I think he said MAY 15th [img]smile.gif[/img]
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 22, 2004 07:37 PM: Message edited by: ianviking ]</font>
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I think he said MAY 15th [img]smile.gif[/img]
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ April 22, 2004 07:37 PM: Message edited by: ianviking ]</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yup. 15th of MayQuote:
from Sindatur
Oh...and starting around the Ides of May, look to the wrong side of the river for word from Harry, Jack and Albert.
Well, I guess JMS is branching out a bit on his internet access. Looks like he's started to participate in rec.arts.sf.tv newsgroup as well. So, I've added these from March...nothing has popped up in April.<hr width="100%">
<font face="georgia"><font color="green">I hate TNT for killing the series. Why couldn't they simply TRUST jms to do a good job? Idiots.</font>
<font color="red">If you exclude the first half of B5's fifth season, the B5 movies, and the initial scripts of Crusade. Otherwise, JMS's track record at that time was poor and if B5's initial ratings had not been so strong, Crusade would have never been started.</font>
First, the ratings you cite were for the first half of season 5, which you said a moment ago were apparently not up to snuff...so you've got kind of a contradiction there. As for the "poor track record" comment, there are two Hugos, a Ray Bradbury Award from SFWA (the only other one haveing been given to James Cameron) and a dozen other awards sitting on the shelf that say otherwise.
<font color="red">Many of the mistakes of Crusade certainly were not TNT's fault.</font>
And on what specific information do you base this? Please show your work. You offer this up not as an opinion, but as a statement of direct fact. Please cite the facts to back this up.
<font color="red">The music was JMS's idea.</font>
Yes, it was. And the network also thought it was great. It was a different style, an experiment. Sometimes experiments work, sometimes they don't. It's a better way to live than living a life in which one never tries anything that may fail.
<font color="red"> The various navel gazing episodes so out of place for a series set against a time limit were JMS's idea.</font>
Please cite your facts to back this up, and define your terms.
<font color="red">TNT made suggestions: some good, some really moronic but most amounted to minor tweaks to the episodes.</font>
Again, you state this as fact. So in this case, I must assume that you have seen the actual notes from TNT, yes? If not, then how do you justify this statement as anything other than your opinion, offered as fact?
And in point of fact, your statement is utterly false. Some of their suggestions included:
"Can we lose the makeup on Dureena (our resident alien character) and make her an alien by her attitude?"
"We'd like to have one of the characters include a sexual explorer, so when they make contact with a new race, his or her job is to go and have sex with them."
"We want to see more fist-fights on the bridge."
"We'd like to see an episode worked around a wrestler, since wrestling is hot right now."
"We think you should give the captain a dog for a pet."
"Rather than have the characters work their way out of the problem as depicted, we think it would be better if Captain Gideon arranges to have Dureena compromised so the antagonist will rape her, and Gideon will catch him in the act, and use this as blackmail to get the character to back off his demands."
Minor tweaks?
<font color="red">JMS's insistence on implementing changes as clumsily as possible probably ensured the demise of Crusade.</font>
Again, you are citing my intention, and my decision on how to implement changes. Please show your work and back this statement up. Further, the decision to cancel Crusade had nothing to do with the content of the show, but rather, as we learned later, the fact that TNT's market research had found that the B5 audience came in for B5 and didn't stay for any of TNT's other programming, and they decided they wanted out, in favor of shows that would bring in a sustained audience increase.
But you didn't know that, did you? Why? Because you have no idea what you're talking about, and are sitting here, behind your keyboard, where you think you're an expert on things you know nothing about, batting around your own opinions as though they were facts hoping that someone would buy the bullshit.
The only problem, of course, is when someone who actually has the facts contradicts your statements or asks you to back them up.
Which you can't. Because they're not true.
Oh, and as for --
<font color="red">If someone suggests replacing dialogue with actually showing an event that does not mean finding the worst looking riot footage possible.</font>
Sorry, but that was also done at TNT's direction. They demanded the inclusion of riot footage at the last moment to show the big repercussions, even though nothing was available that would work. Nor would they give us much money to buy anything else. Those were the shots that met with their approval.
But again, you don't know what you're talking about, so really, what's an exec producer to do?
jms
<hr width="50%">
<font color="red">Just curious JMS, what would have happened if you *ignored* TNT's suggestions, and just continued business-as-usual? We engineers sometimes do that, because the suggestions coming from marketing can not be implemented with current technology! (i.e. non-engineers trying to engineer a product and failing miserably)</font>
I did ignore a great number of them, including all the really egregious ones cited earlier.
<font color="red">Was ignoring TNT's notes possible? And what would the consequences be?</font>
The consequences were that we only got 13 episodes.
jms
([email protected])
(all message content (c) 2004 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)
Oh, and there's been mumblings on the rec.arts.sf.tv.b5.mod newsgroup, the one JMS had originally secluded himself to, that it's been over a month since he's popped up.
That was all I needed to say...back to my nap.
http://www.whitepond.org/ibmw/smileys/sleep.gif
Thanks Wizz. Guess I got my fix from, JMS so far. I enjoy rading him lambasting (SP) a poster who doesnt know what he/she is talking about.
One more new post from JMS, several hints in this one, and for those of you in New Jersey, or close by, here's your first opportunity in 30 years to see him in New Jersey.
Subject: from jms
From: [email protected] (Jms at B5)
Date: 4/29/04 9:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:
I know I've been absent for a while now, but there are reasons, especially in
regards to B5:TMoS. In a project of this nature, and this size, there's stage
one (let's do this) stage two (let's make everybody's deal) and stage three
(making it). We're hip-deep in stage two just now, and it's taking a freaking
long amount of time to get through it all. Stage two is also the most
unnerving and nerve-wracking stage when there's a lot of money involved, as
there is in this situation.
