First Cut of Star Trek Complete – Paramount Preview Goes Well

Four months after wrapping principal photography JJ Abrams and his editors Mary Jo Markey and Maryann Brandon have finished their first cut for Star Trek. Late last week Abrams screened this cut for studio boss Brad Grey and other big shots at Paramount and according to sources it went very well.


The Paramount buzz on Star Trek went into high gear last week. One source tells TrekMovie that first cut showing was “a hit.” Another old studio hand who isn’t even working on the project called the cut “very impressive.” And yet another source said that the reaction in the screening room was “far beyond expectations” and as we know expectations have been high at the studio since the powers that be decided to move it from a Christmas 2008 release to their first summer tent pole of 2009.

Of course we are still nine months away from release, but Abrams is determined to stick with his original schedule, although due to the large number of effects shots needed this may slip a little to save some money on overtime. There is still a lot of post-production to be done on the film, with the visual effects from ILM being the biggest element that needs completing (so far only a few of the 1300+ shots are considered ‘finished’). Another major task yet to be done is the music by Michael Giacchino, but sources say the composer is already at work and that scoring sessions should get underway in the Fall.

The next major step for Star Trek is likely to be the release of the first theatrical trailer. The trailer itself is edited already, but apparently the effects are not finalized. Unlike the first teaser, this trailer will include live action shots from the film itself. No word yet on when this will be released, but it is expected (but not guaranteed) sometime in 2008. Other promotional milestones include official movie poster (and tagline), release of full picture of the Enterprise, and additional viral campaigns.

Another Star Trek milestone
Believe it or not the journey of JJ Abrams Star Trek movie is well into its third year. Below is a summary of the big events since we first learned Star Trek was headed back to the big screen.

4/20/06   Variety reports JJ Abrams in talks to produce Star Trek film
7/15/06 Paramount announce multi-pic production deal with JJ Abrams / Bad Robot
7/22/06   Comic Con: Paramount release first teaser poster (showing blue & gold uniforms, hinting TOS era), indicated ‘2008’ release
1/07 Script completed / Paramount gives green light, begin discussions on director
2/24/07   Paramount announce green light, Abrams as director, Christmas ’08 release date
4/07 Abrams first confirms Kirk-era storyline for Star Trek
7/27/07 Comic Con: Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy announced as ‘two Spocks’, release new teaser poster showing "Star Trek" as title
8/07-10/07 Casting rest of main ‘crew’ and cast
11/11/07  Principal photography begins
1/18/08  First teaser trailer released (w/ Cloverfield) + official movie site & ‘viral’ ncc-1701.com site launched
2/13/08 Release date changed to May 8th, 2009
3/27/08 Principal photography wraps
7/18/08 Comic Con poster with cast photos revealed + official site updated
8/1/08 First cut completed, shown to Paramount execs

 

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Dear Santa Claus :
I want to be a Paramount Exec !

All this is exciting, but is going to be one long tease.

And only 276 days to go.

A trailer in 2008. I wonder what movie that will be with? First?

How many of us would have loved to be in an exec’s shoes right about now?

I’m a big fan, but come on…how about some scraps!!

Let’s see the damn ship already….

Dear Santa or … JJ Abrams :

and I want to see that d… ship !

Now this was a great article.

My excitement level just keeps peaking and peaking.

I give it till end of the week when the first of the plot “leaks” will start coming out of the screening room. :-)

As the Devil’s Advocate, keep this in mind – what are they going to say? The screening went badly? The screening met with indifference? The screening may in fact have went “beyond all expectations” but, seriously, this site has done nothing but cheerlead for this project since day one and I just don’t feel like I get straight information here. Everything feels like it gets the studio spin.

If I had to guess, I think the trailer will be released with Eagle Eye in September. That’s the biggest release Paramount has left this year and would make a lot of sense (especially as it is written by Orci and Kurtzman). Paramount’s other big summer 2009 release (Transformers II: Revenge of the Fallen) is getting its trailer before Eagle Eye as well.

