Kirk and Spock

SHATNER’S “THE CAPTAINS” DVD ANNOUNCED

2011-09-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

Oh Captain, My Captain

Entertainment One has announced that the DVD of William Shatner’s Star Trek interview documentary The Captains will available on October 4.

Directed by Shatner, the film has the original Kirk interviewing his fellow Trek captains Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Avery Brooks (Star Trek: Deep Space 9), Kate Mulgrew (Star Trek: Voyager), Scott Bakula (Star Trek: Enterprise), and Chris Pine (the recent Star Trek movie).

There was no word as to what, if any, extras would be included, or when this film, which was shot in HD, would be available on Blu-ray.

The DVD will retail for $19.98.

http://www.egmnow.com/articles/geek-now/shatners-the-captains-dvd-announced/

J.J. Abrams signs on to direct ‘Star Trek 2′

2011-09-17T14:18:00.001-07:00

J.J. Abrams is ready to engage. EW has confirmed that the insatiable media multi-hyphenate has signed on to direct the sequel to his 2009 hit Star Trek. (Vulture first reported the story.) The first film’s screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci are penning the screenplay with producer Damon Lindelof, and the main cast — including Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto (pictured, right, with Abrams on the set of the 2009 Trek) — are all set to return. The untitled sequel was originally scheduled to come out June 2012, but the film has moved off of that date to give the writers enough time to polish the script.

Abrams’ first crack in the captain’s chair netted the reboot the highest-ever grosses for a Trek movie, pulling in $257 million domestically, and $385 million worldwide.

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/09/13/j-j-abrams-directing-star-trek-2/

William Shatner Says “Star Wars Was Derivative of Star Trek” [Video]

2011-09-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

William Shatner chimed in on the ever-popular discussion of which is better, Star Wars or Star Trek, in a video posted to his Youtube channel earlier today.

“Star Trek had relationships, conflict among the relationships, stories that involved humanity and philosophical questions.” said Shatner. “Star Wars was special effects. It was ILM at it’s best. First of all, Star Wars is derivative of Star Trek, by what 10, 15, 20 years, something like that?” he added.

Shatner went on to discuss the special effects used in the Star Wars films, the original Star Trek films and JJ Abrams’ 2009 reboot.

Discussing the females in both franchises, Shatner said “Princess Leia, as beautiful as she was and as wonderful an actress as she [Carrie Fisher] is can’t compare to the marvelous heroines we had on Star Trek.”

“I’m not saying that’s just the only thing that makes Star Trek better than Star Wars. I’m saying the stories were better.” Shatner said.

“That would be the perfect union of Star Wars and Star Trek.” Shatner joked about a relationship between Captain Kirk and Princess Leia.

The complete Star Wars saga is set to be re-released tomorrow on Blu-Ray.

Watch the video embedded below.

http://www.treknews.net/2011/09/15/william-shatner-says-star-wars-was-derivative-of-star-trek-video/

Selling point: Spock's ear to be auctioned

2011-04-01T19:05:00.000-07:00

Case in point … Leonard Nimoy as Spock in Star Trek (1979) Photograph: Ronald Grant Archive

Framed above the fireplace or simply sported by its owner, this is one movie collectable that would be a guaranteed conversation starter. One of the ears worn by Leonard Nimoy as Mr Spock in the 1979 film Star Trek: The Motion Picture is to be auctioned tomorrow.

The appendage, one of Spock's most recgonisable features, is part of a pair acquired from the prop master on the film, and has been lovingly preserved.

"It was carefully wrapped up, which is important because silicone latex can deteriorate," a spokesman for the auctioneers, Premiere Props in Los Angeles, told the Daily Express.

"Spock's ears are an iconic part of Star Trek and fans across the world would love to own it – we've already had lots of bids," he said. Conservative estimates suggest the ear is likely to fetch around £700.

The half-human, half-Vulcan sidekick of Captain Kirk, commander of the USS Enterprise, Spock's curious appearance was initially a concern for producers who feared his satanic looks might scare children.

The ear is the centrepiece of a sale of more than 500 Hollywood props from dozens of films, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones and forthcoming slasher The Roommate. Other items include a Tom Cruise stuntman mask from Mission: Impossible (estimates $200 - $350), a pair of Cher's "personal pants … gold with gold sequins, bell-bottom style ankles, zipper on the back", and Charlton Heston's breeches from The Agony and the Ecstasy (no bids yet).

Meanwhile, Kevin Smith is helping meet the self-distribution costs of his horror film, Red State, by auctioning some of his personal memorabilia next month.

Items up for grabs include Ben Affleck's fake wings from Dogma, a burnt-out cash register featured in Clerks II and a foam rubber fist from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/apr/01/spocks-ear-auction-star-trek

Leonard Nimoy's Transformers 3 Role Ends Star Trek Star's Retirement

2011-04-01T19:02:00.000-07:00

Leonard Nimoy's voice role in the upcoming Transformers 3 will end the Star Trek star's retirement, just a year after he announced it.

Michael Bay, the film's director, tells Entertainment Weekly that initially he wasn't sure if he could afford Nimoy's salary. Nimoy has been very choosy about his roles in recent years, and his decision not to reprise his Mr. Spock character for Star Trek: Generations required the film's screenwriters to bring in other characters from the original Star Trek series to take his place.

"I was too scared to ask him," Bay says. "Plus, he's married to Susan Bay, who's a cousin of mine. So I had to be careful. I've met him at family functions. But he told me, 'I would be honored. I'm glad to be back!'"

Nimoy previously voiced the character Galvatron in 1986′s The Transformers: The Movie.

In Transformers 3, Nimoy will voice Sentinel Prime, the predecessor of Optimus Prime. The wreck of Sentinel Prime's body is seen in the teaser trailer, discovered on the moon in 1969 by the Apollo 11 astronauts. After he is brought to earth, he takes on the form of a fire engine for the film's climactic battle in Chicago.

The blockbuster Transformers film franchise is based on the hugely popular Transformers toy line by Hasbro. First released in 1984, the toys have inspired TV shows, comic books, movies and video games. Bay's 2007 feature based on the toys was the highest grossing non-sequel movie in 2007, taking in $709.7 million. Bay's sequel, 2009's Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, grossed $100 million more than the original.

Nimoy, who turned 80 last weekend, has been busy in recent years. He reprised the role of Spock in J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek reboot, playing alongside Zachary Quinto's younger version of the character, and he's had a recurring role in the Fox TV series Fringe.
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_7721.shtml

Star Trek Illustrates the Dangers of Facebook

2011-03-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

Trouble strikes the Starship Enterprise when Mr. Spock can't stop checking his Facebook page.

Facebook is everywhere these days. It's obscenely popular - a year ago it overtook Google as the most-visited web site in the United States - and it's a good bet that almost everyone you know has a Facebook account. But what if Facebook had existed in the future - as imagined in the past - of Star Trek's 23rd century?

The video you see here attempts to answer that question. You see, in the original Star Trek, Mr. Spock was always looking into a mysterious black scanner box in order to report his scientific evaluations to Captain Kirk. According to this clip, though, Spock was really just using that time to browse his "Spacebook" list.

It's an incredibly well-edited clip - Spock's reactions to the things he reads (as posted by the other members of the Enterprise) are spot-on. It's also very clever in its complete lack of dialogue - nobody says a word through the whole scene, but the intention still comes through nonetheless.

I guess your coworkers finding those embarrassing photos on your Wall is still a problem two hundred and fifty years in the future, huh?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108362-Star-Trek-Illustrates-the-Dangers-of-Facebook

An audience with William Shatner

2011-03-25T18:19:00.000-07:00

My interview with "Star Trek" legend William Shatner took an unexpected spiritual turn when he talked about the afterlife. Shatner has promised to communicate with me after he passes on.

I won't count on that happening any time soon. The actor who was Capt. James T. Kirk sounded too full of energy and merrymaking.

The actor, who turned 80 this week, speaks irreverently about his projects (including Priceline commercials), his TV series, his approach to life and his visit to MegaCon in Orlando. He will talk Saturday at that convention for sci-fi fans.

I started by asking the actor, who interviews guests on "Shatner's Raw Nerve," what makes a good interview. His response: "If the person you're interviewing can be heard."

I could hear him loud and clear.

What about the future of your CBS sitcom, 'Bleep My Dad Says'?

We did 19 shows. I thought we ended up in top 25. In my previous experience, that's a hit show. I can't imagine us not coming back. I had a ball doing the show. It's the first time I've done a four-camera show. I was shocked in the first few shows we did that it was neither staged nor live television nor improvisation. It was not stand-up. It was totally something unto itself, a hybrid of that, aided by my experience at conventions like I'm attending.

How so?

At those conventions, what I'm doing there is going up in front of audience and answering questions but trying to make answers a little fleshed out and amusing, and trying to keep them laughing and informed. I'm standing in front of an audience. I don't know what's going to come out of my mouth. That's the feeling you have in front of a situation-comedy audience, because I have an affinity for an audience. I seem to connect. I'm there with them. I feel their vibes.

How many conventions like MegaCon have you done over the years?

I don't know. I've been to Orlando more than once at a convention. I go to two or three in a year. Some years I don't do any. I used to try to get in as many as I could. One time I had done six or seven conventions in a weekend. I probably did Friday night, Saturday. I'd fly to Orlando. I'd go to Charlotte, then Atlanta.

Why are you going this particular MegaCon?

Because it's in Orlando and it's a big one. I'm free that weekend. I'm not busy that weekend. I'll take the opportunity. I bring my wife. We drive down to Tampa, where we have relatives. It's just what I do. I go and be as entertaining as I can. I will have worked, then I have fun.

What are people most interested in?

It varies. It can be: What was your favorite moment in 'Star Trek'? They may have seen something I've just done. I just talked to Daniel Ellsberg [who released the Pentagon Papers] for four hours, Jeffrey Wigand [tobacco whistleblower] for four hours, Sydney Biddle Barrows, the Mayflower Madam, and the ex-wife of the man who rescued baby Jessica and years later committed suicide. I interviewed them in a two-day period. Daniel Ellsberg and I bonded. Those interviews will be on a show called 'Aftermath.'

People at a convention might ask me about their personal life. I talk about horses. Over the years, I've acquired confidence that it will be all right. I'll talk about anything and maybe make a discovery. It's great fun for me. It's work, but it's a great pleasure. I'm not that crazy about signing autographs and taking pictures, but conventions seem to need that. Talking to the audience is a kick.

What kind of reaction do you usually get at these events?

Anything less than a standing ovation is a great disappointment to me. The reaction is one of two friends meeting. How often have you said, 'Let's go have a cup of coffee.' That's how it is.

What was your favorite moment in 'Star Trek' or did you have one?

The acting assignments were quite frequently challenging. I wish I had the knowledge of how to be an actor that I have now. I wish I knew then what I know now and could have applied it then. I see things I would have changed about my performance all the time. If we talk in 10 years, maybe I'll come to you when you pray. Remember, if you hear a voice it's me. I would probably say at 90 I wish I could have applied what I know at 80. Even though I look at my performance and say that wasn't bad, 55 percent of me is saying, 'I could do that so much better now.' I have a sense of satisfaction and a sense of dissatisfaction.

What did 'Boston Legal' and that character, Denny Crane, mean to you?

It was a wonderful five years that I did David E. Kelley's words. I've worked frequently with talented people. David Kelley is a genius. I was gratified and delighted to work with him. There seemed to be a — what is the word I'm looking for — when two people benefit each other — that seemed to happen with David E. Kelley. I'd do something on the screen, he'd see it and write more. We had a synergy. It seemed to be the creative process you might get in the theater. The author is in the audience and writes a new scene from what he'd seen. That's what's happening on 'Bleep My Dad Says.' These guys are fantastic. They're rewriting as you go along. The next day's rehearsal, the script can be entirely different and hugely improved.

Why did Denny Crane capture people's attention?

Given the license of the possibility he was approaching some kind of senility — that gave him license to do what he wanted to do. My late mother, many years ago, said, 'I can do anything I want.' I guess she could. I think that's what Denny Crane thought, 'I'm a big lawyer with a lot of money and I can do whatever I want.' There's something freeing about that. He doesn't have to do the conventional thing. He can do what he wants.

Your commercials stand out in the TV landscape; how do you approach them?

An agency five or six years ago said we're going to do this character, the Negotiator, and they gave me the script. They had a big motorcycle on the set. I got on this motorcycle with a big, fat rear tire and huge engine. I remember vividly the moment. I was thinking about the Negotiator. When I came back, I had the idea of character who is slightly insane about how good the product is. There isn't anything this character wouldn't do to get you a good deal. That became the Negotiator. This year it seems to have come to fruition. The last commercial seems to exemplify what I had in mind: soft-spoken, intense, crazy, ability to change disguise, be slightly CIA, all the characteristics of a crazy negotiator.

To what do you attribute your longevity in this business?

Health is everything. Energy, to have the health that allows you to have the energy and try and do all these things. I've put in my time to try to get good and I'm getting good.

Do you have more to say about when we'll talk in 10 years?

When the dirt starts hitting the casket. No, I think I'm going to be burned. As the last of the ashes burn, start listening.

William Shatner in a "Q & A with Captain Kirk" at MegaCon

When: Panel discussion is 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday; Shatner will be at the convention all day Saturday.

Where: Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, Orlando

MegaCon admission: Three-day pass is $60; one-day is $25.

Details: megaconvention.com

The Shatner file

Advertisement

The Canadian-born actor has performed on television since the 1950s. His many TV appearances include "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Twilight Zone," "The Fugitive" and "Gunsmoke." He became a TV superstar with "Star Trek." That sci-fi landmark ran from just 1966 to 1969 on NBC but gained legions of fans through reruns and movies.

Shatner's other TV series have included "T.J. Hooker," "The Practice," "Boston Legal" and "Bleep My Dad Says." He won two Emmys, four additional Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe for playing the memorably off-the-wall Denny Crane first on "The Practice," then on "Boston Legal."

He showed a gift for comedy as the Big Giant Head on "3^r^d Rock From the Sun" and received another Emmy nomination. He has played talk-show host on "Shatner's Raw Nerve" and "Aftermath." He has sung. He has played pitchman. He has done it all in a way that commanded attention — just what you would expect from the man who was Capt. Kirk.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-03-24/entertainment/os-william-shatner-megacon-20110324_1_megacon-conventions-audience/4

Klingon Christmas Carol brought to the stage

2010-12-21T01:03:00.000-08:00

It is the perfect Christmas present for the avid Star Trek fan: a ticket to the Klingon Christmas Carol.

Photo: PARAMOUNT

7:00AM GMT 21 Dec 2010

A theatre in Chicago is staging a production of the Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol" with a twist.

The entire play is delivered in thIngan Hol, the language of the Klingon race, which was developed in 1984 by linguist Marc Okrand for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

The show features a miserly alien warrior named SQuja', Klingon for Scrooge, who is visited by a trio of holiday ghosts who help him regain the festive spirit so that he can save sickly Tiny Tim.

The story takes place on the Klingon planet of Kronos during the Feast of the Long Night.

Written by Christopher O. Kidder and Sasha Walloch, the show's poster reads: "Scrooge has no honour, nor any courage.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/8215826/Klingon-Christmas-Carol-brought-to-the-stage.html

Star Trek’s Holodeck, So Close We Can "Virtually" Taste It.

2010-12-21T01:02:00.000-08:00

Okay fellow Trek Fans, “hold on to yer hats and glasses, cuz this here’s the wildest ride in the Universe!” Star Trek predicts (or is that, directs) the future once again. We just found reports of a functional holodeck. Notice we didn’t say “fully” functional, as it doesn’t have force-field or replicator technology yet, but with the aid of fancy 3D glasses it’s pretty close. …Computer, Arch!

This Holodeck is actually the Duke immersive Visual Environment (DiVE), a six-sided structure that, when sealed, becomes a seamless virtual reality atmosphere built to enhance teaching, research and design planning. The chamber is 10 feet on each side. Each wall, including the floor and ceiling, functions as a large computer screen. Six computers control full-color projectors - one per wall - and a seventh is the master computer.

To use DiVE at its full capacity, users wear stereoscopic glasses made with liquid crystals that provide depth perception. Unlike 3-D glasses with red and blue lenses, the stereoscopic lenses are colorless, so the wearer can see all colors. The crystals also rotate, making the lenses alternate between transparency and opaqueness. That allows the eyes to fuse the 3-D imaging correctly, eliminating the blurry "ghosting" effect when video images double on the screen, Brady said.

Armed with a wand that tracks their movements and helps them navigate the virtual landscapes, users can be immersed in a believable visual fiction.

"Being inside the cube provides a large field of view," Brady said. "This is one of the best ways to interact with computer representations of data."

Now, what we want to know is…how can we get one?!

http://www.subspacecomms.com/content/2010/12/17/star-trek%E2%80%99s-holodeck-so-close-we-can-virtually-taste-it

Star Trek beats ‘Glee’ in google online Top 10

2010-12-21T00:59:00.000-08:00

You would think that the highly popular TV series Glee would be a top US search in 2010, but Star Trek rules the day.
With a hit movie out in 2009, Star Trek, the ‘re-birth’ was critically praised for putting the magic back into the fatigued sci-fi series, now on its way up once again in 2010.
In 2003, Patrick Stewart’s last outing in Captain was poorly received and fizzled out of the US Box Office with weak demand, and a disappointing global gross. With the massive popularity of Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk, and the pre-production of Star Trek 2, audiences are demanding more action, and fast paced visuals from the franchise. The reboot has also boosted the popularity of the series and the online star trek games.
As for Glee, Google has placed it 8th in the fastest rising search of 2010 overall with Justin Bieber in 5th place and the pad gadget crushing competition at 1st. In the entertainment industry as a whole, Justin Bieber was America’s ‘Hottest Seat in Town’
Top 10 American TV online searches
1. lost
2. american idol
3. snl
4. family guy
5. the office
6. big brother
7. real housewives
8. star trek
9. 24
10. glee

http://www.filmindustrynetwork.biz/star-trek-beats-glee-in-google-online-top-10/6695

Man Creates Working Star Trek Door

2010-12-21T00:57:00.000-08:00

The doors of the U.S.S. Enterprise appear to open automatically and send a jet of air that results in a *shh shh* sound. Of course, each time a door opened on the set of any Star Trek show or movie, a crewman needed to open the door manually and the signature sound effect was added later. An enterprising (heh) DIY engineer from Miami accomplished the task that Scottie couldn't by installing a door in his house that not only slides open like a real Star Trek door, but the compressed air that it uses exhausts out of a vent and provides that awesome real sound. Mark posted pictures and described how he created the door to his bedroom on his blog, but you have to watch the video to see it work.

"I always wanted a piece of Star Trek and the Disney Monorail in my house, and one thing they have in common is that they both have automatic sliding doors," Mark wrote. "It would be the perfect, most geek-ified entryway for my bedroom. Only one problem: I was still in school and still lived at home with my mother in New Orleans. I had tried to convince her for years that installing a Star Trek Door would be a good idea, but it never happened. It wasn't until we were renovating our house after Hurricane Katrina that she finally caved in. There wouldn't be a better time to do it."

I salute you Mark, not only for the technical chops that it took to make this door work, but also for making the sound a huge part of how it functioned.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/105897-Man-Creates-Working-Star-Trek-Door

JJ Abrams' Star Trek Continues in Starfleet Academy Book Series

2010-12-21T00:54:00.000-08:00

After a false start last year with ultimately unpublished novels taking place after the events of JJ Abrams' Star Trek, Simon & Schuster has begun publishing young adult novels set during the Starfleet Academy days of Kirk, Uhura, McCoy and the rest.

"Teens like reading about their peers, and the Starfleet world is made up of characters who are their peers," Kara Sargent, editorial director of the Simon Says imprint explains to Star Trek.com. "These are great characters in a very cool setting. Using Kirk as an example, Starfleet Academy Kirk is pretty much exactly as you would imagine him to be, given your knowledge of Kirk the grown man and captain of the USS Enterprise. Starfleet Academy Kirk is this brooding and sexy guy at a new school, in a super-competitive environment with lots of rules and regulations, and this rebel is thrown in and has to navigate his way around. All the while he’s having incredible intergalactic adventures, training to be a Starfleet Commander, and, of course, picking up girls, hanging out with his friends, pulling pranks, and picking up some more girls. Who wouldn’t love reading about this guy? The whole process of coming up with stories in this setting really wasn’t tricky at all. It was a lot of fun, and it never felt forced. It seems like a really natural direction to go in."

Book one is Rick Barba's The Delta Anomaly, published on November 2nd. Says Sargent, "I love this story. At its core it’s a mystery about a serial killer. Early on in the book, the killer targets one of the Starfleet cadets—a friend of Kirk and Uhura, in fact—and the reader is immediately drawn in to this very fast-paced, very chilling mystery. All the while, there are fantastic side stories going on. One involves Uhura and a special assignment she gets from her favorite instructor, Commander Spock. I’ll just say there’s some serious chemistry between those two and leave it at that! Another side story involves a big Starfleet assignment Kirk is involved in that pits him against his nemesis at the Academy. There’s lots of adventure in that one. And, my favorite side story involves Kirk and a beautiful young co-ed he meets at a coffee shop. Her name is Hannah, and Kirk has his work cut out for him because Hannah actually doesn’t swoon at his feet the first time she meets him."

Book two, Rudy Joseph's The Edge, will be published on December 28th. Of the plot, Sarget notes, "The Edge focuses on the stress of life at the Academy. The story opens with a competition and Kirk realizes that some cadets seem to have an edge that he doesn’t have. One of the cadets is the girl he’s interested in. Some mysterious events and even a death occur, leading Kirk to investigate what’s going on, and he uncovers a really dark world of illegal activity."

There are plans for at least one Star Trek: Starfleet Academy novel per season.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/scifimediazone/news/?a=25330

NASA Launches A Home Version Of Star Trek's Stellar Cartography

2010-12-21T00:50:00.000-08:00

Watching "Star Trek: Generations", who hasn't wanted their very own version of Stellar Cartography. Thanks to NASA, it's now available. Called "Eyes on the Solar System" and developed by Caltech & JPL, it's a 3-D environment full of real NASA mission data. According to the "Eyes on the Solar System" website you can explore the cosmos from your computer. Hop on an asteroid. Fly with NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft. See the entire solar system moving in real time. It's up to you. You control space and time.

Also available on the "Eyes on the Solar System" website is your chance to follow the EPOXI mission in real-time. EPOXI is a combination of two missions and embraces NASA's mission to explore the origin and history of our solar system by understanding the composition and diversity of cometary nuclei and the properties of other planetary system.

http://www.subspacecomms.com/content/2010/11/06/nasa-launches-home-version-star-treks-stellar-cartography

Star Trek Online : A Free-to-play future?

2010-11-05T00:05:00.000-07:00

In an interview with Eurogamer yesterday, Cyrptic's Jack Emmert indicated that the decision to make Star Trek Online a free-to-play game is dependent, at least in part, on the success of one of its other franchises under a free to play model, that being Champions.

"If we did Turbine's level of success, that would certainly merit the discussion!" (Turbine re-launched Dungeons and Dragons online as a free-to-play, as well as another title of theirs which went free-to-play in Europe, Lord of the Rings Online. D&D Online has made big money for Turbine, and Cryptic will obviously be hoping that the free-to-play model, which it seems is being adapt by new gaming companies on a regular basis, will be successful for them as well.

As far as Star Trek is concerned, Mr. Emmert had this to say: "Im sure people are wondering whether we'll do it with Star Trek and the question is really how well it does for Champions." Jack offers some advice to his Star Trek fans to perhaps help guarantee a free-to-play model, or at least that will help steer their starships in that general direction: "We're not sold one way or the other with Star Trek yet. If people want Star Trek to go free-to-play then get in and play Champions and help make it a great success, because that would send a strong message."

Even so, he gave no guarantee that a success with Champions would seal the deal on a free-to-play model for Star Trek. He continued by noting "There are more people than just I on that decision and I can't begin to say it would be and automatic 'Yes, we'd do it," (if Champions is a big success.)

