BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND TWITTER BACKGROUNDS

Monday, May 31, 2010

Early Summer Trek Conventions And Shows

There will be seven conventions or shows in June and July that feature Trek actors.

In June, The Wizard World Philadelphia Comic-Con, TREKFEST XXVI, Trek Expo and Creation Entertainment’s Official Star Trek Convention will take place. July conventions include Shore Leave 32, held in Hunt Valley, Maryland, Super Mega Show & Comic Fest in New Jersey, and the London Film & Comic Con, which will be held in London, England.

This listing of conventions and shows feature Star Trek actors from all five televised series, and the Star Trek movies, including guest actors from Star Trek IV: The Voyager Home and Star Trek XI.

June:

The Wizard World Philadelphia Comic-Con, held from June 11-13 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, will have several Star Trek actors in attendance, including: Patrick Stewart, William Shatner, Walter Koenig, Brent Spiner, John de Lancie, Avery Brooks and Cirroc Lofton.

TREKFEST XXVI will be held in Riverside, Iowa on June 25-26. Guests include Walter Koenig and Barbara Luna (original series Mirror, Mirror: Marlena Moreau).

Trek Expo will be held June 25-27 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and will celebrate its twenty-first anniversary. Trek guests include: William Shatner, Michael Dorn, Robert O’Reilly (Gowron), J.G. Hertzler (Martok), Garret Wang (who will be Master of Ceremonies), Sally Kellerman and Gary Lockwood (Dr. Elizabeth Dehner and Gary Mitchell from Where No Man Has Gone Before).

The Creation Entertainment Official Star Trek Convention will also be held on June 25-27, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There are plenty of Trek actors appearing, including: Connor Trinneer, Max Grodenchik, Armin Shimerman, Vaughn Armstrong, Jeffrey Combs, Casey Biggs, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Chase Masterson, Barbara March (Lursa), Gwynyth Walsh (B’Etor), and Jacob Kogan (Young Spock from Star Trek XI).

July:

July starts off with Shore Leave 32, which will be held in Hunt Valley, Maryland from July 9-11. Catherine Hicks (Star Trek IV : The Voyage Home’s Gillian) and Dominic Keating (Malcolm Reed on Star Trek: Enterprise) will be the Trek guests.

Shore Leave features guest Q&A and autograph sessions, live performances, a Saturday night dance party, gaming tournaments, a costume contest, an art show and auction, a “Meet the Pros” party with a large number of noted Star Trek authors, children’s activities, workshops, photo opportunities, memorabilia rooms, science presentations, fan panel discussions, and video presentations of new and classic genre entertainment, including the latest fan film productions sweeping the web.

Trek authors in attendance at Shore Leave include: Ann C. Crispin, Christopher L. Bennett, Dave Galanter, David Mack, Dayton Ward, Gerri Leen, Glen Hauman, Greg Cox, Howard Weinstein, Ilsa J. Blick, Keith DeCandido, Kevin Dilmore, Lawrence M. Schoen, Lorraine Anderson, Marco Palmieri, Michael Jan Friedman, Peter A. David, Richard C. White, Rigel Ailur, Robert Greenberger, Scott Pearson and Terri Osborne.

The Super Mega Show & Comic Fest, to be held July 9-11 in East Fairfield, N.J. will have Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Marina Sirtis as a guest.

Finally, Star Trek fans in the U.K. can see several Trek actors at the London Film & Comic Con, to be held July 17-18 in London. In attendance will be: Andrew Robinson (Garak), William Shatner and Jonathan Frakes.


http://www.trektoday.com/content/2010/05/early-summer-trek-conventions-and-shows/

Star Trek Auctions For June

Star Trek fans looking to pick up some authentic Star Trek memorabilia will have two chances to do so in June.

First up, is the Profiles in History Hollywood Auction #40, or “Star Trek: The Auction.” This auction will be held on June 12, in Calabasas Hills, California.

There will be almost three hundred Star Trek lots offered at the auction, with a large percentage being hand props and/or weapons. Fans can bid on items such as uniforms, scripts, tricorders, buttons from the Bridge of the USS Enterprise (original series), a Vulcan ear worn by Zachary Quinto on Star Trek XI and even on a Balok puppet head (The Corbomite Maneuver).

A catalog for the auction can be found here. fans who can’t attend in person can also bid by sending in a form with their bids, or they can bid by telephone.

* * *

Another Star Trek auction, Julien’s Auctions Summer Entertainment Sale, to be held on Sunday, June 27, reported earlier by TrekToday will include Star Trek items from the Roddenberry estate, as well as items, including a motorcycle, donated by William Shatner.

http://www.trektoday.com/content/2010/05/star-trek-auctions-for-june/


Star Trek -- The Exhibition

Red shirts beware: Star Trek -- The Exhibition is in town.


For those who don't know, "red shirt" is the loving term given to unfortunate Starfleet members of the famed "Star Trek" television show who are unlucky enough to beam down to planets with Spock and Kirk, and who are usually killed very, very quickly.

The exhibit, a traveling show designed to preserve antique props and sets from the show and its movies, including the 2009 J.J. Abrams film, has come to the McClellan Business Park's Aerospace Museum. It opened Friday and will run through Jan. 5.

The museum, which houses aeronautic paraphernalia, is now full of "Star Trek" sets, costumes, props and many other facets of the successful show's more than 40-year career.

“You feel like you’re in a 'Star Trek,' ” says Roxanne Yonn, executive director of the museum. “You go in there and you’re in a different world.”

It sure looks different. Members of various clubs dedicated to preserving and personifying "Star Trek’s" various cultures are on hand, including some from local Klingon Assault Group (KAG) IKV nom HegH, Klingon for "swift death." KAG members will volunteer throughout the exhibit's seven-month run.

Many people at the exhibit were impressed with the sheer size of the collection, and said seeing it in person was far better than seeing it on a screen.

“I never realized the extent of all the different uniforms and the weapons,” says museum volunteer Larry Mowrey, 68. “When you’re watching it, it’s different. You’re just watching a movie or the show, but when you see this stuff live, it's really, truly amazing. I just love it.”

The intricacy of the individual models also turned heads, including original tricorders and ‘borg’ weapons from the show.

"I didn't expect them to have such serious props," said Ken Hartley, 38, a self-described Trekkie. "Even if it's a replica, it's very accurate."

Fans enter an impressive area about three-quarters of the way through the exhibit, a corridor that details the chronology of the shows' and movies’ universe.

“It told the story, and it showed it, too,” said Matt Lidham, 15. “It wasn’t just a timeline. It was, ‘Here’s a timeline. watch it.’ ”

The exhibit also features multiple placards that depict physicist Albert Einstein discussing the show’s many uses of science and theory in application. The show’s mystique is seen in the story of the inventor of the cell phone getting the idea from "Star Trek’s" communication devices.

“It was all fantasy, but there were some young engineers or students who saw that and said, ‘We need to make that,’ ” said Yonn. “So the students that come through here, what will they be inspired to do?”

