PINK KHAKI - THE STARGATE SG-1 ONLINE MAG

Would you consider your campaign a success so far?
SDJ: A campaign can only be judged as a success or failure when it's over.

Do you know how many letters were sent and phone calls made? Any numbers available?
SDJ: There is no way to quantify the numbers in this. Not all who campaign are members of the SG1_Team list, or are even members of the online fandom, and not all members of the list actively campaign.

Have you received any feedback from "TPTB" yet?
SDJ: To date we have not received any direct feedback from 'TPTB'.

Whom do you hold responsible for Michael Shanks' departure? The term "TPTB" covers many people. The authors? Producers?
SDJ: As we understand it, his departure was a mixture of many factors. Not the least of which was the creative direction the producers embarked on beginning in season four (more in our response to the question marked with *** below).

Have you set yourselves a time frame for the SDJ campaign?
SDJ: A time frame would be impossible in these circumstances.

Why did you start this campaign only after Michael Shanks already left?
SDJ: Only the campaign as an organized entity began then.

As for some of your statements, the "wallpaperization" of Daniel Jackson and his separation from the team started as early as the beginning of season 4. Why did you not try to take influence back then, when a protest
would have had so much more impact and might have changed the direction of the show in a way today's situation wouldn't even have occurred? Michael Shanks has more than once hinted that he's not too happy about the way things are handled. Why was there no reaction from your part back then?
SDJ: Individuals reacted strongly to season four both publicly online and in letters to 'TPTB'. The campaign is the culmination of that dissatisfaction.

Many people accuse you of damaging Michael Shanks' career, or at least cut his chances for a return to Stargate. I agree with you that "loyal fans thanking him for his portrayal of a beloved character, wishing him every success and happiness" can't hurt him in any way". But how about loyal fans making hundreds if not thousands of phone calls, some of them attacking those who have the power to bring him back on the show in the below mentioned way?
SDJ: We work very hard to make it clear that we are not in contact with Mr. Shanks nor are we in any way connected to him.We are unaware of any 'attacks' and would not condone them if we were. We urge people who choose direct contact with those in charge to be polite and considerate of those with the task of taking such calls. As stated before, not all who protest are involved in the campaign body. Meridian has aired in the UK and many of the calls and letters made in protest were and are an outpouring from those fans viewing the episode.

On your "FAQ" page you state that "(...) we are not here to attack anyone, not the actors, not the producers ." and that "(...) quite simply (...)", you are not attacking the writers, either. However, when I went through your "Many Voices" section (where questions and messages to "TPTB" can be posted)I found some very touching messages to Michael Shanks, thanking him for his work, wishing him well - but also one who gives him the good advise "(...) don't let the bastards grind you down (...)". Joe Mallozzi is referred to as "(...) a ranting hysteric who acts like a troll (...)" and a "(...) walking publicity disaster (...)". Brad Wright is sternly told "(...) Sir, your stupidity knows no bounds (...)". Mullie and Mallozzi have to face the question "(...) how it feels to be two of the most hated and despised "people" on the face of the earth (...)". TPTB are not much better off, the rage-range ranges from "(...) Idiots In Charge (...)" to "(...) clueless clackhanded clowns (...)" and one fan wonders if they "(...) at least get a group rate on the lobotomies (...)".
While I understand you have no influence on what people post on message boards and mailing lists - this is your site, you are responsible for its content. How do you feel about this? Why do you tolerate statements like "(...) I could kill someone, no not just someone Joseph Mallozzi!!!" (...)?
SDJ: A messageboard is exactly that; a place for people to leave their personal messages according to their own thoughts and feelings, thus 'Many Voices'. Again, people are *urged* to be considerate, but are not required to be. A disclaimer is in place to remind visitors that the opinions posted on the message-board are those of the individual fan who chooses to leave a message and not those of the SDJ site itself. In the same way a Guest Book is not necessarily the opinion of the website it is placed on or the MGM messageboard(/FONT> is not representative of the opinions of MGM.

Looking at it from the other side: how do you feel when you read the sometimes pretty rude attacks on you and your campaign on message boards and mailing lists?
SDJ: No comment.

Did you receive personal attacks and if yes, how do you deal with this?
SDJ: No comment.

You've collected quite a lot of money to finance the ads which were pulished in Hollywood Reporter, Variety and others, you've written letters, sent out mails, made phone calls, invested a lot of your personal time and money into this campaign. Don't you ever get the feeling that you might push the boat out a little too far? At the end of the day, Stargate *is* "only" a TV show .
SDJ: ***At the end of the day, this goes much further than a television show. What has been misunder-stood from the beginning is that this as much about the dismissal of an entire demographic of fans as it is about the issue of one actor and the direction taken by one show. Traditionally the young male demo-graphic has been the most desirable to the entertainment industry, but prior to season four the series was not specifically aimed at that segment of the population. Stargate's appeal was broad in scope.
For reasons we can only infer, the show that was once comfortable for all fans has been redirected into something that many are very uncomfortable with. The loss of the character Daniel Jackson was simply the last in a long line of dismissals and the focus that has brought it all to this juncture. We speak out because that loss is the final and most cutting in a long line of insults to our intelligence, to our worth as a portion of the fan body, and to our importance as a viable market. In essence we have been devalued by the 'society' of those in charge of things who believe they know what "the people" want, as well as by others who do not see or agree with that devaluation. This particular boat (the dismissal of a particular section of an audience to actively pursue another) has been sailing for quite some time and we believe that the time is well past for that boat to be rocked.

If you had free hand to write and direct an episode, what would it look like?
SDJ: Strong storylines with the SG-1 team working together, as a cohesive unit and family, as in Seasons 1-3.

With Daniel returning for "Abyss", isn't your "mission complete" by now?
SDJ: See the answer above. ***

� Pink Khaki 2002