JMS now on Patreon

[Jan]

But it is quite strange how we have the biggest news in decades and everything as gotten quiet here. I assume it is because people are preparing for the impending holidays. Also everyone must be hanging on to the edge of their seats for the next big news.

Well, heaven knows we've been talking about and debating the whoe reboot thing here for many years. Not too much else to say except to wait and see.

I just realized I wish I had checked JMS' Patreon numbers to see how much they increased when he announced the new series. ? Oh well. Just would have been interesting to know, I'm sure they will continue to rise as thing progress.

Dunno that they went up a lot but what I did notice is that they didn't go *down* recently when the TLDV tier went away. That's encouraging.

And DAMN! What he's posted the last few days!!!

[Looney]

It was quiet...too quiet...

I agree. A bit frightening. "Where is everybody?" (I am actually quoting Earl Holliman not attempting to point out the name of the Twilight Zone episode.)

But it is quite strange how we have the biggest news in decades and everything as gotten quiet here. I assume it is because people are preparing for the impending holidays. Also everyone must be hanging on to the edge of their seats for the next big news.

I just realized I wish I had checked JMS' Patreon numbers to see how much they increased when he announced the new series. ? Oh well. Just would have been interesting to know, I'm sure they will continue to rise as thing progress.

[Jan]

Did I miss a meeting or something? ?

It was quiet...too quiet...

[Looney]

Did I miss a meeting or something? ?

[Looney]

Yes, Jason was doing it most recently. Originally it was another CafePress store managed by Captain Jaclyn and her elves.

Speaking of, I am surprised we haven't heard much from Captain Jaclyn lately. I don't mean new Books or anything. Just seems like there might be something?

[Jan]

It seems to still be an active site and I think Jason Davis was doing some, if not all, of the work. I don't know how much involvement B5Books had other than Jason.

Yes, Jason was doing it most recently. Originally it was another CafePress store managed by Captain Jaclyn and her elves.

[LateArrival]

I'm no expert, mind but two things come to mind. First, as I recall, there needed to be WB approval for the Official Babylon 5 Fan club.

Second, it may have left a bad taste in JMS' mouth the way it ended. See, JMS financed all of the things they were selling and the physical 'home' of the Fan Club was at Netter Digital. Netter Digital declared bankurptcy and the Fan Club stuff was considered to be ND assets. I emailed JMS back when the ND stuff was supposed to be auctioned and asked him to bid on it and I'd be his fulfillment. That was when he told me that he'd already paid for all that stuff once (paraphrasing heavily).

I think most of the Joe Store was handled by B5 Books back in the day, wasn't it? Not sure that's an option. But *yes*, I'd love for there to be an official way to get scripts!!! I like scripts. My Preciousssssssssssses....

Am learning New (to me) things all the time here. Didn't know the Fan Club was swallowed by a bankruptcy sinkhole, could see where JMS wouldn't want history repeating itself. Can recall a few instances where businesses had web sites where the hosting company "owned" the domains, which seemed great until it wasn't .

Been wandering about JMS's Patreon for a week or so now, and while 2020 (pun!) hindsight seems that his relationship with Patreon would change with the times (ex: Estate Adventures, Pandemics, New Projects) would gather that one of his purposes has always been share information, which he has been doing since the dial-up days. If he wishes to release advance info or goodies Behind a Paywall-ish - why not? The main reason my lazy late self finally joined at the $20 level was for the B5 commentaries, and while several have been publicly released, they appear to available at at the $2 level. Would have joined sooner had I known it was so simple.

[Looney]

I think most of the Joe Store was handled by B5 Books back in the day, wasn't it? Not sure that's an option. But *yes*, I'd love for there to be an official way to get scripts!!! I like scripts. My Preciousssssssssssses....

It seems to still be an active site and I think Jason Davis was doing some, if not all, of the work. I don't know how much involvement B5Books had other than Jason.

[Jan]

JMS Sync-Up commentary for BABYLON SQUARED has just been released to the public after being exclusive to Patrons for a while. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGUR7VcTH_A&t=1s

[Triple F]

As with life, things always change. After the origination of the Patreon, a tier was added to help with financing the issues with JMS' administration of Harlan's estate. Now that that's under control, that tier has gone away and the tiers have been rearranged. I dont't see any indication that the intent of the Patreon has changed. It's just not (IMO) necessary to repeat it every time the subject comes up. He's mentioned projects he's gone after or written thanks to the Patrons in messages for the Patrons.

Fair enough, given it's part of the FAQ's, the lack of any mention that the patreon will go towards funding new independent projects (such as the previously mentioned possible animations or audio dramas) was the reason for the question. Maybe including such a thing might be an idea (I can't suggest it obviously), given that the quoted info is intended to inform folks not familiar with the setup.

