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NEWS AND INSIGHTS FROM RICHARD

24.February.2001

Hi everybody,

I just wanted to quickly comment on the latest news concerning Bryan Singer and Tom DeSanto. First of all I'm elated that two such talented and passionate artists have decided to bring this beloved show back to the world. What a wonderful surprise that someone of their stature in the industry seems to understand what all of you fans out in the world have always understood and have been screaming at the studios for years. Battlestar Galactica is truly a sleeping giant and I'm sure under their guidance--and with your support--will finally achieve the level of success that such a wonderful story deserves.

I just read an article from Tom DeSanto at http://www.fandom.com. I was very pleased to find out that Tom and Bryan have a genuine love for the show and that they care about the fans and preserving the integrity of the show. I have no idea what they have in mind, but I feel that we should all support them in their quest and give them time to develop their own unique vision. If my team had been given the chance to produce Battlestar Galactica I would have asked for the same courtesy. No one knows more than me that they're many ways to bring back Battlestar Galactica and that their are many talented and gifted individuals with a wonderful vision for Battlestar Galactica. My group came together because no one seemed to understand this shows potential, or vast and diverse fan base.

We also wanted to remind the industry that Battlestar Galactica was not only a success in the beginning, but under the right conditions and leadership, could become one of the most entertaining, moving and successful franchises in Universal's history. Additionally, we wanted to lay out a vision for the show that would honor the original characters and premise of the show, and at the same time, build a bridge to the future with a whole new generation born in space. Our trailer took all of this into account and the response was overwhelmingly positive. However Tom and Bryan are entitled to their vision for the show. I have always respected any creators' right to explore their own, unique ideas.

I believe that the fans' job is to share opinions and give honest feedback. Hopefully the new producers will be open to listening and taking them all into account. My position is to give Tom and Bryan the respect they are due--and to share insights and opinions only if asked. No one likes to be second-guessed. I'm sure they will have to contend with more than their share of creative challenges and adversarial opinions.

Just a few last words before I go. These past few years have taught me that anything is possible if you are willing to jump into the fire and commit yourself to what you believe. It also taught me to appreciate and respect not only the fans who keep the flame alive, but the producers, directors, writers and craftsmen that have the courage to bring their creative vision to fruition. It takes guts to keep going when no one believes in what you are doing.

I also want to thank the fans for supporting our team's efforts these past several years. The new Battlestar Galactica trailer that we put together with the love and support of many fans and industry professions was a miracle in the making. The standing ovations around the world for our efforts have more than justified the tremendous effort that went into developing and completing our trailer. I will always support Battlestar Galactica and BattlestarGalactica.com will always reflect the fans' opinions and creative ideas. Remember, Battlestar Galactica belongs to you--and your belief and passion for this show have kept it alive these past 20+ years. You have also made it possible for this show to finally come back. Don't forget that! I take my hat off to all of you.

By the way, the third book of my Battlestar Galactica trilogy is finally being completed and will be out shortly. I'm also looking forward to seeing all of you again this year as I will be traveling all over the world, promoting the book, playing a new and updated Battlestar Galactica trailer, plus showing you the new Great War of Magellan trailer/project that my team has been working on for the last 14 months.

Once again, congratulations to Tom DeSanto and Bryan Singer and also to Glen Larson. I'm sure that he must be excited to have their creative talents bringing his show back to life. I know Glen thinks that I have tried to steal his show, but the truth is, I have always believed in his story and have only wanted to honor and give life to his original premise and wonderful characters.

All my love,
Richard Hatch

24.February.2001

Hi everybody,

I just wanted to quickly comment on the latest news concerning Bryan Singer and Tom DeSanto. First of all I'm elated that two such talented and passionate artists have decided to bring this beloved show back to the world. What a wonderful surprise that someone of their stature in the industry seems to understand what all of you fans out in the world have always understood and have been screaming at the studios for years. Battlestar Galactica is truly a sleeping giant and I'm sure under their guidance--and with your support--will finally achieve the level of success that such a wonderful story deserves.

