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from jms: research help

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:00 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

I apologize for the cryptic nature of what follows, but in time this
will all be cleared up.

Starting mid-July into August and possibly September, I'm going to be
traveling quite a lot in researching a new movie project that I
cannot, for the moment, announce. (Not Lensman, this is a different
project, and I've already started on Lensman.) Suffice to say that
the research stage is going to be extensive in the extreme.

The main emphasis is on advanced technology. If someone who can do
the math were to look down the road a million years and see what
advances might be there, based on what we know now, what would that
look like? Advanced tech here covers warfare, living, toys,
environment, health, media, space travel, you name it. Everything
that a civilization a million years more advanced than we are might
use or encounter.

Secondarily to this would be information on planetary physics and
alien biology.

To that effect, my intent is to visit as many of the following places
as possible: NASA Florida, the Wright-Paterson Air Force Base High
Technology Labs, MIT, CalTech, and any other places that seem like
good prospects. (If there's anything missing from that list, feel
free to add it.) I'm going to listen, ask questions, and try to keep
up. And no, there's no money involved, though if anyone proves to be
insanely helpful, I can try to work out a consulting credit. No
promises.

The studio is going to help with some of the legwork here, they say
they can get me into Wright-Pat, but we'll see...even so, the ways of
studios grind very slowly. So I turn to you lot for assistance since
a number of you either are, or know someone who is, directly involved
with this stuff.

So...let the games begin.

jms

Re: JMS: Rewrite policy

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:45 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jun 10, 3:05=A0am, Duggy <Paul.Dug...@jcu.edu.au> wrote:
> On Jun 10, 5:44 pm, "jmsa...@aol.com" <jmsa...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > They tend not to want to agree to it in writing, but in private, yes,
>
> Isn't that dangerous?

What isn't?

To live is to risk.

jms

Re: from jms

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 1:44 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jun 10, 10:48=A0am, Ranger Elenopa <elen...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> On Jun 10, 1:50=A0pm, Graham Smith <gsm...@dca.net> wrote:
>
> > On Jun 10, 3:52 am, "jmsa...@aol.com" <jmsa...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > > Yeah, that's the issue, but unfortunately when I enter my info it says=

> > > I can't place an order from the US. =A0You can place an order FOR the =
US
> > > FROM the UK but not the other way.
>
> > I have friends in the UK that can order it for you. =A0Is that the July
> > issue?
>
> Or, I am in the UK and would gladly order it for you.
>
> Ranger Elenopa

Yep, that's the issue, it's on the stands in the UK as well, and if
somebody could get it for me, no preference on who/how, that would be
terrific.

jms

Re: from jms

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 12:52 AM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jun 9, 11:51=A0am, slamaina <slama...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Is this the magazine?
>
> http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/store/displaystore.asp?sid=3D476&...=

>
> Slam

Yeah, that's the issue, but unfortunately when I enter my info it says
I can't place an order from the US. You can place an order FOR the US
FROM the UK but not the other way.

jms

Re: JMS: Rewrite policy

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 12:44 AM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jun 9, 4:29=A0am, Jan <janmschroe...@aol.com> wrote:
> JMS,
>
> Over on another forum, one of the posters (Mandragora) quoted an undated p=
ost of
> yours discussing screenplays which said in part:
>
> >But the situation is that in all cases, the producer buying or optioning =
the
> >>script must agree that all revisions will be done by me. If not, then we=
pass.
>
> Assuming that this is still your policy, is it easier to get producers to =
agree
> to it these days?
>
> Thanks,
>

They tend not to want to agree to it in writing, but in private, yes,
and thus far that has been honored in all of the scripts I'm currently
writing and have been for the last year or so. Changeling changed a
lot of things.

jms

Re: from jms

Sunday, June 08, 2008 10:28 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jun 8, 10:21=A0pm, Dan Dassow <dan_das...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Jun 8, 9:36=A0am, Jan <janmschroe...@aol.com> wrote:> In article <b4acc=
cc9-8f4e-443c-ac62-53bb55bd0...@w5g2000prd.googlegroups.com>,
> > jmsa...@aol.com says...
>
> > >This is the dream. =A0This is the fairy tale we all expect but so rarel=
y
> > >get. =A0I am at peace. =A0Go figure.
>
> > >jms
>
> > Welcome back. =A0Congratulations. =A0And thanks for sharing.
>
> > Jan
>
> Joe,
>
> Congratulations! As I read your post I gathered that you have not
> stopped grinning.http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/elenopa/jmstux.jp=
g
>
> Dan Dassow

And if anybody else has some great screen grabs, feel free to send 'em
along.

