Gene Roddenberry’s Lost Data Recovered from 200 Floppy Disks
Some 200 5.25-inch floppy disks from late Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s estate have been unlocked revealing about 3 MB of decades old words typed by the Great Bird himself.
History
The Oatmeal’s Webcomic Homage to Gene Roddenberry
Webcomic creator, cat-lover, and drawer of funny things, Matthew Inman (a.k.a. ‘The Oatmeal’), took to the interwebs today to tell the story of a young Gene Roddenberry in glorious webcomic form.
Larry Nemecek’s “On Speaker” series celebrates Voyager’s 20th Anniversary with a new release
Longtime Trek author Larry Nemecek (Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, Stellar Cartography: The Starfleet Reference Library) is releasing the fourth volume in his “On Speaker” audio series in celebration of Voyager‘s 20th anniversary.
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Return To Tomorrow’ Takes Us Inside The Making Of ‘Star Trek: The Motion Picture’
The story behind Star Trek’s first feature film was an epic drama of its own.
Screen-used Star Trek Props To Go Up For Auction, Including $60,000 TOS Phaser
Trekkies, hide your pocketbooks if you don’t want to be tempted by Propworx’s Star Trek auction, which boasts an impressive haul of original screen-used props from throughout the Star Trek Franchise: from props, to artwork, to costumes, to scripts. The most unique (read: priciest) item up for bid is one of only two screen-used fiberglass TOS phaser props known to exist. The prop, which was featured in the hands of a security officer in the episode “Assignment: Earth”, is expected to fetch upwards of $60,000.
Smithsonian Brings Original Enterprise Model Back for One Day Only During Major Restoration Effort
The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is overseeing the 4th and latest restoration of the original Enterprise model used to film The Original Series. For one day only they let the public in on the process, and TrekMovie’s Jared Whitley has the scoop and photos below.
Dawn Wall Ascent Aims to Match Shatnerian Glory
Two fearless climbers have captured the eyes of the world this week with their amazing ascent up Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan. After climbing for 18 days and nights, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson today became the first climbers ever to use only their hands and feet to summit a 3,000-foot sheer path called the Dawn Wall. The climb has garnered incredible amounts of media attention. El Capitan is of course known to Trek fans, who saw Captain Kirk free climb it in Star Trek V.
“Return to Tomorrow” shipping this week
Just in time for the film’s 35th Anniversary, the long-awaited oral history of Star Trek: The Motion Picture will be released this week from author Preston Neal Jones and Creature Features Publishing. More info after the jump.
These Are The Voyages Announces Kickstarter Campaign For Volume 3 *UPDATED*
Author Marc Cushman would like to release the third volume of These Are The Voyages this fall, and he’s turned to Kickstarter to make it happen. More after the jump.
Berman Refutes Sirtis Assertion That Roddenberry ‘Hated’ Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Over the weekend TrekMovie reported on the Star Trek: TNG reunion event at NYCC, which included a comment from Marina Sirtis about how Gene Roddenberry would have felt about Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Today DS9 co-creator Rick Berman responded to Sirtis’ assertion. More details below.
Original Star Wars Producer: Star Trek Was An Influence For George Lucas
Gary Kurtz was the producer of the original Star Wars movie and the first sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, and in a new interview he talks about how George Lucas was influenced by Star Trek.
Happy 27th Birthday Star Trek TNG: Watch Rare 1987 Pre-Air Cast & Crew Interviews + Promos
Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered on September 28, 1987, returning the franchise to its television roots. The success of the show spawned three additional series which ran through 2005. Today celebrate TNG’s 27th birthday by watching some of the original pre-air interviews with Gene Roddenberry and the TNG cast and crew, plus a rare pre-launch campaign video for syndicated stations.
Nick Meyer Talks About Star Trek II Tensions With Shatner Over Script and Paramount Over Spock’s Death
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is still considered by most to be the best film in the franchise, but that doesn’t mean making the movie was easy. In a new interview writer/director Nicholas Meyer talks about how William Shatner had problems with the script and how he fought with the studio over the treatment of Spock’s death. Details below.
Smithsonian Moves Original USS Enterprise Model Out Of Gift Shop To Prep For Big Hall Display
The studio model for the USS Enterprise from the original Star Trek series is on the move. Earlier this week the ship was removed from its latest display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, in preparation for move to a new location within the museum. The model will also be undergoing evaluation and conservation treatment. More details and photos below.
Exclusive: David Gerrold Talks Frankly About TNG Conflicts With Roddenberry & Berman + JJ-Trek & more
Today TrekMovie finishes up our exclusive interview with writer David Gerrold – this time Gerrold talks frankly about his troubled time working on Star Trek: The Next Generation and coming into conflict with Gene Roddenberry and Rick Berman, being ‘blackballed’ in Hollywood and he even gives his thoughts on JJ Abrams Star Trek.
George Takei Talks ‘Troubled’ Star Trek: TMP & (non Nimoy/Shatner) Cast Failed Salary Negotiations
A few days ago we had Douglas Trumbull talking about "saving" Star Trek: The Motion Picture and now in a new interview George Takei is talking about how that first Trek feature was "in trouble from the start." Listen to Takei talk about TMP, failed Paramount salary negotiations and more below.
