  INCOMING TRANSMISSION FROM STARFLEET COMMAND August 18, 2003
Source: www.cinescape.com
IGN DVD is reporting that Paramount
will begin releasing STAR TREK: VOYAGER on DVD starting next year,
followed by the original STAR TREK series by each individual season.
While the first TREK is available on disc, only two episodes are placed on each DVD.
IGN received their information at the Video Software Dealers
Association convention in Las Vegas. As announced earlier by Paramount, the remainder of
DEEP SPACE NINE will be out by the end of the year. All seven seasons
of THE NEXT GENERATION are already available on DVD.
Paramount Home Video releases the fourth season of STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE today in retail stores. As was the case with the
past three sets, DS9's fourth season contains all 26 episodes on seven discs plus additional
bonus material of interest to STAR TREK fans.
The biggest change that took place in the fourth season of DS9 was the addition of THE NEXT GENERATION character of Worf to the space station. The character
receives his own profile on the DVD set along with a look at the sketchbook of John Eaves and the makeup designs of Michael
Westmore. There is also an overview of all the key events that took place in the fourth
season as well as hidden files from the Section 31 archives.
Priced at $129.99, STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON is now out on DVD.
The man who played Captain Kirk has an idea to boldly return to space.
With the future of the STAR TREK franchise in doubt and the premiere
of the third season of ENTERPRISE in less than one month, William Shatner has told the press that he has an idea for a new direction to
take TREK. "I'm trying to interest the powers -- and that has many levels to it -- for me to
conceive another STAR TREK manifestation," Shatner told a reporter for The
Sioux City Journal. "It would be a concept for a series."
Shatner didn't reveal any additional information about what his series would be or which
timeframe his TREK would take place in.
In other TREK news, the official STAR TREK website has revealed T'Pol's new costume that
she'll be wearing in the third season. The light blue jumpsuit is just as form-fitting as her
Vulcan High Command uniform. Let's hope there's no drafts onboard Enterprise (or maybe you are
hoping for it.) July 19, 2003
Source: www.cinescape.com
Paramount Home Video releases the latest (last?) theatrical
mission for the NEXT GENERATION crew today with the arrival of STAR TREK: NEMESIS on video/DVD. Will NEMESIS find a warmer reception in the
video market than it did from movie audiences?
Hoping for just that, Paramount has included an interesting selection of bonus material
hoping to get TREK fans to take a second look at the picture. Director Stuart
Baird offers up a feature length commentary discussing the shooting and making of the
film. There are four featurettes showing behind-the-scenes production as well as offering a
detailed look at the action sequences. Perhaps the item that Trekkies might find most rewarding
are the inclusion of seven deleted scenes including Picard meeting his new First Officer. There
is also a photo gallery and a preview of the next DEEP SPACE NINE DVD
compilation.
The DVD for STAR TREK: NEMESIS carries a suggested retail price of $29.99 and is out in
stores as of today, May 20, 2003.
ENTERPRISE's Jolene Blalock has agreed to
star as the female lead in SLOW BURN, a new thriller that will start
filming shortly. Blalock will ditch her Vulcan ears and play an assistant district attorney who
is manipulating her superior (played by Ray Liotta) who is feuding with
a gang leader. LL Cool J also stars in the film as a stranger who is
working on the subterfuge with Blalock's D.A.
Trek Web are reporting that ENTERPRISE cast member Jolene Blalock will have a
recurring role as a Jaffa leader in STARGATE SG-1. Blalock's character,
Ishta, will first appear in the season seven episode "Birthright" and the door is open for
further appearances to be made. Ishta is also being shaped to be a love interest for Teal'c,
Christopher Judge's Gou'ald character that is now a member of SG-1.
Blalock plays Vulcan science officer T'Pol on ENTERPRISE. Her part on STARGATE SG-1 will not
interfere with her "day job" on the UPN series.
Last Saturday in Hollywood at The Elephant Theatre on Santa Monica
Blvd. Sue Schneider got a chance to watch Anthony
Montgomery, (Ensign Travis Mayweather) from ENTERPRISE on stage
in the production of DUTCHMAN. Also attending was none other then Dominic Keating (Malcolm Reed), Montgomery's castmate from the show.
