Babylon 5

[Jan]

What?! He’s made it perfectly clear himself in a number of posts over the years. I don’t understand why you can’t see that. I’m not quoting him again.

You'll have to if you want me to believe you. As you know, I'm really quite conversant with his posts - and transcripts...you know the ones I did that you've been quoting? :-).

 

[Farscape One]

An uncomfortable possibility... JMS is not a spring chicken. Do you think Warner is waiting for him to pass away before doing anything with B5?

I am not a legal expert by any stretch of the definition, but when one party dies, doesn't that make it void? This way, they can do whatever they want without any oversight or authorization from the creator.

 

[Jan]

Thing of it is, JMS *sold* B5 to WB. The only rights he actually owns are the feature film rights. Everything else, from Airlocks to Zocalo belongs to WB. B5 was JMS' first ever series sale. That means that any rights he got were those that WB thought would be useless.

Bottom line is that it's vanishingly unlikely that JMS has some magic veto-power but might have the right of first refusal on any proposed projects-at the most. As for anything reverting after JMS' death (Hey! He's only 9 months older than me!), all of the contracts would be with his corporation, Synthetic Worlds, and corporations don't have to die.

 

[Triple-F]

OK. Just for the hell of it – since you asked. Emphasis added by me.

1999 – He mentions Warner own the copyright, but somehow, by contract he has to be involved if any new B5 project is proposed.

Warners owns the copyright to B5, just as Paramount owns the copyright to ST. By contract, if there should be a spin off or sequel of any kind, I would have to be involved in it.

2003 – He goes a bit further and says that he controls many of the rights, (even though Warner owns the copyright) then specifically says – by contract- that if he isn’t involved with a new project then it doesn’t happen.

“Well, yeah, I did create the series, executive produce it, write 91 out of 110 episodes, and I do control many of the rights. And no deal can go forward without my involvement. By contract, if it doesn't happen with me, it doesn't happen."

2009 – He goes further still and points out that no proposed project can move forward without his authorisation.

“First, WB does not have anything going with B5 at the moment, and would not DO anything with B5 without my direct involvement. (Interestingly enough, I had a meeting just a few days ago with the HEAD of WB Television, and they confirmed that there's nothing in the pipeline, in or out of the studio, and won't be until and unless I authorize it.”

As I mentioned earlier – maybe he’s talking through his backside. I don’t know. But he keeps mentioning this contract of his. Maybe I’m missing something – wouldn’t be the first time – or you know something different, but he’s pretty clear on those points.

If he does have to authorise a new B5 project or it doesn’t happen, then that pretty much does seem to qualify as a veto if he so chooses to withhold his authorisation. . . . . . Not saying that he HAS done that, but it does at least appear – based on what he’s said – that he has that ability. . . . . Anyway.

 

[Farscape One]

Thing of it is, JMS *sold* B5 to WB. The only rights he actually owns are the feature film rights. Everything else, from Airlocks to Zocalo belongs to WB. B5 was JMS' first ever series sale. That means that any rights he got were those that WB thought would be useless.

Bottom line is that it's vanishingly unlikely that JMS has some magic veto-power but might have the right of first refusal on any proposed projects-at the most. As for anything reverting after JMS' death (Hey! He's only 9 months older than me!), all of the contracts would be with his corporation, Synthetic Worlds, and corporations don't have to die.

So, basically, this situation is the same as how CBS owns the rights to STAR TREK being on television and Paramount, the movies.

In this case, JMS is Paramount with WB being CBS.

An I understanding this right?

 

[Jan]

“First, WB does not have anything going with B5 at the moment, and would not DO anything with B5 without my direct involvement. (Interestingly enough, I had a meeting just a few days ago with the HEAD of WB Television, and they confirmed that there's nothing in the pipeline, in or out of the studio, and won't be until and unless I authorize it.”

I'm not sure what you're trying to read into this but the word choice is Would not - not Could not. That's what's known as courtesy. There's nothing at all in any of those that indicates that JMS has any authority to authorize (or veto) any project at all. As I said, 'being involved' might be nothing more than collecting a check. As an example, there's this post regarding Jeremiah:

><<If there were a third season, the studio would have to pay me a consultancy
>fee
>but there would be no requirement to actually consult.>>
>
>Ignorant question here: Why?
>
A very well written contract.

Yes, different show but it's indicitive of how odd things can be in that business.

Farscape One, I'm not sure that's an exact comparison because as I recall, the Trek movies have been shown on TV. As it stands (from what JMS has said), JMS can make a movie and distribute it to theaters but cannot license that movie to be shown on TV. And if he's ever mentioned other revenue streams like Blu-Ray/DVD or downloading, I haven't seen or heard that but it seems doubtful.

