JMS about new project

[Jambo]

Mundane wrote :
Posted 30/1 on our favourite newgroup:

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

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2004 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)

[RubberEagle]

WOOOOHOOOO
now all we need to know is, what the hell is TMoS?

[SpiritOne]

hmm...

maybe its another movie, or another possible pilot?

[Biggles]

The something of something.

Hmmmmm...

[David of Mac]

I just saw a guess on another board which would make JMS a prime target for my anti-son-of-a-bitch machine: Babylon 5: TV Movie or Show.

In other words, another Legends of the Rangers. But my instinct tells me it's an actual title, and not a bastardly code.

[Rogue Trader]

its funny that he wouldnt tell us the title but yet would give us the arcronym...

[RubberEagle]

Originally posted by Rogue Trader
its funny that he wouldnt tell us the title but yet would give us the arcronym...
It's just his way of having some good ol' sadistical fun ;)

[PJH]

TMoS = The Mother Of Stations! Babylon X ..... 5 Parsecs long...... :eek: :p

- PJH

[Alpha Leader]

might be called either

The Murder Of Sherriden

The Mystery of Sinclair

The Mystery of Sherriden

The Mystery of Shadows

ya know what i dont have a clue:p :p :p :p :p :p :p

[David of Mac]

Originally posted by PJH
TMoS = The Mother Of Stations! Babylon X ..... 5 Parsecs long...... :eek: :p

- PJH

I recommend if you ride the core shuttle from one end to the other, you bring a book. Hell, bring the Library of Congress if you can.

[Rogue Trader]

the movement of shadows.

[Ranger1]

Originally posted by Rogue Trader
the movement of shadows.

That is what I was thinking too.

[Biggles]

Originally posted by David of Mac
I recommend if you ride the core shuttle from one end to the other, you bring a book. Hell, bring the Library of Congress if you can.

You just need internal jump gates for the core shuttle. :D

[shadow boxer]

I wonder when it is in terms of timeline....post B5 ? post Crusade ? Somewhere in parallel, like in LoTR ?

I think we'll need a new adversary to fight... the Shadows are definitely past thier use-by date

[Aggamemnon]

I have a feeling it could be Shadow related - but with Valen and the FirstOnes

[Mundane]

I believe it is "The Movements Of Shadows":


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

jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2004 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)

[Alpha Leader]

okay one of us was correct with all the guessing so the possible titles are

The Movements Of Shadows

The Mystery of Shadows

The Murder Of Sherriden

The Mystery of Sinclair

The Mystery of Sherriden

i wonder which one it was, hmmmm
:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[WORF]

The Memory of Shadows

And I agree it might be about the war 1000 years ago...well technically 750 years ago... ;)

Worf

[David of Mac]

Originally posted by Mundane
I believe it is "The Movements Of Shadows"

No, that's a crappy title. Something like, I don't know, Movements of Fire and Shadow would be much better.

Oops, can't use that.

[Entil'Zha]

Originally posted by WORF
The Memory of Shadows

And I agree it might be about the war 1000 years ago...well technically 750 years ago... ;)

Worf

I was actually thinking the same thing, maybe the telling of Valen and the first shadow war, could be interesting. but i dunno, of course, if you ask me, just about anything with Zathras is good by me.

[Andy La Rubin]

"Throw Morden off Station" is my favorite ;)

[the_exile]

I think we're getting off topic here.

NEW B5!

(Though that last one has a nice ring to it :D)

[Errant_Variable]

Babylon 5: The Mockery of Sierra

Game. Funding. Source.

I [we?] wish.

[Messiah]

:D

[Arik]

Interesting... Given jms' tendency to throw red herrings our way, I have a couple of comments.

1) It could stand for 'The Movie or Show', since that would keep us trying to read into what the title is when there is no title. However, that's not likely since, if it's somewhat finalized, they have to know which it's going to be, a movie or a show. Still, it's a possibility.

2) If it is indeed a title, I am surprised that everyone just assumed T stands for 'The'. Why can't it stand for something else, like Telepath(ic)? The title could well be
Babylon 5: Telepathy: Mind of Shadow or something like that.

It could also be

Babylon 5: The Matter of State, and deal with some of the events taking place on Earth during the Clark administration. A big screen introduction of Nightwatch would certainly be a somber reminder of how easy it is to lose freedom to fear.

[RubberEagle]

Originally posted by Arik
Interesting... Given jms' tendency to throw red herrings our way, I have a couple of comments.

1) It could stand for 'The Movie or Show', since that would keep us trying to read into what the title is when there is no title. However, that's not likely since, if it's somewhat finalized, they have to know which it's going to be, a movie or a show. Still, it's a possibility.

well, that depends. you should not forget that he still doesn't want (or can't) tell us WHAT it is, and that TMoS as "name" for the project is much older, something he might have used in conversations or correspondance with other people....


2) If it is indeed a title, I am surprised that everyone just assumed T stands for 'The'. Why can't it stand for something else, like Telepath(ic)? The title could well be
Babylon 5: Telepathy: Mind of Shadow or something like that.

