MiraclesTV.com Posts In-Depth Interview with "Miracles" Creator Richard Hatem!

Acclaimed Writer/Producer Gives Exclusive Interview to MiraclesTV.com in "36 Questions for Rich Hatem" (the Perfect Supplement to Site's Signed Memorabilia Auctions)

HOLLYWOOD, FL. (PRWEB) June 20, 2003 -- In its continuing efforts to save the TV show "Miracles," MiraclesTV.com announces another coup: An exclusive, in-depth interview with "Miracles" show creator Richard Hatem.

Entitled, "36 Questions with Richard Hatem," the interview is (at over 4,000 words) an in-depth and fascinating look at Hatem's earliest inspirations in television and literature, as well as on his writing career as a whole. In the interview, Hatem reveals the genesis of "Miracles" as a show, discusses the much-loved "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" as a major creative inspiration for his career, and that he does in fact believe in God. ("I believe in God and life-after-death," comments Hatem, "but I believe the experience of both is as unknowable to human beings as the ideas of college and marriage are to a dog.")

"Millions of TV viewers and filmgoers already know that 'Miracles' creator Richard Hatem is a terrific writer," comments Angela Mitchell of MiraclesTV.com. "But he's also a heck of a nice guy -- and a really good sport. He provided us with a wealth of fascinating insight and information here, and really gave 'Miracles' fans an in-depth look at what inspired him to do the show, as well as what it's like to do the kind of work he does. We're overwhelmed and very grateful." The interview with Hatem was compiled and edited by Mitchell, who based the piece primarily on questions submitted by Miracles fans to Hatem via the MiraclesTV.com website over a two-week period in May, 2003.

Among the several fascinating revelations in the interview, Hatem reveals his appreciation for coffee shops and Nestle's Crunch bars, that he's never really been scared by a single horror film, and that his favorite authors include such greats as Dashiell Hammett, Toni Morrison, Orson Scott Card, and Stephen King ("because he writes scary stories that mean something"). He also discusses his collaborations with writer/executive producer David Greenwalt ("Miracles," "Angel," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), and his favorite episodes of "Miracles" to date.

Best of all, though, Hatem answers "Miracles" fans' most cherished questions about the show -- from questions on faith, science, hemography, and miracles, to the best parts of working on the show: "The people I worked with, no question. From the studio execs at Touchstone and Spyglass, to the department heads (who possess a level of talent and creativity that shocked me), to the writers, the directors, the actors, the absolutely amazing guest stars, the office staff -- I couldn't wait to go to work in the morning."

A critically acclaimed writer for both film and television, Richard Hatem ("Miracles," The Mothman Prophecies) has been a continued source of inspiration and moral support for the MiraclesTV.com and its efforts to save "Miracles." "Rich has gone out of his way to keep in touch with fans since ABC's cancellation of 'Miracles,'" comments Mitchell, "and he remains a gracious, accommodating and patient ambassador for the show, even donating signed "Miracles" scripts for auction to raise money for our continued efforts. We're very grateful to him for his continued communication and support."

The interview with Richard Hatem is posted exclusively at MiraclesTV.com, and can be read in its entirety at http://www.miraclestv.com/HatemQuestions36.htm.

Current Successes: "Miracles" Memorabilia Auctions
Thanks in part to Hatem's contributions, as well as those from highly respected entertainment names such as Rob Kral, David Greenwalt and others, MiraclesTV.com has been able to hold auctions for numerous signed and rare "Miracles" memorabilia. Thanks to donations from these key "Miracles" creative team members, MiraclesTV auctions include signed scripts for "Hand of God" (the sixth and final episode to be aired by ABC) from Hatem, and special signed sheet music samples from the original "Miracles" score by composer Robert Kral. The memorabilia auctions, already highly successful on eBay, have helped to raise money to fund the "Save Miracles" (MiraclesTV.com) campaign, with additional campaigns for charitable donation planned in the near future.

About 'Save Miracles' (www.MiraclesTV.com)
When ABC stopped believing in "Miracles," fans of the drama from all over the world decided to start a massive campaign to prove them wrong. And they've done so with a vengeance: After just under eight weeks, the campaign has achieved continued, serious network talks on the show's future, thousands of "GOD IS NOW HERE" napkin mailings to network execs and advertisers (including Scifi, UPN, WB and more), a comprehensive hub website (www.MiraclesTV.com), two full-page trade advertisements in Variety and The Hollywood Reporter (paid for solely thanks to the generous contributions of "Miracles" fans), a loyal fanbase of thousands worldwide, and over three dozen national newspaper, magazine, and webzine articles.

Press for the campaign's efforts thus far includes over three-dozen high-profile articles in national newspapers, magazines, and webzines including TV Guide, The San Francisco Examiner, Scifi Wire, TV Tome, Bureau 42, Scifi Storm, The Daily Southtown, Corona's Test Pattern, The Arizona Reporter, The Austin-American Statesman, and many more.

The "Save Miracles" campaign is the latest in a string of successful fan campaigns launched by viewers to save the shows they're passionate about. Harnessing the power of the Internet, and involving the coordination of fans, TV critics, and media professionals worldwide, the MiraclesTV group's dedicated members are hoping to make TV history in much the same way "Cagney & Lacey" and "Roswell" fans have done -- resulting in the complete airing of season 1 (ABC yanked the show after only the sixth episode), as well as a pickup by a network for a brand-new season as well.

About "Miracles"
A suspenseful, and exciting new genre drama, "Miracles" debuted on ABC on January 27, 2003 at 10 p.m., and was greeted with overwhelming acclaim by approximately 8.7 million viewers. Critical raves soon poured in -- from dozens of newspapers and magazines across the country, including such top news sources as The New York Times, TV Guide, USA Today, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, US Weekly, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Chicago Tribune, The Austin American-Statesman, The Denver Post, The Orlando Sentinel, and dozens more. Fan response was also overwhelming -- fansites and webrings sprang up across the web, and the ABC bulletin board hummed with thousands of excited posts and discussions. Yet the show soon began to face constant preemptions and last-minute program substitutions, and within one week of the airing of the long-delayed sixth episode (entitled "Hand of God"), ABC put "Miracles" on indefinite hiatus.

"Miracles" stars Skeet Ulrich as Paul Callan, Angus Macfadyen as Alva Keel and Marisa Ramirez as Evelyn Santos. The series is produced by Touchstone Television in association with Spyglass Entertainment. Roger Birnbaum, Gary Barber and David Greenwalt are executive producers. Richard Hatem is executive producer and writer.

For further information on the "Save Miracles" campaign, please contact:

Angela Mitchell
Media Relations and Coordination
Save Miracles
(954) 983-5877, Paramitch@aol.com or SaveMiracles@aol.com
www.MiraclesTV.com