So every day is a case of "Are we there yet?" and being told yes...almost.
I swear, it's the kind of thing that could lead a monk to murder.
Thing of it is...there's a LOT happening right now in the B5 universe, on a
multitude of fronts, some of it in response to TMoS, some of it coming up
completely on its own. All I can say at this moment is that if you've been
waiting for new stuff in the B5 universe, you may be getting your wish in
spades very soon.
Soon, I promise, all will be made clear. I don't like being Mr. Mysterioso on
this, but if I say too much, the-powers-that-be will use my head to make a
2.35:1 sized hole in the wall.
On other fronts....
Ibooks/Simon and Schuster just delivered the final production galleys on
Straczynski Unplugged (originally called JMS Unplugged, which I recommended
over Straczynski Unplugged because I couldn't imagine anyone Asking For It By
Name without blowing out an incisor or two, but who listens to me). It
includes some stories from my Twilight Zone anthology, plus "Say Hello, Mister
Quigley," "Cold Type," "We Killed Them in the Ratings" and "The Salvation of
Lyman Terrell," which have appeared in various publications but have never been
gathered together before in one book, plus a new introduction. I think it
should be hitting stores sometime in the coming month.
Ibooks/Simon and Schuster are going to be putting together a whole line of JMS
books, including a shared universe series of novels and other stuff...more when
I can talk about it.
For those who've been considering getting into the Supreme Power series, Marvel
published a graphic novel containing the first 6 issues last month (it ended up
at #3 out of the top 100 titles). It's a good jumping-on point for the series,
which I'm eminently proud of. (I know, a dangling participle, what can I say?)
I'm doing two other books for Marvel, one of which I think they should be able
to announce soon. The other is the Dream Police book, which I brought over
from Top Cow. Mike Deodato is doing the art, and it's just beautiful. (Mike
is also doing the art on Amazing Spider-Man during John Romita Jr's leave of
absence, and it's very nice indeed.) The first scripts are in on both the new
project, and for the Doc Strange miniseries, and artists have been selected,
but it's up to Marvel to release that info.
Finally...for those who want to support a worthy cause...recently I heard about
a high school in Hawthorne, New Jersey (not far from Paterson, where I was
born) which was having a small comic convention to raise funds for its art
program. The high school arts program for the coming year had to be cut
entirely due to lack of funds, to the point where this past year people
literally had to scrounge in junk yards for wire for sculpture classes.
Initially, I was going to just donate to the cause, but the more I looked into
this, the more it became clear that I had to kind of do something. So I'm
going to be flying out for the day to be at the fund-raiser convention for the
school. (I know, I know...I pass all the big conventions that pay big bucks
and I do this instead...I'm not wired up right, I admit it, but...sometimes you
just gotta do what's right, you know?) It's not an alma mater for me or
anything, but in hailing from Paterson (also Newark and Matawan) when I was a
kid I probably got in fights with kids from Hawthorne, so I figure I owe
something, right?
I got my real start as a writer in high school, through teachers who saw in me
something more than a kid from the streets. Those teachers -- specifically
Rochelle Terry and Joanne Massie at Chula Vista High -- gave me the support I
needed to start following my dreams, so it's a crucial time for others as well,
a time that needs our support, particularly at a time when so many schools are
suffering from similar cuts.
The convention is May 8th, Saturday, and I'll be there to talk, answer
questions, and sign autographs. Now, we usually try to limit signatures to 5
or so per person, but I'm taking the cap off...and in another break with
tradition, in which I never ask for a fee to sign stuff, this time I'll be
charging one buck per autograph, with all of the money going to the high
school. So for those of you in the area with twenty copies of various comics
or books or whatever...this is your chance to stock up. There will also be an
auction to further help raise funds.
Details about the fund-raiser and the other fine guests can be found at:
http://www.newsarama.com/forums/show...threadid=12223
This is the first appearance I've made at any kind of East Coast convention in
years, and the first time I've been in New Jersey in over 30 years, so there's
no way to know how long it'll be before I get into town again. And admission
is only $3, so how can you go wrong?
It's a worthy cause. So if you're in the vicinity, stop by, step up, and do
some good.
If you can't make it, and can't help, check into your local schools and see if
they need help. Because odds are they do.
jms
******************************************
Isn't 2:35:1 the size of a theatrical release? Is that his Vorlon way of admitting it's a Theatrical movie?
Also, I get the impression there's more than just B5:TMoS and an unknown project from the way LOT is all capitalized.
WOOO HOOOOOOOO!
<font face="Palatino Linotype", size="+1", color="blue">Whoa! This is a bit out in left field!</font>
<hr>
<font face="georgia"><font color="red">Hello Joe, at "alt.sexual.abuse.recovery.moderated" someone has made the following suggestion: I should try writing a story in which I meet Vantu, and sit down, talk. I should forget about sex, not because it's wrong or it's not a part of what's going on between Vantu and me, but just because jumping to this fantasy short-circuits the process and prevents important parts of it from happening. I have to communicative with Vantu in order to reach across the fracture lines of a broken self, a process that may go on for weeks, months, and years. People here have explained to me that there is no legal or ethical problem in writing fan-fiction for non-commercial purposes, which this is going to be and yet I am reluctant into doing so. You are one of the Hired Guns who have fathered Vantu; all I need from you is your blessing to use him into doing something good; he could be the greatest ally and teacher I ever had and I might discover that I have a thing or two to teach him as well. What a cool partnership it could be.</font>
This is going to be a very hard thing for you to hear from me, but it has to be said.