Montgomery plays Clay, a 20-year old African-American who is riding the New York subway on
the way to a party. It’s a hot summer night and boarding the train is an attractive older white
woman whom he had first noticed standing on the platform. Lula (Deborah Dir), who in my opinion
is a bit off-the wall, starts by introducing herself to Clay. From then on the drama starts as
during the long ride they seduce and repel each other until Lula angers Clay and this ultimately
leads to his unfortunate destiny.
DUTCHMAN, written by LeRoi Jones, first hit the New York theater scene
in l964 was an Obie-Award winning one-act play.
Source: www.startrek.com
"Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," originally released in 1989, was directed by William Shatner and is the penultimate film to feature the entire original
cast. Although it may not be the most popular Star Trek film, "The Final Frontier" is an
engaging, and oftentimes humorous movie that features some nice interaction between the
originals. If there is a problem with the film, it has to do with budget restrictions
encountered during production; the movie never got made to fit Shatner's original vision for the
film. Certain special effects were deemed too costly and what resulted wasn't quite up to par.
The DVD offers a chance to look back and see what obstacles there were — including a
strenuous location shoot in Yosemite — but also offers insight into what did work and how
the film got made in spite of all the problems.
The contents of the DVD are as follows:
Disc 1
THE FILM
• The original theatrical version, presented in widescreen format enhanced for 16:9
televisions. Sound is Dolby Digital English 5.1, English and French Dolby Surround.
• Commentary by William Shatner and Liz Shatner (daughter and
author of "Captain's Log – William Shatner's personal account of the
making of Star Trek V – The Final Frontier")
• Text commentary by Michael Okuda and Denise
Okuda, co-authors of the "Star Trek Encyclopedia."
Disc 2
THE STAR TREK UNIVERSE:
• "Herman Zimmerman: A Tribute" – An examination of the
visual influences production designer, Herman Zimmerman, has had on Star Trek since he first
joined the Trek family on "Star Trek V." This retrospective illustrates what Mr. Zimmerman has
contributed to not only the Star Trek features but also the TV series The Next
Generation, Deep Space Nine and Enterprise. Includes interviews with Zimmerman, John
Eaves (concept artist), Harve Bennett (producer), Penny Juday (project coordinator) and Michael Okuda (scenic artist).
• "Original Interview: William Shatner" – An original, unedited interview with
William Shatner, filmed during the production of "Star Trek V."
• "Cosmic Thoughts" – In "Star Trek V," the crew of the Enterprise are searching for
God and, as it turns out, spirituality has its place in the universe of Star Trek. This
featurette examines the theme of religion throughout the TV series, the Star Trek movies and the
annals of science fiction as a whole. Interviews include Ray Bradbury
(sci-fi author), David Brin (scientist, sci-fi author), Frank Drake (head of SETI Institute), Charles Beichman (JPL, Terrestrial Planet Finder Project), Ted Peters
(Exo-Theologists teaching at Berkeley), Eugene W. Roddenberry (son of
Gene Roddenberry), Louis Friedman (executive
director of the Planetary Society), Ralph
Winter (executive producer) and David Loughery (screenwriter).
• "That Klingon Couple" – Actors Spice Williams and Todd Bryant reminisce about when they portrayed Klingons Captain Klaa and
Vixis.
• "The Green Future?" – "Star Trek V" opens on location in Yosemite National Park and
an environmental tone is woven throughout the film. This featurette gives a snapshot of the
global environment of the future. Interviews include David Siegenthaler
(Yosemite ecologist), Richard Turco (UCLA Institute of the Environment)
and Julia Parker, a Native American spokesperson with insights into
Man's impact on the environment.
PRODUCTION:
• Harve Bennett's Pitch To Sales Team – A pep talk by producer Harve Bennett to the
Paramount sales team, firing them up about "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier."
• The Journey – Behind-The-Scenes Documentary – Memories of how "Star Trek V" was
conceived, produced and directed. Interviews include William Shatner (director), Leonard Nimoy (actor), Ralph Winter (executive producer), Harve Bennett
(producer), David Loughery (screenwriter), Michael Okuda (scenic artist), Andrew Lazlo (cinematographer), John Eaves (concept artist) and Herman
Zimmerman (production designer).
