SOME CLARITY FOR THE "V" COMMUNITY

The following message was sent to Visitors Among Us by "V" executive producer Jace Hall.

Greetings to all here.
   I've had the opportunity to read some of the discussion on this site and other sites in regards to the new “V” project that is being worked on and I wanted to take a quick moment to clear a few things up if possible.
   We understand the various skepticism and the concerns being voiced here. We know we are working with a well known and cherished property and I can assure you that there is the highest regard for the material on everyone's part.
   We are all focused on delivering an EPIC pilot and hopefully series!
   I am huge fan of the original 'V' and I know Ken Johnson personally. So please know that whatever I do in regards to 'V' I always do it knowing that I must look Kenny in the eye and own the responsibility for it.
   So believe me when I say that we care about this and that we want it to be as satisfying as possible to as many people as it can be. We want it to be meaningful to people and live up to the expectations that are out there as well as our own.
   The reason you are not getting a lot of information from me or Scott or anyone else at this time, is simply because we are focused on the pilot, and from the team's perspective it is not the appropriate moment for us to be discussing the show's details and specifics. The pilot is not done. It is being worked on. When we finish it and actually have a complete work, it will make more sense to discuss what it is we have produced.
   When it is the right time, the information will flow. I promise you that. As a guy from the video games industry, I am very used to a much more open and early dialog with the community on a project so of course it is very hard for me not to talk about the project right now as I am very excited about it and there is a lot to say.
   From what I can tell, most of the information that is out there is from various industry leaks and a lot of it is inaccurate so that makes it even harder to sit by and do nothing to correct it.
   The quick "V"-logs up on www.v-thevisitors.com are just fun micro moments that I am making available just to at least have SOMETHING (however little and insignificant they might be) for now just to let you know that the project is indeed moving forward and that things are looking FANTASTIC(although I cant show you that stuff directly at this time...)
   With this "V" log stuff I am trying to slowly acclimatize the "traditional studios and networks involved" to a more organic way to allow “V” fans into what is going on - but I need to seriously baby step the process in order to not cause issues.
   I think the more the “V” fan supports this kind of activity instead of discouraging it, may create more studio and network flexibility to reveal more information over time. I need to show them that spending time with you and communicating with you early is a positive move.
   Basically, I'm trying here. I know that what is being provided is woefully insufficient at this time, but these are the rules that have been established. Things will improve over time with your support should you decide to lend it.
   I understand that there are some of you who ONLY want a Ken J version of "V" - I don't know how to address that other than to say Kenny is working on getting a film made and hopefully he will be able to do so under the terms that make sense for him. I certainly have told Kenny that I support his effort.
   As for the "amateur" comment I'm sorry you feel that way. I am a casual person and I don't have any entitlement issues about my role as Executive Producer. I feel honored to be part of the "V" team, working with Scott and Steve and Yves, and Warner Bros and ABC. I feel lucky and humble to be able to speak to the “V” fans here.
   In any case, we really appreciate your patience, understanding and support.
   Stay tuned on www.v-thevisitors.com as things evolve.

   Jace Hall

 

Comments

[kye]

Ha! this is just another way of him saying ," I can do what i want with V " I think V fans should be able to get some sneak peaks of the pilot such as promotional shots , art sketches ect. I have been a fan of V since it first aired on network television and i waited paitently for a new show to rise from the ashes. The changing of characters i can deal with but if they change the uniforms , ships ect then that would be harder to swallow!

[Ed Gross]

For what it's worth, my opinion is that we need to see what they come up with before we judge it. Both Ron Moore and J.J. Abrams took a lot of heat for their takes on, respectively, Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek. In the case of BSG, the changes were obviously quite successful, and in terms of Trek, mass skepticism has actually turned into excitement and anticipation. Hopefully the same thing will happen with this version of "V".

[kye]

Maybe!! I did like what they did with Battlestar Galactica so maybe !!

[Ed Gross]

The lesson I learned from Galactica is that I've got to let 'em show me what they've got, and at that point I can decide whether or not it works for me.

