And the winners are: The Star Trek Independent Fan Film Awards

StarTrekIndieAwards_Cover

This weekend saw TrekTrax (newly redubbed Treklanta) host the very first Star Trek Independent Fan Film Awards and the results are in. It continues to be a great growth year with more amazing productions coming into the field and the existing group maturing and continuing to set the bar for the rest.

Before we get to the winners, let’s take a moment to send a shout out to the full listing of the 2015 nominees:

And now, let’s get down to the good stuff, the 2015 winners are:

  • Best Production Design – Scott Cobb – Prelude to Axanar
  • Best VFX – Prelude to Axanar
  • Best Soundtrack – Prelude to Axanar
  • Best Original Screenplay – Prelude to Axanar
  • Best Actor – Vic Mignogna – Star Trek Continues
  • Best Director – Christian Gossett – Prelude to Axanar
  • Best Supporting Actor – Clay Sayre – Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II (Mind Sifter)
  • Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form – Prelude to Axanar
  • Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form – Star Trek Continues

Kudos to everyone that was nominated, and really, to everyone who continues to keep Trek alive by be a part of those as well as all of the rest of the independent projects that are out there. It’s been a half century since the original series aired and began a legacy which continues to inspire filmmakers, writers, artists, and fans. Recognizing their efforts and celebrating their outstanding achievements helps to set the bar for the upcoming year and it’ll be exciting to see where the community of creators takes it next.

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STC won for Fairest of Them All in the Long Form Dramatic Presentation category. (They were also nominated for Lolani.)

Nice to see some recognition for people who don’t get paid but love Trek.
I hope that, unlike the Oscars, everyone who votes has to have seen the entrees. Just a thought.

I thought Brandon Stacy, Brian Gross, and Pat Evans all did phenomenal work in Mind Sifter.

#2 CmdrR

I agree regarding Brian Gross and Brandon Stacy in “Mind Sifter” but don’t you mean Jeff Bond as McCoy in “MS”?

IMO, “Mind Sifter” is vastly under-represented in these awards but congratulations to my FB friend Clay Sayre as Kor. He does a fantastic job and deserves this award!

@2 CmdrR:
You wrote: I hope that, unlike the Oscars, everyone who votes has to have seen the entrees.

If I understand it correctly, these were chosen by fans at a convention. I don’t believe everyone was required to have seen all the nominated productions. Unless they showed all nominees at the event, people probably voted for the one they already knew/liked best. Even if they ran all the entries there how do you want to control that only people who watched them all vote?

@diginon

Convention fans did not pick the winners; it was a special panel given a month to review all the entries. From the TrekTrax.org website: “Nominations will be accepted during the month of January 2015. Nominees will be reviewed by our panel of judges during February 2015. Balloting and tabulation of ballots will be held in March 2015. Awards will be presented in April 2015.”

I like most of the fan productions. Stc and new voyages and axinar are the best. The real winners is us fans. As we get to see some great Star Trek.

I’ve seen only a few of these, but I would currently rank Prelude to Axanar and Star Trek Continues as two of my favorites. Star Trek New Voyages is also commendable.

Even if they ran all the entries there how do you want to control that only people who watched them all vote?

I would accept the honor system. The Academy doesn’t even pretend to watch the films the members vote on.

Oh, and thank you for putting me in charge. I will be just. I will be merciful. Now, bring me my grog!

6. Emperor Mike of the Terran Empire – April 26, 2015

Hear, hear.

I agree with the judges, for the most part. Axanar is certainly impressive, but I would vote Best Production Design and Best Director to STC. The way that they’ve reproduced the look and feel of TOS, and on a budget of around $50K per episode, is really quite a feat. And the performances and photographic choices, particularly on Lolani and Fairest of Them All, are also quite compelling.

But, most of all, I would vote best screenplay to STC for either Lolani or Fairest of Them All. Those are very well written episodes—and not “…for a fan film”—but very well written. Full stop. Axanar obviously looks great and is a heavy-hitter in terms of professional actors, but it still hasn’t earned any laurels for its screenplay—and I say this with full recognition that the full-length version has yet to be seen.

The Prelude was certainly compelling enough to get people (myself included) excited about the full-length feature, but there’s really not that much in the way of thematic or character content in the Prelude, as its main purpose is to set up the plot and setting. All it really tells us is that there’s a war against the Klingons in which Garth of Izar is the hero and there’s a crisis of sorts about the Federation abandoning its values and principles in aid of winning that war (rather like—and this is not meant as an insult—Star Trek Into Darkness, which was premised upon that same theme but left it largely undeveloped).