 

[Farscape One]

I was referring more to producing a movie vs. tv series, especially since at least the 2009 STAR TREK movie has aired on tv.

 

[Jan]

I was referring more to producing a movie vs. tv series, especially since at least the 2009 STAR TREK movie has aired on tv.

All I know is what JMS said back in 2014:

And they’ve always dragged their feet [because] that’s what Warner Bros. does. They knew that they had the upper hand because I couldn’t take it to any other studio because these days all the studios want all the rights. So if I brought it to say, Sony or Fox, they’d want the TV rights which Warner Bros. controls. Warner Bros. will never give those rights up so we were always handcuffed by that.
....snip.....
There’s one studio in town that doesn’t care if it doesn’t have the TV rights…that wants to see this movie made and will do it with or without Warner Bros. (Studio JMS logo comes on screen).

So it seems that the film would have to be in theaters only unless WB got involved in some way and licensed the additional rights.

 

[Jan]

19 years ago today, on Thanksgiving Eve, Sleeping In Light aired. JMS said:
----
Ultimately, for me, the end of B5 is neither a sad ending nor a happy ending; it's not an ending at all, since the universe carries on. But if I were to describe what kind of ending it was, I'd say it was a graceful ending, a dignified ending, an ending that said individuals can effect profound change, if they are willing to put their own lives and happiness on the line; not
happy, not sad, but a testament to the idea that you have used your time here well."
-----
For me it's still the best series ending ever. And I still cry.

Jan

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

19 years ago today, on Thanksgiving Eve, Sleeping In Light aired. JMS said:
----
Ultimately, for me, the end of B5 is neither a sad ending nor a happy ending; it's not an ending at all, since the universe carries on. But if I were to describe what kind of ending it was, I'd say it was a graceful ending, a dignified ending, an ending that said individuals can effect profound change, if they are willing to put their own lives and happiness on the line; not
happy, not sad, but a testament to the idea that you have used your time here well."
-----
For me it's still the best series ending ever. And I still cry.

Jan

For a time after the series ended for me when it was brand new I got up early to watch the sunrise.

 

[Farscape One]

It was a great series finale to a great series. I miss B5.

 

[shivkala]

19 years ago today, on Thanksgiving Eve, Sleeping In Light aired. JMS said:
----
Ultimately, for me, the end of B5 is neither a sad ending nor a happy ending; it's not an ending at all, since the universe carries on. But if I were to describe what kind of ending it was, I'd say it was a graceful ending, a dignified ending, an ending that said individuals can effect profound change, if they are willing to put their own lives and happiness on the line; not
happy, not sad, but a testament to the idea that you have used your time here well."
-----
For me it's still the best series ending ever. And I still cry.

Jan

I think Susan Ivanova speaks for all of us:

"Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. There would never be another. It changed the future .. and it changed us. It taught us that we have to create the future .. or others will do it for us. It showed us that we have care for one another, because if we don't, who will? And that true strength sometimes comes from the most unlikely places. Mostly, though, I think it gave us hope .. that there can always be new beginnings .. even for people like us."

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Of course Susan was right Ivanova was God after all.

Such a brilliant show.

 

[DonIago]

Rance Howard, who played John Sheridan's dad and actually is Ron Howard's dad, passed away.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/25/entertainment/rance-howard-father-of-ron-obit/index.html

 

[John Clark]

Rance Howard, who played John Sheridan's dad and actually is Ron Howard's dad, passed away.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/25/entertainment/rance-howard-father-of-ron-obit/index.html

RIP

Probably the first thing I saw him in was BSG(78) but I've seen him in a lot of stuff. Ever since B5 though, the first role that pops to mind is of David Sheridan.

 

[DonIago]

The first thing I remember seeing him in is Apollo 13.

 

[JD]

I watched the TV episode of CNN's The Nineties last night, and they actually showed a clip from B5 during a montage at the end. I was hoping they might talk about it some, but there a lot of big shows in the '90s and you can't cover everything in 2 hours. It was at least nice to see the show acknowledged at all.

 

[tomswift2002]

Ever since B5 though, the first role that pops to mind is of David Sheridan.

Besides B5, another role he’s familiar for is the old man in “The Grinch” that gives the grinch the some posing.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The first thing I remember seeing him in is Apollo 13.

And his wife (Ron's mom) was also in the film, wasn't she? IIRC, she played Jim Lovell's mother.

"It's that damn TV Guide again!"

 

[DonIago]

I think you're right about that.