A few days ago, a rumor was passed around that the upcoming "Star Trek" sequel will have a cliffhanger that will lead into the third film. io9 now caught up with writer Roberto Orci and asked him whether there is any truth to that.
Orci explained that he, co-writer Alex Kurtzman, director JJ Abrams, and producer Bryan Burk had one meeting, lasting fifteen minutes, in which they considered the idea of doing the next two movies as a linked story.
He added that the idea is just one of many and it is still too early to say what they'll end up going with.
The site also asked whether the sequel will have the main character try to give up being a hero, similar to the storylines of many other sequels (Spider-Man 2, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen).
Orci replied that the formula doesn't apply to every second installment in a franchise. In the case of "Star Trek," he sees the Enterprise crew as being much more committed to their mission and to doing good in the universe.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Roberto Orci on "Star Trek" Sequel
William Shatner Returns To 'Tonight' To Tackle Sarah Palin's Tweets
Well, he's done it again. Following up on his masterful performance on Monday night's "Tonight Show," William Shatner returned to Conan O'Brien's stage in Los Angeles to once again lambaste the words of former Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. In Monday's segment, Shatner did dramatic readings of portions of Palin's jumbled farewell address. Last night, the "Star Trek" veteran and Emmy winner brought his best bohemian voice to Palin's Twitter. Like her speech, O'Brien assumed that Palin's tweets were simply poems in disguise. On her exit, Palin promised that she would keep in touch with her fans and followers via the microblogging service, though she has yet to update her feed since exiting office. Still, her history of tweets provided plenty of fodder for Shatner and his accompanying bongo and bass players. "Tourists from across America/ Here loving their 49th state/ I'm reminded on heart, one hope, one destiny/ One flag from sea to sea," Shatner said, barely able to keep a straight face. In another, he intoned, "Awesome Alaska night/ Sensing summer already winding down/ With fireweed near full bloom/ Finally sitting down to pen/ Listening to Big and Rich." Palin's message isn't any clearer when delivered from the soothing throat of the original Captain Kirk, but it certainly becomes more entertaining. In Conan O'Brien's still-nascent tenure on "The Tonight Show," Shatner has become something of a fixture and has taken part in some of the more memorable moments in the show's run. In addition to this week's dramatic poetry readings, he also sat down for an interview a few weeks ago where O'Brien chastised him for being unable to do the Vulcan peace sign (which earned the host a flip of the bird) and told a story about getting out of a speeding ticket while in his "Star Trek" costume. http://newsroom.mtv.com/2009/07/30/william-shatner-sarah-palin-twitter/
Star Trek: The Exhibition Contest Winners Announced
As reported by The Examiner, Brad Siegel and Kate Erwin are the lucky couple who have won the wedding package from the Franklin Institute, after receiving the most votes online.
Brad and Kate met three years ago at a Star Trekconvention in Chicago. "Our relationship continued after returning home, and in March of 2008, Brad proposed to me on stage at a Star Trek convention in New Jersey," explained Kate.
"...when we learned of the opportunity being offered at The Franklin Institute, we were ecstatic," said Kate. "Nothing would make us happier than to be able to pledge our lives to each other in the Star Trekuniverse, among our family, friends, and fellow Star Trek fans."
