[20:04] <SteveKrutzler> Welcome to TrekWeb's chat with Andromeda exec-producer, Robert Hewitt Wolfe!
[20:04] <rhwolfe> Hey dere
[20:04] <SteveKrutzler> This chat will of course be available on the site afterwards, where those who couldn't make it can see it.
[20:05] <SteveKrutzler> Any opening remarks, Robert?

[20:05] <rhwolfe> Well, thanks for everyone who's dropped by. Hope everyone enjoys the show
[20:05] <rhwolfe> Um, mostly just thought I'd answer questions
[20:05] <rhwolfe> Please excuse my slow typing
[20:06] <SteveKrutzler> No problem. When you're finished with a reply, please indicate such with an *
[20:06] <rhwolfe> Err*

[20:06] <SteveKrutzler> you've got it ;-)
[20:06] <rhwolfe> I'm a quick learner*
[20:06] <SteveKrutzler> Let's begin with questions..
[20:06] <SteveKrutzler> littlemanfromfaraway asks: Since you helped DS9 out in its last 
[20:06] <SteveKrutzler> season by writing "Field of Fire," 
[20:06] <SteveKrutzler> is there any chance of seeing a 
[20:06] <SteveKrutzler> Wolfe/Behr collaboration on an 
[20:06] <SteveKrutzler> Andromeda script, or a story by any 
[20:06] <SteveKrutzler> of your old DS9 cohorts?
[20:06] <JasonBoxman> :)
[20:06] <rhwolfe> I asked Ron to do one, but he didn't have time before he started on Roswell
[20:06] <rhwolfe> Everyone is pretty much busy with their own projects right now
[20:07] <rhwolfe> Ira is developing his own series
[20:07] <rhwolfe> And everyone else is gainfully employed
[20:07] <rhwolfe> But if the opportunity opens up, I'd love it*
[20:07] <SteveKrutzler> Odin's Eye asks: I love Mike Vejar's work. Have you 
[20:07] <SteveKrutzler> talked to him about directing any 
[20:07] <SteveKrutzler> Andromeda episodes?
[20:08] <rhwolfe> Right now we have to use mostly Canadian directors, due to content issues.
[20:08] <rhwolfe> So we get Allan Eastman and Allan Kroeker
[20:08] <rhwolfe> But not Vejar
[20:08] <rhwolfe> However, we're working on lining up American directors with Canadian writers
[20:08] <rhwolfe> So hopefully in the future this could happen
[20:09] <rhwolfe> I'd love to have Vejar direct one
[20:09] <rhwolfe> *
[20:09] <SteveKrutzler> Mike Asks: I've read that you developed 
[20:09] <SteveKrutzler> Andromeda out of the notes from Gene 
[20:09] <SteveKrutzler> Roddenberry's estate. By definition 
[20:09] <SteveKrutzler> doesn't this make you a co-creator. 
[20:09] <SteveKrutzler> What will your credit be?
[20:09] <SteveKrutzler> Will you have part ownership or 
[20:09] <SteveKrutzler> royalities? What will be your offical screen credit?
[20:09] <rhwolfe> My official screen credit will read "Developed By." And yes, that means I get royalties. Woo-hoo!*
[20:10] <SteveKrutzler> Gustavo Leao Asks: Did you ever submit the Andromeda 
[20:10] <SteveKrutzler> concept to Rick Berman as a new Trek series ?
[20:10] <rhwolfe> Also, I'm the co-executive producer*
[20:10] <rhwolfe> No, never. That's an urban myth.*
[20:10] <SteveKrutzler> Moonvista Asks: Did you notice the brief review in 
[20:10] <SteveKrutzler> TV Gyuide last week? What are your 
[20:10] <SteveKrutzler> thoughts on the 3 out of 10 rating, 
[20:10] <SteveKrutzler> and do you think the show can 
[20:10] <SteveKrutzler> overcome bad reviews if it comes to 
[20:10] <SteveKrutzler> it?
[20:11] <rhwolfe> I did notice it yes. I think it's common for genre shows to get bad ratings until they build their audience.
[20:11] <rhwolfe> Then they often start getting some acclaim.

