BRYAN FULLER (writer, Star Trek: Voyager) CHAT TRANSCRIPT
May 4th, 1999

After overcoming technical difficulties which delayed the chat for over an hour, the never-say-die attitude of the generous Bryan Fuller prevailed and we were able to carry on with the chat. Unfortunately, Michael Taylor could not stay and was not able to join us by the time we got everything working. Hopefully we can get Michael online another time.

I would like to thank Bryan very much for giving up a large chunk of his time Tuesday night, juggling between comptuers upstairs and downstairs in the Hart Building and telephone calls with me. We look forward to having Bryan back online to chat with the fans anytime.

Steve Krutzler
President & Webmaster, TrekWeb.COM

TRANSCRIPT

<SteveKrutzler> I'd like to Welcome everyone......
<Carol> Yes! Pacience *is* a virtue! :-)
<SteveKrutzler> And our guest tonight.... BRYAN FULLER
<BryanFuller> Hello, everyone!
<SteveKrutzler> Any opening remarks, Bryan?

<BryanFuller> We just finished breaking the second part of our Season Five cliffhanger and it's going to be a doosey. Lots of great stuff in store of Janeway and her intrepid group of explorers!
<BryanFuller> Ron Moore has joined the Voyager writing staff and all of us are very excited in bringing you the best Star Trek has to offer for Voyager's Sixth season.
<Johnny-FCL> boo yeah
<BryanFuller> Now, now.
<SteveKrutzler> OK, then, shall we start with questions?
<BryanFuller> Sounds great.
<SteveKrutzler> From The Caretaker: Would you care to tell us who
<SteveKrutzler> the Voyager writing staff consists
<SteveKrutzler> of as of the beginning of year six?
<BarbaraLeigh> I for one am very excited and optimistic about next season
<Carol> Me too Barbara
<AlterEgo> I'm a huge Ron Moore fan, personally.
<Carol> <--Thinks Ron writes a little too much Klingon stuff, but I like him alright.
<BryanFuller> Brannon is once again heading the writing staff as Executive Producer -- which I think fans should be very happy about considering the amazing work he's done to the series since stepping into the role in Season Four.
<AlterEgo> I like B'Elanna. B'Elanna is a Klingon. I'm happy :-)
<Carol> And he should be good with B'Elanna (I hope)

<Johnny-FCL> I LOVE B'ELLANA's TEMPER COMBACK! (sorry, i usually dont "scream" in chat rooms)
<BryanFuller> Joe Menosky and Ron Moore are his right and left hands. Myself and Michael Taylor fall into play as other important appendages. I won't say which ones, though.
<BryanFuller> *
<SteveKrutzler> From diGGdug: How difficult is it to remember Star
<SteveKrutzler> Trek canon when you are writing
<SteveKrutzler> episodes? Do you generally have the
<SteveKrutzler> knowledge available in your memory,
<SteveKrutzler> or do you stop to research it, or do
<SteveKrutzler> you simply assign that effort to the
<SteveKrutzler> "underlings?" Along those lines,
<SteveKrutzler> does it bother you much when your
<SteveKrutzler> episodes (or others') contradict
<SteveKrutzler> canon?

<Carol> Yes! Jo is still around! (Don't want to brake up the Braga/Menosky writing team) :-)
* BarbaraLeigh thinks that's very funny...
<BryanFuller> All of us have a pretty firm grasp on the Star Trek that's come before us. Some more than others. We usually try to keep each other in check to observe canon.
<BryanFuller> Re: The Ron Moore Klingon comment... you guys will be happy to hear that Ron has a great Klingon story for B'Elanna in development.*
<Johnny-FCL> God bless Bryan
<WhiTiger> hello
<BryanFuller> Hello!
<BarbaraLeigh> God bless Ron

<AlterEgo> Thank Ron for us! I couldn't be more pleased.
<LB4747> All hail Ron!
<Carol> Cool! I *know* Ron would do something with B'Elanna's Klingon side!
<Arman> Hi guys
<SteveKrutzler> Real quick... are the reports the Rene Echevarria would be joining the staff greatly exaggerrated?
<BryanFuller> I'll certainly do that. Ron's a great guy and it's wonderful having him join the Voyager bunch.
<DilberTrek> Does that mean Rene Echevarria won't be on the season 6 staff?
<AlterEgo> I think you did a nice job on Juggernaut, Bryan--as far as her Klingon-ness.