The Aerospace Museum of Sacramento is at 3200 Freedom Park Drive in the McClellan Business Park. For more information, visit www.aerospacemuseumofcalifornia.org/star-trek-the-exhibition.html.

1. Model of the U.S.S. Enterprise, courtesy of Maxwell McKee

2. Model of the Borg Sphere, courtesy of Maxwell McKee

3. Mannequins with Kirk and Spock costumes, courtesy of Maxwell McKee

4. Girl playing with bridge controls, courtesy of Maxwell McKee

5. Jean-Luc Picard's Room, courtesy of Kati Garner

6. Hall of the history of Star Trek, courtesy of Kati Garner

http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/28550/Star_Trek_The_Exhibition


Genki Wear to release new Star Trek Fragrance – Shirtless Kirk


From the folks that brought you a new line of Star Trek Fragrances last spring comes a brand new cologne for those Star Trek geeks that want to smell like a topless starship captain. From Genki Wear comes a bold new scent called Shirtless Kirk Cologne and it is the fourth in a line of fragrances honoring the adventures of the original Star Trek TV series of days gone by.

Shirtless Kirk Cologne is described by Genki Wear as an evening fragrance with the amusing tagline, “Set Phasers to Stunning.” This cologne was designed with an aromatic blend of Rosemary, Elemi, Orange Wood, Nasturtium, Ginger, Palmarosa, May Rose, Mosses, Pepper, Sandalwood and Ambrette scents, but the best part is the description of the cologne that comes from wording on the package:

Sometimes the only thing standing between you and a successful mission is a thin piece of cloth. Whether in battle or love, you know the shirt is simply… optional.

Sure, it’s part of the Required Uniform–made to command respect and a symbol of strength and honor; but it’s your flesh and blood barely contained within that command gold officer’s attire that make you exactly who and what you are.

Not ready for market just yet, Shirtless Kirk Cologne is available for pre-order at the cost of only $29.99 from Genki Wear and other retailers. We are also hearing that Genki Wear plans to release more Star Trek Fragrances later this year. Well if that is true and Genki is listening, let me offer a suggestion for their next new cologne.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Oscar-winner Rachel Weisz Wants In On Star Trek Sequel

The film isn’t yet in pre-production, but there is already a big name actress who wants in on the Star Trek sequel. In an interview promoting her new film, Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz (Constant Gardener, The Mummy 1 & 2) expressed her love JJ Abrams 2009 Star Trek movie and her desire to appear in the next Trek.

Weisz wants to Trek

In an interview with Collider promoting the Roman historical drama Agora, the subject moved on to if the actress would be interested in returning to the world of big effects movies, and she had one in mind. Here is an excerpt:

Weisz: Yeah. You know what? I loved Star Trek. I mean, I couldn’t even believe how great, I meant to write (Star Trek director) J.J. Abrams a letter. I haven’t written it yet, though. I just thought- Didn’t you think it was tremendous? … And I’m not a Trekkie. I mean, (Weisz’s longtime fiancĂ©) Darren (Aronofsky) took me thinking, he says, “You’re gonna hate this.” Cause I didn’t grow up watching Star Trek. I mean, I, Dr. Spock, I mean, I vaguely know. But, I loved it. I absolutely—I thought the acting was just phenomenal. Really, really great. So, yeah! No, I’m totally open to doing a big, big blockbuster.

What about the sequel? is Weisz interested, the answer is yes:

Weisz: Me? I would LOVE to be in the Star Trek sequel! Yeah! I would love to! I better write that letter to J.J. ….I was really, wildly impressed by that. I thought it was an incredible piece of work. Yeah. It just had such a freshness and the acting was, the acting blew me away.

In the run up to the Star Trek movie a number of actors actively perused roles in the film, including Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban. Surely the Abrams team can find use for an Oscar-winning actress, who looks good in a catsuit (see below).

Go to Collider for more from Weisz and to listen to the audio.


Rachel Weisz wants to be in the Trek sequel – if they bring in the Borg, this photo shows she is ready


http://trekmovie.com/2010/05/29/oscar-winner-rachel-weisz-wants-in-on-star-trek-sequel/

Leonard Nimoy: 'Why I’m calling it day'

After 60 years in the business, Star Trek legend Leonard Nimoy takes his final bow in next week’s Fringe on Sky1...

You have announced Fringe is your last acting job and you are going to retire – why?
“I’ve been at this for 60 years – my first professional work was in 1950 – and 60 years is long enough. I had decided not to do any more acting or directing several years ago then I was called back to work to do the Star Trek movie.”

So why did you decide to do Fringe?
“I had a wonderful time working on the new Star Trek movie with JJ Abrams and when it was done he asked me to play William Bell on Fringe. He had done a great job on Star Trek and I felt like I owed him the return of a favour. I’m glad I did it.”

What was your last day on set like?
“Very moving. It was a night scene with Anna Torv, who plays Olivia. When it was done the entire company gathered around and I said to them: ‘I have been at this 60 years and I have never met with a better company.' It feels really good to know I am saying goodbye to the work on such a positive note."

So should Olivia trust William Bell?
“He keeps telling Olivia she should trust him and she has no choice really, but we have no idea what his intentions are. The ambiguity is the charm of the character. And we will find out the answers.”

Is there a showdown between William Bell and Walter?
“There are very strong scenes between William and Walter that are at the heart of the episode. It was a very great pleasure for me to do those scenes with John Noble – I call him Noble John.”

Will you be in the next Star Trek movie?
“Let me be definitive - I will not be in it. I have said it is time to get off the stage and make room for Zachary Quinto, who is a wonderful actor. He looks a lot like me and I am flattered that the character will be continued by an actor of that calibre. I have no expectations whatsoever of even being asked to be in the next Star Trek film.”

How has science fiction changed since you started out?
“My first science fiction was a series of short films called Zombies Of The Stratosphere in which three of us came from Mars, landed on Earth and stole a pick up truck and a couple of revolvers and announced we were going to take over earth and knock it out of its orbit. It was a very simplistic fantastic notion. What we are dealing with today is much more nuanced and sophisticated. The writers are doing fascinating work and the production values are much more complex and sophisticated because of the advancement in the technology.”

How do you look back on your career?
“I am one very grateful guy. I’ve worked on locations all around the world with some great great talents. The character of Mr Spock has been a great blessing to me because I have found him a very dignified and inspiring character for a lot of people.”
http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/us-series/fringe-2/interviews/leonard-nimoy-why-im-calling-it-day/9150

Simon in the dark about Star Trek 2

Simon Pegg has admitted he's not sure about what's happening with the highly anticipated Star Trek sequel.

The British comedian played Scotty in JJ Abrams reboot of the sci-fi franchise in 2009, and has signed on for the follow-up, which is scheduled for release in 2012.

"Hell yeah! Of course, I'm Scotty - but I don't know yet, [we'll start] probably end of the year or beginning of the next," he said on the red carpet at the National Movie Awards.

