New Lost Tales Rumor!!! Is this true???

[shakiroz]

I just found this link about the second instalment having been greenlit but JMs has said nothing about it here... is this for real????

http://forums.firstones.com/showthre...threadid=10941

[Jan]

Not that we know of. All that JMS has said was in a recent post:

One side-effect of this...after the sales on B5:TLT came in, way
exceeding WB's projections, they initiated talks about what to do
next, including commissioning more DVDs. Looking at the calendar, I
suggested that they might want to hurry the bureaucratic process
because we were going to be in a strike situation soon, so if they
wanted to move, they'd better commision a script fast.

And they said in response, and I quote verbatim, "We don't want to be
pressured in the process because we know there's not going to be a
strike this year, we can handle the Guild."

...which makes it clear that WB may well want more Lost Tales but negotiations were left off at an early stage and nothing more will happen until the writer's strike is over.

Unless this person were to name a source, I'd say that all he's done is put together some of JMS's online and convention statements and tried to call it 'news'.

Jan

[Triple F]

This is where I show my level of ignorance (again). Why does the writers strike put the breaks on JMS talking to Warner about more Lost Tales?

Presumably he still has full control over them (as the previous one worked) so any discussions could be at least preliminary, especially as he has both a writers and producers hat i.e. no need for him to produce a script û thereÆs lots to discuss apart from that.

[Jan]

This is where I show my level of ignorance (again). Why does the writers strike put the breaks on JMS talking to Warner about more Lost Tales?

The main thing is, there's a very fine line between producers at some levels and 'showrunners' which is what JMS has always been. Many of the showrunners simply didn't report to work when the strike began because of the many things that they might be required to do that might be considered 'writing duties'. Even changing the set for a scene from say, Sheridan's office to the Zocalo is considered writing duties. Much of editing can also be considered a function of the writing.

I suppose in *theory* WB might possibly discuss more Lost Tales with Doug Netter as partner but there's no way that JMS will discuss writing anything during the strike and the first part of the process would be for WB to commission the script. Without a script, there can't even be a budget.

Presumably he still has full control over them (as the previous one worked) so any discussions could be at least preliminary, especially as he has both a writers and producers hat i.e. no need for him to produce a script û thereÆs lots to discuss apart from that.

Except, of course, part of the point of the strike is to bring everything to a halt until a new contract is negotiated, especially since the studios have walked away from the bargaining table and are refusing to return.

As for full control, we have to remember that WB owns the Babylon 5 universe, not JMS.

Jan

[Triple F]

Except, of course, part of the point of the strike is to bring everything to a halt until a new contract is negotiated, especially since the studios have walked away from the bargaining table and are refusing to return.

As for full control, we have to remember that WB owns the Babylon 5 universe, not JMS.

Jan

Of course. But any new TLT is a future event. A bit like this new mystery project that jms is working on with a couple of names. And I thought thereÆs talking going on there.

[edit]
I meant artistic/editorial/budgetary type control, not copyright type control.

[Jan]

Of course. But any new TLT is a future event. A bit like this new mystery project that jms is working on with a couple of names. And I thought thereÆs talking going on there.

There was a taker on the project just before the strike hit and now it's on hold. All of it's on hold because there's no contract Minimum Basic Agreement in place for them to even begin negotiating from. As JMS mentioned in his last post about the secret project with the Group, if the WGA doesn't approve them working on it with a view to producing it themselves, they won't.

That's a heck of a commitment to his guild considering how his career's been going lately.

Jan

[WorkerCaste]

At a guess, I would also think that the script is pretty much the next thing to do. The basic structure of an agreement is already established from the first one. You need scripts to determine who you need to hire as far as the actors are concerned. You also need the scripts to know what might be needed for new sets, new CGI, etc. They might talk budget, but it seems that JMS works to a pretty realistic budget, so, again, he'd probably want the scripts in hand before they setlled on a final budget. For a preliminary budget, they probably have already had general discussions like "we need 20% more than we had for the first Lost Tales." I'm just not sure there's enough to talk about to make talks worthwhile.

