Dinner With JJ
As part of our ‘get to know your Trek XI team’ series, here are some clips from IFC’s Dinner for 5 shot In the summer of 2005. There is nothing about Trek in this, but shows JJ Abrams in a more relaxed setting.
April 2007
Rossi and Nemecek Opine On Star Trek XI
In the latest Star Trek Magazine, regular columnists Dave Rossi and Larry Nemecek have Star Trek XI on their mind. Rossi, who has worked on Trek for 15 years including being a producer on Trek Remastered, laments on how even though he works on the Paramount lot he will be ‘on the outside looking in’ for Trek XI. But he looks on the bright side noting that he can again just be a fan. He also dismisses ‘franchise fatigue,’ noting Star Trek fans want to like Star Trek. If the stories are good, if the characters are compelling, if there’s balanced doses of action, humor, and drama, people will watch. Not surprising then that Paramount chose to go with Star Trek: The Original Series and moreover with Mr. Abrams.
This Week In Trek
TrekMovie looks at all the Trek news here and elsewhere for the last week Trek XI: All quiet on the Trek XI front, but this week marked the one year anniversary of the first report from Variety of a JJ Abrams Star Trek film. That was well before this site existed, but my first comment on the news can be seen at TrekBBS (under my alias ‘PowderedToastMan) There actually was some fake news, TheSpoof.com ‘reports’ that Vice President Dick Cheney has accepted a role in Trek XI. TrekMovie.com will have a Trek XI Update in the upcoming week
A Piece of the Action Screenshots and Video
Doohan Headed To Final Frontier [Updated]
The ashes of James Doohan were launched into space from New Mexico this morning. Family and hundreds of fans attended the event, more details at Rueters The Headline News report also discussed Trek fan films. [UPDATE: StarTrek.com have put up an on-the-scene report]
Remastered “A Piece Of The Action” Airs This Weekend
The Enterprise finds a planet that has taken a book on Chicago mobsters waaaay too seriously Preview | Episode Info | Show times
Travel Back To ‘Tomorrow Is Yesterday’ Preview
StarTrek.com have put up the preview for next weekend’s "Tomorrow Is Yesterday" Remastered. click image to play in WMP or Click Here for QT
Gag Reel for A Piece of the Action
While we wait for this weekend’s showing of "A Piece of the Action" remastered one of our resident video mavens, SpockBoy, has made a gag reel. So pump it up and get your gangasta’ on! [BTW: Today is SpockBoy’s B-Day!]
ART thou Shatner?
It has been called “funny and philosophical” by NPR’s Meredith Ochs. It has been utilized in the unique documentary William Shatner in Concert. College professors lecture regarding its lyrics and music to teach students about social issues. It was the focus of dance performed by the Milwaukee Ballet. Now, the William Shatner and Ben Folds musical collaboration of Has Been is the starting inspiration for an art exhibit featuring 76 talented illustrators and artists who represent the entire Shatner experience on canvas and other palettes. Has Been is now art in more than the musical variety.
Review of “All Our Yesterdays” Remastered
“Will the last one through the time machine please turn out the lights?” The sun of the planet Sarpeidon will explode in less than four hours, destroying everything for hundreds of millions of miles around. Since long-range scans show no intelligent life on the planet in need of rescue, Captain Kirk thinks it would be a good idea to go there and nose around for a while just before the big bang. Who knows, maybe the Prime Directive has a special exemption in these cases for looting or something.
Slow News Day Video Fun
Anthony is busy digging up the latest, so here are a couple of vids I made. First up is "Hairy Bones" based on a video of a girl named Jessica talking about a certain doctor.
This Week In Trek
A new feature of TrekMovie.com, we take a look back on the news of the week reported here and elsewhere. Trek XI: The big news of the week was our report that JJ Abrams confirmed that Kirk will indeed ‘appear’ in Star Trek XI. This along with his ‘message to the fans‘ last weekend shows a bit of a growing openness on Abrams part. The only other movie news was a brief mention of Star Trek XI in Variety, where it was listed as one of the big movies that Paramount has high hopes for in the next year.
All Our Yesterdays Screenshots and Video [UPDATED]
Spock’s ancient lovefest remastered
Remastered “All Our Yesterdays” Airs This Weekend
Kirk, Spock, and McCoy take inadvertent time traveling vacations into a doomed planet’s past Preview | Episode Info | Show times
Berman To Write Book On Trek Experience
In the latest issue of Star Trek Magazine, Trek’s longtime producer Rick Berman has a sort of ‘exit interview.’ The interview was conducted last December, shortly before he packed up to vacate his offices on the Paramount lot after 22 years with the studio. When asked if he is considering writing about about his experiences not only did he say he would, but he has already started… I have started writing a book because I realized that in 1986, when Gene Roddenberry asked me to get involved in work with him on this thing, the number of stories that I have accumulated is amazing.