New Star Trek Online screens? You bet your asteroid
In the works: a movie starring subatomic particles and two Star Trek captains
Dave the Photon (Image from the Jupiter 9 Productions Web site.) Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey blends education and entertainment though the use of 3D computer-generated animation and footage from seven NASA space missions, including the Cassini Huygens mission to Saturn. Audience members will get a tour of the outer planets and moons of our solar system while meeting the movie’s cast of characters, which includes a photon, neutrino, proton and an evil genius, The Void, who represents “nothingness” and seems to have traits similar to dark matter and dark energy. A number of celebrities lend their voices to characters, including former Star Trek captain William Shatner as The Core, a figure that represents the sun and knowledge, and, arguably, all visible matter. From a press release: The full voice cast includes Chris Pine (Captain Kirk in J.J. Abrams’ The movie features the voices of two Captain Kirks (veteran William The movie is expected to appear in theaters worldwide sometime in 2010 in IMAX and conventional 3D format. It is the brainchild of Jupiter 9 Productions producer Harry Kloor, who has Ph.D.s in physics and chemistry and has written for the Star Trek franchise. The movie was initiated by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as part of the outreach program for the Cassini Huygens space mission in 1996. About once a week for the nine months leading up to the film’s release, its creators will post video clips and supplemental educational material on the film’s Web site. The main Web site has limited movie clips available so far, but computer-generated images posted with the TrekMovie.com story look amazing. It doesn’t look anything like your typical education-based film, and the story definitely seems worth a read. http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/breaking/2009/07/31/new-movie-uses-subparticles-as-main-characters/
upcoming “Star Trek XI” feature film), Samuel L. Jackson (”The Spirit,”
“Pulp Fiction,” “Star Wars”), Hayden Christensen (”Jumper,” “Star Wars”),
Amanda Peet (”X-Files Movie 2,” “The Whole Nine Yards”), Robert Picardo
(”Stargate Atlantis”), Jason Alexander (”Seinfeld”), Tom Kenny (voice of
“Sponge Bob Squarepants,” “Transformers”), Sandra Oh (”Sideways,” “Grey’s
Anatomy”), Brent Spiner (”Independence Day,” “Star Trek: Next
Generation”), James Earl Jones (”Star Wars”), William Shatner (”Boston
Legal,” “Star Trek”), Mark Hamill (”Star Wars”), Neil Armstrong, Doug
Jones (”Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Abe Sabien - Hell Boy”), Abigail Breslin
(”Little Miss Sunshine,” “Kit Kittredge: An American Girl”), Spencer
Breslin (”The Happening”), Gary Graham (”Alien Nation,” “Enterprise”),
and Janina Gavankar (”The L Word”).
Shatner and Chris Pine, star of JJ Abrams’ upcoming “Star Trek” movie)
and two Darth Vaders (James Earl Jones and Hayden Christensen) — a first
for Hollywood and a first for the galaxy.
Abrams On Directing Star Trek XI
As reported by Star Trek Magazine, first, a director has to be able to visualize what the movie will be. "When I'm writing something, I tend to see it specifically, at least in ways that are usually more clear than I even realize," explained Abrams, "meaning, I'll see things in a certain direction. I'll see the composition of a shot or a sequence."
EXCLUSIVE: Eric Bana Will Not Return for Star Trek Sequel
We reported last month that Star Trek writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have already begun planning the script to the sequel, but they never mentioned Nero specifically and it seems that Bana will not come back for the part.
We'll certainly keep you posted on any and all breaking news items dealing with a Star Treksequel as soon as we have more information. The Time Traveler's Wife stars Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Ron Livingston, Jane McLean and will be released nationwide on August 14.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Star Trek Winners announced for USS Enterprise Wedding in Philadelphia's Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute has (together with 25,000 of their fans AND celebrity judges) picked the winning couple for the USS Enterprise Wedding. And here they are: Brad Siegel and Kate Erwin. Brad and Kate met almost three years ago at a Star Trek convention in Chicago and last March got engaged on stage at a Star Trek convention in New Jersey. The couple was ecstatic when they learned of the opportunity to marry on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise at The Franklin Institute. “Nothing would make us happier than to be able to pledge our lives to each other in the Star Trek universe, among our family, friends, and fellow Star Trek fans,” the couple stated in their contest entry. Go read their story here: May they live long and prosper in their marriage
The Franklin Institute is partnering with WMMR-FM to give away the Star Trek wedding. The wedding package includes: exclusive use of STAR TREK: THE EXHIBITION for the ceremony, a private space inside The Franklin Institute for a four-hour reception, a wedding cake and champagne provided by Frog Commissary Catering, and two nights’ accommodations provided by The Independent Hotel in Center City Philadelphia.
Produced by Premier Exhibitions, Inc. and licensed from CBS Consumer Products, STAR TREK: THE EXHIBITION is a 12,500 square foot interactive exhibition containing the world’s most comprehensive collection of authentic Star Trek ships, costumes and props from over 40 years of Star Trek. Making its East Coast debut at The Franklin Institute, the Exhibition runs through September 20, 2009.
Zoe Saldana Says There are Very Interesting Ideas for Star Trek XII
Saldana on taking on Uhura:
Saldana says she wanted to convey the "normalcy" of being a woman of color in a respected position, among a bunch of men. "As a woman, an American woman, a woman of color, to be able to be granted an opportunity to play a character that symbolizes strength... a woman my mother wanted to be with when she was a little girl, is nothing but a humbling position to be in." And there are "very interesting" ideas for the second Trek movie, she says. "I couldn't be more excited."