<Yaromir> Agreed :)
<AlterEgo> (All in all, a well constructed script, Sir :-) )
<BryanFuller> Thanks, AlterEgo. Regarding, Rene... he has not joined the Voyager staff.
<Johnny-FCL> too bad the ratings werent as high as i wanted
<SteveKrutzler> From AlterEgo: What was with the existential angst
<SteveKrutzler> in "Course: Oblivion"? Talk about
<SteveKrutzler> hurtling toward futility. Shades of
<SteveKrutzler> Eliot's "This is the way the world
<SteveKrutzler> ends, not with a bang, but with a
<SteveKrutzler> whimper." Why not have a "witness" as
<SteveKrutzler> Picard was in TNG's "The Inner
<SteveKrutzler> Light"?
<BarbaraLeigh> I enjoyed Juggernaut...too bad so manypeople missed it.
<Carol> <--Wants to know is Ron is going to keep anwering questions on his AOL board...
<Carol> but this time Voyager ones.

<WhiTiger> how many more seasons does voayger have left i heard this is the last year for it
<BryanFuller> That was an unfortunate misstep on airing a first run episode not on its regular night.

<BarbaraLeigh> Or an advertising issue...
<BryanFuller> Regarding Course: Oblivion...
<WhiTiger> okay kewl....

<BryanFuller> The existential angst seemed integral to who these people really were... and in order to complete Janeway's arc of wanting to be the real McCoy, we felt it was the only authentic ending the story could have.

<BryanFuller> Did you guys like that episode?*
<Carol> I like the fact that it wasn't a typical "happy" ending
<DilberTrek> I missed it, but I've heard it was a pretty good episode.
<AlterEgo> I liked it. I reviewed it for a website and gave it four stars, but ouch :-)
<BarbaraLeigh> It was a good ending....sad but no "reset" button so to speak. I enjoyed the episode.
<BryanFuller> Me too. It gave DS9 a run for their money.
<Carol> but I'm not sure how I feel about the episode still
<WhiTiger> what is with the final conflict thing. that there is 5 more episodes left and stuff
<Carol> The ending *did* make me feel like I'd been punched in the gut -- not nessacerly a bad thing though
<BryanFuller> If it left the audience thinking, then I think we succeeded.*
<BarbaraLeigh> At least you are still thinking about the episode Carol...good sign
<AlterEgo> Most definitely succeeded then. I'm still thinking about it.
<Carol> True Barbara
<BryanFuller> Good to hear, AlterEgo. Thanks.
<SteveKrutzler> From Jinx: I'm a big fan of B'Elanna and think
<SteveKrutzler> this has been the worst year for her
<SteveKrutzler> character. Why have you reduced her
<SteveKrutzler> role on the show? She's now
<SteveKrutzler> technically incompetent, churlish
<SteveKrutzler> to everyone and almost irrelevent
<SteveKrutzler> to every stroy line. If it's to show
<SteveKrutzler> she's still depressed, then how is
<SteveKrutzler> she ever going to get better if she
<SteveKrutzler> never has fun? It would have been
<SteveKrutzler> better to follow-up with therapy.
<Carol> B'Elanna has been rather MIA most of the season IMO
<Arman> Yeah, that episode with Chakotay getting into the boxing ring left me thinking a lot too. Like why did you come up with that? :-)
<BryanFuller> "Juggernaut" was about bringing B'Elanna closer to accepting who she is... in many ways it's a companion to "Extreme Risk."
<DilberTrek> A nice followup, IMO.
<WhiTiger> i got confused on that episode with chokotay. i was trying to figure things out in that episode alot....
<BarbaraLeigh> I agree Dil...it also gave Chak something to do..we haven't seen enough of him
<AlterEgo> I see Juggernaut as a book end to Extreme Risk. I'd just like to see her in the same room with Tom from time to time...
<BryanFuller> It's okay, WhiTiger, I was a bit confused myself.*
<Carol> <--Didn't care for "The Fight" at all
<DilberTrek> Chakotay never has anything to do ;>
<SteveKrutzler> From Carol: Can you give us any hint about what
<SteveKrutzler> we'll be seeing in tommorw night's
<SteveKrutzler> episode "11:59"? I know its about one
<SteveKrutzler> of Janeway's relitives, but what
<SteveKrutzler> else? Does it take place during New
<SteveKrutzler> Year's Eve?
<Carol> OK perfomance by Beltran, but...
<BarbaraLeigh> True Dil....which is why I mentioned him
<WhiTiger> i think chakotay needs more place in the episodes never see enough of him at all...
<Johnny-FCL> B'Ellana needs more episodes than every third one of the season.
<BryanFuller> We're aware of the "First Officer Syndrome" with Chakotay and are taking active steps to make him more integral to his role as Janeway's right-hand man.
<Carol> Hey! That's one of my questions! Thank's Steve! :-)
<BryanFuller> Regarding "11:59
<WhiTiger> that is good
<BarbaraLeigh> Nothing wrong with seeing Janeway and Chakotay interacting...I miss the chemistry of earlier seasons.
<WhiTiger> yeah i agree
<BryanFuller> Regarding 11:59, it's a very sweet story about family and remembering those who came before us and how they inform who we are. It's a charmer.*