Simon - who presented Ron Livingston with the gong for Breakthrough Movie at the ceremony - said it has been a good year for filmmaking, despite the economic crisis.

"There have been a lot of big movies, there have been a lot of smaller indie films that have done really well. The film industry persists, despite everything," he continued.

"We got a bit of a knock with the financial crisis - it's always tough to make films here in the UK because there's no central funding body but we've got the council, we've got the lottery and a lot of people who want to invest so hopefully we'll keep making films."


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hvfoGpvpSZOjXWEoO2oL4GTJ2iXQ

William Shatner’s next frontier: radio

William Shatner is headed back to television with a new comedy pilot for CBS, and he's also busy in the world of comics with his assorted projects for Bluewater Productions. The 79-year-old icon is also coming off of the great success of the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, a fundraiser that since 1990 has bridged the world of celebrity and saddle culture to raise money for children in need.We sat down with Shatner at the recent Anaheim Comic-Con to talk about the Starfleet universe, his unexpected interest in reviving radio drama, and his insights into the difficult life decisions of an actor.

Q: You've had such an interesting ride through pop culture, going all the way back to the 1960s, but in recent years, with the role of Denny Crane on Boston Legal and The Practice, there was a new level of acclaim from your peers. They awarded you the first Emmy of your career in 2004, and two of those trophies are on the shelf at home. What do you think about now when you reflect on your odyssey as an actor?

A: I wish I knew the truths or the verities of acting or performing. I wish I knew, really. Nobody knows. What is not talked about often are the intricacies of the decision of staying in acting over the years when it's a game for the young and the beautiful. When you're young and beautiful and talented, you have a real shot. When you're a little bit older and you're not as beautiful and the next beauty is coming up, more often than not you're starting to see the end of your career. What do you do with the rest of your life? When do you make the decision: Should I try something else, or do I hang on and hope for the best? It's a critical, life-changing decision, and it has to be made clear-eyed and not with an emotional point of view. And that's difficult because you're already emotional.

Q: There will be another Star Trek film coming from J.J. Abrams and his team, and I'm wondering what you thought of the first. For me, I loved the spirit of the movie . . .

A: I agree with you. That's my opinion too. It was a wonderful ride. I think J.J. Abrams did a wonderful job in enlarging the franchise and constructing a foundation for the sequel. I don't know anything about that sequel. I didn't know anything about the first one. I know even less about the second one. I know less than nothing about the sequel, if that's possible.

Q: "Less than nothing," I like that. I might make that the title of my autobiography. You always have a range of endeavors under way, both in entertainment and beyond. What are you most excited about right now?

A: Well, as you know, I've got a series of comic books, four all together—one is out there already, Tek War, and another is coming out now, and two more coming within the year. So I've really entered the comic book world, but for me the next thing is my plan to make them in radio shows.

Q: Oh, that's interesting. The theatre of the mind—such a rich tradition.

A: Yes, that's it, exactly. And it will have brought Tek War from novels to television to movies and to comic books and, hopefully, to radio.

Q: You have stage in your background, audio books and animation voice work too. With all that considered, I can see why radio would be alluring.

A: Yes, it is. And I've done radio before, as well. It's a foreign vehicle now. These days, it's hard to find people who can even write for radio. They've all disappeared. The production of a radio show is a challenge, too. You've got to find sound people for all the effects, for instance, and that's almost a lost art. A whole tradition has been lost. We're barely able to recapture some of it, but that is exactly what I'd like to do. It's all very early on. I've got to sell the idea. This piece you're writing might be helpful.

Q: You also have a new network television project . . .

A: Yes, there's a new pilot that I did that's based on the Twitter (site) that this son did about his father. . . . We're calling it $#*! My Dad Says, and that's a whole new concept in that somebody twitters a statement and it gathers an electronic audience of 2 million people, and as a result a network and a studio make a pilot. It's a whole new world that we're all barely getting into.

Q: If you look back on Star Trek with the television shows, the animated series, the feature films, the conventions, the novels—you guys were multi-platform in a very interesting way for four decades now.

A: Across the platforms, you have a unity, which is acting truth: storytelling. The technological means by which you tell that story change, but if you can follow that, then you can stay abreast of what's happening.

Q: You've been coming to these conventions for years, and though so much has changed in your own life, I imagine the conversations and contacts you have in these settings don't change much.

A: You're exactly right. They've come here to say hello to me and for me to say hello to them. It's fan communication. It's Twitter in person.

Q: Have you had any especially quirky encounters here today? I saw some of the Star Trek faithful outside in their costumes. ...

A: Well, I just got here, I just walked in. I was at MIP, the convention in France where television shows are bought and sold. And with (the) volcano and everything, it was difficult to get out. I felt like I was on the last flight out of Vietnam. I got out of Charles DeGaulle Airport and two hours later it was closed and the planes were grounded.

Q: Well, as James T. Kirk you were no stranger to close calls. You practically invented them.

A: Hah! The way I look at it, my whole career has been a close call.


http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/article/815179--william-shatner-s-next-frontier-radio

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Trek Composer McCarthy To Receive ASCAP Award

Dennis McCarthy, known to Star Trek fans for his musical composition work on Star Trek dating back to 1987, will be honored with the ASCAP Golden Note Award this summer.

McCarthy, whose association with Star Trek began with Star Trek: The Next Generation, also composed music for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise, for a total of almost two hundred and sixty episodes. McCarthy also composed music for 1994’s Star Trek: Generations.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of our Film & Television Music Awards, we are especially proud to spotlight the achievement … [of] Dennis McCarthy,” said ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams. “Dennis has composed scores for beloved TV series and films for over three decades, and he is still at the top of his craft. His music for Star Trek has earned him industry accolades and captured the hearts of multiple generations of Trekkies. We are proud to give the Golden Note Award to Dennis in recognition of his long and illustrious career.”

According to the ASCAP website, “The ASCAP Golden Note Award is presented to songwriters, composers, and artists who have achieved extraordinary career milestones. Past recipients include Mark Snow, Andre Previn, Garth Brooks, JosĂ© Feliciano, Alan Jackson, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Jay-Z, Tom Petty, and Stevie Wonder.”

McCarthy will receive his award on June 24 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, at the 25th Annual ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards.

http://www.trektoday.com/content/2010/05/trek-composer-mccarthy-to-receive-ascap-award/


Atari full year financial results: Losses reduced thanks to Star Trek Online, Champions Online

Atari recently announced its financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31st, posting a reduced full-year loss of $23.8 million (19.4 million euros) compared to the previous fiscal year (loss of $272.4 million, or 221.9 million euros), with considerable drops in revenue, falling 15.2 percent year-over-year.

Revenues for the second half of the year fell even more sharply, down 42.4 percent, although this period also saw Atari return a profit to the tune of $4.7 million (3.8 million euros) – a vast improvement over the same period during the last fiscal year when the company recorded a loss of $210.3 million (171.3 million euro).

