JMS CompuServe messages collected by The Green Meddler . Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: B. Blyth, 76350,2717 Sunday, October 01, 1995 7:46:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#353246 "I don't think that (B5) would be doing too well if it was a clone of ST." (Actually, that should be *were*, not *was*...just to be pedantic.) That is, in a nutshell, part of the problem we faced going in. On the one hand, you have the ST fans who, understandably, hadn't heard about what B5 was, or that it preceded DS9 by 5 years. (This thanks to the new PR philosophy at Warner Bros., which strives to create the notion of stealth programming...that which cannot be picked up on radar, sonar, TV or infrared motion detectors.) Not their fault, in other words. Thinking the show was just a DS9 ripoff, many of them opted out...again, understandably, given the circumstances. Then you have those viewers who tuned in expecting to see something like ST, found it wasn't, and decided we weren't doing ST or SF correctly because of that, and did a fast fade. Finally you had the non-ST fans, who assumed it was just like ST (in some cases in part because some of the comments lent themselves to that; one station astonishingly enough even said, "From the creators of DS9," which probably astonished Berman/Pillar about as much as it did me), and thus didn't check it out, assuming it was just more of the same. Consequently...we fell between three chairs. It has taken time for people to get the word about what the show *really* is (mainly word of mouth; to some extent we are still a stealth program). As they've made that discovery, a task no less daunting than the first trans-Atlantic crossing by canoe, our audience has grown slowly but steadily. TeeVee...it's a mug's game, Brenna. jms Subj: B5, in general Section: Star Trek To: TazDevil, 102671,2161 Monday, October 02, 1995 12:05:27 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#353635 No ill will was taken, or is extended. Actually, it seems to me, what you're really talking about is not the show's maturity, but your *familiarity* with the characters, two different things. The more you see them, the more backlog of information you have to appreciate their actions. Very often, on many series, it's not so much a question of the actors getting comfortable with their characters as the *audience* getting comfortable with them. Many of the same folks who initially didn't like Sinclair, after they got to know the character, went back to re-watch the first episodes and found that there's depth they didn't appreciate there, visible now because they know who the character is. jms Subj: VitW pt2 - Delenn/Londo? Section: Babylon 5 To: Neville White, 100335,2721 Monday, October 02, 1995 9:12:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#354530 The favor is called in in season three, in one of the earlier episodes. It may surprise you.... jms Subj: VitW pt2 - Delenn/Londo? Section: Babylon 5 To: Neville White, 100335,2721 Tuesday, October 03, 1995 4:25:08 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#355007 I'd imagine (just a guess) that B5 will restart in the UK around April or thereabouts. jms Subj: VitW pt2 - Delenn/Londo? Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Wednesday, October 04, 1995 3:13:31 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#356195 "Is this important?" What isn't? jms Subj: B5 or ST, why not both? Section: Babylon 5 To: Timothy J. Scallon, 102775,510 Monday, October 02, 1995 9:12:30 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#354531 Your motives in asking the question are beyond doubt; your intent is clearly sincerely motivated. It's just that it's been asked so many times in broad strokes that it's become difficult and leads to flame-wars. When one says "what's being done wrong" with another show, then you've instantly got a value judgement that leads right to subjective argumentation rather than analysis. But if you can somehow structure the discussion so that is analyzes the writing of each show independently, comparing and contrasting certain techniques or plot elements, more power to you. jms Subj: Shadow Ship Progression Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Tuesday, October 03, 1995 12:28:14 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#354832 No, that ain't it...you'll have a better notion of the reason why the deeper you get into the first batch of new episodes. jms Subj: VitW pt2 - Delenn/Londo? Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Wednesday, October 04, 1995 3:13:01 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#356196 You'll see it in "A Day in the Strife." jms Subj: Midpoint Section: Babylon 5 To: Richard M. Perry, 76461,2737 Wednesday, October 04, 1995 3:13:03 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#356198 Yeah, a follow-up is a possibility, but the odds on it ever happening are slim and none, I suspect. I think Ruby's Masks has done some new masks for Halloween. jms Subj: Majel Barrett on B5 Section: Star Trek To: Lynn Dimock, 74471,3131 Wednesday, October 04, 1995 3:13:12 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#356200 Re: "Comes the Inquisitor" (and I'm not sure whether to address this to you or Rae, not quite having caught the top of this)...when I wrote that episode, I figured it'd get some strong reactions. What I did not expect was the comment, which I've now received from a number of women -- women who sat stoically through "Believers" and "Confessions and Lamentations" -- that they were in tears over "Inquisitor." So I'd be curious to know what caused that reaction. I think I may have subconsciously tapped something there -- the search for identity at its most emotional core, or just that it's Delenn -- and I'm trying to get a better sense of what that is. jms Subj: B5: Final Year??? Section: Babylon 5 To: peter stathis, 102477,3046 Wednesday, October 04, 1995 3:31:29 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#356204 What's necessary is to understand that the syndication picture has changed a bit since B5 hit the airwaves. There are far more programs on now for stations to choose between (which is why B5 is now airing only once a week in most markets, to allow stations to include more and different programs in their line-ups). The first year, we only had to sustain our ratings to be renewed for year two; in year two, we only had to grow modestly to be renewed for year three; in year three, with all the new programs now available, and WB and UPN and PTEN and FOX fighting it out for the few remaining slots, we have to do even better. This is the dilemma of *every* TV series, not just B5. You grow in the ratings, or you get canceled; networks or syndication, that's the rule. All we can do is continue to make the best show we can, and hope enough people hear about it to come and check it out...because if they do, in most cases they stick around. So this is a *very* important time for us; if you have friends who haven't yet seen the show, give 'em a call and invite them to the party. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Bette A. Loukakis, 102513,3065 Thursday, October 05, 1995 3:03:15 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#357394 Thanks. It's actually not that big a burden, since except for the Work I have no life that has yet been detected by modern science... jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Tom Knudsen, 72347,1626 Wednesday, October 04, 1995 1:13:06 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#356199 I understand your point of view that point of view is no less valid than any other point of view...and note that the point of view about point of view offered from this end elicited "I don't necessarily agree with that," because that point of view is not a point of view which coincides with your own point of view, thus is viewed by you as a not necessarily valid criticism, which fundamentally reinforces my original statement, from my point of view. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Rodney, 73457,3544 Wednesday, October 04, 1995 3:14:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#356674 It came out of an original announcement that Majel Barrett Roddenberry would be guest-starring on a B5 episode, and kinda grew from there, so the start of the thread was definitely ST related. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: William H. DiPaola, 76521,1751 Wednesday, October 04, 1995 7:04:25 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#356962 By all means, repost away. It's gone out now, so it's fine. As for the B5 AOL site, I'm told it'll be up by mid-month. jms Subj: B5: Final Year??? Section: Babylon 5 To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, 70040,104 Thursday, October 05, 1995 3:03:12 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#357393 The only reason the ratings have slipped (which they never mention in the trades) is that we've been in reruns since *MAY*, just running the same 18 episodes over and over and over. We'll get a better picture in a few weeks. jms Subj: Vir leaving? Section: Babylon 5 To: Mark Sloan, 100407,3462 Wednesday, October 04, 1995 3:14:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#356673 Vir appears in multiple episodes this year, working around his schedule on "Misery Loves Company." jms Subj: KCOP & B5? Section: Babylon 5 To: Richard Cunningham, 71213,3504 Thursday, October 05, 1995 3:03:16 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#357395 B5 starts showing new eps next Wednesday at 9, right after DS9; check your local TV Guide, you'll find an ad there. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: JOE M VANCE, 74203,1254 Thursday, October 05, 1995 10:58:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358419 Thanks, and I think they already have picked up a few lessons; which is the point of the exercise...we should challenge one another to constantly improve, or what's the point of being here? jms Subj: KCOP & B5? Section: Babylon 5 To: Stephen C. Smith, 76150,1170 Thursday, October 05, 1995 10:58:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358416 Well, y'know...it's gonna be interesting. I was pleased to note that TV Guide gave B5's return next week a listing in the evening's highlights. jms Subj: Shadow Ship Progression Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Thursday, October 05, 1995 10:58:20 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358417 Yes, the first batch of eps from season 3, up through 9 or so, give a lot more background on the shadow ships, what they are and how they work. And as you say, virtually everything in this show is here for a reason; there's an offhand remark from Garibaldi in "Infection" about his long struggle out of the Martian desert that pays off in both the comic, and in a third-season episode. So some of the year three stuff was being set up as early as episode 2 of year 1, in what was designed to look like just plain old throwaway dialogue. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: David Scarpa, 73672,2136 Thursday, October 05, 1995 10:58:28 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358420 Yeah, the rerun schedule was a pain in the butt. And because of it, lots of stations began moving us around. It's my hope that that'll change now that we're back with new eps, and showing 9 eps in a row without a single break. jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Thursday, October 05, 1995 10:58:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358421 If I had to look back at season 2 and pick favorites, they'd probably be "The Long, Twilight Struggle," "Comes the Inquisitor," and "The Coming of Shadows." "Coming" is probably the one episode I'd say is most perfect, the most purely B5. In year one, I thought there were a couple/three eps that just lay there and begged to be shot and put out of their misery. But I don't think we had even one like that in year two. Some were stronger than others, but not one dropped below a certain median high point over year one. So far, year three is another general step up, with our least episode this season so far being the equal of some of the better year two episodes. What makes for a perfect episode of B5 in my view? It's kinda hard to define. It's an episode where major and irreversible events take place, which were absolutely set up from what went before, and which turn on the individual choices made by our characters; episodes that have about them the feel of a car absolutely out of control, that ANYthing could happen...the kind of episode that makes you start insinctively reaching for the brake pedal, but it doesn't do any good. And, finally, those that have a nice visual sense of style. I've gradually grown more consistently fond of the montage as a dramatic device, though I'm being careful not to over-use it. (I *really* liked the intercutting in the Emperor's fall in "Coming.") I'd rather not say anything at all about "Gethsemane," because a large part of the plot turns on something you need to discover mid-viewing, and anything I might say would only detract from it. It's a lovely, sad, very moving story; it's kind of my Twilight Zone story in the B5 universe, with some very strong emotional twists as we go along. It's not the kind of story I get to do within the B5 structure very often, and I'm extremely pleased with this one (and Adam Nimoy did a *bang-up* job directing it; he thinks it may be his best work ever). We're now shooting episode #7, "Exogenesis." So far, to give my own reactions to the year 3 episodes so far: "Matters of Honor," somewhat of a continuation of the year two season ender, picking up the pieces, with some great action pieces, mainly a fair amount of fun, which is necessary given what precedes it..."Convictions," a moody, atmospheric, driving piece, stylistically very different for us, with some hysterically funny scenes juxtaposed against some deadly serious and gritty drama..."A Day in the Strife," a fair number of threads, a day in the life episode with everything that can go wrong going wrong, some elements of humor but mainly a straight-ahead kind of episode..."Voices of Authority," you'll see some of our characters doing stuff they've never done before, and we get into the whole question of the First Ones, also fairly straightfoward in storytelling and direction..."Passing Through Gethsemane," which again is just an utter knockout episode, which with "Convictions" comes close to being a perfect episode..."Dust to Dust," haven't seen the director's cut yet, but the dailies looked great...and "Exogenesis," which we just started filming this week, is probably our most "ordinary" story of the batch, though it puts a new spin on several traditional story elements. On just about every level, I'd say that the year three episodes are an improvement on the year two episodes, and we've got a lot more this season that should be equal to or better than "Coming" and the other top three mentioned earlier, at least based on how they look pre-shooting..."Messages From Earth," and "Severed Dreams" are massive action/character set pieces on the scale of "The Long, Twilight Struggle"...only bigger, and more personal. It's going to be great. jms Subj: VitW pt2 - Delenn/Londo? Section: Babylon 5 To: Richard M. Perry, 76461,2737 Thursday, October 05, 1995 10:58:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358422 The favor he calls in is not on his behalf, but on behalf of an associate. jms Subj: Rick Berman Section: Star Trek To: Michael Ogrinz, 71573,3153 Thursday, October 05, 1995 11:25:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358450 "The ratings for B5 never get close to the ratings for the Trek shows." Actually, not true. The Neilsens have often posted the B5 ratings as asometimes equal to or slightly above the ratings for "Voyager." jms Subj: VOYAGER'S BAD TREK Section: Star Trek To: Mary Taylor, 75530,2650 Thursday, October 05, 1995 11:25:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358451 Speaking of TPTB, here's an interesting angle on the whole Voyager/DS9 dynamic. Recently, more and more, the ST execs (people like Berman and Pillar) have been commenting publicly about the factionalization of the SF TV marketplace, and how this has diminished the numbers for the ST shows overall. Most interestingly, one of them commented in an LA Times article this past week that a big problem for them is the factionalization *within* ST...that people may only have time to watch one version of ST that week, and they're being forced to choose. And, of course, there are the debates between the two sides on quality. Which dovetails precisely into the rumor running around town that Paramount is considering giving the axe to DS9 after this season, in order to force folks who want their ST to watch Voyager...because they have more money invested right now in Voyager, particularly in start-up, and they have their hopes for the Paramount network pinned to Voyager as their center. They don't like the idea of a syndicated show out there causing problems for the network on which they've spent millions and millions of dollars. And DS9's ratings have been steadily on the decrease since the debut. So the logic goes: take away DS9, and make those who want Trek go to Voyager as the sole provider of that. Given the sources from whom this has come, I give very high credibility to the notion that this *is* being discussed; whether or not it will be implemented, that only time will tell. If Voyager continues to decrease, threatening the foundations of Paramount's bid for a network, I'd think the chances of this happening will continue to rise. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: William H. DiPaola, 76521,1751 Friday, October 06, 1995 1:56:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358892 William: you may want to consider scaling back the Trekker hits just a bit; I understand the emotions, but I think we've moved beyond that. jms Subj: KCOP & B5? Section: Babylon 5 To: Anthony Ho, 72440,1650 Saturday, October 07, 1995 12:36:08 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#359556 The local ads are the responsibility of the local stations. jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Saturday, October 07, 1995 12:36:12 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#359557 I'd also put "Grail" in my list of least-favorite eps from year one, along with "Infection" and "War Prayer." We're shooting the two-parter as 15 and 16, but airing them as 13 and 14, in order to accommodate the need to have the same director do both halves. It's a matter of working around the schedule of directors when they're available, and that's when Adam's available. jms Subj: VOYAGER'S BAD TREK Section: Star Trek To: Mary Taylor, 75530,2650 Friday, October 06, 1995 8:19:24 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#359294 Actually, let me correct myself on one point; just to be sure of my quote, I went back and checked the LA Times article, and the most pertinent comment came not from Berman/Piller but from Kerry McCluggage, who is the Chairman of the Paramount Pictures Television Group (i.e., the man who makes all the final decisions on the life and death of the Mountain's syndicated series, and the UPN series). McCluggage, the article states, "pointed out that Next Generation and the original Star Trek series still air in repeats in hundreds of markets. 'If you on some level buy the concept that there's a finite number of Star Trek viewers, who only have so much time to watch their favorite program, it's going to split the pie a little bit." Offered in the interests of accuracy. jms Subj: VOYAGER'S BAD TREK Section: Star Trek To: William H. DiPaola, 76521,1751 Saturday, October 07, 1995 12:36:07 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#359555 Oh, there's no question that they need to bring up the ratings on DS9, that's a separate issue, however. They need the ratings up because Paramount sells ads based on figures determined by ratings. They've promised certain levels of ratings, and if the show doesn't pull those numbers, they have to give money *back*. So it's definitely in their interests to keep the ratings up for as long as the show is on the air. And, again, this is more the corporate POV of the situation. The potential revenue for their new network *far* outmatches what any single syndicated show could pull in, and if the latter poses any kind of threat to the former...it ain't a contest. Even Berman, in the same article, wonders if they may have come close to "going to the well too often." So we'll have to see...clearly, many of those involved with the show want it to continue, as do the fans...we'll have to see if the corporate types feel the same way. jms Subj: B5 Wallpaper?? Section: Babylon 5 To: William H. DiPaola, 76521,1751 Friday, October 06, 1995 1:56:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358893 In about 4 weeks there will be an official B5 screen saver from Sound Source, which has 150 images/wallpaper sources, .avi and .wav files. jms Subj: Katsulas/Mahabharata? Section: Babylon 5 To: Elyse M. Grasso, 70302,3304 Friday, October 06, 1995 2:03:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358899 Yikes, I haven't got a clue on that one. When I see Andreas next, I'll try to remember to ask him, assuming it doesn't fall out of my head in the meantime, a good probability. jms Subj: B5 Aliens Section: Babylon 5 To: Chad Underkoffler, 102512,1310 Friday, October 06, 1995 2:12:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#358911 Just to clarify...Sinclair was a Catholic, taught by Jesuits; Garibaldi is basically an atheist. jms Subj: B5 Aliens Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Saturday, October 07, 1995 12:53:13 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#359569 "...the only B5 race that I find myself occasionally getting annoyed with is the Earthers." Good. Because anything else is 'way too easy. jms Subj: Re: B5 Comic Section: Babylon 5 To: Asha DeVelder, 76703,4322 Saturday, October 07, 1995 12:53:12 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#359568 As noted elsewhere, there are going to be more B5 comics as one-shots and miniseries...Tim DeHaas is doing one set during the Earth/Minbari War (I'm doing a lot of consulting on that one to provide canon background on who was where, when, doing what), and I've begun a 4-issue mini tentatively entitled "The Book of the War," which chronicles much of our new Ranger character. jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Saturday, October 07, 1995 9:54:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#360514 How long to write a script varies; sometimes a couple weeks, sometimes just 3-4 days; sometimes less if my back's against the wall, but that's fairly rare. Often the ones I write very quickly are better than the ones I write slowly, because I get it out before I lose track of the fingerprints of the characters and the passion of the story. Once completed, it's anywhere from 3-5 weeks before shooting begins, which is a luxury in TV...most shows the director doesn't get the script until a few days before shooting. jms Subj: Re: B5 Comic Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Saturday, October 07, 1995 9:53:19 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#360510 I'll try to announce them as they come. jms Subj: Fan Club, Magazine Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Saturday, October 07, 1995 9:53:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#360508 Yes, the B5 magazine is coming out from Sendai in the next month or so. I've read the copy for the first issue, and what I like is that it's not an obvious puff piece; it asks some tough questions, and doesn't soften the language or image of the characters on this show behind the scenes. I told them, when they got the license, right up front, nothing is taboo, write about whatever you want. The first issue, by nature, is more or less an introduction, with profiles of most of our core cast, but my guess is that more in-depth pieces will be coming in subsequent issues. We finally got the paperwork on the B5 fan club, and have to make some minor adjustments, but should have the contracts revised and signed within the next week or so. Shortly after that, we'll have an AOL page, and not long thereafter a web page for signups; we'll also try and integrate those fan clubs already out there as official branches, should they so desire. jms Subj: Life spans Section: Babylon 5 To: Rae Augenstein, 72752,1653 Saturday, October 07, 1995 9:53:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#360509 Minbari live to about 150 or so; she's about 50, very young still in Minbari terms (what we would consider a young woman in human terms). jms Subj: B5 Wallpaper?? Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Saturday, October 07, 1995 9:53:20 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#360511 I think it's windows 3.1 compatible. jms Subj: B5 Encyclopaedia Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Saturday, October 07, 1995 9:53:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#360512 It fell by the wayside when Compton's cut back its list to 30 titles, and we got too busy on the show to pursue it. There are several companies now bidding on the cd-rom, so we'll see what happens. jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Saturday, October 07, 1995 9:54:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#360513 Visually, yeah, I'd have to say TFoN is one of our biggest from year two, and I'm quite fond of it; the only reason that it isn't in my top three is because while the last half is very intense, it takes a little bit to get there; I like 'em intense from the first frame on. For the growing use of montage/intercutting...it's really just a process of continuing to learn my craft. So I try out and experiment with different techniques. While I love dialogue, and lots of it, I'm also coming more and more to appreciate moments where you *only* play the visuals, and the music, and get out of the way of the Moment. At this point, we have the first 5 in various stages of completion; we deliver 1 and 2 this coming Tuesday; we've finished all the EFX in #3 except for the placement of a couple of sound effects and the placement of music cues; we're still getting in EFX for #4, and just finished the producers' cut on #5. jms Subj: Shadow model spotted! Section: Babylon 5 To: Simon Grierson, 100407,2075 Sunday, October 08, 1995 1:42:08 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#360656 Any shadow ship model -- for that matter, ANY B5 resin model -- is not licensed and is basically pirate merchandise. jms Subj: 12 Steps Program? Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Monday, October 09, 1995 1:17:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#362252 Michael's kind of stubborn and independent and doesn't generally go in for group sessions. jms Subj: Re: B5 Comic Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Monday, October 09, 1995 1:17:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#362253 Nobody else here is sufficiently crazy to be on-line all the time. jms Subj: WOTW: DS9 Imitates B5? Section: Star Trek To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Monday, October 09, 1995 1:31:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#362273 Of course, the one good thing to come out of all this is what I've been saying all along...that the presence of lots of SF shows will cause more competition between the shows, with the ultimate beneficiary of this being the audience. Case in point: from day one, B5 has always shown the station very busy, with lots of ships going and coming. One of the concerns voiced by many DS9 fans, quite logically, was that if this was such a busy station, why did we not see any ships docking at the station, a sense of being busy? Well, finally, we now see the new open to DS9 where they show a fair number of ships moving in and out. We've been doing lots of scenes with huge numbers of ships dating back to the pilot movie; now in the season debut, they've come to the plate and shown big numbers of ships. Granted that several of the big shots were recycled throughout the course of the episode (watch for the wide shot where you see a Klingon ship in front of the crowd moving right to left, for instance), still it's a strong effort. Our presence gives them some competition to do more, and as they come up to the plate to do just that, it challenges *us* to rise to the occasion as well, so it's a good back-and-forth. jms Subj: WOTW: DS9 Imitates B5? Section: Star Trek To: Jeannette Fornadel, 76371,3057 Monday, October 09, 1995 4:55:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#362470 Fred Allen, a man considerably before your time, once observed, "Imitation is the sincerest form of television." jms Subj: Shadow Ship Progression Section: Babylon 5 To: Hugh Kennedy, 70042,710 Monday, October 09, 1995 1:31:23 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#362274 The color of the jump gates is kept consistent with the phenomenon of red shift; objects moving away quickly take on a red hue, those coming toward you take on a blue aspect. jms Subj: B5 Pot Luck Party in NH Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Monday, October 09, 1995 5:06:31 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#362480 If you're going to have something this big, with that great a video and audio system, maybe you ought to consider holding this one week later for "The Long Twilight Struggle," which benefits hugely from this kind of treatment, and will, I suspect, have a much bigger reaction from those attending. Just a thought.... jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Tuesday, October 10, 1995 12:49:22 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#363120 Re: craft...it's not any one area per se, really, just a lot of little things. "Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle." Michelangelo. So I keep trying one technique or another, working to get a little better, or add different tools to my toolbox. Favorite visual moments? The last shots in the second major action piece in TLTS (the through the window stuff). The Emperor's fall in CoS. Delenn and Sheridan embracing, and Lennier's exit from the isolation area in C&L. Some of the staging in CtI. We just have to continue to get better, and never look back. jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Tuesday, October 10, 1995 12:49:24 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#363121 No, "Severed Dreams" is episode #10. I think really that "War Prayer" was so thoroughly ruined for me by the direction, as was "Grail," that I can't see past that aspect. We spent hours and hours in the editing room, trying to make those work, and it was a major league pain in the butt. jms Subj: VOYAGER'S BAD TREK Section: Star Trek To: Lawrence Roberts, 73200,2174 Tuesday, October 10, 1995 12:50:01 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#363122 Absolutely not. I don't think the audience is facionalized, really; I think there's *plenty* of room for SF, but it has to be SF *done well*. See, that's the difference in how execs think (if I can use that term); if a cop show dies, they say, "Well, that one show didn't work." If an SF series dies, they say, "There's no market for SF in television." I think that the audience can handle lots of SF, if it's quality. BTW, though I normally don't have a chance to catch the ST shows, with rare exceptions, I did manage to catch tonight's Voyager...and I have to say that this was probably the best I've seen to date. The dialogue was crisp and funny and insightful, the story worked (even though the plot per se was nothing to write home about), the bits played...I quite enjoyed it. I'd love to see them do more of this kind of thing. jms Subj: Keeping B5 ALIVE Section: Babylon 5 To: Charles Agius, 72712,3572 Tuesday, October 10, 1995 3:29:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#363574 The series is fine as it is. The changes you suggest would simply make into a gimmick show, action without substance. Then it wouldn't be the show that people like...so what's the point? I'd rather have it the show I mean it to be, and die, than compromise and go on. What we need, primarily, is good PR to let people know what we're doing. jms Subj: Keeping B5 ALIVE Section: Babylon 5 To: Charles Agius, 72712,3572 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 1:33:26 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#364227 Oh, I won't defend the delay in new episodes, because I think it's indefensible on many levels. I just don't think it's appropriate to make the show into something less than it is to stay on the air; because then the show you want to keep on the air, that which makes it special, is gone anyway, so you've lost both ways. Better to go out on your feet. But we've made it 3 years so far, and I have no intention of letting it fall before finishing the storyline. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Max Cacas, 76476,2472 Tuesday, October 10, 1995 3:29:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#363575 I agree with you 100%. They keep promising better; we'll see. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: DEBBIE PLOOR, 102662,3032 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 1:33:20 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#364225 Debbie: thanks. To avoid a lengthy recap of the O'Hare situation, I would point you to the B5 library, sec 5, which has a lengthy message from me on the subject, which should answer just about all of those questions. As for the second half of the "Babylon Squared" episode, and all the questions arising from that...and your question about O'Hare returning... they both have the same answer. He'll be reappearing in season three in a two-part episode that shows the other half of the B^2 storyline. Thanks for the kind words. jms Subj: B5: Final Year??? Section: Babylon 5 To: Hugh Kennedy, 70042,710 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 1:33:18 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#364224 Unfortunately, that's considered by studio execs a "secondary market," of less interest, and less reward. Also PTEN is a consortium of WB and the stations; without the local stations, you got zip. jms Subj: Divided Loyalties Section: Babylon 5 To: Toni Muller, 75223,1575 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 1:33:23 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#364226 Thanks; it's a good warm-up episode for the next three biggies.... jms Subj: Keeping B5 ALIVE Section: Babylon 5 To: The Jawa / Jawa #2, 76371,3057 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 11:22:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365276 That's the point, you really couldn't pull a major thread without unraveling a lot of stuff. jms Subj: Keeping B5 ALIVE Section: Babylon 5 To: Anne L. Warner, 71513,1177 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 11:22:25 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365275 The stations have a season two poster that's quite nice; suggest you contact your local station and inquire if they have any left. jms Subj: WOTW: DS9 Imitates B5? Section: Star Trek To: Randy Hall, 74617,420 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 9:53:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365148 Ah, I see the infamous Randy Hall of AOL is here, as well. In citing the DS9 ratings, you carefully omit the Voyager ratings, which in many cases in the past have been somewhat *less* than the B5 ratings. Which kinda takes the air out of the argument, doesn't it? Even so, B5 is challenging the ST universe artistically, in terms of what we put on the screen. As we hope they will challenge us. jms Subj: GARIBALDI COP STUFF Section: Babylon 5 To: Michael Zitaglio, 102545,641 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 11:22:30 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365278 The actors do not input into scripts in the writing process; they interpret the script upon its completion. In rare cases, they may ask for a line or word change for performance purposes. But the line you cite was from Garibaldi's background. jms Subj: B5 Story Thoughts Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 11:22:31 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365279 It's an old wound, and though I appreciate the question, I'd rather not re-open it. jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 11:22:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365280 The most difficult part on one level is probably the writing, because that's the one time I'm up on the high-wire entirely by myself; in every other aspect of the show, you've got other people, costume designers, EFX people, others who can keep you from falling. Behind the keyboard, if you screw up, you've got no one to catch you. On another level, the most physically difficult is the editing process, where we go over each episode frame by frame and edit it to within an inch of its life. It's a very detailed and wearing process. We definitely plan to do more with Lennier next season. jms Subj: Telepaths on B5 Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 11:22:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365281 Yes, both sides can pay the same telepath, since teeps have no vested interest either way, and their honesty is held to the highest standards. Or you can get a second teep of your own. And yes, there have been others on B5, but usually passing through with the businessmen who hire them. jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: Kit Furness, 73574,44 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 11:45:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365311 Thanks, and I think you'll like where we take that relationship in the coming season as well.