Interviews: Ask J. Michael Straczynski What You Will 215
He has written for many different comic book titles including Superman and The Amazing Spider-Man, and wrote the screenplay for the Academy Award-nominated movie Changeling, but J. Michael Straczynski (jms) is probably best known as being the creator, writer, and producer of Babylon 5. Recently, jms has teamed up with the Wachowskis and Netflix to create a new original sci-fi series, Sense8, coming out in late 2014. Straczynski has agreed to take a few minutes from writing sci-fi epics in order to answer any questions you may have. As usual, ask as many as you'd like, but please, one question per post.
Reading/Writing Regimen? (Score:4, Interesting)
Favorite Underrated Sci-Fi Writer? (Score:5, Informative)
Who's your favorite writer that no one else seems to be enjoying?
Adaptations of science fiction stories (Score:4, Interesting)
And related to that: Assuming no constraints regarding rights, what classic (or not so classic) science fiction stories would you like to adapt as movies or TV series?
Academic Chops? (Score:5, Interesting)
Time Travel in Sci-Fi? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
False.
It changes history, but you can never know the other history. That's his point.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Some of the best time travel stories ever written IMHO. Also Babylon Squared gave us the great fasten, zip - zip, fasten dialogue.
Re:Time Travel in Sci-Fi? (Score:4, Interesting)
And also Zathras: [imdb.com]
Babylon 5: "War Without End: Part One"
"Babylon 5: "Babylon Squared"
Babylon 5: "Conflicts of Interest"
I have come to the conclusion that Zathras clearly works in frontline IT support. I can recognize a kindred soul when I see one.
Re: (Score:3)
That and they are aliens who have the ability to see into the future. The Centari for one have a major role there.
However Babylon 5 wasn't as bad about it, compared to other Sci-Fi shows. They use Time Travel as a way to create the plot, not a way to resolve it.
Getting more sci-fi on TV (Score:5, Interesting)
In your opinion is there anything we as viewers can do to get more quality sci-fi on TV and keep it there without being cancelled? It's always too expensive, takes a long time to gain a strong following and syndication, and then gets pushed out in favour of wrestling or some paranormal nonsense. We don't even have a proper sci-fi channel any more, despite there being literally hundreds of channels available.
I'd love to contribute to the funding of, say, more episodes of Stargate Universe, but at $2m/episode I just can't see how crowd funding would work.
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.
When are we getting more SCIFI (Score:4, Funny)
Do you think a series like Babylon 5 could be made today? Could you please get right on that?
Re: (Score:3)
As a kind of follow on to this. Do you ever desire to work at creating more stories in the Babylon 5 universe? If so how likely is that to happen, or are there any major hurdles that would have to be cleared first?
What's It Like Being Funded By Netflix? (Score:5, Interesting)
Binging – does this affect the writing? (Score:5, Insightful)
For it’s original shows, Netflix tends to release all of the episodes at once so viewers can “binge” on all of the shows at once. What changes does force on the writer? Does the nature of cliff hangers change since you won’t have to wait until next week?
For me, this gives a very different viewing experience. When I am left with a cliff hanger, I get to turn it over in my mind, examine alternative theories floating out on the web, etc. In short, part of the pleasure is the (forced) slow unfolding of the story.
Comment removed (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Babylon 5 (Score:4, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Agreed. Season 4 definitely rocked. Season 5 almost felt like WB wanted to keep the gravy train rolling, but things weren't planned out as in-depth as the previous seasons. I could sworn I heard early on that it was originally intended to run four seasons.
Re:Babylon 5 (Score:4, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Thanks. It has been so long that I forgot about that.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Basically, as it was told on the proto-web back in the day:
Early in Season 4, they were told that there was not going to be a renewal for Season 5, so they crammed it all into season 4 to finish the storyline. Then, late in Season 4, something happened (ratings spiked, fan backlash, I dunno) and Season 5 was back on, but most of what would have been in it was already jammed into 4.
I always thought that showed most obviously in the lack of any real moral dilemma between the "Obey Orders" and "fight corruptio
Re: (Score:2)
"I wish I was dead."
"Me too."
Re: (Score:2)
The network kept screwing around with them, so the B5 team never knew if the next season would get made until they were well into the current season.