I just read an article from Tom DeSanto at http://www.fandom.com. I was very pleased to find out that Tom and Bryan have a genuine love for the show and that they care about the fans and preserving the integrity of the show. I have no idea what they have in mind, but I feel that we should all support them in their quest and give them time to develop their own unique vision. If my team had been given the chance to produce Battlestar Galactica I would have asked for the same courtesy. No one knows more than me that they're many ways to bring back Battlestar Galactica and that their are many talented and gifted individuals with a wonderful vision for Battlestar Galactica. My group came together because no one seemed to understand this shows potential, or vast and diverse fan base.

We also wanted to remind the industry that Battlestar Galactica was not only a success in the beginning, but under the right conditions and leadership, could become one of the most entertaining, moving and successful franchises in Universal's history. Additionally, we wanted to lay out a vision for the show that would honor the original characters and premise of the show, and at the same time, build a bridge to the future with a whole new generation born in space. Our trailer took all of this into account and the response was overwhelmingly positive. However Tom and Bryan are entitled to their vision for the show. I have always respected any creators' right to explore their own, unique ideas.

I believe that the fans' job is to share opinions and give honest feedback. Hopefully the new producers will be open to listening and taking them all into account. My position is to give Tom and Bryan the respect they are due--and to share insights and opinions only if asked. No one likes to be second-guessed. I'm sure they will have to contend with more than their share of creative challenges and adversarial opinions.

Just a few last words before I go. These past few years have taught me that anything is possible if you are willing to jump into the fire and commit yourself to what you believe. It also taught me to appreciate and respect not only the fans who keep the flame alive, but the producers, directors, writers and craftsmen that have the courage to bring their creative vision to fruition. It takes guts to keep going when no one believes in what you are doing.

I also want to thank the fans for supporting our team's efforts these past several years. The new Battlestar Galactica trailer that we put together with the love and support of many fans and industry professions was a miracle in the making. The standing ovations around the world for our efforts have more than justified the tremendous effort that went into developing and completing our trailer. I will always support Battlestar Galactica and BattlestarGalactica.com will always reflect the fans' opinions and creative ideas. Remember, Battlestar Galactica belongs to you--and your belief and passion for this show have kept it alive these past 20+ years. You have also made it possible for this show to finally come back. Don't forget that! I take my hat off to all of you.

By the way, the third book of my Battlestar Galactica trilogy is finally being completed and will be out shortly. I'm also looking forward to seeing all of you again this year as I will be traveling all over the world, promoting the book, playing a new and updated Battlestar Galactica trailer, plus showing you the new Great War of Magellan trailer/project that my team has been working on for the last 14 months.

Once again, congratulations to Tom DeSanto and Bryan Singer and also to Glen Larson. I'm sure that he must be excited to have their creative talents bringing his show back to life. I know Glen thinks that I have tried to steal his show, but the truth is, I have always believed in his story and have only wanted to honor and give life to his original premise and wonderful characters.

All my love,
Richard Hatch

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!

RICHARD'S LATEST

14 September 2001

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to send our love and support to all of you fans out there who have been as deeply touched as we, at BattlestarGalactica.com, have by the tragic events of the last few days. I have never been prouder to be an American as I watched people risk their lives to save others. Sometimes the world looks at Americans as immature, naive and pompous. But the reason we are a world leader is because of our amazing courage; our willingness to sacrifice everything for the common good and our ability to put our differences aside to serve a higher calling.

The world is watching to see how we are going to handle this terrible crisis! I know we will rise to the occasion as we have for over two hundred years! I was in Big Sur, California, looking out over one of the most beautiful days I have ever seen, when I heard the news. I rushed to a local bar with a big television set and sat stunned as we all watched what seemed so brutal and surreal that it was almost impossible to comprehend that it was actually real. Everyone in the room moved closer together as we struggled to understand how something like this could actually happen in America. It's amazing how many strangers became close friends that day and I realized that despite our differences and busy schedules we seemingly egocentric humans do care about each other. We are connected whether we like it or not and whatever happens to one of us happens to all of us; we feel each others pain -- and also our joy.

