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#FreeBabylon5 Campaign

In that vein, what form would a "comeback" take?

Is the goal for a reboot, re-imagining or continuation? With so many of the cast no longer with us and with others now being older, presumably this would not be a direct continuation. Or maybe a potential show could go the "Dallas" revival route and feature a predominantly younger cast while having some of the "classic" cast along for the ride.
 
In that vein, what form would a "comeback" take?

Is the goal for a reboot, re-imagining or continuation? With so many of the cast no longer with us and with others now being older, presumably this would not be a direct continuation. Or maybe a potential show could go the "Dallas" revival route and feature a predominantly younger cast while having some of the "classic" cast along for the ride.
JMS' recent revival Idea for the Streaming Network (I think?) that didn't come to fruition, was to start over again with different characters (Hence Sinclair, Franklin, G'Kar and Zathras not being recast), and the living/healthy cast members could play, new Iconic Roles
 
In that vein, what form would a "comeback" take?

Is the goal for a reboot, re-imagining or continuation? With so many of the cast no longer with us and with others now being older, presumably this would not be a direct continuation. Or maybe a potential show could go the "Dallas" revival route and feature a predominantly younger cast while having some of the "classic" cast along for the ride.

The goal is the get the show back on TV, period. What happens after that is out of our hands, but the general idea is to keep the show alive in people's memories and get new people to watch it for the first time.

IF that results in more B5 in one for or another, then that'll be a bonus.
 
You mean the actual B5 show is NOT airing anywhere in the US at the moment? I thought in the land of 1000 channels that it'd be on SOMEWHERE at SOME TIME.
 
Apparently it is being aired nowhere at the moment, so, yeah, the current campaign is just to get the original show seen again. However, I would also love to see that lead to more new material in the B5 Universe.

I don't like the idea of a remake with new characters and the old actors in new roles. I'd rather see some kind of a "Next Generation" sort of thing. I always prefer continuations or expansions to remakes.
 
You mean the actual B5 show is NOT airing anywhere in the US at the moment? I thought in the land of 1000 channels that it'd be on SOMEWHERE at SOME TIME.

Nope, not that we've been able to find anywhere in the USA. Not for over ten years! Other countries from time to time but not here.

There's been some movement in other countries, though. WATCH in the UK just finished the entire series (plus season one again) and credits the campaign for doing so. There's a channel in Denmark showing it and another in Germany is about to start. Now we need to seriously work on getting it back on in the US.

Apparently it is being aired nowhere at the moment, so, yeah, the current campaign is just to get the original show seen again. However, I would also love to see that lead to more new material in the B5 Universe.

Exactly. We've got to get the show in front of people again. Face it, the original Trek didn't become a cultural phenomenon in the three years it was on the air - it was after being on in constant reruns so that people could simply find it on their own. There are plenty of channels showing shows that aren't in hi-def and those are the ones we need to approach in addition to targeting Warner's to make it available. It needs to be on the menu before anybody can order it, after all. Lots of fans are focusing on getting it back on Netflix or other streaming services (not at $2/episode!), too, and that's also fine.

My goal at San Diego Comic-Con is to get as many letters out as possible. Everybody who comes to the panel will be given a pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelope with a short letter to the head of WB Entertainment to customize and send. There'll be plenty more available at the fan table that AZ SF Cons has generously offered to share with us (sans postage-fundraising wasn't that great!).

I'm also planning on having fans drop off little 'favors' to the WB booth from time to time over the weekend. Don't know if it'll be possible to reach any execs who will be there but it might start some water-cooler discussion, at least.

And finally, on the popular 'freebie tables' I'll have postcards and buttons available. People fill bags with the swag they get from this con but the hope is to intrigue them enough that they don't just toss it when they get back to the hotel room.

ETA: Wonderful new essay up on the website from webmaster Ben Read:
http://freebabylon5.com/dreams-grow-teeth/

Jan
 
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Here is one question I don't think you or anyone can answer, where is the computers and the hard drives that the tv show that was made on?. And do any one of you know the name of the computers?. I can tell you that the studio just gave them to any one who wanted them but the person wanted to start up B-5 again but he needs the hard drive from the old computer, I know the name of the computers they used to put on the tv show with.


