JMS CIS Digest: 02-Mar-96 18:56:32 through 03-Mar-96 01:04:32 (52 msgs)
b5jms-owner at cs.columbia.edu
b5jms-owner at cs.columbia.edu
Tue Mar 5 06:17:07 EST 1996
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: jhardin at wolfenet.com (John Hardin)
Lines: 1251
RFC 1153 Digest of messages from
J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
02-Mar-96 18:56:32 through 03-Mar-96 01:04:32 (52 messages)
WARNING: This digest may contain information about episodes
you haven't seen yet. Proceed with caution.
Subjects in digest:
<<Point of No Return>>
San Diego ComiCon?
Season 3 and Na'Toth
Violating Your Privacy
Names...
<PoNR>
Babylon 5
<<PoNR>>
Shwartzkopff
PoNR-Hague
<Point of No Return>
B5 PR
Deja Vu
Just wanted to say...
Prison Authors
Do you want a party???
Bill Mumy on CNBC
Administrivia:
Contact me (John Hardin) at <jhardin at wolfenet.com> with comments
and requests. I am willing to do limited retrieval of files from
the B5 archives on CIS and posting of messages to the CIS B5 forum.
I reserve the right to delete story ideas from messages I am asked
to post on the CIS B5 forum.
I am not directly involved with any mailing lists this digest
may appear in. Other people are reposting this digest from rastb5
to the mailing list. If you have questions about the mailing list,
*please* send them to the mailing list owner. Mailing list owners
I am aware of are:
<b5jms-owner at majordomo.cs.columbia.edu> (B5JMS Poster, b5jms)
<judge at america.net> (Dirk A. Loedding, jms-posts)
<kcop-b5-info at babcom.com> (Alan Sheltra, kcop-b5)
Replies to this digest currently go to me.
obSpoiler-space...
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Date: 02-Mar-96 00:56:52
From: Karen E. Bahnsen <102735.3557 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <<Point of No Return>>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462625 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462613 at compuserve.com>
Ta'Lon's "All answers are replies, but not all replies
are answers" definitely sounds like you. It seems to define 90%
of Kosh's utterances, and a good many of your own. <bg>
I thought Morella's speech about greatness was quite
profound. Was that yours too?
Karen
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 18:56:32
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Karen E. Bahnsen <102735.3557 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <<Point of No Return>>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462953 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462625 at compuserve.com>
If a word comes out of a character's mouth, it's usually mine.
The bit about greatness was one of them; had a number of different
subtexts going on behind it.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 01:06:56
From: Richard Cunningham <71213.3504 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: San Diego ComiCon?
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462636 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.461217 at compuserve.com>
Okay..since I got my little sign-up guide for SDCC the other day,
do you know if you'll be doing a presentation, and if so, which
day? I only want to come down for two days; and if you're not
there, I might forego that.
And of course, we all vote to see 322 :)
As usual, operating on AutoPilot, Richard Cunningham
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 18:56:33
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Richard Cunningham <71213.3504 at compuserve.com>
Subject: San Diego ComiCon?
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462955 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462636 at compuserve.com>
Nothing's been firmed up, they haven't spoken to me directly
yet, but invariably I do a presentation (usually they're one of the
biggest events of the con), so I'd *imagine* nothing's changed this
year, but at this point I don't have any real info.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 10:16:23
From: Automedia, Inc. <70530.2521 at compuserve.com>
To: <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Season 3 and Na'Toth
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462739 at compuserve.com>
Hello, Joe.
A question from my friend Vince: "Now that you've written all of
the season 3 scripts, can you tell us how things might have been
different had Na'Toth stayed in the storyline?"
Thanks.
-- Brent Barrett (from work's account)
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 19:09:59
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Automedia, Inc. <70530.2521 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Season 3 and Na'Toth
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462965 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462739 at compuserve.com>
The story arc would've stayed the same; but the character
would've had some good moments, and helped move it along.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 11:55:12
From: Bernard F. Dowdy, J <76550.347 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462760 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462252 at compuserve.com>
Thank you for bringing this "uninvited intrusion" to my
attention. Acting on your advice, I did some surfing at
rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5--sure enough, some of my forum messages
had been posted there! I searched out and scanned three other
newsgroups in the AOL database, but found no improprieties there.
