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.
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."
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.
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
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.
To celebrate the upcoming release of Part 2 of the fan production Star Trek Of Gods and Men tomorrow March 15th, TrekWeb brings to you this exclusive interview with Of Gods and Men co-writer Jack Trevino.
1- Jack, what is your background as a writer ?
As a Research Technologist at a major scientific center in south Texas, I started writing during my lunch hour at work. Several of the staff got together, as they usually did, to discuss the new Star Trek series (TNG). One day, I read that TNG would accept and read script submissions. Although a number of us said we were going to do it, I was the only one who followed through. I sent off my first spec script entitled, “The Truth.” It revolved around Wesley Crusher attending Star Fleet Academy. I felt he should experience what many do when they go off to college – screw up, and screw up big time. In my story, another cadet almost dies because Wesley believes he can do anything. Unfortunately, it was returned with the dreaded “Rejected” stamp on it. About a year later an episode entitled, “The First Duty” aired and I remember thinking I was on the same page as the writers of the show. I decided to write a second script called, “Co-existence,” however, that script was rejected as well. I then met Toni Marberry, a local TV producer, who, with Donna Cromeans, had sold the concept for the episode, “The Next Phase.” About a year and a half later, we collaborated on several stories and after our second pitch; we sold “Indiscretion” and “Little Green Men” (all within two weeks of each other). We pitched to Rene Echevarria. He was extremely professional and very approachable. Later, we pitched to Robert Wolfe and found him to be, as most of the DS9 staff was, equally accommodating. The following year we sold a third story called, “Quorum,” which, regrettably, went un-produced.
One thing I’ll always remember is something Robert Wolfe said – “Keep writing. And never, I mean never, get rid of anything you write. Some day you’ll find that the piece of work written in the past and it will fit in nicely on another show.” He was right, if you persist, you ‘could’ adapt the story to fit the characters to work on any show.
After the release of our first two stories for DS9, Ethan Calk, another fellow Texan and writer, who had also sold stories to the show (Visionary and Children of Time), extended his congratulations. We became friends and offered to write for Star Trek: Phase II (formerly Star Trek: New Voyages). We did so, because we believed in James Cawley and Jack Marshall’s quest to keep Gene Roddenberry’s vision of an optimistic future alive. We wrote a script called, “What Lies Beneath,” as well as a short vignette adding more depth to some well-known Bridge characters. As of now, the working title is, “Mutual Respect.” We look forward to seeing them both produced some time in the future.
About the time Enterprise was in production, I was invited to serve on a writing panel at the world famous San Diego Comic Con hosted by Dr. Joseph DiLella. It was there I met Steve Fratt, a fellow Star Trek pitchman (who had actually sold a Star Trek story, but due to an error, was never properly credited for it). The three of us pitched several story ideas that we felt would have been extremely exciting, all while servicing lesser utilized characters, such as Phlox, Hoshi, Travis and Malcolm. One of the stories involved the original probe, “Tan Ru,” that would later collide and merge with Nomad, thus causing havoc for Kirk & crew some 100 years later. Another involved the doctor being forced by an imposing force to create Frankenstein-like creatures comprised of six different species – some being humans. Obviously, the cancellation of Enterprise was somewhat disheartening, especially since there was every indication “Tan Ru” was about to be sold.
It’s all part of the game. I’m just honoured that due to my association with Trek, I have been fortunate to meet great Trek writers and artists, such as David Gerrold, Manny Coto, Andre Bormanis, Judith & Gar Reeves-Stevens, Michael & Denise Okuda, Doug Drexler, Eric Stillwell, Jimmy Diggs, Harry “Doc” Kloor, Keith DeCandido and many more industry professionals. It’s my personal wish to meet D.C. Fontana, who wrote so many of my favourite TOS episodes and to, hopefully, learn anything I can from her about writing.
Oh, and JJ Abrams, of course! What can be said about him that already hasn’t? I’m looking forward to his vision for Trek. Why? Because deep down, I know he will approach Star Trek with the same awe and wonder that Gene Roddenberry did some 40 years ago. I’ll always remember what I heard Gene Rodenberry said at a convention. When asked by an attendee if he would ever run out of stories to tell, with great confidence he said, “My God, no! The Universe is filled with endless stars and planets. And for all those celestial bodies there are stories to be told.” - A statement I couldn’t agree with more.
