Chase Masterson Stars in New Retro Sci-Fi Short R.U.R.: GENESIS October 3, 2013
by Kayla Iacovino , Filed under: Celebrity,Sci-Fi,Web , trackback
See Chase Masterson (Leeta of Deep Space Nine) like you’ve never seen her before: in a sexy, retro-futuristic science fiction thriller, R.U.R.: GENESIS. The short film, now available online, combines past, present, and future in the style of an alt-history 1969. Masterson stars along other Trek vets in a cast with a surprising number of Trek connections. Hit the jump to watch R.U.R.: GENESIS for yourself.
Robots, ray guns, and a whole lotta latex
R.U.R.: GENESIS is an indie sci-fi thriller based on some very early sci-fi stories and themes. In 1919, Czech playwright Karel Capek began work on what would become a seminal science fiction story, R.U.R.. The film was set 50 years into the future (well, 50 years into the future from the perspective of 1919, so sometime around 1969), and managed to accurately predict some key advances in biotechnology. R.U.R. has even been cited as the inspiration for Metropolis and Blade Runner, to name a few.
In the new short, writer-director James Kerwin (who brought us the award winning noir film Yesterday Was a Lie) takes a fresh yet faithful look at the classic work and shows us what 1969 was to 1919 (while adding in a little of that mid-century groovy we in the present are so fond of).
Chase Masterson Brings the Trek
Chase Masterson, known for playing Leeta on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, stars in R.U.R.: GENESIS along side Kipleigh Brown (Crewman 2nd Class Jane Taylor in Star Trek: Enterprise, “The Forgotten“) and Vic Mignogna (Capt. Kirk in Star Trek Continues). But, the Trek connections don’t stop there. Bonus points to the first person to spot Mission Log Podcast co-host John Champion and Glue Guns and Phasers co-host Mary Czerwinski (aka the Televixen).
“Stylistically, R.U.R.: GENESIS is by far the most fun of any project I’ve ever done — and that’s something that really counts for an audience,” says Masterson. “But what really sets the film apart from the vast majority of projects out there is the brilliant combination of story and timeless themes. Not many filmmakers’ work embodies both of those elements thoroughly. Whereas you found shades of black and white and gray in the noir of Yesterday Was a Lie, the colors — and issues — in the world James [Kerwin] has created for R.U.R.: GENESIS really ignite the screen. It’s sexy, powerful stuff.”
Chase Masterson (Leeta on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
Kipleigh Brown (Crewman 2nd Class Jane Taylor in Star Trek: Enterprise, “The Forgotten“)
How many Trek connections can you spot?
R.U.R. GENESIS short just the beginning
The standalone short film is also a “teaser” for the full-length feature currently in development. “The full-length script is written,” Kerwin told TrekMovie. “The story in the short won’t fit into the feature film. We’re using it to show financiers what the feel of the feature will be, just like what was done to fund Mortal Kombat, Looper, and Tron: Legacy.” Kerwin says that feedback so far has been positive and hopes that as more good reviews (and YouTube views) come in, they will have traction to complete the final film.
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Comments
Looks like fun stuff. I WILL check it out.
Looks like crazy fun!
Looks good. I just have one question: What in the world does R.U.R. stand for?
In the original Czech play, it stands for “Rossumových Univerzálních Robotů,” or “Rossum’s Universal (meaning “artificial”) Workers”
I watched it. It certainly felt 60s to me – and with a Blade Runner vibe. I’m not sure what I would think of a full length movie, but what I saw was intriguing.
Well that was groovy in a Barbarella sort of way. Red-blooded male approves of scantily clad (or just un-clad) beautiful women.
I have no idea what was going on, though.
Awesome! I’ve always loved Chase, so sumptuous, sexy, and sultry.
I liked it! Plus, Chase looked smokin’ hot!! :-) So, count me IN!!
Great. Another Star Trek actress in a scantily clad outfit. And they even speak French. Oh, the humanity. It’s the end of Western Civilization. :-))
Okay, sue me. Chase Masterson is beautiful.
