Babylon 5: Welcome to the Third Age (1997)

I was hired by Joe Straczynski to create official Babylon 5 music videos for him to use at science fiction conventions, and later to promote the show to networks. We produced eight over the run of the series. Now, 10 years after the end of the series and numerous requests from fans, Straczynski has allowed me to post these online.

This one was a bit of an adventure. In the spring of 1997, the fourth season was roaring to an end, but there were rumors the series would not get its fifth season. Joe and I had talked about using Christopher Franke's music again, highlighting the epic feel and scope of the Babylon 5 story, and with that in mind, I started editing.

After about a month, I got a call from Joe on a Friday, asking how close I was to being done. I was maybe 75% there, but he wanted to know if there was any way I could be done by Monday, as he was going to Atlanta the next week and would VERY much like to have a showreel inhand. Needless to say, I pulled a LONG weekend, as this was Joe's trip to hopefully finalize the deal to get B5 onto TNT for the fifth and final season, and he was going to use my work to do it. I was even ready to drive to Atlanta to meet him with a tape if need be, but the overnight delivery got to the B5 offices just in time for him to review the tape before he left.

This video premiered at DragonCon in July 1997, and the original version of this ended with the TNT logo and the announcement of Season Five. At the time, this was considered A Very Good Thing - but that's another story.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• babylon 5
• b5
• straczynski
• hudgens
• z-team

[Khandor82]

Yeah B5 is bit of an embarrasment for newer tv shows. Over 10 years old series and STILL kicking crap out of newer shows with bigger budgets!

It's not the money or effects. It's the STORY that matters and B5 is still the best in that area.

B5 is unique. Too bad it's over but all good things must come to an end.

[crichtonIASA]

It's a shame no new sci-fi shows can even compete with Babylon 5 even after all this time. Even with much higher production values you need great writers or 1 in B5's case. Thank God for DVDs to watch & rewatch a master class in sci-fi TV satisfying on so many levels.

[CCB5er34]

I don't care about any of them, Babylon 5 is the best, period. This music, the images, just divine, beautiful,meaningful, powerful, someday, if it ever reruns, more people will find out the magnificent this show was..will always love it.

[Khandor82]

@hcvang Not really likely. JMS isn't interested in doing any more stuff unless he gets some serious budget which WB isn't likely to give. Previous dvd production exceeded sales and if anything WB was inclined to reduce budget, not increase it...

[hcvang]

@Khandor82 Nah, it will never die. There will be a major motion picture sometime, maybe even a trilogy (something B5 would be more suited for than a single outing), a new TV series, etc. That franchise is here to stay.

The B5 universe is millions of years old - there are MANY stories still to be told... as novels... graphic novels...tv series...movies... MANY.

[buddhijay]

@lipovan87 This video will only play in 240p resolution.

[lipovan87]

It plays in 240.

[TyriaelSoban]

@GhostInTheShell29

yeah, i guess your right.

the plot wasnt totally skewed off in tangents in ds9 though, if i recall though they had that whendon chap who did Buffy / Angel / Firefly running around in the credits somewhere for ds9, might explain why the episodes linked a little better.

definitely as far as star trek is concerned ds9 was by far my favorite.

[GhostInTheShell29]

@TyriaelSoban I've noticed that usually the best series are cut somewhat short. It helps them stay good through the years. You can always drag a good show on well past its prime.. but then it loses the chemistry. Star trek went a good distance because your not really getting much in an episode, plot wise for the series an individual episode can be completely meaningless. In B-5 having everything connected, interwoven makes for a better show, but shorter lived.

[bingoman333]

didja here the man say FREE.I heard that.He sounded like everything.

[TyriaelSoban]

i always thought bab5 was cut short myself, like they were forced to end it sooner than they wanted to.

i remember i started watching this about the age 9 of in 1996, glued to that tiny tv my parents had.

i dont think i anticipated any other sci-fi series's episodes more than bab 5, with the exception of SG:1, but Stargate: Universe has destroyed my respect for the Stargate Franchise, the same can be said for the latest Star Trek film and its franchise.

whats happening to sci-fi? *cries*

[crichtonIASA]

@harleykman Yep, Babylon 5 can certainly make you feel very emotional with so many touching moments throughout the show performed so well by the cast and to amp up tthe feeling Christopher Franke's score really pulls on the heart strings making grown men cry. A true television masterpiece.

Mind you in my opinion the best Babylon 5 short video has to be from the Babylon 5 series 4 DVD set, called a "No retreat, no surrender - the DVD suite"