JMS on CompuServe (Apr 08, 1996) *POSSIBLE SPOILERS* 2/2
Brent Barrett
brent.barrett at 24stex.com
Mon Apr 8 20:22:08 EDT 1996
[ Continued from previous section -- BB ]
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WARNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The following posts may contain SPOILERS for
upcoming Babylon 5 episodes.
Continue at your own risk.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL IS THE COPYRIGHT OF THE
RESPECTIVE MESSAGE AUTHORS AND CANNOT BE
REPRODUCED IN ANY FORM WITHOUT THE EXPRESSED
PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR.
Note that JMS has expressed his public permission
that all of his messages may be reproduced freely.
I give permission for my summaries to be reposted in
any form, however I reserve all rights to them and
the right to revoke this permission at any time.
[ Summary: British viewer saw and loved "Severed Dreams," but asks:
1) Why was Garabaldi's *leg* broken when Jerry broke his arm, and
2) Is G'Kar "in" now? ]
#: 483396 S5/Babylon 5: General
07-Apr-96 21:49:20
Sb: #483302-Universes: ST vs. B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
We shot the last scene with the cane *before* we shot the scene in which
Jerry broke his arm. It costs way too much to go back and reshoot. At the
time we shot the later scene, he hadn't yet broken his arm.
And G'Kar isn't all the way in yet; he wants to be, but so far he's still
being held at arm's length a bit...he may make an issue of this.
jms
[ Summary: Comments on a story he read in his local paper that indicated that
B5 was based on a novel. Wonders if that novel has ever been published. ]
#: 483397 S5/Babylon 5: General
07-Apr-96 21:49:23
Sb: #483244-B5 Novel
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
No, the story is not from a novel. It's all original. Nothing from it
has ever been published.
jms
#: 483197 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 16:11:28
Sb: #<Severed Dreams>
Fm: MARLYN BUMPUS
Dear Joe --
Finally got a chance to enjoy "Severed Dreams" without the broadcast
interferrence from KCOP on Friday -- SPECTACULAR!!!! It isn't often you'll get
all three of my kids, me *and* my hubby all cheering a piece of fiction out
loud. My husband was actually very disappointed that the story didn't just
keep going, instead of having to wait another week for the next installment.
For my part, if this were a book, I think I'd be growling at *anyone* with the
audacity to try to stop me from just keeping reading until the end -- to heck
with cooking supper and housework and all that other mundane garbage!!... ;>
I do have a couple of questions, however...
In "Zha'Ha'Dum", Delenn had cautioned Sheridan to do nothing , so that the
Shadows wouldn't be tipped off that their activities were being noticed. But
in SD last nite, she turned around and berated the Grey Council for doing
*precisely* that. Is there a reason she wanted Sheridan's part in the
Conspiracy of Light kept under wraps, but expected something very different
from the Grey Council? Wouldn't that have jeopardized the chances for success
for the Conspiracy of Light?
Secondly, I'm curious as to whether the three Minbari warships are the sum of
the fleet the Religious and Worker Castes have at their disposal?
Thanks again for a most wonderful hour's entertainment! The TV Guide put quite
an interesting blurb in for its listing for next week's episode -- and now I'm
tapping my toe waiting for Friday to roll around!! Anybody ever tell you your
stories are addictive? ;>
Marlyn
#: 483400 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:49:30
Sb: #483197-<Severed Dreams>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Thanks. The Grey Council could've taken a lot more action to be
supportive behind the scenes, getting the warrior caste more involved with the
rangers, giving aid to the non-aligned worlds...there was a LOT they could have
been doing all this time that wouldn't have required tipping their hand.
Instead they sat and did nothing. And now, with B5 on the edge of falling, to
say it's not their problem was too much. Now is the time they have to start
coming forward.
jms
[ Summary: Wants to know what JMS means by "counterpoint." ]
#: 483402 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:49:35
Sb: #483286-#<Severed Dreams>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
In a sense, it's going from one emotion or thematic element to a very
different, but equally strong one, either as bookends or through intercutting.
