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JMS at SDCC 2016

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  • #46
    Just got back from JMS' spotlight panel. Well...that was certainly different...

    Okay, best just to tell things as they happened. Don't worry, happy ending.

    First they showed a new version of JMS' 'sizzle reel' with new music (several repetitions of 'run boy, run'). The header was along the lines of '32 years of work in 3.5 minutes'. I didn't get a good look because I was setting my recorders up. B5, Thor and Sense8 got the most applause.

    JMS came out and explained his usual routine being to talk about the work first and then take questions but that this one would be somewhat different. He mentioned being a private person and pretty shy but that this would be kind of different. He mentioned writing several comic titles each month for several years and how things slowed down - and that he was about to tell us why.

    Starting around 2003, he notices increasing trouble with his vision. His doctor told him what his multiple problems were:
    - very nearsighted (as he'd been since a child)
    - early onset cataracts and
    - a rare genetic disorder called Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy

    He showed us some slides of what happens to the eyes and what his vision progressed to looking like (picture the dirtiest windshield that still lets light in) and that he had to have a huge magnification and contrast in order to see only a few words at a time. Unfortunately, current treatments could help the cataracts OR the Fuchs but not both and things kept getting worse until a new treatment came up from a doctor in Portland about a year and a half ago. JMS now has 20/20 vision in one eye and 20/25 in the other - and wasn't wearing glasses at all! Which is why his comics output slowed down.

    Next JMS talked about Rising Stars being optioned by MGM for a feature film. The outline was approved last week and he should be starting to write the script this coming week. There's hopes that this is only the first movie for this franchise.

    Next he talked about Sense8 filming right now. He reviewed the cities filmed in last year and mentioned some of (Italy, Sao Paulo, Copenhagen, Los Angeles) the locations that they'd added this year. He mentioned that (very mild spoilers:
    Kala/Wolfgang get interesting and that Sun does get out of jail but it's not the way you'd expect.
    He showed some of the photos that have been seen here in the Sense8 forum.

    ETA: One other mini-spoiler. JMS showed a photo of Riley as she's DJ-ing and mentioned
    ...that she has a larger agenda by appearing, that she's trying to attract other sensates to her by being visible.


    Side note: There was a Riley Blue cosplayer! Later on there was a question about how the recasting of the Capheus part would affect the show and JMS said that nothing has changed for the character. Also during the questions somebody asked something along the lines of which character he'd choose to be if he could and the answer was Amanita!

    JMS did mention the two-hour Christmas Special and that the rest of the season would follow not long after.

    The next slide he showed had three names on it:
    Bradbury
    JMS
    Gaiman
    ...but he didn't say what it was.

    And then came the announcement that Midnight Nation will be done as a TV series with Gale Anne Hurd and Universal. JMS will start writing the pilot in probably two weeks. In answer to a fan later on, JMS said that he's broken out the first season already and worked out a 'B' story about the main character's former partner looking for him. The 'A' story will be exactly as it was originally written. He's planning on writing the entire first season.

    Then...came a change in tone. JMS talked about how he'd been a journalist and walked away from that to animated TV. Walked away from that to live action TV. There would be a part of his brain that would tell him when he'd learned something really well and tell him when it was time to quit. And so on with comics. But while he was recovering from his eye surgeries, he was mapping out what he wanted to do now that his output would be back up and he considered relaunching Joe's Comics with multiple titles per month when that voice in his head told him that it was time to stop and do something he's not confident he knows how to do well. He's spent the last while finishing things up and not taking any more comics work.

    So for the next time being, JMS will be concentrating on writing novels and plays along with TV and fim.

    Then JMS took questions. I grabbed the first one and since he hadn't mentioned it, I asked about the B5 movie. JMS said that he's still working on building up his 'street cred'. He figures that once he's got one, maybe two TV shows and maybe another movie go into production that he'll have the credibility to ask investors for a hundred million dollars. He figures that he could probably get 60M or so but that's not enough for a proper B5 film.

    One interesting thing happened when a fan asked what form JMS would choose if he could do The Prisoner in any form at all and JMS said that he couldn't answer that - that some things often take a long time but that for now he couldn't answer that.

    JMS ended the panel with the story of his friend who's made the change to becoming a pet photographer and how important it is to do what scares you.

    A *very* interesting time. I'm really *really* sorry to see him leaving comics and I truly hope that it won't be forever like other things he's left behind.

    ETA: I've uploaded the video of JMS' panel before opening it up to questions. https://youtu.be/VN_RJcV64ME

    Jan
    Last edited by Jan; 07-24-2016, 10:13 AM.
    "As empathy spreads, civilization spreads. As empathy contracts, civilization contracts...as we're seeing now.

    Comment


    • #47
      Originally posted by Jan View Post
      One interesting thing happened when a fan asked what form JMS would choose if he could do The Prisoner in any form at all and JMS said that he couldn't answer that - that some things often take a long time but that for now he couldn't answer that.
      Hmmm. That might tie in to the "spy series for ITV" he said he was working on last year. That'd be interesting.

      Similarly, I'm sad to see him leave comics. Hope it's only temporary. And I suppose we still have "Flash: Earth One" to come.

