Battlestar Galactica:
The Second Coming trailer preview

INTERVIEW WITH DARREN MERRITT
By Michael Faries

BattlestarGalactica.com spoke with Darren Merritt who served as the co-Costume Designer for Richard Hatch's Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming trailer. Darren is another example of a fan who went to great distances and efforts to help reignite Battlestar Galactica.

	Darren Merritt on the set of Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming. (Click to enlarge.)

How did you meet Richard?

In 1996, I was in Los Angeles for the 1996 World Science Fiction Convention. Richard was there and had a table. He was doing a online interview with the Sci-Fi Channel. I was passing by and they saw me carrying a Battlestar Galactica costume and Viper helmet. The man asked if I wanted to meet Richard. I said "sure."

They took the costume and put the tunic and jacket on him and then the helmet. He was humming the theme song to the show. We both ended up on the Sci-Fi Channel. Afterwards he asked where I had gotten the helmet. I told him my friend had molded it off a real one. He went on to say our costumes were very good. He said that he gets people all the time asking for them. So, he started putting a price sheet out when he did conventions. I made a jacket for him a year later which Sophie (co-Producer of the Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming trailer) now owns. I was a guest at a few more conventions that Richard was at over the next couple of years.

I heard you were sick?

I was diagnosed with an illness in late 1997 in which there was no cure. I started losing weight. The illness, Achelasia ,was keeping me from eating very much at all. In 1998, around April, Richard called me and told me about the trailer. He wanted to know if I could help. I told him of my illness, and for my love of the show, I would help all I could. I started designing new costumes for the trailer. At first I was designing all the costumes. Then I think, because I was ill and in Indiana, Richard thought I might not be able to get everything done. Well I had an operation in September of 1998. Which made me as well as I was going to get. I am much better now. I had just gotten out of the hospital two weeks before the shooting I got on a plane so I could make sure it all when well on my part.

What costumes did you design for Richard's trailer?

I designed all the Council of the Twelve costumes which was a lot of fun. I crossed them with the original styles and updated them some. I had one of the hardest jobs as far as the costuming aspect part of it. I was in Indiana; Joe K. and his crew were in California and seen the actors for fittings. I didnt get to see anyone till the night before shooting. I can only say that all twelve costumes not only fit well. But I had actors and actresses in all shapes and sizes. I never knew anyone sizes before I made the costumes. Not too bad for a guy all the way in Indiana.

How did the trailer shoot go?

I thought it went very well. We worked for 20 hours the first day and I had to leave for the airport at 11:00pm on Sunday. So that day I worked for about 12 hours. It was the best time I had. To think about being on the set of your favorite show was incredible. Richard took care of everyone: food, drinks, everything -- he's the best.

What did you do on the set?

I did the work of a key costumer: I helped make sure everyone's costume fit them. We also helped people get dressed, then they went to make up. When the set was done, they started shooting. My job was to help keep all the costumes looking the same from shot to shot. We straightened them up between shots, then I stayed out of the way and watched.

On Sunday, we went to the old newspaper place. It was cool: They had shot the season opener to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Very dirty place; it didn't take long for the costumes to start getting dirty.

Did you get to be in the trailer?

That morning, they thought they might need some more extras so I suited up in my costume. I got to go to make-up and they did my hair, just in case. They didnt end up needing anyone, but they needed a uniform which they had not informed anyone of. So I volunteered my costume for the tunic that would belong to Starbuck. We distressed my tunic so it looked ruffed up. and added one collar pin for a gleam of hope, that Starbuck was still alive. then It was cut out in the end. So I wasnt but my costume was.

Did you meet any other actors from the original Battlestar Galactica series there?

Yes! I got to spend a few hours Saturday night with George Murdock, which was really great. he was very interesting to chat with. I will say that all the actors and actresses I worked with that weekend were the best. The whole crew and director were very inspiring to do all that work love of a show.

Was that your Viper helmet in the trailer?

Yes, it was. My friend added lights to the bars so it looked like the series. A lot of the actors had a great time getting to wear the helmet. I took pictures of them, too. I think it looked very good when I saw it in pictures.

Have you seen the trailer?

I saw it last summer at a convention with Richard and Jack. I was almost in tears. It was such a emotional thing to watch and know you helped with it. I was so impressed with all the great work everyone did.

What are you doing now?

Well I am working on getting Richard here in Indiana next year and I am still designing Galactica costumes till I get the one Richard wants. I do conventions and teach how to make costumes and speak on Galactica and its future and its past. I always like hearing Richard speak at conventions, it is wonderful to have an actor who enjoys and loves science fiction as much as I do.

Thanks, Darren!