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A new JMS message and hint 4/29

Jan

Regular
This is gonna be good!

Subject: from jms
From: jmsatb5@aol.com (Jms at B5)
Date: 4/29/04 9:56 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <20040428044606.22258.00000247@mb-m01.aol.com>

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/showthread.php?s=&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

Jan
(Yesss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Check out my auctions of rare Babylon 5 memorabilia at:
http://tinyurl.com/b36t
 
Whoops! Posted in the similar thread in the other forum. Yea his 2.35:1 clue is pretty damn obvious that its a feature film coming...
 
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.

JMS has managed to make my Friday without telling anything new. Arggh. :D
Lets all keep everything crossed and hope these negotiations go well.
 
Librarian -- he did say something new. He basically confirmed that TMoS was a feature film.

Woo-hoo!

I'll be away all weekend. Don't trash the forum, kiddoes!
 
Time to do the happy dance.

Ooooh, notice how LOT is all capitalized? We know B5:TMoS, and back last September, he spoke of 2 projects (TMoS being one of them), and the Movie Boxed set DVDs, plus Crusade DVDs, does that qualify as LOT, or could there be even more in the works? The B5 franchise may be finally hitting it's stride, and Star Trek is ill enough to lay down and allow B5 to take it's place as "The Franchise". { :eek:Sorry Fan-Boy moment)
 
I'm not sure we want it to be "The Franchise," considering where the Star Trek/Star Wars franchises have ended up, but it would be nice to see new material.

Problem is, B5 may not be the best sci-fi out there anymore, not with Firefly gaining momentum.
 
I'm not sure we want it to be "The Franchise," considering where the Star Trek/Star Wars franchises have ended up, but it would be nice to see new material.

Problem is, B5 may not be the best sci-fi out there anymore, not with Firefly gaining momentum.

Ah, but Trek was great for the first 10 years after it's revival(Most of the first 8 movies, although a couple of them weren't anything to write home about and TNG and DS9 were both great series for at least 75% of their 7 year runs), I think I could deal with 10 more years worth of great B5 before it got stale and needed a rest. Plus, I don't see JMS turning B5 universe over to the B&B type clowns that have abused Trek.
 
HAD to login and say something after THAT message!

Finally confirmation that it is a feature film and that the mere fact that WB is moving towards making it has got other interested in the series. I'm not worried about the "franchise" near-term. Unlike the folks at Paramount, the WB crowd is smart enough to understand that this franchise really is the vision of a single individual, and that it lives and dies by JMS. And since they've done well with him and Doug Netter in both production and business terms they have no reason to try to elbow him aside the way Paramount did with Gene R. (Who, to be blunt, also wasn't as good a writer, a businessman or an executive as JMS has proven himself to be.)

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

:)

Joe
 
2.35:1 gave it. Now we know that it will be a feature film, or at least there is this 93.5% capability of it. If it is indeed a feature film, then I'll guess we see it in 2005 or 2006.
 
And So It Begins... (I am so crazy now I am not even sure I am spelling right...)

I am so excited!!! After seeing the show from start to end all I have to say is... Wow... Tears come to my eyes... I have not yet heard the commentaries by JMS on the last episode cause I know I will have a hard time seeing it again. It was really special and for me, it will stick with me forever!!!

The two best shows, for me anyway, is Babylon 5 and Farscape...

JMS is FANTASTIC

:D
 
HAD to login and say something after THAT message!

Finally confirmation that it is a feature film and that the mere fact that WB is moving towards making it has got other interested in the series. I'm not worried about the "franchise" near-term. Unlike the folks at Paramount, the WB crowd is smart enough to understand that this franchise really is the vision of a single individual, and that it lives and dies by JMS. And since they've done well with him and Doug Netter in both production and business terms they have no reason to try to elbow him aside the way Paramount did with Gene R. (Who, to be blunt, also wasn't as good a writer, a businessman or an executive as JMS has proven himself to be.)

Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!

:)

Joe


I am in complete and total agreement with JDM here. This is wonderful news. This may be the a sign of things I've heard elsewhere and that they are in fact the case.

JMS talked about a lot of money. This is a fantastic sign. 2.35:1 is definately a "I can't tell you but I can hint big time" line to let us know that TMoS is a feature film...at least one. Multiple fronts? I have my suspicions here, but I'm gonna hold them for now. If you really want to know them...look up some old posts of mine on here where I stated them. ;)

I agree with JDM and others that I have no worry about the "franchise" since this is a singular and passionate vision of one man...JMS, and that WB is extremely respectful of just what wonder and power he brings to all things B5. B5 is unique in that it has such a man as JMS and a respect from a studio for him like that of WB. This is a rare combination in the industry. It doesn't fit the Trek bill and I'm sorry, while FIREFLY was good and all, it was NO B5. Whedon to me is an amateur compared to JMS on character, story, passion and vision.

Now, it becomes our burden folks. All of this new wonder in B5 will ours to support in a big way. If we're not behind JMS and these new offerings 2000%, B5 could finally meet the Great Maker. We have to put the word out...drag friends to the film(s), loan out our DVDs of S1-5 to bring up new fans. It's time to put B5 on the map and show the rest of the world what wonders we've seen and experienced thanks to JMS. Perhaps the rest of the world can learn as we have just how B5 can change you.

Ok, I have to stop now...I'm getting seriously misty eyed.

All praise to the Great Maker! :D :D :D

Big Group Hug everyone!!!!!!!!! We did it!!!!!!

CE


OOOPS! I think I just has a spontaneous B'Gasm! :eek: :D
 
i agree also with CE.

We now need to put the word out.

Yes B5 is better than 99.99% of Science Fiction out there. We can Prove it ( show off the DVDS to your mates ).

The champagne is on ice though until joe gives the GO!
 
Yes B5 is better than 99.99% of Science Fiction out there. We can Prove it ( show off the DVDS to your mates ).
Indeed, it would be interesting to find out what percentage of DVDs have been sold via word of mouth or demonstration to non-fans since they started out. I have "sold" three sets just by making people sit down and watch a selected set of eps (the main arc ones) from season 1. Hell, the final five minutes of TCoS was enough for two of the three.
 

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