This performance in the second half of the fiscal year is a positive turning point for Atari, which will look to capitalise on the growth afforded to it by the profitable market performance of its latest range of titles, including Star Trek Online, Champions Online, Ghostbusters: The Video Game and Backyard Football 2010.

The success of Star Trek Online and Champions Online in particular meant that revenue generated by online games accounted for 23 percent of the Atari’s total during the second half of the fiscal year, compared to 2 percent during the same period in the previous fiscal year, with online subscription and digital distribution revenue rising to $13.3 million (10.8 million euros) during this period.

Atari CEO Jeff Lapin commented on the company’s results:

“Market conditions continue to change rapidly, and we are constantly adapting by continuing to build our online focused strategy. Our brands are well suited for extension into the fast growing online gaming sector. I am proud of the team we have assembled, and we will continue to focus on achieving profitability.”


http://www.el33tonline.com/past/2010/5/26/atari_full_year_financial_results/

Will Star Trek-style beam-up become reality from sci-fi?

Hong Kong: hinese scientists have pushed the frontiers of science by breaking the record for “quantum teleportation”, the applied physics technology that, in the science fiction writer’s imagination, allowed Star Trek’s captain Kirk to be “beamed up” to his spaceship.


A team of scientists at the University of Science and Technology of China and the premier Tsinghua University in Beijing successfully streamed quantum information between photons over 16 km, much farther than the earlier record of a few hundred meters, the researchers claimed in their report, published last week.

Although peer scientists state emphatically that a Star Trek-inspired teleportation of objects and persons remains firmly in the realm of fantasy, they acknowledge the significance of the latest development as a “giant leap” in quantum teleportation. The same technology, when perfected, could be applied, for instance, in devising encryption methods that are hack-proof, in electronic voting, and in failsafe electronic banking.

The fact that the quantum information between photons was teleported over a distance of 16 km, which is greater than the effective ‘thickness’ of the aerosphere, means that the results could be invoked to facilitate experiments between, for instance, a ground station and a satellite.

In their report on the findings of the project, supervised by Peng Cheng-Zhi and Pan Jian-Wei, the scientists said, “Our result confirms the feasibility of space-based experiments, and is an important step towards quantum-communication applications on a global scale.”

Although it’s called “quantum teleportation”, scientists say there is no physical teleportation of any object: what happens, instead, is that two photons or ions are ‘entangled’ — that is, connected by an invisible ‘umbilical cord’ — in such a way that when the quantum state of one is altered, the state of the other (which is physically separate) is also altered.

Thus, information is “teleported” between the two without using signals or networks.

In earlier experiments, the photons were made to travel in ‘fibre channels’ to preserve their state, but the Chinese scientists said they “maximally entangled” two photons and sent the one with higher energy through a 16-km-long ‘free space channel’.
The teleportation site was located at Badaling, familiar to most tourists to Beijing as one of the sites to access the Great Wall of China; the receiver was sighted at Huailai in nearby Hebei province. “The straight-line distance between the two stations is about 16km,” the scientists said.

Although excitingly path-breaking, the experiment is still to be perfected: the average fidelity of the teleportation achieved was 89%; that was well above the classical limit of 66% achieved hitherto, but is still short of the 100% fidelity that scientists require.

Quantum teleportation was first postulated in 1993 by Charles Bennet, an IBM researcher. But it was “brought to life’ by Nicolas Gisin, at the University of Geneva, who demonstrated teleportation. The unearthly application potential of this technology —as envisioned by science fiction fantasists — has led it to be branded a kind of ‘voodoo’ experiment — or an optical illusion worthy of PC Sorcar.

Even noted scientist Albert Einsten remained sceptical of quantum entanglement, calling it “remote-controlled spooky action”.

Today, however, a quiver of excitement runs through the entire scientific community — as if they were all “maximally entangled” photons being subjected to a “quantum teleportation” experiment worthy of a space-age fantasy and who can’t wait to be “beamed up” into the future.


http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_will-star-trek-style-beam-up-become-reality-from-sci-fi_1388277

Star Trek Magazine Now Available in Digital Format


The new issue of Star Trek Magazine is available to read in full on PC, Mac or iPad at Zinio.com, the world's largest digital newsstand and home to a library of over 50,000 magazines.

The digital edition represents a first in the history of the official licensed guide to the greatest space saga of them all, which until now has only been available in print format from newsstands and comic book stores.

Zinio offers an exciting alternative to the print edition and a high quality digital reading experience. Using specially developed technology, the Zinio reader allows you to zoom, interact, and share with friends. The content you like is available anytime, anywhere and on any device.

The latest issue of Star Trek Magazine shines the spotlight on the saga's 11 cinematic odysseys, presenting a one-stop guide to the voyages of the U.S.S. Enterprise on the big screen. The magazine also features an interview with British actor David Warner, who appeared in three of the movies, the first of a two-part feature about the stories told between the movies in comic book form, an analysis of the development of the Romulans on screen and in other media, and much more.

You can preview the digital version of the current issue at the Zinio website by clicking on the following link:
http://bit.ly/b3532K

A subscription to the digital version of Star Trek Magazine typically saves readers 35% off the newsstand price. In the United States, the subscription price is $39.99 (compared to a cover price of $61.92), and in the United Kingdom it is £26.14 (compared to £40.48).

http://trekweb.com/stories.php?aid=4bfdbb95e8b16

Monday, May 24, 2010

JJ Abrams interview for Star Trek & The LOST Finale

The Star Trek crew beams into Microsoft offices

To boldly go where no man has gone before…And occasionally beam into Microsoft. Microsoft has an amazing Star Trek sculpture in the lobby of their Studio D office, that continually gives the appearance that Kirk, Spock and the rest are materializing. How cool is that?

The illusion is simple. Beads.The installation was inspired by the classic 1967 episode “Mirror, Mirror,” and was created by Devorah Sperber, an artist known for creating illusions using unconventional materials. This artwork is made up of spools, chenille stems, and semi-translucent beads.

Though Apple fans would say that the crew is beaming UP rather than DOWN, having found no intelligent life.


http://www.slipperybrick.com/2010/05/the-star-trek-crew-beams-into-microsoft-offices/

Star Trek Live 2010 Schedule

Star Trek Live, a stage show in which audience members can participate, will be traveling around the country after it makes its debut at Kennedy Space Center on May 31.

As reported at TrekToday last month, Star Trek Live “melds special effects, space technology and audience interaction in a half-hour production from CBS Consumer Products and Mad Science Productions.”

One version of Star Trek Live will run from May 31 through September 6 at the Kennedy Space Center.

