Vegas Con 07 – Nimoy uses TrekMovie.com comments to make a point [UPDATED]

[UPDATED] After being introduced as ‘the star of the new Star Trek movie,’ Leonard Nimoy hit the stage in Vegas, took off his jacket, and turned around to reveal his T-Shirt was emblazoned with “#1 Vulcan” on the back (sending the standing room only crowd of thousands into a frenzy). After things settled down he wryly said “I can’t imagine what you want to hear about today.” Spontaneously the crowd started chanting “movie! movie! movie!” Nimoy started off by saying “I’ve been on the Internet the last two days and what is amazing to me how people are spending their time on these blogs and website – TrekMovie.com  – hundreds of people are on there expressing their opinions about what should be done with Star Trek next. People who have never directed a Star Trek episode, people who have never directed a film, people who have never directed traffic – are voicing their opinions about what to do with the next Star Trek movie. It is fascinating.” He then pulled our a sheet of paper and I knew what was coming next!

He opened up his ‘reading’ by quipping “You know the Vulcan philosophy is infinite diversity in infinite combinations – and we are getting it I’ll tell you.” He noted that he would read ‘some of the milder ones’ because others could not be read in public (thanks a lot guys!). And then the Original Spock read some from some of the selected comments from his TrekMovie.com Interview posted last week. (The ones he chose were all from the Part 2 thread):

Out of literally hundreds of hours of TV, there are only a handful that I think could pass as Star Trek. Not that they are bad, they just aren’t STar Trek…not in look, not in style, not in story. I’m excited about this movie because, after 20 years of watching shows that had Star Trek in the title, I might actually see a movie that lives and breathes the words rather than just put them on the screen. (jonboc)

Nimoy added "O.K., O.K"

By bringing in Nimoy and Shatner they are killing the opportunity to re-make/re-invigorate Trek.As a fan I’m dissapointed at the lack of originality here. [Crowd boos] They keep going back to the little old TV tube to satisfy a bunch of old trekkies who’d see the movie anyway.I,for one,would like to see a total rethinking that is unencumbered by the past. (JON)

Hey, remember how in Star Wars, Yoda’s ears drooped down to signify his advanced age? Let’s hope they don’t do the same with Spock! (Harry Ballz)

the original crew peaked in their roles in STIV in the mid-80s and it was downhill after that. (Dom)

but Nimoy noted that Dom redeemed himself later in his post by saying Star Trek VI was a good solid send off

The official scorekeeper has called this thread off on account of boring. All parties are to report to their respective locker rooms and towel off. The new topic of debate shall be how pointy should Spock’s ears be and what a violation of canon they are. Also the new movie will reveal that Spock’s first name is going to be “Timmy”. (THX-1138)

Nimoy (and the crowd) got a good laugh out of that one…and the ‘Timmy’ thing came up again later on [more in next article]

The Point of all that was…
Nimoy finished his reading by noting “so many experts…so many opinions.” He then went on to describe how the studio was all over him when he was directing Star Trek III, but that with Star Trek IV he wanted and they allowed him total freedom. Nimoy recounts “the training wheels are off we want you to make your Star Trek.” He also noted that the film turned out to have the biggest box office of any Trek film ever. And then got to the point.

I tell you that for a reason. They turned me loose and let me have my vision and let me make a movie. And I say they have hired a very talented director and very talented writers. We have to turn them loose and let them make their movie. We have to have faith in these people. I understand everybody wants to be a director and everybody has an opinion. People say ‘if they don’t do it this way I am not going to go see it and if they don’t do it that way I’m only going to see it once.’ But I think we have to give these talented people the chance to make this movie. And let’s rejoice in the fact that they are good  and talented people and I think they are going to re-invigorate the franchise…I really do.

 

 

Nimoy makes dream come true for young fan
During the Q&A a young boy came to the mic to ask a question about what it was like to direct Star Trek movies. Nimoy asked the boy how old he was and if he had seen all the Trek films. The boy (James T. of Hawaii) said he was nine and that he had indeed seen all the films as well as almost every episode of all the series. Nimoy was so impressed with the young man he invited the him onto the stage and then on the spot decided that he would fly the James and his entire family out to the premiere of the new Star Trek movie. As the boy left the stage beaming Nimoy exclaimed “when people ask me ‘what is the future of Star Trek’…that is the future of Star Trek.”

