Just in case you aren't on the mailing list for the Babylon 5 Script
Books, here is the latest!

VOLUME 15 - GOOD NEWS #1

Are you sitting down?

Last week, we were having our regular pow-wow with J. Michael
Straczynski, detailing the production status of Volume 15. This is
when JMS told us that while he was adding one big, bonus piece of
content (which you'll read about in Good News #2), he also wanted to
do something extra special for the fans as a thank you for their
patience and loyalty to the script books.

"You could sign them," we replied in unison, half-chuckling, as if JMS
would lock himself up for weeks to sign every Volume 15.

"That's what I was thinking," he replied.

Stunned silence. We knew he wasn't kidding.

So that's what he's doing. Right now. As you read this. Signing.

Actually, to be more specific, he's signing the title page of each
book, and the signed title page will be bound with the rest of the
pages for Volume 15.

To do this, we paused production on Volume 15, dispatched a FedEx
convoy that arrived at an undisclosed location -- fondly referred to
by the team as the "Signing Bunker" -- and off-loaded box after box
after box after box of these title pages.

Signing stations were set-up throughout the Signing Bunker. Each
station has a table with a stack of title pages and a fresh-
out-of-the-box pile of red Sharpie pens. If you were to climb up on a
ladder all you'd see is row after row of these signing stations and, a
speck at one of them, hunched over.

(Important note: J. Michael Straczynski is signing his name only. In
other words, these aren't personally inscribed, meaning that they
don't include a inscription such as "To John". If you would like JMS
to inscribe your book, he's happy to do that during signings at his
personal appearances.)

Once JMS is done signing all the title pages, the FedEx convoy will
return to haul the pages back across country to Cafepress, who will
reunite the signed title pages with the rest of Volume 15's contents,
and then bind them.

We expect the whole process to take about 21 days -- give or take a
little.

Because Volume 15 is being shipped with Volume 14, we are holding the
shipping of all Volume 14s until we have the signed Volume 15s bound
and ready. Despite the slight shipping delay, you can still order
Volume 14 today, and as soon as Volume 15 is done, both will be
shipped together to those folks who have completed and submitted their
proof of purchase form.

So that's the first big piece of good news. Your Volume 15 will arrive
SIGNED.

VOLUME 15 GOOD NEWS #2
The second good news item is that JMS has added a new goodie to Volume
15 that he describes as "the most staggering document to appear in any
of these volumes. A Rosetta Stone, if you will, to the whole series of
script books."

This Rosetta Stone is called "Joe Cuts."

Joe Cuts is an inventory of every variation between all 92 scripts in
the 14-volume series and what you've seen on the DVDs. In other words,
a script archivist compared every single line of every single script
to what is in the episode on DVD, and itemized those differences, line
by line, shot by shot, scene by scene.

Here's an example of one entry:

EPISODE: Infection -- Deleted Scene -- Ivanova has taken Mary
Ann on a tour of the Station and they end in C&C. Mary Ann asks a few
questions about Ivanova's family then thanks her and then asks if
there's anything Ivanova would like to say to the audience. Ivanova
gives some sound advice.

This is just one of 526 entries in the inventory. 526. This is why it
took 160 hours to compile and why it runs 70 pages.

So if your "things to do before I die" list includes watching every
episode on the DVDs along with the scripts from this 14-volume series
to spot the differences, you've just been given a chunk of your life back.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NEXT
We sent out an announcement with every Volume 13 that explained that
fans must submit their proof of purchase BEFORE they order Volume 14,
and that Volume 15 is being shipped with every Volume 14 that has a
proof of purchase form associated with it.

If you haven't ordered Volume 13 yet, or if you haven't completed your
set up to Volume 13, you'll want to read all about this. For full
details go to <http://babylon5scripts.com/proof>

Our mandate from J. Michael Straczynski is to make sure that every fan
who is entitled to the free Volume 15 gets one. If you have any
concerns, questions, special considerations, or notable exceptions,
and are worried that your proof of purchase form might not go through
successfully, worry NOT. We're here to help. Just email us at
help@... and put "Question about Proof of Purchase" in
your subject line.

If you've already completed your proof of purchase form, all you need
to do is order Volume 14. That's it. We will match your proof of
purchase form with your Volume 14 order and make sure that you get
your free Volume 15. It will be sent at the same time.

VOLUME 14 - JUST RELEASED

• The Wheel of Fire
• Objects in Motion
• Objects at Rest
• In The Beginning
• BONUS: "In The Beginning" Producer's Notebook

It's here. Volume 14 of the 14-volume series which includes not only
the last three scripts of the series, but the complete script of the
Babylon 5 movie-for-television: "In the Beginning."

But wait. There's more.

You'll also get a replica of the highlights of J. Michael
Straczynski's Producer's Notebook for "In the Beginning," including
documents never released to fans such as the Storyboards, Shooting
Schedule and One Line Schedule.

Volume 14 is also packed with more goodies, including the opening
narration credit voice-over scripts, more exclusive photos and an
appendix.

Yes, an appendix.

Now that you've got all 14 volumes, we figured it would be handy to
have a catalog of everything in them, and, more importantly, where to
find what you're looking for. So this section inventories every photo,
concept art, memo, script fragment and other highlights with a
succinct description and reference so you know in exactly which volume
of the 14 to find each of them.

But wait. There's even more.

As if it couldn't get any better, also in this volume JMS is releasing
a bit of "Sleeping in Light" Holy Grail: act one of the script he used
while shooting which contains his handwritten director's notes, some
set illustrations and set diagrams. As an extra treat, he's also
including five pages from the production draft script of "Sleeping in
Light" autographed by every member of the cast and most of the crew.

Remember, to get the free Volume 15 you must purchase all 14 volumes,
so complete your set today.

Finally, know that the 14-volume series may be over, but JMS has lots
more to share. Stay tuned.

Thank you all from the Babylon 5 Scripts Team.

For an overview of the Babylon 5 script series and Babylon 5
merchandise, go to
<a href="http://www.babylon5scripts.com"> www.babylon5scripts.com</a>.<p>

That's it.
Regular newsletter to follow -- probably tomorrow.
Take care.
Sandy

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