• Make-Up Tests – An assembly of camera tests for various characters from the film.
• Pre-Visualization Models – Spaceship model makers rehearse special effects moves
with models.
• Rock Man In the Raw – Design elements and test footage of the aborted Rock Man
costume.
• "Star Trek V" Press Conference – A reconstruction of the multi-camera press
conference held on the last day of shooting for "Star Trek V" and hosted by William Shatner.
• Deleted Scenes – A variety of deleted scenes from "Star Trek V."
ADVERTISING
• Trailers – The teaser trailer, theatrical trailer and the trailer for The Complete
Adventures of Indiana Jones.
ARCHIVES
• Production Gallery – An assembly of stills and footage that capture
behind-the-scene moments of production.
• Storyboards May 15, 2003
Source: www.trektoday.com
Star Trek: The Next Generation's Jonathan
Frakes is said to be in discussions to helm an upcoming big-screen Superman film for Warner Bros.
According to Zorin, a source who claims to work on the set of
Frakes' Thunderbirds currently shooting in London, the actor-director
has had several meetings with Warner executives about possibly directing the new Superman
feature. "From what I can gather Warners want to film a large majority of their Superman movie
here at Pinewood," wrote Zorin at Superhero Hype (via Coming Soon).
The source added that Frakes had planned a rest after Thunderbirds and may not be eager to
direct another big studio movie so soon.
Frakes directed several episodes of The Next Generation, on which he played Commander Riker,
before helming the features Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection. He also directed Clockstoppers and numerous television episodes, including installments of
Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Roswell and Diagnosis Murder.
The new Superman film was originally planned as a Tim Burton project
but he left when production stalled. Numerous actors from Angel's
David Boreanaz to That '70s Show's Ashton Kutcher have been rumored to have been tapped to play the titular hero
but no one has been cast.
Smallville executive producer Al Gough told
TV Guide this week that his show has been asked to avoid certain
storylines that might overlap with the upcoming film.
This report should be treated as a rumor until Warner Bros. or a spokesperson for Frakes
confirms it. The original item may be found here at Superhero Hype, and a report may be found
here at Coming Soon.
Enterprise actress Jolene Blalock (T'Pol)
last week kicked off her summer hiatus with a very special event — her marriage.
Blalock tied the knot with boyfriend Michael Rapino in Jamaica,
according to Michael Starr at the New York Post.
The actress announced the news last night in a pre-recorded interview with Jon Kelley for Extra's "Hollywood and Highland"
segment, and later on The Late Late Show With Craig
Kilborn.
Blalock, who has reportedly been together with Rapino "on and off" for six years, took him by
surprise when she proposed during their holiday in the Caribbean. "I had his entire family in on
it and my entire family in on it," she told Extra. "I got down on my knees and proposed to him
to marry me the next evening. He said yes, so we did!" April 19, 2003
Source: www.cinescape.com
Remember those pig-faced fellas from the classic STAR TREK series
"Journey to Babel"? They were called Tellarites and according to some segments of TREK lore,
they were one of the founding member races of the Federation. The seeds for that historic event
may have been planted in series canon recently because a new episode of ENTERPRISE will feature a Tellarite character for the first time since the
original series.
In "Bounty", set for air on May 14, a Tellarite named Skalaar collects on a Klingon reward
for the capture of Captain Archer. Recently the actor who portrayed Skalaar, Jordan Lund, and the episode's co-writer, Mike
Sussman, spoke about the episode to users on the BBS portion of the Trek Today website. Makeup supervisor Michael Westmore updated the look of the Tellarites for ENTERPRISE, just as
he did for another classic alien race that has appeared on the new series, the Andorians.
"I particularly like how the new makeup manages to evoke the deep eye sockets of the original
design," commented Mike Sussman on the message forums. "I wish I could put up some images... you
guys are just gonna have to wait for the show!"
"I've been jonesing to get the pig-guys on-screen for a while, so I was glad it finally
happened," said Jordan Lund, the actor who played Skalaar. "We certainly did our best to keep
the Tellarite's 'argumentative' nature alive in the teleplay."
What 60's TREK alien may be next to appear on ENTERPRISE? A Horta?
Maybe a Mugato? Or what about a Gorn??