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Neil Blevins, 102226,3566 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 11:45:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365312 Remember, the *conscious* Talia did none of those things; she would never dream of scanning without permission. (And in Ivanova's case, remember that she said she knows *instantly* if she's being scanned. Note her strong reaction in "Eyes" when it happens.) jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Deonaha M. Conlin, 102531,2627 Wednesday, October 11, 1995 11:45:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365314 That's terrific, thank you...and glad to see another Dr. Pepper fan out there.... This one came out quite well...but compared to what's coming, man.... Thanks again, and enjoy the marathon. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Joel Hilke, 74271,1016 Thursday, October 12, 1995 1:19:25 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365370 There's little I could say about Jarvis' reviews for TV GUIDE that has not already been said about Jack the Ripper. jms Subj: Ellison CITY Note Section: Star Trek To: All Thursday, October 12, 1995 1:19:27 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#365371 Harlan Ellison has requested that I post this in places where those likely to have ordered the forthcoming CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER limited-edition hardcover can find it. Message begins: Here is the answerto the question of why a three-week delay in shipping THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER became necessary. A minor production glitch. Nothing more mysterious or ominous than that. Once the book had gone to Thomson-Shore in Dexter, Michigan for printing, and was in production, it was discovered that more than 150 corrections to the text--some significant, others of a niggling nature--but all troublesome to a greater or lesser degree--had slipped past, and had not been integrated. Tom Monteleone of Borderlands Press was out of the country. But his concerns for shipping on time--we've been paying the price for a premature announcement of this title four years ago ever since that miscalculation was made--were preeminent. Nonetheless, because of my insistence that this book (a book of great personal importance to me) be as close to perfect as possible, I took the necessary action to hold the production at a pre-final stage till Tom returned and we could get the changes made. That has been accomplished. Tom Monteleone has been very gracious in accommodating my concerns, and the book is back in the tube at Thomson-Shore right now. Three weeks max is what Dave Raymond, Customer Services Manager, tells us. Three weeks and the book, a beautiful beautiful package, will be in the hands of those who've ordered it. It is unfortunate that Tom Monteleone's interim message on the Borderlands Press 800-order line has been misinterpreted by some people. All is well, and the CITY is on its way to waiting eyes and hands. Thank you for asking. Harlan Ellison Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Sharon Foster, 76360,301 Thursday, October 12, 1995 4:20:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366007 Yeah, well, the great thing is that I've found a source for Drake's Cakes out here in CA... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Steve Bennett, 70046,441 Thursday, October 12, 1995 4:20:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366011 Haven't seen that one, but I'll keep an eye out, thanks. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Chad Underkoffler, 102512,1310 Thursday, October 12, 1995 4:20:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366009 Talia v 1.0 would not have violated Ivanova's privacy during any kind of intimacy, as that would violate her profoundly; you can hold back, and Talia would have, and Ivanova would've sensed if she had tried it. The theory on telepaths making love is that they both willingly drop the blocks they normally keep in place. jms Subj: VOYAGER'S BAD TREK Section: Star Trek To: Rich Brown, 76372,706 Thursday, October 12, 1995 4:37:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366042 Actually, according to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, the ratings for DS9 have been dropping about one point every season. Not a reflection on the quality of the show, those are just the numbers. jms Subj: Lame Voyager Writing Section: Star Trek To: Jonah Fleisher, 73664,475 Thursday, October 12, 1995 4:37:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366043 One solution to this, though, is what made this last episode of ST:V so enjoyable. Usually, when you watch a ST show, you get gang writing credits; it goes through the hopper and gets filtered through so many other writers that it loses its flavor. Not to say they're not good writers, this is the case on ANY show, on ANY script; the more people who stick their snouts into a script, however individually talented, the overall quality of the script diminishes, gets watered down. The episode this past Monday had just one name on it, and while I'm sure there was some tinkering here and there, it wasn't enough for anyone to take credit, which means the lion's share of the episode was written by this single writer...and that made all the difference in the world. The dialogue was crisp and funny, the "voice" of the show was consistent throughout, it moved well...it worked. The ST model is to work over scripts in-house to within an inch of their lives...but frankly, sometimes it's better to leave the darned thing alone. This was a good example of that. (I don't recall the writer's name offhand, but if they're smart, they'll put him or her on staff asap.) jms Subj: Lame Voyager Writing Section: Star Trek To: Janelle Keberle, 73552,3243 Friday, October 13, 1995 8:52:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#367610 Some shows just tend to have that as their guiding principle: rewrite the hell out of it. Others try as much as possible to leave it alone and let the voice of the original writer come through. I tend to fall more into the latter camp. In some cases, I revise heavily, but only where I feel it's absolutely necessary. Otherwise I leave it alone. David Gerrold's script for "Believers," for instance, is about 85% his. DC Fontana's last script for us was about 90% hers. Just tweaks, mainly. According to an interview I saw with one of the main ST producers, they use the "breaking the story" mode, which I've never much liked. To wit: in each and every case, they take the story, and gather in a room, and start scattergunning ideas and arguments and plot points, which one person writes down on a blackboard, crossing out some items while adding others. Yeah, it's a very democratic system, everybody gets their say...but I've always felt, on other shows, that it tends to knock off all the corners when you do that. Doesn't mean good stuff can't get through -- obviously it does -- it just makes it harder for it to do so, and this is the case for any show that uses that approach. At least, from my admittedly subjective point of view. But trying to tell one person how to tell his or her stories is like telling somebody how to make love...the advice is invariably unwanted, and usually inappropriate. jms Subj: To: B5 producers/writers Section: Babylon 5 To: Terrill L. Burlison, 73631,275 Thursday, October 12, 1995 4:37:12 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366044 No, nothing was cut; we had a matching problem at one point in the edit, where Andrea reached with her left hand in one angle, and didn't reach out with the other, and we had to come around for the shot on Ivanova, so it looked a tick off. But nothing was cut. jms Subj:
Section: Babylon 5 To: Greg Cronau, 76407,2311 Thursday, October 12, 1995 4:37:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366045 An interesting thought...as for Bester's personality, keep an eye out for "Dust to Dust," episode #6, where you see Bester from a different and very interesting angle. Some of what you say here, he says. (Not about the corps, but about doing what's right as he sees it.) 'Course, whether or not one should *believe* anything he says is another question altogether. jms Subj: Telepaths on B5 Section: Babylon 5 To: John McAuley, 100260,412 Thursday, October 12, 1995 9:09:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366422 No, the teep you hire is not bound to *volunteer* that you're lying; if asked by the other person, the teep would simply refuse to answer; which is tantamount to saying that you're lying. jms Subj: B5 at Farpoint Section: Babylon 5 To: Cynthia and Richard, 71561,3255 Thursday, October 12, 1995 9:09:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366423 That's great, congratulations. The costumes sound great. And I enjoyed speaking via phone at Farpoint; if I'd known some of the others couldn't show, I probably would've stayed around longer. jms Subj: B5 Story Thoughts Section: Babylon 5 To: Steven L. Wiser, 102633,3171 Thursday, October 12, 1995 9:09:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366424 Thank you. The episodes should make you wonder about tomorrow, and think about the choices in our lives. If it has succeeded in that, then the effort is worthwhile. Thanks again. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Neil Blevins, 102226,3566 Thursday, October 12, 1995 9:09:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366425 A non-telepath can learn certain tricks to make it harder to break through, albeit briefly, so the reaction was sufficiently ambiguous and the event sufficiently brief that it wouldn't raise too many concerns. Which is why Sheridan dived in when he did; if she'd continue to block much longer, just instinctively, it would've revealed her latent potential. It was his distracting Ivanova that in a sense helped Lyta break through. