ATTN: JMS - 200 page document

[B5JMS Poster]

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From: "John W. Kennedy" <rri0189 at attglobal.net>
Date: 24 Nov 1999 09:45:46 -0700
Lines: 29

Jms at B5 wrote:
> Where does anyone here have a problem with the concept of private notes?

I, for one, have no problem.

But, Joe, I would ask this of you.  Keep the thing around, and let it be
released someday -- 50 years after your death, if you like.  If no one
then cares about B5 anymore, why, then, so be it.  But if there still is
an interest, scholars will be grateful.

Remember, no matter how much you or others say, "It's just television,"
the fact remains that B5 opened up artistic (I use the word in its most
neutral sense) territories that were hitherto unexplored.  Maybe B5
isn't "King Lear" or "Emma" -- but it's at least "Gorbadoc" or
"Pamela".  You've said that you want to educate us about television --
but don't forget that you also have an opportunity to educate people
about the elusive creative process, as well.  (And the people who Don't
Get why you have a problem with translating "Crusade" into prose make it
clear that education in that department is needed.  I tried to tell
them, myself, weeks ago, but....)

-- 
-John W. Kennedy
-rri0189 at ibm.net
Compact is becoming contract
Man only earns and pays.  -- Charles Williams




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From: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)
Date: 24 Nov 1999 22:03:49 -0700
Lines: 29

>But, Joe, I would ask this of you.  Keep the thing around, and let it be
>released someday -- 50 years after your death, if you like.

You must understand: if you go through all of my files, for all the scripts and
stories I have written, you will find ONLY final drafts.  I routinely destroy
ALL of my annotated drafts, rough drafts, preliminary drafts and most notes.  I
think that, in the end, what has to stand or fall is the work, and one doesn't
let out one's rough drafts or unfinished work.  

A while back, there was a long and heated debate between me and some other
online folks on the issue of unfinished work and annotated drafts; I'm
foursquare against them being released posthumously.  This, to me, falls under
the same heading.

All the rough-draft stories, all the MSW scripts, and all my B5 scripts with my
handwritten edits, changes, annotations, deletions, and revisions...are mulch. 
As they should be.

One does not go out in public only partially dressed.

 jms

(jmsatb5 at aol.com)
B5 Official Fan Club at:
http://www.thestation.com




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