As ENTERPRISE continues warping ahead to its second season finale, new details are emerging
about the last episode of the season -- and how it will alter the course of the series.
"The Expanse", as the episode is known, has the Enterprise returning to Earth after a
devastating attack from a new alien species leaves millions dead on the home planet. The NX-01
is then diverted to a region of space known as the Delphic Expanse to pursue the enemy. The
Expanse is a region of space that even the Vulcans wish to avoid.
The episode is set to have lasting reprocussions with the show's premise and with its cast of
characters. "We'll be dealing with a different group of aliens, [and] we're going to be dealing
with some new, non-Starfleet people coming on the ship to add a little muscle for the
potentially violent situations our crew will be coming up against," explained series co-creator
Rick Berman to Sci-Fi Wire. For at least the
first part of the third season the starship will remain in the Expanse.
No details have emerged about who the new secondary characters are but it is known that the
Vulcan Subcommander T'Pol will have to make a decision whether to remain on the Earth vessel or
depart back to her own people. As well, the attack on Earth will affect one of the show's seven
primary characters more deeply than the others, as one of the victims will be somehow connected
to them.
The final episode of ENTERPRISE's second season is set to air May 21.
A new series of STAR TREK novels featuring the crew of THE NEXT GENERATION has been revealed by Pocket
Books executive editor John Ordover. According to information
posted by Ordover at Trek Today and the Psi Phi
websites, the novels will appear every month during 2004.
The titles of the novels come from the Bibical passage Eccesiaties 3:1. While every two books
has interconnected plots, each of the novels can be read as a standalone story.
Here is a list of the known titles announced to date:
February 2004: A TIME TO BE BORN
March 2004: A TIME TO DIE
April 2004: A TIME TO SOW
May 2004: A TIME TO HARVEST
June 2004: A TIME TO LOVE
July 2004: A TIME TO HATE
The authors assigned to each book have not been revealed as of yet nor have details about
each book's premise.
The new TNG novel series will build up the time before the events shown in STAR TREK: NEMESIS which lead to Riker and Troi leaving to command their own
starship. March 13, 2003
Source: www.cinescape.com
Paramount Home Entertainment has announced what deleted scenes
will be included on the May 20 release of STAR TREK: NEMESIS.
Seven deleted scenes will be included on the disc including the introduction of Commander
Madden, Picard's new first officer onboard the Enterprise. However, additional material filmed
during the wedding of Riker and Troi (specifically more interaction between the Enterprise crew
and former crewmember Wesley Crusher) is absent from the deleted scenes.
Producer Rick Berman and director Stuart
Baird will provide commentary on selected scenes of the deleted material. According to
an insider report that first appeared on the TrekToday website, the additional material will
run approximately 20 minutes in length.
Source: www.startrek.com
The tenth Star Trek movie won't be out on DVD until May 20, and for
those who can't wait we can confirm the complete contents of the seven deleted scenes that will
be featured as bonus materials on the disc.
According to Rick Berman's introduction to the deleted scenes
segment, the movie ran about 45 minutes longer than the theatrical release. In the editing
room, the film was slowly whittled down to just under two hours in length. However, as Berman
points out, the process was, at times, "really painful."
In the first deleted scene, we see Data and Jean-Luc Picard share a bottle of vintage 2267
Chateau Picard in the captain's quarters, following the wedding of Deanna Troi and Will Riker.
Data, never losing his sense of curiosity at humanity, observes that he noticed a "confluence of
emotion at the wedding." He goes on to express his wonder at how humans have the capacity to
express both pleasure and sadness simultaneously. What follows is a touching conversation
between these two icons ranging from the sadness of loss, the importance of decision-making
about one's life and the acceptance of those decisions, and facing new challenges. The scene is
introduced by Patrick Stewart, who sums up his character's choices in
life - that he was wed to Starfleet and the crew comprise his proverbial "children."
The second deleted scene is where we would have seen Shinzon for the first time had it
remained in the film. But, as director Stuart Baird points out in the
introduction, it would have diminished the impact of the later scene where Shinzon, emerging
from shadow, is introduced to Picard. This scene begins with a hallway conversation between
Commanders Donatra and Suran, then the Reman Viceroy piping in with the " ...in darkness there
is strength" line. The action then moves into the Romulan senate (cleaned up, no doubt,
following the messy first scene of the film!) where we see Shinzon addressing a nearly deserted
senate. Some of the foreboding Shinzon sound bites heard in promotional material of the film
come from this scene: "The 'mighty' Federation will fall... the time we have dreamed of is at
hand."