The schedule for the traveling show is as follows:

June 11-July 5
San Diego County Fair
San Diego, CA
www.sdfair.com

August 20-29
Western Idaho State Fair
Boise, ID
www.idahofair.com

Harper College
Palatine, Illinois
www.harpercollege.edu

July 19-25
Dollywood Theme Park
Pigeon Forge, TN
www.dollywood.com

August 4-8
Queen City Ex
Regina, Saskatchewan
www.thequeencityex.com

August 10-15
Prairieland Park
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
www.saskatoonex.com

Thursday, October 07
Clay Center for the Arts
Charleston, WV
www.theclaycenter.org

Tuesday, October 12
Paramount Theatre
Charlottesville, VA
www.theparamount.net

Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wilkes Community College
Wilksboro, NC
www.wilkescc.edu

Friday, October 15, 2010
Hardin County Performing Arts Center
Elizabethtown, KY
www.thepac.net

October 16-17, 2010
Victoria Theatre
Dayton, OH
www.victoriatheatre.com

Tuesday, October 19, 2010
RiverPark Center
Owensboro, KY
www.riverparkcenter.org

October 21-22, 2010
Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center
Huntingdon, TN
www.dixiepac.net

October 24-25, 2010
University of Alabama – Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center
Birmingham, AL
www.alysstephens.uab.edu

Thursday, October 28, 2010
Bowlus Fine Arts & Cultural Center
Lola, KS
www.bowluscenter.org

Saturday, October 30, 2010
Missouri Theatre
St. Joseph, MO
www.saintjosephperformingarts.org

Monday, November 01, 2010
Vilar Center Arts Foundation
Beaver Creek, CO
www.vilarpac.org

Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Alberta Bair Theatre
Billings, MT
www.albertabairtheater.org

Thursday, November 04, 2010
WYO Theatre
Sheridan, WY
www.wyotheater.com

Monday, November 08, 2010
Ross Ragland Theatre
Klamath Falls, OR
www.rrtheater.org

Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Laxson Theatre
Chico, CA
www.chicoperformances.com

Friday, November 12, 2010
Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
Santa Rose, CA
www.wellsfargocenterarts.org

Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Broadway Center
Tacoma, WA
www.broadwaycenter.org

http://www.trektoday.com/content/2010/05/star-trek-live-2010-schedule/


Saturday, May 22, 2010

IDW August Star Trek Comics

IDW Publishing has posted the details and covers of three Star Trek comics that are due out this August.

The comics are: Star Trek Movie Adaptation #6, Star Trek: Burden of Knowledge #3, and the Star Trek Omnibus: The Original Series.

In Star Trek Movie Adaptation #6, “the official comics adaptation of the blockbuster film Star Trek comes to an epic conclusion in this mini-series. Kirk, Spock and the crew of the Enterprise fight to save Earth from Vulcan’s fate! Brought to you by the creative team behind the best-selling Star Trek: Countdown, this series includes scenes not included in the original film!”

Star Trek Movie Adaptation #6 was written by Alex Kurtzman, Robert Orci, Mike Johnson and Tim Jones, with art and cover by David Messina.

In Star Trek: Burden of Knowledge #3, “when the Enterprise arrives too late to save another starship in distress, all evidence of guilt points to a shocking source: a fellow Federation member! Can Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock prevent all-out war with the Tellarites? From the creative team behind Spock: Reflections.”

Star Trek: Burden of Knowledge #3 was written by Scott and David Tipton, with art by Frederica Manfredi and cover by Joe Corroney.

The final August comic will be Star Trek Omnibus: The Original Series. In Star Trek Omnibus: The Original Series, readers can “blast off with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise on fantastic voyages through exciting worlds in this collection of original series- era Star Trek comics. Collects Star Trek series Year Four, Enterprise Experiment, Klingons: Blood Will Tell, and The Original Series Alien Spotlights.”

Star Trek Omnibus: The Original Series was written by David Tischman, Scott Tipton, DC Fontana, Derrick Chester, and more. Art is by David Messina, Gordon Purcell, Steve Conley, Leonard O’Grady, Sharp Bros., and more. The cover was done by Sharp Bros.


http://www.trektoday.com/content/2010/05/idw-august-star-trek-comics/

Star Trek Online Future Plans

Cryptic's latest state of the game address by executive producer Craig Zinkievich looks back at some of the features that have been added to the game since launch and also what gamers can expect from the MMO the future Season 3 updates.

Cryptic will be looking for feedback on future factions for the game, asking what faction players want to see first including Romulan, Cardassian or Borg. There is also mention that they are looking at adding user generated content to the MMO or even a persistent sector PvP game or 'Against Fleet Starbases'.

Crytpic plan on running a series of polls over the coming weeks to find out what players really want to see in the next season update so watch out for those.


http://www.incgamers.com/News/22839/star-trek-online-future-plans

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

CBS Consumer Products Expands Star Trek Universe with New Publishing Partners

CBS Consumer Products is collaborating with a variety of top publishing partners to bring multiple Star Trek novels and manuals to retailers everywhere throughout 2010 and 2011. Exciting new publications from Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, Abrams Books and Haynes Publishing will be introduced as CBS Consumer Products continues its efforts to ensure that fans are able to extend their experiences with the popular franchise. The new titles include a new young adult series of paperbacks focusing on Starfleet Academy and a novel based on the Star Trek Online game that launched earlier this year.

"There are always more stories to be told in the Star Trek saga," said Liz Kalodner, Executive Vice President and General Manager of CBS Consumer Products. "Books have accompanied the Star Trek series since the very beginning in 1968, and these new Star Trek publishing projects will give fans and newcomers alike a new way to explore and indulge in their favorite universe."

Descriptions of the current and upcoming publishing titles for 2010 and 2011 are as follows:

The Needs of Many (Pocket Books - March 2010) .
This paperback novel written by Michael A. Martin and Jake Sisko is based on Star Trek Online, the multiplayer online role-playing game that launched this past February.

Star Trek 365 (Abrams Books - September 2010)
Written by Paula Block with Terry Erdmann, this hardcover release is a part of the "365 Days" series and is a visual celebration of the original voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Star Trek 365 covers the entire series in unprecedented detail, combining in-depth commentary, behind-the-scenes histories and interviews with writers, cast and crew with synopses for each of the original series' 79 episodes, accompanied by hundreds of photographs.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Simon & Schuster - Fall 2010)
Set in 2250, six months after James Kirk joined Starfleet Academy, this young adult series will delve into the lives and relationships of Kirk and the other recruits at the Academy including their training, their missions and their romances. The series will be available in paperback, hardcover and e-book. $14.99 Hardcovers and $7.99 ebooks.

Haynes Enterprise Manual (Haynes Publishing - Fall 2010)
This ultimate guide to the Enterprise applies Haynes' famous 'step-by-step' approach -- used in their well-known car and motorcycle manuals -- and strips the iconic ship down to its essentials, reassembling it with detailed illustrations.

