Babylon 5: The Phantom Video (1999)

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.

Things seemed to sour for B5 fans in 1999. The series was over, but we always knew that was the way it would be. However, TNT had turned out not to be the best place for the B5 universe, with their own promotion problems and the debacle surrounding the treatment of Crusade. So by the time that this video debuted at DragonCon that summer, a certain moment that happens 17 seconds in got a thunderous round of applause from over 3000 fans in the room.

This video is also based around John Williams' "Duel of the Fates", since "The Phantom Menace" had (for better or worse) come out that year, and I was intrigued at the idea of combining the visuals of B5 with Williams' music - and a LOT of Joe's dialogue. After that first showing, Claudia Christian dragged me up onstage with the B5 cast (quite a few attended that year as well) where I got a standing ovation from the crowd. I also apparently made Mira Furlan cry, as it moved her that much. It was a VERY good day, one I'll never forget.

I had intended for this to be my last B5 video, as there were no more B5 tales on the horizon, and I wanted to end on a high note. I was done - or so I thought...

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

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

[themelligator]

This made me so nostalgic. I've watched the series through 3-4 times, and now I'm absolutely ready to do so again. I try to pimp this show to people all the time, but very few can get past how dated it looks visually. I wish more people would give it a chance, they would thank me! B5 will always be very special to me.

[arwynt]

"Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. There would never be another. It changed the future and it changed us."

I can't tell you in how many levels this quote applies. "Babylon 5" is indeed a milestone in TV history and in my personal idea of entertainment. So many years after its ending, I still call it the absolute best series I have ever watched and watch again and again and again.

Thank you for the wonderful video!

[m8bahareth]

Exellent

[SCARREDMIND]

this vid broken for anyone else?

[ThePianoMan173]

I grew up as a small child watching this series, and each time I return to watch it I'm struck at just how marvelous a piece of work it is. It has a timeless appeal, and I think I can truly label it as one of the grandest works of art man has created. B5 will always hold a place in my heart, and RIP to Andreas Kutsalas and all the other great actors who are now gone.

[greyeyed123]

Who are you?

What do you want?

Where are you going?

Will the police ever leave me alone?

[VyseN1]

@dreamerein

Change the resolution to 240p

[dreamerein]

video doesn't seem to play today May 11, 2011

[RyokenDresari]

Dr Sphen Franklin*

[RyokenDresari]

In my opnion, Babylon 5 was and it is the greatest Sci-Fi TV serie, I just wanted to more people watched it... When I grow up, I will do a game for Babylon 5 like Star Wars Empire At War and something like the fan-made game The Babylon Project... I will miss Andreas Katsulas (G'Kar) and Richard Biggs ( Dr. Steven Franklin), that went beyong the Rim with the Vorlons and Shadows and the Oldest races.

[killalmostwise]

If vid freezes, watch at 240p

I really wish they'd bring B% back. It was awesome, it was what sci-fi was supposed to be, how we imagined it as kids...spectacular, funny, dark, insightful, and thought provoking for it's political commentary. Those speeches by the late great Andreas will live with me forever. I want to read the book of G'Kar.

Thankyou to everyone involved for giving us 5 seasons of perfect television.

RIP Andreas & Richard.