland and I go in to make the producer's cut. We watch it
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again a few times, futzing with it as we go. I watch the on-line version. I
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watch the color-corrected version. I watch it again after we've added in the
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SFX. I watch it while we spot the episode (determing where music and sound
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effects go). I watch it again when we do the mix-down to add music and sound.
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I watch it again to make sure it's all cohesive, on my home system, to make
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sure it translates okay (we mix in a fancy sound stage, with killer speakers,
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which most folks won't have).
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 123 Tue Feb 08, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:40 EST
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I've only had B5 related dreams a few times...thankfully. I need SOME
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time away from it.
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Re: the statement that it took the soul hunter's ship "literally seconds"
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to reach B5...nope. Sinclair left the observation dome, went down to the
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bays, got into his EVA suit, and had the ship prepped. So it was more than 2
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seconds.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 127 Tue Feb 08, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:17 EST
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We've had a couple of dj's on the show, don't recall the names off hand.
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And yes, in general, for most practical purposes, P12 is about the upper
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limit.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 136 Wed Feb 09, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:42 EST
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I'm confused...I got a note today about an RTC here tonight, but it's not
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on the schedule or on the opening screen. Is it tonight that I'm due on, or
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Friday night?
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 147 Thu Feb 10, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:56 EST
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Major fan of The Prisoner, yes.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 150 Thu Feb 10, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:32 EST
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Here's the tentative schedule for episodes past "Mind War," which
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airs in three weeks:
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March 9 - "The War Prayer," by D.C. Fontana
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" 16 - "And the Sky Full of Stars," by jms
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" 23 - "Deathwalker," by Larry DiTillio
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" 30 - "Believers," by DAvid Gerrold
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April 6 - "Survivors," by Marc Scott Zicree
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At first it looked like there was going to be a batch of reruns
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after "Mind War," but PTEN is so happy with the ratings that they do NOT
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want to interfere with the momentum. Which makes me very happy as well.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 158 Thu Feb 10, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:29 EST
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There was a fairly negligible drop in #2, from 7.0 to 6.5 rating, mainly
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because the week of the second show was the beginning of sweeps period, which
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is when all the networks and local stations drag out their big guns and the
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competition increases *considerably*. In addition, a show generally drops 1
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or 2 ratings points after its premiere; only one-half of one-percent is
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extremely good. Apparently, from PTEN ratings research, we're performing well
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above their expectations.
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The demographics are *extremely* good...hitting exactly the audience that
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advertisers want. For a series with no franchise going in, we're still far
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beyond expectations. The overnight from L.A. -- which is all I have in hand
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at the moment -- from "Purple" is a 7.4 rating with an 11 share, which is
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consistent with the prior weeks, so we're holding steady.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 163 Fri Feb 11, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:14 EST
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Well, open mouth, insert foot....as I said, it had been *tentatively*
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decided to fully revise the schedule, for the reasons given. Then someone
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remembered the November sweeps. If we do all new episodes through as
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planned, we'd have *nothing* for the November sweeps, we'd be done. So we had
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to ajust a bit, so there will be 2 or 3 more after "Mind War" that're new,
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culminating in "Sky," then 3-4 reruns, then picking up again. Sweeps are
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*very* important for the stations, and since the show is doing well, they
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don't want to waste episodes in non-sweeps periods.
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Meanwhile...it occured to me the other day that I've finished the last
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script I'm going to write for this season of B5. Seems like we just got
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started, and now I ain't got no more scripts to write for a while, until PTEN
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decides whether or not to pick us up. It's weird; kinda like coming home one
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day to find your car is no longer in your garage.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 169 Fri Feb 11, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:35 EST
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Don't you threaten me....
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 204 Sun Feb 13, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:22 EST
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A couple of network affiliates have bumped their regular programming and
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have just taken on B5. Including an ABC affiliate. Interesting...
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Took a bit of a day to myself, got out, saw "Fool Moon" in its L.A.
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appearance (saw it in NY last year, off-broadway), with Bill Irwin and his
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partner, and if you're in L.A., *see* this thing. Just wonderful. Went with
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Harlan and Susan, and just before it stared, in comes Mick Jagger with his
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wife and three kids, and they sit in the row in front of us, and Harlan (who
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toured with 'em for a while for some articles) and he strike up a
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conversation, and we're all chatting. A very nice fellow, very quiet believe
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it or not.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 236 Tue Feb 15, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:12 EST
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Groups like the Grey Council, the Bene Gesserit, and others are part and
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parcel of mythology...whether it's the council of the gods, the twelve
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apostles, the councils of wizards and elves in Lord of the Rings...they are
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consistent with the myths we have created for ourselves, and thus pop up all
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over the place. (Did I mention the Round Table of Camelot?)
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 241 Tue Feb 15, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:44 EST
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Well, we're doomed...I just realized today that our first *really* strong
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episode, "The Parliament of Dreams," airs the same night (in most markets, the
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23rd) as the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan face off in the olympics.
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Imagine a silence vast as space...that sound is neilsen ratings meters
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stuck unmovingly on CBS....
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 249 Wed Feb 16, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:22 EST
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Remember, the bears are not what they seem.....
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 262 Thu Feb 17, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:15 EST
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Okay...here's a request for a favor.
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As of this week, "Infection" is more or less past us, and now two of our
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better shows are coming up; two real favorites, "The Parliament of Dreams" and
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"Mind War." These give a much better sense of what this show is *really*
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capable of doing. (BTW, add "Raiding Party" and "Babylon Squared" to my list
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of favorites from this season; the former shows that you can come damned close
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to the level of action-oriented space EFX in "Return of the Jedi" in TV.
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Really amazing stuff.)
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Anyway...if there are people you know who haven't given the show a look,
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or have been uncertain...these are the shows to have them watch. You can
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tell commend these two episodes to them without reservation. If you would
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want to convey that to those you know, we'd appreciate it. This is really a
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chance were B5 can shine.
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jms
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 265 Thu Feb 17, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:39 EST
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We'd gotten Patrick for Knight 2 in "Sky," based on his reaction to the
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script...only to discover that he was going to be out of the country when we
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were going to shoot it. He's *very* particular about what he does, and the
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scripts he does, so this was something of a compliment (and I think he
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could've related to where we were going with it), but we'll just have to try
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again on something else; I'd love to have him in an episode sometime.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 273 Thu Feb 17, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:08 EST
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Dana: please list for me any promises that I have not kept. I have
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spoken about the series overall, and I have spoken about those individual
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episodes that I think are terrific. I said that "Sky" would be like a leap
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ahead of most anything produced for american SF-TV before. And I stand by
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that. "Sky" hasn't aired yet. It will in 4 weeks. I said that I liked
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"Soul," loved "Parliament" and "Mind War," and wasn't terribly big on
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"Infection," with "Midnight" and "Purple" somewhere toward the back of the
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pack of this first batch.
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I am, and have been, *very* careful about what I say here, and to avoid
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over-hyping. You're keeping me to promises that I haven't made, or applying a
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promise made about one episode to another, which is more than a little unfair.
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Show me what I've said here that has been inaccurate. Otherwise, I have
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nothing to apologize for.
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And one other thing: I'm not "begging" fans to do anything. I'm pointing
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out that the next two are killer episodes, and if there's anyone somebody
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knows who hasn't been wowed yet, *those* are the shows that'll do it. That's
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all.
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Dana, if you don't like it, don't watch it. It's really that simple.
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I've said before that this show will stand or fall on its own quality, not on
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anything I've said here. And I stand behind that.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 289 Fri Feb 18, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:39 EST
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Dana, I've sat here for ten minutes trying to figure out how to explain
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and answer your question...but I think that the very best way of conveying
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that information is contained in the next two episodes, with "Sky" as the
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capper. We've barely been on the air yet, have shown only the basic episodes
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designed to slowly bring people into our unvierse before getting weird...I've
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said from the start: don't give us a season to get interesting. Just six
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episodes. If we don't grab you by then...switch channels.
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The other element to all this -- and I said this many times, here, prior
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to the episodes -- is that if someone says to you, "This is gonna be a great
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series," you or I begin to imagine and see in our heads the show WE would
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consider perfect. And the product is destined never to be that show, unless
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you're actually creating it. Some people will hate or be disappointed by ANY
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series, regardless of quality, and some people will love a show, again
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regardless of quality. There's a bell-curve of viewers. The question is
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where does the curve skew the most, toward the positive or the negative? We
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talk about HIll Street a lot...but there are a LOT of people who couldn't
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*stand* the show. Still can't.
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In a hit series -- *major* hit -- 50% of the people really enjoy the
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show, 30% think it's okay, and 20% think it's absolutely horrible. That
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happens. As long as those numbers don't reverse themselves, you're okay.
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But like I said...when TNG hit the air, everybody was willing to give it
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the benefit of the doubt for the *entire first season* and hope it got better
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in the second year. We're not asking for that. All I can say is that
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"Parliament," "Mind War" and "Sky" are far more emblematic of what this show
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is, and will become, than any of the other episodes.
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jms
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------------
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Category 18, Topic 1
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Message 290 Fri Feb 18, 1994
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STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:57 EST
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P.S. Just as a reminder to anyone looking on...before we began airing
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episodes, I posted my list of favorite episodes of the first six.
