Fan Panel at a Convention

[Hypatia]

Although it's unlikely I'd be able to make the convention, I wonder how you keep your story moving forward when you have an overall plot arc, but annoying things like reality keep stepping in (actors quitting, and the like).

If the origin of Valen was a plot point brought in later, what was JMS's original vision of him? Every time the name was mentioned, it had a mystical quality that no other Minbari concept did.

What kind of form B5 would take if an even roughly similar arc were staged in today's climate. I have read comments that it wouldn't age well, but it wouldn't be a rerun of the same scripts. I wonder how much our tech-controlled way of interacting with the world would affect a similar story and theme.

[Jan]

Is there really much left to say about JMS and the cast though? I feel like all the best on set stories have been fairly exhaustively covered. Even JMS' perspective and role in creating the show, it's very well documented.

Ron's work, not quite as much light have been shed on that topic. Same is true of Chris' Franke's music I think.

Depends on what you mean by covered? That's not being snotty, I promise. I've learned from #FB5 campaign and even before that, from the Lost Tales that many, many fans who might be drawn by seeing B5 in a panel heading aren't the least bit plugged into fandom.

If it were likely that a con like the Phoenix Comic-Con in 2013 might happen again, I'd be absolutely in favor of spotlight panels on some of the most key creators on the show. With only one panel possible/likely, I'm thinking it should be a celebration of the show itself.

But *what* about the show? The arc? The changes that changed the story (without being negative)? Something else?

[Ubik]

I'm a bit frighten about the "what do you want?"
But in general I think the 25th anniversary should focus on the creator and the cast.
Crew-centered panels could be sth. for subsequent anniversaries (26th and on).
Thinking about influencing crew members (Ron Thornton / CGI), we must speak about Chris Franke (B5 sound).
But without Chris Franke on stage this would be difficult to handle. (Did he ever had a Con-appearance?)

Stefan

--
David Sheridan: "Never start a fight, but always finish it."

Is there really much left to say about JMS and the cast though? I feel like all the best on set stories have been fairly exhaustively covered. Even JMS' perspective and role in creating the show, it's very well documented.

Ron's work, not quite as much light have been shed on that topic. Same is true of Chris' Franke's music I think.

[B5-Stefan]

I'm a bit frighten about the "what do you want?"
But in general I think the 25th anniversary should focus on the creator and the cast.
Crew-centered panels could be sth. for subsequent anniversaries (26th and on).
Thinking about influencing crew members (Ron Thornton / CGI), we must speak about Chris Franke (B5 sound).
But without Chris Franke on stage this would be difficult to handle. (Did he ever had a Con-appearance?)

Stefan

--
David Sheridan: "Never start a fight, but always finish it."

[Ubik]

Perhaps some kind of discussion/tribute to Ron Thornton acknowledging the groundbreaking work he did to make the show possible, as well as deeply enhancing it in so many ways.

No Ron, no Shadows as we now know them. Was a big change from the C S Lewis inspired 'shadow people' that JMS envisioned in the early scripts.

[Jan]

Something I'm wondering....

IF there were one, single fan-run panel at a major convention in celebration of the 25th anniversary next year, what would you like to see discussed?

There'd be:

- NO actors/celebs
- Nothing higher-tech than maybe a few slides
- Up to four fans 'on stage' discussing with the fans who attended

Thoughts? Ideas? Love it? Hate it? Excited at the idea? Bored at the thought?