This week the Star Trek movie production enters its fourth month of operation under the WGA strike that began November 5th. Plans are for the film to wrap in early April and signs are that they may get at least a few weeks which will be strike-free. Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and The LA Times are all reporting that talks last Friday reached a breakthrough and draft deals have been bouncing between the two sides all weekend.
Assuming things continue to progress and the strike ends soon, it will certainly be welcomed by Star Trek’s director. As a WGA member, JJ Abrams has lamented his position of picketing a studio as a writer in the early hours of the morning before going into work as a director. In addition, he and his fellow WGA members Damon Lindelof, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman will no longer be constrained by strike rules and can add any new lines of dialog that they feel are needed. An end to the strike will also be helpful for the eventual re-shoots as well.
An end to the strike will also be good news for shut-down TV series with Trek stars and writer/producer alumni, such as 24, Pushing Daisies, Battlestar Galactica, Lost, Heroes, Boston Legal, Shark, Chuck, Samantha, Who? and others.
However it isn’t time to break out the champagne just yet. As of now there is no deal in place and over the weekend WGA President Patric M. Verrone sent an email out to members reminding them that picketing is still scheduled to continue on Monday.
AP story on the end (maybe?) of the WGA strike:
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20080202/D8UIG5A80.html
Hope is a good thing……
It’s about time. :)
’nuff said.
I read in my college campus newspaper that a preliminary deal had been reached, but I’m guessing something has changed since then as the strike continues.
Let’s hope it ends soon so JJ can make the additions he needs to, and maybe, just maybe, make plans for a 2009 TV revival of Star Trek. *Fingers tightly crossed*
I really hope this is the end of it! I want this movie to have the best chance possible to be totally awesome. :D
I wouldn’t mind me some more Heroes either. :P
Now, there should be plenty of time to inlcude Shatner into the movie.
Roberto Orci sure had some time now to think of a great way to include old Kirk that doesn’t sound fanboyish…
I really hope the strike ends soon. I called one of the writers a colossal dick head for joining it because I was worried I may not see anymore new episodes of Family Guy.
NO MORE SHATNER. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF HIM. come on is there any one else out there who feels the same way?
#9 Yes.
To #9 and #10, I don’t think people would be pushing as much for Kirk’s return if it wasn’t for the crappy death scene the character had in Generations.
I personally would have like to have seen Kirk go out in a massive space battle and going out with the ship like Picard in “Yesterday’s Enterprise”.
They might as well of had Kirk slip on a banana skin, that would not have been much different than they way he died in the movie.
I hope they can write a couple dozen more characters in now and maybe include 10 or so more leaps in time and a handful of references to the later series.
I love Shatner’s Kirk. But I agree it’s time to let it go. He made the choice to kill the character and those who are trumpeting the adherence to canon have to accept the fact that He’s Dead, Jim.
Glad the strike is ending–hope JJ can add in the things he was having to pass on earlier.
#9 Yes
#9, yeah there are a few of you…very few.
Shat is cool, Shat is hip. He’s everywhere and people still want more!
Kirk is cool, Shat is nat.
I’m sick of priceline commercials.
I’m sick of Denny Crane.
I’ll keep watching TOS: Remastered because, as I said, Kirk is cool.
#7
Yes.
#15
Yes.
But I’ve experienced a tinge of Abrams Fatigue Syndrome lately…
I agree with #15, Shatner is Star Trek, you can’t simply ignore the guy. After all he is the one who made James T. Kirk such an icon.
Now there is plenty of time for the writers to bring back the Shat. Espically when you consider all of these alternate time lines.
Well JJ himself said they were “desperately” seeking ways to get the Shat in. If the strike ends he should make good on his alleged desperation — which we’ve seen no proof of ever.
He also said he believes in Gene Roddenberry’s optimistic future. He is now the caretaker of the entire Star Trek franchise and those characters, but more specifically Kirk is the central protagonist of Star Trek again therefore his life is Paramount (not a pun lol).
If JJ decides to leave Kirk dead on Veridian 3 he is legitimising Berman’s usurp of Gene Roddenberry’s vision. There’s still time. So far all JJ has brought is false hope and speil about not being able to come up with anything better than fanfiction — time travelling Spocks, alternate timelines anyone (fangasm shock lol).
