JMS on Compuserve: November 2, 1995 -- FON SPOILERS!
The Green Meddler
kilgalen at tde.com
Thu Nov 2 04:27:50 EST 1995
WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING
***************************************************************
THIS POSTING CONTAINS ENTIRELY SPOILER INFORMATION ABOUT THE
FOUR EPISODES AT THE END OF SECOND SEASON CURRENTLY BEING
SHOWN IN THE UK BUT **NOT** IN THE U.S.!!!!!! READ AT YOUR
OWN RISK! NON-SPOILER JMS POSTINGS ARE IN THE PREVIOUS JMS
ON COMPUSERVE POSTING; ONLY SPOILERS ARE IN THIS POSTING!!!
***************************************************************
WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING
END SPOILER SPACE! READ FURTHER AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Subj: Jack the Ripper Section: Babylon 5
To: Wayne D. Zimmerman Tuesday, October 31, 1995 10:57:19 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389227
So, in other words, if a historical, real character has been used in
some other venue, if the use of that same character in another,
wholly different world/series/show/universe is absolutely, totally and
completely the right thing for that story,
one should instead do what's *wrong* for the story and leave it out?
Sorry. Don't buy it.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquisitor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Ray Pelzer, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:01 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389253
<Y'know, your "mirror" comment just made me consider something: As much as
Sebastian helped Delenn to realize "who she was", in that speech, she
really made Sebastian realize who HE was as well.
Was this both-sides-of-the-coin intentional, or just happy happenstance?>
No, it was very much intentional; Sebastian learns quite a bit in the
course of that encounter about himself...especially when she rubs it in his
face as she does.
jms
Subj: B5 Fans Strike Again! Section: Babylon 5
To: Fred Miller, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389254
Unfortunately, no suggestions except to note that the more people in
an area who keep after their stations, the more things gradually change.
jms
Subj: <spoiler: Comes the Inq> Section: Babylon 5
To: Catherine Becic, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:06 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389255
Sacrificing oneself happens frequently...but for just one other
person, AND in a situation where no one else would ever know about it.
Bear in mind that he wasn't testing people randomly; only those who felt
that they were chosen of god, fulfillers of prophecy...people who assumed
that they were part of some grand scheme,
and thus to whom an anonymous death is an intolerable thought.
Also, most probably never *got* that far, unable to stand the real
pain of being placed in this position.
Everybody can talk the talk; very few can walk the walk.
Most probably just yanked off the bracelets and split, on the theory that
they weren't being sufficiently coddled or glorified...or because being a
potential prophet isn't as much fun as they'd thought.
jms
Subj: <spoiler: Comes the Inq> Section: Babylon 5
To: Daena Hinkelman Wednesday, November 01, 1995 7:23:13 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389981
"It doesn't fit in with the way the Vorlons have been portrayed. It
bothered me."
Good. That was the intended result.
Part of the reason for the story was to grey up the Vorlons a little;
one shouldn't fall too easily for what other people *say* they are.
(One might also say much the same of the old testament god who would
have Job so severely tested, btw.)
One should always be cautious of taking *anyone* at face value on B5.
"...you could consider them a force for good."
Ah, but what *is* good? And whose *version* of good are we
discussing?
jms
Subj: <Fall of Night> Section: Babylon 5
To: Michael Beemer Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:08 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389256
<2) The scene in the bar with the aliens arguing over what
they saw: "It was Drushalla!", "It was <?>!", "It
doesn't matter. This place has been blessed!"
IT DOESN'T MATTER. THIS PLACE HAS BEEN BLESSED.
Wow!! I expected this to devolve into a bitter argument
between different religions. Instead, you surprised me
by having the character have the enlightened realization
that "the Divine" has different faces, and which face
was seen wasn't truly important...
Wow!!!!>
Thanks. I think that, with so many races around, you couldn't go into
holy wars or jihads at every occasion. In a
way, what was seen was a validation for many...a moment they all came
together, instead of coming apart.
jms
Subj: <season's end> Section: Babylon 5
To: Joel Hilke, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:11 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389257
<I'm sure you will have no end of congrats on a really fantastic season's
end. I thought the last show with Jack the Ripper's narration was the
crowning touch of that show, and now I see this.
