
Richard Hatem Birthday: November 2, 1966 Birthplace: St. Joseph's Hospital, Burbank, California. Directly across the street from the current ABC building where Miracles was born. Occupation(s): Writer. Was a waiter (only one letter difference) at Tony Roma's on Lake Avenue in Pasadena, CA for many years. Also taught comedy traffic school for five years -- Honest. Quotes: "When you're going through hell -- keep going." Winston Churchill Favorite Food: Anything Indian Favorite Book: Too many to name, but here's two from way back: The Main by Trevanian and Fifth Business by Robertson Davies Most influential person in my life: A small group of friends from high school and college, the smartest, funniest and most creative people I've ever known, who helped me believe I could do anything. What is most important: My kids, of course, and... Maintaining the excitement and interest in the world that feeds my desire to create. Read Richard Hatem's Interview at Tildanet.com	36 Questions with Richard Hatem (continued - page 4) 30. Where did you get the idea for Sodalitas Quaerito? Are Paul, Alva, and Evelyn the only members, or are there others we haven’t met yet? Because we loved the idea of a man investigating "miracles" but did NOT want to do a show about the inner workings or politics of the Catholic Church, we decided to have our cake and eat it too. Sodalitas Quaerito was designed to be an organization engaged in “parallel lines of research” with the Catholic "miracle hunters." Was it secretly a part of the Catholic Church? Was it older than the Catholic Church? These were things we wanted to imply without ever having to come down solidly on either side of the question. Hundreds -- thousands -- of hours were devoted to defining what SQ was, and we never came up with much more than, "Well, it’s this group that investigates weird stuff, and this Keel guy thinks some of the weird stuff may be puzzle pieces in a larger mystery. And we’ll figure out the rest later." We were heading in a direction that would have explained that SQ was NOT a secret international club with hundreds of members and ripe opportunities for stunt casting, but rather one of a loosely connected chain of fringe groups, each of which investigates the paranormal but none of which shares the same idea about what it all means. I think the network would have loved the first version, but David and I liked the second because it felt more real. When you research ghosts, or UFOs, or Bigfoot on the Internet, you don’t get big umbrella groups -- rather you get a bunch of little fiefdoms, small groups of people who spend most of their time denigrating other researchers in their own fields instead of combining their efforts and finding real answers. I love this. David and I wanted to create scenes in which Keel would interface with people from other groups to get particular bits of information – but meanwhile, they would think he was crazy or on the wrong track, and he would think the same of them. And whenever Paul would ask these people about Keel, they’d just roll their eyes and say, "He’s out of his mind." But of course, so are they, in the exact same way – and Paul would find himself back at square one. 31. Give us three words to describe your feelings since “Miracles” premiered. God is nowhere. 32. Six of the planned 13 episodes were aired. Are the remaining seven already filmed? If so, how about a DVD release? There are thirteen completed episodes -- six you’ve seen, seven you haven’t. Our hope is that Sci-Fi Network, or another cable outlet, will pick up the full thirteen and show them. Beyond that, it’s hard to say what is realistic to hope for. A DVD release would be fantastic. The shows are so beautifully shot and produced, better than most movies. I’m not sure yet what it would take for this to happen, but we’re looking into it. 33. Are the cast members able or anxious to continue "Miracles"? My guess is, if the audience and network interest is there, the cast would be more than happy to continue their characters’ stories. 34. What’s your next creative project going to be? I’m anxious to get back into features. As I mentioned earlier, Greenwalt and I are in the early stages of writing a movie for Spyglass Entertainment to produce. After that, we shall see... I will also be writing another pilot for Touchstone and Spyglass, the subject of which is yet to be determined. 35. (...Etc). What's the story behind the death of Keel’s mother? Who is Paul Callan’s father? Was the actual identity of "God" on the show in question, or ever to be revealed? Is Alva related to Paul? What's Paul’s most important quest? Where does Alva Keel actually live? (Other than the SQ office?) I’m going to take a rain check on these. Some questions are answered in the unaired episodes, while others have answers, but are for another day. And some have no answers at all -- and most likely never will. 36. Is there anything else you’d like to tell the fans? Thanks to everyone who submitted a question. I suppose the day will come when I’m sick and tired of talking about Miracles, but it hasn’t come yet. The whole thing feels so unfinished. My deepest wish is for those of you who are interested to see the final seven episodes. And I want you to know that work is being done even as I write this to make sure that happens. One way or another. Be well. Page 1 \| 2 \| 3 \| 4 << June 1, 2003 © Copyright 2003-2004 MiraclesTV.com. All Rights Reserved.

