By BWilliams / 09:48, 29 March 2004 / Reviews - Products

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One of the more interesting aspects of any film or television franchise is the fan film. Whether in the form of a parody, a tribute, or an animated or live-action short film, fans offer up their own interpretations of a series, sometimes providing a look behind the scenes of how their favorite film or television series was created. STAR TREK is no exception. Over the past two or three decades there have been a number of short fan films that have further explored the STAR TREK mythos, some of which have featured the TREK actors themselves. From fan films such as YORKTOWN II: A TIME TO HEAL to HICK TREK, fan films and tributes continue to permeate the market.

Now we come to RODDENBERRY ON PATROL, the latest fan film to arrive on DVD. This is a fan film of a different nature, in that it offers a humorous look into the life of STAR TREK creator Gene Roddenberry and the creation of the legendary saga. What makes it even more interesting is that stars from the different STAR TREK series have taken it upon themselves to create this loving tribute. Directed by Tim Russ ("Tuvok") and scripted by Tom Mason and Dan Danko from a story by Sky Douglas Conway, and featuring Russ, fellow VOYAGER actors Robert Picardo ("The E.M.H."), Ethan Phillips ("Neelix"), Robert Beltran ("Chakotay"), and Richard Herd ("Admiral Paris"), along with Original Series stars Nichelle Nichols ("Uhura"), Walter Koenig ("Chekov"), the voice of George Takei ("Sulu"), and TNG/DS9's Robert O'Reilly ('Gowron'), RODDENBERRY ON PATROL offers a hilarious "what if?" scenario of how the concept of STAR TREK was born.

In this short film, Los Angeles police officer and freelance writer Gene Roddenberry (portrayed by Dan Chace) patrols the city beat and looks for ideas for his "space saga" concept, a takeoff of westerns in space. He constantly rejects one name after another, even passing on the name "Star Wars". His landlord, Mr. Lovchek (Koenig), suggests that he incorporate Russian cowboys into the story. While on patrol, Officer Roddenberry meets a biker with long hair and a familiar gang name on his jacket: "The Kligons". An encounter with a fellow officer (O'Reilly) results in a thumb-less Vulcan salute. Even Roddenberry's boss, Captain Kirkus (Herd), suggests getting his daughter a part in the show and asks Roddenberry to consider it his "prime directive".

On his off day, Roddenberry meets with a TV executive, a Mr. Gorn (Phillips), and pitches his space opera idea. Gorn suggests that Roddenberry stick with writing shows about cops, lawyers, and doctors, as well as shows that reach the lowest common denominator of viewers' intelligence. Roddenberry even gets to meet Mr. Gorn's secretary (Nichols), who hums a very familiar tune and wears an extremely familiar piece of jewelry on her red dress.

But such lofty plans have to be put on hold, as Officer Roddenberry must protect the people of Los Angeles from becoming victims of the "Red Shirt Bandit", victims randomly killed because they wear red shirts. A city coroner (Picardo) checks over one of the victims and mutters some very familiar-sounding phrases, including "I'm a doctor, not an eyewitness," and "He's dead, Gene." Another victim (Beltran) describes how the Red Shirt Bandit operates, even displaying a familiar shirt pattern to Officer Roddenberry. It's up to Roddenberry to catch the perpetrator by using a familiar maneuver...

This hilarious tribute to the STAR TREK saga incorporates so many references to the Original Series, loving nods to Roddenberry's creation. Whether it's a visual joke, the name of a character, an episode name, a line, you name it, it's all here in this short film that lovingly pokes fun at the STAR TREK saga. Even George Takei's ending narration is a takeoff of the classic William Shatner opening monologue. Above all, it's Dan Chace's portrayal of Gene Roddenberry that keeps things going wonderfully. Much like GEORGE LUCAS IN LOVE, the now-classic STAR WARS comic tribute, RODDENBERRY IN PATROL is a tribute to 40 years of one man's vision of the future. Director Tim Russ, who also co-produced the film and appears as one of the key characters in the short film, keeps the story going very smoothly and fluidly, and no attention to detail is left out of this tribute.

The presentation is in a 1.78:1 matted widescreen format, as the entire film was shot on digital video, so the picture is overall pretty crisp. The sound, however, is solely limited to English Dolby Digital 2.0, and there are no subtitles or closed captions included on the disc.

RODDENBERRY ON PATROL is also limited on bonus features to just two menu screens and only two extra features. One of the bonus features is a compilation of outtakes from the short film running approximately seven minutes long. Some of the outtakes are flubs caught on tape. One deleted scene features an artist spray-painting a piece of glass on the street and showing Roddenberry a space scene. In another moment, Dan Chace reflects on the life of Gene Roddenberry. There are also several gag takes of Roddenberry encountering the biker that just have to be seen to be appreciated. Another funny outtake is also included, in which Tim Russ and Ethan Phillips discuss how all of the Tuvok scenes were going to be edited out of the VOYAGER DVDs. And in a very inspired outtake, Nichelle Nichols does Uhura by way of Lily Tomlin's "Geraldine" character. The camaraderie among the cast and crew members comes forth through the outtakes, which further results in a fine short film.

The other bonus feature is the original short film LIFE 2.0, featuring Dan Chace and running approximately eight minutes in length. Directed and written by David L. Fisher, who also edited and co-produced the film, it is a short tale about a man going through a divorce and dreaming that aliens are coming to get him. Upon winning a lottery, he wonders if life the second time around is better than the first time. Tim Russ does a brief audio cameo at the start of the film as a radio psychic. As with RODDENBERRY ON PATROL, LIFE 2.0 was shot on digital video and is in a 1.78:1 matted widescreen format, and the sound is limited only to English Dolby Digital 2.0.

Planet X Studios has put together a nice little package, and at $14.95 it's a bargain. While the disc is short on extras, it more than makes it up with two wonderful little short films. RODDENBERRY ON PATROL makes for a wonderful presentation, and for anyone who appreciates a good satire, this is a must-add to any STAR TREK video library.

To order your copy on DVD, go to www.roddenberryonpatrol.com.

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