Just incredible, the amount of suspense, hope, dread - no other show on TV
puts me on the edge of my seat like B5 does.
All I can think about is the emotional attachment you put us into for
Keffer's character so many shows ago, when I said
"why is jms putting in this Tom Cruise wannabe?" and now as he made the
last great sacrifice, it hits so much harder.
You're the man. Keep up the excellent work, and I hope the rest of the
entertainment industry wakes up to notice.>
Thank you. The emotions the show stirs up are, to me, central to the
whole point of doing it.
We can't afford to pull any punches, or the story falls by the wayside.
It's an *incredibly* difficult show to do, on every level,
from writing through acting to production and everything that follows. But
when it works, and people notice, it's all worthwhile.
Thanks again.
jms
Subj: <season's end> Section: Babylon 5
To: Al Mauroni Wednesday, November 01, 1995 7:32:02 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389987
<I just wanted to tell you that I saw the season 2 closer tonight and I am
compelled to write you. I know you probably get dozens of compliments
following each episode, but I just had to express to _you_ how I felt
despite all the other compliments.
THANK YOU. I've said that before, but THANK YOU. I have NEVER been so
moved, so enlightened, so heart-sick at a television show before, and
certainly not a science fiction show.
You didn't pull a punch and the sheer bravado, the gutsiness, to reveal who
you revealed in the way you did it was far and above more than one would
expect from television.
That mixed with the more base, but no less tension-filled, battle sequence,
the actual act of sabotage, Kiefer's sacrifice and error, and the
heart-wrenching conclusion with Ivanova's narration has placed B5 where
I've been placing it with these last four
The very BEST television out there - and this confirms it absolutely.>
Thanks...from your lips to the ears of the TV academy....
jms
Subj: Fan club update? Section: Babylon 5
To: John M. Kahane, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:22:17 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389259
Re: "tennis wrists," or carpal tunnel syndrome...yes, I've got it in
spades.
I have to use the CTS gloves constantly or the arms ache badly within a
matter of minutes; and even then they only slow down the speed with which
they begin to hurt.
As it is, there's a dull ache pretty much all day, and most of the night;
and after enough writing, my ring fingers on either hand start curling in,
and my forefingers get a bit numb.
Toward the end of last season, the only way I could write was to write for
30 minutes, ice down my arms for 10 minutes, write for 30, ice for 10, and
so on.
No matter what precautions you take, when you write sometimes as much
as 20 pages per day...it's gonna happen.
(General note: I've seen virtually every article on CTS, I know about
the vitamins, the wrist-rests, the exercises, all that;
I do what I can with those things that help. So while advice is
appreciated, it's not necessary in this case.)
jms
Subj: Fan club update? Section: Babylon 5
To: Esther Schindler [EXEC] Wednesday, November 01, 1995 1:26:24 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389649
Unfortunately, for some reason my brain's hard-wired for typing.
I've tried dictating in the past, to a tape recorder, but nothing comes out
as crisp or as *right* unless I'm at the keyboard and my fingers are
thinking for me.
jms
Subj: <Inquisitor - Bravo!> Section: Babylon 5
To: Chad Underkoffler, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 1:26:14 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389647
On the "Jack sucks" threads, phrased various ways...doesn't really
bother me.
I knew going in that some folks would react well to that, and some
wouldn't, for an assortment of reasons, some valid, some less so.
jms
Subj: <Comes the Inquistor> Section: Babylon 5
To: Chad Underkoffler, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:46:06 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389271
Re: "...a Vir intensive script."
