March 2014

Fan Films: “Prelude to Axanar” is poised to begin production

What do Richard Hatch (Battlestar Galactica), Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica, Teen Wolf, Supernatural), JG Herztler (DS9, Voyager, Enterprise), and Gary Graham (Alien Nation, Voyager, Enterprise) have in common? Their Star Trek: Prelude to Axanar project, which has now blown past the $50,000 mark on Kickstarter. The latest entrant into the flourishing Star Trek fan film space, Prelude is being filmed in early May in Los Angeles as a short film which will lead into their full length Star Trek: Axanar feature film slated to begin production later this year. Prelude takes place some 13 years before TOS and explores the story leading up to the Battle of Axanar. The Klingon Empire and Federation find themselves engaged in a pitched battle over the planet Axanar, leading both to the bring of all out war.


Happy Birthday. Surely, the best of times.

It is the beginning of spring here in the Western Hemisphere, which means it’s time to celebrate the birthdays of Trek royalty. Today is the 83rd birthday of Spock Prime himself, Leonard Nimoy. Mr. Nimoy, who recently disclosed that he has a smoking-related illness called COPD isn’t letting anything slow him down. It was announced recently that he will be hosting two special “space-themed” performances by the Boston Pops in May, featuring music from many science fiction classics, including, of course, Star Trek. More information, including ticket prices, can be found at The Boston Pops website. Mr. Nimoy took to Twitter to mark the day and to thank everyone for their good wishes: Living long and prospering. Great family and friends and 100’s of honorary grandchildren. Many. Many thanks. LN — Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) March 26, 2014 He also received a message from an old friend of his: Happy Birthday to my dear friend @TheRealNimoy — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) March 26, 2014


Unleash your inner Warrior with Warnog

Last night, at the Nightclub & Bar show in Las Vegas, the Tin Man Brewing Company of Indiana and the Federation of Beer, a Canadian company, debuted “Klingon Warnog”, a new craft beer in its line of Star Trek-themed beers. The beer, named after a Klingon ale seen on TNG and DS9, is made with German wheat yeast, Munich malt, and rye, wheat and caramel malts. According to the press release, “The flavor draws heavily from the blending of the rye malt and traditional clove character, creating a very rich and unique flavor, a bold beer suited for the harsh Klingon lifestyle.” It will have notes of banana, clove, and caramel and be 5.5% alcohol by volume.



Star Trek Online finally debuts for Mac OS users

More than 4 years after it launched on Windows machines,  Cryptic Studios has finally released a Mac client for Star Trek Online. From the press release: Free-to-Play MMORPG Now Available For Mac Players (Redwood City, CA) March 11, 2014 — Perfect World Entertainment Inc., Cryptic Studios, and TransGaming Inc. (TSX-V: TNG) are proud to announce that Star Trek Online, the award-winning free-to-play MMORPG, is now live on Mac. Players can choose their destiny and play as Federation, Klingon, or Romulan factions. Explore the galaxy, captain a starship, and engage in epic space and ground battles. “Star Trek fans have been asking for Star Trek Online on Mac since we launched in 2010. Thanks to the tremendous success we’ve had with the game, we’re excited to be expanding the galaxy again.” said Cryptic Studios CTO & Executive Producer, Stephen D’Angelo. “We know there’s a large gaming community that thrives on Mac and we’re thrilled to finally be able to let them experience Star Trek Online. It simply looks amazing on Mac widescreens.”


IDW to publish new ongoing TOS title from John Byrne

This spring, IDW Publishing will launch a new, bi-monthly TOS comic, and TrekMovie has the details. Last December, IDW released Star Trek Annual 2013, a “photonovel”-style story from legendary comic book writer/artist John Byrne, set during The Original Series and a sequel to “Where No Man Has Gone Before”.   Taking stills from the series, Byrne utilized digital technology to place the characters in a brand new story: What John does on these photonovel stories is nothing short of amazing,” said Chris Ryall, IDW’s Chief Creative Office/Editor-in-Chief. “He’s moved far beyond photo-manipulation and montage to constructing his own set pieces, uniforms, and characters. Much more than just comic stories, these tales are the closest thing to Original Series-era ‘lost episodes’ that the world will ever see.



Trekcore’s “Into Darkness” deleted scenes investigation

As many of you may remember, Paramount Home Video and Bad Robot pulled quite the shenanigans on us consumers when it came time to release Star Trek Intro Darkness on home video. Extras were made retailer (and e-tailer) exclusive, if you wanted a commentary the only way to get that was to get it from iTunes, other special features were only available via Xbox Live, and so on. So most people didn’t get to see the deleted scenes. Well Trekcore has vigilantly assembled all the sources of deleted scenes they can get their hands on. This includes the famous “why Carol Markus has a British accent” scene, as well as the meeting of Kirk and Lucille Harewood (the young girl saved by Khan’s blood early in the movie) during the ending commemoration ceremony. There’s lots more to read in Trekcore’s two articles. Part One Part Two