Star Trek Continues (fan films)
| Fan Film | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Star Trek Continues |
| Creator: | Vic Mignogna |
| Date: | 2013-2017 |
| Length: | each episode is 40-55 minutes |
| Medium: | video, web series |
| Genre: | science fiction |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: The Original Series |
| URL: | Star Trek Continues Official Site |
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Star Trek Continues (STC) is a fanfilm series that continues and concludes the five-year deep space mission of Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), with the finale leading into Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The series was created in 2013 by Vic Mignogna. The production team "is proud to be part of Trek history, completing the final year (late 2269 – early 2270) of the original adventure." [1]
When Mignogna directed "The Price of Anything" episode of the fan series Starship Farragut, he expressed to his fellow fans that he had a long-time interest in creating his own continuation of The Original Series to complete the five year voyage. The Farragut team learned soon after the shoot that their lease wouldn't be renewed for the building housing their sets. Mignogna approached them to form a partnership; STC would fund the building lease and purchase set construction materials, Farragut would provide the labor for construction, and both productions would shoot their episodes at the new location. Mignogna and his friend Steven Dengler leased a building in Kingsland, Georgia to relocate Farragut's Enterprise bridge set. Further investments went towards recreating the original soundstage from the series, including the sickbay, transporter room, and engineering. STC's director of photography, Matt Bucy, created floorplans based on available drawings of TOS's soundstage layout and careful study of footage. STC transferred ownership of the sets to Ray Tesi of The Neutral Zone studios after the series' production ended in 2017. [2] The Neutral Zone continues to provide tours and access for future fan productions in this space.
Cast
(please refer to Star Trek Continues Senior Staff, Recurring Cast & Guest Stars for more information)
- Captain James T. Kirk played by Vic Mignogna
- First Officer Spock Todd Haberkorn
- Doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy played by Larry Nemecek (Episodes 1–2) and Chuck Huber (Episodes 3-11)
- Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott played by Christopher Doohan, son of the character's original actor, James Doohan
- Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu played by Grant Imahara
- Lieutenant Nyota Uhura played by Kim Stinger
- Ensign Pavel Chekov played by Wyatt Lenhart
- Dr. Elise McKennah, created for this series, played by Michele Specht
Episodes
Eleven full episodes were released, along with three vignettes.
Episode 1: Pilgrim of Eternity
Released May 24, 2013. In a sequel to Star Trek: The Original Series' "Who Mourns for Adonais?", Apollo returns to wreak havoc on Kirk and the Enterprise. It featured Jamie Bamber (Lee "Apollo" Adama from Battlestar Galactica and Matt Devlin from Law and Order UK) as well as original series guest actor Michael Forest reprising his role as the god, Apollo. Marina Sirtis (who played Deanna Troi in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Picard) voiced the computer of the U.S.S. Enterprise, an homage to her connection to the original actress, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, who portrayed her character's mother, Lwaxana Troi, and the voice of the computer in the original Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation. [3]
Episode 2: Lolani
Released February 8, 2014. An Orion survivor from a distressed Tellarite vessel pulls Captain Kirk and his crew into a moral quandary over her sovereignty. Lou Ferrigno (TV's The Incredible Hulk) appeared as Zaminhon, Daniel Logan (Boba Fett from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones) appeared as Ensign Tongaroa, Erin Gray (Col. Wilma Deering from Buck Rogers in the 25th Century) appeared as Commodore Gray, and Matthew Ewald (Nicholas Bluetooth from Galidor) appeared as Crewman Kenway.
Episode 3: Fairest of Them All
Released June 15, 2014. In the Mirror Universe, Spock faces a choice that determines the future of the Terran Empire. Featured Asia DeMarcos as Marlena Moreau (played in the original series by BarBara Luna), Bobby Clark (previously the Gorn Captain) as Council Leader Tharn, Bobby Quinn Rice as transporter technician, Michael Dorn as the computer of the ISS Enterprise, and the first appearance of Kipleigh Brown as Barbara Smith (played in the original series by Andrea Dromm). Recurring cast member Cat Roberts (Lieutenant Palmer, played in the original series by Elizabeth Rogers), joined the series as of this episode.
Episode 4: The White Iris
Released May 29, 2015. Captain Kirk finds himself haunted by guilt from his past as the fate of an alien world hangs in the balance. Featured the return of Marina Sirtis as the Enterprise computer, and guest stars Colin Baker (the Sixth Doctor in Doctor Who), Nakia Burrise (Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers), Adrienne Wilkinson (Xena: Warrior Princess), Tiffany Brouwer (Femme Fatales), and Gabriela Fresquez, with cameos by Chris Gore and Robert J. Sawyer.