There seem to be a few new B5 threads here every week, so I genuinely don't get how it's obscure compared to other shows I would consider obscure. Does JMS really expect a cult show from the 90s to hit the mainstream? It has tons of devoted fans and that's enough for it to live on.

I'm not busting my arse to promote B5 just to get us a Legend of the Rangers sequel.
 
Here is one question I don't think you or anyone can answer, where is the computers and the hard drives that the tv show that was made on?. And do any one of you know the name of the computers?. I can tell you that the studio just gave them to any one who wanted them but the person wanted to start up B-5 again but he needs the hard drive from the old computer, I know the name of the computers they used to put on the tv show with.

I don't think that's a question that can be answered properly. There's no one set or bank of computers like that. The CGI effects were created by the effects company, Ron Thornton's people, and JMS has said that they edited the episodes on Amigas at an editing facility. So there's no single set of computers and the studio isn't likely to have given them to anybody since they generally didn't own them.

The files, now...those were all turned over to WB per contract and reports are that they've been lost since. Some of the crew seem to have kept unofficial copies I've heard but don't know for sure.

Jan
 
You got part of it right but every one was told to look out for the hard drive ok please. What is on them had some things that no one did see befor.
I just need you to keep your eyes open for the hard drives, the person told my friend there there will be about 6 to 8 scsi hard drive and 4 to 6 IDE hard drive with lot of the info no one ever did see befor. The person can't give out no money if they found them.
But I was also was told that they maybe have a small part my friend give me much info of the size of the hard drives so I can't tell you the size of the hard drives.



Here is one question I don't think you or anyone can answer, where is the computers and the hard drives that the tv show that was made on?. And do any one of you know the name of the computers?. I can tell you that the studio just gave them to any one who wanted them but the person wanted to start up B-5 again but he needs the hard drive from the old computer, I know the name of the computers they used to put on the tv show with.

I don't think that's a question that can be answered properly. There's no one set or bank of computers like that. The CGI effects were created by the effects company, Ron Thornton's people, and JMS has said that they edited the episodes on Amigas at an editing facility. So there's no single set of computers and the studio isn't likely to have given them to anybody since they generally didn't own them.

The files, now...those were all turned over to WB per contract and reports are that they've been lost since. Some of the crew seem to have kept unofficial copies I've heard but don't know for sure.

Jan
 
No one needs the old 3D models, they would have to build new models from scratch anyway. All they need is the show, and any drawings JMS might have, for reference.
 
Hope they find them.

Back to topic, the schedule for Thursday at San Diego Comic-Con is out now and the #FreeBabylon5 panel is the very first listing.

Thursday, July 24

10:00am
#FreeBabylon5: A Fan Campaign
Jan Schroeder (freebabylon5.com) and Jon Del Arroz (flyingsparkscomic.com) discuss a growing fan campaign that sprang up after J. Michael Straczynski tweeted the hashtag #FreeBabylon5 and urged fans to "get organized and loud" if Babylon 5 fandom is to grow. See what has been accomplished so far and help brainstorm what can be done in the future to promote this seminal science fiction show and bring it to new viewers.
Thursday July 24, 2014 10:00am - 11:00am
Room 29A
1: Programs, Fandom, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Web, Writers & Writing
Tags Fandom, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Web, Writers & Writing

If any of you know anybody who's going to SDCC, please spread the word on this! Cons pay a *lot* of attention to the attendance and this could really effect the future of the campaign.

Thanks!
 
I had a completely random dream this morning that I was channel flipping and came across Babylon 5 in high def quality on cable. I flipped onto an image of Londo and G'Kar and it was totally crystal clear, then it apparently became a version of "Voices of Authority" because it showed the White Star and the Agamemnon flying along the spine of the Sigma Walker footbone ship and let me tell you it looked gorgeous! The texture, the detail...! And when the ships flew at speed, there was this undulating three tentacled blue exhaust plume that just looked amazing.
 
Because lets face it, streaming is the future of television. As for cable and network, Kosh said it best: "they are a dying people. We should let them pass."

And so will B5 fandom be a dying people if we don't get [off our encounter-suited butts] together and do SOMEthing.