Champions Online's subscription structure will look like this. There will be two member tiers for play - the Silver (or free-to-play) tier and a Gold tier for paying (at $14.99/mo) tier. Silver members have limitations on classes, costumes and character slots, but the 'meat and potatoes' of the game - leveling from start to superhero status - could still be achieved without spending any money. And as with the free-to-play model, players can purchase content, items and buffs on a piece-meal basis - the "microtransaction" concept. I'd imagine that that this will be the model pursued for Star Trek...and they wouldn't be alone, a recent prime example being Everquest 2 and SOE's Everquest 2 "Extended" free to play service.

So the bottom line is this...if you are really looking to not pay for Star Trek Online in the future - then you had better pony-up and start (or keep) playing Champions Online, buy some stuff, and keep your fingers crossed.

http://www.world-gaming.com/pc-news/pc-gaming/1698-star-trek-online-a-free-to-play-future.html

Will Ferrell Sings Star Trek

2010-11-05T00:03:00.000-07:00

Video: Shatner ‘Sings’ Cee Lo Green’s ‘Fuck You’

2010-11-05T00:02:00.000-07:00

Star Trek legend and Sh*t My Dad Says star William Shatner sing-talks his way through Cee Lo Green’s obscenity-riddled hit “Fuck You” in this clip from Lopez Tonight. With the lyrics bleeped and/or altered in all the right places, you can watch this distinctly Shatner performance at work.

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/11/shatner-fuck-you/

Holograms are becoming tangible

2010-11-04T23:58:00.000-07:00

Holograms, staple of Star Trek, Star Wars and innumerable other science fiction universes, are creeping closer to reality.

Holographic image of an F-4 Phantom fighter. Credit: University of Arizona

The National Science Foundation announced Wednesday researchers at the University of Arizona have produced holographic video images able to be refreshed every two seconds. That still seems crude and primitive (think Captain Pike in his silly prop hospital chair in the original Star Trek series), but it remains the tantalizing stuff of make-believe to Earth-based mortals.

“This advance brings us a step closer to the ultimate goal of realistic holographic telepresence with high-resolution, full-color, human-size, 3D images that can be sent at video refresh rates from one part of the world to the other,” said project lead Nasser Peyghambarian in the foundation announcement.

Some applications of holograms being talked about are disappointingly mundane, if that’s even possible when we’re envisioning actual holograms. You have, for example, meeting attendees from other cities “beaming in” to a central conference room. Also: Draftsmen and engineers designing things with holo-helpers. Hokey examples include Japanese researchers playing with a holographic ball, and CNN’s faux holograms on the set of the 2008 presidential election night coverage.

If hologram technology ever reaches practical feasibility, the possibilities are unlimited. The boss could pop in at your workstation to check on a project or chew you out. Mom might zap into the back yard to call the kids in for dinner. NFL referees could review disputed plays without wasting all that time in those ridiculous hooded replay booths. Video-game opponents could spring to life in your game room, necessitating a quick melee response if you want to survive. Military planners doubtless would be in ecstasy.

I always thought the Star Trek Next Generation holodeck was beyond cool. Obi-Wan Kinobi’s hologram shimmering out of R2-D2 enraptured Star Wars fans. Now we can dare to imagine the prospect of the science fiction come to life.

http://blogs.standard.net/why-are-you-crying/2010/11/04/holograms-are-becoming-tangible/

Star Trek's Mr. Sulu latest voice for 'It Gets Better'

2010-11-04T23:56:00.000-07:00

Ever since the suicide of Indiana teenager Billy Lucas, nationally known gay activist and Seattle icon Dan Savage has been rounding up celebrities for his "It Gets Better" campaign.

The latest to weigh in is Star Trek's Mr. Sulu. Actor George Takei, who came out himself several years ago, lent his distinctive voice to support bullied gay teens.

In a video posted on YouTube, Takei took aim at Clint McCanse, a school board member in Arkansas, who said he wished more gay teens would commit suicide.

"No person, let alone an elected school official, whatever their personal or religious beliefs, should ever wish death upon another human being," said Takei.

And never one to back down, Takei made it personal.

"I can only suspect that you have some, shall I say issues, to work out."

At the end of his personal message to McCanse, Takei said, "I sincerely hope you don't kill yourself Mr. McCanse, because no one should wish that upon someone else."

http://www.mynorthwest.com/category/local_news_articles/20101102/Star-Trek%27s-Mr.-Sulu-latest-voice-for-%22It-Gets-Better%22/

Simon Pegg: Star Trek 2 is written

2010-11-04T23:55:00.000-07:00

Simon Pegg has revealed the plot of Star Trek 2 has been written, but he is still waiting to find out what it is.

The Burke And Hare star, who played Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott in JJ Abrams big screen version of the hit sci fi series, revealed the rivalry between Captain James T. Kirk and Spock was set to continue in the sequel, but that they could be united by a common adversary.

Simon said: "It's been written now, I don't know what the story is, it's not 'til next year."

He went on: "They are busy hashing out the story and they're excited about it. Damian Lindeloff had to finish Lost, and now they're at it. He has said that they're hoping to carry on the relationship between the crew and if they have the adversary."

The British actor, who is currently filming Mission Impossible IV also let slip he has a role in an upcoming secret project, but refused to give anything away.

Simon said: "Because it's not in place or definite yet, I can't say too much about it otherwise it'll be one of those parts that nearly happened.

"Too much is said too early these days. There's too much information being disseminated and there's no mystery any more."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hH2m-J_5xTHPJcMYfv0fflDa_MVA?docId=N0092351288610844967A

Star Trek's USS Enterprise: owners’ workshop manual from Haynes

2010-11-04T23:54:00.000-07:00

The 160-page guide delves into the technical specification of the world’s most famous fictional spaceship, containing in-depth drawings and a step-by-step approach to stripping the ship down to its essentials and reassembling it.

An invaluable tool to any aspiring Scotty, the book was written by Ben Robinson and Marcus Riley with the help of former NASA designer Michael Okuda, who worked on the Sci-Fi series for more than 20 years.

Co-author Robinson said: “It's something I think people have wanted for a long time, a proper history that puts the Enterprises into context with one another and gives you the story of how they evolved, with each ship building on the last.”

This something of a departure for Haynes, who started publishing car manuals in 1965, although they have diversified somewhat in recent years, producing books on classic military aircraft, Wallace and Gromit contraptions and a manual on teenagers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/8096335/Star-Treks-USS-Enterprise-owners-workshop-manual-from-Haynes.html

Writer Damon Lindelof says that STAR TREK 2 will be “awesome”

2010-11-04T23:45:00.000-07:00

Since the announcement of a sequel to last summer’s frankly smashing blockbuster STAR TREK, the internet has been literally alive with speculation, debate and discussion.

There was originally talk that 2 would see the return of Kahn to the TREK franchise however this has recently (and officially) been ruled out. From my very comfy swivelling armchair in leafy England I can feel the collective sigh of discontent as it rolls out speedily across the bandwidths of the world. I must also confess that before STAR TREK (2009) I wasn’t really a fan but that I am a new convert. *runs and hides from the die hards*.

Anyway, STAR TREK had the unique quality that it successfully did what so many reboots have tried and failed to do in cinema history; it pleased almost everybody. It was funny, it was sensitive and most importantly it respected that which had gone before.

A movie for the fans by the fans…

Lovely.

So moving swiftly back to the now, STAR TREK 2 writer Damon Lindelof confesses that the STAR TREK universe is not about villains. The second movie, he says, will tell the story of the crew of the USS Enterprise. “We’re obviously aware of what people are saying on the web and we’re interested in it but at the same time TREK is not about villains, it’s about the crew and their relationship with eachother; that family”. I

Discussing the progress of the script, Lindelof was quoted as saying that it will be “awesome”. Encouraging words there Damon and thank you again for those pearls of intergalactic wisdom, I’m sure the DVD commentary will be both inspiring and degrading for you in equal measure. I truly can’t wait.

Returning to the possibility of villains, Bad Ass Digest (not a euphamism) reports that the villain is definitely one of the following. Harry Mudd, Trelance, Gary Mitchell, The Talosians or the Horta. So, if we’re totally honest, they probably have no idea either… I’m guessing that it will probably be a little out of left field and they’ll tackle the audience head on with a villain that works both psycologically and cinematically. Your guess is as good as mine on who, or what, that ends up being.

Please though make sure JJ Abrams is sitting in the Director’s chair because between this and SUPER 8, I may just let out a little bit of wee.

http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2010/10/28/writer-damon-lindelof-star-trek-2-awesome/

Asian Actress For Star Trek’s New Vulcan

2010-11-04T23:43:00.000-07:00

The internet was all of a flutter yesterday as a tiny piece about the use of iPads in Hollywood mentioned a meeting which took place with writers and producers of the second Star Trek movie in its newest incarnation. Here is the quotation, lifted from the New York Times.

“[Robert] Orci, meeting with the producers JJ Abrama, Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk, and his fellow writer Alex Kurtzman, jump-started the discussion with an iPad slide show, showing stills from the first film, snapshots of potential locations and a photo of a suggested actress for one of the roles. On the woman’s photo, he had used his iPad to paint on a Vulcan ear.”

Some additional information which has been doing the rounds of agents’ offices and casting chatter for a good few weeks is the search for an actress of Asian origin to play the new Vulcan. As there isn’t exactly a glut of working Asian actresses in Hollywood with the required looks, age and height (the character has been noted as being “5ft 6 plus”) the field is a narrow one. What we do know is that the actress whose photo was used by Bob Orci is not under consideration, (she’s thought to be too much of a name) but was a suggestion of type. That actress was definitely of Asian extraction.

At the San Diego Asian Film Festival last weekend a panel of familiar East Asian faces including Lost‘s Daniel Dae Kim and Glee‘s Harry Sum Jr. discussed the recent headway made for Asian actors on network television but still bemoaned the limited opportunities in Hollywood features for Asian leads. (Althought not present, actress and writer Maurissa Tancharoen’s song “Nobody’s Asian in the Movies” could have been a nice soundtrack to the panel.)

Star Trek is one of the few sci-fi hits of recent times to have a prominent Asian character. Gene Roddenberry wanted Hikaru Sulu to represent all of Asia (a fact that wasn’t lost on Korean American John Cho when he took over the role from Japanese American George Takei) and imply that a peaceful future awaited the East of the continent which had seen a great deal of conflict when Trek began in 1966. The show became known for its willingness to push buttons, especially when it came to reaching out to other races and acknowledging cultural sensitivity (Spock was the first lead character on US television to be in an arranged marriage. though it didn’t exactly end well).

What hasn’t been established is which actress will follow in the footsteps of Linda Park (Hoshi Sato) and Jacqueline Kim (Demora Sulu). With Star Trek not filming until July next year, who’s up for a little speculation?

T’Pring, Spock’s Vulcan bride played by Arlene Martel; Dichen Lachman; Maggie Q

http://www.endofshow.com/2010/10/26/asian-actress-for-star-treks-new-vulcan/

‘Star Trek 2′ Will Not Feature Khan, But Will Focus on a ‘Classic Character’

2010-11-04T23:36:00.000-07:00

We’ve been looking forward to hearing story details for Star Trek 2, which JJ Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci have been drafting over the past few months. Rumors have persisted that Khan, the villain from the second film in the original Star Trek movie franchise, would make a spectacularly unimaginative return. But that’s not the case says a new report, which also emphasizes previous claims from the Abrams camp that we might not see a traditional ‘big bad’ villain in this movie at all.

So what will we see? Very likely the return of a character from the original Star Trek television series.

Devin Faraci’s new venture, the Alamo Drafthouse-affiliated Badass Digest, is the source of this info. Actually, a tipster is Devin’s source, and had this to say about the original series character that will be key to the new film:

It’s definitely a character that will make fans of TOS excited. Think along the lines of Harry Mudd or Trelane or Gary Mitchell or the Talosians or the Horta. Actually it’s one of those that I named.

So who is it? I’m totally in the dark when it comes to Star Trek characters, especially in the original series, but thankfully Devin is a serious Trek nerd. He runs down those possibilities and narrows it down to two that seem most likely: Gary Mitchell and Trelane. Who the hell are they?

Devin describes Trelane as “a godlike creature who ensnares the Enterprise and toys with the crew,” and notes that he was revealed to be part of the Q Continuum, the race of beings introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

But he puts better odds on the appearance of Gary Mitchell, Kirk’s best friend as revealed in the second pilot for the original series. An energy field gives him “godlike abilities,” but he kinda breaks under the strain and ends up battling his best friend. There’s great material there for a Trek sequel, especially one that wants to stay character-based. I hope this info is on the money.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2010/10/26/star-trek-2-feature-khan-focus-classic-character/

Possible huge Star Trek casting news!

2010-11-04T23:31:00.000-07:00

Star Trek:

Did a New York Times article just give away a massive character spoiler for the Star Trek sequel? Judge for yourself. The article talks about how Roberto Orci brought his iPad to a meeting where the creators were planning the next film:

Mr. Orci, meeting with the producers J. J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk, and his fellow writer Alex Kurtzman, jump-started the discussion with an iPad slide show, showing stills from the first film, snapshots of potential locations and a photo of a suggested actress for one of the roles. On the woman's photo, he had used his iPad to paint on a Vulcan ear.

So what actress do you think they're talking about? And is it true that they're looking to cast a female Vulcan? If so, who would it be? (Saavik, presumably, is too young, but there's always T'Pring. Or, just as likely, a new Vulcan character.) What do you think? [New York Times]

http://io9.com/5670949/possible-huge-star-trek-casting-news-plus-your-latest-batman-3-villain-rumor-and-will-hunger-games-be-pg+13

'Star Trek' Sequel Will Focus On Family

2010-11-04T23:29:00.000-07:00

Ever since the May 2009 release of J.J. Abrams’ blockbuster “Star Trek” reboot, fans have been trying to guess what villain they can expect in the sequel.

But frequent Abrams collaborator and “Lost” executive producer Damon Lindelof said that the bad guy really isn’t the point of the film. When it comes to Star Trek, it's always much, much more than who wears the Khan pecs.

“Trek is not about villains," Lindelof said at Saturday's Scream awards. "It is about the crew and their relationship with each other, that family. If the villain helps sort of flesh that out and bring that to life, then we have hit a home run."

In fact, if there's another thing Star Trek movies definitely are not, it's comic book films.

"It’s not like the Batman movies where you are like, ‘OK, they have done The Joker. How do you one-up The Joker?’” Lindelof said.

Scripting for the next movie is already under way with Lindelof and the writing duo from the first movie, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. Now that he doesn't have to worry about crafting together a crazy island story on the former ABC series "Lost," Lindelof seems to have some more time on his hands in working on the next script involving the USS Enterprise.

“It is progressing,” he said. “We are putting a lot of pressure on ourselves for it to be awesome.”

Following its release in summer 2009, Abrams’ “Star Trek” became the all-time highest-grossing film in the franchise, even when adjusted for inflation. Starring Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock, the film earned more than $257 million at the box office.

The as-yet-untitled sequel is expected to hit theaters on June 29, 2012. Abrams is believed to be returning to the director's chair for that movie, although it hasn't been confirmed just yet.

http://www.airlockalpha.com/node/7940

Nichelle Nichols Addresses Her Opinion on J.J. Abrams Star Trek Movie and the Spock / Uhura Romance

2010-11-04T23:27:00.000-07:00

Nichelle Nichols is, as always, lovely and chatty and full of positive energy. And, given the opportunity to answer questions from you, the readers of StarTrek.com, Nichols turns on the charm and answers questions in great, entertaining detail, often venturing into side conversations that are even more entertaining and detailed. She talked about the new film, discussed passing the Uhura baton to Zoe Saldana and recounted the story of how Martin Luther King convinced her to stay on TOS. Here then, is part one of our two-part interview with Nichols. Look for the second half tomorrow.

What did you think of the new film and the recasting of Uhura? And did you ever think, “My Uhura wouldn’t do that?”

Nichols: First, I loved the film. I loved the fact that J.J. made great use out of the technology we didn’t have, that everybody thought we had. As a film, I loved it because I’m actually just crazy about J.J. and about Zoe. “Uhura wouldn’t do that…” You have to understand and allow for the fact that this is a prequel. Let me tell you a story and I’ll try to keep it short. J.J. invited me to lunch. We had a wonderful time. It was after the usual lunch time, so we had the commissary to ourselves and could have a glass of wine and lean back and talk – without everybody looking and wondering, “What are they saying?” We talked about the character and the recasting and the movie, and I thought it was so wonderful of him to take the time to talk to several of the (TOS) actors before he went forward. He didn’t have to do that.

He picked my brain here and there, and we talked about he would have loved for me to be in the film and what would have taken place. I said “I’d love to play her mother or her grandmother.” And he said, “You look too young to even play her mother, much less her grandmother.” I said that’s what women will look like 300 years from today, and they’ll probably live to be 150 and maybe more. He looked at me and said, “Well… Hmm.” I said, “Good health and longevity will be simple.” We finished lunch and it was around the time of the writers’ strike and around that one was coming the actors’ strike. So there was a concern there and he had to get finished. Everything that was already written could be done. They couldn’t stop that. But they could stop anything new.

Ultimately, the strike threat prevented even the possibility of you being in the film. But that story about your lunch with Abrams has more to it. Please continue…

Nichols: J.J. and his right-hand man, who was with us, were walking me to my car. Actually, they were driving me to my car. It started to rain and he said, “Hey, Nichelle, have you got time? Why don’t you come on the set?” He said that Zoe wasn’t on set, unfortunately, but that just about everyone else was, and he wanted me to see the set. I said, “Oh, I’d love to,” and we went across the lot to the set. I walked in and there was the command level set and my heart stopped. As I was coming in someone said, “Be careful, ma’am, there are cords and things down here.” I said, “Well, I’m used to them.” He looked up at me and said, “Oh my God, that voice. Of course you know. Hello, Ms. Nichols. How are you?” And he shook my hand and said, “How good to see you.” We went on deeper to the sets and I met a few of the actors, and then J.J., who’d disappeared for a few minutes, came back around.

Everything calmed down and the next thing you know they were bringing out J.J.’s director’s chairs. They brought out three, one for him, one for his assistant and one for the script gal. They seated me in the one that said J.J. Abrams and he said, “I’ll be right back. Take care of Nichelle.” I’m sitting there and they’re rearranging and getting the cameras up because he wants this shot right. I’m making small talk with the people there and I look up and, from about 10 feet away, in walks this beautiful young woman with a ponytail and pulling up the zipper on the back of her uniform. And she said, “Are we shooting now? They just called me in…” She’s looking around, looking to see what the setup is.

Well, it’s Zoe, who wasn’t supposed to be working that day. J.J. had her called in, supposedly for some scenes he didn’t get, that he wanted to do. She didn’t get an answer from the assistant and she looks in my direction and says, “Well, how soon does he… AAAAHHHH!” When she saw me nothing else came out of her mouth except “AAAAHHHH! and “No way!” Now she knew that she was brought in to meet me. And he’d set me up, too, to meet her. Isn’t that cool? And there’s a great photo of us on the set. Then they brought out her director’s chair and put it next to me, and for the next two hours we had the greatest time, the greatest conversation, and I just fell in love with her. She’s so gorgeous and so good and so funny, and you would have thought we knew each other all our lives, or at least all her life.

What did you make of the Uhura-Spock relationship in the movie?

Nichols: The only way I could explain it was that she was a recruit and this was her first trip out. It was the five-mission where no man or woman had gone before. So J.J. had the right, as the director of the prequel, to show the characters as young people. NASA recruits train for a year, sometimes two, before they go out on their first mission. As young people, they’re excited and they’re new and they’re going to go on this mission, and there’s romance and so forth that’s going to go on. Kirk was hitting on her a couple of times and he was hitting on everybody else because he was cute – and knew it. She shined him off, but Spock fascinated her, her serious side. Now, this is me making my story on what happened, but he saw in her his human side and she touched a side of him that they were supposedly discreet about.

Now, go back to my participation in Star Trek as Uhura and Leonard (Nimoy) as Spock. There was always a connection between Uhura and Spock. It was the early 60’s, so you couldn’t do what you can do now, but if you will remember, Uhura related to Spock. When she saw the captain lost in space out there in her mirror, it was Spock who consoled her when she went screaming out of her room. When Spock needed an expert to help save the ship, you remember that Uhura put something together and related back to him the famous words, “I don’t know if I can do this. I’m afraid.” And Uhura was the only one who could do a spoof on Spock. Remember the song (in “Charlie X”)? Those were the hints, as far as I’m concerned.

Saldana is playing Uhura now and into the future. Do you see her building to your interpretation?

Nichols: OK, let me tell you another little story about Zoe and her approach to it. Zoe played it just like I was saying, a young recruit. They’re having fun. It’s exciting. They’re serious about their training, but when they’re off duty they’re like young people (typically are). I didn’t meet Zoe until halfway through her filming. As we sat there for two hours, she picked my brain. She said, “How did you approach Uhura? I’m so excited to meet you, and tell me about it.” So I told her. I said, “I created her as a serious person, but not that serious.” I told her that Uhura was as serious as cancer when we were on duty, but that when we were off duty she could be in the rec room singing, and teasing Spock with that song about him.

So I’m going on, talking, talking, talking, not knowing what Zoe has shot yet, not knowing how she has approached the character. She asked me about my background, my parents, and I told her about that. I told her I created Uhura’s parents and that they were rather like my parents, that they would have expected the highest from me. Blah, blah, blah. Blah, blah, blah. And Zoe got very serious. She said, “Oh, my God, I wish I’d met you, talked to you before I started shooting.’ I said, “I’m sure that you’re bringing something fresh and beautiful.” She just looked at me and said, “Yeah, but I see Uhura in a whole new light.”

All right, that part of the story ends. I kept a good relationship with J.J. and everyone. I go to a premiere in Catalina Island, which was shortly after the premiere here in L.A. I couldn’t go to the L.A. premiere because I was at a big, big, big convention in Germany. When it was over I understood what the young lady was talking about when she said, “I wish I had spoken to you before I started,” because she was playing it light and flirty at the beginning. The time I spoke to her was the time they were then going on the ship. Do you remember the scene where she says, “No, I’m going! I was promised this, and I’m going,” and they had to take her on? She was destined to go on. She kissed Spock in a different way and said, “I’ll see you on board.” When she walked on board she was a full-blown Uhura in every manner and way that I had created the character.

http://www.startrek.com/article/nichelle-nichols-answers-fan-questions

Star Trek XII Script In Progress

2010-11-04T23:26:00.000-07:00

According to TrekMovie.com, work has begun on writing the script for Star Trek XII.

Last week, Roberto Orci tweeted about beginning work on the script. “To do list: get groceries, do laundry, start writing Star Trek, walk dogs, get new book to read, vote…”

Orci confirmed with TrekMovie that he has begun work on that script along with Alex Kurtzman. “Fingers have been put to keyboard,” he said.

Star Trek XII will release on June 29, 2012.

http://www.trektoday.com/content/2010/10/star-trek-xii-script-in-progress/

Patrick Stewart reveals a fifth Star Trek: Next Generation film was planned

2010-10-12T23:28:00.000-07:00

Actor Patrick Stewart has revealed that a fifth Star Trek film, based on the Next Generation characters, was planned. In the Star Trek film franchise four films involving the Next Generation characters were produced; Generations, First Contact, Insurrection and Nemesis. However, Patrick Stewart - who played Jean-Luc Picard - has revealed in a recent interview with a fifth film was planned which would have been a proper "farewell" for the characters.