jms

Re: from jms

Sunday, June 08, 2008 10:27 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jun 8, 10:21=A0pm, Dan Dassow <dan_das...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On Jun 8, 9:36=A0am, Jan <janmschroe...@aol.com> wrote:> In article <b4acc=
cc9-8f4e-443c-ac62-53bb55bd0...@w5g2000prd.googlegroups.com>,
> > jmsa...@aol.com says...
>
> > >This is the dream. =A0This is the fairy tale we all expect but so rarel=
y
> > >get. =A0I am at peace. =A0Go figure.
>
> > >jms
>
> > Welcome back. =A0Congratulations. =A0And thanks for sharing.
>
> > Jan
>
> Joe,
>
> Congratulations! As I read your post I gathered that you have not
> stopped grinning.http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p278/elenopa/jmstux.jp=
g
>
> Dan Dassow

Not so much grinning as just shaking my head in slow disbelief....

jms

Re: from jms

Sunday, June 08, 2008 5:04 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jun 8, 4:12=A0pm, Amy Guskin <aisl...@fjordstone.com> wrote:
> >> On Sun, 8 Jun 2008 01:36:00 -0400, thus spake jmsa...@aol.com (in artic=
le
>
> <b4acccc9-8f4e-443c-ac62-53bb55bd0...@w5g2000prd.googlegroups.com>):
>
>
>
> > It?s been a while, I know...but things have been awfully crazed at
> > this end of the modem.
>
> > I was there for the premiere of Changeling (no the name isn?t going to
> > change) at Cannes, and it was, overall, perhaps the most surreal
> > experience of my life. =A0I was ensconced at the Hotel du Cap
> > overlooking the French Riviera, just abaft from Clint Eastwood and
> > Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and Mick Jagger (who came to dinner with
> > the bunch of us that Friday) and surrounded by sights I could never
> > have imagined myself seeing. =A0Day-trip drives into the South of France=

> > for shopping, into Monaco and Monte Carlo where I dropped five hundred
> > Euros at the casino because, well, you pretty much have to...and the
> > premiere. <<
>
> Wow -- it all sounds _amazing_, Joe. =A0And I'm going to ask the question =
that
> I know is on everybody's mind, but they're just too shy to ask: how were M=
ick
> Jagger's table manners?
>
> My guess? =A0Fastidious. =A0:-)
>
> Amy
> --
> "In my line of work you gotta keep repeating things over and over and over=

> again for the truth to sink in, to kinda catapult the propaganda." - Georg=
e
> W. Bush, May 24, 2005

He seemed a right proper gentleman in every regard.

jms

from jms

Saturday, June 07, 2008 10:36 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

[ The following text is in the "windows-1252" character set. ]
[ Your display is set for the "ISO-8859-1" character set. ]
[ Some characters may be displayed incorrectly. ]

It?s been a while, I know...but things have been awfully crazed at
this end of the modem.

I was there for the premiere of Changeling (no the name isn?t going to
change) at Cannes, and it was, overall, perhaps the most surreal
experience of my life. I was ensconced at the Hotel du Cap
overlooking the French Riviera, just abaft from Clint Eastwood and
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and Mick Jagger (who came to dinner with
the bunch of us that Friday) and surrounded by sights I could never
have imagined myself seeing. Day-trip drives into the South of France
for shopping, into Monaco and Monte Carlo where I dropped five hundred
Euros at the casino because, well, you pretty much have to...and the
premiere.

Imagine for a moment: a procession of twenty one cars preceded and
followed by French police running lights and sirens to get the
motorcade through the streets of Cannes en route to the press
conference and, several hours later, the premiere. A sea of popping
flashbulbs. Paparazzi and TV cameras and microphones, reporters from
all over the world, and everyone shouting questions, to look this way
or that way. The red carpet, long and broad as the ocean. The
theater, three thousand seats filled with tuxedoes and gowns and
stars. Smiles and tears at the right moments as the film rolled by.
A ten minute standing ovation. Proclamations and prophecies of
Oscars.

Surreal. Dream-like. Impossible. Was any of this really happening?
To me?

Impossible. But there it was.

Then: after more days of interviews and press and screenings and
stunningly positive, glowing reviews, on to Berlin, where my script
for Ninja Assassin was being filmed. Brilliant stunt work. Dinners
in the cool German evening. Then off again to London for meetings
with several production companies regarding TV projects, and a meeting
with director Paul Greengrass on They Marched Into Sunlight, for Tom
Hanks? company, before flying back to LA for four days of massive
jetlag.

Never give up, folks. Never stop trying. Never surrender dreams.

