THE ZOCALO TODAY – December 18, 2005

WHAT'S NEW

As I went onto the internet this morning, I found this update from
JMS and just had to forward it along to everyone. There is a lot of
wonderful information about all of JMS' projects – and a few things
lurking on the horizon. I'm sure I'm not alone in being anxious to
hear more about the series in development!

Here is the update:

Next week three JMS comics hit the stands, the third (and best of the
first batch) issue of "The Book of Lost Souls," which I'm very happy
with, the next "Fantastic Four" issue, and the next "Supreme Power:
Hyperion" issue. It's sort of an all-JMS-all-the-time thing (which
would have to be the most boring network on television, but there you
are).

In addition to the other books I'm doing for Marvel, I'm set to do
two more mini-series in 2006, neither of which I can discuss at the
moment.

Also, now that the CBC strike is over, "The Adventures of Apocalypse
Al" has been picked up again, and we're looking to do the voice
tracks in February. The 20 five-minute radio drama episodes should
air a few months thereafter, to allow time for post and publicity
and the like. I believe it will thereafter show up on BBC Radio,
Radio Ireland, the US market, and a number of other places before
ultimately being released on CD.

It would seem that everything is now in place for the TV series that
hired me as show runner to go ahead, and I'm now starting on the
first script, which is due late January. Other writers have also been
quietly put to work. I don't want to say too much else about this
because there's still one last detail that needs to be ironed out at
a much higher level regarding the venue and the like, and I've had
too many things that were 99% go sideways at the last second for me
to not approach this like a Lucy-and-the-football situation...so
we'll see, but at the moment, things look like they're moving ahead.

As for the other series, the one I created, I can say this much now:
it's been purchased for development by Disney's Touchstone
Television, and we will be bringing it out to the networks this
coming June at the start of development season.

Two different studios are currently in negotiation to pick up the
film rights to "Midnight Nation," and another studio has offered to
pick up "Rising Stars" for a series for next year, but we'll see
where that goes...not all options go anywhere. "Dream Police" is now
also in development with another studio, and I've turned in a
detailed outline for the feature. They're now looking to pair up the
material with the right director so they can take it out formally to
the film marketplace.

WB has begun making inquiries here about doing a B5 DVD trivia game,
but that's still very much in the preliminary discussions stage, so
we'll see. (This would mainly utilize existing footage from the
series and TV movies.) I've also bee consulting with them about the
coming debut of B5 on AOL in January, and several related areas.

Volume 3 of the B5 script books (which got a great review on
www.cinescape.com) will hit around the first week of January. Because
there's SO freaking much material in this one -- an 18,000 word intro
plus 30 pages of memos PLUS all the scripts -- we've had to push the
photos to volume 4, or risk making something so large that it might
not come out right. This is my favorite so far, the most personal in
many ways, the funniest, and the most informative on behind-the-
scenes stuff. I'm nearly done with the volume 4 intro, which I like,
but v3 remains my favorite so far. We should be able to debut new
volumes around the first week of every month, so all 12 of the
remaining 14 primary volumes would be finished by next December.

Convention-wise, in March 2006, I think I'm slated for a convention
in Hungary, work schedule permitting, and the convention in New
Zealand in October 2006. Other conventions include World Con in
Anaheim in August, San Diego Comic Con in July, and Heroes
Convention in North Carolina in June.

There's other stuff as well, but those are the high points for the
moment.

jms

DISCUSSION TOPIC:

Winter is always a great time to sit down with a good book and spend
time with a new friend -- or discover a old one. Is it the latest
Harry Potter escapade or something totally different?

With so many science fiction/fantasy novels now coming to life on
the big screen, do you think movies will help the science
fiction/fantasy field grow? What kind of reading do you find
enjoyable?

Send in your thoughts -- and tell us what you are reading to
sgbrucker@.... I'll post your comments on the Discussion
Page so that you can see what your fellow readers think about the
film and science fiction.

KEEPING UP WITH CAST AND CREW

STEPHEN AUSTIN, the wonderful and talented Pak'Ma'Ra Ambassador from
Babylon 5, recently underwent knee surgery. He reports that all is
coming along very well and he should be back up and around doing his
comedy routines in no time. We wish him all the best – BIG VIRTUAL
HUG COMING YOUR WAY.

That's about it for now.
I hope that each and everyone of you has a joyous holiday season and
that the coming year is full of blessings.

Take care,
Sandy

Sandra Bruckner
Editor/Publisher
ISN News: The Zocalo Today
http://www.isnnews.net