5:17:55 Moderator
says, "TEST ALL!!"
15:18:29 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#1 from Kix: testing...
15:18:38 Dark_hoffman says, "testing accepted."
15:18:44 Bear_burge says, "testing accepted."
17:45:13 Bear_burge says, "Hello"
17:48:49 Dark_hoffman says, "Hello"
17:48:58 Moderator says, "Welcome to the chat."
17:49:29 Bear_burge says, "Hello again"
17:49:30 Moderator says, "Tonight's guests are Dark
Hoffman and Bear Burge of the Babylon 5 Prop department."
17:50:12 Moderator says, "They are the ones who create
all the cool stuff you see on eth show"
17:50:42 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#3 from K57:
Who made the Drazi Buddha?
17:51:41 Dark_hoffman says, "I sculpted on top of
a real buddah and then painted it brass with a bit of aging"
17:52:11 Moderator says, "Dark and Bear can you tell
us a little about what you do."
17:52:33 Dark_hoffman says, "Bear, would you like
to start?"
17:53:58 Bear_burge says, "I would get designs from
Dark who sits in the meetings and the requirements of what is needed for
a paticular prop. He would design it and than pass the information on to
me for construction."
17:54:46 Dark_hoffman says, "Ah, the meetings. Yes,
very crucial."
17:55:27 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#5 from Jenjen:
What is/are the weirdest material(s) you've ever used to make
a prop?
17:56:14 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#11 from Dr_rock:
I have noticed a great abundance of props on the show far more
than other scifi, it seems to create an almost subliminal element of realism.
was this the intention ?
17:56:25 Bear_burge says, "umm... we used a router
pad made of rubber one time to add texture"
17:58:06 Bear_burge says, "I believe that was the
intention and if you look at any sort of military station every one has
a job to do and equipment/props to get the job done"
17:58:17 Dark_hoffman says, "Yes, there are a lot
of props used on the show but we rarely see most of them because they don't
normally do close -ups."
17:59:06 Dark_hoffman says, "But we always do a large
amount of detail and realism despite that."
17:59:16 Bear_burge says, "there's nothing worse than
building a beautiful piece and not getting any camera time"
17:59:42 Dark_hoffman says, "Moderator was momentarily
disconnected. She will return shortly."
18:01:19 Dark_hoffman says, "We have the first movie
coming up and I have three scripts running through my head right now."
18:02:13 Dark_hoffman says, "Any questions?"
18:02:31 Moderator says, "Im back!"
18:04:24 Bear_burge says, "I feel sorry for Dark at
times because he's also
a prop fabicator and doesn't always get a
chance to build stuff do to designing script reading and meetings and you
kind of miss working with your hands but he does get a chance now and again"
18:04:37 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#12 from A_treebeard:
what percentage of the props are specifically "required" and
specified by the writer, the director?
18:04:53 Bear_burge says, "go for it Dark"
18:05:42 Dark_hoffman says, "All of them, pretty much.
Theres always the daily stuff like links,comppads"
18:06:05 Dark_hoffman says, "PPGs"
18:06:28 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#14 from Dr_rock:
the ppgs look good. the ones you get to see in handshots look
quite intricate, and some of them also seem to have detachable segments.
how are they constructed? what material, what method
18:06:53 Bear_burge says, "PPG are made in Aluminum
and there are peices that do disconect and break down to be hidden in costumes
and smuggled on to the station"
18:07:55 Dark_hoffman says, "There are also the rubber
stunt ones and the resin background ones"
18:08:26 Bear_burge says, "the Method of construction
is a lathe to turn various parts and a milling machine to cut details,
& slots"
18:08:29 Moderator says, "Fyi, I still have the previous
questions from before my phone line died"
18:08:48 Dark_hoffman says, "We have a new style coming
soon that are quite intricate"
18:10:07 Bear_burge says, "And we had to build a more
powerful PPG for the episode where Sheridan was going to be assinated"
18:10:17 Moderator says, " Nancy told me to pass on
this question..."
18:10:19 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#8 from K57:
Dark what's your nickname?
18:10:36 Dark_hoffman says, "Bear"
18:10:48 Bear_burge laughs at Moderator.
18:10:54 Bear_burge giggles inanely.
18:11:02 Bear_burge says, "what!"
18:11:23 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#4 from K57:
How many PPG's are there?
18:11:46 Bear_burge says, "Dark"
18:12:07 Dark_hoffman says, "I came on the show as
propmaker and when I was moved to propmaster we hired Bear"
18:12:44 Dark_hoffman says, "Suddenly everyone called
me Baer and vice-versa"
18:13:35 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#9 from K57:
Bear can you tell us about the Centauri rifle?