Just finished one. Script for episode #13, "Sic Transit Vir." I
think it's gonna be a hoot.
jms
Subj: B5 screensaver Section: Babylon 5
To: Steve Trease, Tuesday, October 31, 1995 11:46:07 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389272
It'll be out in time for Christmas from Sound Sources.
jms
Subj: B5 screensaver Section: Babylon 5
To: Steve Trease, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 7:23:05 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389980
Don't know yet the final release date.
jms
Subj: B5 screensaver Section: Babylon 5
To: Ruth Ballam, 100412,3457 Wednesday, November 01, 1995 1:26:00 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389651
<Do I dare ask if it will be PC only or Mac as well ?>
Dunno....
jms
Subj: <FON - Nature of Kosh> Section: Babylon 5
To: John Yuen, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 7:29:23 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389985
That's the irony, in a sense...what's inside Kosh's biomechanical
encounter suit...is a *perceptual* encounter suit....
jms
Subj: <FON Thot> Section: Babylon 5
To: Rae Augenstein Wednesday, November 01, 1995 7:30:04 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389986
From a strictly logical standpoint, a president would not lower
himself to deal with this personally.
When MacArthur and Patton earned the disfavor of the president, it was
intermediaries who pulled them aside and registered this.
Also, gradually more authority if being vested in Nightwatch and the
Ministry of Peace, as that's his arm, and so he'd be inclined to use that
since he's in most direct control.
(Just to explain why what was done was done.)
jms
Subj: <TLTS & Stuff> Section: Babylon 5
To: Richard M. Perry, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 11:19:27 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390185
Alas, actual history courses put me to sleep; reading is fine,
but to teach history...how bad would it be to see your own prof falling
over dead asleep at his own lecture?
jms
Subj: CD differences Section: Babylon 5
To: Mark D. Smith, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 11:20:02 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390186
<I bought the limited edition CD (I wish I'd gotten 2) and just now got the
general release CD.
I was looking through the book and saw a picture that was the same yet not.
It's the picture with Kosh, G'Kar, Delenn and Londo standing in front of a
large fan.
In the LE CD, Londo looks like he's just been through a month of binge
drinking. His face is splotchy and his hair is a rats nest. In the GR CD,
he just looks pained.
I looked VERY closely at the pictures and the best that I can tell is that
his head alone was redone and the rest of the picture is the same. Is this
right?>
You caught me. In the limited, they used a photo that I absolutely
*hate*, for what it does to Londo's hair.
So when the general release was due to come out, they couldn't change the
photo, too expensive, so I had them put a different head on it.
jms
Subj: <TFON - weightless> Section: Babylon 5
To: Timothy & Lisa Mitchell,Thursday, November 02, 1995 12:39:11 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390207
Re: the starfury drop...this has come up before, and some of the
better high-IQ types have said we got it right.
The fighters use centrifugal force to be propelled *away* from the station;
yes, it's at a slight tangent, but the station is also rotating behind
them, so it isn't that severe.
The furies don't actually fire their engines until they're a bit away from
the station, using the force of the drop.
The vectors actually work out accurately.
jms
Subj: B5 as radio Section: Babylon 5
To: Sharon Foster, Thursday, November 02, 1995 12:39:12 AM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#390208
I used to work in radio drama a lot, for ALIEN WORLDS and the MUTUAL
RADIO THEATER, so sometimes that aspect comes out in my writing. I think
it's a wonderful, and little used medium.
jms
Subj: <Inquisitor - Bravo!> Section: Babylon 5
To: peter stathis, Wednesday, November 01, 1995 1:26:28 PM
From: J. Michael Straczynski, 71016,1644#389650
"it just didn't pay off in the long run." For you. For others it
did. Let's not start getting grandiose.
You feel this way, that's fine, but it's not the ultimate truth. Otherwise
you're totally dismissing the opinions of others who liked it a lot.
"Jack...has become a real cliche." So because others have used that
figure in their work, well or poorly, no one should ever use this
historical figure ever again in the next thousand years of human history.
One should not do what one thinks is right for a story because of what
someone else did in a different story.
Sorry. I don't work that way. By your logic, I should not be using
starships or hyperspace or aliens, either, because they've been used a LOT
more than Jack.
jms
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
_/ Green Meddler kilgalen at tde.com Nathan F. Wallace _/
_/ http://www.webcom.com/~kilgalen/welcome.html _/
_/ http://www.webcom.com/~kilgalen/nerelon.html _/
_/ C.I.U.P.K.C. Software -- Unleashing the Power! _/
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
More information about the B5JMS
mailing list