Babylon 5: The Gathering (1993) (TV)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Richard Compton

Writers:

J. Michael Straczynski (creator)
J. Michael Straczynski (written by)

Release Date:

22 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi

Plot:

The opening of a crucial space station is put in jeopardy when the commanding officer is accused of the attempted murder of a diplomat.

Plot Keywords:

Space | Space Station | Alien | Futuristic | Cult Favorite

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Michael O'Hare	...	Cmdr. Jeffrey Sinclair
Tamlyn Tomita	...	Lt. Cmdr. Laurel Takashima
Jerry Doyle	...	Michael Garibaldi
Mira Furlan	...	Delenn
Blaire Baron	...	Carolyn Sykes
John Fleck	...	Del Varner
Paul Hampton	...	The Senator
Peter Jurasik	...	Londo Mollari
Andreas Katsulas	...	G'Kar
Johnny Sekka	...	Dr. Benjamin Kyle
Patricia Tallman	...	Lyta Alexander
Steven R. Barnett	...	Eric Hazeltine
Billy Hayes	...	Traveler
Linda Hoffman	...	Dome Tech #2
Robert Jason Jackson	...	Dome Tech #3
F. William Parker	...	Business Man #1
Marianne Robertson	...	Hostage
David Sage	...	Business Man #2
Ed Wasser	...	Guerra
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Greg Aronowitz	...	Minbari Assassin (uncredited)
Ardwight Chamberlain	...	Kosh Naranek (voice) (uncredited)
Haley McLane	...	Voice of the Computer (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Compton

Writing credits
J. Michael Straczynski		(creator)
J. Michael Straczynski		(written by)

Produced by
Robert Latham Brown	....	producer (pilot episode)
John Copeland	....	co-producer
Douglas Netter	....	executive producer
J. Michael Straczynski	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Stewart Copeland

Cinematography by
Billy Dickson

Film Editing by
Robert L. Sinise

Casting by
Mary Jo Slater
Dori Zuckerman

Production Design by
John Iacovelli

Art Direction by
Deborah Raymond
Dorian Vernacchio

Costume Design by
Catherine Adair

Makeup Department
John Criswell	....	special effects makeup supervisor
Myke Michaels	....	key hair stylist
Suzanne Parker Sanders	....	key makeup artist (as Suzanne Sanders)
Rob Sherwood	....	makeup supervisor
Ron Wild	....	makeup application
Ron Wild	....	makeup sculpture
Greg Aronowitz	....	makeup designer: alien (uncredited)
Andy Clement	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Christina Criswell	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Larry Odien	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Robert Latham Brown	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clare Durand	....	dga trainee
J.J. Linsalata	....	second assistant director (as Joseph N. 'J.J.' Linsalata)
John H. Radulovic	....	first assistant director (as John Radulovic)

Art Department
Colin De Rouin	....	set designer (as Collin DeRouin)
Ruth Gilmore	....	key scenic artist
Ted Haigh	....	assistant art director
Peter Ledger	....	conceptual artist
Michael Mora	....	set dresser
Chris Muller	....	assistant art director
Guy Pepin	....	property master
Susie Wilson	....	conceptual artist
Miranda Amador	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Steve Burg	....	conceptual artist (uncredited)
Curtis Laseter	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Ron Mendel	....	model maker (uncredited)
Burton Rencher	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Diane Spahn	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Harry Cohen	....	sound designer
William Freesh	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bill Freesh)
Cindy Gess	....	boom operator
George Johnsen	....	sound re-recording mixer
George Johnsen	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Rodriguez	....	director of sound services
Cathie Speakman	....	adr editor
Cathie Speakman	....	dialogue editor
James M. Tanenbaum	....	sound mixer (as Jim Tanenbaum)
Ken Teaney	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Benjamin Beardwood	....	assistant dialogue editor (uncredited)
Ricardo Broadus	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
David Farmer	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Brian Geer	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Ann Scibelli	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Stears	....	special effects coordinator
Russell Peters	....	special effects engineer (uncredited)
Scott Sirag	....	general effects (uncredited)
Dave Snyder	....	general effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Shannon Casey	....	visual effects coordinator
Richard A. Payne	....	digital artist
Ron Thornton	....	visual effects designer
Shant Jordan	....	computer graphics animator (uncredited)
David Wainstain	....	special visual effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Kerry Rossall	....	stunt coordinator
Frank James Sparks	....	stunts (as Frank J. Sparks)
Cal Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Ball	....	second assistant camera
Stephen Collins	....	camera operator
John Farr	....	gaffer (as John K. Farr)
Jan M. Heyneker	....	key grip
Steven R. Monroe	....	first assistant camera
Jennifer Gilroy	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Steve Irwin	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
John Raymer	....	best boy (uncredited)
Ted Schelling	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
Rick Senteno	....	assistant chief lighting (uncredited)
Gary A. Williams	....	best boy grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
Adam 'Mojo' Lebowitz	....	animator
Mark Swain	....	animator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susan Roberts	....	wardrobe key set
Alan Trugman	....	wardrobe supervisor
Donna D. Casey	....	costumer (uncredited)
Kelli Hurley	....	costumer (uncredited)
Michael Varnen	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Joe Binford Jr.	....	assistant editor
Susan Norkin	....	post-production coordinator
Kelsey Kline	....	post-production intern (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Dittrick	....	music editor

