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See, here's what I don't understand in all this.

It's not that the cast was let go, THE SHOW IS OVER. You can
only "let go" of an actor if the show continues and the actor is out.
THE SHOW IS OVER. I've been saying for five years, "This is a five year
story. When it's over, it's over."

I think part of the problem was that some in the cast didn't
want to ever deal with the reality of that until it hit them. I read
many interviews where they said, "Well, Joe says it's a five year
story, but I don't see any reason why this can't go on." If you
cushion yourself from it, then it can only hit you in the face later.
(On the last few days of shooting, several people asked, "Why couldn't
it have been a *six* year arc? Why the arbitrary five?" It is what it
is.

Toward the end of filming, we spoke to all the cast, apprised
them of the work progressing toward a feature film, the likelihood of
additional TV movies before then, and so on. But we also said,
specifically, "Babylon 5 the series is over."

But you must admit that it's quite a jump between "the series is
over" and "the actors were fired." Technically speaking, EVERYONE is
fired when a show is over.

As for Crusade, there are a couple of people who might
transition over, but that is *a different series*. And must have its
own identity (should it go into production). You maybe do one or two
B5 feature films, with the whole cast, as Crusade runs on a separate
track on TV.

As for John Flinn...same situation. John was the DP on B5 for
all five years, minus those episodes DPd by Fred Murphy. Babylon 5 is
now over, and so that task is over. Crusade (see previous disclaimer)
should have an entirely different look from B5, to make it its own
show, and that generally requires a different DP. That's pretty much
standard in the business.

jms

Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
> You said it once yourself -- you write with passion, otherwise,
> why bother?

Absolutely, there's no question that I'm going to be hit by
those with an interest in hitting me on any side of these issues.
Crusade would be done because I want to have some *fun* after doing 5
years of angst...so there are bound to be those who say it's selling
out because it's not the same as B5 in that respect...if I have a
primarily new cast, I sold out the old cast, if I have a primarily old
cast, I'm being afraid of change...if it's too much like B5 some will
complain, if it's too different some will complain....

Which is why, at the end of the day, you can never let the
complaints (or, for that matter, the praise) tilt you one way or
another. The only thing you can do is follow the small, still voice at
the back of your head that tells the stories, and write for yourself.
If you write well, enough people will stay around to keep you on the
air...if you don't, they won't. That's always struck me as the fairest
bargain around.

jms