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The Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5
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===========================================================================
| This text is compiled from posts by J. Michael Straczynski on the Usenet
| group alt.tv.babylon-5. This document contains material Copyright 1994
| J. Michael Straczynski. He has given permission for his words to be
| redistributed online, as long as they are marked as being copyright JMS.
| This document, as well as other Babylon-5 related material, is available
| by anonymous FTP at ftp.hyperion.com.
===========================================================================
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 2 Jan 1994 03:13:03 -0500
Subject: B-5 pilot: "The Director's Cut
The odds are zero, since the first version of the B5 pilot existed
only as a computer-graphic file edited movie. It wasn't edited on film,
for real, until we'd pared it down. We'd have to go in and totally
re-edit and re-score, and I doubt that's going to happen.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 2 Jan 1994 19:30:59 -0500
Subject: Re: Sunday Newsprint (Spoilers
RE: the newspaper...Stephen Furst's contract brings him up to 22
episodes in year 3 and doesn't mention anything beyond that only because
there are no further increases in episodes; our seasons run 22 episodes.
The plan is to have his character present throughout the full 5 year run.
As for the review...I have a sneaking suspicion that he's talking about
the pilot, since the cassette tapes of the first episode only went out
on Friday.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 2 Jan 1994 20:03:33 -0500
Subject: Re: B-5 pilot: "The Director's
The computerized cut of the pilot is now dumped out of memory, and
those portions only exist on a few VHS tapes of marginal quality. Also,
the footage in computer file form is *very* low grade, like a poorly
scanned gif file, very low resolution. It would be useless on a laser
disk.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 3 Jan 1994 02:57:04 -0500
Subject: Re: B-5 pilot: "The Director's
I'm certainly not showing disdain for the missing material; I'm just
saying it ain't *there*. Now, if B5 turns out to be a megahit, there may
be money set aside to re-edit the pilot some years down the road, but I'm
not currently counting on it. My chief concern now has to be the series.
As for keeping a record...I try, if spottily. Oddly enough, the very
best record of this process exists in the multi-megabytes that have been
exchanged here, on GEnie and elsewhere. It's something of a living
chronology. I try to take photos on the set (when I remember), and I'm
keeping 1 copy of each day's dailies, instead of recycling the tapes.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 4 Jan 1994 02:10:24 -0500
Subject: Re: B-5 pilot: "The Director's
The bloopers reel/christmas reel we did is just for internal use, I'm
afraid (though it's *very* funny). As for the computer program...it hould
be out in about a week, on schedule.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 4 Jan 1994 02:23:34 -0500
Subject: Re: Babylon Five List of Lists
Neame is Knight Two, Scott is Knight One.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 4 Jan 1994 02:36:06 -0500
Subject: DEMON ON THE RUN
We're still working out the dynamics of how these two universes
would cross seamlessly, without doing damage to either. We've got some
solid leads, but this is 'way too early to get into them. More down the
road, one hopes....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 4 Jan 1994 04:45:08 -0500
Subject: Interesting Babylon 5 ad...
Just as a point of reference, because there's no way to tell this
from the ad...that's not G'Kar speaking, that's the Soul Hunter.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 4 Jan 1994 23:52:15 -0500
Subject: jms's creds
Yikes; that's an awful lot of ground to cover. I've worked as story
editor or producer on such series as the new Twilight Zone, Murder She
Wrote, and the live-action SF series Captain Power (seen by maybe ten
people in the country before it was yanked off the air for being "the most
violent show on television," a post now occupied by Brisco County Jr., we
are told by congress). I've written something on the order of 120-130
produced episodes of television, and story edited probably twice that. (I
began in animation, story editing shows such as the Real Ghostbusters, the
syndicated and first network season, before walking off the show when they
compromised Janine's character.) I've been nominated for Gemini, Writers
Guild, Bram Stoker and Ace Awards. Two nominations were for the
adaptation I did for Showtime's Nightmare Classics series, "The Strange
Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," with Anthony Andrews and Laura Dern.
I was on Murder for about two years before leaving to do B5.
I've written produced radio dramas (including for Mutual Radio
Theater and Alien Worlds), published dark fantasy novels (hardcover from
Dutton, Demon Night and OtherSyde), produced stage plays, and something
on the order of 500 published articles. Started out as a reporter and
ended up working for the L.A. Times, TIME Inc., and others. Anyway,
that's a quick overview of it. (And no, no show in the 70s; my TV credits
begin around 1984.)
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 5 Jan 1994 00:41:39 -0500
Subject: Re: B-5 pilot: "The Director's
The computer program will be uploaded all *over* the place; it'll
be around....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 5 Jan 1994 01:11:57 -0500
Subject: Why the delay? (was Re: B5 Pil
We'd always figured on going right to series, but once we had done
the pilot, the studio said, in essence, "Well, we've got a pilot,
we don't know if the market will sustain more than one space SF series,
no other SF series has done well lately...maybe we ought to air the pilot
first, and get the ratings, before committing to a series." And that's
what happened...much to our consternation at first, but in the long run
it was a blessing in disguise, because that interim period allowed us to
really do a lot to make the show better.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 6 Jan 1994 00:43:37 -0500
Subject: too violent.....
Oh, believe me, take it seriously they did. Power was characterized
in the press by leading magazines as the most violent show on TV, there
were organized protests, I ended up in televised debates on this concerning
the show...and gradually the sponsor folded. These things do happen....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 6 Jan 1994 03:47:26 -0500
Subject: Re: jms's creds
I've always found "how/when did you get your break into writing" to
be a very weird question, at least in my case; like asking a doctor, "when
did you get your break into foot surgery." It wasn't one thing at one
time. This is a career that I've prepared for, and worked toward, and
entered incrementally over a very long period. I always knew that I would
be a writer, used to collect pencils and paperclips and could determine the
better grade of erasers and #10 pencils at an age when most kids were still
trying to figure out which end to hold. It's just a quirk.
When I was 16, after having read comprehensively in every genre I
could get my hands on, I decided that now was a good time to start. So I
began writing. Short stories, poems, playlets, articles, you name it, I
wrote it. I didn't show anyone at first, just kept slamming words
together in the process of learning how to make little explosions of
character and action. When I felt ready -- six months later -- I began
showing it around. The high school I was attending began producing some of
my one-acts, and commissioned a full play from me; I began selling articles
to local newspapers and magazines; even placed a one-act with a local
theater, which decided to produce it before discovering that I was only 17
years old. (When I showed up, they kept waiting for my parents to arrive,
until I pointed out that *I* was the JMS on the script.)
After that, it was just a process of *writing* and *sending it out*.
There is no mystery, no big break, no sudden revelation or secret
handshake. Bit by bit, I sold more articles, sold more plays, sold some
short stories, and bit by bit, almost without noticing, the list of credits
got longer until one day, people started asking me when I knew I'd Made It
as a writer, when it hadn't ever occured to me that I *had* made it as a
writer...I hadn't realized it'd happened.