Because sometimes they come true.

Two asides before I crash.

First, on the plane ride home, I?d picked up the July issue of T3
Magazine, which contained in the mylar packet a subsidiary slim issue
about future tech and jargon and looked ahead to gadgets yet to come.
I meant to take it with me off the plane for research on another
project, but left it behind and it doesn?t seem to be available
anywhere here; I may have missed the issue. Point being, could one of
our UK friends scan that magazine (it was only like 20 pages) and
upload it to me? If you do volunteer, could you note it here first to
avoid lots of folks duplicating the efforts? Accept my thanks in
advance.

Second, keep an eye out for Daily Variety on June 19th. Another
surprise yet to come.

This is the dream. This is the fairy tale we all expect but so rarely
get. I am at peace. Go figure.

jms

Re: Attn JMS: Emerald City ComiCon and Cannes Film Festival

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 9:06 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

I know I've been absent here for a long time, but it's been necessary
to getting out from under a number of deadlines and personal stuff
that's been going on which basically put me into (or undre) the bunker
to focus on getting things done. There was a two week period where I
didn't leave the house other than to get mail. At all.

But with so much going on at the moment, I felt obliged to come in and
put out some information, with the note that there will be more to
come in the next week or so.

To the question of Emerald City Con, yes, I will still be attending,
though I don't yet know the schedule. I imagine they'll mainly have
me doing stuff on Saturday just because that's the main day for the
con, but that's conjecture on my part.

Yes, I will be attending the Cannes Film Festival with Changeling
along with the rest of those involved in making it. The announcement
was just flat-out stunning.

On the work side, in the post-strike environment, I've 1) sold two
original screenplays, 2) was hired to rewrite/basically write a new
script for a project for the Wachowskis, 3) have just finished a deal
to work on a project with Wolfgang Peterson, 4) have another spec
script going to auction around the end of May, 5) just closed the deal
on another assignment which is based on a very influential series of
SF books, 6) have one more deal to write a remake of a nearly
legendary SF movie that will close in a few days, 7) there's a deal on
the table for both Dream Police and Rising Stars which I'm considering
right now...all this in addition to writing The Twelve and Thor (which
remains in the top 5 of best-selling comics) and getting the script
books out the door.

Which explains why nobody's heard a peep from me in ages.

Now I need to take a nap.

jms

Re: ATTN: JMS - International Writers

Monday, February 11, 2008 8:35 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jan 30, 6:35=A0am, Neeklus <StrayRo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi there,
>
> I won't bore you with the details of how I've just graduated from X or
> how I've been watching films and TV for Y years. Instead I'll get
> right to the meat of the problem/quandary: I want to a script writer.
> Well I am a script writer. I've written some scripts. But what I want
> to do with them now is sell them.
>
> Now the Complete Book of Scriptwriting is an excellent bible for the
> naive youngsters like myself. However it doesn't answer all the
> niggling little questions that keep floating around my mind. First and
> foremost I live in the UK. Bearing in mind that Hollywood is the place
> to be if you want to be in the business, is there anyway an unknown
> international wannabe can actually make a sale without having to jet
> over to the US at the drop of a hat?
>
> I guess my main concern is that I have this script that I'm pretty
> proud of. It is for a niche show, something I think I'm in tune with.
> But when I send the producer my nice polite letter inquiring if they'd
> be interested in this wonderful script, will he or she look at my
> address and instantly think "way too much hassle"?
>
> This brings me on to my next question - We live in the age of
> technology and super-fast internet connections (or at least some of us
> do). Is email hoping to replace snail mail?
>
> Another pertinent issue is the WGA strike. I want to make it clear I
> don't want to step on any toes or in any graves. I don't want to be a
> "scab" - I completely sympathise with the raw deal that writers get,
> and I do believe the WGA are fighting for a noble cause. Should I
> mention any of this in my letter?
>
> I shall close by hoping someone, anyone can help me.
>
> Good luck, and thanks for reading.
>
> Nick Thorburn

The answer is...if by "show" you mean trying to sell a TV show, it
doesn't matter where you live because you can't sell a show unless
you've worked in the TV industry for x-number of years. Just not
gonna happen. Networks only buy from people they know and have a
working relationship with.

jms

(PS, for those who played the "what's that?" google earth game last
time, here's a new one to check out:

30 30 38 24s S
115 22 51 37 E

This one should generate some discussion.)

Re: A quote by JMS

Thursday, January 31, 2008 3:41 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jan 30, 10:13=A0am, diyan55 <diannabut...@msn.com> wrote:
> I'm trying to remember the quote where JMS starts with, 'The more
> important the emotion is, the fewer words required to express it.' I
> cannot recall the rest.
>
> Can anyone finish this?
>
> Thankx.