[20:11] <rhwolfe> And the same reviewer gave the Emmy award winning Everyone loves Raymond 4 out of 10, so go figure.
[20:12] <rhwolfe> She liked the documentary about building the big damn in China though. I think that was the only thing she actually liked*
[20:12] <rhwolfe> Oops, dam
[20:12] <rhwolfe> Freudian slip*
[20:12] <SteveKrutzler> no prb
[20:12] <SteveKrutzler> Panem_et_Circenses Asks: I heard somewhere that Robert 
[20:12] <SteveKrutzler> indicated the series may, in the 
[20:12] <SteveKrutzler> future, accept spec scripts. Is 
[20:12] <SteveKrutzler> that still on the drawing board? 
[20:12] <SteveKrutzler> When could we expect to see 
[20:12] <SteveKrutzler> guidelines/contact details? Thanks
[20:13] <rhwolfe> It's a possibility, allow I wouldn't know how big a possibility. It's really up to Tribune and whether or not they want to shoulder the expense. I expect
[20:13] <rhwolfe> We'll talk more about it during hiatus. No timeline though.*
[20:13] <SteveKrutzler> MacReady Asks: RHW. Do you feel that you've been 
[20:13] <SteveKrutzler> given enough resources in all areas 
[20:13] <SteveKrutzler> to make this show a success?
[20:14] <rhwolfe> Hmm, good question. I think we've been given a decent amount of money. Basically Tribune and Fireworks have invested about all they can given the current syndie market.
[20:14] <rhwolfe> However, we honestly don't have as big a budget as I'd like.
[20:14] <rhwolfe> We have a far lower budget than DS9 or VGR, for example
[20:15] <rhwolfe> I think we've done a terrific job though.

[20:15] <rhwolfe> Every dollar is on the screen. Still I hope we'll get gangbuster ratings and be able to spend even more.
[20:15] <rhwolfe> Keeping my fingers crossed.*
[20:15] <SteveKrutzler> Moonvista Asks: How much of Gene's original idea is 
[20:15] <SteveKrutzler> in the series, and was his story 
[20:15] <SteveKrutzler> inspired by Asimov's Foundation 
[20:15] <SteveKrutzler> trilogy? Did you expand on this tie 
[20:15] <SteveKrutzler> to that story?
[20:16] <rhwolfe> I don't really know what Gene's inspiration was. It seems to have been "The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire."
[20:16] <rhwolfe> I do know he and Asimov where friends, or so I've been told anyway
[20:16] <rhwolfe> As for how much of it is Gene's, there's quite a bit

[20:17] <rhwolfe> The basic premise, the characters of Dylan and Andromeda, the themes
[20:17] <rhwolfe> Less than EFC, since he didn't write a script or bible, but more than, say DS9 or VGR, which were set in a universe he created but not based on his situations or characters*
[20:18] <SteveKrutzler> RAIDER ONE Asks: Now that you have assembled your 
[20:18] <SteveKrutzler> talented crew of actors, writers, and 
[20:18] <SteveKrutzler> special effects wizards, and already 
[20:18] <SteveKrutzler> begun filming, is there anything that 
[20:18] <SteveKrutzler> you would change in launching the series?
[20:19] <rhwolfe> Well, certainly we learned a lot of lessons while shooting the first four or so episodes. I think we really got our grove around episode 6 in our shooting order.
[20:19] <rhwolfe> That's not to say the first five we shot are bad, just that we had to go through our shakeout period
[20:19] <rhwolfe> Most of the things that weren't working, we fixed though.
[20:19] <rhwolfe> You won't even see them.

[20:20] <rhwolfe> And we're continuing to improve everything we can improve. The Andromeda Androids, for example, are undergoing a major retrofit right now. We'll have new one for episode 18 or so.*

[20:21] <SteveKrutzler> DerekWW Asks: what stood out about this concept that made you choose to run with it?

[20:21] <rhwolfe> I think the principle appeal was the chance to work with so many talented people. Gene (posthumosly, unfortunately), Majel, Kevin, Allan Eastman. The premise itself is also very attractive.
[20:22] <rhwolfe> What do you do when your world falls apart?