It was originally intended as 5 seasons, but they thought they'd only get four so they compressed it, and then the network came back with money to make a fifth season so they had to start a new arc with the telepaths.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
The best episode of season 5 in my opinion was "Day of the Dead."
JMS - If Ivonava had been on season 5 of Babylon 5, which previously deceased character would have visited her: Marcus, or Talia?
Re: (Score:2)
I really wish the Telepath War could have been explored. Really intriguing on what was setup for the story.
Re: (Score:2)
Close...it was basically cancelled after season 4 by Warner Brothers. TNT saw it's popularity, and came in and picked it up. Giving it, it's 5th season. But many arcs were already ended.
Re: (Score:3)
Unlike other shows that claim or have the appearance of pre-planning (Lost, Battlestar Galactica), B5 truly did have a fully-planned 5-year story arc. Obviously it had to change a few times to accommodate real-life events (Michael O'Hare leaving at end of season 1, Claudia Christian leaving at end of season 4).
As a fan, there was never any shark-jumping. That's a very specific act of doing some over-the-top sensational act to make up for lack of stories or loss of viewership.
However, my *engagement* lagged
Re: (Score:2)
How did it in any way jump the shark?
Re: (Score:2)
Babylon 5 started off very strongly, but many fans feel that the show jumped the shark after Season 3
I'm not well-versed in different cultures worldwide, so I have to ask. Is it Opposite Day in your country?
Re: (Score:3)
I see others questioning your statement, so I thought I'd add in. I thought season 4 was great. I thought seasons 1+5 were the weakest. I can barely watch season 1...
I love the plot, the writing, and the universe, and consider myself a fan, but there are some times--and certain actors--where the acting just kills me.
Londo+G'kar? Awesome.
Sinclair...? *wince*
Online presence: positive or negative? (Score:5, Interesting)
You were one of the first Hollywood writers with an online presence, hanging out in newsgroups during production of Babylon 5. My memories of that were tidbits and insights from you, along with frequent "no story submissions" reminders and threats of your departure if the story ideas didn't stop. How do you remember that experience? Was it worth the hassle? And do you view the seeming explosion of writers, directors, producers and actors on social media as a positive or negative for the industry overall?
Obligatory question: (Score:5, Funny)
Purple or green?
Re: (Score:2)
Purple
Re: (Score:2)
PURPLE!!!!!
Re: (Score:2)
Green. Definitely green.
BBT (Score:5, Funny)
Do you have any beef with the writers of The Big Bang Theory? Sheldon seems to mock/complain about Babylon 5 a lot. Did you loose a bet or something?
Re: (Score:2)
Personally, I don’t the producers have anything against Babylon 5.
When I was growing up there was a long running geek debate on which one was better – Star Trek (Deep Space Nine in particular) or Babylon 5. Sheldon, dogmatically so, is in the Star Trek camp. Which, I think, is a nice nod to some of the esoteric and seemingly points debates that we geeks get into.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:BBT (Score:4, Insightful)
Given that BBT is basically geek blackface, and loathed by most that I know, I wouldn't take anything said about B5 to be anything more than a semi-obscure reference the writers put on there to make the primary audience of non-geeks laugh. I'd be wiling to bet that most people that are fans of BBT have never seen a B5 episode.
Re:BBT (Score:5, Insightful)
Geek blackface? WTF?
Quit trying to be a hipster and enjoy the show. I work in a similar environment where the show takes place and sometimes it is spot on. Working relationships between scientists and engineers, scientists competing for tenure while remaining friends, Theoretical physicists views toward Applied physicists, and personality quirks.
My colleagues and I love it when it cuts close to home but so over the top that it's funny when discussed around the water cooler.
Re: (Score:3)
Geek blackface? WTF?
I see where he's coming from. Big Bang Theory is the sort of show I really really want to like. I've tried several times. I've bounced off of it ... hard ... after about five minutes each time.
I can't say I loathe it, because I haven't watched enough of it to develop a loathing. Many people whose opinions I greatly respect love it. I just find it way too annoying -- too much of the "geeks" in the show come across to me as "what the jocks and 'in crowd' think geeks are like".
Re: (Score:3)
It is geek blackface precisely because Jim Parsons is not Sheldon Cooper. Sheldon Cooper is a stereotype of people with Asperger's. Better than most every other one on TV today, but still, just a stereotype.
