JMS on CompuServe (Dec 20, 1996) *POSSIBLE SPOILERS*

[Brent Barrett]

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 [ Summary of subjects in this section: ]
    Sb: #628394-#Spinoff arc?
    Sb: #628256-From jms re: yr 4/5
    Sb: #628161-From jms re: yr 4/5
    Sb: #628127-#Corwin's Absence?
    Sb: #628277-#The "Triangle"
    Sb: #628480-#Glass Hand question
    Sb: #628257-"Oh, Joe..."
    Sb: #628341-#Dr. Kyle
    Sb: #628085-#B5 censored in UK


 #: 628394 S5/Babylon 5: General
    19-Dec-96  16:07:42
Sb: #627173-#Spinoff arc?
Fm: MR. TRACY SCHELL

>>       It would have an arc, yes, but not as rigorous as the one in B5; I've
kind of done that now, and would like to try something different...I don't like
to try and walk in the same stream twice, to borrow a metaphor from Greek
philosophy. <<

But haven't you already done the single episode format on MSW, and other series
you've been on? What's between the arc and the stand alone shows?

Mr.T- On Florida's Space Coast


 #: 628546 S5/Babylon 5: General
    19-Dec-96  23:13:09
Sb: #628394-#Spinoff arc?
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Well, basically, all there *is* are either arc shows or stand-alone shows
(or maybe somewhat stand-alones with a slight thread running through them).  My
feeling for now is that I just don't want to do the same thing twice in a
row...and maybe find some new approaches along the way to the next project.

      You must understand how hideously difficult and exhausting telling a 5
year tightly constructed story like this is...basically, over the course of 4
years, I'll have written 3,000 pages all in one universe, primarily telling one
story.  That's the equivilent of 6 or 7 full-size novels in 4 years, telling
one story.  After something like that, you want to do something a little
different for a bit.

      Four years ago, when I started carrying this elephant, I barely had a
grey hair on my head...now it's gone almost entirely grey, I look as if I've
aged 10 years, and people who see me after a gap of a few years all say the
same thing: "What the hell HAPPENED to you?"  I tell them: Babylon 5.

                                                                    jms


 [ Summary: Will B5 be released on video in the U.S.? ]

 #: 628547 S5/Babylon 5: General
    19-Dec-96  23:13:12
Sb: #628256-From jms re: yr 4/5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      In the fullness of time....

                                                                    jms



 #: 628161 S5/Babylon 5: General
    19-Dec-96  06:59:24
Sb: #627844-#From jms re: yr 4/5
Fm: ROB CARR

jms,

Thanks for another fascinating peek under the hood.  I'm going to print out a
hardcopy of that one and tuck it in the back of your scriptwriting book.

I'm currently writing scripts for a computer video game (please don't flinch).
I really wish I'd gotten your book earlier.  Everything carries right over,
although there are a few constraints they place on me (video is expensive and
lip-synching video is very expensive).  The video script format is just like
you discussed, although the one for the sound studio is best done on a
spreadsheet.  And as far as material being cut...if they only cut 25%, I'm
happy.  Hey, as long as they pay me....

I was thinking about asking if I could mail you the book and a pen and a
self-addressed stamped return envelope and have you sign it, but frankly I
can't afford to give up the book right now.  Maybe when this job's over....

Anyway, thanks for the info on B5.  Here's to you getting the deal you want!

Rob


 #: 628548 S5/Babylon 5: General
    19-Dec-96  23:13:14
Sb: #628161-From jms re: yr 4/5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Thanks, and I'm glad the book is turning out to be useful.

                                                                    jms



 #: 628127 S5/Babylon 5: General
    19-Dec-96  04:34:47
Sb: #Corwin's Absence?
Fm: RANDALL A. SCHANZE

Joe,

Is Lt. David Corwin still a part of the B5 story arc? I noticed his absence
from the first 5 episodes.  I've asked around here, but no one seems to know.

Mahatma Randy


 #: 628549 S5/Babylon 5: General
    19-Dec-96  23:13:16
Sb: #628127-#Corwin's Absence?
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      He'll be showing up again about mid-season.

                                                                    jms


 [ Summary: Wonders if the triangle on Delenn's head in "Signs and Portents"
   was some sort of "early warning device." ]

 #: 628550 S5/Babylon 5: General
    19-Dec-96  23:13:18
Sb: #628277-#The "Triangle"
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      Basically, yeah, it senses the presence of the Shadows themselves...
hence her comment, "They're back," even though we see only Morden.

                                                                    jms


 [ Summary: Asks what happened to Harlan Ellison's sequel to "Demon with
   a Glass Hand." ]

 #: 628551 S5/Babylon 5: General
    19-Dec-96  23:13:19
Sb: #628480-#Glass Hand question
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      It got pushed due to the increase in the arc, but we hope to do something
with it eventually.

                                                                    jms



 #: 628257 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    19-Dec-96  11:34:38
Sb: #"Oh, Joe..."
Fm: CARL CANTARELLA

Joe,

        I did something yesterday that I rarely do  --I bought STARLOG
magazine. In this month's issue there was an Interview with Peter Jurassic(the
reason why I bought it) in which he stated that he still wonders to this day
whether Londo was telling the truth when he said that he "saw nothing" in the
Zen Garden in "The Fall of Night" when Kosh revealed himself. That scene was
wonderfully enigmatic from the standpoint of Londo because it could have been
taken one of two ways --either he really didn't see anything, or he saw
something that disturbed him so much that he couldn't even bring himself to
describe it openly, choosing instead to keep it to himself. This begs the
question as to whether or not there will be any further dialogue at some point
in the future concerning that particular scene, or whether we must draw our own
conclusion as to whether Londo did or didn't see anything.
        Can you tell me anything more about this, or have we indeed been left
to draw our own conclusion in that regard?
                                Thanks.


 #: 628552 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    19-Dec-96  23:13:21
Sb: #628257-"Oh, Joe..."
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      I figure a) it's left to the viewer, and b) from my POV, he saw what he
said he saw.

                                                                    jms


 [ Summary: What became of Dr. Kyle from the pilot? ]

 #: 628553 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
    19-Dec-96  23:13:24
Sb: #628341-#Dr. Kyle
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      It was noted in season 1 that Dr. Kyle was reassigned to Earthdome, under
President Clark.

                                                                    jms


 [ Summary: Asks if TNT's run of Babylon 5 affects the possibility of a fifth
   season. ]

 #: 628554 S7/Babylon 5: UK/World
    19-Dec-96  23:13:26
Sb: #628085-#B5 censored in UK
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI

      TNT picks up B5 whenever it's done, whether that's 4 or 5 years, so it
doesn't affect us either way.

      My only concern on the C4 thing is that, as far as I know, nothing has
been indicated by C4 either way on cuts of any sort, and I know just enough
about TV folks to know that if people act before even *they* have reached a
concensus, and may not in fact be accurate, it tends to move them in the
opposite direction from that desired.

                                                                    jms


[END]


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