In Memory of Richard Hatch. Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming HD (up rez)

Mourning the death of my friend Richard Hatch. I just found out he passed away a few hours ago. I met him in 1999 at the Pasadena Grand Slam Convention. At the time, I was doing 3d art for video games and just learning to do character animation. He had published two novels in his Battlestar Galactica revival series. I thought maybe he'd consider reviving it as an animated film, similar to the way Star Trek was brought back in the 1970's. Little did I know that he'd already filmed 45 minutes of live action movie. I talked to him and Sophie LaPorte and was invited to come to meet with them to create 3d cylons for their trailer. In shock, I accepted, and thus began three years of working with him on various projects. But during that time, we became good friends, and he became part of our extended family, in a way. He was a very solid, down to earth person who still knew how to dream big and his passion for being creative was inspiring.

I will never forget one evening when he was in my home, my son casually handed him a toy cylon raider that had a habit of losing its cockpit. He put it back together for him and gave it back. I had an epitome moment there. Captain Apollo himself, repairing a cylon raider, perhaps for the first time ever, right in my home. Silly, but it is something the geek in me will always treasure.

I'm in total shock right now. I'm really going to miss him.

Godspeed Richard. May the true Lord bring you home to eternity.