It reminds me of Barbarella. Very sexy. is this a robot society with humans as a minority or oppressed species? Perhaps, the robots may become organic. Had to read the post to figure what the filmmakers were trying to do with this short. It’s designed as a visual pitch to get funding for a bigger movie. I imagine the filmmakers will detail the story with video pitch so we are left in the dark. That’s why there’s a lack of exposition. With that, let’s wish them well. And I hope Chase is in it. I think I might have rated her as the “hottest chicken” (joke for our Harry Ballz) in Star Trek in a comment.
Thanks Basement Blogger, we appreciate the support. And yes, all will be explained in the feature. You can also check out the original play by Karel Capek, although we’ve taken a fair amount of liberties with the story.
Seen much better shorts sci fi…check out “Blinky”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLTmZjk2CaI
Very nice, I always enjoyed retro Sci-Fi movies & stories.
Well done.
Thanks for answering my question, James. I was wondering what it stood for, and now I know :)
I like the idea of updating this century old story but with a ’60s spy movie feel. It looks pretty nifty.
And having met Masterson at a couple of conventions, I can say she is an absolute doll. It’s nice to see her push forward in non-ST creative endeavors and I wish her much luck. She is very good to her fans.
A pic of her I took at a collectibles show a couple years ago:
http://m1knight.prekfun.com/cylon/ot/FrankAndSon_05.jpg
She autographed my wonderful ‘big damn DS9′ book (that thing is heavier than a phone book!).
@11. The Keeper – October 3, 2013
I’ve been meaning to ask you for some time now: is your pseudonym taken from the Terry Goodkind novels?
@ 14. Sebastian – October 3, 2013
“She autographed my wonderful ‘big damn DS9′ book (that thing is heavier than a phone book!).”
Is that “Deep Space Nine Companion” ?
The Book of Leviathan. Life is nasty, brutish, and short.
So… this is a comedy?
Anyhoo, Chase is yummy.
15. ObsessiveStarTrekFan
No
Retro scifi and sexy girls making out with each other. B movies don’t get much better than this. Count me in. ;-)
I dig it. As MJ mentioned retro 60’s sci-fi with sexy woman in go-go boots kickin butt, what more can you ask for?
So ya here’s hoping they can get the funding to do more with this concept.
@18. The Keeper – October 3, 2013
Thanks for your reply, and for satisfying my idle curiosity.
#4
I would just correct your translation a bit. (I am a native Czech speaker.) The original title is actually “Rossumovi univerzální roboti”. The name “Rossum” intentionally sounds just like the Czech word “rozum”, meaning wisdom or intellect, signifying the creative mental process behind the design of the robots. The word “univerzální” means just “universal”, which was a common word at the time the play was written for a machine capable of doing multiple tasks (as opposed to specialized machines, like a potato peeler, etc.). The word “robot”, in turn, is a derivative of the Czech word “robota”, meaning “labor” (also “work” in old Czech, and several contemporary Slavic languages). In effect, Čapek’s robots were laborers, or slaves, capable of performing a wide range of tasks. One of the main themes of the play, of course, is the overcoming of oppression and slavery.
That is awesome info, #22. Thank you! And yes, the workers in the play aren’t what we think of as “robots” — they’re not mechanical. They’re flesh-and-blood servants, trying to overcome their oppression. Thanks for the insight into “univerzální” as well.
For those who aren’t familiar with the original play, “Rossum” is the name of the scientist who originally founded the corporation where the artificial humans are born. As #22 points out, the word is similar to the Czech word for wisdom.
OMG!
No one has said anything Negative yet lol
This must be a first for Trekmovie.com
Looks cool. Dug the retro, dug the music, and of course Chase’s, um, assets.
@24. Hey man, this brings us all together!
I-DD-IC
LOL
@24
“The word “robot”, in turn, is a derivative of the Czech word “robota”, meaning “labor” (also “work” in old Czech, and several contemporary Slavic languages).”
And also etymological related to the German word “Arbeit”, if I might add.
Ahoi! :)
http://www.hickorees.com/brand/posters-of-the-wpa/product/1930s-rur-reproduction-hand-printed-poster
I have this poster and love it!!
It is silly, I like it!
