Janet Greek

[lostforever]

Hello all. Another lurker coming out!

I was watching the DVDs and noticed that Janet Greek (JG) used to direct all the major arc episodes in season 1 and 2. But I noticed the in season 3 and 4 Mike Vejar(MV) seems to do most of the arc ones. Anyone know the reason for this? I have also noticed that in season 4 DVD JMS and MV did a commentary together.

I think MJ is a good director but I also like JG and it would have been nice to see (hear) her commentary for some of the season 1 or 2 episodes. Whenever you see her name come up as director you know that the episode is going to be a good one!

Somebody also pointed out that MV directed lots of Crusade episodes as well.

Out of curiosity, which one do you people like? JG or MV?

Given that B5: TMoS is coming out do you think either JG or MV is qualified to direct big budget feature length movie? The reason I am asking is that both them are good but I found that some of the episodes they directed are bit amateurish.



PS : Apologies if this question was asked before

[Jan]

At some point during the series she adopted a child and wasn't working for a while. That might have been part of it.

You can do a search for "Janet Greek" in the archive of JMS posts. That would give you more info on when and things.

Jan

[colonyearth]

Originally posted by lostforever
Hello all. Another lurker coming out!


Given that B5: TMoS is coming out do you think either JG or MV is qualified to direct big budget feature length movie? The reason I am asking is that both them are good but I found that some of the episodes they directed are bit amateurish.



PS : Apologies if this question was asked before

Welcome, first of all!

Secondly, if you look into the thread about going deeper into speculation, I believe it's there that I posted a rather lengthy explanation about TV directors and feature directors and how, as a director myself, I wouldn't want to see either MV or JG direct TMoS. Not that I don't respect their work or what they've done for B5, it's just that they aren't feature directors and it's a vastly different world. They're both very busy still directing TV shows (I know MV has directed some ST lately).

Anyway, go check out my long ass post there, it goes into details.

And no apologies necessary...we're just happy to have another voice amongst the madness:D

CE

[KimHoffman]

Ms Greek did direct a feature length film, Spellbinder, sometime back. It received negative reviews, which I didn't particularly believe it deserved. However, it was a genre film, horror, and as such she probably had tougher than usual critics. Heck, I've seen far worse films, but directing is a difficult and competive profession. She deserves great credit for achieving what she has.

Now, that I think of it, the latest and last installment of Starwars was lacking some in merit. Well, so it goes.

What I would enjoy seeing Ms Greek do would be a few episodes of Deadwood or Carnivale. She strikes me as someone who is familar with guns and fools.

[FuryPilot]

What I would enjoy seeing Ms Greek do would be a few episodes of Deadwood or Carnivale. She strikes me as someone who is familar with guns and fools.

Heheh. Not sure Ian McShane likes females directing him, based on his comments about being in "The River of Souls". (this is from memory... he was trashing his experience on the Tonight Show).

FP

[Dr Maturin]

I hate to bring this up here, but doesn't Deadwood have too much vulgar language? Not in an offensive kind of way, but more in a "Cussin' 'cause were on premium cable!" kind of way. It almost makes you forget what they're saying. On the other hand, real cowboys probably spoke that way...

[FuryPilot]

I hate to bring this up here, but doesn't Deadwood have too much vulgar language? Not in an offensive kind of way, but more in a "Cussin' 'cause were on premium cable!" kind of way. It almost makes you forget what they're saying. On the other hand, real cowboys probably spoke that way...

Well, language is one of the reasons why it is on a premium channel. The other are scenes such as when Ian McShane's character has a long passage that he delivers while recieving "oral favors" from one of his prostitutes.

FP

[Dr Maturin]

Well, language is one of the reasons why it is on a premium channel. The other are scenes such as when Ian McShane's character has a long passage that he delivers while recieving "oral favors" from one of his prostitutes.