<BarbaraLeigh> I am looking forward to 11:59 I love to see Kate act!

<Guest> act?
<SteveKrutzler> From Jono: The last time we saw Q, it was
<SteveKrutzler> following the Q baby's birth. Might
<SteveKrutzler> we see an episode next season
<SteveKrutzler> bringing Q back - maybe even to
<SteveKrutzler> present the crew of Voyager with a
<SteveKrutzler> gift for helping to end the Q Civil
<SteveKrutzler> War?
* Mattrek wants everyones attention!
<WhiTiger> hey that sounds like a very interesting episode
<BryanFuller> Oh, I completely forgot. But I don't think it would be too much trouble to get one for you guys.*
<Johnny-FCL> Did i see battle scenes from "Basics" in the preview for Relativity?
<BarbaraLeigh> On screen Guest
<Carol> Kate is the best, isn't she Barbara? :-)
<Mattrek> I'm back! shhh
<Yaromir> I think 11:59 seems like her "Inner Light"....
<WhiTiger> wb mattrek
<BarbaraLeigh> Absolutely right Carol!
<Carol> One of the many reasons I loved this season's "Counterpoint"
<BarbaraLeigh> Hey Bryan....does your answer mean we will be seeing more of Q?
<BryanFuller> Regarding the Q question, there are no plans to bring Q back as of yet. It was our general opinion that Q became a little too domesticated in the Delta Quadrant and if were to see Q again he'd be back to his old mischievious self. When the right story comes along that complements that notion, we'll bring him back.
<BryanFuller> *
<Carol> I hope so Yar.
<Johnny-FCL> Kate is the rock-solid part of Voyager... if se leaves, then Voyager MUST end.
<DilberTrek> Barbara, LOL, that was something else.
<Mattrek> I would love to see Q
<Johnny-FCL> Q cracks me up.
<Yaromir> We need to see Baby Q!!
<BarbaraLeigh> sorry....
<AlterEgo> I still think Q is Picard's nemesis though, not Janeway's. As much fun as DeLancie and Mulgrew have...
<Mattrek> I miss QQQQQQ
<WhiTiger> Q is just totally awesome people.. he rocks.
<BarbaraLeigh> I agree Alter
<Carol> True Alter -- though I too love Q
<WhiTiger> i miss seeing him and so on... he way to hippy dude
<BarbaraLeigh> though they do have great chemistry
<LB4747> I agree w/you Alter
<SteveKrutzler> From Jono: The last time we saw Q, it was
<SteveKrutzler> following the Q baby's birth. Might
<SteveKrutzler> we see an episode next season
<SteveKrutzler> bringing Q back - maybe even to
<SteveKrutzler> present the crew of Voyager with a
<SteveKrutzler> gift for helping to end the Q Civil
<SteveKrutzler> War?