Of course, thinking of Čapek’s world (where, of course, WW2 as we know it never happened), I’d expect it to look more like GATTACA or Dark City. The 60s flair is unexpected… but not unwelcome. :-) I wouldn’t complain if it became a full TV series.
Holy hell, her hips have such a mesmerizing effect.
“I-DD-IC”
Yea — LOL^2
I met Chase Masterson one time at a trade show. A very nice woman.
Anyway, people interested in Čapek’s work should definitely read “The Absolute at Large”, in which the author tackles the topic of infinite power source, replicators and religion.
http://davemayo.is-a-geek.org/absolute/
“And let me tell you, God is not so infinite as the Catholics assert. He is about six hundred metres in diameter, and even then is weak towards the edges.” :-P
Also, “War with the Newts” is very much worth reading. It’s a nice fresh twist on your usual extraterrestrial invasion story, except this time, the aliens come invited (well, actually, they are hauled in and sold as cheap workforce). The “whole slave trade turned immigration, turned colonization” thing is getting surprisingly current, even though the book was originally inspired by the rise of Nazi Germany.
http://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/c/capek/karel/newts/contents.html
Glad she is doing this.
She’s a neat lady.
Where is a good place to discuss Chris Pine’s new and first trailer for Jack Ryan?
I think it’s good, and he’s quite good, but have a few concerns …
I went to a con a few years ago where Masterson embarrassed herself with multiple, shameless attempts to “join” other stars on stage.
She wasn’t even booked for a stage appearance at all. Just signing.
It was sad.
@36. I think you are looking at this ass-backwards. Shame on the con organizers for not including her on stage. They are the ones who embarrassed her.
I agree with MJ. Chase Masterson shows up at your convention, and wants to join others on-stage (for free!), and you can’t find a way to make that happen?
Sounds like a Creation con. :-(
Nah, that’s not what happened. I was at that con. TPTB at Creation added her to a DS9 panel at the last minute but it wasn’t in the program, and they forgot to tell the moderator. It wasn’t anything like you characterized it.
That trailer just goes to show how someone can make a movie with a budget of $450.
I mean, c’mon, every dollar was up there on the screen!
Impressive.
Ref: Khan was framed
What convention was that? And who got to be on stage?
It sounds to me that the con people treated Ms. Masterson very poorly.
The big budget version of R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) has already been made. It’s called ‘Terminator’.
Garret Wang is the kind of secondary Trek actor you try to keep off stage, not Chase Masterson.
Shame on those con organizers.
How could anyone say no to Chase Masterson?
@ 35. William Bradley – October 4, 2013
“Where is a good place to discuss Chris Pine’s new and first trailer for Jack Ryan?
I think it’s good, and he’s quite good, but have a few concerns …”
Only problem is, the guy on the screen looks more like John Clark than jack Ryan.
@36. Khan was Framed!
Shame on them for doing that to Chase Masterson.
R.U.R., or R.U.ain’t my baby….
# 16 Ahmed
Indeed it is.
I also have Rene Auberjonois’ and Armin Shimerman’s names in there too. When I die? It goes with me… all the way into the urn.
;-P
# 36 KWF~
What’s REALLY sad is that she wasn’t scheduled to appear onstage when she should’ve been! That was a mistake of the convention runners…
She’s also a good singer too; and she is wonderful to her fans. I used to watch her back in the ’90s on (then) SciFi channels’ scifi roundtable discussion show (can’t remember the title). She held her own with some major scifi geeks.
And these days, she’s kind of a one-woman entertainment franchise. I salute her!
*shrug* it seems nice enough but… hmm. However, the humor certainly does it for me. Barbarella-like indeed. I do hope something happens with this ‘idea’…
# 39 Harry Ballz
I like this new democratization the internet has given the entertainment world. Almost anyone with talent, HD cameras and a Youtube account can give themselves a push. It’s great!
Especially these days when most big budget scifi movies (but not all, thankfully) have pretty much deteriorated into lowest common denominator drivel aimed almost solely at 14 year old boys….
Is that Vic Mignogna in the film and in the last still above?