It's the difference, I suppose, between buying a finished house, and
there it is...and watching the house go up brick by brick over a long
period of time. At what point did it "become" a house?
It's probably not a helpful answer, but it's the only one I have....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 6 Jan 1994 03:51:36 -0500
Subject: Re: Why the delay? (was Re: B5
No, we generally don't announce the day/month in the episodes, though
sometimes dates or seasons are referred to tangentially or offhandedly.
The real significant progression is year to year, which is why each year
of the show will be marked in the opening narration and parallel real
time (season 1: 2258, season 2: 2259, etc.).
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 6 Jan 1994 04:50:57 -0500
Subject: Re: jms's creds
Only if the SciFi Channel picks up CP.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 6 Jan 1994 07:26:38 -0500
Subject: The Big Promo in LA
The half-hour making of promo will be shown on channel 13 twice; the
first date I don't recall, but it'll definitely be on after the Clippers
game airing before we debut. (That game will actually be "Brought To You
By Babylon 5.")
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 6 Jan 1994 08:48:29 -0500
Subject: Re: jms's creds
The first network season of The Real Ghostbusters, and its only
official first-run syndicated season, the show was a monster hit. Major
league numbers, #1. Naturally, as soon as that happened, everyone started
to try and figure out how to "fix" it. Everyone starts protecting his
investment. They want to play it safe. Which inevitably leads to the
show getting screwed up, but that never stops them.
So the network brought in consultants, who said that this is a kid's
series, so you have to have *kids* in it (this after steadfastly refusing
to diverge from the desire on our part to continue the tradition of the
movie, using only adult characters). The Junior Ghostbusters, one of the
lamest ideas in TV history. Then they started on Janine...who was much to
their dismay a strong female character. They felt that she should be
changed to a more warm, nurturing character, that her dry sense of humor
was too aggressive, and that she should be made more into a "mommy figure"
(to use their terms).
Her clothes, eccentric and personalized, were deemed "slutty," and
had to be replaced by dresses and soft blouses. She should be made more
deferential to the male characters. She had to lose the pointed glasses
she wore, replacing them instead with round glasses because "sharp objects
frighten children."
Janine was a strong, forceful, independent character who could take
care of herself, and you didn't mess with her. She was sharp, and funny,
and just a real kick to write for. This was the kind of character I'd
fought to preserve, and it had proven to be a hit...and now they wanted to
turn that upside down and turn her into a mommy. Ain't nothing wrong with
mommies. But there's plenty of mommy-figures in cartoons; why not provide
an alternative view...a working career woman who is generally satisfied
with her life? Leaving aside the role-model question for the moment, I
happen to really, really, *really* love writing strong female characters.
I love strong female characters in general. Most of my relationships
have been with strong-willed, independent, very bright women. I love it
when I'm outsmarted or one-upped; it makes me work harder.
So when they did *this*...I shot back a very loud "Not a chance." NOt
on this show. I went to meetings. Got into huge arguments with these
so-called consultants. Finally, I said that if they were going to do this,
they'd have to do it without my participation; I refused to participate in
the lobotomy of that show, or that character. So I resigned. Later, when
their new "approach" to the show began to nosedive, I was asked if I'd
return. I was then working on POWER, and couldn't...but agreed to write
some episodes on the following conditions: 1) the new story editors were
not to so much as *touch* my scripts, or the deal was off; 2) in my
unverse the Junior Ghostbusters did not exist, and would not appear in any
of my scripts; and 3) I wrote the old Janine, not the "new" Janine, and
that was with all of her attitudes intact. They agreed.
And that is the story.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 6 Jan 1994 22:22:44 -0500
Subject: Re: jms's creds
No plan to make the scripts available at this time, but who knows...?
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 6 Jan 1994 22:25:50 -0500
Subject: Will Joe be at I-Con?
Tentatively plan to be at I-Con, yes. As for TRGBs, that was the
series based on the movie, correct.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 6 Jan 1994 22:38:37 -0500
Subject: Violence
You're correct, particularly with reference to "Infection." That
episode has a lot of action, which you'd expect, and a big conclusion,
which you'd expect. What you *won't* expect, I think, is what happens
afterward, in a conversation no one generally has in TV after big action
stuff has gone down. And it's something to chew on, I think....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 6 Jan 1994 22:39:39 -0500
Subject: Re: jms's creds
Oh, they're there, all right...you've just been lucky.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 7 Jan 1994 01:59:22 -0500
Subject: Re: jms's creds
There's no way to replace them that I know of, other than just taping
the shows all over again off the syndicated channels.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 7 Jan 1994 03:35:31 -0500
Subject: JMS - Conflict of Interest?
There's really very, very little that I would want to say in regards
to Starlog.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 7 Jan 1994 23:41:26 -0500
Subject: cons
What is a PNW convention?
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 8 Jan 1994 00:59:10 -0500
Subject: Morn type in B5?
What is a Norm/Morn type?
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 8 Jan 1994 06:07:22 -0500
Subject: Re: jms's creds
My software is not easily set up to let me quote from stuff. I get
a list of messages...anywhere up to 50-55 at a time. I read in batches,
and when I see something requiring a response, the GEnie software is set
up so that I type REP 25 (for message 25) and begin typing. My personal
software isn't set up to quote stuff; I'd have to re-list the message,
capture it, edit it, all by hand...it becomes a major pain in the ass, adn
(and) would increase several-fold the amount of work involved. Meaning
that I would have less time to respond, and thus could respond to fewer
messages. In general, I try to paraphrase or restate or clarify the
original question in my reply, and usually I think it's clear enough.
But I'll work harder to be clear.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 9 Jan 1994 02:47:55 -0500
Subject: AOL connection...
There are B5 .wav files over on AOL? Really? Which ones? I'd
love to get hold of a few.
Just to clarify, btw, the trading cards are *not* the ones that have
been circulating (the gifs). These are new, and are mainly of the cast.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 9 Jan 1994 02:49:35 -0500
Subject: Re: Missed promo on WNAC! (But
Thanks. Glad you liked it. (And yeah, the Fresh Air Restaurant
does look pretty cool.)
As for me...the TV camera doesn't like me, it just sorta slides over
me and adds 10 years to me. Complicated by the fact that when I'm shoved
in front of a TeeVee camera, my head retracts like a turtle, my neck
disappears, and everything goes everywhere. Harlan, on the other hand,
is comfortable before a camera. The camera *loves* Harlan.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 9 Jan 1994 07:56:21 -0500
Subject: Hows B5 doing in the States?
