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Jonathan Frakes on the Making of Star Trek First Contact

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By GustavoLeao / 02:26, 16 June 2009 / General Star Trek

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Sci Fi posted a recent interview with Star Trek The Next Generation actor/director Jonathan Frakes and here are few excerpts.

First Contact is one of the top Trek movies. Was there something that Jonathan Frakes brought to First Contact that nobody else could have?

I always thank Rick Berman and Paramount for letting me have the opportunity - they gave me "the keys to the car" with Star Trek. Another cliché that is really true is that if you have a good script it is your job to screw it up. The script that Ron Moore and Brannon Braga wrote is arguably as good a Star Trek movie has ever been written.

It doesn't hurt to have that company of actors we have. Then I was able to hire Alfre Woodard and Jamie Cromwell and the incredible Alice Krige, who played the Borg Queen. It was one of those situations where I was so nervous and so over-prepared that I was driven to make this as good as it could be and I frankly had the support of the acting company.

We're all pretty close in our group that it's a little Pollyanna, but we really are still a family. We keep in touch, we all stood at each other's weddings and we're all godparents to each other's kids. So when I got the helm I had real emotion, physical, psychological support from the company. Rick Berman's wife is the godmother of my son. So there's a lot of blood connection in that particular project.

You have hive-mind, android zombies as your baddies. Would you say The Borg are the best monsters in the Star Trek universe or is there something else that scares you more?

No. I would say that The Borg are the greatest nemesis (no pun intended) of all things Star Trek and one of the reasons The Borg are so great is because of the Academy Award winning John Knowle who works for ILM. What he and his team, who did a lot of Star Trek movies, created to embellish Michael Westmore's makeup really caught peoples' eye.

It made Star Trek now not only an action-adventure movie but made it a horror movie as well. The scariest movies are the ones that get inside your head and the idea of being assimilated from the inside of the brain is terrifying for kids of all ages.

What is it about sci fi and Star Trek that enables it to have such a huge reaction from fans?

I've always thought that Star Trek resonates with the fans and has for 40 years because the late, great Gene Rodenberry created an arena on all the Enterprises and on all the shows where the people, who were the regulars on the show, were civil to each other. They followed the Prime Directive. They behaved in a way that was free of racism and free of sexism.

The future that Gene created - that Rick Berman and all the other writers after tried to maintain - was a future in which there was hope. There was a certain forward thinking that human beings and aliens had found a way to live together and that we had been good to the environment somehow. I mean, all the things we seem to be flying in the face of right now - going to hell in a handbasket - on this planet they have given us the responsibility to take care of.

Gene's vision is that we as humans in the 24th Century did the right thing. We did take care of it, did take care of each other. I think that quality ­- particularly in light of how screwed up things are in Darfur, in Belize, in Northern Ireland - it's a cliché I guess but it's that vision of hope that has allowed Star Trek to be so popular for so long. Do you know what I mean?

The full interview is here.



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Frakes isn't the best actor, but... | Report this post to moderator
By: Muldfeld (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:21:05 on Jun 18, 2009

he seems a pretty good director and a really wonderful guy; that anecdote Jeffrey Combs (Weyoun) tells on the DS9 DVDs of Frakes ensuring he got a job is very touching.


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First Contact is my fav Trek movie with TWOK and ST09 | Report this post to moderator
By: Bucky (Odo's file, contact) @ 11:02:58 on Jun 16, 2009 | Edit History (1)

Yes, I will totally admit to having three favourite Star Trek movies, but to me, First Contact, The Wrath of Khan, and Star Trek all work for any type of audience, be it Trekkie or no (Lilly and Cochrane are sort of the "gateway" characters into the Trek universe). they all draw heavily from past continuity, but still work as single adventures because the protagonist's mission is so strong. And they all have heavy revenge themes, too. And they all have very distinct crews both in front and behind the camera.

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First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 06:40:35 on Jun 16, 2009

I think Mr Frakes is a very good director and a class act gentleman (he should have directed Nemesis) and did his best on First Contact and even Insurrection... Still, First Contact is not one of my favorite Star Trek movies. I loved it when saw it on the big screen, but these days I dont care much for FC anymore and I dont know quite why. I know everyone will disagree with me, but First Contact is not a representation of the best of what TNG had to offer.

