Saturday, March 31, 2012

In Retrospect, Universal Studios and SyFy Channel Will Always Be Remembered For Their Astonishing Stupidity in a Number of Areas





Science Fiction -

Some corporations can successfully do Science Fiction in movies and on television. Universal Studios / SyFy Channel never could, can't and never will. The numerous reasons why Universal / SyFy Channel can't include its general all around hatred of the genre, and the extremely bad habit they have always had in being "too hands on" in the development process of what is supposed to be Science Fiction. This corporation is so un-yielding and unbending in stamping every Science Fiction project they work on with its typical "status quo corporate perceptions" of what they think Science Fiction should be, that it always drowns out what is supposed to be a developmental environment of creativity, inspired thinking, and fresh ideas. And what always ultimately results is this sort of post-apocalyptic cynicism in everything they do. Post-apocalyptic cynicism we have seen thousands of times before from everyone trying to imitate Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" and "Alien."

Battlestar Galactica -

The astonishing idiocy this corporation continues to show towards the "Battlestar Galactica" property after 34 years never lets up. Universal / SyFy Channel had their slimy corporate hands all over Ronald D. Moore's failed remake of the successful 1978 series. Gutting everything that made the original show what it was, and being absolutely insistent that Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" and "Alien", along with Paramount Pictures "Star Trek" be emulated and borrowed from every step of the way. What Ronald D. Moore's "GINO" - (Galactica in Name Only) ultimately turned out to be was Moore's vengeance against not only the fanbase of the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series (via needless, pointless, and gratuitous content), but also his vengeance against the former "Star Trek" producers who refused to make "Star Trek: Voyager"..."dark & gritty."

Universal Studios and SyFy Channel never should have come near Science Fiction and "Battlestar Galactica" because they are terrible at trying to do either one. You can't approach both of them like corporate business people and expect good things to happen. If you do, you end up in the present predicament Universal Studios and SyFy Channel are in right now. A cable channel (SyFy) not doing anywhere near what it should be doing in terms of financial success, and a still sleeping giant (Battlestar Galactica) that would be a wide awake and wildly successful franchise if anyone else owned the property.

SyFy Channel -


If this channel went out of business would anyone even care? Bonnie Hammer, David Howe, and Mark Stern have successfully proven that the vast majority of the television audience doesn't like what they do, and the television audience also doesn't care about the things that Hammer, Howe, and Stern care about. Such as whether or not "SyFy" is a marketable and profitable brand name for NBC-Universal. Whether or not "SyFy" can be spun off into different business ventures. The only things the public cares about is whether or not the "SyFy Channel" is a good cable channel (it isn't), whether or not the "SyFy Channel" is worth their time (it isn't), and whether or not the programming is good (it isn't.)

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Why is it That None of The Guests on "The Maury Povich Show" Ever Suffer From Stage Fright?

 

And to be fair...the same can also be asked of  "The Steve Wilkos Show" and "The Jerry Springer Show." You would think that after the 20 odd years these various types of shows have been on the air, there would have been a good cross section of guests that just brain farted, froze, stumbled, and stuttered on the air while these various freak shows were playing out each episode.

Nope. There hasn't been one instance. Not one after 20 frickin' years. I suppose that if you were the executive producer of either one of these shows, and you were producing 52 weeks of episodes every year, your primary concern would be to make sure that "Stage Fright" would never, ever occur on your show. The only way you could to that would be to turn to a staffing / acting agency in Hollywood whose sole purpose is to supply professional actors and actresses to these various types of shows who play the various "Trailer Park Trash" guests on these shows.

Time is money, isn't it? And if you're the executive producer of one of these shows on a rigid and tight shooting schedule which yields one episode per day, you certainly couldn't have "real guests" from rural America screwing up your shooting schedule with chronic examples of "Stage Fright."  So you would quite logically turn to this agency in Hollywood to supply you with seasoned acting pros on a daily basis to play the roles of "real guests" from "rural America."

And I gotta tell ya'!!" These professional actors and actresses are real professionals while playing the roles of these guests. Crying on cue just as Camera #3 locks in on them for a close-up. Shouting at and shoving one another while apparently oblivious to all of the various mini-cams on boom arms doing high speed aerial zoom-ins on their faces during the arguments.

