Babylon 5 Movie through Studio JMS

[Looney]

Was Legend of the rangers in the cinema? I never knew that.

There were trailers for it in the theaters. The trailer was great and it ended with when the premier would be on TNT. I don't even remember the movies it played before, but I am sure someone around here does. And I hope JMS doesn't get a release date anywhere near a Star Wars, or Star Trek for that matter, release date. Would a month before or two months after one of those be better? I think at least a month before, but I have no data to base that on other than my gutt.

[Ubik]

As you may or may not know, B5 is extremely popular and well-known in Russia, much more so than, say, TNG or TOS (the latter being particularly obscure).

So in order to spread the word, I just launched a topic on the main Russian game developer forum (pretty much THE frontier for creative thinking software-developing population):

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gamedev.ru%2Fflame%2Fforum%2F%3Fid%3D192383&edit-text=

I'm actually amazed at the correctness of translation.

Cool to see. Although their forum looks about as sparsely populated as this one! I do sometimes wonder where B5 fandom is hiding!

[Marsden]

I do sometimes wonder where B5 fandom is hiding!

We have always been here.

[babylonlurker]

We have always been here.

We have, indeed, always been here ...

[Jan]

I do sometimes wonder where B5 fandom is hiding!

Facebook, I think. I was sad a week or so ago when I felt it necessary to leave a really large B5 FB page with over 12K members. The single admin had suddenly found it desirable to use the page as a platform for views and vocabulary (no, not profanity, I'm all in favor of that when called for - things like 'feminazi') I simply couldn't abide. Pity, too, because I enjoyed most of it and liked to think that I helped keep some of the misinformation about B5 to a minimum.

Jan

[Looney]

B5 FB page with over 12K members.

And why haven't these 12K members LIKED FREEBABYLON5?
(I am not directing that toward you, Jan. I am directed it toward 12k people who claim to be fans of Babylon 5.)

And how can anyone follow anything on Facebook? I get stuff for things I've LIKED constantly. I mean Claudia Christian must have a staff of people who just post things on Facebook for her. There are so many posts from people and things that I've LIKED that I would have to be on there 24/7 to keep up. Yes I could get rid of some of the ones I don't pay much attention to, but they're family. In all seriousness I don't want to stop following the ones I am following, but at the same time it is impossible to keep track of everything. That is why I love Forums - topic specific filtering. (And yes I know I could follow just what is happening on that 12K fan Facebook page, but why would I want to. They haven't even LIKED #FREEBABYLON5 yet. That is so last year. )

[Ubik]

Facebook, I think. I was sad a week or so ago when I felt it necessary to leave a really large B5 FB page with over 12K members. The single admin had suddenly found it desirable to use the page as a platform for views and vocabulary (no, not profanity, I'm all in favor of that when called for - things like 'feminazi') I simply couldn't abide. Pity, too, because I enjoyed most of it and liked to think that I helped keep some of the misinformation about B5 to a minimum.

Jan

I left that group ages ago. Too many arguments, lots of moaning and ill informed fans. It was fun to begin with, but I got tired of it pretty fast.

[Looney]

I left that group ages ago. Too many arguments, lots of moaning and ill informed fans. It was fun to begin with, but I got tired of it pretty fast.

What a shame. We could really use their numbers to spread the word. Of course I assume the only folks who are really involved over there are still involved because they want to continue to argue . . . and stay uninformed . I am sure most of their LIKES numbers are people who don't pay much attention to it. I probably LIKED them at some point, but don't remember and am not following them.

[Looney]

So I had a nice experience today. I went the nearest comic shop to get my supply of Joe’s Comics for the month and I started talking about the reboot news with the guy who runs the shop. Well the next thing I knew the other people in the shop were joining in the conversation. I usually get very little attention when I mention Babylon 5, but not this time. There were just a couple other people in the shop, but it was so much fun to discuss the possibilities. I mean we’ve all had times where we get in fun conversations about upcoming movies or TV shows or comics or whatever. This time mine was about Babylon 5 and it was just thrilling. And it was about something that is still just an idea. There isn’t a script yet. There isn’t a teaser trailer. It is just something JMS said at this point and I had a long conversation with strangers about all of our excitement about it. It was fantastic. But I digress. It was a lucky coincidence that I thought I would share with everyone and hopefully it is an example of something we will all start to experience as anticipation grows for the upcoming movie release of the century, as I am calling it.

On a down note, I just read that actor Stephen Lee passed away earlier this month at 58. He play Tharg in the Season One episode Believers.

http://deadline.com/2014/08/stephen-...tiator-825828/

[Bonehead]

Hey all. I just heard this news, and wasn't sure how true it was. Figured I best check in here. I knew one of the Joes, or Auntie Jan would know what's going on.

Looks like it will actually happen this time, god bless JMS for never giving up

[Ubik]

Hey all. I just heard this news, and wasn't sure how true it was. Figured I best check in here. I knew one of the Joes, or Auntie Jan would know what's going on.

Looks like it will actually happen this time, god bless JMS for never giving up

Cool isn't it?

Although, I'm not holding my breath. There are still many many hurdles to be overcome before it can be made. Financing and distribution will be the biggest challenges. I do kinda hope WB bites, because that would be a quick win in terms of both of those.

Kinda wish I could hibernate till 2016 to see how this all pans out.

[Looney]

WOW! I can't believe this thread got so quiet. I guess a lot of it has to do with the fact that we have to keep the speculation very vague . . . . . . . . . . . and detailed speculation is where Looney thrives!

[Marsden]

I would prefer to forget about the whole thing and be pleasantly suprised a few years down the road with a movie. I don't care what JMS said, I've been Lucy footballed too many times.

[Jan]

Asked on Twitter why do a reboot instead of a continuation:

show's been off air fifteen years. Can't sell more to an unfamiliar audience. Have to reboot

Makes sense. Especially since there's no reruns.

Jan

[Ubik]

Asked on Twitter why do a reboot instead of a continuation:

Originally Posted by JMS
show's been off air fifteen years. Can't sell more to an unfamiliar audience. Have to reboot

Makes sense. Especially since there's no reruns.

Jan

He's totally right.

In all honesty, I'm unsure if a wider awareness of the ‘orginal B5’ would do a feature film much good. Modern audiences might struggle to take the existing B5 series seriously. I mean, we KNOW it’s an amazing show, but I can also appreciate that I have a major case of ‘rose tinted glasses’ when it comes to B5. As a whole, it's superb, but it also has its flaws.

At first glance, new viewers could easily find it cheesy, dated and badly acted, especially when watching Season 1. They have to overcome that initial hurdle, and many may not get beyond the first few episodes to later discover what a gem it truly is. So many of my friends have stopped after 4-5 episodes, and only those I've really sat down with have gotten far enough to appreciate it.

The production values of TV shows have increased tenfold since B5, and are now on a par with Hollywood films in the way they look and feel. I mean, something like House of Cards just oozes quality. A reboot is definitely for the best.

And me, personally... I want to see something fresh and new that will surprise and wow me anew. I actually kinda wish it could be on the small screen. I know it'll never happen, but a Netflix funded reboot series. I could totally go for that.