23.June.2001
Hi everyone,
I just thought that I would
share a few thoughts and update all of you on what's
going on with myself and Battlestar Galactica.
It's been a relatively quiet time after all the dramatic
news concerning the new proposed Battlestar Galactica
series.
I have read a few articles
from Bryan Singer and have heard little bits of heresay
from various parties. However, the pipeline for breaking
news seems to have been turned off for the time being.
It seems to me that if we are not hearing anything,
then either there is nothing to report -- or they don't
want us to know what's going on. After such a strong
negative response from the fans concerning the direction
the studios originally wanted to take Battlestar
Galactica in, I would have to think that they must
have realized that if they were going to follow their
own agenda, they better do it in secret. Nobody wants
to be second guessed -- and I'm sure that they think
that they know better than the fans what direction the
show should go in.
They talk about honoring the
original show, but everything I hear tells me that they
have no real intention of following through on that
promise other than in a token way, which is how the
studios always try to appease the fans and at the same
time take advantage of the marketing value of using
a few characters from the original series. Who knows
maybe they will come up with a great show and blow everybody
away with their creative vision for Battlestar Galactica,
maybe they won't. No matter what happens, I personally
would like to see Battlestar succeed because
it's a great epic story with a lot of heart -- and it
deserves a real chance to fly. My fear is, if Battlestar
Galactica doesn't succeed, they will blame Battlestar
itself and not the creative vision behind it. The studios
will just say that if Bryan Singer and Tom DeSanto can't
make Battlestar Galactica successful, then nobody
can.
I still believe that the studios
don't understand what is special about Battlestar, nor
do they understand the vast and wide ranging fanbase
that supports it. They are more excited about having
Bryan Singer and Tom DeSanto onboard than in the show
itself. I'm excited about them, too. They're very talented,
young guys who can bring a lot to the table. But the
fact that nobody really believes in the show, except
maybe Tom and Bryan, tells me that what the studios
really want is a new show. It might have the Battlestar
Galactica name (which they can use for relaunching
it), but essentially they're hoping Bryan and Tom will
come up with an exciting new concept which while borrowing
from Battlestar Galactica will, in reality, be
a completely different animal. If one doesn't understand
what is special about a show or what made it successful
in the first place, then how can one ever build upon
it?
The fact is: The studios don't
perceive Battlestar Galactica as having been
successful. Period. So they believe they have to change
it drastically to have any chance of succeeding. They
also seem more concerned with building a new audience
than pleasing the existing fanbase. What I don't understand
is, isn't the existing fanbase (which spans generations)
the one that is going to make a classic like Battlestar
successful. Aren't they the ones that have always made
any sci-fi show successful. Why would anyone risk losing
the majority of your fans just to gain a few new converts?
Again it seems that they still don't understand that
the core audience for a classic like Battlestar
is the one that already exists, and that they're the
group they have to please if they have any hope of buying
enough time to bond the audience to their new characters
and storylines.
Moving on, I want to address
an issue that really bothers me. They keep doing polls
to get audience feedback and they always give the option
of supporting me or the new team, or a new cast or the
old cast. I've never seen them ask if the people would
like to see the original cast teamed up with new characters.
They never seem to address the idea of a combination
of old and new. I'm sure the majority of people would
like to come home to the show they have always loved,
but at the same time, meet new characters and storylines
along with an updated look to the show.
I also want to make the point
that it's not about Richard Hatch being in a
new show. I believe that Battlestar Galactica
is not Battlestar Galactica without all
the core characters that made up the original show.
I have always fought to bring everyone back.
I believe in Tigh, Boomer, Starbuck, Sheba, Cassiopeia
and many others actors who made the show special. Every
ounce of my energy has been used to build a case for
them and also creating a bridge between the past and
the future. This would will unite the fanbase and generate
the momentum needed to convince the studios and the
world that Battlestar Galactica has always been
successful and only needs a real and well thought out
first chance to do what it was capable of doing twenty
years ago. I believe there is room to serve the commercial,
artistic and fan agenda's without losing the integrity
of the show.
I also believe the fans know
more about Galactica than anyone. We all have
to learn to listen more and talk less. That's certainly
is my agenda and I am working very hard to learn it.
Hopefully the studios will, too.
In the meantime I'm not holding
my breath. If they had any intention of using the original
stars in any significant way they would have said so
by now. What a PR statement that would have been. I
don't know about you but when I saw the original stars
of Star Trek back on the screen I cheered along
with millions of other fans. The same with Star Wars.
That's what was missing from Star Wars: Episode One.
We all have to move on in
our lives. I know only one thing: I've spent too much
time doing things I don't care about or believe in.
I want to be part of a team and a vision I can be proud
of. And sometimes it seems that the only way to accomplish
that is to go out there and create it. I've met so many
talented and underused artists and performers in our
industry who are burnt out from sacrificing their abilities
at the feet of companies that don't care about the quality
of their product, only their short term profits. We
get lots of sizzle, but very little steak.
That's why I'm building my
company to create cutting edge, heart centered entertainment.
