Moderator {public
msg} welcome everyone! tonight we're talking with mark walters, the
art director for babylon 5 and crusade.
18:00:30 Bub_Ramone {question presented} what made
you decide upon the specific buildings on Narn?
18:01:28 mark_walters {public msg} The buildings on
Narn were mostly concieved as virtual CGI objects, we only did a few interiors.
The main idea was one of function over form
18:01:34 JoanDarc {question presented} What kind of
things did/are you doing differently in Crusade than done in B5?
18:02:23 mark_walters {public msg} One big difference
is the use of ceilings and complete sets. You will see that Crusade has
a much higher production value than B5 did
18:02:29 Kaz {question presented} do you do all the
art on a computer or some by hand?
18:03:21 mark_walters {public msg} We draw everything
by hand. However we built a virtual model of the Excalibur bridge by computer
to use for camera angles and other visual information.
18:03:35 Bajele {question presented} I enjoyed your
panal discussion this past weekend. Is there a favorite project that
you have worked on...one that you were really proud of?
18:04:27 mark_walters {public msg} I am really proud
of the Excalibur bridge we have built for Crusade. In the B5 stuff I think
the Earthdoem Office of the President was my favoraite.
18:04:29 Rora {question presented} You mentioned last
week that shooting had begun for crusade....what shooting do you do without
actors?
18:05:21 mark_walters {public msg} We have not shot
anything on Crusade, we are shooting "A Call to Arms", a TV movie.
18:05:23 Rex {question presented} What went into the
design considerations of the new Excalibur ship. Looks so different
from Ranger and Earthdome ships.
18:06:19 mark_walters {public msg} We wanted something
that combined the best of everything. Mostly we wanted to really convey
the feeling that you are inside a vessel.
18:06:21 Kaz {question presented} I heard some actors
visit NASA, do you visit there or get pictures from them to use ?
18:07:03 mark_walters {public msg} We have use many
pictures and sources from NASA and JPL for all sorts of graphics and even
as research for sets.
18:07:08 JoanDarc {question presented} How long have
you been doing this as a whole and where did you get your first real work
in this area?
18:07:42 mark_walters {public msg} I have been working
in sets and the like since 1985, the day after I graduated from college.
18:08:28 mark_walters {public msg} I first starteed
as a scenic painter, and have done everthing involved with art department
things.
18:09:12 mark_walters {public msg} I worked here at
B5 since the pilot and have been an assistant art director, a propmaster,
the graphic designer, and now the art director.
18:10:13 mark_walters {public msg} I also appeared
on the show as the lead Elvis impersonator, the drunk that Vir with a bottle
and most recently a deaed security guard that falls into anelevator with
two maintenance men.
18:10:17 JoanDarc {question presented} is there anyone
in this field to who inspired you to work in it too? Who? and Why? :)
18:11:26 mark_walters {public msg} I trained as a fine
artist and got into this mostly as a good paycheck, but certainly that
work of certain filmakers like Terry Gilliam and others has influenced
me.
18:11:57 Kaz {question presented} Are there any plans
to make a picture book of the worlds visited or posters for sale?
18:12:46 mark_walters {public msg} There have been
lots of discussions about an "art of B5" book similar to the large Star
Wars books that have come out recently.
18:12:53 JoanDarc {question presented} First I want
to let you know, that you and crew do a great job on B5 and I'm sure in
Crusade as well...what other areas would you like to get involved with
?
18:14:06 mark_walters {public msg} I am working towards
a greater knowledge and use of computer imaging in terms of sets because
I believe in the future all CG and practical shots need to come under the
jurisdiction of one designer.
18:14:07 Kaz {question presented} How long does it
take you to create a new world and which have you liked the best?
18:15:10 mark_walters {public msg} Some sets take a
few minutes, others require quite a bit of development. The ideas are the
easy part, it is the building that's hard. My favorite has to be the Drazi
Homeworld.
18:15:10 MARCAS {question presented} what was your
inspiration to be an art director
18:16:37 mark_walters {public msg} I sort of fell into
this because of my training as an artist combined with my training as a
manager. My first career choice was as a Marine Officer and fighter pilot.
18:16:39 Kaz {question presented} What kinds of software
do you use to create the CG shots?
18:17:13 mark_walters {public msg} I do not work on
the CGI myself, but Lightwave is our main software platform.
18:17:16 VorlonSega {question presented} Was it hard
for you after six years to tear down B5?
18:17:53 mark_walters {public msg} B5 is still alive
and well and continues into the Crusade story line.
18:18:14 Kaz {question presented} In the future are
there going to be any jungle or water planets?
