Babylon 5 Movie through Studio JMS

[Delenn_of_Mir]

I wouldn't say that at all. I think it isn't going to happen as soon as we want. I just keep telling myself that the more he is doing high profile projects that are not B5 related the more clout he is going to have when he wants to do a B5 project the right way.

Well that could be true, too.

I wish JMS and I lived in the same apartment and I could trap him in the elevator and make him tell me what's going on with it. "giggles muchly"

[Looney]

So it's not happening then?

I wouldn't say that at all. I think it isn't going to happen as soon as we want. I just keep telling myself that the more he is doing high profile projects that are not B5 related the more clout he is going to have when he wants to do a B5 project the right way.

[Delenn_of_Mir]

So it's not happening then?

*sighs* I wish he wouldn't say he was going to do B5 things until after he had done them then I wouldn't have to decide which emotion to give in to, relief or despair?

Maybe despairelief! "giggles"

Be positive, Delenn! Maybe the universe saw it was going to turn out really badly, and we should just trust the universe to give us the right things at the right time, in the right format.

[Jan]

Found the interview I referred to a bit upthread. Though it's got a January date, it's for a publication so probably actually came out 2-3 months ago.

http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/interview-j-michael-straczynski/

My plan is, this year, to finish up the script for a B5 reboot, and then hopefully get funding for it to shoot it next year.

Note that this was definitely before the announcement that JMS would be showrunning Red Mars.

Jan

[Ubik]

"was/is" is a very interesting turn of phrase. Talk about keeping people off balance.

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Makes it sound like it isn't so certain anymore. Perhaps we are reading WAAAY too much into it. (Probably!)

[Looney]

"was/is" is a very interesting turn of phrase. Talk about keeping people off balance.

[Jan]

Well this isn't exactly news but it's intriguing.

In a conversation about what series a couple of fans wanted for a mini-series or event, B5 was brought up. Somebody brought up the B5 movie.

Nick Coviello @Get2thechopper 11h11 hours ago
@LanceCoviello @straczynski How would a #Babylon5 movie work when condensed from five seasons to a handful of films? #eventseries #reboot

@straczynski 8h8 hours ago
@Get2thechopper @LanceCoviello It wouldn't, nor was/is that the intent.

https://twitter.com/straczynski/status/688215701107048448

Jan

[Ubik]

Well, either way, I'm sure JMS will opt for what is best for the film. Fingers crossed for some news at some point this year.

[Looney]

I am not saying JMS can't do all three. I am saying we already know he is writing and producing so why not turn over directing to someone else?

I am saying, and others seem to agree, that financial backers are more likely to come on board if they don't think JMS is trying to do it all himself, especially if he can lure a name Director. We all know he can do it himself, the question is should that be his mindset? I doubt it is, if anything for the reason I stated above. JMS is known for writing and producing. Yes he has successfully directed, but he's never been successfully hired just to direct a feature film. If I have money to invest and I don't know anything about JMS, I question his choice to take on all three roles.

[Dan Dassow]

You are both leaving out a HUGE piece of the the pie - writing, directing, and PRODUCING. That is what JMS would be doing if he directed a Babylon 5 feature. That triple threat spells lots of distractions for one person. He should write/produce and turn the directing over to someone else.

The problem I see with JMS not producing is that all too many directors take the movie away from what it's meant to be. (Should we even go into Forster throwing out the script for WWZ as an example?) I think it would be imperative for the director to buy into JMS' vision rather than be focused on imprinting his own.

Jan

I enjoy art that is the vision of one person, and I think it's perfectly doable to write, direct and produce - more than enough people have done it. So I'd be quite happy to see a JMS-directed B5 film.

However, for Hollywood reasons, I think it's more likely they'd try to find a name director. Picking one who is really appropriate is quite the challenge.

Citizen Kane is a perfect example of a great film written, produced, directed and acted in by one person, Orson Wells. Joe has demonstrated that he is capable of writing, producing and directing a Babylon 5 episode, Sleeping in Light, and the Lost Tales. He has also demonstrated that he can co-write and co-produce Sense8.

Producing a film shares many of the same kind of challenges of designing a product, such as an aircraft. When a product is relatively simple, the vision of a single competent designer generally produces a better product. As a product becomes more complex, the chief designer must delegate increasingly more tasks to other team members. A single passenger glider will likely be better if designed and built by the same person. In contrast, an Airbus 380 or Boeing 787 is way too complex for one person to have complete knowledge of all design aspects and require a large team to produce. With such complex projects, some of the clarity of vision is lost in the design by necessity for the project to come to fruition.

Even though Joe is perfectly capable of taking on the three roles of writer, producer and director, he may still wish to choose a popular competent director who shares his vision. Joe has worked with a number of talented directors, and probably already has in mind someone who would not tamper with his vision.

Although it would be extremely unlikely, Clint Eastwood has demonstrated on Changeling and other films that he does not alter the script unless it is absolutely necessary. The Wachowski's are a possible choice for directors.

Regardless, I believe Joe will make a sound decision on how best to proceed with a Babylon 5 film, a decision that accounts for his availability, his desire to direct the film, clarity of vision and promotion.

[Jonas]

I enjoy art that is the vision of one person, and I think it's perfectly doable to write, direct and produce - more than enough people have done it. So I'd be quite happy to see a JMS-directed B5 film.

However, for Hollywood reasons, I think it's more likely they'd try to find a name director. Picking one who is really appropriate is quite the challenge.

[Jan]

The problem I see with JMS not producing is that all too many directors take the movie away from what it's meant to be. (Should we even go into Forster throwing out the script for WWZ as an example?) I think it would be imperative for the director to buy into JMS' vision rather than be focused on imprinting his own.

Jan

[Looney]

You are both leaving out a HUGE piece of the the pie - writing, directing, and PRODUCING. That is what JMS would be doing if he directed a Babylon 5 feature. That triple threat spells lots of distractions for one person. He should write/produce and turn the directing over to someone else.

[Ubik]

Given 'Sleeping in Light' and the Lost Tales as the only examples, I'd love to see him go for it. I'd love to see a B5 that's all his vision. But I can understand if he didn't.

Jan

I enjoyed 'Sleeping in Light' a great deal. The Lost Tales, not so much, but plenty of that was down to budget restrictions.

To have JMS both write and direct I think is too high risk for a feature film. It would really benefit from having an experienced director at the helm. It would also free JMS up to focus on ensuring the script is just right, but there's no reason he couldn't be closely involved every step of the way.

[Jan]

Of course I want JMS to pen the film! No one else should do that! But I think the writer and director should be separate parties, but with a good bond and understanding. I think JMS has mentioned before that he prefers to do the writing and let others direct.

I know that he said that in the past but he does seem inclined to dip his toes in yet seems cognizant of his limitations. Witness that he was supposed to do some directing on Sense8 but bowed out.

Given 'Sleeping in Light' and the Lost Tales as the only examples, I'd love to see him go for it. I'd love to see a B5 that's all his vision. But I can understand if he didn't.

Jan