Gustavo

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  • I totally agree, Gustavo | Report this post to moderator
    By: Muldfeld (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:18:30 on Jun 18, 2009

    Paramount messed things up by wanting things dumbed down for the films. It's just too action-oriented and the humor is very sitcom-like. It's decent, but nothing all that powerful.

    I also don't think the Borg touch the wonder and complexity of the Dominion. The Borg are so one-note and unrelatable. The Founders are at least understandable as "human" characters, since they aren't evil.

    Regarding TNG, I'll take the average Season 3 or Season 4 episode any day over this film.


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  • I totally agree, Gustavo | Report this post to moderator
    By: Muldfeld (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:17:36 on Jun 18, 2009

    Paramount messed things up by wanting things dumbed down for the films. It's just too action-oriented and the humor is very sitcom-like. It's decent, but nothing all that powerful.

    I also don't think the Borg touch the wonder and complexity of the Dominion. The Borg are so one-note and unrelatable. The Founders are at least understandable as "human" characters, since they aren't evil.

    Regarding TNG, I'll take the average Season 3 or Season 4 episode any day over this film.


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  • I totally agree, Gustavo | Report this post to moderator
    By: Muldfeld (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:17:19 on Jun 18, 2009

    Paramount messed things up by wanting things dumbed down for the films. It's just too action-oriented and the humor is very sitcom-like. It's decent, but nothing all that powerful.

    I also don't think the Borg touch the wonder and complexity of the Dominion. The Borg are so one-note and unrelatable. The Founders are at least understandable as "human" characters, since they aren't evil.

    Regarding TNG, I'll take the average Season 3 or Season 4 episode any day over this film.


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  • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
    By: Kamen Rider Blade (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:05:21 on Jun 16, 2009

    I completely agree about First Contact. As a teen in the '90s, I loved it, and probably rated it as my favorite Trek movie. Over the years, though, it's gradually lost its appeal. The only scenes that make it worth watching for me, now, are the battle against the cube, the corridor battle, and the "The line must be drawn HERE!" sequence.

    As far as TNG "movies" go, I'd much rather watch "All Good Things..." than any of their four theatrical attempts.

    --------

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    • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
      By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 15:03:01 on Jun 16, 2009

      Ywah, "All Good Things..." is my favorite TNG episode. Patrick Stewart deserved an Emmy award for that episode. Yoo bad Rick Berman and Mr Stewart decided to abadon the cerebral approach of the TV Series for the movies and turn Picard into an mindless action hero in the search of box office.

      Gustavo

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      • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
        By: cdydatzigs (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:47:06 on Jun 16, 2009

        Quote:
        Too bad Rick Berman and Mr Stewart decided to abadon the cerebral approach of the TV Series for the movies...

        The last "cerebral" film in the franchise was dubbed The Motionless Picture by fans and critics alike. Thinking man's stories are great for episodic television because you can mix them up with action-based ones the next week. For the big screen however, you need some good ole' fashioned action to keep audiences into it.

        Quote:
        ...and turn Picard into an mindless action hero in the search of box office.

        Though the "box office success" formula was certainly present, i'd hardly call Picard's motives in First Contact "mindless". Indeed, one of the best scenes in ANY of the films in the franchise was when Lily confronts Picard about his Ahab-esque obession with revenge. Not only did it lend credence to his action hero stance in the film, but she brings him back to the Picard we know -- the man of reason who uses cunning and his friend Data to defeat the Borg in the end.

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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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  • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
    By: sid (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:40:24 on Jun 16, 2009

    Your comment begs the question: what do you consider a representation of the best of what TNG had to offer and why? Just curious.


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    • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
      By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 10:05:19 on Jun 16, 2009

      Well, for my tastes, the best TNG movie was Generations, because I think it captured the essence of the TV Series. Later movies like First Contact and Nemesis represented Captain Picard as an action hero (totally out of character in my opinion) and were too militaristic. Generations, at least, mantained the ideology and fundamentals of the TNG TV Series. Of course, thats only my personal opinion, and I have to re-watch FC and Nemesis because it has been a long time since I saw both movies.

