[B5JMS] ATTN JMS: Your Vision For the Next B5 Stories

[b5jms-admin at cs.columbia.edu]

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From: "Jonathan Kass" <jonathankass at mediaone.net>
Date: 23 Mar 2001 17:20:00 -0700
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A question from a long time fan -

In revisiting the Lurker's Guide, many very old online threads came to
mind - many quoted on the Guide - where you were pretty convinced
(particularly as season 4 ended, and SiL was wrapping) - that you had said
your peace in the TV medium.  Also that B5 (barring the one "side story"
which I assume was Crusade) had its beginning, middle, and end, and was not
about to become a franchise.  And that you only got into producing TV as a
means to having final say in how you'd write the show.

This is meant in no way as disrespect - I like everyone else here am
drooling at new TV B5 content.  My question is - how has your vision changed
over the intervening years?  What's the process if you will for you as a
writer to revitalize the story personally, and what made it seem right to
start towards what is sounding like multiple paths with respect to producing
TV series.  The goal, it seemed, back when B5 was a gleam in your eye,
through the production, was that you were sharing with us via genie, cserve,
aol, and usenet, the machinations of making it all work, so I'm curious how
that has changed or evolved for you.

Thanks!

Jonathan



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From: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)
Date: 23 Mar 2001 22:19:19 -0700
Lines: 42

>This is meant in no way as disrespect - I like everyone else here am
>drooling at new TV B5 content.  My question is - how has your vision changed
>over the intervening years? 

You only get pertinent information by asking impertinent questions, so don't
worry about it.

There are a couple of factors in the questions you ask.  First and foremost, my
comments about getting the heck out came at a time when I was emotionally,
physically and psychologically exhausted by the demands of telling this
particular story.  People who know me, know what it did to me.

(Emblematic of the toll it was taking...it's pro forma to insure actors at the
beginning of each season so that if they are injured or killed or otherwise
incapacitated, the show is insured against that loss.  Production staff --
writers, producers, others -- are almost never similarly insured.  But after
season 2, seeing what it was costing to get this show made, the powers that be
insisted that I be insured, so that if I collapsed or dropped dead the show
would be insured.  I'm always reticent to talk about that kind of thing,
because it seems really indulgent, but that's the truth of it.)

I've had a bit of time to catch my breath since then -- though none of my hair
has grown back -- so I think I'm in the biz for a bit longer.  I figure I've
got another couple of shows in me...but I can't let any of them be as dramatic
an effect on my life again, it's just too debilitating.

The other factor in all this is that, in doing 5 years of B5 and one of
Crusade, I became very attached to this universe.  I like visiting it.  Even
when I'm not working in it, the characters are there, in my head.  So there's
the lure of kind of going home again.


 jms

(jmsatb5 at aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2001 by synthetic worlds, ltd., 
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine 
and don't send me story ideas)