Like it says on the coin, "One for all and all for one," it makes sense when you think about it. I also don't know about you, but I have always naively taken for granted that somehow our institutions and governmental agencies will take care of us. We put our trust in other people to make cars and airplanes that are safe and in addition we trust that they have taken care of all the contingencies. I guess what I'm saying is that we always defer to those we think are more knowledgeable and skilled than we are and we usually don't challenge their policies or procedures even when we think they don't work.

We want to get on with our lives and don't have the time or inclination to stand up for what we think. After much discussion in the room considering possible scenarios and solutions, it became apparent to me that no matter what the government does to respond to what happened these past few days we will never be safe from terrorist activities unless we become empowered and conscious that we are all in this together. We all need to look out for each other and pay attention to what's going on around us. Terrorists and bad guys take advantage of our lack of awareness and distracting life styles. There is no weapon or defense system that can protect us from individuals or small groups of terrorists with a serious intention to harm us. I've been in neighborhoods where police never arrived in time and houses were constantly broken into until everybody got together and took the situation into their own hands. When everybody is watching out for each other and willing to come to their defense, then the bad guys don't stand a chance.

This is what we all have to agree to do for each other. Than instead of grieving for each others loss and pain we can join together and celebrate our victory over adversity. No amount of money or soldiers or air strikes against our enemies is going to solve the problem. Standing together in solidarity will send a message to all who wish to harm us that are united, ready to protect each other, and unwilling to lay down and just take it. They want us to get angry enough to start a war. They want us to attack them and kill innocent women and children so they can build a case for their war against the U.S.A. campaign.

Let's send a more powerful message. The world already knows how lethal our military is. Let's show them how powerful and resolute our people are. They cannot penetrate our borders or violate us again if we are all willing to wake up and take responsibility for our own safety by standing together with our brothers and sisters in the military and saying no more! We are watching! We are listening! We are together! We are empowered, courageous and ready to take what ever action is necessary to insure our peoples safety! Keep the faith! Let turn this tragedy into an opportunity to create a world we can all believe in and carry us into a new era of peace and prosperity for all.

Take care and all my love and blessings!

Richard Hatch

RICHARD'S LATEST

29 October 2001

Hello everyone. How's everyone doing? I can't tell you how proud I am to not only be an American, but a member of the human race. We are truly amazing creatures, but it also seems that we humans are capable of both untold horrors, and, at the same time, heroic and magnificient accomplishments. I wish it didn't take such devastating catastrophes to open our hearts and minds and remind us that we are all in this together. In these past few weeks, I have never seen so many acts of courage, selfless caring and so-called ordinary human beings rising to such extraordinary acts of kindness. Can you believe total strangers saying hello to you on the street and asking how you are and can they be of service? It was amazing to see some of the icons of our business coming off their ivory towers and showing us their hearts and, in many cases, their pocket books. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could continue to reach out to each other and re-establish a real sense of community and cooperation in this world, which as far as I'm concerned has been disappearing over the last several decades?

I hope you'll forgive me, but before I get into Battlestar Galactica stuff, I just felt it might be appropriate to share a little about how the events of September 11 have affected so many of us. If you want to skip my ramblings, then jump down a couple of paragraphs. I'll understand. It's amazing how much our lives can change in the blink of an eye. isn't it? I know my life will never be the same. I'm pretty certain yours won't be either. Maybe, in some way, that's a good thing since we have all had to take a good look at our lives and determine what we deem to be of real value. I don't know about you, but I never realized how much my life is run by fear and the need to prove myself worthy. I know talking about fear or being fearful is not considered a show of strength, but I have come to believe that acknowledging fear and dealing with it in a positive and constructive way is one of the major keys to living one's life in a more meaningful, fulfilling and successful way. Fear is extremely prevalent these days and we are all being forced to look it straight in the eye and make some pretty courageous decisions concerning how we are going to conduct the rest of our lives. I, for one, have chosen after deep deliberation to just say screw it and begin to live my life the way I have always wanted to; to embrace the horror and go after my hearts desire. What do I have to lose?