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I'll repost that here now:
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1) "The Parliament of Dreams"
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2) "Mind War"
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3) "Soul Hunter"
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4) "Midnight on the Firing Line"
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5) "Born to the Purple"
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6) "Infection"
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Plugging in the addition of two new episodes that'll be aired after "Mind
|
|
War," I'd put the new lineup of the first eight in this order of personal
|
|
favorites:
|
|
|
|
1) "The Parliament of Dreams"
|
|
2) "And the Sky Full of Stars" (A tie with "Parliament")
|
|
3) "Mind War"
|
|
4) "Soul Hunter"
|
|
5) "Midnight on the Firing Line"
|
|
6) "Born to the Purple"
|
|
7) "The War Prayer"
|
|
8) "Infection"
|
|
|
|
I think that the first list comes pretty close to the majority of views
|
|
I've seen expressed here thus far. We'll see more after the next two air.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 294 Fri Feb 18, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:14 EST
|
|
|
|
I dunno...I think there's a difference between a genuine difference of
|
|
opinion, and a hatchet job. Reactions to a show are going to vary, and all
|
|
observations can be learned from.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 334 Sat Feb 19, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:23 EST
|
|
|
|
I'd be inclined to ask your friend at the store to hold back any such B5
|
|
vs. DS9 debate until we've aired the first season. Otherwise it's really not
|
|
very fair. It's like comparing two books, one of whom you've read completely,
|
|
the other of which you've read only the first couple of chapters.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 351 Sun Feb 20, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:56 EST
|
|
|
|
ST/B5 definitely isn't an either/or situation, neither is it a
|
|
competition since in most markets, they're on the *same station*.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 360 Mon Feb 21, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:44 EST
|
|
|
|
BTW...for those in the L.A. area...our Conceptual Consultant on B5,
|
|
Harlan Ellison, is having a special presentation, "On Being a Writer, An
|
|
Evening with Harlan Ellison." It's being put on by the Learning Tree
|
|
University one time only on March 1st from 7-10 p.m. He'll be talking about
|
|
writing, ethical standards, cultural illiteracy and politica (political)
|
|
correctness, among many and varied other topics.
|
|
|
|
The price is a pittance -- $39 -- and information can be had on this by
|
|
calling 818-882-5599.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 403 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:40 EST
|
|
|
|
Na'Toth is played by Caitlin Brown.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 404 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:42 EST
|
|
|
|
BTW, for the satellite-people among us, the uplink of B5 has been moved
|
|
to Fridays at 2 p.m. pacific time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 443 Sun Feb 27, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 17:58 EST
|
|
|
|
It depends; in most places, it's held solid, other places it dips if
|
|
there's something of local interest on another channel (i.e., a local sporting
|
|
event), other places it's gone up. As long as it stays overall within a point
|
|
or two of the goal, if it generally builds over the previous hour, and the
|
|
demographics are good (which they are), you're in good shape. There's a *LOT*
|
|
of variance in syndicated ratings.
|
|
|
|
Needless to say, though, we got *creamed* by the Tonya/Nancy Show.
|
|
Which got a 64 share, the 3rd biggest ratings for a sporting event in history.
|
|
But then, *everybody* got beat up by that one, so again it's okay.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 448 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:30 EST
|
|
|
|
B4 never got as far as having a commander attached to it. The last
|
|
stages of construction on Babylon 4 were supervised by one Major Krantz,
|
|
assigned specifically to that task. He managed to get the station completed,
|
|
and on-line, and Earthforce was just beginning the process of selecting a
|
|
commanding officer to run the station when, 24 hours after the station became
|
|
operational, it vanished, taking roughly 1,200 of its skeleton crew with it
|
|
(including Major Krantz).
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 1
|
|
Message 449 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:42 EST
|
|
|
|
BTW...before I forget (again), the syndicated radio show, the Mike and
|
|
John Show will be broadcast *live* from the B5 studios this Monday (tomorrow)
|
|
from 3-7 p.m. EST. It's on WJFK in D.C., and also carried in Baltimore,
|
|
Miami, Tampa Bay, Indianapolis, Reno, Rochester, Buffalo and Fresno. Most of
|
|
the cast will be interviewd, along with me and some of the other producer-
|
|
types. Walter Koenig will also be on the air.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 2 Wed Nov 20, 1991
|
|
STARR [Arne] at 19:41 EST
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 -- The Series!! >>SPOILERS<<
|
|
|
|
Babylon 5 offically became a series on May 28 '93. There will be 22 hour eps
|
|
for season one (in addition to the pilot). Airs Wednesdays at 8PM in most
|
|
places starting Jan. 26 '94. This is the SPOILER topic where anything goes.
|
|
|
|
557 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 244 Wed Feb 02, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:05 EST
|
|
|
|
The alien sector is *primarily* for those who require alternate
|
|
atmospheres; oxygen-breathing aliens can live elsewhere.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 251 Thu Feb 03, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:59 EST
|
|
|
|
Many aliens (all who require alternate atmosphere) live in the alien
|
|
sector. Those who can breathe oxygen can live in other areas, but tend to
|
|
congregate with other non-humans in the oxygen sections of the alien sector.
|
|
The ambassadors have their own environment supported quarters in the Green
|
|
Sector, which is the high-security area for diplomats.
|
|
|
|
Humans have the highest clearance level because this is a human run and
|
|
operated (for the most part) station. This isn't the Federation; the Earth
|
|
Alliance would *never* allow a non-human to have highest clearance.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 274 Fri Feb 04, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:57 EST
|
|
|
|
Re: Sinclair's actions toward the Soul Hunter...the device he uses was
|
|
trained on Delenn. It was spiraling up to full power throughout the scene.
|
|
Just as Sinclair's thrown, you see it starting to come to critical mass...it's
|
|
shooting at Delenn. There isn't/wasn't time to sit there and figure out how
|
|
it works, and shut off the right button. He turned it so that it faced away
|
|
from her...and the Hunter was caught in his own machine.
|
|
|
|
There was nowhere else to go with the machine.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 295 Sat Feb 05, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:23 EST
|
|
|
|
To the question about a Soul Hunter's strength...yes, it is *very*
|
|
considerable. Even with one arm he was able to slam the hell out of the
|
|
commander, pick him up and again slam him against a wall before throwing him
|
|
about 10 feet across the room. Had he not been stopped, and stopped good,
|
|
yes, he would've torn Sinclair to ribbons.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 320 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:43 EST
|
|
|
|
It was "Med-Alert." Not "Bab-Alert."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 385 Thu Feb 17, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:03 EST
|
|
|
|
Louise: thanks.
|
|
|
|
Anything else in response would be redundent.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 421 Sat Feb 19, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:31 EST
|
|
|
|
Nope, we don't do the threaten-ambassadors stuff much; in fact, as I
|
|
think of it, that *might* be the last real biggie, though certainly they get
|
|
into considerable trouble from time to time in other ways. That's too easy a
|
|
story, thus it behooves us not to do it overmuch.
|
|
|
|
And like I said...I have problems with "Infection" as well, so there is
|
|
no flame from me. I guess part of it is knowing what was in the script that
|
|
should've been carried off better, but wasn't. And part of it is my fault; I
|
|
tried to use the Nelson/machine as a metaphor; it wasn't supposed to be about
|
|
the Nelson/machine, but about the kind of people who would create it, the kind
|
|
of people who would sell it, and the kind of people who would confiscate it
|
|
even KNOWING what it was (and of course the kind of people who would *use*
|
|
it). Unfortunatly, when you put somebody in that kind of suit, that
|
|
*becomes* the story, and from that point on you're pretty much doomed. It was
|
|
also in places too much an obvious metaphor, and the "hand of the author" is
|
|
showing too much. It was the first script written for this season, after the
|
|
long break after the pilot, and I think I was trying to find the characters'
|
|
"fingerprints" and getting into the flow of the series, which took a script or
|
|
two.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 426 Sun Feb 20, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:09 EST
|
|
|
|
Mike: for you to say that the racism issue is one that has been beaten to
|
|
death in the last X-years, that including it in the first 22 episodes is "a
|
|
sad tale:"
|
|
|
|
I live in L.A. Does the name Rodney King ring a bell? Or the L.A.
|
|
riots?
|
|
|
|
Maybe you don't like the treatment of an issue -- that's fine -- but I
|
|
reserve the right to try and address issues that I consider important. Maybe
|
|
you think it's been said. But it bears repeating. As someone once noted, "Of
|
|
course everything has already been said. But since no one was listening, we
|
|
must begin again."
|
|
|
|
` jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 429 Sun Feb 20, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:58 EST
|
|
|
|
I'd slice this a little finer and suggest that it wasn't so much the
|
|
*stupidity* of racism and the whole genetic purity aspect, but the
|
|
IMPRACTICALITY of such ideas. If you follow the idea to its logical
|
|
conclusion, *nobody* is pure. Which was kind of the point.