Although I confess, one group was German, and my German was
spotty in it's heyday.
In retrospect, this explains the strange email I received several
days ago from a person sympathizing with my local B5 scheduling
problem. He mentioned learning of my plight in a "jms digest" he
had recently read. Since I'm exclusively posting B5 messages in
this forum, I now know where got this information.
It was a direct result of this email that caused me to request a
copy of your "memo." I probably know the answer to this already,
but here goes: Have you ever provided fans or viewers with any
such documentation?
I've got a hunch that Mike Hoffmann hit the nail on the head when
he said:
> I consider them pathetic, immature, weasels and losers.
Consider me in your corner about the response to this violation.
I have copies of the email and the illegally posted newsgroup
thread. I'll forward them to Customer Service along with my
thoughts on the subject! BTW, if you'd like a copy that
illuminating email, just say the word.
Bernie
NR: The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
NP: Al Stewart: To Whom It May Concern
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 19:10:00
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Bernard F. Dowdy, J <76550.347 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462966 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462760 at compuserve.com>
"Have you ever provided fans or viewers with any such
documentation?" I think I need clarification here...documentation of
what?
Also, if you did get a copy of the original email "digest" of
messages from here, was there an address on the point of origin, i.e.,
who was sending them around initially?
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 13:58:14
From: Chris Croughton <100014.3217 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Names...
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462806 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.461755 at compuserve.com>
> I've always gone by Joe personally; J. Michael is just so you can
> get a running start on Straczynski.
Nice explanation!
So has that last name caused you problems, or has it been an
advantage in that people recognise it? I remember Isaac Asimov
saying that at first the editors wanted him to take a 'simpler'
pen-name but after a while the readers would recognise it because
it was unusual...
Chris
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 19:10:03
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Chris Croughton <100014.3217 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Names...
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462967 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462806 at compuserve.com>
The name's probably been a slight disadvantage from time to
time, but not significantly so.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 15:57:41
From: Elyse M. Grasso <70302.3304 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <PoNR>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462853 at compuserve.com>
Joe ---
This is a wonderful episode and a wonderful sequence of episodes.
I've been catching up on spoiler threads and, as usual, most of
the comments I would like to make about the acting and the plot
tension, etc. have already been made by others who get to see the
episodes sooner. I'd be a lot happier if Severed Dreams was
scheduled for next week instead of next month.
I'm impressed by the number of threads you have ACTIVE in your
tapestry as we approach the midpoint of the story. Between
Messages from Earth and Point of No Return, we have action
involving: PsiCorps, IPX, the Clark government, Marcus, the
Rangers, the B5 crew, the EA military ships and high command,
Hague's faction, G'Kar and the Narns, Delenn and the Minbari,
Nightwatch, the Shadows, and the Centauri (at least 2 factions,
given that Lady Morella and Turhan had goals different from Londo
and Refa). I rather hope, for completeness sake, that the Drazi
ambassador, or some other representative of the Non-alligned
Worlds get a line or 2 in Severed Dreams.
I can't decide whether I expect Kosh to be onstage or not... his
absence could be just as interesting, in plot terms. Like one of
those 4 x 4 slider puzzles: you need an empty place in the middle
of things -- if all of the holes were full, nothing could move
around to solve the puzzle.
Have you ever read "Goedel Escher Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid"
by Douglas Hofstadter? Watching your story is putting me in the
mood to reread it.
I hope your arms are feeling better now that the main stretch of
writing is done.
Elyse
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 19:10:06
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Elyse M. Grasso <70302.3304 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <PoNR>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462968 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462853 at compuserve.com>
Have read some of Goedel's work, but not enough to be even
remotely conversant about it.