 

 

Thanks for the plug!
I actually knew in advance that Mr. Nimoy was going to do be reading out comments (I had emailed him the links to the articles last week) and I had a quick moment backstage to say hi and thank him for the interview and for talking about the site. He asked "are they all like that?" to which I said of course not (right folks). I told him that the vast vast vast majority of website viewers never post (it is kind of like the dif between people who listen to talk radio vs. those who actually call in). So how about some of you lurkers coming out of the shadows and saying hi!

 

Shatner coming up soon.

I need to catch a plane and so my Shatner (and Shatner/Nimoy tag team) articles will not go up until early in the AM Monday…so check back.  This is Tony signing off from Las Vegas.

 

 

184 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Cool, those involved in the production read the comments here!

he better have read mine or else ! , lol but yea thats cool

The power we wield is intoxicating!!!!!!

Cooly!

It’s like your site is turning into the number one site for all Trek movie news and hopefully any new Trek series news. Keep up the good work!

Hey, we’re coming up in the world!

Great news, Anthony! I know you won’t let us down with the reports!

Shatner to Nimoy “I’m waiting by the phone”

I just rang it now, he wasn’t there. They said he’s at a convention.

Craig: It’s like your site is turning into the number one site for all Trek movie news and hopefully any new Trek series news. Keep up the good work!

Yeah, my project was was featured here. Which makes it all the more legitimate to me.

Maybe if the in charge Trek people see it they’ll be inspired to do something with it. I’ll get David j working with me too with his sculpting and artistic abilities.

“Of course I’ve gone mad with power. Have you ever tried going mad without power? Its boring!”

Andy which project was that? I forget.

I wonder if they are going to tell Shatner who the new Kirk is?

Star Trek starts with Spock at Kirk’s gravesite. Small hollographic pic of Kirk on the headstone. This is how we can appease the fanboys to get Shatner in the movie. I wonder what Shatner would want $$$ to use a picture of himself in the movie? Probably a lot more than what Nimoy is getting for his appearance, for ego’s sake.

I know some of the pre-hype before Trek III, was the talk of Spock being in the next Trek movie or not. I wonder if they’re doing the same thing here? I don’t think Shatner could keep quiet about this so perhaps he’s really not going to be in the movie???

Don’t wait too long Bill, Leonard is not JJ.

501 dtst

“Probably a lot more than what Nimoy is getting for his appearance, for ego’s sake.”

They both always had it contracted that they recieved the same thing, money, perks, women, all the same.

That’s how we got Star Trek 5 remember.

As I’ve said, I think Shatner is both too old and too heavy to play a convincing Kirk. (Unless, of course, he plays an overweight Kirk in his 70’s.) Nimoy, in all honesty, has aged better. If he had gained 50 pounds and several layers of wrinkles, would he be able to play Spock?

Still, I don’t see Nimoy playing a Spock set in any time prior to Kirk’s death. That means any appearance by Shatner will require some hocus-pocus to bring the dear captain back to life.

Maybe good writers can pull it off. But, I doubt it. Just one more reason why letting Kirk die was silly.If you’re gonna kill the guy, then do it in some epic universe-altering fashion. Don’t do it via some not-so-scary villian on an insignificant planet.

And we can only hope that his phone will ring soon!

What about Shanter playing Kirk’s father?

How about Shatner appears in this film as Captain Kirk with one throwaway reference to him–like Spock–beating death? That’s all it takes. Let the fans’ imaginations go crazy as to how he came back to life after ST: GENERATIONS.

#18, if that shows Kirk after Generations, it’s more than enoguh.

There will be no need for hocus pocus to bring Kirk back. Abrams just has to do it.

If he wants Shatner back, all he has to do is call him and work it out.

Craig, here’s the project featured last week….https://trekmovie.com/2007/08/03/assignment-earththe-series/

One other idea. Have Shatner and Nimoy as guest speakers at a Starfleet Academy class just before Generations and a Cadet asks Spock what was it like when you two first met each other on the Enterprise?

