TrekWeb.com - Brent Spiner Talks State of TREK Franchise and His Idea for Mixed-Crew TREK XI

Brent Spiner Talks State of TREK Franchise and His Idea for Mixed-Crew TREK XI

By GustavoLeao / 20:49, 29 January 2005 / Star Trek: Nemesis

The latest issue of the Star Trek Communicator, available now in the U.S., features an exclusive interview with TNG actor Brent Spiner, in which he talks about his guest role of 'Doctor Arik Soong' on STAR TREK ENTERPRISE and his opinions on the STAR TREK franchise. Here are a few excerpts :

What, in your opinion, is the state of STAR TREK these days ?

Spiner : I am not sure. I don't know if I have a solution for its future. Some people think it needs to be put to sleep for a while and then woke up again in about five to ten years with a new concept and design and a bunch of young new kids. There is something to be said for that but, at the same time, I personally just like the fact that it is on the air. I want it to be around always. It has now been on for 18 years solid. It has hardly ever been off the air since it started back in the 60s. [...] I think they are doing a pretty good job this year, thought. I think ENTERPRISE has hit its stride. That's something they need to be given credit for, because it takes a while to shake down. It wasn't so easy for us either. I think they have finally found their footing, and it just took a while to get it together.

Do you think mixing the crews from the five shows is a good idea ?

Spiner : I think it is a decent idea. John Logan and I actually had a idea for another film that followed NEMESIS that sort of did that in a way. It was a really cool idea. But, needless to say, nobody went to see NEMESIS, so Paramount wasn't likely to give us another movie.

You knew Gene Roddenberry well, Do you think he would be happy with what STAR TREK has become today ?

Spiner : For the most part, I think he would be happy with it. And I will tell you why : I can't tell you the numbers of times when we were doing the films that we wanted to do something and Rick Berman responded, "You know, that's really not Roddenberry, That's really not his vision of this, and I don't want to cross that line." People who say Rick has forgotten Gene's vision and tried to create his own STAR TREK are way off base. It is just not true and I have been privy to moments where he has stated the opposite, All you have to do is watch the shows - they are still about the same things. They are still about the hopeful vision of the future and the need for people to accept each other in whatever form.

And to read the full interview, get the latest issue of the Star Trek Communicator at your local newstand.

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RE: He's right and he's wrong | Report this post to moderator
By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 21:38:50 on Jan 30, 2005

Quote:
But do you really think there is a remote chance, the audience will accept anymore changes to Trek?

From the way you say this it sounds like you think that the audience has been leaving because Trek isn't exactly the same as it was ten years ago (ie, a show about the TNG).

I think it's the opposite. People liked TNG because it offered them something they hadn't seen before in a Trek series: evolving characters in an more richly developed universe, exploring Roddenberry's themes of growth and humanity. But even that series couldn't go on forever. I mean, who would want to watch the exact same thing over and over? The reason we say writers and actors and other artists have to be creative is because they are expected to weave innovation into their craft, to give the audience something they really haven't seen before.

Quote:
It seems every time there is a change, someone is heading for the door, and noone takes his place.

The changes that occurred to the series coming after TNG, with the exception of DS9, were all superficial. They took the basic plot elements from TNG and TOS, changed either the spatial setting (Voyager) or temporal setting (Enterprise), and then churned out story after story without really fleshing out characters, creating an interesting universe, or developing themes. No wonder people got tired of Trek.

Quote:
I think the bashers have become so crippled by their own hatred, they can nolonger adjust.

Just because a few bashers on this board are very vocal, doesn't mean they reflect the potential fan base as a whole. Most people who have turned away from Trek just tuned out; they didn't focus all their time and energy on bashing the show. If that base could be convinced that Trek would offer them something new again, give them that sense of wonder that only good science fiction can provide, I have every confidence that a good number would come back.

Enterprise is making good strides this year, but unfortunately not enough to get through the preconceptions people already formed about the show in its first few seasons. It would take something big, like major PR or a brand new series, to get people to re-focus on Trek again. The trick is to give them innovative storytelling that still stays true to Roddenberry's vision, once you've got their attention.

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RE: He's right and he's wrong by Hbasm @ 13:29:49 on Jan 31
RE: He's right and he's wrong by Bella Oxmyx @ 15:35:59 on Jan 31

RE: He's right and he's wrong | Report this post to moderator By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 21:38:50 on Jan 30, 2005

RE: He's right and he's wrong | Report this post to moderator
By: Bella Oxmyx (Odo's file, contact) @ 21:38:50 on Jan 30, 2005