While we were filming Nemesis an idea was being developed by John Logan, the screenwriter of Nemesis, and Brent Spiner for a fifth and final movie. It was a very exciting idea for a screenplay. It would have been a real farewell to Next Generation, but it would have involved other historic aspects of Star Trek as well. I can't go into details because the project wasn't mine. When that didn't happen, the studio announced in its own inimitable way that we were suffering from franchise fatigue and that there was to be no more, and I am absolutely content with that. I remain very proud of the work that we did, very proud of the series and the movies, but I do not wish to return to it. - Patrick Stewart quoted on Blastr

The proposed fifth Next Generation filmed never happened though with the franchise going into limbo following the disappointing box office performance of 2002's Star Trek Nemesis. When Star Trek: Enterprise was cancelled in 2005 because of low ratings it was decided to rest the franchise before rebooting it. In 2009 that re-boot came in the form of a new Star Trek movie produced by J.J Abrams and written by Roberto Orci and Alex Roddenberry. The re-boot took the franchise back to the Academy days of the 'original series' characters such as Kirk and Spock. Amongst the cast of the film were Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana and Leonard Nimroy.

http://www.atvnewsnetwork.co.uk/today/index.php/atv-today/4259-patrick-stewart-reveals-a-fifth-star-trek-next-generation-film-was-planned

Star Trek Ultimate Fan Pack

2010-10-12T23:25:00.000-07:00

Those looking for a holiday gift for a Star Trek fan might want to consider the Star Trek Ultimate Fan Pack, which includes six Star Trek ships and the Scene It Star Trek DVD Game.

The set, available at Costco, features the game and six Hot Wheels reproductions of familiar Star Trek ships.

The Scene It Star Trek DVD Game includes puzzles, trivia questions and clips from all six televised series, including the Animated Series, as well as the first ten Star Trek movies.

The six Hot Wheels toy ships will be of interest to Star Trek fans. The ships include: a battle-damaged USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A (from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country), the original USS Enterprise NCC-1701, a Klingon Bird of Prey (the HMS Bounty from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home), the USS Saratoga NCC-1867, a USS Enterprise NX-01 (from Star Trek: Enterprise) and the Romulan mining ship Narada (from Star Trek XI).

The Star Trek Ultimate Fan Pack will retail for $80.00

http://www.trektoday.com/content/2010/10/star-trek-ultimate-fan-pack/

Will There Be Klingons? Director J.J. Abrams and Writers Talk Star Trek 2

2010-10-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

J.J. Abrams' re-imagined Star Trek movie found fans in Trekkies and plebians alike. When it comes to Star Trek 2, everyone's waiting to see what the director and his team will come up with next.

Abrams and writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman spoke to SFX Magazine about what's going on with the next installment. Abrams said, he wanted to "keep some of the mystery going," and he's a master at that: We're still wondering what happened in LOST. He offered this vague quote:

The universe that Roddenberry created was so vast. And so it's hard to say there's one particular thing that stands out as what the sequel must be. Which is on the one hand, a great opportunity. On the other hand it's the greatest challenge – where do you go? What do you focus on? But I'm incredibly excited about the prospects.

The one thing that the creators confirmed was that it wasn't going to take a super serious tone like The Dark Knight. It would be hard, considering that Simon Pegg is going to have a much larger role as confirmed by Orci. "The first one had dark elements, but was ultimately very warm. We'd hope to strike a similar balance [in the sequel]," Kurtzman said. Orici added:

Humor is part of the franchise and I think it's critical, certainly to the Bones-Spock relationship. It's definitely a big part of the Bones-Kirk relationship. So, I don't see any world where humor doesn't play a part.

It was Orci and Kurtzman who addressed the pressing issue on most people's minds: Will there be Klingons? Both didn't say much, but Kurtzman pointed out that a couple of the storylines they are considering could easily slip in Khan. Orci said the story would be picked depending on "what the characters need," but acknwledged that everyone is aware of what the fans want. Orci commented:

Introducing a new villain in the sequel is tempting because we now have this incredible new sandbox to play in. On the other hand, some fans really want to see Klingons and it's hard not to listen to that. The trick is not to do something that's been seen before just because you think it will be a short cut to likeability.

Will you tune out if J.J. Abrams doesn't include some of the classic characters like Khan or ask William Shatner to cameo?

Read more: http://techland.com/2010/09/13/will-there-be-klingons-j-j-abrams-roberto-orci-and-alex-kurtzman-talk-star-trek-2/#ixzz12DXoWq00

Worf from 'Star Trek' goes vegan

2010-10-12T23:20:00.000-07:00

MOST-FAMOUS KLINGON: Michael Dorn.

While the original "Star Trek" came out before my time, the "Next Generation" spinoff remains a solid part of my television childhood memories. Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Lt. Commander Data, Doctor Beverly Crusher, and a host of other characters all introduced me to the awesome world of "Star Trek". And of course, there was the hot-headed, but loyal Kilngon Lieutenant Worf.

While many of the other characters were easily recognizable outside of costume, the actor behind Worf — Michael Dorn — was hard to distinguish from his on-screen alien counterpart. The minute he opens his mouth, however, that familiar voice so central to Worf's character gives him away. In fact, he's so beloved to Trekkies that he has appeared in a total of 279 episodes of the "Star Trek" franchise — including five movies.

In a recent interview with KeepFitWithPhoebe.com, Dorn shared that after going vegan, he lost more than 40 pounds and feels fantastic.

“I have not missed meat at all,” said the actor. “The only thing I would even think about missing is hamburgers and French fries. You can still have French fries. But I’ve found that the vegetarian burger and the stuff that’s out there now is very good when you dress it up ... So I don’t miss it at all. It’s sort of like, it’s easy to make the transition because I feel so much better.”

Check out the rest of the video from one of my favorite Klingons below:

http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/blogs/worf-from-star-trek-goes-vegan

Rare Nokia Star Trek Communicator stays as a prototype

2010-10-12T23:19:00.000-07:00

Trekkies would definitely love to have a Communicator in their hands, living out the intergalactic lifestyle. Well, Nokia did come up with a Nokia Star Trek Communicator some time ago, but too bad for the masses, this has remained a prototype with no plans of pushing it to the final frontier of being an actual consumer device. Also known as the "Starfleet Communicator" by certain quarters, there are only 14 of these constructed by Nokia, where they were built to simulate the iconic voice communication devices of the original TV series. The hardware itself isn't that exciting since we're talking about a now ancient N76 with an external LCD display and a trifecta of lights on its front. Just in case you were wondering, yes, it is an actual working phone, but you can't call anyone on the other side of the galaxy.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/15/archives/2010/09/rare_nokia_star_trek_communicator_stays_as_a_prototype.html

'Star Trek' Actor William Shatner Boldly Talks a Little $#*!

2010-10-12T23:17:00.000-07:00

William Shatner's new TV show may not be taking him to the final frontier, but the "Star Trek" actor is set to take the helm of an original comedy that premieres this week.

Shatner, 79, is the star of the new show "$#*! My Dad Says," which debuts Thursday (Sept. 23) on CBS.

The sitcom is based on the popular Twitter feed of author Justin Halpern who, after moving in with his parents, used the micro-blogging site to record his father's amusing, but often expletive-laden and politically incorrect, observations and advice.

Halpern's success on Twitter led to a book deal with Harper Collins. The book, titled "Sh*t My Dad Says" was published in May and quickly became a bestseller.

Shatner will star as Ed Goodson, the blunt and opinionated father of Henry, played by Jonathan Sadowski.

Shatner himself uses Twitter, posting updates under the name "WilliamShatner."

"It's a mystery to me what people will think," Shatner wrote in a recent post. "Can't wait to hear your thoughts!"

According to the show's official CBS website: "When Henry finds he can no longer afford to pay rent, Ed reveals a soft spot and invites Henry to move in with him. Henry agrees, knowing that the verbal assault will not abate and now there will be no escape. Describing their father/son relationship is tricky, but Ed will easily come up with a few choice words."

Among his myriad roles on the stage, television and silver screen, Shatner is probably best known for his portrayal of Capt. James T. Kirk in the original "Star Trek" TV series that ran from 1966 to 1969.

Shatner reprised the role in seven feature films in the 1980s and 90s. He has also penned numerous science fiction and autobiographical novels, directed films, starred in commercials and appeared in many other television shows as both actor and host.

This summer, Shatner hosted the William Shatner 20th Annual Hollywood Charity Horse Show to raise funds for various charities for children. He also auctioned off his Harley Davidson motorcycle and other personal items as part of a larger Star Trek-themed charity auction in Las Vegas in June.

http://www.space.com/entertainment/william-shatner-new-tv-show-100921.html

Nimoy, "The Conscience Of Star Trek" To Speak In Long Beach, CA. October 23rd.

2010-10-12T23:04:00.000-07:00

Leonard Nimoy, once described by Gene Roddenberry as "the conscience of Star Trek", will be speaking for one night only at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach, CA. Set for October 23rd at 8pm, the intimate talk will touch on the subjects of innovation, creativity and personal development. Plus a ton of Trek!

According to EverythingLongBeach.com, Leonard will speak on Star Trek, its origins, and how a new genre for television and movies was created. He'll also share his portrayal of the rational and emotionally suppressed Vulcan as part of a remarkable and diverse career that’s left an indelible imprint on American culture.

With his impending "retirement" this maybe one of the last chances to see Leonard in an environment such as this. Tickets for "An Evening With Leonard Nimoy are $65 for adults or $60 for seniors and can be purchased by calling (562) 985-7000.

http://www.subspacecomms.com/content/2010/09/21/nimoy-conscience-star-trek-speak-long-beach-ca-october-23rd

Rod Roddenberry Gives His Opinion on Enterprise Cancellation and J.J. Abrams Star Trek Movie

2010-10-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of the online magazine Trekkie Central Magazine features a new interview with producer Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, the son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, and here are few excerpts.

TCM: What were your initial thoughts when Enterprise was cancelled?

ER: TO be honest my initial thoughts were I didn't care to much. I gave it a chance, I watched the entire first season and I thought it was good, maybe not great but sort of a good Star Trek with a little bit of a rocky start. It had jumped too far ahead for me, in fact I thought the entire first season should be a build up to discovering the Klingons. So I kinda just wanted a slower more natural progression of this young civilization reaching into the depths of space, it just moved a little bit to fast for me.

I tuned into the second season for just a few episodes and was immediately turned off and I cant particularly remember why at this time but I remember it just didn't interest me, and you know how it is, the minute you miss a season or a number of episodes its hard to tune back in. I'd heard that seasons three and four were much better, thanks to Manny Coto, but I never really gave it another shot and even to this day I haven't given it another shot because I've gotta sit down and watch it all over again from one to four.

So my first thoughts were kind of I don't care but I did care that it was, you know, the end of Star Trek running as a TV series, now truthfully I never thought and I still don't think that its off the air permanently. It had a good run and I figure it needed a hiatus, the audience, the market and the TV waves had been saturated with Star Trek series after Star Trek series and I thought it might be a good idea for it to rest for five, ten or even fifteen years, and to be honest I still feel that way.

I think Star Trek will come back on TV whether its in a year or twenty years, its never going to die, the fans are gonna keep it alive and also CBS and Paramount are always going to see profit

to be made. So one day they well dig it back up and say well ‘hey lets make something out of this'. I do know that Star Trek will come back in one form or another on TV, I just don't know when and I don't know how good it will be (laughs). The last thing I want it to do is to become Star Wars, that doesn't deal with ethics, humanity, the human potential, we don't want science fiction that doesn't have a statement about the positive attributes of humanity as well as learning from our negative ones.

TCM: What did you think of the latest Star Trek Movie?

ER: Well to be honest I thought it was pretty good, umm yeah there are plenty of things that I would do differently, there were plenty of things my father would do differently and there were plenty of things that you out there reading this would do differently, but I thought it was pretty good. In fact I was very impressed that they stayed as true as they did to the Star Trek canon. Now I know there's a lot of naysayers out there that are upset because it went on a different timeline but I have to give them credit for at least doing that, you know they could have gone back and said ‘you know what we're gonna re-write history and were gonna do it our way'. I would have been very disappointed had they done that, but instead they branched off on to a new timeline which allowed all the original fans, the people who like the original stuff like me to still connect and believe in that timeline, that it does still exist but there's also a whole new generation and for those of us with open minds there's a whole other timeline that we can go down, you know I thought it was fairly intelligent and basically very respectful of the current fan world out there. The story was fine but what really made it were the characters, I mean the story was nothing really special it was good guy verses bad guy, planets going to get destroyed, we've kinda seen it before, but again done by JJ. its always unique. Where I have to give credit is to the characters, they did a great job of casting, I mean Spock was Spock, McCoy was McCoy, they all did a fantastic job on that and that really helped I think ease some of the pain, some of the fears and some of the expectations we might have had. It lived up to that expectation by really making sure the characters stayed true to the original series, so I thought they did a great job.

My only issue, my only gripe if you want to call it that is that at the end when Neros ship is being sucked into the wormhole type thing and being destroyed. I was happy Kirk said ‘hey we're willing to offer you assistance if you just as for it', and of course Nero says no I'd rather die. I didn't think it necessary that they fire all the photon torpedoes to "blow them out of the sky" that was a little bit

over kill for me and I know that it came from a vengeful Spock who'd just seen his planet destroyed but the true Roddenberry/Star Trek way is to do what they did, offer assistance but then show remorse for and pity for the loss of life regardless of what its done.

http://trekweb.com/articles/2010/09/21/Rod-Roddenberry-Gives-His-Opinion-on-Enterprise-Cancellation-and-JJ-Abrams-Star-Trek-Movie.shtml

Star Trek Enterprise pizza wheel

2010-10-12T23:01:00.002-07:00

Trekkies love a good pizza. Who doesn’t? So if you are going to slice up a pizza, you may as well do it with the Enterprise. Set a course for the pepperoni frontier. This thing will slice your fresh pizza pie faster than phasers can slice through a Klingon warship.

The blade is made from laser-etched stainless steel, and the body is made from a durable zinc-alloy chromium plate. Mostly, it just looks awesome and you know it will impress your friends.

It’s available at ThinkGeek for $24.99.

http://www.slipperybrick.com/2010/09/star-trek-enterprise-pizza-wheel/

Nichelle Nichols | 'Star Trek' icon still has rank

2010-10-12T23:01:00.001-07:00

Nichelle Nichols is a singer, dancer, actress and activist, but she's best known “Star Trek,” as the original Lt. Uhura, the fictional USS Enterprise's chief communications officer and the first African-American woman featured in a major TV show.

But her influence on space travel isn't confined to fictional galaxies. Nichols helped NASA recruit the first female and minority astronauts into the space shuttle program, including Sally Ride, the first American female astronaut. She serves on the board of governors of the National Space Society and on the advisory board of the International Space Camp.

In the 1970s, you worked with NASA to recruit women and minorities into the space shuttle program. What was that process like?

NASA didn't quite understand why women and people of color weren't responding to their recruitment call. I didn't understand why they didn't understand: that they had put out there how many recruitment drives they had conducted before that one and it had always remained an all-white, all-male astronaut corps. I promised NASA that I would bring in so many qualified women and people of color that they wouldn't know who to choose. I went to universities with strong science and engineering programs, I went to the Black Engineers' convention and they opened their arms. Women of all colors, African-Americans, Asians and our Spanish community were very skeptical. By the time I finished speaking with them, I brought in more than 3,800 qualified people of color and women to apply. Now, an integrated Space Shuttle corps is de rigueur .

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100927/FEATURES/309270002

Theater Review: Washington Shakespeare Company's evening of the Bard in Klingon

2010-10-12T22:59:00.000-07:00

We all know about the defense and intelligence industries' explosive growth in recent years -- but sentry work outsourced to space aliens? That's a new phenomenon. Nevertheless, there they were on Saturday night, staking out sidewalks in Rosslyn: humanoids (or so it seemed) wearing red T-shirts distinctly marked "Klingon Security."

The lookouts were holding placards that pointed the way to the Rosslyn Spectrum, which was hosting a rare interplanetary cultural extravaganza: Washington Shakespeare Company's "By Any Other Name: An Evening of Shakespeare in Klingon," featuring "Star Trek" alumnus George Takei.

Who could question the need for the extra sentinels outside the venue? In announcing the one-night-only benefit -- built around the language invented for the Klingon figures in the "Star Trek" franchise -- Washington Shakespeare essentially cried havoc and let slip the dogs of media frenzy. The event was covered by news outlets in Canada, England, India and Indonesia, as well as around the United States. Demand was such that, according to Executive Director Warren Arbogast, the company began selling less desirable seats it had originally intended to seal off.

"Tonight, all the galaxy's a stage!" proclaimed company member Joe Palka, the evening's master of ceremonies, kicking off the proceedings on a dais near a large red Klingon flag. There were brief remarks by Arbogast and Washington Shakespeare Artistic Director Christopher Henley -- each of whom appeared in mild shock over the attention their experiment had received. Arbogast displayed the rumpled restaurant napkin on which he and Henley had scribbled their original ideas for the event.

The introductions paved the way for an amusing autobiographical talk by Washington Shakespeare board president Marc Okrand, who just happens to be the linguist recruited by Paramount Studios in the 1980s to invent the Klingon tongue. The bespectacled academic-turned-sci-fi-luminary gave a wry rundown of the syntax and exotic sound structure he'd concocted for the language. ("There's no "K" in Klingon, and that's that!" he insisted, illustrating the raspy, back-of-the-throat "kh"-type consonants he'd woven into the lingo instead). He good-humoredly recalled how various "Star Trek" actors and directors had inadvertently mauled his concepts over the years, forcing him to invent all sorts of baroque grammatical rules and double meanings for Klingon, a tongue he formalized in 1985's "Klingon Dictionary." (Later updated, it is now, of course, available in Kindle format.)

The evening really shifted into gear with the performances -- in Klingon and English -- of the Laertes-Hamlet duel scene from Shakespeare's most celebrated tragedy, as well as a passage of Beatrice-Benedick banter from "Much Ado About Nothing." (Those two works by the Bard have been translated in their entirety by the Klingon Language Institute, a Pennsylvania-based organization.) Four thuggish-looking Klingons, sporting gnarled foreheads and robed regalia and clutching spears and scimitars, looked on as the two "Hamlet" renditions were performed side by side -- a minute or two of the grating, guttural Klingon version, followed by a minute or two of the English one.

Riffing on the conceit that the Bard originally composed in Klingon ("You have not experienced Shakespeare until you have read him in the original Klingon," a character famously pronounced in the film "Star Trek VI"), actors from the extraterrestrial version periodically broke character to tell the English-language actors that the transliterations were inaccurate. The four berobed Klingons pounded their spears now and then and roared softly in outrage -- or maybe enthusiasm. It was hard to tell.

Henley and actor Jay Hardee glided gracefully through the "Much Ado" material, followed by Okrand and Rachel Wyman barking out the exchange in Klingon. Finally, Takei stalked onstage and delivered a dignified but rather stiff and emotionless interpretation of Cassius's Act 1, Scene 2 speech to Brutus in "Julius Caesar." ("Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world/like a Colossus . . . .") Rounding out the proceedings was a question-and-answer session fielded by Henley, Okrand and Takei.

Thespians and Trekkies who missed the event need not despair: Arbogast announced that Washington Shakespeare's Bard-in-Klingon gamble will likely be featured in an upcoming BBC documentary on language. To that end, "By Any Other Name" (minus Takei) may be remounted next February for a camera crew.

What's with the insatiable appetite for classics in a concocted parlance? The fault, dear reader, is not in our stars, but in ourselves: that we are suckers for a gimmick.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/26/AR2010092602805.html

Abrams On Inspiration For Star Trek

2010-10-12T22:58:00.000-07:00

J.J. Abrams may not make The Wrath of Khan Part II for the Star Trek sequel, but the original Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan was part of the inspiration for Star Trek XI.

Although one element of The Wrath of Khan particularly caught Abrams’ attention, Abrams can’t really think of anything else in the Trek universe that specifically inspires him when it comes to planning the sequel to 2009′s Star Trek XI.

Abrams was drawn to the chemistry between Kirk and his crew in The Wrath of Khan and he tried to recreate that chemistry for Star Trek XI. But that was really all he took away from the Trek universe. “It wasn’t that there was anything in particular that felt like this one thing that has to be in the sequel,” he said. “The universe Roddenberry created was so vast. And so it’s hard to say there’s one particular thing that stands out as what the sequel must be.”

This makes it a bit tougher when it comes to making a second movie. “Which is, on the one hand, a great opportunity, on the other hand, it’s the greatest challenge,” said Abrams. “Where do you go? What do you focus on? But I’m incredibly excited about the prospects.”

http://www.trektoday.com/content/2010/09/abrams-on-inspiration-for-star-trek/

Star Trek Stars Help The Fight Against Breast Cancer With Project Teddy Bear

2010-10-12T22:57:00.000-07:00

Today we stumbled upon a great reason to bid on and buy your favorite Star Trek actor’s autograph and photo…to help cure breast cancer via Project Teddy Bear.

Project Teddy Bear was started by Lisa Spodak in 2004 as a way to raise money for her third Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. On her website she says, “I’d wait outside theaters, talk shows or other events for celebrities and explain to them that I was doing the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and trying to raise $10,000. I’d ask them to sign a little tag that said “Thank You for Your Donation to The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer” and to pose for a picture with the stuffed Avon Breast Cancer Crusade bear. Then I’d post all the pictures on the web and conduct an online auction. Voila! The almost $4,000 that I raised with Project Teddy Bear helped me raise a total of $15,000!” Read the full story here. Since then she has risen over $150,000 for The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, and is still going.

Currently an auction featuring Wil Wheaton (TNG) is up and running on eBay until Oct 06, 2010 19:21:17 PDT and more Star Trek alumnae that are still to come include; Scott Bakula (Enterprise), Jonathan Frakes (TNG), Ethan Philips (Voyager), Armin Shimerman (DS9), Brent Spiner, Dean Stockwell (Quantum Leap & Enterprise).

If you just so happen to like other celebrities other than Star Trek, Lisa has a ton more to choose from (seriously…a ton…you should see the whole list). The other celebrities include; Matthew Broderick, William B. Davis, Rosario Dawson, Micky Dolenz, Sean Patrick Flanery, Mick Fleetwood, Cuba Gooding Jr., Val Kilmer, Rue McClanahan, Jason Momoa, Brittany Murphy, Kathy Najimy, Corin Nemec, Adrian Pasdar, and Jewel Staite.

See all the Live and Upcoming
http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=6980842894367661461

New Star Trek Game Announced for Summer 2011 – Star Trek: Infinite Space

2010-10-12T22:56:00.000-07:00

Star Trek Deep Space Nine returns as the setting for an upcoming browser-based game. Along with another yet unannounced game, German developer Keen Studios has a new Facebook title focusing on the classic Star Trek universe slated for release in the summer of 2011. Little is known about the title at this point, other than its name and projected launch date.

Star Trek production alum Michael Okuda, the man responsible for the design of the space station, and one of the key designers of the Next Generation and it’s sister series is working as a consultant with the game studio to make sure the game has an authentic to the Tv universe feel. His wife, Denise Okuda, who was also a scene designer and video editor on the TV shows will contribute as well.

I’m not sure what sort of gameplay to expect here, but it’s nice to see such an interesting setting within the Star Trek universe getting some attention outside Cryptic’s Star Trek Online universe. With the movies now residing in a parallel timeline it seems the only source of new adventures with these classic settings might be online.

http://news.filefront.com/new-star-trek-game-announced-for-summer-2011-star-trek-infinite-space/

Karl Urban Talks ‘Star Trek 2′

2010-10-12T22:55:00.000-07:00

Actor Karl Urban says he’s looking forward to reprising his role as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy in the next installment of “Star Trek.” Urban, who’s currently promoting his upcoming action film “Red,” said that in particular, he enjoyed working himself into a state of constant consternation during the first film.

“Of cantankerousness?” he asked rhetorically of Bones’ cranky disposition. “It’s fun actually, a lot of fun.”

Urban has appeared in some of the biggest franchises of the last decade, including the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the second film in the saga of Jason Bourne, “The Bourne Supremacy.” He said that he is confident that a follow-up will maintain a similar focus on characters rather than sci-fi spectacle. “I have no doubt that we will be able to continue to strengthen and deepen those relationships,” he said. “To me that was always the most interesting thing about ‘Star Trek,’ is that it was character-driven. It’s a wonderful, smart thing that J.J. [Abrams] and Roberto [Orci] and Alex [Kurtzman] have done, to maintain that.”

