Letter from Ronald D Moore to the fans

February 24th, 2003, 07:17 PM

By Ronald D. Moore

February 24, 2003

Here lies a slumbering giant, its name known to many, its voice remembered by but a few. For a brief moment, it strode the Earth, telling tall tales of things that never were, then stumbled over a rating point and fell into a deep sleep.

I think there's life in that old giant. But I think that just poking him with a stick and expecting him to leap to his feet and resume his journey as if no time had passed would serve only to hasten his final death throes. He needs a makeover. Especially that '70s hair.

So we've set out to bring the old boy back to life and give him a new look and a new outlook on life. And we're going to ask him to tell his stories again, from the beginning. Tell them again, but this time go deeper. See, we were young once and when the old guy spun his tales of Apollo and Starbuck, we were satisfied with clear-cut heroes and nakedly evil villains. But we're older now. We've eaten a lot of popcorn over the years. We're ready for a bigger meal. Make the story more complicated. Make the people less black and white. Challenge us, provoke us, grab us by the throat with those massive hands and dare us to invest ourselves in flawed characters who face ambiguous choices in an imperfect world. Dare us to root for heroes with all-too-human weaknesses. See if we'll still embrace them if they fall prey to their imperfections.

Ask us to care for human beings instead of caricatures.

"Our goal is nothing less than the reinvention of the science-fiction television series."

With those words leading the way, I turned in the final draft of Battlestar Galactica. Bold words, perhaps. Arrogant even. But they accurately describe the ambition driving this project:

We believe you can explore adult themes with adult characters and still tell a ripping good yarn.

We believe that to portray human beings as flawed creations does not weaken them, it strengthens them.

We believe that bringing realism to science fiction is neither contradictory nor a fool's errand.

We believe that science fiction provides an opportunity to explore our own society, to provoke debate and to challenge our perceptions of ourselves and our fellow Man.

We believe science fiction can still be relevant.

We believe all these things and more.

If you agree with us, then this is the show for you. If not, then thanks for coming, but the popcorn is in a different aisle.

Over the course of the next year, this site will bring you news and updates on the Battlestar Galactica miniseries as it is shot and produced. Our aim is to provide you with unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to photos, storyboards, early story outlines, script pages, conceptual artwork, interviews, live Webcasts from the set, even preliminary cuts of scenes. You'll get to see things that are normally kept under tight lock and key — we're going to do this in an open, inclusive way. Let you see the process. See the mistakes and hopefully see the triumphs as well.

Stick around, it's going to be a helluva ride.

Ronald D. Moore
Executive Producer / Screenwriter

February 24th, 2003, 07:25 PM

Here is my favorite statments

Quote:

Originally posted by Scooter2000

Here lies a slumbering giant, its name known to many, its voice remembered by but a few.

I think that just poking him with a stick and expecting him to leap to his feet and resume his journey as if no time had passed would serve only to hasten his final death throes. He needs a makeover. Especially that '70s hair.

Ask us to care for human beings instead of caricatures.

"Our goal is nothing less than the reinvention of the science-fiction television series."

With those words leading the way, I turned in the final draft of Battlestar Galactica. Bold words, perhaps. Arrogant even. But they accurately describe the ambition driving this project:

We believe that bringing realism to science fiction is neither contradictory nor a fool's errand.

If you agree with us, then this is the show for you. If not, then thanks for coming, but the popcorn is in a different aisle.

Stick around, it's going to be a helluva ride.

Is it me or did this guy just giive us the middle finger?

Micheleh · February 24th, 2003, 07:30 PM

LOL! You go, Scooter! That's exactly what I just typed in another post- it's pretty obvious, isnt it? His entire argument is nothing more than justification and defense.

February 24th, 2003, 08:45 PM

Originally posted by Micheleh
"But is this an X-file, Mulder? "

Micheleh if your a fellow X-Philes like myself I could really use your help.