Yes, a lot of stuff is coming together in the story now. We've
set up a lot over the last 2 years, now is the time to begin paying it
all off, resolving threads left hanging, and moving the show to a
different level. So a lot of stuff has to hit the fan here over the
balance of this season.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 16:34:38
From: Rob Perlstein <103542.522 at compuserve.com>
To: STRACZYNSKI, J. Michael <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Babylon 5
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462874 at compuserve.com>
3/2/96 Mr. Straczynski - I, too, have been a admirer of Babylon
5 since episode one. The story has wonderful depth and
complexity, as good as the best sci fi books I have read during my
50 years. I am, unfortunately, one of the many caught in an area
of the country where Babylon 5 is available only to those with a
satellite dish due to station cancellation. I am fortunate that
one of my friends is able to capture an occasional episode for me
to view on tape. I would like to encourage you and your
production company to consider releasing the series on VHS tape or
laser disc for purchase by subscription or by rental at video
stores. Thank you, again. rob perlstein
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 19:10:09
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Rob Perlstein <103542.522 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Babylon 5
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462969 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462874 at compuserve.com>
We're working on the video stuff now. Thanks for the support.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 17:45:24
From: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <<PoNR>>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462909 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.461928 at compuserve.com>
Joe,
The Alexander would be an Omega class ship, would it not?
Tom^^^^
Guardian of The Republic
General Pain in the Butt
Ranger
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 19:10:10
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <<PoNR>>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462970 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462909 at compuserve.com>
Correct, the Alexander would've come off the assembly line a
bit after the Aggy.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 18:39:06
From: Michael Zitaglio <102545.641 at compuserve.com>
To: Joe Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Shwartzkopff
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462945 at compuserve.com>
Hi Joe,
Just saw Point of No Return. Great. Victoria did not sleep
however, to let me watch it in peace. One quesion.. ISN
reported that General Hague openned fire on the Shwartzkopff in
order to escape. I might be wrong but I believe that the
Schwartkopff is General Franklins flagship. Does this mean that
Franklin is backing Clarke? Will we see which side Franklin
chooses? We'll have to know this since Doctor Franklin is his son.
I dont think this is a point that should go unaddressed. I was a
little disappointed to see that space battle only as a fuzzy scene
on a Zocalo monitor. One mans opinion. May the Shwartz be with
you!
Mike
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 19:10:12
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Michael Zitaglio <102545.641 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Shwartzkopff
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462971 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462945 at compuserve.com>
Franklin is of the breed of officers who feels it isn't his
place to set policy, only to execute it.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 15:57:04
From: Neil Blevins <102226.3566 at compuserve.com>
To: Carl Bussjaeger <102065.1635 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462850 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462833 at compuserve.com>
> You continue to speak of censorship;
> Hardly censorship;
Let me say again, as I though I said in the last message, I'm not
talking about censorship!! I mentioned the word censorship, and
described the situation because I think it has bearing on this
case.
I was trying to describe the situation where someone wants to
remove something from the net, whether it is because you want to
censor something, or you want to remove something that is an
infringement on your rights to privacy, both are a hard thing to
do.
I am not addressing the topic of censorship!!!!!!!! I'm
addressing the topic of how hard it is to remove someone or
something from the internet system.
> The direct action I have suggested is simply to apply the
> existing CI$ rules and procedures (which the offender agreed to)
> to prevent the infringements.
I agree, kicking someone off compuserve for violating his
agreement to retain privacy isn't a tough thing to do. I have no
problem with your views on the C-serve end of things, if this is
your main point, then I fully agree with you.
> In such cases, the victims go to the individual who is doing
> the pirating (and that's what copying and dissiminating
> copyrighted material is), and ask him where he got it. This is
> fairly simple in most cases.
Have you ever tried this tactic before? Do you think he will
gladly hand over his list of contacts at C-serve? That's like the
CIA sending a letter to a drug dealer asking him to please send
them a list of his suppliers. I have had experiences with this
before, polite letters will only get responses from polite users.
Unless the situation is a misunderstanding, you will probably
never get a response, or get a pompous response.
> In fact, the closest I've come to addressing the issue from the
> Internet side is suggesting that victims of copyright violation
> bring the situation to the attention of the offender's ISP.
It may not be hard to do this, but that doesn't mean his ISP will
do anything, and even if they do, he can leave them and get the
service from any number of other providers where he/she lives.
