‘In Search Of Tomorrow’ Documentary To Delve Into ’80s Sci-Fi, Including Four Star Trek Films

The 1980s are considered a pivotal point for science fiction cinema. A new crowdfunded documentary is now in development that is going to take a look at the making of classics like Back to the Future, Aliens, The Terminator, Blade Runner, and many more, including the four Star Trek films from that decade.

In Search of Tomorrow to explore Star Trek movies from the ’80s

The team behind the 2019 documentary In Search of Darkness, which explored 1980s horror cinema is currently planning to do the same with science fiction films from that same decade with In Search of Tomorrow. The production company CreatorVC plans an “extensive, nostalgic journey through ’80s sci-fi films – exploring their impact year-by-year and their relevance today.” And just like their horror doc, the stories behind the films will be told by the iconic artists that made them, along with industry and pop culture experts.

With four releases over the 1980s (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and Star Trek V: The Final Frontier), Trek films played a big role for the decade. In Search of Tomorrow director David Weiner spoke to TrekMovie about how he will approach the franchise for the doc:

Star Trek is an undisputed cornerstone of ‘80s sci-fi, and I am excited to sit down with the likes of Nicholas Meyer, Walter Koenig, Adam Nimoy, Wil Wheaton, and so many other relevant artists and Treksperts to discuss the important impact of the franchise on cinema, culture, marketing/tie-ins (Star Trek: The Motion Picture Happy Meals included!), and contemporary technology and design. I grew up watching The Original Series daily in syndication as a kid in the ‘70s, and seeing the evolution of Gene Roddenberry’s vision on the big screen throughout the ‘80s, with so many iconic moments, cemented my lifelong affair with all things Trek. It will be a thrill to get brand-new and untold perspectives from the icons who shepherded it, along with their personal takes on the sci-fi genre as a whole. For the needs of the many, our human adventure with In Search of Tomorrow is just beginning…”

Other Star Trek veterans lined up for the documentary include Douglas Trumbull, Alan Dean Foster, Dayton Ward, Deep Roy, Ike Eisenmann, and  Kurtwood Smith. The team is working on landing additional Star Trek vets from both in front and behind the camera. The planned run time for the doc is between four and five hours, making it more like a documentary series, and giving it time to cover the decade (and the Star Trek films) extensively.

In addition to the Star Trek talent, In Search of Tomorrow has already lined up an extensive list of ’80s sci-fi icons to appear including Nancy Allen (RoboCop), Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters), John Badham (WarGames, Short Circuit), Shane Black (Predator), Joseph Bottoms (The Black Hole, The Intruder Within), Clancy Brown (Highlander, Buckaroo Banzai), Paul Verhoeven (RoboCop, Total Recall), John Carpenter (The Thing, Escape From NY), Joe Dante (Innerspace, Gremlins), Bob Gale (Back to the Future trilogy), Lance Guest (The Last Starfighter), and Alex Winter (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure).

The target for release of In Search of Tomorrow is July 2021. The crowdfunding deadline is May 18th. They have already raised over $250,000, surpassing their goal.  The initial release of the doc will be available exclusively to backers. The starting pledge that includes a digital release of the film is $38, which also includes your name in the credits, and a ticket to a virtual premiere watch party. A pledge of around $75 includes a Blu-ray release and additional goodies including a movie poster. Higher-end pledges add producer credits, tickets to the Hollywood premiere, and more VIP privileges.

Backers also get access to an exclusive online community which includes watch parties, special guest Q&As, access to the production team, and early previews including the ability to offer feedback on work in progress.

To find out more and to back the project visit the official Kickstarter page.

Backer bonuses and merchandise include Blu-rays, DVDs, posters, stickers and T-shirts

In Search of Tomorrow doc will do for sci-fi what In Search of Darkness did for horror

The 2019 horror documentary In Search of Darkness also ran over four hours, offering an extensive retrospective of the genre and gives you an idea of what is in store for the sci-fi doc. The crowdfunded horror documentary featured a cast of over 40 contributors offering insights into their work, including director John Carpenter (The Fog, The Thing), actress Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street), actor Doug Bradley (Hellraiser), actor Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th) and actor Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator). They were joined by a number of popular horror commentators and critics, including James Rolfe (Cinemassacre), James A. Janisse (Dead Meat), and Joe Bob Briggs (Host of The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs). It was well-received by critics with a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.