I've come to realize that I have lost so much already by hiding away, playing it safe, and never believing in myself enough to take any major risks in my life. When you come to realize that at any moment you could just buy it and be gone in an instant, you get the message that all we really have is today. Tomorrow may never come! If you love someone, tell them now. If you have something you really want to say, say it now! If you have always wanted to do something, do it now!! If you have an idea, concept or dream, please go out there and see what's possible or you may never taste the joy of discovering that you can really do it! The Truth is: The more you accomplish in your life, the more you will have to give to those you love and value in the world. The more you can give the more you will receive. The world is in desperate need right now for all our diverse talents and abilities and believe me when I say that until we all stand up and be counted, the world will just continue getting worse and worse.

When you really think about it you realize that the quality of your life is in direct proportion to your willingness to step out of the comfort zone and take committed action on that which you truly believe in. Working on the Battlestar Galactica trailer taught me that! I have never felt more alive or joyous than when I was risking it all and going for it. At the same time I was terrified of all the things that could go wrong. It's amazing what fear can do for you! You wake up! You're more present, in the moment! You have to be or you step off the cliff! I did things I never believed possible during the shoot and the courage and confidence I derived from the experience has led me to take on even bigger challenges including putting together my new Sci-Fi series entitled The Great War of Magellan. In my experience I have learned that fear can make us even more creative, dynamic and powerful if we are just willing to stop running and face it, feel it fully and use the incredible energy it generates to accomplish amazing things in our lives. It's amazing to discover that when we are forced to find solutions to so called impossible challenges, than somehow we find the courage to dig deep and come up with the goods.

Right now, most of us are afraid of what might happen in the near future to all that we hold dear. The events of September 11th were horrible. The truth is, there has always been a million ways to buy it and they happen every day. Planes do go down. People have heart attacks. You step off a curb and wham! So, what's different, except that maybe now we are being forced by such a major tragedy to realize that we have always been at risk; we just didn't realize it. The fact is we were more at risk before September 11th than after before. We were living our lives half asleep and going about our business, not seriously thinking that anything like this could ever happen to us. We were all too busy and involved in our own life's business to take heed of the warning signs. That's all changed now. We've had a serious wake up call and I think now that we are fully awake and attentive we will be able to prevent even worse things from happening. The truth is we minimize or eliminate risk when we are forced by fear to be more fully awake and taking full responsibility for our choices and actions. More people get hurt when they think they are safe and not paying attention than when they are in a supposedly dangerous situation. I'm sure you know that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is let's turn this tragedy into an opportunity to renew and regenerate our life and our world. Fear can become our friend and keep us on our toes so we can stop worrying about the little things and pay attention to what's really important in our lives. As far as I'm concerned fear is not the problem. The way we deal with it is, and we have a powerful choice to make right now. To be or not to be! "To live or not to live; to get our life back on course and really go for it or always wonder what could have been." Let's reclaim the power we have given away to some deeply disturbed human beings and show them what courage and the American spirit really means. In the end, how honorably we lived our life and the courageous choices we made will make all the difference. It won't really matter how long we lived; it'll just come down to what we know we truly accomplished with the years we were privileged and blessed with. Sorry to get so carried away, but I'm sure you can tell that these times are deeply affecting me.

As to Battlestar Galactica and what's going on I have to say this: Obviously we have all been in the dark for some time. I believe the powers that be have chosen to keep things quiet until they have lined up all their ducks in a row and are ready to rumble. That makes sense. Believe me, I have come to appreciate on a very small level how difficult it is to put together a project of the scope and size of Battlestar Galactica. I'm sure that Tom DeSanto and Bryan Singer, along with the rest of their team, are working overtime to get it all together and bring you the best Battlestar Galactica they are capable of.