- Neil
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:02:20
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Neil Blevins <102226.3566 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463163 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462850 at compuserve.com>
What you're forgetting in the conversation is the issue of
copyright. As a poster here on this forum, everything that you write is
the joint copyright of you and CIS. Copyright infringement is
punishable by law. Now maybe one can't keep chasing down people who
take others' messages and shut down their access to various systems,
it's problematic...but for each time one engages in copyright
infringement, the *minimum* penalty under the law is $100,000 per
instance. If one chose to pursue it that far.
It'd be no different than taking a whole section of, say, a
Greg Bear novel, and posting it on the nets without his permission.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 18:08:24
From: Stephen C. Smith <76150.1170 at compuserve.com>
To: Ken Grumer <76676.1501 at compuserve.com>
Subject: PoNR-Hague
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462920 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462878 at compuserve.com>
No, not true. Robert Foxworth was already booked for a
guest role on another show at the same time that B5 wanted him for
a guest shot. Foxworth is still associated with B5, and I'm sure
we'll see him later.
Stephen
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:02:22
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Stephen C. Smith <76150.1170 at compuserve.com>
Subject: PoNR-Hague
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463164 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462920 at compuserve.com>
No, Stephen, you've got that backward. We had booked Foxworth
long in advance. Later, out of the blue, a rep for the actor said that
by accident he'd been double-booked on B5 and DS9 for the same
period...and even though we had prior claim, because the other was a
two-parter, more money, they went for that. One can only wonder when
the other offer *really* came in....
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 10:26:27
From: Randy Upshaw <75464.1275 at compuserve.com>
To: Mike Hoffmann <100321.2604 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <Point of No Return>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462743 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.461913 at compuserve.com>
> HOW IN *GOD'S NAME* CAN THE MILITARY SUPPORT THIS!?!?!?
Phil is right it can't happen.
> Homework: grab a few history books and read.
> Happened before, will happen again.
Not in the Free world. Give me an example. Even in the USSR the
military would not support an attempt of martial law. I think the
world is beyond that now.
Randy.
I am going to clean and oil my AR15 just incase.
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:02:25
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Randy Upshaw <75464.1275 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <Point of No Return>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463165 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462743 at compuserve.com>
"Even in the USSR the military would not support an attempt of
martial law."
You mean like when Yeltsin called up the military, dissolved
the Senate, and had tanks open fire on the Senate building to keep from
being ousted in a coup...you mean like that?
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 16:40:22
From: Randy Upshaw <75464.1275 at compuserve.com>
To: Marte Brengle <76703.4242 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <Point of No Return>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462879 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462830 at compuserve.com>
> You're missing the point vis-a-vis the coup in the United
> States. What if it were to "bring back family values" or "get
> rid of the @%$^@! liberal corruption" or "put our trust back in
> God" or any one of a number of right wing platitudes that would
> have the likes of G. Gordon Liddy standing up and cheering it
> on? Why, all those lard-butted good ole boys with their pickup
> gun racks would be *running* to join up! Get rid o'dem god****
> liberals oncet 'n fer all, dadgummit!
I don't see that that has anything to do with the b5 story line?
> That's the type of "tyrant" and "coup" that ought most to be
> feared, but with the political climate what it is in the USA
> today, it's the one that's most likely to succeed. And only
> after it's over and done with, and we have our own equivalent of
> the Nightwatch looking out for "sedition" will all the lardbutts
> realize exactly what it is they've lost.
Again that is not what is happening on b5. And I don't beleive a
consevitive nightwatch would be tolerated either.
By the way were are the shadows???
Randy
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:02:29
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Randy Upshaw <75464.1275 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <Point of No Return>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463166 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462879 at compuserve.com>
"I don't believe a conservative nightwatch would be tolerated
either."
Senator Joseph McCarthy. The House Un-American Activities
Committee. You can look it up.