It could be argued that all of these apparent "real guests" on these talk shows receive a high speed crash course in how to be melodramatic and theatrical in front of high tech cameras hours before filming begins....but I doubt it. I would even go so far as to say that there is a professional and accredited acting school in California that specializes in teaching professional actors and actresses how to play the roles of "talk show guests" from "rural America." Once they graduate from this school, they are immediately sent over to this staffing / acting agency in Hollywood where they are sent out to "The Maury Povich Show, "The Steve Wilkos Show", and "The Jerry Springer Show."

Is There a Such Thing as "Pre-Production Hiatus?"





I think it's safe to say that Bryan Singer's "Battlestar Galactica" movie announced on October 17th, 2011 by him and Universal Studios is presently "suspended" somewhere in-between the "Development Phase" of a movie and physical "Pre-Production." And it will remain "suspended" until October 17th, 2013 when Universal Studios and Bryan Singer announce yet another "Battlestar Galactica" movie to be made.


Wednesday, March 28, 2012

These Folks Used To Work For Bryan Singer And Ronald D. Moore. Why Haven't They Moved On To Superstardom?




1. Brandon Routh
2. Aaron Douglas
3. Katee Sackhoff

Could it have been the sadly lacking quality of material in both "Superman Returns" and "GINO" - (Galactica in Name Only?)

Monday, March 26, 2012

So, When Are We Going To See a Director's Cut of "Saga of a Star World?"



The answer of course is..."never." Because this is Universal Studios we're talking about here. If the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series had been owned by any other movie studio in Hollywood, we would have seen a "Director's Cut" about 12 years before now. Because any other movie studio in Hollywood would have realized about 12 years before now, resurrecting and salvaging as much of Richard A. Colla's original footage as possible, and reconciling it to Alan J Levi's  footage would be the smartest commercial venture one could do.

A project like this could and would never happen because Universal Studios still hates the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series, and the project itself would be "too cerebral" for the idiots in the "Black Tower" to wrap their thoughts around.

The underwhelming and shameful release of "Battlestar Galactica - The Complete Epic Series" in 2003 on DVD failed to include every single deleted scene from "Saga of a Star World." The typical trait of Universal Studios doing everything "half ass" or not at all when it comes to the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series.

Scenes still missing from "Saga of a Star World" and never released on DVD:

1. Starbuck (Dirk Benedict) storms the bridge and demands to know from Colonel Tigh why the Galactica pulled out of fleet formation. The scene immediately after Starbuck crash lands his Viper and is embraced by Athena.

2. Additional footage of Starbuck and Boomer in the Carillon casino.

3. Additional dialogue (on the bridge) after Adama informs Colonel Tigh of his intent to resign from the Council of 12.

4. Additional dialogue in the council chambers of the council simultaneously (1) discussing Adama's resignation (2) Sire Uri hoarding food, and (3) lead-in dialogue to Apollo interrupting the meeting to discuss going through the Nova of Madagon.

5. The footage of Jim Peck (instead of Jane Seymour) on the surface of Caprica doing a live news broadcast.

6. More footage of the Ovions and Cylons interacting on Carillon.

A project like this should have been done long before now. But it never came to pass because of Universal Studios relentless pre-occupation with turning the simplest things into "Rocket Science" when it comes to the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series.

Just How Expendable To Hollywood And Audiences Alike Are Bryan Singer And Ronald D. Moore?





Collectively, their body of work has elicited groans, the rolling of eyes, and the unanimous conclusion of movie and television audiences everywhere..."Who Cares?"

And between the two of them, they have not come up with one original, genuinely inspired idea during their entire careers.

What Bryan Singer and Ronald D. Moore have always had as an unlimited resource, is their collective desire to remake every movie and television series known to mankind.

Perhaps the reason why we are seeing less and less of Bryan Singer and Ronald D. Moore, is that Hollywood has pretty much exhausted every movie and television series that can be remade. And when there is nothing left to be remade in Hollywood, Bryan Singer and Ronald D. Moore return to career hibernation.

