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  |  LAST UPDATED:24 October 2000
VZSciFi Live Creator Event:
Author and Script Writer Fiona Avery
Mr. Templeton: We would have seen more of the Galen-Isabelle relationship later in the series?
Fiona: I think so, probably. Sophie really enjoyed her shoot and she was just gorgeous and perfect doing the best acting. When I was in the edit sessions and stuff, and at the mix with the sad music going over. WAH! It was so nice. Everyone was saying she was perfect.
Isabelle is in the techno-mage novel trilogy -- I'm reading Jeanne Cavelos' first novel of that right now. Jeanne by the way, has nailed the character perfectly -- Jeanne is a phenomenal writer and you must not miss these books.
Mr. Templeton: So you are still working on Babylon 5, even now, as the reference editor?
Fiona: Yes, we have about three more novels including this one, to put out, and always we have merchandise to approve etc. New trading cards come out, new card games, dolls, what have you. So yeah, I still do that. It's a great gig.
Ms. Melinda: who is your favourite actor/actress to work with or write for?
Fiona: I love working with Dureena (Carrie Dobro) because of her character background. Dureena’s got such spunk and she's a little street urchin-type character. I like those kinds of characters, they are easy for me to write. I identify with street types.
Cordielia: have you had any bad moments collaborating with other cast members?
Fiona: Never, the actors on Crusade in particular were phenomenal. They'd come in before shooting with any questions. They were really professional folks.
 | | Dureena (Carrie Dobro) and Galen (Peter Woodward) inside the thief's chopped-down quarters, as shown in The Well of Forever. Image © 2000 Warner Bros. |
Mr. Templeton: Were you involved in developing the characters as well as the rest of the team?
Fiona: I got to develop characters -- that scene in The Well of Forever with Dureena's quarters being chopped down? All her stuff was mini-sized? Joe laughed at that -- he couldn't wait to make Peter Woodward [who played Galen] try and sit down there. We were watching the takes on set. Poor Peter! It was a long way down in a trenchcoat and leather britches! We had fun with that kinda stuff.
And Matheson [played by Daniel Dae Kim] -- he was a kick to write for all that telepathy and stuff. You had Mr. Jones being a big baddie and scanning him… Let me tell you -- Daniel [Dae Kim] sold that scene with the mental interrogation. He is such an amazing actor. Just shaking and quaking and stuff ... and that last scene where he gets to go out in hyperspace. We were watching him smile over the note. Those non-verbal moments were so good with Daniel because he is so expressive.
Mr. Templeton: Was it difficult for you to see your characters be changed / developed by the actors?
Fiona: No, not at all, I loved seeing what they brought to the role. It was like making a tiny snowball at the top of a hill and letting it roll down -- more like rolling down a mountain really -- and everyone's input just made it bigger and cooler.
Linsue: Is it easier to write when you know who the actor/actress is playing the role?
Fiona: It is easier to write their mannerisms and their little nuances. Actor personalities can slowly creep into the characters you're writing, but only the ones that benefit the particular character they're playing.
Sometimes you see mannerisms at the lunch table or stuff, and you realize that your character would do the same kind of bowed-head thing, or say a certain phrase that the actor/actress does, and you throw it in. Sometimes it's completely subconscious and the actor shows up at your doorstep of your office and says 'Hey! Did you do this to me on purpose?' And you stare like a deer in the headlights, realizing ... 'No, but my subconscious must have.'
Mr. Templeton: Can you tell us a little about how Crusade would have developed had it continued?
Fiona: You would have seen some fragmentation among crew members ... people splitting off with unique agendas. There would have been some really great stuff in Season Two, but if I told you, two men would show up at my door (in black robes) and haul me off to The Well of Forever.
We also would have seen about Dureena’s people the ones who were infected by the plague [as seen in Patterns of the Soul]. We had plans to deal with that again.
Mr. Templeton: Walter Koenig spoke a little about your unproduced script here in Bristol... can you tell us about that?
Fiona: Oh ... Value Judgements. Everyone in UK and outside the US: If you've been dying to read this script and I'm a poopyhead and won't mail it out internationally: go to www.bookface.com. You will be able to read that and my other two scripts -- free!
So that script ... We were bringing Bester into the Crusade universe as a guest appearance in Value Judgements I wanted to portray him as a man with an adjunct purpose. Not as an evil villain, who twirls his moustache.
