{original post unavailable}

"JMS indicated once the budget for these movies wasn't much greater
than the shows (basically that of two episodes if I remember right). I
don't believe it! It looks a lot better... do I have some wrong info or
something?"

We did the movie for less than $3 million, which *technically*
is 3 episodes worth to pay for 2 episodes worth of running time,
*except* that rates tend to go up across the board for movies, so when
you adjust for that, yeah, it ain't much above episodic stuff. What
you're seeing is the result of what we've been learning as we've gone
along over the 4 years of the show. Remember, our blood oath has been
the same from the start: each year we *have* to do better than the year
before, we don't have the luxury of any sort of established name,
quality is our only recourse.

We implemented more of the lessons we've learned there, and in
the fifth season. It's more a philosophical thing, in how we do what
we do, than a money thing.

jms

{original post unavailable}

"Which makes me wonder if you've ever heard from a viewer that they
started watching due to Boxleitner or someone...?"

Lots of folks, actually.

jms

Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
> Do you see Star Trek listed...do you see a seperate section for
> B5? to all of this, did you find it interesting that the biggest
> objection that the Trekkies had to First Contact was that Picard
> actually *showed anger* about having been kidnapped, mutilated,
> and forced to assist in the destruction of his own race?

"You may soon wish to reconsider this POV. IMHO you will soon be
bigger than Star Trek (why am I suddenly reminded of the Beatles?)."

It's certainly a wonderful thought, but here's why I think it
won't happen.

At its core, B5 is a thinking man's (and woman's) show. A
viewer has to bring a lot to the table, pay attention, and be willing
to be reflective to get out of it all that the show has to offer. That
pretty much precludes it from being a big pop-culture phenomenon. I
think we'll always do well, and we'll be around for a long, long
time...but as a cult show, as the Prisoner is a cult show.

Which is absolutely aces by me. I got to tell my story, and
make something that'll endure, and that's why I entered the race in the
first place.

jms

{original post had no questions}

"I know you did this story for people like us, but I suspect you may
open wider the gates of speculative fiction in doing so."

If that should turn out to be the case, then all the effort was
worth it.

jms