In my experience, I have learned that it is very wise to hold back information until you are absolutely certain that everything is in place and you know what you're talking about. I'm also sure that they want to surprise you with whatever they're doing. And that, of course, is very difficult in this business. Whatever the case, we'll all just have to wait and see what they come up with. I, for one, have decided that no matter what happens, I am not going to sit in judgment of what they feel is the best course for the show. As I said before they have earned the right to explore their own vision, although I still feel in my heart that a classic like Battlestar Galactica truly belongs to the fans that have believed in and supported this show for the past twenty-three years. You are the ones they have to satisfy if they are to be successful. You have more power than you know and I hope you will use it wisely.

My own opinions are well documented and now I think it is time for all of you to speak your minds loud and clear. It's not about me, or my vision for the show anyway. It's about "what do you want to see? What is most important to you?!" Once again I have done everything in my power to bring this show back as have many of you and I'm thankful for all your love, support and tireless efforts. The issue is now that Universal has decided to bring the show back with Tom and Bryan at the helm it is only appropriate and honorable for me to leave the fate of the show to the only people that can make a difference in it's outcome and that is you and them. I'm not going away and will always support Battlestar Galactica in every way that I can because I *believe* in it and want the *best* for it.

As you know, I have fought long and hard for what I believe are your wishes which include bringing back the original cast with a new generation born in space, plus an updated storyline. That may not be the direction they decide to go in. To tell the truth, even if they decided to just use me or Dirk, or a few of the other stars, I don't know if I would be still be happy, because in my heart, I would still feel as if the real Battlestar still had not come back. Maybe that's just hanging on to the past, but I don't believe so, as I have seen time and again fans of a particular classic cheer loudly when they see their favorite stars back in their roles again. But who knows? Even if they decide to go in another direction and leave the original cast out entirely they may still come up with a great show -- and I have to respect that. It won't be the Battlestar that I and many others love, but it could still be a great show in it's own right.

It's just sad to me that the studio couldn't have decided to give the majority of fans what they really want with the original cast -- then do spin offs, like Star Trek did, later on. In my mind, one would have laid the groundwork for the others and have created a more fan-friendly bridge to the future. Well, it's truly in your hands now. Sooner or later, they will have to listen to you and take your feelings into account.

Just know that no matter what happens, I am very pleased that Battlestar Galactica is finally coming back with such talented and visionary artist at the helm. I'm not going to go into any additional explanations right now about some of my feelings as I am going to answer a lot of questions that have been given to me by the fans in a special Q&A section on my web sites. By the way, as far as I know, they are planning to begin shooting the pilot for a new series on or about December 11 for a period of two months.

For those of you who have been trying to buy my third Battlestar Galactica book, "Resurrection”: I have been told that it is sold out at many bookstores. As far as I know they are back ordered and hopefully the publisher will do a second printing. For those of you have bought gold signed limited editions for my first two books and want to get one for book three, you should let me know as soon as possible as I only have a limited number left. There may be more later, but right now no one is sure. Additionally, my fourth Battlestar Galactica novel, tentatively titled "Revolution", is now being put together and should be out in the spring.

Please check out my new The Great War of Magellan web page (http://www.greatwarofmagellan.com) where you can get a sneak preview of my new Sci-Fi project which I have been working on for about two years now. I'm in the editing stage and will be playing it shortly after the New Year at a convention near you. In the coming weeks, you will be seeing interviews with my creative team and some shots from the trailer. It's such a relief to be working on a project that I own and don't have to beg for the rights to.

It gives me the opportunity to gather together all the wonderful and talented writers, artists and actors that I have always wanted to work with. I can't tell you how much I have learned about life and the profound journey that we are all on these past several years. They say if you really want to grow quickly as a human being, then get married, start a business and have a child. Well, I've finally got the first and second part started, now I guess I'll just have to wait for the right relationship to find me.

By the way, I'm still looking for artists, CGI guys or ladies, plus writers. The best way to show your work is to submit your stories for our Battlestar Galactica anthology series. The same goes for the artists. Any professional quality sci-fi art will do; just submit it via our guidelines at BattlestarGalactica.com. Who knows? Maybe we'll even post it on the web site, too.