Of all my scripts, Joe had the least notes on Value Judgements. I was afraid -- terrified -- that writing Bester would be horrible. That I wouldn't know how to do it and he'd be a flake. But I sat down, and again one of those little things I've learned is: don't 'think it up' just listen and 'jot it down'. I started listening to Bester when it was time for him to come onstage.
I'm telling you -- he started -- and he still hasn't shut up! He is the most verbose, wonderful, talented, awesome, sophisticated villain!
Every once in a while I'll be at a trendy coffee shop, getting a latte, and Bester will pop into my head analysing people in line. I'll be like 'Hey! What are you doing here? I don't wanna hear what you think of that woman's tattoo!'
Cordielia: lol
Fiona: So, he was so much fun and he was effortless to listen to. He's not shy you know ... he gabs. Oh, does he gab.
Mr. Templeton: Do you think there is any chance Crusade will return now?
Fiona: I really don't think so ... it's not entirely possible at this point. Maybe we will return in fiction though, like books, mags, shorts etc.
Cordielia: where do you get your inspiration, and who do you find interesting to watch or read?
 Fiona: My inspiration: this is tricky! You know who I love and just can’t get enough of is ... Roger Zelazny's Amber series characters. I was naturally drawn to the Fiona character who was 5'2" and red haired -- a sorceress. I mean -- I think I'm a shadow of her LOL! But, I loved his archetype. And his people were so wonderfully written.
I also like Sherlock Holmes -- I’ve read all Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books/stories but you know ... Sherlock is the awesomest! I love Lovecraft.
Lessee here... Emma Thompson is hanging on my wall er -- her pic.
Cordielia: rofl
Fiona: That Vanity Fair cover with her in armour. She's a goddess. Jodi Foster is next to her as Anna from the latest Anna and the King movie. I love Jodi Foster.
Oh, Kurosawa. Kurosawa was the most amazing film director / producer ever. I watched Seven Samurai and just boggled. When I think of telling stories on film/tv ... I go back to Kurosawa. 'Show the story, don't tell the story'. (And that's another little nugget from my literary ancestors!)
I'm also fond of Rogue of the X-Men (and no there isn't an X-Men movie coming out in my universe). See, Rogue needs a white spot on her head and a nice green/gold outfit sans cape so I'm just cringing about the new movie. Well, okay I will confess, I was hoping they'd do her traditionally, so I could get a nice Hallowe’en costume ;)
Mr. Templeton: Would it be possible to radio dramas of Crusade? Like they're doing in the UK with Doctor Who?
Fiona: That is definitely an option. I know Scifi.com is looking into lots of avenues for the show B5 and certainly will take a look at what to do with its spin off. We're still kind of anticipating here ... letting Sci Fi Channel [parent to scifi.com] choose what it wants to do, letting things come about organically without forcing them. (Organically? good one Fi)
Mr. Templeton: It sounds like the Scifi deal is going to be a good one for B5 fans though…
Fiona: I am so excited about that ... if you haven't heard: in the US, Sci Fi is going to show B5 daily, in a high profile time slot and wonderful regular showings.
Ms. Melinda: Oh wow, great
Fiona: I almost said regularity and then realised I'd be talking about a commercial for a laxative or something heehee
Linsue: lmao
Fiona: So, Sci Fi is great! They have really taken it up and made B5 a big deal. Couldn't be on a better channel as far as I'm concerned. It feels like home.
Mr. Templeton: So although B5 is still a big part of your life, but you other projects you are working on?
Fiona: Oh man ... tons! The Earth: Final Conflict episode is getting finalized now. Revisions this week. I can't talk too much about it -- lest I see two Taelons at my door taking me up to the Mothership.
Mr. Templeton: Nope.
Ms. Melinda: Oh dern, we don't want that to happen.
Soichi Tomoe: Eeek.
Fiona: I'm going in next week to sign a contract for a new comic book... my very own comic book <big girly giggle> I cannot tell you how long this thing has been in the works ... and I'm so excited about it! When I have the contract worked out, and everything's copasetic and understood about how we'll promote the comic -- I will break big news. [Wizard Magazine gets exclusive news coverage and will hopefully come out with information on the comic in November]. After they break the news, it will be reported on my Email Newsletter Fionaverse -- All Fiona All the Time -- it's at Egroups.com.