18:14:11 Bear_burge says, "Dark came up with a design
for a new Centauri Rifle do to the fact the existing ones just looked REALLY
bad and wanted somthing sleeker"
18:14:34 Dark_hoffman says, "We have two "hero" PPGs
and many others"
18:14:55 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#19 from A_treebeard:
generally how specific are they? how often are you allowed to
pitch your own concepts?
18:16:13 Dark_hoffman says, "If its something new
I always come up with a design of my own"
18:16:31 Bear_burge says, "There are times when a
prop is needed and we don't have time to draw up and get approved a specific
design so I'm alowed ( thank you Dark ) to just run with it"
18:16:49 Dark_hoffman says, "It usually gets the thumbs
up unless its something real specific"
18:17:24 Moderator says, "Nancy's typing for Bear,
of coursse."
18:17:28 Dark_hoffman says, "And there is a lot of
last minute things thrown at us"
18:17:46 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#22 from Sandyvanh:
Tell us about some of the other props you designed besides the
ppg's.
18:17:58 Bear_burge says, "Comment from Nancy>>> You
guys would not believe how in tune these two guys are"
18:18:39 Dark_hoffman says, "Well, like the Centauri
rifle, new comppads every season(keep watchin)"
18:19:08 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#21 from Sandyvanh:
When do we see the new PPG's?
18:19:42 Dark_hoffman says, "In the movie "3rd Space",
we had to build a thermonuclear bomb that Sheridan had to strap to his
chest"
18:19:46 Bear_burge says, "and to add to that Dark
came up with a design for a Mimbari Holo-Projector"
18:20:30 Bear_burge says, " the projector has turned
into one of my favorite pieces"
18:20:34 Dark_hoffman says, "The new PPGs will probably
be seen in the second movie and the new season(willing!)"
18:21:14 Moderator says, "I have a question for both
of you. How did you get interested in propmaking?"
18:21:54 Dark_hoffman says, "The Holo-projector is
a nice piece but we had to change the blinking lights because, quote,"Not
everything in the future blinks""
18:22:50 Bear_burge says, "Wow...I started in High
School that I had a love of building stuff and decided it was time to take
shop class and learn"
18:23:26 Bear_burge says, "how to do it and its beeen
a love affair ever since"
18:24:02 Dark_hoffman says, "I was always interested
in building things ever since I could pick up an exacto blade"
18:24:27 Bear_burge says, "And how old were you Dark?"
18:24:28 Dark_hoffman says, "Our production designer
just walked in"
18:24:47 Bear_burge says, "oh no cheese it its the
cops"
18:24:54 Dark_hoffman says, "I'll have to be honest
and say 12"
18:25:08 Moderator says, " We're going to try to get
John in a moderated chat in the future."
18:25:16 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#27 from Koshka:
Do you have any cool stories about actors having trouble with
specific props? Bloopers?
18:25:28 Dark_hoffman says, "I have been in this dirty
rotten business for 18 years now"
18:25:50 Bear_burge says, "Funny you look clean"
18:26:26 Bear_burge says, "The Lazer whip ??? to you
Dark"
18:26:44 Dark_hoffman says, "Oh, well. Theres was
a nice time when Bruce (Boxlietner) was wearing his little pain givers
in the interogation room"
18:27:29 Bear_burge says, "there was a sudden design
change"
18:28:06 Dark_hoffman says, "They kept popping off
whenever he would turn his neck so he just yanked them off throwing them
across the set yelling "*&#@$ing props!" that was fun"
18:28:22 Bear_burge says, "and umm suddenly they had
to be half the thick ness they were"
18:29:09 Dark_hoffman says, "Oh my god. the laser
whip. Thats a story"
18:29:24 Bear_burge says, " originally designed to
be so time did not alow us to construct a sturdy latch and what Dark said"
18:29:40 Dark_hoffman says, "I sat through 3 meetings
on that whip."
18:30:39 Dark_hoffman says, "They were going to animate
the sparks coming out of the whip then suddenly"
18:31:27 Dark_hoffman says, "on set they suddenly
wondered where the whip was on the handle"
18:33:07 Bear_burge says, "our runner went out to
a local prop house and rented an actual whip which was attached to the
handle but not having enought time"
18:33:52 Bear_burge says, "to permanatly attach the
whip to the handle it kept comming out every 10 hits"
18:33:56 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#31 from Bubramone:
do you create any portions of the costumes, such as Narn armor?
