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Nov 17 | Originally hired as co-executive producer to help with the second half of the show's first season, Kevin Murphy has now taken the reins of Caprica, the Battlestar Galactica prequel on Syfy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He now serves as an executive producer along with Ronald D. Moore, David Eick and Jane Espenson and oversees the day-to-day functions of the show.

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Nov 12 | Star Trek star Zachary Quinto is loosely attached to star in the romantic dramedy Whirligig, reports Risky Business.Quinto would play the lead role in the independent Canadian film, which is aiming to shoot early next year. The movie centers on a man who, in a misguided attempt to woo an older woman, befriends the woman's adopted son.Chaz Thorne is directing the pic, based on a screenplay by Michael Amo, creator of the Canadian supernatural series "The Listener."

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Nov 11 | The CNS Foundation, is hosting an on-line charity auction at www.charitybuzz.com.   One of the items they are auctioning is a signed movie poster of the new Star Trek movie which has all the cast members and writers.  The president of our organization is Carol Abrams, JJ's mother,  and she arranged for the donation from Bad Robot Production Company.  J.J. Abrams is also a major donor to their organization. The funds raised will go to help find a cure to neurological disorders in children.  The auction link is here.

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Nov 10 | Candice Bergen, Charles Lisanby, Don Pardo, Gene Roddenberry, Tom and Dick Smothers and Bob Stewart have been selected as the next inductees into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame. They will be honored at a Jan. 20 ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel. "This year's inductees have challenged and shaped popular culture, changed television for the better and entertained us royally while doing so," TV Academy Chairman-CEO John Shaffner said. More info at the Hollywood Reporter

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Nov 08 | Unreality-SF.net has interviewed Star Trerk author James Swallow about some of his upcoming projects. He talks about Titan: Synthesis and Seven Deadly Sins: The Slow Knife, as well as some forthcoming Doctor Who and Stargate stories.

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Stardates Calendar

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News Story

Features

ENTERPRISE Begins Production on "Storm Front", Shoots in Digital Video

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By BWilliams / 09:43, 16 July 2004 / Enterprise

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Production on the fourth season of STAR TREK: ENTERPRISE began on Thursday, July 15, but with a twist: the series will now be shot in high-definition digital video, as opposed to standard film.

Director of photography Marvin Rush filmed the first scenes for the fourth season premiere, entitled "Storm Front", with a new Sony 900 digital camera after conducting a series of tests on the standing ship sets and outdoor locations. The test shots proved more cost-effective than standard celluloid film.

"If anything," Rush said in an exclusive interview with StarTrek.com, "it's neck-and-neck with film. And I'm just talking about aesthetics, image to image. I'm not talking about other aspects of how easy (it) is to work with or how flexible it is."

Rush's test footage, which was more than expected and under budget, so impressed series creators and executive producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, that they said, "Wow, why weren't we doing this before?"

Rush had high praise for the switch to digital video. "I think that the problems get solved a little quicker with the HD camera. Ask me in a week and I'll give you an answer, because we'll have done it, we will have shot a show."

Rush added that the look of the show will remain consistent, though viewers may not notice much difference between digital video and standard film. "My question is, do you really want it to look the same? I think that there are some aspects to the HD look that are superior - you see a little more detail in the shadows. My personal taste is, why not keep them - it's just more fidelity, you know."

Production on "Storm Front" began Thursday, June 15, with scenes filmed in Sickbay, the Bridge, and the Situation Room with the entire cast minus Scott Bakula, who reports to the set on Friday to begin filming. "Storm Front", the first chapter of a multiple-episode arc that will resolve the conclusion of the third season finale, is expected to continue production until next week and will air some time in late September for the season's premiere.

Click here to read the full report. Stay tuned to StarTrek.com and TrekWeb for the latest news on ENTERPRISE's fourth season.



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Good budget cutter | Report this post to moderator
By: who1 (Odo's file, contact) @ 21:17:58 on Jul 16, 2004

This is an excellent way to save money on the show and keep it financially viable. Film is expensive.


