DeSanto's Continuation and YOUR PART!

[BlueSquad2001]

:colonial: If you were given the chance to speak one on one with Tom DeSanto.....???? :colonial:
1. What would you say about the Galactica continuation project that has been on hold for far too long? 2. How would you voice your hopes and concerns for the series? and 3. How would you as a fan of the original series, want the continuation to be done?
Let's hear from the fans of the original series and their heartfelt thoughts on this, and remember, answer this question as if you were on the phone with Tom DeSanto for 7 minutes and he wanted to hear your thoughts on this. :salute:

[KamikazeAthena]

First, I would want to thank him for haninging in there on this one and for all of the good intentions he has, as well as let him know that the true fans trust and respect him.

As far as the furture goes, the continuation needs to keep the feel of the old show and stress hope and mythology. Without that, it is not Galactica.

Mythology wise, there should be a continuous stream of similarities between the colonials and earthlings. Maybe some tie-ins with the Greeks or Romans, or the lost city of Atlantis.

The costumes need to continue to reflect earth pasts, just as the old warrior costumes had similarities to the Egyptians.

The Cylons need to be more advanced than they were in the old show and need to be somehow also compatable with the Cylons of GINO, just in case there is any type of crossover and to be sure that the brand does not get totally confused.

A episode of Cylon history would be great. We somehow need Cylon character development.

Could we digitally bring back John Colicos as Baltar for a few scenes? We need some closure there. He can't simply be dead or "altered." Maybe he is a mechanical Cylon and his voice is digitally edited in. He can then be bumped off quickly.

For characters, I like what Richard has done. Apollo in power makes sense as does people always fighting him about the actions he takes. I would like to see him in a relationship. I want to say with Sheba but that might be too predictable. I liked the concept of him and Cassie because it was so odd, yet it somehow makes sense. It would also add for interesting tension with Starbuck, who still needs to be his rogue "brother". Maybe Starbuck and Cassie never really happened because she just got fed up and then he decided that she was not the one. This leads the way for some interesting female characters and conflicts. Also, we need to see more of Starbuck's hate for the Cylons. There was a great passion of hate there that should be expanded.

Speaking of brothers, working Zach and Serina in would be good but it can't be hokey. I like Richard's Lords Of Kobal ideas with that. It could work. Besides, you need the Ship of Lights.

Boomer should be developed more. In one of the original novelizations of the show, it is revealed that Boomer used to do the eqivalent of hot wiring cars and that he grew the tobacco (or whatever it is) for Starbucks fumarellos. I want to see more of that side.

Let's have Cassie deal with her past a bit, just because now we can have some of that on TV. Nothing over the top, but maybe we need to see her pull out some "resources" at some point. If it is done tastefully, the fans would like feeling that a gap was filled.

There needs to be a good story as to why Athena is not there. She should not be replaced.

Sheba needs to be in a position of power. Maybe strategic command.

Bojay, Greenbean, and especially Jolly all need to have appearances or good reasons why they are not there. The cannot be forgotten.

No character gets brought back unless they are played by the original actor.
I think I could go on forever. Basically, I would ask him to stay true. :salute:

[ernie90125]

Tom DeSanto is the hero to many in this fanbase.....I am sure he knows that, but no harm reminding him !

Also might be nice to point out that the New Show has, as Ron D Moore noted, introduced some fans to the world of Galactica, fans such as Tabitha who have chosen to side with TOS fans. Our fanbase is always growing !

The one thing I was keen on, from reading Bill Gordon's interview with him on CA, was this whole 'Ship of Lights' giving the Galactica incorrect co-ordinates idea. I think it was very poorly thought out, and didn't fit with the original show.

What about if the Fleet actually found Earth - but the Cylons had beaten them to it and destroyed the planet ?

The Galactica can still stop off at a planet, or turn and go back the way they came. But destroying Earth would be a very challenging storyline on the Fleet's purpose, whilst not having to use that clumsy Ship of Lights story.

I loved the updates he seemed to do with the Vipers etc, I'm sure we're all behind him, and one day it will happen..........