So, maybe the full-length Axanar will have a great, thematically rich story. Or, maybe it’ll lose its way by being overly focused on its great production values. To me, either possibility seems equally likely, and we’ll have to wait and see what Axanar finally delivers. I would add that, with so many well-known actors involved, much is expected of Axanar. But, STC has already delivered, in terms of its screenplays. Which is why STC should have won best screenplay.

WOW! Axanar is REALLY well liked! the 50th is looking to be GREAT! =D

must agree: Star Trek Continues is the king of the hill! =D

keep up the great work, (all) you guys! =)

…oh, and thanks for the links! =)

P.S.

I’m glad to see Clay Sayre win Best Actor for his performance on Mind Sifter. He was outstanding in that episode.

BTW, the article doesn’t say who the judges were at Treklanta.

Is it a panel of journalists and entertainment industry craftsmen? Or, is it an audience response poll?

I agree with IDIC Lives as Star Trek Phase 2 was really under represented there. Mind Sifter was one of the best efforts I’ve seen in fan films ever. Axanar may be flashier and more militaristic. STC may have a guy who tries to act like Shatner. However for good acting and FXs ST phase 2 wins hands down. I like Brian Gross better as a version of Kirk as he doesn’t try to be Shatner. Chris Pine takes the same approach as it can come off slightly like a caricature. It’s just a complete package in the spirit of TOS.

Seems to me a pretty decent choice of winners overall. PRELUDE TO AXANAR was beautifully put together, and its “Band of Brothers” talking-heads conceit very effective, which definitely made it the effort to beat. But I’m glad the awards made the distinction between the long and the short form so the other productions at least couldn’t be completely shut out. The people who invested their time and energies making “Mind Sifter,” “Lolani” and “Fairest of Them All” certainly have nothing to be ashamed of. Congratulations to them all.

(Incidentally, I had a short conversation with AXANAR producer Alec Peters several months ago, where we agreed that Marc Scott Zicree’s “World Enough and Time” still rates as the best fan film overall. Were it an actual TOS episode, it might well rank in my top 20.)

Cygnus, totally agreed that however promising AXANAR is, for most of us it exists as little more than potential at this point. Nevertheless, based on PRELUDE and assorted commentary from the individuals involved, I’m reasonably confident that fans will be treated to an epic, exciting Trek adventure that, much as with “Balance of Terror” fifty years ago, will be first and foremost a story about the horrific costs of war.

Way to go Axanar! I love the prelude, looking forward to Axanar more than Star Trek Beyond. I hope CBS and Paramount are watching what is going on in Star Trek fan made indi world. Let’s go television series announcement 2016!

Far be it for me to question the sagacity of an august board that is completely enamored of a commercial for a web series, but I think that Farragut and Exeter are underrepresented.

3 — Actually, the entire cast did a great job on Mind Sifter. Meant to throw kudos at Becky Wood as well.

Great to see STC’s The Fairest of them All win. That’s the best fan episode ever, by a long shot. Congrats to all the hard work on the fans and volunteer’s involved.

As for Axanar, I don’t consider it Star Trek. It’s focus is on a Star Fleet Battles type of version of Star Trek…warlike, with military industrialist complexes, millions of people dying, and making war like a fun chess game between Commanders. Gene Roddenberry would be mortified to see that war-mongering version of Star Trek. That said, it’s great entertainment with awesome production values — so congrats to everyone involved for making an entertaining production.

14. Michael Hall – April 26, 2015

Incidentally, I had a short conversation with AXANAR producer Alec Peters several months ago, where we agreed that Marc Scott Zicree’s “World Enough and Time” still rates as the best fan film overall. Were it an actual TOS episode, it might well rank in my top 20.

I agree with you and – what an honor for me – with Alec Peters. “World Enough and Time” is still the best, with “Lolani” a close second.

Personally I think that all episodes of New Voyages/Phase 2 (excluding “Come What May” and – maybe – “In Harm’s Way”) and Star Trek Continues are not worse than average standard of TOS episodes (and sometimes even much better). I think the same about newer episodes of Exeter (Dennis Russell Bailey’s “The Tressaurian Intersection”) and Farragut (“Price of Anything” was delicious but, regrettably, too short for full lenght episode).

