Lost Tales Update from JMS (and new photos)

[The_One]

See it all here:

http://www.babylon5scripts.com/TLT-JMS-Photos.html

From J. Michael Straczynski

January 12, 2006

For those who signed up for the mailing, a bit of an inside update on where things stand on Babylon 5: The Lost Tales (whose production was hailed just this week in the new TV Guide under the "Cheers and Jeers" column) (and yes, we got the "cheer" part of that, wiseass)...

I'll be flying back up to Vancouver toward the end of the month to supervise the dialogue looping and to start reviewing the finished CGI shots being created by Atmosphere.

We've also designed a brand new title sequence for Babylon 5, which incorporates all of the major characters, and emphasizes the interconnectedness of the characters seen over the show. There will also be a separate set-piece placed just before the main title sequence that will tie back visually to our series finale, "Sleeping in Light," in kind of a tribute to the end of that volume and the starting of this one.

We're also finishing up the director's blogs and behind- the-scenes pieces, which will show Bruce, Tracy, Peter and our new cast members, with the former group commenting on both the future of B5 and their own memories and reflections on Babylon 5. There will also be meditations and tributes to the passing of Richard Biggs and Andreas Katsulas from their fellow cast members.

The director's blogs will follow production from script through prep and shooting...though in some cases with a bit of an unusual approach. (I can never do anything serious with a straight face.) You see, there was something innovative and new and unusual and artsy that I wanted to do with this movie, but did the studio get the majesty, the novelty, the innovativeness of that idea? No, no, of COURSE not. But by gosh you'll get a preview of it here...and the world of SF will never be the same again....

[Jan]

Looks like JMS was in a good mood when he captioned the latest batch of photos!

Jan

[Spoo Junky]

And JMS doing jury duty! I'd volunteer to be one of the other 11. I bet that doesn't happen very often. Pick me! Pick me!

[Whyruss]

Wuchu - ^^ exciting news! I'd love to see the title sequence

[Jan]

And JMS doing jury duty! I'd volunteer to be one of the other 11. I bet that doesn't happen very often. Pick me! Pick me!

Are you sure? JMS is the guy who says he can see five sides to any two-sided argument.

Jan

[NotSoWize]

JMS almost always seems to be in a good mood when he is writing. His personal writing voice is so much fun to read. Now, of course, he has us all wondering how he is going to turn the world of Science Fiction on its head this time!

[Joansie]

Did anyone notice the date on that message?

I didn't realize production started a year ago.

[Jan]

Nah, it's just that time dilation bubble he used to use on the episodes.

Jan

[grumbler]

Anybody else just now notice the reference to "...Colonel Lochley summons a priest from Earth space..." in the Dec 1 post? It seems JMS has answered at least one mystery about the rank structure. Colonels outrank Captains, if Lochley is promoted from captain to Colonel.

[SLerman]

There was some theorizing on the newsgroup that Lochley may not have been promoted to Colonel, but just had her title changed as part of either a) a transfer from the Navy division of EarthForce to the Army/Marines division, or b) EarthForce taking more steps towards collapsing the ranks to a single line (which would also fit with that line about admirals being in line to command B5, even though we never see an admiral in the series).

[Andrew_Swallow]

Anybody else just now notice the reference to "...Colonel Lochley summons a priest from Earth space..." in the Dec 1 post? It seems JMS has answered at least one mystery about the rank structure. Colonels outrank Captains, if Lochley is promoted from captain to Colonel.

It could be a sideways move. All the naval officers with the rank of Captain become Colonels. It is politeness to call this a promotion.

[Shabaz]

Anybody else just now notice the reference to "...Colonel Lochley summons a priest from Earth space..." in the Dec 1 post? It seems JMS has answered at least one mystery about the rank structure. Colonels outrank Captains, if Lochley is promoted from captain to Colonel.

Having read some of the discussion about that post in some places, if anything it prompted more questions.

And in case anyone is curious exactly what TV Guide said, it's pretty short, but still kind of nifty:

CHEERS to Warner Bros. for making a Babylon 5 direct-to-DVD movie. The cult sci-fi series' creator, J. Michael Straczynski, will write and direct "Babylon 5: The Lost Tales," featuring returning stars Bruce Boxleitner, Tracy Scoggins and Peter Woodward. Fans won't have to wait until the 23rd century -- it's slated for release later this year.

[Jan]

Thanks for posting that, Shabaz. I'd wondered what it said.

Jan

[Joseph DeMartino]

Colonel is a ground forces rank. (Army, Marines, Air Force - which derives its rank structure from the Army.) Both the ground forces and the naval forces have a rank called "captain" but they are not equivalent.

A ground forces colonel is exactly equal in rank to a naval captain, just as a general is equal to an admiral. Both a ground force colonel and a naval captain outrank a ground forces captain - by three grades, in fact. A ground forces captain would have to be promoted to major. lt. colonel and colonel to reach the same grade as a naval captain. The equivalent ranks on the naval side would be lieutenant to start, then lt. commander, commander and captain.

B5's crew was clearly following naval standards with Lt. Cdr. Ivanova reporting first to Cdr. Sinclair (there is no rank of "commander" in the ground forces) and then Capt. Sheridan before being promoted to full commander, captain (in command of the Warlock) and (later) general - the rank of admiral apparently having been eliminated at some point.

It appears that the gradual replacement of the naval ranks by groundforce rank titles have been on-going in EarthForce for some time. (Garibaldi mentions "admirals and generals" competing for command of B5, but we never see an admiral, Even fleets are commanded by blue-uniformed officers addressed as "general".) It also appears to be moving from the top ranks down, so it would make sense for officers at Lochley's pay grade (captain in the "naval" branch of EarthForce) to switch to "army" rank and become a colonel at some point. But this would not be a promotion.

Regards,

Joe

[JohnFourtyTwo]

Good work Joseph! You're either prior military or one of the few who know what they're talking about. Little trivia question. Did you know the Army used to have a rank of ensign also?