As I recall….Shatner had an idea of bringing Kirk back ala some Borg involvement and technology

Andy remember that now. The way you edited was good. I’m not sure if I would like it as a TOS spinoff series.

In my last post I should have said Kirk and Spock at the Academy. I know Shatner and Nimoy wouldn’t play themselves at the Academy. :)

I hope I am not spamming this topic by adding a couple of ideas.

#19: Truth is, the vast majority of potential ticket buyers haven’t a clue that Kirk is dead. So, any script machinations to resurrect the guy in a fashion acceptable to the canon police would strike them as pretty weird.

I’d love to see Shatner in the movie. I just can’t see the guy I see on Boston Legal playing Kirk.

But… the obvious way to use Nimoy is as an aging Spock reminiscing about the good old days. It would be easy to bring Shatner into that converstation. Let’s see what happens.

That said, I’m somewhat heretical in believing the appeal of Trek lies less in the characters and more in the themes it uses those characters to address. Not the didactic 60’s style morality play ethos that so marked the original series, but the epic universe-changing see-what-humans-can-really-do ethos that showed up all too infrequently.

no,….a little deviation, as long as we’re still talking about Trek, is okay. And as for Assignment; Earth, I would have liked for it to stand on it’s own and not really be associated with Trek after it got off the ground.

billg – August 12, 2007

#19: Truth is, the vast majority of potential ticket buyers haven’t a clue that Kirk is dead. So, any script machinations to resurrect the guy in a fashion acceptable to the canon police would strike them as pretty weird.

Well then let’s just all pretend that movie didn’t happen then.

It’ll be like the new Hulk movie which I hear is pretty much ignoring the first one.

Both would be more than fine with me.

Um, didn’t Nimoy just get done making fun of people here for their ludicrous demands and story ideas?

Let’s not go down this Shatner road all over again.

The simplicity of this site is it’s strongpoint. I’m glad Anthony has resisted the tempation to expand. I’m sure it was a breeze for Nimoy to click to his interview and read the comments. No shuffling through lots of flash animation or digging through a thousand posts on a thousand different subjects on a forum. I dig this site because I can get the lastest article , read feedback, comment if I feel the need, then move on. It’s quick and effective and user friendly. When folks like Nimoy, OKuda or Trek’s writers drop in, I’m sure it’s for the same reason…Anthony makes it easy. Well done Anthony and thanks for the great Vegas coverage.

Wow, what a news day! Can’t await this expected phone call… :-) Oh, and on ShatnerVision they talk about Elmo! *g* What about a ShatnerVision LiveVideo showing Shatner talking with Nimoy on the phone!?

jonboc – August 12, 2007

The simplicity of this site is it’s strongpoint. I’m glad Anthony has resisted the tempation to expand. I’m sure it was a breeze for Nimoy to click to his interview and read the comments. No shuffling through lots of flash animation or digging through a thousand posts on a thousand different subjects on a forum. I dig this site because I can get the lastest article , read feedback, comment if I feel the need, then move on. It’s quick and effective and user friendly. When folks like Nimoy, OKuda or Trek’s writers drop in, I’m sure it’s for the same reason…Anthony makes it easy. Well done Anthony and thanks for the great Vegas coverage.

My thoughts exactly…on every point. A very user friendly site. Cutting edge news. Easy to post forums. No hassle. Great site.

33. “My thoughts exactly…on every point. A very user friendly site. Cutting edge news. Easy to post forums. No hassle. Great site.”

I’ll go along with that! :D

Cool

I hope Mr. Nimoy is reading my stuff.

What exciting times! Star Trek lives and we live in an age where the creative forces can actually tap into the fandom for instant feedback.

Gotta love it!

If he is reading this stuff still I’d like to ask him if he still has a little spoon full of honey between takes for energy. I started doing that in my teaching days between classes on those hard days because of reading it in his book.

Always wanted to ask him that….and I’d like to know if he is a cat person. No body’s that good an actor and a cat knows it too.

Kind of thing I’d never be able to ask him at a Creation Convention. No personalization at those things.

Congrats to our fellow posters that got a mention from the #1 Vulcan.
And as always, kudos to Trekmovie for making it possible.