By also saying that the ways they came up with where too fanyboyish, he’s actually slating his audience and insulting some of Trek’s biggest fans. These are the people who know the characters intimately inside and out, possibly just as well if not more so than the writers and JJ (Half of them haven’t seen deep space nine, from memory).
As soon as the writers strike ends, I want to see some action on the Kirk/Shatner front. If they can’t get Shatner at LEAST do something about Captain Kirk’s life. Don’t leave him dead it tarnishes a lot of people’s interest in seeing him before he was dead, who can’t possibly conceive a Spock who would save him when he’s younger from an altenate timeline; yet not save him from one when he was older in which he also died in a timeline that originally he was still alive in, before Picard tampered.
And I don’t buy the Spock temporal prime directive (something that was invented in DS9 and Voyager). Spock is NOT by the book and never has been and has demonstrated time and time again that his loyalty to, respect and admiration of Captain Kirk far outweighs any rules and regulations of Starfleet.
Spock wouldn’t leave Captain Kirk dead in the 24th C. Rick Berman would tho.
Fingers crossed for the resolution of the writers strike and JJ and Co to stop falling on excuses. They owe us one for playing a horrible emotional game with Shatner/Kirk fans since Comic-con. I still can’t believe that they kept it going that long when the reason was always going to be Generations, something they knew this time last year.
Jesus why must everything be about this man?? I am much more excited to think we might get more than half the Lost and BSG seasons now.
#22 its as much about Captain Kirk, actually more. And now that he’s the center of Star Trek again. It couldnt be any more relevant to this movie and the franchise. Even if Shatner isn’t involved, Captain Kirk’s life is one of the most important things now that the franchise is back to his story. Without Shatner they can still hint that Kirk’s death in Generations is not final: a line of dialogue, something about the timeline being a new one with its own direction and not the same as the old one because of old Spock’s intervention, Pine in aged make up. Shatner is not essential but would be the icing.
Oh, well.. strike may be a’ending?… and here I was all set ta be a non-union scab writer pitching my completely original new show ideas like “Gharma & Dregg”, “Law & Order: Quickie Mart Division”, and “That 2070’s Show.”….
Guess I better also get rid of me screenplay scene for Kirk’s return… too bad yeah… it involved time travel with Genghis Khan bashin’ him on yon head…
I kid poor Bill… arrrr….
I cant wait for the strike to be resolved, Batlestar Galactica is one of my favourite shows. Any idea on what type of settlement the writers are offered?
I personally think its a disgrace that they had to strike, without them the studios would not have a product to make money for them. And the thought of replacing the void on TV from the strike with more “Reality TV” is painful.
Thanks Anthony.
Some other union(s) will get jealous of the deal and decide to strike also.This may be just beginning a cycle of strikes for new media royalties.
Here is a letter from reportedly WGA leadership on the matter:
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35495. I hope the strike ends soon.
I think that saying the strike is nearing an end is a bit premature, here is the latest info from the WGA email sent to it’s members over the weekend –
The facts: we are still in talks and do not yet have a contract. When and if a tentative agreement is reached, the first thing we will do is alert our membership with an e-mail message. Until then, please disregard rumors about either the existence of an agreement or its terms.’
While I think we all want this to be over, I think we should be cautious of saying too much too soon.
#4 – The WGA and AMPTP have not made any official announcments about the strike being over, or even that a deal may have been reached. Until an official announcement is made, the WGA strikes. All information so far comes from unnamed sources who are not authorized to speak on behalf of either side but seem to be doing so anyway.
When there is an official deal, there will pres released all over the place from both sides. While drafts of agreements HAVE been flying back and forth all weekend… nothin is official at this point in time.
There COULD be an official announcement by the end of this week.
I’m 22 years old, I go to college, so I’m around people at or near my age all the time. I can tell you hardly anybody knows who Shatner is or is a ST fan at all. If people my age don’t really know him, then more likely than not people younger than me really don’t know who he is.
To older people (sorry), yes, Shatner is the face of Star Trek. But even among this group, only the fans would really find it necessary to have him in the movie, IMHO. If Shatner were to really be that important to the movie they would have put him in it already even if it meant sacrificing the story.