Re: (Score:3)
It's not good. Everything after season one became a pandering episode.
The characters, withing their own context, have gotten stupider.
The relationship episode are the same as every other show with relationships. Same problems, same 'solution'.
It is the classic, the 'real person' is right and has superiority over the 'smart' person.
It's a another bland show; which is sad, because they started off so damn good.
Re: (Score:3)
So according to you, anyone who knows history and understands how it applies to the modern age is a hat-and-vest-wearing, latte-drinking hipster? Wow. What a sad little world you must live in.
Re: (Score:3)
BBT is basically geek blackface
That's harsh, but perfect. Thank you.
Re:BBT (Score:5, Interesting)
If asked, would you guest star on Big Bang Theory?
Re: (Score:2)
If asked, would you guest star on Big Bang Theory?
Please incorporate this into my question. That would make for a funny episode.
Honestly, I think Sheldon (Score:4, Interesting)
I think Sheldon's hate of Babylon 5 is a way for the writer's to pimp a show that wasn't as mainstream recongized. And give it some recognition.
Re: (Score:3)
What do you want? (Score:4, Funny)
Who are you? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
What do you want?
Why are you here? (Score:2)
Let's keep it going.
Re:Why are you here? (Score:5, Funny)
I want to live long enough, to see this thread locked. And to wave at it like this....
m!m
Changes in SciFi since the 90s (Score:5, Interesting)
Legend of the Rangers (Score:2)
Who was your favorite character of Bab5? (Score:3)
And why?
Fully Developed Storylines (Score:5, Insightful)
There's a trend lately with TV shows writers to build mystery and suspense episode after episode without any consideration to the resolution of those arcs. The most famous instance of this is with JJ Abrams' Lost, but we saw the same thing happen to Battlestar Galactica. That's when we're even lucky enough to get a finale, often shows in danger of being cancelled will elect to end the season in a cliffhanger in an attempt to get an increased audience and help their chances of getting renewed. In contrast, with Babylon 5 you've shown great respect for the fans by coming up with a full storyline, complete with several outs in case of unexpected problems, such as actors being unable to return for one reason or another. In addition, when you thought Babylon 5 was going to get cancelled on its fourth season, you filmed the series finale to ensure we would get the full story, as much as it was possible. I truly thank you for that.
My question to you is whether you believe the type of long-term thinking into developing a good and complete story directly harms your overall numbers. After all, if Lost angered most of its viewers with the season finale, by then it doesn't matter anymore: the important thing to the bottom-line is that they were watching while the series is on. Have DVD sales helped somewhat in that people are more likely to buy the series if it's fully developed, and do studios take that into consideration in addition to Nielsen ratings? Do you have a complete story planned out for Sense8 similar to how you developed Babylon 5 and if so does working with Netflix make this process easier or harder than working with a traditional studio?
Re: (Score:2)
Interacting with the community (Score:3)
You have been one of the best known writers to interact with the community at large.
How do you feel that this has improved on your writing and character developments, and have there been any particular netizens which have caused you to stop and think about the stories your are telling in a different way or fashion than you initially thought?
(Is there anyone that you miss seeing?)
Forbidden Planet (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
3
Filter error: You can type more than that for your comment.
Do you see yourself as a desktop video pioneer? (Score:3)
As a former Amiga owner, I remember how excited the community was to learn that this new TV series called Babylon 5 was going to have it's visual effects developed on the NewTek Video Toaster [wikipedia.org]. Many considered it a vindication of the Amiga platform as well as a milestone in the evolution of digital video. My understanding is that you moved away from this platform in later seasons because it wasn't scaling up to meet your needs.
Today desktop video is commonplace, and there are a million billion Youtube videos whose quality is only limited by the talent and time invested by the creators rather than any technological barriers. How do you feel about the progression from then till now and the role you played as an early adopter?