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: C Clark, 71643,65 Friday, October 13, 1995 11:16:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#367758 No, that she wouldn't really be capable of doing at her present level. jms Subj: Keeping B5 Alive! Section: Babylon 5 To: Refried Beans, 73737,3714 Thursday, October 12, 1995 9:09:28 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366427 Well, we just this week hit the air with the final four of last year, and we haven't even hit the year three ratings period in November, so at this juncture I'd say it's premature to start worrying about some of this. The best thing to do, for everyone, is to keep in constant touch with your local stations, via letter, and let them know what you think about the show. Because we live and die at the station level. jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: Elyse M. Grasso, 70302,3304 Thursday, October 12, 1995 11:15:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366588 Each kind of takes their turn; G'Kar gets big stuff next year, and in the final four. His character starts to formalize a turn that's been going on gradually for a while now. jms Subj: Mira Furlan's "Butt" Section: Babylon 5 To: Michael Grabois, 74737,2600 Thursday, October 12, 1995 11:16:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#366589 It was a long time ago, but I suspect that that's probably what I was referring to. jms Subj: B5: Final Year??? Section: Babylon 5 To: Hugh Kennedy, 70042,710 Friday, October 13, 1995 8:51:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#367606 Insofaras I know, the stations don't share in the revenues from overseas distribution, so their interest in it is negligible. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Brian A. Thomas, 75231,1122 Friday, October 13, 1995 8:52:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#367607 Actually, I have my own suspicion about his identity, and have dug out quite a bit of supporting evidence. It's not a name anyone's heard before in this context. I've spoken with a few other high-credibility Ripperologists, and apparently there are some others who have begun focusing on this person. So we'll see.... jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: Daena Hinkelman, 73554,1731 Friday, October 13, 1995 8:52:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#367608 You won't have long to wait for the shadows to return; 6 days, to be precise. jms Subj: WOTW: DS9 Imitates B5? Section: Star Trek To: Colin Knowles, 72152,201 Friday, October 13, 1995 8:52:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#367609 Actually, we just got the overnights from the first day's ratings of the first of the Final Four, and they're quite good...in LA, for instance, where DS9 got a 5.9 rating and a 9 share, B5 got a 6.3 rating and a 10 share. So we're getting there.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Will Gearhart, 102147,2670 Friday, October 13, 1995 8:52:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#367611 Overall, I'd think this is a better question *debated* by folks than answered by me. (And there's no one B5 answer, as there are so many varying belief systems in the B5 universe.) All I can suggest is that you keep an eye out for an episode called "Passing Through Gethsemane," around #5 or so; it may get into some of this. jms Subj: JMS: Please Read This! Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, 102664,773 Friday, October 13, 1995 8:59:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#367619 I've told that story enough times; I have an aversion to typing it all out one more time.... jms Subj: B5: What Gives? Section: Babylon 5 To: Carl BUSSJAEGER, 102065,1635 Saturday, October 14, 1995 1:09:15 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#367837 You pays your money and you takes your chances; given that more and more folks are starting to come to the party, I suspect that maybe the story is doing its job. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: Thomas McDonough, 73641,474 Saturday, October 14, 1995 1:13:10 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#367840 "With all due respect" is a term usually used (in addition to other places) in military life; it's a way of disagreeing with a superior officer without getting nailed for insubordination. If it's used in that context a lot, it's because that's how it's supposed to be used. "To be perfectly frank" doesn't serve the same purpose; the intent is, "I disagree with your assessment, but that doesn't violate the respect your position must demand of me." jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Michael W. Mahoney, Sunday, October 15, 1995 5:06:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#369765 Basically, all that was indicated in the script was that he for a beat isn't sure what's up...then lets it go. I generally don't drop specific points explaining foreshadowing in the scripts, in case they leak out. If a line like that isn't sufficiently clear for the actor's intent, they then come to me and I explain it verbally. This was done in particular when we had to shoot "Chrysalis" before "Signs and Portents," even though the latter aired before the former. jms Subj: Brains & Telepaths Section: Babylon 5 To: Scott Belgarde, Sunday, October 15, 1995 5:06:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#369766 No, no direct corrolary between IQ and telepathic potential; it's a matter of genetics, primarily. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Eric Baker, Sunday, October 15, 1995 5:06:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#369767 I've always been a big fan of Alan's work, but I just couldn't get into this one, and gave up after the first couple issues. jms Subj: Ellison CITY Note Section: Star Trek To: GREG LASH, 74323,456 Sunday, October 15, 1995 5:06:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#369768 The trade, I think, is a whole separate deal, so I have no info on that one. The limited delay is only another week or so. jms Subj: New Season Section: Babylon 5 To: Ron Russak, Sunday, October 15, 1995 5:06:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#369769 Originally they were done on Amigas, but the software has now been exported to PC platforms, so that's their venue now. jms Subj: B5 Repeat on KCOP? Section: Babylon 5 To: Stephen C. Smith, Sunday, October 15, 1995 5:06:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#369771 No, there aren't any more repeats in LA or most markets; this is an overall PTEN change. You get one chance and one only. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Bob Perse, Sunday, October 15, 1995 5:06:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#369772 Certainly, a determined teep can get that information somehow.... jms Subj: B5 Repeat on KCOP? Section: Babylon 5 To: The Jawa / Jawa #2, Sunday, October 15, 1995 8:43:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#370016 If there were word, you wouldn't have to ask about it. jms Subj: B5 Repeat on KCOP? Section: Babylon 5 To: Steve Bennett, Monday, October 16, 1995 11:22:24 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#371760 My *guess* is that they'll show the last four again to start reruns, or thereabouts. I haven't seen a final schedule yet. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Will Gearhart, Sunday, October 15, 1995 5:06:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#369773 Oh, sure, I could tell you what *I* think is the absolute truth of the metaphysical aspects of the B5 universe...but what would be the fun in that? jms Subj: New DS9 opening = B5? Section: Babylon 5 To: Arthur Stoppe, Sunday, October 15, 1995 8:39:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#370009 I've actually received email from people who say they've been harrassed by some of the more extreme ST fans for liking B5; one recent correspondent sent me a note off the usenet describing when he went into an SF bookstore (that also carried comics, soundtracks, other stuff), and was derided for wanting the B5 soundtrack, made fun of, told the disk wasn't there, finally found it hidden behind some other stuff, and endlessly insulted in a way that was very openly hostile and mean-spirited. It happens. jms Subj: New DS9 opening = B5? Section: Babylon 5 To: Tom Trankle, Monday, October 16, 1995 3:14:14 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#370332 I saw your prior note, and I'd have to say that probably most of the items you cite as similarities in approach have to do with just about any space-borne science fiction. Many colony worlds, varying tech levels, that's fairly generic. Definitely agree about the differences, though. jms Subj: New DS9 opening = B5? Section: Babylon 5 To: Arthur Stoppe, Tuesday, October 17, 1995 12:41:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#372229 Yes, I've seen the elusive Chris Franke, who is actually a 2'3" Latino with a broken nose and a tattoo covering both ears. He hires this person to pretend he's Chris. jms Subj: B5 Horror Element Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, Sunday, October 15, 1995 8:43:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#370017 In Zone, I tried as much as possible mainly to stick to the Serling influence in my stories; that I felt was my primary obligation. "Gethsemane" isn't a horror-type story at all, though it does have a very TZish feeling, so it doesn't owe to any of those. Best to just let you see it when it airs. jms Subj: Lame Voyager Writing Section: Star Trek To: Janelle Keberle, Monday, October 16, 1995 3:14:09 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#370330 Okay, here's intro lesson #5, on How Hollywood Works, by jms, age 12. Writers, the really *good* writers, are few and far between. Sure, you've got journeymen and journeywomen, people who can cobble up a decent story, but the percentage of really *good* writers is the same as it is in any other venue, a minority. And of that sampling universe, smaller still is the group that can write perfectly for *your show*. Writer A may be a great writer on series A, B and C, but when it comes to show D, just doesn't Get It. Every once in a very great while, someone walks in the door, and absolutely nails it first time at bat. That person is *exactly* suited to your show. So it's in your best interest to grab that person and stick him on staff as fast as you humanly can. If you bring him in as a staff writer, he can't rewrite others, and can't verbally participate in story sessions (per WGA rules) with freelance writers. His utility is limited, and since there isn't that much difference in salary between a staff writer and a story editor, you usually bring the person in as story editor. Or, if the person has a lot of credits, you bring him or her in as a producer. Hence the preponderance of writer/producers in TV, which has somewhat become the norm. Working through freelance scripts is a difficult thing on the best of days, so there's an understandable impulse to hire a whole bunch of writers who you know Get It, give them producer titles, and have them do the lion's share of the writing. This is how most TV shows are done today. In a way, it's kind of diminished the title "producer," since many writer producers don't really produce, it's just a title with more money. You've got producers, co-producers, associate producers, executive story editors, story editors, supervising producers and executive producers. And even executive producers don't always participate in the day-to-day operation of a series, so they've come up with a term that creates a subset of executive producers, an unofficial term you'll never see on-screen, which is "Show Runner." That's the one person who is running the whole darned thing. Is all this fairly new? Yeah, fairly. There was a time when the majority of TV shows were written by freelancers, but that was when the WGA consisted of far fewer writers than today, and it was easier to dip into that pool. Now you've got well over 9,000 Writers Guild members, of which roughly 50% are unemployed at any given moment. That's a lot of people scrambling to beat down your door at any moment, and when you factor in the greater risks these days, the short orders (you used to get a full season's order, 24 episodes, on networks, now you get 8, then if the ratings hold, 7 more, then a third order for the balance of episoodes, called the Back Nine, which means you can risk