Star Trek VIII (essay)

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Title:	Star Trek VIII
Creator:	Sue Keenan?
Date(s):	1993
Medium:	print
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS, Star Trek: TNG
Topic:
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Star Trek VIII is a 1993 essay likely by Sue Keenan.

It was published in The DeForest Dispatch #37.

The introduction: "Yes, I titled this Star Trek V-I-I-I, because I’d like to discuss the possibility of the Classic Crew doing another movie. And, to talk about that, I’ll have to say a few things about Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Some Topics Discussed

• many fans' desire for another Classic Trek film
• this fan's dissatisfaction with Star Trek: TNG and her inability to care about the characters because she doesn't feel like they care for each other
• there is a reference to videotaping things on SP (higher quality) and EP (lower quality), see Difference Between SP, LP, and EP For Video Tape Recording for context and information
• this fan's desire to see the original actors, even if the actors "end up in wheelchairs, rolled onto a movie set"
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier was a terrible movie and broke even at the box office; this last part was because fans were so devoted to the characters they went to the movie many times
• a push for a fan campaign

From the Essay

I have nothing against TNG. I like the series and try not to miss it. I even taped the first season on "SP". The next two seasons was "EP", then I stopped taping them. As I said, "I like the series,” but something is missing. By the sixth episode of Classic Trek, I knew that these characters really cared about each other, but after six seasons of TNG, I have yet to get that feeling. We all have people we work with on a daily basis but don’t really interact with them very often on a personal level. That’s the feeling I get from TNG. The graphics, special effects, etc., are wonderful, great, fantastic, but what if they didn’t have them? Classic Trek was the "poor-man” of Paramount back in the 60’s. They had to rely on stuff like lighting, plots, and characterizations. The stories had to be good because there was nothing to fall back on.

About now you’re asking, "so what’s your point?" Well, I’ll tell you. (Now, this is strictly my own opinion.) In talking to fans all over the country, I have formed an opinion. That is that Trek fans (Classic or TNG) devotion to their series is in direct proportion to how the series’ characters relate to each other. In other words, the Classic fans are deeply devoted to their crew just as the crew is to each other, while TNG fans really like their series, but that’s as far as it goes. Of course, there are exceptions, I’m speaking in generalities.

Now, I’d like to talk about B.O. (Box Office) for a TNG movie. Rick Berman is smart in trying to get the Classic Crew to appear. However, if it’s in cameos, how well will it do? I have an even better question. If it was just TNG, how well would it do? Trek fans alone can not make a bad movie a success, but they can tip the scales. Look at Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. Here was a movie that had a rough go. Little publicity, horrible competition, and not the best of Trek movies. It broke even. Maybe even made some bucks in foreign release and video sales. One of the things that turned the numbers from loss to breakeven/profit was the Trek fans. Those wonderful people who went and slapped down their $5-7.50 to see it over and over and over. Ten-Twenty-Fifty times, because they were devoted. Are TNG fans that devoted? Do they care more about the characters than they seem to care about each other? I don’t think so. As an average John-Q-Public-Fan of TNG, I’ll probably go to see STVII: TNG once (if De’s not in it) then tape it when it comes on TV. Somehow I can’t see TNG fans seeing it more than 2-3 times. (If the Classic Crew does do cameos, their fans will probably see it more than that) It all boils down to caring. Although TNG is very popular, and top of the charts (for syndicated one-hour dramas), it’s not the same as trying to survive three years on network TV. It’s apples and oranges. Syndication is much, much easier, so a hit in that venue is never rated against a miss on network. Think about it. And now they’re turning a hit syndicated series into a movie. A real first. (ST is well-known for "firsts.") But will it fly (pardon the pun)? I hope it will. I really do! But if it doesn’t, don’t lose heart. The fact that the entire Classic Crew is still around seems to be an omen. These people are meant to continue. I have heard some of them say that they may end up in wheelchairs, rolled onto a movie set. That’s OK with me, because I don’t care about how they get there. I want to see another Classic movie. If McCoy can be running around at 137, then they can all be alive and vital in their 60’s and 70’s... and it takes more energy than it does in real life. These guys can do it. We know it. They know it. All we have to do is convince Sherry Lansing of Paramount to do it.

One of our members, Pat "Lustful Lil" Neal has been hard at work trying to convince Sherry Lansing that Classic Trek deserves another outing. Most of her "letters” have been in the form of cute, innovative graphics. She has also included some of the following quotes. She’s doing her part and maybe it’s time you spoke up too. Be it Classic Trek or TNG, let your voice be heard. Let Sherry know what you want to see... and do it soon.