Micheleh · February 24th, 2003, 08:53 PM

Sure, let's get them! I think Ron Moore is really Cancer Man, myself. But who is the mysterious Korn Fan?

February 24th, 2003, 09:19 PM

Please stand by for my pm

Micheleh · February 24th, 2003, 09:36 PM

Ok. I'll put a tape x on my window and wait.

February 24th, 2003, 09:42 PM

It's sent.

X is dead remember?

Micheleh · February 24th, 2003, 09:44 PM

On that show, that doesn't mean they can't still drop by for tea. Mulder and Scully were always digging up empty graves and finding little notes saying "gone fishing", "out to abduction", "at Apocalypse, leave a message", and similar.

The Blue Mule · February 24th, 2003, 10:04 PM

Hi All!

Wow my computer has been out for a bit, I come back and there is this slime all over my flat screen monitor, then I looked closely,...heh heh heh it was a Moore!
Wow I'm speachless! I can not believe what he wrote.....still shaking my head.

Looks like Moore hit the nail on the head though about caricatures, you see WE are ones watching a caricature of a writer who thinks he actually cares about what he's writing. Good Observation Moore whats next a Freudian slip in what turns out to be your sexual fantasies.

Anyone get the feeling that we are in an episode of Red Dwarf?
I feel like we are strolling through the subconscious mind terrain of Moore's Psy-Moon(I wont go into details)

"That 70's hair" Yeah like Moore would felgercarb on any producer with that kind of hair, whats next Bald people are just to 90's for my tastes?
Moore this such a weak,weak,weak argument and tired,to judge a book by its cover,.....I'm sick of this judging BSG by it's hair, sets, rushed production values,this is the approach taken by amatures with no understanding of film,and yet this guy is hearlded as a "pro",yea just like the pro's who wrote directed and acted in the film "Over the Top"

Man this guys a Wreck!

I'm with you Micheleh no more talk about New BSG, celebrate the original with all its faults and build upon it to achieve a world of wonder,where dark characters can become complex,where positive heros can brood and loath their predicament,or live a life in jubilation there is no reason that tha original Galactica can not move forward it's not the characters that is cliche, they can grow,but it's the starwars and it,s comic book aproach that is tired, again ill say it, galactica has a stigma attached to it from all the wrong people, Producers, who are too blind to look into the light of creativity that is BattlestarGalactica!

Tired,sore and losing hope....

Richard E. Kranz

February 24th, 2003, 10:05 PM

Talk about Skinner at that forum if it's in your heart that's great stuff.

Go for it!

jewels · February 24th, 2003, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Micheleh
....it's pretty obvious, isnt it? His entire argument is nothing more than justification and defense.

Note the defensiveness: If he's won, he needent defend his course of action. They (scifi) are all still fighting TOO hard for the game to be over.

THAT is why we need to write. (AGAIN) The letters in December mattered. They got us here. And here is not the end. The fat lady's understudy is also in makeup and neither the fat lady or the understudy are ready to take the stage yet.

Tell Mr. Diller how much you like the original and why it stands the test of time. Then tell him what you want in light of the solid info from KornFan, TwoBrain and others.

Even the Martian High Council dude had some truth in his gloat. (and I found his bad grammar suspect at 1st) Look at it really hard. Compare it to Korn Fan's info. Cut out the 1st sentence (its not about folks we know, anyway: pro-bono means no one gets paid) and look really hard for friends of BSG in that corporate muddle he's spewing. He's fighting TOO HARD to have won the fight already, Do you see it, or am I nuts?

One candle vanquishes darkness. And it can't be hid under a bushel basket without burning the basket.

Never Surrender. I got the one on the left. Never give up.
This one is for Lorne. and John. and Jonathan. and Lloyd. and Leslie (Stevens).