The next scene involves Worf and Picard, and is an extension of the scene from the
Observation Lounge where Data briefs the crew on the Remans. Following the meeting's dismissal,
Worf goes to Picard and makes his own suggestion of raising the shields and going to red alert
prior to their arrival at Romulus. Picard assures Worf that if any protocols are breached, they
will go on the defensive, just not before - this is a diplomatic mission. Worf then thanks his
captain, assured that he will do the right thing at the right time.
The fourth scene features the empathic Deanna Troi and Picard in a corridor walk and talk. In
her role as counselor, she is trying reassure him that his feelings, his anger from meeting his
clone, are appropriate. Also, Troi senses that Shinzon's strongest emotion was his curiosity
about the man he was cloned from. Picard tells Troi that he felt powerless and violated by this
act of genetic theft. Deanna tells him he has experienced a loss of self, and our inherent sense
of uniqueness is something we all share.
The fifth, and perhaps most notorious deleted scene - seen briefly in the trailer for the
film - is what has come to be known as the second "mental rape" of Deanna Troi. Occurring in
the turbolift, Deanna enters the empty chamber and requests her destination. As the camera
spins around once (using what Baird describes as a "snorkel camera") we then see Shinzon, or
the apparition of, lying in wait. Shinzon, although back on his ship and being mentally abetted
by his Viceroy, commits an act of mental intrusion on Troi. Shinzon insists that her heart
longs to discover him, to know him and to be with him. She breaks his mental bond, but the
damage is done. She sinks to her knees and catches her breath.
This Troi/Shinzon scene is introduced by director Stuart Baird, who claims it was hard to let
this one go.
Next is a somber Sickbay scene with Picard and Dr. Beverly Crusher, in anticipation of a
battle with Shinzon. The nice continuity touch here is Picard's quoting of Zefram Cochrane, "To
seek out new life and new civilizations ..." He also mentions how Charles Darwin journeyed on
the H.M.S. Beagle without benefit of a single musket. "That was another time," adds Crusher.
"How far we've come," responds Picard.
The seventh and final deleted scene is actually the original ending to the film. The last
scene in the released version has B-4's gentle refrain of "Blue Skies," with Picard adding the
"shining so bright... going so right" lines, followed by Picard walking through the corridor
with a slight smile, then the pullback out into space.
For the original ending, we see a bit of good-natured initiation from Riker to the new first
officer, Commander Madden. When Madden reports for duty, Riker informs him that Picard is not
really a by-the-book type and he likes to be called "Jean-Luc." When Madden meets Picard and
makes the faux pas of addressing him as Jean-Luc, we see a knowing glint in the captain's eyes
that says, "Ah, that Riker!"
Picard is then shown to his new captain's chair where an ensign instructs him to push a
certain button. In a flash, over the shoulder and around the waist seatbelts envelop the
captain. "It's about time," he proclaims. Picard then instructs Madden on their first
assignment in the Denab system.
With a profound sense of duty and acceptance, Picard says, "It's a place... where no one has
gone before."
The scene then pulls back and the familiar refrain of the main theme music comes under...
[Please note: Until the DVD is actually mastered, the above information is subject to
change.]
Source: www.startrek.com
TV Land, where viewers can watch classic television shows from
TV's early years, is joining the annual awards frenzy with its inaugural awards show, "The TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV," airing this week. Of
course, no awards show honoring classic television would be complete without honoring Star Trek, and TV Land agrees, bestowing its first Pop Culture award to the
Original Series.
Taped previously at the Hollywood Palladium and airing on TV Land and Nick at Nite this Wednesday, March 12 (9:00-11:30 p.m. ET/PT), the awards
show is hosted by John Ritter, star of ABC's 8
Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter (and Nick at Nite staple Three's Company).
Star Trek's Pop Culture Award was presented by Mira Sorvino to
legendary Original Series cast members William Shatner ("James T.