I have also written a script with Michael Struck of NEO/fx? It will be for the Starship Farragut people and if it pans out as expected, it should turn out to be a very special project that many will appreciate with some surprises that are sure to please Trek fans all over.
2- What can fans expect from Part 2 of Of Gods and Men?
In Act 1, Uhura, Chekov and Harriman encounter an older and bitter Charlie Evans, who as a child had been bestowed God-like powers by the non-corporeal life forms called Thasians. As a teenager, he escaped the Thasians and made his way to the Enterprise. There he used his extraordinary and destructive mental powers to become one step away from total domination over Kirk and crew. Fortunately, the Thasians intervened and, amidst Charlie’s repeated pleas for Kirk to allow him to stay, returned him to their planet. Now, years later, Charlie had once again escaped his jail keepers. On the monitoring station near Thasian space, he forced an unsuspecting data clerk to open general files on the famous starship captain. Discovering Kirk had died some 12 years earlier; he took control of the computer banks and easily accessed classified files. In doing so, he came upon the means for his revenge against the hero who had helped billions, but not him – the Guardian of Forever. Understanding the potential of the time altering structure, he could have gone back in time to kill Kirk, but that would have been too easy. For Charlie, Kirk’s death would not bring nearly enough satisfaction as what he now had in mind. He decided another, more sinister plan would bring him the pleasure he so desired. Setting up his plan, he disabled all security measures around the classified planet, all except for one that would serve as a beacon for Star Fleet to send investigators. Charlie wanted to gloat over his soon to be victory and as fate would have it, Uhura, Chekov and Harriman (individuals who had benefited from Kirk’s influence) arrived. It was then that Charlie decided to enhance his revenge – knowing that their lives were about to be changed forever, he planted the memories of their normal history in their subconscious - with the intent that they haunt them until the day they died.
In Act 2, we see more of the people they became after Charlie stepped through the Guardian and carried out his plan. We see a Universe turned upside down and heightened levels of evil, at times too terrible to conceive. We see comrades who were once the best of friends, now bitter enemies - enemies who would stop at nothing to destroy each other. But, after a necessary mind meld by a familiar Vulcan, one of our heroes begins to unravel the mystery and begins to piece the puzzle together, but will it be too late?
3- Will we see more familiar faces in Part 2?
Act 2 concentrates on our main stars; however, Act 3 guarantees many more familiar faces.
4- Of Gods and Men is being compared to classic Trek episodes such as The City on the Edge of Forever and Yesterday's Enterprise. What do you think about that?
I feel honored that it would be compared to such classics, as Ethan Calk, Sky Conway and myself wrote it specifically with the intent to pay tribute to the great Star Trek stories, especially to the writers who came up with such brilliant ideas over the last 40 years.
5- How was working with Tim Russ as a director and a co-writer?
Tim brought in so much energy and enthusiasm; it was hard not to get excited every time we spoke. Tim had a clear vision as to what he wanted to see and especially how he wanted it filmed. I have to say that initially, I was skeptical about the way it was filmed, but after viewing the dailies and seeing the performances by the actors, those doubts quickly disappeared. Tim poured so much of himself into the film, as an actor and writer, but more so as a director. He was able to motivate the stars to turn in stellar performances, which will be highlighted in act 2.
6- It was nice to see Charlie Evans again, but why the character was played by another actor and not Robert Walker Jr, who gave such a remarkable performance in "Charlie X”?
Obviously, Robert Walker Jr, was our first choice to reprise his role as the troubled youth, Charles Evans. However, Mr. Walker had been scheduled for surgery (not life threatening) and thus, was unable to participate. Fortunately, Sky was to secure the services of William Wellman Jr., an accomplished actor and author, to take on the character. There is much more to be seen of Mr. Wellman and his performance is not to be missed.
6- According to rumors, the next Star Trek movie features Romulans going back in time to kill a young Kirk or his parents. How do you feel about those similarities to the script of Of Gods and Men?