I also think that Curt Danhauser’s and Farragut’s nuTAS is far better than original (excluding precious “Yesteryear”).

But I’m waiting in suspense for full Axanar movie too.

14. Michael Hall – April 26, 2015

‘Incidentally, I had a short conversation with AXANAR producer Alec Peters several months ago, where we agreed that Marc Scott Zicree’s “World Enough and Time” still rates as the best fan film overall. Were it an actual TOS episode, it might well rank in my top 20.’

I agree with you and – what an honor for me – with Alec Peters. “World Enough and Time” is still the best, with “Lolani” a close second.

Personally I think that all episodes of New Voyages/Phase 2 (excluding “Come What May” and – maybe – “In Harm’s Way”) and Star Trek Continues are not worse than average standard of TOS episodes (and sometimes even much better). I think the same about newer episodes of Exeter (Dennis Russell Bailey’s “The Tressaurian Intersection”) and Farragut (“Price of Anything” was delicious but, regrettably, too short for full lenght episode).

I also think that Curt Danhauser’s and Farragut’s nuTAS is far better than original (excluding precious “Yesteryear”).

But I’m waiting in suspense for full Axanar movie too.

No surprise that Axanar won as many as they did, it is clearly the best acted, shot, edited piece of the bunch but I that’s because it’s done by professionals and not amateurs.

They will be the first to tell you that Axanar is NOT a fan film but a independent film done by professionals who happen to be fans. It clearly out gunned the competition – especially acting wise by a WIDE margin. I just feel it was a little unfair that all the others had to go up against a Axanar and the combined resources and talent that professionals bring to production like this.

“Gene Roddenberry would be mortified to see that war-mongering version of Star Trek.”

Was he mortified over “Balance of Terror,” a war story which makes just about every Top Ten list by being dramatic, suspenseful, and cinematic, while also serving as a morality play about the ultimate cost and futility of war? Given Garth’s statement in PRELUDE that “We didn’t sign on to be warriors–that’s not what Starfleet is about,” what evidence do you have at this point that AXANAR will handle the subject differently?

@18. Prodigal Son,

“As for Axanar, I don’t consider it Star Trek. It’s focus is on a Star Fleet Battles type of version of Star Trek…warlike, with military industrialist complexes, millions of people dying, and making war like a fun chess game between Commanders. Gene Roddenberry would be mortified to see that war-mongering version of Star Trek.”

It is funny coming from you given that you defend STID so aggressively, a movie “with military industrialist complexes, millions of people dying, and making war like a fun chess game between Commanders”.

btw, unless you’re hailing from the future, no one seen Axanar yet. Only the prelude. So you may want to wait to see the full movie before you bestow us with your wisdom!

Clay Sayre was good as Kor, but it seemed he was holding back a bit instead of going full Colicos.

Axanar Conquers them all. Its the most “Cinematic and deep Star Trek Fan Film ever!

21.Cinematic and deep.
Please explain.

@ Ahmed

“t is funny coming from you given that you defend STID so aggressively, a movie “with military industrialist complexes, millions of people dying, and making war like a fun chess game between Commanders”

A fair observation. Two points:

1. I have reconsidered STID over the past year, and not consider it a middle of the pack OK Trek movie, nothing special. It’s on the level with Generations, Trek 6 and TMP.

2. The whole point of the message of STID was about the dangerous excesses of war-mongering and letting the military industrial complex run amok. It’s the most anti-war TOS Trek movie to date.

“btw, unless you’re hailing from the future, no one seen Axanar yet. Only the prelude. So you may want to wait to see the full movie before you bestow us with your wisdom”

In this vein, perhaps the awards body here should have waiting until the future — until the full movie comes out — to give all of these award to this “long History Channel-like infomercial?” In terms of the potential of an actual Axanar full movie, I’m not jumping the gun any more than these Awards are jumping the gun. If they get to vote awards based on potential, then people should also have a right to be critical based on potential as well.

Again, Axanar is great drama, and very entertaining. I’ll enjoy it for those aspects, but I doubt I will ever consider it even close to being canon.