Image From Remastered “All Our Yesterdays”
CBS have released an image of the nova from "All Our Yesterdays"
Jason Alexander’s Star Trek Spoof
On the improv show Thank God You Are Here, Star Trek fan Jason Alexander had a chance at the captain’s chair.
JJ Abrams Confirms Kirk In Star Trek XI
In the new issue of Star Trek Magazine, JJ Abrams finally breaks his silence….a tiny bit. Trek XI’s producer/director tells the official Trek mag "James T Kirk appears in the movie." Although this has been the rumor and essentially working assumption, it is actually the first time that anyone associated with the film has officially disclosed any plot detail about the film. Still no word on who will actually play Kirk in the film or any other official details from Paramount, but Abrams did offer this…
Meet Trek XI Composer Michael Giacchino
The latest Lost video podcast centers on composer Michael Giacchino, who also happens to be Abrams choice for Star Trek XI. He shows off his orchestra including Emil Richards, a percussionist and veteran of ST: TMP. Giacchino tells Richards that he will be working on Trek XI too (seems likely other musicians in the video are destined for Trek as well)
Review of And The Children Shall Lead Remastered
Ahh yes… "And The Children Shall Lead" is another often maligned episode from Trek’s infamous 3rd season. The episode is so unremarkable that doing a review of it was reduced to a chore that neither Anthony, myself nor any of our regular contributors really wanted to do. I got inspired to write it first so I win? Although Trek’s producers may have been better off taking W.C. Fields advice to "never work with children," the Remastering actually gives us a chance to take another look.
Get Cut In For ‘A Piece Of The Action’ Preview
StarTrek.com have put up an early preview for next weekend’s "A Piece Of The Action" Remastered. click image to play in WMP or Click Here for QT NOTE: this weekend is "All Our Yesterdays"
Go Primeval With The ‘All Our Yesterdays’ Preview
StarTrek.com have put up a preview for this weekend’s "All Our Yesterdays" Remastered. click image to play in WMP or Click Here for QT
Trek Remastered Team At Grand Slam
Producers Dave Rossi, Mike Okuda and Denise Okuda along with visual effects supervisor Niel Wray came to the Grand Slam SciFi Summit to talk Remastered Star Trek. Before taking questions they showed off a four minute reel of the new effects which seemed to wow the crowd. The video even showed some clips from upcoming shows as well. After the clip they opened it to questions and to prepare himself Dave pulled out a TOS era phaser to fend on any ‘you are ruining my childhood’ type purists. As it turns out there weren’t any purists to fend off. In fact some who came to the mic admitted that they were purists who had been ‘converted.’
Of Gods And Men Delayed – New Preview Released
The highly anticipated ‘independent Star Trek mini-series’ Of Gods and Men is going to have to be anticipated a bit longer. The first installment of the 3 part mini-series was to be released for download today, but instead the team announced another delay. The stated reason is that the mostly volunteer production team haven’t been able to put in the time required while juggling their paying day jobs. They did however launch a newly designed website with lots of new features. They also released the first 3 minutes of the mini-series along with an amusing video poking fun at their own delay. For more check out startrekofgodsandmen.com.
“And The Children Shall Lead” Screenshots & Video
JJ Abrams Sends A Message To the Fans
It is still a bit early for Star Trek XI to have any official panels or presentations for the Creation Grand Slam being held this weekend in Burbank, but J.J. Abrams still had a presence. Trek XI’s writer/director sent a message to the fans, which was read to the crowd by Richard Arnold Saturday morning. Dear Grandslammers, We are currently in pre-pre-pre-production, and are all beyond excited — and honored — to bring you the next chapter in the Star Trek saga. There will be much more to say at next year’s convention — but for now, know that we are working hard to do you proud. Thank you for your support, and for keeping Mr. Roddenberry’s vision alive. Best, J.J. Abrams
“And The Children Shall Lead” Remastered Airs Today
The Enterprise goes to an outpost where all the adults are dead and all the kids are being manipulated by a sparkly space lawyer Preview | Episode Info | Show times
“The Children Shall Lead” Pop Up Video
SUPERSIZE LiveVideo | YouTube Video
Interview: Herman Zimmerman Talks About Trek’s Future Without Him
If you don’t know Herman Zimmerman’s name, you certainly know his work. Mr. Zimmerman has been the production designer on almost every Star Trek project for the last two decades, helping define the look of almost every Trek era. Star Trek XI will be the first film to without Mr. Zimmerman since the 80s, but the veteran designer tells TrekMovie.com he is just fine with that. I have enjoyed being the keeper of the flame as far as the look of the franchise since 1987. I knew Gene Roddenberry personally and was always a fan of the show,never dreaming I would work on it when I was a young art director at NBC in the 60s. I have had a hell of a good time. It is more fun than work, but I am officially retired.
Image From Remastered ‘And The Children Shall Lead’
"And The Children Shall Lead" is not much of an opportunity for the CBS Digital team to show off their stuff, however CBS are showing a new image to tout the quality of the remastering process.