THE ZOCALO TODAY – May 25, 2008

SYSTEM CRASH
We recently experienced a major problem at the website – all of the
recent files were lost. During a move to another site, files were
corrupted. I am in the process of reconstructing information
previously listed at The Zocalo Today, but many files will not be
recoverable.

If you have convention information you would like to have listed,
please send information so that I can update our convention schedule.
I will be pulling together a new calendar shortly, but right now,
what's on the front page is all the current information I have.

If you click on a link and nothing happens – now you know why. There
is no there – there.

J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI AT CANNES

Ranger Regis sent along a link to the video of this Press Conference
from Cannes <http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/mediaPlayer/9426.html>.
The entire 40-minute press conference (with translation in French) can
be seen at
<http://cannes2008.canalplus.fr/film-changeling-20-mai-2008-page1.aspx?PlayVideo\
=4>.

Ranger Mike sent in the following clipping from IMDb:

Movie Reviews: 'Changeling'
Clint Eastwood's Changeling has drawn some of the strongest early
reviews yet at the Cannes Film Festival. (Critics were unsure what the
actual title was. The festival said on Tuesday that it had received a
written notice from the studio that the title had been changed to The
Exchange, aligning it with the French title, L'Ιchange. But at a news
conference Eastwood implied that he had not agreed to a such a change,
and the daily festival program, after revising the title on Tuesday
changed it back to Changeling today.) Geoffrey MacNab in the London
Independent called the film a "magisterial piece of work." While
predicting that the movie won't become a big box-office success for
Eastwood, he concluded that "in its unfussy craftsmanship and
emotional punch, it shows him still at the peak of his powers."
Writing for the British trade publication Screen Daily, Mike Goodridge
predicted that the movie will "go all the way from the Palais to the
Academy Awards." Several critics attending the screening came away
forecasting an Oscar nomination not only for Eastwood but also for the
film's star, Angelina Jolie. "She is the entire, anxious point of
Eastwood's film," wrote James Christopher in the London Times, "and
absolutely terrific." Todd McCarthy in Daily Variety called her
performance "top notch." And Kurt Honeycutt wrote in the Hollywood
Reporter," Jolie puts on a powerful emotional display."

Another article noted is at
http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/article/56129.html

Ranger Jim found this article that includes a quote from JMS:
"I was so astonished by the extent to which she suffered by asking one
simple, clear question: What happened to my child," said J. Michael
Straczynski, who researched Christine Collins' ordeal and wrote the
screenplay for "Changeling." "She did all the heavy lifting. I just
wrote it down."

From a longer article at
<http://movies.msn.com/news/article.aspx?news=315022>.

Variety has reviewed the film as well. You can read all about it at
<http://www.variety.com/VE1117937210.html>.

The Hollywood Reporter's review can be found at
<http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/awards_festivals/fest_reviews/article_displ\
ay.jsp?&rid=11148&imw=Y>,

Over at <http://blogs.amctv.com/shootout/> you will find an interview
with J. Michael Straczynski, screenwriter for THE CHANGELING.

QUESTIONS FOR LARRY DI TILLIO
The Babylon 5 Script Team continues to bring us new opportunities to
ask questions of Babylon 5 authors. Here's another, so put on your
thinking caps and send along your questions to Ranger Jan:

Rare Opportunity: Ask B5 writer Larry DiTillio Your Questions

Not long ago we asked you to submit questions to B5 writer Kathryn
Drennan about her B5 script "By Any Means Necessary" -- which, by the
way, will be featured in her 9,200 word introduction in Volume 2 of
"Babylon 5: Other Voices".

Since some were bummed that they read that post too late to submit a
question you now get another chance, with another writer, Larry
DiTillio. We should also note that you guys asked some fabulous
questions, so we were eager to offer this opportunity up again.
We want to hear ALL your questions for Larry about his script "A
Spider in the Web". Since this is for Volume 2 of "Babylon 5 Scripts:
Other Voices" we can only accept questions for this particular script.
As a quick refresher, in "A Spider in the Web" a friend of Talia
Winters comes to Babylon 5 to negotiate a deal to help Mars become
more self-sufficient when a man calling out "Free Mars!" murders him
before her eyes. Here's the Lurker's Guide page for this episode.
<http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/countries/us/guide/028.html>.

Here are some sample questions we have lined up just as an example:

- Was Bureau 13 originally meant to be a regularly seen organization
like the Psi Corps?

- Amanda Carter's grandfather was John Carter, a reference to the
series of books set on Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Was it your idea
to include that?

- This the second script of yours to feature cyber-organics; first the
Vicar in "DeathWalker" and the Lazarus Project in this one. Is the
idea of cybernetics and human interface something that interests you?

IMPORTANT NOTE: You can email as many questions as you like.
Deadline: Wednesday, May 28
Please forward to our Editor, Jan Schroeder
JanMSchroeder@...

