Richard A. Colla filmed his original version of "Saga of a Star World" (The "Galactica 1978 Pilot Episode" back in the Spring of 1978.) What he filmed was Leslie Steven's original concepts for the series. A more adult conception of the holocaust including more focus on refugee survivors, better character development between Apollo, Starbuck, and Boomer. Focus on Cassiopia not as a med tech but as a "Socialator." The "Ovions" were graphic carnivores in this version. Makeup artist John Chambers and his crew spent months designing creatures for the "Carillon Casino." The entire movie was a solid, unedited event. The entire inhabitants spent a great deal of time planning their evacuation from "Carillon" because they knew ahead of time the planet was going to explode. Lots of extra footage of the Cylons and Ovions underground. Including the Cylons getting into the ground elevator and riding the elevator up to "Sire Uri's" speech towards the end.
Richard A. Colla filmed a good 85% of this more adult version of the pilot, before Alan J. Levi took over and filmed a more juvenile version of the pilot, which we have been stuck watching since 1978.
The production so ran out of money, that Dykstra and his crew couldn't afford to film the final explosion of "Carillon" at the end. Instead, stock animators at Universal Studios literally had to draw in a "Cartoon Explosion" of "Carillon" blowing up, which is why it never looked good and looked riduliculous.
What Richard A. Colla actually filmed:
1. There was a "Prostitution Ring" within the "Rag-Rag Fleet." Cassiopia wasn't the only "Socialator."
2. The Cylons were lizards wearing Cylon armor.
3. Graphic footage of the "Ovions" consuming humans.
4. "Ovions" being blasted with laser fire with their insides oozing out.
5. Dire survival situations the humans were coping with.
6. Richard A. Colla completed roughly 85% of the filming of his and Leslie Steven's "more adult" version of the "Galactica 1978 Pilot."
....More to come
"So Say We All!!"