Also, there was a PBS documentary this past week on the
blacklist; I suggest that ANYone who thinks we would never fall for
something like the Nightwatch should take a look at it. It makes the
Nightwatch look pale by comparison.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 19:25:14
From: Cherns Major <75026.3723 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 PR
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462978 at compuserve.com>
> If presidents, ministers and generals can't control the media,
> we have little chance of doing so. So we just have to try to
> keep things close to
This discussion (about a spoiler for Point of No Return) brings a
question to my mind: where do TVGuide and other publications get
their little capsule descriptions, anyway? I don't presume that
TVGuide has a screening room where they watch all programs that
will be aired in a month or so, just to come up with little
five-line descriptions; wouldn't there be some sort of system in
which the station provides these descriptions along with their
schedules? And, assuming that stations themselves don't have
description-writing screening panels (or even advance access, in
many cases, I imagine), wouldn't these descriptions come from the
program source itself? (i.e., the network or distributor; *they*
possibly got the description from the program production company.)
(I once saw a book about _Northern Exposure_ with an episode
guide that included the "official" capsule teasers/descriptions,
so that's additional evidence.)
I'm left with the supposition that, if TVGuide contains a
spoiler, that this must have been provided by B5 or PTEN. Which
brings up another question: are episode titles usually provided
for shows that have them, and why aren't these listed?
Or am I 'way off track in all this supposing?
(Of course, opinion may differ about what's a spoiler--to my own
way of thinking, revealing anything in the first quarter of a
program wouldn't really count. I suppose that an argument could
be made that, for instance, "So-and-so gets killed" *could* be a
spoiler even if it happens five minutes into the program, since it
spoils the surprise and influences viewers' perceptions during
those five minutes.)
(We're behind here in British Columbia--VoA last week, DtD coming
up. Great stuff so far, and waiting impatiently for the rest.)
Cheers, --Howard
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:32:49
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Cherns Major <75026.3723 at compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 PR
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463172 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462978 at compuserve.com>
Synopses come from one of two places: 1) a two-page synopsis
from the studio/network, or 2) scripts provided to TV Guide by same.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 19:25:22
From: Cherns Major <75026.3723 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Deja Vu
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462980 at compuserve.com>
> Quick...is that a DS9 episode or a B5 episode?
Just out of curiosity, what would be the general time, from story
inception to broadcast, of a typical 1-hr sf show?
I once happened to see two cop shows in the same week that used a
certain plot twist. (Both were first-run.) Of course, I have no
way of knowing how long either script had been around or whether
one writer had read the other's, etc., but I was pretty sure that
it would have been impossible for the writers of the second show
to have seen the first one, stolen the idea, and created the
second show for broadcast later that week. On the other hand, in
the wildly hypothetical case of a DS9 episode involving labour
unrest and appearing similar to an earlier B5 one, it would seem
that over a year has passed since "By Any Means Necessarily," and
I presume that there would have been ample time for such a thing
to happen.
So is there a rule-of-thumb length of time during which we can
assume that plot similarities could be attributable to coincidence
rather than, er, "homage" (to put a nicer face on it than it
deserves)? Or is script security in the industry so lax that the
question is irrelevant? Thanks. --ever-inquiring Howard
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:32:52
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Cherns Major <75026.3723 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Deja Vu
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463173 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462980 at compuserve.com>
Well, there are a number of factors going into this, including
that as we develop threads over time, they become apparent outside even
before the script appears (as noted by some who've anticipated some
revelations here, in broad strokes).
One other element is that B5 is only able to do what we do on
budget because we prepare a LONG time in advance. We have scripts on
the deck, ready to shoot, 4-6 weeks sometimes before we roll film.
During that time, scripts circulate to agents and others as casting and
other production elements start moving. In many TV shows, the script
often doesn't land on the stage floor until a few days before
filming...in some cases, pages are still landing *as* they're filming.
Once an episode is filmed, a 7 day process, it takes 52 days of
post production before it's ready to air.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 19:51:42
From: Bernard F. Dowdy, J <76550.347 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463000 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462966 at compuserve.com>
By "documentation" I'm referring to a "long memo about the
ratings", to use this person's own words.
As far as "digest" goes. . .his words again. I found my messages
and yours in a newsgroup thread at rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5. I'm
sending you a copy of the email regarding the "memo" and a text
file containing the newsgroup thread.