Episode 5: Divided We Stand
Released September 26, 2015. Kirk and McCoy are trapped in time while an alien infestation threatens the Enterprise. Liz Wagner portrays Nurse Lia Burke, an original character from several Diane Duane-penned licensed Star Trek novels (and a comic). Dr. M'Benga, a recurring character from Star Trek: The Original Series, is portrayed by Martin Bradford.
Episode 6: Come Not Between the Dragons
Released May 28, 2016. A troubled creature pierces the Enterprise hull, pitting the crew against a pursuer that threatens to tear them apart. Guest-starred Gigi Edgley of Farscape fame. Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, had a cameo appearance as a bridge officer in the episode.
Episode 7: Embracing the Winds
Released September 3, 2016. While the Enterprise is sent on a seemingly routine mission, Kirk is recalled to starbase where he faces an ethical dilemma that challenges the very core of Starfleet Command. Featured Clare Kramer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Beau Billingslea (Cowboy Bebop), as well as the return of Erin Gray's flag officer character (Commodore Gray from the second episode) and Marina Sirtis as the computer voice.
Episode 8: Still Treads the Shadow
Released April 2, 2017. The Enterprise discovers a lost starship… with an unlikely passenger. Featured Rekha Sharma (Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek: Discovery).
Episode 9: What Ships Are For
Released July 30, 2017. Kirk struggles with aiding a society whose inhabitants view their isolated world in a very unique way. Featured John de Lancie (three Star Trek series) and Anne Lockhart (the original Battlestar Galactica series).
Episodes 10/11: To Boldly Go
Released in two parts in October 18, 2017 and November 13, 2017. To solve the ultimate mystery, the Enterprise must return to where Kirk’s five-year mission began. The iconic mission of the U.S.S. Enterprise comes to an end, as Kirk and his crew battle the ultimate adversary. Written by Robert J. Sawyer, featured Nicola Bryant (Peri Brown in Doctor Who), Cas Anvar (The Expanse), Amy Rydell (reprising her mother Joanne Linville's role from the original series episode, "The Enterprise Incident"), and Mark Meer (Mass Effect). Jason Isaacs (Captain Gabriel Lorca from Star Trek: Discovery) provides a vocal cameo in Part II; although credited under the pseudonym "Jason Lorca". [4]
Vignettes
- "Turnabout Intruder" (This sequence was filmed shot for shot from the original series' final episode of the same name.)
- "You've Got the Conn"
- "Happy Birthday, Scotty"
Fan Reactions
"This first episode is titled 'Pilgrim of Eternity' and it boasts of very significant guest stars, first looks at what is now familiar technology and even an introduction to the position of Ships’s Counselor, something every Next Generation fan should be very familiar with..." - Sam Sloan (May 26, 2013). Star Trek Continues – A Slice of SciFi Review. [5]
Paramount/CBS's Reaction
Paramount and CBS seemed to be fine with the amateur productions as long as that was really what they were. In the wake of the lavish film Prelude to Axanar, a 20-minute trailer to a planned feature film which would have professional actors and production, the creators behind Axanar began crowdfunding huge amounts of money and paying themselves a salary. This amounted to profiting from a copyrighted and trademarked property. Paramount filed a lawsuit against Axanar, and issued a set of "guidelines" which amounted to a crackdown on fan films.
Fan Films at startrek.com
Some bloggers and reviewers rationalized this decision by saying that it will actually protect fans who create amateur works, Devin Faraci of Birth Movies Death saying that "fans shouldn't be making multi-season TV series featuring characters someone else owns." [6] However, the majority of reactions were negative, and Paramount/CBS are perceived as having killed off any chance for new Star Trek, Original Series style or anything else. [7]
The creators of Star Trek Continues had previously been careful about legal concerns such as use of musical cues from the original series, and communicated with Paramount/CBS in the wake of the Axanar lawsuit to determine if they would be able to continue. STC was permitted to finish their production, which had begun prior to the issued "guidelines," but they cut the series short. Of a planned 13 episodes, they instead concluded their story with 11.
References
- ^ About Us. (Accessed 22 July 2019).
- ^ The History of Star Trek Continues. (Accessed 22 July 2019).
- ^ Wikipedia (Accessed 22 July 2019).
- ^ Jason Isaacs Finally Explains Captain Lorca's Secret (Accessed 22 July 2019).
- ^ Slice of SciFi (Retrieved October 23, 2014.)
- ^ Devin Faraci, "How the Star Trek Fanfilm Guidelines Saved Fanfilms." Birth Movies Death (Accessed 29 June 2016)
- ^ Read the comments to Star Trek Fan Film Guidelines Announced at startrek.com (Accessed 23 June 2016).