J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” was itself a sort of risky proposition for Paramount Pictures, who more or less exhausted the existing universe’s big-screen prospects by the time 2002’s “Star Trek: Nemesis” arrived in theaters. Abrams’ version not only rebooted the series’ mythology, but reintroduced the core ensemble to audiences in a way that appealed both to longtime fans and newcomers. Urban said he looks forward to further exploring his character within this developing universe of this new “Star Trek” franchise.

“I think there’s such a wonderful, rich tapestry of characters and territory to explore,” Urban observed. “The great thing is that we’ve got a bunch of Einsteins working on it –- you know, J.J. and Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman that are really sharp. But I’m really looking forward to seeing where we take the next story.”

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/09/30/karl-urban-talks-star-trek-2/

'Star Trek' Captains to Team Up?

2010-08-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

Star Trek captains William Shatner, Patrick Stewart and Scott Bakula are set to join forces in a new movie.

The trio will reportedly star in the unnamed film that will be set in the 'mirror universe,' which was featured in both the Next Generation and Enterprise TV series.

An insider tells movie gossip website CanMag.com, ""Apparently Shatner was in talks to do a guest role on Enterprise, but it didn't work out. The ideas for the episode will now be incorporated into a movie.""

http://www.whtc.com/news/articles/2010/aug/20/star-trek-captains-to-team-up/

Ryan: 'Star Trek helped with new role'

2010-08-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

Jeri Ryan has revealed that her past role on Star Trek: Voyager helped her play Dr. Kate Murphy on new ABC drama Body of Proof.

The series stars Dana Delany as Dr. Megan Hunt, a medical examiner who solves crimes by examining dead bodies.

Ryan told the Los Angeles Times that her time spent delivering science fiction "technobabble" dialogue on the Star Trek spinoff had helped her learn complicated "medical jargon" for Body of Proof.

"I haven't had so much of that [medical dialogue] but it's not that difficult," she explained. "I did four years on Star Trek. I did technobabble for years, so if I can do technobabble I'm not that concerned about the medical stuff!"

She also revealed that real-life medical examiners were present on the set of the series in order to ensure complete authenticity.

"We've got technical advisers that will be with us on set, so we can keep all of [the science] realistic," she claimed.

Body of Proof will debut in the fall on ABC.

http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/news/a264872/ryan-star-trek-helped-with-new-role.html

EXCLUSIVE: 'Star Trek' Actor Walter Koenig Returns To Comics With 'Things To Come' And New 'Raver' Tales

2010-08-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

Actor Walter Koenig is best known for playing Pavel Chekov, the navigator for the U.S.S. Enterprise in the original "Star Trek" television series and films, but over the course of a career that has spanned more than 50 years of acting, writing, and directing, he's managed to carve out a niche for himself in other areas, too — including the comics world.

The author of Malibu Comics' early-'90s series "Raver," Koenig returns to the comics world next year with "Things To Come," a four-issue miniseries he's scripting that will be published by Bluewater Productions. Set in a post-apocalyptic world in which vampires have become the dominant species, Koenig's tale promises to feature a very different take on the vampire stories that have become all the rage these days.

I spoke with Koenig today to find out more about the series, as well as Bluewater's plans to re-issue the original three-issue "Raver" series next year with a brand new story featuring the character.

In "Things To Come," Koenig presents a world in which vampires are searching for identity and purpose in a world destroyed by their human predecessors. They've evolved to withstand the harsh environment, but remain uncertain of whether they're the next step in civilization or the precursor to something else.

"The one intelligent species that can survive in this post-apocalyptic world are vampires, and they are a bridge from what has gone before, which is this self-destruction of the human race, and what will come after," explained Koenig. "They are in pursuit of their own meaning. Why are they there? Why have they been created?"

"There are those among them who think it is an act of god, and those who thoroughly reject that idea," he added.

However, Koenig stopped short of implying that any of these vampires will be "good guys" by standard definition.

"I don't know that they're good guys," he said. "They evolve as circumstances dictate. They do things that offer the promise of being good, but there are those who are more bitter and they see themselves as doomed to a terrible, soulless eternity."

According to Koenig, the real question posed by the vampires and their existence is "What will come after them?" The answer is something he said he's wrestled with over time, and has changed dramatically over the course of the writing process.

"I had one concept about how the story would end and what will come from these vampire species, but as I grew closer to the end of the story I found myself changing it," he said. "So now it's a different ending than I had initially thought."

Koenig added that the public's current fascination with vampires hasn't gone unnoticed, though he plans to offer a very different take on the creatures than anyone is accustomed to.

"As pretentious as it sounds, I don't want to mimic what has gone before," he explained. "My purpose isn't to capitalize on a theme, but inject it with some fresh ideas. That's what makes writing fun for me. It's always been what makes writing fun for me."

And while some authors shy away from presenting their comics work as a potential prelude to a big- or small-screen project, Koenig indicated early on in the conversation that "Things To Come" is indeed the product of a feature film treatment he'd written over many years and hopes to bring to theater audiences. Before that happens, however, we'll also see a reissue of "Raver," a project he admitted to liking a lot more than he anticipated when he chose to revisit it.

"The 'Raver' comics were better than I thought they were," he laughed. "I remember them less endearingly than I actually felt when I went over them once again. He's a complex character and he has a lot of stuff going on. He's a character who must vanquish the enemy with powers that only mirror the antagonist."

Koenig said he plans to author a brand new story featuring the series' hero, who travels through nightmare worlds manifested by his own psychotic episodes. Almost 20 years separated from the last issue of "Raver," Koenig said he hopes to bring the character back with a new, "more topical" story that offers a "metaphor for our involvement in foreign lands."

"Things To Come" is planned for a Spring 2011 release, with the reissued "Raver" also hitting that year.

Bluewater Productions has provided Splash Page readers with the exclusive first peek at the cover to "Things To Come," featuring the art of GMB Chomichuk. Interior art will be provided by Nathan Ooten. Bluewater has also provided the new cover to the "Raver" collection, featuring art by Gregg Paulsen.

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/08/20/star-trek-walter-koenig-things-to-come-raver-comics/

Interview: Producer of Star Trek Online on Season 2

2010-08-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

In the world of MMOs, we all know the heavy hitters. There's World of Warcraft, maybe a little adventuring in Middle Earth, some crime fighting in City of Heroes and Champions Online, maybe some free-to-play action. Then there's Star Trek Online. When it launched in 2009, fans fell for the opportunity to enter the universe “where no man has gone before”. A substantial enough of a hit, Cryptic has been active in making sure new content comes to the game.

One side-effect of Star Trek Online is the “seasonal” approach to adding content. Atari and Cryptic have Season 2 available right now for Star Trek Online, and the new content will appeal to Trekkies and non-Trekkies alike. With new plot elements, mini-games, cameos and a whole lot more, it looks like there's a lot here to appeal to anyone wanting to make a return to the Star Trek universe. I had a chance for the Executive Producer of Star Trek Online, Daniel Stahl, to answer a few questions about all of this new content. We discussed the general feel of the new series, and what they hope for the future of the game. For anyone thinking about returning to Star Trek Online, this would be an important interview to read. Hit the jump for our discussion.

Destructoid: Now that the game is entering "Season 2", please describe for me the feelings you hope to evoke with this expansion. What sort of new experiences will we see with the game? Is this considered an expansion or a seasonal update?

Daniel Stahl-Executive Producer of Star Trek Online: Season 2 was a lot about reaction to the feedback we received from players. People asked for non-combat missions, so we delivered. People demanded more PvE Klingon content, so we built that.

We’re also trying something new with weekly episodes. They’re brand new, level-agnostic content that people of either faction can play. We’re debuting a new one each week for a while. The episodes are connected and tell a story new to Star Trek Online. We want people to have something to be excited about each week, and we think this is a good way to generate some of that excitement.

Season 2 isn’t really an expansion – it’s just a big update. We structure all of our updates like this. There will be a Season 3 and Season 4, as well.

Overall, I’d say we want to evoke a feeling of excited satisfaction from our current players, and to continue to provide a sense of wonder and potential from all of our players new and old.

Please describe the Diplomatic Corps. Star Trek has always been about intercultural interactions more than action and shooting, and what will fans of this side of Star Trek find?

The Diplomatic Corps is a new gameplay option for players. It has its own reward and advancement system. As you complete special missions for the Corps, you gain diplomatic experience and then progress in rank, which gives you access to higher-profile missions.

One early mission is called Quarantine. A disease has found its way onto your ship, and it’s up to you to work with Starfleet to develop a cure to save you and your crew. There are also First Contact missions, where you can reach out to civilizations that have just developed Warp technology. You can learn about the new species and speak with their leaders, and so on. But that’s just the beginning of this system. We’re going to develop it more based on what people tell us they want to play.

Will we see more references from the show make an appearance in the game?

Definitely! This is more of an “as we can” thing, and if it fits. Since Star Trek Online takes place at later time than any of the shows, it won’t make sense to see some characters from previous shows. That doesn’t necessarily tie our hands, though.

For instance, in Season 2 we introduced a gambling mini-game: Dabo. Leeta, a “Dabo girl” at Quark’s Bar, was a popular recurring character from Deep Space 9. Our community really wanted to see her included in our presentation of Dabo, so we designed a holographic Leeta and recruited Chase Masterson, the actress that played Leeta, to provide voice talent.

Plot-wise, where are we in the game now? How has the overarching narrative of the universe progressed?

The universe is still at war. The Federation and the Klingons are still engaged in hostilities, and the Borg are trying to take advantage of the instability to move against both groups. To make matters worse, the Undine, a shapeshifting race from beyond the Alpha Quadrant, have emerged as quite a threat.

In Season 2, we’ve added the Fek’ihri, a fabled enemy of the Klingons. They feature in the Klingon-exclusive episodes we put together. And in our weekly episodes, players will square off against the Breen. So really, things are pretty hot everywhere.

How has the response been to the game been? Working with the Star Trek franchise has probably been a dream come true. Has it been the flexible experience you hoped?

Star Trek fans are some of the most passionate and knowledgeable fans out there and they’re definitely not shy about giving you their opinion about the game. They have really given us encouragement and feedback as well as some great ideas for what they would like to see in the game. We’ve been taking a lot of cues from them on our mini-game designs, for instance.

I’ve been a Star Trek fan for a long, long time and I was really excited to be given the chance to add to such an awesome franchise. Fortunately for us, CBS has given us a lot of freedom with Star Trek and have been great about providing feedback and any sort of information we may have needed throughout the development cycle.

Where do you hope to go next with Star Trek Online?

We really want to get Klingons caught up, content-wise, with the Federation. And in general, we really want to polish the experience to a mirror shine. I want the things our players encounter to be good, not just there. That’s coloring everything we’re doing going forward.

http://www.destructoid.com/interview-producer-of-star-trek-online-on-season-2-181884.phtml

Shatner treks with his fans

2010-08-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

At 79 years young, William Shatner is boldly going where few of his peers have gone before: cyberspace.

Betty White may have her Facebook fan base, but Shatner recently started his own online community catering to sci-fi fans (myouterspace.com), he uses Twitter and next month he'll be on the sitcom "$#*! My Dad Says," based on a popular Twitter feed.

On his Bio channel interview shows "Shatner's Raw Nerve" and "Aftermath," he's repeatedly proved his savvy with celebrities and newsmakers. A recent exclusive interview with Lee Boyd Malvo, one of the infamous "D.C. Snipers," made Shatner the envy of many television journalists.

In a rare convention appearance on Saturday, Shatner will be signing autographs ($75), posing for professional photos with fans ($95) and appearing on a panel ($85 upgrade for the best seats) at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con. We chatted with him by phone from his office in Los Angeles about his new show, social media and fans. Here's the captain's log:

Q. Why don't you often make convention appearances?

A. The truth is, my deathly fear is I'll disappoint the fans. "Star Trek" means that much to some of them. It's more than a TV show, it's a community. I realized a couple of years ago that they are there to see each other more than they are to see us.

Q. What's your most memorable convention story?

A. There was a kid who used to show up at the conventions with his cat dressed in a "Star Trek" costume. You initially think that's kind of silly, but the whole thing had a unity to it that made it both memorable and outstanding. He loved the show and the cat was kind of his buddy, so I guess he thought he might convince the cat to love "Star Trek," too, if he dressed him up in the outfit. Over the years, this shy kid and the cat developed a following at the conventions, and the kid ended up overcoming his shyness.

Q. What's one obscure fact about "Star Trek" you can tell us?

A. I am the last person to come to to ask that question. So much has been written about the show that inevitably people come up to me with things I didn't even know. I always encourage people to remember that it was 44 years ago. At this point, I can only hold on to major points ... like the fact that I got paid [chuckles].

Q. Last year's "Star Trek" served as a relaunch for the franchise. What did you think of it?

A. It was a wonderful ride. I tweeted after I saw it that you know you're old when you're part of a science-fiction series that goes back in time, and you're still old.

Q. In "$#*! My Dad Says," you play a rather opinionated 72-year-old father of two grown sons. What's the best and worst advice your own dad gave you?

A. The best and worst advice from my father is the same thing. My father didn't want me to become an actor. And he was probably right, given the percentages of those who are able to make a living as a working actor. I would give the same advice to any child of mine. It was the best advice from a loving father, but I'm glad I didn't listen to him.

Q. What do you admire about the character you are playing?

A. Well, first off, the show is being refashioned and recast as we speak. You have to understand that at this moment the character only exists in my mind, so this is all speculative. I think he's alone, lonely and can't admit it. My own experiences have certainly given me some insight into the character. As for what is on paper and the way I'll be playing it? That's the marvel before us. Once we start shooting, it will be like Michelangelo hacking away at the marble.

Q. Can we expect "Star Trek" jokes?

A. I don't think so. The jokes in [his earlier series] "The Practice" and "Boston Legal," that was [show creator] David Kelley poking fun at all of us in that. I think it takes you out of the world you're trying to create, though. If this situation comedy has a sense of reality to it, I don't want you as the audience to pulled out of this world we're trying to create just so we can wink and nod to "Star Trek."

Q. You had a memorable appearance on "Saturday Night Live" in 1986. Should we start a Facebook campaign to get you back on it?

A. Yes! Somebody start a Facebook campaign, please! You've got to do that before either Lorne Michaels or I get any older. We aren't going to live forever. Some say he's lost it, and I'm losing it, so hurry!

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/people/2608842,CST-FTR-shat18.article

Bruce Greenwood Says Pike is an Essential Component to the Trek Franchise, Wants Pike to Get Out of the Wheelchair in Star Trek XII

2010-08-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

Q: Do you know if you’re going to be in the next Star Trek?

BRUCE: I know that I don’t know.

Q: We know they’re still writing it.

BRUCE: (raises his voice, teasing) How do you know that?!

Q: Maybe not “still” writing. Maybe they’ve yet to “start” writing it.

BRUCE: You’re not going to trap me into saying anything about their writing it. (Laughs) I’m joking. I don’t know. I hope so.

Q: I want to know if Captain Pike is still there.

BRUCE: I think Captain Pike is an essential component to the whole franchise. I think there should be a whole offshoot of Pike’s adventures.

Q: You had plenty of them leading up to his initial appearance once in the series so…?

BRUCE: There’s nothing that says Pike can’t get up and out of that wheelchair, get his own ship and go off on some adventures of his own. I’m now an admiral but I just want to get out of the wheelchair.

Q: It’s the future. They can do that.

BRUCE: I know. I had a long conversation about that with J.J. (Abrams) early on because he wanted the hair to go [white]…because in the script it says the hair goes all white. I said (crying) “Do we have to get so Malcolm McDowell about it?”

http://www.collider.com/2010/08/16/bruce-greenwood-interview-maos-last-dancer-star-trek-sequel-batman-under-the-red-hood-young-justice-league/

Wizkids planning two new Star Trek games

2010-08-15T21:03:00.000-07:00

A revitalized Wizkids was at Gen Con last week showing off some new and upcoming games. Drawing the most attention were a pair of prototypes for two very different, very interesting Star Trek games planned for 2011 release.

Star Trek: Fleet Captains is a competitive tactical game of space combat. Each player selects a fleet of ships, then uses a deck of mission cards based on ship type. Pick a science vessel and you'll take on "scan the planet for life signs" type missions. Pick a Bird of Prey and…you know.
They weren't demoing the game itself, just showing off the components and describing it, so I'm not totally sure how you use the gameboard, move around or engage other ships.

I can, however, tell you that the game will ship with scale models of various Star Trek vessels. On display were prototypes. Almost as interesting as the game itself is the fact that they're using 3D modeling and 3D printing to create and test their ship designs. The level of detail was amazing, far beyond what I've seen with 3D printing in the past. It's almost like they're making a Star Trek game using actual replicators.

The ships will use the familiar Wizkids click bases, but this game isn't just HeroClix with starships. Each ship's click dial has three sections based on Star Trek alert levels - yellow, orange and red. You can move your ship's dial to any position within your current alert level to take advantage of different capabilities, much like diverting power to the shields or the sensors, as the situation demands. Damage eventually moves you to the next alert level, and the higher alert levels have fewer dial slots to choose from. So as you take damage, your options become fewer. This particular mechanic is a nice simulation of captaining your own starship, and it also shows how the new Wizkids is using their primary gaming innovation (click bases) in even more innovative ways.

Star Trek: Expeditions is a cooperative game. It follows a classic Trek episode plot: a planet has requested entrance into the Federation, so the Enterprise is sent there to guide the process. When they arrive, they find that a Klingon warship is parked in orbit, threatening to obliterate the planet. Meanwhile, civil war is breaking out on the planet itself, and their leaders are trying to withdraw their application to join the Federation. It's a tangled mess, and you get to take on the role of a crew member trying to sort things out. See the four colored tokens near the top of the photo? Those will be fully painted heads representing four Enterprise crew members (J.J. Abrams movie version).

You'll have to negotiate multiple plot threads and competing priorities with the help of your fellow captains. Gameplay borrows from "choose your own adventure" books - there are decks of cards, and choices the players make (or whether they succeed or fail at an action) will lead them to different cards and different choices.

Expeditions is designed to be a narrative game that leaves the players feeling like they just created their own Star Trek episode. Without seeing the game in action, I can't say if it will be successful, but some of my favorite games have that same narrative feel. If they pull it off, this could be an really fun game. It was designed by gaming legend Reiner Knizia.

Both games are non-collectible - you'll get the whole shebang in one box. However, they are expandable, so expect future add-ons if they sell well. Expeditions should be out early in 2011 with a $49.99 retail price. Fleet Captains is planned to come out three months later, but the price point hasn't been settled yet.

http://io9.com/5613267/wizkids-planning-two-new-star-trek-games

Stewart: 'I was miscast in Star Trek'

2010-08-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

Patrick Stewart has admitted that he thought he was miscast in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The actor played Jean-Luc Picard on the sci-fi series between 1987 and 1994 and later reprised the role in several spinoff films.

He told Deadline: "Why would they cast a middle-aged bald English Shakespearean actor in this iconic role as captain of the Enterprise? It made no sense."

Stewart explained that Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry had insisted that he take the role.

"I guess Gene... had some sort of instinct for it, and his producer Rick Berman was a champion of mine," he said. "Even so, it all felt borderline lunatic back then. It took me a good while to grow comfortable in that role."

The X-Men star recently received an Emmy nomination for his role in a TV adaptation of Hamlet.

http://www.digitalspy.com/cult/news/a260977/stewart-i-was-miscast-in-star-trek.html

Google’s voice actions for Android: One step closer to Star Trek

2010-08-15T20:55:00.000-07:00

Voice actions have arrived for Android smartphones. Google’s latest integration of seamlessly simple solutions has brought about the new feature which allows Android users to simply speak the command.

Google’s software does all the work, connecting you to websites, people and places. Here’s how it works: “To use Voice Actions, tap the microphone button on the Google search box on your home screen, or press down for a few seconds on the physical search button on your phone to activate the “Speak Now” screen.”

Here is an example of a command: navigating to the local Best Buy by saying “Navigate to Best buy”, and your navigation app will give you the directions to take you there.

A second example would be texting a friend by saying their name and then the message “send text to Steve Jobs, how ya like me now?”

A third example could be listening to a song or finding music on your phone, “listen to Broken Bells”

It’s just that simple. The software for Android 2.2 has the following commands built in:

send text to [contact] [message]
listen to [artist/song/album]
call [business]
call [contact]
send email to [contact] [message]
go to [website]
note to self [note]
navigate to [location/business name]
directions to [location/business name]
map of [location]

The next step would be to allow for user-configurable voice actions, until now you will have to make do with a pretty good array of commands from Google. Unfortunately, “teleport me” commands still do not work.

A great hands-on video from Gizmodo showing more realistic processing times.

Mouth On With Android’s Voice Actions (Verdict: It’s Great) [Gizmodo]
Just speak it: introducing Voice Actions for Android [Google]

http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/08/12/googles-voice-actions-for-android-one-step-closer-to-star-trek/

This Day in Geek History -- Star Trek Fans Name Space Shuttle Enterprise

2010-08-15T20:46:00.000-07:00

In honor of AOL's Geek Awards on Aug. 18, we've declared it Geek History Month. Embrace your roots, as we revisit some important events in technology, gaming, sci-fi and more.

The construction of Space Shuttle Enterprise is probably one of the greatest achievements accomplished in the name of geekdom. Not only was the orbiter the first re-usable space shuttle, a rocket type which has since been used for dozens of space missions, the way the ship was named showed the entire world that if enough geeks unite they can change history.

As we celebrate 33 years since the SS Enterprise took its first flight, let's explore at exactly how things went down.

Soon after the Apollo mission successfully proved the moon was not made out of cheese, the U.S. government realized that space flight was going to become a lot more common, especially if you wanted a bunch of satellites and an International Space Station. This was awesome for scientists and rocket manufacturers, but it would mean that things would get very expensive, very fast. A few tons of fuel, thousands of dollars worth of special equipment and months of training -- before you know it your budget has a huge rocket-shaped sinkhole.

The solution seemed obvious. Create some sort of bus system that could regularly ferry equipment and people into orbit, bring them back in one piece and then be easy to re-use.

Inspired by this idea, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Program, completing the first ship on Sept. 17, 1976. The first space shuttle was supposed to be named "Constitution." While we agree that the founding document of the United States is a monumental achievement, it's simply not the right thing to name a spaceship.

And we weren't the only ones to think so; in fact about 200,000 people agreed with us. That's how many wrote directly to president Gerald Ford demanding that NASA change the name of the space ship to "Enterprise."

In the "Star Trek" series, all ships were named after famous space shuttles of the past. So, in a paradoxical way, by naming a real-life shuttle after the Star Trek ship, NASA validated its plot line by providing an explanation for where the Enterprise name came from. If that makes perfect sense to you, congratulations, you're a true Star Trek fan.

Ironically enough, the Space Shuttle Enterprise never actually flew "where no man has gone before." It never even left the Earth's orbit. Since it was the first shuttle in the program, it was meant more as a prototype, a testing unit for Space Shuttle Columbia, which followed it a few years later.

Originally, NASA wanted to retrofit Enterprise and make it space-ready, but engineers abandoned the plan when they realized that building a new ship, Challenger, would end up being cheaper. And so the fate of the Enterprise was sealed after only 16 tests, including only five flights, the first one of which took place on August 12, 1977.

Once the tests were complete, the shuttle was donated to the Smithsonian institute where Star Trek fans regularly visit it. Pictures and footage of the ship were included in later "Star Trek" episodes, and several cast members can be seen in photos outside the real Enterprise.

