JMS on CompuServe (Apr 21, 1996) *POSSIBLE SPOILERS* 1/2
Brent Barrett
brent.barrett at 24stex.com
Sun Apr 21 20:30:54 EDT 1996
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 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 of subjects in this section: ]
Sb: #492041-#B5 Book in UK ?'s
Sb: #492134-#B5 v Star Trek
Sb: #492406-Hugo Nomination congrats
Sb: #492286-#<STV-a few ?>
Sb: #492298-New B5 Card Set in 8/96!
Sb: #492575-B5 v Star Trek
Sb: #492444-#B5 Book in UK ?'s
Sb: #492630-<Severed Dreams>
Sb: #492499-#<Sic Transit Vir>
Sb: #492592-MICHAEL PILLER GONE
Sb: #492678-B5 So FL schedule
Sb: #492840-The Future of SF-TV
Sb: #493033-Critique or Propaganda
[ Summary: A user asks another how to get a "pound" symbol from the
keyboard and is given the answer. ]
#: 492431 S5/Babylon 5: General
20-Apr-96 14:48:19
Sb: #492041-#B5 Book in UK ?'s
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Wow...what're the other ascii codes for alternate numbers/letters that
one can use online?
jms
[ Summary: The user who accused JMS/B5 of just looking for what works to
make "big money" appologizes for his statement and explains his
frustration as a fan when all he sees is big business turning good
ideas into rubbish. He concludes by asking if B5 has been renewed. ]
#: 492445 S5/Babylon 5: General
20-Apr-96 15:16:29
Sb: #492134-#B5 v Star Trek
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
No, we're still waiting on renewal, same as every show.
To take off my producer cap for a moment and put on my fan cap...yes, I
understand your position. Lots of people in this town obsess about money, and
everybody wants to tell you what to do. I know the problems Bellisario had
with "Leap," and some of them were of his own making, but the majority were
from the Suits at Universal. A large measure of what eventually comes out of
your show depends on who you luck into as far as a studio liaison is concerned.
We got very lucky in having someone who understands what we're trying to do,
and hasn't given a single script note since episode 2 of year 2. DB didn't
have that luxury; I don't think anyone at Universal really understood what he
was trying to do, which was unfortunate.
My response was mainly from the other side of the statement, implicit or
stated outright, that implies everyone working in TeeVee does so only for the
bucks, that money talks and nothing else matters. There are some of us who are
dedicated storytellers, first, foremost and forever. Tarring everyone with the
same brush is just another form of prejudice, and when it appears, it needs to
be corrected.
A lot of what happens out here in *The Industry* horrifies me. The quest
for more, bigger, money-money-money. Yes, on one level, writers are vastly
underpaid for what we do *in terms of* the amount of money that the final
product actually makes.
But we are also vastly OVERPAID in terms of what people doing the really
important jobs are being paid: teachers, nursing staff, the many layers of
people who keep the nation going and prepare it for the future. So from where
I sit, NOBODY out here has ANY reason to beef about their money. We're
hideously lucky to be working in a field where we can entertain, and tell
stories, and be well compensated for it. And I think too many people out here
forget that. Having grown up fairly poor for most of my life, I *can't* forget
it.
jms
#: 492406 S5/Babylon 5: General
20-Apr-96 13:38:11
Sb: #Hugo Nomination congrats
Fm: ARWEL PARRY
Joe,
It won't be news to you <g> but for the benefit of other forum members the
nominations for this years' Hugo Awards have been announced today, and contain
inter alia:
>> BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION
Apollo 13 (Universal) Brian Grazer, producer; Ron Howard, director;
William Broyles Jr. and Al Reinert, screenplay
"The Coming of Shadows" (Babylon 5) (Warner Brothers) J. Michael
Straczynski, Douglas Netter, John Copeland, producers; J. Michael
Straczynski, screenplay; Janet Greek, director
"The Visitor" (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) (Paramount Television) Rick
Berman and Ira Steven Behr, executive producers; Michael Taylor,
screenplay; David Livingston, director
Toy Story (Buena Vista) Ralph Guggenheim and Bonnie Arnold, producers;
John Lasseter, director; Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and
Alec Sokolow, screenplay
12 Monkeys (Universal) Charles Roven, producer; Terry Gilliam, director;
David and Janet Peoples, screenplay
No Award<<
and a bit later...
>> "The Fall of Night" (Babylon 5) received enough votes to be nominated for
Best Dramatic Presentation, but the producers declined its nomination in favor
of "The Coming of Shadows", the other Babylon 5 episode nominated. <<
I assume you withdrew TFON to avoid splitting the vote? Anyway, here's 1
first-preference vote for you! Congratulations, and good luck in September.