@50
Sebastian, I see your point. This allows “Citizen Kane” material like the above to come to our attention.
yay.
“Especially these days when most big budget scifi movies (but not all, thankfully) have pretty much deteriorated into lowest common denominator drivel aimed almost solely at 14 year old boys….”
What a dumb-ass thing to say on the day that Gravity is released.
Like, gee, maybe I shouldn’t say this on the day that the hardest sc-fi space movie in years is released?
Do ya think?
LOL
@ 53
K-7
He did say “but not all, thankfully.” I just saw Gravity. And yes it’s not directed at teenagers. And frankly, Hollywood does aim its tentpoles at teenagers since that’s the crowd they can depend on. Link.
That being said, we can also thank Christopher Nolan for his Dark Knight films and Inception.
Link. Hollywood aims movies for teenagers while TV is for adults.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130612646
@ 50 52
Watched the documentary Side by Side. (on Netflix and PBS) Part of it makes the point that Sebastian makes. HD video is democratizing filmmaking. And frankly video is here to stay. Video advocates like James Cameron are going to win over film guys like J.J. Abrams. Is that bad? Film is warm. Video can be harsh.
But technology is advancing. I predict video or digital video will take over. According to the documentary, major companies don’t make film cameras anymore. Here’s how far video has come. “Slumdog Millionaire” won the Oscar for cinematography. It was filmed on digital cameras. And you can’t film 3D natively without video.
Harry, since you want to have your screenplays produced you may need to rethink Hollywood route. You might produce your screenplay with computers and video.
@55
BB, I appreciate the suggestion. I think, at best, I would maybe elicit the help of some film students to collaborate with me (via computers and video) in putting together a trailer of a proposed screenplay. That would then be a nice way to “pitch it” to any interested parties.
If watching the trailer of a proposed movie grabs them, the decision-makers might actually want to make the real thing.
I would sell my screenplay and the film students would get an important credential to put on their c.v.
Re: Basement Blogger
I kind of agree with K-7. That was a pretty dense thing for this Sebastian guy to say on the opening day for Gravity. I mean, come on! That’s like posting on Super Bowl Sunday that you are tired of watching matchups of bad teams in football.
For goodness think, some people just need to be more aware of the world around them before they post here.
RUR was not a film. It was a play. The play which coined the word ‘robot’.
It was dumb and Chase is a bit “old” to be acting like she is 22.
Besides, Chase was nothing more than a “B” actor on DS9. Talk about milking it!
@57
Oh, shut the F up with your negativity on Chase.
She’s beautiful and striking. And she was great on DS9.
Take your tired act somewhere else, troll.
@ 57
Well it had to happen. Our first really mean comment. Hey Glenn, it’s not meant to be 2001. It’s light, comic, sexy science fiction. It might have something important to say about the nature of humanity but done in a Barbarella style. Don’t make it into something it’s not. But it’s okay for you to dislike it.
It’s the other things you say that are no so nice. I’ll admit that Chase is not 22 but she’s not ancient like me. And then saying she’s a B actor and milking it is frankly insulting her. Acting is not a good profession to make a living. I commend her for sticking to show business as long as she has She is also a very fine singer. She’s got a great timbre, hits her notes and phrases very well. I think you should cut her some slack.
@58. But Glenn is nothing more than a C-level contributor here on Trekmovie.com.
I never seen here where anyone has ever really taken any of Glenn’s posts seriously, least of all, me.
46 Maltz, : D
Kipleigh Brown has quite the Ann-Margaret vibe!
Chase is still hotter than lava…she is beautiful n sexy n she was perfect in this awesome stylized trailer…..definite 60s n bladerunner retro…also noticed some strong logans run in there….the guns were cool…better than the phasers in stid haha….run runner….was almost expecting farrah fawcett to suddenly appear….this was awesome for a six minute trailer….thanks to all who made this….chase was perfect…oh yes chase was also at the trek experience many times including the last day…we werent there then but went a couple of weeks before…never met chase but always loved her…if you watch the last day trek exp. video she was right there in front row supporting the fans and crew of the experience…..if chase is past her prime then why does she look sexier than a dozen 20 something gals? That short is excellant….would love to see more,..thanks again
Maaaaaan — Rom is one lucky Ferengi!!
