JMS on CompuServe (May 20, 1998) *POSSIBLE SPOILERS* (1/2)
bbarrett at johndelenn.com
bbarrett at johndelenn.com
Thu May 21 03:58:02 EDT 1998
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WARNING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The following posts may contain SPOILERS for
upcoming Babylon 5 episodes.
Continue at your own risk.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
P
R
O
T
E
C
T
I
O
N
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Archives of this material may be found at:
http://www.johndelenn.com/
**********************************************
[ Summary of subjects in this section: ]
Sb: #33075-CC Debate: Over
Sb: #More Good News
Sb: #33208-<Lennier the traitor>
Sb: #33253-WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33216-#WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33217-#WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33248-WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33567-#Season 6?
Sb: #33377-#WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33320-WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33288-#WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33240-#WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33378-#WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33396-#WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33493-#WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33499-#WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33548-#WB Home Video Does B5
Sb: #33642-More Good News
Sb: #33347-#Season 3 voiceover
Sb: #33395-#Season 3 voiceover
[ Summary: (See below.) ]
#: 33084 S2/Bab 5: General
14-May-98 02:06:00
Sb: #33075-CC Debate: Over
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
"It just seems to me that in the final analysis you have nothing to fear.
History will be kind to JMS."
In light of the circumstances of most of my life, it would be a kindness
both welcome and uncommon.
I will, however, hope for the best.
jms
#: 32982 S2/Bab 5: General
13-May-98 00:34:01
Sb: #More Good News
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
TNT has moved up the airdate for "The River of Souls" to November 8th
(from November 22nd) so that a) B5 fans won't have so long to wait, and b) to
make sure both that and Sleeping in Light both get equal promotion, and one
doesn't get lost in the other.
Also...when the fifth season begins again from "No Compromises" in the
first week of July, it will coincide with the debut of TNT's new satellite
relay which means that the 5th season episodes will air at the same time on
both the East and West coasts (I think 8:00 p.m., I haven't heard the final on
that yet)...AND they're adding a repeat of each new episode the same night at
11 p.m.
jms
[ Summary: Tells JMS that he won't believe the future actions of Lennier
that are being reported by the magazine SFX. ]
#: 33210 S5/Seas. 5 SPOILERS
15-May-98 15:33:08
Sb: #33208-<Lennier the traitor>
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Maybe you ought to wait to see what happens this season, and act from an
informed point of view, than from gossip.
jms
[ Summary: Asks if scenes previously cut for time can be put back into
the home video release of episodes. ]
#: 33297 S2/Bab 5: General
17-May-98 00:57:08
Sb: #33253-WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
No, we can't put the scenes in because it would mean a full audio remix,
which is very expensive. The director's cut (which is often extremely changed
when John and I go in to do our version, so you're basically getting the
producer's cut from which we then cut lines and bits) only exists on computer
disk, not on film. We'd have to go back into the thing and that would take a
massive amount of money.
jms
[ Summary: Discusses the quality of a DVD picture sent through his TV. ]
#: 33237 S2/Bab 5: General
15-May-98 23:31:10
Sb: #33216-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Actually, you have better resolution on a good PC monitor than the
average TV, so it's bound to be sharper there than on the TV. (I have a DVD
player in my new system, and it's amazing....)
jms
[ Summary: Asks for more details on the new WB home video tapes. ]
#: 33233 S2/Bab 5: General
15-May-98 22:07:07
Sb: #33217-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
It's two episodes per tape, and I think it's about $14.95 per tape. As
for DVD, that's going to be a long ways down the road, so I'd grab these while
we can. (And if they do well, the odds of DVD increase.)
jms
[ Summary: "If DVDs were released, [would you] ever do a secondary audio
commentary?" ]
#: 33296 S2/Bab 5: General
17-May-98 00:57:07
Sb: #33248-WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
I think a second audio/commentary thing might be do-able down the road,
but only for certain select episodes, not all of 'em.
jms
[ Summary: "If [Babylon 5] must end then I hope you have something
equally enthralling for me to watch." ]
#: 33615 S2/Bab 5: General
19-May-98 23:49:13
Sb: #33567-#Season 6?