Arwel
#: 492446 S5/Babylon 5: General
20-Apr-96 15:16:34
Sb: #492406-Hugo Nomination congrats
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Thanks. Yes, since the last time we were in Hugo contention, the
splitting of votes cost us the award (combined votes would've been enough going
in to win), the folks gave us the option of withdrawing one of the two, and
since "The Coming of Shadows" seems the overall favorite, that one was the one
kept.
One other good thing about the withdrawl of one episode was that it
allowed Terry Gilliam's "12 Monkeys" onto the ballot, which otherwise would've
been frozen out, and it deserves the recognition of the nomination.
We're all *very* pleased and excited by the nomination.
jms
#: 492286 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
20-Apr-96 09:58:46
Sb: #<STV-a few ?>
Fm: BARBARA PFIEFFER
Joe:
I really enjoyed Sic Transit Vir. A little humor and relaxation was greatly
appreciated after all the WHAMs of the last few weeks.
Two general questions though:
Is Vir married?
What is that patch on the right shoulder of the new uniforms? (Ivanova's for
instance). I can't quite make it out.
Thanks!
Barbara
http://www.mcs.net/~bjpbekin
#: 492447 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
20-Apr-96 15:16:36
Sb: #492286-#<STV-a few ?>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
At this point, with the rethinking going on back home, he's bethrothed
and promised, the marriage arranged, but not yet fully, *formally* married.
There's still ritual to go through. The other family could still choose to
withdraw the arrangement.
One of the patches is a Ranger patch; the other is the new B5 sword and
shield logo.
(BTW, on your web site, could you possibly withhold the synopses -- which
are provided to the stations, and not intended for general release -- until a
little closer to the episode's airdate? A couple of those you've released have
caused a fair amount of consternation, and destroyed some of the impact I'd
wanted with those episodes. There's nothing I can do to stop you from posting
the information -- though starting with "War" 2 I'm now personally editing the
synopses to delete some stuff -- but if you could just hold back even a little,
it would help me a lot.)
jms
[ Summary: An apparent Fleer person thanks a user for her praise and urges
her to urge others to pre-order for some new sets. ]
#: 492459 S5/Babylon 5: General
20-Apr-96 15:29:40
Sb: #492298-New B5 Card Set in 8/96!
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Just a quick public statement of support for the cards. The last batch
were very good -- even ending up on some magazines' lists of Top Ten Cards for
the year -- and all indications are that this one will be even better. Of all
the things I'm asked to sign at conventions, probably the #1 items are cards
from the Fleer set (ditto for many of the cast). I'm definitely looking
forward to seeing them.
jms
[ Summary: Thanks JMS for being so open with religion. ]
#: 492669 S5/Babylon 5: General
20-Apr-96 19:58:34
Sb: #492575-B5 v Star Trek
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Thanks. I haven't done quite as much with alternate beliefs as I'd like,
however, and that's something I want to get into a bit more in year four. It
feels a little too mainstream to me right now.
jms
#: 492444 S5/Babylon 5: General
20-Apr-96 15:16:11
Sb: #492431-#B5 Book in UK ?'s
Fm: MICHAEL GRABOIS
If you have a PC, you can go to the Character Map app under the Accessories
group. From there, choose your font and symbol. Phillip's suggestion is, I
think, for the Mac.
There are 256 possible characters for each font. For example, you can get the
following symbols under the "courier new" font by holding down the alt key and
typing four numbers:
cents c alt+0162
pounds L alt+0163
yen Y alt+0165
copyright C alt+0169
registered R alt+0174
plus or minus ? alt+0177
squared 2 alt+0178
paragraph P alt+0182
1/4 ? alt+0188
1/2 ? alt+0189
3/4 ? alt+0190
spanish ? ? alt+0191
swedish a a alt+0229
latin ae a alt+0230
french c c alt+0231
spanish n~ n alt+0241
#: 492670 S5/Babylon 5: General
20-Apr-96 19:58:36
Sb: #492444-#B5 Book in UK ?'s
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Cool...thanks.
jms
[ Summary: The old "can anyone under 6'2" *really* be a manly man" message
sparks a new reply which states, "I've always heard that it's not how
much you've got, but how you use it..." ]
#: 492671 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
20-Apr-96 19:58:38
Sb: #492630-<Severed Dreams>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
"I've always heard that it's not how much you've got, but how you use it..."
Sure, easy for you to say. I'm still trying to remember where I left
it....
jms
#: 492499 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
20-Apr-96 16:40:29
Sb: #<Sic Transit Vir>
Fm: ELYSE M. GRASSO
Here we are, in the best time of the week... the tiny window when I've finally
seen the latest episode, and the new one hasn't hit the satellite yet. (I'm
beginning to remember why I broke down and started reading spoilers last year.)