Will you go out with me?
I think I like you.
I care for you.
I love you.
Marry me.
Goodbye.

jms

Re: Volume 13 Photos - No stinky food

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 11:07 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jan 30, 9:46=A0am, "Dupa T. Parrot" <dupa_t_par...@dupanet.com>
wrote:
> In Joe's Photos in volume 13 is a shot of JMS in front of the Welcome to
> Babylon 5 sign board from season 1.
>
> In the upper left sign under "Forbidden on Babylon 5" I see...
> No Dust, No Weapons, No Fighting and No Durians.
>
> So stinky fruit products from Earth are prohibited?
>
> Just in case you don't know wha durian is, see this link:http://en.wikiped=
ia.org/wiki/Durian
> (Scroll down to find the section on odor)
>

Actually, it's No Durlans, for all the comics fans...B5 had had enough
problems with shape-shifters over the years....

jms

Re: Attn JMS: WorldCon Appearance?

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 11:04 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jan 30, 3:02=A0pm, "Dan B." <fencer_...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Wondering if by chance you will be appearing at WorldCon in Denver
> this Summer?
>

Negative.

jms

Re: Attn JMS: WonderCon event schedule

Wednesday, January 30, 2008 2:38 AM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jan 27, 1:00=A0am, li...@larryr.com wrote:
> Joe,
>
> Do you know yet what events you will be participating in at WonderCon
> in San Francisco and when they are scheduled?
>
> --Larry

On Friday and Saturday I'm signingn from 2-3, and I have a writing
seminar/talk on Friday at 4, and my spotlight is at 4 on Saturday.
More things may be added along the way but those are the key events.

jms

Re: ATTN JMS: Wasp?

Sunday, January 13, 2008 3:49 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jan 11, 6:39=A0pm, "Nicole Massey" <ny...@gypsyheir.com> wrote:
> I'd like to get your industry insider perspective on this.
>
> Your professed appreciation of Eric Frank Russell's work also figures into=

> this. (I remember mention that you'd like to make Men, Martians, and
> Machines if given the chance)
>
> Wasp is a wonderful work, one that as even more timely now than ever. It's=
a
> compact story, requiring minimal actors and only one major lead, and it's
> extremely well written. I know it was optioned fairly soon after its first=

> publication, but for some reason has never hit the screen.
>
> Why is that? It seems like a perfect thing to see released now, with the
> focus on terrorism and infiltration, and also resonates with oppressive
> society issues. I've always wanted to see it, along with others by Russell=
,
> (Especially And then There Were None, Nuisance Value, =A0and the afore
> mentioned Men, Martians and Machines) made into films, and it still
> surprises me that such wonderful work hasn't seen the light of day.
>
> So, in your opinion, why is that?

It's a matter of making it work for the screen. It's probably gone in
and out of option many times. Adapting SF for the screen is difficult
for a lot of folks, and anything published back then is suspect now,
it seems. There have been over a dozen different writers, good ones,
who have tackled Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land and nobody's
managed to crack that one for the screen.

Re: Ron Howard: Lensman?

Sunday, January 13, 2008 3:47 PM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Jan 11, 8:34=A0am, Jon Schild <j...@xmission.com> wrote:
> Just idle speculation, but do you suppose this could be related to one
> of the JMS big secrets that he can't talk about yet?

Who can say...?

jms

Re: JMS supports Ron Paul?

Tuesday, January 01, 2008 1:18 AM

From: "jmsatb5@aol.com" <jmsatb5@aol.com>
To: rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated

On Dec 31 2007, 11:19=A0pm, Amy Guskin <aisl...@fjordstone.com> wrote:
> >> On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 02:14:38 -0500, cmulder wrote
>
> (in article
> <c663e5f5-e25f-4e31-836b-45300fc40...@l6g2000prm.googlegroups.com>):
>
> > According to Wikipedia JMS has endorsed Ron Paul for President.
>
> > When did this happen? =A0Did he give the reasons he is supporting Ron
> > Paul?
>
> > Ron Paul isn't my first choice (nor my last), but it still sounds a
> > little strange to me. <<
>
> Since when can anything on Wikipedia be trusted as being accurate?
>
> Amy

The entry is accurate. I donated $2K to his campaign, in order to
encourage a more moderate voice on the Iraq war.

Then I discovered that he wanted to overturn Roe vs. Wade and a lot of
hard-won civil rights legislation.

So much for that.

jms