Later, Saldana added: "I do think if we continue to do it, one day we won't have to meet with our produciers and writers and directors and say, 'I don't have to understand why my character has to sleep with the lead guy just because she digs him.'"
Next Trek a Two-Parter?
Star Trekscreenwriter Roberto Orcirevealed that the next Trekmovie might be the first instalment of a two-part story.
Speaking to io9 at Comic-Con, he was asked if they had any further meetings about the sequel, and he replied: "Nothing was decided [at the last meeting]. It was really about... [They said to us] 'We thought maybe you could do that as like 2 and 3.'"
It's a fairly vague quote, but it does raise all kinds of possibilities as to the future of Trek. Will they film parts two and three back-to-back likePirates of the Caribbean? Will part two end on a cliff-hanger a la The Matrix Reloaded?
Obviously we don't know, but after the great job done by Abrams and Co. on the first Trekwe're looking forward to finding out.
ZACHARY QUINTO: Screenwriting Starts for Star Trek Sequel
"It's definitely happening," Quinto told Newsarama when we spoke to him about the movie. "I know that Bob [Orci] and Alex [Kurtzman] and Damon [Lindelof] and J.J. [Abrams] have been working and talking and developing stories. I don't think there's a script yet. I know there's not a script yet. But they're working on it and they're talking about it."
The actor, who was at San Diego Comic-Con to promote his production company's foray into comic books with Archaia, said Star Trek filmmakers are taking their time to put together the next film and make sure it's right, which is fine by him.
"I think the great thing about the experience with the first film is that it really was an organic evolution. And I think that it was rooted in a real sense of creative collaboration and excitement and enthusiasm and support. And I think they want to make sure any subsequent film is rooted in that same territory, in that same landscape," he said. "So I don't think anybody's rushing anything. And I think that's actually really smart. And I have implicit trust in all those guys creatively and professionally."
Quinto said he and other cast members are currently able to pursue other projects, although he's expecting the same ensemble to reunite for the sequel when production begins.
"I know when the time is right and everything falls into the place, the crew shall reassemble for the missions. But until then, we're all exploring different landscapes and figuring out the best way for us to go creatively as individuals," he said.
The actor was also at Comic-Con to promote his role as Sylar in the NBC television showHeroes, taking a break from filming last week to attend the convention.
At the end of last season, it appeared that Quinto's role in the television show might be more limited, since Sylar thinks he's Nathan Petrelli, which means he'll be played by actor Adrian Pasdar. But Quinto said that although Sylar's current situation implies the actor won't be on the show as much, he's not backing away from the show.
"There's definitely going to be Sylar in the fourth season of the show. I actually feel incredibly challenged by the work that I'm doing on the show in a great way. I think they've found a really exciting and smart and innovative way to keep the character moving forward and evolving," he said.
Quinto explained in San Diego that Sylar exists this season not only sharing Nathan's body, but also appears within the mind of Greg Grunberg's character, Matt Parkman, "messing with his mind a little bit, giving him a taste of his own medicine."
"One of the problems of playing a villain that is as archetypal as Sylar, you kind of paint yourself into a corner. There's only so much skull-slicing and evil staring that you can do and still have it be creatively fulfilling for an audience or for an actor," Quinto said. "So I feel really great with the stuff they've given me this year because it really starts to take me into different territories in an organic way, and it doesn't feel contrived. It's a real nice springboard from where last season ended to where this season begins, and I've been hard at work. So I haven't let up on it yet."
Bruce Greenwood on Playing Pike, Star Trek Sets and The Original Series
|
Crossing The Bridge
Greenwood's scenes in "Star Trek" include key moments on the newly-commissioned U.S.S. Enterprise, as well as the Romulan ship the Narada. The scenes were particularly exciting for the actor because the ships were as close to the real deal as you could get."I did virtually no green screen work (for special effects) in the film. For every scene I was in, the sets had been built," Greenwood explained. "So when I walked onto the Narada, it was a whole ship. It was crazy. You hardly had to imagine anything. It was massive and dripping with hydraulic fluid, and had fumes and smoke."
|
Copyright 2009, Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The story Greenwood Takes Command As Pike In 'Star Trek' is provided by LifeWhile.
http://www.clickondetroit.com/entertainment/19374817/detail.html
Photon torpedoes vs. nukes: Scientists agree — Star Trek wins
while back we wondered who would win in a battle between Star Trek's USS Enterprise and theBattlestar Galactica. In the comparison we gave Galactica's nukes an edge over Enterprise's photon torpedoes based on how the weapons are depicted in the movies and TV. Our commenters promptly began dissecting our admittedly cursory logic to figure out which weapon technology which would win in the "real" world, which we thought was a pretty good question.