[20:22] <rhwolfe> HOw do you continue? How do you find meaning?
[20:22] <rhwolfe> What makes someone a hero?
[20:22] <rhwolfe> What makes someone human? That kind of thing.
[20:22] <rhwolfe> *
[20:23] <SteveKrutzler> littlemanfromfaraway Asks: Many of the fans who will make up the audience of Andromeda are drawn 
[20:23] <SteveKrutzler> to it because of the quality of the writers involved. With the writing 
[20:23] <SteveKrutzler> being one of the new show's strongest points, it seems surprising that Andromeda will steer 
[20:23] <SteveKrutzler> clear of continuing story-lines. As the series progresses, do you think continuity will come to play a 
[20:23] <SteveKrutzler> larger and larger part?
[20:24] <rhwolfe> I never said we wouldn't have stories that would not span multiple episodes. What I said was that each episode will be able to be viewed and enjoyed on its own.
[20:24] <rhwolfe> The entire series will tell one very big story and many many smaller ones.
[20:24] <rhwolfe> Most of the smaller stories will be contained in a single episode, but will have repercussions that will ripple through the entire series
[20:25] <rhwolfe> And of course, each principal character will have their own journey
[20:25] <rhwolfe> But you won't need a program guide to catch you up. We're trying to strike a nice balance between continuity and episodes that are satisfying in their own right. *

[20:25] <SteveKrutzler> JasonB Asks: what do you think of kevin sorbo as an actor, i thought much of his hercules work was cheesy, in other words, can he act dramatically?
[20:26] <rhwolfe> Kevin is an amazingly talented actor. And I mean that with all sincerity. You may have found his work on Hercules "cheesy," but trust me, you will be impressed by him in Andromeda.
[20:27] <rhwolfe> One thing that people constantly underestimate is how hard it is to deliver a nice, light, likeable, breezy performance like Kevin did in Herc. People who can pull that off actually need a lot of talent. That's why they pay Harrison Ford the big bucks, after all.
[20:28] <SteveKrutzler> good point
[20:28] <rhwolfe> Now, we will certainly be giving Kevin more chances to show off his talent, but it would be a mistake to write him off.
[20:28] <rhwolfe> Man has skills.*
[20:28] <SteveKrutzler> and props? hehe
[20:28] <SteveKrutzler> Maigrey Asks: If we do indeed see the series through to hopefully 5 or 7 seasons will we perhaps see the restoration of the Commonwealth or leave with it on it's way sort of deal? Have you thought that far ahead?
[20:28] <rhwolfe> Those too. =) *
[20:29] <rhwolfe> Answer to question number 2 = yes. Answer to question number 1 = I ain't telling*
[20:29] <SteveKrutzler> |Odo| Asks: How do you plan on dealing with the sci fi internet community, a particularly vocal one?
[20:30] <rhwolfe> The same way we are now. I think the state department calls it "constructive engagement" =P

[20:31] <rhwolfe> Honestly, we feel it's important to be accessible and open to the fan community. That's why I post fairly regularly on the andromedatv boards, and Ethlie, Zack and Ashley can be found at slipstreamweb
[20:31] <rhwolfe> We'll continue this throughout the life of the series, time allowing
[20:31] <rhwolfe> *
[20:31] <SteveKrutzler> DerekWW Asks: how many episodes are going to be produced initially, a half season -13, or more?

[20:32] <rhwolfe> 22 right off the bat, a full season*
[20:32] <rhwolfe> We have already shot 14*

[20:32] <SteveKrutzler> M31 Asks: When will we likely see an opposing force equal to Dylan Hunt?