I cannot give you "permission" on anything like this because there is no permission for me to give. We can do or say or write anything we want, I don't have control over your life. This is why I didn't give you "permission" to read my novel, because that permission is not mine to give.
Second, and most importantly, I cannot give you permission concerning a fictional character.
There is no Vantu. I did not birth anyone or anything. It is as fictional a creation as Santa or the Easter Bunny.
I need you to listen to me very carefully: you are fixated on a fictional character and letting that drive your life. You must, must, must seek professional help. You won't find it in the news groups, even the well-intended ones, because what you are going through -- delusional behavior -- is only really treatable by medicine. I've been down this road with other people, I know what I'm saying...and if you put stock in what I say, then you have to put stock in this as well.
I wrote some cool stuff for the character of Vantu, but there's one big difference between him, and you: you're real. "Vantu" isn't. We picked the name Vantu because it was close in sound to Vishnu. That's it. That's as deep as it goes. There is no "there" there.
If, as you say, my words have had meaning to you, then take these to heart: tomorrow, not the day after, but tomorrow, go to a local clinic and find someone to talk to about this. Show them this email, if you have to. Explain the whole situatoin to them, they'll listen.
The thoughts you have about all this can be moderated and helped chemically, because there is an imbalance at work that is making you believe in something that does not exist, and that someone halfway around the globe has to give you permission to do things that people do every day, otherwise you can't do them.
If you want the darkness to go away, you have to move away from it and into the light you always quote in your sigs...but that light can't be found here. It will only be found in the office of a caring physician who can help you find your way back to where the rest of the world is waiting for your return.
This will be my last message to you until and unless you can confirm that you've done this. I don't think it's healthy for you otherwise.
jms
<hr>
BTW to all the comics folks...I just found out that Dynamic Forces will be donating stuff for the auction to help the school, that Marvel is going to be donating other stuff...and that none other than Marvel's very own Editor in Chief Joe Quesada hisownself will be there around noon to lend support.
Anybody at DC care to up the ante...?
jms
</font>
([email protected])
(all message content (c) 2004 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)
Wow, very out there.
Hey Aziz! You gotta get over to that school and get some signed comics from JMS! Perhaps some of the 911 issues?
Sorry dude. I'm working two jobs right now and won't be able to make it to that. It is about 2 hours away and I just don't have time these days. [img]frown.gif[/img]
Bummer, would have been cool! I know peoplein Jersey, but they wouldnt do it for me. LoL
Bummer, would have been cool! I know peoplein Jersey, but they wouldnt do it for me. LoL
From: [email protected] (Jms at B5)
Date: Sat, 22 May 2004 23:43:05 +0000 (UTC)
Lines: 35
I was awakened today with several phone calls from cast members and Doug to
pass along the terrible news that this morning, Richard Biggs passed away.
We're still gathering information, so take none of this as firm word, but what
seems to have happened, happened quickly. He woke up, got up out of bed...and
went down. The paramedics who showed up suggested it was either an aneurysm or
a massive stroke.
His family members have been informed, and all of the the cast have, as far as
we can determine, also been informed.
This is a terrible loss for all of us. Richard was a consummate professional
but more than that he was an honorable, stand-up guy. If he gave you his word
on something, you never had to wonder about it afterward. He was always
helpful and supportive of all the cast, even those who only came in for one
episode, always with a ready smile and determined to do whatever it took to
make the scene work. He was, quite simply, a terrific guy, and everyone here
is just devastated at the news.
More word as this develops. We may try to have some kind of fund raiser to
help give whatever assistance may be helpful for his kids.
We all miss him terribly.
jms
<font face="georgia">I was awakened today with several phone calls from cast members and Doug to pass along the terrible news that this morning, Richard Biggs passed away.
We're still gathering information, so take none of this as firm word, but what seems to have happened, happened quickly. He woke up, got up out of bed...and went down. The paramedics who showed up suggested it was either an aneurysm or a massive stroke.
His family members have been informed, and all of the the cast have, as far as we can determine, also been informed.
This is a terrible loss for all of us. Richard was a consummate professional but more than that he was an honorable, stand-up guy. If he gave you his word on something, you never had to wonder about it afterward. He was always helpful and supportive of all the cast, even those who only came in for one episode, always with a ready smile and determined to do whatever it took to make the scene work. He was, quite simply, a terrific guy, and everyone here is just devastated at the news.
More word as this develops. We may try to have some kind of fund raiser to help give whatever assistance may be helpful for his kids.
We all miss him terribly.
jms</font>
I cant believe we still have not heard anything onthe new B5 project...this is maddening.
Well, I'd like to believe if Richard Biggs hadn't passed away we would heard something that week,or the following week. I think out of respect for keeping his story the #1 story in the B5 Universe for a period of time was the right thing to do.
Also, what might his passing on, do to the project? How big would his part have been? Does his part need to be re-written for another character, and in turn negotiations be stretched out to accomodate that?
Now that a reasonable amount of mourning time has passed, hopefully we will be told something soon, at least that there was a delay, and things should be back on track by such and such a date, or the whole thing needs to be scrapped because he was too big a part of it, or whatever.
I am not sure what role Bigg's character would have had in the new series, movie whatever it is. I have read an interview with Jerry Doyle where he flat out said he would not act in a B5 production again. It appears that Jerry and Bruce thougth that Joe was behind an effort to raise money and continue the B5 story. When they had the money together, JMS pulled out and made it sound like he never backed the notion. Jerry was way pissed off and decided he would not work with JMS again. I hav enot heard JMS's side of this, only Doyle's.
If Jerry was pissed off, there is a possibility that others in the B5 cast were angry and might not be willing to work on the series again.
