JMS on r.a.s.t.b5 (2 of 2) (Topic: AOL)
Bruce Goatly
(kpmo...@acsu.buffalo.edu).
-- bruce <*> Do not go gentle into that good night
... Rage, rage against the dying of the light
- Dylan Thomas
(No. 51 in the AutoSpoo... ) (Yup, I'm a number)
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Subj: Re:Norman Corwin
Date: 96-02-21 01:48:17 EST
From: Jms at B5
I'd suggest to start with ON A NOTE OF TRIUMPH, and THE PLOT TO OVERTHROW
CHRISTMAS.
jms
Subj: Re:Random thoughts
Date: 96-02-21 01:51:27 EST
From: Jms at B5
Thanks. It is, I think, a uniquely American concern, since it's long been
common for writers in the UK to write a goodly portion of any season;
McGoohan did much of The Prisoner (under a variety of names), and Terry
Nation wrote the entire (and some say best) season of Blake's 7, though that
was only 13 episodes. (I believe the adaptation of I, Claudius, at 12 hours
or so, was done by one writer...and it's the best thing ever made for TV, I
think.)
jms
Subj: Re:ATTN: JMS, B5 Fans
Date: 96-02-21 01:55:36 EST
From: Jms at B5
Eventually, yes, we do hope to sell B5 eps via the fan club. As for UPN, we
were never a part of UPN, though we're aired on some UPN stations, so they
can't actually drop us.
jms
Subj: Re:B5 C.D rom
Date: 96-02-21 01:57:57 EST
From: Jms at B5
There's the screensaver CD rom from Sound Sources currently; the company that
was going to do the encyclopedia cut down its list from 300 to 40 per year,
and we were in those cut. We're now taking bids from other companies
interested in locking this down.
jms
Subj: Re:Hey JMS...
Date: 96-02-22 00:58:51 EST
From: Jms at B5
The vorlons were never intending to hide themselves from the shadows; they
both know where the other can be found. The concern was in the vorlons
potentially revealing themselves to others, and standing openly as what they
were.
jms
Subj: Re:ATTN: JMS, B5 Fans
Date: 96-02-22 00:59:10 EST
From: Jms at B5
It's up, should be "and running" soon.
jms
[I guess that's the fan club. ..B]
Subj: Re:JMS: haitus
Date: 96-02-22 00:59:36 EST
From: Jms at B5
{Is B5 on haitus? If not , when do you stop filming?
If so , when do you go back?}
Filming wraps April 9th. In theory it would begin again around late July.
jms
Subj: Re:Messages - Fantastic
Date: 96-02-22 01:00:13 EST
From: Jms at B5
I think this is one of the best of the series to date. I think there are a
couple coming up later in the season though that will give it a run for its
money.
jms
Subj: Re:Messages - Fantastic
Date: 96-02-22 01:01:12 EST
From: Jms at B5
Oh, and a PS..."does it get even better?"
It kinda has to. We took a blood oath that each season must be better than
the one preceding it.
jms
Subj: Re:" Original Ideas ", etc.
Date: 96-02-22 01:04:51 EST
From: Jms at B5
{Yes, there are plenty of fans who would sign a waiver to give JMS free
ownership of story ideas, but that still doesn't matter. *Someone* would
bring suit. Someone, maybe, who holds a grudge for a real or imagined slight,
or just because it's easy money...}
The probelm is not just one fan. People are *constantly* suing because they
think their idea -- sometimes just that, an idea -- was stolen. Steven
Spielberg was sued by *three people* each one independently claiming that ET
was based on their story. Obviously, that three different people say the
same thing means they're mutually contradictory...it can't be based uniquely
on all three. Two of them have to be wrong at minimum (and as it came out,
all of them lost). But they were True Believers.
And yes, 98% of these cases are nonsense, and are eventually won by the
original writer; but the process of defending such a case can literally
consume *years* of your life.
jms
Subj: Re:The Screen Saver
Date: 96-02-22 01:08:43 EST
From: Jms at B5
Yes, I hear the Mac version will be out in April.
jms
Subj: Re:Original Ideas, etc.