It ultimately comes down to making a profit, that’s what Paramount is in the business of doing. TPTB, have a better guess at what the movie has to be to draw in the biggest profit. If that means including or excluding Shatner then so be it.
Where is my “The Changeling” FX-Reel???
Good!
Maybe they’re do the right thing &
come up with part for Shatner.
After hearing about the alternate timeline
story device, it seems they could
“find a way to put Shatner in” much easier?
If it was not for Star Trek, the Simpsons, WB Animation & Boston Legal,
I could not give two shits about LA.
Oh & I love Batttlestar Galactica. I think they write that show in LA.
So looks like I depend on LA a little to fill my glass.
However some tv shows & movies
I like are filmed in other places besides LA.
My main point is I really don’t care for BS Hollywood films.
Long Live Science Fiction Moving Picture!
No matter who makes it & where it is made.
Is the writers strike affecting New Voyages?
The X-Files is shooting in Canada!
The new Star Wars TV show will never be touched by Hollywood.
#30
Not too many effects in “Tha Changeling”… at least as I recall… but Nomad looks more threatening now since they put a CGI mustache and beard on it…
Sorry… you should get me out of here while I’m trying to think…
arrrr….
My brother is a major writer/producer and writes for the show “life” on NBC. Its been a tough 3 months I hope it ends soon, I also want JJ to be able to change the script if necessary
Thankzz, Mister BND! :D
#31
“The new Star Wars TV show will never be touched by Hollywood.”
Yes, but sadly it will be touched by George Lucas!
Great news.
Let’s hope they saved some of those “great lines” JJ thought up while filming. They can loop em in or put them somewhere else. I’m reminded how many great lines there were in the Nic Myers films, even a few that didn’t really make literal sense but were so much fun we in the audience didn’t care.
Oh, for anyone (besides me) who cares — still waiting. Hopefully, tomorrow!
Article about WGA strike… and people are yet again on about shatner.
He’s not going to be in it. Can we give it a rest now?
For all our sanity.
#15–Add another to the list. He won’t help this film at all. This can still be a great film if the “alternate timeline” is not permanent. If it is, I’ll be devastated. However, Shatner has zero relevance to me.
#29–This business about The Shat being the face of Star Trek is absurd. Spock was as important a character as Kirk ever was. He has actually been on Star Trek even longer than the character of Kirk. His death WAS something which had to be resolved. Kirk’s death (especially since by the time of the TNG-era films he would have been dead anyway) never was, is not now, and never shall be worth “correcting”. It was a bad death. But it wasn’t done by Abrams, so he has no responsibility for it, nor has he any responsibility to “correct” it.
#37–I wish.
#20
Nice!
#37
– Article about WGA strike… and people are yet again on about shatner. –
This is *our* sanity check.
It’s been plugged here before, but Trek alum writer Ron D Moore’s blog from rondmoore.com has some nice writings on the WGA as well as his struggle with how he is hoping this strike doesn’t stop him and his crew from finishing the final season of Battlestar Galactica.
It’s about money.:)
’nuff said.
#38–Abrams is in charge of the franchise, and yes, it is his responsibility to correct Kirk’s death–especially since the plot of the movie from what we know so far easily lends itself to it. Does he really expect us to buy that Spock will go travelling back in time to every era to save Kirk’s life but Generations?
You can argue as to who was more important–Kirk or Spock all you want, but Shatner is by far the bigger name than Nimoy and means far more to the bottom line. More important, Kirk’s death in Generations creates a PURPOSE for him to be in the film. There is nothing fanboyish about saving Kirk. It’s the right thing to do.
Dalek is right about everything. The end of the writer’s strike brings hope that Abrams will finally do the right thing and give Shatner a call.
#9 “NO MORE SHATNER. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF HIM. come on is there any one else out there who feels the same way? ”
Hmm. JJ wants Shat in the film if possible. Nimoy wants Shat in the film, if possible. The writers want Shat in the film, if possible. 70% of a recent USA today poll want him in the film.
You, on the other hand, along with a few others, do not.