Look at it this way. There are *lots* of channels available in every market, and probably 5 or 10 or more of them might be reasonable candidates for rerunning Babylon 5. They don't have to be low on the dial, they just need to show it where people channel surfing (which I don't think will ever go out of style) can find it. THEN if we also get it up on Netflix or Hulu or some other streaming site, they can use that to catch up once their interest is piqued.

For now, B5 isn't in reruns on television anywhere in the world as far as I've been able to find out but all of 26 episodes are streaming on WBs own site so it seems likely that they might be more inclined to let it go back on television.

For an indication of just exactly the mindset we're dealing with, check out this panel from the Phoenix Comicon 'Fandom Endures' Panel. From about 42:54 to about 50:25, JMS talks about why B5 isn't on TV or streaming. I think we can overcome that if we can just show WB that there's money to be made.

So the question is...who's willing to *do* something? "We must create the future, or others will do it for us."

Jan

There are some channels that could rerun Babylon 5 right now, if possible (many of them are OTA subchannels) :

Retro TV

THIS TV

Antenna TV

Space (Canadian TV channel, version of SyFy that also shows reruns)

Apologies if I've already posted these.

You mean the actual B5 show is NOT airing anywhere in the US at the moment? I thought in the land of 1000 channels that it'd be on SOMEWHERE at SOME TIME.

No, the show's not 'cool' enough to be in reruns like Friends, Mad Men, NCIS, CSI, Booker, Everybody Loves Raymond, King Of Queens, Law & Order, Will & Grace, Rosanne (plus a few new others) is. My guess is that since Babylon 5's on DVD, station owners think that it doesn't need to be on TV because 'the geeks will just buy it at Best Buy and Amazon' (and many of us probably already have done so.)
 
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Also, The Science Channel has already done Firefly, and is either currently running or not too long ago ran Farscape, so, no reason Babylon 5 wouldn't fit there.

And of course, Babylon 5 reruns would be right at home on SyFy Channel
 
Please everyone, the people are trying to fine the computer hard drive to where the people like you can build on top of what the person did for the tv show of B-5,
You just need to ask around thru the Internet of where the hard drives are at?.
And then the rest is just up to who want to see more for B-5,
Do any one have any of the studio model of the space station?.




No one needs the old 3D models, they would have to build new models from scratch anyway. All they need is the show, and any drawings JMS might have, for reference.
 
More B5 content at San Diego Comic-Con!

The Art of Babylon 5

Members of the iconic show's art department, under production designer John Iacovelli, with art director Mark-Louis Walters, art director Roland Rosenkranz, graphic artist Alan Kobayashi, and concept artist and set designer Timothy Earls, reunite to discuss how they were able to design 110 episodes over five years and six TV movies while keeping the sets fresh, exciting and, well, out of this world.

Friday July 25, 2014 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Room 23ABC

Nice to know that #FreeBabylon5 won't be alone.

Jan
 
There are some channels that could rerun Babylon 5 right now, if possible (many of them are OTA subchannels) :

Retro TV

THIS TV

Antenna TV

Space (Canadian TV channel, version of SyFy that also shows reruns)

Apologies if I've already posted these.

These are wonderful, thanks! I'll send them on to the webmaster and make sure they're up. Hmmm....might make up a small flyer for the convention, too, since the contact info for all of these is for email rather than snail mail.

Thanks again!
Jan
 
Please try to understand this, it is not no reruns or any thing like that, the computers I am telling you about that it has o'most that the person needs to start up a new show with the 8 or 10 hard drives that you need. No one knows where the computers are at do to no one knows of where the computers are. See the name of the computer I am talking about they still work but no one like to talk about the name of the computer.
I will give you the name and you all can look it up then. It is the amiga computer and there was about 6 of the A3000, and maybe 4 A4000T, and maybe 2 A2000?. They just need to get the hard drive from them. This is what I am talking about no reruns of the show.



There are some channels that could rerun Babylon 5 right now, if possible (many of them are OTA subchannels) :

Retro TV

THIS TV

Antenna TV

Space (Canadian TV channel, version of SyFy that also shows reruns)
Good suggestions to go along with MeTV. I wish I had Antenna-- they've got some good stuff, including It Takes A Thief and WKRP.
 
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