Babylon 5: Something new about something old.

[Triple F]

No easy way to introduce this subtly, so.

After contacting Ron Thornton, to find out who designed one of the ships on Babylon 5, one thing led to another, and a quick exercise in learning how to code up a web page turned into a unique reference site. (5 years, 15 FX artists and one producer later). Among those contacted included Steve Burg, Everett Burrell, Eric Chauvin and Kevin Kutchaver.

The site isn’t going to stay up forever, It was just a hobby, a one off, so I made it downloadable for anyone to keep – no strings, popups, adverts or anything else attached. Just a lot of frank, revealing, wide ranging and occasionally funny interviews from a bunch of artists with enough Emmys between them to field a couple of football teams (that answer a lot of questions and bust a few myths) and a fair bit of previously unreleased concept art, like this.



It’s not so much about the show, but the artists, the art and the technology. Steve Burg (who recently designed the Prometheus for the Ridley Scott movie) described what we talked about as the most in-depth examination of his methodology and approach to design ever carried out. Which, considering Steve’s career, came as a bit of a surprise.

This is a link to a facebook page highlighting the site.

http://www.facebook.com/B5Scrolls

If you read the top post you’ll see why I joined FB and set it up, and why I’m pointing there. It’s far from ideal (a lot of folks aren’t on facebook), but it was the best idea I could think of to let as many know as possible, before the site disappears.

If anyone’s interested, and ain’t on facebook, here’s a link to the website itself. Though if you can ‘like’ that Facebook thing, that would be helpful.
http://www.themadgoner.com/B5/B5Scrolls/B5Scrolls.htm

Hope you enjoy the site. Any questions about the download, etc. I'm here all week. ; )

[Gog]

I was worried this was going to be spam, but my apologies for thinking it. Nice work, a good site and lots of interesting stuff for B5 fans and CG fans alike (so great for people like me who are both).

Thanks for posting and thanks for making a downloadable version - I'll check the download out later.

[Triple F]

It’s completely understandable a first post on a new forum pointing at links and an offer of a free download would potentially be viewed as spam. ; )

Bots come in all shapes and sizes and they’re clearly a big problem on some forums.

The site developed more by accident than design, and it just seemed stupid not to make it available for anyone who wants it before it gets taken down. Unfortunately the only way I know of letting folk know about it, is to turn up on forums. ; )

Bit of a bugger, but can’t be helped. Hope you find at least some of the site of interest. ; )

Cheers
Tom

[cinnsealach]

Great site; lots of good stuff in there.

I remember following some of Mojo's tutorials in Amiga Shopper back in the day.

[Richard Hill]

Ah, I remember stumbling across Babylon 5 on Channel 4 midway through the first season; the vividness of the universe this team of artists had created was immediate.

We'll see if we can spread the word a little via the main site. I sent the info through to our friends at ImagineFX and SFX as well.

Richard


Richard Hill / Editor, 3D World

[Triple F]

Cool. Thanks. ; )
Lots’s of folk have already downloaded it. The ‘likes’ on that facebook page only represents a fraction of the number. Ch4. was how I stumbled over it as well.

[Triple F]

Just a FYI type thing. Those hosting the site renewed their agreement last year, so it should stay up for the next two. Plus I just added an update, new interview as well as new production concept art.

The links at the start of this thread still work. ; )