By GustavoLeao / 08:12, 7 April 2009 / Star Trek: Nemesis

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TREKWEB GUEST ARTICLE

Written by David Flynn

A TrekWeb Exclusive

Boldly going where no premiere has gone before...

You don't see movies at the Sydney Opera House. And it's the last place I'd ever have expected to see any Star Trek film, let alone the world premiere of J.J. Abram's ‘re-imagining' of a story that's now some 40+ years old.

But there I was, along with thousands of fans outside and soon to join the 1,600 guests inside. That guest list was a mix of celebs real and wanna-be, media and even some bloggers, as Paramount sought to tap into the rich online vein.

By the time I arrived around 5.45pm, some of the stars had already started working their way along the red carpet which ran the length of the front steps of the Opera House. In some places the crowd was only a few people deep, allowing me to get very close to Abrams, Quinto, Pine, Cho, local hero Bana and nearly local hero Urban (he's from New Zealand). They chatted with fans, signed autographs, posed for photos - well, sure, that's what ‘movie stars' do. Bt they did it with such good grace and humour, having actual (if brief) conversations with fans and connecting with them in a way that was very warm and real. I'm sure that thousands of fans went away tonight with wonderful memories.

Abrams and Quinto were especially popular due to their established legacy with fans and what could be called the genre. Pine was totally down home and Bana was clearly having huge fun. I was also struck by the manners of the crowd. None of this wild screaming that you often associate with Big Events and Big Stars. We Aussies are a bit laid-back and low-key, and I got the feeling that Abrams and co honestly enjoyed that slightly more relaxed atmosphere.

The red carpet not only ran the length of the front of the Opera House but speared off to a ‘holding pen' where the A-list stars, starlets and celebs could gather for the photo call in front of a Star Trek backdrop. It then snaked up the famous stairs themselves, which were likewise lined with fans and celeb-spotters. I told them I was a red-shirted ensign who gets killed in the first reel, but no-one took my photo. (Honestly, where's the love and appreciation for we Red Shirts who give our lives for the Federation?).

With the movie slated for a 7pm start (although some of us had been forewarned it would be later, maybe 7.30pm), we made our way into the main theatre of the Opera House. There were tables set up outside each of the dozen entry doors where everyone had to hand over their mobile phone and camera, which were bagged and collected after the movie finished. Door staff wielding metal-detecting wands made a double check - nobody was taking any chances with this one.

As we whiled away the time inside, the screen showed a live telecast of the red carpet interviews from outside. It was almost 7.30pm when that wound up, and Abrams and co had only just reached the top of the stairs. Think about that - almost a solid two hours of working the rope line, interviews, fans and such. That's a damn good effort and once again, the team should be commended for ‘giving' so much.

Then the lights dimmed and after a brief into, J.J. took the stage. "Why Sydney?", he said he'd been asked time and time again. "Because I honestly love this city!" Cue the applause. "I think the world premiere of every movie should be held here!". Cue more applause. Adams then introduced each member of the team to join him on stage, starting with John Cho, who said that he had the same tie as Abrams (both were wearing a dark suit, white shirt and a spotted black tie). This started a running joke as each other cast member joined them on stage, with Quinto (who had removed the tie he wore outside) asking if could borrow J.J.'s.

As for the movie that followed - I'm not permitted to go into detail on that, as all media attending the screening did so under an embargo agreement which doesn't permit reviews to appear until April 21st. Anyway, we all know it's bloody brilliant, so ‘nuff said.

Plenty of laughs and applause as several character's catchphrases were first uttered or expressions drawn on faces (a Vulcan with a quizzically raised eyebrow, anyone?). And thunderous applause for J.J. and co at the end of the movie.

As we streamed out of the Opera House and down the stairs, one more surprise waited. It'd still been light when many of us walked up those steps and into the Opera House. Now it was dark. And while everyone is familiar with the graceful sweep of the Opera House's iconic white sails when seen from the harbour, you need to know that when seen from the front of the Opera House the framework of each sail forms a shape that's almost that of a curved arrowhead or a stylised chevron. And now, in the night, we could see how the outline of two of the main ‘sails' had been enhanced with white lighting, while the huge panes of glass behind the first sail was backlit with blue, and the  second with gold, to form two massive Starfleet emblems. What a sight, and what a night.