In 1968 superfans Bjo and John Trimble spearheaded a letter-writing campaign to get NBC to give the original Star Trek a third season. The upcoming documentary United We Fan takes a look at that effort and how it pioneered other “save our show” fan campaigns through the decades.
Bjo Trimble in United We Fan
United We Fan – directed by Michael Sparaga (Missing Ingredient) – chronicles the stories of passionate individuals and their unique crusades to save their beloved shows. It promises to take a “humorous and heartfelt” look at these fan efforts, featuring interviews with campaign organizers as well as series’ stars, creators and executives. For Star Trek, the doc interviews campaign leaders Bjo and John Trimble, series star Nichelle Nichols as well as series creator Gene Roddenberry’s son Rod Roddenberry.
TrekMovie has a first look at a clip from the Star Trek segment of United We Stand, courtesy of Blue Ice Docs.
In addition to Star Trek the doc examines campaigns for Designing Women, Cagney & Lacey, Quantum Leap, Chuck, Longmire, Jericho, Veronica Mars, Person of Interest and several others. For Quantum Leap one of those interviewed is Star Trek: Enterprise star Scott Bakula.
Scott Bakula in United We Fan (talking about Quantum Leap)
World premiere in April
Today it was announced that United We Fan will have its world premiere at the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto. There will be three screenings: April 28, April 30, and May 3rd. More information and tickets can be found at hotdocs.ca.
You can follow United We Fan on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Anyone know what upcoming appearances she’ll be making? Of all the original cast members, I really want to meet Nichelle. She’s my favorite.
I actually got to meet her… I was at LAX about to go through security and I heard a voice behind me in line that I knew that I knew… and it was Nichelle in her wheelchair! She asked me to help her up and through security. So I walked her through on my arm and carried her bags. We then took a picture together. Best. Day. Ever. :)
If you haven’t met her yet, I suggest you hurry. I have chatted with her a few times at conventions and seen her appear at the main stage, and the past couple of years you can sadly see age starting to affect her. She took the main stage at the official convention celebrating 50th anniversary of Trek, and she seemed to be struggling a bit to answer questions.
Interestingly, when you meet her one on one the effects are less visible. She was also selling an Uhura inspired collection of earrings (which if I remember correctly included the ones she is wearing in the clip above). Those would be a nice gift for a trekkie girl (or for a guy who wants to wear them… I’m not judging… IDIC lol).
She always dresses to impress, and is quite friendly with fans. So go meet her quickly!
What a classy Lady and still beautiful to this day !!!
Star trek is one the best series ever made as it was the start of new future for 1967 it has made what star trek is today only if they made there story line more appealing as all the other trek story lines
Sorry the newest star trek as the all the older trek series were great this latest one not sure of from the first to all others star trek has brought me to never stopping watching and nichelle Nichols I would love to meet as all the others that were from original star trek
That is a matter of opinion (ST Discovery). It’s a great show with a lot going for it. It’s only had its first season.
I met John Trimble and what’s-her-name back in the mid 70’s, when they came and spoke at Cal State Bakersfield. I’m pretty sure it was 1974 or close thereto, as they talked about the movie “Flesh Gordon” as a current or very recent project.
Without that third season Star Trek wouldn’t ave been syndicated and Star Trek would be mostly forgotten.
I should ask Bjo Trimble for tips on how to start a “Save Star Trek From Aaron Harberts” campaign. The optimist in me thinks that if Trek can survive Fred Freiberger, Rubicun III, and the Kazon-Nistrim… then it can too survive the Harberts-Berg-Kurtzman-Goldsman-Sullivan Dominion of Pakleds, and yet…
I’m actually one of the campaign runners interviewed in this documentary. I can’t wait to see all the other stories in the video.