B5 & Mongoose - Straczynski not pleased

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

BTW, as impressively talented he was for the B5 franchise, I don't think I want him anything to do with Star Trek. Hate to say this, but I'd rather deal with Braga's attitude than JMS's.

If I was a producer or TV Exec or something like that, I would probably agree.
But as a fan, I prefer "to work" with JMS, because he tells the better stories.

 

[wingsandsword]

And loving it when one fan speaks for all fans.

For example, as others have posted, I could give a rat's behind about JMS's opinions on what Mongoose is doing to B5 but then again, I'm not playing it.

Well, in 10 years of lurking and posting on rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5 and rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated, knowing dozens of fans in real life, talking with hundreds (maybe thousands) at numerous conventions over the past 13 years, countless e-mails, thousands of posts on numerous message boards of B5 and sci-fi sites, being an active fan of Babylon 5 from virtually the beginning and knowing the fan community all that time I feel pretty confident in saying that it is the general consensus of the Babylon 5 fan community that what JMS says in regard to the B5 universe goes, especially over what WB (PTEN or TNT. . .) says about the B5 universe. What JMS says carries extreme weight with most serious fans.

You may disagree, you may even feel offended that you feel I spoke for you, but I'm quite certain that it's the general attitude of the fanbase there that WB doesn't call the shots with regard to canon, JMS does, and if WB and JMS disagree, JMS is right.

For better or worse, Babylon 5 is JMS's baby, and if you're going to take the baby out to play play, you've got to keep the daddy happy. It might not help that the daddy is possessive and has a notorious ego, but it's just part of the deal.

 

[Aesthetic Monk]

For better or worse, Babylon 5 is JMS's baby, and if you're going to take the baby out to play play, you've got to keep the daddy happy. It might not help that the daddy is possessive and has a notorious ego, but it's just part of the deal.

Plus, I think there's also just a certain valid sensitiveness on JMS's part to how B5 is used, not only because of his obvious deep involvement with it but also because of the difficulties of getting it and keeping it on the air and because of the ways Crusade and the Rangers spin-offs were treated by TNT and SciFi, respectively, not to mention the stories about recasting of parts for the proposed theatrical B5 movie.

 

[DaveStebbins]

For better or worse, Babylon 5 is JMS's baby, and if you're going to take the baby out to play play, you've got to keep the daddy happy. It might not help that the daddy is possessive and has a notorious ego, but it's just part of the deal.

Except that this particular daddy SOLD his baby to WB. He now has as much right to say how it should be raised as any other birth parent who has put their kid up for adoption. Sentiment sides with him, but he accepted money to give up his rights. Belly-aching about it while counting his cash does not change this.

You might create the best campaign setting in the world and pour your very heart and soul into it. However, when you sign over the rights and accept the cash, the new owner can turn your setting into Dino-Pirates of Ninja Island if they want to. It is their property now.

Harsh, yes, but that's the real world we must live in. If you want to retain certain rights, then do not sell them all away.

-Dave

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Hmmm, I can understand both sides of the issue, and will use my amazing sidekick abilities (almost like psychic abilities, but not) and make a guess that Mongoose thought that Warner Brothers had spoken to JMS on the subject, and that JMS is assuming that WB made no such claims while selling off the scripts, and that Mongoose should not have made the assumption that it was okay with him.

Toss in a boatload of bitterness against WB (and not without reason) and you have an angry JMS and a confused Mongoose.

Sadly, all I can say is that these things happen.

The Auld Grump

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

If you're going to be a whore, don't be surprised when the john doesn't buy you dinner or bring you flowers. I have no patience for "artists" that want to sell their works for large sums of money and then act like it still belongs to them. If you can't let go, don't sell the rights. Act like you're an adult that understands how the world works.

 

[bolen]

what is wrong with JMS has he ever gotten along with anyone for longer then two years? Lets see

- Crusade - canceled due to TNT

- Jeramah - canceled due to HBO

- B5 RPG - Mongoose's fault

everyone but JMS. Boy it looks as if he is the only reasonable person in the world.

How long has he worked for marvel. Isn't it about time for Marvel to screw up and him to storm off

 

[Kesh]

Folks, one fundamental thing being ignored here:

If JMS had not sold the rights to WB, Babylon 5 would not exist, in television or any other format.

So, saying it's his own fault for selling the rights is like saying it's his fault for wanting to actually make it in the first place.

 

[Aesthetic Monk]

If you're going to be a whore, don't be surprised when the john doesn't buy you dinner or bring you flowers. I have no patience for "artists" that want to sell their works for large sums of money and then act like it still belongs to them. If you can't let go, don't sell the rights. Act like you're an adult that understands how the world works.

Your unappealing metaphor aside, I suspect that you may be overestimating how much money's involved here for JMS. Consider, for instance, that (assuming, as I am, that he's being forthright here) he's made no money off of the B5 DVDs, which have netted WB a good deal of money (see next link).

Folks, one fundamental thing being ignored here:

If JMS had not sold the rights to WB, Babylon 5 would not exist, in television or any other format.

So, saying it's his own fault for selling the rights is like saying it's his fault for wanting to actually make it in the first place.

Exactly. Not many artists (or "artists," for that matter) have $110 million to fund their own vision.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Folks, one fundamental thing being ignored here:

If JMS had not sold the rights to WB, Babylon 5 would not exist, in television or any other format.

So, saying it's his own fault for selling the rights is like saying it's his fault for wanting to actually make it in the first place.

Let's just say I'd be more impressed if he had made as much a fuss about the wargame.

Plus, as I said before, he could have bought back the rights himself. It isn't like Mongoose is General Electric or anything. Cripes, the fans probably would have chipped in and helped JMS get the book rights back.

And as bolen pointed out, the list of people who don't get along with JMS is long and distinguished. As for myself, I wouldn't mind working under him. I really wouldn't mind working above him (fiscally, he's very responsible). But I have to say I'd avoid working with him. Not that he would or should give a crap what a random dude like me thinks.

And I gotta say, on Mongooses' part, it isn't like the Starship Troopers, Conan, Judge Dredd, Lone Wolf, or Paranoia people are complaining loudly. Unless I missed that.