Well that's all for now. I'll be talking to you soon. Don't forget to check out the Q&A section -- and if you have questions of your own that are not answered, then let me know.

Remember: "Keep the faith!"

Richard Hatch

RICHARD'S LATEST

9 November 2001

Special greetings to one and all,

Even though I just posted my November newsletter, I felt it necessary to immediately address the most recent, dramatic and confusing turn of events that seem to have thrown the new Battlestar Galactica production into a tailspin.

First of all, my personal feeling not withstanding, I still believe in Battlestar Galactica with all my heart, mind and soul. I will always believe in this heroic story and it's epic journey to the stars, irrespective of whether I, or any of the other original stars, are onboard. I believe in Tom DeSanto, whom I have come to know both as an extraordinary human being and a very courageous producer. He is, in fact, the only high profiled producer I know who has not only recognized the inherent potential of Galactica, but more importantly, has had the guts to take on the extremely challenging powers that be; to accomplish what most in his field believe to be an impossible and fruitless task. That monumental task is his heartfelt goal and passion of bringing back this wonderful show in the best way he knows how. I can only take off my hat and applaud his efforts.

Unknown to many people both inside and out of the industry, Tom is the one who truly initiated this project and deserves the lions' share of the credit for getting this production on the fast track to realization. As a result of his efforts I have chosen to give my full support to helping him bring back this show and am asking all of you to do the same.

We obviously all have our personal vision and ideas about where we think the show should go but the most important issue at hand is first just getting the show back on the air in what ever way is most feasible. That doesn't mean we don't express our opinions or points of view, it just means that we don't let our personal viewpoints get in the way of accomplishing the larger vision.

I'm sure you all know that but if you are as passionate as me than you know how carried away we can get with what we believe in. That aside I'm sure most of you know by now that Bryan Singer has had to drop out as the director of the pilot. He had a prior commitment to direct X-Men 2, and as a result of the unfortunate timing and scheduling of the Battlestar Galactica pilot, he has had to turn his attentions to his prior commitment. As a result of his departure and the delays it may cost the production, Fox has decided to move on for the time being to prepare for their next fall's schedule. Nothing is certain, but Fox's deal with Tom and Galactica could be restructured in the near future and put back on the fast track. Keep your fingers crossed! If not, then I believe all things happen for a reason and maybe there is a more viable and supportive place for Battlestar Galactica where it has a real chance to succeed.

Please remember that these things happen all the time with many new shows -- and that Tom is still working overtime to forge a new deal that may be even better than the last one. The point is thank God we have a producer like Tom who doesn't give up and is willing to go to the mat to achieve his goals regardless of the obstacles. I know he's fighting hard for all of us and truly wants this new production of Galactica to reflect what we all believe in. Unfortunately, due to many egos and points of view on the subject, it may take time for Tom to unfold his own unique vision for the show -- and I know this can be very difficult for those of us who have our own unique vision for the story. However, I believe that if we can all be patient and supportive while continuing to give honest and constructive feedback to the production staff we will ultimately triumph and CO-create together the show that we have been waiting twenty-three years for.

Please continue to write your e-mails and letters, and sign the petitions to let Fox and the rest of the industry know we are still out there en masse, passionate, dedicated and steadfast and that we will not go away until they give us what we all want and deserve.

Keep the faith -- and Tom, we're all behind you! Go out there and kick some ass! Talk to all of you soon.

Richard Hatch

RICHARD'S LATEST

26 December 2001

Hello everyone!

We, here at BattlestarGalactica.com and RichardHatch.com, want to wish all of you a very special Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. This has been a very trying and heart breaking year for many of you. And I just want all of you to know that we send our prayers and best wishes that January 1, 2002 brings you the beginning of the very best years of your life.