There was no mention of Richard in Jerry's accounting, so it might not have influenced th elikelihood of incorporating the charactrer of Franklin.
Also, Franklin is on earth at the time of the plague. As such, the series has to be set on earth during the plague (At least initially) or occur after the plague is solved (which is easily accomplished) for Franklin to be a regular.
A little something on B5:TMOS (At least a title and a promise for more at a later point in time)
Courtesy of KoshN, at B5TV
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jms at B5"
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
Sent: Monday, June 14, 2004 8:26 AM
Subject: various from jms
> My apologies for the prolonged absence, but the loss of Richard Biggs kind of
> took the wind out of our sails and it's taken a while for me to feel up to
> saying anything about B5. This has also had the effect of slowing up anything
> to do with B5:TMoS (which as some of you have guessed or inferred does indeed
> stand for The Memory of Shadows), because in the writing we/I never imagined he
> wouldn't be here to be a part of it. More on that another time.
>
> The funeral itself was a very moving ceremony. It was a point of some pride
> that, although Richard had worked on a variety of shows, and all of them were
> present to varying degrees, the largest contingent was from Babylon 5. The B5
> family gathered in full strength, because whatever internecine hassles may have
> come up between anybody, there wasn't one person on that show who didn't think
> Richard was just a nifty, nifty guy.
>
> There were many crew members present, from art department to camera and office
> staff...DP John Flinn, directors Tony Dow and Jesus Trevino, and literally all
> the major or minor cast members with the exception of Jeff Conaway (who was out
> of town and couldn't make it), Peter Jurasik (who was attending another funeral
> on the other side of the country) and Joshua Cox (ditto...it was a bad week for
> a lot of people).
>
> So from the cast we had: Bruce, Jerry, Mira (and Goran), Andreas, Claudia,
> Walter, Bill, Pat, Marjorie, Tracy, Stephen, Jason, Caitlin, and others I may
> have missed or forgotten. From the writing/producing side it was me, Kathryn,
> Larry DiTillio, Doug, John Copeland, Kevin Cremin, Skip Beaudine, others.
>
> Out of respect for the privacy of the family, I won't go into details of the
> ceremony itself. Suffice to say that he was dearly loved by all, and his
> family is held in that same affection by everyone who was there.
>
> I was going to go into more stuff here in general, but I don't seem to have it
> in me at the moment. More later, then.
>
>
> jms
>
>
> (all message content (c) 2004 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
> permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
> and don't send me story ideas)
Courtesy of Sigma from B5TV
Another JMS post:
From: [email protected] (jms at b5)
Subject: re: various from jms
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
Date: 6/15/2004 5:58:58 AM >
No Thread
Okay, let's try this again. Best to break the ice by just sort of doing a
round-up of what's going on and what's coming and suchlike.
I'll try to address some of the questions that have come up about what's coming
up.
On the movies DVDs, and what's inside: the main thing is that we've got
commentaries on literally every one of them. Mike Vejar and I did a commentary
on In the Beginning, I did one with John Iacovelli on The Gathering, and
another with Janet Greek and Tracy Scoggins on River of Souls. I can't
remember now if I solo'd on A Call to Arms or if Mike was there as well (it all
blurs after a while...I've done something like fifteen of these things by now).
There's a separate cast commentary on Thirdspace with, I think, Pat, Jeff,
Jesus Trevino, and one or two others.
On the Crusade DVDs, there's one commentary I did on the original pilot (once
WB and I came to a meeting of minds, to wit, "I'm gonna say what happened to
the show, what *really* happened...you got a problem with that?". There's a
second commentary track with Fiona, Janet, Peter Woodward and Carrie Dobro.
(We interrupt this message with a coded message for our friends in England and
Australia: keep your eyes on the horizon.)
One oddity...constant readers will remember a while back when I was asked what
TMoS was, and I provided a list of things it *wasn't*. The aforementioned
oddity is...one of those things has come up as an adjunct to TMoS.
Also, expect word fairly soon-ish about a new series of B5 novels.
Elsewhere on the prose front...Straczynski Unplugged is out now, and
Tribulations will be coming out in December.
I've turned in all three final Rising Stars scripts, and the first issue of the
last arc comes out in October, I hear.
Next week a new arc and a new artist starts on Amazing Spider-Man, and it's a
stinking cool issue. You can read a preview of the whole issue for free at:
http://www.milehighcomics.com/firstl...vel/spidey509/
On other projects...I'm making sudden progress with the medieval play I've been
twiddling with for the last few years, and may have it done in the next couple
of months. Once that happens, my plan is to do a limited, small production for
two weeks or so here in LA, just to see how the text works with an audience,
then take it away for another few months, twiddle with it some more, then go
for a larger venue. I may do something similar in London, since I may be
spending a bit amount of time there fairly soon.
And for those who've asked, I won't be in attendence at San Diego Comic Con
this year due to a variety of commitments.
Oh...and I've been offered an EP position on a network series, and while I
don't usually do that on shows I don't create or develop, when I heard what
this project was, I had to get on board. We still have to negotiate a deal,
and work out how that will interface with the stuff that'll be going on later
in the year, but fortunately the start date for the series should work out, at
least at this point.
jms
----------------------------------------------
So, we have more novels coming, a series that he's executive Producing that he didn't create, and TMoS. What a banner day
From :
Reply-To : [email protected]
Sent : 16 June 2004 08:22:07
To : [email protected]
Subject : [B5JMS] various from jms
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: "Pete Galey"
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 21:16:13 +0000 (UTC)
Lines: 42
Chris Patterson wrote:
> In article ,
> [email protected] (Jms at B5) wrote, amongst lots of good news :
>
>> (We interrupt this message with a coded message for our friends in
>> England and Australia: keep your eyes on the horizon.)