Here’s the answer to my question regarding who judged the entries:

Nominees will be judged by a panel of industry professionals and experts who have worked in the Star Trek franchise. Judges include Diana Botsford, Peter David, Keith R. A. DeCandido, Michael DeMeritt and Susan Sackett.

http://www.trektrax.org/fanfilmawards.htm

I would also add that, while I understand why it didn’t win, despite it being more rough around the edges than STC, Axanar and NV/P2, Starship Exeter’s The Tressaurian Intersection has a certain charm and I found it to be a very fun, compelling episode.

I prefer Star Trek Phase II over Star Trek Continues. Its long track record more than speaks for itself. Mind Sifter was an extraordinary tale and Brian Goss did a great job stepping in after James Cawley retired. It deserved better than it got in this list.

I don’t know what it is about STC’s Vic Mignogna that bugs me, but he does.

Love Exeter too. Star Trek Prelude to Axanar looked impressive but its story left me a little cold.

Nice to see all of these people being recognized. They’re doing a great job of keeping Star Trek alive.

One suggestion for next year: Best Original Song. I know a few fan films are adding songs to the credits, and/or music videos.

14. Michael Hall – April 26, 2015

“Incidentally, I had a short conversation with AXANAR producer Alec Peters several months ago, where we agreed that Marc Scott Zicree’s “World Enough and Time” still rates as the best fan film overall. Were it an actual TOS episode, it might well rank in my top 20.”

I agree with you and – what an honor for me – with Alec Peters. “World Enough and Time” is still the best, with “Lolani” a close second.

Personally I think that all episodes of New Voyages/Phase 2 (excluding “Come What May” and – maybe – “In Harm’s Way”) and Star Trek Continues are not worse than average standard of TOS episodes (and sometimes even much better). I think the same about newer episodes of Exeter (Dennis Russell Bailey’s “The Tressaurian Intersection”) and Farragut (“Price of Anything” was delicious but, regrettably, too short for full lenght episode).

I also think that Curt Danhauser’s and Farragut’s nuTAS is far better than original (excluding precious “Yesteryear”).

But I’m waiting in suspense for full Axanar movie too.

I don’t get all the hatred for Phase II that’s been going around lately.

STC get’s high praise for stuff the fans were complaining about when Phase II did the same thing 5 years ago. That makes no sense to me at all.

STC does good work, yet Vic Mignogna just doesn’t sit well with me for some strange reason.

With those two things said I enjoy all of these fine works greatly!

Good job to all!!

Did they even mention Renegades? Just curious.

The panel of judges screened 16 independent Star Trek fan films that were released to the Internet during calendar year 2014. The judges screened the films in their own homes, cast ballots that were then sent to and tabulated by Treklanta management, and the results were then sent back to them for discussion and consensus in the event that any of them had any strong objections to the results. They reviewed the results and were unanimous in their agreement that the final results reflected their collective decision.

The article above only mentions the series that were nominated but not the individual episodes. The full and complete list of the 16 films the judges reviewed (in order of release date) is as follows:

Star Trek Continues, “Lolani”
Project: Potemkin, “The Night the Stars Fell from the Sky”
Star Trek: Rendezvous, “The Inquiry”
Star Trek: Secret Voyage, “Rise of the Gongdea”
Starship Exeter, “The Tressaurian Intersection”
Star Trek: Reliant, “Supply and Demand”
Star Trek Continues, “Fairest of Them All”
Star Trek Natures Hunger, “Star Trek Encounters Silence of the Lambs”
Starship Valiant, “Legacy”
Project: Potemkin, “Command Decision”
Star Trek: Axanar, “Prelude to Axanar”
Starship Farragut, “Conspiracy of Innocence”
Star Trek: Reliant, “Stalemate”
Star Trek Natures Hunger, “Dorothy’s Awesome Shuttlecraft Adventure”
Project: Potemkin, “Holding Pattern”
Star Trek New Voyages Phase II, “Mind-Sifter”

The full list of winners as announced at Treklanta is as follows:

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Star Trek: Axanar
Scott Cobb

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Star Trek: Axanar
Stefan Bellersheim, Al Dinelt, Adam Howard, Tommy Kraft, Koji Kuramura, Thomas Loeder, Chris Martin, Jennifer Marx, Oliver Nikelowski, Tobias Richter, Ali Ries, Arnold Sakowski, Trent Smith, Greg Stitz, Dan Uyeno, Enrico Weinert

BEST SOUNDTRACK
Star Trek: Axanar
Alexander Bornstein (Composer), Frank Serafine (Supervising Sound Designer/Editor), Jesse Akins (Sound Designer), Ramsey Mellette (Sound Mixer)

