A Niner Watches Babylon 5 (NO spoilers, please)

[Jan]

Trivia notes on "Grail:
- The plaintiff suing the 'grey' aliens was John Flinn, the Director of Photography for B5.
- Aldous Gajic's last name is the same as Mira Furlan's husband, Goran Gajic.
- It's been reported that the director, Richard Compton had been told this would be his last episode and that he wasn't much involved with this episode. He'd also directed "The Gathering", "Midnight on the Firing Line", "Infection", "The War Prayer', and "Believers".

Jan

 

[Jan]

By the way, was this the first episode that showed a jurisdiction system on Babylon 5?

Yes, it was. The Ombuds system was suggested by Conceptual Consultant Harlan Ellison.

Jan

 

[D Man]

- It's been reported that the director, Richard Compton had been told this would be his last episode and that he wasn't much involved with this episode. He'd also directed "The Gathering", "Midnight on the Firing Line", "Infection", "The War Prayer', and "Believers".

I've heard that snippet before and have always wondered what exactly it means. Did the producers (or just JMS I guess) not like his work? Some of those episodes are pretty good, after all. And what does it mean when a director doesn't have much involvement with an episode he's directing? He's just not on the set so the actors and camera guys do whatever? Or he's sitting in his chair doing nothing other than saying "action" and "cut"?

 

[Jan]

I've heard that snippet before and have always wondered what exactly it means. Did the producers (or just JMS I guess) not like his work? Some of those episodes are pretty good, after all. And what does it mean when a director doesn't have much involvement with an episode he's directing? He's just not on the set so the actors and camera guys do whatever? Or he's sitting in his chair doing nothing other than saying "action" and "cut"?

What Christy Marx said in her introduction was:

The production company decided to fire the director, Richard Compton, but they gave him my episode to shoot before he left. Compton was understandably angry. Rather than providing any direction, he spent his time on the set sitting in a chair fuming. The actors and pretty much everyone else were on their own and it showed. What small amounts of directing took place were largely due to the efforts of John Flinn, the DP, who tried to fill in the gaps. It was not a happy situation. The quality of the episode suffered enormously.

That's more than I usually quote of copyrighted material but it's the most detail I've seen to back up 'the director didn't do much of anything to speak of'. Why they decided to let him go, I've never heard anything on.

Jan

 

[Kegg]

What spoilers?

When there are entire conversations taking place that contain mostly or only spoiler tags, then perhaps that is an indication that those posts should be posted in a more appropriate thread, don't you think? (yes, I'm looking at you, Kegg & Reverend)

Spoiler: Hyperspace05

Spoilsport.

 

[Sykonee]

That's more than I usually quote of copyrighted material but it's the most detail I've seen to back up 'the director didn't do much of anything to speak of'. Why they decided to let him go, I've never heard anything on.

I don't think it was much of a loss, to be honest. Janet Greek had already established herself as their best director. Plus, Mike Vejar was going to make his debut the next season, so, for all we know, cutting Compton made room for a clearly stronger director.

Edit: I should add that, of their early regular directors, Jim Johnston tended to have better outings than Compton as well.

 

[D Man]

That's more than I usually quote of copyrighted material but it's the most detail I've seen to back up 'the director didn't do much of anything to speak of'. Why they decided to let him go, I've never heard anything on.

Intriguing, and thanks for taking the time to quote it. B5 sure has its share of interesting behind-the-scenes drama tales!

 

[Hyperspace05]

Re: directors... I thought Compton did a brilliant job on "And the Sky is Full of Stars". He certainly had enough talent - perhaps there was some other reason for his firing.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Re: directors... I thought Compton did a brilliant job on "And the Sky is Full of Stars". He certainly had enough talent - perhaps there was some other reason for his firing.

That one was directed by Janet Greek though.


Richard Compton episodes:
The Gathering
Midnight on the Firing Line
Infection
The War Prayer
Believers
Grail

 

[Neroon]

If you're interested in the directors for all the episodes, and a little more information, I've cobbled them together here in the attachment. Be forewarned, that reading the included descriptions could reveal some spoiler information for those following along in sequence.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I see the Crusade script books and other tomes from cafepress are due to be published soon: http://www.cafepress.co.uk/b5books

Any takers? I'd like to know what JMS had planned for the storyline, but I'm loathe to pay $30-40 per book.