FP

Just don't forget that regular cable is unregulated. They can say anything they want there, too. They just have to deal with advertisers. I have been watching the first season of The Shield on DVD, and they say "asshole" quite a bit. Good show, too. I highly recommend it.

To keep this thread B5-related...

B5 RULES!!!!

[KimHoffman]

Well, someone's got to cuss like a sailor on TV, even if it's a cowboy. What's the use of cable, otherwise?

The Shield is a good show. I thot Glen Close was excellent and will be sorry to see her go. The Wire is good too.

Poor Ian McShane, can't handle a woman director? Hmm. He must be English. Some sort of foreigner.

Do people curse in outerspace?

[Dr Maturin]

Well, someone's got to cuss like a sailor on TV, even if it's a cowboy. What's the use of cable, otherwise?

The Shield is a good show. I thot Glen Close was excellent and will be sorry to see her go. The Wire is good too.

Do people curse in outerspace?

I have only seen five episodes of The Shield. Just judging from those, I will be purchasing the other two seasons.

They say "gorram" on Firefly. Is this some kind of Chinese curse word? To me, it sounds like the evolution of "god damn."

[SpooRancher]

On Firefly:

Gorram is "goddam"
Ruttin is "fu**ing"
There are some words in Chinese, but the swearing is pretty similar to B5 in that they used a non-swear word that sounded a lot like the "vulgar" sentiment they wanted to convey.

Don't forget "absofragginlutely"

[David Panzer]

And also "horse hockey"

[KimHoffman]

Very impressiive. I am not only improving my vocabulary, I am improving my mind. And I've only been here a couple of times. Thank you all

[Dr Maturin]

Very impressiive. I am not only improving my vocabulary, I am improving my mind. And I've only been here a couple of times. Thank you all

In Star Wars, "kriff" means "fuck."

[Jan]

Very impressiive. I am not only improving my vocabulary, I am improving my mind. And I've only been here a couple of times. Thank you all

Welcome aboard, Kim! Who knew that you'd learn new languages when you decided to join us? ;)

My personal favorite is 'frelled' from Farscape.

Jan

[AaronB]

In Star Wars, "kriff" means "fuck."
Let's not forget that "frack" mean the same in BSG.

[vacantlook]

My personal favorite is 'frelled' from Farscape.

Yeah, I love Farscape's cursings a lot too, most particularly "frell".

[jcbatz]

My personal favorite is 'frelled' from Farscape.

Jan

Yeah, that one started to creep into my own vernacular. It ranks right up there with "Loombas."

I thought Janet Greek did a good job with River of Souls. The first time I watched it, I didn't care for it too much. Now that I've seen it a few more times I like it more. What was McShane's problem? His character does turn into a bit part...maybe that bugged him.

[JDSValen]

Getting back to the subject . . .

If you listen to the commentary of "The Face of the Enemy" (which, IMO, is the best directed hour of television ever, and my personal favorite B5 ep) the majority of the commentary is JMS praising MV on his directing. And then on one of the movie commentaries JMS says something about MV just "getting" what JMS wanted to do, that JMS would write it and MV would make it the way JMS pictured it in his head or better (correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure its there).

I'm guessing (and this is purely speculation on my part) that JMS and MV just clicked in a way that JG and JMS never did, and therefore MV got the nod on the big eps.

[Aaron]

I hate to bring this up here, but doesn't Deadwood have too much vulgar language?

There is alot of vulgar language on Deadwood because that is how prospectors spoke on the frontier. It's one of the things that turned up when David Milch did his research on Deadwood and the old west in general. Gold prospectors were known for having very fowl language the went way beyond what anyone else said. They could make cowboys blush.

[KimHoffman]

Jan, what does "Frelled" mean? I promise to use it only for good.

[Jan]

Jan, what does "Frelled" mean? I promise to use it only for good.

It means 'fucked' or 'screwed', Kim. As in "We are so frelled." Use your power wisely, now. ;)

I'm guessing (and this is purely speculation on my part) that JMS and MV just clicked in a way that JG and JMS never did, and therefore MV got the nod on the big eps.