<Mattrek> hmmmmmm
<BryanFuller> Good point, AlterEgo. Voyager is about moving forward. We like to see new exciting villains (as in the Voyager cliffhanger) rather than resurrect old ones.*
<Carol> Steve, you asked that question already
<Carol> :-)

<SteveKrutzler> (looks like a net split, everyone should be back now)
<Guest> Q just isn't at home on Voyager
<BarbaraLeigh> Does that mean we will see the end of the Malons? How did they travel so far from home anyway????
<SteveKrutzler> let me post that last question in case it got lost in the mess...
<WhiTiger> he is more at home on next generations .....
<Mattrek> NO More MALON! More QQQQ
<BryanFuller> As I said before, we don't want to see a soft-fuzzy Q. We want him to be onery.*
<Johnny-FCL> Malon are cool.
<Mattrek> next movie perhaps?
<SteveKrutzler> (everyone, please refrain from too much misc discussion)
<Guest> Q has been exported too much allready
<Carol> No Malon! No Q! MORE 8472!! :-)
<SteveKrutzler> RE Q: I
<BarbaraLeigh> Please say no more Malons...
<WhiTiger> yeah onery is good...
<Johnny-FCL> So were the Krenim, but that's a lost cause.
<WhiTiger> yeah
<SteveKrutzler> I've always felt he's a better villain than clown.
<Arman> I think species 8472 had great potential.
<SteveKrutzler> From Arman: Did Nick Sagan get fired because of "The Fight?"
<BryanFuller> We probably saw the last of the Malons in Juggernaut.*
<Johnny-FCL> NO MORE BORG
<Johnny-FCL> NO MORE BORG!!!!1
<BarbaraLeigh> That is what was creepy about him because he was a villain cloaked as a clown
<Johnny-FCL> Bryan, i hope that DF was the END of the borg.
<WhiTiger> borgs are kewl sometimes but sometimes overated i say
<Mattrek> More BORG/8472
<Johnny-FCL> more 8472.
<Carol> I have to agree on that on Johnny. I'm a little tired of The Borg right now..
<Guest> or more ancient races
<SteveKrutzler> (that's better)
<DilberTrek> Phew.
<BryanFuller> If we see the Borg again, we'll try and give them a new spin or a new spin on Borgdom.*
<SteveKrutzler> RE Borg: My spec, soon to grace the offices... does great things with the Borg. I hope you get a chance to read it :-)

<DilberTrek> 2If you have any questions for Voyager staff writer Bryan Fuller, /msg them to me.
<Arman> Sorry to moderate guys, but it was getting too jammed.

<SteveKrutzler> (just kidding with the "grace the offices" joke, :-)
<SteveKrutzler> From Arman: Did Nick Sagan get fired because of "The Fight?"
<BryanFuller> Not at all, I look forward to it.
<SteveKrutzler> Why, thank you.
<DilberTrek> (FWIW, I've read Steve's spec- it really is good, and does great things for the Borg)
<BryanFuller> Nick didn't write "The Fight."

<SteveKrutzler> Arman: check the credits next time! ;-)
<Arman> Hey, thats what someone told me, I have no idea!

<Arman> Blame Steve Perry! He was the one.
<SteveKrutzler> From Mattrek: Any chance of seeing a deserted or manned Iconian base in the Delta Quadrant?
<Arman> But in any case, why was Nick fired?