It hasn't even aired yet....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 9 Jan 1994 21:37:19 -0500
Subject: Re: Missed promo on WNAC! (But
Actually, thus far, nearly everyone on our crew has appeared in the
background of one episode or another, except for me. Which is the way I
like it....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 11 Jan 1994 01:10:41 -0500
Subject: Babylon 5 in Writer's Digest M
Larry DiTillio's episodes this season are "Born to the Purple," and
"Deathwalker." He's currently working on a third, tentatively entitled
"TKO." And yes, he uses blood instead of ink...unfortunately, it's mine.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 11 Jan 1994 01:10:44 -0500
Subject: Earth in B5
While we will not be *seeing* much of Earth in B5 (as in going
there), what's going on back home will be a *constant* undercurrent to
the series. You'll learn a lot about the state of Earth in 2258 in our
universe during the course of the series.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 11 Jan 1994 01:10:50 -0500
Subject: Toaster Spaceship Data Files?
I really don't know if they'll be released as autocad stuff or not,
but will try to remember to inquire.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 11 Jan 1994 01:11:40 -0500
Subject: Will we see you!
Nope, I don't do cameos; for me, it ruins the illusion.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 11 Jan 1994 02:37:13 -0500
Subject: Re: CRITICAL COMMENTS: "The Ga
The dustbuster guns are history.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 11 Jan 1994 03:34:17 -0500
Subject: Re: JMS: Old and new stuff...
Oh, absolutely; I'd say that "Parliament," "Mind War," "Soul" and
"Purple" are (to my mind at least) much better than "Midnight." Mind,
that's just my personal preference, your mileage may vary.
But I'd say that our two *best* so far are still "And the Sky Full of
Stars" and "Chrysalis." I just watched a cut of "Chrysalis" today which
finally had all the CGI in it, and had to scrape my brain off the opposing
wall, it's *that* good.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 11 Jan 1994 10:02:49 -0500
Subject: Script, New Character==dead Ch
You'll get your wish...and you'll wish you hadn't....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 11 Jan 1994 14:57:15 -0500
Subject: Yo Joe! Some Questions...
On the theory that some of the militaries have blended, the system of
ranks is kind of a cross between the navy and the air force (at least the
ones with which our characters will have any interaction). Probably an
admiral would be more likely to run this place.
At some point, we'll probably see what it looks like from the ship'
POV leaving or entering hyperspace, yes.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 11 Jan 1994 15:11:37 -0500
Subject: A word about B5 in the press..
Part of the problem is that many reporters have come to expect, and
come to associate that SF-shows = crap. Or kid's stuff. They've gotten
very jaded with the same old promises every year. So on that level, it's
understandable. There are areas where it's *not* understandable or
defensible, but I'll leave that topic for another time....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 11 Jan 1994 19:21:44 -0500
Subject: Re: Will we see you!
As a matter of fact, in a couple of episodes you'll see a photo of
the Earth Alliance president. The photo itself is of Doug Netter, my
associate on the show and fellow executive producer. (The woman running
against the incumbent president in the election featured on "Midnight" is
played, in photo, by our wardrobe designer, Ann Bruice.)
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 12 Jan 1994 03:29:21 -0500
Subject: Please JMS!!
We've been pitched the Die Hard/Under Seige approach many times. I
turned it down. It's been done.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 12 Jan 1994 18:11:04 -0500
Subject: Expanded seasons?
At this point, it's way too early to even *think* about topics like
expanded seasons. Obviously, yes, we could easily expand each season's
worth of episodes from a story point of view. That ain't no kind of
problem. As for the rest...only time will tell.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 12 Jan 1994 18:12:02 -0500
Subject: Spoiler Question (minor spoile
I have nothing to do with the description applied to the show by
others. In that episode, the affected person isn't "turned into" a
machine. It is sort of a living armor-like compound that grows over the
person's body, and begins to influence the person in question. That is
the sum and substance of it; he isn't transmuted, his biology isn't
changed, his brain isn't replaced, and so on.
My suggestion: judge the episode based on the episode, not on what
choice of words someone else used in trying to synopsize the episode.
Because Moby Dick can be summed up as, "A nut chasing a big fish." But
there's obviously more to the story than that, and it's not entirely
accurate.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 12 Jan 1994 18:12:51 -0500
Subject: Skeptical about B5
There's nothing wrong with skepticism about the show. I've said,
from the start, judge us on what you see, not what I say.
Will you be disappointed? That's not for me to say. Inevitably,
some people will be because *no* show can be the show you see in your
head, the one you'd make if it were your show. The problem with a show
like this is that everyone begins to attach their dissatisfaction from
other shows to it, and saying, "Well, THIS one will be my perfect vision
of an SF series." And it won't be. It's my vision of what an SF series
should be. Some folks will feel the same way, some won't. NYPD Blue is
a very popular show. Many people like it. I can't get into it. Tastes
vary.
Will the show be well-produced? Well acted? Well written? Well
directed? Will the EFX be what they should be: imaginative and rich
and textured? Yes. These things I can promise. Will the final result
ring your particular chime? That we'll have to see. I can say that all
the pieces are there.
Re: the commercials...the pacing of the commercials has nothing to do
with the pacing of the show. The show is the show, a commercial is a
commercial. They serve different masters and different needs.
No, not everything will be solved with a gun. Sometimes, though, a
gun is necessary as part of a solution to a problem. Other times, it
isn't. And sometimes, the problem really isn't solved; sometimes our
characters fail. Sometimes things don't work out for the best at the end
of the show. Because life's like that.
One other thing that I can guarantee you is that our characters aren't
stupid, they don't do things for dumb reasons. Sometimes, in shows, it
seems they make their characters momentarily stupid because that's the
only way to get them into trouble. We try to be smarter than that. Our
characters are as sharp as they come...which makes it more interesting
when they get into trouble. Sometimes being sharp isn't enough.
No two episodes are really alike. "Midnight," aside from the task
of re-introducing the characters, is something of an action piece, a
run-and-jump. "Soul" is a much smaller, more personal story, more
character based. "Purple" is funny, and sad, with a fair amount of action.
"Infection" is a heavy-duty action piece for the most part. "Parliament"
is a character piece with a very little action, but lots of fun. "Mind
War" has a hell of a lot of action, but also a mystery element to it as
well. Not a lot of humor in that one.
I think people will like the show. I think they'll like the
characters a lot. But obviously I'm biased.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 13 Jan 1994 02:02:22 -0500
Subject: Gays
To give that information out now would defeat the dynamic of its
revelation. There's some stuff I can talk about, some that I can't. That
is one of them.
And how do you know you haven't already seen this character?
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 13 Jan 1994 03:11:19 -0500
Subject: Harlan Ellison & Babylon 5
The SF writing material I can't comment on just now, for a number of
reasons. Regarding any outside commentary...Harlan has commented on the
show in his Sci-Fi Channel commentaries, and will do so in future. He's
also given several interviews about the show.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 13 Jan 1994 17:32:06 -0500
Subject: B5 Tech Readout v.0.0 : The Qu
There's too much to cover in one message, so in brief:
The station is a touch over 5 miles long. It can hold roughly
250,000 humans and aliens (many of whom are in transit at any point).
The fighters are the SA-23E Mitchell-Hyundyne Starfuries, and B5 has
four fighter wings, each with approximately 12 fighters.