 

[Brian]

Thanks for the tip, Great Mambo Chicken! I just ordered the Behind the Scenes book. It'll be a great companion for my B5 chronology and quotes books. And it's $10 off until next Wednesday.

BTW, I think the script books are overpriced, too. I also passed on the ones for B5.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I like the name for the script book series -- "CRUSADE: What the Hell Happened?"

If it had run five years as planned, it would have finished six years ago.

 

[Jan]

I see the Crusade script books and other tomes from cafepress are due to be published soon: http://www.cafepress.co.uk/b5books

Any takers? I'd like to know what JMS had planned for the storyline, but I'm loathe to pay $30-40 per book.

Well, me. But then I work on them.

Crusade: Behind the Scenes contains interviews at the time that the show was being made. Joe Nazzaro, who reported on B5 and Crusade throughout the length of the shows was the interviewer and probably 70% of the material hasn't been published before. Also included are photos that Joe N. took on the set and some concept art for the show. (All of which you could get from the advertising copy, I know.) Personally, I think it's probably the best looking book we've done so far.

As for the price, keep in mind that there's a 30-day guarantee so you can always get your money back. While the books are definitely not cheap, given the expense of POD, I don't think they're really overpriced. FWIW, we concentrate a lot on how to make the best experience for the fans (which is how I got involved in the first place).

Wish I could talk about some of what we're planning for the Crusade: What the Hell Happened books. They're going to be very cool.

Jan

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Well, I guess there's no real economy of scale to bring the price down. Crusade was an unsuccessful series with a troubled development history that was terminated ten years ago. You can't even arrange the episodes that we eventually got into a sensible order -- there are too many inconsistencies. Are there really going to be that many people interested in buying these books?

 

[Neroon]

I see the Crusade script books and other tomes from cafepress are due to be published soon: http://www.cafepress.co.uk/b5books

Any takers? I'd like to know what JMS had planned for the storyline, but I'm loathe to pay $30-40 per book.

Well, me. But then I work on them.

Crusade: Behind the Scenes contains ...

I ordered my copy of the "Behind the Scenes" book last night!

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Just noticed that Janet Greek directed "And the Sky Full of Stars", "Signs and Portents", "A Voice in the Wilderness", and "Chrysalis". I guess the award for best Season 1 director goes to her.

She also directed some of the top Season 2 episodes, and then she vanished until Season 5. What had happened with her again?

 

[Pilot Ace]

I see the Crusade script books and other tomes from cafepress are due to be published soon: http://www.cafepress.co.uk/b5books

Any takers? I'd like to know what JMS had planned for the storyline, but I'm loathe to pay $30-40 per book.

Ordered mine this morning! It was a nice surprise to see that e-mail in my inbox yesterday afternoon.

I'm also excited for the forthcoming Crusade books. They'll be a welcome addition to the Babylon 5 books on my shelf.

 

[Jan]

You can't even arrange the episodes that we eventually got into a sensible order -- there are too many inconsistencies.

We wouldn't have been able to, anyway. As was done for the B5 scripts, the 'Other Voices' writer's scripts are done separately, mainly because they're published by a different company (though JMS has given permission for his structure to be used). It will be interesting to see which drafts of the scripts JMS chooses. Early drafts would show what he originally intended for each episode.

Are there really going to be that many people interested in buying these books?

Enough to interest a major publisher, definitely not. Enough to make it a worthwile project, yes. In fact, the B5 books set records for POD before even half of them had come out. One of JMS's reasons for his online presence was to de-mystify the TV-making process. Additionally, he includes a lot of information that can be helpful to aspiring writers. While I doubt he'd do this if he were losing money, there's at least enough to cover his keeping the B5 Books Team.

Jan

 

[Brian]

Just noticed that Janet Greek directed "And the Sky Full of Stars", "Signs and Portents", "A Voice in the Wilderness", and "Chrysalis". I guess the award for best Season 1 director goes to her.

She also directed some of the top Season 2 episodes, and then she vanished until Season 5. What had happened with her again?

Or the award for luckiest Season 1 director, being handed some great scripts to film.