Peter David reprint column

[Jan]

Peter David often reprints old colums from his 'But I Digress' column for Comics Buyer's Digest. Today he posted part one of when he visited the set for the shooting of his episode "Soul Mates".

http://www.peterdavid.net/index.php/2011/03/04/in-la-for-b5-part-1/

Jan

[Jonas]

That's... somehow vaguely terrible. But perhaps my feelings of resentment for Peter David are colouring my reading.

[OmahaStar]

That's... somehow vaguely terrible. But perhaps my feelings of resentment for Peter David are colouring my reading.

Ok, I'll bite. Why are you resentful of Peter David?

[Jonas]

Ok, I'll bite. Why are you resentful of Peter David?

Oh, sorry. I really, really, didn't mean to derail the discussion. I just honestly thought there was something off about the tone of the article and wondered whether it was me or the text.

(And to explain my problem with Peter David: when Israel was bombarding Gaza, a well-documented war crime according to just about every international law, David at one point argued that the bombing of Palestinian schools wasn't really that terrible, because the Palestinian children would only grow up to be terrorists anyway. I had been a faithful reader of his blog to that day, and quite enjoyed some of his B5 work, but at that point I lost all respect for the man.)

Again, I didn't mean to derail this into a political discussion or even a discussion about Peter David.

[lotjx]

I have my own problems with Peter David as well. He has done some good work for B5, but I could see him distributing the filming with taking photos. A good article even he seems a bit dated.

[Milkman]

I thought it was a good read, and likely a valid behind the scene perspective. I get a hint that he is quite an opinionated man, BUT thats not uncommon for SF writers. Personally I have not read any books of his i did NOT enjoy. In fact they are my favorite of both the ST series and B5 series.

As for his personal comments/views... well they certainly aren't politically correct but thats all i will say on the matter as this isn't the place for discussions like that. You can start one in Off-Topic if you like. :P

[Jan]

I enjoyed reading it because it was a different aspect from the intro he wrote the the episode in the script books. I think perhaps he was taking more photos than most would but he seemed aware and respectful of the needs of the crew and cast.

I have no issues with Peter David and didn't notice anything about the tone of the article. It seemed like many 'set visit' reports I've read in the past and I liked that he admitted not caring for the show and changing his mind.

Jan

[Marsden]

Well, I really loved the Centauri trilogy, so I'll check this out.


I try not to associate people's works with their other lives, like if they are married or not or if they are in a certain demographic or have opinions, unless the opinions are all through the work and can't be avoided. Apathy, it works for me. But, then I'm ignorant so I guess I don't really know, or care.

[Compound Fracture]

I enjoyed reading that, Jan. Thanks for posting the link. I can't agree with his take on the first season. I probably would have back years ago, but after just finishing rewatching it after so many years, I like the first season. Sure, the show, in my opinion, got better as it went along, but there is plenty to like about the first season. My B5 fan bias is showing here - I'm sure - but nothing I can do about that.

[Milkman]

I did agree with his take on the first season.. at least the pilot and first few episodes. i first watched the pilot with a group of ST fans, our long defunct "midwest starfleet" club that used to meet monthly and go to cons together. The laughter from "that bozo's hair" continued through the whole pilot. Many didn't take the show seriously and i just didn't get it at first... i was used to ST:TNG and this wasn't that. BUT now almost all of use are big fans of B5.

[Jan]

Here's the second part of the account of the filming of "Soul Mates".

http://www.peterdavid.net/index.php/2011/03/07/in-la-for-b5-part-2/#more-5908

Jan

[Jan]

And finally, here's part three.

http://www.peterdavid.net/index.php/2011/03/11/in-la-for-b5-part-3/#more-5911

Someday I'd love tosee a show taping. I wonder if it would ruin my suspension of disbelief or not.

Jan

[OmahaStar]

And finally, here's part three.

http://www.peterdavid.net/index.php/2011/03/11/in-la-for-b5-part-3/#more-5911

Someday I'd love tosee a show taping. I wonder if it would ruin my suspension of disbelief or not.

Jan

There's no question, it would. I speak from personal experience. It's still fun, don't get me wrong, and you will develop an entirely new respect for the people who pull it off, but you will never be able to sit back as an average viewer and just watch. Every time, you'll be thinking "Just off camera, Mark was making faces at Bob, trying to get him to blow the take. And the buttons don't do anything. I knew because I pressed them. And isn't it cool how there's that awesome nod to the actor's mom right there on the screen next to him, just a little too out of focus to be read on my tv screen? And I can't believe it took a whole day just to film those few minutes. Sarah and Trudy did such an amazing job with the lights, and...." and on and on and on.

[Jonas]

The second and third part were much less off-putting to me; must have been something about the writing in the first one that I reacted to.

[Marsden]

I agree with Omaha, sometimes even the commentaries bother me, so being on set would probably alter your perceptions somewhat radically.