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William Shatner Says His Star Trek Books Could Have Been Movies

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By GustavoLeao / 15:13, 3 November 2007 / Star Trek: Nemesis

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DVD Snapshot posted the transcript of a recent conference call interview with Star Trek star William Shatner, in which he talked about his various projects, including his new Star Trek novel, The Academy Collision Course, now on sale. Here are few excerpts.

Panel: The book you were referring to, which is basically about the first time Spock and Kirk meet.

William Shatner: That's correct.

Panel:You wrote it, but wasn't it with, along with two other people?

William Shatner: Gar and Judith Reeves-Stevens.

Panel: Now, to what input was it proportioned off to in the writing category?

William Shatner: Well, the way, we've written several books together, all the major Star Trek books I've written with Gar and Judy. And the way it seems to work out is I develop the story and write out a full-fledged story outline--several, many, many pages. And they take that and work that over, and then we begin to work on it together, going through several rewrites until the three of us are satisfied with the work.

Panel: Now, it does seem awfully like it could be a movie. I mean--.

William Shatner: All the books I've written--every book I've written--could have been a movie. I write them as though I'm seeing a movie. I don't like A, B, and C stories and all that stuff, so I write as though it were a movie. When I read a book, I'd like to see the movie, and that's the way I write. The story line you are following, you are following the main characters, it's classically built as a beginning, a middle and an end, it's got character evolvement, anxiety, tension, the ticking clock--all the wonderful ingredients of a good, old-fashioned story. And that's what I've tried to do in all these books, and I think that "Academy" has caught it fully in terms of an imaginative history of the characters and the ongoing plot of how they must get from A to X.

Panel: It just doesn't seem like there's ever, there ever could be an end to the Star Trek phenomenon. I mean, just when you think it's over with movies or with books or such, then you go backwards. You go sideways. I mean, it's been so important.

William Shatner: It's amazing, and nobody understands why. Nobody understands the phenomena of Star Trek.

Panel: Not even you?

William Shatner: Especially me. All I know is that we've got these wonderful characters and we invent a history for them, and the history becomes more and more fascinating. When you read this book, you'll see what we planned here, the diverse things that went into make Jim Kirk Captain Kirk.

The full interview is here.



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How much can one kiss their own ass? | Report this post to moderator
By: Plaid Ninja (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:44:25 on Nov 05, 2007

Ok, lets look at The Return.

http://startrek.wikia.com/wiki/James_T._Kirk#The_Return

The Borg get chummy with the Romulans. WHY?

"Seeking to restore her family's honor through vengeance, Salatrel and her dissidant group allied themselves with the Borg, and using a combination of Borg nanotechonology and a Guardian of Forever-like "ark," they captured Kirk's brainwaves (or katra) at the moment of his death, and revived him in the present. Salatrel and her former consort, now Vox of Borg, brainwashed Kirk into hunting down Jean-Luc Picard, the only human the Collective viewed as a threat."


REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETARDED!

Just send in big cloaked fleet and kill Picard. BAM. Done. End of story. No need for Borg. No need for crappy clones that constantly need blood transfusions.

More to the point, why would the Borg chill with the Romulans? It would be simple. Assimilate Romulans and move on.


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Shatner and his novels | Report this post to moderator
By: DocHolliday (Odo's file, contact) @ 08:28:10 on Nov 05, 2007

Ive always respected Bill as an actor and a person, but he honestly can say his books would make great movies? Keep in mind , his script and movie from Star Trek V bombed!


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Shatner and his novels | Report this post to moderator
By: DocHolliday (Odo's file, contact) @ 08:28:03 on Nov 05, 2007

Ive always respected Bill as an actor and a person, but he honestly can say his books would make great movies? Keep in mind , his script and movie from Star Trek V bombed!


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He writes alamony checks, not novels | Report this post to moderator
By: cdydatzigs (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:20:22 on Nov 05, 2007

Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens wrote these books, not Shatner. He outlines the story and plot points with them, and works closely with the couple -- but they take it all and make it into a sellable novel.

I like William Shatner, but he is an EGOMANIAC. Everything is and always has been about HIM. The studio kills him off? He scrambles to "unkill" his own character in a subpar plot in The Return. Some of his novels might have some "neato" qualities, but let's be honest... he couldnt "write" a novel that didnt have his own character in it. He is simply pushing his own legacy 13 years after his character was killed off. Sad.

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-- Steve
"If a sixth Star Trek television series is ever realized, it will be set in the new universe." -- cdydatzigs, June 15, 2009.


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The Return - eek | Report this post to moderator
By: Captain's Blog (Odo's file, contact) @ 04:33:12 on Nov 05, 2007

The Return had one of the most absurd Trek plots ever...