X

Here’s an idea:

Perhaps the way to bring Shatner back as Kirk, but in an “old Spock” timeline is to have Spock suffering from Bendii Syndrome, and hallucinating that Kirk is sitting with him, and that the two are reminiscing. Based on Sarek’s behavior in the beginning of the TNG episode “Unification, Part 1” it is a fair assumption to believe that hallucinations could be a part of the last stages of Bendii Syndrome.

According to the description from “Unification, Part 1” at Memory-alpha.org:
“Picard goes to the planet and enters Sarek’s room. Sarek is in bed and restless – shouting and crying. Picard asks him about Spock and he suddenly calms and becomes lucid.” The statement of Sarek becoming “lucid” (not to mention his behavior just prior) does imply that he was delusional.

So, this is how it could lay out: Spock is sitting, having a conversation with Kirk (which is played by the Shat, dressed in all his ST movie uniform regalia, his face having been “young-i-nized” like Patrick Stewart was for the flashback sequence in X3), like nothing is wrong. We jump backward in time as Spock is telling the story, to the events that occurred some hundred-fifty-odd-years in the past (played by the new actors filling the classic roles), and then back to “present-day” Spock and “ghost” Kirk as each vignette in the story ends (or, were this television, the logical place for commercial breaks.) As the film progresses, we begin to realize that “Old Spock” is delusional, and that Kirk really isn’t there.

So there it is: Spock can be old, Kirk can be there (yet still dead), Bendii Syndrome can tie TNG, TOS and the TOS re-boot altogether. Plus, the storyline once again ties Spock to Sarek, as the writers can drop in a throwaway line that Bendii Syndrome “runs in families” and that “his father died from it.” It’ll satisfy the “bring-back-Kirk” contingent, yet still be somewhat understandable and believable (if explained correctly) to the “newbies.” It can also explain why it’s just Kirk and Spock in the end, because in the real world, most likely EVERYONE from the original crew would have been long dead (including Kirk) and couldn’t appear.
Whaddaya think?

Oh, and by the way, since you say that you read the blogs on this site, I have a teensy-little request: Mr. Abrams, Mr. Shatner, Mr. Nimoy, et al–if you like my idea, and use it in the film, can I have a walk-on in the background? It’d be geek-heaven to put on the velour and the flared trousers, shave my sideburns down to points, and be in the background on the Big E’s bridge!
(I’m not above shameless begging, you know!)

Nimoy looks great. Staying away from that dairy.

Leonard, if you’re reading this: Don’t listen to what they say about Star Trek III. The “odd-even” myth is revisionist hooey. While the light-weight Generations movies will not stand the test of time, your odd-numbered Trek III will be redeemed by history for its guts and passion, which more than make up for its flaws.

Like what Nick Meyer said. Trek is not about envisioning utopia: it is about Man against the Universe. And let’s hope the new blockbuster captures that spirit as well as III.

I liked III. Who said it was bad?

Wow,

I can’t get my wife to listen to me,but I can get Leonard Nimoy to listen to me.

Not bad.

Cool….I have to say I think it’s cool that Nimoy took the time to read all the comments and find the least insane ones. Way to go, Nimoy!

And I take pride that I have said since the beginning that we should trust J.J and co to make a good movie…and now Nimoy is backing me up. I guess that says something right there…

Of all the posts I’ve written, I see Nimoy mentioned my one about hoping he doesn’t show up in the movie with Yoda ears! Yikes!! I’m so excited right now I could just spit!!!

Didn’t Scotty ask Geordi if “…it was Jim Kirk himself who hauled the ‘old girl’ out of mothballs to come looking for me!” (TNG:Relics) ?

Put Kirk in the movie and maybe a contradiction in Trek continuity goes away? And explains his presence in the movie?

What Nimoy did for that young fan proves what a class act the man is. What a great guy. He & Shatner will forever be Star Trek to me.

To find out that he is reading this website really makes me think that he is involved in more than just as an actor. Wouldn’t be surprised to see his name on the credits as “Special Consultant”.

God, you people are hopeless. I’m just gonna read the articles from now on and skip all the idiotic story ideas.

The guy says let them make their movie and what happens, you all start back up with the same crap.

Lets hope that this website makes it on the credits too.