BEST ORIGINAL STORY OR SCREENPLAY
Star Trek: Axanar, “Prelude to Axanar”
Christian Gossett, Alec Peters

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR OR ACTRESS
Clay Sayre as “Kor”
Star Trek New Voyages Phase II

BEST ACTOR OR ACTRESS
Vic Mignogna as “Capt. James T. Kirk”
Star Trek Continues

BEST DIRECTOR
Christian Gossett
Star Trek: Axanar, “Prelude to Axanar”

BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION, SHORT FORM
Star Trek: Axanar, “Prelude to Axanar”

BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION, LONG FORM
Star Trek Continues, “Fairest of Them All”

The awards were presented by Treklanta Guests of Honor Sean Kenney (Capt. Christopher Pike from “Star Trek”), Jason Carter (Ranger Marcus Cole from Babylon 5) and Anne Lockhart (Lt. Sheba from Battlestar Galactica). Author Guest of Honor and awards judge Keith R. A. DeCandido spoke briefly about the judging process. Alec Peters accepted the awards won by Star Trek: Axanar and Clay Sayre accepted his own award. The remaining two awards will be shipped to their winners as soon as we get their mailing addresses.

Photos of the actual awards can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/760450634041849/ and several photos of the awards ceremony can be found on the Treklanta Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/trektraxatlanta.

Treklanta screened all 16 of the nominated films numerous times throughout the weekend during our Independent Star Trek Fan Film Festival and presented several panel discussions hosted by cast and crew members of the fan film productions in attendance, including Star Trek: Axanar, Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II, Star Trek: Reliant, Star Trek: Valkyrie and Project: Potemkin. The latter group world-premiered the vignette they filmed at last year’s convention, “Ladies Night Out,” and filmed a new vignette, “Room Service,” which will be premiered at next year’s convention.

Treklanta is pleased to have presented these awards, screened these films and hosted these productions; congratulates all the nominees, finalists and winners; and looks forward to supporting the independent Star Trek fan film community in the future.

27. Because Renegades has nothing to judge.

STC still rules the fan films. It’s perfection

Well it’s clear who they liked, and that’s a good thing.

@Who Cares I’m not sure if they were nominated or not. I think they were considering productions that had already been released.

Congrats to all the winners!

Renegades, to the best of my knowledge, hasn’t been released yet although it’s said to be very nearly complete or so I understand so maybe we’ll see them on the list next year. I agree that ST: Phase II was vastly under represented. I’ll have to check some of the others out. I’ve seen Starship Farragut & Starship Valiant and I enjoy them both but the others I haven’t seen yet.

The panel of judges screened 16 independent Star Trek fan films that were released to the Internet during calendar year 2014. The judges screened the films in their own homes, cast ballots that were then sent to and tabulated by Treklanta management, and the results were then sent back to them for discussion and consensus in the event that any of them had any strong objections to the results. They reviewed the results and were unanimous in their agreement that the final results reflected their collective decision.

The article above only mentions the series that were nominated but not the individual episodes. The full and complete list of the 16 films the judges reviewed (in order of release date) is as follows:

Star Trek Continues, “Lolani”
Project: Potemkin, “The Night the Stars Fell from the Sky”
Star Trek: Rendezvous, “The Inquiry”
Star Trek: Secret Voyage, “Rise of the Gongdea”
Starship Exeter, “The Tressaurian Intersection”
Star Trek: Reliant, “Supply and Demand”
Star Trek Continues, “Fairest of Them All”
Star Trek Natures Hunger, “Star Trek Encounters Silence of the Lambs”
Starship Valiant, “Legacy”
Project: Potemkin, “Command Decision”
Star Trek: Axanar, “Prelude to Axanar”
Starship Farragut, “Conspiracy of Innocence”
Star Trek: Reliant, “Stalemate”
Star Trek Natures Hunger, “Dorothy’s Awesome Shuttlecraft Adventure”
Project: Potemkin, “Holding Pattern”
Star Trek New Voyages Phase II, “Mind-Sifter”

The full list of winners as announced at Treklanta is as follows:

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
Star Trek: Axanar
Scott Cobb

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Star Trek: Axanar
Stefan Bellersheim, Al Dinelt, Adam Howard, Tommy Kraft, Koji Kuramura, Thomas Loeder, Chris Martin, Jennifer Marx, Oliver Nikelowski, Tobias Richter, Ali Ries, Arnold Sakowski, Trent Smith, Greg Stitz, Dan Uyeno, Enrico Weinert