Come on, Bill! You only come up with the titles!

--------

"I would be happy for Star Trek to come along decades later with a new group of minds. I'd love someone to say, 'Besides this one, Gene Roddenberry's was nothing!'" - Gene Roddenberry

"...I think it would be wonderful years from now to see Star Trek come back with an equally talented new cast playing Spock and Kirk and Bones and Scotty and all the rest, as they say tomorrow's things to tomorrow's generations..." - Gene Roddenberry


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Yyyyyyyyyyeah. | Report this post to moderator
By: IamKirok!!! (Odo's file, contact) @ 11:38:14 on Nov 04, 2007

His novels would have been the worst of what Trek had to offer. The entire mismatch of Kirk running around the Next Gen era would NEVER have been workable as a series of films and would have solidified Trek as a geeks only experience because it was so character-centric and frankly, comic bookish.

Please Bill, for God's sake, just stop trying to slay the new film and shut up. It's over. Geez.


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Ashes of Eden would've been a great film | Report this post to moderator
By: GreginWA (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 21:30:26 on Nov 03, 2007

'Ashes' was the first of the Shatner/Kirk novels and was a very good story. I always felt this would have made a really good tele-film. I especially love the irony of the Excelsior having to take out the Enterprise-A. It would've been nice to see that on screen instead of wondering what happen to her after ST6.

As for "The Return." Meh, weak story. Sorry, but I have a big problem with the Romulans and Borg becoming allies, and what's worse...BORG DOGS? Are you fraking kidding me???


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I don't agree | Report this post to moderator
By: Vash_066 (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:22:23 on Nov 03, 2007

I just can't agree, while the books were pretty good I don't think they would have translated well onto the big screen.

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"I'd write my senator/congressman about this....but I can't find my checkbook."


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Shatnerverse Movies | Report this post to moderator
By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 17:06:47 on Nov 03, 2007

I agree with Bill. His Shatnerverse novels could have been fantastic Star Trek movies, much better stuff than the mediocre Rick Berman-produced TNG movies.

I am not an industry expert, but I think a big screen adaptation of the Shatner/Reeves-Stevens THE RETURN, featuring Kirk and Spock together again, plus Picard and his crew together one last time, fighting the Borg and the Romulans, would be a huge sucess at the box office, and maybe the best Trek movie since The Undiscovered Country. I would LOVE to see Shatner, Nimoy and Stewart together on the big screen !

As I said before, in my opinion THE RETURN is one of the best Trek books ever, and it could be turned into one of the bext Trek movies ever. But yeah, I know, thats not going to happen.

Who knows what the future holds for the franchise ? I am not a fan of prequels and I am not a fan of J.J. Abrams, but I hope Star Trek XI does big business at the box office, so Paramount produces more Trek, on the big and small screen. I really hope so.

Image

Gustavo



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TrekWeb.com Supervising Editor

gl2000@uol.com.br


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  • RE: Shatnerverse Movies | Report this post to moderator
    By: Postdoc (Odo's file, contact) @ 13:39:35 on Nov 04, 2007

    I'm rereading this now and while I remember liking the story, I think it would have been much stronger if it were Spock in the 23rd century working on some kind of rescue. The Return brings Kirk back into a world where, sadly, everybody he knows is gone or almost gone. Ironically, it might have had a better chance of being filmed if it just dealt with the 23rd century crew, who would never have given up on saving him. A real strong story there.


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  • RE: Shatnerverse Movies | Report this post to moderator
    By: StillKirok (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:41:34 on Nov 03, 2007

    They would have made outstanding movies. Obviously, the minutia would have had to have been toned down, and Berman couldn't have been involved, but they could have been great.


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  • RE: Shatnerverse Movies | Report this post to moderator
    By: HotStove (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 17:56:52 on Nov 03, 2007

    I've always thought that the scene where Picard's assault troops land at Starbase (eight hundred and something, the number escapes me) on the Core Frontier in The Return was one of the most chilling sequences ever in Star Trek, in any form, books, movies, etc.

    Preserver is probably my favorite Shatnerverse novel, though. The thought that the Federation is nothing more than a petri dish experiment by the Preservers is great stuff. I love the explanation of why there are so many Earth-duplicate planets out there (as well as Klingon and Andorian). Good stuff!

    --------

    "Let's make sure history never forgets the name Enterprise."
    Jean-Luc Picard, Yesterday's Enterprise


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    • RE: Shatnerverse Movies | Report this post to moderator
      By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 18:08:06 on Nov 03, 2007

      PRESERVER is also one of my favorites. A lot of good stuff - the First Federation secrets, the Mirror-Enterprise-E battle, Project Sign, the Guardian of Forever, the Mirror Universe characters and the tragic death of a beloved character at the end of book. Great storytelling in one of the best Star Trek novels ever.