It could also be

Babylon 5: The Matter of State, and deal with some of the events taking place on Earth during the Clark administration. A big screen introduction of Nightwatch would certainly be a somber reminder of how easy it is to lose freedom to fear.

also, that most people take S for Shadow(s)...

though i'd rather not have the EarthAlliance stuff treated in a single movie (of the week)... there's to much potential in there....

[Language of Hope]

Originally posted by Arik
1) It could stand for 'The Movie or Show', since that would keep us trying to read into what the title is when there is no title. However, that's not likely since, if it's somewhat finalized, they have to know which it's going to be, a movie or a show.
Yes, but *we* do not know yet, and he told *us* about "TMoS".

Originally posted by Arik
2) [...] Babylon 5: The Matter of State, and deal with some of the events taking place on Earth during the Clark administration. A big screen introduction of Nightwatch would certainly be a somber reminder of how easy it is to lose freedom to fear.
Indeed, this would be an ambituous project, and the more interesting in the light of current state of the world.
But, actually, I can not believe this could happen... although I would like to.

[David of Mac]

I think it's something better glimpsed from the outside, like ISN's two trips to the station (I'm willing to bet the senator in And Now For a Word was a Clarke supporter, for instance), and the annoying woman in Shadow Dancing (I still love how abusive she is to her husband "Your mother reads trash, and so do you!").

But what do I know?

[Aggamemnon]

Ooh.. I hadn't thought of that.

I'm not sure if it well be ISN related... although with the current state of the world something Nightwatch related would certainly be topical.

[Alpha-1]

JMS posted this in the Newsgroup

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

jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2004 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)

[SpiritOne]

it may be interesting to note, I remember reading some things a while back about the possibility of a science fiction show/movie without having human beings in it. The current theory from TV/Movie executives is that you should have humans in it.

I know it sounds funny, but think about it. How many sci-fi related movies or shows have you seen without any references to Earth, or in general having people play non-aliens.

However, Babylon 5 did break that mold, there are several episodes that deal with mostly alien subject matters and there is a lot of on screen time with only aliens.

I specifically remember reading about the possibility of doing a B5 prequel that would involve the last shadow war and Valen (Sinclair) fighting it. It specifically stated that because of the lack of humans it wouldnt work.

Now, personally Id like to see it, but we all know that producers and executives tell us what we really want to watch.

[Aggamemnon]

I agree. It could just be Vorlons, Shadows and Minbari (with a couple of other firstones thrown in)

[shadow boxer]

I sincerely freakin hope so... in terms of the First Shadow War...

I think the greater Sci-fi community is ready to deal with a series which doesn't have any of us soft pink humies in it.

It frees up JMS to write as he wishes... continue to draw parables for us, like the episode where the Markab are destroyed by a 'shameful' disease... which spoke volumes about AIDS in our current world.

When you have no real frame of reference to link it back to Earth... a writer can do what the hell he/she likes.

[PJH]

It's a game.

JMS told once about ongoing talks and efforts to do a new game after ITF failed.

But if I'm wrong it's a movie about Dilgar war. That would be interesting at least. Or a movie about Firstones. :)

- PJH

[MartianDust]

When you have no real frame of reference to link it back to Earth... a writer can do what the hell he/she likes.

This would be great!

I'd love it to be about the Shadows in the beginning or Telepaths.

:)

[TheFirstOne]

Originally posted by Arik

Babylon 5: The Matter of State, and deal with some of the events taking place on Earth during the Clark administration. A big screen introduction of Nightwatch would certainly be a somber reminder of how easy it is to lose freedom to fear.

I like it.
No, I really Like it.

That idea is very applicable, because remember, we only got one view and an occational glimpse at the enemies view... (at the risk of sounding like a politician with John philip susa playing in the background) what about the people!?

I would say that is a very possible idea, it fits the theme for current times, seals a very human base, and presents potential for the original cast.

[Manip]

B5:TMoS

Info
B5 - 'Babylon 5' (I'm smart... :rolleyes: )
T - Anything under the sun...
M - A name... If it was 'Master' or 'Movement' that would be wrong.. small m for those two..
o - A normal word, non-name
S - A name..

the movement of shadows = B5:TmoS

Google:
TMos - Testament of Moses

TM = Testament?
o = Of
S = Shadows?

Also, if it was 'The Movie or Show' this is how his text would look:
"Writing on Babylon 5: The Movie or Show is complete..."
Which does actually work. I disagree in having the word movement in the title, it isn't a normal title. What does movement mean, travel? Because to move could mean a lot of things and a story involving 'movement' doesn't sound interesting. And it implies the story follows the last word in the name... so we would be following the activities of the shadows, from the shadows point of view. Movements, could work and does sound MORE interesting.... but to imply travel you wouldn't use the word movements. When someone says movements you think, ok watch me move from one side of this room to another.

'The Mystery' could have worked... but there is no more mystery so... Sherriden wasn't murdered so... And there is nothing mysterious about Sinclair...

