Richard Hatch Talks About The New Galactica And The Genesis Of His Involvement

By Robert Falconer, HNR Senior Editor

As Richard Hatch prepares to once again officially immerse himself into a universe called Battlestar Galactica, he and I recently discussed a few more details about his participation in the new series, and his preparations for what is surely to be a pivotal character.

In any event, it meant we finally had a chance to meet and exchange ideas. We immediately realized that neither were each other's enemy, and I found it very easy to communicate and talk. I've been in this business a long time, and I can tell you that Ron is one of the most approachable producers I've ever met. He truly listens to your ideas.

I pointed out that I wasn't fighting against their project so much as fighting for a continuation of the original themes. I felt that Ron not only wanted to do the best work he could with this new project, but that he genuinely wanted to reach out to all the fans of Galactica , and invite them to at least give his new show a chance-not from a perspective of competing with or judging the original show, but from the perspective of creating the best new series for SCI FI Channel that he possibly could.

I also felt like I was talking to someone who cared about what he was doing. When I meet someone like that, it makes it easy for me to converse. Ron indicated that he wanted to discuss with me some options about my guest starring on the new show. He made it very clear that it wouldn't be a cameo role, but a guest-star role. I said, "Listen, at this time in my life, if you want to sit down and talk about something that would be meaningful.something that would be challenging for me as an actor.and something that would be an asset to the show, then I would be willing to sit down and talk about that."

Frankly, that conversation opened the door to setting up a later meeting. Often, in this business, when people make offers or promises, they don't follow through. To my pleasant surprise, several months later I had a call from Ron. He said, "Hey, the show's been picked up, and as I promised I'd love to sit down and talk with you."

I went over to Universal Studios-which is just a couple of blocks away from me. It was a little like déjà vu being back on that particular lot. In fact, I was surprised to discover that a couple of the writers in Ron's office had been in an acting class when I first started acting with the Eric Morris Actor's Workshop. It turned out we were all actors together. Extraordinarily, another one of the writers gave me some pictures of my son; because it turns out they'd gone to school together.

Robert: Six degrees of separation in action.

Richard Hatch: Yeah, seriously. Anyway, everybody I met there was extremely cordial-it felt very much like family, and thus a little bit like coming home.

I sat down with Ron and we talked about sci-fi in general.about the industry in general. We talked about how sci-fi writer-producers are always trying to push the envelope, to get their ideas seen and heard. Anybody who's ever tried to put together a project can find some empathy and common ground, and after putting together my own projects over the past few years, I've developed an appreciation for people on the other side of the camera. As an actor, before I didn't really have that appreciation. Actors see themselves as the creative side, and the writers and producers as the business side. In retrospect, it's myopic, but actors tend to see the people on the other side of the camera that are in control as being primarily associated with the business side of the equation. Of course, when actors become writers and directors, they change their minds, and realize that writers and producers aren't really that far away from the actors in terms of their sensibilities. But they have an added measure of responsibility that the actors don't have. The writers and producers can't just walk in and walk out when their role is done. They're there from the beginning to the end.

In any event, I didn't have that sensibility until I began writing and producing myself. So when I was talking to Ron, I had a much greater understanding and empathy for what you have to go through to get any production together, including this new version of Galactica.

At the end of the day, I love the premise of Galactica . The story touched me profoundly.way beyond being an actor, and though I put a lot of personal time and energy into seeing a continuation series, ultimately, once the decision was made to reimagine, one must eventually put their energies into accepting what is rather than lamenting what might have been.

Robert: There have been other classic properties-from Shakespeare to comic book characters-that have been reinterpreted over the years. That it can be retold in more than one way perhaps speaks to the enduring nature of Galactica 's core story.

Richard Hatch: That's an interesting point. Certainly, I believe this must be viewed as a completely different show, possibly in a completely different universe. Listen, no one has gone to war more than myself on behalf of the original Galactica , but after all is said and done, I'm convinced it's now about building bridges as opposed to taking sides. Attacking this show won't bring back the original.

And I hate to say it, but at this moment in time, this is the only Galactica we have, and the only project even remotely like the original Galactica . So I think it's more useful for it to become as good as it can possibly be. It won't ever be like the original in style and tone, but perhaps it can be wonderful in its own unique way. We must all realize that these are not competing entities, and one doesn't cancel out the other. People must judge the new show on its own merits, and ultimately, they will form their own opinions-one way or the other.