BEST SOUNDTRACK
Star Trek: Axanar
Alexander Bornstein (Composer), Frank Serafine (Supervising Sound Designer/Editor), Jesse Akins (Sound Designer), Ramsey Mellette (Sound Mixer)

BEST ORIGINAL STORY OR SCREENPLAY
Star Trek: Axanar, “Prelude to Axanar”
Christian Gossett, Alec Peters

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR OR ACTRESS
Clay Sayre as “Kor”
Star Trek New Voyages Phase II

BEST ACTOR OR ACTRESS
Vic Mignogna as “Capt. James T. Kirk”
Star Trek Continues

BEST DIRECTOR
Christian Gossett
Star Trek: Axanar, “Prelude to Axanar”

BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION, SHORT FORM
Star Trek: Axanar, “Prelude to Axanar”

BEST DRAMATIC PRESENTATION, LONG FORM
Star Trek Continues, “Fairest of Them All”

The awards were presented by Treklanta Guests of Honor Sean Kenney (Capt. Christopher Pike from “Star Trek”), Jason Carter (Ranger Marcus Cole from Babylon 5) and Anne Lockhart (Lt. Sheba from Battlestar Galactica). Author Guest of Honor and awards judge Keith R. A. DeCandido spoke briefly about the judging process. Alec Peters accepted the awards won by Star Trek: Axanar and Clay Sayre accepted his own award. The remaining two awards will be shipped to their winners as soon as we get their mailing addresses.

Photos of the actual awards can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/760450634041849/ and several photos of the awards ceremony can be found on the Treklanta Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/trektraxatlanta.

Treklanta screened all 16 of the nominated films numerous times throughout the weekend during our Independent Star Trek Fan Film Festival and presented several panel discussions hosted by cast and crew members of the fan film productions in attendance, including Star Trek: Axanar, Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II, Star Trek: Reliant, Star Trek: Valkyrie and Project: Potemkin. The latter group world-premiered the vignette they filmed at last year’s convention, “Ladies Night Out,” and filmed a new vignette, “Room Service,” which will be premiered at next year’s convention.

Treklanta is pleased to have presented these awards, screened these films and hosted these productions; congratulates all the nominees, finalists and winners; and looks forward to supporting the independent Star Trek fan film community in the future.

@ 25. Cygnus-X1 – April 27, 2015

“I would also add that, while I understand why it didn’t win, despite it being more rough around the edges than STC, Axanar and NV/P2, Starship Exeter’s The Tressaurian Intersection has a certain charm and I found it to be a very fun, compelling episode.”

I would second that sentiment. Furthermore, I think it interesting that Jimm Johnson made a pretty bold choice in making Captain Garrovick not terribly likeable. He was cranky and bitter, but it worked.

I also think that Farragut should be recognized for the chemistry of the three leads; it’s not the Kirk-Spock-McCoy troika, but it’s still a palpable element.

I think these two productions also have high production values–without having to resort to dusting off old Trek vets for stunt casting.

Farragut has good production values—it’s the same outfit that produces STC—but the performances, particularly by Broughton as Captain Carter, make it less accessible to many viewers, I think it’s fair to say.

Some people have commented here that they appreciate Broughton’s style as “understated,” but I really have a hard time getting through his performances in order to get through the Farragut episodes. When the last Farragut episode was released, there was an article here about it and quite a few people had the same reaction.

The writing and stories on Farragut are actually really good, but I think that many people aren’t attracted to the series because of the acting and thereby don’t get to appreciate the writing. The other two leads are better than Broughton and I’ve enjoyed their performances, but he’s really rough around the edges. Though, I’d still recommend people at least check out Farragut.

Here’s a nifty site that serves as a menu with links to many if not all of the Indie Trek series: http://startrekchannel.com/fan-productions/series/

In spite of never really warming up to the Exeter crew, I was pretty impressed by the teaser and Act 1 of “The Tressaurian Intersection,” particularly the music, direction, and production values. Dennis Bailey’s CGI effects, in particular, are for my money the truest re-creation of the TOS aesthetic ever done–in certain shots, you’d swear it was 1969 all over again.