It was obvious from the commentary that JMS admires Mike Vejar's work immensely. I think that Janet Greek wasn't available for some periods of time, though, too. Taking a quick look at the archives, I notice JMS mentioning that she took some time off to develop her own projects, also when she adopted a child and another occassion where she had a network commitment. Since she did 'And the Sky, Full of Stars' and 'Chrysalis', he might have given her more big episodes had she been available.

Jan

[KimHoffman]

Jan, thanks. It may take some time getting used - well, actually, frelled may never for me replace the real thing. But when I employ it I will endeavor to do so wisely.

Prospectors and coarse language. Banking on finding that next nugget was probably an embittering experience for most. And cursing, to the doomed, often evolves into one of the highest forms of linguistical expressions: pure, unrefined, genuine, meaning. As in HOLY FRELLING CHRIST or words to that effect. Which is why at certain times nothing else will do.

[Jan]

And cursing, to the doomed, often evolves into one of the highest forms of linguistical expressions: pure, unrefined, genuine, meaning. As in HOLY FRELLING CHRIST or words to that effect. Which is why at certain times nothing else will do.

Oh, absolutely. I was thinking when this came up that the next time I watch my 'Firefly' DVDs I need to pay attention to the cursing. It's in Chinese! :D

Jan

[jahkneebee]

I have a feeling (frelling) that those 'Chinese' translations could be REALLY interesting. Josh Whedan did a fantastic job on the series, and I wouldn't be surprised if the translations are either quite literal, extremely funny, or (most probably) both. Any ideas what they meant? Checked the website?

What a great idea to mix pre-industrial-agro with outer space colonization. Can't wait for the movie, but they probably won't even show it on one of the 7 screens on island. They showed EP3 for a week, and Hitchhiker's Guide didn't even show. Thank goodness for DVDs.

[grumbler]

Can anyone think of B5 vets on Deadwood other than Ian McShane and Brad Dourif? Not just actors, but crew, writers, and whatnot? I am starting to think Deadwood is the best thing on TV since B5 itself.

[SpooRancher]

Other B5 Veteran on Deadwood
William Sanderson: Deuce on B5, EB Farnum on Deadwood

B5 Veterans on Carnivale
John Fleck: Del Varner on B5, Gecko on Carnivale
Adrienne Barbeau: Amanda Carter on B5, Ruthie on Carnivale

All are regulars!

[Dr Maturin]

Seinfeld has a lot of B5 alumni.

[jcbatz]

Seinfeld has a lot of B5 alumni.

So did Buffy.

[grumbler]

Other B5 Veteran on Deadwood
William Sanderson: Deuce on B5, EB Farnum on Deadwood
THAT is where I saw "Farnum" before! Now that you mention it, it astonishes me I couldn't make the connection. That one was bugging me...

[WorkerCaste]

I have a feeling (frelling) that those 'Chinese' translations could be REALLY interesting. Josh Whedan did a fantastic job on the series, and I wouldn't be surprised if the translations are either quite literal, extremely funny, or (most probably) both. Any ideas what they meant? Checked the website?

What a great idea to mix pre-industrial-agro with outer space colonization. Can't wait for the movie, but they probably won't even show it on one of the 7 screens on island. They showed EP3 for a week, and Hitchhiker's Guide didn't even show. Thank goodness for DVDs.Ask and ye shall receive... this website has translations for the Chinese used in Firefly:
Firefly Chinese (http://fireflychinese.home.att.net/)
Have fun!

[Aaron]

I think I have seen more sci-fi alum on NYPD Blue than anywhere else.

--Aaron

[jahkneebee]

WorkerCaste, thanks for the Chinese Firefly site....I knew there'd be some corkers there.

[frulad]

Gold prospectors were known for having very fowl language the went way beyond what anyone else said.

They talked like chickens?

[Aaron]

They talked like chickens?

errr...foul. :)

--Aaron