Oh yeah........and don't forget to check out www.battlestarfanfilms.com Tom !!!!!!!!!!!

[braxiss]

i would ask him to do the continuation in an animated form (similar to appleseed). in that form all charactors could return and the story line picked up exactly where it left off. i like the idea off a cylon story line, their told needs to be told. i do think some of the charactors need to pass away, exspecialy if the story line makes a majar jump. it would also be interesting to see the ship of lights return with appearances of serina, zach, maybe even a repentant baltar. there are endless possiblity's but in my opinion anime is the best way to continue tos.

[ernie90125]

Animation is a great way to fill in the gap between The Original Series(live action) and a Continuation(which I also want to see as live action)

Don't get me wrong, any TOS production true to the original would get my support....but I really really really (really) want to see Apollo and Starbuck back....as live action.

[Sept17th]

First I would plug my fan film and mention it takes place sometime after Han of God and before his original continuation series. Then I’d ask him to let me get my hands on his conceptual art so I could incorporate some ideas showing the evolution between the two series.

Second, now that **** is cancelled I’m sure its tiny 1.6 million fanbase will be screaming for a continuation of that feldercarb. What aspects of **** would you feel compelled by the studios or otherwise to include in your version of Battlestar?

Third, Tom I know you get Battlestar Galactica, you respect it, and you understand its potential was never properly realized. You grew up a fan of the franchise, gives us a smart sophisticated Battlestar with the warmth, hope and mystery it deserves. Put the “Battlestar” back in Battlestar Galactica, it should look and sound like Battlestar Galactica. Be more open to the fans this time around, lets us toot your horn but always stay in touch with your inner-fan and make it YOUR Battlestar Galactica. Finally and perhaps most important if you can’t go big epic theatre release do twice yearly TV Movie specials stay away from the studio politics and pressure of a weekly TV series.

[BlueSquad2001]

I can promise with all of my being, that ALL of your names and replies here will be made known to Tom. He would love it! :salute:

[peter noble]

I'd just like him to know that him and Glen should try and work through their differences and come up with something that will knock everybody's socks off. It's all about give and take.

Best,

Peter

[Sept17th]

I'd just like him to know that him and Glen should try and work through their differences and come up with something that will knock everybody's socks off. It's all about give and take.
Best,

Peter

Jolly...ahh-err Peter you speak the wisdom of the lords.

[peter noble]

Jolly...ahh-err Peter you speak the wisdom of the lords.

Okay, I may be losing my hair but I'm not fat! :D

[ernie90125]

Oh yeah....

Request to Tom 1 :
Were any other (apart from Foundation) concept trailers made for your Continuation, and please could you to get permission to share them with the fanbase ? (and on my www.battlestarfanfilms.com website) This would mean a lot to us.....

Request to Tom 2 :
Please would you write a paragraph, if agreeable, encouraging fans to explore their creativity and the BSG universe through fanfilms.....if you're willing I would like to include this on my site as an endorsement of fans exploring their creative abilities. You don't need to mention my site in it, but if you do it would be much appreciated !!!

Would also love to know if Tom has watched any BSG fanfilms, and if so what he thought ?

BSG for the fans, by the fans......and I'm really pleased Tom is one of us !

[BlueSquad2001]

These are all fantastic replies. :salute:

[spcglider]

Seven minutes? I can't type that fast! LOL.

But seriously, there are some big questions to be answered... and NOT just about the storyline specifics of this character or that character.

The original show, whether or not we want to admit it, was geared towards a younger audience. It was simplistic and carried a certain amount of naive innocence in it's overall bearing. Much like the western shows of the 1950's and 1960's.

And contrary to popular belief, there's NOTHING wrong with that.

One of the most troubling aspects today when folks re-do old properties is that they feel it's necessary to give everything the "Darknight Returns" treatment. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the Frank Miller Batman as much as the next guy, but it set the standard for this sort of thing. Anyone seen the "re-imagining" of Space Ghost? No, I'm not talking about Space Ghost Coast To Coast (which I didn't like either because it was far too into itself being all clever-clever) but the new comic series? They turned Space Ghost into something out of Heavy Metal Magazine. I personally thought it stunk. They refused to simply allow the property to be what it was. they had to go screw around with it to make it "edgy" and "dark".