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HDTV and ENT | Report this post to moderator
By: Red Shirt (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:39:00 on Jul 16, 2004

Just upgraded my system for 65" of HDTV glory and luckely my local UPN has a gerat signal. All I can say is WOW the special effects are awsome. One problem though, if the new digital live shots pick up more shadows I think make-up flaws will really jump out. I was amazed at the detail on Phlox in HD but could start to pick out the seams in the rubber. It will be interesting to see if the art department is up to the task.

Before I get hammered, yes I do know that film is higher resolution but it is still softer and looses some in the conversion process to digital then first generation digital will straight to your home. I'll be willing to bet they have to soften it a little in final.


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  • RE: HDTV and ENT | Report this post to moderator
    By: TheShadowKnows (Odo's file, contact) @ 16:19:45 on Jul 16, 2004

    You are correct, sir. No argument here.

    Within a few years it'll be nearly impossible to distinguish film from HD video. That said, I still prefer the look of film over HD. HD tends to exaggerate light and color while film still gives you the impression that you can walk into the image.

    My quibble here is not that they're shooting in HD but that they should have bitten the bullet and gone HD from the start. Farscape and LEXX were both shot on HD and the look of both shows were designed to reflect the strengths and shortcomings of the format.

    The new Battlestar Galactica is also being shot on HD. Again, the budget was a factor and at over $1.7 million an episode you have to save somewhere.

    Worst looking show on HD? "The Secret Adventures of Jules Vern" which LOOKED like it was shot on video. Yikes.


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Digital video | Report this post to moderator
By: Kiwi6009 (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:26:53 on Jul 16, 2004 | Edit History (1)

Next season entire episodes will be shot on a Nokia 9600 PDA Phone with video in .

Gives new meaning to 'phoning your performances in'

Not that I could possibly suggest such a thing :)

At least Enterprise would then be able to be viewed in its full 640x480 glory ;)

'Captain Archer, we are the PIXELONS, prepare to be boarded' - :D



--------

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans....


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  • RE: Digital video | Report this post to moderator
    By: falcon (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:45:00 on Jul 19, 2004

    Don't knock it until you've tried it. In many respects, digital video (especially HD) is superior to film (most notably in the cost area -- no film processing, for instance). There are some areas where film is still preferred, and it's harder to light for HD than it is for film or standard video, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

    I've worked in this biz for 25 years, and HD is the best thing to come along in a long time. I think you'll see that the quality is as good, if not better, than film that's transmitted over an NTSC signal.

    --------

    A generation which ignores history has no past and no future. -- Robert Heinlein

    PCLinuxOS

    falcon


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Life's good in HDTV | Report this post to moderator
By: Great Sayia Man (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:09:59 on Jul 16, 2004

I live in europe and would like to know if HDTV is progressively replacing NTSC as a standard or is it something else?

--------

"We may be little but we make a lot of noise." Angus Young.


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  • RE: Life's good in HDTV | Report this post to moderator
    By: Jadzia-Dax (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:39:45 on Jul 16, 2004

    Quote:
    I live in europe and would like to know if HDTV is progressively replacing NTSC as a standard or is it something else?

    Seems different parts of the world have different standards. Certainly Japan has had a version of HDTV for years. The U.S. is finally replacing it's old 525-scanning lines standard from the '40s. Actually, it's a Federal law here now, requiring this transition to the new HDTV standard with I think something like 1040 or 1080 lines or something like that (although the timetables listed for this in the law are unrealistic from the consumer perspective). Unfortunately, like 95% of the TV sets are not compatible (meaning eventually being required to buy some sort of set top converter box or buying an expensive new TV once the analog signals get turned off... LOL).