18:34:24 Bear_burge says, " no just hand props"
18:34:44 Bear_burge says, "and helmets"
18:35:35 Dark_hoffman says, "Sometimes we will help
if theres some gadget attached to the costume"
18:35:35 Moderator says, "They were rehearsing with
no whip onset while they were trying to get the handle working"
18:35:58 Bear_burge says, "and the thruster pack for
"third space ""
18:36:27 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#33 from Koshka:
Can you tell us about what you are sending on the B5 Mall Tours?
18:36:49 Bear_burge bonks Dark_hoffman on the head.
18:37:19 Dark_hoffman says, "Lots of different things.
PPG,Drakh translator,time stabelizer"
18:38:10 Dark_hoffman says, "The alien gun from "A
View from the Gallery""
18:38:23 Bear_burge says, "and some of the Propaganda
posters, logos and insignias"
18:38:28 Moderator says, " We have time for one or
two more questions. so think up some good one."
18:38:38 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#10 from K57:
what's your favorite piece of equipment
18:38:52 Dark_hoffman says, "I know Bears answer"
18:39:10 Bear_burge says, " The brand new MILLING
MACHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
18:39:20 Bear_burge laughs hysterically.
18:39:23 Bear_burge capers around.
18:40:08 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#28 from Dr_rock:
I have noticed many actual documents used where other shows
would just use blank paper out of actual shot. They are often very ornate.
it's a nice touch. (copies of those would make good collectables
IMHO[ note production people])
18:40:09 Dark_hoffman says, "We can now make everything
practically in-house!"
18:40:32 Bear_burge says, "That day was so silly I
couldn't wipe the smile off my face if someone had hit me with a hammer"
18:40:50 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#36 from Koshka:
OK, What's a milling machine?
18:41:04 Dark_hoffman says, "I do most of the paperwork
seen on camera and very proud of them"
18:41:34 Dark_hoffman says, "What day ,Bear?"
18:41:47 Moderator says, " Jeffrey slipped out without
letting me know who are guest for next week will be. So make sure
you check out the ISN for the details."
18:42:26 Bear_burge says, "A milling machine3Dyou
know all the Metal parts that make up the engine of a car , You can make
all of them out of big blocks of metal"
18:42:28 Dark_hoffman says, "I can't remember which
day we hit you with the hammer"
18:42:47 Bear_burge says, " There are so many"
18:43:00 Bear_burge says, "the day we got the mill"
18:43:14 Moderator says, "Bear and Dark are very busy
now prepareing for the next episode. However,..."
18:43:23 Dark_hoffman says, "One more Question? Anyone?
Bueller?"
18:43:34 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#35 from Bolus:
Did Penn and Teller supply their own props, or did you assist
them? If so, any special creations for them specifically?
18:43:42 Moderator says, "Dark has agreed to vsit
the comlink"
18:44:21 Bear_burge says, "the little voice box that
Dark designed was pretty specific"
18:44:33 Dark_hoffman says, "They brought some of
their own stuff but we supplied them all the other gags, like the bag Teller
comes out of in customs"
18:44:40 Bear_burge says, "unfortunatly you never
got a really good look at it"
18:45:08 Bear_burge says, "but it actually had face"
18:45:13 Moderator presents the speakers with question
#37 from Sandyvanh:
Well done! You should both be proud of the work you do!
18:45:17 Moderator says, "thank ;you Dark and Bear
for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us tonight."
18:45:33 Bear_burge says, "Thank you very much"
18:45:38 Dark_hoffman says, "My pleasure. We will
have to do this again"
18:45:51 Bear_burge says, "deffinatly"
18:46:03 Bear_burge says, "we must do this again"
18:46:06 Moderator says, " There will be a transcript
of tonights chat available in the Cultural Center."
18:46:40 Bear_burge says, "Dark cna I go home now?"
18:46:45 Dark_hoffman says, "Is that it?"
18:46:52 Bear_burge says, "cna3Dcan"
18:47:00 Bear_burge laughs hysterically.
18:47:06 Dark_hoffman says, "Go home"
18:47:18 Moderator says, "Make sure you return to
the Comlnk before you exit the website"
18:47:20 Bear_burge laughs hysterically.
18:47:23 Bear_burge laughs hysterically.
18:48:08 Moderator says, " or else, you will automatically
return here on lyour next visit"
18:50:21 Dark_hoffman says, "N O?"
18:51:46 Moderator says, "see ya"
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