Richard Hatem

Birthday:
November 2, 1966

Birthplace:
St. Joseph's Hospital, Burbank, California. Directly across the street from the current ABC building where Miracles was born.

Occupation(s):
Writer. Was a waiter (only one letter difference) at Tony Roma's on Lake Avenue in Pasadena, CA for many years. Also taught comedy traffic school for five years -- Honest.

Quotes:
"When you're going through hell -- keep going."
Winston Churchill

Favorite Food:
Anything Indian

Favorite Book:
Too many to name, but here's two from way back:
The Main by Trevanian and Fifth Business by Robertson Davies

Most influential
person in my life:
A small group of friends from high school and college, the smartest, funniest and most creative people I've ever known, who helped me believe I could do anything.

What is most important:
My kids, of course, and... Maintaining the excitement and interest in the world that feeds my desire to create.

Read Richard Hatem's Interview at Tildanet.com

36 Questions with Richard Hatem (continued - page 4)

30. Where did you get the idea for Sodalitas Quaerito? Are Paul, Alva, and Evelyn the only members, or are there others we haven’t met yet?

Because we loved the idea of a man investigating "miracles" but did NOT want to do a show about the inner workings or politics of the Catholic Church, we decided to have our cake and eat it too. Sodalitas Quaerito was designed to be an organization engaged in “parallel lines of research” with the Catholic "miracle hunters."

Was it secretly a part of the Catholic Church? Was it older than the Catholic Church? These were things we wanted to imply without ever having to come down solidly on either side of the question. Hundreds -- thousands -- of hours were devoted to defining what SQ was, and we never came up with much more than, "Well, it’s this group that investigates weird stuff, and this Keel guy thinks some of the weird stuff may be puzzle pieces in a larger mystery. And we’ll figure out the rest later."

We were heading in a direction that would have explained that SQ was NOT a secret international club with hundreds of members and ripe opportunities for stunt casting, but rather one of a loosely connected chain of fringe groups, each of which investigates the paranormal but none of which shares the same idea about what it all means.

I think the network would have loved the first version, but David and I liked the second because it felt more real. When you research ghosts, or UFOs, or Bigfoot on the Internet, you don’t get big umbrella groups -- rather you get a bunch of little fiefdoms, small groups of people who spend most of their time denigrating other researchers in their own fields instead of combining their efforts and finding real answers. I love this. David and I wanted to create scenes in which Keel would interface with people from other groups to get particular bits of information – but meanwhile, they would think he was crazy or on the wrong track, and he would think the same of them.

And whenever Paul would ask these people about Keel, they’d just roll their eyes and say, "He’s out of his mind." But of course, so are they, in the exact same way – and Paul would find himself back at square one.

31. Give us three words to describe your feelings since “Miracles” premiered.

God is nowhere.

32. Six of the planned 13 episodes were aired. Are the remaining seven already filmed? If so, how about a DVD release?

There are thirteen completed episodes -- six you’ve seen, seven you haven’t. Our hope is that Sci-Fi Network, or another cable outlet, will pick up the full thirteen and show them. Beyond that, it’s hard to say what is realistic to hope for. A DVD release would be fantastic. The shows are so beautifully shot and produced, better than most movies. I’m not sure yet what it would take for this to happen, but we’re looking into it.

33. Are the cast members able or anxious to continue "Miracles"?

My guess is, if the audience and network interest is there, the cast would be more than happy to continue their characters’ stories.

34. What’s your next creative project going to be?

I’m anxious to get back into features. As I mentioned earlier, Greenwalt and I are in the early stages of writing a movie for Spyglass Entertainment to produce. After that, we shall see...

I will also be writing another pilot for Touchstone and Spyglass, the subject of which is yet to be determined.

35. (...Etc). What's the story behind the death of Keel’s mother? Who is Paul Callan’s father? Was the actual identity of "God" on the show in question, or ever to be revealed? Is Alva related to Paul? What's Paul’s most important quest? Where does Alva Keel actually live? (Other than the SQ office?)

I’m going to take a rain check on these. Some questions are answered in the unaired episodes, while others have answers, but are for another day. And some have no answers at all -- and most likely never will.

36. Is there anything else you’d like to tell the fans?

Thanks to everyone who submitted a question.

I suppose the day will come when I’m sick and tired of talking about Miracles, but it hasn’t come yet. The whole thing feels so unfinished. My deepest wish is for those of you who are interested to see the final seven episodes. And I want you to know that work is being done even as I write this to make sure that happens. One way or another.

Be well.

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