JMS Speaks (again)

**sindatur** · January 30th, 2004, 10:44 PM

Hi Wizz,

Sorry to steal your thunder, but, I thought this was too important not to post right away.

(From B5LotR official site):
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Here's JMS' latest post--enjoy!

It's taken longer than hoped for to be able to talk about this, because it's
taken longer than hoped for to go through all the machinations of the deal.
Depending on the nature of a given deal, it can take a few weeks to a couple,
three months to actually cut the deal and finalize the language in terms
everybody can agree with. We only literally finished the deal last week.

Writing on B5:TMoS is complete, and as soon as the powers that be sign off on
everything, it can be turned in and we can start moving. At that point, I can
say more about this.

Figure another couple of weeks.

jms
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Speculation seems to running wild as to the initials, which JMS apparently did on purpose, just to make us salivate and theorize a little longer

**AsIs** · January 31st, 2004, 04:50 PM

Very Cool! Thanks Bird Brain! [img]smile.gif[/img]

**Wizz** · February 3rd, 2004, 04:41 PM

No problem, Sindatur...none at all. Sometimes I think I'm a one-man band, but that's ok too. (I do miss Lyta, though...)

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Writing on B5:TMoS is complete, and as soon as the powers that be sign off on everything, it can be turned in and we can start moving. At that point, I can say more about this.

Figure another couple of weeks.

Just to honk you off even further about all this...in the speculation of titles...one of you was correct.

jms

[Just so you know, JMS hasn't released the title yet, so the best we have so far is B5:TMoS and a bunch of guesses as to what it is from a bunch of posters in the newsgroups - Wizz]
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In your mind, is the story told when you've finished writing it, when you've finished filming (or revising in the case of print) or once the audience gets it?

It's told once I've finished writing it. It's experienced later, and my job between the two points it to make sure it doesn't get screwed up.

jms
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Probably a rumor....

But was told that a) Uncanny is not being rebooted with a new #1 and b) Straczynski was going to take on Uncanny X-Men.

And even more important he was going in own direction seperate from Morrison and Clairmont, where Clairmont could meet his vision but in no way shape or form would make an effort to match Clairmont's vision.

So its a rumor. I have no proof. But was curious if anyone heard more..and more important who is the next major writer of Uncanny? (and yes I heard Whedon but I roll my eyes at that one).

Nope, nope, and not to put too fine a point on it...nope.

jms

**Wizz** · February 18th, 2004, 04:16 PM

Of course not. The point to my post in context, which you reaffirm above, was that business decisions in the entertainment industry are always made on percieved notions of quality.

Sometimes they are right, and a project is mercifully stuffed. Sometimes they are wrong, and a worthy project is not given its due.
My point stands.

Your point could not possibly be more incorrect.

Movies are green-lit because the studios think they can make money from it. Period. If it's a quality movie, great, but that's secondary to: will we get a profit out of it? Frankly, it's *harder* to ge a quality movie made these days than ever. It took "Secondhand Lions" ten years to get made, as just one recent example.

But commercial movies that can get cranked out and pull in the money, regardless of the actual quality of the product, are simplest of all to put forth. Freddy vs. Jason, Alien vs. Predator, the last couple of Batman movies...80% of what gets pumped out to movie theaters is awful. What we remember are the stellar 20%, but those are the ones that were hardest to get going, that took years and blood and shouting to get made...but for which everyone subsequently takes full credit.

Your assumption, and the truth, dine at totally separate tables.

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)

**Nommy** · February 22nd, 2004, 08:06 PM

OK, Its been 2 weeks.. I still say that TMoS is "The
Mark of Shadows"

[ February 22, 2004 04:07 PM: Message edited by: Nommy ]

**Wizz** · February 27th, 2004, 03:36 AM

Y'know, if there's anything more annoying than having to sit on good news, I can't think of what it might be. (Well, okay, being staked to an ant hill at high noon is a pretty obvious one, but you get the idea.)

The only things I can say right now about B5:TMoS is that now that all the correct agreements have been signed, sealed and delivered, the draft has gone in, met with great enthusiasm all around, notes have been received, and the next draft is in process and has to be delievered within two weeks so that certain other steps can be set into motion.

I still can't tell you what it *is* because that has to come from the proper people through the proper channels at the proper time...but I can tell you a few cases of what it *isn't*...it isn't a novel, or a short story, a comic, an animated series, a radio drama or a stage play. Beyond that, deponent sayeth not.

Except to say that it's pretty cool.

On a side-note...for those following the Suprme Power books...as good as the series has been to date, and selling in the top 15 pretty consistently, the next two issues, 8 and 9, the first of which goes on sale March 3rd, are going to put this book on the map in a big way. They're just stellar issues. If you haven't gotten into the book yet, now (or backtracking to issue 7, the start of the new arc) would be a good time to do so, because it's going to start kicking some serious ass.

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)

**Nommy** · March 16th, 2004, 11:37 PM

OK OK OK OK OK OK I aM GETTING so frustrated! KARINA! HELP!

**sindatur** · March 22nd, 2004, 06:57 PM

A new cryptic clue:

Subject: quick note
From: [email protected] (Jms at B5)
Date: 3/19/04 9:01 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id:

The trade paperback containing the first six issues of Supreme Power hit the
stands this past week, for those who want to jump on.

Oh...and starting around the Ides of May, look to the wrong side of the river
for word from Harry, Jack and Albert.

Not that I'm enjoying this, of course....
jms

Popular consensus is that Harry Jack and Albert are Warner Bros. Executives, Ides of May is obvious (May 15, or thereabouts). Wrong side of the river is highly contested, but, in Mid May the Networks announce their Fall Season and start selling air time and New York is apparently known as being on the wrong side of the river if you are from New Jersey, which JMS is.

So, it may mean, Warner Bros. is making an announcement in Mid-May in New York, during the convention when they all announce their Fall Schedules, and sell advertising time.