There's nothing wrong with embroidery and embellishment, but to change the fundamental basis of a property just to satisfy a bunch of immature 30-something executives who want everything to look like BladeRunner is pathetic.

Okay, so examples:

GOOD: The Phantom (with Billy Zane). Good embellishment. Good script. Respected the original material and gave us a good-for-most-ages movie. A great example because it represents a "venerated property" with fans worldwide.

The Rocketeer. More of the same. Changed some stuff from the comic, but was overall an excellent film. And it didn't need to be "dark".

He Man and the MOTU Movie. Highly embellished, but still fun to watch. Instead of trying to over-work the whole story, they kept it simple and didn't dwell on the minutia. It was all about the big-picture battle between He Man and Skeletor and the coming-of-age/fantasy story of the two young earth characters (Courtney Cox and that guy who played Tom Paris on ST: Voyager).

Transformers Movie (animated). They progressed the characters from the cartoon show, they told a fairly good quest story, they introduced new transformers to continue the series, and provided a smart, intelligently dialogued script that was watchable by kids and adults alike.

BAD:

Captain America movie. The one starring Matt Salinger. They started it off with a GREAT opening in WW2. Then they decided to make it a "modern" film so that the audiences (who have been reading Captain America for years) wouldn't get bored. Guess what? A WW2 movie is MUCH more interesting than watching Captian America tool around modern day Europe in a crappy little foreign car and some non-descript bimbo.

Batman Movies. Tim Burton stylized things so much that they bore no resemblance to reality. Then what's his name decided to put nipples on the batsuit. It was a horribly confused cacaphony of concepts like somebody took Frank Miller's idea and forced it to mate with the Adam West 60's tv show. Nuff said. Exception: Batman Begins.

Sci-Fi Battlestar. Evidently making a show "more adult" to "appeal to today's more sophisticated viewers" means having people sexing every two minutes. The premier came off like it was written by an angry teenager who thought that it would be great to have sex with a slut machine. And as we all know, you can control ANY male by offering him sex with a hot blonde. And what's with aliens in business suits?

I could go on. But my seven minutes are WAAAAY up.

-Gordon

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Does he know that episode 1 of the The Exodus Series is dedicated to him?


Sandy

[dilbertman]

Oh yeah....

Request to Tom 1 :
Were any other (apart from Foundation) concept trailers made for your Continuation, and please could you to get permission to share them with the fanbase ? (and on my www.battlestarfanfilms.com website) This would mean a lot to us.....

Request to Tom 2 :
Please would you write a paragraph, if agreeable, encouraging fans to explore their creativity and the BSG universe through fanfilms.....if you're willing I would like to include this on my site as an endorsement of fans exploring their creative abilities. You don't need to mention my site in it, but if you do it would be much appreciated !!!

Would also love to know if Tom has watched any BSG fanfilms, and if so what he thought ?

BSG for the fans, by the fans......and I'm really pleased Tom is one of us !
The answer to request 1 is yes there was other trailers made. One by I think Eden FX that Tom showed at Galacticon, if I remember right it was a huge farming ship? Plus the one of the Cylon homeworld. See bottom of page.

http://cylon.org/bsg/desanto-revival01.html

Jim :salute:

[Gemini1999]

To start with, I think that if I found myself in the company of Tom DeSanto, the best I could do is gape and stare unable to utter a comprehensive word.....!

(I'm going to ComiCon this July, so that just might happen if he's there)

I guess that I'm really not the kind of person to "order" what I want in a remake or continuation of BSG. I've seen what I don't want....., but I'ver read enough material and interviews to know that Tom "gets it". I'm one of those faithful folks that will wait patiently for the time when he gets the chance to tell the kind of story that he wants to tell and I know that there are plenty of folks that feelt the same as I do. Just hearing that this may yet still happen is enough to keep a small candle lit for a continuation story in whatever form it takes.