|
|
|
|
And oddly enough, there's a pro-genocide discussion in "Deathwalker."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 450 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:22 EST
|
|
|
|
A parliament is a gathering of representatives, in this case the
|
|
representatives of various belief systems; the dreams are the religions
|
|
themselves.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 453 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:04 EST
|
|
|
|
I think it would've done better as a Short Subject.
|
|
|
|
Sorry; there's no one more critical of my work than me, and when it comes
|
|
to "Infection," I'd just kinda prefer it if it kinda vanished in the night. I
|
|
feel that way about only two episodes out of 22, so that's not too bad, I
|
|
suppose. But in any event, I don't think there's *nearly* enough there to
|
|
make into a two-parter.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 456 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:30 EST
|
|
|
|
The Xon? Dead. All of them. And good riddance.
|
|
|
|
RE: the glasses...it's not something I've been able to figure out how to
|
|
mention, but the Narn pride themselves on their physical perfection. Hence
|
|
there is no market for physical aides; it's something to be ashamed of. So
|
|
they have to crib stuff from other species, like glasses that have a
|
|
prescription close enough to be useful.
|
|
|
|
I have *no* idea how to work that into a script, and am not sure it is
|
|
even a good idea to do so.
|
|
|
|
Kosh was otherwise engaged....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 465 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:13 EST
|
|
|
|
Actually, many of the alien races do *not* have monolithic religious
|
|
beliefs. You'll note that G'Kar didn't take part in the festival from the
|
|
Narn POV. You'll see Narn beliefs in "By Any Means Necessary," and there it's
|
|
mentioned that there are many different beliefs among Narns, G'Quon and G'Lan
|
|
being the two larger systems.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 478 Fri Feb 25, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:46 EST
|
|
|
|
The problem with "Infection" from a writing POV is that it was the FIRST
|
|
one written for this season, and I was having a hard time finding the
|
|
"fingerprints" of the characters again after so much time had passed after the
|
|
pilot (it was nearly a year between the revising/shooting of the pilot, and
|
|
the writing of the first series script). As on *any* show, it takes a while
|
|
to get up to speed once you hit series. That was the real problem, and there
|
|
wasn't any real way to get past it except to write it, re-acquaint myself with
|
|
the characters, and move on. I probably would have opted out of doing it had
|
|
we had more scripts on hand, but we didn't. And oddly, many on the production
|
|
team *liked* the script quite a lot, and kept saying it had to be done.
|
|
|
|
Of all the scripts I've written, the only one that I'm less than
|
|
absolutely 100% thrilled with is "The Quality of Mercy," because I wrote it
|
|
while absolutely sick with the flu, and have NO memory even of writing it. As
|
|
it is, though, I'm about 90% happy with it, particularly the B-story with
|
|
Londo and Lennier, which came out great.
|
|
|
|
So out of 12 scripts that I've done for this season, I'm absolutely
|
|
pleased with 10 and 1/2 of them. I created this show because I wanted to
|
|
write for it; to not do so kind of misses the point. I think that my scripts
|
|
for "Parliament," "Mind War," "Sky," "Babylon Squared," "A Voice in the
|
|
Wilderness," and "Chrysalis" represent some of the best work I've ever done.
|
|
And I think you'll agree.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 481 Sat Feb 26, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:23 EST
|
|
|
|
Is this 470/13/5? I haven't been in a while...maybe I'd better look....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 483 Sat Feb 26, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:23 EST
|
|
|
|
They don't. Never said they did. Centauri have a pantheon. The Narns
|
|
(as we'll see in "By Any Means Necessary") have several different competing
|
|
religions. Only two religions -- Centauri and Ikarran -- have a similar
|
|
historical thread in the Great Maker, with the small addition of those worlds
|
|
conquered by the Centauri which have adopted Centauri religion (or been forced
|
|
to do so, as has happened here on our own world).
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 496 Sat Feb 26, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:23 EST
|
|
|
|
Sure, I could've gotten them into bed by the second act...but that wasn't
|
|
the point. What I wanted to show, what interests me, is the give and take
|
|
leading up to that moment, the feints and parries and "how do we get past
|
|
this?" That to me is some of the most interesting stuff in a relationship.
|
|
|
|
Re: the newspaper...it's not printed in conventional fashion. You
|
|
program in your interests, and every morning a pre-filtered copy of UT is
|
|
printed up in your quarters, on synthetic recycleable material. You ript it,
|
|
carry it, toss it. Very simple, and probably within our own grasp in the next
|
|
5 years.
|
|
|
|
(I.e., imagine a computer set to scan the wire services, look for certain
|
|
keywords, download the articles, and during the night load the articles into a
|
|
pre-set design format and automatically print them up on your laser printer so
|
|
they're waiting in the morning.)
|
|
|
|
I didn't say that Earth was the ONLY one with diverse religions. I don't
|
|
understand why it is that when ONE thing is shown, it means that's the ONLY
|
|
thing. It's not. Narns, as we'll see in "By Any Means Necessary," have
|
|
several competing beliefs. The idea of the festival wasn't to compare and
|
|
contrast, only to show what *we* (whoever *we* is) believes.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 500 Sat Feb 26, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:21 EST
|
|
|
|
Oh, there's *lots* more surprises and sucker punches than that in the
|
|
show...trust me.
|
|
|
|
BTW...someone dropped me an email note mentioning in passing that
|
|
somewhere else there's a discussion going on about *this* discussion, and
|
|
indicating that my presence here inhibits criticism of B5.
|
|
|
|
First, if I believed that, I wouldn't be here. Second...it ain't true.
|
|
|
|
Along with logging on here and on a number of other systems under my own
|
|
name, there are a few BBSs -- regional and national -- which have B5
|
|
discussions giong on where I also hang out...but either under a pseudonym, or
|
|
without leaving messages, thus no one knows I'm lurking. I do this in order
|
|
to get an unbiased view of the show, without my presence affecting the
|
|
discussion one way or another. Call it a control group, if you will.
|
|
|
|
And on those forums where I'm not known to be there, what you get are
|
|
generally "I liked it" or "I didn't like it," about as broad as that. Very
|
|
little of the (to use the phrase of others) nits and detailed analyses that go
|
|
on on the systems where I *am* known to hang out. Since there's a conduit for
|
|
direct feedback to the show, people here and on the other services where I'm
|
|
on as myself tend to provide MORE criticism of the show, not less. In some
|
|
cases, the occasional person may feel that he HAS to find something to nit at,
|
|
because there is the implicit request for feedback.
|
|
|
|
Nor do I try to get in the way of negative feedback; if I think that
|
|
someone is getting personal in an attack, or making an unfair accusation, or
|
|
blaming me for something that the show never did...I fire back. I try to
|
|
answer all questions as non-judgmentally as possible, and if someone asks if
|
|
something's going to be done, point to the forthcoming episode where it *is*
|
|
done.
|
|
|
|
I don't try to change people's opinions here (I let the show do that),
|
|
don't try to intimidate people into silence (I don't think it's *possible* to
|
|
intimidate this particular group in *any* event), and I have a much lower
|
|
estimation for those who skulk off in dark corners to mutter their criticisms
|
|
of the discussion here than speak openly. I'm insulted by the allegation, and
|
|
frankly think that anyone here who has been taking part in the discussion here
|
|
should feel insulted about being portrayed as spineless and toadying, which is
|
|
the implicit statement behind the allegation.
|
|
|
|
If I *ever* got the impression that my presence here was inhibiting an
|
|
open discussion, inhibiting criticism, I'd log off. But near as I can tell,
|
|
being here *encourages* criticism, in greater volume than elsewhere. The day
|
|
that changes, I'm outta here.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 520 Sun Feb 27, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:11 EST
|
|
|
|
Yes, the meal *was* very expensive, as much as a room for a week. If
|
|
you're going to go after something as costly to import as wine (the major
|
|
expense), then you're going to pay *bigtime* for it.
|
|
|
|
Mr.T...it was my intent to imply in the scene with the guard and Bester
|
|
("nothing, just a drill") that he DID scan the guard's mind. He found out
|
|
what he was hiding (which is how he managed to show up to try and cut
|
|
Ironheart off from his escape), exchanged a glance with Kelsey, and headed
|
|
away quickly. If this didn't come through, it might not have been
|
|
sufficiently clear. Note that the guard doesn't finish his sentence, and
|
|
sorta drifts off....
|
|
|
|
Shane: am I unaffected by what I see here? How could I be? I'm as much
|
|
flesh and blood as anyone here (well, most anyone). I listen. I learn.
|
|
Someone once asked the Pope how he'd describe his job: "See everything.