The rings are classified, as is the encounter suit. Psi Corps
ratings are assigned from within the Academy, based on test results and
personal interviews/training. Restrictions: NO unauthorized scans
-- you need the permission of the person, tacit permission, or written
permission of next of kin -- and no "dipping," going into other areas
not relevant to the current scan. In criminal cases, psi's may not
scan defendants during a trial or before to determine guilt or innocence,
as this violates the right of due process. After a conviction, a psi
may be called upon to function in various capactities (which will be seen
in "The Quality of Mercy"). A psi *may* scan the victim of a crime unable
to remember details of an attack, but that information must be backed up
by physical evidence, or it is inadmissible.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 13 Jan 1994 21:48:45 -0500
Subject: Starfury specs?
The starfuries are *only* non-atmosphere craft, and they can't hold
more than one person. The other specs are over at Ron's, and I'll try to
remember to snag them at some point.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 14 Jan 1994 15:29:43 -0500
Subject: Psis and Trials [was Re: B5 Te
No, the accused cannot ask for a psi to validate his or her
innocence; the trial can ONLY proceed on the basis of evidence. This is to
prevent abuse, trials where a Psi looks at you and determines your guilt.
When a life is at stake, you can't risk the possibility of some hidden
agenda on the part of the telepath. You'd have to use a telepath to
verify the first telepath's scan, and on and on. Best simply to exclude
them from that aspect of the law.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 14 Jan 1994 15:34:36 -0500
Subject: Making of B5 outlets
I have no idea why a non-PTEN station would be showing the Making Of
piece, but will look into it.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 14 Jan 1994 20:37:14 -0500
Subject: Scheduling
It's a good suggestion, and I appreciate the thought; how much direct
influence I have over the rerun schedule is a question of some debate,
though. If I do have any influence, I will definitely apply it, but it's
still being defined.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 16 Jan 1994 01:26:25 -0500
Subject: Too many cooks...
What you are noticing is the same thing suffered by anyone who creates
something; for a long time, it's just yours, and maybe a few others' as
well. But the point is to get it *out there*. And when that happens, as
with creating B5, it isn't *yours* any longer, it belongs to the viewers.
It can take some getting used to, and you just have to learn to let go.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 16 Jan 1994 01:33:13 -0500
Subject: Re: jms's creds
Yeah, you're right; I'd nearly forgotten about the "And Winston, the
black character, drives the car and repairs it." I pretty much went right
through the roof on that one. The consultants said that you have to keep
characters to within a child's expectations. I came within an inch of
going over the table at them.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 16 Jan 1994 01:42:08 -0500
Subject: ST vs B5 thematic musings
What you post in your message is *exactly* right. I don't believe in
the notion that, when we go to the stars, we have to leave behind our
individual languages, and cultures, and ethnic backgrounds, and fashions
of dress. We bring that with us as part of who and what we are. It's our
differences that *strengthen* us. It's not all going to vanish in 200
years. There are cultures in the eastern part of the world that have
survived with minor changes for literally thousands of years. 250 years
is the blink of an eye. It's really a Western phenomenon; to us, 200
years is a long time, the whole history of our nation. That changes when
you go outside. I stood on the cobblestone walks of Trinity College in
Dublin, and realized that on those same cobblestones some eager student
raced across to the living quarters to announce news of a big revolution
in the American colonies. I stood in the neolithic burial mounds at
New Grange, the oldest man-made stuctures in the world, older even than
the pyramids...and realized that in human terms, 250 years isn't even a
blip. We're not going to change that much.
250 years ago, people worked, got married, had families, separated,
had affairs, and hoped for a better world for their children. 250 years
from now, it will be exactly the same. Only the chrome of technology will
vary. For a good example of this, go find an SF movie musical called
"Just Imagine" made in the 1930s. Set in the 1980s, it pictured a world
of people with names instead of numbers, pills instead of food, and birth
by machine. Much of TV SF makes the similar error.
The other point you raise is equally valid. The one thing that to me
always typified SF was the sense of *wonder*. Of something mysterious out
there. And that is the one thing that I feel is so missing from much of
TV SF; not to pick on ST, but the reality is that going from world to
world seems like going from 7-11 to 7-11. It's all established, there's
not much mystery. (Not in all cases, I'm sure that one or two could be
found, but in general.) There should be *differences*, and things we
don't understand and will *never* fully understand. (For me, one of the
best episodes in this regard is "Mind War," specifically the tag of the
episode, which still gives me a shiver even though I've now seen it over
a dozen times.)
Anyway, point being...you're right. And the first six episodes we
air will give some indiciation as to whether or not we got it right.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 16 Jan 1994 01:44:08 -0500
Subject: Re: Psis and Trials [was Re: B
Exactly. The inadmissibility of telepathic scans of the accused,
and even the *prohibition* against same, is the reason Sinclair wasn't
and couldn't be scanned by Lyta in the pilot. I could've explained this
in some detail, but the pilot was already *so* exposition heavy that I
figured it'd be better to wait until (I thought at the time) the next
few episodes, which would get into that. (That was when I figured we'd be
going straight to series.)
Another example of what was assumed to be a lapse in story logic, but
which was actually a plot point....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 16 Jan 1994 18:02:50 -0500
Subject: Re: jms's creds
Regarding the ads...when you have 14-16 regular and recurring
characters, you have to determine which of them will end up in an ad,
because anyone not included is bound to be offended unless you come up
with some unbiased way of selecting them. What was finally chosen was
the number of episodes in which they appear. The cut-off point was 13
episodes. At that point and above, you have Sinclair, Delenn, Garibaldi,
Ivanova, G'Kar, Londo. Below that you have Franklin, Lennier, Vir, Talia,
Na'Toth, etc.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 16 Jan 1994 20:53:57 -0500
Subject: Late B5?
No, the show isn't a year and a half late. As it is, it's less than
one year since the pilot aired. It was our initial hope, and my initial
belief, that we'd go straight into the series as soon as we finished the
pilot. But the studio, in its infinite wisdom, decided that since they
HAD a pilot, it kinda behooved them to air it and get the ratings before
committing to a series. So we then waited until February for the airing,
got the go-ahead to production around April/May, began shooting in July,
got a whole bunch of episodes in the can, and now we're hitting the air.
That is the sum and substance of it.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 16 Jan 1994 21:07:09 -0500
Subject: Franke footage...
Chris does appear in the "Making Of" piece. Beyond that, I don't
know about ET or anything else.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 16 Jan 1994 22:04:33 -0500
Subject: To JMS Regarding B5 electronic
Let me make it clear: I have nothing to do with the manufacture of
the electronic press kit, or the platforms selected. What I can say is
that Warners distribution is not in the computer business (at least, not
as of this moment). They have a limited budget. In testimony to the
great commitment on-line for the show, they put together this EPK, and
could afford to pick two formats in which it could be made. They settled
on MAC and IBM because those two are the dominant formats numerically,
whatever the benefits, values and positives associated with the Amiga.