Robert: Were you able to watch the miniseries with an impartial eye? And at the end of the day-as with the original series-do you think it will come down to people becoming invested in the characters?

Richard Hatch: To answer your first question: It was difficult due to my emotional investment over the years in the original characters and themes. But once I was able to view it in a different context, I was able to objectively pick out what I liked and didn't like.

To answer your second question: It always comes down to the characters. I'm curious to see where Ron takes them. I told him that I really like the Baltar character. I thought Baltar's relationship with the Cylon woman in his head explored some deep, philosophical issues about life. I thought that was an extraordinarily interesting and innovative relationship that he had developed. I also enjoyed the romantic aspect of the relationship between Chief Tyrol and Boomer. The other characters I didn't feel I knew all that well. It was more difficult to relate to the Apollo and Starbuck characters for me because they are such a departure from the originals. And yet, despite the flak Katie Sackhoff has generated, I met her at a convention, and she's one of the most charming, lovely, and intelligent young women I've ever met; when she smiles she lights up a room. It's hard not to fall in love with her. So we have to give the new characters time to develop.

Robert: As you mentioned in our previous interview, the decision to appear in the new series is one that you made as an actor, not as a fan or writer/producer. Do you think fans of the original sometimes lose sight of this fact?

Richard Hatch: Perhaps. But people must remember I've been an actor most of my life, since well before Galactica . I looked at this offer on the basis of whether it was something that excited me and challenged me as a performer. And I was very appreciative as an actor that they invited me to come on and play what is, frankly, a wonderful and rewarding guest star role.

Robert: Have you and Ron discussed the role to such an extent that you have had any input into the creation of the character?

Richard Hatch: No. We didn't get into the creation of the character together. Ron had actually already decided upon a character for me, and honestly, when he outlined the concept to me-a Nelson Mandela-type political prisoner who has been jailed for twenty years-he didn't have to say much more. Right away Ron had built a picture in my mind of a man who has fought for the rights of his people, and who has been jailed unjustly for his beliefs and the actions that he took. Here is a character who has had to overcome the incredible challenge of finding a way to retain his humanity within the context of a prison system that must have been horrible.

Individuals like Mandela and Anwar Sadat and Ghandi are inspiring human beings who fought for something they passionately believed in-something I can relate to at least in some small measure. They're extraordinary characters to play, and not one any actor worth his salt is likely to turn down.

Robert: Given who this character is, tell us the process by which you will prepare for this role.

Richard Hatch: Once I get a script, I read the whole story and see how the character fits into the story. With acting, I believe everything is a psychological construct; characters represent different parts of our psyche. All these characters come together to create a gestalt filled with conflicts, resolutions and challenges from which emerges the underpinning of the drama. So I'll figure out how my character fits into the context of the story, and then-as I always do-I'll create a history for that character to intertwine with what Ron tells me.

Has this character been tortured? Has he been punished? Did he almost die? How horrible were things for him? What was his life like before he was on the prison barge? What motivates this guy and what is the driving force behind him are the things I'll explore. I like to find out as much about a character as possible. That helps me connect to the heart, soul and spirit of the person I'm portraying. It's not so much the lines a character speaks, as the "why" of what they say and do, and their relationship to the world and people around them.

Robert: You mentioned Chief Tyrol previously in our conversation. Aaron Douglas, the actor who portrays him, is a big fan of the original series, and was hoping you could answer a couple of questions for him.

Richard Hatch: I'd be happy to.

Aaron Douglas: First, Richard, I'd like to thank you for your work and all your efforts on behalf of Battlestar Galactica over the years. I think you know how much it means to the fans to have someone so available. And a personal thank you for entertaining me while I was growing up and finding my way...not an age shot, a fact!

Looking back, has your career path taken the form that you originally envisioned? I know we make the best choices we can with the knowledge available to us at the time, but looking back with 20/20 hindsight is there anything that you would have done differently? And how do you view your career ambitions now, compared to when you first began as an actor?

Richard Hatch: Thanks, Aaron, I appreciate that.

Very interesting questions. Looking back on my career with hindsight-which is often 15/20 or 10/10.often better than 20/20-and the choices I made and what I would have done differently, I would have to say that one of the hardest lessons I learned, was learning how to say "yes."

People will tell you that you need to be discriminating about your choices as an actor, and I agree with that, but the problem in my case was that I was a very idealistic actor. I was always looking for something-and I know I've said this umpteen times before-that would be very meaningful and challenging for me as an actor, as opposed to playing the same old one-dimensional clichéd characters. But, metaphorically, it's like looking for the perfect relationship. If you're waiting for it to show up, it rarely does. The secret is to get out on the dance floor and start dancing, and then step by step you'll probably meet the person you've been looking for all you life.