|
|
Ignore a lot. Change a few things." I generally listen hard to ANY opinion,
|
|
and if it makes sense, modify my own. I've been iffy on how n'grath has been
|
|
presented, and with the reactions, I've pretty much decided to either kill him
|
|
off or modify the way he is handled come next season (PTEN willing). On an
|
|
emotional level, sure, it's hard, but that comes with the territory. If
|
|
you're going to stay out here on the net, you're going to hear opinions and
|
|
reactions -- often stated without much politeness -- that you really don't
|
|
want to hear. That's life. To quote master philosopher Tom Servo, "Deal with
|
|
it, pink boy." It's kind of like being in a workshop with, oh, 3,000 people
|
|
giving you notes on what you've just written, and very rarely do any two of
|
|
them agree. It can make you crazy. But since I'm long past crazy, I get by.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 529 Sun Feb 27, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:15 EST
|
|
|
|
(Trying to run it all through my head...I don't think we see Kosh for a
|
|
while...he's not in "Mind War," not in "The War Prayer" or in "Sky," and the
|
|
first one up after reruns is, I believe "Believers," in which Kosh *does* make
|
|
an appearance, being as cryptic as ever. We tend to use Kosh sparingly. The
|
|
one story in which he plays a significant role and has a lot of on-camera time
|
|
is "DeathWalker." He's also in "Grail," and "Chrysalis," and some others,
|
|
though they slip my mind at the moment.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 533 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:32 EST
|
|
|
|
Here's the thing...I never said once, *anywhere*, that the Minbari change
|
|
sex. When I mentioned that we were going to have a female playing a male,
|
|
somehow this came up...but I *never said it*. This was just another
|
|
speculation that took off and accumulated a life of its own.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 538 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:08 EST
|
|
|
|
The Xon weren't any more evil or good than the race that survived; two
|
|
equally sentient species emerged on the Centauri homeworld over the course of
|
|
evolution. They were more or less separated by distance and land masses and
|
|
oceans, so there was little contact until either side developed the technology
|
|
required to find the other. It was the next best thing to a first contact
|
|
situation, except it's on their own world; they were very much alien to one
|
|
another. Somewhere along the line, it was decided that this world wasn't big
|
|
enough for both of them, so they began a campaign of slaughter against each
|
|
other. Londo's people won.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 541 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:32 EST
|
|
|
|
The quote is incorrect in any event; that was one *possibility* that we
|
|
had discussed, that's not set in stone.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 546 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:36 EST
|
|
|
|
No, I said that if I genuinely believed that my presence here was
|
|
inhibiting open and frank discussion, I would withdraw, because that's unfair
|
|
to those using the system.
|
|
|
|
Re: the difference as to why Sinclair reacted the way he did...they SPOKE
|
|
to him in his head, the same way they did to the guard in customs. This is
|
|
different than just "listening" to someone's thoughts, so to speak.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 2
|
|
Message 551 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:54 EST
|
|
|
|
No, I never said the *Minbari* change sex. And I didn't. I indicated
|
|
that Delenn would end up female. There's a difference. And that's all I can
|
|
say on it for now.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
(And the Minbari *don't* change sex.)
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
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.
|
|
372 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 4
|
|
Message 239 Tue Feb 01, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:53 EST
|
|
|
|
T.Schell...you mean like the hispanic doctors that appear in such B5
|
|
episodes as "Believers?" And "Chrysalis?" And "Deathwalker?" And the native
|
|
american in "Parliament?" And the many other black, asian and other-ethnic
|
|
guest characters we've used in "Mind War" and other episodes?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 4
|
|
Message 269 Sat Feb 05, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:25 EST
|
|
|
|
For the most part, lower level types don't know the names of those in the
|
|
Grey Council (speaking of Minbari for a moment). They are kept fairly
|
|
anonymous to avoid the cult of personality arising. You'll see the full
|
|
extent to which they preserve their anonymity in some of the upcoming
|
|
episodes, specifically "Sky" and "Babylon Squared."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 4
|
|
Message 275 Sun Feb 06, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:50 EST
|
|
|
|
I try to keep things to a need-to-know basis. Sometimes you don't want
|
|
the future to influence an actor's performance now. And sometimes you *do*.
|
|
Some know a little, some know a lot, some know only what's necessary for an
|
|
individual episode.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 4
|
|
Message 280 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:44 EST
|
|
|
|
Better television reception.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 4
|
|
Message 291 Fri Feb 11, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:15 EST
|
|
|
|
The computer voice belongs to Haley, our script supervisor.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 5 Tue Nov 03, 1992
|
|
T.ORTH [Mr. Rico] (Forwarded)
|
|
Sub: Grid Epsilon Irregulars - News & Info.
|
|
|
|
This topic is for information about Babylon 5 fan groups, newsletters,
|
|
fanzines, get-togethers, B-5 at conventions, and other general fun.
|
|
328 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 5
|
|
Message 318 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:24 EST
|
|
|
|
Ask Katherine to ask Christy....
|
|
|
|
I made it clear I've got nothing to do with this, it's their (Christy's)
|
|
responsibility.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 10 Thu Nov 12, 1992
|
|
SANDMAN [Henry] at 19:25 EST
|
|
Sub: Sex in Babylon 5
|
|
|
|
Can't do without this one!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
367 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 10
|
|
Message 337 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:47 EST
|
|
|
|
Well, of course, the other thing to remember about Paul is that he had a
|
|
real problem with women doing much of *anything*. His letters about the role
|
|
of women in church came out of his concern that women were taking too big a
|
|
place in the church, and had to be pushed down. If someone wants to yank out
|
|
a biblical quote to put women "in their place," it's almost *always* one of
|
|
Paul's. He had a real problem with women. (Yoko in particular.)
|
|
|
|
jm(who has actually read the bible twice)s
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 10
|
|
Message 349 Sun Feb 13, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:26 EST
|
|
|
|
Let's just say for now that you'll learn something very unusual about
|
|
Centauri "intimacy" in "The Quality of Mercy."
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
511 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 12
|
|
Message 447 Fri Feb 04, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:41 EST
|
|
|
|
Look for a B5 piece on Sci-Fi Buzz this Sunday; on KPCC on February 20th
|
|
at 3:30 p.m. (or thereabouts); and on Channel 13 L.A. this coming wednesday
|
|
(as part of their newscast).
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 12
|
|
Message 455 Sun Feb 06, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:52 EST
|
|
|
|
...i hate being interviewed...i don't want my mug on teevee...the STORY
|
|
is the star, as far as i'm concerned....feh, feh, and in case you missed it
|
|
the first time...feh.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 12
|
|
Message 497 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:53 EST
|
|
|
|
The 2nd B5 issue of Cinefantastique is already out. Picked up a few
|
|
copies the other day. (They shipped with two different covers; one cover has
|
|
Stephen King's The Stand on it, the other has B5 on it.)
|
|
|
|
js
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 12
|
|
Message 506 Fri Feb 25, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:32 EST
|
|
|
|
No, I don't think there's a 100% correlation; sometimes a show is
|
|
absolutely awful, and is panned appropriately. Sometimes a show tries to
|
|
introduce a paradigm shift, and gets unfairly nailed. And all of the other
|
|
possibilities in-between.
|
|
|
|
I have learned from this experience one very important lesson: no matter
|
|
what you do, somebody'll gig you for it. If you put in action, they'll say
|
|
the show has nothing to say and is shallow; if you put in esoteric stuff,
|
|
they'll say it's pompous; if you spend time building your characters, they'll
|
|
say it's slow; if you do a complex plot, they'll say there's no
|
|
characterization; if you have no EFX, they'll say you're cheap; if you put in
|
|
lots of EFX, they'll say you're just doing the old razzle-dazzle with nothing
|
|
of substance...and on and on and on.
|
|
|
|
So, fundamentally, the only thing you can do is keep doing what it is
|
|
you're doing, and be patient, letting people gradually see the full picture of
|
|
what you're doing. (Oh, yeah, and if you start off going for ambitious stuff,
|
|
they'll say you're confusing; if you start gradually and work your way into
|
|
the more complex stories after you've introduced the world and the characters,
|
|
they'll say you're not innovative.)
|
|
|
|
I am content to be patient, and to continue telling the story I want to
|
|
tell.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
523 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 411 Thu Feb 03, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 16:33 EST
|
|
|
|
Actually, there's only one jump gate near B5, which can take you into or
|
|
out of hyperspace.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 414 Thu Feb 03, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:38 EST
|
|
|
|
Of course, the station *does* have a VERY comprehensive defense system,
|
|
which could've blown the ship (or any other incoming object) out of existence
|
|
at any time; the only reason for waiting as long as possible was because of
|
|
the first contact reprecussions....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 421 Fri Feb 04, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:04 EST
|
|
|
|
They weren't amazed that the ship activated the gate; they weren't
|
|
expecting any ships in for a while (so sayeth Laurel), and thus were surprised
|
|
that he arrived early.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 457 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:50 EST
|
|
|
|
I loved the lensman books, and own first editions of just about the whole
|
|
cycle.
|
|
|
|
Re: the helmets reflecting a tactical display...we actually tried this,
|
|
and put in displays where they would actually be. Problem is, unless you're
|
|
shooting at an up-angle, which looks really weird, it's not bright enough to
|
|
reflect much, unless you also REALLY make it bright, in which case it looks
|
|
REALLY funky.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 459 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:06 EST
|
|
|
|
That was our first excursion into DownBelow; we began modifying the
|
|
wardrobe fairly quickly thereafter to present a more broad-based look.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 13
|
|
Message 520 Sat Feb 19, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:34 EST
|
|
|
|
It's made to be adhesive to skin, but easily removed.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 14 Thu Dec 31, 1992
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:59 EST
|
|
Sub: Lurkers/Introductions: Please Sign In
|
|
|
|
A place for newcomers to come in, say hello, whether you want to jump into the
|
|
conversation or not, just to let us know you're here.