[Jay]

I think an open dialogue is of the utmost importance, they dont have to leak every detail I get the need for secrecy. I just have so much skepticism, the pilot they are producing will be an hour long, how on God's Earth or the Visitors home world (lol) are they going to accomplish in an hour what Ken J had an entire mini-series to do? I would not even try, their best bet is to introduce the concept, key players, and allow the series to unfold step by step into a strong remade brand. I have said it before, I cant think of any sci-fi series that lasted recently on ABC, NBC, or CBS, nothing Nada zip. At least Hall realizes he has alot to live up to, taking out the alien concept and space ships the original V still holds up strong today because the story telling was brilliant, I can sit and watch the original miniseries right now and be perfectly entertained. Problem today is Hollywood wants to get a quick hit and a quick buck, quality and content take a back seat. Its really sad, I know Im a huge fan because im following every step of this process online, I even read a review of the script wherein the reviewer complained about the characters not being developed fully or allowed breathing room before they went off to another character, NOT going to cut it. The original worked because it was a GREAT story with an even better allegory inside. So until I see what they come up with my comments will continue to be "dont screw this up" Ive seen so many, we have the disaster of "Knightrider", the joke of "Bionic Woman" and the short lived ABC "Invasion" which had bad writing too. So many great franchises and opportunities ruined.

[Jay]

Oh another one comes to mind, Ive been watching the Terminator series, and the show has gotten better lately, but it was off to a bad start, poor storylines, another great franchise taken into the hands of folks that just dont get it, they dont understand the brand, or the loyalty fans have for a quality product. The same thing happen with the V tv series, that was pure garbage stank and all.

[Ed Gross]

Hey Jay,

I've read the pilot script and the one main complaint I had was exactly as you detailed above: things do move at an accelerated clip. My preference, of course, is for the gradual unveiling. I watched the original mini-series again this past weekend and it still works amazingly well.

That being said, I think we have to be realistic about the television audience today: it's proven repeatedly that it does not want to stick around for convoluted, serialized dramas that gradually unfold. With the exception of Lost (and I still think most people stare at that thing rather than watch it, having no clue what's going on), the ratings have fallen on all of them. Look at how far Heroes has plummeted.

A perfect example of this is NBC's Kings. It's a terrific, well written, well crafted and well performed series that pretty much debuted D.O.A. The audience just doesn't care if it looks too "complicated."

As I said before, I'm a huge fan of the type of drama that the original "V" represented, but I fear that people like you and me are very much in the minority. Let's hope that whatever they do with the new "V," it will be done in such a way that it will catch the attention of current TV viewers, throwing in a little substance with all of that speed.

[Jay]

Ed, I would looooovvvvvveee to read the script all 60 or so pages cant find it online as of yet. Your comments are pretty much dead on, folks today have a short attention span, and dont appreciate a developing storyline, what has worked is taking a concept and seeing it thru from beginning to its end. An idea I like, that way the writers dont get completely off track because if you dont have a destination then your just out there going nowhere specific. They should have an idea where they want the series to go a blueprint if you will. I still maintain that any series with great writing and strong content will find its audience, to the advantage of the new V remake producers, Sci-fi tends to have some seriously hard core fans, Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galatica, I watched a whole 10 seasons of Stargate, point is it can be done, I question if ABC is the best network for a sci-fi series but hey at least I get a remake to watch. Oh and in case I had not said it I just want to cover myself here "dont screw this up"

[Jay]

I dont think they know how many folks out there remember the original, the folks on board for the new remake are aware many people are familiar with the brand, but what remains true now as the original is the concept was great fun, and it worked, could have been bigger, but thanks to bad writing cutting corners, poor production values the series tanked. You have to figure any mini-series that gets a full run at having a show must have been damn good to begin with, its all there, just a matter of seeing how well the new hands can bring it out and give us V fans something to wow about.

[Ed Gross]

See, that's the problem. The approach you're describing would have a much better chance at a network like SciFi, but then you'd have the problem that they don't have the kind of budget that ABC has. One of the failings about "V": The Series (besides too many characters for a weekly series as well as a staff of writers more comfortable writing prime time soaps than scifi allegorical tales) was the simple fact they didn't have the kind of budget to pull off a show like that.

I think the challenge of the producers is to give the network a fast-moving pilot, get the series greenlit and then find ways to nurture the scripts of the weekly series to get the deeper ideas in there. It's certainly what Gene Roddenberry had to do with the original Star Trek. "The Cage" was rejected as too cerebral, so he had the chance to do "Where No Man Has Gone Before," which had far more action yet still explored intelligent ideas. That model may be over 40 years old, but it's an approach -- if taken with today's sensibilities -- that could ensure a series and a resonant one at that.