Date: 96-02-23 03:30:08 EST
From: Jms at B5
I've been over all this a hundred times with others, on other forums. Or
forii. Yes, all of the reasons that you cite could be used in winning a
lawsuit. But I have no desire to spend the two years of my life fighting
such a lawsuit. If story ideas get posted, I turn to vapor, it's that
simple.
jms
Subj: Re:Messages - Fantastic
Date: 96-02-23 03:31:33 EST
From: Jms at B5
Thanks. I find relationships fascinating, in how they grow, change, develop,
veer right or swerve left. The ones we're seeing here are fun to play with,
and I tend to avoid the saccherine.
jms
Subj: Re:Hey...that guy over there
Date: 96-02-23 03:34:52 EST
From: Jms at B5
Can't do it. A cameo would destroy (for me) the illusion that is B5. So you
won't see me in a B5 episode.
jms
Subj: Re:Two Questions for JMS
Date: 96-02-23 03:39:16 EST
From: Jms at B5
{2) With six appendages for the males and six slots for the females, I kinda
wonder if the Centauri are capable of multiple births on a regular basis.
Care to comment on that?}
No multiple births, in that sense, not any different than humans.
{1) Although the capital of the Earth Alliance (Earthdome) is located in
Geneva, it seems to me the basic legislative structure is like the United
States, albeit in a unicameral setting (I see only the Senate). Did you plan
it this way, and have you ever thought about doing a historical
article/presentation on Earth history until the Babylon 5 setting?}
Your analysis on the governmental situation is pretty accurate; the Senate in
this case comprised of member nation/states, with smaller ones having less
voice than the bigger ones (like the Russian Consortium, the North American
Federation, and so on).
jms
Subj: Re:Fan Fiction
Date: 96-02-24 03:50:10 EST
From: Jms at B5
{You could create a file entitled, "NO JMS Allowed". That should cover the
legal stuff}
1) Simply saying "NO JMS" on a folder is not sufficient; I could still go
into any area to which I have been proven to have access. Having access to
the general area (AOL) access to the specific material is *automatically
assumed* in any court of law. Instant loss should someone post a story and
decide later that something we did was too close to their story.
2) I have asked, as a courtesy, for people to refrain from fan fiction until
the 5 year story is over. There are only 2 years remaining on this request.
ST fanfic was developed as a way to keep the characters alive while the show
was gone. There is no such need at this time.
3) If fanfic is posted to AOL, I will have to withdraw from AOL. That
simple. It's even worse than posting a story idea, it's a whole *story*. I
have no desire to scuttle another story, or a major part of an arc, to avoid
somebody thinking I swiped it.
4) Be advised that the names, situations and characters are all copyrighted
by Warner Bros., and if courtesy is not sufficient, any infringement of that
copyright by fanfiction will be conveyed to the legal eagles for action.
Don't do it. I *mean* it.
jms
Subj: Re:O'Hare, a bad guy?
Date: 96-02-24 23:28:35 EST
From: Jms at B5
{The real reason Sinclair is gone? RATINGS! WB didn't feel he was helping the
ratings. They wanted a better known actor. An old story, but true.}
There were only the following people in the room when Michael and I discussed
the prospect of his leaving the show to return in another capacity at a later
date: me, Michael, Doug Netter and John Copeland. You are none of these.
Further, at the time we had this conversation, the ratings were on one of
their usual upswings after reruns.
You know *nothing* of this situation. You're just going off what you assume
to be true. But assuming it and saying it doesn't make it true.
jms
Subj: Re:JMS. life for B5 after B5
Date: 96-02-24 23:37:56 EST
From: Jms at B5
{I am interested in your thoughts as to whether the will be a life
for the surviving B5 charcters after the 5yr story arc. You have created a
universe that is rich and varied, and it would be a shame to see it just end
after this much creative talent has been lent to it's birth }
There's always been a side-story that could go off after the 5 years, though
the odds are slim and none.
jms
Subj: Re:Waiting for June...
Date: 96-02-24 23:42:49 EST
From: Jms at B5
Some themes are universal and timeless. In the case of Bosnia, more's the
pity.
Yes, I'll be at Blackpool.
jms
Subj: Re:To JMS: Re: How we doing?
Date: 96-02-24 23:45:03 EST
From: Jms at B5
So far, I hear we're doing well with the station-by-station renewals. Won't
know anything for sure for about a month or so.
jms
Subj: Re:By the way...
Date: 96-02-24 23:48:30 EST
From: Jms at B5
{We haven't heard squat from the Grey Council since Delenn was removed, and
replaced by Neroon. Are they talking behind closed doors about...Londo?...
In other words, will they show up again this season sometime?}
At least one of them will show up again, yes.
jms
Subj: Re:IPX Question
Date: 96-02-24 23:49:07 EST
From: Jms at B5
{How long has Interplanetary Expeditions been a going concern?}
IXP has been in business, in one form or another, for between 50-80 years.
jms