# 57 Glenn~
I’ve met Masterson in person several times, and she’s still a great looking lady. I’ve known plenty of 22 year olds who aren’t nearly as vivacious as she is. Sexuality and charisma don’t evaporate when you turn 40.
And by the way, it’s supposed to be a bit of a spoof. It’s not Bernardo Bertolucci’s latest opus.
awful. that was three minutes I’ll never get back.
@69
And reading and responding to your jerkweed post was a minute that I will never get back.
66. Ayrton Prost – October 6, 2013
My favourite dirty girl from Trek. Can’t wait to get myself some tissues and get full enjoyment from this!
Dude…TMI
@66
Ayrton, what a jerk-off thing to say! :>)
@71, Agreed, Dave. He shouldn’t be coming here with that.
Liked it. Nice and campy.
@ 66, 71. 72
To paraphrase Woody Allen, Aryton is going to have sex with someone he loves.
@73
Aryton comes a lot to this site.
#60: And you were elected foreman here… when, exactly?
I guess we shouldn’t be picking on Aryton. Everybody needs a hobby.
Yes, I agree that the attacks on Chase Masterson need to stop.
I also agree that Aryton’s comments were gross, creepy, and uncalled for. Quite frankly, he should apologize.
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/emile-hirsch-celebrates-worldwide-blockbuster-star-trek-darkness-photo-083439207.html
Always wondered if Emile could’ve/should’ve played Chekov. Dont get me wrong, I love Anton, but still…
@79. Agreed. Aryton really shouldn’t be coming here all the time like this.
@ 78
Hey our Harry Ballz, I don’t think it’s a hobby. Assuming Aryton is a man, I was viewing a show called, “Seinfeld” starring Jason Alexander, a Trekker, which maybe relevant. . The episode was called “The Contest.” I have trouble trying to figure what the Seinfeld is about. What is this series about?
Anyway, Jerry Seinfeld says this about Aryton’s ” hobby” and being the “master of your domain.” When it comes to men, “it’s part of our (a man’s) lifestyle.”
So you see our Harry Ballz, philosopher Seinfeld says being the “master of my domain” is part of being a man.
@ 81
K-7,
I don’t agree with you about Aryton. He should be allowed to come here. I am more concerned about him spewing offensive material.
OMG! Did you see that awesome telephone she had? WOW! That was SO groovy! ;)
@83. BB, you are not getting the humor at all.
I cannot WAIT until Harry Testicalz posts his screenplay or trailer for all of us to enjoy. We know he can dish out the vitriol with the best of them, but it should be very entertaining to see what happens when he’s on the receiving end of the “constructive criticism.”
Would he even have the stonez to do it?
@ 86
A few things. His name is Harry Ballz. Or as I liked to say our Harry Ballz. Second,Harry Ballz has not been that hard on Chase Masterson. Third, the guy behind Harry Ballz is a published author. His screenplay was a finalist for a screenplay competition. So check the circuit.
I dont know why you’re so hard on Harry Ballz. Try to be nice to Harry Ballz. And hopefully Harry Ballz will be nice to you.
Thanks, BB!
Besides, I don’t think TPTB would allow me to post a link here to a 125 page document.
I have no problem with anyone reading my script. A couple of years ago I filed a copy of it with the Library of Congress and the Writers Guild of America, so no one can steal it from me.
@ 85
K-7,
Humor? Let me say this again. Aryton can come here. He can come on any place in this website. There are problems with him coming on this website. I guess what I should say is that I don’t want to see any offensive stuff spewed through his keyboard. Specifically, I don’t want to see his version of Space Seed.
Re-post from the other thread.
———————————————–
CBS and Bob Orci reviving Star Trek series talks according to Sky News reporter.
Joe Michalczuk @joemichalczuk
Bob Orci just told me they’ve had a meeting with CBS to revive @StarTrek on TV…This made me v excited
https://twitter.com/joemichalczuk/status/387538966872064000
———————————————–
Don’t know how to react to this, on one hand, it is good news that we might see a new Trek series, but on the other hand, don’t want to see STID type series every week. I hope they will bring another showrunners & writers. Let Bob & Alex focus on the movies part & have someone else take care of the TV part.