And this was all possible because Star Trek fans are seriously dedicated people.

http://www.asylum.com/2010/08/12/star-trek-fans-name-space-shuttle-enterprise-august-12/

Star Trek Khan: Ruling In Hell Update

2010-08-15T20:45:00.000-07:00

IDW Publishing’s Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall has updated his blog, with a picture of the Khan plushie doll to be offered this fall when Star Trek Khan: Ruling in Hell #1 debuts, as well as two pages of art from the comic book.

In Star Trek: Khan: Ruling In Hell #1, readers will be able to see just what Khan did to survive in that time between the original series Space Seed and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

The picture featured here (click on the thumbnail to enlarge) shows the arrival of Khan, his followers and Marla McGivers on Ceti Alpha V. Kirk and Khan shake hands and seemingly part on good terms.

Star Trek: Khan: Ruling In Hell #1 was written by Scott and David Tipton, with art by Fabio Mantovani and covers by Joe Corroney and Michael Stribling.

The Khan plushie doll can also be seen for the first time, wearing a black glove, a Star Trek emblem necklace and a sour expression. Ryall encourages readers to “check out the cotton-filled pecs.”

http://www.trektoday.com/content/2010/08/star-trek-khan-ruling-in-hell-update/

Etsy Star Trek Necklace: Totally Geeky or Geek Chic?

2010-08-15T20:42:00.000-07:00

Spotted on Etsy, this Starship USS Enterprise inspired necklace ($15) would make the perfect gift for your favorite Trekkie. It's super affordable and lets the wearer express her fandom without having to put on a pair of Vulcan ears.

I love the obvious handmade care that went into the silhouette design, and its simple look means that you can pretty much wear it with anything. How are you feeling about this necklace — totally geeky or geek chic?

http://www.geeksugar.com/Star-Trek-Necklace-10077826

Star Trek imagined the iPad... 23 years ago

2010-08-15T20:39:00.000-07:00

From the hella cool department, comes this feature on ARStechnica. It's a nifty article laying out how the PADD* used on Star Trek the Next Generation was the forerunner of Apple's 'magical device'.

We remember the clipbpoards they carried around and used on TOS!

We've seen this idea floated before and we heartily agree. Anyone who doesn't know how much Star Trek has influence real world tech has only too look at the flip phone, presagees by the Star Trek communicator.

Also: watch that How William Shatner Changed the World TV special, it ocuses on technological advancements and people in the real world that were inspired by the Star Trek phenomenon. Tru Fax!

* Personal Access Display Device

http://www.ismashphone.com/2010/08/star-trek-imagined-the-ipad-23-years-ago.html

Gameforge Enlists Star Trek Experts to Help on Upcoming Free-to-play Online Games

2010-08-10T22:46:00.000-07:00

Press Release

Karlsruhe, Germany - Germany-based online games publisher Gameforge has beamed renowned Star Trek experts Denise and Michael Okuda aboard as contributors/consultants for the publisher's in-development Star Trek casual browser and Facebook games based on the classic series. The Okudas have more than 20 years of experience with the popular science-fiction franchise and collaborate with Gameforge by providing their expertise regarding visual elements and technical data. They will also design logos for the games and assure consistency with Star Trek timelines and canon.

Michael and Denise Okuda have been professionally involved with the Star Trek franchise since the 1980s; Michael served as a graphic designer and technical consultant starting with 1987's Star Trek: The Next Generation to Star Trek: Enterprise and several movies. Denise has also been deeply entrenched in the popular series for many years. She was a video and computer playback supervisor on numerous Star Trek television shows as well as several of the accompanying movies. Together, Michael and Denise authored The Star Trek Encyclopedia, considered by many to be the foremost authority on Star Trek lore and technology.

"The most exciting time in any Star Trek project is at the very beginning, when the concepts and designs are developed," said Michael Okuda. "We are having a great time working with the innovative team at Gameforge on these new chapters in the Star Trek saga."

"Gameforge is working hard to capture the authentic look-and-feel of the Star Trek universe and they understand the sense of fun that is so important to Star Trek's core," added Denise Okuda. "They are dedicated to interweaving the joy of exploration, of discovery, of going boldly, where no one has gone before into their games."

"We knew first off that in order to make great Star Trek games that we had to enlist some of the foremost Star Trek authorities. Denise and Michael are a tremendous asset to us in making these casual games," said Ralf Adam, VP of Publishing at Gameforge. "Having such great Star Trek icons as contributors to our games will help us in our goal of creating a Star Trek experience that fans and gamers can be proud of."

The Star Trek universe has entertained millions around the world for decades and boasts one of the most loyal and dedicated fan bases in popular culture. As Gameforge works to bring the storied classic franchise to life as a free-to-play casual browser game for players around the globe, Denise and Michael Okuda will be working with Gameforge to ensure a fun and engaging Star Trek experience.

The Web-based casual browser and Facebook Star Trek games by Gameforge are scheduled for release in 2011.

About Gameforge
Gameforge is the largest independent global provider of online games. Located in Karlsruhe, Germany, Gameforge offers 20 games in more than 50 languages and more than 100 million registered users worldwide. The Gameforge portfolio includes Metin2, the largest massively multiplayer online game in Europe and popular games such as OGame, Ikariam, Gates of Andaron, or Gladiatus. The Gameforge portal MMOGAME.COM integrates all Gameforge games in a comprehensive community network. Gameforge has won numerous awards, including "Technology Pioneer 2009" from the World Economic Forum and "Entrepreneur of the Year 2008." Ikariam won the German Computer Game Award 2009 in the "Best Browser Game" category. In 2010, Gameforge was awarded "TOP JOB Employer of the Year" and titled one of the best employers of 2010 by the Great Place to Work Institute Germany.

http://pc.ign.com/articles/111/1111422p1.html

'Beam up my $3,000 ears, Scotty' - Mr Spock stars in Star Trek auction

2010-08-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

Original props from the much-loved 1960s science fiction TV series auctioned online, on Sunday

Collectors had a chance to boldly go where no collector has gone before last Sunday, as Propworx and CBS Consumer Products auctioned props from the original Star Trek TV series.

The online auction came hot on the heels (at Warp speed) of Heritage Auction Galleries' recent sale of Captain James T Kirk's uniform, worn by William Shatner in the franchise's movie spin-offs.

Highlights included a prop "computer screen" from the bridge of the original 1960s Enterprise spaceship, sold for $14,000. Fans can see it in the original episode Errand of Mercy.

Elsewhere, a tunic worn by George Takei in his role of Sulu during the Third Season of Star Trek: The Original Series brought $4,000.

And no Star Trek auction would be complete without an appearance by Mr Spock, who remains one of the most iconic and recognisable sci-fi characters of the 20^th century.

A pair of the Vulcan alien science officer's most recognisable attribute, his prosthetic pointy ears worn by actor Leonard Nimoy during the Original Series, were beamed up for $3,000.

With the franchise likely to continue for some years yet - especially following the JJ Abrams-directed 2009 blockbuster movie - these items will likely prove themselves as appreciable investments in future years.

http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/section.asp?catid=71&docid=4099

Former Star Trek Actor George Takei Celebrating Prop 8 Ruling

2010-08-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

George Takei is celebrating. Prop 8 was ruled unconstitutional by Judge Vaughn Walker, and the LGBT Activist and former Star Trek actor has been celebrating the news that same-sex marriage could be legal again in his home state. Takei married his long time boyfriend Brad Altman before Prop 8 was voted upon.

He hopes that this ruling will speed up legislation making same-sex marriage legal again.

“We’re overjoyed. We’re very happy. I’m sure this is going to be challenged all the way up to the Supreme Court, but my gut feeling is that it’s a clear Constitutional issue that’s in our favour. The people that advocated Proposition 8 used distortion and misinformation in their campaign… That’s not the way a democracy runs. (You should) mind your own marriage,” Takei has stated.

Recently, Takei made another appearance on the animated show Futurama where he played himself, or at least his head. In it, he is the moderator in a debate between Professor Hubert Farnsworth and Bender over the legalization of “robosexual marriage”. While marriage between people of the same-sex is legal in the show, marriage between a human and a robot is not, and it is considered sinful. The show makes fun of a lot of the anti-marriage equality pushes in the US, including the often lampooned National Organization for Marriage ad “The Gathering Storm”.

http://lezgetreal.com/2010/08/former-star-trek-actor-george-takei-celebrating-prop-8-ruling/

Orci and Kurtzman on Star Trek sequel

2010-08-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

he writers are planning on expanding other characters, including Captain Pike, and are very interested in fan input regarding a certain genetically engineered nemesis! "We will listen about Khan" says Orci.

While at San Diego Comic Con, Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman talked to MTV about the Star Trek sequel. They said that they are "making significant progress on the story" for the sequel and they are spending a two hour lunch break each day while they are filming Cowboys and Aliens to work on Star Trek. Orci also noted that the second film allows new opportunities:

"Now that we’ve set up everybody – there were new characters in the last one, so we really want to focus in on them. For example Scotty, who you met at the end of the last movie, who [was] so important to the crew but had the shortest screen time, now is going to be in the movie from the very beginning. In fact, the whole crew is in it from the beginning. In the last movie they came in staggered and it really was focusing on Kirk and Spock and now the whole family is there and you want to focus on them first. Before you worry too much about new characters, make sure you have them taken care of".

Orci also seemed to imply that Bruce Greenwood would be returning and that we would see more of Karl Urban’s McCoy. When asked who "popped" in the first film Orci replied:

"I loved, and a lot of people loved, Captain Pike. I loved Bones, who a lot of people thought he’s too good-looking to be cast as Bones… he was a fan-favorite. We’d worked with Karl way back in TV land days, so to get back together and have him surprise everyone was great".

Bob Says They Have Story "They Like" + Says "We Will Listen" About Khan

io9 also talked to Bob Orci at Comic Con about various projects, and got some brief comments about the Star Trek sequel saying "we have a story that we like like and we just have to get cranking it out". He also solicits thoughts on putting Khan in the sequel to say "log in, vote, speak up, we will listen".

6of13:
I think more Bones is great. I always loved the Spock and Bones banter.
This version of Star Trek is also in an alternate universe and there is a plethora of new possibilites besides Khan.
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/6of13/news/?a=21179

Martin Luther King changed face of Star Trek

2010-08-10T22:23:00.000-07:00

Star Trek came long after the pioneering of television, in 1966, but it was a pioneer in its own way, Nichelle Nichols recalls.

Bonanza was already broadcasting in colour at the time. Colour had a galvanizing effect on the medium, in the same way that talkies changed the silent movies, but it was originally introduced to sell TV sets, not transform TV itself. Star Trek made it onto the air in the first place because its parent network, NBC, realized it would be colourful, with psychedelic, LSD-inspired '60s colours, and sell many TV sets.

For Nichols, Star Trek turned into a wild ride.

"Were we pioneers?" Nichols asked rhetorically, at the summer meeting of the TV Critics Association. "I think not. I knew, though, that something was very, very different in Gene (Roddenberry) casting me as the fourth in command, as Lt. Uhura.

"It was rather interesting for me to be cast on the show because I came up in musical theatre. I was about to break through and do all the things I really wanted to do on Broadway. I took Star Trek because I thought it would be a nice adjunct to my resume; I'd get to Broadway quicker, and be a star. And suddenly - I still think that way - I kind of got stuck there. Star Trek interrupted my career."

Kidding.

Nichols was serious on one point, though: She tried to leave Star Trek after the first season.

``I thought, `Oh, this is going nowhere for me.' I told Gene on a Friday evening that I was going to leave the show. And Saturday, that next day, he said, `Please don't leave. Don't you see what I'm trying to do here?' ''

That very next evening, at a charity fundraiser, a star-struck fan walked up to Nichols. It was Dr. Martin Luther King.

``One of the fund raisers came up to the dais and said, 'Ms. Nichols, there's fan here; there's a person who says he's a big, big fan of yours,'' Nichols recalled. ``I thought it was a Trekkie, and so I said, `Sure.' I stood up and I looked across the room, and there was Dr. Martin Luther King walking towards me with this big grin on his face. And he reached out to me and said, `Yes, Ms. Nichols, I am your greatest fan.'

``And he said that Star Trek was the only show that he and his wife Coretta would allow their three little children to stay up and watch, because while they were marching, every night you could see people who looked like me being hosed down with a fire hose and dogs jumping on them because they wanted to eat in a restaurant.

``The civil rights marches were going on, and here I was playing an astronaut in the 23rd century.