|
|
534 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 14
|
|
Message 496 Tue Feb 01, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 05:47 EST
|
|
|
|
Re: Vertigo...some of the best writing being done today is by Neil Gaiman
|
|
in the SANDMAN books...amazing stuff....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 14
|
|
Message 502 Thu Feb 10, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:15 EST
|
|
|
|
Americanized version: struh-zin-ski.
|
|
|
|
Byeloruss (native) version: strah-chin-ski.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 14
|
|
Message 533 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:44 EST
|
|
|
|
Victoria...long as you're here...at this point it looks as if I won't be
|
|
able to make it to the con. I knew there was something brewing in August, and
|
|
there are several somethings, primarily including San Diego ComicCon about a
|
|
week earlier. When we're in the middle of production, I can get away for
|
|
*maybe* one con a month, but two is just impossible. There's one slim chance
|
|
that I might be around there for business purposes at some point around there,
|
|
but that's still very much up in the air just now.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 15 Thu Dec 31, 1992
|
|
J.ROY18 [Jonathan] at 21:29 EST
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 - Alien Races
|
|
|
|
Aliens races in Babylon 5... their politics, abilties, technology, history,
|
|
and any other discussion specificly about non-humans.
|
|
|
|
451 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 15
|
|
Message 421 Sun Feb 06, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:26 EST
|
|
|
|
Well, *I* always figured they did, but then I always figured they were
|
|
marsupials, not reptilian...but that perception has gotten so much out there
|
|
that I don't know if it can be recalled, and if I may have to just give on in
|
|
that point.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 15
|
|
Message 445 Thu Feb 17, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:07 EST
|
|
|
|
Don: Minbari is in part derived from a minbar, which is the name for the
|
|
pulpit in a mosque.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 17 Tue Jan 19, 1993
|
|
C.STOBBE [Colin] at 21:02 EST
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 - Merchandising
|
|
|
|
A place to discuss all the neat Babylon 5 merchandising coming out (hopefully)
|
|
soon
|
|
489 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 17
|
|
Message 476 Tue Feb 15, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:38 EST
|
|
|
|
I have consultation rights on everything merchandised, to keep it within
|
|
the proper B5 framework. I'd like to keep that hand as light as possible,
|
|
though...like I said, I'm curious to see what *others* can do with the show.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 17
|
|
Message 486 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:25 EST
|
|
|
|
BTW, Lee, next time you and I end up at the same con, give me some
|
|
advance word, to bring something in exchange for the poster.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
453 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 374 Sat Feb 05, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:29 EST
|
|
|
|
Correct; the distortion you're seeing is caused by superheating the air.
|
|
When it collapses again -- the heat literally burns through the atmosphere,
|
|
the same as lightning -- it would logically make a sound like a small
|
|
thunderclap...so we sampled some thunder sounds, and interlaced some of the
|
|
PPG sound with that as well.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 378 Sun Feb 06, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:41 EST
|
|
|
|
I'd thought Brett had answered that well, about the magnetic field
|
|
keeping the stuff in.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 380 Sun Feb 06, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:52 EST
|
|
|
|
Yup. Cumbersome. And they say, "Here I am, shoot me."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 383 Sun Feb 06, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:46 EST
|
|
|
|
There is a cycle-up period. Whenever the PPG is going to be used, you
|
|
can hear it powering up.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
(Of course, once powered up, it doesn't need to do it again until after it
|
|
fires the charge.)
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 387 Mon Feb 07, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:49 EST
|
|
|
|
Re: bullets...you're essentially shooting bullets inside a tin can. The
|
|
problem with ricochet is *incredible*.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 396 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:52 EST
|
|
|
|
Yes, there are other divisions, including the Marines. We'll see them,
|
|
too, from time to time....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 398 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:57 EST
|
|
|
|
Yes to both questions.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 411 Thu Feb 10, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:16 EST
|
|
|
|
There are non-lethal weapons, including shock-sticks, which can be used
|
|
to disable someone. It looks something like a large baton and works kind of
|
|
like a taser, only moreso.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 431 Wed Feb 16, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:31 EST
|
|
|
|
Oh, you will, you will....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 434 Fri Feb 25, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:33 EST
|
|
|
|
The article is confused; the station has Alpha, Delta, and Gamma
|
|
squadrons, composed of starfuries. The final squadron, Zeta flight, will
|
|
arrive in "Survivors."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 436 Sat Feb 26, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:24 EST
|
|
|
|
Nope.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
(Larry's last name is misspelled throughout. A small joy for me.)
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 441 Sun Feb 27, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:13 EST
|
|
|
|
The photo caption is correct. And I very much wish it weren't.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 443 Sun Feb 27, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:23 EST
|
|
|
|
I didn't think anything was revealed about that...will go back and check.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 444 Sun Feb 27, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:26 EST
|
|
|
|
Wait...just checked. No, don't worry...odd as it sounds, that doesn't
|
|
reveal anything at all about Kosh. You'll understand when you see the
|
|
episode. (Scared me for a minute there....)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 448 Sun Feb 27, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:16 EST
|
|
|
|
Trust me, that ain't it either. That's all I can say without making this
|
|
a spoiler.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 24
|
|
Message 451 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:33 EST
|
|
|
|
Nope.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
426 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 25
|
|
Message 416 Sun Feb 13, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:38 EST
|
|
|
|
Wait...it's *11:30*? I was told 1 p.m. Can this be verified?
|
|
|
|
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!
|
|
195 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 26
|
|
Message 192 Tue Feb 01, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:27 EST
|
|
|
|
I can't comment on that last part for a while yet; will do so soon.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 27 Fri Feb 04, 1994
|
|
W.SUDLOW [Raffles] at 19:56 EST
|
|
Sub: Babylon 5 and Religion
|
|
|
|
A place to discuss Soul Hunters, Minbari reincarnation beliefs and other
|
|
>metaphysical subjects. Feel free to compare and contrast with human
|
|
religions, but *please* be considerate, and avoid entering realworld
|
|
theological debates.
|
|
32 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 27
|
|
Message 2 Sat Feb 05, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:02 EST
|
|
|
|
Because we deal with religion a *lot* in this first season, we're giving
|
|
it a break...but yes, there is some cross-fertilization. I'd written a scene
|
|
for one script, cut for time, featuring an alien in Catholic collar, a priest.
|
|
And there should be humans who'd get into alien religions that are thousands
|
|
of years older than our own.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 27
|
|
Message 10 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:58 EST
|
|
|
|
Speaking of handing someone a hot potato, if you think this one is a
|
|
toughie, just wait for "Believers." Yikes.
|
|
|
|
What the soul was, who's right, and even whether this is SF or Science
|
|
Fantasy, was it explained enough to merit one over the other... how can I put
|
|
this...? I don't want to spoon-feed stuff to people. What I want is not to
|
|
hit someone with a MORAL, or a message, or "This is what a soul is," or "This
|
|
is what makes it an SF series," I want to start discussions. Arguments.
|
|
Preferably a bar fight or two.
|
|
|
|
We present an issue. Here are the sides. Now...what do YOU think about
|
|
it? I want this show to ask, "Who are you? Where are you going?" That's
|
|
half the fun. Some of my favorites pastimes in college were sitting in the
|
|
commons, or the library, arguing this stuff from every possible angle. You
|
|
think I'm gonna tell you what to think? What it means? No. The goal is to
|
|
provoke discussion. Preferably passionate discussion.
|
|
|
|
Otherwise I might as well just start renting billboards and putting up
|
|
signs.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 18, Topic 27
|
|
Message 14 Thu Feb 10, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:59 EST
|
|
|
|
Yes, I do.
|
|
|
|
No, you don't.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 4 Sat Oct 16, 1993
|
|
STARR [Arne] at 10:46 EDT
|
|
Sub: Midnight on the Firing Line (#103)
|
|
|
|
The first episode of the new series appearing in late January.
|
|
|
|
190 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 4
|
|
Message 151 Tue Feb 01, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:07 EST
|
|
|
|
Somone crossing *bang-banged* on the grate in the middle of the central
|
|
corridor, and so Doyle hesitated, and we found we didn't have the coverage to
|
|
collapse that one moment, or a replacement take.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 5 Sat Oct 16, 1993
|
|
STARR [Arne] at 10:49 EDT
|
|
Sub: Soul Hunter (#102)
|
|
|
|
by JMS. The second sheduled episode of the new series.
|
|
|
|
268 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 34 Wed Feb 02, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:52 EST
|
|
|
|
Mira's makeup is the same between episodes, and we'll be keeping the act
|
|
structure you're seeing now. Many thanks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 36 Wed Feb 02, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:47 EST
|
|
|
|
Normally, I don't tend to respond to negatives, because I don't generally
|
|
want to get in the way or be perceived to be getting in the way of criticism.
|
|
I don't. But I feel I have to respond to some of this. If the show is open
|
|
to criticism, then it seems to me that some of the critiques should be open as
|
|
well. And some of these I think are quitge unfair.
|
|
|
|
1) When did they move the jump gate (re: the time required to get from
|
|
the gate by Kosh's ship, as opposed to the Hunter ship). They/we didn't.