Exclusive: David Gerrold Talks Star Trek’s Legacy & Humor + Relationships w/ Roddenberry & Coon + more
StarTrek48: Watch Leonard Nimoy Talk About How Roddenberry’s Lieutenant Led To Spock Casting
As part of our celebration of Star Trek’s birthday we have TrekMovie video from the weekend’s Salt Lake City Comic Con where Leonard Nimoy beamed in via Skype and talked about how he got cast in Star Trek following his appearance on Gene Roddenberry’s previous show The Lieutenant. We also have clip of that episode. Watch it all below.
Happy 48th Birthday Star Trek – Join TrekMovie Celebration With ‘Man Trap’ Livetweet 8:30 PM
On September 8, 1966 the first episode of of an ambitious sci-fi show created by Gene Roddenberry aired on NBC – in color! 48 years later, Star Trek is still going strong after hundreds of episodes over five series and twelve feature films (with another on the way). Watch the first commercials and interviews for Star Trek below, plus get info on TrekMovie’s ‘livetweet’ celebration and giveaway set for tonight.
Watch: VFX Legend Douglas Trumbull Explains How He Saved Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Visual effects pioneer Douglas Trumbull was a late edition to the crew for Star Trek: The Motion Picture, after he initially turned down a deal to do the effects for the movie. In a new video he talks about how he came on board to ‘save’ the movie. Watch it below.
Star Trek Celebrities Mourn Robin Williams + The Star Trek/Williams Connections
Yesterday the world was shocked by the death of actor/comedian (and Star Trek fan) Robin Williams. Many Star Trek luminaries, including some who worked with Williams, went to social media to express their condolences. We have compiled those below, plus take a look at some Star Trek/Williams connections – including the TNG role written for him (but played by someone else).
Watch: Doug Drexler’s Tribute Video To Star Trek Designer Matt Jefferies
Veteran Star Trek artist/designer Doug Drexler has produced another great Star Trek video. This time it is a tribute to the late Matt Jefferies, art director and production designer on the original Star Trek series (who also happened to be the designer of the iconic USS Enterprise). Watch the tribute video below.
Altman & Gross Writing ‘Unauthorized Oral History’ Of Star Trek For 50th Anniv. + More Non-Fic Trek Announced
A couple of weeks ago TrekMovie previewed upcoming non-fiction Star Trek books, and now the list is getting longer with newly announced titles covering the history of the franchise, Trek fashion and even Trek ‘travel books.’ More details below.
Star Trek Documentary With Lost Roddenberry Interview Footage Seeking Kickstarter Funding
A lengthy rare interview with Gene Roddenberry that was believed to have been lost has now been found, and is hoped to become the basis for a new documentary on the birth of the Star Trek series he created. Catch a glimpse of the footage below, plus find out how you can help.
First Look: ‘Return to Tomorrow’ Book On Making Of Star Trek: TMP Coming This Fall
Just in time for the film’s 35th Anniversary, a new book detailing the production of Star Trek: The Motion Picture is coming this fall, and TrekMovie has a first look at the details. Find out more and how you can pre-order below.
George Takei: Now Is Time For LGBT Character In Star Trek + Tried To Convince Roddenberry
George Takei has revealed that he tried to convince Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry to add a gay character to the TOS movies. More details below.
Voyages About Nothing: How Seinfeld Influenced Star Trek’s Legacy
Seinfeld is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month, and so TrekMovie takes a look at some of the connections between the groundbreaking sitcom and Star Trek.
Preview Of Non-Fiction Star Trek Books For 2014/2015 – From Fun To Artwork To Scholarly Texts
Following up from our look forward to all the Star Trek fiction coming in the next year, today we take a look at the non-fiction, both scholarly and fun. See what is coming below.
These Are The Voyages Season 2 released
The eagerly awaited second volume of author Marc Cushman’s exhaustive examination of the production of The Original Series, These Are The Voyages, was released this past Wednesday, and we have a closer look. The first volume, which covered the history of the series from its earliest stages to the end of season one, was lauded by critics, fans, and cast members for it’s incredible attention to detail. Leonard Nimoy himself called the book’s level of research “astounding…an incredible job”. The second volume, which covers the entirety of season two and features a forward by Walter Koenig, promises to be even more expansive than the first. According to the promotional materials the second book will cover a variety of interesting topics: Learn why Leonard Nimoy almost didn’t return for Season Two. Explore why Lucille Ball, whose Desilu Studios had gambled big on financing Star Trek, would lose her studio in trying to keep Star Trek on the air. Discover the real reason Gene Coon suddenly quit as series producer in the middle of Season Two. Learn which stories by renowned science fiction masters never made it to the screen and why. Find out which episodes almost didn’t make it in front of the camera. Read the memos from Roddenberry and his staff, and NBC, concerning all 26 episodes from Season Two. Witness the continuing deception by the network over the show’s ratings, and how the fans took on a corporate giant to save their favorite series.
EXCLUSIVE Clips from Larry Nemecek’s TREKLAND On Speaker: “All Good Things…” Words & Deeds
TrekMovie was excited to receive exclusive clips from the new CD by Larry “Dr. Trek” Nemecek, TREKLAND: On Speaker Volume 2. In the new CD, available for $21.99 on the Trekland Blog, you’ll hear direct from some of Trek’s greatest including Ronald D. Moore, Michael Piller, and more. What’s special about this CD series is that you’re getting a unique perspective — you’re hearing from the people who made Trek while they were making it. The audio is from conversations way back when — in the 90’s. Hit the jump to hear some clips from the new CD.