``And when I told Dr. King I was leaving the show, I never got to tell him why, because he said, `You can't.' He explained to me just what I've just said.

```Here you are on the command crew in the 23rd century, fourth in command, while we're marching in the streets for equality.'

``He told me a lot of other things that were so complimentary that I blush to think of it, but he was dead serious. He said, `You're part of history, and this is your responsibility, even though it might not be your career choice.'

``So I went back and told Gene Roddenberry on Monday, because he'd asked me to think about it over the weekend, and that if I still wanted to leave I would have his blessings. I went back, and I told him about Dr. Martin Luther King. Now, Gene Roddenberry was a six-foot-three guy with muscles. He was a big, hack- nosed guy. He had been a motorcycle cop and flying hero in the Second World War. And he sat there with tears in his eyes.

``He said, `Thank God that someone knows what I'm trying to do. Thank God for Dr. Martin Luther King.' And I told him if he still wanted me, I would stay. He took out my resignation, and it was all torn up where I had given it to him. And he put it in the drawer. I stayed, and I've never looked back. I'm glad I did.''

http://www.canada.com/Martin+Luther+King+changed+face+Star+Trek/3363268/story.html

'Star Trek 2' Inspired By 'Cowboys And Aliens'

2010-08-05T02:08:00.000-07:00

Space always has been the final frontier, but the sequel to J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" will take some cues from the old Western frontier thanks to the latest Hollywood genre mash-up, "Cowboys and Aliens."

Details on the plot of the new movie are being carefully kept under wraps (although that hasn't stopped wild speculation swirling the web) and the script hasn't even been finished, but writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman insist the follow-up will remain immensely loyal to the original canon and bring the series back to the very origins of the franchise.

"['Cowboys and Aliens'] inspires it a little bit," Orci said. "'Star Trek' was 'Wagon Train [to] the Stars.' Isn’t that how Gene Roddenberry pitched it? So right now we’re just doing 'Stars Come to the Wagon Train' and now we start turning. Once we start relaxing about what we’re doing here, I’m hoping that being out in the woods a little bit will kind of inspire the right decisions hopefully."

How far are the duo in scripting? Right now, they are about half complete, but events are still subject to change ... and change they might once fellow scribe Damon Lindelof returns from his vacation. The "Lost" co-creator, who has been consulting via e-mail, is enjoying a break from Hollywood following his six-year odyssey on a mysterious tropical island.

"I’d say we’re halfway through the story," Orci said. "Halfway through all of us going back over what we’ve talked about and seeing if it really sticks. We’ve built a little Jenga castle storywise, and now we’re going to go pick at it and pull at it and if it stays standing. We know what we have."

In the meantime, Orci and Kurtzman are heavily embroiled in new adventure of "Fringe," and the problem they are up against is that there is just too many options to explore. Thanks to the alternate reality storyline, writers have a seemingly infinite source of ideas to fuel the series.

"There’s too much freedom," Orci said. "In a way, you just want to play with the show for 12 years, but I think all the actors would kill us before they allowed us to do that. You can’t help but imagine a million things though.

"What could your other life be? Do you have a soul, or if there’s copies of you out there, do you share the same soul? When two genetically similar people lead vastly different lives and potentially side with vastly different causes, good or evil."

http://www.airlockalpha.com/node/7691/star-trek-2-inspired-by-cowboys-and-aliens.html

George Takei: Is "Star Trek" fandom over?

2010-08-05T02:06:00.000-07:00

George Takei

I wasn't even on the phone with George Takei for two seconds before he began lavishing florid praise upon me. "You have a good Southern-sounding last name," he said with his distinctive delivery. "I’ve associated that with magnolia blossoms."

If Takei had said anything remotely like this on "The Howard Stern Show" or a commercial for Sharp TVs, I would have died laughing. In the last couple of years, Takei has managed to propel himself from the "Star Trek" convention circuit into the pop cultural conversation. He's appeared in viral videos, frankly discussed gayness on Stern's show, become a highly visible activist for gay rights, publicly feuded with William Shatner and turned into a rare figure who's willing to take himself and his politics seriously while poking fun at his status as a camp icon. (He is currently working on a musical about Japanese internment during WWII, and will be appearing at the "World's Largest Star Trek Convention" at the Las Vegas Hilton on Thursday Aug. 5. )

When you're on the phone with the man, it's impossible not be taken by his charm and intelligence. After confessing that I was born in San Francisco (just like Mr. Sulu), we went into a long conversation about urban renewal and mass transit before I could even get to my prepared questions. (Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley appointed Takei to the Southern California Rapid Transit District in 1973.)

Salon spoke to Takei over the phone about the declining importance of "Star Trek," his friendship with Howard Stern, and the importance of the most recent Proposition 8 ruling.

A federal judge has just overturned California's gay marriage ban. How does that make you feel?

Well, we're obviously overjoyed and relieved. My sense always told me that the ruling would be this way. Two years ago the California Supreme Court ruled that marriage equality was a fundamental right. Now at the district court level, Judge Walker has ruled in our favor. I didn’t think he would overturn the state Supreme Court. Like I said, we are definitely overjoyed.

I've read that Leonard Nimoy is going to stop doing conventions soon, and the actors from the recent film from last year aren't hitting the convention circuit quite so hard. Do you think there could be an end to "Trek" fandom?

Well, Paramount is talking about having a sequel to that recent film. I have to refer to it as the recent film, because there is no number or subtitle to it. It's just simply "Star Trek." J.J. (Abrams) really reenergized the "Star Trek" franchise with it -- and with the next film, I think the fan following will continue to be active. In previous years I had predicted "Star Trek" eventually fading away and that proved not to be true. I've given up making that prediction and I'm just going to go with the flow.

But you're still going to the conventions.

I'm always identified as the actor who played Hikaru Sulu even if I'm doing something totally different, or when I'm on the media talking about marriage equality. That's my calling card, it seems. So I'm resigned to the fact that my tombstone probably is going to read "Here lies Hikaru Sulu" in great big bold letters, and in smaller letters, "AKA George Takei."

We're in the 21st century and you've fashioned yourself into a camp icon. It seems like you're everywhere, from Howard Stern to Sharp TV ads to satire videos about Tim Hardaway.

Well, you know, I'm proud of my association with "Star Trek," particularly because of what "Star Trek" stands for. But I'm a professional actor and you want to keep a career viable. At the same time it's difficult to keep that career viable when you're so associated with one character and one genre, science fiction. Some of my colleagues have complained that they've been stereotyped.

About four or five years ago I did "Equus" here in Los Angeles onstage, and that was a soul-satisfying experience. I just finished a comedy on unemployment, would you believe, with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. It's called "Larry Crowne." Tom Hanks plays Larry Crowne.

How do you think Gene Roddenberry would have dealt with the struggle for marriage equality?

I had a very private conversation with Gene on that issue. I was still not out, so we spoke theoretically. This was at one of his parties -- it wasn't a huge party. We were at the pool and he and I swam out to the far end and we were chatting there. Most of the people were not in the pool. They were chatting poolside at the other end, so I broached that subject.

You know, we'd dealt with the Vietnam War. We'd dealt with the civil rights movement. We'd dealt with a lot of issues of our times. And I asked him, "How do you feel about that [gay rights]?" He said, "This is an important issue and we want to deal with it." However, this was while we were on TV. He said, "Our ratings are low and I need to keep the show on the air. All I need is another firestorm and this show will be canceled, and I won't be able to make those statements that I've been making with the show." He said, "The times will change as we move along, but at this point, I can't do that." So again, it was the politic compromise, like what poor Bill Clinton had to make.

"The Howard Stern Show" is often both very crass and very misogynist. How did you end up being such a staple on his program?

You know, at the core, Howard is someone who is very firm and passionate about freedom of speech, the First Amendment. He certainly uses it in a juvenile way, but he also uses it meaningfully. He takes stands on political issues. You know, when you're engaged in a war, you don't cut taxes, particularly on the rich. He was very vocal on issues like that. He's someone who cherishes the freedom of speech and I support him on that. But at the same time, you've got to be wary because they catch you off guard on that show, and I have been bitten by his trap on many occasions. Like the Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonator who called me – not only once, but twice on the show.

Who had the bigger ego of those you worked with, William Shatner or John Wayne, whom you worked with in "The Green Berets"?

I have a great admiration for John Wayne. We're certainly different politically, but he's a decent guy. As an actor, I think he's John Wayne; he's always playing himself. I remember seeing him in "The Conqueror" where he played Genghis Khan. His accent was the same. His walk was the same. He was John Wayne with a Fu Manchu mustache. He's big in every way, and there's the bigness in the confidence in himself.

So have I said enough about Bill?

You're planning a new musical, "Allegiance," about Japanese internment during WWII. How did that come about?

I was in New York, and I was seeing "In the Heights," a Tony Award-winning musical about the Puerto Rican community in Washington Heights, with Brad [George's partner]. Near the end of the first act, the father character, who wanted to do so much for his family but couldn't, has a song, "Inutil," or "I Feel Worthless." That transported me to my father in the internment camp. The uncanny thing was, in the same row, about four or five seats away from us, were these two guys we had met the night before, Jay and Lorenzo. Jay, as it turned out, is a composer/lyricist who had done a paper on the Korematsu case (Korematsu v. United States, 1944). [Korematsu was] a Japanese American who challenged the internment all the way to the Supreme Court. Jay asked, "Why did that number get to you so profoundly?" I said, "It reminded me of my father in the internment camps."

So the next day we had dinner together, and I talked about the internment very personally. I said, "I've always wanted to write a play about that experience." Jay thought it would make a wonderful musical. Music is a wonderful way of getting to people's emotions. We wanted people not only in their brains, but in their hearts. Our game plan is first to do a production on the West Coast and then to take that production to New York in 2012.

How does the internment of Japanese Americans compare to the current struggle for marriage equality?

I have a lot of speaking engagements and I use my internment experience, or the internment experience of Japanese Americans being confined behind barbed wire, to the struggle for equality for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals. I talk about the legalistic barbed-wire fence that now confines another group of Americans, and they are as equally irrational as the confinement of loyal Americans simply because we happen to look like people who bombed Pearl Harbor. There's that parallel there. Then I go into the specifics of "don't ask, don't tell," the Defense of Marriage Act, and equality in employment and so forth. So I use the parallels between the internment and the discriminatory laws we have today against people simply because of their sexual orientation.

http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/2010/08/04/george_takei_interview_ext2010/

William Shatner Keen for Star Trek Return

2010-08-05T02:01:00.000-07:00

WILLIAM Shatner hasn’t ruled out a return to Star Trek.

The actor — who played Captain James T Kirk in seven movies and countless TV episodes — says he could yet be involved in JJ Abrams‘ reboot of the Star Trek franchise in time for his 80th birthday.

“I’ve become a buddy of JJ but I don’t know if they can solve the problem of how do you put the body I’m in now with the Kirk that we remember forty years ago,” says William, who was not involved in last year’s Star Trek prequel movie.

“They just did a ‘Tron’ with Jeff Bridges and de-aged him but I don’t know how they did that. It’s going to take a lot of electronics on me!”

http://www.showbizspy.com/article/209279/william-shatner-keen-for-star-trek-return.html

Check out the first step to a Star Trek-style universal translator

2010-08-05T01:55:00.000-07:00

War-zones such as Afghanistan never have enough interpreters, often forcing soldiers to rely on nonverbal communication that's easily misunderstood. Three new devices solve that by automatically translating one language to another - and you can see it in action!

The National Institute of Standards and Technology have been testing translation devices for the last four years. Three systems created by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency have made the leap from relatively clunky microphones and laptops to something that can work on a regular smart phone, giving the translation devices unprecedented portability. The overall DARPA project, dubbed TRANSTAC, aims to reduce the reliance on human translators, who are often in short supply and aren't always trustworthy.

You can see a video below demonstrating the translators (along with an opening tip of the hat to Star Trek). The best part of all this? Knowing how often military devices eventually trickle down to the civilian world, these machines should make traveling to foreign countries in 2020 a whole lot easier.

http://io9.com/5601783/check-out-the-first-step-to-a-star-trek-style-universal-translator

Scientists Take Quantum Steps Toward Teleportation

2010-08-05T01:53:00.000-07:00

"Quantum entanglement" may sound like an awful sci-fi romance flick, but it's actually a phenomenon that physicists say may someday lead to the ability to teleport an object all the way across the galaxy instantly.

It's not exactly the Star Trek version of teleportation, where an object disappears then reappears somewhere else. Rather, it "entangles" two different atoms so that one atom inherits the properties of another.

"According to the quantum theory, everything vibrates," theoretical physicist Michio Kaku tells NPR's Guy Raz. Kaku is a frequent guest on the Science and Discovery channels. "When two electrons are placed close together, they vibrate in unison. When you separate them, that's when all the fireworks start."

This is where quantum entanglement — sometimes described as "teleportation" — begins. "An invisible umbilical cord emerges connecting these two electrons. And you can separate them by as much as a galaxy if you want. Then, if you vibrate one of them, somehow on the other end of the galaxy the other electron knows that its partner is being jiggled."

This process happens even faster than the speed of light, physicists say.

Quantum entanglement isn't a new idea — Einstein once famously referred to it as "spooky action at a distance" — but it wasn't until the past 30 years that scientists were first able to observe this process.

It could one day lead to new types of computers, and some even think entanglement may explain things like telepathy. Scientists aren't quite ready to beam up Scotty yet, but this is the technology that one day may lead to such a feat.

Enlarge Brad Horn/NPR

Mirrors and lenses direct lasers at atoms to catalyze entanglement.

Brad Horn/NPR

Mirrors and lenses direct lasers at atoms to catalyze entanglement.

The work is being pioneered at places like the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland. In a basement lab, scientist Christopher Monroe has successfully managed to "entangle" two atoms approximately one meter away from each other.

"It's fun being on the fringe," Monroe says. "This discipline, we don't know where it's going. And that drives me every day."

But Monroe's work is a long way from being able to teleport a living being. The problem with such an act, Kaku says, is that "you have to be destroyed in order to have your body teleported to the other side of the room. So if you've been destroyed and teleported, then who is that person there? They have the same memory, the same jokes, the same everything, except the original was destroyed in the process of being teleported."

So if one was to be teleported, would he or she simply be re-created but not able to tell the difference? Stay tuned to the Joint Quantum Institute website to see if they ask for volunteers.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128910996

Atari and Cryptic Studios Launch Season Two: Ancient Enemies, the Latest Content Update for Star Trek™ Online

2010-07-28T15:31:00.000-07:00

- New Star Trek Online Season Launches at the Same Time as a Reduced $19.99 Retail Price - More Content, More Value -

NEW YORK, July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Atari, one of the world's most recognized publishers and producers of interactive entertainment, and renowned MMO developer Cryptic Studios, have today announced the availability of Season Two: Ancient Enemies, the latest content update for the Star Trek Online universe. Season Two: Ancient Enemies is available at no additional cost to current Star Trek Online players. The content update allows players to encounter and battle even more of Star Trek's iconic races, and enjoy all new Episodes. Star Trek Online is also now available for a new low price of $19.99.

Star Trek Online's Season Two: Ancient Enemies boasts the following new features:

A new level cap: players can now reach level 51. (The previous level cap was 45.) With the increase come new ranks within the Federation and Klingon factions.

All new rewards and content: including new Tier 5 ships, high-level versions of every Special Task Force mission and Fleet Action, and Mark XI gear rewards.

Eight brand new Episodes: tailored specifically for the Klingon Empire, these Episodes star the Fek'ihri, the fabled enemy of Kahless, founder of the Klingon Empire. In Season Two, the Fek'ihri have returned and have again set their eyes upon Qo'noS.

A brand new gameplay option: the Federation Diplomatic Corps. In this new system, players have the chance to meet and peacefully interact with brand new civilizations. As players progress through the Diplomatic Corps, they earn special ranks and rewards.

Feature Episodes: five special new Episodes will debut weekly, beginning in August. These Episodes will introduce a new neutral race: the Deferi. Players of any level from both factions will be able to aid the Deferi against an adversary new to Star Trek Online.

Dabo: a longtime staple of social areas in the Star Trek Universe, the casino game Dabo is coming to Star Trek Online. Players can wager energy credits to earn gold-pressed latinum, which they can exchange for special new rewards.

Season Two: Ancient Enemies also permits players to continue interaction with the Undine, venturing into their native Fluidic space to learn more about the enigmatic species and their struggle with the Borg. The Undine story continues with five new Episodes, a Fleet Action and all new Deep Space Encounters.

Taking place in the year 2409, Star Trek Online boasts extraordinary features and lets fans both new and old experience unparalleled adventures. Players have the opportunity to become high-ranking Starfleet officers and participate in missions that take them into the depths of space, across exotic planets and inside other starships. Star Trek Online offers total customization, from a player's avatar to the ship he captains.

Star Trek Online is a licensed product from CBS Consumer Products. For more information, please visit: www.startrekonline.com and www.atari.com

Videos, screens, and additional assets are available at the Atari press vault. Log onto:

www.atari-press.com.

ABOUT ATARI, SA

Atari group is a global creator, producer and publisher of interactive entertainment for key platforms, including online (casual, social, MMO), PC, consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony, and advanced smart phones (i.e. iPhone, Android and RIM devices).

Atari benefits from the strength of its worldwide brand and its extensive catalogue of iconic game franchises (Asteroids®, Centipede®, Missile Command®, Lunar Lander®), original owned franchises (Test Drive®, Backyard Sports®, Deer Hunter®, Champions Online) and third party franchises (Ghostbusters®, Rollercoaster Tycoon®, Dungeons and Dragons®, Star Trek).

To play games and get other information please visit www.atari.com

Atari word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Atari Interactive, Inc.

About Cryptic Studios

Based in Los Gatos, CA, Cryptic Studios is a leading developer of massively multiplayer online games committed to delivering the next level of MMO gameplay. Cryptic develops AAA titles for PC and consoles, including Star Trek Online and Champions Online. For more information on Cryptic Studios, please visit the official website at: www.crypticstudios.com. Cryptic word mark and logo are trademarks owned by Cryptic Studios, Inc.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atari-and-cryptic-studios-launch-season-two-ancient-enemies-the-latest-content-update-for-star-trek-online-99321204.html

Be a Part of the Star Trek Crew with the Four-Set Star Trek Original Series Glass Set

2010-07-28T15:30:00.000-07:00

They boldly went where no man ever went before. The crew of the starship, Enterprise, traveled through the stark landscape of deep space, and stood by each other as they encountered mysteries and fought off villains.

The original Star Trek was a pioneer in terms of content and characters. It was probably the first American show to have a Russian navigator, a Japanese helmsman, a Vulcan-Earthling first officer, and an African American female communications officer. This multi-cultural crew was managed by the legendary Captain Kirk, made immortal by William Shatner.

If you have followed the show and are a fan of Star Trek, your ultimate dream is probably to be a part of the crew at the Enterprise and follow their adventures. Well..This dream can now come true with a four-pack Star Trek Original Series glass set.

The glass set contains four frosted glasses, on which a character and the Star Trek logo is imprinted. The graphic art on the glass set is of the highest quality and takes you back to the dawn of science fiction and the cold war. So if you ever wanted to share a drink with your favorite Star Trek characters, then this is your chance.

Each glass in the set features a legendary character of the immortal show. The glass is so designed as to reflect the distinct personality and attitude of each legendary character.

Captain James T. Kirk: Bold, adventurous, instinctive, impulsive, but a born leader. Captain Kirk was not afraid of taking risks and led his crew from the front. If you feel bold and adventurous, then drink from the Captain Kirk glass.

Spock: Emotionally detached, logical, and a highly talented scientific officer. Spock was known for his outside perspective on human behavior and mannerisms. If you are in a detached mood, then the Spock glass is the ideal glass to have a drink from.

Uhura: The dark, dusky, extremely sexy communications officer of the Enterprise. She provided the visual treat to the Enterprise. The Uhura glass is of a similar nature.

Leonard “Bones” McCoy: The passionate physician of the Enterprise. McCoy often essayed the role of Kirk’s conscience. He usually had a counterpoint towards the cold calculating logic of Spock. Drinking from a McCoy glass would seem to suggest that you are in a passionate mood.

Apart from being collectible items, the frosted glass set is an ideal companion from which you can sip your summer drink. Now you can go boldly where no man has gone before with the four-pack Star Trek Original Series glass set. These glasses are available at $14.99.

If this was interesting make sure you also take a look at Pacman Wine Glasses and Bottoms Up Shot Glasses to enjoy beverages.

http://www.walyou.com/blog/2010/07/27/star-trek-original-series-glass-set/

Beam down the Star Trek Captain's Log app

2010-07-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

Apple's iPhone might be superior to the Star Trek communicator in many ways, but now you can have the best of both worlds by downloading the Star Trek Captain's Log application, which with the flick of the wrist transforms the iPhone into a Starfleet communicator. The app, which costs $1.99 via iTunes, records audio, takes text entries, snaps photos and maps your location via GPS.

Yes, yes, the iPhone does those things without the app, but the Captain's Log lets you do it in Star Trek style with classic Trek graphics and having you select a "preferred Enterprise class level," including Captain, Engineering and Science/Medical. The app can also log travels over social networks including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and over e-mail. The Captain's Log also taps into iPhone 4 functions like the front-facing camera, the high-resolution display, multitasking and the gyroscope support, showing off a 3-D model of the Starship Enterprise.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/99316949.html

'Star Trek' Scribes Are 'Making Significant Progress' On Sequel

2010-07-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

The writers of the hit 2009 flick "Star Trek" are pretty stingy about what they can reveal about the much-anticipated sequel, but they can tell us one thing: They're working on it.

"We actually are making significant progress on the story," Alex Kurtzman told MTV News at Comic-Con in San Diego. "I will tell you nothing more. That's something we've never told anyone."

Kurtzman was quick to point out that while he and co-writer Roberto Orci are busy with other projects, they are making sure they get in plenty of time for "Star Trek 2," which star Zachary Quinto said probably wouldn't begin filming until next year.

"Our days are regimented by the hour; it's the only way to get through it," Kurtzman explained. And if they're on the set of another film, he said, "We can step into the trailer and do work on 'Star Trek.' "

The writers said they are developing storylines for "Trek" characters both new and old.

"There were new characters in the first one, so we really want to focus in on them," Orci said. "For example, Scotty (Simon Pegg), who you met at the end of the last movie, who [was] so important to the crew but had the shortest screen time, now is going to be in the movie from the very beginning. In fact, the whole crew is in it from the beginning.

"Now, the whole family is there," he continued, "and you want to focus on them first before you worry too much about new characters, and then make sure you have them taken care of."

And that means their personal favorites may make the cut for the next flick.

"I loved, and a lot of people loved, Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood)," Orci said. "I loved Bones, who a lot of people thought, '[Karl Urban is] too good-looking to be cast as Bones.' ... He was a fan favorite and ours too."

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1644446/20100726/story.jhtml

Trekkers offered cave tours in Klingon

2010-07-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

The Jenolan Caves near the Blue Mountains west of Sydney is about to become possibly the first tourist attraction in the world to launch tours in the fictional Star Trek language of Klingon.

The link between the world's oldest dated limestone cave system and the fictional Star Trek language is through a spaceship, the USS Jenolan, which featured in an episode of the Next Generation series.

Earlier this month two Klingon scholars from the United States flew to Australia to tour the caves and finalise the translation of a self-guided tour.

They have recorded it at a Sydney studio and the commentary will be available late next month on a digital audio device.

Jenolan Caves tours will also be available in 10 other more commonly-spoken languages.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/27/2965059.htm

SDCC10: New Comic Series Based On ‘Star Trek’ Villain Khan Coming From IDW

2010-07-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

Sure, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Picard, Riker and the rest of the “good guys” have always been the primary focus of Star Trek movies, TV shows and even comic based on the series. But what about the cool bad guys?

Well, at least one of them is finally getting his due in IDW’s just announced comic series based on the hugely popular Star Trek villain Khan. First made popular by the late Ricardo Montalban in the priginal Star Trek series, Khan will now live on and continue his story in comic book form.

According IDW:

“What happened to Khan and his followers on Ceti Alpha V? Star Trek: Khan: Ruling in Hell answers just that, explaining how this once proud warrior-king turns into the grizzled maniac seen in Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan.”

In addition to the comic, IDW will also be offering a plush doll in conjunction with the release, available exclusively at comic dealers or via comicshoplocator.com.

Star Trek: Khan: Ruling in Hell will be written by Scott and David Tipton, with Fabio Mantovani bringing the story to life by doing the art. The first comic will be 32 pages and will be released in October.

http://theflickcast.com/2010/07/25/sdcc10-new-comic-series-based-on-star-trek-villain-khan/

William Shatner On Whether Khan Should Appear in The Star Trek Sequel

2010-07-24T21:36:00.000-07:00

At Comic-Con, IGN had a chance to speak with William Shatner and asked whether he thought J.J. Abrams should explore the character of Khan in his second Star Trek movie. Check out what he said below.

"I think that would be... In my opinion, if it were me, I wouldn't go back to that well again," Shatner said. "I'm not saying that it can be done in a good way, but there's just so much imagination out there. There're so many new things that could be explored. Why tap into what's been done twice already?"

I would rather they keep making original villains. The original series didn't have that many great villains.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/Destroyer14/news/?a=20480

Hallmark 2011 Star Trek Ornaments from Comic Con, Including Romulan Bird of Prey

2010-07-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

TrekMovie.com posted photos and info on the three Star Trek 2011 Hallmark Keepsake Christmas ornaments being debuted at San Diego Comic Con.

Here you can see the Romulan Bird of Prey with lights ornament.

The three 2011 Star Trek Keepsake Ornaments will be available in July 2011 (prices are TBA). All three can be seen at the Hallmark Booth (#2913).

More photos and details at TrekMovie.

http://trekweb.com/articles/2010/07/22/Hallmark-2011-Star-Trek-Ornaments-from-Comic-Con-Including-Romulan-Bird-of-Prey.shtml

Exclusive: Karl Urban Talks JUDGE DREDD, STAR TREK 2, and RED at Comic-Con; Confirms He’s Been Offered DREDD and a Lot More!

2010-07-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

Earlier today I got to sit down with Karl Urban after the Red press conference for an exclusive interview. Since I spoke to him on the set of Red for a very long time and got answers on why he wanted to get involved in Red and what it was like on set, at the beginning of the interview we covered some of the new developments on the project but then we jumped into something I really wanted to know: is he going to be the new Judge Dredd (we reported the rumor yesterday) and what’s up with the sequel to J.J. Abrams Star Trek.

The good news is Urban was down to talk about anything and he gave me some awesome updates on both projects. The big news on Star Trek is he’s heard they start filming next summer. He specifically said May or June. And regarding Judge Dredd…he said he’s definitely been offered the role and they are right now working out the deal. He also said the plan is to shoot in South Africa in late October or early November and for fans of the source material, he said the film it will be very faithful and he will NOT be taking off the mask in the film! So much more after the jump!

Further down the page I’ve got the complete transcript with audio, but here’s some of the highlights on his future projects:

Judge Dredd

Has been offered the part by director Pete Travis and they are working out the deal right now. His exact quote:

“I’ve met with Pete Travis, Andrew McDonald and we’ve had a really wonderful meeting of the minds and long story short, they have offered me the role and we’re in the process of making that happen.”

Says, “To have the opportunity to play such an iconic and enigmatic character as Joe Dredd is a phenomenal opportunity and I’m really thrilled and looking forward to getting into it.”

They are going to shoot Dredd in South Africa in late October or early November