    --------

    "I think the show talked to people through the characters. They're stories that speak to the heart. They talk about love, they talk about friendship, they talk about loyalty, they talk about patriotism, exploration, curiosity, reaching out... And I think all those things still touch people. Even when you look at a 30-year old show, it still has something to say." - D.C. Fontana, Sci Fi Channel Special Edition TOS 1998
    ----
    "If the season finale involves the re-built USS Reliant coming back in time to the 21st Century crewed by Moogie, Dr. Selar, Morn, Transporter Chief Kyle, and the Salt Vampire, then we'll know that Coto has gone too far." - tomba1701


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    • RE: Life's good in HDTV | Report this post to moderator
      By: falcon (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:48:37 on Jul 19, 2004

      Actually, Jadzia, even though the first HD standard called for 1080 lines of resolution (as opposed to NTSC's 525), there has been talk that many broadcasters and production companies will go toward a 720-line, progressive-scan format...which frees up quite a bit of bandwidth for the individual TV stations to sell for other purposes (like cell phone use, text messaging, advertising, etc.). In fact, a few years ago ABC was talking about going to a 480p format (which is still higher definition than NTSC because it's progressive scan and higher data rate, but not appreciably better).

      Our new monitors will be equipped to handle 1080i, but for the most part broadcasters will pump out a 720p signal and sell the rest of the bandwidth to afford the loans on all those new digital transmitters they'll have to (or had to) buy.

      --------

      A generation which ignores history has no past and no future. -- Robert Heinlein

      PCLinuxOS

      falcon


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    • RE: Life's good in HDTV | Report this post to moderator
      By: TheShadowKnows (Odo's file, contact) @ 16:26:28 on Jul 16, 2004

      And the American standard is out of synch with European standards. You're getting the same result with imcompatable formats.

      And as stated above, 95% of Americans don't have the hardware to pick up HD signals (2006 is the date set by the FCC) AND 95% of that 95% have no clue what HD televion is.


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Well... | Report this post to moderator
By: Meglo (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:19:03 on Jul 16, 2004

*imitates sinister Orc from ROTK*

The age of film is over... the time of digital has come!

--------

The supervisor is Verizon!


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I might also add... | Report this post to moderator
By: TheShadowKnows (Odo's file, contact) @ 11:52:06 on Jul 16, 2004

Would anyone expect B&B to say that it looked like crap or, at the very least, didn't look quite as sharp as film? If it's going to save cash they're just going to suck it up and put the best spin on it as possible to make the suits happy.

Mr. Rush praises the format but also seems to be holding back a bit on endorsing it wholeheartedly. You're not going to bite the hand that feeds you. This is all about money, not about being cutting edge. I get the impression that he'd prefer to work with film and leave the HD stuff for sitcoms and sporting events until HD is up to snuff, which is only a few years off.


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Wasn't the pilot shopt on high def? | Report this post to moderator
By: TheShadowKnows (Odo's file, contact) @ 11:44:04 on Jul 16, 2004

I seem to recall that the pilot was shot using high def (digital) cameras and I seem to remember reading that here when the pilot was in production. I could be wrong.

That said, switching from film to high def has more to do with economics than anything else. It was decided in 2002 not to shoot Enterprise in high def because pyrotechnics just didn't shoot very will with high def cameras and for a number of other reasons. With the production budget slashed they have to save money somehwere and shooting on video will defintiely help save on production costs.

Viewers may notice a slight difference in the overall look of the show, especially anything shot on location.


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  • RE: Wasn't the pilot shopt on high def? | Report this post to moderator
    By: Ben (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:59:08 on Jul 16, 2004

    Quote:
    I seem to recall that the pilot was shot using high def (digital) cameras and I seem to remember reading that here when the pilot was in production. I could be wrong.

    That said, switching from film to high def has more to do with economics than anything else. It was decided in 2002 not to shoot Enterprise in high def because pyrotechnics just didn't shoot very will with high def cameras and for a number of other reasons. With the production budget slashed they have to save money somehwere and shooting on video will defintiely help save on production costs.

    Viewers may notice a slight difference in the overall look of the show, especially anything shot on location.

    The production budget hasn't been slashed as you say. The license fee that UPN pay to Paramount has been slashed, not the actual show budget. Production budgets remain the same.

    I think its great news that ENT is being filmed in HD, we're up there now with the likes of George Lucas' techniques.

    The only reason why film (celluloid) is the most popular choice is one of two things.