Going from the high of the victory, to the sudden shot of the dead troops, is
thematic counterpoint.
Here's another...in "Cabaret" you've got a scene where the performers in
the Cabaret are doing the sort of German dance where you slap your knees and
thighs and chest...and they take it a bit further, slapping one another, it's
all for comic effect...but during this, you're intercutting the owner of the
cabaret being beaten to within an inch of his life by some Brownshirts outside.
You go from comic to brutal and back, with the result that the happy little
dance suddenly takes on ugly characteristics, and the beating takes on the
sense that the participants are having a sick kind of fun, that it's all just
another kind of dance, a ritual.
That's what you have to look at as a writer...how this scene works, and
how it interacts with the scenes in front, behind and "beside" it (for things
happening simultaneously). Sometimes, with the proper counterpoint, you can
add whole new levels of meaning to a scene, or make the scene much stronger
than it would've been on its own.
jms
[ Summary: Wonders why we haven't seen any scenes depicting the agony that
must go on between soldiers fighting on Clark's side. ]
#: 483403 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:49:39
Sb: #483345-#<Severed Dreams>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
We haven't seen those scenes because we don't know anyone there really,
and in an hour show you only have so much time, and within our budget we only
can do so much. Every speaking role you add costs thousands of dollars. Every
set costs thousands of dollars.
We're doing the absolute best we can with a budget roughly 1/2 of any of
the ST episodes.
If it isn't *absolutely necessary* to the scene, it isn't in. Yeah,
seeing some folks in EA talking back and forth about well, maybe this isn't a
good idea, maybe it is, well, let's get back to work...it'd be an interesting
aside, but in addition to slowing down the pace of the episode, and this one
had to move like a house afire, it's just not something I felt we could or
should do.
jms
#: 483287 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 18:46:46
Sb: #483133-#<Severed Dreams, WOW>
Fm: FITZGERALDS
Finally!! I saw the "Severed Dreams". It was mind boggling! How does one make
a decision which side to be on in that kind of a conflict! Almost like a
replay of the Civil War. As you can tell, I really get into it!
Since Jerry Doyle broke his arm in the *action* why wasn't it noted instead of
his having a left leg injury. Also, was his arm in a cast during that scene at
the end? Was General Hague played by Robert Foxworth in earlier episodes?
Nora
#: 483404 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:49:40
Sb: #483287-<Severed Dreams, WOW>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Because we shot the cane scene *before* the fight scene.
jms
[ Summary: Thanks JMS for "the conference" [I'm assuming the CIS conference
he did recently]. Points out that JMS didn't really answer one
question: "Will we see Anna Sheridan before the end of the story?" ]
#: 483405 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:49:42
Sb: #483314-#<Severed Dreams >
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
You're absolutely right. I didn't answer that question.
jms
[ Summary: Loved "Severed Dreams" and thanks JMS. ]
#: 483406 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:49:44
Sb: #483191-<Severed Dreams battle>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Thanks back at you....
jms
#: 483251 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 17:44:22
Sb: #483128-#<JMS-Severed Dreams>
Fm: JOHN M. GRAHAM
You ignored the question, "Was what was going on in real Earth History about
1000 years ago relevant?" Note, when Delan says the last war was 1000 years
ago, was that Earth or Minbar years? Over a thousand years, even a small
variation might be relevant.
Was this intentional? If not, I've been wondering the same thing. Note,
couldn't find much in Encarta (closest source) concerning some involvement
Earth might have had with the last skirmish. (Though if Vorlons are Angels,
what might shadows be?).... -John
#: 483407 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:49:47
Sb: #483251-<JMS-Severed Dreams>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
No, that period on Earth was not terribly significant to the arc.
jms
[ Summary: Thanks JMS for making B5, "the best science fiction on
television and one of the best shows on TV." Also wants to know what
Harlan Ellison does exactly. Finally, the poster wants to know how
the 'Furies in "Severed Dreams" were able to tell good guy from bad.]