This was a fun episode, but not exactly light. Stephen Furst did a wonderful
job.
I especially liked the resonances between Londo's attitude toward the
cockroaches, his attitude toward the Narns, and Lindesty's attitude toward the
Narns.
Also the "dangerous Narn" joke and just about all of Susan's scenes, of course.
By the way, was the door that opens on the room full of Narns real, or CGI
enhanced? There was something a little odd about the texture of the
'carving'... but then, I process depth perception cues a bit oddly, since my
eyes don't synch-focus.
Elyse
#: 492672 S6/Babylon 5: Upcoming
20-Apr-96 19:58:39
Sb: #492499-#<Sic Transit Vir>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Thanks, and yes, the door was quite real.
jms
[ Summary: A poster notes to another that DS9 has improved some since
Piller stopped acting as executive producer. ]
#: 492753 S2/Star Trek: General
20-Apr-96 23:24:47
Sb: #492592-MICHAEL PILLER GONE
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Speaking of which...I just found out that the very same computer graphics
(CGI) firm that produces all the BABYLON 5 EFX has been contracted to produce
about 9 to 12 shots for next season's DS9 main title sequence.
I'm actually quite pleased by this, because it shows that they're open
and willing to learn from and profit from our work and our example in some
areas. From having initially dismissed B5 style CGI to using bits of it here
and there, they're now using our approach more fully in their main title
sequence, which is their main EFX set piece each week.
SF has always been about the give-and-take between different schools, and
as they continue to learn from some of the things we've gone through, in the
long run everyone profits. Nothing wrong with going for more of a Babylon 5
look to their show, if it enhances their ability to do other sorts of things.
jms
[ Summary: A WBZT viewer notes that B5 has made a positive move from midnight
Saturdays to 11pm Saturdays. :-) ]
#: 492755 S5/Babylon 5: General
20-Apr-96 23:30:24
Sb: #492678-B5 So FL schedule
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Good news, thanks.
jms
[ Summary: Wonders what will come after B5 to fill the gap. Asks JMS if
he's aware of anything "in the works" that will help take up the slack
when B5 wraps up. ]
#: 493127 S5/Babylon 5: General
21-Apr-96 15:33:59
Sb: #492840-The Future of SF-TV
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
I dunno...it's hard to say. After the first ST series, the ball was
dropped and *nobody* picked it up again really for almost 25 years. After
we're gone, it's hard to say if anybody'll do so. We've gone out of our way to
bring in other producers and folks, show them how we do the show, in the hope
that they'll then be able to do the same and create more in the future. Whether
or not that happens is hard to say.
Because it's not just the techniques involved. B5 is only on the air
because I and a couple of others stood there and fought tooth and nail for five
years to get it on the air. There has to be a certain tenacity involved.
On the other hand, Hypernauts is already using the B5 production model
for their show, and Space Cases has adopted the five-year arc notion, so maybe
the future is already here.
jms
#: 493033 S5/Babylon 5: General
21-Apr-96 13:34:34
Sb: #Critique or Propaganda
Fm: ANNE L. WARNER
There was a very interesting article in this morning's Boston Sunday Globe.
It's about the condition of dramatic criticism.
In general, the thesis is that many drama critics have spent too much time in
bed with producers, playwrights and actors, and too many publications have
interlocking common interests with TV and movie producers and distributors.
What this seems to say is that there is not much real criticism, and a lot of
publicity releases woven into the ersatz stuff.
I think there's an on-line place to download the whole article. It's by Bill
Marx, titled "Critical Condition" under a subject heading of "Culture." It's
on the front page of the Focus section, which is page 79, overall.
What struck me was the possibility that shows like B5 are shortchanged of
"critical" attention because they aren't locked into the (my phrase, here)
incestuous inner circle. Do you see this as likely?
Annie
#: 493128 S5/Babylon 5: General
21-Apr-96 15:34:00
Sb: #493033-Critique or Propaganda
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Yes, I think it's very likely that's one reason we're more or less frozen
out of a lot of areas. I've seen it happen. I used to be a reviewer (not a
critic, I'm not that smart), and hung out with others; the theaters or
producers with whom they had a relationship, they covered; those with whom they
didn't, didn't get covered.
But then, as was pointed out to me a while back, critics are paid to be
unfair, so you can't let it bother you.
jms
[ Continued in next section -- BB ]
/*********************************************
* Brent Barrett brent.barrett at 24stex.com *
* Senior Software Engineer Automedia, Inc *
* http://www.ailink.com *
*********************************************/
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