#####

About CBS Consumer Products
CBS Consumer Products manages worldwide licensing and merchandising for a diverse slate of television brands and series from CBS, CBS Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution, as well as from the company's extensive library of titles, and CBS films. Additionally, the group oversees the CBS Retail Store and online sales of programming merchandise. For more information, visit www.cbsconsumerproducts.com.

http://trekweb.com/stories.php?aid=4bf3041265f48


Leonard Nimoy grateful for the opportunities his 60-year career has given him

Having lived long and prospered, former Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy takes one final bow with a guest appearance on Fox’s "Fringe” on Thursday night

Monday, May 17, 2010

Fan Film Review : Star Trek Phoenix

Reviewed for TheLogBook.com by Earl Green

Stardate 99336.20: In the early 25th century, after the destruction of Romulus destabilizes the political landscape of the Alpha Quadrant, Starfleet steps up to the plate by beefing up its technology and weaponry, and by sending the U.S.S. Phoenix on its maiden voyage as a "state ship" sporting a full diplomatic corps on board. But a recent surprise attack has left the Phoenix the worse for wear: the bridge has sustained so much damage that it won't be functional again for a month. Stuck running the ship from engineering, Captain Avari is not a happy man. Having to endure the frequently short-sighted complaints of his ship's diplomatic - or, in Avari's estimation, bureaucratic - corps has only worsened his mood. A rescue team is dispatched to find the missing crew of a diplomatic shuttle on Ketrassii Prime, only to become trapped themselves by an enemy of unknown intent and stength (and the ability to sap power from their weapons and equipment). Captain Avari relishes the chance to get in on the action, leading the away team to recover the rescue team, but he soon discovers that the enemy they're facing is only too familiar.

Review: A fresh step forward in the Star Trek saga, Star Trek Phoenix is long overdue. While I'm a fan of the various "Kirk-era" productions, Phoenix has taken the direction that fan films have really needed to take for quite some time: forward - almost as far forward from TNG as TNG was from the original show. To be fair, Star Trek: Intrepid and the long-running fan series Star Trek: Hidden Frontier moved forward from Voyager and Nemesis as well, but by starting immediately after those two final entities in 24th-century Trek, they were beholden to some of their storytelling conventions as well. Phoenix makes a clean, decisive break from all of that, and aside from a bit of somewhat stilted introductory voice-over exposition giving some background to the Romulus situation, it doesn't get bogged down in the ongoing minutiae of the Star Trek universe. Like TNG's premiere, it assumes you've got the broad-stroke basics of Star Trek down - i.e. transporters, phasers, etc. - and begins doing its own thing.


This includes a whole new look. Phoenix shows off a new evolution of the Starfleet uniform aesthetic, with a leather-armored look indicating that the 25th century is a bit more dangerous than the 24th. Some of the color-coded conventions of previous Starfleet "looks" are still adhered to, with some intersting new variations, including purple for command personnel. The uniforms are very detailed, and stand up well to the scrutiny of the HD shooting and production used here. Interstingly, the Phoenix bridge is not seen at all, with the storyline offering an escape hatch for that omission by announcing that the bridge has suffered critical damage. The parts of the Phoenix that we do see are represented by both practical and virtual sets, but this time the compositing on the virtual sets is some of the cleanest I've ever seen in a fan production. Even the transporter effect has been reinvented, and it all works - nothing here breaks the Star Trek universe.


The Romulan renegades get a combination of looks that link more directly to the two most recent films in the franchise, with the same facial tattoo work worn by Nero in Star Trek, and high-collared garb which calls back to the outfit worn by Shinzon in Nemesis - someone's really done their homework here. Considerable thought has been put into the evolution of the look, right down to the odd yin-yang-style revision of the LCARS Okudagrams, which now float in the air. Also cool is the 3-D topographic display desk which lets the transporter operator point at where the away team will land.


The cast is mostly excellent, with only the faux-Brit ship's doctor and the main Romulan baddie even approaching being over-the-top; the doctor character isn't so much OTT, he just comes across as an old-school "average American's impression from PBS of how Britons sound and act" stereotype. That character will probably be fleshed out better in future installments, and as for the Romulan, it's not like Nero didn't chew any scenery in the 2009 movie. In any case, that's not a bad batting average for an amateur-produced pilot episode. The uneasy marriage of military, diplomatic and traditional Starfleet characters reminds me - in a good way - of Babylon 5 (with a nod toward Star Blazers as well), while the occasional detour into non-linear storytelling via flashbacks is a nice post-Lost update of the usual style of Trek storytelling.

The script was, surprisingly, written by a committee if the credits are anything to go by - and it turned out pretty well, showing that some lessons have been learned from the TV programming that's taken over the airwaves since Enterprise sailed off into deep space for the last time. (I could spend all day debating whether or not the actual Trek writing staff in Paramount's Hart building ever would've learned to adapt like this.)


My biggest gripe with Phoenix turns out to be this: the video formats for their downloads are all Apple-centric - iPod and Quicktime. Don't get me wrong, they look great, but I'm not a huge fan of either format. The show's site, by the way, is incredibly slick, with great visuals and cast/crew interviews, as if it were the PR site for an actual broadcast series... further blurring the line between user-generated content on the ‘net and Hollywood fare, and further sounding the slow, drawn-out death knell of the latter. I can't recommend Star Trek: Phoenix highly enough - here's hoping they don't keep me on the edge of my seat for months and months for the resolution to this cliffhanger.

http://trekweb.com/stories.php?aid=4bf0da0922a98

Leonard Nimoy on J.J. Abrams, William Shatner, Zachary Quinto and Star Trek XII

MovieWeb posted a new interview with Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy and here are excerpts.

You've talked recently about how you're going to be retiring from acting. After you had done Dr. Bell on Fringe, was there something that felt like there was a finality, like you had cleared what characters you wanted to play, or is it just a time and space that you just don't feel like acting is going to open any more experiences for you? Some thoughts on why this show is going to be your last?

Leonard Nimoy: It's really coincidental. It wasn't anything about the Fringe job or the character of William Bell that made me decide I didn't want to do this anymore. It's a coincidence. I've been at this for 60 years. My first professional work in film was in 1950. 60 years, I think, is long enough. I had decided not to do anymore acting and directing several years ago. I was called back to work to do the Star Trek movie, which was very attractive. I thought it was going to be a wonderful film. I read the script and a great handling of the Spock character and an introduction of wonderful new actor to play Spock. Then, J.J. Abrams who is the executive producer of Fringe asked me to do the William Bell character. I thought I owed him that. I'm very glad that I did it because it was an exciting project. It's just coincidental that I decided some time ago that I really didn't want to do this anymore. I just did this last job as a favor to J.J. Abrams. I'm glad I did it. I think we'll see an exciting episode next week. It's a very good note to go out on.


I just wanted to follow-up a little more on the announcement of your retirement, the finale for Fringe next week, and also - there were some lingering reports online that you might actually be in the next Star Trek film. Doesn't sound like that's going to happen, but any word on maybe whether or not your good friend, William Shatner, might be in the next film?