It was something never in the original plans, is done as a compliment
to BBSers, is the first time ANY TV series has done this at *all*, and
it has been met by some hostility from Amiga users because that platform
wasn't included. Yes, Amiga has provided Foundation (which we don't own)
with some nifty tools. And those tools have received, and will continue
to receive *substantial* publicity through B5. Millions more people will
be reached concerning what the Amiga (and Toaster) can do because of this
show. So on that level, I consider the scales balanced.
As far as an Amiga version...Jim Moloshok, head of marketing for
Warners, has given permission to a couple of people to hack the program
into an Amiga format. This is because whatever you might think, studios
do not have infinite amounts of time or money. I imagine that version
will be out sooner or later. We all do what we can.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 17 Jan 1994 03:31:47 -0500
Subject: JMS... A question about tech
I believe that Ron is working to put together a possible B5 tech
manual sometime soonish.
The history of Earth for about the last 100 years prior to the time
of B5 is broken out, and though it isn't laid out in detail in the
series, it forms a reference backdrop for us, so it's all consistent when
we refer to any part of it. The pilot was 2257, the first year of the
series is 2258, year two would be 2259, and so on. The story requires 5
years of story time as well as 5 years of real time to tell. Things have
to go through some real time lapse for the story to work out properly.
Consequently, the narration at the top of the show ("...the year is 2258,
the name of the place is Babylon 5") will be changed each season.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 18 Jan 1994 18:52:39 -0500
Subject: Earth Shake!
Came through pretty much okay, all considered. At the house, the
living room fireplace is now IN the living room (on the floor), the patio
has separated from the rest of the house, there's major cracks all over
the place, everything that was on shelves is now on the floor...but the
stage came through okay, and we're back to shooting today, if possibly
on a reduced schedule. (Everyone was given the option of not coming in
today, but everyone wanted to show support, get back on the horse
again, and get going. Some even came in on their own time Monday to help
with cleanup.)
Onward.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 18 Jan 1994 18:53:32 -0500
Subject: Earth Alliance Starships
Yes, we will be seeing Earth Alliance starships.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 18 Jan 1994 18:53:41 -0500
Subject: Re: Psis and Trials
I'm sorry, but whether or not you personally agree with the
structure, the prohibition on the use of telepaths in court is NOT
irrational, OR based on an irrational government. Members of the Psi
Corps are NOT just individuals walking around; they are *governmentally
regulated and controlled*. Any good defense or prosecution attorney
could turn that against them. Also, the Law Profession isn't ABOUT to
turn over control of its actions to a bunch of government-regulated
telepaths.
There are already restrictions in place on hearsay evidence, even on
anecdotal or eyewitness testimony. People are entitled to a fair trial,
and due process, *based on evidence*, not the opinions of a State
employee or someone controlled by the State. This has been the history
(at least in theory) of jurisprudence in this country for the last 200
years.
Finally, the judicial arm of the government itself will not relinquish
control over the courts to an outside agency. Look at human nature; this
simply will NOT happen. It is not irrational, it is relentlessly
logical, and based upon what happens now in our court system, and what is
likely in the event of actual telepaths being discovered. And again, you
have to remember that there are competing governmental agencies involved
here, this isn't just a bunch of civilian witnesses roaming around.
And on another level, there are LOTS of reasons for wanting the Psi
Corps NOT to get this kind of control or influence. Some might say (and
in the course of this series, some WILL say) that the Psi Corps have too
much influence as it is, they're trying to worm their way in all over
the place. They represent the all-seeing Big Brother, with the potential
for massive abuse.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 18 Jan 1994 18:54:09 -0500
Subject: What I didn't like (minor Midn
A few small quibbles with your quibbles:
1) In "Midnight," Sinclair is really not given a chance to show his
character, since it's basically a reintroduction to the series, and there
is a lot to cover. He functions throughout the episode only in his
official capacity. In other episodes, you'll get to see some very
different sides to his character, particular in "Parliament of Dreams."
2) The line, "You're too young to hurt that much," which actually
is, "You're too young to experience that much pain," isn't from
"Midnight." It's from "Infection."
3) I agree, most of the plot lines are tied up pretty well (except
for the telepath issue introduced at the end, which comes back at us
again...as does, incidentally, the Raghesh 3 incident and other stuff).
In responding to some of the criticism of the pilot, I tried to make this
one far more self-contained. Which is why I much prefer "Parliament,"
"Mind War" and "Soul Hunter" over "Midnight."
4) Yes, Vir is very obsequious in "Midnight." That's done in order
to give his character somewhere to go, as gradually he begins to stand up
to Londo and talk back.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 18 Jan 1994 22:07:16 -0500
Subject: Re: Psis and Trials [was Re: B
A telepath is allowed to function neither way, to scan someone to
determine he's innocent, or to act as accuser. You mention the pilot,
but *in* the pilot, Lyta didn't scan Sinclair. She scanned a *victim*
of a potential crime. She was not asked to go in and look for the
killer, she was asked to find out how the poison got into Kosh's
system. A telepath can do this. (A telepath can, on some situations,
also scan a victim unable to testify for physical reasons to find out
who did the act, as I said before, **BUT** that must still be backed up
with physical evidence, you can't just take the telepath's word for it,
there MUST be physical evidence.)
All of which is why, in the pilot, it was *also* stipulated that
the information gained was "inadmissible" (in Kyle's testimony).
There are a lot of reasons why this has been worked out to within an
inch of its life, none of which I can comment on yet. (The other aspect
of all this that has to be borne in mind is that a LOT of people, many of
them important, do NOT like the Psi Corps, don't *trust* the Psi Corps,
and are actively against them extending their power.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 18 Jan 1994 22:09:17 -0500
Subject: Re: Psis and Trials
The point you raise is very valid. People forget the privacy issue
as being very important. (That's one problem I have with Troi, I'll have
to grudgingly admit; there she goes, intruding into anybody's and
everybody's mind without even so much as a by-your-leave, including
aliens they've just met, as well as humans. Mind your own business.)
One other element to consider in all of this is real simple: at the
time in question, it's possible to alter one's memories. (Remember,
Sinclair is missing 24 hours from his memory.) One can blank certain
memories. So it's possible that a person who committed a murder might
pay big bucks to have that memory wiped. Then you have to be sure to
find a telepath who's good enough to see the "seams" (for lack of a
better term) in the person's memory to know it's been modified.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 18 Jan 1994 22:21:44 -0500
Subject: STTNGvs.B5 sociopolitical ramb
Your assumptions regarding the differences between the two
universes, and our political/social setup, are quite correct. We've taken
the idea of a planetary government (not necessarily American in nature;
we've gone back to some older ideas on the operation of a republic) with
a senate and a President that is not looking to take care of everybody
else's problems, and has enough problems on its own. (In fact, at one
point in the pilot, a Senator tells Sinclair "The Earth Alliance can't
go around being the galaxy's policeman.")