>> I may do something similar in London, since I may be
>> spending a bit amount of time there fairly soon.
WOOOHOOOO! JMS IS* COMING TO LONDON!!!!!!!
>> Oh...and I've been offered an EP position on a network series, and
>> while I don't usually do that on shows I don't create or develop,
>> when I heard what this project was, I had to get on board.
Now, I don't normally go in for this "piecing the clues together" stuff, but... it *can't* be Doctor Who, can it? As far as I know the production team and all scripting slots are booked in, at least for the upcoming season... but my God, that would be a dream come true. Russell Davies, Steven Moffat and J Michael Straczynski on the same show. I would, actually, burst.
> Just wondering, Joe... should our Brit friends here be out hunting
> flats for you? We're all here to help, after all...
Heh. Joe's probably the only guy who can afford to live in London at the
moment...
Pete
* OK, he only says "may", but I thought I'd reproduce exactly what I just
screamed.
--
www.petergaley.com
Official spokesperson for the "Not Keen
On This Billie Piper Idea" consortium
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: [email protected] (Jms at B5)
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 23:22:17 +0000 (UTC)
Lines: 16
>Now, I don't normally go in for this "piecing the clues together" stuff,
>but... it *can't* be Doctor Who, can it?
Negative. It'd be a dream come true, no mistake, but no, it ain't that.
jms
([email protected])
(all message content (c) 2004 by synthetic worlds, ltd., permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine and don't send me story ideas)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
JMS in London?! [img]graemlins/party.gif[/img]
<font face="georgia"><font color="red">A few years ago a story went round that the credits on the Crusade episodes were incorrect. For instance Jeffery Willerth had been left off.
Has the conversion to DVD been used to correct the credits?</font>
Insofar as I can recall, he was no longer a part of the production team at that point, so the credit situation was not an error.
jms
<hr width="75%">
<font color="red">Thanks to Wendy of PA, I have two more short video clips of JMS at the Hawthorne con. One is the footage from the photo shoot that we did by my car; and the other is from the classroom Q&A (where I tell JMS about how Enterprise did a little creative 'borrowing' in their episode "E Squared" - and he threatens me with a rubberband <g>).
The videos can be found at the bottom of: http://www.fjordstone.com/jmscon/</font>
Good god, but I'm an annoying fellow....
<font color="red">By the way, did Buddy like his present?</font>
Yes, he plays shark with it on a regular basis. (Translation: there's a clear plastic sheet -- harmless -- on one of the floors for some work being done, and he gets under it and circles the toy atop the plastic like a shark underwater. He's deeply disturbed.)
jms
<hr width="75%">
<font color="blue"> Over on one of the British B5 groups, they've been speculating that you're about to take over "Enterprise", but unless you've suddenly started using the word "series" in the British TV sense (i.e., what US TV calls a "season [of a series]"), that's out.
</font><font color="green">Enterprise has already been taken over by Manny Cotto. And why would jms go and work for Star Trek??
</font><font color="red">Manny Coto is, I believe, show runner; not EP.</font>
No, just to clarify, though I got a call last year about coming onto Enterprise, offering an EP position, and declined; the series I mentioned has nothing to do with any current series, it's a new show. As for Manny, he's a good writer, and left to his own devices, I think he could be a big help over there without the other powers that be impeding the process.
Amusingly enough, on the Trek front, Bryce Zabel (the creator of Dark Skies) and I got together and wrote a treatment earlier this year that specified how to save ST and develop a series that would restore the series in a big way. I actually think it could be a hell of a show. Whether that ever goes anywhere with Paramount, who knows?
jms
JMS's book Othersyde is being solicted for retailer orders. I'm going to order a few, let me know if you want one. It retails at 12 bucks, but we'll discount it.
<font face="georgia"><font color="red">But if you're going to argue for the value of dissent, then tolerance has to be equilateral. The alternative is the hypocrisy of "tolerating" those whose dissent you already agree with and rejecting dissent from those that you don't.</font>
There's a misperception about how such arguments should be phrased in the popular media, however. The problem is the attempt to create tolerance through supposed balance...and they're not the same thing.
One person gave a great example...if Bush said the world was flat, the papers would rush out and get other opinions, then run articles entitled "Bush, Democrats Differ On Shape of World."
It's balance of a point of view, but it's not an accurate portrayal of the facts.
I've seen Moore's film, and my sense of it is this: about 70% of the film consist of very solid and well-researched facts that have been reported and confirmed by a variety of respected sources, then further vetted by a battery of attorneys.
The remaining 30% is the analysis of those facts. You may or may not agree with some of those analyses.
But the facts themselves are damning enough. That 70% is one hell of a 70%.
And I'm sorry, but to argue about the merits about Moore's film without bothering to see it is about as asinine and ignorant as anything I've ever seen. You can't just cite his "prose" in an ambiguous way and come to conclusions about something you haven't deigned to see.
As Harlan says, you're not entitled to your opinion...you're entitled to your INFORMED opinion. If you haven't bothered to be informed about something, to be properly educated -- in this case by seeing the thing you're discussing -- then sorry, but your opinion is less than worthless. It may serve for your amusement, but that's all.
There's the story of a group of philosophers who were sitting around debating how many teeth were in the mouth of a donkey. A kid sitting nearby suggested they simply go out and count the teeth. They booted him out and went back to speculating in a vacuum because somehow that was purer.
