My Paranoia

[Tim_Fleming]

Hmmm.... Call me a pessimist, but after the destruction of "Crusade", the failure of "Rangers" to get picked up, the ending of the B5 magazine and novels etc... I feel that B5: The Memory of Shadows is going to suffer a similar fate. My only bit of evidence to back up this sentiment is that we keep on NOT hearing any word about the project. After all these setbacks I can't help but feel that another disappointment is just around the corner.

[Jan]

Re: My Paranoia

Originally posted by Tim_Fleming
Hmmm.... Call me a pessimist, but after the destruction of "Crusade", the failure of "Rangers" to get picked up, the ending of the B5 magazine and novels etc... I feel that B5: The Memory of Shadows is going to suffer a similar fate. My only bit of evidence to back up this sentiment is that we keep on NOT hearing any word about the project. After all these setbacks I can't help but feel that another disappointment is just around the corner.

Okay, you're a pessimist.

I guess it all depends on what you want to consider a disappointment. Assuming that TMoS is actually a theatrical film (which JMS hasn't *quite* confirmed yet), I'd say that the fact that it's to be made at all is a major success. As for delays in the announcement, JMS was booked for Jeremiah and well into pre-production on it before that was announced. That was just a cable series. I would imagine that orchestrating the campaign for a feature film is much more intricate. And of course Rick Bigg's passing may have set things back some, too.

Is the fact that JMS said that there's almost certainly going to be another set of novels announced a setback? Or the fact that another B5 project has at least reached talking stage due to TMoS a setback? I don't think so.

Thing is, thanks to the DVD releases it's now become apparent that there's a market for things B5. The last two major items, Rangers and Crusade were never given the chance to prove that market.

Me, I'm saving my shekels for the movie and Crusade sets to make sure that my 'vote' for new B5 universe stories is heard.

Jan

[Hux]

I dont lik TMOS to be a movie at all. With a movie you have only 2 hours of fun then its again goodbye. But from a series you have years and years of enyoment

Was StarTrek Nemessis sucesfull in the cinema at all or was it a floop?

[Rudi2]

well if it gets made let's hope it's not a "floop" (sorry couldn't help that)

[ManInTheMiddle]

My paranoid tendencies run the other way- I figure I'll get in a car wreck or something, before anything happens.

Just kidding....just kidding (kinda)

[Merian]

I keep thinking the same thing too about b5 that with all the setbacks this B5 TMOS may never come to pass that is one reason I don't get my hopes up to high and even when a project is announced .I am still pessimatic about it's future the only when the product is in my hands will I believe it .

[grumbler]

I look at it like this: I have been wildly happy over all the B5 news for over a year now, what with the DVDs coming out, the new project, etc. I am wildly happy over the news since january as well. I will be wildly unhappy for a coupla weeks if this falls through.

The alternative, which some appear to have chosen, is to be mildly unhappy for months and months while assuming the worst but then avoid the big letdown. Different strokes for different folks, I reckon.

[Dr Maturin]

Jan is right...we have to vote with our wallets.

And, grumbler, as for the unhappiness...I have been pissed about Crusade for a long time. We would have just ended the series this year! Imagine how exciting and interesting that show could have been. It's more regret than unhappiness.

[Radhil]

Re: My Paranoia

Originally posted by Tim_Fleming
Hmmm.... Call me a pessimist, but after the destruction of "Crusade", the failure of "Rangers" to get picked up, the ending of the B5 magazine and novels etc... I feel that B5: The Memory of Shadows is going to suffer a similar fate. My only bit of evidence to back up this sentiment is that we keep on NOT hearing any word about the project. After all these setbacks I can't help but feel that another disappointment is just around the corner.

Crusade and Rangers were victims of unusual circumstances.

That's not to say unusual circumstances can't crop up again, but it's not like it was announced or that we have airing dates and we're hearing about problems. We're still in rumor mill stage, even with Joe acting as head rumor foreman, and just because something isn't spoken about it daily doesn't mean it's dead.

[circularREASON]

Sheridan ''But we can hope.''

Lorien ''Hope is all we have''

[colonyearth]

The point is here that after past experience, JMS wouldn't have mentioned anything, much less a title, if this project weren't going to happen. JMS himself has said the project is a go.

Could some catastrophic event stop it? Yes. But it is very highly unlikely...especially at this stage. Usually, the only thing that kills a project at this stage is legal issues in regards to rights. WB owns B5 lock, stock and barrell, so no rights issues will arise.