      Gustavo

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      TrekWeb.com Supervising Editor

      gl2000@uol.com.br


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      • RE: Shatnerverse Movies | Report this post to moderator
        By: Grizzlor (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:37:20 on Nov 03, 2007

        I read the first 6 novels during college, but just haven't found the time since. I loved The Ashes of Eden (which could have been a great movie, better than Generations). The Return and Avenger I liked a lot, but I found them to be really convoluted with too many characters. The Mirror Universe books were really good. Very surreal and exciting and surprising. They would have made a cool movie.


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        • RE: Shatnerverse Movies | Report this post to moderator
          By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 19:28:42 on Nov 03, 2007

          Yeah, my favorites are Ashes of Eden, The Return and Preserver. All good movie material. And the Mirror Universe trilogy were awesome.

          Gustavo

          --------

          TrekWeb.com Supervising Editor

          gl2000@uol.com.br


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          • RE: Shatnerverse Movies | Report this post to moderator
            By: HotStove (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 20:59:08 on Nov 03, 2007

            The final trilogy (Captain's Peril, Captain's Blood and Captain's Glory) wasn't bad. "Peril" was a little slow but ended satisfactorily (and I LOVED the little postscript with the USS Monitor stranded in intragalactic space). "Blood" was excellent, taut and full of tension throughout, as well as being a semi-sequel to "Nemesis". I actually pre-ordered "Glory" from Amazon so it would be in my hot little hands ASAP (something I have never done before), but I was a little disappointed. It seemed rushed and could've used another 100 pages to really ratchet up the tension.

            That's my two cents. I'm glad there are others who enjoy the Shatnerverse series!

            --------

            "Let's make sure history never forgets the name Enterprise."
            Jean-Luc Picard, Yesterday's Enterprise


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            • RE: Shatnerverse Movies | Report this post to moderator
              By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 02:38:10 on Nov 04, 2007

              I was not crazy about the last trilogy, it was good but not great. The Totality was not a good villain, in my opinion. Captain's Blood was a nice sequel to Nemesis and explored Romulus well and I liked Captain's Glory, a nice ending (for now) of the 24th Century adventures. I am reading The Academy now, it is nice to see how Kirk and Spock meet at Starfleet Academy, but I wish Shatner and the Reeves-Stevens continued the 24th Century adventures of older Kirk and Spock.

              Gustavo

              --------

              TrekWeb.com Supervising Editor

              gl2000@uol.com.br


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Yeah great, now suck it up + do a camoe in ST XI | Report this post to moderator
By: NEXUS (Odo's file, contact) @ 16:22:35 on Nov 03, 2007 | Edit History (1)

From what I understand Shatner may have been offered some type of cameo in ST XI months ago, but as of now has turned it down.

If the rumor is true he A) Wants equal screen time to Nimoy B)/ Wants to be paid the same as Nimoy for what is essentially a cameo at the end of the film.

It seems Spock is the star of this film. Not Kirk.

Mr Shatner please accept the role that it is rumored you were offered.


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  • RE: Yeah great, now suck it up + do a camoe in ST XI | Report this post to moderator
    By: StillKirok (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:42:56 on Nov 03, 2007

    Actually, Shatner hasn't even been shown the script of the movie. From what you've heard? What did you do? Say those words out loud so you can hear them?

    That never happened. Shatner was not offered a cameo, or anything.


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  • Not a doubt in my mind that it's true. | Report this post to moderator
    By: prometheus 59650 (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 16:37:35 on Nov 03, 2007

    Quote:
    If the rumor is true he A) Wants equal screen time to Nimoy B)/ Wants to be paid the same as Nimoy for what is essentially a cameo at the end of the film.

    The man used to do word counts back in the TOS days to make sure that he got more than Nimoy because it bothered him that Spock was the breakout character.

    There's no reason whatsoever he should expect equal pay to Nimoy. He had his last run in GEN and IF they offered him a cameo in XI he should swallow his god awful ego and be there with his friend while Nimoy gets his own final farewell. After all, this is likely the very last time that either of them will ever be in those roles again.

    --------

    "We've been attacked by the intelligent, educated segment of our culture." ---Pastor Ray Mummert speaking of those who favor Darwinian Evolution over Intelligent Design.

    "If this is your God, he's not very impressive. He has so many psychological problems; he's so insecure. He demands worship every seven days. He goes out and creates faulty Humans and then blames them for his own mistakes. He's a pretty poor excuse for a Supreme Being." ---Gene Roddenberry


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