[20:33] <rhwolfe> Frankly, most opposing forces we meet will be far superior to Dylan Hunt, who is, after all, only one guy running around on one ship with a skeleton crew. He's up against impossible odds every day. That's what makes him such a bad@ss.*

[20:34] <SteveKrutzler> How with the potential (or inevitable) actor/writer strike in the industry next year affect the show? Taking any precautions? Does the fact that that production is in Canada change matters?
[20:34] <SteveKrutzler> with=will

[20:34] <rhwolfe> Answr cloudy. Try again later.
[20:35] <rhwolfe> The truth is, we just don't know yet. But if I were the studios, I'd just sign the proposal. I'm sure whatever the WGA wants will be fair and reasonable. *
[20:35] <SteveKrutzler> How is majel roddenberry involved, if at all?
[20:35] <rhwolfe> Everybody sing "All we are saying, is give peace a chance."
[20:35] <rhwolfe> Oh, sorry, next question

[20:36] <rhwolfe> Majel is involved at an advisory and oversight level. She reads all the scripts, sees all the cuts. Her main job is to protect Gene's legacy. To make sure that the show
[20:36] <rhwolfe> is something Gene would be proud to have his name on
[20:37] <rhwolfe> So far, she is very happy with what we're doing.*
[20:37] <SteveKrutzler> Maigrey Asks: Who's your favourite character to write for?
[20:38] <rhwolfe> They're all pretty fun. Harper gets the most "laugh out loud" lines, and is a more complex character than he first appears to be. Beka is tough, gutsy, kind of in your face. Rev philosophical, Tyr is a very honest guy
[20:38] <rhwolfe> in a really scary way
[20:38] <rhwolfe> Trance is a delight to write for. Very fun.
[20:39] <rhwolfe> And of course Dylan's great too. All the characters are fun to write, and fun to watch. And a lot of that has to do with what a terrific cast we have.
[20:39] <rhwolfe> We are blessed with very talented actors.
[20:39] <rhwolfe> Andromeda too, many different characters in one with her
[20:40] <rhwolfe> So I don't really have a favorite.
[20:40] <rhwolfe> *
[20:40] <SteveKrutzler> Do you think that the television market is saturated with genre/sci-fi product? How do you think Andromeda will compete with Voyager's last season, or a fifth Star Trek series (which is unlikely to get off the ground before said strike, maybe to your advantage?)?
[20:41] <rhwolfe> I think there's always room for good storytelling. And I don't really think we're competing with anyone in particular. Plenty of love to go around, yes?
[20:41] <rhwolfe> That's what we're all about here at Andromeda. Love.

[20:42] <rhwolfe> Everyone sing, "All we are saying, is give peace a chance. All we are saying, is give peace a chance."
[20:42] <rhwolfe> *
[20:42] <SteveKrutzler> M31 Asks: It was implied elsewhere that Dylan and Beka have this love/hate relationship, are we going to see a bit of romantic tension between the two?
[20:43] <rhwolfe> Everyone on Andromeda is incredibly hot for each other. Especially Rev Bem. All he really wants, deep down, is to love all his friends. And eat them. Not necessarily in that order.
[20:44] <rhwolfe> Love, it's in the air. Can you feel it?*
[20:44] <rhwolfe> That shut everyone up.

[20:45] <SteveKrutzler> Did you have any input into the design of the Andromeda Ascendant? If so, what was your vision for it? 


[20:45] <rhwolfe> Yes, I did. Quite a bit. And yes, it's pretty close to what I envisioned. Here's how it went:
[20:46] <rhwolfe> Ken Rubahl shows Robert a sketch.
[20:46] <rhwolfe> Robert looks at it

[20:46] <rhwolfe> Robert exclaims, "Yes! That's it! I am a genius.!"