      Gustavo

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      gl2000@uol.com.br


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      • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
        By: captainkoloth (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 12:23:51 on Jun 16, 2009

        I completely agree Gustavo. Not only did FC not represent the aspects of what made TNG so successful, but it was also a let down after the first 10 minutes of the movie. Those first 10 minutes were really exciting, but the movie just slumped after that, with Barkley making dumb jokes and Troi getting stupidly drunk. Thank god Behr stood his ground with Berman/RDM/Braga regarding the Defiant. I might have walked out of the theatre if the Defiant got destroyed so quickly and unceremoniously. lol

        It's not a huge testimonial for the TNG movies, but Generations really was the best of the bunch.

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        He posted one too many,
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        and all the while he had been warned.


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        • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
          By: cdydatzigs (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:53:06 on Jun 16, 2009

          Quote:
          It's not a huge testimonial for the TNG movies, but Generations really was the best of the bunch.

          I am not a Generations hater by any means, I like the film. But I am rather suprised to hear you guys gush so much about a film that was clearly one of the most contrived and studio-driven films i've ever seen made.

          The studio basically told them, "Okay boys, we want to see the launch of the Enterprise-B, Picard to meet Kirk, the Enterprise-D to be destroyed, Data install his emotion chip.. oh yeah, and we want you to kill Captain Kirk too. Now go write us that movie!" -- and you are saying THAT is the essence of TNG?

          --------

          -- 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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          • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
            By: captainkoloth (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 19:13:45 on Jun 16, 2009

            Quote:
            Quote:It's not a huge testimonial for the TNG movies, but Generations really was the best of the bunch.

            I am not a Generations hater by any means, I like the film. But I am rather suprised to hear you guys gush so much about a film that was clearly one of the most contrived and studio-driven films i've ever seen made.


            haha. Don't mistake my "kind" words towards Generations as "gushing". I'm just saying it captured the feeling of TNG more than any of the other films. I also really like David Carson's direction in pretty much everything he does. He really brings a sense of magic to the overall picture/episode. But yeah, just because I think Generations is the best of the TNG movies does not mean I think it's a great film. I just don't have many good things to say about any of the TNG films. : P

            --------

            There once was a man named Scorned,
            whose posts were more offensive than porn.
            He posted one too many,
            got kicked out on his fanny,
            and all the while he had been warned.


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            • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
              By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 22:41:18 on Jun 16, 2009

              Exactly. Generations is not a perfect movie, but is light years ahead of the later TNG movies because of David Carson wonderful directing, awesome acting from Mr Stewart, Mr Shatner and Mr McDowell, great score by Dennis MacCarthy and more important, respect for the emotional and more cerebral aspect of the TV Series.

              Gustavo

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              • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
                By: cdydatzigs (Odo's file, contact) @ 23:20:43 on Jun 16, 2009

                Ummm, with all do respect? The reason you guys feel that Generations captured the "essence" of TNG was because that film was nothing more than a 2-hour episode with a larger budget:

                * David Carson is a television director. Look him up on IMDB.com, Star Trek: Generations is the only major motion picture the guy has ever directed. Everything else on his resume consists of TV shows, Direct-to-Video and Made-for-TV movies. Not exactly Sydney Pollack fellas.

                * Dennis McCarthy is a television composer. Talented yes, but his score for Generations was identical to the TV show.. hence why we all felt like we were watching a TV episode. I'll give him an A+ for the theme from "Inner Light" however.

                Combine that with the costumes and sets? This film was a TV episode on the big screen, lets be honest. The cast of TNG didn't truly grow up and have an epic adventure until First Contact. The box office totals tend to support that too.

                But I like Generations, don't get me wrong ;)

                --------

                -- 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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                • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
                  By: captainkoloth (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 06:10:24 on Jun 17, 2009 | Edit History (1)

                  Quote:
                  Ummm, with all do respect? The reason you guys feel that Generations captured the "essence" of TNG was because that film was nothing more than a 2-hour episode with a larger budget:

                  Well, while that is true, it is irrelevant. All of the TNG movies, save perhaps Nemesis, felt like 2 hour episodes. So, if I'm going to judge each of the TNG movies as 2 hour episodes, then Generations gets my vote. Funny thing is that "Yesterday's Enterprise", another David Carson outing, is better than any of these "2 hour episodes", including First Contact.

                  Quote:
                  * David Carson is a television director. Look him up on IMDB.com, Star Trek: Generations is the only major motion picture the guy has ever directed. Everything else on his resume consists of TV shows, Direct-to-Video and Made-for-TV movies. Not exactly Sydney Pollack fellas.