But history has shown who was truly the ass in that discussion.
jms</font>
([email protected])
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permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)
<font face="georgia"><font color="red">You say that the movies "facts" have been "confirmed by a variety of respected sources." Can you name even one of those respected sources?</font>
Well, let's see...there are the documents provided by the Pentagon concerning Bush's military service (since you identify yourself as a member of the USAF you must put some credibility in the Pentagon), the Washington Post which stated that Bush spent about 42% of the time prior to 9/11 on vacation, a statistic that has not been challenged by anyone, and there's film -- unedited -- of Bush that speaks volumes, and nobody's said it's CGI.
You say that --
<font color="red">5% is out right lies, 35% are distortions of the facts, and 30% is analysis of of those lies and distortions.</font>
-- but you don't say what those lies are. You cite very specific breakdowns, so you could perhaps delineat those figures for us a bit more. Becaue if you're going to be mathematical in your allegation, I'm going to ask you to be equally mathematical in showing your homework. Specifiy what those are, please.
Because for all the complaints from some quarters about the film, and the general, vague statements of "it's filled with lies," nobody has yet come forth to specify what those falsehoods *are*. I woud love to hear your specificities here.
Or are you just repeating what others have said to you?
jms
<hr>
<font color="red">Happy Birthday, Joe!
</font>
........feh.
I mean, yeah, it beats the alternatives, but NOT AS FUCKING MUCH AS IT USED TO.
feh
jms
([email protected])</font>
(all message content (c) 2004 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)
From: "Blurrt" <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, 7 Aug 2004 19:41:05 +0000 (UTC)
Lines: 21
Hi All,
I know it may still be a difficult subject for some - but I would like to
raise the question of who would be the perfect actor to take on the role of
Dr Franklin - and do it in a manner that could preserve the character.
I'm thinking Don Franklin (the last name seems almost prophetic!) - he
appeared as the first officer in the old series Seaquest DSV. He's the the
only actor that I can imagine delivering the lines the way Richard Biggs did
("I'm going to ask that little lady for a dance", "Now, wait a minute",
etc).
The fandom would also be more likely to accept someone they may have some
familiarity with and who has a science fiction background.
Just a thought.
Nathan.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: [email protected] (Jms at B5)
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2004 04:59:27 +0000 (UTC)
Lines: 17
>I would like to
>raise the question of who would be the perfect actor to take on the role of
>Dr Franklin - and do it in a manner that could preserve the character.
That character will not be recast.
jms
([email protected])
(all message content (c) 2004 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)
_______________________________________________
B5JMS mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.cs.columbia.edu/mailman/listinfo/b5jms
So, no Dr Franklin in tMoS then [img]frown.gif[/img]
I personally prefer No Dr. Franklin, to a recast Dr. Franklin.
From: [email protected] (jms at b5)
Subject: from jms 8/23/04
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
Date: 8/23/2004 7:06:26 PM
Just some quick, minor updates....
In the comics world...Supreme Power 12 came out last week, and the next Amazing Spider-Man comes out this week, and I'm very happy with how both of them came out. It's a good time to jump on board.
I was recently in NYC for a big retreat/conference with Marvel about upcoming projects, and while there are several I can't talk about yet, one thing I can mention is that I'll be doing a Silver Surfer miniseries that should shake people up a bit.
There's also going to be something very weird and funny coming from Marvel soon, which will give them cause to never, ever invite me to one of these things ever again.
Also, the first of the last three Rising Stars issues comes out next month as well as the co-written first issue of the Doctor Strange miniseries.
On the TV front, I have final confirmation that the last batch of Jeremiah episodes will be airing on the regular Showtime channels starting September 3rd. The episodes are:
Sept 3: Crossing Jordan and Running On Empty
Sept 10:: The Question and The Past Is Prologue
Sept 17: The Face In The Mirror and State Of The Union
Sept 24: Interregnum (Parts 1 and 2)
All of them are really strong episodes, and I'm glad to see them finally being aired.
Pending contractual negotiations and formal pickup by the networks involved, I've been offered two different series, so we'll see which goes first. They could both be very cool to work on, but one of them could be insanely successful. I should know more about this situation in late October. (Neither is Trek-related, just to nip any potential rumors in the bud.)
Starting sometime in October, in an unrelated project, our friends in Britain can expect to see me hanging about on-and-off in the general vicinity of London. Just, y'know, workin', doin' stuff.
I've also tentatively agreed (pending working out some details) to appear at FedCon in Bonn, Germany in May of next year. In an unrelated story, my radio series, The City of Dreams, will also apparently be airing soon on German radio. For those of you who can speak the langauge, you can get more information at http://www.sf-radio.net/radio/spezial/
The next of my novels to be reprinted from ibooks/Simon and Schuster is Tribulations, due out in December, which can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...d=1093312226/s
r=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-9872970-8247801?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Volume 2 of the Supreme Power collection, also due out in December, can be pre-ordered at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...-9872970-82478 01?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Buddy the Miracle Cat (or Buddy TMC as he is known to his hip-hop friends) celebrated his first re-birthday last month, and has decided that he wants to be a shark instead of a cat. There's clear plastic covering one of the floors while work is being done, and he loves nothing more than to get under the plastic (lots of holes for air, don't worry) and circle around me like a shark, over and over. It's all he wants to do anymore.
Oh, and in the next week or so I should be turning in the next-to-final draft of the TMoS screenplay.
I got this from a Claudia Christian Newsletter:
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Zathras was one of my favorite characters. Zathras not the one, but Tim will be missed. [img]frown.gif[/img]Quote:
Hello everyone,
It is with great sadness that I pass this along to all of you. I just found out
this morning that Tim Choate aka Zathras from B5 has died in a tragic motorcycle
accident. There will be a trust fund set up for his young son. As soon as I find
out that info, I will put it up on the links site so you can make donations if you
like.