Kirk"), Leonard Nimoy ("Spock"), Nichelle
Nichols ("Uhura"), and James Doohan ("Montgomery Scott").
For more information on "The TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV," visit the TV Land
site via the link below, and be sure to check your local listings for airtimes. March 1, 2003
Source: DVDFile.com
The final frontier? - 12:00am
While it's probably fair to say that the Star Trek big-screen films
are not the huge blockbusters they used to be, but just about everyone was surprised by the
less-than-stellar box office performance of the latest Star Trek adventure, Star Trek: Nemesis. The lowest-grossing of the entire franchise, Paramount Home Entertainment will give the flick another shot on May 20th.
Available in both 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, this single-disc set
will come with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track and quite a few extras: Audio
commentary by director Stuart Baird, four brand-new featurettes "New
Frontiers: Stuart Baird on Directing Nemesis," "A Bold Vision of the Final Frontier," "A Star
Trek Family's Final Journey" and "Red Alert! Shooting the Action of Nemesis," a still gallery,
and trailers. Retail is $29.95.
Source: www.cinescape.com
If the popularity of its predecessor's release on DVD is any indication, STAR TREK fans will be transporting themselves into their favorite
electronics stores for the first volume of DEEP SPACE NINE, hitting
store shelves today.
The 6-disc set covers all of the first season of the series (20 episodes in total) and
includes special bonus material. Among the extras is a featurette showing behind-the-scenes
production of the series; a look at how makeup artist Michael Westmore designed the new aliens
that frequent the station; the "Secrets of Quark's Bar"; a crew dossier of Bajoran militia
officer Major Kira Nerys (featuring an interview with actress Nana Visitor); and a look at the
visual design of the station through the eyes of series illustrator Rick Sternbach. There are
also a number of "hidden files", written as if plucked from the security vaults of the
Federation's clandestine intelligence arm Section 31.
All 6 discs present the episodes in full-screen format, Dolby sound. Paramount Home Video plans to release the remaining six seasons of DS9
throughout the coming year, with Season Two scheduled for release on April 1.
DEEP SPACE NINE: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON has a suggested retail price of $129.99 quatloos.
February 8, 2003
The Columbia disintegrated in the Earth's atmosphere upon re-entry, after a successful 16-day
mission to the International Space Station in orbit around Earth. There were seven crewmembers
on board, and an international one at that, getting close to Star Trek's future of equal
opportunities and co-existence. There was an Indian woman, an african-american man, and the
first Israeli astronaut in space, which is akin to the Russian in space decades earlier.
There are many wild speculations as to what happened to the spacecraft as it was re-entering,
but the main theory is that a piece of the tile that provides the craft upon heat during
re-entry, fell off, causing the craft to heat up and explode. The tile theory fits with problems
during launch 16 days ago. There are no conclusive evidence yet as to what went wrong as NASA is
continuing to investigate.
The future of space exploration is uncertain in light of this tragedy. In 1987, space shuttle
Challenger exploded after lift-off, grounding the shuttle flights for two years. With this
recent tragedy, it is uncertain as to the future of space flight programs and the ISS itself.
After the shuttle tragedy in 1987, Paramount and Star Trek IV had a little logo at the start of
its film to commemorate the crewmembers of that ill-fated flight. It read: "To the crew of the
Space Shuttle Challengers, whose courageous spirit shall live onto the 23rd Century and beyond."
In hindsight, Star Trek has had many connections with most of today's astronauts and
astronomers. It is with Star Trek that many people wanted to become astronauts and astronomers.
Some of the Columbia crew even watched Star Trek and was inspired by it. The international crew
were even inspired by Star Trek. Even NASA continues to make Star Trek's reality a reality, by
building the first space station for future solar-system exploration and beyond perhaps and
exploring new techniques to extend beyond our solar-system.
Captain Spirk is proud of NASA, with it's connection to Star Trek, and the dangerous risks
that shuttle crews face during their mission. I send my condolesences to the family and relative
of the doomed space shuttle. I hope that this tragedy will not halt the advancements toward
perhaps a 24th Century style living. Live long and prosper to the crew of Space Shuttle
Columbia. February 8, 2003
Source: www.cinescape.com
VARIETY reports that German company Constantin has picked up German language rights to (T)RAUMSCHIFF SURPRISE, a gay-themed STAR TREK
parody feature film that originated as a sketch on BULLYPARADE, a
German sketch comedy variety show.