I'm sure even Hollywood has realized by now that everything that shouldn't have been remade has already been remade. And quite frankly, out of all of the old movie and television series Hollywood has remade into repulsives piles of shit (during the past 20 or so years), I can only think of one remake that was genuinely successful on a blockbuster level...

"The Fugitive" - starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones.

Hollywood and audiences alike have never needed Bryan Singer and Ronald D. Moore, because the two of them individually and collectively have never had what it takes to pull off a "Fugitive." And the two of them individually and collectively have the most bankrupt imaginations in Hollywood history when it comes to crafting original, genuinely inspired ideas.

Friday, March 23, 2012

What Are We Repeatedly Seeing With Bryan Singer? A Lack of "Clout" In Getting Anything Done




Forget the "9/11 Excuse" which was used to explain away Bryan Singer's 2001 "Battlestar Galactica" movie falling to pieces. If Steven Spielberg or George Lucas had been the director helming that movie, it would've been made anyway. The point being, with the 2001 "Battlestar Galactica" movie for example, Bryan Singer lacked the back-up resources to get the movie made regardless of "9/11" if in fact "9/11" really did derail the 2001 movie. The sort of back-up resources usually at the fingertips of movie directors with "Clout."

Jump ahead eight years to 2009. Bryan Singer's second attempt at a "Battlestar Galactica" movie also collapsed. Movie directors with "Clout" don't routinely have movies collapse down around their ears in between the announcement of the movie and pre-production, which has been an all too common occurrence with Bryan Singer.

And it isn't just "Battlestar Galactica" that routinely collapses with Bryan Singer signed as the film director. "Excalibur" also collapsed with Bryan Singer signed as the director. We are seeing a pattern with Bryan Singer that has long since emerged, and firmly entrenched itself in his work habits. This guy can't seem to get anything made. He announces movie after movie, and television show after television show that he enjoyed as a kid, and wants to make them all into movies. But it ain't happening. Bryan Singer just isn't getting anything made.

If you can't get anything made in Hollywood, it means you don't have any "Clout." The sort of "Clout" you earn from having a track record like George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. Bryan Singer wants to make "Battlestar Galactica", "The Munsters", "The Six Million Dollar Man", and "Star Trek" all into new movies and television series. Obviously it's his lack of "Clout" preventing any of these projects from becoming a reality.

If you don't have any "Clout" as a film director in Hollywood, guess what? The studios get to tell you what to do. The studios can dump you at a moment's notice. The studios can freeze all of your dream projects all at once if they so choose. Bryan Singer gives the impression that he is a pinball ricocheting all over the damn place within the bureacracy of not only Universal Studios, but every other studio owning the copyrights to all of the dream projects he wants to make. Because Bryan Singer isn't George Lucas or Steven Spielberg, he is an "itty-bitty" rivet within the giant "stainless steel" wheel of Hollywood bureaucracy. He is as expendable to the movie studios as any janitorial staff cleaning a studio commissary.

So, where does this leave "Battlestar Galactica", "The Munsters", "Six Million Dollar Man", and "Star Trek" for Bryan Singer? Permanently entrenched within his fantasies of getting remade.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Is The SyFy Channel Finally Out Of The "Galactica In Name Only" Business?




http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/03/battlestar_galactica_prequel_b.html

The SyFy Channel is very bad at what they do. They are very bad at anything and everything they do, particularly if it involves the "Battlestar Galactica" property. No one will deny this and everyone has realized this from day one. With any hope, the cancellation of "Blood & Chrome" yesterday as a weekly television series will also signify the end of Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, Bonnie Hammer, David Howe, and Mark Stern ever putting their "slimy paws" on the "Battlestar Galactica" property ever again.

What these individuals have done to the "Battlestar Galactica" property in the past decade has been absolutely disgusting, shameful, an embarrassment, and a blatant disregard for the general all around responsibilities inherent in broadcasting. When even the mighty Glen A. Larson refers to the style of scriptwriting in "GINO" - (Galactica In Name Only) as..."lazy"....in no small part due to the fact that Ronald D. Moore's space faring characters routinely wore contemporary business suits and many other visual cues that jarred you out of the fictional reality that this was supposed to be a civilization "not of this Earth"... you know something went terribly wrong in the conception process.