Other crew
Greg Aronowitz	....	shop foreman
Paul Beigle-Bryant	....	computer imaging supervisor
Alyson Evans	....	production coordinator
Haley McLane	....	script supervisor
Karen Meisels	....	assistant production coordinator
Scott Ross	....	assistant to executive producer
Marge Rowland	....	production accountant
John W. Bergin	....	craft service (uncredited)
Michael Burnett	....	foam prosthetic technician (uncredited)
Harlan Ellison	....	consultant (uncredited)
John Frassrand	....	mechanic (uncredited)
Asao Goto	....	background creatures (uncredited)
David Kindlon	....	mechanic (uncredited)
Steve Kornacki	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Stephen W. Pugh	....	effects systems engineer (uncredited)
Rick Suggett	....	runner (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Babylonian Productions
• Rattlesnake Productions
• Synthetic Worlds

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Television (1993) (worldwide) (all media)
• Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN) (1993) (USA) (TV)
• Baton Broadcasting Incorporated (BBS) (1993) (Canada) (TV)
• Turner Network Television (TNT) (1998) (USA) (TV) (special edition)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Foundation Imaging

Other Companies

• Action Video  digital optical compositing
• Chatsworth  vari lite
• EFX Systems  digital sound
• EFX Systems  re-recording
• Elliot Friedgen & Company  production services provided by
• Laser Pacific Media  electronic laboratory

Also Known As:

B5 (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
Babylon 5 (USA)

Runtime:

89 min | 94 min (special edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-11 | Germany:6 | UK:PG | USA:Unrated | Iceland:12

Company:

Babylonian Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the movie when the hostage situation is occurring when the hostage is first shown her hair is covering her face. The camera switches to Sinclair and when it switches back to the hostage her hair is no longer in her face.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ambassador Londo Mollari: [voiceover] I was there at the dawn of the third age of mankind. It began in the Earth year 2257, with the last of the Babylon stations located deep in neutral space. It was a port of call for refugees, smugglers, businessmen, diplomats, and travelers from a hundred worlds...

Movie Connections:

References Casablanca (1942)

Despite this being a pilot, it already has excellent chemistry and excitement

I have long time been a fan of Babylon 5, so you should keep this in mind--I'm sure this must color my review of this TV movie pilot for the show. Fans of the series might notice some odd changes in cast--this happens a lot in pilot episodes, as the show often is slightly re-tooled before the shows begin in production. For example, the doctor, the second in command were different actors than in the series and the prosthetics on Mira Furlan made her look much more "alien" in this movie. It's a shame about the doctor, as I really liked the African man who played him with a bit of sarcasm and flair.

As for the rest of the cast, they were amazing to watch for a pilot. Normally, on most pilots, the camaraderie isn't really there and the relationships just seem a bit underdeveloped. However, here, Garibaldi, Sinclair and the rest seem to work well together and the made for TV movie is very watchable and similar to the resulting series despite the cast changes. For the early 1990s, the production values are excellent, though in 2006, the computer graphics appear, at times, a bit dated--as this was the first sci-fi series that got rid of modeling and used computer generated images for all its space scenes. All in all, it's an exciting and riveting show--made even more so by the always brilliant writing of J. Michael Straczynski.