Someone once said, "That the greatest thing in the whole world is just to love, and be loved in return." I definitely agree. I have worked my ass off my entire life to overcome my issues and create something meaningful in this world after some very big ups and downs. I have discovered the only thing that is truly meaningful is the love I have given and received along the way. We all get so caught up in stuff! The stuff that clutters and obscures what is most important to us all. I love this time of year because it really pushes me to stop the car, get off the road and reconnect to my soul, heart and spirit and more importantly to my good friends and family. Sure, it can be depressing at times because we have to face and come to terms with some of our unresolved issues, but I have come to welcome this particularly stressful period because it gives me the opportunity to address, resolve and let go of the bullshit that I will no longer except in my life. Life is too short to hold grudges, to constantly do battle and war with the many inequities in our lives. Too short to spend one more moment wasting valuable energy on that which we can't change or alter directly.

As a result of my epiphany, I have come to value the proverbial moment; because it is the only thing I truly have control over. I have come to the revelation that each and every moment in my life is an opportunity for me to make new choices on what I will except, create or reject in my life; on what I will focus my energy, talents and abilities on. I can only live in the moment now because I am tired of living in the past and tired of fearing the future. You see, I have painfully discovered that the degree of energy, commitment, heart and love that I give to each moment impacts and shapes the next moment for good or for bad -- and eventually creates my tomorrow, which in time obviously becomes my past. Therefore, I have learned to live each moment fully, sucking the marrow out of life as it were; no longer waiting for my ship to come in or to reach the goal line because the present moments in my life have become filled with excitement, adventure and a hell of a lot more fun and fulfillment than I have could have ever dreamed of. Well, my New Year's sermon is over. What words of wisdom do you guys have to share? Any words, quotes or inspiration will be appreciated. And just maybe we'll print it on this page. Try to keep it short and to the point, but communicate it from your heart, not just your mind.

By the way, the latest inside news on Battlestar Galactica is that it's still alive and in pre-production. They're still searching for a new director and television network, but will most likely be making some announcements in January 2002. So keep your fingers crossed and continue to communicate your support for the show. I will be attending some new Sci-Fi conventions in the coming year and will be playing the completed trailer for my new Sci-Fi project entitled Magellan in addition to the Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming trailer. We have been working almost two years on this; my team and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have also completed the script and bible for the series, and I'm looking forward to sharing this with all of you in the coming year. I've discovered that although I love acting in projects that are challenging and impacting, I really have a compelling need to express myself through writing, directing and producing. There is such joy to bringing people together to create something amazing.

In addition to working on Battlestar Galactica and Magellan I'm also going to be teaching and lecturing around the country this year on "Mastering Fear and Turning Adversity into Success Fulfillment and Happiness." I'll be sharing my own personal story and journey to rebuild my life after almost losing everything. So continue to check out this and my own personal web site for updates and information on where, how and when to attend.

My fourth Battlestar Galactica novel, "Rebellion," will be out in June or July 2002. We will be promoting it shortly. If you haven't found any copies of my last Battlestar Galactica novel, "Resurrection," in your area, be advised that we only have a limited number of books left. If you're interested in getting yours, please do it soon. I also want to apologize to a few of you because of the late delivery of your special gold signed, limited edition of my Battlestar Galactica novel via RichardHatch.com. The events of September 11 have created havoc with the mail, but things are finally getting back to normal -- and the rest of you will be receiving your orders on-time.

Additionally, please check out our new The Great War of Magellan web site (www.greatwarofmagellan.com) soon as we'll be streaming some clips from the new Magellan trailer. Talk about living what I preach! What a ride this project has been. I wish you all the incredible experience of bringing a group of dedicated people together to create something from your heart. It's the only way I want to live my life from now on. I wish you all the courage to go out there and live your dream. Keep the faith and share your love and unique gifts and talents with the world. The world is missing you.

Well, that's it for now. Once again, my team and I just want to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for hanging in there with us and giving Battlestar Galactica and your very own Battlestar Galactica web site all your love and support. My special thanks to Chris, Shawn and numerous others for giving so much of their valuable time to create their own Battlestar Galactica sites, and especially to my good friend and compatriot, Michael Faries, for his tireless and unswerving dedication to bringing Battlestar Galactica back to the recognition it deserves. You guys are the best. To the rest of you, all my love.

Richard Hatch

 

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