DarkJedi · February 25th, 2003, 12:34 AM

"So we've set out to bring the old boy back to life and give him a new look and a new outlook on life. And we're going to ask him to tell his stories again, from the beginning. Tell them again, but this time go deeper. See, we were young once and when the old guy spun his tales of Apollo and Starbuck, we were satisfied with clear-cut heroes and nakedly evil villains. But we're older now. We've eaten a lot of popcorn over the years. We're ready for a bigger meal. Make the story more complicated. Make the people less black and white. Challenge us, provoke us, grab us by the throat with those massive hands and dare us to invest ourselves in flawed characters who face ambiguous choices in an imperfect world. Dare us to root for heroes with all-too-human weaknesses. See if we'll still embrace them if they fall prey to their imperfections. "

Uhm, ok but we liked our show the way it was. Apollo *and* Starbuck *both* male and living up the life the best they could. And they did have their all too human weaknesses. Starbuck was gambling, booze, his smoking and GIRLS!!! Apollo's was living in the shadow of his father, dealing with Zak's death and the death of his wife and now to bring up his adopted son. Adama's was knowing that all eyes were on him and very heavily too as the all looked to him for leadership when he himself was not always sure on where they were going and on what to do. So I don't know what show he was watching not to think the original did not have this portrayed.

"We believe that bringing realism to science fiction is neither contradictory nor a fool's errand."

If you bring realism into scienc fiction then it is no longer science fiction. If I wanted to see a show that was not Scifi then I would go watch something on the regular channels. No offense but I am really beginning to wonder if he truly understands what science fiction is. If not then he has no right writing things for it.

"We believe you can explore adult themes with adult characters and still tell a ripping good yarn."

Geez I feel dirty just reading that. If I want *that* much adult content then I will just go rent a dirty movie or something.

"If you agree with us, then this is the show for you. If not, then thanks for coming, but the popcorn is in a different aisle."

Back at ya pal! If that wasn't a middle finger to the fans I don't know what is. Man is this guy full of himself or what!! And he keeps saying "we". I sure as heck would like to know who he is talking about. Cause it sure as heck is not the fans.

"I had a responsibility to the material and the source of the material.
... And I think the fans--while they may be disappointed that the series won't go forward--would have been more disappointed if we had made a series that contradicted the world that Anne had created and was so wonderful."

"I have no regrets, and I'm glad Anne's property is still Anne's
property and won't have been damaged in any way"

-Ronald D. Moore-"

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad that she took the power away from you. Oh yes, Mr Moore. Fans talk at conventions. The truth is out there. Anne took it from you when it was going the way she wanted it to. Too bad there isn't anyone like her to defend us to keep you from destroying our show.

All I can say about this letter is OMG! What a pompass *censored*!!!!! He just shot himself in the foot with the neos from what I understand. What a wonderful way to win fans to your support!!! Didn't he ever hear of the saying "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar"? That letter you just wrote is nothing but vinegar. And it reeks of it too!!! Or is that your ego that is so huge right now? I promised to be nice in my post so I better go now before I can't tame my words anymore than I already have.

Kristi
the DarkJedi

DarkJedi · February 25th, 2003, 12:37 AM

Uhm small error to be fixed... Anne took it from you when it wasn't going the way she wanted it to.

ooops!!!! sorry!! I guess I was so mad when I wrote this. lol

kristi

dah66 · February 25th, 2003, 05:42 AM

What happened to Ron Moore? I used to respect this guy.

I have read his script and believe that the "awakened giant" has slipped on a banana peel and suffered a massive concussion.

I find his comments horribly insulting. Confidence can be an attractive feature. However, it gets down right unsightly when it crosses the line into arrogance. Ron is well over that line.

And what's with all those "we believe" statements. It reminds me of the old "I believe" skit that Steve Martin performed years ago. Actually, in that bit Mr. Martin stated that he believed that robots were stealing his luggage. Maybe that is where Ron got his inspiration for his unintentionally humorous script.

"If you agree with us, then this is the show for you. If not, then thanks for coming, but the popcorn is in a different aisle."