I want to see this movie!!!!

to the Devil’s Advocate : Vade retro Satanas ! ;-)

Come on — we’ve gotta have some Bothans out there ready to sacrifice their lives to get us some secret stills from the film! :)

This movie will be old by the time it releases

I was wondering how long it would take to hear the whining “see the ship” comments. The production timeline is what it is…and it’s cruising along at purty near warp speed for a motion picture of this type. If you got the ship now, you’d tear it apart. Then, you’d say, “Let’s see the bathroom already!” and then complain that you’re boycotting the film and will never see it. Well, I’ll see you there on opening weekend when you’re not watching it right in front of me.
Anticipation is one of the best things in life. Relax and enjoy the art these filmmakers will provide next May.

I think you guys probably wouldn’t enjoy watching this film in its current state. I’m sure it’s going to be a fine film, but at it’s current state, I can assure you it’s rough. No ADR, audio tweaking, music, effects, color correction, etc. I’ve worked on independent films, and the first draft cut is VERY different from it’s final presentation.

Yeah… the also said the same about the upper-brainkilling-machine TRANSFORMERS.

Expectations are still low.

Okay, now THIS is news.

A couple of things I am looking forward to:

– Full Trailer (Woohooo !!!)
– Full image of the USS Enterprise from the new movie !!!!

Once we see these, we’ll get a clearer idea as to how the movie will be.

Fascinating. Can someone in the future get into Spock’s Timeship and send me a copy of the film now?

#19 – There’s some guy in New Jersey (who looks a bit like Max Headroom) who calims he has a timeship. Maybe he can snag a print for us, whenever he gets back…

Can’t wait for the first significant trailer. It’ll be fun to compare it to the trailers for ST:TMP.

Anthony –

You forgot creation of TrekMovie.com in your timeline!

Long weekend in Canada (Heritage Day in Alberta) and other countries (Bank Holiday) according to my calendar. Watch us hit 200+ comments by day’s end. Whee!

#9: At this point, since no one other than the executives have seen the film, it really doesn’t matter what was said. It could be total spin; it may be true that they loved it.

What will matter to Paramount is the first audience test results. And even if those aren’t initially positive, it’s not the end of the world. The first test screening of the pilot episode of 24 was a disaster. The producers went back and radically recut the episode, adding the visual “boxes” so associated with that series. The second screening tested through the roof, and the rest is history.

I was present at the first audience test screening of Star Trek: First Contact, and while my initial reaction was positive, my friend pointed out that there wasn’t enough “Borgifying” of the crew to explain what was going on, so their threat to the Enterprise wasn’t all that clear. I guess a number of audience members felt the same way, too, as Frakes later shot additional footage which featured plenty of Borg doing nasty things.

#16: True. A first assembly is very rough, and will be further fine-tuned for pacing and other reasons. Scenes or snippets of scenes may be cut; additional shots, especially 2nd unit material, may be filmed and inserted later. Remember, the release print of ST:TMP was a first assembly with the FX and sound completed, which is why Robert Wise’s head was in his hands at the premiere, since the pacing was so off. (I’m glad he finally got in his fine cut prior to his death.)

I love seeing rough cuts like this, but in this case, I’d rather see the completed project for the first time.

It’s the viral campaign what I’m really waiting for…

9. bill hiro – August 4, 2008
“…. but, seriously, this site has done nothing but cheerlead for this project since day one and I just don’t feel like I get straight information here. Everything feels like it gets the studio spin.”

This site has worked hard to get us great information, not all of it coming from the studio.
And as politely as I can muster let me ask you something. If you find this site doesn’t give you straight information… why are you here?

…………………………………………………………..

I think this is great news coming out of Paramount.

…………………………………………………………..

#15 Tony Whitehead…. agreed

#18, Since when do pics and a trailer clearly indicate the quality of a film?

#9, I coudn’t agree more.

Cool – It seems more real now that the first edit is complete and there has been a screening.

I can’t wait to see the first trailer. I think this is going to be a very good movie and I can’t wait until next May.

I think that the trailer will be attached with the No. 7th for Quantum of Solace (007).

#26, But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop visiting this site 10+ times a day to see what’s new :)

tagline should be ‘an adventure 20 years in the making!’

as the idea for a prequel with the original cast first started with Bennett in 1989…although in The Art of Star Trek it says something about Roddenberry announcing a possible prequel film at a 1968 convention….so it could be ‘an adventure 40 years in the making!’….

can u imagine that?! Shatner and Nimoy in a big screen trek film in the late 60s playing younger versions of themselves…

if only….

