The Sunday LA Times has an extensive feature on the writers of the new Star Trek, going a bit into their own origin story and the writing team of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman explain how their back-story parallels that of the movie and also talk about what it took to get Nimoy on board. In other St09 news, the official site has updated the synopsis for the new movie
Orci and Kurtzman on what they put into Trek
When writing the origin stories of Kirk and Spock, two very different people who come together through the Star Trek film to form a life-long bond, Orci and Kurtzman found they were putting some of themselves into the script. Orci explains:
We didn’t even realize we were writing about ourselves until we were halfway through the script. That was a little embarrassing. We’re from different worlds, Alex was born here, and I was born in Mexico City and lived there until I was 9. Kirk and Spock are opposites from two worlds. That’s us in a nutshell. We’re drawn to each by what each of us lacks. The story of this film is about two guys who are such opposites that they might end up strangling each other but instead they bond and thrive together. That’s us. We can go warp speed together.
As for bringing on Leonard Nimoy the pair admit it was a pretty big deal, Kurtzman elaborates:
It was incredibly intimidating. By the end it was very emotional too. We told him that we couldn’t do it without him. We told everything and how he was the key to the movie, that the story doesn’t work without him. There was a very long silence and he got misty. He had retired and turned down many offers to return to this character, so this was asking the greatest gunslinger to strap on the pistol one more time. . . . His wife told us later that he didn’t get out of the chair for several hours [and] that he was overwhelmed by all of it and the decision.
Much more from O&K at LA Times.com, including discussing the humor and ‘sex appeal’ of Trek and that they want their next project to be something without any aliens or robots.
Alex and Bob = Kirk and Spock? (LA Times)
New Synopsis
The official Star Trek movie site (startrekmovie.com) has been updated with a new synopsis for the film, here it is:
The greatest adventure of all time begins with "Star Trek," the incredible story of a young crew’s maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created, the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy, and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind.
The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James Kirk (Chris Pine), is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock (Zachary Quinto), was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before!
Horrible
I have to admit, everything I see and read, I get more excited about this all the time! At first I was worried because it looked so different, but now I’m just at peace with it, and can’t wait.
Leonard Nimoy is the best.
@1
What is Horrible?
There’s also a “new” tv spot, I hadn’t seen before. I shows parts of what could be engineering and leaves me a little underwhelmed, if it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkFYGE1LLgc&fmt=18
The latest tv spot released this weekend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkFYGE1LLgc
I was there when ST launched in 1966.
This movie, good or bad, is going to be great fun.
I am very hopeful for this movie! I think it’s going to rock!
one thing, i know it’s not politically correct, but it was tos, and i would much rather them say “where no man has gone before” just to pay homage to the orginals. i hear picard when i hear where no one has gone before
Either we’re going down… or they are.
One last time, huh? Has a very Trek feel to it. God bless Leonard Nimoy for being in our family.
@5 & 6… these TV spots are the same.
Horrible is the new first.
re: 2. Kelvington – March 29, 2009
” I have to admit, everything I see and read, I get more excited about this all the time! At first I was worried because it looked so different, but now I’m just at peace with it, and can’t wait. ”
Man, you must be reading and seeing completely different stuff from what I’m seeing and reading.
“Delinquent Iowa farm boy” doesn’t sound promising but for the moment I’m just going to rely on the idea that this is the marketing hacks speaking, and may or may not have anything to do with the movie.
#11
Yes, we didn’t talk to each other before posting at the same time, you see :)
“Film not yet rated”? Are we going for a PG-13? What’s the wait?
i wonder what wouldve happened had Nimoy said ‘no, im really sorry but im retired…thanks anyway’
a massive rewrite or a scrapping of the project all together?
Finally we know why Scotty is all wet on the bridge…
the dangers of transwarp beaming ;))
The *movie* isn’t going to be horrible, but I think I agree with #1 that that specific description is. It’s totally dumbed down; the generic back of a DVD or something. Oh well, this doesn’t matter at ALL. Haha
ST:TFB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those shots in engineering….
wonder what kind of “tubes” those are? Not Jefferies Tubes… maybe Orci Tubes?
too bad, we were going through a period of positivity towards the film, now it seems like the negative crowd is off of vacation. oh well, like i said before elsewhere, don’t judge until you see it, but it’s too late for most of us/you as you’ve already judged it, and it won’t matter how good the movie is, or how “trek” it is, you’ll dislike it anyways. Not all of you mind you, i don’t want to be too stereotypical.
#20
The tubes are obviously a Futurama reference :)
http://theinfosphere.org/Tube_System
sex, lies, and videotape… now I see the connection to Peeping Tom ;))
I have been to every Trek movie premiere and I will be there for this one. This is the best thing to happen to Trek since TWOK. Everything about this project says it’s going to be huge and put Trek back on the map.