What showed up on the SyFy Channel under the brand name "Battlestar Galactica" was not "Battlestar Galactica" in any sense of the word. What showed up was ignorant Corporate America's lazy interpretation of what it thought "Battlestar Galactica" was. The problem all along was Bonnie Hammer, David Howe, and Mark Stern not being Science Fiction people, not being "Battlestar Galactica" people, and not being "artsy, creative" people. The three of them are marketers, statisticians, and severely flawed business people in their collective approach to television programming. And at some point along the way, Ronald D. Moore failed to carry along with him the supremely creative environment he came from while working for Rick Berman on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" when he moved on to the assignment he shouldn't have accepted: Rebooting "Battlestar Galactica" for NBC-Universal. Also at some point along the way, Ronald D. Moore turned into a mindless, corporate drone while making "GINO" - ("Galactica in Name Only") for NBC-Universal / SyFy Channel.

Stripping away all of the stealth marketing nonsense that was designed to help this show, including such B.S. as an invite from the United Nations, and some "Cereal Box Award" given to the show by Harlan Ellison, we were left with a television series ("GINO") that was quite frankly, bad television. It was bad enough that "GINO" wasn't "Battlestar Galactica", but it was also bad television overall.

No one has been better off career wise after doing this show. Not Bonnie Hammer, David Howe, Mark Stern, Ronald D. Moore, or David Eick. And especially not the cast members. If anything, Edward James Olmos has gone down in history as one of the worst actors of our time, even surpassing William Shatner in the original "Star Trek."

Surely if "Battlestar Galactica" had been owned by another corporation during the past decade, the nonsense this property went through during the past decade never would have happened.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Everytime Universal Studios touches the "Battlestar Galactica" property, bad things happen. When Universal Studios can't even manufacture a decent DVD set of the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series - ("Battlestar Galactica - The Complete Epic Series")...of course they're going to screw up everything else along the way as well.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Hot Off The Presses!! "Blood & Chrome: The Unanticipated TV Series" Bites The Dust!!




http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/03/battlestar_galactica_prequel_b.html

Well, it's about gosh, darn time!!

Remember Ronald D. Moore's "Feathered Hair"..."I Think I'm So Bad (Awesome)" Pose?



Yes, Ronald D. Moore used to pose like this for publicity photos back in his "naive days" (circa 2003-2004) when he thought that this was all he had to do as a television producer to make a television series successful.

He isn't doing much posing anymore, is he?

Two Years In The Making!! "Blood & Chrome" Has Proved That SyFy Channel Is Taking Twice As Long To Make Their Crap




http://cliqueclack.com/tv/2012/03/21/bsg-blood-and-chrome-trailer/

Let's recap the scorecard of SyFy Channel and Ronald D. Moore thus far:

1. "GINO" - (Galactica in Name Only)...A flop.
2. "Caprica"...A flop.
3. "Blood & Chrome"...Two years in the making and a pre-fabbed flop.

Maybe all three productions might find an audience a generation from now if future historians develop a morbid fascination for...

"Early 21st Century television programming rooted in the self absorbed political machinations of hostile corporations (NBC-Universal / SyFy Channel) that deliberately set out to alienate mass market television audiences with sub-standard television programming."

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

This is Hardly The Face of Success at The SyFy Channel




The reason why Ronald D. Moore's "Galactica in Name Only" and all other stabs at televised Science Fiction failed on the SyFy Channel, is the inability of Bonnie Hammer, David Howe, and Mark Stern to bring a "practical, mass market attractiveness" to anything they do. And their combined repeated handicap of bringing an "isolationist, limited cult audience" to everything they do...do.

Monday, March 19, 2012

When Will NBC-U / SyFy Channel Finally Admit That Ronald D. Moore's Sham Interpretation of "Galactica" Was a Flop?