Confirms the character will use “great ironic witty one liners set in this futuristic post apocalyptic world.”

Regarding the rating, I asked him if he’s heard if it’s PG-13 or R. Urban said, “I’m honestly not too sure. I have just heard and it’s my understanding that it going to be harder, grittier, and above all faithful to the comic.”

He also confirmed he’s ALWAYS going to be wearing the Mask! If you see his face, it will only be part of it. His response was:

“If anyone is familiar with Dredd, over the years there are many times when Dredd removes his helmet but you never fully see his face and that was construct by the creator, Mr. Wagner. He represents that faceless system of justice and law. I will say this, hypothetically if I went to a movie that was called “Judge Dredd” and the character or the actor who played Judge Dredd took the helmet and I would see his full face and features I would puke in my popcorn because that’s not Dredd. He’s mysterious and enigmatic. We’re going to do it right.”

Star Trek sequel

Regarding when it’s going to shoot, Urban said it’s “most likely going to happen mid next year. May or June next year.”

He believes J.J. will direct the sequel. He said:

“I haven’t heard anything. I certainly hope so. Knowing J.J. I think he will have a pretty tough time handing this baby off to someone off. He was such an instrumental force of nature in delivering that film and creating those characters and ensuring that the Star Trek that was released was not some vacuous special effects extravaganza and that it was a character driven film. My hopes are that he will come back to the director’s char.”

Other Films

Says he is NOT involved in the next Final Destination movie. He is also not involved with Relentless and Hired Guns.

And with that, here’s the entire interview from Comic-Con. If you’d like to listen to the interview, click here. Otherwise I’ve provided the full transcript below.

Collider: The second trailer for Red just went online today. When you’re making a movie you never know how its going to turn out. In my opinion both trailers look just awesome and great. So, are you just feeling really good about the movie right now?

Karl Urban: As good as I can considering that I haven’t seen the movie myself. I’ve seen excerpts of it. The buzz is phonemically good. The producers tested the film two nights ago and it went ballistic. It got high 90s. They’re just crazy about how well the film tested so that’s a really good sign for everybody. I feel very positive and I can’t wait to see it.

Have you not done ADR?

Urban: Yeah, I’ve done ADR but you don’t get to see the whole film. You just get to see your portions you just go “hey wait a minute! Can you play the whole scene? I need to get a feel of it” while doing your lines. From what I’ve seen it’s super funny and there is great action it. It’s just insane. The cast we have on this film is just ballistic.

In the trailer we get pieces of this gnarly fight between you and Bruce Willis

Urban: It’s gnarly. That is a great word to describe it. It is nothing but gnarly. It’s brutal.

How long did you guys film that sequence? Did you get injured? How was it to train for it?

Urban: To tell you the truth, I’m still sore from it. I’m not shitting this. This is no bullshit. I still have shoulder issues from that fight. That’s how intense it was. The training was about 3 weeks and then we shot it at least of over a period of 4-5 weeks. Obviously not consecutively but we come do portions of it, go away and shoot something else, and then come back. It was quite a long engagement. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. It was actually being able to pick up Bruce willis and throw him across the room and see him smash into furniture. I mean it doesn’t get better than that.

That’s fantastic. Is that sequence in the middle or end of the film? Where can people look forward to seeing it? Or is that too much of a spoiler?

Urban: About middle of the film

I definitely want to switch gears. We’re here at Comic-Con. You’ve been asked a million questions I’m sure today. So what do you actually want to talk about? What’s going on with you? What have you been able to geek out about over here?

Urban: To tell you the truth, I just arrived here this morning and went straight into doing press. So I haven’t actually had the opportunity to get on the floor and have a good look around, which I am going to do.

Are you going to wear a mask or go out as you?

Urban: I have this great theory. I think I should go out dressed as one of my characters like Eomer from Lord of the Rings or Bones. Fully get the costume on. I could actually walk around incognito and I’ll be like “Yeah. I’ve had the surgery. I look just like him, right?” I’m reckon’ I could pretty much go around incognito

That would be unbelievable

Urban: I could do it. Peter Jackson gave me the helmet from Lord of the Rings so I could totally do it.

Honest to god, if you could do that, I would be very impressed. I really would. Before I run out of time with you, let’s just throw the rumor of the day out there on the table. I don’t know if you’ve been asked this yet today. It broke yesterday that you might be doing Judge Dredd

Urban: I heard that.

Is there any truth to the rumor?

Urban: Well, it’s in its very, very early days, but I feel pretty safe to say “Yes. I am the law.” I’ve met with Pete Travis, Andrew McDonald and we’ve had a really wonderful meeting of the minds and long story short, they have offered me the role and we’re in the process of making that happen. You know, 25 years ago when I was working in a pizza parlor I was introduced to the character and the comic of Judge Dredd and it’s something that is pretty dear to my heart. To have the opportunity to play such an iconic and enigmatic character as Joe Dredd is a phenomenal opportunity and I’m really thrilled and looking forward to getting into it.

Did they tell you when they actually want to shoot this movie?

Urban: I believe it’s slated to start shooting in late October or early November in South Africa.

This is before your commitment to Star Trek 2?

Urban: Oh yeah. Star Trek 2 is most likely going to happen mid next year. May or June next year

Yeah there was a lot of talk it might be January.

Urban: I think it was for awhile. First of all, I think J.J. has commitments to direct another film before that. I think that it’s great because it really gives J.J., Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and the team at Paramount a good amount of time to invest in the characters and the story. It’s fantastic because the first film was just phenomenally received and now we have to raise the bar.

Without a doubt. I have to ask you one more question about Judge Dredd. Do you know if they are going for PG, PG-13, or R? Do you know what kind of tone they are going for?

Urban: I’m honestly not too sure. I have just heard and it’s my understanding that it going to be harder, grittier, and above all faithful to the comic.

One of my writers told me today, and this could be completely wrong, that the goal of the movie is to always see Judge Dredd in the mask. Is that true?

Urban: Uh…no. Well, I mean here’s the thing…In the script that Pete is going to direct it’s very faithful to the comic book character. If anyone is familiar with Dredd, over the years there are many times when Dredd removes his helmet but you never fully see his face and that was construct by the creator, Mr. Wagner. He represents that faceless system of justice and law. I will say this, hypothetically if I went to a movie that was called “Judge Dredd” and the character or the actor who played Judge Dredd took the helmet and I would see his full face and features I would puke in my popcorn because that’s not Dredd. He’s mysterious and enigmatic. We’re going to do it right.

That’s really cool to hear. To be honest with you, if it was a different actor or person possibly playing the character they might say “I do want my face on screen” but you’re saying it’s all about the character.

Urban: You know what? This Dredd is not going to be wrapped up in ego. This Dredd is going to be faithful. The cool thing about Dredd to me was that with Dredd you always know where he stands. His attitudes are strong. What he does is strong. He’s an iconic badass tough lawman with great ironic witty one liners set in this futuristic post apocalyptic world. I’m very excited about seeing this authentic and faithful adaption of that character and world on the screen.

I was looking at your IMDB page which is, of course, always accurate.

Urban: (laughs) There is a bunch of films on there that I’m not doing.

I wanted to ask you specifically…next to your name is the next Final Destination. Are you involved with that?

Urban: No. That’s not true. There is a movie on there called Relentless, that’s not true. There is a movie on there called Hired Guns, that’s not true. That’s all crap. I’ve been asking for years to take that off but they haven’t

I’ve heard many actors and directors mention the exact same thing.

Urban: Yeah.

I have to ask you, obviously the big thing that everyone wants to know is J.J. Abrams. Do you think in your gut that he is going to come back and do the sequel to Star Trek?

Urban: I haven’t heard anything. I certainly hope so. Knowing J.J. I think he will have a pretty tough time handing this baby off to someone off. He was such an instrumental force of nature in delivering that film and creating those characters and ensuring that the Star Trek that was released was not some vacuous special effects extravaganza and that it was a character driven film. My hopes are that he will come back to the director’s char.

http://www.collider.com/2010/07/23/karl-urban-interview-judge-dredd-star-trek-2-red-comic-con-shoots-next-summer-confirms-dredd/

'Star Trek' Writers Roberto Orci And Alex Kurtzman Expect To Broaden Their Focus In The Sequel

2010-07-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

The sequel to "Star Trek" isn't a focus at this year's San Diego Comic-Con, but it would hardly be the biggest geek gathering of the year without some talk of J.J. Abrams' exceptionally strong franchise reboots. And we've got it, from writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, who joined MTV's Kara Warner to discuss their upcoming TV series reboot of "Hawaii Five-0."

"We actually are making significant process on the story," Kurtzman said, pausing. "I will tell you nothing more." Kara pressed, knowing full well that these guys hear this same question in just about every interview. Tell us something new, she pleaded. "That's something we've never told anyone," Kurtzman replied. "We actually are making significant process on the story."

Taking a different approach, Kara asked about the duo's workflow. One glance at either of their IMDb pages reveals that they're developing a vast number of projects, more than any one person -- or two! -- could possibly handle. So how do they do it?

"Our [work] days are regimented by the hour, it's the only way to get through it," Kurtzman explained. "The good news is that on [the set of whatever we're working on] we can step into the trailer and do work on 'Star Trek.'" Orci added, "It's been kind of a noon to 2 kind of thing for some reason. Lunch is nice."

So fans, if you want to send good thoughts out to Kurtzman and Orci while they're writing "Trek," you heard it straight from the source: "Lighting a candle between noon and 2 is good," Kurtzman said, with Orci adding, "Western time."

I know what you're thinking now. Clearly, we're not getting anything new or useful out this interview. Right? Wrong! Kurtzman and Orci did share a little bit on how they're bringing the previous film's characters back in for the new story.

"Now that we've set up everybody-- there were new characters in the last one, so we really want to focus in on them," Orci said. "For example Scotty, who you met at the end of the last movie, who [was] so important to the crew but had the shortest screen time, now is going to be in the movie from the very beginning. In fact, the whole crew is in it from the beginning."

In other word, the narrow focus of the last movie will broaden in the sequel. "Now the whole family is there and you want to focus on them first. Before you worry too much about new characters, make sure you have them taken care of."

Which characters will be getting more screen time? No definites yet, but Orci definitely has his ideas. "I loved, and a lot of people loved, Captain Pike. I loved Bones, who a lot of people thought he's too good-looking to be cast as Bones... he was a fan-favorite. We'd worked with Karl way back in TV land days, so to get back together and have him surprise everyone was great."

http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2010/07/23/star-trek-writers-roberto-orci-and-alex-kurtzman-expect-to-broaden-their-focus-in-the-sequel/

Boldly Blow Up New Foes in Star Trek Online's "Ancient Enemies"

2010-07-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

The new season of Star Trek Online has a slew of new content, but its biggest addition is the new races for players to go to war with.

Cryptic Studios' new trailer for the "Season Two: Ancient Enemies" content update to Star Trek Online has hit the Web, giving players a look at what they can expect to see added to the space-oriented MMOG. Unsurprisingly, the game is set to feature new places to boldly go, and new races and new civilizations to meet and do mighty battle with.

What races qualify as "ancient enemies", anyway? No names are dropped, but one species looks like they're suffering from World of Warcraft envy thanks to their orc-like tusks, spiky shoulders, and chain-wrapped arms. The other race looks even more out of place, since they seem to be floating demonic torsos that can fly through space without the aid of a starship and ... uh ... hang around menacingly while they watch laser battles between different factions, I guess.

Season Two actually contains a huge amount of new content, aside from new enemy species. You can see a full list on the game's official site, but highlights include an increased level cap, new ranks, missions into fluid space to learn more about the Undine (AKA "Species 8472"), and the introduction of minigames to the MMOG.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102317-Boldly-Blow-Up-New-Foes-in-Star-Trek-Onlines-Ancient-Enemies

“Star Trek” Sequel To Begin Shooting in Spring According to Producer Bryan Burk

2010-07-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Bruce Greenwood recently gave an interview to Hollywood.com where he talked about the upcoming Star Trek sequel, and gave the start date for shooting as January.

“I just know that the plan is to film it in January, more than that, I don’t know,” Greenwood said.

Greenwood also discussed the fate of Admiral Pike, and how he hopes to have a part in the next film.

It was later announced by TrekMovie.com that Greenwood’s information was false, producer Bryan Burk said that shooting will not begin until late spring or early summer.

The Star Trek sequel sure is taking its time being released. J.J. Abrams and crew don’t seem to be on the same two year sequel release that everyone else seems to be on. Hopefully, this is a signal that they are aiming for a quality return, rather than an excuse to make a quick profit. Although, the wait could be due to the heavy schedules of some of its stars which include Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, and Zachery Quinto.

Star Trek 2 has a set release date of June 29, 2012.

http://www.reviewstl.com/star-trek-sequel-to-begin-shooting-in-spring-according-to-producer-bryan-burk072110/

Bruce Greenwood talks Star Trek 2

2010-07-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

Hollywood.com is reporting that "Star Trek 2" starts filming this January! This news comes from a source on the red carpet premiere for his new movie "Dinner for Schumcks." They asked him about the status of the film. Greenwood, who portrayed Captain Pike, had this to say: "I just know that the plan is to film it in January, more than that, I don't know." When asked if he will return, he replied with: "I hope, I hope..."

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/The4thWall/news/?a=20245

How to speak Klingon: Aliens at Comic-Con

2010-07-21T16:13:00.000-07:00

With San Diego Comic-Con little more than a day away, a group of Klingons gathered at the Gaslamp Quarter trolley stop at 6 a.m. They watched as English signs were replaced with placards written with the Klingon language.

iReporter Chris Morrow, a serial Comic-Con attendee, got up early to take pictures of the Klingon hostile takeover staged by transit officials in San Diego, California, to promote the trolley system.

She's more of a Federation girl herself, but Morrow did buy a Klingon dictionary at a past Comic-Con and knows a Klingon when she sees one. This familiarity makes them a good choice, she said.

"Here at Comic-Con, it's the costumes," Morrow said. "I think because of 'Star Trek' and everything else with sci-fi on TV, that Klingons are something recognizeable. ... Whenever I see a Klingon, I can say, 'That's a Klingon.' "

See photos and video of the Klingons

If Comic-Con was one big Rorschach test, "Klingons" would probably be among the top words conjured. The fictional warriors, can frequently be seen prowling in costume or performing in groups. As ubiquitous as they are, Klingons helped drive the cultural symbolism that made "Star Trek" a cultural force and helped popularize the massively attended conventions that we now enjoy today.

Screenwriter and producer Gene L. Coon is usually credited for creating the species. Their first appearance, smooth foreheads and all, was in a 1967 episode of the original series of "Star Trek" called "Errand of Mercy." Captain Kirk's crew battles with a group of Klingons for the loyalties of the Organians. The truce at the end foreshadows later events in Klingon history.

Robert Thompson, a professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University, notes that their appearance was almost "Oriental" and that these Klingons were a product of the Cold War mindset, symbolizing the conflicts with the then-Soviet Union.

"Star Trek" resonated with viewers because it played out social and political issues in the safe theater of science fiction. The show's popularity led to the start of "Star Trek" conventions in the early 1970s, which was about the same time as the first Comic-Con.

In 1974, a year after Comic-Con got its current name, the listed stars included Majel Barrett-Roddenberry and Walter Koenig from the "Star Trek" canon. The number of attendees and celebrities had about doubled and "Star Trek" was beginning to invade Comic-Con.

Going to San Diego Comic-Con?

Klingons got a language five years later when "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" came out. The Klingons in the film uttered a few lines that were mostly gibberish conjured up by James Doohan. For future films, "Star Trek" producers consulted linguists to come up with language constructs. They stumbled upon closed-captioning linguist Marc Okrand by chance and picked him up to build a few Vulcan lines for "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" and then to develop a language for Klingons in the third "Trek" film.

Okrand says he had to balance the need for an easy-to-learn language with something that is at once believable and foreign-sounding. He used statistical probability to create language constructs that are less commonly spoken in the human world.

Klingons evolved to take on Samurai and Viking warrior characteristics after the Cold War. By this time, they had more-advanced makeup designs and their foreheads had their bumpy appearance. To get over the hump of the makeup design change, a 2005 episode of "Star Trek: Enterprise" called "Affliction" attempts to give a back story by saying that a disease caused the appearance seen in the original series.

Star Trek's popularity peaked during the "Next Generation" era, in which the Klingons became friendly with the Federation. Costuming followed suit throughout the 1990s as Klingons' warrior ethic and culture was explored in greater detail.

Fast-forward to now: Director JJ Abrams' recent "Star Trek" interpretation earned about $385 million at the box office. But the movie omitted Klingons in favor of Romulans and a widely circulated deleted scene, included as a DVD bonus, left fans hoping the warriors would appear in a future film.

The Klingon characters have inspired an entire fan-driven cultural movement surrounding their language and mythological history. Beyond the countless action figures and costumes sold, Klingon-mania dominates conventions of various stripes.

Kevin Parker of Lawrenceville, Georgia, is one of many who likes to dress up as a Klingon and associate himself with a certain Klingon house. He knows a few phrases of the language and compares Klingons' popularity to the enthusiasm surrounding biker culture.

"Klingons are fun, the bad boys. Everybody loves to gravitate toward that group. The Federation is always clean and neat. The Klingons are like a gang of bikers. We cruise the galaxy looking for trouble."

Okrand says he's astonished at the passion people have shown for the Klingon language, going so far as to speak it fluently and perhaps know it better than he does. Entire Shakespearean works like "Hamlet" have been translated into their "original Klingon," in reference to a line in the sixth "Star Trek" film implying that the Bard's text has Klingon origins.

Okrand created entire Klingon dictionaries that sold hundreds of thousand copies over the years. The Klingon Language Institute sprouted up to foster development of the language and now has an estimated 2,500 members in 50 countries. In 2006's Guiness World Records, Klingon was listed as the fictional language with the most speakers.

Theater troupes perform plays in Klingon, and Okrand says he's currently helping out with a project to develop a full Klingon opera in The Hague, Netherlands, called "u." The opera will tell the story of Kahless the Unforgettable, the historical Klingon leader.

Klingon weddings take place at many conventions, borrowing on weddings performed in "Star Trek. Parker has been to many of these, including his own.

He says met his wife at a Klingon wedding at Dragon*Con in Atlanta in 2001. The couple met up the next year and married in their own Klingon wedding in 2003.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/07/21/klingons.sdcc/

'Food printer' cranks out meals like a Star Trek replicator

2010-07-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

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You know how on Star Trek Captain Picard is always going up to his replicator and coming away with tea, mug and all? Well, MIT's "Cornucopia" food printer won't create the plate, but it is designed to build you a meal from the ground up to exact specifications.

The conceptual Cornucopia takes a page from 3D printers, which are already very real. Instead of just recreating a model, though, the Cornucopia would be able to tailor the specific ingredients present in a dish, thereby also determining its nutritional value.

It's kind of like what people are already doing with microwavable meals, but now you're cutting out the middleman for weird, knobby doohickeys that squirt out paste. Check out a render of the Cornucopia's nozzles down below.

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http://dvice.com/archives/2010/07/mits-food-print.php

Why Star Trek continues to inspire its legions of fans like no other TV show

2010-07-21T15:26:00.000-07:00

THE Scottish Borders are preparing for an invasion of Trekkies after a rock was revealed to be carrying a message in Klingon.

The mysterious inscription on the Glentress "stane" on the Spooky Wood bike route in a Tweeddale forest has mystified thousands of visitors since it appeared two years ago.

But now the man behind the strange message, artist Gordon Young, has finally let on that his inscription comes from the Final Frontier.

The stone's inscription, which was funded by the European Union and the Forestry Commission, reads: "Due to bad management by its current inhabitants, the Klingon Empire claims the right to take this planet for the benefit of the greater universe.

"This rock is an official legally binding claim marker. We'll be arriving soon, your future is assured."

Artist Young said the stone's message was a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the hugely successful sci-fi series Star Trek, which originated in the 1960s.

Starring William Shatner, it has spawned endless spin-off shows, and even seen a Klingon, Lieutenant Worf, rise through the ranks. It has also been the subject of 11 major movies, with another in the making.

Young said: "I had heard that Scotland was a stronghold of Trekkiedom and we wanted to reflect that."

With products and events associated with Star Trek generating about £1billion a year, it is no wonder the Borders are expecting an influx of Trekkie tourism.

Here we take a look at some of the bizarre facts surrounding the show and its dedicated fans.

The only UK Star Trek fan film, called Star Trek: Intrepid, was filmed and produced in Scotland three years ago. Set in the 24th century, it revolves around an attempt to colonise a far and unexplored area of the galaxy.

GMTV presenter Lorraine Kelly even made a cameo appearance.

The original Klingon dialogue was devised by actor James Doohan who played Scotty, the crew's Doohan who played Scotty, the crew's Scots engineer.

Writer Mark Okrand later took this dialogue and developed an entire Klingon vocabulary. His Klingon dictionary has sold more than 250,000 copies worldwide.

Doohan was actually Canadian but his accent was so convincing, many Trekkies still believe him to be Scottish.

When the actor died in 2005, there was a huge surge in interest in his character. Much Star Trek lore points to Linlithgow being Scotty's birthplace, where the town's council are reportedly planning a monument to the character. Aberdeen, Elgin and Edinburgh are also said to have laid claim to him.

Riverside, Iowa, has become a pilgrimage site for fans after it was named as the place where Captain James T Kirk will one day be born. The town now boasts a replica starship, a statue of Captain Kirk and a Star Trek museum.

Star Trek characters Spock and Kirk are at the heart of an internet craze known as "fanfic" or fantasy fiction.

Obsessive fans of the show indulge themselves by writing fictional love stories about the pair and posting them on the net.

In 1996, Barbara Adams served as a juror in the US, turning up wearing a Star Trek: The Next Generation-style Starfleet Command uniform, including a commbadge, phaser and tricorder.

She was dropped from the jury. However, it was not because she wore the outfit, as was widely reported, but because she had given an interview to the American Journal during the trial about her uniform.

Comedian Bill Bailey named his son Dax after a character in spin-off show Deep Space Nine.

Former vice-president Al Gore was known for watching reruns of Star Trek in his dorm at Harvard, while scientist Stephen Hawking is such a fan he starred as a holographic version of himself in The Next Generation.

After sharing the first on-screen interracial kiss with William Shantner, actress Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura, was urged not to leave the show by none other than Martin Luther King.

He said: "You have opened a door that must not be allowed to close. For the first time, the world sees us as we should be seen, as equals, as intelligent people."

As the latest Star Trek movie hit cinema screens last year, a firm in America had Trekkies in a tizz by creating an exact copy of Captain Kirk's chair from the original series.

Another must-have for Trekkies is Star Trek Pon Farr Perfume. The Pon Farr, as every Trekkie knows, is what happens to a Vulcan every seven years when they go into heat, experience a blood fever and may die if they do not mate. The perfume is said to be a refreshing fragrance.

If fans fancy having a Klingon wedding, there are any number of internet sites offering advice on Klingon etiquette, traditions and vows.

A Trekkie gathering in Las Vegas next month is expecting 16,000 fans to turn up to pay homage to everything Star Trek-related.

A remote Canadian town called Vulcan, in Alberta, has been transformed into a tourist hotspot af ter declaring itself the birthplace of Mr Spock.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2010/07/19/why-star-trek-continues-to-inspire-its-legions-of-fans-like-no-other-86908-22423645/

VSS Enterprise Reaches The Stratosphere

2010-07-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Virgin Galactic’s VSS Enterprise, named after Star Trek’s USS Enterprise, successfully reached the stratosphere in a test flight.

The VSS Enterprise is carried by a mothership, the WhiteKnightTwo (VMS Eve) and on this test flight, remained attached to the VMS Eve.

“This is a momentous day for the Scaled and Virgin Teams,” said Burt Rutan, the mastermind behind Virgin Galactic’s engineering. “The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program.” More tests will run through 2011. No date for a first flight has been set.

The VSS Enterprise is an eight-person vehicle; six passengers, and two crewmembers.

When tests are complete and the first flight launches, the VMS Eve will carry the VSS Enterprise to its launch altitude of 50,000 feet, to the edge of the atmosphere, and back again. The two-and-a-half hour trips, up and down flights that won’t orbit the earth, will include about five minutes of weightlessness.

http://www.trektoday.com/content/2010/07/vss-enterprise-reaches-the-stratosphere/

Star Trek': William Shatner's jacket sells for over $44,000

2010-07-21T15:23:00.000-07:00

"Star Trek" auctions may often have a variety of memorabilia up for sale, but one thing almost always seems to be a constant -- the product almost always goes for more than the asking price.

Take for instance a red jacket worn by William Shatner in "The Wrath of Khan", which reportedly sold for $44,812.50 over the weekend. The projected final bid was less than half of this total, meaning that someone truly went above and beyond to hold a small piece of "Trek" history.

We do know that "Trek" memorabilia has sky-rocketed even further since the motion picture remake, though the clothing worn by the original captains of the USS Enterprise will almost assuredly have the higher asking prices in the end.

http://www.examiner.com/x-11363-TV-Examiner~y2010m7d19-Star-Trek-William-Shatners-jacket-sells-for-over-44000

Nana Visitor Says Deep Space Nine Would Make a Great Star Trek Movie

2010-07-21T15:21:00.000-07:00

Retro Repost time. Here’s an interview I did with Nana Visitor, AKA Major Kira Nerys. This went down way back in 2000, after the series came to an end, and after the release of the PC shooter Deep Space Nine: The Fallen. Times have changed: check out the references to Simon & Schuster Interactive and Stomped.com.

We go way back. Jason and Nana at E3 2000.

Nana Visitor played Major Kira on TV’s Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She lent her voice and character to the shooter Deep Space Nine: The Fallen, developed by The Collective and published by Simon & Schuster Interactive. We participated in a phone conference with her and other gaming and science fiction sites (like Startrek.com and Stomped).

Us game and scifi geeks peppered her with questions, and she cheerfully responded. And yes, someone did have the stones to ask who would win in a fight: Major Kira or Ro Laren? (Her answer was “I’d have to say that’s a fight I’d like to see, because they’re pretty equally matched. We’d just have to see who remains standing.”)]

Visitor is pretty pleased with the game’s response so far. She told us:

Nana Visitor: I’m thrilled! I’m thrilled because my fellow cast members and I always said that the show would be discovered later on. From what I can tell, just from the guy-on-the-street response, I think it’s true. I think people are finding the show now. That there is a game to go along with that trend, at this time… it’s kinda like perfect timing, and I’m thrilled that it lives up to what I think DS9 was about.

It’s an interesting reaction, considering what she said when I asked if she’d played the game, and if she was much of a gamer herself.

Nana Visitor: I am not a gamer. At all. In any way, shape or form. But I have played the game. And I take great pleasure…[laughs] Of course I made Kira do all kinds of things. That was a lot of fun. I can see where I might actually sit down and seriously learn it and play it. I don’t think I’ll let my sons [editor's note: Buster and Django] play it, it’ll be “how many ways can we make momma die.” There’s something really perverse about that.

The fact that her likeness has been added to so many different things–comic books, 3D models, action figures, etc.–might sound a little freaky, but Visitor says she’s adjusted.

Nana Visitor: You know there are so many things about it that are spooky, and I find myself going into some safe haven in my mind. When I look at the [action figure] for the first time…this little effigy of yourself. You go, “Wow, I have an effigy and it’s in plastic” and stuff. It just suddenly becomes normal life. It’s like, yeah, you put coffee in a cup, yeah, there are my castmates’ voices, and I’m [in] a game and I’m able to make myself run through this corridor and die in some horrific way. [laughter] It just becomes part of life.

Virtual Nana attacks.

Visitor said that lending her voice to the game fit unusually well, since that seems to be one of her most distinctive features.

Nana Visitor: It’s funny, when I get recognized it’s usually by people hearing my voice. My look changes, but my voice seems to clue people in. They go “Major Kira!” even if they’re not looking at me. So I’m pleased that they bothered enough to get me in there to do the sound. That’s a big deal. And it seemed to be very quick and simple. The guys connected to the game were charming and easy, and it was fun. I got to see what it was about, and what it looked like–the look of it, which is pretty stunning–before I actually went into a studio and laid it down.