3 years of being teased to wait for my movie! Compare that to how I normally track movies. “I hear Batman has a new movie out last week. Want to go?”

For this Star Trek, I am engaged EVERY week to see if something is new.

Man, I hope this movie is good…I don’t ever want to feel the way I felt after seeing Star Trek V again!!

ahhhh… well, tha’ first cut tha’ Star Wars pre-quels (minus tha’ effects) highly confused tha’ screening execs as tha’ drafts only depicted Ewan McGregor stumbling around green objects in front o’ green screens fur a few hours…

Apparently even Samual L. Jackson wuz computer animated…
“I’m sick of being blankety-blank fake on this blankety-blank film.”

Or, ta’ put it another way… tha’ scene where Pine yells somethin’ out ta’ tha’ villain on tha’ viewscreen – what ya’ see now be Hank, tha’ hairy electrician on-set, eatin’ his salami lunch right whar’ the screen will eventually be… how utterly terry- fy’n’…

Arrrrrrr…

They may tie the new trailer with the upcoming Eagle Eye movie.

“No word yet on when this will be released, but it is expected (but not guaranteed) sometime in 2008.”

Superbowl! I don’t think Paramount have any major releases this winter (ahem) so they are going to have to go after something huge to show a trailer with. Superbowl!

26 – You can often tell via a trailer which ones are likely to be clunkers, or the ones that look good.

Not that reliable, but still an indication.

The Enterprise picture will give us a clue as to the stylistic direction the film is taking beyond what we already know from uniforms and spy pictures from the set.

The quality of the film will only be known by watching the film, but they will give us clues as to the direction they are taking things.

A Trailer is the sales pitch to the audience: Come see this film, this is what we offer you !!!

To #15:

Kudos to you!

Slightly off topic but does anyone have any idears for a good or possible title for the film ?

tha’ trailer…

IN A FUTURE

black smoke rise up

FAMILIAR, YET STRANGE AND NEW

part o’ a face goes by

COMES THE BEGINNING

brief scene o’ what appears ta’ be Mike Tyson chomping on Eric Bana

OF TOMORROW

quick shot o’ a nacelle cap? mushroom? fingertip? possibly a boob?

WHICH COULD END TODAY

large blurry critter trashes tha’ Golden Gate bridge (that poor bridge takes a beatin’ in films, don’t it?)

PREPARE FOR YOUR TREK

screen goes black we hear Leonard Nimoy whisper “Rosebud.”

HERE COME THE STARS

music swells, a shuttie-craft covered in pudding flies past leaving flames in its wake

screen goes black, a German subtitle suggests “Du wartest!!! 2009 Mai!!!”

Arrrrrrr…

GOOD news!
Note that despite what Roberto Orci has insisted, it really does look like a reboot based on all we’re seeing.
In other words, in Trek history, it didn’t happen “that” way anymore, it happened “our” way.
But, hey, I’m really not complaining… I’m just pointing out… the obvious.

mat-
The title is simply “Star Trek”

#38.
That may be your best post yet! Too funny!

So, basically the film’s almost done. I think Mr. Abrams has already confirmed this, but with Mr. Giacchino scoring it in the fall, looks like the film will be 100% done before Christmas and just sit on the shelf for the summer.

Now, who wants to pull together an Ocean’s 11- type of group to break into Paramount and take a peek?

I’m in Jay

41 Thanke’

Arrrrrr… just followin’ me vision…

42 – We could throw a MacGuffin Paramount’s way, and call the group “Orci’s 11”, so they think we’re “with the band”!

42 – So now we just beam in, collect the movie, and beam out … ;-)

39 – Not really. It looks like it may be a reboot in terms ov visuals, but not necessarily with story continuity.

Sorry i don’t know where else i can post this disturbing news but here.
I don’t know the email of Antony to send these newst to him so i post it here!

Exploding Falcon 1 ROCKET SCATARRED SCOTTY ‘ S ASHES All Over the Pacific!

Here is the link:

http://gizmodo.com/5032516/update-exploding-falcon-1-rocket-scattered-scottys-ashes-all-over-the-pacific

We could hack into JJs computer–I’m sure all the Lost fans know what the password is

I’m thinking the trailer will be in front of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in December. I believe that’s Paramount’s big Oscar hopeful this year.