But if you don't get out there and start the process of opening up to opportunities, you'll never get to that opportunity you're looking for. In my case, I was always waiting for the opportunity to do what I wanted to do. I was frustrated doing a lot of parts that, for me, didn't turn out the way I wanted them to. I wanted roles that had depth and would challenge me as an actor. For example, when projects came to me after Battlestar Galactica , I started turning them down because I was waiting for something that would really, really touch me and have meaning to me.

And the lesson I learned was that the more projects I turned down, the more writers and producers I upset. They felt their projects were wonderful because they had put a lot of time and energy into them, and when they submit them to an actor and he says, "no," they feel rejected the same way an actor does when he doesn't get a job. Well, when I said "no" enough times, all of a sudden these people didn't want to hire me anymore.

Robert: Richard, can you tell us specifically which parts you turned down, that we might recognize?

Richard Hatch: I turned down the lead role in the television series, Vega$ , which ultimately went to Robert Urich. I also turned down The Greatest American Hero. After I left Battlestar Galactica they wanted to create a specific role for me on General Hospital , which I also turned down. I was turning down roles left and right. I considered myself a very serious actor who acts from the heart. Characters who were your run-of-the-mill sexy leading man characters were honestly not of interest to me. I always wanted to play roles that were flawed and imperfect, and maybe that's because that's how I saw myself. I didn't see myself as the sexy, leading man, hero type. Although, later on the leading man in television did become more complex and flawed. They've subsequently begun to redefine that paradigm.

Anyway, the first lesson I learned was that when you learn to say "yes," it puts the ball in motion and creates more leverage and opportunity for you as an actor, so that sooner or later you have the chance to play those parts you really want to play. My career didn't leave me; I left my career by saying "no" for over three years. I went from going directly into networks and being offered roles, to suddenly having to read for everything, until one day I realized that I had to pay the bills. I waited too long for something truly meaningful to come along. So my point is that if you say "no" too many times, a lot of people will get pissed off. The business side doesn't look at actors making choices based upon their art, they see it as actors making choices based upon their ego. So a producer's attitude is quite naturally, "Screw him."

It's an important thing for actors to keep in mind, and looking back I wish I'd said, "yes" a lot more than I said "no." I would say to any actor, learn to keep your wheels rolling. It's one thing to accept a piece of crap, but it's another thing to accept roles that are going to put you out there and keep you in front of people. And it's important to keep doing different types of projects. You could be doing a mainstream project one moment, but also an experimental film on the side that shows the other sides of your craft that maybe you can't play to in a more "conventional" role.

The other lesson I learned is that the actors who formed partnerships with their managers and formed their own production companies-instead of waiting for roles to come to them, they would put together a series concept and pitch the network-those actors were viewed more seriously overall. Actors like Bruce Boxleitner were doing that. Unfortunately, my managers at the time never got it together to do that, even though looking back, that's what I should have done.

Aaron Douglas: I've really come to appreciate the devotion of the fans. Does it still surprise you how extremely dedicated they can be, and do you still appreciate that dedication after all these years?

Richard Hatch: Number one, I don't think there are any fans in the world that are more dedicated than sci-fi/fantasy fans. The industry doesn't really understand the depth to which fans love their stories and characters. Sci-fi fans all have their favorite stories and characters, and once they fall in love with a particular story or group of characters, they do so forever, and the actors who have been fortunate enough to be in such a beloved project have a family for life.

To be able to travel the world and have thousands of fans come out to see you, to support you, and to say thank you, it's extraordinary. Let's face it, when you're an artist, one moment you're up, one moment you're down.one moment everybody wants you, the next moment nobody wants you. But even if the industry may not be hot on your trail, the fans still look at you and remember your character with tremendous love and affection.

And you know, all actors are fans of somebody. Actors are often fans of movies and stars that they saw and loved. So even when you become famous, you can never forget the fact that the moment you meet someone that you grew up with in the movies, like George C. Scott, for example, you're no longer Richard Hatch the star, you're the star struck Richard Hatch. I've been on both sides of the equation numerous times.

Robert: Richard, on behalf of Aaron Douglas and myself, I'd like to thank you for taking the time out again to speak with us.

Richard Hatch: It's my pleasure.