As the article notes, (T)RAUMSCHIFF's name is a pun which combines the words for spaceship
and dreamboat. The comedy is targeting a summer 2004 release and will be written by and star
BULLYPARADE regulars.
A quick look on German-language Amazon revealed the accompanying graphic for the audio CD
UNSER (T)RAUMSCHIFF. The Amazon.de product listing, accessible in the link in this paragraph,
includes audio samples.
Source: www.trektoday.com
Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard) has spoken of his disappointment
with the fans' reaction to 'Nemesis'.
"I would have expected a more positive response to the theme of our film," Stewart told the
Berliner Zeitung newspaper (via Ananova). Stewart went on to say that
he believed that the make-believe worlds of such films as 'Lord of the
Rings' and 'Harry Potter' were more comforting for viewers.
"This may be because the real world has become too dangerous for us," he said.
The actor also admitted that such films aren't appealing to him as a viewer. "As a child, I
believed what was happening on the screen with all my heart. Today, I watch 'Lord of the Rings'
and I know these armies don't exist."
Stewart gave the interview to promote the German release of 'Nemesis', which has its premiere
today. The movie will then be opening in Austria tomorrow, and Mexico next week. Australian fans
will be able to see the movie from February 6.
Source: www.cinescape.com
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Bill
Paxton is considering a starring role in the live-action THUNDERBIRDS project, based on the 1960s BBC
Gerry Anderson puppetry series.
Shooting on the film begins in March in the Seychelles under the direction of Jonathan Frakes. Anderson is not mentioned in the story and has publicly
expressed his disappointment at not being involved in the project.
Source: www.trektoday.com
Head of the Star Trek franchise Rick Berman
has spoken about the uncertainty facing future Trek films.
"There's a theory that there was too much time [between 'Insurrection' and 'Nemesis']," Berman told SCI FI Wire, addressing the poor box office performance of 'Nemesis'.
"There's another theory that there wasn't too much time. I, along with the people at Paramount, need a few months of perspective and thinking about it to then
decide what's the best thing to do next."
Despite the poor takings, Berman is adamant that it wasn't a problem with the quality of the
film. "I'm convinced that we made a very good movie, and I'm also convinced that the movie was
promoted properly.
"I thought the trailers and the television spots were all excellent. It's easy to blame that
sort of thing, but I don't think we can in this situation. I think that the competition of other
films may have played some part in it, but I can't be certain of that, either. It's very, very
hard to tell." January 11, 2003
Source: www.startrek.com
IGN FilmForce runs a three-part interview with STAR TREK's Brent Spiner, in which among other
things, the actor says, "You know, I'm really reluctant to work in films that star wrestlers."
He notes that he may have once passed on a Hulk Hogan film.
On being cast as Data, he recounts, "I remember them not being certain what they wanted,
initially — whether they wanted a human sort of character who was an android… who was a
machine, but behaved in a sort of human way… or a robot who was very mechanical."
YAHOO NEWS relays movie writer David Germain's ranking of the
seven STAR TREK movie villains, and as may be expected, Ricardo Montalban's second incarnation of his supervillain, Khan Noonien
Singh, tops the list. The list omits Shizon, from the upcoming STAR TREK:
NEMESIS, as well as the non-acted menaces of the first and fourth films — described
as "giant space entities."
His list, in order, omitting descriptions:
Khan Noonien Singh, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" — Ricardo
Montalban
Yahoo News carries a Reuters dispatch
on some opening promotions for London's STAR TREK: THE ADVENTURE
attraction, which opens on December 18 and features a full-scale reconstruction of the
original series Enterprise bridge and other TREK-themed exhibits and entertainments.
71-year old William Shatner is quoted on the weighty legacy of his
role as Kirk. "A millstone? Yes, but I carry it with pride around my neck like a necklace."
VARIETY explores the even-odd STAR TREK
movie phenomenon, noting the numbers bear out the belief that odd-numbered movies from the
franchise offer lower quality than their even-numbered brethren.
Analyzing the economic performance of the films shows first that the even-numbered films have a
higher average box office (about $90 million versus $71.4 million for the odds) and that the
consistency of the films as far as revenue is concerned is remarkable, with, ahem, seven of nine
earning between $70 million and $90 million.
