Fan+Filmmaker=Excitement

July 19, 2008

Photo by Carla Van Wagoner

One of my main inspirations for becoming a filmmaker and screenwriter is Star Trek. I went from fan to avid follower as a wanna-be professional by the time I entered college. While my own filmmaking pursuits have come in fits and starts, I’ve loved following Trek’s development as both fan and filmmaker.

By 2002, though, I was worried.

As the Star Trek television series waned in the early this decade, I was left wondering, “Where does it go from here?” I had fantasies about what I would to with it as a filmmaker. As details come out about JJ Abrams’ project, I have little doubt — he’s doing it right.

By the time the last TV show wrapped, and after my disappointment with Star Trek: Nemesis, my first thoughts involved how cool it would be to see a retro-Trek … let’s see how Gene Roddenberry’s original world would look if we added today’s technology and knowledge of the universe.

The release of the new film next year makes me triply excited because it comes out the weekend of my birthday. Almost too much for a fan to take. Not a uniform-wearer, but one who enjoys the great storytelling.

While it appears Paramount’s Star Trek franchise won’t have much of a presence at this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego, I wait with anticipation this coming week to see what might be up the studio’s sleeve. Already, word has gone out that retro one-sheets will be handed out … four of them that make one whole. I hope there’s a lot more!

As a journalist covering the Con this year, I will keep my nose to the ground and eyes wide open.

Photo by Carla Van Wagoner
			Zachary Quinto, new-era Spock, and Leonard Nimoy, original Spock, at 2007’s Comic-Con in San Diego. Will any new ST stars be back this year?