One thing is certain. We will never hear the present management at SyFy Channel admitting to this project being what it actually was...a flop. Because this project was Bonnie Hammer's baby. She bet life, limb, and the lowest audience test scores in television history on Ron Moore's initial mini-series pilot. Hammer along with David Howe and Mark Stern were determined to get this hunk of junk on the air, ramming it into existence despite the initial audience test score reaction of the mini-series viewing audience. And the three of them kept this hunk of junk on the air despite four (too long) years of low ratings.

If we see and hear any sort of admission from NBC-U / SyFy Channel as to the resounding failure of this project, the admission won't come from the present management. It will come at some future date long after Bonnie Hammer, David Howe, and Mark Stern have moved on.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

It Surprised No One That Universal Studios Recently Re-Released "Buck Rogers" On DVD, While Not Doing The Same For "Galactica 1978"

 

http://www.amazon.com/Buck-Rogers-25th-Century-Season/dp/B005UL4NH0/ref=sr_1_3?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1332116806&sr=1-3

Need I say more?

Unfortunately For Universal Studios And Bryan Singer, Search Engines Don't Lie





http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AugNkgbb_Rn8kAQcgWLYz_SbvZx4?p=bryan+singer+galactica&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-701

Although it's understandable that every minute detail of the movie making process would never be released to the general public, we still should have had by now more information regarding the supposed "Battlestar Galactica" movie announced by Universal / Singer on October 17th, 2011.

Why is it after five months, all that we still have is:

1. The initial (supposed) announcement on October 17th, 2011.
2. John Orloff's indoctrination as the scriptwriter

Could it be because, this supposed movie really isn't being worked on at all ?

This is what is known as "Full Awareness Deja Vu." Months continuing to click off after a "Battlestar Galactica" movie announcement with no progress being made. Just as it was with the two previous "Battlestar Galactica" movie announcements in 2009 and 2001.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

I Found Where Bryan Singer Hides After He Makes His Biennial "Battlestar Galactica" Movie Announcements




http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bryan-Singer/27592098676

Yep. He has his own Facebook page. In December 2011, two months after he made his most recent "Battlestar Galactica" movie announcement, he was all enthused and talking about Stan Lee's new book on http://www.amazon.com.

Quite frankly, I don't think this guy works anymore. Maybe it's due to the fact that most if not all of the junk he announces as television and movie projects will never ultimately get green-lit for production. (He seems to have boat loads of free time to pal around with Marvel Comics Stan Lee, pictured above, instead of making the various movies and television series he keeps announcing.)

Personal opinion?

Bryan Singer is retired and posting on Facebook.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Bryan Singer's Work History Indicates a Man Who Abandons Projects With Alarming Regularity




http://www.tubefilter.com/2008/11/24/bryan-singer-warner-prepping-sci-fi-thriller-series-h/

What happened to this project? How many other abandoned projects would one find in the dark recesses of the Internet with Bryan Singer's name attached to them?

And this is the same guy we're supposed to believe is going to follow through with the "Battlestar Galactica" theatrical film announced on October 17th, 2011?

He may very well be in the process of abandoning this latest theatrical film called "Battlestar Galactica" which will bring his total count up to three times he abandoned this project - (2001, 2009, 2011.)

Monday, March 12, 2012

What's Wrong With The SyFy Channel? Watch The Video





http://www.clanofthegraywolf.com/echo-screen/5

These guys are a chip off the old block

An important point here...

NBC-Universal knew what they were buying when they purchased the "Sci-Fi Channel" in the 1990s. They should of either faced up to what the responsibilities were in purchasing such a channel (putting nothing but Science Fiction content on the air), or they should have sold the channel to someone else long ago who would have faced up to what the "Sci-Fi Channel" actually was.

Friday, March 9, 2012

It Can Only Be a Blessing In Disguise Everytime We Never Hear From Bryan Singer Again



It can only be blessings in disguise everytime we never hear from Bryan Singer again after he makes his various movie and television announcements, and these projects never come to fruition.

1. Bryan Singer announces "Battlestar Galactica" on October 17th, 2011 and we never hear from him again regarding any further elaboration on that project.