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Then be of good cheer, there's the CRUSADE follow-up series.
jms
#: 33377 S2/Bab 5: General
17-May-98 22:03:03
Sb: #33296-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: RAE AUGENSTEIN
Will Columbia House still offer the B5 tapes?
Rae ^^^^
#: 33380 S2/Bab 5: General
18-May-98 02:48:00
Sb: #33377-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
I don't know; I think they had a one-year trial on this thing for the
first season's worth of tapes, and with WB getting into it, I don't know how
this will break out down the road when that trial expires.
jms
#: 33320 S2/Bab 5: General
17-May-98 05:48:12
Sb: #33007-WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: DEONAHA M. CONLIN
Ban,
Re videos - I started with Columbia, and I may stick with them for two
reasons - one, because it took Warner so long to see that they would be a hit,
and two - with Columbia I can be assured of getting them all, in sequence,
without having to go traipsing all over three cities to find them! Because,
believe me, once I call everywhere to see if they have them, drive to where
ever it is (usually to find the clerk hadn't a clue about what they were
talking about), finding a parking place, and battling traffic both ways - the
ten dollar price difference becomes pretty unimportant.
Warner had a chance to get lots and lots of my money with no middle
man - and they blew it.
Di Conlin, TUS , Wielder of the Lesser Salmon of Discipline
Supreme Dominatrix, RMES, your fearless leader
Sigh Coprs - Jason Carter Division
If it has tires or testicles, it's going to be trouble.
#: 33373 S2/Bab 5: General
17-May-98 21:29:08
Sb: #33320-WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Actually, the WB tapes will also be available via online ordering,
through their site and thestation.com, so it'll be just about as easy to do
so, and cheaper.
jms
#: 33288 S2/Bab 5: General
16-May-98 20:12:04
Sb: #33189-WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: REBECCA COSTELLO
If there ever are DVD versions, hopefully by the time they're released some of
the limitations will have been eliminated. Assuming I could afford the DVDs
themselves (as if!) I might well be tempted to get a DVD player just for B5.
Rebecca
#: 33369 S2/Bab 5: General
17-May-98 19:36:08
Sb: #33288-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
The funny thing is, the DVDs already cost less than laserdisks, and will
continue to come down, simply because they're smaller and easier to produce.
jms
[ Summary: Comments that he had AC3 and just upgraded to ACT-3. ]
#: 33368 S2/Bab 5: General
17-May-98 19:36:08
Sb: #33240-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
I love AC3...and we've arranged that when we do Crusade, we'll be doing
a THX quality mix with full 5.1 separation...it's gonna be bitchin'....
jms
[ Summary: "How are you going to transport the AC-3 signal over the
channel?" ]
#: 33379 S2/Bab 5: General
18-May-98 02:47:14
Sb: #33378-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
It's my understanding that this is one of the things that will be
facilitated by the changeover to HDTV format. But either way, the delivery is
up to WB, we're just focusing on making it as good as we can in this respect,
so we're ready for whatever comes.
jms
#: 33396 S2/Bab 5: General
18-May-98 07:55:03
Sb: #33368-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: PHILIP HORNSEY
>> I love AC3...and we've arranged that when we do Crusade, we'll be doing a
THX quality mix with full 5.1 separation...it's gonna be bitchin'....
Hey Joe,
Did you film B5 in theater dimentions so that it would represent an easily
available series which could provide HDTV content for the new stations which
will be scrambling for it?
Phil^^^^
FREE MARS!
#: 33423 S2/Bab 5: General
18-May-98 14:17:11
Sb: #33396-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Yes, B5 was filmed in widescreen and cropped for contemporary TV format;
same will be the case for Crusade.
jms
#: 33493 S2/Bab 5: General
19-May-98 07:43:09
Sb: #33423-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: PHILIP HORNSEY
>> Yes, B5 was filmed in widescreen and cropped for contemporary TV
format; same will be the case for Crusade.