Leonard Nimoy: I have no idea about the next film regarding Bill Shatner. I'm quite sure - I think I can be definitive about the fact that I will not be in it. I have said that I think it's time for me to get off the stage and make some room for Zachary Quinto who is the new Spock and a wonderful actor, looks a lot like me. And I'm very flattered that the character will be continued by an actor of that caliber. He's very well trained and very talented. I have no expectations whatsoever even being asked to be in the next Star Trek film. I cannot speak for J.J. Abrams or William Shatner. If they have a common interest, I hope it works out.

Have you given any advice to hopefully help his career going the same way as yours did in 60 years time, or is there anything ... wished you'd have been told when you were his age?

Leonard Nimoy: When I was whose age?

When you were Zach's age. Is there anything you wish you would have been told when you-

Leonard Nimoy: Oh, Zachary Quinto? He's a wonderful actor. He's very well trained. When I began working, I was not as well trained as he. I had a lot to learn. He comes into the work already very well schooled and very well trained and ready to do the work. I had to learn as I worked. That's not the best way to go, but obviously, building up experience was helpful, but it would have been helpful to me if somebody had said, "Leonard, get back to school and stop worrying about finding a job. Go to school and study and take more classes." Eventually, I did. It worked out okay, but Zachary Quinto is in a different position than I was. He's finished with his schooling. He's a schooled and trained actor. He's ready to do wonderful work, which I think he will.

http://trekweb.com/stories.php?aid=4bf1e402bd3da

Star Trek Writer D.C. Fontana To Judge STARFLEET’s Creative Writing Contest; Star Trek Fan Club Sponsors Opportunity for Aspiring Authors

STARFLEET, the world’s oldest and largest continuously-active Star Trek fan organization, is honored to announce that the guest judge for the second annual STARFLEET Short Story Contest will be legendary writer Dorothy (“D.C.”) Fontana. To enter their work in the contest, authors must be members of STARFLEET, the International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc. and submit their stories before 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on June 1, 2010. All stories must be 7,500 words or less and take place within the fictional science fiction universe of Star Trek. For complete contest guidelines, please visit http://fiction.sfi.org.

North Hampton, NH (PRWEB) May 14, 2010 -- STARFLEET, the world’s oldest and largest continuously-active Star Trek fan organization, is honored to announce that the guest judge for the second annual STARFLEET Short Story Contest will be legendary writer Dorothy (“D.C.”) Fontana. Fontana was the author of scripts for the original Star Trek series including fan favorites “Journey to Babel” and “The Enterprise Incident”, as well as episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and a collection of Star Trek novels, comic books, and even video games.

Dorothy Fontana has been a writer since the age of 21, and beyond her contributions to the Star Trek legacy, Fontana has written for such acclaimed television series as Babylon 5, Streets of San Francisco, Dallas, Bonanza, The Waltons, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Logan’s Run. Fontana’s experience and credits extend beyond writing to roles as an associate producer, story editor, novel and video game script author, and comic book contributor. Fontana’s experience also extends to development of such practical projects as an interactive medical education game, which aligns well with the orientation of the STARFLEET organization toward education and self-improvement. (STARFLEET offers a number of academic scholarships each year to active members enrolled in colleges and universities.)

STARFLEET’s annual Short Story Contest affords aspiring writers an opportunity to have their work critiqued by an industry icon who is also a longstanding advocate of fan-written fiction. Fontana says that many excellent writers have gained professional recognition emerging from the ranks of fandom. “Study humanity and dream…” is her advice to up-and-coming authors. Fontana brings to bear her experience as a close associate of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, as well as her self-admitted critical analysis for character development and tight story structure.

To enter their work in the contest, authors must be members of STARFLEET, the International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc. and submit their stories before 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on June 1, 2010. All stories must be 7,500 words or less and take place within the fictional science fiction universe of Star Trek.

For complete contest guidelines, please visit http://fiction.sfi.org.

ABOUT STARFLEET STARFLEET, The International Star Trek Fan Association, Inc. is an organization of over 4,200 Star Trek™ and science fiction enthusiasts that have united the world of fandom in their appreciation of Star Trek™, the greatest human adventure. Founded in 1974, STARFLEET has operated continuously for 35 years, making it the oldest Star Trek™ fan association of its size in the world. This unique organization has over 235 chapters globally, linking members from one corner of the Earth to the other both in person and through the Internet. STARFLEET is made up of people of all ages and from all walks of life who have come together to make new friends, share an interest in Star Trek™, science fiction and space, and to serve their local communities.

For more information on STARFLEET, please visit www.sfi.org or call 1-888-SFI-TREK.

Press Contact: Brandt Heatherington pr(at)sfi(dot)org 703-659-7194


http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/star-trek-writer-dc-fontana,1299575.shtml

Exclusive : Jack Trevino and Michael Struck on Starship Farragut The Animated Episodes Fan Series Episode "The Needs of the Many"


TrekWeb talks to writer Jack Trevino (Star Trek Dee´Space Nine, Star Trek Of Gods and Men) and producer and manager of the NEO f/x Michael Struck on the Starship Farragut The Animated Episodes fan series episode they co-wrote titled "The Needs of the Many", released online this week.

1- Jack and Michael, tell us about vthe genesis of the story of the new animated Farragut episode "The Needs of the Many" ?


JT - While working on Star Trek Of Gods and Men, I met Michael Struck. He asked me if I would be interested in helping him write a script for a secret project he was about to start. He showed me a few animation cells and I was blown away by his attention to detail. He had a story that he wanted to adapt to fit the Starship Farragut characters. We worked on a first draft and after submitting it, he told me it was geared more for the guest stars, rather than for the regulars. And you know, he was exactly right. I apologized and worked harder to get them involved as well as give them each their special moments. He was very pleased with the way the script turned out. I'm very proud of all the actors in this episode. It's clear to see they put all they had into their performances.

2- How the episode fits in the Star Trek canon ?


MS-Unlike some of the early writers of TOS/TAS, we have 40 years of 'Future History' to pull from. We were very careful to make sure we stayed within canon. This includes the use of Cestus III, the Gorn, etc. It is interesting that Thelin's character is of Aenar and Andorian descent....a species that didn't exist in TOS, but was introduced in Enterprise.


JT- We extrapolated on certain events, making sure there was excitement in the story, while making sure we did not change anything that was to come. I used the Star Trek Encyclopedia and other Trek sources like Star Trek. Com, Trek Movie Report, Trek Today. Sci Fy Pulse and of course, Trek Web, to verify specifc Trek events.

3- Tell us about the characters voiced by Star Trek actors Tspecific and Chase Masterson.


MS-Tim Russ' character, Doctor Tumar, was originally supposed to be a Vulcan female. However, with my VFX work in Of Gods and Men, I was speaking to Tim Russ one day and he mentioned his VO work. It then clicked....Since this is set in TOS times, the character could have been a cousin or uncle of Tuvok of Voyager, and who better to play that role than Tim Russ...After some scrambling, we arranged for Tim to record his cameo, which turned out VERY good.


JT - How cool was it when I heard michael told me Tim Russ wanted to add his talent to the project? It was way cool!

