JMS (and coproducer George Johnsen) Usenet messages for April/May 1997. Date: 1 Apr 1997 12:30:40 -0500 Subject: Re: New episodes? Penny- The new broadcast schedule starts the week of April 21 and runs 9 weeks straight. This is quite similar to what we did last year, only the big block of episodes started the first week in April and ran through May. I can tell you that there are some mighty cool shows in the batch, and that the effects crew is really humping to make the satellite date on a few of them. (Hey, if it was easy, everybody would do it!:-) George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 2 Apr 1997 02:06:17 -0500 Subject: Re: B5 and "ethical" awards (ATTN JMS) B5 has won the Space Frontier Foundation Award for Best Vision of the Future, and an award from the American Cinema Foundation for presentation of values in a dramatic television series. jms Date: 2 Apr 1997 12:26:21 -0500 Subject: Re: StarFury vs. Thunderbolt Hardware afficianados: As in all warcraft, there are different purposes for different vehicles. The Starfury is still considered a front line craft by Earthforce (and a lot of other people, evidently, as the Black Omega Squadron uses it as their weapon of choice). There are upgraded versions of the 'fury still being built and used. In fact, the retrofit package is one of the things that the B5 armorers would dearly love to get their hands on now that the station is embargoed. Since the Thunderbolt is designed to handle atmospheric flight as well as space flight, some compromises were made making it a different beast to fly in space. It is equipped with the latest in offensive and defensive systems, and has more to keep under control than the 'fury, hence the two person approach. Control freak pilots don't care for the 'bolt, as it takes two to operate. It does have heavier armor, as well as the heat shielding that comes with atmospheric incursion. There are other ships in the EA arsenal that are of slightly different characteristic, like the Badger assault fighter and the Olympus class Corvettes that give a wider range of capabilities of a pretty well rounded force. I suspect that the Earthforce arsenal is made up of the pet projects of dreaming generals, greedy contractors, and plain old visionaries much like ours is now. This means that there is a wide range of hardware yet to be seen. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 3 Apr 1997 02:24:30 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: B5 PRESS ALERT! I'm dealing with reporter; need advice The only things I'd mention, that are worth passing on to the reporter...the tendency of B5 to form communities...the use of fairly rigorous science in the basis of the show, and how we've become NASA's newest darling...the overall story arc...the ethical issues the show deals with...all the obvious stuff. If the reporter tries to create a B5 vs. ST dynamic, that's something to be cautionary about. But that's all. Beyond that, you'll do fine. Sheridan certainly hasn't had any problems with reporters, after all.... jms Date: 4 Apr 1997 22:53:16 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN GEORGE: Severed Dreams nit-pick John- Yup. The show was seriously under the gun for delivery when those shots were done. If I remember correctly, a couple of these shots came in on the same day we were to deliver, and there was no time to re-render them and still make the satellite. If I were to tell you it would never happen again, I would be a big liar, or a deluded optomist, but we try. Animators are human, after all! :-) George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 5 Apr 1997 02:52:41 -0500 Subject: Re: Omega-class cruiser design Kevin- Methinks you refer to the Aggie Class, not the Omega, as the O's have no rotator. Anyway- The Destoyers are all business. There is no need for extra storage space onboard, and certainly no need for passengers! This allows for a portion of the cylinder describing the same arc as the full cylider ships. At one time, we strongly considered locking down the rotator section during battle to increase manouverability, and not using a cylinder or sphere would have made this concept more practical in presenting a narrower target to the opposition. As it is, we postulate that the control systems of the class can take into account the additional torque generated by the spinning section. Besides- we would have to spend a heck of a lot more on filming Zero G sequences if we locked down, or strap all the actors to their seats. Tough to do that acting thing in a 5 point belt for any length of time! George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 5 Apr 1997 02:52:59 -0500 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS See, Joe uses this wacky keyboard, and sometimes he just misses! :-) Yes, the