I read, a long time ago, that what you have to do in a story is to
get your character up a tree and then start throwing rocks at him. So
instead of making everything easy for our characters, I've constructed
universe that is *difficult*, where you have to work for everything
you get, and nobody wants to cooperate unless they have to. Never
arbitrarily, though; characters have to have good reasons (or at least
what they consider good reasons) for what they do.
For me, the process of overcoming a problem is more dramatically
interesting -- and in a way more positive -- than a universe in which
all over the problems have already been solved. I want to show
characters who have to deal with the same BS as the rest of us, but who
manage to persevere regardless.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 18 Jan 1994 23:50:42 -0500
Subject: Re: STTNGvs.B5 sociopolitical
Re: your note about humans rolling up their sleeves, eyeing each
other warily, while also trying to figure out the Outsiders...you've
just done a very good synopsis of "By Any Means Necessary," which will
air sometime around our second or third batch of episodes this season
(batches being measured in sixes).
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 19 Jan 1994 15:40:23 -0500
Subject: Re: B5 and Trek
Actually, if you want to verify which came first, there's a very
simple and easy way to do it that doesn't require taking my word for it.
1) There's an interview with me in Starlog during the time I was story
editor on the new Twilight Zone series. I mention there about having
been trying to sell a show called Babylon 5 for some time. Also, I
slipped a reference to B5 into my second novel, "OtherSyde," published
around 1991 in hardcover by Dutton.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 19 Jan 1994 15:40:55 -0500
Subject: Questions on the Series
Thanks. I hope that you will find the series bears out your
optimism.
To your questions: 1) The method of transit is called a Jump Gate.
2) We're still in the process of drawing up a detailed starmap with the
distances from B5 to each of our major governments, but we're looking at
roughly 25 light years from Earth. 3) The Earth/Minbari war lasted
almost five years. The terms of surrender were conditional; there was
to be no reparation. It was simply a cessation of hostilities. It was
not a clear-cut issue of being beaten or doing the beating; it just
stopped...which left a lot of people feeling about the same way some did
after Vietnam. Peace with honor? Maybe, maybe not. 4) The Earth
government -- located in Earthdome -- is basically a republic, with
reps from each nation serving as senators or in other capacities. 5)
Earth has fougth in some other conflicts, on a smaller scale; prior to
the Earth/Minbari war, they came to the assistance of the Non-Aligned
Worlds against a race known as the Dilgar, which devastated whole worlds.
(You'll see the last survivor of this race in "Deathwalker.")
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 19 Jan 1994 15:41:15 -0500
Subject: Digital Cards and so forth
The person responsible for the digital trading cards and the EPK
is Jim Moloshok, at Warner Bros. marketing.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 19 Jan 1994 15:41:22 -0500
Subject: TV Guide Rating
You have your characters confused. Bill Mumy's character, Lennier,
is not the station's underground "fixer." His character is Delenn's
diplomatic attache, who has lived virtually his whole life within the
confines of the religious caste, and has now been sent to B5. The one
you're thinking of is n'grath, who looks kinda like a 7 foot tall
praying mantis.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 20 Jan 1994 18:17:05 -0500
Subject: Heraldry in Star Fury Markings
There are a number of influences that go into the markings on the
Starfuries. (And not all 'furies are so marked; only those that are
generally used by only one pilot, to whom the ship is assigned.) We
took in general the WW II model, where pilots used to decorate their
craft with nose art to personalize it. So some of it is of that flavor,
while others echo more ancient heraldry. (Ivanova's 'fury has an old
Russian two-headed eagle in stylized form.) Yes, again, an attempt to
connect past, present and future.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 21 Jan 1994 19:08:33 -0500
Subject: Re: Earth Shake!
The worst part of the quake, really, was that my house was without
electricity until Midnight Thursday night. So I'd write (up against a
real deadline because of the quake) at the office, charge up my notebook
computer, go home, fire up the notebook, and write scripts by flashlight.
Yikes.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 21 Jan 1994 19:08:54 -0500
Subject: Re: B5 & Earthquake
There *are* steps in Harlan's house, in his office leading from the
pool room below to the second floor office proper.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 22 Jan 1994 06:26:54 -0500
Subject: Religious vs. Warrior Caste Mi
The religious and military castes have rarely disagreed on anything,
until the religious caste ordered the surrender at the Battle of the Line.
Since then, things have not been proceeding as smoothly....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 22 Jan 1994 06:29:35 -0500
Subject: Skeptical about B5 (I
"one's an apple, the other's an orange."
I've got dibs on the apple.
Regards to Eve.
jms
("One's an apple. The other's an orange. Together, they fight
crime.")
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 22 Jan 1994 06:34:49 -0500
Subject: Time Between Movie and Series
Approximately nine months have passed since the time of the pilot and
the birth of the series.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 22 Jan 1994 06:39:05 -0500
Subject: "Midnight" and the council (No
The Babylon 5 Advisory Council and the League of Non-Aligned Worlds
functions in much the same fashion as the Security Council and the General
Assembly in the U.N. The smaller worlds and alliances can't weild as much
power as any of the Big Five. Together, they as a group get a vote equal
to one of the Big Five; they can deputize one of their number to speak for
them and cast that vote, which can often break ties or create ties. It is
not a terribly equitible situation, but it was the only workable solution
that would be accepted by the other Ambassadors. We'll see them chafing
at this in "Deathwalker."
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 02:04:50 -0500
Subject: B5: Universe Today Babylon 5 E
Just a minor correctin: B5 did not miss even *one* day of filming
due to the quake. We gave everyone the option of staying home, but they
wanted to come in...so we were shooting first thing Tuesday morning
(Monday, remember, was a holiday).
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 02:15:20 -0500
Subject: Firearms
B5 doesn's have tractor beams; for the most part, they don't exist
in Earth tech of 2258, though other species might have them. (There are
differences in tech between races.) I'd rather not say too much about
B5's defense system until you see it in action later this season.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 02:18:58 -0500
Subject: Delenn's gender?
Delenn was originally going to be a fairly sexually-ambiguous
character...a male character, played by a female, with a computer altered
voice...but we couldn't make the alteration sound good enough to satisfy
us, so we left her a her.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 02:18:58 -0500
Subject: Re: STTNGvs.B5 sociopolitical
Yes, "Demon Night," published in hardcover by Dutton (and later
nominated for a Bram Stoker Award) was my first published novel. My second
novel was "OtherSyde," also from Dutton. Writing novels gave me the
foundation I needed to really outline and prepare B5 as a novel-for-TV.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 02:23:57 -0500
Subject: Earth government
The status of the Mars Colony is in considerable debate in B5's
time. It's chafing under the EA's tight controls. I wouldn't be
surprised to see it try to secede at some point....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 02:29:50 -0500
Subject: Fighters
There are other kinds of fighters; it's a question of what's intended
for use where. The Raider ships, and the Narn heavy fighters, are both
atmospheric and non-atmospheric ships. Some fighters, such as B5's
Starfuries, the Drazi Sunhawk, the Ipsha Battleglobe and others (you'll
see the latter two in "Deathwalker") are configured only for non-atmosphere
activities, and have different configurations.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 02:31:57 -0500
Subject: Re: alt.Babylon-5.creative
If story ideas start appearing on this group, I'll have to
withdraw. It ain't something I like saying, because I know how it sounds,
but that's the reality of it, in this very, very litigious society.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 05:54:29 -0500
Subject: Re: Midnight... questions (S
And the action *doesn't* always happen conveniently located to a
jump gate. Sometimes, it can take *hours* or even days to get to where a
ship or other object is located.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 05:56:23 -0500
Subject: Re: Card #15 error
Note: Insofar as I know, Warners has only released *10* .gif trading
cards. It's altogether possible that this #15 is bogus.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 19:26:06 -0500
Subject: ID of someone in Making of...