[20:47] <rhwolfe> Obviously Ken tapped in to my genius telepathically, which is why we hired him
[20:47] <rhwolfe> *
[20:47] <SteveKrutzler> porthos asks: I find the concept of the Nietscheans (sp) fascinating... How did you come up with it??
[20:47] <rhwolfe> I have no idea. I really don't.
[20:48] <rhwolfe> Gene had written stuff about genetically engineered bad guys
[20:48] <rhwolfe> So had I
[20:48] <rhwolfe> I put tab A into slot B
[20:48] <rhwolfe> Then I needed a cool name
[20:48] <rhwolfe> So I tried Aristotelean
[20:48] <rhwolfe> But that didn't do it
[20:48] <rhwolfe> Platonites!
[20:48] <rhwolfe> No.
[20:48] <SteveKrutzler> LOL
[20:48] <rhwolfe> Kierkegardians!
[20:48] <rhwolfe> Nay
[20:49] <rhwolfe> And then it came to me...
[20:49] <rhwolfe> Dawkinites
[20:49] <rhwolfe> But that sounded sucky
[20:49] <rhwolfe> So Nietzscheans
[20:49] <rhwolfe> Plus I did that Abyss quote
[20:49] <rhwolfe> *
[20:49] <SteveKrutzler> I find that intensely creative process most inspiring
[20:49] <rhwolfe> oops did = dig
[20:49] <rhwolfe> The staring one, that rocks
[20:50] <rhwolfe> *
[20:50] <SteveKrutzler> M31 Asks: You mentioned that Gene had his title for the series, you had yours, and Tribune had "Andromeda", what might have been your title for the show?
[20:50] <rhwolfe> Phoenix Rising
[20:50] <rhwolfe> *
[20:50] <SteveKrutzler> any explication of that title?
[20:51] <rhwolfe> Umm, Phoenix make nest, Phoenix burn up, Phoenix die. Phoenix COME BACK! Phoenix alive again! Happy ending.
[20:51] <JasonBoxman> heh :)
[20:51] <rhwolfe> That and there's a Phoenix on the city crest of San Francisco
[20:52] <rhwolfe> "Gold in Peace, Iron in War, baby!"
[20:52] <rhwolfe> *
[20:52] <SteveKrutzler> Moonvista Asks: what proportion of the stories will be "message" stories, or topical stories and is that's a high priority for the show?
[20:52] <rhwolfe> Our priority is good stories. Most good stories have a message of some kind somewhere, even if it's just "Whoa."
[20:53] <rhwolfe> Or "Take the red pill, take the red pill!"
[20:53] <rhwolfe> Or even, "Killing the king and taking his place is bad. Don't do that. You'll go crazy and some crazy Scot will lop off your head."

[20:54] <rhwolfe> So our stories will mostly have messages of some kind, but our first priority will be to be as un-boring is possible.*
[20:54] <SteveKrutzler> Maigrey Asks: Most of your episode titles come from literary references [Honey Offering - Nietzche or in Fear's case a movie title]. The Second Coming is an ominous poem you use for the season finale's It's Hour Come Round At Last - will the episode be equally ominous, a cliffhanger?
[20:55] <rhwolfe> You got the Honey Offering. Damn, I'm impressed. I didn't think anyone would get that. Frigging obscure that one.
[20:55] <rhwolfe> Bows low to honor Maigrey
[20:55] <rhwolfe> I think it's fair to say Hour will be ominous, yes.I
[20:56] <rhwolfe> Though not necessarily a cliffhanger
[20:56] <rhwolfe> More in the DS9 style of cliffhanger
[20:56] <rhwolfe> Major revelation. Whoa. Fade out.
[20:56] <rhwolfe> *
[20:56] <SteveKrutzler> porthos Asks: without straining the magic 8 ball, will there be a group of people that *DONT* want to reunite the Commonwealth... or even a group of rival Empire builders???
[20:57] <rhwolfe> Hardly anyone will be jumping up and down to restore the Commonwealth. And there are lots of other big powerful groups out there. Several empires, guilds, religions, associations,
[20:57] <rhwolfe> etc, etc, etc. Building a civilization is hard*

[20:57] <SteveKrutzler> Producers tend to take different approaches. Will you focus more on writing, or take a backseat, advisory role, tending to "everything else" and managing the show like some certain other producers of some certain other show?

[20:58] <rhwolfe> I focus the largest single part of my energy on the scripts, although I have a lot of imput on everything else too. About as much as can be reasonably expected when I'm thousands of km from the set.
[20:59] <rhwolfe> Allan Eastman, though, is the big Kahuna up in BC and takes care of most of the other stuff. We make a great team. Allan is amazing. *

[20:59] <SteveKrutzler> The359 Asks: I noticed the 'Major Tom-Class' of ships on the webpage? Which smart guy came up with that one?
[20:59] <rhwolfe> Most of the other stuff = actually producing a show
[20:59] <rhwolfe> That would be Zack.*
[21:00] <SteveKrutzler> Moonvista Asks: how much humor will there be in the show, and will Sorbo (who has a knack for the campy) will be a light hero or more serious in tone?