Since JJ Abrams’ script has been shrouded in secrecy, that’s all they are – just rumors. However, should any of the rumors have any truth to them, again we would be greatly honored to have similar ideas. I for one believe JJ Abrams, along with Kurtzman, Orci and the others, have exhibited a reverence for classic Trek that will honor its legacy. I am also convinced, much like Daniel Craig is doing for the Bond series, JJ’s movie will reinvent Star Trek, making it as popular as it ever was. I still recall many people saying the new Bond was essentially going to suck - boy, were they wrong. I suspect that’s exactly what will be the case when the new Star Trek premiers next year – a new, yet familiar Trek with many, many years of future adventures still to come.
8- Part 2 has any pivotal special effects scenes? And are the FX for Part 2 improved?
Most of Act 2 takes place aboard the Conqueror (originally, the Enterprise, but now a warship in the Galactic Order). There are a few space SFX shots and some are onboard the ship. The SFX teams constantly strive to improve their work and have been pretty much been working on this project for close to 2 years. They want nothing more than to produce “movie quality” effects for the fans and I think they are achieving that without the big budgets most films have with associated with them. So, yes, the effects are better and will continue to get better. A big thanks to the Trinity team of Chris Dawson, Peter Christian, Roland Baron, William Thomas, Henry Gibbens, Will Jaspers, Mark LaCroix, Matt Boardman, Scott Nakada, Jennifer Hachigian Jerrard and Sarah Char and to the NEO/fx team of Michael Struck. The story could not have been as exciting without the dedication of these talented individuals.
9- Tim Russ has said that Of Gods and Men is not a fan film, but an independent Star Trek movie. Do you agree with him ?
Tim and the production team produced the film as close as they could to an independent film as possible. During its filming, it would have been difficult for someone not to think it was anything more than an independent film. However, OGaM would never have seen the light of day if not for the help of the many fans who participated throughout its conception, birth and life (the actors are all fans of Trek as well). A big thank you is in order for James Cawley and the crew of Star Trek: Phase II (formerly New Voyages). They are one high-class group of fans that strive to continue the legacy of Gene Roddenberry, an objective we at OGaM also wish to achieve with our film.
10- Have Producer Sky Conway approached CBS for licensing for this film?
The film has not been presented to CBS for licensing purposes, nor have they asked to see it. However, should such a possibility arise, anyone would be foolish not to consider the possibilities of such a prospect. The film has always been intended as one to be released for free on the Internet and it will continue to be made available in that manner.
11- If Of Gods and Men is a huge success, there are any plans for a sequel?
Originally, OGaM was intended as a 40th anniversary tribute film. Unfortunately, we missed the 40th, so we’ll have to settle on it being a one-time tribute film, honoring all the actors, writers, producers and crew of all the incarnations of Trek.
Give of Gods and Men a chance, rassmguy. I saw Part 2 yesterday and it wass much better than Part 1 - better storytelling and better acting and better directing from Tim Russ.
A TrekWeb review of Part 2 will be posted on Sunday.
Makes you wonder if the TNG producers being "on the same page" is a nice way of saying they stole his ideas for 'The First Duty'. Jack must've been suspicious, but if he accused them of plagiarism then he would've been blacklisted and never sold a script afterward.
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"Outer Space: The Last Frontier.
These are the trips of the Star Trek Enterprise. Its five year plan calls for us to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly fly where no man has gone in space. Live long, and be happy."
Yeah, I thought so as well. It does surprise me, though, that he apparently wrote several good Trek episodes and had some great ideas for others, because with all due respect to the team behind Of Gods and Men, I don't think it's very good. The Takei fan film is much better. (And regardless of what TIm Russ says, of course it's a fan film.)
Quote: Makes you wonder if the TNG producers being "on the same page" is a nice way of saying they stole his ideas for 'The First Duty'. Jack must've been suspicious, but if he accused them of plagiarism then he would've been blacklisted and never sold a script afterward.
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Rich Handley
Author, Timeline of the Planet of the Apes: The Definitive Chronology
Available now from Hasslein Books www.hassleinbooks.com
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