#: 483408 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:49:48
Sb: #483240-Technomages, and + ?
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Harlan does pretty much whatever Harlan wants.
As for the fight, ships on either side would have FOF (Friend Or Foe)
displays tied into the ID of their own squadrons to minimize friendly fire.
jms
[ Summary: Loved "Severed Dreams" and wants to know what the 'Fury with
the longer nose is for. ]
#: 483409 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:49:51
Sb: #483268-<SD-Best Episode>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
It's a new bomber...and don't be misled, the next 7 episodes are all new.
jms
#: 483342 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 19:50:30
Sb: #>>Ceremonies<<
Fm: TONI MULLER
We watched Ceremonies of Light and Dark as soon as we got home from church (not
very Eastery, but lots of fun!). I thought you said it was a "breather"! It
was more intense than I had expected - and I loved it! I liked it as much as
Severed Dreams; I expect I'll really like _all_ the coming episodes.
Again, I must say how great the CGI were. We have a friend visiting who hasn't
seen the show and isn't into SF, but she was very impressed by the graphics.
We're trying to convince her to watch when she gets back home.
Also, again I must say how well you have handled the relationship between
Delenn and Sheridan. And Bruce and Mira have acted their scenes superbly.
It's been perfect. Thank you for not doing the typical TV thing - feel
attracted and jump into bed. It would have been entirely out of character for
those two, especially given their positions, and IMO a relationship is so much
stronger/better/lasting when other bonds are formed before the physical.
Sheridan's words to Delenn at the end of this episode were wonderful, and I
look forward to seeing their relationship continue to blossom.
Here's some other stuff I liked:
I appreciated the humor you put into the episode. We laughed out loud several
times.
The interchange between Lennier and Marcus was great. Lennier, like Delenn, is
a complex person; I suspect that may be part of being a religious caste
Minbari. And Marcus' dealing with the people in the bar was wonderful -
especially the part about the Minbari saying he had lots of repressed anger,
but that he was no longer repressed!
The rebirth ceremony and confessions by Sheridan, Ivanova, Franklin, and
Garibaldi.
The new uniforms are great - representative of the growing alliance between
human and Minbari.
The crazy hostage holder was really scary and chilling. I definitely wouldn't
want to meet him in a dark alley - or anywhere for that matter.
The funeral for the fallen soldiers. If it had gone much longer, I'd have
started crying.
Great episode. I'm sure I'll write again after watching the next one.
Happy Easter and Best Wishes.
Toni
#: 483410 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:49:52
Sb: #483342-#>>Ceremonies<<
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Thanks. What you say about relationships is quite true. The slow
process of getting to know somebody, the courtship, the parries and feints and
false starts are 85% of the fun. It's the process of getting into somebody's
mind, discovering who they are. And that's what these two are doing. It's an
awful lot of fun.
jms
#: 483372 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
07-Apr-96 21:00:10
Sb: #483145-#<Severed Dreams, WOW>
Fm: REBECCA ESCHLIMAN
<< To work against the typecasting is simply payment on a debt to those
who
created enduring characters. And I'll continue to do it wherever and whenever
I can. >>
And by doing so, you allow us to appreciate their acting craft as a fresh
thing. Because of the success of your anti-type casting, has there been any
kind of surge of actors wanting to be included in the B5 epic?
- rje -
#: 483485 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
08-Apr-96 00:53:26
Sb: #483372-<Severed Dreams, WOW>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
No, not really...mainly because we're still not very visible to most
agents.
jms
[ Summary: Points out that when June Lockhart was on the show, JMS didn't
put she and Bill Mumy in a scene together just to do it. ]
#: 483486 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
08-Apr-96 00:53:27
Sb: #483284-#<Severed Dreams, WOW>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Yeah. Bill kept bugging me to put him in a scene with June, but I just
felt it'd get in the way.
jms
/*********************************************
* Brent Barrett brent.barrett at 24stex.com *
* Senior Software Engineer Automedia, Inc *
* http://www.ailink.com *
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