Yeah, thanks for the tip. Only I plan on shopping at a different store.

Dave

westy 79 · February 25th, 2003, 10:15 AM

Popcorn tastes better than bullfelgercarb any day!

Dan

Hito · February 25th, 2003, 10:20 AM

Not microwave popcorn when u leave it in for too long.

And the smell...

Afan2 · February 25th, 2003, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scooter2000
By Ronald D. Moore

Here lies a slumbering giant, its name known to many, its voice remembered by but a few. For a brief moment, it strode the Earth, telling tall tales of things that never were, then stumbled over a rating point and fell into a deep sleep.

He's talking about Roswell, right?

Artemis · February 25th, 2003, 12:32 PM

He is talking about Galactica but I don't know what he means about the "rating point", it never fell out of the top ten in the ratings.

AlternityOrange · February 25th, 2003, 12:38 PM

Odd, I thought he was talking about his own career.

February 25th, 2003, 02:05 PM

Hopefully in a year, he wont have a career.

Hito · February 25th, 2003, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scooter2000
Hopefully in a year, he wont have a career.

Artemis · February 25th, 2003, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scooter2000
Hopefully in a year, he wont have a career.

Just because you don't like his current project doesn't mean he can't do good work. He has done a lot of good writing in the past. Don't you think that wishing someone's career into ruin over one project is a bit excessive?
As Hito said "

"

February 25th, 2003, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Artemis

Just because you don't like his current project doesn't mean he can't do good work. He has done a lot of good writing in the past. Don't you think that wishing someone's career into ruin over one project is a bit excessive?
As Hito said " "

Why don't you just stand next to Moore and join him in his middle finger salute to this fandom that kept the spirit alive for 25 years.

Go read his letter to the fans again

Go start your own thread praising Saint Ronald and stop raining in on a thread of insulted fans.

As for wishing someone's career into ruin, it serves anyone who doesn't do his or her job correctly to not have a career.

And to Hito who chooses to take a shot at me with his eye rolling gesture at me, listen up buddy!

I've been rolling my eyes since the first time I encountered your presence.

At least I chose to do so in private. You on the other hand like to start trouble.

February 25th, 2003, 07:02 PM

I am new to this form and all i can say is i hate the r.d.m. project
and not only will not watch this b*astard rip off of a great
show i will not watch any show r.d.m. is associated with
as for his great writing skills i have yet to see any

XANATOS

February 25th, 2003, 07:31 PM

Welcome XANATOS,

Win or lose Moore will get what's coming.

Noone with that kind of attitude can last forever in this business.

BTW Did you read Ron's letter on top?

February 25th, 2003, 08:32 PM

thanks for the welcome and i sure did it was just another slap in the face
not quite as bad as remakeing a great show
and haveing the script bear no resemblence
to the original and telling the fans they should be happy
with this crap

XANATOS

repcisg · February 25th, 2003, 10:30 PM

Not only RDM give us his middle finger, he used his other hand to make sure it was at maximum length.

Artemis · February 26th, 2003, 11:02 AM

I never claimed to agree with the way Moore has changed BG. I have liked his past work on DS9 and other projects. His job is not to please the fans it is to write a screen play and just because he wrote something you don't like doesn't mean he should be burned at the stake. I have not read the script so I can't make a fair judgement on it. Following your logic, if everyone who has made a mistake or wrote a bad project should loose their career then the unemployment rates would be soaring. I think your remark over stepped the bounds of common decency, and I hope you never enter the field of biology because I know I am not perfect and I would like to keep my job.

Hito · February 26th, 2003, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scooter2000

And to Hito who chooses to take a shot at me with his eye rolling gesture at me, listen up buddy!

I've been rolling my eyes since the first time I encountered your presence.

At least I chose to do so in private. You on the other hand like to start trouble.

you seem a little bitter.
would u like to walk about it?