The fellow to whom you refer is John Copeland, one of our producers
on B5. We've got a John Copeland, a John Iacovelli, a John Johnston, a
John Radulovic...we've got Johns all over the place on this show, oddly
enough. (Though you can never have enough johns, I suppose....) And just
as oddly, only one Joe. Go figure.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 19:33:52 -0500
Subject: Finally! A sig!
By all means, use the sig, with my blessings.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 20:45:42 -0500
Subject: Re: alt.Babylon-5.creative
There's a general difference between "it'd be nice to see Garibaldi
in civvies" as a discussion of things people would like to see in a show,
and, "okay, Garibaldi is stranded on a planet with a talking moose who
proceeds to sing show-tunes all night." The latter is a *story*, and
that is the thing I have to be careful not to stumble across.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 20:48:29 -0500
Subject: ALIEN DESIGN CONCEPTS
We're taking the position that some things might look similar to
Earth life, but others won't. n'grath has a fairly traditional insectoid
look, but that is so pervasive here that it's a good chance it'll work
out there. On the other hand, the pak'ma'ra, which you'll get a good look
at in "Legacies," are *quite* different from earth critters. The basic
problem, of course, is that all we have as a frame of reference, in
reality, is Earth stuff; we haven't yet seen real alien life. So
anything we come up with is in some way, however distorted, based on what
we can conceive of. This is limited by experience. This is the problem
on ANY level in dealing with aliens. Whatever we conceive will never be
a fraction of what the reality would be.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 20:49:07 -0500
Subject: Re: JMS: Earthquake, Budget, e
If someone wants to put the V material on the site, I have no
objections.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 20:51:10 -0500
Subject: Re: Starfury specs?
Yes, you will see space craft carriers in at least one episode, if
not more, this season.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 22:54:00 -0500
Subject: Bill Mumy
Bill Mumy makes his appearance in "Parliament of Dreams," but under
contract the credit appears in all episodes produced.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 23 Jan 1994 23:00:15 -0500
Subject: Re: ST vs B5 thematic musings
We'll be taking all KINDS of approaches to ship battles....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 24 Jan 1994 02:12:42 -0500
Subject: Budget Cuts Too Obvious ...
I really don't know what you mean by budget cuts affecting the
points you mention. If we'd wanted to save money, we would've left the
prosthetics and other design elements the same as in the pilot. But
after doing the pilot, we looked at the makeup designs for Delenn and
G'Kar and decided we didn't much like the way they came out, and set out
-- at considerable cost -- to redo them. We did new life-casts, hired
new people to re-sculpt the alien headpieces, and went to a somewhat
more expensive variety of Delenn's headpiece. As for G'Kar's makeup
being a bit "thinner," that's because we went to a finer mask, which
tears more easily, has to be replaced more often, at greater cost...but
which gives the actor a LOT more freedom of expression. To make a thick
mask is a LOT less expensive than a thin one.
We changed things, yes...but out of personal preference. Same with
the observation dome, where we added an office for Sinclair, did the
same with medlab for Franklin...you may or may not agree with a change,
but please don't assume automatically that budget was involved when in fact
it was not.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 24 Jan 1994 04:13:14 -0500
Subject: Re: CRITICAL COMMENTS: "Midnig
You're correct in your appraisal of the "coincidences" in the
first episode. Upon finding that Londo's nephew was there, they would
of course trot him out to try and undermine Londo's credibility (you'll
note that G'Kar made special mention of this, as if to say, "Is the
Centauri ambassador calling his own nephew a liar?"). It'd be the same
thing if the son of an American ambassador was on-hand when hostages
were taken.
As for the choice of the attack's location...Londo wanted his nephew
"far away from all this." Someplace safe. A fairly safe, mundane place
is not going to have a major military presence...and hence is a perfect
target for attack.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 24 Jan 1994 08:49:12 -0500
Subject: Query for JMS about "Making of
I spoke about the 5-year plan when they did the interview with me
for the "Making Of" piece. Why it didn't end up in it is anybody's
guess....
Not glitzy enough, I guess.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 24 Jan 1994 18:24:00 -0500
Subject: Re: ALIEN DESIGN CONCEPTS
It's interesting you mention the floaters as being something "totally
different from any Earth lifeform," because according to what Sagan said
at an appearance, they're based to a large degree on jellyfish, combined
to some degree (in terms of eating habits) with whales.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 24 Jan 1994 18:27:04 -0500
Subject: Re: ALIEN DESIGN CONCEPTS
Okay, but now, the only problem is...let's say we take your advice,
and build an alien around the design of an oyster. Now we have Sinclair
having a converstion with an oyster. Can you *imagine* the audience
reaction? Some things sound nice in theory, but when you build it, and
try to play it for drama...it ends up very, very badly.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 25 Jan 1994 01:46:52 -0500
Subject: Midnight: thoughts...
Just a note...re: the CGI looking crisp and unblurred...the blurring
you're used to seeing is an artifact of atmosphere. There is no air in
space, and thus no blurring. (Check the latest NASA footage for more on
this.) That's of course why they put Hubble in space, to avoid the
problems of blurring caused by atmosphere.
We probably could've put in atmospheric blurring to give it a
different depth-of-field, but we have this bugaboo about being a
-science- fiction show....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 25 Jan 1994 03:13:08 -0500
Subject: EVIL HUMANS? (will there be?)
There are *plenty* of humans in B5's universe who are on the dark
side of things, take my word for it. I don't subscribe to the "we're nice
'cause we're humans" philosophy. You'll see 'em all over the show as the
episodes pass.
It seems to me that generally in such shows, all the interesting
things happen to aliens, are caused by aliens. I like a show where you
have interesting things happen to interesting humans, good, bad and
indifferent.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 25 Jan 1994 05:03:52 -0500
Subject: Re: Midnight: thoughts... AND
Quick responses: Re the spotlights, we'd figured that since the
transport had been freshly attacked, there'd be debris all over the
place, and lots of particulate matter which would show up in the light.
Re: the council...I tend to agree. The prosthetics on our background
aliens and the League started out okay, but we felt we could do better,
and began a series of improvements, which can be seen most clearly in
"Deathwalker," where they're all proper prosthetics rather than masks.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 25 Jan 1994 07:03:54 -0500
Subject: Re: Budget Cuts Too Obvious ..