18:18:51 mark_walters {public msg} I really hope we
go to some forests and other wet organic environments.
18:18:58 Bub_Ramone {question presented} who do you
feel has the biggest impact on the show (actor wise) when you finally add
in the CGI and see them reacting to something which isn't there?
18:19:52 mark_walters {public msg} Bruce, from his
experience is really quite impressive at doing that sort of solo action
stuff. He doesn't call himself Tronboy for nothing.
18:20:01 Rora {question presented} Do we see the Excalibur
in the TV movie?
18:20:28 mark_walters {public msg} Yes, the Excalibur
is introduce in "A Call to Arms".
18:20:32 VorlonSega {question presented} Which part
of set design, do you enjoy the most. The Design or actually building
the sets.
18:21:29 mark_walters {public msg} Mostly I enjoy scenery
that is finished. Every set has its own problems and life.
18:21:55 JoanDarc {question presented} There's talk
of doing at least 2 movies/yr (One can only hope!!!) Do you try to plan
any ideas for new things in advance (prenotice of new movies to prepare)??
18:23:36 mark_walters {public msg} Yes, I get involved
in lots of brainstorming with John Copeland about how we might bring to
life some of the ideas that Joe has pondered for future projects. My main
function on this show is to solve the problem of how to do Joe's scripts
within our budget, stages, and time frame.
18:23:42 Bub_Ramone {question presented} There has
been discussion about how the G'Quan Heavy Cruiser was destroyed so quickly
in ITB. Can you elaborate on why you made it blow up so easilly?
18:25:03 mark_walters {public msg} Explosions are chaotic
elements. In fact they are made through the use of fractals, but mainly
things are shown for dramatic impact first, practical considerations are
secondary to storytelling.
18:25:06 Kaz {question presented} When designing a
new area, what size paper do you draw on and in what medium?
18:25:51 mark_walters {public msg} We draw our sets
on drafting vellum which is 24X36 inches in size because that's how big
our blueprint paper is.
18:25:52 Rora {question presented} How big a staff
does it take to pull off the visual effects of an average episode?
18:26:39 mark_walters {public msg} I have no idea what
the size of the visual effects department is, my department numbers from
25 to 40 people depending on the work load.
18:26:42 Kaz {question presented} When you get the
scripts from Joe, has there been a scene where you were at first stumped
as to how to do it, and which one?
18:28:44 Satai_Leo {question presented} Due to the
fact that Crusade will take us to many different worlds and places in the
search of the cure for the disease....Will lots more sets need to be built
for Crusade than there were on B5?
18:28:44 mark_walters {public msg} The big problem
for me and all sci-fi is Zero G environments. It is nearly impossible to
pull off convincing practical zero g effects on the fast pace of television
production. Nearly every zero g sequence we have done has never been what
we had hoped. It drives me crazy.
18:29:54 mark_walters {public msg} Crusade will be
a big challenge because of all the environments but I am looking forward
to the challenge.
18:29:58 Karen {question presented} In Parliament of
Dreams there was a huge banquet scene, was it difficult to create
a set designed for a huge amount of people all holding props?
18:30:44 mark_walters {public msg} The banquet scenes
are one of our most fun things to do because we get to make mountains of
really disgusting alien food.
18:30:50 Bub_Ramone {question presented} how far in
advance are you made aware of set needs, and how many sets have been esigned
for crusade so far?
18:31:53 mark_walters {public msg} Crusade is in the
design stage but we have about ten to fifteen new sets to create so far.
After five years of B5, we have doen over 350 different s
18:31:54 JoanDarc {question presented} out of all your
work on B5, which ep did you feel you would have liked to either gone back
and changed or done differently (because it possibly didnt turn out the
way you would have liked it to)?? If any that is? :)
18:33:55 mark_walters {public msg} If anything could
be completely scrapped and redoen it would be the Centauri Palace Throne
Room. It was first seen as just a "phone call" and then it was suddenly
suppossed to be a full set. It does not nearly have the scale and granduer
that it should.
18:33:58 Karen {question presented} How is alien food
created. Do you have a say in the design of it?
18:35:05 mark_walters {public msg} I created most of
the look of the alien food during the second season that has continued
to now. I worked in the "vertical". Tall food shows up on camera much better
than a bowl of soup.
18:35:09 Kaz {question presented} What happened to
mr. garibaldi's motorcycle and how hard was that set up?
18:35:55 mark_walters {public msg} Mr. Garabaldi.s
motorcycle was provided by one of our sponsors, Kawasaki, and they kept
it after the shooting.
18:36:00 MARCAS {question presented} i like to draw
ships and stuff but what does it take to do the kinda stuff that you do?