I’m happy to find myself agreeing with Abrahms and Nimoy on this one.
#42
With alternative time lines there is no need for him to travel to the nexus. Kirk could simply be alive in alternate time frames.
#43
Well said.
Most people would like to see Shatner in the film as the USA Today poll proved.
FYI – William Shatner will not be in this movie, as stated countless times.
I have not issue with him being in the film if it supports the story.
But James Kirk should not be treated as a cheesy cameo, or simply hacked into the plot at the last moment.
I would like a simple, clear story that doesn’t try and rely too much on what was established before to be understood.
If that happens, we could end up with Fan Fiction fodder rather than a good movie with a good story.
Die-hard fan wish fulfillment does not produce a good movie.
“We Must Have Shatner, because it’s the right thing to do” …. sorry. Don’t buy it.
I would much rather that Shatner didn’t make a prime-cheddar cameo as an older James Kirk and produce a $100+ million turkey.
Star Trek is better than that.
^25 According to Wikipedia, the SAG (Screen Actors) and the DGA (Directors) are due to renegotiate their deals with the AMPTP this year. The article also suggested that too good a deal for the writers would embolden the other unions in those negotiations.
There was also a fear last year, before the WGA strike, that there would be a general Hollywood strike in which all three would picket at once.
Of course none of this will affect the production of the Star Wars TV series as George Lucas is no longer in any unions or organizations because of a controversy over credits in The Empire Strikes Back.
If the strike gets settled it removes only one of many reasons(excuses) for Shatner not being in the film. The rumored storyline if true removes another reason. Bill must then be willing to do a cameo , and of course they must offer something. So we still have the much quoted Generations and fanboy factor.
#42–You do not know from what we have seen that the plot easily lends itself to a Shatner appearance. And if it was important to the story, he would have been written in already.
Once again, it is Abrams’ responsibility to tell a great Star Trek story. He should not be handicapped by the prerequisite of fixing other people’s (Shatner included) mistake. If that story he wants to tell involves “correcting” Shatner’s death–then fine. If it does not, then he should not be in it, unless he is part of an “altered timeline” that Spock ends up correcting in the end.
I am completely against a “permanently” altered timeline, whether it involves Shatner as Kirk or not. I do not want to see Star Trek history re-written. Kirk’s death in that bad movie is, however unfortunately, Star Trek history–as is the abomination called STV:TFF, which Shatner himself served up to us as a great big Trek turd, too.
I fail to understand the significance to the franchise that you feel “old” Kirk is. What would he be around to do (if he is saved from the Enterpise-B) in that part of the 24th century anyway? Chase Kor, Kang, and Koloth around the interstellar nursing home? He would just as likely be dead anyway, or looking like McCoy did in “Farpoint”. And talk about your permanently altered timelines!!!
The other option is what? Leave him in the Nexus? So we should all be reminded of that awful concept? How, exactly, is this supposed to fit into JJ’s storyline? Just because it involves timetravel and a possibly altered timeline, we should add another layer to a seemingly already thick plot by rescuing Kirk? Why? So they can attract a few Shatner-at-all-costs fans?
There are plenty of Star Trek fans who don’t care for recent Shat, and many, like those asked in the polls, who very likely do not even know the character died!!! The only people who have mentioned Bill to me are those people who lost interest in ST movies back in the mid-late 80″s! Once I explain to them that Kirk actually died in one of those movies they never watched, they could not care less about shoehorning him into the film. All they know is a new Trek film about the original crew in their younger days, being done by “the guy from Lost” sounds pretty cool. These are the people Star Trek lost a long time ago. I am surrounded by that demographic of used-to-be casual Trek fans. And like the college kid said earlier, the overwhelming majority of people his age don’t even know anything about Star Trek or who Shatner is!
“You mean the goofy guy from the Priceline commercials?”
TOS-STIV= The Shat as Capt./Adm. James T. Kirk=great!!!
STV-GENERATIONS= Capt. James T. Kirk as The Shat=bad!!!
Enough about Shatner…this has nothing to do with him and the constant derailments are really a turn off to a lot of visitors. JJ Abrams recently stated that it was Shatner that didn’t want a cameo…so maybe go to his site and ask him why.