2. Bryan Singer announces "The Munsters" a short time later and we never hear from him again regarding any further elaboration on that project.

3. Bryan Singer announces "The Six Billion Dollar Man" with Leonardo DiCaprio and we never hear from him again regarding any further elaboration on that project.

4. Bryan Singer announces his return to the "X-Men" director's chair and we never hear from him again regarding any further elaboration on that project.

5. Bryan Singer announces his intent to bring "Star Trek" back to television and we never hear from him again regarding any further elaboration on that project.

What is that old saying.....


Never look a gift horse in the mouth?

Thursday, March 8, 2012

It's Increasingly Likely That The Late "Leslie Stevens" Deserves a Co-Creation Credit For The "1978 Battlestar Galactica" Series

 

What is it that Glen A. Larson has repeatedly claimed and said over the years? That he is the sole creator of the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series and that "Star Trek" co-producer Gene Coon had been mentoring him from 1968 to 1973 over the development of the two following ideas which Glen A. Larson claims eventually became "Battlestar Galactica" in 1978....

1. A "Howard Hughes" type house turns into a spaceship and transports Earth's brightest scientists into outer space.

2. The origins of mankind originated in outer space and not here on Earth. A nod to "Chariots of the Gods."

Now, when I was reading the endless interviews with Glen A. Larson in 1978 at the time "Battlestar Galactica" debuted, in such magazines as "Starlog" and "Fantastic Films", I kept asking myself....

"OK, so how did the two above ideas somehow and miraculously morph into a fleet of Battlestars off in deep space waiting to sign a peace treaty with the Cylon Empire after a 1000 yahren war? A fleet of five Battlestars with an initial mission of deep star exploration and the simultaneous routine defense of 12 planets named after the zodiac signs? With "Cylon Basestars", "Colonial Vipers", "Colonial Warriors", and eventual exodus from those 12 worlds?"

Hollywood is a cruel place. And many times, credit is not given where credit is due. Now, I am not suggesting that Glen A. Larson is necessarily cruel, but I am suggesting that he has never satisfactorily explained how his two ideas Gene Coon guided him in developing, miraculously morphed into a Battlestar fleet off in deep space, with the human population eventually heading to Earth.

Now, I am going to look at this situation from the most optimistic vantage point I can, and attempt to give Glen A. Larson as much benefit of the doubt as I can.

Simultaneous creation has occurred at the same time in the past in Hollywood. Many times in the past. One situation I vividly recall is when J. Michael Straczynski was in the middle of creating of "Babylon 5" at the very same time Rick Berman was in the middle of creating "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." Neither creator knew at the time that the other production was being developed. Both series set on a space station. Both series with humanoid extra-terrestrials coming and going.

In the case of the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series, I think a much more interesting variation on that fact occurred.

Extrapolating on what "Saga of a Star World" co-director Alan J. Levi said at one time....

"Leslie Stevens was shopping around a really terrific script on the Universal lot in the summer of 1977."

Alan J. Levi elaborated no further. I am going to elaborate further based upon conjecture....

That script was about a Battlestar fleet off in deep space waiting to rendezvous with the Cylon Empire to sign a peace treaty. Possibly containing the following terms:

1. Battlestar
2. Baseship
3. Colonial Warriors
4. Cylon Centurions
5. Colonial Viper
6. Cylon Raider
7. Cimtar
8. Cylon Tanker
9. Core Command (The Bridge)
10. Imperious Leader / Imperious Leader Chambers
11. Galactica
12. 12 Worlds (12 planets) named after the zodiac signs
13. Ovions
14. Carillon
15. Count Baltar

This is where I believe Glen A. Larson came in. His two ideas he had been refining for five years under Gene Coon's guidance turned into a script consisting of...

1. 12 planets
2. A reverse of the "Howard Hughes" concept with ancient astronauts heading to Earth.
3. A Moses like lead character (Adama) leading these people to Earth.
4. This Moses like character having his family with him (Apollo, Athena.)
5. These ancient astronauts (Adama, Apollo, Athena) having built the pyramids once they reached Earth.
7. A sort of "Council of 12" among these ancient astronauts rooted in Mormon theology.
8. Many other Mormon beliefs sprinkled throughout what Glen A. Larson had developed, including "what you are I once was, and what I am now you may become" - (Count Iblis.)