    1) Its more commonly used in the mainstream and everyone in the industry is able to work with it effectively

    2) As Sofia Copolla said when asked by her father to film Lost in Translation in HD "film is more romantic".

    The benefits of filming in HD truly outweigh the benefits of using film. HD has better picture quality, it’s more flexible and if you are willing to accept the change and adapt to a new format it is more logical in this day and age. If not then no harm no foul, its just more lucid.


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  • RE: Wasn't the pilot shopt on high def? | Report this post to moderator
    By: Ben (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:58:49 on Jul 16, 2004

    Quote:
    I seem to recall that the pilot was shot using high def (digital) cameras and I seem to remember reading that here when the pilot was in production. I could be wrong.

    That said, switching from film to high def has more to do with economics than anything else. It was decided in 2002 not to shoot Enterprise in high def because pyrotechnics just didn't shoot very will with high def cameras and for a number of other reasons. With the production budget slashed they have to save money somehwere and shooting on video will defintiely help save on production costs.

    Viewers may notice a slight difference in the overall look of the show, especially anything shot on location.

    The production budget hasn't been slashed as you say. The license fee that UPN pay to Paramount has been slashed, not the actual show budget. Production budgets remain the same.

    I think its great news that ENT is being filmed in HD, we're up there now with the likes of George Lucas' techniques.

    The only reason why film (celluloid) is the most popular choice is one of two things.

    1) Its more commonly used in the mainstream and everyone in the industry is able to work with it effectively

    2) As Sofia Copolla said when asked by her father to film Lost in Translation in HD "film is more romantic".

    The benefits of filming in HD truly outweigh the benefits of using film. HD has better picture quality, it’s more flexible and if you are willing to accept the change and adapt to a new format it is more logical in this day and age. If not then no harm no foul, its just more lucid.


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    • RE: Wasn't the pilot shopt on high def? | Report this post to moderator
      By: TheShadowKnows (Odo's file, contact) @ 16:33:50 on Jul 16, 2004

      What's ironic about Lucas shooting in HD for CLONES was that a lot of effort went into making a movie that looked as if it was shot on film. That said, he pulled it off beautifully (compare "Attack of the Clones" to the handful of scenes that were shot digitally for Phantom Menace -- two years in advancements made a hell of a difference).

      So, no, I'm not against shooting digitally. The format looks wonderful on TV but is still so-so on the big screen.

      But that's gonna change over time...


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Interesting... Digital Video | Report this post to moderator
By: Jadzia-Dax (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:11:41 on Jul 16, 2004

Looks like they're about to obsolete those old film editors with the splicers... LOL

And Bill - your "Production on "Storm Front" began Thursday, June 15," - I think you need to fix the date to "July 15". LOL

--------

"I think the show talked to people through the characters. They're stories that speak to the heart. They talk about love, they talk about friendship, they talk about loyalty, they talk about patriotism, exploration, curiosity, reaching out... And I think all those things still touch people. Even when you look at a 30-year old show, it still has something to say." - D.C. Fontana, Sci Fi Channel Special Edition TOS 1998
----
"If the season finale involves the re-built USS Reliant coming back in time to the 21st Century crewed by Moogie, Dr. Selar, Morn, Transporter Chief Kyle, and the Salt Vampire, then we'll know that Coto has gone too far." - tomba1701


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  • RE: Interesting... Digital Video | Report this post to moderator
    By: falcon (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:51:39 on Jul 19, 2004

    Film editors haven't used splicers for years. Nowadays it's a digital transfer from film to hard drive, and then the hard drive is taken into a non-linear editing system and "conformed." The output is then taken and output back to film or videotape (usually videotape for broadcast).

    We've got an old Steenbeck editing flatbed here, but we haven't used it in about ten years. Far, far easier to edit digitally. :-)

    --------

    A generation which ignores history has no past and no future. -- Robert Heinlein

    PCLinuxOS

    falcon


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HD | Report this post to moderator
By: daicha (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:54:02 on Jul 16, 2004

Now we got digital, we can see T'pol's buns in the highest quality yet! Queing up my zoom button for when the dvds come out.:)

--------

The higher, the fewer


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