Brent "Data" Spiner, John "GLADIATOR"
Logan's co-writer on the upcoming tenth film, STAR TREK:
NEMESIS, says, "I would tend to agree that the pattern is true. I think the expectations
for the 10th were huge as soon as people walked out of the theater after the ninth. And I would
put money on this one being the top box office performer."
MSNBC runs a feature on the role of technology in STAR TREK, one of a slew of stories running just ahead of today's national
opening of STAR TREK: NEMESIS, the 10th feature in the long-lived
franchise.
Shinzon, the film's bad guy, is a clone of Captain Picard, and the article's focus is how STAR
TREK uses technological themes that parallel contemporary concerns.
The article also reveals that ENTERPRISE's T'Pol will contract an
HIV-like syndrome via a mind-meld in an episode set to air in February. Story editor Andre Boormanis says, "It is something that can carry a very serious social
stigma on Vulcan ... and T’Pol faces discrimination because she has to reveal that she’s
experienced a mind meld."
Paramount Pictures’ STAR TREK: NEMESIS
may have opened in theaters this past Friday, but the world premiere was held December 9th at
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. and CINESCAPE was there to catch THE NEXT GENERATION
cast as they beamed onto the red carpet.
TREK veterans spotted at the event include Patrick Stewart and his
wife, Wendy Neuss; Brent Spiner and Loree
McBride; LeVar Burton and his wife, Stephanie; Michael Dorn and his date, Tina; Marina Sirtis and
her husband, Michael Lamper; Dina Meyer; Tom
Hardy; Majel Barrett Roddenberry and her son, Rod; producer
Rick Berman; Brannon Braga; director Stuart Baird; writer John Logan; Ron Perlman and his wife, Opal, and son, Brandon; and Gates
McFadden, who was not expected since she lives in Paris. Jonathan
Frakes was unable to attend because he is currently shooting a live action adaptation of
the Gerry Anderson classic THUNDERBIRDS.
The NEXT GEN cast was joined by guests Linda Park (ENTERPRISE); Jane Leeves; Tommy
Shaw (from the band Styx) and his wife; Kyle MacLachlan (DUNE); Neal McDonough (who appeared as Lieutenant
Hawk in STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT) and his wife; Joe
Cortese (the upcoming AGAINST THE ROPES); and Tim Allen who was trying to nail down the "Vulcan" peace sign.
TIME takes a peep at today's STAR TREK,
covering both NEMESIS and ENTERPRISE, and
notes, among other things, that ENTERPRISE is in trouble, with second-season ratings at
two-thirds of the season two headcount for VOYAGER. The article
describes the franchise as mainstream.
Big cheese Rick Berman (described in the article as "a TV veteran
who had overseen CHEERS and FAMILY TIES") is
credited with the series' — and NEMESIS' — action orientation,
and is quoted as saying, "Perhaps we weren't careful enough in giving the audience some
breathing room — a year or two they could have lain fallow."
SCIFI PULSE runs some thoughts from Scott
Bakula which originally appeared in STAR TREK MONTHLY. Among
other things Bakula notes that there may be more ships in ENTERPRISE's
Starfleet sooner or later.
"You have to think that at some point, if we’re around long enough, that there’s going to be
another starship. We’ve had a conversation about it at one point, that there may be more ships
in the works. The Vulcans are obviously hesitant for us to send any more out. But there’s this
sense of progression that’s happening here, and the experience and knowledge that we’re
garnering is pointing us toward the beginnings of a Federation. This will be fantastic to be
involved in. But [the producers] have not enlightened me as to how, when, or if that will
happen." |
Paramount Home
Entertainment breaks "The Final Frontier" with the release of a two-disc "Star Trek V" Special Collector's Edition on October 14. The DVD release will
contain over five hours of bonus material including audio and text commentaries, deleted scenes,
special features and interviews, production art, an Easter Egg and more.
Star Trek Library focuses this week on
the tragedy of the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, which happened earlier this week. This is
Captain Spirk's tribute to the men and women lost on the shuttle which plummetted to earth.
Captain Spirk apologizes to the visitors to this site of its late entry.