<BryanFuller> No plans for the Iconians as of yet.*
<SteveKrutzler> Care to attack the Nick question... or better left to Bran?
<DilberTrek> Boy, did I just drop a pin?
<SteveKrutzler> hehe
<BryanFuller> To my knowledge, Nick wasn't fired. I know Nick had a lot of projects outside of Voyager that demanded a lot of his time. He has several features in development. He and Brannon came to a mutual decision that it was best for him to concentrate on the features.
<DilberTrek> Ah.
<BryanFuller> Nick's a great guy and a great friend and he added a lot to Voyager.*
<Arman> Oh! See we were told that he was asked to leave, so thats why we thought he was fired.
<DilberTrek> Do you and Nick still "hang out"? :-)
<BryanFuller> Not to my knowledge and Nick and I are very close.*
<BryanFuller> We go to sushi almost weekly.*
<Arman> Thanks for clearing that up.
<BryanFuller> And there are talks of a "Midieval Times" excursion some time soon...
<DilberTrek> Medieval Times? Sounds like fun. :-)
<SteveKrutzler> aside: There's a Medieval Times here in Orlando
<DilberTrek> aside: Who cares? ;>
<BryanFuller> Nick's been trying to talk me into it for almost a year. I think I'm going to give in.
<DilberTrek> Gonna joust? :>
<BryanFuller> With lurpas!
<DilberTrek> LOL
<SteveKrutzler> From Paul C: A number of threads have appeared on
<SteveKrutzler> our UK Startrek Newsgroup about
<SteveKrutzler> Holodeck Safeties on Voyager. We
<SteveKrutzler> have always been under the
<SteveKrutzler> impression that at least 2 ranked
<SteveKrutzler> crew members with appropriate
<SteveKrutzler> security clearance needed to be
<SteveKrutzler> present to deactivate Holodeck
<SteveKrutzler> safties, but on two season 5
<SteveKrutzler> episodes that have been made
<SteveKrutzler> available in the UK so far the
<SteveKrutzler> safties have been turned off by one
<SteveKrutzler> crew member, ie. Seven in Night. Any
<SteveKrutzler> idea why these safty protocols have
<SteveKrutzler> suddenly been dropped?

<BryanFuller> Seven is a crafty little Borg, isn't she? And Torres knows her ways around a holomatix, as well.*
<SteveKrutzler> From Armstrong: Are either of you eager to write
<SteveKrutzler> stories of the Voyager's crew return
<SteveKrutzler> to the Alpha Quadrant? Also if this
<SteveKrutzler> is going to occur and assuming
<SteveKrutzler> Voyager runs 7 seasons(seemingly the
<SteveKrutzler> modern Trek standard) isn't it
<SteveKrutzler> imperative the crew gets home ASAP
<SteveKrutzler> so the stories of 'Voyager in the
<SteveKrutzler> Alpha Quadrant' can be amply
<SteveKrutzler> utilized?
<BryanFuller> Voyager's return to Alpha has been the subject of much debate. Much to the chagrin of many staff members, there are no plans to bring Voyager home just yet.
<SteveKrutzler> (excellent! then there's still hope for my spec! :-)
<BryanFuller> Yes, there's still hope for your spec, Steve.
<SteveKrutzler> From Jan Strzelecki: From Johnny-FCL: Will there be any episode arcs planned for next season?
<SteveKrutzler> oops
<SteveKrutzler> From Johnny-FCL: Will there be any episode arcs planned for next season?
<DilberTrek> Survey says:

<BryanFuller> We've talked about a couple of possible two-parters and even another two-hour Voyager movie, but doing a multi-episode arc in the vein of DS9 seems unlikely.*

<SteveKrutzler> From LB4747: Bryan, what would you say is the goal for the staff in season 6? Improve character development? More story arcs?

<BryanFuller> Brannon's goal of solid science-fiction episodes is shared by all on the staff.

<SteveKrutzler> Hmmm... Someone to Watch Over Me was good in its own right... but solid science fiction? ;-)

<DilberTrek> Someone to Watch Over Me was AWESOME, Steve. Watch your place ;>
<BryanFuller> As is his desire to keep things fresh and not rely on "Star Trek Helper" stories that we've seen time and again. We want to break out of the old Star Trek molds and make Voyager as inventive as it can be while still staying true to Roddenberry's spirit of the Star Trek universe.