                  And what jaw-dropping, industry changing, definitive films had Jonathon Frakes directed before (or after) First Contact? Frakes' directorial resumé is hardly any better than Carson's. In fact, First Contact would have certainly been better if Carson had his hands on it.

                  --------

                  There once was a man named Scorned,
                  whose posts were more offensive than porn.
                  He posted one too many,
                  got kicked out on his fanny,
                  and all the while he had been warned.


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                  • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
                    By: cdydatzigs (Odo's file, contact) @ 08:59:41 on Jun 17, 2009

                    Quote:
                    All of the TNG movies, save perhaps Nemesis, felt like 2 hour episodes.

                    That's because the TNG crew began their film adventures right after the series ended, so they all looked the same and benefitted from the same producers, sets and art department as they did on Next Generation. The first six films don't feel anything like TV episodes because of how different everything looked in them compared to the series they were based on due to the time that had passed.

                    Quote:
                    Funny thing is that "Yesterday's Enterprise", another David Carson outing, is better than any of these "2 hour episodes", including First Contact.

                    I don't know about that, but I will say that "All Good Things..." would have made a much better film than Generations was. Even the producers have admitted as much after the fact.

                    Quote:
                    And what jaw-dropping, industry changing, definitive films had Jonathan Frakes directed before (or after) First Contact?

                    I wasn't saying Frakes was much more prolific either, I was simply trying to be a devil's advocate to the lofty praise a television director was getting for a film that wasn't much different than the episodes he directed prior.

                    --------

                    -- 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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                    • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
                      By: captainkoloth (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 19:40:54 on Jun 17, 2009

                      Quote:
                      I wasn't saying Frakes was much more prolific either, I was simply trying to be a devil's advocate to the lofty praise a television director was getting for a film that wasn't much different than the episodes he directed prior.

                      I was never saying that Carson was the pinnacle of directorial expertise. I was just saying that Generations is the best directed movie of the TNG franchise. The movie still has all the obvious flaws, but Carson didn't write the movie, so I can't really blame him. He made a terrible movie, at the very least, look good. And that's something to be commended. William Shatner didn't even have the common courtesy to do the same in ST:V. lol



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                      There once was a man named Scorned,
                      whose posts were more offensive than porn.
                      He posted one too many,
                      got kicked out on his fanny,
                      and all the while he had been warned.


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                • RE: First Contact.....Best of TNG ? | Report this post to moderator
                  By: GustavoLeao (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 03:20:59 on Jun 17, 2009

                  I disagree with you in certain points, Steve. TV director, or movie director, Mr Carson did an amazing job in Generations, including reshooting the ending. And also, I think Mr MaCarthy did the best TNG movie score in this film (I am a fan of of the great, late Jerry Goldsmith, but I didnt like his scores for FC, Insurrection and Nemesis, go figure). But in the end, it is a matter of taste. Peharps you are right - maybe this film was a TV episode on the big screen. And there was nothing wrong with that.

                  Gustavo

                  --------

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                  gl2000@uol.com.br


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Ah, First Contact! | Report this post to moderator
By: The Magrathean (Odo's file, contact) @ 05:49:46 on Jun 16, 2009

I personally consider the release of First Contact as the zenith of the previous Trek era. A fantastic box office performance for its time, and TNG proved it could hold its own as a movie franchise without any of the TOS cast.

Sure, the signs of ultimate decay were there, with the poorly written Voyager. But at the time, I still had hope Voyager could turn things around, like TNG and DS9 before it. Leaving the theater after watching the movie, I felt really good about what Trek had accomplished.

Now all these years later, I'm glad I can feel hopeful about Trek's future once again, with the release of JJ Abrams' stellar movie!


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  • RE: Ah, First Contact! | Report this post to moderator
    By: OV-101 (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:43:58 on Jun 16, 2009

    Well said Megrathean!

    --------

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    "Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence."
    --Dr. Leonard McCoy

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    • RE: Ah, First Contact! | Report this post to moderator
      By: cdydatzigs (Odo's file, contact) @ 08:59:09 on Jun 16, 2009

      Agreed! 1996 was certainly the zenith of Star Trek in the "modern era" as it were. I was 18 and in Army training at the time and I hated all of the stuff that was going on that I had to wait for when I got home (taped on a VCR) or sneak out of the barracks to see at the movie theater.

      --------

      -- 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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