And then there's my novel. 180 pages of line edits left on this mammoth. It is historical fantasy/romance set in the reign of King Louis IX (1245ish) dealing with saints, relics, powers of state, conspiracy, warfare, love, marriage, rebellion etc. It's a lot like Elizabeth but earlier, and with more fantastic elements. It's my college degree working, man! lol
Mr. Templeton: you should have been here and talked to Mary Gentle last week :)
Fiona: She's fabulous -- a great person. <thinking>… Oh! I have a radio drama adaptation coming out at Seeing Ear Theater. I have two right now: The Lucky Strike [this started airing over the internet on 21 July - Ed]. Timothy Hutton stars. He's the first academy award winner they've got on board -- huge name. You will not wanna miss this radio drama -- it is bigtime!
It's Kim Stanley Robinson's short story, The Lucky Strike. What happens when you decide not to follow orders and not bomb Japan during WWII? A very touchy issue for many Americans, but I think it's something we need to really think about.
I was proud to be able to adapt it... just honoured and flattered. I treated KSR's words like gold. So please come to hear that -- beautiful story -- beautiful lead star!
And after that they will put out Ursula K Le Guin's Buffalo Gals, Won't you Come Out Tonight. I adapted this as well, and they are looking for some really amazing lead actress to play Coyote. It's a story about Native American traditions, about a girl who gets lost among Native American gods in the wilderness. Coyote is the main star, apart from the little girl. Some really popular actresses are reading it over right now -- gonna be fun too.
I have many short stories at bookface.com. You can do a web search on their site for Fiona Avery and pull up my two shorts now, and one more added soon. If you like Fantasy, they're launching a new Fantasy sub-site. I highly recommend their fantasy authors -- they are brilliant -- many from Marion Zimmer Bradley magazine’s long tradition of publishing wonderful high fantasy. I'll have a fantasy story or two up as well, but these women authors from MZB are just -- I'm out of their league, they're brilliant so go see that.
And my Crusade scripts from 24 July -- I wanted to make them available to all outside the US. It's crummy to try and get stuff from US when you're not in the US ... hard on postage. So now you can see my scripts for free!
Mr. Templeton: Fiona, thank you so much for talking to us today... the folks here are having to close the room we are in now (hotel types with Taelons beside them)...
Fiona: Thanks for having me! T’were fun! (Return to Part One)
Fiona Avery Event Transcript Continued: Part One | Part Two | Part Three |
Bookface.com has launched
its Fantasy subgenre and all of Fiona’s scripts and
short stories are available on Bookface.com
now.
Fiona Avery links on the web:
Fiona Avery's Official Web
Site: Go
Read some of Fiona's short stories online at: bookface.com.
Avery's first short story, "Luring the Tiger Out of the
Mountains" was posted on Bookface.com in August. She was
very excited about the story finally making its debut. "I
have shopped this story around to every major science fiction
/ fantasy market I thought would be a good match and I've
even sent it to a few good literature markets, to no avail.
Most of the editors, with two exceptions, did not understand
the story at all. When Lou Anders of Bookface read it (Editor-in-Chief
of Bookface), he immediately understood the work and thought
it was a great story. I am proud to put this story on Bookface.com,
the only market who grokked and published the piece thus
far! Please come and read it. It's the first short story
I ever wrote, and though it's my first, it is one I am most
proud of, even compared to others I have written later in
my career."
Avery's three autographed scripts from Crusade are
available at: Scripts
from the Lot (US orders only). You can also read the
scripts online at bookface.com
SciFi.Com's
Seeing Ear Theater: Go
Fiona's Comics: The preview issue of No Honor
went to press the week of 13/11/00.The cover is illustrated
by Marc Silvestri, making it a collectible item worth finding!
Fiona assures us that even she will be purchasing a copy
and putting it away in a sleeve and back-board for safe
keeping. Silvestri artwork is a rare and wonderful thing,
so she's happy about the issue!
The regular issues will be coming out starting in February.
Top Cow (publisher's of Fiona's comic book): Go
Buy Colonies magazine #3and read "The Silence of Roanoake"
by Fiona Avery: Go
(Be warned the interface of this site is EXTREMELY confusing!)
Babylon 5 Resource Site: The
Lurker's Guide
Earth: Final Conflict Official Site:
Go
Related links on this site:
Babylon 5 Links: Babylon
5 Data File (includes news on the production crew)
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