<BryanFuller> To maintain variety, a show like Voyager needs episodes like "Someone" which I found absolutely charming. And let's face it, Jerry Ryan going on a "first date" looking like she does is pure fiction.*
<SteveKrutzler> It was charming, I agree with that. Especially after the UPN preview made it look so... less than charming.
<DilberTrek> UPN's previews always degrade the episode.
<BryanFuller> Isn't it funny how that works?

<Arman> I thought she did a hillarious job of dancing :-)
<SteveKrutzler> Bob was great in that show... I felt sorry for him in the end.

<BryanFuller> That show had heart and soul and may be one of season five's finest.

<Arman> Yeah, I think you guys really got something there with the 7/Doctor relationship.
<SteveKrutzler> From Jan Strzelecki: Do You realize, that Voyager
<SteveKrutzler> (according to distance of varius
<SteveKrutzler> shortcuts) isn't anymore in Delta
<SteveKrutzler> Quadrant?
<Berserker1> I too enjoyed the episode... we need episodes like that on occasion

<BryanFuller> Jan, you may be right. I'd have to sit down and do the math.*
<DilberTrek> Let Michael do it ;>
<SteveKrutzler> From BarbaraLeigh: Are you and Brannon SF fans outside of ST? And if so, what other incarnations of SF do you enjoy?
<BryanFuller> Brannon and I are both big horror fans. As far as SF goes, I'm a huge Star Wars fan and personally can't wait for the 19th.
<DilberTrek> What happens then? ;>
<DilberTrek> ::ducks::
<SteveKrutzler> Brannon as a horror fan.... who woulda thunk it ;-)
<SteveKrutzler> which character has been the most
<SteveKrutzler> difficult to develope and how do you
<SteveKrutzler> overcome that kind of an obstacle?
<SteveKrutzler> oops... From Hsierra: which character has been the most
<SteveKrutzler> difficult to develope and how do you
<SteveKrutzler> overcome that kind of an obstacle?
<BryanFuller> I would say it would be between Neelix and Tuvok.
<Berserker1> Dilber I heat there is a Galactica movie coming out on the 19th...
<DilberTrek> No kidding.

<BryanFuller> Neelix is difficult because his character is often out of action's way. I.e.; he's not on the Bridge or in Sickbay so we have to invent ways to get him center stage. Fortunately Ethan Phillips is an amazing actor, so that makes it much easier.
<SteveKrutzler> (sorry for jumping the gun on that next question)
<BryanFuller> Tuvok being a pure Vulcan is limited in range as far as emotional reactions and motivations. So we find ourselves constructing stories where he's in a difficult situation with someone else's emotions (as in Gravity) or putting twists on the constraints of logic (as in an episode that's currently in development for Season Six).*

<SteveKrutzler> From Johnny: I believe that one of the reasons
<SteveKrutzler> star trek is losing its imagination
<SteveKrutzler> is that all we are focusing on is
<SteveKrutzler> space wars and other battle things.
<SteveKrutzler> What we need to see in Voyager is not
<SteveKrutzler> only science fiction, but Fantasy as
<SteveKrutzler> well. We need to see more planet
<SteveKrutzler> scenes besides the desert place in
<SteveKrutzler> various DS9 and Voyager episodes!
<SteveKrutzler> Will any of that happen next season?
<BryanFuller> There are great Neelix and Tuvok episodes in development for next season that will service both those characters very nicely and may even re-define them.

<BryanFuller> Space wars are much easier to produce than planet sets. We are very aware of the familiarity of our standing "Cave" sets and are constantly looking for ways to explore other types of planetoids. But this is television after all with a very limited budget.
<DilberTrek> Bry?
<BryanFuller> *
<DilberTrek> ;>
<BryanFuller> Yes...
<DilberTrek> Making sure you were still with us.

<BryanFuller> I'm still here!
<DilberTrek> Poor Steve isn't. :()
<BryanFuller> Oh, oh.
<Berserker1> where did he go?
<BryanFuller> E-mail me your information.
<DilberTrek> K.
<Berserker1> i'm using AOL messenger to try to hunt him down

<DilberTrek> WB Steve

<Berserker1> oh steve...
<Logging> oK
<Berserker1> ok, i think he has to start up logging again...
<Berserker1> ok, i'll ask a question
<BryanFuller> Please do!
<Berserker1> I've heard that there has been problems concerning the finale... namely that it came up several minutes short. Is this true, and how did that get worked out?