He was a personal friend of mine and was always nice to all the fans.
holly
Public service info - from jms
On the theory that patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels...a bit of news for folks who might have missed this little wonderfulness in the latest mailings from their bank.
Using the rationale that this is a good way to prevent paperwork from getting into the hands of terrorists to use in filtering money (among other similar justifications) starting October 28th banks and other financial institutions are no longer under any requirement to send back your canceled checks. ('Cause they could get intercepted in the mail and used for devious purposes.)
Under the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act, instead of getting your check back, you will get either a line on your statement about it, or if you request it, a slip of paper that has the basic information (but not anything you wrote on the memo line, and no copies of your signature front or back to determine if it's legit).
The way it works normally is that you write a check, it goes to a bank, they send it on to a central check processing center, and from the center it goes back to your bank, which sends it on to you. Now the cycle stops at the check processing center. They do point out that they hold the checks for a year...but if you should, say, be audited, the IRS can request checks going back much further than that. And you won't be able to get them. (I haven't checked on this, but I believe that the only way you can now get your checks from the processing center is...wait for it...to pay a fee.)
This has been very little publicized, so I thought it would be a good idea to let people know that this was going on. I didn't know about it myself until my accountant mentioned it, and I was able to confirm it with my bank.
This modern age...gotta love it.
Oh, and for the first time in five years, there is an office somewhere in England with the words Babylon 5 on the door....
jms
We are edging ever closer:
The latest issue of Dreamwatch says that the B5 office is at Elstree Film Studios.
They also say that the production is being led by Peter Heslop. No word on an official announcement though.
Date: Wed, 8 Dec 2004 11:55:11 +0000 (UTC)
Lines: 12
t.k. wrote:
>(he did apparently
>get his way on the commentaries though--I look forward to hearing that).
I've listened to the commenary and features but I haven't heard anything really
about what happened. Certainly not anything like the story we were told at
Hawthorne. One wonders if they gave in and let JMS talk about what happened
and then simply edited it out.
Jan
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
From: [email protected] (Jms at B5)
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 10:10:05 +0000 (UTC)
Lines: 51
>I've listened to the commenary and features but I haven't heard anything
>really
>about what happened. Certainly not anything like the story we were told at
>Hawthorne. One wonders if they gave in and let JMS talk about what happened
>and then simply edited it out.
Yes, that's exactly what happened.
I sat down to watch the DVD set yesterday, having picked it up at the local
store, and went to the commentary. I'd put that information at the very start
of my commentary.
Now, understand: what I'd told WB was this....if you want me to do the
commentary, my requirement is that you let me tell what really happened. If
you want to use the commentary, you have to leve that in. If you don't want to
have that in, then don't use the commentary at all. Everybody agreed.
So I started it up...listened...and it was gone.
In its place is a segment taken from the on-camera interview.
This was the one tape they didn't send me for approval, which being busy I
didn't track back, but I was always told there wasn't a problem. At no time
did ANYONE from WB or New Wave Entertainment tell me that this was being done.
Doing these DVDs was the only way I had to date to get the bad taste of that
experience out of my mouth, the sheer dishonesty and rudeness of it all.
So much for that goal.
The term "furious" doesn't even begin to cover it. I'm normally a very quiet,
soft spoken kind of guy.
But last night I broke the sound barrier and the dictionary all at the same
time.
Furious.
You have no idea.
jms
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and don't send me story ideas)
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 13, 2004 01:35 PM: Message edited by: ianviking ]</font>
I'm confused, what was left out of the commentary? JMS has so many disputs, I'm not sure which one this is? Anyone know?
Hi All,
It's with a heavy heart I bring you the following rumor, which surfaced right after the rumor above. Neither has been officially confirmed, but, B5 sites are on fire with the this latest rumor.
The latest rumor is that WB is trying to force JMS to recast the B5 roles in TMoS with big names. The answer to the rumor above, is that JMS agreeing to center TMos around a new character would be a compromise (Bring in a big name for the role of Diane Baker, and leave the other existing roles intact with their original actors.
A letter writing campaign is beginning to take shape. If you visit sites that ceneter around another Scifi show such as Farscape, Star Trek, Stargate, etc, please post something on those sites that would have B5 fans on them as well. This part is important, as the hard core B5 fans will most likely get the word through osmosis, but fair weather fans who are more into other shows may also jump on the bandwagon.
If you do write letters (which all B5 fans who are concerned would appreciate) be polite and thankful for the DVD releases, and for the possibility of a feature film (TMoS). But be clear that if the actors for existing roles are replaced that you wouldn't be interested in seeing it, and believe it would be a grand mistake. Be sure to also include that you realize it is a rumor, and that it concerns you.
This information comes from people who know people, who know things. Logic says that by now, if there is no truth to these rumors, that JMS would have squashed them, as he could say something like "There are no discussions to recast any existing roles in any future B5 projects". If it's true, JMS is between a rock and a hard place, if he says it's true, he will be breaking his "gag order". If he denies it and it's true, he would be lieing to us fans, and we all know that is not something JMS will ever do, even with a gun to his head.
So get the word out, and I will update with addresses to mail concerns to. If someone else can post those adresses before I am able to, that would be terrific.
Mailing information
if you want, you can snail mail to WB at the main address and make it attention development department or even be bold and make it attention Babylon 5 or TMoS.
Warner Bros.
Features Development Dept.
4000 Warner Boulevard
Burbank, CA 91522
And thanks to z^3 over at JMSNews we now have the Elstree address!
Elstree Film Studios
Shenley Rd
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
WD6 1JG
United Kingdom
You can also make it?