I can only conclude that what ultimately became the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series was the merging of ideas between Leslie Stevens and Glen A. Larson into one miraculous, cohesive whole.

 For whatever reason, the late Leslie Stevens never received a "Co-Creator" credit for the series.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

I Find It Extremely Comforting That Universal Studios Troubled History of Producing Unacceptable And Sub-Standard "Battlestar Galactica 1978" Merchandise Is Readily Available For Research






The reviewer is right on target, except for neglecting to mention that the initial units (pictured above) rolled off of the assembly line in October 2003 with cracked discs sitting in their storage trays, in addition to the many other problems with this set the reviewer covers.



Goodbye Ralph McQuarrie. You Are Already Missed




http://www.ralphmcquarrie.com/

You along with Leslie Stevens will always be remembered as the primary visionaries and contributors to the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series. Your Battlestars And Basestars are majestic, your Vipers soar, your "Core Command" - (Galactica bridge) still hasn't been outdone in terms of spectacle 34 years later, and your Imperious Leader Chamber remains ominous and spooky.

You also designed Steven Spielberg's "Mothership" in "Close Encounters of The Third Kind", the entire universe of "Star Wars"- (1977), and "ET - The Extra Terrestrial" among many many other film projects.

Thank you Ralph McQuarrie, for making Science Fiction and outer space so much fun.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Universal Studios Executives Posing As "Galactica 1978" Fans Go Mute When Ralph McQuarrie Dies




Conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie passed away this weekend. His passing is a devastating loss to the actual "Battlestar Galactica 1978" fan community.

 The fan community Universal Studios executives and its hired thugs from "Abraham & Harrison" have been unsuccessfully trying to masquerade as on http://www.colonialfleets.com/forums, http://www.stallioncornell.com/boards, and the Frakheads forum for a decade.

Ralph McQuarrie's 24 conceptual paintings (3 of them displayed above) formed the basis of the "visual look" of the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series back in 1978. It was Ralph McQuarrie who came up with the basic look of the "Battlestar Galactica" spaceship, the "Colonial Viper", and "Core Command" (The bridge) pictured above, among many other of his visual concepts depicted in these 24 paintings from 1978.

His visual concepts were re-worked (not by much) and incorporated into the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series by model designers and model builders Grant McCune and Joe Johnston. And then by art director John E. Chilberg II (Core Command, Imperious Leader Chambers, Alpha Launch Bay, surface of "Caprica.")

This highly influential and important figure within the fandom of the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series dies this past weekend, and there isn't one mention of his death or respect given to the achievements in his life on http://www.colonialfleets.com/forums, http://www.stallioncornell.com/boards, and the Frakheads forum.

It just goes to show you that none of these forums were forums dedicated to the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series at all.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Hats Off To "Columbia Pictures" For Continuing Their "Men in Black" Science Fiction Theatrical Franchise



http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/men-in-black-iii-2012/

Let's see now. We have...

1. Columbia Pictures successfully continuing their "Men in Black" Science Fiction theatrical franchise.

2. Paramount Pictures successfully continuing their "Star Trek" Science Fiction theatrical franchise.

3. Walt Disney Pictures successfully launching their new "John Carter" Science Fiction theatrical franchise.

And then we have Universal Studios...

4. Successfully procrastinating (for decades) in getting their potential "Battlestar Galactica 1978" Science Fiction theatrical franchise off the ground.

I guess Universal Studios doesn't like to play with the other kids on the block. Loss of competitive profits be damned.
 

Should We Issue An "Amber Alert" For Both Bryan Singer And John Orloff?


 

The two of them seem to be "missing in action" when it comes to working on the "Battlestar Galactica" movie announced on October 17th, 2011.

I'm sure we'll hear from the two of them again when Universal Studios feels sufficient time has passed in the general public's fading memory of the October 17th, 2011 announcement.

Maybe in two years which coincidentally, will be about the time Universal Studios and Bryan Singer "re-announce" a new "Battlestar Galactica" movie coming to your local multiplex soon (2016!!)

