ATTN JMS: Inside the mind of the Great Maker

[B5JMS Poster]

Subject: ATTN JMS: Inside the mind of the Great Maker
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 No. | DATE        |  FROM
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s  1: Oct 14, 1996: lvirden at cas.org (Larry W. Virden)
+  5: Oct 16, 1996: staats at panix.com (John Staats)
*  6: Oct 16, 1996: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)

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From: lvirden at cas.org (Larry W. Virden)
Lines: 35

Dear Sir,
	I want to again thank you so much for the pleasure you have provided
to my family and me over the past 3 years.  I have enjoyed B5 so much that
I find it difficult to express.

	During this past weekend, after watching Grey 17, I was
describing for my lovely wife some of the interesting tidbits from the 
exchanges you have had with the electronic community.  She had the pleasure
of attending Marcon here in Columbus with me this past May, where we enjoyed
immensely your sessions with the fans.  She mentioned to me that she thought
it would be marvelous to see (on video or broadcast) a series of interviews 
with folk regarding what was going on behind the scenes that caused the various
episodes to turn out the way they did - what influences resulted in stories
like Grey 17 being told - or the struggles that Franklin are going thru,
etc.  

	I began thinking about this.  And I agree that, after the 5 year
story is told, it would be marvelous to see a retrospective which told the
story of how this marvelous thing we know as B5 came to be - from the early
days that you first conceived of it, thru the casting, the struggles, the
victories, the losses and the final triumph of the last episode - and the
thoughts of the folk who worked on B5 over time concerning the series.  Not
in a maudlin way, nor in a promotional manner specifically, but in a nostalgic
manner - a retrospective that not only would shed new insights in the story,
but could in fact be used by TNT, the video folk, etc. as a nice overview of
what B5 is all about.  A historical look that could use the archives of
all the internet exchanges as a source of 'remembering' so that various
influences and interesting tales are not forgotten.
-- 
:s Larry W. Virden                 INET: lvirden at cas.org
:s <URL:http://www.teraform.com/%7Elvirden/> <*> O- "We are all Kosh."
:s Unless explicitly stated to the contrary, nothing in this posting should
:s be construed as representing my employer's opinions.



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From: staats at panix.com (John Staats)
Lines: 51

In article <corteseDzA8pB.JvG at netcom.com>, cortese at netcom.com (Janis Maria
C. C. Cortese) wrote:

> In article
<Pine.SUN.3.95L.961014153843.1542C-100000 at konichiwa.cc.columbia.edu> "John
T. Carr III" <jtc11 at columbia.edu> writes:
> >On 14 Oct 1996, Larry W. Virden wrote:
> >
> >>  I began thinking about this.  And I agree that, after the 5 year
> >> story is told, it would be marvelous to see a retrospective which
> >> told the story of how this marvelous thing we know as B5 came to
> >> be - from the early days that you first conceived of it, thru the
> >> casting, the struggles, the victories, the losses and the final
> >> triumph of the last episode - and the thoughts of the folk who worked
> >> on B5 over time concerning the series.  Not in a maudlin way, nor
> >> in a promotional manner specifically, but in a nostalgic manner - a
> >> retrospective that not only would shed new insights in the story, but
> >> could in fact be used by TNT, the video folk, etc. as a nice overview
> >> of what B5 is all about.  A historical look that could use the
> >> archives of all the internet exchanges as a source of 'remembering'
> >> so that various influences and interesting tales are not forgotten.
> >
> >I agree - though maybe something along the lines of "From Star Wars to
> >Jedi: The Making of a Saga" might be more salable, TV-wise. Hell, *I'd*
> >buy it.
> 
> Something on video would be nice, but frankly, I'd rather have a book --
> a big, color glossy coffee-table deal with the old series bible in it,
> the first descriptions of the characters, the initial conception of the
> arc and how it changed as the show continued, what it was like getting
> it on the air, initial concept sketches, that sort of thing.  I'd pay a
> huge fucking fat piece of change for that, three figures if necessary.


It's called the Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5.  JMS has addressed this
issue/idea before, pointing to his posts as a living documentation of the
series creation.  If I may, I will be so bold as to suggest *we* are a
VERY small part of that process, being the pack of wolves nipping at his
heels that we are.

John "Arrroooo!" Staats



*****************************************************************
Crom. I've never prayed to you before, I have no tongue for it.  No one, not even 
you, will remember if we were good men or bad; why we fought, why we died. 
No.  All that matters is that two stood against many.  That's what is important. 
Battle pleases you, Crom, so grant me one request, grant me revenge. 
And if you don't listen then to hell with you. *******O Stone, Conan the Barbarian          
***************************************  http://www.panix.com/~staats/

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From: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)
Lines: 11

Thanks.  It's the sort of book -- a retrospective -- that would be useful,
I agree.  On the one hand, I'm not sure I'd be up to writing it right
after finishing the series; I think I'll probably be off in a coma
somewhere.  But if I wait too long, some details will get lost.  I think
I'll have to think about this some more....



 jms


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