[Garibaldi's Hair]

I meant artistic/editorial/budgetary type control, not copyright type control.

But all of that counts for nothing because I doubt that WB would be prepared to commission anything new while this strike is ongoing. How can they commit a budget to a project that has no script, and no notion of when a script will be available, and therefore when the project might be delivered.

The key fact about the B5 universe is that (aside from a Feature Film) WB can make B5 without JMS' agreement (in theory at least), whereas JMS cannot make B5 without WB's.

Also, and I think as fans we forget this sometimes, JMS' career does not revolve around B5. He has umpteen other things on his plate, many of them higher profile and more beneficial to him in terms of his career and status in the industry than B5 will ever be.

Whilst we might be crying out for new B5, he is not crying out to make it. Given the opportunity he is happy to oblige (as he proved with TLT), but if not he has plenty of great projects to keep him occupied for the next few decades. Given that ... he is happy to wait.

[princevintari]

The key fact about the B5 universe is that (aside from a Feature Film) WB can make B5 without JMS' agreement (in theory at least), whereas JMS cannot make B5 without WB's.

they can but it'd be to their loss. Without JMS onboard Okaying it would you buy it? I wouldn't. JMS doesn't need to write it but without him as at least Exec Producer, IMHO , Babylon 5 loses it's core audience. As long as B5 makes WB money the longer a B5 remake will be from happening and JMS becoming less important, and the end of the franchise(without him).

anyway long live JMS' passion for making new B5.

[Dipper]

What's the situation atm with the strike ? It's not big news here in Europe so we're pretty much in the dark. Are the studios running out of things to air? Are there writers who do not belong to the guild or write anyway ?

-Dip

[Jan]

The negotiators for the studios walked out fo talks on December 3 and refuse to return unless the writer's guild takes six proposals completely off the table.

Almost all TV production has stopped although it's said that movies are set to continue production for several months. Word is that orders for 'reality' TV shows are coming in like crazy.

The Writer's Guild has filed suit agains the studios for failure to bargain in good faith. They've also made it plain that they'll be happy to negotiate with each individual studio rather than the AMPTP. The first of these contracts has been negotiated for one of the late-night TV shows that will be returning on January 2 with their writer's. The Screen Actor's Guild is endorsing it.

The director's guild has held off beginning negotiations in hopes that the AMPTP will return to the table with the writers but they may end up starting negotiations on their contract (which expires in June, I believe) in January.

Jan

[Lunan]

The negotiators for the studios walked out fo talks on December 3 and refuse to return unless the writer's guild takes six proposals completely off the table.

Almost all TV production has stopped although it's said that movies are set to continue production for several months. Word is that orders for 'reality' TV shows are coming in like crazy.

The Writer's Guild has filed suit agains the studios for failure to bargain in good faith. They've also made it plain that they'll be happy to negotiate with each individual studio rather than the AMPTP. The first of these contracts has been negotiated for one of the late-night TV shows that will be returning on January 2 with their writer's. The Screen Actor's Guild is endorsing it.

The director's guild has held off beginning negotiations in hopes that the AMPTP will return to the table with the writers but they may end up starting negotiations on their contract (which expires in June, I believe) in January.

Jan

what 6 do they want off the table?

[Jan]

what 6 do they want off the table?

Here's a link to the statement issued by the studios at the time they broke off talks.

Jan

[Shr'eshhhhhh]

How long before they apply the Rush Act?

[colonyearth]

How long before they apply the Rush Act?

Funny thing is your statement isn't far off, but in reverse...it is illegal for the AMPTP to issue ultimatims and demand items be removed...period. Thus the law suit by the WGA.

The AMPTP has been beaten and are now playing even dirtier than before to save face. But if you've read JMS' posts lately, then they don't have much of a "face" left.

Face, wood-chipper. Wood-chipper, face.

CE