18:38:47 mark_walters {public msg} Design for a TV
show or movie is not about the spaceships and that kind of stuff. It is
about the characters and the emotional intention of the scene. Designers
usually refer to scenes more in terms of private or public rather than
office or docking bay. We design to make a space in which the actors bring
the story to life. We do think about scientific fact, but by no means do
we worry about true scientific accuracy. I aasure you that the year 2260
will not resemble B5 in the least.
18:38:52 Rora {question presented} Is it true that
you were part of the second coming as Elvis?
18:40:14 mark_walters {public msg} Yes, I was the Elvis
in front who handed the security guard an ID card.It was a lot of fun,
and the idea of Pam Eilerson, our assistan director who yelled in a meeting
that I could pass as an Elvis, and then I was stuck.
18:40:23 Rora {question presented} Some of the other
crew members mentioned the Union's involvement. Are you required
to be in a union and does that have any adverse affects on say hiring the
people you want or limiting the things you can do?
18:42:46 mark_walters {public msg} Yes, I am a member
fo two different locals of the International Alliance of Stage Technicians
and Empolyees. It does mean we can't hire people of the street as a rule,
but qualified people have joined the union through us when nearly all union
labor was working and we could not fill the position with a Union person.
I have found that the level of work integrity has been much stronger since
the show bcame a union production.
18:42:49 Bub_Ramone {question presented} Do you have
names for all the ships created or does JMS do that? If so, can you give
the official names of the Narn ships you designed?
18:43:27 mark_walters {public msg} JMS names everything.
It his right as the Great Maker. I only make up nicknames.
18:43:33 Rex {question presented} In Crusade the Rangers
will be visiting First One home worlds. I wonder what goes thru your
mind designing a dead world?
18:45:27 mark_walters {public msg} Often JMS will write
a brief description of the kind of place he would like to see. We take
his basic notion and then go from there. We always think of things in terms
of architectural styles and the synthesis of styles in order to convey
the right personality for the people that live or have lived on a planet.
18:45:40 Karen {question presented} How do stunt scenes
affect the design of a new set, or the re-design of a current set?
18:46:30 Moderator {action} we have 10 minutes left
so get your questions in now!
18:46:56 mark_walters {public msg} Stunts always require
a lot of special things such as re-enforced walls or holes to fall in or
even hidden pads. Moslty stunts just tend to wreck everything.
18:47:00 JoanDarc {question presented} these designs
must take an aweful lot of patience to do..How long does each generally
take to make?
18:48:43 mark_walters {public msg} Actually we don't
have much time due to production schedules so we draw most sets in one
to four days. Some, such as the Excalibur Bridge took nearly a month and
over 25 plates of drawings, a computer model. a practical model and many
sketches and color renderings.
18:48:44 Kaz {question presented} Do you have the scenes
that are going to be used in CGI available for the actors to look at before
thier scene or do they have to rely only on the script for inspiration?
18:49:40 mark_walters {public msg} The Actors have
only the scripts description and the director's input for inspiration.
CG elemts are always added long after shooting has completed.
18:49:41 JoanDarc {question presented} Have you ever
been a guest at a convention, or would you like to? :)
18:50:41 mark_walters {public msg} Yes, I appeared
at Fantasticon last year and just appeared at Agamemcon last week. I would
love to do more, they are a blast. I am much funnier without a keyboard
18:50:42 Satai_Leo {question presented} I read an article
in which Tracy Scoggins said that she was allowed to have some of her favorite
things in her quarters/office set...how many other actors had their personal
things on the set if any?
18:51:06 Moderator {action} we just have time for 1
or 2 more questions.
18:53:15 mark_walters {public msg} Tracy was one of
the few that asked. We are always happy to throw in those kind of touches.
It makes everything come together. Bruce always like to read all of the
trophies and certificates in Sheridan's Office. They are all quite complete
and show the past of Sheridan's career. We don't put gag stuff on the sets.
We would rather immerse the actor's in as complete a place as possible
since so often they are reacting to nothing but bluescreen.
18:53:19 Kaz {question presented} When designing the
drazi homeworld, what was the balcony wall made out of and was it off the
ground?
18:53:58 mark_walters {public msg} The balcony was
on the ground and the wall was just wood and paint like everything else
we do.
18:54:01 Rora {question presented} What nicknames have
you come up with for the ships?
18:54:27 mark_walters {public msg} We recently rechristened
the Hermes as the Herpes>
18:54:40 Moderator {action} thanks for coming everyone!
and thanks to mark for joining us!
18:55:34 mark_walters {public msg} Thank you everyone
for watching our show and for the great questions. Keep on watching 'cause
you ain't seen nothin' yet!
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