To find some semblance of an actual answer, we turned to two scientists: Dr. Lawrence M. Krauss, a professor at Arizona State University and author of The Physics of Star Trek, and science-fiction author Dr. Geoffrey Landis, a former professor of astronautics at MIT. Hit http://dvice.com/archives/2009/07/photon-torpedoe.php jump for their take on whose boom is best.
"Antimatter weapons are always more effective, in that they give the biggest bang for the buck," says Krauss. "They turn 100% of the matter energy to radiation, and thus extract all the energy possible for an explosion. Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, extracts about 1% of the available energy."
Landis agrees that an antimatter weapon would give "more kaboom for the kilogram," but that it's irrelevant for most practical purposes.
"In terms of weapon effectiveness, though, it's not relevant — an 'ordinary' nuclear weapon is already quite capable of destroying a city. It doesn't really matter which you use — either one is going to have quite an effect."
Defending against either type of weapon would be a huge challenge. Short of some kind of "magical" technology like energy screens, says Landis, any spacecraft would be toast if it were hit.
"In Star Trek they have 'deflector shields' that seem to be pretty good at keeping the nasty stuff like photon torpedoes away," he says. "At least, right up to the point where the shields are overloaded and Scotty calls up from engineering to say 'the engines can't take much more.' Which seems to happen once per episode, so maybe the shields aren't so good after all."
Weapon design is an issue as well. Krauss has a problem with Star Trek's relatively small, coffin-size photon torpedoes. He says this isn't realistic, given that producing and storing antimatter both require huge amounts of energy. "Right now, it would cost many thousands of times the gross national product of the U.S. to produce enough antimatter to light up a light bulb. Also, you would have to confine it magnetically, otherwise it would annihilate with the walls of the container. This is also very energy intensive."
Landis recognizes the challenges, though he points out that since you'd only need a tiny bit of antimatter to create an effective weapon, a photon torpedo could theoretically be smaller a nuke.
"If you need, say, a 100-kilogram superconducting magnet to create the fields needed to suspend a 1-gram sphere of antihydrogen, your photon torpedo's going to be a little bigger than a beach ball."
One thing the two scientists agree on is who would win in a ship-to-ship battle between the Galacticaand the Enterprise. Landis says, "Overall, I still think I'd bet on the Enterprise. If nothing else works, you can count on Captain Kirk to do something illogical to save the day!"
Krauss concludes simply: "Enterprise — it always wins."
Shatner Beats the Poetry Out of Palin’s Weird Farewell
As Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin stepped down from her post Sunday, she delivered one of the strangest resignation speeches on record. It was left to Star Trek legend William Shatner to decode its poetic mystery, with the help of bongos and a stand-up bass. Shatner delivered his beatific rendition of the Republican presidential hopeful’s buh-bye on The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien Monday night. “He just hangs out backstage,” O’Brien quipped after Shatner left the stage and the thunderous applause died down. “He’s there whenever we need him.” Too bad the original Captain Kirk wasn’t there for J.J. Abrams’ lighthearted Star Trek reboot. After all, Shatner has one of the lightest hearts around, and it weighs even less in zero gravity. http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/07/shatner-beats-the-poetry-out-of-palins-weird-farewell/
Star Trek's Sulu beams over to Franklin Institute
.jpg)
Quinto: Star Trek XII Screenwriting Process Happening
As reported by Newsarama, although the script isn't finished for Star Trek XII, the process of screenwriting for the sequel is under way.
"It's definitely happening," said Zachary Quinto. "I know that Bob [Orci] and Alex [Kurtzman] andDamon [Lindelof] and J.J. [Abrams] have been working and talking and developing stories. I don't think there's a script yet. I know there's not a script yet. But they're working on it and they're talking about it."
Although working on other projects, Quinto and the rest of the cast will be ready when the call comes to shoot Star Trek XII. "I know when the time is right and everything falls into the place, the crew shall reassemble for the missions," said Quinto. "But until then, we're all exploring different landscapes and figuring out the best way for us to go creatively as individuals."