new ones start with 410. They will finish with 418 if and only if I can keep my crew awake for that long......:-o George J CoProd, B5 Date: 5 Apr 1997 12:24:53 -0500 Subject: Re: Afraid to criticise? Hardly! (was: criticism of B5 in RASTb5) >From the perspective of the staff, I can say that rastb5m gets read with regularity, while rastb5 gets read from time to time. The issue is not criticism, which usally has some basis when offered in either group (okay, I'm being polite- sometimes it's just flamebait). The issue is civility. When the work is treated with respect, whether it is loved or hated, the poster gets taken seriously. When the criticism is thoughtful, we can agree or disagree, but at least we can talk. Whether it is through the moderator, or through moderation, rastb5m is a more homey place to hang out. The fact is, there is not one episode that we wouldn't like to have at least one more tweak on before it really escapes into the cosmos. As a very good friend of mine says often, Art is never complete it is only abandoned. From that perspective, criticism is mutual. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 PS- about the last scene bears...... really have to ask Joe. Date: 6 Apr 1997 17:35:39 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN GEORGE: Docking question Docking Procedures are under the control of C and C as soon as they lock on to their docking beacon. Whenever a pilot tries an overide, you get the potential for an accident, like we saw with G'kar's G'Quan Eth plantin "By Any Means Necessary". The station's synchronizers lock into the ship's local computers and that's all that's needed. George J CoProducer, B5 Date: 6 Apr 1997 17:36:02 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Is B5 ready for HDTV? There are several schemes in proposal form for both the upconversion on standard broadcast, to make new sets useful with those who prefer to continue to broadcast using the equipment they have, and downconversion for those whop wish to watch a new channel with an old teevee set. This will take the form of an inline box that decodes the signal and puts out a standard NTSC compatible signal. I am off to the National Assoc of Broadcasters meeting to see what the latest lies, er I mean proposals concerning HDTV are. Rest assured that B5 is ready whatever dopey backwards compatible signal format they come up with. We do a conformed film neg of every episode for archival that is just for this purpose. CG and composites can be rerendered to whatever new rez that is required, and we welcome the opportunity. The biggest problem is that storytellers and hardware folks aren't the only ones with input into the standard. The computer folks want in, and this will make the format even more confused. Recent gov rules have allowed the standard to be made more computer friendly. This means that MSNBC is just the start! George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 6 Apr 1997 17:36:02 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN GEORGE: Severed Dreams-hole in a WALL? Boris- We don't really know where the Marines actually penetrated, but their first hole would be through the "floor". If we assume that they know the station well, it is likely they would punch through an "unimproved", or storage area first, as it would be easier than to burn through a fully habitable area. Then they would go through a wall or a door to get at the goal. We postulate that they actually were shown entering through their second burn, and entering the occupied area. All the 95's are in the same relative position, sequenced from the center. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 7 Apr 1997 18:38:55 -0400 Subject: Re: Omega-class cruiser design Okay, Okay- I'm the first contestant for the dumbass of the week award! Of course it is the Omega Class. Too many hours, too many ships, too many file names. For those who care, the files in Lightwave are labelled AgClasDestr, so I fell back on most recent contact protocol. Anyway, the rest of the answer does not suffer from the same caffeine induced hallucination, and is correct. George J CoProd, B5 Date: 7 Apr 1997 18:39:40 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN George: The transmition in Epiphanies (Spoilers) David- Believe it or not, that piece started as color bars. It was twisted using Flint software from Discreet Logoc on an SGI Maximum Impact using fractal morphing plug ins. Feedback is a wonderful thing...... It is certainly concievable that Fractint would work to create a similar effect. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 8 Apr 1997 18:02:31 -0400 Subject: Re: B5 Spinoff / In the Beginning. Excuse me, but the Londo scene in question is the one that takes place moments before Sheridan and Delenn are brought in, and then allowed to escape. (War Without End.) He can't exactly see to their execution since they outlive him in story continuity, now can he? jms Date: 9 Apr 1997 15:05:06 -0400 Subject: Re: Omega-class cruiser design (POSSIBLE SPOILERS) Mark and folks- > : > : POSSIBLE SPOILERS > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : > : You have it substantially correct. (Even though i have been known to get it confooosed from time to time- too many hours, not enough pillows) The Nova Class Dreadnaughts have been around for quite a long time, but are getting a "sprucing up" for further development. As we discovered in our own navy, there is a need for several classes of ship of varying sizes. The Omega Class are the next development in that series. The habitat section was added, as well as more armored sections. There is a further development of that class under discussion. You can also see some design elements of the class contained in the Cortez. The newer ships under development are all of smaller classes, like the Olympus Class Corvette, the Badger heavy fighter, and the Cotten Class Deep Penetration Tender. We will see these participate heavily in the second of the TNT movies. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 10 Apr 1997 05:08:10 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Thanks for ICON! Thanks...and your question was a good one, which is why I kinda moved away from it.... jms Date: 10 Apr 1997 13:54:17 -0400 Subject: Re: Attn JMS: Ted Turner, WB and what if God was one of us. Yes, the PTEN agreement excluded doing our show for first-run on cable...but it was the only offer anybody made to us. We took it, because after five years of trying to find someone who'd trust us to do the show, you don't walk away from the table once you have what you wanted. Who knew if it'd take *another* five years to get that far? In year 1, it wasn't the venues, it was the notion that a show like this could be *made at all* let alone successfully. jms Date: 10 Apr 1997 18:00:08 -0400 Subject: Re: attn jms : autograph queues I think it would take about the same amount of time...and I don't know if I could take it seriously, it's too much like a receiving line at Buckingham Palace, and I share nothing in common with Lady Di (well, other than the wardrobe, but I digress...). (Then again, Di shaares nothing in common with Buckingham Palace anymore...) jms Date: 12 Apr 1997 00:14:06 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JOE: B5 Informational CD question please Janet- The CD will be multiple platform, as Joe uses several Intels, John several Macs, and I use a PowerMac, 32 NT's and 24 Alphas. We gotta be able to run the darn thing ourselves! George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 12 Apr 1997 00:14:06 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN GEORGE: Babylon 5 on DVD? Clay, Jay, Claudia, and other DVD interested folks: The discussions we have had concerning DVD with Warners have all been based on 2 episodes per disk, with supplimental material, and full use of DVD's capability. 4 episodes per disc hits the compression scheme pretty hard, and I don't like the way it looks, so we will stick with two per, IF this were to become a product. (Big IF by the way, for reasons we have already discussed in this forum) And, btw, ehat do you mean where are you, George? I've been here working my behind off getting these episodes out! :-) George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 12 Apr 1997 03:11:12 -0400 Subject: Re: Episode 422/522 Finale.. Question "What are the chances of major spoilers being leaked from "Sleeping in Light" over the next year?!?!?!?" I'm sure some of that's bound to happen...but the reality of it is that if you add up all the people who are online and might get this information, you'd actually end up with only about 4% of the viewing audience...so it'll still have its desired impact. jms Date: 12 Apr 1997 19:07:41 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: B5 airing order on TNT We definitely plan to work with TNT to make sure the air order is correct. jms Date: 13 Apr 1997 21:21:15 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: I-CON notes and Drall Yeah, Michael was down with a very serious 24-48 hour intestinal flu bug that pretty much put him away, but he pushed past it to come to the con. jms Date: 14 Apr 1997 04:21:40 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Gratuitous use of the word "Hell" The hell you say.... jms Date: 15 Apr 1997 19:54:57 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN GEORGE, JMS: the monkey, the nut, and the jar > Do you enjoy it enough to want to do it again? > Can B5 episodes be re-rendered well enough for theater sized screens? Yes and Yes. The resolution of the renders we are