For you naysayers… you still have your VHS tapes of the original. ;)
I’m thinking (and hoping) that the industrial-looking site with the tubes is a planetside location, possibly where Kirk meets Scotty, rather than the Enterprise’s Main Engineering.
#5 & 6
That’s not a new TV spot – it’s the ‘kiddie’ trailer released with Monsters Vs Aliens this weekend (I know because I took my niece on Friday).
I misread that synopsis as “thrill-seeking Iowa fanboy”. But that would be a different Trek film altogether.
#26
I know, that’s why I wrote “new”. I just hadn’t seen it before and I thought some other people may not have either.
@25
Well, back when the 20 min screenies were being held, we were told that engineering is very industrial looking with all kinds of tubes everywhere
Here’s how to get all of the “bitters” to leave the theater cheering instead of grumbling: put some TNG character cameos in it!
Even 5 SECONDS of Brent Spiner or Michael Dorn would rock the house, much more than Nimoy. We all love him, but come on. Data. Worf.
I’m just saying, TNG is not done. But JJ’s film is still going to be amazing.
You know, it says a lot about this project that Nimoy decided to come out of retirement for it. Especially since he has turned down many time the chance to revisit this character. If it was Shatner, well… he did Generations without flinching. Nimoy didn’t even want to do that one. I think Nimoy saw how great this script was and how it brings the spirit of Trek back after it’s been missing for so long. I trust Nimoy’s judgement. And with him joining this cast and believing in this movie.. it speaks volumes.
#26,,,right, the kiddie version. If it is used for a TV spot, maybe that explains why it seems so rushed. They had to fit it within a specific time frame.
26 —
I’m pretty sure it’s being aired on TV, also. If not, it’s very, very similar to a trailer that an 11-year-old described to me after seeing it while watching TV.
Personally, I like the idea of a more industrial engineering set. To me, that’s a return to TOS – lots of pipes & conduits. Whereas Main Engineering in the later films & series (of which I’m a fan, mind you) just felt like a different floor in the same hotel. Aside from the warp reactor, of course.
I think the pipes are from the place where Scotty is at on Delta Vega, not main engineering.
@34…
yep. and swiming up these pipes must be totally Exciting!
#28 #33
It is being aired on TV, I was just clarifying that it’s actually the ‘kiddie’ trailer being aired with Monsters Vs Aliens, and not a promo created specifically for TV (like the Superbowl spot, for example).
#15
Right. Some people just need to complain over something.
#36
I don’t know about you, but I’d be pretty excited! :)
29 —
That’s true, but I see no evidence (at least in that split-second) of a warp core, other engineers, control panels, or anything else that could be associated with engineering. The blue water-filled piping is particularly unusual for a starship’s engineering section. On a frozen planet, though, those pipes could be for heating purposes as well as industrial purposes. And Scotty (if it’s him) is wearing his winter gear, which is decidedly wet by the time we see him on the Enterprise bridge in the trailer.
I could absolutely be wrong, but I’d much rather see something futuristic for the Enterprise’s engineering, even if it is industrially futuristic. We’ll see soon enough!
“On a journey filled with action, comedy, and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind.”
Funny enough, this could have been the synopsis for a 1930s science fiction serial.. wording and all. I didn’t quite realize with “back to the roots” they meant all the way ;-)
#26
Understood. Sorry, we tried.
40
Yeah, that’s probably more likely, it looks like there are too many pipes there for it to be engineering, and kirk is looking kind of bizarre when he’s yelling no, like something almost comical is about to happen, like whoever’s swimming is about to pop out and get kirk all wet
@37
I’m sure its on TV too. I’ve heard that a trailer has been playing over and over on ABC Family. Not sure if its this one though.
#42
Oh boy. Haha. Guys, I wasn’t complaining. I was simply clearing up the trailer’s origin. Really, that’s it! :)
@40…
What I saw in the preview was shot in a factory, with much higher ceilings.
This is a different part of the ship. After they left Delta Vega.
Comedy? We shall see, indeed.
The above posted trailer, about 47 seconds in… Kirk says: “NO NO!”. If that’s the engineering set, I will be disappointed. I’m hoping it’s the drilling rig’s control room or something.
While I would love pipes a la TOS, I do think that much piping and things looks too cluttered to be the “most advanced starship ever created”
Kirk is listed as a delinquent because the only father-figure he has growing up is his alcoholic uncle. Blame Nero.
Hmmm….engineering or a level below it, maybe? Scotty just doesn’t seem to have any luck so far. Oh well, he doesn’t yet know the ship like the back of his hand.
I guess infusing the right amount of humor after writing the script in 10 weeks was the hardest part for Bob and Alex. Introducing the new chief engineer to the ship by pushing him up the pipes sounds like a cool idea to me ;))
And his “exciting” comment makes finally sense in this context.