I just saw “Gravity”. The best sci-fi movie of the year, and that is saying something when we got great movies like “Star Trek Into Darkness” and “Oblivion”.
@ 90
First, that’s great news. Our leader Anthony Pascale has always said STar Trek belongs on television.
But I feel compelled to defend Star Trek Into Darkness. You bemoan that we might see STID every week. I take that as a dig. Gene Roddenberry wanted Star Trek to have substance. STID had substance. In case you missed it in the movie. There were ideas. The Prime Directive. War. War on terror. Revenge. Death. Friendship. It was a big leap in the right direction.
Bob Orci is my choice for Star Trek czar. He knows all the series. He knows what Star Trek stands for. He has connections to other science fiction writers who can bring stories to a television series. Very excited if there is going to be Star Trek on television. To Bob, I say, ‘MAKE IT SO.”
83 & 89 Bernie, LOL!!! I agree, we shouldn’t “spank” Aryton. Who’d want to.
85 K-7, I think you missed BB’s great puns : p
I like the “Barbarella” vibe. I have a bad feeling any potential producers may edge Masterson out of a lead role though – any woman over 35 in Hollywood is “past her freshness date” … BOO!
I also wonder what our French friend Aurore would think of the language skills on display. They seem to vary rather widely ; )
Brian Miller is leaving Paramount after 14 years due to his epic fail with the Trek video game this year.
http://www.deadline.com/2013/10/paramount-brian-miller-exiting-star-trek-video-game/
@ 92. Basement Blogger – October 8, 2013
“Bob Orci is my choice for Star Trek czar. He knows all the series. He knows what Star Trek stands for. He has connections to other science fiction writers who can bring stories to a television series. ”
But the problem is that his hands are full of various projects from TV series to movies, I don’t see how he can gives any Trek series his full attention as a showrunner.
Maybe he can produce it & bring someone else to take care of the writing & daily production stuff.
As for STID, lets just say that I don’t see it the way you do.
@86. Lighten up, buddy. By virtue of the fact he’s published he’s done more then 99.9% of the armchair screenwriters here who mouth off at end that they could do a better job, but never ever put fingers to keyboard. I may not agree with any given persons observations about the Trek topic at hand, but they are entitled to their opinions.
@ 96 Phil
Absolutely agree that everyone is entitled to an opinion. My personal hope at this site is for people to express them as part of an intelligent, respectful discourse. (Hasn’t been the case though in the last few months from my POV.) The unfortunate reality is that far too many posters here are rude, curt, mean-spirited, sarcastic and often resort to name-calling when it comes to “constructive” criticism. Sound like anyone we know?
I would expect more from Star Trek fans given the key themes in the show. (IDIC?)
A team of people must have put a lot of effort and passion into RUR Genesis. At a minimum, that should earn them some respect.
End of rant.
@ 95
Ahmed, please dislike STID. We disagree. I didn’t see why when you bring us great news that there was a need to take a dig at it. You see I have yet to see anyone and I mean anyone not want Star Trek on television. I would say it’s universal that we all want Star Trek back on television.
Bob could run Star Trek as a show runner. But he could set the tone. Look, the man reads STar Trek novels. Remember it took Harve Bennett a viewing of all the original series episodes to get Star Trek. With Bob, we already have a guy who understands Star Trek. He could bridge the Abrams universe (sorry,can’t think of anything else to call it) and a new television series. Yeah, he could be like Stephen Spielberg to “Falling Skies but better. I think Bob would keep an active hand in the show. I nominate Bob Orci, Star Trek Czar.
Bernie, here’s a list you may or may not be interested in …
JJverse
AbramsVerse
AltVerse
AU (Alternate universe)
I’m sure there are other appellations and epithets … [wry smile]
@ 99
I like JJverse. Alternate universe is too general and can be used to describe parallel universes in other situations.
@96
Thanks, Phil! Mucho appreciated.
Plenty of lens flares- just like trek.