Keep up with all the Star Trek related documentary news, previews and reviews at TrekMovie.com.

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The 1980s are my favorite decade. If I had a time machine, I would spend the rest of my life in the 1980s. 2020 is the worst year ever in my opinion. The corona disease has turned the world upside down. I’m trying my best to have a positive attitude but its not working out for me.

Back to the Future, Aliens, The Terminator, and Blade Runner are my favorite movies. Back to the Future is the perfect movie. Those classics get better with age.

Star Trek had a golden age back in the 80s. Star Trek is in a rebirth in the 21st century. It’s not like it used to be. Yesterday was Star Wars Day and I watched Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. It was a fun watch.

80s sci-fi is better than today’s sci-fi. There are some good ones but not even close.

The 80s were definitely a fun decade, pop-culture speaking. I wish the 80s had gone differently, since so many of the problems of 2020 are a result of missteps taken in the 80s. But as for sci-fi on film, it may be the cream of the crop.

I think WarGames is my favorite of the bunch. What a great, fun, epic film. 1983 was the height of nuclear paranoia, see The Day After. Would love some relevant sci-fi on today’s big world-ending threat.

Nuclear paranoia still exists to some degree in today’s world. North Korea and Iran have nuclear weapons. America and Russia have nuclear weapons. China has nukes, you get my point. Nuclear weapons didn’t magically disappear in 1983.

Today’s world ending threat is the corona virus. That’s reality not sci-fi. War Games is a great movie.

Coronavirus world ending threat?

I really liked WarGames when it came out and I was 19, but it definitely panders to the teen crowd. As I got older I realized every single adult in that movie is either a jerk or an idiot.

Wow. The doc maker experienced Trek and Sci-Fi the same way I did..we must be in the same age group. This looks like it will be an interesting project. I’m seriously considering donating part of my unemployment (probably the $75) for this. :)

The clips brings back cinematic memories, widescreen 70mm packed houses. Souvenir movie programs. :)

I’m very tempted, although I’m not getting any work at the moment. I’d love to see In Search of Darkness, but it doesn’t seem to be available anywhere now, sadly…

I hold the 80s in a mix of awe and horror — horror at the bad stuff, and worse horror at the bad stuff I enjoyed (ACTION JACKSON is exhibit #1, though not in the genre.)

Summer 82 is still my alltime fave for movies, ahead of 1989 because by then some of the biggest films were ones that didn’t speak to me (Still can’t sit all the way through Burton’s first BATMAN, though I’ve tried four times.) I still hold the 70s up as the gold standard, mainly for the first half of the decade, though I didn’t see all of those winners till much later in some instances. When the 80s dare to do political paranoia, it is usually with serious indebtedness to stuff that preceded it like THE PARALLAX VIEW, BODY SNATCHERS remake and CAPRICORN ONE. If I had a best decade, it would probably be 1966 to 1975, before the blockbuster mentality really took hold and marketing started holding sway over creatives in such an overt way.

I liked 1989’s Batman, but come on 1982 gave us Rocky III, Khan, ET, Poltergeist, and Blade Runner and 1989 gave us Batman and Indy III but also Final Frontier and Ghostbusters II, two sequels that should never have been made. No contest.

Don’t forget First Blood and Mad Max 2 also from 1982.

One of the best double bills ever was from that year: ROAD WARRIOR and BLADE RUNNER, for one week only in Aug 82. Right up there with ALIENS and THE FLY about 5-1/2 years later.

One of my regular rewatches (after catching it at least twice in the theaters) is 1982’s WRONG IS RIGHT, a mess of a movie but it was WAY ahead of its time. Other at least somewhat rewatchable 82ers: BEASTMASTER, TRON, THE THING, FIREFOX, 48HRS. And belatedly add to that THE DARK CRYSTAL, though I only first saw it last year.