I shot a complaint off to customer service earlier today. I'm
waiting for them to tell me where to send a copy of the newsgroup
thread.
Bernie
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:32:54
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Bernard F. Dowdy, J <76550.347 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463174 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463000 at compuserve.com>
Okay, I *think* I know what that refers to; I wrote a long
message on one of the services about the ratings system, but it's
nothing I saved, I just explained it that one time as best I could.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 20:33:06
From: Joel Hilke <102354.1702 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463043 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462252 at compuserve.com>
Hmmm. I do find this fairly annoying. Not damaging - but annoying
since I assumed everything I did here, remained here except for my
ideas that can be carried about in someone's head. I did not
expect my messages to go flying willy-nilly across the internet
(if I wanted that - I'd be on the internet slogging through the
chaos, the flamewars, the childishness, and so on).
And I _did_ just recieve an email requesting my permission to
post my messages on the 'net. I'm not sure if I should say yes on
"what does it hurt" grounds or no on "its none of THEIR business
what I say and they have no right to it" grounds. I'm torn.
What could solve this for me is you. Obviously these folk are
posting my messages because of you (noting that he's putting your
comments on the net etc). As a semi-new member of this forum, I
have a vague idea of why you are here and not on the net any
longer (I've seen tail ends of threads dealing with it, I think).
I THINK there is a reason (an unpleasent one I gather) so could
you, perhaps, let me know what drove you away. You see - what
bothers me the most about all this is that if you decided on
specific grounds that you weren't going to have dealings with the
internet any longer and these guys are going behind your back and
posting what you have to say there anyhow (be it out of helpfull
interst or spitefull arrogance) then that would certainly sway me
not to support them (even if such a decision is akin to waving a
fan in the face of a hurricane). If this is a tactic to simply
laugh in your face, then it peeves ME on the grounds that it'd
drive me batty knowing it was being done to spite me.
Well - I hope you don't mind telling me (I assume, if there is
indeed a story here) but I realize you may have told it one too
many times already. :)
- Joel
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:32:57
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Joel Hilke <102354.1702 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463175 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463043 at compuserve.com>
Short version: anyone with even minor celebrity -- and there
can be no more minor a celebrity than a producer -- attracts a certain
number of what can only be described as stalkers. Stalkers range from
vaguely annoying to disturbing (and disturbed) individuals. I have
acquired about six or so who are dedicated to one singular goal: trying
to disrupt my life, my career and my show through a constant, chronic
pattern of abuse, insults, outright fabrications, disinformation
campaigns, and innuendo. Six doesn't seem like a lot, and in the
grander scheme, they're irrelevant; on the less grand level, because
they are singularly dedicated to this cause, utterly tireless, they
can, and have, paralyzed whole discussion areas, poisoned topics and
made places on the net unlivable for me and many others.
Several of them, if they were doing via other means -- mail,
phone, in person -- what they are doing on the nets, could easily be
arrested and prosecuted under any of a number of anti-stalking laws,
for creating malicious mischief, character assassination, and other
charges. But the nature of the net makes it easier for these
individuals -- who are basically cowards -- to do what they do with a
relative (though shrinking) degree of impunity.
Their behavior is pathological at best, and it was the exposure
on a daily basis to their virulent pathology, the necessity to respond
each and every day to the next new charge or rumor or lie -- which, if
unanswered, becomes assumed truth on the nets -- that in time drove me
from rastb5. As with most Internet newsgroups, it does not have the
same safeguards against chronic abusive personalities that are present
in CIS, AOL, GEnie and other systems and BBSs across the country.
A number of people who've gotten tired of the chronic abuse of
the system, and each other, recently resolved to try and create a new
moderated group whose purpose would be to ONLY restrict these chronic,
abusive messages from the petty dysfunctional, while allowing a) a full
range of open criticism and language, and b) not in any way affecting
or censoring the original rastb5 area. Any group of people can agree
to come together and form a group of their own, with their own rules,
which others may or may not choose to enter. When and if that group
gets approved, many of the users who left rastb5 will sign on with this
new group, myself included.
