JMS on CompuServe (Jul 24, 1997) *POSSIBLE SPOILERS* (2/2)
bbarrett at speedlink.com
bbarrett at speedlink.com
Thu Jul 24 16:31:45 EDT 1997
[ Continued from previous section -- BB ]
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[ Summary of subjects in this section: ]
Sb: #687107-Claudia Opts Out-JMS
Sb: #686960-Claudia C fired!
Sb: #686965-Claudia C fired!
Sb: #687209-Claudia C fired!
Sb: #687083-Claudia C fired!
Sb: #687085-Claudia C fired!
Sb: #687093-Claudia C fired!
Sb: #687249-The Couch Critic-Jeff Ja
Sb: #687326-Script Deadlines
Sb: #686832-Clauduia
Sb: #686979-Clauduia
Sb: #687154-New Character
#: 687107 S5/Babylon 5: General
23-Jul-97 15:09:50
Sb: #687103-#Claudia Opts Out-JMS
Fm: HERO GAMES (SUE)
Tim,
The only reason that I know of that it is being discussed and that 'it's our
business' is because the parties involved *made* it public business by posting
or having someone post the matter here on a public forum.
Sue
#: 687401 S5/Babylon 5: General
24-Jul-97 03:52:20
Sb: #687107-Claudia Opts Out-JMS
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Nothing was said about any of this online until Claudia began talking
about it at a convention Toronto and indicating that she had been fired, which
was not the case.
She passed.
jms
#: 686960 S5/Babylon 5: General
23-Jul-97 08:45:00
Sb: #686806-#Claudia C fired!
Fm: GERARD KEATING (IRELAND)
Joe,
>> I've actually come up with some very interesting ideas on this, <<
when will be get to hear this, and who is cast in the role....
Thanks
#: 687402 S5/Babylon 5: General
24-Jul-97 03:52:22
Sb: #686960-Claudia C fired!
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
We'll probably start casting in the next 7 days.
jms
#: 686965 S5/Babylon 5: General
23-Jul-97 09:23:28
Sb: #686806-#Claudia C fired!
Fm: VADIM NARODITSKY
<< I'd prefer to put a female in that position, to keep the cast
relatively balanced.>>
I just hope you are not doing this to be "politically correct."
<< I've actually come up with some very interesting ideas on this, which are
kinda fun...a way to put a lot more conflict into the inner circle, if you
will.>>
The only 3 women that come to mind are: Lyta (unlikely but we can expect
anything from you, can't we? ;-)), leader from Mars and First Officer from that
EF ship (most qualified?). I assume that the idea of keeping this affair to
humans is still in effect, isn't it?
IAC, I am waiting.
Vadim
#: 687403 S5/Babylon 5: General
24-Jul-97 03:52:25
Sb: #686965-Claudia C fired!
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Nothing to do with being "politically correct," this is the least PC show
on record. I just like to have a mix of male and female characters, and when
it tilts too much in one direction or the other, I try to balance it out.
jms
#: 687209 S5/Babylon 5: General
23-Jul-97 18:46:21
Sb: #686965-#Claudia C fired!
Fm: ROWAN KAISER
>> The only 3 women that come to mind are: Lyta (unlikely but we can expect
anything from you, can't we? ;-)), leader from Mars and First Officer from that
EF ship (most qualified?). I assume that the idea of keeping this affair to
humans is still in effect, isn't it? <<
I don't think it's any of them, they wouldn't really spice things up like JMS
said. <shakes head to get rid of image of Spice Girls invading B5> Someone,
however, like that daughter of Garibaldi's friend, oh, what was her name?
Kaiser Rowan
#: 687404 S5/Babylon 5: General
24-Jul-97 03:52:26
Sb: #687209-Claudia C fired!
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
It will be a new character.
jms
[ Summary: (See below.) ]
#: 687405 S5/Babylon 5: General
24-Jul-97 03:52:30
Sb: #687083-Claudia C fired!
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
"....but for all his good points he still USES this forum for free advertising
and only HIS side of any syory is heard."