I'm not picky - it could be live action, anime or whatever. As long as it's ripping good story with great characters and quality visuals, Tom can do whatever he wants with BSG. I've got faith in that.

Hear that Tom? I'm waiting........patiently!

Best,
Bryan

[dilbertman]

To start with, I think that if I found myself in the company of Tom DeSanto, the best I could do is gape and stare unable to utter a comprehensive word.....!

(I'm going to ComiCon this July, so that just might happen if he's there)

I guess that I'm really not the kind of person to "order" what I want in a remake or continuation of BSG. I've seen what I don't want....., but I'ver read enough material and interviews to know that Tom "gets it". I'm one of those faithful folks that will wait patiently for the time when he gets the chance to tell the kind of story that he wants to tell and I know that there are plenty of folks that feelt the same as I do. Just hearing that this may yet still happen is enough to keep a small candle lit for a continuation story in whatever form it takes.

I'm not picky - it could be live action, anime or whatever. As long as it's ripping good story with great characters and quality visuals, Tom can do whatever he wants with BSG. I've got faith in that.

Hear that Tom? I'm waiting........patiently!

Best,
Bryan
I'm going to San Diego to, let get together one day. Will check with Tom to see if he's going to make it this year.

Jim

[BlueSquad2001]

I'm going to San Diego to, let get together one day. Will check with Tom to see if he's going to make it this year.

Jim
Okie Dokie Jim, let's hear your answer to this now. Tap...Tap...Tap...Tap..!!!! :D

[ernie90125]

The answer to request 1 is yes there was other trailers made. One by I think Eden FX that Tom showed at Galacticon, if I remember right it was a huge farming ship? Plus the one of the Cylon homeworld. See bottom of page.

http://cylon.org/bsg/desanto-revival01.html

Jim :salute:

Jim, I had seen the page before, but wsn't sure if there were only still images, or if there had been a trailer. Hearing one had been played at Galacticon rings a bell.

I think it would be great if the wider masses could see this trailer....and any of the "other trailers made" as their continued public appreciation can only support a Continuation !

So as above the second part of my request is could Tom please obtain permission and a copy for fans to display here and on my www.battlestarfanfilms.com website ?

Much appreciated !

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Ernie,

Those are stills from the Eden FX trailer. To my knowledge, that trailer hasn't been released. I got those shots when they became public shortly before Michaerl Faries disappearred from the scene.

Sandy

[ernie90125]

Sandy,

That is now what I understand the case to be...thanks to you and Jim for clarifying it.

I hope Tom will be able to arrange the not-for-profit release of the trailers through my website and/or other places of the Eden FX trailer and the..........."other trailers made".

As well as being very special treat(s) to us loyal fans, I think they would be (as Second Coming and Foundation were) inspiring and discussion generating topics.......and would help maintain the strong faith amongst us a Continuation can be visualised.

I hope its possible.......

[Gemini1999]

Those are stills from the Eden FX trailer. To my knowledge, that trailer hasn't been released. I got those shots when they became public shortly before Michael Faries disappearred from the scene.

Sandy -

If you need to chase Michael down, he's resurfaced again, but in another sector of fandom. He's been working on his Space1999.org website within the last month or so.

Bryan

[TwoBrainedCylon]

Thanks.

No need to chase after him. I asked Richard how he was doing and heard he was still doing OK, which was enough for me. If you bump into him, give him my best regards.

Sandy

[JSC1]

For me it would be hard to say.

True I would say that I support Tom DeSanto, because I believe he is the right man to bring back Battlestar Galactica.

But I also wonder how Tom would address the concerns of Ron Moore pirateing some of his stuff. i.e. the bat-like launching from a basestar and the 'use' of the 'settling on a planet' idea. Because I do think there would be some who would say 'Hey he stole that from Ron Moore', even though DeSanto came up with it first.

Some would probably call him 'the Great Ron Moore' but that's another story. ANd one I wouldn't believe since I don't find him all that 'great'.

Also if he rethought the Cylons as Borg idea, as it might have been too close to Star Trek.

I'd also recommend that he use the Exodus series and other fanfics as a reference to hammering out his concepts.