[RubberEagle]

how about: "Trademark of Straczynski"?

[Rogue Trader]

i really like the "babylon 5:Telepathy: MInd of Shadow

[Unregistered]

Ok ok, a few things...

1) in titles, every word is capitalized except "to, a, an, the, or, etc..." So Movements is such a word to be capitalized. The first letter in the title is always capitalized, so "T" can still represent "the."

2) There is a BIG mystery of Sinclair.... the whole B4 Story. There's a book called, think something like Dreaming in the Crystal City, that leaves a few questions as to what became of Sinclair.... we do know he became Valen, and that he was chased off Minbar after the war, but his children returned to Minbar.... His children!?! Sinclair was in love with a certain woman, who is hurlded through time (no one knows where). Does Sinclair fall in love with a new lover (Minbari woman) or does fate smile upon him and does he find his Fiancee (have her go through the same transformation). The latter also stems to answer the question of when the cryptic letter to Marcus was sent... as it was written on very old paper, and from Both Sinclair and his Fiancee.... was it written on the old paper in the present, or was it written when the paper was new, a thousand years ago.....

[RedAssAg05]

okay, so this may be premature, but I thought I'd throw it out anyway.

I'm new to this community and just recently discovered the canned ITF project (as an avid gamer, simmer, and B5 fan, I am ashamed). I have been trying to learn more about the current efforts to ressurect the game, but haven't learned much. I am impressed by projects such as IFH, B5 for Freespace 2, and others. While these projects are VERY impressive (especially IFH) and the dev teams deserve commendation, after seeing the ITF trailer, I ach to see this project also brought back to life.

If JMS is working on a new B5 TV project, this could be an opportunity. It would certainly hinge on his project's success, but with success there, a new campaign to ressurect the ITF project and find a willing producer could be mounted, and I feel if we did it right, we could meet with success!!

Even if it isn't a TV project...ANY project...it could serve as a good platform for our efforts!

Let me know what you think...and I'm definately eager to get more involved here!

[samuelk]

have been trying to learn more about the current efforts to ressurect the game, but haven't learned much.

There are no ongoing efforts to resurrect the game. There WERE attempts made in the past, but it's time to move on.

[RedAssAg05]

most unfortunate.

[Bekenn]

Maybe Biggles can show you the history page; I don't know where he keeps it.

[Biggles]

Until Sanfam gets around to the big site redesign he's been going on about, you can find it here:

http://www.firstones.com/firstoneshistory.html

[RedAssAg05]

I appreciate the link. Very informative.

Still...it's like meeting a woman and instantly falling for her, knowing that you were meant to spend the rest of your life with her...and then learning she's married. (we're assuming in this analogy that these two BELIEVE in the sanctity and fidelity of marriage).

But y'know what? As long as there's people out here with the dream, then the dream isn't dead. you say 'it's time to move on', but I think that's rather defeatist. sure it's been 4 years...okay. But there are other ways to realize the dream...it may not be in the same name, but it's still the dream. B5:IFH is a great start, and I have high hopes for it. So, I guess I'm sayin, although you may have given up the fight...although you may have quit, there's at least one person who's ready to strap on his boots and jump into it, in any way he can. But maybe I'm the minority...hell, wouldn't be the first time

Not much of a pep talk, but that wasn't what I was goin for.

[Biggles]

We don't think it's time to move on from the dream of a B5 game. It's just time to move on from trying to revive B5:ITF.

[RedAssAg05]

Oh, okay!!! well in that case...I'm not so down then!

[bobo]

Hey, Ag,
Gig'em, from the class of '88.

[RedAssAg05]

Well then, Let's Beat The Hell Outta whoever we gotta to get what we want!! ;-) WHOOP!

[croxis]

Worf claims to know what it is.

[A2597]

we tried and tried and tried.

sierra said f*ck off, and refused to sell for any price.

gah...:mad: :( :angryv:

[RedAssAg05]

Dose Bastahds!

[Samsomael]

Just while we're on the subject of new projects, does anyone know if we poor aussies are going to get a showing of "Legend of the Rangers" here?
I'm always up for a new JMS&/B5 project (and this one does seem quite tantilising :) ) but the networks here seem to get the willies when it comes to showing new B5 stuff.

[ShadowDancer]

no idea, sorry. not that your missing much with Legend of the Rangers IMHO:rolleyes:

[Samsomael]

Oh dear, that's not a good sign or portent.

[RubberEagle]

1) B5:LR was just a pilot movie, and compared to TG, i think it's much better.
(just compare TG to your favourite B5 ep, and then LR to that ep, and tell me what of the two came out better)

2) i did like LR, so did a few other people. (never the less, if there was the slightest possibility that either LR or crusade would be continued, i'd have to vote for crusade)

[Striker]

Originally posted by bobo
Hey, Ag,
Gig'em, from the class of '88.


Aggies are bad.

HOOK'EM HORNS! =)

[RedAssAg05]

LoL....SAW EM OFF...and Beat The Hell Outta t.u....WHOOP!!!


*all in good fun:) *