In reverse order:
No. Claudia's statement got posted here as well. Many of our cast
members are online, including Claudia, who has three or four web sites devoted
to her. She's not exactly out in the cold here. Her comments at the
convention were here instantly, the Variety and Reuters articles were here very
quickly, and her online note showed up within hours. I don't exactly see that
as only one side being presented.
Second, your observation is cynical and untrue. I've been online at CIS
since 1984-85; I was one of the first people on CIS on my block. I've been
here for going on 13 years. I got on here to hang out with fellow fans, and
talk about shows, and meet people. I'm still here now for the same reasons.
You can speak to events and specifics all you want, but stay out of my motives
unless and until you can hire a teep to probe around in my cerebellum.
jms
[ Summary: (See below -- same person.) ]
#: 687406 S5/Babylon 5: General
24-Jul-97 03:52:33
Sb: #687085-Claudia C fired!
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
"I merely wanted to point out that JMS has seemed to USE this forum to put over
a very onesided point of view."
You're right. I put across one side. Mine. You put across yours. How
many people are supposed to inhabit my body? It's not my place to speak for
Claudia or you or anybody else.
I have not used words in the same way you have used them, either; unlike
you, I have not characterized the people here. You have called me arrogant
without a) any meaning of the word, or b) anything to back that up other than
bile and spirit messages. I have not called anyone in this stupid, or
malicious, or arrogant.
In reviewing your messages here, however, I'm nearly prepared to make an
exception to the rule.
jms
[ Summary: "If he wasn't always so arrogant then perhaps I'd go a bit
easier on him but all I was really saying is that he should keep the
business side of the show off of this forum." (And see below -- same
person.) ]
#: 687407 S5/Babylon 5: General
24-Jul-97 03:52:35
Sb: #687093-Claudia C fired!
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
"I do not have to sound like I'm in control ALL THE TIME."
I don't think you will find anyone in this forum who feels, on reading
your messages, that you're in control.
Mission objective achieved.
jms
#: 687249 S5/Babylon 5: General
23-Jul-97 20:20:40
Sb: #The Couch Critic-Jeff Ja
Fm: SHANE S. SHELLENBARGER
Joe,
I caught this in next weeks issue (July 26-Aug 1) of TV Guide. about
ROAR, Jeff Jarvis says , "But after watching two episodes (and rewatching the
first), ROAR grew on me. I saw it in a new light. ROAR has the moral,
mystical mood of a sci-fi series-BABYLON 5 in the Iron Age. And it has the
intrigue and evil of, yes, a soap opera. This is Fox, after all."
There's a compliment in there somewhere...but for whom?
Shane
#: 687408 S5/Babylon 5: General
24-Jul-97 03:52:38
Sb: #687249-The Couch Critic-Jeff Ja
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
I think it's the closest he will ever come to speaking well of the show.
jms
#: 687326 S5/Babylon 5: General
23-Jul-97 23:32:22
Sb: #Script Deadlines
Fm: JOHN M. GRAHAM
Some of your comments concerning script deadlines in the Claudia Christian
posts got me thinking. With the exception of 501 (airing in the 422 slot), you
should have about 2 extra months to get the episodes in the can. They won't,
after all, air until January, when they previously aired in November.
Why then, was the deadline for Claudia to make up her mind left so short? Is
the problem the lack of reruns (meaning you have to get further ahead in case
you fall behind without the planned holds in the countdown)?
(Also, will Claudia appear in 501 aring as 422, and how does she get paid for
422, since that whole residual problem raises its ugly head? )
-John
#: 687409 S5/Babylon 5: General
24-Jul-97 03:52:40
Sb: #687326-Script Deadlines
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
"With the exception of 501 (airing in the 422 slot), you should have about 2
extra months to get the episodes in the can. They won't, after all, air until
January, when they previously aired in November. Why then, was the deadline
for Claudia to make up her mind left so short?"
Because you can't just come in and shoot one episode, then tell everyone,
"Okay, we're taking a break for two months." The moment you begin shooting,
the clock is ticking. SAG regulates the span of time you have the actors,
equipment is rented...on and on. We had to come back in time to shoot 501/422,
and it's going to be close as it is. It takes 52 days of post to finish an
episode once it's filmed, so with 501/422 shooting August 18th, just do the
math to see how close this is going to be.