less with outsiders in your first batch), that can lead to a bunker mentality. Did I start out this way? Sorta. I've only written two freelance TV scripts for dramatic series; each time I get hired instantly right afterward. On other shows, I'm just hired straight off, no freelance work required. I didn't actually set out to be a producer; it was never my plan, or my goal. Didn't want the Pointy Hat of Authority. But I discovered early on that the only way to make sure nobody rewrote me, that the words got through as I wanted them to get through, was to go up the ladder until I became an executive producer/show runner. It's a hell of a lot of work. If someone said, "Look, we'll make you a staff writer, pay you crappy money...but we won't change your words," I'd take it in a hot second. But that hasn't happened, so here I am...in the cannon barrel. jms Subj: "Inside Trek" column Section: Babylon 5 To: Michael Grabois, Monday, October 16, 1995 3:14:11 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#370331 Yeah, thanks, I'd love to see a copy.... jms Subj: B5 cards, etc... Section: Babylon 5 To: Phil Koltko, Monday, October 16, 1995 11:22:28 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#371761 Because you're still hooked into the way the non-B5 world does things. We're kind of obsessive about stuff here. Yes, I do have approval over everything, and while a few things could've been better with the cards, I'm overall quite pleased. It's a start. Remember, we're still in the process of convincing people that there really is interest in the show, so the miracle isn't whether or not a given product was done well, rather that it was done at *all*. So these so far are fine, and we'll continue to improve. jms Subj: B5 cards, etc... Section: Babylon 5 To: Phil Koltko, Tuesday, October 17, 1995 6:36:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#372661 Basically, when you go into someone else's company, as much as you may advise, suggest, and carry on, ultimately it's not your company, and you're bound by the way other people do business. Some people can license a product, for instance, but because the show isn't a proven money-producer in licensing, they may want to hedge their bets; they may not invest as much money into production, or publicity, or artistic contributers of one sort or another. So the choices you then get to approve may not be the ultimate best possible in a theoretical world in terms of pushing the envelope or being as daring as the show. Their inclination is to play it safe. As time goes on, and people become reassured that B5 products will work for them, they will be more comfortable investing more money into them, which in turn will attract more artistic types, which then leads to more daring or unique stuff. The first few novels were, I thought, fairly prosaic; the next batch are, I think, more interesting...because the book company is now putting a little more effort and thought into the product, since the first 3 volumes have very much proven their worth. And the list of writers on the next batch is very good, includng SM Stirling and Neal Barret Jr. It's a growing process.... jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: David Seraphin, Monday, October 16, 1995 11:22:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#371763 Thanks, your support is very much appreciated. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Brian Kornfeld, Monday, October 16, 1995 11:22:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#371766 1) You're assuming Bester knows everything. Also, Bester's interest may have been more...carnal than PsiCorp oriented. 2) The real Talia was becoming more and more disenchanted with PC, and this was in time going to pull her into resistance activities, which Talia v2.0 would only be *thrilled* about. The self-protection mechanism only kicks in when the personality's existence is threatened. 3) Remember that Ironheart was not seeing Talia under the best of conditions...he was fighting hard NOT to use his abilities, for any reason, because it created mindquakes...he was pulling everything IN. And later he was shot, also not a good position. It lays out fine, really. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Pankaj Mangalik, Wednesday, October 18, 1995 2:06:05 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#373241 Having written the episode, produced it, edited it, seen it at least 20 times, to synopsize it again, after all that, is something I really don't think I'm up to, much as I'd like to.... jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: peter stathis, Tuesday, October 17, 1995 12:41:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#372230 The shadows influence is partly the gothic horror influence overall, and a lot of Jungian influence. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Spencer W. Farrow, Wednesday, October 18, 1995 2:05:24 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#373236 Try Slices pizza on Van Nuys in Sherman Oaks; they sell 'em by the box. jms Subj: Back to the Beginning Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, Wednesday, October 18, 1995 2:05:25 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#373237 Yeah, there was a lot of info there...it was everything she had *there* at hand, but not everything the Minbari have overall. jms Subj: B5 Horror Element Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, Wednesday, October 18, 1995 2:06:00 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#373238 What many folks forget is that Serling's story were as often about redemption as about damnation; about hope as often as about horror. That lesson is forgotten by many horror writers who claim him as influence. The Serling influence, for me, is the strength of individual humans to endure much, sacrifice greatly, yet come out the other end of the struggle something nobler and stronger. jms Subj: Talia/Garibaldi/Comic#8 Section: Babylon 5 To: Allan S. Nassau, Wednesday, October 18, 1995 2:06:02 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#373239 Nope, he was looking at the process overall; he never saw Talia. The one shot of her is the omniscient POV, not his. (And even if he had seen her, it would've been only a glimpse of a blonde woman, no name that he could see, and after so many years, given that her condition wasn't great at the time, he wouldn't necessarily recognize her in any event.) But it's a moot point; the comic never indicated that he saw her. jms Subj: B5 via CON-RAD Section: Babylon 5 To: Grey Culberson, Wednesday, October 18, 1995 2:06:03 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#373240 I've got some concerns about ConRad that I'm looking into; have to get into that more before I comment. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: The Jawa / Jawa #2 Wednesday, October 18, 1995 4:15:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#373788 Thanks; and the planet is Epsilon 3. jms Subj: Talia/Garibaldi/Comic#8 Section: Babylon 5 To: John McAuley Wednesday, October 18, 1995 8:24:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#374131 "...picture of Talia on conveyer with red net over her face." C'mon...you're saying anybody'd be able to recognize a flash image of a woman with a red net over her face as much as 7 years later...? jms Subj: Talia/Garibaldi/Comic#8 Section: Babylon 5 To: John McAuley, Thursday, October 19, 1995 5:44:12 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#374675 As I recall, the Winters, T badge was only visible in the next to last panel, which is a narrative flashback, not him personally. jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: peter stathis, Wednesday, October 18, 1995 4:15:12 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#373786 If I were simply going to tell everyone what's going to happen, there would be little point in actually making the series, true? jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: Terry Cotant Thursday, October 19, 1995 5:44:11 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#374674 Unfortunately, we can't release that info outside the company for copyright reasons. jms Subj: Ellison CITY Note Section: Star Trek To: Randall Chrisman, Wednesday, October 18, 1995 4:15:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#373787 No "I told you so" involved; I've seen the galleys, there were 150 major typos, it couldn't be released like that. So correcting those took an additional 3 weeks. Nothing to do with anything but production glitches in manufacture. jms Subj: WOTW: DS9 Imitates B5? Section: Star Trek To: Michael Ogrinz, Wednesday, October 18, 1995 4:36:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#373808 Not backwards at all when one considers that in general B5's ratings have been slowly, consistently improving in non-rerun periods since it went on the air. No, it didn't start out in the top figures because it didn't have the ST name that guarantees ratings. It's had to find its audience, and vice versa. And this it has been doing. In LA, the first new episode of B5, aired right after a new DS9 episode, got a 6.3 rating and a 10 share, as opposed to a 5.3/9 for DS9. And even *absent* all that...even a lower rated show can challenge one artistically. Twin Peaks never got the big numbers, but it had a major impact in breaking open some of the elements that others have used since, in shows like X-Files and American Gothic and others. On this whole question...if you saw the DS9 2-hour debut, with the action scenes, you may want to check out the show airing this week. You might find it interesting.... jms Subj: No vcrs? Section: Babylon 5 To: Sharon Foster, Thursday, October 19, 1995 1:09:01 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375031 The story is the story, regardless of the medium some might use to record them at home. jms Subj: No vcrs? Section: Babylon 5 To: Arthur Stoppe, Friday, October 20, 1995 1:16:22 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375871 I've never given much thought to the home video market; I don't get a direct piece of it, and it's a secondary revenue stream as far as PTEN is concerned and thus not very important, as testified to by the fact that they still haven't even put any cassettes OUT in the US. jms Subj: No vcrs? Section: Babylon 5 To: Sharon Foster, Friday, October 20, 1995 1:16:25 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375872 Well, even without VCRs, eventually the show will be stripped daily (one hopes, at least), once the show is over. Some here have tried, as an experiment, watching them straight through, one per day, and all the clues and bits and foreshadowings jump out immediately that way. So it probably works fine either way. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Chad Underkoffler, Thursday, October 19, 1995 1:09:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375032 Re: your note about 500 Narns for every 1 Centauri...you may want to check our own history. During the occupation of some parts of Europe during WW II, similar tactics were used. In some cases the threat rose as high as 100-200 Jews or Russians executed for every Nazi killed; much the same has been done in earlier history. Five hundred to one is a figure relatively consistent with what humans have done from time to time when we wish to instill terror. So I find this a curious quibble. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Philip Hornsey, Friday, October 20, 1995 1:24:19 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375889 Actually, Londo *specifies* that the 500 will include "the perpetrator's own family." jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: SysOp Dupa T. Parrot, Friday, October 20, 1995 1:16:25 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375873 Some races, like the Centauri and the Minbari, use drive systems built to varying degrees on magnetic and gravitational forces; some of them don't so much go to a planet as create a situation where they are drawn toward it. One of the side effects of this is a field allowing for artificial gravity. Earth doesn't have this level of technology, however. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Burhaan Ahmad, Friday, October 20, 1995 1:24:20 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375890 Actually, what Delenn said was, "...the Rangers *in this area* are under my direct command." So Sinclair's post as Ranger One remains back on Minbar. And yes, Sinclair has apparently been described as the One...but you must ask...the one *what*? Expect final answers to this one late this coming season. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Paul Maskens Thursday, October 19, 1995 7:42:23 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375537 G'Kar's prayers would have been unrelated to the wounding of the shadow vessel. jms Subj: B5 Repeat on KCOP? Section: Babylon 5 To: Paul C. Britton, Thursday, October 19, 1995 4:08:25 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375274 Yes, I'm sorry, but B5 is now shown only once in most places, including LA. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Kennedy How, Thursday, October 19, 1995 7:37:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375531 No, never saw Warhammer. The machine isn't primarily there to sustain, it's basically a control mechanism. This game is a new one on me. jms Subj: Gary Numan and B5 Section: Babylon 5 To: Michael Zitaglio, Thursday, October 19, 1995 7:37:20 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375533 That's great; would love to hear one sometime. jms Subj: This week's sQ Section: Babylon 5 To: Trent K. Johnson, Friday, October 20, 1995 1:16:28 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#375874 Since I didn't see it, I can have no real coherent thoughts (as if I could on any day).... jms Subj: No vcrs? Section: Babylon 5 To: Arthur Stoppe, Friday, October 20, 1995 8:08:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#376624 Sure, I've given thought to it... it's just getting WB to go along with it; they don't think anyone would want to buy them. jms Subj: No vcrs? Section: Babylon 5 To: John McAuley, Saturday, October 21, 1995 4:55:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#377417 Unfortunately, 50% of the decision is made by the stations, which don't really care what happens outside the US. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Mark D. Smith, Sunday, October 22, 1995 4:26:25 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#377984 Yeah, that was a rather Draal bit of humor, wasn't it? jms Subj: B5 Repeat on KCOP? Section: Babylon 5 To: Paul C. Britton, Friday, October 20, 1995 8:08:07 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#376625 Sooner or later, but not soon. jms Subj: Message report Section: Babylon 5 To: The Jawa / Jawa #2, Friday, October 20, 1995 8:08:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#376626 Yes, ramoras live off shark leftovers. jms Subj: JMS: SPOILER Section: Babylon 5 To: Alex Lau [FWB], Friday, October 20, 1995 8:08:13 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#376627 Yeah, that's pretty much the first time since the pilot where the Vorlons got involved with the Sinclair situation. jms Subj: Starfury Q Section: Babylon 5 To: Donald A. McGrath I, Friday, October 20, 1995 8:08:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#376628 No, we've never had problems with the starfury design; our thought is that new models of fighters always come out, and we figured we'd introduce some newer models along the way. jms Subj: Babylon 5 Section: Babylon 5 To: Darren Lane, Friday, October 20, 1995 8:16:21 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#376636 It would be difficult to collapse everything into a fourth season. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Rae Augenstein, Saturday, October 21, 1995 3:23:24 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#376898 "So what you're saying is that they're the Borg." heh. heh. C'mere. No, it'll be fine, just come over here for a minute, this won't hurt.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Philip Hornsey, Saturday, October 21, 1995 4:55:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#377418 "A narn resistance is going to be pretty hard to organize." *Exactly* the issue we'll explore in "A Day in the Strife." (Well, one of many issues.) jms Subj: Twilight Struggle Section: Babylon 5 To: Charles Agius, Saturday, October 21, 1995 4:55:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#377419 The cruiser is the same size as that sent to look into Z'ha'dum; it's just a matter of perspective and how close the camera gets. jms Subj: Londo Poisoned? Section: Babylon 5 To: Jon A. Bell, Saturday, October 21, 1995 8:57:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#377725 No, we'd never do anything that basically unfair to the viewers.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Jason Wong, Saturday, October 21, 1995 8:57:23 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#377726 Thanks. I'm very pleased with that episode; your response was just what I was hoping for. Thanks again. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Neil Blevins, Saturday, October 21, 1995 10:49:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#377844 The reason for the placement of the jump points is *very* straight forward. By virtue of their size and the tremendous forces unleashed by punching a hole into hyperspace, you want to form it a little distance away or risk being severely damaged. If they formed the points between them and the enemy, which was quite capable of avoiding them, it would be entirely possible for the shadows to get in front of the point and cut off their sole means of escape. Usually, better to form them behind you, so the enemy can't block your way out, and take a possible hit or two to your aft sections than be totally cut off. They didn't anticipate the extra weapons the shadows had. jms Subj: Bab5 cancellation HELP Section: Babylon 5 To: Dale Duncan, Saturday, October 28, 1995 6:44:28 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#385876 What you can also do, btw, is get together lots of other folks, using SF and comic stores, to sign a petition and go to another station and urge them to pick it up once it becomes available. This has worked in other places. jms Subj: Telepathic Vorlons Section: Babylon 5 To: Michael Zitaglio, Wednesday, October 25, 1995 10:16:05 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#382840 They have certain potentialities, but I'd rather not go into them here quite yet. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Marte Brengle, Wednesday, October 25, 1995 10:16:06 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#382841 Short of convincing them via pressure, I can't think of anything. jms Subj: Influence? Section: Babylon 5 To: Terry Cotant [RSS], Wednesday, October 25, 1995 10:16:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#382842 No, had nothing to do with Q, it's deciding what kind of person our Mr. Sebastian might've been, and working from there. When you have a character with as vivid and powerful as his, you don't need to look to ST for any ideas on character. And unlike Q, Sebastian has no powers of his own, just the force of his personality. jms Subj: Influence? Section: Babylon 5 To: Terry Cotant [RSS], Thursday, October 26, 1995 8:07:17 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#383837 Wayne has primarily done stage work, not a lot of TV, he's kind of a find. jms Subj: Influence? Section: Babylon 5 To: Ray Pelzer, Sunday, October 29, 1995 3:37:25 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386238 Okay, here's one clue for any would-be Ripperologists out there. In all the long story of Jack, when he was out doing his nightly work, only one person, a woman, wrote an actual letter, published in the London Times, offering an *explanation* for the Ripper's work, arguing that he was trying to send a message, that maybe people should listen to that message. It was as close as anyone's ever come to an actual *defense* of what he was doing. Note the woman's name, and who her husband was...a man who was twice interviewed by Scotland Yard, and interviewed by many Church officials, the transcripts of which have been *sealed* by the Church ever since, at the request of the family...a person who was the last man to see at least one of the victims alive...and who was a direct blood relative of the man who was living with the final victim (who was killed indoors, leading to the speculation that she knew her assailant)...who suffered a breakdown just before the murders began, was obsessed with cleaning up the Whitechapel area, and after whose sudden, hasty transfer, the murders stopped...and whose profession is tied *directly* to the only thing the Ripper was overheard to say to one of his victims. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Elyse M. Grasso, Wednesday, October 25, 1995 10:16:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#382844 Thanks...and the amazing thing is, it continues to improve.... jms Subj: Londo's Cough Section: Babylon 5 To: Nigel Nixon, Thursday, October 26, 1995 12:34:30 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#383256 Not that it just looked better per se, but the gunshots came from right to left; the gun hand as originally shot fired from left to right. It looked very funky when edited together, like it was going in a different direction than the one it was fired in. Flopping the shot corrected that. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Jan Fennick, Thursday, October 26, 1995 12:37:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#383257 "catch me a kvetch, find me a flarn...." jms* (Who woke up this morning humming "While My G'Kar Gently Weeps") Subj: Videotapes from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Marte Brengle, Thursday, October 26, 1995 2:18:31 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#383382 In answer to your question (383177).... As you've noted, the Powers That Be at Warner Bros. don't think there is a market for B5 tapes, from the first season to present. The *only* way that they can ever be released is if the fans themselves take action. That is the absolute bottom-line. Only if the fans speak out will this happen. This is not a drill, and I don't pass along this kind of information lightly or often, even when requested, as was done here. The primary contact, who can make the decision, is Mr. James Cardwell, Executive Vice-President/General Manager, Warner Bros. Home Video, North American Division, 3903 W. Olive, Building 154, 3rd Floor, Burbank, CA 91522. I do not anticipate posting this elsewhere, to avoid the appearance of encouraging a deluge. The question has come up here repeatedly, and I answered finally. If others choose to take this message from CIS and post it elsewhere, that's certainly their option. At this point, since WB has no plans to rerun the first season due to concerns that the presence of a different CO might confuse viewers, this is about the only way for folks who saw, or missed, the first season to catch up on all that went before. (Obviously when the show is over completely, the episodes will go into syndication, but that is, presumably, 3 years down the road.) jms Subj: Videotapes from jms Section: Babylon 5 To: Esther Schindler [EXEC], Saturday, October 28, 1995 12:13:20 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#385117 I think giving out the fax number might tend to clog it, which they might kinda object to. jms Subj: Fan mail Section: Babylon 5 To: Jane Killick, Thursday, October 26, 1995 2:18:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#383383 Fan mail can be sent to all involved in making B5 at the following address: c/o Babylon 5, 14431 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 260, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. The c/o must be included. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Chad Underkoffler, Thursday, October 26, 1995 2:18:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#383384 The episode underlines that there are two fundamental questions in B5: who are you, and what do you want? The order in which you answer those two questions can either make you great...or destroy you. As for "There...plain truth!" Someone elsewhere noted that this is how we work sometimes...we hand you our play book quite openly, we tell you we're coming right up the middle, try and stop us. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Joe Walters, Friday, October 27, 1995 2:07:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#384517 Yeah, that's about the right reaction to Sebastian. As for the next week's scenes...well, at least the really major thing wasn't shown. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Marlyn Bumpus, Thursday, October 26, 1995 8:07:14 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#383835 Well, given Delenn's position, I think she'd have let Lennier know where she was, or that he'd heard Sheridan tell Delenn in the scene we played the voice-over. Thanks, it was a good show. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, Saturday, October 28, 1995 9:47:04 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386114 Yes, Mira's great in that episode. As for Lennier...it's an unusual relationship, which you'll learn a LOT more about in "Ceremonies of Light and Dark." Which is all I can say for now. jms Subj: Archetypes Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, Thursday, October 26, 1995 8:07:15 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#383836 That's the kind of thing I don't tend to dwell on overmuch, lest the storytelling become self-conscious. The more you start to over-analyze the work as you're doing it, the less fresh and spontaneous it becomes. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644Saturday, October 28, 1995 6:44:25 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#385875 Sysops: As a note, there's probably no reason to repost this message again; I think it might be overkill, and while I felt it was right to come in here once to announce this, it *is* the ST section and shouldn't have to put up with multiple raids of the same message. As an aside, Majel is shooting this week on B5, and so far seems to be enjoying it immensely. She's having great fun working with Peter Jurasik and Stephen Furst. jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: Elizabeth Whitaker, 74541,613 Saturday, October 28, 1995 2:30:25 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#385578 Thanks, and I'm glad you made it to the show. Bruce is nothing but terrific to work with. And I think you'll like where we're going over the next 6 weeks in particular.... jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: The Jawa / Jawa #2, Saturday, October 28, 1995 9:47:31 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386111 Logically, yes, that would eventually pose a problem. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Sharon Foster, 76360,301 Saturday, October 28, 1995 2:30:26 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#385579 <"Omigod. Omigod. Omigod. Omigod. Omigod. But you can't do that on television. Nobody's ever done that on television!" ...> You know, you say the *nicest* things.... jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: David Fox, Saturday, October 28, 1995 6:58:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#385910 The pain is necessary because it's easy to consider laying down one's life intellectually; when the pain and the agony bring it home, it's no longer as easy. And there *is* no correct answer to "Who are you?" The only real answer is no answer, because as soon as you apply someone's term for it, you have limited yourself, defined yourself in someone else's terms. Doing things in a refined, gentle, intellectual manner is the sort of thing Delenn's used to, she can handle that easily...the goal of Sebastian was to try and *break* her. That's not intended to be done gently. You don't break someone over a cup of tea discussing philosophical concepts and the nature of personal identity. It's also not terribly dramatic to watch. Because of her position, rank and authority, she expected to be treated a certain way...which was why it was important to treat her just the opposite. It's easy to put oneself into a grand prophecy, to assume one has a destiny...to pay the price for that is something else again. Anyone can do the former; very few can ever do the latter. jms Subj: Did Sinclair pass? Section: Babylon 5 To: David E. Francis, 72047,2070 Saturday, October 28, 1995 9:47:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386112 Bear in mind, though, that we don't yet know, when someone says The One, the answer to, "The One *what*?" When this gets answered later this season, you may have your answer there. And thanks. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Richard M. Perry, 76461,2737 Saturday, October 28, 1995 9:47:02 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386113 Hey, I gotta have *some* fun here, right? Can't make it too easy. If I just answered all the questions, wouldn't be much point in making the show, now would there? jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Mara K. Malovany, Saturday, October 28, 1995 9:47:08 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386115 I think that, in the long run, the vorlons and the shadows will answer the questions Who are you and What do you want...in that that's kind of what they *are*, if that makes any sense. Well, it will. Eventually. Funny thing is, how much as you note the show corresponds to some of the things Mira's been through...some of it intentional, knowing that if I dig into this area, it'll come out of her with the ring of truth...some of it quite unintentional. When I finished writing "Severed Dreams," and the actors got it, Mira's first words to me were, "So...how long DID you live in Yugoslavia?" The parallel wasn't intentional...but it fit. jms Subj: Milwaukee Affiliate Section: Babylon 5 To: Bob Perse, Saturday, October 28, 1995 9:47:09 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386116 Yes, most stations now are only showing the episodes once per week not twice. So if you want to get it, it has to happen the first time at bat. "I am seething here." So when you called the station, did that make it a seething ring? jms Subj: Influence? Section: Babylon 5 To: Richard P. Manny, Sunday, October 29, 1995 2:57:03 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386727 That's because it isn't *in* any of the Ripper texts as a suspect.... jms Subj: Bab5 cancellation HELP Section: Babylon 5 To: Marion J Nalepa, Sunday, October 29, 1995 2:57:00 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386726 The stations that keep the show consistent do well with it, and don't usually drop it. So you're probably in good shape here. jms Subj: Comes the Inq Section: Babylon 5 To: Rick Corey /NY Sunday, October 29, 1995 2:57:16 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386729 I guess also that the key to avoid something becoming cliche is to turn it on its head. Which was the case with Sebastian. One thing I neglected to mention was the need to have an absolute mirror-counterpoint to Morden. Here you've got the smiling, pleasant, utterly charming and good looking fellow who is our "mirror" if you will in which we see the Shadows reflected. So now you need something dark and ominous and terrible as the mirror through which we briefly glimpse the Vorlons, which has to be done all in one episode, you can't develop it gradually as with Morden. So everything about Sebastian was the opposite of Morden...and each is the opposite of what they represent. As it appears to us now, anyway. To the question of Crowley, I've read a little of his work, but only a little... I've never believed in the dictum of "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law." I've generally leaned in the direction of "Do what thou ought shall be the whole of the law." Crowley was a very strange man, and while clearly some of his reputation was blown out of all proportion -- was he not kicked out of an entire country once, called The Most Evil Man Of All Time? -- but at the heartmeat core of it was something dark and tw jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Deonaha M. Conlin, Sunday, October 29, 1995 2:57:18 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386730 < At some point, it must be. Even the worst of us must have some hope for reprieve at some point. Either let the creep out of jail, or kill him. I think four hundred years of not knowing would even do justice to Manson. ...> No, I think your points are all excellent, and tie right into the whole question at hand. Nothing soft about them, just very thoughtful and insightful. One of the primary functions of the show, beyond entertainment, is to provoke questions, discussion, and the comparison of views. I think my message titled videotapes from jms is still here with an address for WB about tapes. And thanks. jms Subj: Did Sinclair pass? Section: Babylon 5 To: Don Chase Sunday, October 29, 1995 2:57:20 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#386731 << When this gets answered later this season, you may have your answer there.> Is that this season, as in Season 2, or Season 3?> I think I was referring here to season 3. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Don Chase, Sunday, October 29, 1995 8:09:22 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387083 Can G'Kar grow to forgive? I don't think so...and yet in a way he must come to something more than rage, and other than forgiveness. There is an important step in his development yet to come. And he will have to go there by a very hard road. jms Subj: Major B5/ST News Section: Star Trek To: JAMES M. TRAPP, Sunday, October 29, 1995 8:14:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387093 That's great, and I appreciate the honest answer. Not every show is for everyone. Continued good luck. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: John M. Kahane, Sunday, October 29, 1995 8:14:12 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387095 < >> Actually, there *was* a scene where Lennier, concerned, tracks down Kosh to inquire after Delenn's situation, which report alarms him and sends him after Sheridan. It was filmed...but cut for time. << Can you post it?> Can't really post that kind of stuff, alas.... jms Subj: Avalon? Section: Babylon 5 To: Elyse M. Grasso, Monday, October 30, 1995 2:35:16 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387324 Nope, no Jinxo. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Mark D. Smith, Monday, October 30, 1995 2:35:16 AM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387325 Yeah, beautiful subtle work, wasn't it...? Wayne Alexander. Remember the name. This guy's gonna Be Somebody. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Sharon Foster, Monday, October 30, 1995 6:15:24 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387966 Actually, the last one, since it was going to be drowned out, was an adlib, "eternity." jms Subj: Fan club update? Section: Babylon 5 To: Marlyn Bumpus, Monday, October 30, 1995 6:15:27 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387968 Still processing paperwork...my life is paperwork. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: DAVID F. LATORRE, Monday, October 30, 1995 6:15:30 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#387970 <Thanks for the wonderful coda by the Inquisitor.> Thanks.... jms Subj: Episodes Evaluation Section: Babylon 5 To: Dan F. Evan, Monday, October 30, 1995 10:33:10 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#388277 We've only won one Emmy and a couple of small awards for the series (plus another Emmy for the pilot). We're still working on making people aware that we're here, and what we're doing. Other than that...thanks. jms Subj: Section: Babylon 5 To: Bob Danielson, Monday, October 30, 1995 10:33:11 PM From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#388278 Dead as the proverbial doorknob. jms