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (Score:2)
I was just watching my He-Man collection from 1983 (I am 12 years old) and noticed in the episode credits:
"Written by J. Michael Straczynski"
In your opinion, what makes He-Man the greatest television show in the history of the universe? Was it the great story and dialogue? Or the groundbreaking animation? Or the fact that it was the last major show to be animated in the U.S.?
revisiting past work (Score:2)
Lately, I've discovered that I've actually been a fan of yours long before Babylon 5. For those not familiar,
Captain Power was short-lived but ground-breaking live action show that like Transformers, G.I.Joe, etc. was made to sell toys. Looking back at many things that helped define my childhood, this show is one of the few that somewhat stands the test of time through my adult eyes. I attribute that in large part to your high quality writing. It is generally known that a fully conceived secon
Re: (Score:2)
second season as conceived: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Power_and_the_Soldiers_of_the_Future#Season_2_.28unproduced.29 [wikipedia.org]
All the original actors have probably aged out of consideration, but one can hope......
I may have one that nobody thought to ask. (Score:2, Interesting)
When you visited Andreas Katsulas before he went beyond the veil; you mentioned in an interview that you told him stories of B5 that never got to be told.
Would you consider telling us here, in a post somewhere, or even a compendium; those stories? I'd love to enrich the B5 Universe.
What happened? (Score:2)
After having just re-watched all bab5/crusade/movies in the past few weeks it's become quite clear to me that Babylon 5 seasons 1-4 had a fairly well thought out story that engaged audiences and while a few movies have filled in some unanswered questions the overall quality of everything that came after was just not there. Why do you think that is and what will be different about your upcoming project?
A side question: Will you ever revisit http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/master/eplist.html [midwinter.com] and upda
Rising Stars movie / tv show? (Score:2)
When Heroes came out (ie, the first season) many of the plot elements reminded me of Rising Stars. The wikipedia page for your comic mentions that there were some issues to movie rights:
... but that would've been years ago. If this series with Netflix is successful, is there any chance that we might see a si
B5 learning experience? (Score:4, Interesting)
What would you say are the most valuable things you took away from your experience as creator/head writer of "Babylon 5"? In particular, the effort to create a single, long-running storyline over five seasons? Do you think you could have done things differently to avoid the issues with actors leaving mid-show and the network threatening to cancel the final season?
teddy bear wars (Score:2)
What was the final resolution of your "bear-bylon 5" teddy bear [eeggs.com] duel with Peter David?
Ben Aaronovitch (Score:2)
Could you make sure that Ben Aaronovitch gets a decent job??
For real... the guy wrote "Remembrance of the Daleks!" I found out this week that he has to work selling books. What is up with that? He deserves a decent writing gig.
Jeremiah wrap-up? (Score:2)
Both Firefly and Jericho put out comics after the shows were prematurely canceled to help tie up some of the dangling plot elements. Are there any chances of Jeremiah ever being continued in some other form, such as novels or comics?
tell us about the new netflix series (Score:4, Interesting)
Is it going to have a long story ark over several seasons with a definite beginning, middle and end like B5 did?
The Lensman Series (Score:2)
Nerd Stunt Casting (Score:4, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3)
Let's not forget Dilbert talking to Garibaldi how his cat and dog were plotting to take over the universe....
Are we out of space? (Score:2)
1) First off, thank you for such fun works as Babylon 5 and Jeremiah. I am excited about thew new series. Is there any chance we could see some old friends (Claudia Christian, Jerry Doyle, Walter Koenig) as guests in the new series?
2) At present there are zero dedicated "space" based television series in production. About the closest we get is the occasional Doctor Who. Why do you think there is a dearth of such series right now? It seems like the timing is perfect to do a show that focus' on colonizing M
B5 Universe. (Score:2)
Do you see any future in the Babylon 5 universe, you do you feel that you have milked it to death.
Feelings on the so-called "Babylon 5 Curse" (Score:3)
The Babylon 5 cast has lost several members - many younger than expected
- Andreas Katsulas
- Tim Choate
- Richard Biggs
- Jeff Conaway
- Michael O'Hare
It's even been referred to as the "Curse of Babylon 5". Can you share a favorite memory of each from your time on Babylon? Or perhaps, the scene that most epitomizes each character/actor?
how do reconcile philosophy and action? (Score:3)
Sorry. I've got to ask about more B5. (Score:2)
Is there any potential to continue making content in the B5 universe and perhaps producing the stories you've already written or are any potential initiatives dead? I understand getting WB to budge along with funding is a RPITA. I also respect your opinion that no one can replace the actors that have passed away and any future content with those characters wouldn't include the characters on screen. /Big B5 fan. I'm a bigger fan of it than Star Trek or Star Wars.