Attn: Babylon 5: The Memory of Shadows
or
Attn: Babylon 5 Production Offices
or since we?ve been told that Peter Heslop is the Production Manager?something like:
Elstree Film Studios
Babylon 5 Production Offices
Borehamwood, Hertfordshire
WD6 1JG
United Kingdom
Attn: Peter Heslop, Production Manager
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 13, 2004 12:37 PM: Message edited by: sindatur ]</font>
Yeah, big ole "HUH?" from me too. What was JMS wanting to vent about?
He told WB, the only way he would do a commentary on Crusade, was if he could tell the whole story about how TNT Atlanta Suits jacked around and sabotaged Crusade. He told them they could use the commentary intact or not at all, and if anything changed they needed to let him know.
WB agreed to let him tell the whole story. JMS popped in the DVD with the commentary on it, and discovered that they had edited it, without letting him know.
<font=georgia><font color="red">
Do you have a transcript of the original that you can send out to whomever will take it (Cinescape, SciFiWire), or better yet (though unlikely), the audio?
</font>
No, though it's mainly what I've said online, I just wanted it to be available to a wider audience, all in one place.
jms
<hr width="50%">
<font color="red">I guess noone at WB would admitt that they basicly had lied to Joe. But I do hope that the truth will come out one way or another.
Joe, will there ever be a conversation between you and WB about this "faux-pas"?</font>
Oh, that conversation has already begun.
My latest email reads as follows:
"Scott --
Since you have not replied to my email asking why the bait-and-switch was done in regards to my commentary, I have no idea why this was done or how you plan to rectify the situation.
Many fans are asking the same questions of me, but since I don't have this information, I though the simplest and most efficient solution would be to give them your email address so they can inquire of you directly. If I don't hear back in a couple of days, I'll assume you don't mind."
jms</font>
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ December 20, 2004 10:01 PM: Message edited by: Wizz ]</font>
<font face="georgia"><font color="red">I would like to ask you why in the world you would play insult toward the Holy See; I am a big fan of your show, but after watching Crusade for the first time, you made on purpose a female Pope; this does NOT even in the slightest coincide with our beliefs nor would cannon change. We are not protestants, nor do we get along with them when it comes to dogma.</font>
Two things....
First, as you probably know, the Roman Catholic Church has been hoping for a long time now to re-unite with the other churches that broke off from it long ago...which do, in many cases, recognize female priests.
If the church achieves its goal, then it will probably have to make that adjustment over time. That being the case, the possibility of a female pope is altogether reasonable.
Second, are you aware that during the Black Plague, when the ranks of priests had been decimated by illness and death, the church allowed the ordination of female priests to minister to the sick? Because if they didn't, they wouldn't HAVE anybody else.
Further to this point...for centuries, Catholic priests were allowed to marry. This only changed when the children of priests began to make the claim that they, not the church, owned the land on which the churches were built. When this became too problematic, they passed the rule that priests could not marry.
The church's dogma has always been flexible when it was politically or financially expedient. Those who think otherwise have no familiarity with history.
jms
<hr>
Re: Danger folks.. Warner Bros is screwing with TMOS Casting..
I would like to be able to comment on this, but for the time being I am not able to do so.
jms
I believe that last line is pretty damn telling. If there was no truth to the rumors of recasting, JMS could simply say, "There are no discussions of replacing original B5 characters in any forthcoming projects" (or something like that) and easily get around the gag order. So, there's no reason why he couldn't shoot down the rumors if they are false. Since he says he can't comment, that pretty much says he's bound by the gag order, which leads me to believe the rumors are true.
I've sent my letter to WB already.
<font face=georgia>
I know I've been hunkered down a bit of late, and there have been very good reasons for it...which someday I suspect I will be able to tell, perhaps in the form of another fairy tale....
So in the interim, a quick roundup.
I'd say that the next two weeks are going to be critical for the future of TMoS. There have been a variety of conversations about a variety of things and people, and some offers are starting to go out to various individuals...so we shall see what we shall see.
On the subject of the Crusade DVD commentary...I see another fairy tale looming in the future...WB has agreed, after quite a bit of noise, to remove the commentary that I did from all future pressings of the set, since that was the deal that we had made: use it all, including the explanation of what happened, or use none of it. So those of you who have your DVDs now, and for the next bit, will have that commentary. Those afterward won't. I don't know when the next pressing will be, but whenever that is, is when the change takes place.
AOL as some have noted is closing down its newsgroup system, so I'm going to have to retrench. Consequently, I may be offline for a bit...though I'll likely be off regardless for the next bit while the dust settles on TMoS.
I've added a comics convention appearance in Canada this summer, but I'll let the con in question do the announcing at the proper time rather than pre-empting them.
In February at one point I'll also be in Toronto to co-direct my radio drama series "The Adventures of Apocalypse Al" for CBC Radio. It should be a great deal of fun. It's kind of Monty Python Meets The Maltese Falcon En Route To the End of the World.
In relation to the comics stuff...my first issue of Fantastic Four (entitled "Distant Music") will be coming out in June, the same month that my graphic novel Dream Police *finally* hits the stores. Mike Deodato has had to squeeze in the artwork between issues of Amazing Spider-Man, but it's been worth the wait. It's just gorgeous...very film noir but also very funny.
We've also found an artist finally for The Book of Lost Souls, which will be debuting from Marvel in September. I can't reveal her name yet, because that has to come through Marvel, but she's a very well known and popular artist.
Finally, for those of you who know Fiona Avery's work from Crusade, B5 and her own comics, I'm informed that her first novel, "The Crown Rose," is due to come out in hardcover from Prometheus Books. It's a historical fantasy set in Medieval France and quite good. You can locate the book at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846
It would be great if the B5 fans out there could give this book a great send-off.
More on other stuff when I can post it.
jms
</font>