|
|
Once again, and I wish people could remember this, Kosh's ship BEGAN TO
|
|
DECELERATE the instant it emerged from the gate, in order to dock with B5
|
|
without smashing into it. The Soul Hunter ship was out of control, careening
|
|
in at full speed. (This was a widely discussed reason why the Vorlon fleet
|
|
got to B5 so quickly as vs. Kosh's ship. They were moving fast to get into
|
|
striking position.)
|
|
|
|
2) The Hunter's ship was on autopilot, set to come out of the first gate
|
|
it came to.
|
|
|
|
3) There was still time for the station's defense grid to blow the ship.
|
|
Yes, pieces would have continued onward, but a hell of a lot of its inertia
|
|
would've been taken out by the incoming fire, and any remaining pieces
|
|
would've either been taken out as well, or would have been so small as to not
|
|
damage the hull (which is *very* thick at that point) given its blast-enforced
|
|
deceleration.
|
|
|
|
4) Yes, Sinclair would've gone up with it. You pays your money, you
|
|
takes your chances.
|
|
|
|
5) There was no "the Earth is going to explode" story here; you have a
|
|
ship colliding with the station, that has to be stopped. It has to be stopped
|
|
within the period between when it emerges from the gate, and the time it would
|
|
collide. You want to know how much time you have to work in. Maybe it's a
|
|
dramatic device, but it's also exactly what you would do. What would you
|
|
prefer? "Lieutenant Commander, how much longer until impact?" "Uh...I
|
|
dunno...can you hang on a second?"
|
|
|
|
6) Re: the "funny forehead" comment...it was not what I've understood the
|
|
FF syndrome to mean...a regular head with a little treatment on the front.
|
|
This was a whole-head prosthetic, covering the entire back of the head. So
|
|
wrong on that one. And re: n'grath having 6 legs rather than 4...who're you
|
|
to say that? Ever seen a praying mantis? Do all insects all over the galaxy
|
|
have to have six legs to qualify? You don't like minimal makeup, you don't
|
|
like full-body prosthetics...you understand that this comes out as "nothing
|
|
will please me except a real alien." You tell me where to find one in Central
|
|
Casting, and I'll hire him.
|
|
|
|
7) Okay, here's my biggest gripe: the note that the soul aspect was Trek
|
|
and "katra." Let me be clear on this: I don't give a damn what Trek has or
|
|
has not done now, long ago, or will do in the future. We can't be constantly
|
|
looking over our shoulder, limiting our universe because of another show. If
|
|
your only frame of reference when it comes to discussing the soul is Star
|
|
Trek, then that's profoundly disappointing, but it's got nothing to do with
|
|
me. The basic concept goes back to the beginnings of civilization (that your
|
|
soul can be captured somehow). Further, there were no soul hunters in ST, it
|
|
was placement of one's spirit in another body. I'm getting real tired of the
|
|
notion that if Trek did something, nobody else ever can do it. Like the
|
|
person who said that Trek invented nanotechnology, and thus when we used it in
|
|
the pilot episode in the nanotech machine G'Kar swallows, we were just copying
|
|
Trek's nanites.
|
|
|
|
I refuse to surrender creative control of this series to the ghost of
|
|
Star Trek's used notions. From time to time, we'll cross into areas they have
|
|
also touched. We'll touch it differently. Deal with it. But please don't
|
|
put a Star Trek (tm) tag on the soul, and the history of the soul.
|
|
|
|
8) You say a guard's gun was taken *twice* in this episode. Where is #2
|
|
(if #1 is the medlab guard)? I see a guard being attacked from behind, but
|
|
not his gun being taken.
|
|
|
|
9) Re: the second soul hunter's makeup being "inferior" to the first:
|
|
they were essentially exactly the same...same material, same design, minus the
|
|
stone, which varied...I'm sorry, but they were made, applied and used in
|
|
exactly the same way.
|
|
|
|
10) Why drain her of blood? Why the hell not? In some countries, that
|
|
was used as a means of execution. Bleeding was also used (in theory) to
|
|
heal. Okay, let's say he used poison. "Why use poison?" you probably
|
|
would've asked. "Oh, it was the old poison gag, and they find a convenient
|
|
antidote." There's no difference.
|
|
|
|
11) How did the hunter relate his sense of death to a wall map? I ask
|
|
again...why not? If you can buy it happens at all, why not? How is that any
|
|
different than walking through a hall, or being drawn to a planet? This is
|
|
strictly a straw-man example, as is much of what you cite.
|
|
|
|
This, frankly, is what I find so offensive in your note. You take things
|
|
that as a matter of opinion you might have done differently, and then try to
|
|
hold it up as a fault. You set up straw man arguments that could be just as
|
|
easily turned around on anything, mischaracterizing something in order to take
|
|
a cheap shot.
|
|
|
|
12) Why didn't Sinclair link in when he found the hunter? Because he
|
|
only "found" the hunter when he was being SHOT AT. And at that point you
|
|
don't want to raise your voice because you'll be shot at again.
|
|
|
|
13) You complain that the soul globes seemed to wait until the moment
|
|
Sinclair freed them to act (as though it were the bag that had been holding
|
|
them in). Sure, they could've emerged...and floated. A lot of good that
|
|
would've done them. What they needed was someone who could stop him, and that
|
|
was Sinclair's task. They were able to distract the hunter long enough for
|
|
that to happen. Minus Sinclair, what were they supposed to do, bedazzle him
|
|
to death?
|
|
|
|
14) Re: shining things into the camera = NBC Mystery Movie. See point
|
|
11a above. I'm not responsible for your cultural reference points.
|
|
|
|
I don't mean to yell, but thing is, I don't mind genuine criticism, if we
|
|
specifically do something that is objectively *wrong*. If you don't like
|
|
something, that's also fine. But I'm tired of people who confuse opinion with
|
|
fact, and that if it isn't done their way, then it isn't somehow *right*...and
|
|
the notion that Star Trek has invented, patented and qualified for sole claim
|
|
on whole aspects of our history, literature, culture, theology and language,
|
|
and that anybody who touches on these areas is just doing Trek stuff.
|
|
|
|
As far as I'm concerned, the Trek-soul-katra thing treated the soul as
|
|
little more than a misplaced pair of sunglasses. Here we tried to get into
|
|
the issues *behind* the soul...where does it come from, where does it go, does
|
|
it survive the death of the body, or does it go on...to give some mystery and
|
|
beauty to the notion. To have it dismissed as just another riff on katra is
|
|
offensive and insulting and narrow. And all of those issues just seemed to
|
|
flit by without comment.
|
|
|
|
I don't mean to get angry, but this is one I'm very proud of, and to see
|
|
it sideswiped and mischaracterized and straw-man'd to death in this fashion is
|
|
just something that I had to respond to.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 41 Wed Feb 02, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:02 EST
|
|
|
|
Just one note...as I mentioned in my reply to your email, Torville, I
|
|
have received and waded through literally *thousands* of critiques of B5, from
|
|
the pilot to the first two episodes. In all but maybe 5-6 of those, I keep my
|
|
mouth shut. The only time I can't avoid the tendency to respond is if I see
|
|
something that I think is unfair, as I felt your message was unfair. (And
|
|
again in your latest, that the ship being on a collision course "doesn't
|
|
advance the story." That's simply silly. The soul hunter is unconscious at
|
|
the start. Thus, his ship has to be on autopilot. Thus if it comes in, once
|
|
it's past the gate, it's out of control. Sure, I suppose that I could've had
|
|
it flying off at a whole different tangent, or just laying there in
|
|
space...but this is a series with some measure of *action* to it. I like to
|
|
keep a good pace going. Pacing is part of the story, advances the story.
|
|
Thus it *does* advance the story.)
|
|
|
|
I have accepted, without comment, a *lot* of things that I disagreed
|
|
with...sometimes holding to my own original view, sometimes altering my views
|
|
when someone hits me over the head with a fact. But I reserve the right,
|
|
every 3,000 messages or so, to get, as you say in your signature, "miffed."
|
|
And I'd note that *you* got miffed after just *one* critique of something you
|
|
wrote...try 3,000 on for size some time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
("I can see you're really upset about this, Dave...Dave...?)