[Jay]

I think of examples more recent, such as The X Files, or its copy cat Fringe. Its not about the general TV viewing public, its about getting that core cult group following, that cool factor with the sci-fi crowd. Screw the fickle folks, sci-fi fans are hardcore followers. That angle I highly recommend. There is no doubt they have a challegne here, and your right on Sci-fi this thing would fly, but budget restraints would not do V justice, it is a project that demands a high level of production value, which means big budget, I read recently Ken J was removed from the follow up to V the original over budget costs, sad, if you get into this project dealing with special effects and huge sets , props and all and not know its going to be costly you dont get it to begin with. I dont want to ramble on anymore here, Im looking forward to the show and hoping like all hell its done well and finds an audience that will enjoy it.

[Nick]

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Help-Save-V/

Sign this if you want Real V back, not this V-lite crap

[Nick]

V should be left to those who love and care for the show, and know what they are doing-namely Ken Johnson, not this Jace Hall, who do abc think they are coming up with this crap after turning Kenny down? it's a very aggressive attempt to derail Kennys attempts to bring us the real deal.

[Nick]

The script is certainly less than "epic", no idea where jace came up with that LIE, it's poorly written and dull.

But that is a good thing, means the project will get cancelled even quicker, leaving the way open for the real deal from kenny.

[Ed Gross]

One thing to consider is the fact that if the new "V" flops, there could be a very good chance that the failure would actually have a NEGATIVE impact on Kenny's theatrical version. It's very likely that the money people will perceive this failure as a lack of interest on the public's part in the property, thus threatening his efforts. What we should actually hope for is that the show is a big hit, which would mean that Kenny is sitting on a potential goldmine with the theatrical rights.

[Nick]

I would rather have no new V rather than this overhyped reinvention, that has the best parts of the original missing, I hope and pray every day this this will fail bigtime, it's the worst possible thing that could have happened to v and the sooner it is over and done with the better.

[Nick]

Changing the subject for a moment, I'm guessing your the same guy who did some of the excellent V files books?

[Ed Gross]

That's me -- I wrote volumes IV - VI, very early in my writing career and for a publisher who was a nightmare to deal with. But I've been a "V" fan from the beginning.

[Nick]

I love those books, they are a great resource for fans, I just wish they could have been reprinted and therefor more widely available.

nightmare publisher or not, those books are great, thank you for writing them.

[Jay]

I read the petition from the link posted above, and I must ask how can you judge a product you havent seen yet? I mean I dont know what the ships will look like, or even the uniforms, or if they wear uniforms, so cant sign that, but it is a sign how fanatical sci-fi fans can be, so once again, "dont screw this up"

[Ed Gross]

Nick: I'm actually thinking of doing something with that old material and adding new as well. I'll let you know when something develops. Also, while I won't stop you from posting the petition, I don't agree with it. I really do believe that a failure of this "V" would impact badly on Kenny's attempts. As I noted earlier, the money people could see a failure of the TV "V" as an indication the audience isn't interested in the property, which could be disastrous.

Jay: I agree, we don't know what anything looks like. I know I'm sounding like a broken record here, but BSG and the new Star Trek sounded iffy in the beginning, and the former was great and the latter is finally getting A LOT of people excited. I would like to give Scott Peters and Jace Hall the benefit of the doubt. Guess we'll have to see how it all plays out. -- Ed

[Jay]

As a few of you have noted, if this series were to fail, it would signal a lack of interest in the concept, and Ken J's efforts to get his project to the big screen would be damaged by this, so like it or not, the V remake will reintroduce the brand to a new audience, if it succeeds it will only help Kenny just that much more. I think the petition is uncalled for.

[Nick]

YOU may think the petition is uncalled for but over 380 people so far disagree, so get over it existing because it ain't going away.

[Nick]

At least this site is still around, Jase wells of Thevisitors.info has closed his down in a fit of pique or a drama queen hissy fit as not all agree with his management of the site and obvious bias in certain sectors!

At least in october we will have a better site-sirian Visitors.

[Nick]

http://www.sirianvisitors.com/synopsis3.html

It'll be open properly in October and will be brilliant!