(I understand there's a discussion about this issue currently
going on over there, using the words censorship and nightwatch. Which
are loaded terms designed to elicit an emotional response and muddy the
waters. Censorship is enacted against an individual against his or her
will; anyone who joins the moderated newsgroup, should it be approved,
does so knowing the charter of the group, thus expressing a willingness
to go along with that, just as anyone signing on with CIS understands
the general guidelines here. If someone doesn't want to work under
those guidelines, they need not sign on, and hang out in the
unmoderated area. How this relatively simple logic gets muddied is
beyond me.)
In any event, to your question...if any of the less than
rock-solid individuals noted three paragraphs above are asking for your
cooperation, that decision is between you and your conscience.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 22:05:52
From: Rae Augenstein <72752.1653 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <Point of No Return>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463096 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462611 at compuserve.com>
RE the floating video cameras:
You've thought of everything, haven't you?
Rae ^^^^
RMES, Dictator of the Lost State of Franklin
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Rae_
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:33:02
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Rae Augenstein <72752.1653 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <Point of No Return>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463176 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463096 at compuserve.com>
But of course....
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 22:27:48
From: Grady W. Smithey I <103321.2766 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Just wanted to say...
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463110 at compuserve.com>
Meant to post this last week following "Messages From Earth," but
didn't get around to it until now... <g>
Thanks much to you, Joe, for adding Marcus to the show. In
addition to being an extremely interesting (and very likeable)
character, he managed to do something I have been trying, and
failing, to do since Season Two, namely, get my wife to start
watching.
Last week I forgot to set the VCR for "MfE," and had to ask my
wife to tape it for me. She said later that after she'd started
the tape rolling, the parts with him in them were the only ones
she paid attention to, but that it was a very close attention. <g>
So tonight, we went over to the house of the couple who
introduced me to the show, taking the tape of "Point of No Return"
with us, and thanks to the prospect of maybe seeing Marcus, we
were able to get her to sit down and watch it with the rest of us
long enough for the storyline to hook her. I think she may become
a fan yet.
Well done, sir.
Grady W. Smithey III, Provisional Minister of Kipple, RMES.
ZOG!
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:33:05
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Grady W. Smithey I <103321.2766 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Just wanted to say...
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463178 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463110 at compuserve.com>
Thanks...yes, Marcus does seem to have a way with women of
taste and sensibility....
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 22:59:52
From: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463118 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462966 at compuserve.com>
> Also, if you did get a copy of the original email "digest" of
> messages from here, was there an address on the point of
> origin, i.e., who was sending them around initially?
One thing I would caution on this point -- there is a legitimate
JMS email digest that's been around for a long time. It's purpose
is to simply collect and pass along your messages from the various
services you post on to folks who don't have access to those
services (or the time to read them all).
I suspect this isn't the digest Theron is using; I just wanted to
point out the "good" digest to make sure that an innocent
bystander doesn't get caught up in this.
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:33:07
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463179 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463118 at compuserve.com>
Absolutely. You're quite right. The other digest of my
messages is a fine and fair thing, because I've said that my messages
can be reposted anywhere, anytime. It's others who have not given
their permission, and the messages involved, that they may need to be
made aware of. (Darn, ended on a dangling preposition....)
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 22:59:58
From: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Season 3 and Na'Toth
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463121 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462965 at compuserve.com>
> The story arc would've stayed the same; but the character
> would've had some good moments, and helped move it along.
Am I correct in guessing that some of what would have been
Na'Toth's story moved over to Ta'Lon? Or did you plan on bringing
him back all along?
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:33:10
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Joe Salemi [ZD Net] <72631.23 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Season 3 and Na'Toth
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463180 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463121 at compuserve.com>
I liked Ta'Lon, and definitely wanted to bring him back.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 23:17:08
From: Burhaan Ahmad <75754.3065 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Prison Authors
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463131 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.461220 at compuserve.com>
Possible Point of No Return spoiler.
> No, he hasn't thought of it that far yet...but it will find
> that role.
To follow up my last question, I was wondering about Ta'Lon's
rather confrontational attitude toward G'Kar. I thought Ta'Lon
respected G'Kar, but in PoNR, he seemed a bit upset with him (at
least it seemed so in his tone). I suppose there is something
behind this?