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 61 Thu Feb 03, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:29 EST
|
|
|
|
Delenn was shattering the soul globes in order to let the souls escape,
|
|
rather than playing with them. Look on the floor around her, and you'll see
|
|
shattered globes. There should also be a sound of them breaking in her hands,
|
|
the light goes out, and something escapes....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 78 Fri Feb 04, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:38 EST
|
|
|
|
One thing we discovered after making the pilot was that we had gotten so
|
|
dark and moody in the thing that in some cases we walked into what (as I
|
|
recall) are referred to as "illegal blacks." Meaning it was *too* dark in
|
|
places, and some foreign distributers (which apparently is where this is a
|
|
problem) would balk at picking up the pilot.
|
|
|
|
The other thing, BTW, is that I haven't been much aware of any *major*
|
|
lighting difference; we've upped it a bit, but not that much. The other day I
|
|
watched (for the first time) one of our shows actually being broadcast, and
|
|
noticed that they cranked the luminescence WAY up there. (This is a problem
|
|
rampant through TV; when I was on "Murder," we'd do these great, moody scenes,
|
|
and CBS would dial it up until it was nearly daylight.) Some of the music was
|
|
also stomped down, cutting out most of the low frequency stuff.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 104 Sat Feb 05, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:22 EST
|
|
|
|
Actually, it's "Med-Alert."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 131 Sun Feb 06, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:14 EST
|
|
|
|
The spelling is Satai. There are nine members of the Grey Council.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 145 Sun Feb 06, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 18:42 EST
|
|
|
|
Why is part of me tempted to decide that around the year 2223 the most
|
|
revered figure in Earthforce Command was General Ira Asimov, a brilliant
|
|
strategist for whom the liner was named....?
|
|
|
|
There are certain benefits to a design-your-own-future universe....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 167 Mon Feb 07, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 14:48 EST
|
|
|
|
John Drew: regarding your note that naming the starliner the Asimov is
|
|
"not original" and "cliche"...I deeply admired Asimov. Harlan Ellison, this
|
|
series consultant, was as dear a friend to Asimov as anyone could be.
|
|
I named the starliner after Asimov shortly after his death, because I will
|
|
personally miss him, and for Harlan, as his friend.
|
|
|
|
So regarding your "cliche" line...not to put too fine a point on it,
|
|
screw off. Get your own damned show. This is mine. The starliner originally
|
|
was named something else. If I choose, as an expression of loss, to name this
|
|
ship after him, that's my right. As far as I am concerned, that is the end of
|
|
this discussion.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 185 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:37 EST
|
|
|
|
Well, John, you can say it's unprofessional...but in your case, as
|
|
someone who hosts/produces a talk show on SF, you of all people should be
|
|
aware of the death of Asimov, of the place he held, of the affection many of
|
|
us held for him...and to dismiss something meant to honor that memory (and his
|
|
death is still fresh for many of us) as "cliche," frankly, as far as I'm
|
|
concerned...you should've known better. It's got nothing to do with me, and
|
|
everything to do with knowing SF.
|
|
|
|
And maybe next time you'll wait, and inquire, before dismissing someone
|
|
else's work as "lazy" and "unimaginative" and "cliche." Yes, this is a place
|
|
for opinion. And if someone's opinion is based on fuzzy thinking, rudeness,
|
|
prejudice or inaccurate information, I reserve the right to bonk that person.
|
|
Hard. Or are you saying that you can critique my writing, but I can't
|
|
critique yours? As I understand BBSs, it's an interactive service...one gives
|
|
as well as receives. I am not here to be a silent punching bag. This has
|
|
been a process of *give and take*.
|
|
|
|
And it is as blessed to give as to receive.
|
|
|
|
So I am twice blessed. And so are you.
|
|
|
|
Deal with it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 193 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 14:18 EST
|
|
|
|
John...when you go around shooting off your mouth and calling names and
|
|
making cheap shots, you're going to have someone hand you your head from time
|
|
to time.
|
|
|
|
There seems to be this perception of BBS etiquette as, "I can say
|
|
anything I want about you, be as unfair as I like, but if you call me on it,
|
|
if you respond in the same kinds of terms I use, then that's being
|
|
unprofessional."
|
|
|
|
But then there have always been people who don't like it when the target
|
|
fires back.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 201 Tue Feb 08, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:23 EST
|
|
|
|
He split before the third one could be shown to be also empty; when you
|
|
know it's not going your way, split fast.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 225 Fri Feb 11, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:46 EST
|
|
|
|
BTW...someone sent me a note mentioning that somewhere or other somebody
|
|
was citing Dukhat (S.H.) and Dabo (BTtP) as "obvious pull-overs from ST," the
|
|
first being a name in DS9, the latter being a game Quark plays.
|
|
|
|
In reverse order...the world mentioned isn't Dabo, it's Davo; second,
|
|
Dukhat is a name that goes back as far as the original treatment, seven years.
|
|
I am consistently amazed at how everyone thinks that everything emanates from
|
|
ST.
|
|
|
|
This show does not DO "obvious pull-overs from ST." Period. We don't
|
|
have to. We're perfectly happy being our own show. Why would ANY show,
|
|
trying to make its own identity, do this stuff?
|
|
|
|
There are times I just despair....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 250 Mon Feb 14, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:57 EST
|
|
|
|
No, the coffin was named Jarvis.
|
|
|
|
jm(tongue firmly in cheek)s
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 259 Thu Feb 17, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:57 EST
|
|
|
|
Cindy: I don't find your 258 funny in the least regard. I didn't "get"
|
|
the idea from Buck Rodgers, and resent your comment. Reconsider it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 5
|
|
Message 264 Fri Feb 25, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:18 EST
|
|
|
|
I don't think that's correct, since the same feed went to both monitors.
|
|
I think that the film camera may have *pushed in * on the other console, so we
|
|
saw less of the picture on the monitor, but as far as I know, it was the same
|
|
piece of tape running on both monitors.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 6 Sat Oct 16, 1993
|
|
STARR [Arne] at 10:50 EDT
|
|
Sub: Born To The Purple (#104)
|
|
|
|
by Larry DiTillio. A Londo episode.
|
|
120 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 6
|
|
Message 19 Sun Feb 06, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 22:43 EST
|
|
|
|
Yeah, that's a favorite line of lots of folks. BTW, how did the preview
|
|
of "Infection" look? I haven't seen it yet.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 6
|
|
Message 26 Wed Feb 09, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:26 EST
|
|
|
|
Regarding Ivanova...it's not really an attempt to pull at heart strings,
|
|
as it is to establish that this is someone who's had, and is still having, a
|
|
pretty rough life. It's a real roller-coaster for her, and the way she
|
|
survives it is to absolutely bottle it up inside. She has had angst
|
|
throughout her life, and she's in for more.
|
|
|
|
We start to track that in little ways that probably no one will notice,
|
|
as well as making it the occasional story point. A little way nobody'll
|
|
notice: after this episode, she starts messing with her hair, which we'd
|
|
deliberately set as extremely tight until now. Suddenly she doesn't have
|
|
someone for whom she has to be a certain way, and she has to start finding her
|
|
*own* identity, and it ain't easy.
|
|
|
|
Re: the club owner recognizing Sinclair (or not)...this is something we
|
|
discussed. Can Sinclair go places in the station and not be recognized? In
|
|
some cases, no. In a place like the Dark Star, maybe so; this isn't the kind
|
|
of place he generally hangs out in. It's a question of how much day-to-day
|
|
interaction somebody would have with him. Yes, he's an important figure; but
|
|
I'm not sure if I'd immediately recognize L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan at first
|
|
glance, particularly in different style of dress, in an unusual location.
|
|
We're *not* going to do it a lot -- just once this season -- but we thought it
|
|
was a reasonable approach.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 6
|
|
Message 58 Fri Feb 11, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:30 EST
|
|
|
|
This was a bit cut from the script for time; Gold Channels are ONLY for
|
|
official use, they're high-priority channels that can go anywhere back on
|
|
Earth. Commercial communications are less reliable and only have a few
|
|
channels available; you've got to wait for a call to go through. To use a
|
|
Gold Channel for personal communications is a No-No.
|
|
|
|
Sinclair is shot at in "Infection," yes...but then, EVERYONE is shot at
|
|
in "Infection." However, he *isn't* shot at in the majority of our
|
|
episodes...isn't shot at in "Parliament," "Mind War," "By Any Means,"
|
|
"Survivors," "Believers," "Chrysalis" or many others. Like I said, the amount
|
|
of personal danger into which he puts himself cuts down a bit after the
|
|
discussion at the end of "Infection."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 6
|
|
Message 60 Fri Feb 11, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:34 EST
|
|
|
|
There's a definite improvement arc in the show; the deeper we got into
|
|
production, the better the stories generally became, and the better the
|
|
production values. (With a few exceptions.) The biggest change in the show
|
|
came once we began writing scripts *after* we'd begun shooting episodes, so
|
|
that we/I could again see the actors and find their fingerprints.
|
|
"Parliament" is the first one I wrote after we started filming; "Soul,"
|
|
"Infection" and "Midnight" were all written prior to filming starting.
|
|
|
|
Re: the GURU reference in this ep...could someone here, in as precise a
|
|
manner as possible, indicate the reference, what it was, wehre (where) you saw
|
|
it, and what it refers to?