      Comment


      • #48
        Originally posted by Jan View Post

        Then JMS took questions. I grabbed the first one and since he hadn't mentioned it, I asked about the B5 movie. JMS said that he's still working on building up his 'street cred'. He figures that once he's got one, maybe two TV shows and maybe another movie go into production that he'll have the credibility to ask investors for a hundred million dollars. He figures that he could probably get 60M or so but that's not enough for a proper B5 film.
        Jan
        I figured as much, as the financing possibilities seemed a little on the optimistic side last time around. This is definitely the smart and realistic approach. Oh well, looks like we'll be waiting quite some time for a B5 film. Still, Midnight Nation on TV sounds superb!
        Captain John Sheridan: I really *hate* it when you do that.

        Kosh: Good!

        Comment


        • #49
          Thanks Jan!

          He reviewed the cities filmed in last year and mentioned some of (Italy, Sao Paulo, Copenhagen, Los Angeles) the locations that they'd added this year.
          Well, that's certainly new. I wonder when they are going to film there.
          Last edited by sense8ional; 07-23-2016, 04:58 AM.
          My posts are my own opinion and do not represent JMSNews.com's opinions or views. As it's written under my handle I'm "just a fan".

          Comment


          • #50
            Is there a youtube (or other) video anywhere of the presentation?

            Comment


            • #51
              Originally posted by nottenst View Post
              Is there a youtube (or other) video anywhere of the presentation?
              I filmed part of it - very shakily, I'm afraid. I'll review to see if it's decent enough to post.

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

              Comment


              • #52
                Copenhagen ... ?

                I may have to look into that ....
                Jan from Denmark

                My blog :

                http://www.babylonlurker.dk

                "Our thoughts form the Universe - they *always* matter"

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                • #53
                  if he's filming in Copenhagen this year perhaps it might feature again next year? I'll be back in the Finnish lands by then so might be in a position to pop over.
                  "There are no good wars. War is always the worst possible way to resolve differences. It degenerates and corrupts both sides to ever more sordid levels of existence, in their need to gain an advantage over the enemy. Those actively involved in combat are almost always damaged goods for the rest of their lives. If their bodies don't bear scars, their minds do, ofttimes both. Many have said it before, but it can't be said to enough, war is hell. "

                  Comment


                  • #54
                    Originally posted by phazedout View Post
                    if he's filming in Copenhagen this year perhaps it might feature again next year? I'll be back in the Finnish lands by then so might be in a position to pop over.
                    Could be fun, Phaze ...
                    Jan from Denmark

                    My blog :

                    http://www.babylonlurker.dk

                    "Our thoughts form the Universe - they *always* matter"

                    Comment


                    • #55
                      Originally posted by Jan View Post
                      ...
                      Starting around 2003, he notices increasing trouble with his vision. His doctor told him what his multiple problems were:
                      - very nearsighted (as he'd been since a child)
                      - early onset cataracts and
                      - a rare genetic disorder called Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy
                      ...
                      Jan
                      I can identify with the first two. Cataract surgery on my right eye was the most terrifying 10 minutes of my life; the left eye was easier since they gave me more anesthesia.

                      Based upon looking at the official website, Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy sounds horrible.

                      Comment


                      • #56
                        Mystery slide?

                        I'm most intrigued by the Bradbury & Gaiman slide. Right now it seems like NG has about seven series in production, so having his name on a project might really help it get made. My wild guess would be a Twilight Zoneish series based on The Martian Chronicles!

                        Comment


                        • #57
                          Originally posted by Dan Dassow View Post
                          Based upon looking at the official website, Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy sounds horrible.
                          Judging from the slides JMS showed, it must have been horrid. I added the link to the main post above but I've also uploaded the video I took. Apologies for the shakiness and that I missed a number of the slides JMS showed. You mostly missed extreme close-ups of eyes and kittens.

                          Also, I'm pretty sure that the doctor he mentions is this one. http://www.legacyhealth.org/for-heal...-terry-md.aspx

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

                          Comment


                          • #58
                            Originally posted by Jan View Post
                            I filmed part of it - very shakily, I'm afraid. I'll review to see if it's decent enough to post.

                            Jan
                            Thanks. I'm looking forward to watching it.

                            Comment


                            • #59
                              Originally posted by Jan View Post
                              JMS did mention the two-hour Christmas Special and that the rest of the season would follow not long after.
                              Did he refer to it as "two-hour"? And if he did is that in the video you posted? Because I couldn't recognize this bit in the video (albeit I can't make out 100% of what he says in it) but I did hear him talk about the Special and the rest of the episodes.
                              My posts are my own opinion and do not represent JMSNews.com's opinions or views. As it's written under my handle I'm "just a fan".

                              Comment


                              • #60
                                Thanks for posting the video to FB Jan! Enjoyed watching it. Was nice and low key really and JMS seemed quite intent on keeping it to concrete things. What interested me most is his departure from comics. It makes total sense. I think when he chose to do only GNs with DC it was already a sign he was contemplating reducing his output, but couldn't quite bring himself to fully stop.

                                With all the TV interest of late and Sense8, it seems like a logical move. I haven't really followed many of JMS comics titles since Rising Stars, Midnight Nation and Supreme Power. I've dipped in and out, but nothing has inspired me enough to pick up trades or single issues of any given series. Perhaps my tastes have just changed over the years but his Supes: Earth 1 stuff just left me really cold, like he was phoning it in without really trying too hard.

                                I think it's a good time to move on. Really hope the Gaiman / Bradbury collaboration comes off.
                                Last edited by Ubik; 07-25-2016, 12:57 AM.
                                Captain John Sheridan: I really *hate* it when you do that.

                                Kosh: Good!

                                Comment

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