But the second and third acts aren’t as good, perhaps because the show never really addresses the question as to whether Garrovick’s animus towards to Tressaurians is justified or not, and because the third act reportedly required some drastic restructuring and reshooting. The Gorn-like race, and later the Tholians, are portrayed as pretty one-dimensional villains without a lot of nuance, and despite the decent costuming and FX, their onscreen presence isn’t is strong as it should be. (During one unintentionally funny interrogation scene, the Tressaurian prisoner constantly shifts back and forth like he really needs to use the restroom.)

The show ends on an unexpectedly grim (and, for Trek, gruesome) note, which somewhat redeems the other aspects that I found a little disappointing after such a strong beginning. In the end, I would certainly rate “Intersection” as one of the better fan films. But it also serves as a cautionary tale to anyone looking to explore corners of the Trek universe beyond those of TOS or even the successor series. We’re all so invested in that universe that it must be a temptation to just lose the baggage, come up with some new characters on a different ship and send them on their way. But the ease with which we still relate to the originals fifty years later only shows that the success of Roddenberry, his writers, and the actors in bringing those people to life was no fluke.

Axanar is among the best trek produced since DS9. It is 100% Trek and I can’t wait for the feature!

42. Michael Hall – April 29, 2015

(During one unintentionally funny interrogation scene, the Tressaurian prisoner constantly shifts back and forth like he really needs to use the restroom.)

That scene is very memorable and great strictly in terms of camp value. They really couldn’t have made it any more “campy sci-fi” if they’d tried, which is why it’s so great.

I’ll have to watch the episode again to refresh my memory on the thematic issues you’ve raised. Though, I do remember appreciating the theme, such as it was, which is not to say that it couldn’t have been more developed as you suggest. I do appreciate that Capt. Garrovick is a TOS character in the backstory of Obsession, and Garrovick’s son actually is a featured character in that episode. We didn’t learn all that much about Garrovick from the backstory in Obsession, so he was pretty open for development. I’m not sure what point you’re making about Indie Trek going off-canon with new characters.

“That scene is very memorable and great strictly in terms of camp value. They really couldn’t have made it any more “campy sci-fi” if they’d tried, which is why it’s so great.”

Well–to each his own, I guess. What you saw as enjoyable camp seemed to me to be a bad creative choice on the part of the director that undermined the serious tone of the story. (This is not intended as a blanket criticism of the director, who also made a lot of choices I thought were actually pretty good.) The muscleman-in-a-rubber-is the source of a lot of jokes today, but I thought they did a lot better with the Gorn a half-century ago.

“I’m not sure what point you’re making about Indie Trek going off-canon with new characters.”

I have no problem with Trek that’s non-canon, since I don’t take the issue of what’s canon and what isn’t very seriously. For my money, there’s only what’s good Star Trek, and what isn’t. My point was just that even in a beloved fictional universe, creating new characters and finding the right actors to play them isn’t a slam dunk. (Beautiful as she is, I’m still not entirely sold on the McKenna character in STC, though if you tell the actress I wrote that I’ll deny it.) So far, only AXANAR seems to have a real shot at adding characters to the Trek mythos that are anything like as memorable as the originals.

45. Michael Hall – April 30, 2015

Well, of course, I see your point about the hulking rocking Tressaurian. He is ridiculous and did take me out of the moment also. I just equate him with the various campy elements of TOS that appear ridiculous now, but I still appreciate them in terms of camp value. Kirk’s drop-kicks come to mind.

I am sold on McKenna, though. I think she’s a good complement to the TOS crew and the Michele Specht does an outstanding job in the role.

Starship Exeter wins for “most anticipated next scene!” I check the web page every day until finally part 3 and 4 were finished. What an awesome episode worthy of Star Trek!

Very impressive, to say the least. Of course, awards for these fan productions (which are, I guess, the equivalent of the fanzines we old-style Trekkies used to produce in the 1970’s) are nothing new – remember that “World and Enough Time” from Star Trek: New Voyages was nominated for a Hugo award several years ago, losing out to an episode of Dr. Who. Now *that’s* impressive, being able to compete with the pros like that!

Nevertheless, kudos to all the productions and all the creativity involved.

Axinar is Trek! This should be the direction for a new TV series. As for the other contenders… also a nice job. But for me, the tone of Axinar more closely deserves to be called Star Trek… Can wait for the full length feature.

@49. JR – May 5, 2015

“Axinar”

Axanar, for Douwd sake. But on the matter itself I agree with you.