And once we pull the trigger on 501, we have to go immediately into 502.
And on and on.
Even if this were not an issue with the 422 business, we would *still*
have to start shooting in August because of the schedule of holidays, and TNT's
desire to run S5 *straight through* without reruns or breaks. That means you
have to start early and be finished with a lot of shows, and vault them, to be
able to then run through them all sequentially in 22 weeks.
jms
[ Summary: In reference to why Claudia would put up a fuss about
getting Joe's promise in writing, this poster offers, "I would
assume that any producer who wanted to cast her would see that
on paper she was bound to B5 for the entire period, assume that
she would not be available, and not offer her the part. Even if
Claudia had no doubt that Joe could steer her around any trouble
with the suits, the verbal agreement wouldn't carry any weight
in the outside world." ]
#: 687410 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
24-Jul-97 03:52:44
Sb: #686832-Clauduia
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
"Even if Claudia had no doubt that Joe could steer her around any trouble with
the suits, the verbal agreement wouldn't carry any weight in the outside
world."
<thud>
Y'know, up until this very moment, the whole 4-eps-in-writing thing
hadn't made sense to me, I couldn't get my brain around it.
I don't know if that's it, but it's a helluvan interesting thought.
jms
#: 686979 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
23-Jul-97 10:52:26
Sb: #686881-#Clauduia
Fm: PHILIP HORNSEY
Ya know...I've been thinking...
When MOH left at the end of S1 (under somewhat different circumstances), I
changed the whole character of that season, without harming it or the
storyline.
I am currently introducing another vict...friend to B5 and as a result we
watched about 2/3 of S1 over the last weekend (need I digress to describe the
impact...I think not). At any rate, S1 now has the character of a prelude. It
serves the function that the pilot does in other shows. It introduces the
supporting characters, their thoughts and dreams, etc. and uses Sinclair as a
focal point to do so.
Then he leaves.
Then we get Sheridan. He starts out boyish, grinning, a real lightweight
compared to the supporting cast and then slowly evolves into the Messiah.
It's SO *cool*.
Now we get S5. CC leaves...well...sh!t happens. This does, however give you the
opportunity to lend even more verisimilitude to the story. In life, people
leave, stay, do whatever. Ivannova *is* ambitious, that ambition has been on
hold of late, but the shooting is over...for a while...CC is ambitious, that
ambition is likely the material cause of her leaving (all things summed up).
There is a certain symmetry here, though we may not like it much as fans. It's
a pity you don't have an ep or two to ease her out though...and since she *is*
in Sleeping a cameo in S5 would be nice, but that likely is not your call.
I look forward to your solution with great anticipation.
Phil^^^^
FREE MARS!
#: 687411 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
24-Jul-97 03:52:46
Sb: #686979-Clauduia
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Yeah, it's another chance to make he show even more interesting.
jms
#: 687154 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
23-Jul-97 16:41:08
Sb: #New Character
Fm: KAREN E. BAHNSEN
I've tried to post on the rastB5.mod a couple of times now and haven't
seen my posts, so I decided to send one here. I feel a little guilty giving
you one more thing to read, but I want you to know that I've always deeply
appreciated the candor in your posts. What you say has the ring of truth. I
don't doubt you for an instant. I'm distressed that you've gotten hate mail
over this. (this is not intended as criticism of CC, nor as flame bait)
I've enjoyed your Ivanova character very much. I'm so glad she won't
be dead and gone forever. I'm *really* looking forward to the replacement,
though. You've given us so many excellent characters, I can't wait for the
next. It could be as good as Cartagia, Zathras, Neroon... etc. Your
characters are one of the things I enjoy most about the show, and with some
extra eps in season 5, you'll even have room to develop him/her a bit.
Exciting!
Karen
#: 687412 S6/Babylon 5: Spoilers
24-Jul-97 03:52:48
Sb: #687154-New Character
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Thanks...it'll be an interesting addition to the mix, given what happens
in the latter part of the season.
And no, she won't be "dead and gone forever." There's the third TNT
movie, and a possible feature film, and if she wants to approach us about those
projects, we'll be more than happy to have the discussion. That's precisely
why I'm not recasting the role.
jms
[END]
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