Tail-end Charlie... yet again!
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| Title: | Tail-end Charlie... yet again! |
| Creator: | Kate Lach |
| Date(s): | spring 1984 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: The Search for Spock |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Tail-end Charlie... yet again! is a 1984 Star Trek essay by Kate Lach.
It was printed in G.H.T. Journal #5.
Some Topics Discussed
- different release dates for the Star Trek film, The Search for Spock; fans in the United States could see the film in June 1984, fans in the United Kingdom had to wait until October 1984, and fans in Australia had to wait until December 1984
- lost income due to fans feeling manipulated and unappreciated
- how spoilers will inevitably ruin the movie for many
- the rising use of VCRs and how this translates into fan power, which in turn translates into smaller profits at the box office
The Essay
So it happens again ....the opening date for "Star Trek: The Search for Spock" (assuming the title doesn't get changed) is 1st June 1984. That is the date for the USA. The opening date for over here is October 19th 1984.We all know what that means, don't we? The 'closely guarded' plot will be no secret the moment the film opens in the USA; telephone lines will buzz, and for those of us who would like to find out what happens for ourselves the whole effect will be a big fat zero! American (and British) newspapers will blow the plot sky-high; "is he, isn't he?" will be totally spoilt for fans, and a possible enjoyable time ruined. As we all know too well people find it very difficult to keep secrets.
Over here, on this small collection of fog-laden islands, are many sincere Trek fans who are fast becoming unamused by the cavalier way they are treated. We don't take kindly to being "tail-end Charlies; we know that the film is American made and funded, but the money also comes from people like myself who may visit the cinema 7, 8, or even 10 times to see Star Trek; who campaigned each time letter-writing or lobbying etc. was required in order to get the Star Trek films off the ground. Do the powers-that-be not realise that bums on seats equals money to make ST4, ST5 et al? Do they think that just because we are thousands of miles away they can practise out of sight out of mind? The British can be very bolshie on occasions; what if NO Trek fan went to see a Trek film ever, here? It would mean a large drop in the revenue that the film people are happy to rake off the fans, wouldn't it?
Why not a simultaneous opening? If I remember rightly, we had one for the first film; and the 'staggered' opening of the second one was a grave mistake as so much of the plot was known by the time the film previewed in Britain, the whole thing was spoiled. Also, the garbled versions of what actually did happen to Spock caused a lot of distress to those who are 'followers' of the First Officer; some fans, even now, refuse to see the film because of the highly mixed-up versions they have heard, and will not accept, even from those who have tried to convince them that they are wrong, that the original stories from the States were incorrect.
Paramount tried to keep the plot of Star Trek 2 secret and failed. They have tried again with Star Trek 3, but surely this is not feasible UNLESS you show the film to ALL THE FANS AT THE SAME TIME. To get the right impact, a simultaneous world-wide opening is the only answer. (Spare a tear for the Australians - they don't get it until December 1984).
Well, what do you all think? I am of the opinion that we have a right to state out thoughts on the matter. It is after all a matter dear to all Trek fans and I do feel that we should speak out loud and clear. We are not too happy with the way that British (& other fans) are treated. Unless we do something this will continue with each film that comes along, and since videos are becoming more popular with each day, the fans' reaction will soon be, "Well, I'll go and see it once, then I'll get a video copy." or "I'll wait until I can borrow it from a Video Library." and the revenue will drop. No bums on seats, no cash for future productions, and the films will stop being made.
Logical, Mr. Spock?