<BryanFuller> Actually, most of our episodes come up several minutes short. We haven't quite pinned down the source of this woe, but it happend more often than not.

<DilberTrek> Is the writing staff taking into account UPN's new policy of shaving a few minutes off of each episode when episodes are written?

<BryanFuller> What usually happens is we'll get a call from the editors telling us how short the episode is. If it's just a couple of minutes we add a scene here or there. If it's like ten minutes short we add a b-story.

<BryanFuller> For example, the framing device of Paris in the Brig for "Thirty Days" was all conceived after the show was shot. It was eight minutes short so Brannon had the idea of creating this framing device with Paris in lock-up. None of that was in the original script.
<SteveKrutzler> alas, I'm back finally.
<DilberTrek> Yay Steve
<BryanFuller> In the "Drone" I had to write 13 pages after the fact because it was significantly short. The Drone walk with Neelix in the corridor, his check-up with the Doctor and even meeting the Captain were all added scenes.
<BryanFuller> As the Borg would say, we adapt.
<DilberTrek> You've done a lot of adapting tonight :)
<BryanFuller> All worth the while.
<DilberTrek> For us especially.
<BryanFuller> You're too kind.
<Arman> Sorry guys, but I have to leave. I have finals and tons of work to do tomorrow. Nice chatting with all of you, especially Bryan. Thanks for being with us. Good night.
<DilberTrek> You're too great. :>

<DilberTrek> Bye Steve, and Arman
<BryanFuller> Good luck on your finals.
<SKJava> damn

<Arman> Steve, should be back. But thanks Bryan, good luck on Voyager!
<SKJava> stupid server
<BryanFuller> Thanks!
<DilberTrek> Bryan, do you have a "favorite" episode that you've written so far?

<BryanFuller> It would be between "Mortal Coil," "Bride of Chaotica" and "Course: Oblivion."

<DilberTrek> "Bride of Chaotica!" .. so corny.. loved it ;>
<BryanFuller> *

<BryanFuller> Me too. It was a blast to write with Mike Taylor.
<SKJava> again I've been punted
<SKJava> I was going to say......
<DilberTrek> "Relativity" looks really interesting.
<SKJava> How long is the typical script you write? (page-wise)

<BryanFuller> Nick and Mike and I wrote that one together. It's a lot of fun. Typical script length for Voyager is longer than say DS9 because we're a faster paced show. It usually runs between 65 and 70 pages.

<DilberTrek> Do you know who the guest stars in "Relativity" will be?
<BryanFuller> Off the top of my head, I can't remember their names. One of them is Bluto from "Animal House," I can tell you that.
<Berserker1> About the finale... can you give us a hint of what it is about? Will it "Be Continued" next season...?

<DilberTrek> Sounds fun :D

<SKJava> (I can't stay on for the life of me)

<SteveKrutzler> Here I am
<BryanFuller> It's definitely a cliff-hanger. And it's a load of fun. There's another Starfleet crew... wild CGI aliens... and lots of creep!
<Berserker1> The aliens in the episode... are they expected to be long ter mvilllians
<Berserker1> ?

<BryanFuller> Hard to say at this stage of the game. We only just finished breaking the second part this afternoon. Time will tell.*
<DilberTrek> What happens in a "breaking"?
<SKJava> The finale is titled Equinox, right?

<BryanFuller> That's when the writing staff sits down and "outlines" the episode into it's essential scenes.*
<BryanFuller> Equinox is the finale title, yes.
<DilberTrek> So Ron Moore's attending the staff meetings now? :-)
<BryanFuller> Oh, yeah. And he's contributing quite a bit. He's a welcome addition. He compliments Brannon and the rest of us very well.*
<SKJava> Well... my connection has completely gone wacky and I can't paste in this JAVA window.... we've answered just about all the questions..
<DilberTrek> Shall we go unmoderated?
<BryanFuller> Well, thanks so much for having me back! It was my pleasure.
<SKJava> We'll unmoderate now
<DilberTrek> Thanks for coming, and we're sorry for the trouble you had, Bryan
<BryanFuller> Not a problem.