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Walt Disney Pictures Successfully Launches a New Science Fiction Theatrical Franchise



http://nerdreactor.com/2012/03/02/and-the-john-carter-reviews-are-in-many-of-them-postive/


And gee, Walt Disney Pictures successfully did it without...

1. Attacking the John Carter fanbase on Internet bulletin boards as Universal Studios did to "Battlestar Galactica" fans in the 2000s.

2. Endlessly procrastinating for decades on end with one movie announcement after another never leading anywhere as Universal Studios continues to do with "Battlestar Galactica" and Bryan Singer in tow.

3. Making some counterfeit John Carter production to deliberately piss off the John Carter fanbase as Universal Studios has done to "Battlestar Galactica" and its fanbase.

Why can't the idiots who manage and run Universal Studios be more like...

1. The people who manage and run Walt Disney Pictures (John Carter?)

2. The people who manage and run Paramount Pictures (Star Trek?)

3. The people who manage and run United Artists (James Bond?)

The world will never know (Tootsie Roll Pop goes "Crunch")

Friday, March 2, 2012

The Sound of Crickets "Chirping" is NBC-Universal Still Lacking a Profitable "Battlestar Galactica" Franchise


http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Studios-Battlestar-Galactica-Series/dp/1434895408/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330706854&sr=1-2

What have we learned from casually observing Universal Studios handling of the "Battlestar Galactica" property for the past few decades?

1. That a corporation cannot have a profitable Science Fiction media franchise if they simultaneously hate the property with every fiber of their corporate being (Universal Studios hates "Battlestar Galactica"), and try to do something with it at the same time.

2. That the most irrational and pig-headed foundation Universal Studios could have tried to lay for "Battlestar Galactica" in attempting to build a future for the property was financing Ronald D. Moore's garbage, which was a simultaneous "slap" in the face towards the "1978 Battlestar Galactica" series and an entity not really being "Battlestar Galactica" at all.

3. That repeatedly assigning the same individuals to the property who have no combined talents whatsoever (Ronald D. Moore, David Eick, Bryan Singer) will repeatedly yield zero dividends for the property.

What is the prognosis for the badly ailing "Battlestar Galactica" property due to Universal Studios repeated idiocy?

Extremely promising, as long as the poor thing is sold to someone else.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

How Long Does it Take to Write a Screenplay?



http://www.iamrogue.com/news/movie-news/item/5103-exclusive-screenwriter-john-orloff-talks-bryan-singers-battlestar-galactica.html

It was announced in October 2011 (October 22nd, 2011 specifically) that John Orloff (pictured above) had been supposedly hired by Universal Studios to write the supposed screenplay for Bryan Singer's supposed "Battlestar Galactica" movie supposedly to be released in theaters in 2013.

The general consensus in Hollywood is that it takes about three months to write a screenplay. So, Mr. Orloff should have finished in late January 2012. So, regardless of whether or not Univesal Studios intends to give periodic updates to the media as to the progress of this supposed project (which of course they aren't and won't), this supposed "Battlestar Galactica" movie should be moving into physical pre-production by now. Even as I am writing this, Bryan Singer and any other "above the line personnel" initially hired for this supposed project (co-producers, etc.) should be discussing (visual concepts, set construction on soundstages, costume designs) based upon Mr. Orloff's supposedly finished screenplay....right now.

If this supposed movie is to be released in 2013, it should be chugging along right now full steam ahead with "above the line personnel" already hired (co-producers)...already assisting Bryan Singer in early decision making during the pre-production process.

It takes very little effort to debunk any supposed "Battlestar Galactica" movie announced by Universal Studios and Bryan Singer. All you have to do is walk it through the normal production time it takes to make any movie. As of right now...March 1, 2012...

1. John Orloff should have long since finished his screenplay.

2. This movie should be in active...physical pre-production...right now.

Of course, given the past work history of Universal Studios and Bryan Singer in partnership together, (and the lack of progress always being the result), we can safely conclude that this supposed movie isn't anywhere near the progress level discussed above.