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 6
|
|
Message 97 Mon Feb 14, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:08 EST
|
|
|
|
Yep. Same guy. (We briefly considered having this poor shlub get tossed
|
|
in various shows, but wisely came to our senses.) BTW, he's Chuck Norris'
|
|
son.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 8 Sat Oct 16, 1993
|
|
STARR [Arne] at 10:51 EDT
|
|
Sub: Infection (#101)
|
|
|
|
By JMS. The first shot episode though not the first shown.
|
|
130 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 8
|
|
Message 9 Thu Feb 10, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 20:23 EST
|
|
|
|
I'll leave my opinion for after everyone else has seen it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 8
|
|
Message 11 Fri Feb 11, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:10 EST
|
|
|
|
You don't. The next two after "Infection" are terrific. My two
|
|
favorites of this batch.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 8
|
|
Message 53 Fri Feb 18, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:56 EST
|
|
|
|
I think, frankly, that part of the problem here is the misperception that
|
|
all Hollywood writers ever do is rip off other stuff, that nobody out here
|
|
ever has an original thought, that if there are ANY common themes, it MUST be
|
|
because so-and-so ripped off so-and-so. Which is one reason why I flipped out
|
|
a bit in the Soul Hunter topic; I'm tired of that crap, because it's simply
|
|
not true.
|
|
|
|
Look at all the *thousands* of books that've been published in the last
|
|
few years in SF...particularly the sword and sorcery/fantasy books, where you
|
|
can't swing an elf without hitting a unicorn, a short fellow with great
|
|
wisdom, and a princess trying to reclaim her throne. Common themes all over
|
|
the place. Nobody thinks twice. But god forbid somebody should produce a TV
|
|
episode that deals with the same issue as some other series, and it's
|
|
*immediately* considered to be a rip-off. It's biased, skewed, untruthful,
|
|
insulting to anyone who works in the field, and just contributes to the
|
|
accepted cliche, which doesn't touch reality at any two contiguous points.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 8
|
|
Message 85 Sat Feb 19, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:16 EST
|
|
|
|
Negative. The orientation of the control room is correct. You look at
|
|
the docking bay in the direct center of the station (and the center of
|
|
rotation), which is zero-G. Now you pan down. You come to the observation
|
|
dome, *beneath* the docking bay. (Incoming ships pass OVER the head of
|
|
whoever's standinga the main console.) Their feet point down to the outer
|
|
hull of the station, and their heads point toward the docking bay.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 11 Sun Oct 17, 1993
|
|
STARR [Arne] at 15:14 EDT
|
|
Sub: The Parliament of Dreams (#108)
|
|
|
|
by JMS.
|
|
|
|
106 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 13 Sat Feb 19, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:11 EST
|
|
|
|
The "stay put" line was ad-libbed by Andreas, because the crawfish kept
|
|
crawling off the table.
|
|
|
|
Re: G'Kar being theatrical...that's who he is. I like theatrical
|
|
characters. I know many in real life that're much bigger than life, very
|
|
broad...and great fun. Not every character has to be sonorous and serious and
|
|
restrained. The whole point of *having* alien characters is that they should
|
|
act differently than the majority of us.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 16 Sun Feb 20, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 04:05 EST
|
|
|
|
You'll see more about Narn religion and culture in "By Any Means
|
|
Necessary."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 24 Mon Feb 21, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:18 EST
|
|
|
|
Chats: back off.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 39 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:19 EST
|
|
|
|
You're seeing, btw, why this episode, much as it's a favorite, couldn't
|
|
be shown any sooner; there has to be some familiarity with the characters for
|
|
this to be most effective.
|
|
|
|
As to the interpretation of the final tag scene...my thought was that
|
|
it's a way of saying, "Our dominant belief is that ALL beliefs are respcted."
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 44 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:18 EST
|
|
|
|
Re: establishing and transitional shots...couple thoughts. The machines
|
|
used to render establishers are the same ones used to render the show-specific
|
|
shots. Ron's elves said, in essence, "Pick one." So for some period of time,
|
|
we had to make do with what we had, and take care of the shots we needed for
|
|
the episodes themselves in terms of the stories. As we went along, though, we
|
|
gradually began to add new ones.
|
|
|
|
The other problem, of course, is that the station isn't going anywhere;
|
|
you can change the angles, but you're still stuck with planet, station, stars,
|
|
maybe a ship or two. So even if there *were* new shots being rendered as
|
|
establishers/transitional shots for each show, there wouldn't be *that* much
|
|
difference between them. So again, it made sense to putting those hours of
|
|
rendering time into doing bang-up shots for the main story in each episode.
|
|
|
|
You'll get a clearer sense of some of that cool stuff in "Mind War,"
|
|
which has some strictly *gorgeous* CGI, and a LOT of it.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 49 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 19:06 EST
|
|
|
|
That was Thomas Kopache as Tu'Pari.
|
|
|
|
Re: the establishing shots you describe...yes, we'll be seeing those as
|
|
well. As I recall there's a nifty one in "Raiding Party," which we just put
|
|
in. The "starlight" gif is taken from one shot that shows the sun in BG. We
|
|
diversity more the further in we get.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 52 Thu Feb 24, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:48 EST
|
|
|
|
There was a follower of Islam; right next to the orthodox jew at the
|
|
front of the line. "Mr. Rashid, a Moslem." I made sure we put them side by
|
|
side.
|
|
|
|
The "fishy" song was composed by Christopher Franke specifically for that
|
|
scene. I told him I wanted sort of a Narnish Gilbert and Sullivan, and that's
|
|
what we got.
|
|
|
|
Re: the camera moves...I really have no idea what your friend is talking
|
|
about. Virtually all of our sets are constructed for full 360 degree camera
|
|
movement (and we do have a few cases of full 360 degree pans coming along).
|
|
This is not, however, a "cutty" show...some shows, presuming that their
|
|
audience has the attention span of your average gnat, lean toward fast-fast-
|
|
fast- cutting and editing and swishing camera moves. We *hate* that. We're
|
|
trying to set a mood, not turn the show into an MTV music video. (Miami Vice
|
|
was a terrific example of this kind fo thing.)
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 57 Fri Feb 25, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:29 EST
|
|
|
|
The SkyDancer appears in the next episode. "See you next Wednesday"
|
|
is...well...it's when she's going to be back on the station. She has to
|
|
complete her run by Tuesday, and will be back on Wednesday.
|
|
|
|
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 62 Fri Feb 25, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 02:13 EST
|
|
|
|
BTW, re: Sinclair remembering all those names...we used many of the real
|
|
names of the people standing in line, many of whom *did* belong to the
|
|
religion they had come to represent. We went down this line of 250 people,
|
|
and went over their names *twice* with O'Hare. That's all. After that, he
|
|
got each name right every time; amazingly quick memorization.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 72 Fri Feb 25, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 23:20 EST
|
|
|
|
The article is incorrect; the Kosh/skintab discussion is in "The War
|
|
Prayer," airing in 2 weeks.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 84 Sun Feb 27, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 03:30 EST
|
|
|
|
No, as far as I recall, the company is named in the teaser, during the
|
|
robe-scene with Sinclair.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 86 Sun Feb 27, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 17:01 EST
|
|
|
|
Well, it was my thought that there will always be folks who don't want
|
|
their eyes messed with. I still have my tonsils, and though I could afford
|
|
contacts, I won't let ANYbody touch my eyes. There's surgery that can correct
|
|
it, but you can *really* forget that. I dunno...it just makes sense to me
|
|
that it'll still be around. Not everything vanishes with the passage of time.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 98 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 01:28 EST
|
|
|
|
This is something that Andreas and I discussed, and it's not so much that
|
|
G'Kar *has* to cook, but that he *likes* to cook. From the singing, it's
|
|
clear he's having a good time....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 11
|
|
Message 103 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:51 EST
|
|
|
|
Freud said there are no coincidences....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
************
|
|
Topic 13 Sun Oct 17, 1993
|
|
STARR [Arne] at 15:15 EDT
|
|
Sub: Mind War (#110)
|
|
|
|
by JMS. Co-Starring Walter Koenig.
|
|
31 message(s) total.
|
|
************
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 13
|
|
Message 4 Fri Feb 25, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:34 EST
|
|
|
|
The story is *not* about a "freak accident that creates a superman."
|
|
This *is* a B5 story, and could only take place in the B5 universe.
|
|
|
|
Just a thought, but before rendering judgment, you might want to see the
|
|
show first....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 13
|
|
Message 10 Fri Feb 25, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 15:36 EST
|
|
|
|
I don't know what happened to the closed captioning; it was delivered in
|
|
time for the CC, and should've been done. Will investigate.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 13
|
|
Message 23 Sun Feb 27, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 17:03 EST
|
|
|
|
BTW...next Thursday, after most folks've seen this ep, somebody here
|
|
remind me to mention what's the one thing I like most about this episode; it's
|
|
kinda wonky, but fun.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 13
|
|
Message 28 Mon Feb 28, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 21:55 EST
|
|
|
|
"Chrysalis" makes "Mind War" look like a still-life painting by
|
|
comparison....
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
------------
|
|
Category 19, Topic 13
|
|
Message 30 Tue Mar 01, 1994
|
|
STRACZYNSKI [Joe] at 00:18 EST
|
|
|
|
I'll have to check to see about the glitches; we've tracked down the
|
|
technical difficulties further, and discovered (among other things) that after
|
|
we'd delivered the episode, at one stage along the way they were being
|
|
transferred to 1" *used tape*. Add in going from D2 to 1" and from that 1" to
|
|
others to do closed captioning and commercials, and you're bound to get some
|
|
weird stuff. Starting next week, episodes will be going out with most of the
|
|
transfer work done on D2, not 1", so they should be cleaner henceforth.
|
|
|
|
jms
|
|
|
|
(If you could be as specific as possible on where the glitch is, I can
|
|
check our master vs. the broadcast master.)
|
|
------------
|