As for Chase, she appears in both episodes as well, but in The Needs of the Many she is the main guest star, Carmen Vega Renata...the great-great grandmother of Farragut's chief engineer. Jack felt that there were not a lot of positive Hispanic role models in Trek, so we made a few references to her heritage in the episode. Chase recognized this during the recording of her lines and gave Carmen a very subtle accent. Not enough to draw attention to, but a very respectful accent that went along with her darker skin color. The fans have embraced this and have commented very positively to her role.


JT - Yes, I spoke to Chase about this and she was happy to accommodate my request to make Carmen Hispanic. I wanted Carmen to be just a normal hard working mother who, by doing her job, becomes an unlikely hero. There are so many unsung heroes out there that do heroic things all the time, like fire fighters, police officers, soldiers, doctors and nurses. All without thinking of themselves - just doing their jobs to save others. I wanted everyone to know that there are many, many Hispanics that are hard working Americans, doing these types of jobs.


4- I understand that "Needs of the Many" includes a cameo from Lou Scheimer, the co-founder of Filmation and producer of the original Star Trek The Animated Series.


MS-Yes...Actually both episodes (Power Source and The Needs of the Many) include a voice snippet from the 80 year old Scheimer. The cameo in The Needs of the Many is the Romulan Commander we see toward the end of Act III. For those that are paying attention, this is the same character that Scheimer voiced (uncredited) in the TAS episode, The Practical Joker.


JT - When Michael told me he had spoken to Lou, I was dumbfounded. How could we have gotten so lucky. I hope to meet Lou in the near future. It appears Lou has come full circle with his voice work as a Romulan. Which leads me into what I wanted to say. As a writer, I too have come full circle in regards to writing for Star Trek. I have been extremely lucky to have written material for all its incarnations, as well as for actors from all the different series (professional and fan). It is an honor to be able to say you have written for all of these talented artists.


5- Beyond Farragut, what are your future projects ?

JT - Currently, I am working with Sky Conway and Ethan Calk on several projects. A pilot script for a proposed Sci-Fi series called, "Free Space." It tells the story of Humans evolving to the next stage and all the politcial complications associated with those genetic changes, basically creating a universe where Humans are now the "Aliens" in space.


A Sci-Fi horror movie called, "Planet Hell," which reveals the darkest sides of people and how they can be the deadliest of all creatures. And switching gears to Westerns with a tale based on the real life of Kid Curry called, "Hell's Revenge." Kid Curry was one of the meanest cowboys to ride with Butch Cassisdy, the only man that Kid truly respected. Of course, we are putting a twist on the classic Western genre, hoping to make it attractive to younger audiences.

http://trekweb.com/stories.php?aid=4bed620b47ab5

Latest Issue of Star Trek Magazine Features Look at the Star Trek Movies



Each of Star Trek's 11 cinematic odysseys comes under the spotlight this month, as we present a one-stop guide to the voyages of the U.S.S. Enterprise on the big screen, from Admiral Kirk's encounter with V'Ger over 30 years ago to last year's blockbuster battle between his alternate self and the time-displaced Romulan Nero. With contemporary reviews, analysis and an illustrated cast list, you'll soon be able to tell your Khans from your Shinzons.

Guest star David Warner recalls working on the Star Trek: The Next Generation story "Chain of Command."

It was in Stratford that David Warner first met Patrick Stewart, whom he later starred alongside in The Next Generation's "Chain of Command, Parts I and II".

"When I was doing Hamlet in 1965, Patrick was just starting in Shakespeare," he remembers. "I was playing Hamlet and he played the Player King. I was on stage with him all the time when he did his speeches, and I was absolutely mesmerized. I just couldn't take my eyes off him. Over the years, I followed his career, and so it was a great thrill to see from a distance him doing Star Trek, and take off with that, and then of course being asked to do two of the episodes."

However, Warner's role as the despicable Cardassian interrogator Gul Madred only became his at the last minute. "I took over from somebody who fell out, at two or three days' notice," he reveals. "I couldn't learn the lines, because science fiction is like another language to me, so they very kindly wrote up a lot of the dialogue for me, so I had to read it on boards! I wasn't thinking at all about ‘acting' it. I was more concerned about getting the lines out!"

The scenes between Picard and Madred make for uncomfortable but intense viewing. "It's great to do," he enthuses. "To play scenes with an old mate, it's wonderful. I'm not against doing ensemble pieces, but within the context of a thinking person's action series, to have a two-hander like that - it works!

"But as I say, I was really more concerned about the lines being there! From what I gather, nobody has any idea that I was reading them."

Of his three Star Trek roles, Warner considers Madred his favorite. "Even though it was an episode of a TV drama, I felt my input with Patrick in The Next Generation was far more than in any of the big-budget films," he says. "It was a really important character, whereas in the films you seem to get swamped. When there are two of you playing a scene, it's far more fulfilling than when you're sitting on the deck of the Enterprise for a reaction shot.

Our regular Dispelling the Myths column this time looks at the Romulans and the Klingons - who are really "The Honorable Ones"?

There is a belief in Star Trek fandom that when the franchise returned to the screens for adventures in the 24th Century, it didn't just add to the existing mythos, but inverted some of it. Specifically, there is a belief that, in-between the original Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation, the attributes, codes and morals of the two big alien empires were deviously switched.

Allegedly the Romulans were once proud warriors with an admirable code of honor, while the Klingons were base thugs who scorned such concepts. Then along came TNG, and suddenly the Klingons are always portraying themselves as being ultra-honorable, while the Romulans are cast as sneaky and dishonorable thugs.

Even the very first book writing about the creation of the show, Gene Roddenberry and Stephen E. Whitfield's The Making of Star Trek, tells us that to the Klingons ‘honor is a despicable trait.' It looks pretty conclusive, on a casual first glance: proud, honorable Romulans and sneaky rule-breaking Klingons in the original series, switched for thuggish Romulan warmongers and proud Klingons thereafter.

In truth, we didn't really see enough of either race in the original series to sufficiently set in stone anything that could then be considered switched later. The Romulans only appear twice in the original series - three times if you count stock footage of a ship in "The Deadly Years" - compared to around 60 appearances in the later shows. Likewise the Klingons only appear in person in seven episodes of the original series, with over 100 appearances following in the later shows, and it is these later shows which focus on their honor.

It is easy to see how the perception came about. The main problem with interpreting these traits is that word ‘honor.' To most of the people reading this, and most of the people who made the various Star Trek series, ‘honor' means chivalric honor specifically. No doubt the Klingons would indeed find chivalric honor a complete waste of time, but chivalry is only one particular society's type of honor, not a synonym for honor overall...

Read the full stories in issue 26 of The Official Star Trek Magazine ­on newsstands May 11th, 2010.


http://trekweb.com/articles/2010/05/14/Latest-Issue-of-Star-Trek-Magazine-Features-Look-at-the-Star-Trek-Movies.shtml