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  • #1

    Can anyone help me?

    I am an aspiring writer for television, and since I am also a long time fan of Babylon 5 and JMS, i thought it would be beneficial to my screenplay writing to study a script written by JMS himself. I have heard he is very detailed in his screenplay writing, something I hope to learn from. He is of course, my idol in that regard. He is the very reason I started to develop a television series in the first place.

    Does anyone know how I could obtain a world or PDF format version of a Babylon 5 script, if at all possible? I would be very grateful if anyone could help me out.

    Jess
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  • #2
    Originally posted by Jess
    Does anyone know how I could obtain a world or PDF format version of a Babylon 5 script, if at all possible? I would be very grateful if anyone could help me out.
    Hello Jess, welcome to JMSNews. I'm afraid it would be illegal for anybody to copy scripts to share but there are some legitimate ways you can see B5 scripts.

    The first and probably most useful for your ambitions would be "The Complete Book of Scriptwriting" written by JMS. This has important information about all kinds of script writing with samples and includes the entire script for "The Coming of Shadows". Check out: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...24712?v=glance where you can buy it new or used.

    Also, Neil Gaiman who wrote the "Day of the Dead" fifth season script published it to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense fund. You can find it at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

    Hope this helps.

    Jan
    "As empathy spreads, civilization spreads. As empathy contracts, civilization contracts...as we're seeing now.

    Comment

    • #3
      Jess, I've also seen "The Complete Book of Scriptwriting" in Borders. You can check there if there's one in your town. At least at the one in my town, it's in the section for College books, and reference materials, at the front of the store.
      RIP Coach Larry Finch
      Thank you Memphis Grizzlies for a great season.
      Play like your fake girlfriend died today - new Notre Dame motivational sign

      Comment

      • #4
        Yes, there is a Borders in my town.. I will check that out first. Thanks to you both for your help. Perhaps I will credit you by using your names in my pilot. Who knows, JMS did the impossible. Maybe I can too.

        Jess

        Comment

        • #5
          Happy to help, Jess. Best of luck to you.

          Perhaps you'd be interested to read part of what JMS had to say to another aspiring writer this weekend. This is only a small part of the Q&A--the rest will have to wait until I finish transcribing--but it was very powerful.

          If you want to be a writer, to break in...find the story that matters to you. I was working on Twilight Zone and a guy came in to pitch a story about alcoholism and he burned in the pitch. He'd never sold anything before.
          JMS: "What is it in you that makes you want to tell the story?"
          He didn't want to talk about it...well, his dad was an alcoholic, he was dealing with that. I said to the Producer/Director, "We've gotta buy the story. He burns to tell it; it'll be a good episode."
          Producer/Director: "He has no track record."
          JMS: "Buy the damned thing."
          I conned him into it finally, we produced it, and it won the Scott Newman Award for it. You gotta burn, man...you gotta burn. Nothing else is worth it, y'now?
          I think JMS must've been a heck of a teacher.
          Jan
          Last edited by Jan; 06-08-2005, 04:48 PM.
          "As empathy spreads, civilization spreads. As empathy contracts, civilization contracts...as we're seeing now.

          Comment

          • #6
            Thanks Jan. I printed the quote and pinned it up above my desk. I have another from JMS there as well. They are both very inspirational. Thanks for all your help. In tribute to you, I shall create a character named Jan. She will be a wise encouraging helper. I dont know how she will fit in yet, but I will find a way. Perhaps, she will be the focus in her own episode. I will never forger those who aided me in my dreams. Thanks again,

            Jess

            Comment

            • #7
              Wow, I'm honored. Thanks. Of course you'll need to be sure to let us all know when/where 'my' episode airs!

              Hope you'll hang out too as you can. Nice folks around here.

              Jan
              "As empathy spreads, civilization spreads. As empathy contracts, civilization contracts...as we're seeing now.

              Comment

              • #8
                JMS is totally correct with that quote. thank you for posting it Jan.

                I too am attempting to be a writer. I am currently working on a series of science fiction books, but the ideas and metaphors I use are based on personal experiences and views on the world in which we live in. I never realize how true the things I have placed in my book are until I have written it. It's amazing to see your passion and work form into something that even non-Science Fiction fans would want to read.
                "It is said that the future is always born in pain. The history of war is the history of pain. If we are wise, what is born of that pain matures into the promise of a better world, because we learn that we can no longer afford the mistakes of the past." -- G'Kar in Babylon 5:"In the Beginning"

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                • #9
                  Laiden,

                  Save that last post. Someday, somebody may just be quoting you using it.

                  Jan
                  "As empathy spreads, civilization spreads. As empathy contracts, civilization contracts...as we're seeing now.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I have decided to name a doctor in my pilot after Richard Biggs. I know it's not much, but in my own way I'd like to honor the man. Anyone have any ideas? Dr. Biggs? Dr. Richards?

                    Jess

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Dr. Richards will be a perfect name. As long as he's not leading an expedition into space and is endowed with the ability to elongate, stretch or extend any part of his body to fantastical proportions. Dr. Biggs, well, I keep thinking of a friend of some chap named Skywalker who got fragged in an attempt to destroy a large, spherical space station with the ability to annihilate planets with just the flick of the fader on a TV control room board.

                      Removing the tongue in cheek, seriously Dr. Richards would make a good name. But to avoid any chance of any glances from Marvel, don't name him Franklin Richards. Imdb has a listing of all the roles Mr. Biggs appeared as. You can use different combinations of his roles as well as actual name for the name of your good doctor. Or just name your doctor, Richard Biggs.
                      RIP Coach Larry Finch
                      Thank you Memphis Grizzlies for a great season.
                      Play like your fake girlfriend died today - new Notre Dame motivational sign

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        That's perfect! Dr. Richard Biggs. I cant believe I never considered that! Richard Biggs it is. Thanks Willie, I appreciate your suggestion. I hope Mr. Biggs approves. I will do my very best to make him a lovable and honorable character.

                        Jess

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          One thing to remember when naming characters is that it's probably a good idea to have an alternate name ready. AFAIK, all names and company names have to be checked by the studios for 'clearance'. Matthew Gideon on Crusade, for instance, started out as Matthew Drake. I don't know what could constitute a clearance problem but it could have something to do with names that have been newsworthy at some point.

                          Jan
                          "As empathy spreads, civilization spreads. As empathy contracts, civilization contracts...as we're seeing now.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Valid names. Check the telephone directory - if it is in there do not use it. The modern equivalent is an internet search.
                            Andrew Swallow

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Andrew_Swallow
                              Valid names. Check the telephone directory - if it is in there do not use it. The modern equivalent is an internet search.
                              Extremely unlikely, Andrew. Can you imagine how many John Sheridans there are in the world? There are over 30 just in my area. There are 6 John Mathesons. In fact, probably the *more* common a name the better since that would preclude anybody claiming that they were being portrayed inappropiately.

                              IMO....

                              Jan
                              "As empathy spreads, civilization spreads. As empathy contracts, civilization contracts...as we're seeing now.

                              Comment

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