Your tastes are your tastes. You don't like something, fine, but
that doesn't make it "dreck." I like Delenn's makeup a LOT more now than
in the pilot. To me, it looks a lot more like what a Minbari SHOULD look
like (and as it happens, there's only one person who can make that
particular call). I'm sorry you don't like it. But dreck it ain't. I
think it's *very* elegant. Tastes differ.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 26 Jan 1994 01:31:29 -0500
Subject: Question for JMS about Making
Sigh...no, there's no eye in the jump gate in our show. The people
who made the ads put it in, god knows why....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 27 Jan 1994 01:32:28 -0500
Subject: Questions
I have no firm information, but would be surprised if B5 doesn't
appear Down Under toward late summer/early fall.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 27 Jan 1994 02:49:06 -0500
Subject: _Midnight..._ comments [Minor
That the Centauri *claimed* that we were a lost colony is not the
same as indicating that we *believed* them.
As for the Narns...yes, they are portrayed in a favorable light in
many episodes, from "By Any Means" to "Chrysalis" and "Mind War," to name
but a few. Nobody is just one thing on this show. Not nobody, not
nohow.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 27 Jan 1994 07:07:10 -0500
Subject: Re: B5 review in Cleveland Pla
The problem, of course, is that any space-oriented SF series is
going to be compared against Trek...which has 25 years of shared history
behind it. One episode, or even two of a new series simply cannot
compete with 25 years. Some critics observed that after seeing the B5
pilot, they don't know as much about our characters as they know about
Spock and Kirk. Well, no...come back in 25 years and then we'll talk.
If you spend the time to do lots of character stuff, you get gigged
for being slow and plodding (as happened in the pilot); if you go for a
story with more action, they gig you for putting action above
characterization. This first episode has received *both* complaints; some
said it was all action, some said there was no action.
You can get dizzy after a while....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 27 Jan 1994 07:07:54 -0500
Subject: Re: V Material
No, the info on the future history of Power was mainly in my head
and Larry DiTillio's head, not written down.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 27 Jan 1994 07:43:06 -0500
Subject: JMS: Did you expect this?
I'm hesitant to get into the question of critics, and why they say
what they say, because obviously anything I say is going to proceed from
an agenda, and a certain bias on my part. So if we accept that going in,
then I suppose I can speculate a little....
As has been pointed out here by others, SF television has a history
of getting crummy reviews. I haven't seen one SF show, however good or
bad, that didn't start out getting *creamed* by reviewers. Some of the
TNG original reviews that've been posted here are a hell of a lot worse
than most of what the critics have said about us. The majority of them
do not like SF, don't care for SF, don't understand SF, and want to stick
it in a pigeon hole, "Oh, it's like this." What they don't recognize,
they try to make fit their preconceptions...or they pan it.
Also, there's the issue of pride. A lot of critics are (now) saying
that TNG is this wonderful show (where once they derided it). Same with
DS9, and that everything else is crap. Anything that might be perceived
by them as a threat *to their published opinion* is something that they
will attack.
Mind, I'm separating out those who might not particularly like the
show from those who are going out of their way to assassinate the series
before it even gets going. I'd point to the USA Today review that just
came out as emblematic of that approach. He says that yes, it might get
the ratings, it might succeed, but you should in essence be ashamed if
that happens. People have targeted this show with *incredible* vehemence
bordering on character assassination.
I'd separate this out from some reviews that've come in, in the LA
Times, and Hollywood Reporter, that didn't gush, that raised concerns,
some of which I agree with. They were actual analyses of the show, it's
strengths and weaknesses, which are helpful, I think, to us and to the
viewer. I've *been* a reviewer, and I'm sorry, but the equivilent of
"IT SUCKS" isn't a review. It's a Beavis line.
Beyond that, deponent sayeth not.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 28 Jan 1994 04:47:30 -0500
Subject: Questions for JMS (some spoile
Quick replies to your questions: Spoo is. What else can one say
about spoo?
Those running B5 are a branch of what was/will be Earthforce Air
Force/Air Command. To reach a certain command level requires piloting
experience, preferably under combat situations.
That was a Centauri weapon.
The scanners on the Starfuries detected no movement, no atmosphere,
no signals, no warmth of bodies.
The Centauri station actually was rotating, as I recall, it's the
camera angle that I believe doesn't showcase it as well as it might.
The lights on the fighters during the examination of the rubble
were visible due to particulate matter spewed out during and after the
attack.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 28 Jan 1994 05:27:07 -0500
Subject: Question to JMS (was Excellent
Okay, here are my favorites, in order, of the first six episodes
to air: 1) "The Parliament of Dreams," 2) "Mind War," 3) "Soul
Hunter," 4) "Midnight on the Firing Line," 5) "Born to the Purple,"
6) "Infection."
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 28 Jan 1994 05:47:28 -0500
Subject: B5: "Midnight on the Firing Li
Just two quickies: 1) you *did* see somebody pay for a drink; in
the bar at the end, Ivanova clicks her drink with her credit chit, which
is used to pay for stuff (you'll see them used in more detail down the
road). 2) you mention that Londo had evidence he didn't use...what was
that? Not the recorder, because by this time the Narna have admitted
that they used force, but have couched it in the terms that they were
invited in (the way the Germans were supposedly "invited" into some of
the countries they invaded).
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 28 Jan 1994 20:12:43 -0500
Subject: Re: 10 Things JMS did...
Just for purposes of clarification, I am *not* a member of the NRA,
or any similar organization.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 30 Jan 1994 11:50:14 -0500
Subject: Re: Babylon-5 Review in NEWSDA
"I just couldn't help think of only one thing: Curly of the Three
Stooges with his finger in a socket."
Interesting. Curly is/was bald.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 30 Jan 1994 15:15:33 -0500
Subject: Reaction of the Council. Spoil
It's interesting what we can read into faces...in Delenn's reaction,
I saw concern, angst, but not that she believed the story. That certainly
wasn't the intent of the scene, or the script...faces are interesting
things. As for the rest, you're right; not everyone wants to do the Right
Thing For The Right Reasons. Some would prefer not to get involved. So
some might want deniability, want a reason not to go up against the
Narns, or have sold out their votes. A human looking at that screen
could tell that the person was being coerced...but what about the other
alien races, to whom a downcast face could be a sign of joy? In any
event, suspicion is one thing, but *proof* is another, and the legal
system works on *proof*. Nothing could be done until they had the proof
that Sinclair got at the end, and chose to use behind closed doors to
the same effect.
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 30 Jan 1994 23:39:26 -0500
Subject: Congratulations on Midnight! (
That's terrific, I'm glad you enjoyed it. And as you note, there's
even spiffier stuff coming right down the pike....
jms
From: straczynski@genie.geis.com
Date: 31 Jan 1994 11:46:43 -0500
Subject: REVIEW: Midnight on the Firing
Thank you for the good words. We're really trying.
jms