By GustavoLeao / 16:23, 7 August 2008 / General Star Trek

• Beam story to friend
• Join our newsletter
• Syndicate news
• Shore Leave forum

Fan film productions Hidden Frontier and Starship Intrepid have teamed up for a second co-production: Operation Beta Shield. What started out as a sequel to their original crossover feature "The Orphans of War" has ballooned into a feature-length epic that will also serve as the launching pad for a third Hidden Frontier production.

TrekWeb talks to Starship Intrepid actor/producer Nick Cook about his fan production series, the Operation Beta Shield movie and his upcoming Intrepid episode "Transitions and Lamentations."

1- Nick, how you describe your experience filming the Operation Beta Shield movie ?

Tiring.  Lucy and I spent two twelve hour days working on Beta Shield while we were in LA, and it was a pretty gruelling schedule. Having said that, it was just so much fun that it didn't really feel like work, and as tiring as it was, it was also pretty invigorating. It may sound kind of weird, but I guess long hours under hot lights don't feel so bad when you're spending that time with friends, doing something you're passionate about.  

2- How was working again with Hidden Frontier star Risha Denney and producer Rob Caves and his team ?

Well like I said, it was great fun. Rob runs a pretty tight ship, and Jennifer Cole, who was directing is no different, so everything is exceptionally well-organised and it's really a pretty easy set to work on. Also, I think Assistant Director David O'Neill (who is a pretty awesome AD, by the way) and I share a similar sense of humour, so that helps me to relax a little more too.

I spent a lot more time working with Risha on this shoot, and I honestly can't give her enough credit. Risha's a fantastic actor and I think she's really made the character of Shelby her own. Working alongside her is always a positive experience, and an invaluably educational one for an amateur such as myself. Which is not to ignore the frankly exceptional direction Jenn and David bring to the table either. If I don't suck too much onscreen, it's largely down to those three.

I also spent a similar amount of time with Karl Puder, who was appearing as General Korg. Karl and I first met at the Phase 2 Blood and Fire shoot a year earlier, but this was the first time we'd performed together, and I think we built up a pretty entertaining rapport that people will enjoy watching. Of course, it doesn't hurt that Karl is just a really nice, kind, gentle soul, and incredibly fun to hang out with.

Also, I can't talk about the shoot itself without mentioning all the HF fans who joined us at the shoot. Finally being able to put faces to people who I'd previously only known as names on a screen, and to sit and get to know them was fantastic. I came away from that shoot having made a lot of new friends, and I hope it's not too long before we're all together again.

3- I saw the OBS trailer and it was spectacular, from the acting to the special effects ! Are you proud of finished product ?

Very much so. I was lucky enough to see the rough cut not long after EB3, and was honestly blown away. I'm a huge fan of character-driven drama, and while OBS is very much plot-driven, it's also packed with exactly the sort of wonderful character scenes that make me smile. The fact that Rob and everyone at HF actually wanted to work with us on this, is really a matter of great pride for me.  There were a couple of scenes in particular that were really, very difficult, but I was amazed how well they ultimately turned out.

I look forward to seeing it released, and look forward to seeing peoples' reactions to the finished product.

4- Is Captain Hunter a major player in Operation Beta Shield as he was in the Orphans of War short movie ?

Hunter does indeed play a major role in Operation Beta Shield. Intrepid has been called back from the Charybdis Sector because one of Hunter's crew is needed for a critical assignment. As a result, Hunter finds himself right in the middle of the action, and fighting against demons both within and without.

5- Tell us about your next Intrepid episode, "Transitions and Lamentations." What can you reveal about the story ?

Transitions and Lamentations was originally intended as another short, entitled Next In Line. It was supposed to be about Hunter's quest to find a First Officer, but rapidly grew beyond that into a full thirty minute episode. In short, Transitions and Lamentations picks up a week after the events of Heavy Lies the Crown, and will delve more into the character of Commander Navar, who he is, and what he's actually up to. TaL is really Navar's story, but we'll meet some of the crew of one of the other Starfleet vessels assigned to the convoy, as well as seeing more of the Surai, and those Scottish landscapes people seem to enjoy. The episode will answer some of the questions left hanging after Heavy Lies the Crown, but certainly not all of them.

6- Who is the writer and the director on "Transitions and Lamentations" ?

Transitions and Lamentations was written by me, and directed by Steve Hammond.

7- Are you now in post-production ? What is the release date for this episode ?

Yes, post-production is well under way, with Lee Andrew currently working on the effects. I completed the first rough cut earlier this week, and am hoping to have a locked version by mid September. We haven't set an official release date yet but expect to have it ready before the end of the year.

More info can be found at the Hidden Frontier and Starship Intrepid official websites.

You can watch the trailer for Operation Beta Shield on YouTube.