doing now allow for the highest rez digital video storage currently available in NTSC. For theatrical release, all we need do is flip this little chromium switch here.......and out comes a ready to transfer film frame render. > Not only would it be nice to see B5 on a really big screen "TV", > if fans flock to theaters to see B5 episodes, WB's mind-set might allow > it to issue video tapes. I'm not really sure if this is a plausible strategy. Someone at Warner's would need to book the theatres, and that would be the same folks who think home video wouldn't fly. > Does B5 have press kits that it gives to reporters? > If so, would WB allow tapes of "And Now for a Word" and "The Illusion > of Truth" to go into the press kits? > B5 might get more requests for press kits than there are reporters. > JMS would report this sad situation to WB with the suggestion that he > start charging most folks (non-reporters) for press kits. Creative thinking, but...... > To sell "The Coming of Shadows" as a promotional item, would JMS have > to talk to the same monkey (Warner Home Video?) that has its hand around > the nut in the jar? Yup. The home video issue is truly Warner's to deal with. We can hope that it will eventually be dealt with, but i sure wouldn't guess when or in what format. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 16 Apr 1997 06:13:58 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: new 67 year old viewer That's truly wonderful...thanks for that report, it made my day. Best to your dad. jms Date: 18 Apr 1997 19:31:42 -0400 Subject: Re: Attn JMS: How's you directing debut going Not directing yet, still in prep, balancing that with finishing writing the first two movies. Just finished the first draft on the second one this morning (about 4:45 am), then planning to take the weekend to revise them both. Then it's back to prep. Expect me to be offline a lot during that period, because I'll be going in at 6:25 a.m. and wrapping every day at 7:00 p.m. jms Date: 21 Apr 1997 00:52:53 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Watching 24 B5 eps in a row... (grinning ear to ear) Thank *you*. jms Date: 21 Apr 1997 14:40:44 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JOE: Surviving the idiots One simply learns. And when negotiation fails, you just roll in a grenade and come in firing. jms Date: 23 Apr 1997 03:30:29 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Happy Passover! I do not celebrate Passover (wrong group, and I'm an atheist in any event), but I will pass along your kind wishes to the rest. jms Date: 23 Apr 1997 17:47:55 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS: Sleeping in the Light "But seriously, what kind of responses do you expect to see in this newsgroup the week following the last episode?" In a way you're kind of asking the wrong person, as I'm inside the fishbowl and can't see the show the way anyone outside can see it. The only gauge I have is the reaction the script got around the stage when people on the crew and cast read it. (With a note attached explaining the possibility of airing it as 522 or 422, but that either way thsi would end up the story.) Pretty much everybody cried. I came home to a message on my machine from Mira, who was almost unable to speak, and another from Claudia who said she was honored and proud to be a part of this, and the script had made her cry. Bruce, Richard, big beefy guys on the crew...all said the same thing. And there I have to concur; I lost is several times as I was writing it, due to the content; there's one scene in particular...you'll know it when you see it...that put me away for an hour when I finished writing it. But here's the thing...*every single person* who cried at the script, ended it feeling that it was not a sad script in the end, or a down ending...that it left them feeling proud, and tall, and *positive*...that life goes on...that it was a reaffirmation of life itself, on its most primal level. They felt good about the ending. And that was a great relief for me, because I was trying something *very* difficult from a writing perspective, and at first blush it looks as if I've pulled it off. (Now I get to go in as director and *totally* screw it up.) Only one fan has read the script...someone whose opinion I trust. Because I was curious about the reaction from that side of the screen. And the reaction was *exactly* the same. So how do I think people will react? I think a lot of people will cry. But by the end of it, I think it will come around, and be all right...and mainly, that people will then look back at the whole story, through all these long years, and say, "It was a good story." And close the cover, and put it on the shelf with the other books that will be reread again down the years, and turn off the lights, and