[Jan]

As with life, things always change. After the origination of the Patreon, a tier was added to help with financing the issues with JMS' administration of Harlan's estate. Now that that's under control, that tier has gone away and the tiers have been rearranged. I dont't see any indication that the intent of the Patreon has changed. It's just not (IMO) necessary to repeat it every time the subject comes up. He's mentioned projects he's gone after or written thanks to the Patrons in messages for the Patrons.

[Triple F]

Has the intent behind the patreon changed now - I imagine this would have been asked over there.

Early on it was stated that a part of the intent behind it was to allow him to write the sort of material that he wanted to - free from interference – and in the longer term that would mean new self created projects would be created – small stuff, nothing too fancy - but animations and audio dramas were among the things mentioned, and the patreon would be used to help fund those.

Since the patreon was set up jms has published a new writing book, published one novel with another on the way, is writing at least a couple of AWA comics, there was talk of tv/movie related projects and of course there’s the reboot of B5 on the cards working for WB and CW. Hence the question about the purpose of the patreon possibly changing.

23) WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH PATREON? This page was started during the height of the pandemic when the TV/film industry was essentially shut down for over a year. The Patrons here gave me the freedom to continue to write what I want to write, the way I want it written, without any outside interference. Though the worst of the pandemic is (we hope) behind us, the page is staying up to honor their aid and take this to the next level.

In return, they get to see exclusive behind-the-scenes scripts, photos, videos and other material from past, present and future JMS projects. They’re the first to know when something is being developed, first to know an announcement is coming before the rest of the world, and they get inside peeks at the development process. In addition, they also get to watch my full-length commentaries on B5 episodes and other projects I’ve done, including Sense8.

There’s also a writers’ tier for those who want to make it in the writing world, whether that’s film, TV, comics or novels. The exchanges are blunt, informative, with lots of insider information on marketing, craft, technique and survival. In addition, members submit samples of their work and receive valuable critiquing by both the group and myself.

If you want to become a part of this, there is the General Support Tier of $5 per month, the Inner Circle at $20 per month that gets you all of the cool stuff noted above, and more. (Commentaries can also be seen by those at the General Support Tier in order to spread the terror further.) The Writers’ Tier at $100/month which gets you the personalized workshop, critiquing, access to my scripts and a ton of other useful information. Many of the more upscale workshops/seminars can cost $500 or more for a day’s work…this is one-fifth of that for 24/7 access.

That’s part of the FAQ’s that he recently put up, and while there’s a pile of cool stuff that some fans will really enjoy, there's no mention of creating new independent projects anymore - it reads like it was a revenue stream set up to help support him during the covid crisis (as official work had dried up a bit) and now that he has plenty of paying work again, it's staying up as basically a mix between a paid to subscribe moderated newsgroup, the Joe Store and fan club.

[Jan]

I'm no expert, mind but two things come to mind. First, as I recall, there needed to be WB approval for the Official Babylon 5 Fan club.

Second, it may have left a bad taste in JMS' mouth the way it ended. See, JMS financed all of the things they were selling and the physical 'home' of the Fan Club was at Netter Digital. Netter Digital declared bankurptcy and the Fan Club stuff was considered to be ND assets. I emailed JMS back when the ND stuff was supposed to be auctioned and asked him to bid on it and I'd be his fulfillment. That was when he told me that he'd already paid for all that stuff once (paraphrasing heavily).

I think most of the Joe Store was handled by B5 Books back in the day, wasn't it? Not sure that's an option. But *yes*, I'd love for there to be an official way to get scripts!!! I like scripts. My Preciousssssssssssses....

[Looney]

I'd like to see him do more with The Joe Store.

[LateArrival]

Roundabout Semi-Related Past/Future Question (ish):

In the Long Ago Days, there was The B5 Fan Club, wherein subscribers had the opportunity to "acquire" Nifty Things like the B5 Pilot, Writer's Bible, etc. From what I've seen of some 2020 echoes, they came (usually?) with a red stamp and signed by JMS. (and if anyone knows of a spare Crusade writer's bible, let me know.... ...whoops Way Off Topic).

A few years later came the Wonderful B5Books Team and through them came many Script Books which allowed fans to acquire legit copies of the scripts in convenient book form. Can you IMAGINE the time/effort/skill/luck it would have taken to acquire all the scripts individually, that effort alone would have driven anyone... ...insane.

The Question (finally):
In the Days of 2021, JMS now his Patreon, and while the B5 Reboot Adventure is still in the prototype stages, there may be some antinomy (...I've been reading the messages...) as now there may potentially be New Scripts in the Future. Hopefully five years worth and maybe a movie or three. Any ideas or theories as to whether history may repeat itself and the Reboot Pilot and Writer's Bible, etc may appear through his Pateon like the other items appeared through the Fan Club?


Always Plan B:
1) Move to LA.
2) Become a TV/SF writer.
3) Wait for the series to be picked up, and put out feelers that you (now a Writer) are interested in writing for the show.
4) Wait for Writer's Bible to arrive.
5) Vanish into the night.