Babylon 5: The Gathering (1993) (TV)

Director:

Richard Compton

Writer:

J. Michael Straczynski (written by)

Release Date:

22 February 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | 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 Station | Alien | 23rd Century | Outer Space | TV Series Pilot

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 (as William Hayes)
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		(written by)

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

Original Music by
Stewart Copeland		(1993 original score)
Christopher Franke		(new score, 1998 Special Edition)

Cinematography by
Billy Dickson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert L. Sinise

Casting by
Mary Jo Slater

Production Design by
John Iacovelli

Art Direction by
Deborah Raymond
Dorian Vernacchio

Costume Design by
Catherine Adair

Makeup Department
Greg Aronowitz	....	shop foreman
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
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. 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)
Russell H. Champa	....	construction electrician (uncredited)
Jory Felice	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Curtis Laseter	....	construction foreman (uncredited)
Ron Mendell	....	model maker (uncredited)
Linda B. Noland	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Burton Rencher	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Diane Spahn	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)
Lisa M. Whaley	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Larry Benjamin	....	additional re-recording mixer
Harry Cohen	....	sound designer
William Freesh	....	re-recording mixer (as Bill Freesh)
Cindy Gess	....	boom operator
George Johnsen	....	re-recording mixer
Michael Payne	....	additional sound supervisor
Zeke Salas	....	additional re-recording mixer
Cathie Speakman	....	adr editor
Cathie Speakman	....	dialogue editor
Liz Sroka	....	additional re-recording mixer
James M. Tanenbaum	....	sound mixer (as Jim Tanenbaum)
Ken Teaney	....	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)
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Ann Scibelli	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

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

Visual Effects by
Kim Anderson	....	compositor
Ken Busick	....	compositor
Shant Jordan	....	supervising animator
Patrick Perez	....	supervising animator
Ron Thornton	....	visual effects designer
Shannon Casey	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)
Richard A. Payne	....	digital artist (uncredited)
David Wainstain	....	special visual effects (uncredited)

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

Camera and Electrical Department
James 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
Paul Contegialomo	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
Jennifer Gilroy	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Steve Irwin	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
William McLachlan	....	automated lighting programmer (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 (uncredited)

Casting Department
Dori Zuckerman	....	casting associate (uncredited)

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
Suzanne Sternlight	....	editor: special edition 1998 (as Suzanne Sternlicht)
Kelsey Kline	....	post-production intern (uncredited)

Music Department
The Berlin Symphonic Film Orchestra	....	music performed by (as The Berlin Symphony Orchestra)
Christopher Franke	....	music performed by
Michael Dittrick	....	music editor (uncredited)

Other crew
Alyson Evans	....	production coordinator
Haley McLane	....	script supervisor
Karen Meisels	....	assistant production coordinator
Marge Rowland	....	production accountant
Mike Bagg	....	runner (uncredited)
Paul Beigle-Bryant	....	computer imaging supervisor (uncredited)
John W. Bergin	....	craft service (uncredited)
Michael Burnett	....	foam prosthetic technician (uncredited)
Harlan Ellison	....	consultant (uncredited)
Madeline Falco	....	production assistant (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)
Scott Ross	....	assistant to executive producer (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) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Foundation Imaging (visual effects produced by)
• Netter Digital Animation (additional visual effects by)

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
• LaserPacific  electronic laboratory

Also Known As:

"B5" - USA (promotional abbreviation)
"Babylon 5" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

89 min | 94 min (special edition)

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

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

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)

Solid Start To An Intriguing Saga

Babylon 5 was a hugely ambitious sci-fi show to get off the ground with complex characters and story arcs that went on over the entire 5 series run. This was the first pilot movie and it paves the way to what would follow.

It's an intriguing piece of sci-fi with some strong performances in particular Peter Jurasic as Lando Mollari and Andreas Katsulas as G'Kar. The special effects are a bit limited in places but thats to be expected from a show just finding it's feet.

Some of the actors in this initial show would leave to pursue other projects but the core remained in. There are some story lines (which I wont spoil) that could have been further explored had Takishima and Lyta stayed on the show. The acting quality is mixed and this was ironed out as the series went on.

All in all it's a good TV movie that does stand on it's own well but it will leave you with a few questions and a good reason to pick up on the series which just get's better as it goes along.

Good TV movie that will get you ready for the full series 7/10