-ba- ^^^^
_____ _____
--->*<---
/ \
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:33:11
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Burhaan Ahmad <75754.3065 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Prison Authors
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463181 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463131 at compuserve.com>
It's just those darn Narns...politeness isn't easy for some of
them.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 23:49:28
From: Ray Pelzer <70475.1263 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Do you want a party???
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463160 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.461925 at compuserve.com>
Remember the stuff about the actual latitude and longitude of
"Area 51" being burned into the Newton 2.0 operating system, and a
CIA cryptographer found it, and they pressured Apple to remove it
from the time zones utility? Well, I think there was a Wright-Pat
inventory in the demo database, and that got purged, too.
(to the onlookers, that Area 51 part is actually TRUE).
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:33:13
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Ray Pelzer <70475.1263 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Do you want a party???
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463182 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463160 at compuserve.com>
How odd that they would be so concerned about a base that, they
say, doesn't even exist....
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 22:16:51
From: Peter David <72550.2517 at compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Bill Mumy on CNBC
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463106 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463075 at compuserve.com>
There will be no spacing of teddy bears. A bear, however--the
same bear as in B5, in fact--will show up in the very next
episode.
Harlan narrates our opening beginning next week. David is our
story editor. And it was shot in Montreal.
PAD
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 01:04:30
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Peter David <72550.2517 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Bill Mumy on CNBC
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463193 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463106 at compuserve.com>
BTW, Peter, I happened to catch the episode tonight (though I
missed the opening and about 2-3 minutes at the top). Nicely done. I
still think I preferred the commander from the test episode (now it's
YOUR turn to hear that), but a lot has been improved, particularly the
sets, which are very elaborate and visually interesting. Some fun
writing, good (if somewhat over the top) directing, and the effects
were quite good. This one may actually have some shelf life....
Congratulations. You are now officially a Mogul. Your
certificate of membership should arrive in a few days.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 02-Mar-96 18:56:23
From: Mike Hoffmann <100321.2604 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.462948 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462615 at compuserve.com>
I am sure by now many have received the e-mails from Brent
Barrett, who explicitly asked for my permission to use my mails
and postings in this forum in his digest list that he sends to an
Internet mailing-list (to which I am also subscribed).
Is this sudden request related to the events of message abuse?
Mike
-Mike Hoffmann Cats are nature's way of helping you detect the
people you don't want to know.
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 01:04:31
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Mike Hoffmann <100321.2604 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Violating Your Privacy
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463194 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462948 at compuserve.com>
If Brent Barrett -- not one of the Demento Half-Dozen -- is
asking permission to repost your messages, then he's doing this
properly. So if you don't mind your posts being reposted, by all
means, give permission.
jms
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 00:11:56
From: Karen E. Bahnsen <102735.3557 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <<Point of No Return>>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463168 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.462953 at compuserve.com>
> If a word comes out of a character's mouth, it's usually mine.
<wince> I just realized what a very dumb question I
asked. Was your writing your own...sorry about that...left my
brain in my other suit. <g> Good thing you don't take offense
easily.
We really enjoyed Point of No Return. That hour flew! I
was *really* into it when it suddenly ended. Argh! I want
more...more! I'm glad there are only four repeats before Severed
Dreams. I bet I won't be the only one who plays all three back to
back as soon as I've seen it.
Karen
------------------------------
Date: 03-Mar-96 01:04:32
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Karen E. Bahnsen <102735.3557 at compuserve.com>
Subject: <<Point of No Return>>
Message-ID: <forum.sfmediaone.463195 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.sfmediaone.463168 at compuserve.com>
Good heavens, Karen, there was nothing in your message to be
offended *at*. I took the inquiry at face value, and answered it thus.
Glad you enjoyed "Point." It sets everything up, so we can
knock it all down in "Severed Dreams." Now everyhing I need is right
where I need it to be....
jms
------------------------------
End of JMS CIS Digest 02-Mar-96 18:56:32 through 03-Mar-96 01:04:32
*******************************************************************
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