OTHER VOICES
Babylon 5 Scripts: Other Voices
VOLUME 1
Price: $39.99

Volume 1 will never be offered at a discount again
For more information about B5 Other Voices, go to www.B5OtherVoices.com

Featuring these scripts
• "Born to the Purple" by Larry DiTillio
• "The War Prayer" by D.C. Fontana
• "DeathWalker" by Larry DiTillio
• "Believers" by David Gerrold
• "Survivors" by Marc Scott Zicree
• "Grail" by Christy Marx

PLUS A SPECIAL BONUS:
David Gerrold's complete outline for "Laser-Mirror-Starweb," a
never-produced, never-seen episode of Babylon 5.
All scripts include an introduction/commentary by the writers written
exclusively for these volumes revealing how the stories came to be,
why these writers made the choices they did, what it was like to write
for the Babylon 5 universe, and, most important, what you didn't see.

Coming June 15, 2008
Babylon 5 Scripts: Other Voices - Volume 2
featuring "By Any Means Necessary" by Kathryn Drennan, which includes
a 9,000 word introduction written by her exclusively for this volume.

BABYLON PODCAST #112

Jeffrey returns from Hawaii to tease us all about his Vorlon tan, and
Tim revels in the fact that he and Bruce Boxleitner share a birthdate.
Tim also recounts what he saw at the Star Trek Experience in Las
Vegas, and got to see firsthand the Borg Invasion scenario that George
Johnsen worked on.

Jeffrey also lets us know what show he's working on now: Celebrity
Rehab on VH-1. So whenever he's not able to join us on Wednesdays,
know that he's working on Season 2 of this series, and it really is
something that's aiming to help.

Deep Geeking: Tim and Summer contemplate the mysteries and metaphors
in "Whatever Happened to Mr. Garibaldi?" For a long time… this is a
good one.

Listener Feedback: Tim passes on a question from George Brickner:
"What does Summer need her minions to do?" First, Summer needs a
vacation and some rest, then she'll need help with wiki setup, and
Joomla configuration.

If it matters, Summer would love to see a script book or three solely
about "Crusade". Just sayin'.

To catch up on all the wonderful podcasts, go to www.babylonpodcast.com.

KEEPING UP WITH CAST AND CREW

DANIEL DAE KIM stars in The Andromeda Strain, premiering on A&E
tomorrow night at 9:00pm. Daniel was Lt. Matheson on CRUSADE and is
currently on the hit series LOST.

DISCUSSION TOPIC:
With all the advances in CGI and computer animation, is it easier or
harder to tell a good story – science fiction or any other genre?

Send in your comments to sgbruckner@... and I'll post them to the
Discussion Page so that all readers of The Zocalo Today can share in
your opinions.

NEW PUBLICATIONS

Cult Times Issue #152: DOCTOR WHO: Douglas MacKinnon talks about
directing the two-part story that brings the Doctor, Donna and Martha
together for the first time. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: Jamie Bamber looks
ahead to Lee 'Apollo' Adama's new life outside of a Viper. But will a
career change keep him out of harm's way? LOST: Michael Emerson (Ben)
talks about what's ahead for the show.

TV Zone #228: PUSHING DAISIES: Star Anna Friel said `Never again,'
after her first attempt to make it in Hollywood - but the quirky style
of the series lured her back to Los Angeles. She talks about why she
reckons the series' success is a testament to the appeal of
old-fashioned romance. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: Actress Rekha Sharma has
discovered her true, Cylon, nature. She discusses her nerves during
her first days on set, and discovering her new role.

TV Zone Special #81: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: This massive 60-page
overview lets you recap the series. There are inerviews with many of
the cast, including Katee Sackhoff, Callum Keith Rennie, Michael
Trucco, Alessandro Juliani. Also hear from some of the
behind-the-scenes folks -- Richard Hudolin and Douglas McLean -
production designers; Glenne Campbell - costume design and Gerald
Gibbons - hair stylist.

CONVENTION CALENDAR

May 30-June 1, 2008
The Wrath of Con
Place: Panama City Beach, Florida
B5 Guest: Jerry Doyle
For more information on the con, go to http://www.wrathofcon.org.

June 6-8, 2008
SALUTE TO SUPERNATURAL
Place: Hyatt Regency DFW City: Dallas, Texas
Guests: Jensen Ackles, Jared Padalecki, Frederic Lane, Chad Lindberg,
Steve Carlson
For more information, go to
http://www.creationent.com/cal/supernatural_tx.htm.

June 20-22, 2008
FANGORIA'S WEEKEND OF HORRORS
Place: Crowne Plaza Meadowlands Hotel, 2 Harmon Plaza
B5 Guest: Tony Todd
Other Guests: James Marsters, Art Hindle, George Romero
For more information, go to http://www.creationent.com/cal/fangonj.htm.

July 4-6, 2008
JUMPCON
Place: Kalamazoo,Michigan
B5 Guests: Jason Carter
Other Guests: Tons of people from Star Trek, Andromeda and others
For more information, go to http://www.jumpcon.com/kalamazoo.

July 26-27, 2008
STEEL CITY CON
Place: Monroeville, PA (near Pittsburgh)
Guests: Anthony Forrest, Star Wars, Vanessa Branch and Lauren Maher,
Pirates of the Caribbean, THE BATMOBILE - 1966 model
For more information, go to http://www.steelcitycon.com.

That's about it for now. I hope you will visit the website when you
have a chance (http://www.isnnews.net) – and more importantly, send
along information you would like to post for other Babylon 5 fans to
share.

I hope you all have a marvelous weekend and Memorial Day holiday (for
those of us in the U.S.).

Take care.
Sandy

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