go to bed feeling that the time was well spent. Which is the most any writer can ever ask for. To tell a tale worth telling To make people cry. To make people laugh. And even, once in a while, make them think about things, and see the world just a little differently than when they began. And then they can centerpunch me on the freeway, or throw a plane at me, and I won't even mind. Because everything I set out to prove, I proved. Everything I set out to say, I said. I've carried this story like a hermit crab carries its shell for five long years, counting the pilot. It's been an *awfully* long and difficult road, and no one will ever really know just how hard this show was to make. Nor should they, because it isn't the difficulty that makes the story, the *story* makes the story. But one way or another, aired as 522 or 422, when it airs the burden is off at last. Then it no longer belongs to me. It belongs to you. As should be. And, in the end, I think you'll be pleased. jms Date: 25 Apr 1997 17:53:36 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS OR GEORGE: ships changing size? Boris- Actually, we never change the size of the ships. (Okay, before you start furiously typing...) The lenses that we use change often, and depending on the style of lens selected, the ships may appear closer or farther away from another object. This makes things confusing for sure. Add to that that the relative distance between two objects may be compressed to allow for better screen composition, and we may start to explain what you are realizing. The hardware of B5 is a bit "undefined" from a tech point of view. This will be remedied in upcoming publications. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 25 Apr 1997 18:37:25 -0400 Subject: Re: Heartfelt thanks! Thanks. And at least one of your wishes is assured...TNT will air reruns. The rest is still being discussed. jms Date: 15 May 1997 22:51:24 -0400 Subject: Re: Action figures? As much as i would like to have them on my desk.... There has not been a license granted for traditional action figures at this time. George Johnsen CoProducer, B5 Date: 22 May 1997 02:31:39 -0400 Subject: Re: Contract Questions --Considering the way you have been jerked around by WB, what are your contract obligations to them, beyond the end of B-5? --If you are then a "free agent" with whom would you partner for future TV projects? --Are there any other brain-children waiting in the wings? --Are any scifi TV projects contemplated? My contract is specifically for B5, if it were to go away (and there's some interesting, positive movement going on behind the scenes right now) I would have no further obligations or ties to WB. I've turned down a number of network gigs along the way, preferring to stay with B5 (even though some of them would've paid twice or more what I get on B5) so finding another berth wouldn't be hard. And yeah, I have some other projects simmering in the background that might go with or without a fifth season. jms Date: 23 May 1997 00:20:43 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN: JMS, *ALERT* *ALERT* The host misspoke... jms Date: 23 May 1997 01:33:52 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Anything special done on last day of Shoot? Around lunchtime, I began to notice people filtering out -- crew and others -- wearing white t-shirts with blue lettering that read, on front, "Shhh...the Great Maker is Directing." And on the back, "...and on the seventh day we wrapped." JMS 4:22 May 5, 1997. It was a nice thing, and we're considering making the shirts available via the fan club. Since it's customary for directors to bring in food on the last day of an episode shoot, I brought in food at the end of the day, and folks stayed around until late in the evening, just hanging around, chatting, eating, and the like. (I headed home around 7 mainly because I was just bushed.) We also took a big family picture that will go into the end credits of the episode, whenever it will finally air. A lot of our past directors, crew, actors and others showed up for the thing, and stayed for the party, knowing that either way, this was going to be the last episode of the series, whether it's 4 or 5 years. Then everybody went away for a few days, and now we're back shooting movie #1, "Thirdspace." jms Date: 23 May 1997 18:34:46 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: Spoilers: Episode 422 Confusion "In other words, because 422 takes place in the far future (2281), it is a stand-alone episode. It can be dropped into ANY position in the B5 schedule ....as long as its last. Correct?" Bingo. jms Date: 23 May 1997 19:52:57 -0400 Subject: Re: ATTN JMS: 522 always 2281? Yes, the final chapter in the series was always going to fall in 2281, 20 years after the events in 2261. jms