The main reason we've not heard the "official" announcement as yet, is most likely due to set-backs caused by Rick's death.

Both JMS and WB need time to dress their wounds over this, and give the fans time to mourn as well.

Remember, it was after the funeral that JMS posted the revelation that "The Memory of Shadows" was indeed the title. This is his way of saying to us, "It's ok...we're hurting now...but the show must and will go on."

JMS is very leery of revealing information to his fans unless he's certain of that information. TMoS will happen.

WB is awaiting the re-writes needed after Rick's passing. Then, Jan is right, it takes time to announce a major film. You don't just come out and say it. You want as much media attention on it as you can get...all the press you can muster. A lot of planning goes into even an announcement, especially one with a mass international following such as this. The timing has to be right to maximize press and exposure.

You usually don't realize the timing and how long it takes because you're not usually given inside info on any film such as JMS as given us. This long amount of time is not unusual...so relax, sit back, and enjoy the ride folks.

And the other old-timers (first ones ) around here are right as well, buy the DVD's, vote with your wallet.

But either way, TMoS will happen now. The new book series will happen now. As for the other project JMS hinted at...keep voting...the more we let WB know B5 can be successful, the more B5 we'll get.

As for Crusade and Rangers...the "first ones" were right there, too. They suffered from unusual cirsumstances...that's all. You're forgetting that through fire and pain, Babylon 5 was born and lived. An effort of sheer will to make each episode and a monumental acheivement to finish all five years. And now look...it changed the face of TV forever. B5 owns its place in history.

Do not forget the wonders it accomplished...and will continue to accomplish.

Quit being Londo and start being Vir. Look for the good things...and good things will happen.

"Because what is built...endures. What is loved...endures. And Babylon 5...Babylon 5 endures."

Peace,
CE

[Dr Maturin]

<<keep voting...the more we let WB know B5 can be successful, the more B5 we'll get.>>

And promote the stuff. I have a friend who liked Farscape (bleh) and I have gotten him into B5 simply by letting him borrow The Techno-mage trilogy, the Legions of Fire trilogy and the ItB/TG DVD. I keep telling him to buy the DVD's, seasons 2-5 at the least. He plays brokeman, though, even though he makes more than I do and has less bills. Next time I will buy the books for the person, that way B5 will make some money and another vote will be cast. I think one thing that B5 suffers, and this is in no way a bad thing, is that it isn't very fleshed out. The TM -- and LoF to a lesser degree -- did a lot to start the fleshing out. It's fun to learn more and more about the universe. On the show, we were stuck on the station, and granted, we played the role of Brother Theo, letting the wonders come to us, but I myself always wondered what things were like elsewhere. Crusade could have done a lot to flesh the B5U out, but that's another story.

So if you want to get someone into the show, into the franchise, buy them a book, a DVD -- or both! -- as a gift.

[Joseph DeMartino]

Crusade was a series that fell victim to demographics and network politics. Rangers was pilot that drew middling ratings (even allowing for the football game) and on which the cable channel and the studio could not reach a financial agreement.

But please note that both got made and were aired, even if they didn't continue.

So how the fate of these two projects is supposed to provide some kind of analogy to a feature film that Warner Bros. is going to own 100% of, on which they almost certainly have to break even at worst thanks to TV, overseas, airline and most of all DVD sales, is a mystery to me. Barring some catastrophe the film is going to get made. WB has made too much from the DVDs not to move forward with the feature film. And it will be released and it will do whatever business it does at the box office. If it sells a lot of tickets, there will probably be another film, and very possible other spin-offs. If it doesn't sell a lot of tickets we'll have still had the movie and still be able to buy it on DVD to own forever.

A movie is not like a pilot that can fail to sell, or a series that can be cancelled before it is complete. So yeah, Tim, you're being paranoid. Or whatever comes after paranoid.

Regards,

Joe

[NotKosh]

Also, remember Crusade was a desired property. Sci-Fi would have loved to get it, but the wankers at TNT didn't want egg on their face, so made the the price unpayable. Warner had stopped their early network experiment of PTEN, and didn't want to deal with distribution. History has shown B5 to be a viable commodity.

Rangers was stillborne, and I get the feeling that if it had aired on a non-NFL playoff weekend, it would have seen production.

[AaronB]

Originally posted by NotKosh

Rangers was stillborne, and I get the feeling that if it had aired on a non-NFL playoff weekend, it would have seen production.

It wasn't even that it was a playoff game. It was one of the more amazing games and endings. But I agree with NotKosh that if it weren't on the night of a playoff game the series would have been green lighted.