Two new interviews with Ron Moore are on the interwebs as we get to the final weeks of waiting.
This Sci Fi Scanner chat covers a range of topics; Moore opens up about one of the themes of BSG that will actually continue into CAPRICA*:
Scanner: You admitted recently that Battlestar's themes of faith and religion were something the network requested after reading a line in the miniseries. How did it evolve?
Moore: It was very natural. At Trek I was always trying to work in those angles and blur peoples' religions, but it was very much not a part of what Trek was about -- it just wasn't part of Gene's vision. It appealed to me because science fiction shows just didn't go there. I thought the idea of robots who believe in God was just a fascinating concept. And then I really liked the idea of the polytheists versus the monotheists, and that the monotheists were actually the "bad guys" because there's certain repetition in Western society of the one God driving out the many. There were just layers and layers to play with.
[* How do we know this? See here.]
He also addresses two items that some fans have worried over intensely: the final cylon reveal…and Moore’s now infamous love of the ending of THE SOPRANOS. To the former, he fesses up that “the ‘Who Shot JR’ of it all” will undoubtably set some of you viewers up for a letdown (and that the reveal is coming before the end of the series). And as for the fear that he wanted to end his show the way David Chase did?
Moore: I felt like the series I was telling, unlike The Sopranos, had a beginning, middle and end. So as much as I love The Sopranos, I never seriously thought that was an option for us because it's just not part of our narrative. Theirs was about these characters' lives that presumably were going to continue beyond the final fadeout. Our finale will be the end of our narrative, the period at the end of the sentence.
There is also a three-part interview with Zap2It. In part one, Moore talks mainly about the upcoming TREK movie by JJ Abrams. In part two, he discusses CAPRICA and how he felt when the series pickup was confirmed…
"I was delighted when the 'Caprica' pickup came," said Moore. "I was delighted that the 'Battlestar' universe would continue, and I could continue to play in that world, much more than I thought I would. I really thought of them as very separate projects, very separate moods and feelings to them, and I really wasn't connecting one to the other.
But when the pickup came, I'd already completed most of the post-production work on the remaining episodes of 'Galactica.' It was something to look forward to and go, 'Wow, there really is something more to tell in this world.'"
Of course, the whole theme of "Battlestar Galactica" is humanity coping after the fall, but "Caprica" goes back to when the residents of the 12 Colonies are riding high. Asked if this poses a challenge in finding the right tone while retaining the "Galactica" flavor, Moore says, "'Caprica' is a period piece in 'Galactica' terms. The way the pilot turned out, so strong, and the fact that it did feel like it stood on its own two feet and was a genuinely different period of time to deal with...I don't know. I liked the vibe of it."
"I'm very encouraged to see what we can do."
In part three, Moore talks about what BSG taught him and the rest of his team about making genre TV, complicated and/or anti-heroic TV characters, getting an audience to follow you anywhere…and how the entire BSG cast and crew took full ownership of their show:
"The hours don't mater; the money doesn't really matter; nothing matters except that credit. You can say, 'I was on that show.' You can look back and say, '"Battlestar Galactica," I'm proud of that.' I wanted everybody to sign on it when they came aboard, and I think they did. I think it shows in the product. It is informed by good decisions of hundreds of people beyond me, who made decisions on every little piece, on every prop, on every costume, every visual-effects shot, every sound effect, on and on and on. All these people took great pride in what they were doing, and they wanted it to be the best it could possibly be."
So say we all.
11 comments:
I'm glad BSG proper wrapped before the order for Caprica came down the line. It doesn't allow them to fall into that hole of "Watch Caprica to find out the truth behind....."
The more I think about Moore's comment and the webisodes, the more I think Gaeta is going to be the final cylon. Who knows but his comment that people are going to be let down means that it isn't one of the main characters.
Thanks for posting these. It should be noted that, yet again, Mr. Moore failed to clarify that he was not referring to "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" when mentioning "Trek" and all its problems.
When he says "Star Trek", he means "The Next Generation" or maybe even the original series. When he's talking about "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", he calls it "Deep Space". It's really obvious because when he criticizes "Star Trek" he refers to all kinds of problems that he's gone on record as saying were not issues on DS9, on which Ira Steven Behr gave him lots of free reign. He talks about "technobabble" being a problem on "Star Trek", but, by the time he was on DS9 in Season 3, it was rarely used as a plot device. He LOVES DS9 and his time on it. His only complaints are in reference to Rick Berman, but he always says (and he's right to) that it was the best Trek.
He'd be the first to admit how huge a role the exploration of religion and faith played in that amazing show!
The only great Trek!
Moore said he loved the ending to the Sopranos. Yes, art is in the eye of the beholder, but just as that ending divided the Sopranos audience with some hating it and some thinking it was brilliant, I suspect Moore will try to match that effect with his ending for BSG despite his disclaimer. The dividing line, in my view, falls along the level of pretentiousness one is possessed with - and specific to BSG, whether one prefers the science fiction elements of the story or the action-adventure elements in deciding if the ending is an artistic and entertainment success.
Honestly, just seeing JJ Abrams and Ron D. Moore's names on the same article makes my day. Hahaha!
I honestly hope to god Moore doesn't use an ending as stupid as the Sopranos one. Leaving a show like that is a bad idea for two reasons. One, it pisses of the fan base. That alone is suicide, as the fan base is the one who will buy the DVDs, watch the show over again, and make the studio more money. Two, it leaves the possibility for bad, bad sequels open. Both are things that RDM sure as hell is not going to want.
I wouldn't mind a few loose open ends (minor ones) to keep fan speculation going (although some people can't resist filling in those holes - look at Rowling after the release of the last potter book, she filled in every possible hole about what is to come short of the geneaology of the next four generations of Potters). But ending the series with, say, a gun pointed at Adama's head or cutting with the Galactica going down and burning up in an atmosphere, is a terrible idea.
I LOVED the end of The Sopranos.
Open endings pry your brain open. In a good way.
Just saying.
How can I go on with life not knowing if Tony Soprano ordered a Tuna Melt or not????
*POTENTIALLY MEGA-SPOILERY*
er, who's face is on the Amazon webisode "Face of the Enemy" promos?
... I'm just sayin'
It's been made clear that the final eps will answer all of our questions... about BSG that is.
it's 10am PST ... do you know where your 15th Clue is?
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