Recording the different sounds of her character was particularly entertaining.

Nana Visitor: It’s always interesting: like, okay now you die falling off a cliff. Now you die drowning, you know [laughs]. It’s more challenging than people realize, because you’re dealing with the ultimate experiences in life and death and big moments of crisis within a couple of hours. It’s more than you can imagine: every way to die… every way to be in crisis.

Visitor also liked doing the game because it gave her a chance to get back into a role–and a crew–she enjoys being with.

Nana Visitor: [Kira]‘s just a heartbeat away from me. She’s a thought away. I can just remember her background, and she’s back with me. Yeah, you know, one never knows, especially in the Star Trek universe. I would love to play an incarnation of her again. I thought she was a very cool chick.

It's a long way down.

There has been lots of fan speculation about a DS9 movie. Visitor says she’s all for it happening.

Nana Visitor: I think that it would make a great movie, because we were like a repertory company. Almost all of us came from theatre, and we could all hit. I think that we could handle a movie very well. The important thing is, do I think they’re going to do a DS9 movie? No, I don’t think so.

Talk turned to the TV show and Vistor’s take on the writing and the future of the characters (after the seven-season series concluded). She does miss her days working on the show–well, certain things about it anyway.

Nana Visitor: I miss being part of a tribe, and we were a huge tribe. When all of the regular cast members were in a scene, that was a director’s nightmare because we were like a pack and we were uncontrollable. You know when you get a group of people together, like-minded and [having] gone through a lot, it’s so powerful and satisfying, and I miss that the most.

The thing I miss the least is the hours. Through the seven years, our hours were 16 to 20 hours a day. You don’t have a life. It certainly allows your mind to slip very comfortably into the universe you’re existing in. I remember being on the promenade and going “This is starting to feel like where I actually live.” Lack of sleep and spending so much time in one place can do that to you. And that’s something that people don’t think of: you’re trying to do great work and sometimes the situation is stacked against you because you’re just exhausted. Your brain is turning to jelly. If I’d had my druthers I would have done all the shows in peak condition, but it’s impossible when you are doing an hour television series. That’s what I miss the least.

She probably doesn’t miss the make-up sessions either. That prosthetic nose she wore took a long time to get on.

Nana Visitor: It took two hours in the morning, and 20 minutes to take off. I thought they’d have some special glue that you put prosthetics on with, and it comes off easily but it sticks all day…uh uh. They just use GLUE. I mean like, practically wood glue. So it would take 20 minutes to get the damned thing off at the end of the day. Ouch is right.

We asked Visitor to speculate what happens to Kira after the series run.

The bridge of the Defiant in DS9: The Fallen.

Nana Visitor: She definitely gets another promotion. And, she’s commanding the Defiant. That’s for sure. The Defiant goes out, she’s in the chair. Those things were very inappropriately important to me when I was doing the series [laughs]. Now that she’s commanding the station, I imagine her getting more and more politically involved in Bajor. And, frankly, although I don’t think it will ever happen, I’d like to see her become Star Fleet.

And why is that?

Nana Visitor: Because I would like to see what would happen when you take a loose cannon and put them in that universe. I mean, the whole premise of the show was to put Star Fleet up against these people who didn’t live by those rules, and see what happens. One step further to me would be to put her right inside of it, and see what the actual struggle is to live that way. It seems that no one has a problem living by the prime directive. I’d like to see someone struggle with it. Like she would. Like a real loose cannon would.

And her favourite episode of DS9?

Nana Visitor: My favourite episode is still “Duet”. It was done early on as a bottle show. It was to save money because they’d spent all their funds on special effects for other episodes [laughs]. So they had this idea of two people in a cell…It’s my favourite episode because I thought they pulled off the writing beautifully, and it was a moving and important show about racism (and Major Kira’s racism). It was the episode that made me think the most, just as an actor. I had to think really hard about where this woman lay. And also playing someone who is just wrong, who is flawed in her thinking…and doing that honestly.

Now that the show is over, Visitor has gone on to other things. Her most recent roll:

Nana Visitor: I’m doing a musical in New Haven, that has aspirations to go to Broadway, called “Golden Boy.” So I am in a small theatre, singing my heart out at the moment. It’s about two hours from New York City and the boys are in school, so I go back and forth and they go back and forth and what can I tell you? Their mom is an actress.

Visitor likes her theatre work, and has ambitions.

Taking aim at a Jem'Hadar soldier.

Nana Visitor: I do have a dream stage roll, and what I love is that I’m too young for it. So in 20 years, I’d love to do Mama Rose and Gypsy. I watched Angela Lansbury do it when I was working with her. I’d watch her offstage just about every night, and she was amazing. She was so wonderful. I would love to do my own version. Some day.

During her DS9 days, Visitor was a woman acting in a field that has traditionally appealed mainly to men (both scifi and gaming), and she was asked if that gave her a new perspective on the men that consume the media she works with.

Nana Visitor: No. I do not think of it as me having a unique angle on men, but maybe men finding a way into seeing a unique angle on a woman. I think that I got such a great opportunity with Kira, to be this creature that didn’t follow certain gender rules, and I loved it. I loved it when 10-year-old boys came up to me and say “You’re my hero. You’re a big hero to me.” That’s great. I’m not sure how many years ago that that would have happened. So that was such ginger to me with the show. But in terms of what appeals to men…You know, we didn’t know what we were doing. I didn’t approach Kira going “Ok, so I gotta appeal to the 18-49 year old male.” I just really tried to be truthful about what I thought this person was, and it seemed to appeal to a great many people.

While on the show, the male staff writers occasionally needed guidance from Visitor.

Nana Visitor: I did find, here and there, that there would be natural gaps in their understanding of female-specific responses. When Kira has a baby and its Keiko’s baby she’s carrying, she hands the baby over. They had written it that she’s just “Ok, glad that’s over, bye-bye.” No matter whose baby you’re carrying, what a woman knows is that your hormones respond in such a way that it wouldn’t be an easy process, no matter what. There would be some kind of difficulty; there would be some kind of crossed wires about the whole thing. Which, of course, makes it so much more interesting and more complex. And I was never shy about giving my input…and they were never shy about giving me trouble about it, when they thought that I was coming out of left field. I felt like I had to go to battle 100% of the time, and maybe 75 percent of the time I got my way and I thought that was pretty good. It’s just the responsibility you have as an actor, and the writers, I must say, were very responsive.

Although she wasn’t shy about expressing her take on her character, Visitor says she’s not interested in going further–such as writing a script or directing.

Kyra on the prowl.

Nana Visitor: I’m strictly an actor. My mates on the show wanted to direct, wanted to write and did. A couple of the actors have written books based on their Star Trek character–I take my hat off. My input has always been as an actor, and the collaborative effort has usually been me yelling across a table at the writers [laughs] what my ideas for Kira were. But beyond that, I never had any thoughts of doing that.

If The Fallen is a success, a sequel is inevitable. We asked if Visitor would be interested in participating.

Nana Visitor: Oh God, I’d love to be involved, absolutely. As we touched upon before, I’d love to be hooked up with Kira.

I asked her if her positive experiences with The Fallen opened her up to the possibility of doing other games, perhaps a non-Star Trek one.

Nana Visitor: It would depend upon the game. I’d have to say the violence of a lot of games does concern me, and I wouldn’t want to be involved in something like that. The minute you say that it’s something to do with Star Trek, there’s some kind of ethical structure around it. Just with the name itself, so that makes me comfortable being involved. I’m not saying that you can’t kill, or do this and do that, but it’s not quite the same violence that I’ve seen in some of the games. So it would entirely depend.

Speaking of violence, that’s a big issue in all the entertainment industries right now. Visitor has an interesting perspective on that, being a parent and a worker in one of those industries.

Nana Visitor: My very specific perspective is that it’s impossible to deny that violence is a part of life, and that people are the way people are, and treat each other the way they do. [Are] there irresponsible depictions of it? Yes, I think so. Do I think that it incites people? Yes I do. I know that a lot of people would argue that, but that’s personally what I believe. I think there are really irresponsible people, and it always seems it’s people out to make a huge profit, so how disgusting can we be? How far can we push that particular envelope? And then they come up with a concept, and it doesn’t really have a structure around it, or any kind rhyme or reason to it, and then I think it’s pornography. Then violence becomes pornography, and it’s to make a buck, and that’s when I think it becomes dangerous.

Visitor would obviously like to stay on familiar ground. So I asked her if a game was designed specifically about Major Kira, what did she think it would be?

The Promenade, as seen in The Fallen.

Nana Visitor: Interesting… The fact that I’m a parent comes into the thing. I would love to see it be a very mind-bending, chess-type game. I don’t know what sells. I’m sure that’s how they design these games–by what people love to do. You know, it would be fun if it was Ultima Online. If it was that kind of universe–where you would have to chop your own wood, and build your house, and someone steals your keys…I mean, if you really had to live life during an occupation. That would be a very interesting idea to me. Go through what she went through when the Cardassians were occupying Bajor. What life is like: the hardship, running from the enemy, all that stuff. That might be very interesting.

We asked her to write a synopsis and put it on her official webpage. She said she would.

Visitor is pleased with her work on DS9, and likes the idea of its continuation in non-TV formats, such as novels and games.

Nana Visitor: I think it’s an amazing phenomenon and one that I didn’t expect–that the life of this show goes on and on. I think its fantastic. I don’t know what my real contribution to it will be, other than just people living with the show for years after I’ve been involved…and that’s really satisfying. It’s not a job that I’d go “Oh God. I gotta look at that now for the next some odd years.” I’m proud of it. I’m very proud of it.

Jason MacIsaac is the Executive Editor of Electric Playground. Beam him up.

http://jason.con.ca/2010/07/11/interview-nana-visitor/

Atari Launches Star Trek Online Architect

2010-07-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

Atari has just launched the Star Trek Online Architect (http://www.startrekonline.com/architect/), which lets you create starships and share them with your other trekkie friends. They also have a sweepstakes sponsored by Intel where you can win prizes like a replica captain’s chair, Intel CoreTM i7-920 Processors and copies of the Star Trek Online game.

Or if you're bored, you can just play the Ship Shaper minigame.

http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/56040/Atari-Launches-Star-Trek-Online-Architect

'Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy welcomes fans to new website

2010-07-16T11:31:00.000-07:00

The official Star Trek website has been relaunched "with newcomers and longtime fans alike in mind" following the 2009 movie reboot and Leonard Nimoy, who played the half-Vulcan Spock in the original 1960s series as well as the film, welcomes fans to boldly go where millions are set to go.

"I couldn't have imagined -- no one could have, really -- that the TV shows we did so long ago would find a new audience today, that the films would continue, and that there would be so many spin-offs," Nimoy, 79, says in a posted message.

"For those of you who are new to Star Trek, who are discovering it through the recent movie and are about to explore the franchise in its infinite diversity... welcome," he said. "Come aboard and enjoy. And to all, Live Long and Prosper!"

The new website features video downloads, a giant database of Star Trek facts, character bios from every adaptation of the franchise and is touted as the most reliable source of future Star Trek news.

Several movies based on the original Star Trek series, which starred William Shatner as Captain James Tiberias Kirk, have been produced. Spin-off shows with different main characters include the 1980s series Star Trek: The Next Generation with Sir Patrick Stewart, which has also spurred its own films.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine came out in the 1990s and was often referred to as a "space opera" due to the majority of the events taking place on board a space station. Star Trek: Voyager began in 1995 and featured the most prominent female captain seen on the show, Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew Star Trek: Enterprise, with Scott Bakula at the helm, followed in 2001 and ended in 2005.

Through its various on-screen adaptations, Star Trek has gained millions of new fans throughout the years and the franchise is known for breaking the media taboos of its time, including one of the first interracial on-screen kisses of the 1960s.

The show has even been said to have inspired innovations in real-life technology, such as automatic sliding doors, wireless communication devices and personal laptop computers. Even the tablet devices used on the original 1960s series appear similar to one of today's most sought-after devices - the iPad.

The 2009 Star Trek film, which starred Chris Pine as Kirk, has grossed more than $385 million worldwide since its release, takes viewers back to the younger days of the characters on the original U.S.S. Enterprise star ship.

Through a series of events that disrupt the show's famed "Spacetime Continuum," the crew is thrust into an alternate reality, essentially giving screenwriters the creative freedom to allow the characters to act and do things differently then they had on the series and on the movies, and more importantly for die-hard "Trekkie", this means the original story lines can remain in tact.

http://www.ontheredcarpet.com/2010/07/star-treks-leonard-nimoy-welcomes-fans-to-new-website.html

William Shatner joins Tweet House event at Comic-Com: Live broadcast on Outerspace.com

2010-07-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

If you are a Star Trek fan or just a fan of pop culture icon William Shatner, he'll be appearing at the Tweet House party at Comic-Com.

The party is scheduled for July 23rd aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway. Shatner’s latest entrepreneurial undertaking, Myouterspace.com, will be broadcasting a live Webcast from the Tweet House.

“I'm excited as all get out about the burgeoning possibilities of what's happening at Comic-Con ...The brand new platform for creativity in film, in gaming, in animation is now alive in Myouterspace.com. With the big launch in conjunction with Tweet House and on an aircraft carrier, can you get more with it?” - William Shatner

William Shatner launches sci-fi social networking site: The final frontier for Trekkies

Steve Broback, host of the Tweet House and 140tc conferences states,“Given his phenomenal presence on Twitter along with his upcoming new Twitter-based prime-time series, we were ecstatic he and the Myouterspace.com team could join us.

If you're in San Diego on July, the event will be held from 6 pm until Midnight. Tickets are $25 in advance and can be purchased online at www.tweet-house.com/register.

http://www.examiner.com/x-14552-Social-Media-Examiner~y2010m7d13-William-Shatner-joins-Tweet-House-event-at-ComicCom-Live-broadcast-on-Outerspacecom

Rumor: Star Trek Online Might Boldly Become Free

2010-07-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

Cryptic Studios isn't planning to make its latest MMOG free-to-play any time soon, but the developer is considering it for the eventual future.

Free-to-play MMOGs have proven to be financially viable, based on examples like browser-based titles like Farmville and the more hardcore games like Dungeons & Dragons Online. Star Trek Online might be the next big MMOG to (eventually) adopt a similar payment plan, based on a comment from the game's developer.

Daniel Stahl, Star Trek Online's executive producer, addressed a forum question about the game eventually becoming free-to-play. "I could easily see STO going into a hybrid model similar to what LOTRO is doing," he stated. "In that model, subscriptions stay as is - but you allow people to play for free but heavily limit what they can do - which in essence creates a robust way to demo the game and then if you want to keep playing, you either pay for every little thing you are interested in, or you subscribe and don't have to worry about it.

"Turbine seems to have some interesting plans and looking at how DDO has turned around, its worth taking note."

Creating a demo-like version of the game certainly makes a lot of sense, since it would allow players to explore the title at their leisure — at no cost to them — and figure out if they want to take up a career with the Federation. While Stahl's statement is far from an official business announcement, it's interesting to hear that a recently-released game like Star Trek Online could potentially adopt a form of the free-to-play system in the future.

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/102017-Rumor-Star-Trek-Online-Might-Boldly-Become-Free

Beam Me Up Scotty: Star Trek Communicator App for iPhone

2010-07-14T22:41:00.000-07:00

Kirk to Enterprise: iPhoneSavior brings us news today that CBS Mobile has sanctioned and rereleased a previously banned Star Trek Communicator app for the iPhone, with classic lines and sound effects:

The newly reimagined Star Trek Original Series Communicator ($2.99) for iPhone is packed full of the kind of classic fodder Star Trek fans are certain to drool over. In addition to a hidden, functional dialing pad that accesses the iPhone’s address book to make calls, the app includes several sound bites featuring Captain Kirk, one says; “Two to beam up Scotty.”

I just beamed this onto my iPhone, definitely a hoot. Now if they can only get the transporter working…

UPDATE: The app price has been lowered to US$1.99

http://www.cultofmac.com/beam-me-up-scotty-star-trek-communicator-app-for-iphone/50426

Science, fiction fizzle at 'Star Trek Live' at Kennedy Space Center

2010-07-08T22:36:00.000-07:00

Watching Star Trek Live is an out-of-this-world experience, and sometimes that's not a great thing.

The 30-minute show, featuring two actors on a stage and others on-screen, is running at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex several times daily through Sept. 6.

Its presence brings make-believe space exploration into an attraction dedicated to the real thing and to the folks who truly went where no man had gone before.

The Star Trek Live pre-show mixes a science quiz with trivia questions from the original Star Trek television series and the 2009 motion picture starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. ("Borg!" yelled a kid in front of me.)

Once the show begins, members of the audience are considered to be incoming cadets of the Starfleet Academy. Apparently, it's our first day, and we're greeted by enthusiastic hotshot commander Sean Christopher. Training is interrupted by Voula, a Vulcan who has traveled a long way — all the way from the future.

The Vulcan — a female yet so Mr. Spock-like on my visit — warns that a rogue Romulan also is on his way from the future and wants to interrupt the technological advances of 2010 in order to gain advantage in the battles of his time.

Time travel hurts my head, and this is where science meets fiction in an awkward way. Although there's an attempt to educate on a few matters such as propulsion (accompanied by La Roux's "Bulletproof"), those facts float amongst futuristic gibberish.

Star Trek Live does teach other positive attributes such as teamwork. Our hero – Sean – offers up his smart phone to help the Vulcan's technology interface with today's equipment. This leads to the best joke of the show, which involves a ringtone by Whitney Houston; the Vulcan determines her to be "overemotional."

The show works best when the actors interact with the KSC audience, but even that can fall flat. In our group, a man was "volunteered" to be examined on the stage — but there was a language barrier. More successful skits used kids. In one, kids were urged to help with a sudden outbreak of Tribbles. In another, a girl (and green-screen technology) saved the day.

The conclusion is satisfactory and pays attention to Trek history, but I still don't think Trek fans will be thrilled. Captain Kirk barely is addressed, and the lore isn't explored much.

Star Trek Live is performed in the 300-seat Astronaut Encounter Theater, where the public meets actual space explorers. That jarring contrast continues out into the visitor complex, which generally presents dramatic and earnest entertainment regarding the history of the United States space program.

Some of the exhibits are simple but very effective. The Rocket Garden, which is near the Astronaut Encounter Theater, showcases Titan and Atlas rockets alongside the cramped capsules that astronauts used to brave the outer reaches.

It's a study in contrasts: Big achievements in tiny packages.

And it's an example of real life trumping reel life.

'Star Trek Live'

Where: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, 5 miles south of Titusville

When: Several times daily through Sept. 6

Cost: Included in regular admission, which is $41 general, $31 ages 3-11

Phone: 321-449-4444

Online: kennedyspacecenter.com

Space race: Check these out

I recommend taking in these attractions, which are all included in the regular admission to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex:

KSC Tours. The most basic of its bus tours shows the scope of the work here, with stops that show off the shuttle launch pad, an area that covers the Apollo-Saturn era and a work area for the International Space Station.

Shuttle Launch Encounter. The attraction stimulates as it simulates the conditions of astronauts taking off on the space shuttle.

Space Mirror Memorial. In contrast, a quiet spot of unusual design that salutes astronauts who died in the line of duty.

IMAX movies. KSC says it has the world's only back-to-back IMAX screens. Now playing: Hubble 3-D and Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3-D.

Space Shop. Here are loads of gifts you won't see anywhere else, some with very specific messages and flights. ("Failure is not an option" from Apollo XIII is a recurring theme.) Don't miss the second floor, which has higher-end objects and educational options.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-bevil-kennedy-space-center-star-tr20100708,0,3410057.column

Busy Chase Masterson Still Honors Her Trek Roots

2010-07-08T22:34:00.000-07:00

Chase Masterson is a lot of things, but she isn't just the Dabo girl from "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

The actress, who played a mysterious lounge singer in "Yesterday Was a Lie," has been keeping a lock as a favorite among Star Trek fans, and is now the new face of The Federation, the Star Trek fan club originally known as the International Federation of Trekkers.

The group, the only one officially sanctioned by late "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, has been run by Russ Haslage since the mid-1980s. Although the club has had a part in other Star Trek projects -- like trying to get George Takei a series based on the USS Excelsior -- Haslage has spent recent months expanding its presence online with the acquisition earlier this year of TrekUnited, and the rebranding of the club with new interactive features, including a Facebook-like app called Spacebook, and others.

http://www.airlockalpha.com/node/7590

"Russ contacted me earlier this year and asked me, 'How would you like to be our new Federation girl,'" Masterson told Alpha Waves Radio in an episode set to air July 8. "That is a cool idea, and then I realized as I looked more into what they were doing ... there is much beauty here, there is so much potential. But I always thought that of Trek fans" anyway.

Star Trek is at an interesting crossroads. Not only are there hundreds of hours of television programs and movies spanning from the late 1960s, but the franchise is beginning to head in a new direction under the auspices of J.J. Abrams after his successful 2008 outing "Star Trek" becoming the highest grossing Star Trek film of all time. But there are fans from all walks of life in Trek, and bringing them together through a single club clearly defines Roddenberry's Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

"I'm excited about being at the crossroads and harnessing fan power to do good things in the world," Masterson said. Roddenberry wanted fans to make the world a better place through the fan club, and that's what she hopes The Federation will accomplish.

"I want to believe that's how God wants us to live our lives, and I can't think of a better way to do it," she said.

Although Masterson is a convert to Trekdom, her interest in the program dates from before she was cast in the role of Leeta in the syndicated series. A boyfriend at the time was a huge Star Trek fan, to the point where she could only talk to him during commercials. At first, Masterson said she was taken aback by this, but then realized that there was more.

"I thought, maybe there is something to this show, and that's when I started watching," she said.

Masterson joins Haslage as special guests on Alpha Waves Radio which streams July 8 beginning at 8 p.m. ET at AlpaWavesRadio.com. Immediately following the podcast version of the show, Sci-Fi Talk host Tony Tellado hosts Alpha Waves Rewind, a live call-in show starring the listeners, who can call in at (646) 200-3642 on the BlogTalkRadio system.

For those who can't join other listeners for the live stream and chatroom discussion, the show will be available in its entirety for free after 10:30 p.m. ET Thursday at AlphaWavesRadio.com or beginning July 9 at Apple's iTunes Store.

"I wasn't ever one of the fans who knows every episode and every single line," Masterson said. "I'm not a huge trivia buff. But I do understand and appreciate Star Trek for the messages and the allegory. There are big reasons why this franchise is 40-plus years and going strong, and taking on a whole new identity right now.

"It's really fun to be a part of."

Masterson sings four songs in "Yesterday Was a Lie," which is now available on DVD through E1 Entertainment. The film also features Peter Mayhew, best known for his work as Chewbacca in the Star Wars series. Masterson also looks to release a graphic novel based on the film at San Diego Comic-Con later this month.

Watch Now: Leonard Nimoy On William Shatner Stealing His Bike

2010-07-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, there once was a time when geeky conventions were considered, well, geeky — this was back when “geeky” meant “total nerd” and if you attended these conventions, no one thought you were cool.

Some of the biggest conventions back in the day were for Star Trek, and when Trek stars William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy made an appearance, it was a major deal. I mean, this is Kirk and Spock we’re talking about!

An old video of the two actors from one of these contentions is making the rounds online, and since I’m obsessed with Star Trek and happen to love Shatner and Nimoy beyond belief, I thought I’d share it here.

Check it out here below.

In the video, Nimoy tells the story of how Shatner stole his bicycle while they were at the studio filming Star Trek. I seem to remember this same story told in one of their autobiographies, I can’t recall which one (I think it was I Am Spock, but I’m not sure). While Shatner’s Trek co-stars have in the past complained about having to work with him, Nimoy has always been his close friend, so watching them bantering during this story is genuine and is a really cool throwback.

Enjoy!

http://geeksofdoom.com/2010/07/07/watch-now-leonard-nimoy-on-william-shatner-stealing-his-bike/

Star Trek tractor beam created

2010-07-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

A new tool uses a beam of light as a tiny 'tractor beam' to manipulate microscopic objects.

Tel Aviv University's Holographic Optical Tweezers (HOTs) can manipulate up to 300 nanoparticles at a time. The technology could have applications in communications and quantum computing.

HOTS - first proposed as a theoretical possibility in 1986 - use a strongly-focused light beam to trap, manipulate and transform small amounts of matter.

The team's now using them to create a new generation of photonic devices which can insulate light and trap it in one place without losing the light's energy.

"Our invention could increase transmission speed and save energy, important for long-life batteries in computers, for instance," says Dr Yael Roichman of TAU's Department of Chemistry.

She's using a new layering technique, whereby photonic crystals are arranged to create a path along which light can travel. If they're arranged correctly, she says, the light is trapped along the path.

Different materials are added to absorb or amplify light as required.

Roichman reckons that the ability to build these devices will transform communications, telescopic instruments, and medical technology, making them more efficient and powerful.

Another project tracks the effectiveness of antibiotics. Roichman's optical tweezers can isolate the bacteria to be studied, handling them without killing them.

And her improvements to optical microscopy will, she says, for the first time allow researchers to look at the internal processes within bacteria and see how different types of antibiotics attack them.

William Shatner's Starfleet "Wrath of Khan" Jacket to be Boldly Auctioned

2010-07-08T22:27:00.000-07:00

A Starfleet officer’s jacket and undershirt worn by William Shatner as Admiral James T. Kirk in the second Star Trek movie, The Wrath of Khan, will be sold at Heritage Auction Galleries Beverly Hills (9478 West Olympic Boulevard) as part of a trove of Star Trek-related material in the company’s July 17 Signature® Music & Entertainment Memorabilia Auction. It is estimated at $20,000+.

“Of all the Star Trek movies, The Wrath of Khan is easily still the most popular,” said Doug Norwine, Director of Music & Entertainment Auctions at Heritage, “and here you have the very officer’s jacket that the franchise’s most popular character wore in that same film. There can’t be many better pieces in the realm of Star Trek collecting than this one.”

The pieces were actually worn in multiple Star Trek movies and featured in several spin-offs of the popular series subsequent to its initial usage by Shatner, but there can be no doubt that the most exciting sighting of this particular piece is from Khan. Taken for its whole journey, this jacket and undershirt has indeed seen a great many corners of the Star Trek galaxy.

The Starfleet uniform jacket worn by Shatner as Admiral James Tiberius Kirk was later modified and worn by Leon Russom in Star Trek VI. The jacket’s tag is Western Costume Company, with Shatner’s name clearly typed into it, and Russom’s name handwritten on with black felt tip.

“This costume, so different from the previous design features in the series, was an attempt to change the look and feel of the franchise to match a more nautical atmosphere,” said Norwine. “The resulting navel designs would be used in all Star Trek films until Star Trek: First Contact in 1996.”

Heritage’s July 17 auction also features a Star Trek film series costume duty uniform undershirt worn by Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. The sleeveless shirt sports a Paramount Studio tag labeled, “Spock/Nimoy,” and is believed to have been worn in Star Trek films II through VI.

“The Star Trek-themed lots in this sale cover the board,” Norwine said. “We have costumes and props used in the original television series, the movie series, Star Trek: Enterprise, and even Star Trek: Voyager.”

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=27016

Star Trek and Avatar’ star Zoe Saldana is engaged to longtime boyfriend

2010-07-08T22:25:00.000-07:00

Zoe Saldana is capping off a string of hit films with another big engagement—to her longtime boyfriend.

A spokesman for the 32-year-old actress says she is engaged to marry actor Keith Britton.

Saldana has become a familiar face in film recently, with starring roles in “Star Trek” and “Avatar.” The lithe brunette also appears in the action flick “The Losers,” the comedy “Death at a Funeral” and the forthcoming “Takers.”

Britton’s credits include “Cold Case” and “As the World Turns.”

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/WireHeadlines/2010/07/04/-avatar-star-zoe-saldana-is-engaged-to-l-72.php