[21:00] <rhwolfe> Andromeda will have a nice dollop of humor in every episode of chunky tv goodness. But Dylan Hunt is a far more serious guy than Herc. Not a stick in the mud by any means though.

[21:01] <rhwolfe> He likes a good joke as much as anyone
[21:01] <rhwolfe> He especially likes the ones that make the bad guys explode
[21:01] <rhwolfe> Those ones are frigging hilarious
[21:01] <rhwolfe> *
[21:01] <SteveKrutzler> M31 Asks: How many hours a day do the writers, or yourself, spend writing?
[21:02] <rhwolfe> We from 9 ish to about 6:30 ish in the office. We work all day, and meet about the show over lunch
[21:02] <rhwolfe> And some writing is done at home too
[21:02] <rhwolfe> But we aren't at our typewriters all day
[21:02] <rhwolfe> there's dailies and story meetings, etc, etc
[21:02] <rhwolfe> I spent about three hours today actually writing, the rest was all the other stuff
[21:02] <rhwolfe> *
[21:03] <SteveKrutzler> What, if any, cues of inspiration did you take from other sci-fi shows in any or all of the aspects of the show, from characters to costumes? (I reckon the costumes are reminiscient of Babylon 5?)
[21:03] <rhwolfe> Got about five more minutes
[21:03] <rhwolfe> None.*
[21:03] <SteveKrutzler> porthos asks: how much of the backstory of allsystems.org/show bible will make it to the show. Or is stuff like that just for us Netizens in the know ;) ?
[21:04] <rhwolfe> Most of it will show up someday, I imagine. In one form or another. *
[21:04] <SteveKrutzler> Moonvista asks: Some critics who have seen the series so far have suggested the characters are a bit too 90s-like in style. Do you agree with this criticism, and do you want it that way to make a connection with fans?

[21:05] <rhwolfe> B. I wanted to create a more contemporary tone. I mean, theoretically, the whole show is being shot in Commontongue (a futuristic language) and then translated into English. And we're very good translators.
[21:06] <rhwolfe> Did it bother anyone that Romeo and Juliet spoke in Elizabethan english? Anyone bothered by the reference to times by o'clocks in Julius Caeser?
[21:06] <rhwolfe> Not me.*
[21:06] <SteveKrutzler> And to finish... Moonvista Asks: Ethlie Ann Vare [Andromeda Staff Writer] compares the show to a "Music video" style. Are there going to be quick edits and rock music? :-)

[21:07] <rhwolfe> Well, to be honest... we couldn't afford the rock music. =) Beka was supposed to collect ancient music and play it from time to time, but the stuff is friggin expensive
[21:07] <rhwolfe> The pace will be quick, yes, but I don't know if I'd call it "Music Video" style
[21:08] <rhwolfe> Ethlie is a former Rock n Roll journalist (still does it sometimes) and she sees the whole word through those lenses. =)

[21:08] <rhwolfe> So you'll have to forgive her poetic license. I'd call our style.... ummm... modern. Un-boring
[21:08] <rhwolfe> Yeah, that's it... Un-boring
[21:09] <rhwolfe> *
[21:09] <SteveKrutzler> Thanks, Robert, for your time and your third TrekWeb chat (I believe). Closing remarks?
[21:09] <rhwolfe> I declare these Olympics closed! Metallica rules! Go NINERS!
[21:09] <rhwolfe> How's that?
[21:09] <rhwolfe> *
[21:10] <SteveKrutzler> Well, I'd say =VH= forever
[21:10] <rhwolfe> Thanks everyone for stopping by
[21:10] <SteveKrutzler> but that'll suffice! :-)
[21:10] <SteveKrutzler> The transcript of this chat will be online shortly at trekweb.com/Chat/. Thanks all, and we hope to see Robert back here again! Copyright 2000 TrekWeb.COM. 
[21:10] <JasonBoxman> thanks Robert! :)
[21:10] <rhwolfe> Night all, gotta go, wife waiting at home. Drive safely, Be nice to each other.
[21:10] <JasonBoxman> Will do! (:
[21:10] <rhwolfe> EXITS stage left

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