I'm making lots of mistakes, falling down, failing and
making a fool of myself. But I'm learning and growing.
The trailer for my new sci-fi show, The
Great War of Magellan, is almost completed and
I hope to share it with you soon. My behind the scenes
making of the trailer is finished and we have been playing
it at conventions. I'll be all over the world this year,
again promoting the third book of the Battlestar
Galactica trilogy ("Resurrection"),
in addition to The Great War of Magellan, and,
of course, Battlestar itself. I'll always believe
and support this wonderful show regardless of what happens.
I'm a fan just like the rest of you and I'm also hungry
for better and more exciting sci-fi programing. My God,
there are so many wonderful books and stories just waiting
to be produced!
In closing just remember it's
not about me, Universal, Tom or Bryan, it's about you
and what you want. Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!
Your power lies in letting
them know what you think. The ball is in your hands
now as it should be. They're not interested in what I
think, but what you, their audience, thinks.
In regard to the upcoming third Battlestar Galactica
book, "Resurrection,"
I have been struggling with sharing what a difficult
journey it has been finally getting this book out. After
book two ("Warhawk") was completed, Byron Preiss (the
publisher) closed down his company and reformed under
a new name. The third Battlestar Galactica book
was put on hold and we were all frustrated about not
being able to complete our Battlestar Galactica
book trilogy in a timely manner.
By the time Byron came back to me with a book proposal,
over two years had passed. Unfortunately, they didn't
seem interested in completing the trilogy. They reluctantly
gave us a chapter to wrap up the original story before
starting fresh with a new story concept. I fought to
complete the third book of the trilogy first and finally
after many months of negotiations they agreed. I still
found myself waiting for months to see a contract. By
the time I received one, there was very little time
to write the story. I immediately dug in and wrote a
40 page treatment which I sent to my new co-writer,
Stan Timmons. We worked feverishly on it. While we were
still working on the second draft of the book, we were
asked to turn in the rough first draft for Universal's
approval. We were told that we still had time to complete
all our rewrites. We tried to contact our publisher
with the rewrites, but we continued to wait for weeks
for a reply.
During that time, we completed a second and third
draft of the book which we were waiting to turn in.
We were finally told, much to our surprise, that they
had printed the first draft, due to time constraints.
Stan and I were extremely disappointed and felt betrayed
as we had been promised the opportunity to complete
our rewrites.
I'm still proud of the story and the book, but feel
a little sad and angry that we were not able to refine
and fully develop all the story and character elements
that make a book special. Hopefully we will be permitted
to turn in the final draft for the paperback edition.
I'm sure you will still enjoy the book as this third
story is part of what I was saving for my series proposal,
The Second Coming. I decided that maybe this
would be my last opportunity to share part of my vision
for where I would like to take the series. It seems
that Universal in the past has not cared that much about
creating quality Battlestar Galactica products.
Hopefully now that a new series is in development, that
attitude will change and we can look forward to a renewed
interest in creating top notch Battlestar Galactica
products. I'm sure the new caretakers for Battlestar
Galactica, Tom DeSanto and Bryan Singer, will ensure
that happens.
By the way if your still interested in getting the
paperback version of "Warhawk," then let Byron Preiss
know. Maybe they will get the message and finally print
enough books to serve the demand. Thanks for listening.
Take care until next time.
I look forward to seeing and hearing from all of you
again this year.
Sincerely,
Richard Hatch
P.S. I'm sure most of you
know that in addition to acting writing and directing,
I am also a teacher. I have always believed that each
one of us has had to face difficult challenges in our
lives. These build character and give us the opportunity
to discover that we are capable of accomplishing so
much more in our lives than we ever thought possible.
As we learn and master these difficult lessons we are
usually given the opportunity to share our journey and
wisdom with others. We are all teachers in some way
to those around us and to the ones that we love the
most. There is a great joy in passing on what we have
learned, many times the hard way; I certainly have has
to learn the hard way how to embrace and forgive all
my flaws and imperfections and not let them stop me
from fulfilling my hearts desire.
Life is a process and it is
a step by step journey to reclaiming our power, creative
vision and sacred right to be who we truly are in this
world. Our dream is not just a dream, it is our life,
and the moment we stop making excuses and blaming others
for our plight we begin to rediscover just how powerful
we are and how successful we can become. This is what
I teach in my seminars and lectures around the country.
On August 18 and 19 at Starwood
Ranch in beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona I am teaching
a two day seminar on "The
Art, Craft and Business of Creating Money, Love and
Fulfillment." I will share my own profound journey
and the lessons I have learned and lead you through
a series of fun and exciting ropes courses and exercises
that will reawaken your spirit and give you some invaluable
tools for living your dream.
Check out the article
on this web site for further information and details.
We will only be 30 minutes from Sedona and in the other
direction the huge crater that was in Starman.
It's God's country up there and I promise you that you
will come home with a reawakened passion for life and
the infinite possibilities it offers to those who are
ready to say risk the status quo. If you have any questions
please address them to this website and I will do my
best to answer them.
Once again all my best to
all of you. Keep the faith!
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