I did know that, but I was wondering if it had become a standard to film
widescreen so that a series would not become 21st century B&W when HDTV
becomes popular, or if you were just thinking ahead and realizing that if
there was no other SF content in widescreen format you would be more or less
alone (in the rerun market) for a couple of years.
Of course this strategy would have predated TNT and the coming of indulgent TV
execs...
Phil^^^^
FREE MARS!
#: 33533 S2/Bab 5: General
19-May-98 14:00:07
Sb: #33493-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
No, as far as I know, the only two shows that were shooting in
widescreen was us, and Lois and Clark. To my knowledge, though I'm willing to
be corrected, nobody else is doing it.
jms
[ Summary: "I once read in the book 'Making of DS9' that they used 'HIGH
QUALITY' during the production, so that they could use the same stages
for a movie." ]
#: 33534 S2/Bab 5: General
19-May-98 14:00:07
Sb: #33499-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
What I think they're referring to is the level of detail put into
finishing a set; there are imperfections you'll never see on the average 27"
TV screen that will be huge and obvious on a 35' movie screen. So that may be
what they mean. It's common to go for the former level of detail than the
latter on most TV.
jms
[ Summary: Asks how the set quality will be handled on Crusade. ]
#: 33614 S2/Bab 5: General
19-May-98 23:49:12
Sb: #33548-#WB Home Video Does B5
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
"Yes, and how is this handled with B5 and soon to come Crusade ?"
It will be handled...well, of course.
jms
#: 33642 S2/Bab 5: General
20-May-98 10:01:11
Sb: #32982-#More Good News
Fm: GUY SCHWARTZ
>>AND they're adding a repeat of each new episode the same night at 11 p.m.<<
Very cool!
Does that add to $$$ for WB, or you, or do they allready pay for the right to
air twice, thrice, etc?
-Guy
#: 33648 S2/Bab 5: General
20-May-98 11:38:07
Sb: #33642-More Good News
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
No, they paid for the rights for a given period of time, during which
they can run it as many times as they want.
jms
#: 33347 S2/Bab 5: General
17-May-98 14:44:13
Sb: #Season 3 voiceover
Fm: REBECCA COSTELLO
(minor season 3 spoiler)
I was watching a season 3 episode, and my younger sister walked in during
Ivanova's opening voiceover: "Babylon 5 was our last, best hope for peace. It
failed. But in the year of the Shadow War, it became something greater: our
last, best hope for victory." My sister turned to me and asked, "Why does she
say that? Isn't peace more important than victory?"
I mentioned that in this section and a number of interpretations have been
floated around: that without victory, peace would be meaningless; that in this
case victory was indeed more important than peace; even that this was merely
Ivanova's take on it. As one person put it, we're just about swimming in the
interpretations at this point, so I'd like to ask you: what was your intention
with those lines?
Rebecca
#: 33370 S2/Bab 5: General
17-May-98 19:56:01
Sb: #33347-#Season 3 voiceover
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Peace can be a surrender as well as an achievement, especially when
facing an enemy dedicated to something unpleasant. Chamberlin returned from a
visit to Germany with a so-called agreement in his hands, and announced that
by granting concessions to Hitler, he had achieved "peace in our time."
Peace is a byproduct of victory against those who do not want peace.
jms
#: 33395 S2/Bab 5: General
18-May-98 07:55:03
Sb: #33370-#Season 3 voiceover
Fm: PHILIP HORNSEY
There are some (like me) who would argue that real peace is not the absence of
war but the presence of liberty.
Phil^^^^
FREE MARS!
#: 33424 S2/Bab 5: General
18-May-98 14:17:11
Sb: #33395-#Season 3 voiceover
Fm: J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Yes, but liberty is never given, only won.
jms
[ Continued in next section -- BB ]
-***
-*** B5JMS SUBSCRIBERS: Replies to messages go to the list maintainer,
-*** <b5jms-owner at cs.columbia.edu>. If you want to reply elsewhere, adjust
-*** the "To" field. See http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~ezk/b5jms/ for all
-*** other information about this list.
More information about the B5JMS
mailing list