<SKJava> Sorry the trouble I had at the end there, too.

<AlterEgo> So Bryan, are you guys making pitch appointments for next season?
<Carol> Can we chat now?
<Johnny-FCL> ok
<LB4747> Bryan, do you know why Ron decided to join the show? In the past he has said he had no desire to.
<Prime_Directive> Thanks Bryan!
<Johnny-FCL> Bryan, are we asking too many questions now that we're not moderated?
<Redeemer> $
<da-Giez> Hello, I missed most of it...
<Carol> I think Bryan's gone...
<BryanFuller> Ron's heart is with Star Trek. I think he found it difficult to say good-bye to the franchise.
<Carol> Oh no, he's still here. :-)

<Berserker1> Ask away, people!

<BryanFuller> I'll try to keep up.
<LB4747> Well, whatever the reason, it's good to have him still around.
<DilberTrek> Ron is truly a gem.
<Carol> Is Rene E. comming on the staff too?
<BryanFuller> I couldn't agree more.
<da-Giez> When is next season scheduled to be on air ??
<AlterEgo> I hope you all take advantage of Ron's skill with relationships--he has done well in DS9's territory.
<Redshoes> Hello, Bryan. Is Brannon happy with the way the Paris/Torres dynamic has been handled this season as opposed to last season, and can we anticipate his taking advantage of Ron Moore's known facility for handling couple dynamics?
<BryanFuller> Rene is not joining the staff and I have no idea when Season 6 will begin airing.
<AlterEgo> i.e. Worf and Jadzia come to mind...
<Johnny-FCL> Ok, Bryan... Will we stick to VOY titles like "Equinox, Part I" and "Equinox, Part II" or go to complicated DS9 titles like "In Purgatory's Shadow" and "By Inferno's Light"?

<Carol> Hoping something more is done wrt J/C
<Redeemer> Worf and Ezri too
<BryanFuller> I'm sure all of Ron's assets will be exploitedly equally.
<AlterEgo> Right. I like how the W/Ezri friendship has turned out on DS9
<AlterEgo> I'm sure he relishes being "exploited" :-)
<BryanFuller> We'll probably have more Voyager-ish titles.
<BryanFuller> Of course he does!
<da-Giez> Has the other 'Caretaker ' ever been discussed ??
<Carol> So Bryan, is Ron the only ex DS9 writer to join the VOyager staff?
<BryanFuller> Thus far, yes. As far as the Caretaker goes, it's discussed on occasion, but considered old Voyager.
<BryanFuller> So we probably won't be seeing the Caretaker again any time soon.
<Johnny-FCL> Remember Bryan: ANYTHING could happen in the delta quadrant... dont feel bad to voice ideas that seem proposterous.
<Carol> But Voyager-ish titles usually only = one word though :-)
<Johnny-FCL> Bryan, a 2-parter bringing Kes back as a guest star and resolving the caretaker status would give a good ratings boost.. perhaps a voyager movie?
<BryanFuller> Not always. "Bride of Chaotica," "Someone to Watch Over Me" "In the Flesh"...
<BryanFuller> Seeing Kes again is unlikely, although not impossible.
<Redshoes> Is Brannon happy with the way the Paris/Torres dynamic has been handled this season?
<DilberTrek> Well folks, it's been a pleasure.. I have to get going now. Thanks for the great chat, Bryan! I sent you some e-mail. ;>
<Johnny-FCL> i agree Bryan... you cant just snap your fingers and make things happen... thats what we got to recognize.
<Carol> True, but most are "Relativity" "Counterpoint" "Equinox" "Caretaker" "Deadlock:...
<BarbaraLeigh> Night Dil
<Carol> Though, for a one word title "11:59" is really cool :-)
<da-Giez> However Voyager gets home, I think it would be better as a shock or surprise than some great techno babs...
<BryanFuller> That was Joe's idea.