So what happened with World War Z? (Score:5, Interesting)
True Science Fiction (Score:2)
Babylon 5 was great on many levels, but I enjoyed the most for its well-thought-out story and as an example of true science fiction. It contained many elements that were based much more in fact than in fantasy, something that was rare for its time, and even more rare today. What research and/or advisers did you have to go on when writing/producing for the show? What do you foresee for the future of science fiction television (or streaming or online) content in terms of using real-world science?
And thank
Babylon 5 in HD? (Score:2)
Will we ever see Babylon 5 remastered in high definition (or even 4K) similar to Star Trek: The Next Generation? How much would you need to raise on KickStarter to make this possible?
Forbidden Planet prequel - dead? (Score:2)
I read that you were working on a prequel to "Forbidden Planet" which really excited me because I think that the movie is still one of the all time great SciFi movies. I respect your work and I know that you would treat the subject with the respect it deserves. I read that you had a screenplay but it got
3D Blu-ray (Score:2)
Okay, so I just watched two of the major space battle scenes on my new LG 3DTV, which has the ability to convert on the fly....just wow.
But boy would i love to see a "true" conversion. Is there any possibility of this for a Blu-ray edition. It seems to me that it'd be easy to do, and we'd really only need it on the space scenes. The rest could flat.
Two questions: Crusade and Space Stations (Score:2)
Have you considered doing a Kickstarter to resurrect Crusade with your own artistic vision?
Also, do you think the whole space station trope has played itself out between Babylon 5 and Deep Space 9, or do you think there's room for other stories out there?
Wachowskis (Score:2)
Settle that damn dream sequence, please! (Score:2)
By that, of course, I mean the dream Sheridan had on the Stribe ship in "All Alone in the Night".
A lot of the imagery was explained later on, but a couple of things still feel unsettled.
* What was up with the birds on Garibaldi and Ivanova's shoulders?
* Who was "the man in between?"
A lot of old discussion seem to have settled on it being Justin, the Shadow agent who refers to himself as "A middle man."
I always thought it might have referred to Lorien, who finds Sheridan "Between 'tick' and 'tock'", and need
Re: (Score:3)
The dream was covered in volume 3 of the B5 scripts books. To paraphrase what it says there:
Ivanova with a raven on her shoulder: A symbol for Ivanova being the voice of the resistance, the bird being a reference to Norse mythology where they brought news. The "Do you know who I am" refers to her being a latent telepath.
The "man in between" refers to Sheridan himself, described by Lorien as being "in-between" (life and death).
However, in one of the other books, there is a scan of some of JMS' notes and next
Thought about video games? (Score:2)
You've worked in TV, film, and comics. Ever thought about adding a video game to that?
B5 universe unresolved plots... (Score:3)
Is there any chance that B5 fans will ever get insight into what you actually had planned with Crusade after the Drakh plague was cured? I know it was something to do with Earth wanting left over Shadow technology, but did you have anything specific in mind? Did you have an outline for each year?
And similarly, will we ever find out who or what The Hand were about (in Legend of the Rangers)?
And, not a question, but a big "thank you" for B5. I'm taking a friend through it for the first time and we're currently mid-way through season four. She's now totally hooked and has borrowed my season one DVD box set to see it again now she understands some of where it's going.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Everything I've read confirms the original CG models were lost. IIRC it was either due to the company that did the CG going out of business or some accident. A lot of the model work has already been done by the community though. There are fan made game mods where they started from scratch on the models and texturing. I'd imagine with permission they could take the existing models and improve on them.
JMS, if this does happen, please ensure they don't rape us at the checkout counter. $40/season is within my b
Re: (Score:3)
I give JMS a lot of cred for his handling of various religious and spiritual aspects. Unlike most atheists, he seems able to distinguish the good from the bad, and keep a rational head on. I swear, some atheists are more religious and dogmatic than many judeo-christians.
And why JMS makes for better story telling because of it. I once read an SM Stirling novel where the Coast Guard cutter Eagle is sent back in time. And in it, he portrays the entire lot of christians trying commit suicide over the fact th