ATTN. JMS - One Question

[B5JMS Poster]

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From: "Mac Breck" <macbreck at timesnet.net>
Date: 27 Jan 2000 18:24:49 -0700
Lines: 14

How would you characterize network interaction (notes, suggestions,
requests, demands, etc.) that occurred in Season 1 of Babylon 5 vs. Season 1
of Crusade?

I'd have thought that after writing/producing five full seasons of Babylon
5, any network would have let you alone based upon your recent track record.
Why spend time and money to micro-manage someone who has proven that they
can get the job done, and done very well?  It makes no sense to me,
especially since TNT was new to Sci-Fi.  I don't see how they could have
thought they were even "qualified" to give notes on Sci-Fi.

Mac



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From: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)
Date: 29 Jan 2000 00:01:30 -0700
Lines: 39

>How would you characterize network interaction (notes, suggestions,
>requests, demands, etc.) that occurred in Season 1 of Babylon 5 vs. Season 1
>of Crusade?

Our scripts were reviewed at WB by our liaison, Gregg Maday, who from time to
time would call with what was basically a question.  "I'm wondering if we may
need to clarify X for the audience," or "Is there some way to strengthen this
element?"  In each case, the conversation was left with, "I'll leave the
disposition of this to your discretion." 

The thing about Gregg's notes or suggestions were that they were generally
well-considered, thoughtful, and totally aimed at making the story work.  So we
always got along great.  

And by the time season 2 rolled around, we got a couple of notes on the first
couple of episodes, then that was literally that...we were on our own after
that.  He trusted us to do the right thing by the story, and we never violated
that trust.

>I'd have thought that after writing/producing five full seasons of Babylon
>5, any network would have let you alone based upon your recent track record.

Yeah, one would think that...though that's also what Rod Serling thought after
doing Twilight Zone, only to find himself torpedoed amidships creatively during
Night Gallery.

 jms

(jmsatb5 at aol.com)
B5 Official Fan Club at:
http://www.thestation.com
(all message content (c) 2000 by
synthetic worlds, ltd., permission
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SFX Magazine)




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