There have been a lot of threads about possible new series for star trek, unfortunately i think enterprise has shown that theres not really enough ground for a long running series to cover.
What i would propose is a series of mini series, roughly the same as the battlestar galactica remake mini series.
Each series gives us a fresh ship and crew and mission, which can be battle or exploration or science based, gives us a while to get to know the characters and see how they interact, see the mission resolved and then leave with the feeling that its another ship thats in the star trek universe just like the enterprise.
Another advantage of this is that it can be set whenever you like, it can be kirk picard, or archer eras.
The final major advantage of this is that people have proposed several ideas for a new series in other threads like the popular (or so it seemed to me) colonisation one, i dont feel something that is limited like that can provide enough of a background to an entire series, but i would be happy to watch a 5 part TV movie of hour long shows on it.
Just wanted to throw that out there and see what you guys thought.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
This general concept has been proposed before. By me among others. Now all we need is for one of us to get hired by Paramount and quickly rise to a position where we can make those kinds of decisions.
You're right that a mini-series format would offer alot of advantages. You'd still have to have solid ideas and solid writing to make it work. I remember mini-series such as "The North and the South" and "The Thornbirds". You get quite a bit of story in what amounts to a few days of short movies. You'd also be faced with the problem of getting a network to devote an entire week to a single proposition or a couple nights in two consecutive weeks.
Posted by The Mighty Monkey of Mim (Member # 646) on :
I have often dreamed of a series made up of individual episodes or arcs dealing with various different areas within the Trek universe, in a format similar to that of The Twilight Zone, where each week we meet a different set of characters facing a self-contained plot. One week the show could be set on a starbase, the next on a border patrol ship during the Cardassian conflicts, the next on a remote colony or outpost, etc. In addition to varied settings, different time periods and alien cultures could be explored. We could be at Starfleet Academy one week and on a Klingon battlefield the next. There are scores (if not hundreds) of plot threads and background tidbits that could be picked up from all the previous shows. The possibilities are nearly endless.
Of course, a series like this will never be made, the main reason being that you'd have to create a large number of one-off sets/props/costumes/FX and this would likely be prohibitively expensive. But then again, you also wouldn't have to deal with a regular cast of "stars" who would constantly be posturing for better-negotiated contracts, either.
-MMoM Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Actually, many of the props already exist. PADDs, Phasers, communicators, etc, for the main time periods are already made. Sets would be a problem, as new bridges, corridors, quarters and planetside locations would have to be created for every epsiode.
Custom FX would be needed, but that's not so different from episodes now. And again, many of the ship models already exist in some form.
But you're right, the plots possibilities are wide open. Anything from new stuff to a "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead" type treament where we see new characters running in and out of already covered events.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
Especially if they use clever wordplay to discuss their own nonexistence.
Posted by Dukhat (Member # 341) on :
There's a section at TrekBBS called "The Future of Trek," where everyone and his brother posts their own ideas for what and how the next Trek series should be. It's totally useless reading. As Aban said, no one's ideas amount to a hill of beans unless you work for Paramount.
Posted by Captain Boh (Member # 1282) on :
As long as you stayed in the same era, sets could represent a number of ships. How many ships were the TMP corridors used to represent? How many different bridges did we get out of the Battle Bridge? It would really be more an issue of creatively redressing a small number of sets rather than constantly building new ones.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Right. But doing that for every episode to the extent that it would disguise the sameness would still cost some serious coin. But, I suppose they could build some standing sets for the various time periods and work on redresses for one time period while they rotated through episodes covering others.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
quote:Originally posted by Dukhat: There's a section at TrekBBS called "The Future of Trek," where everyone and his brother posts their own ideas for what and how the next Trek series should be. It's totally useless reading. As Aban said, no one's ideas amount to a hill of beans unless you work for Paramount.
You know what - I don't want to see another Trek on screen until there NEEDS to be another Trek on screen.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
There are those who could argue that there never "needs" to be a Trek on screen ever...
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I think a Trek focusing on Q's idea of a "ship of the Valkyries" has merit... The uniform's would have to be a little skimpier... but I could handle that.
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
Star Trek: Andromeda
A starfleet crew on a diplomatic mission to the Kelvan empire arrives to find the entire race has disappeared. Their ship's engines become damaged beyond repair leaving it incapable of traveling outside the main solar system of the Kelvans empire and its 19 planets. The crew is forced to build new lives on new worlds and discover the worlds left by the apparently now extinct Kelvans.
Posted by HerbShrump (Member # 1230) on :
Interesting.... Well, there was a reason why the Kelvans were leaving the Andromeda galaxy... Leave it to our Starfllet heroes to find out just what that reason was!
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Increasing radiation levels, according to the Kelvans.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
quote:Originally posted by WizArtist II: Star Trek: Andromeda
A starfleet crew on a diplomatic mission to the Kelvan empire arrives to find the entire race has disappeared. Their ship's engines become damaged beyond repair leaving it incapable of traveling outside the main solar system of the Kelvans empire and its 19 planets. The crew is forced to build new lives on new worlds and discover the worlds left by the apparently now extinct Kelvans.
What's the point of going all the way to the Andromeda Galaxy when that story line could take place anywhere in the Milkyway Galaxy. The DS9 episode "Sanctuary" had those people crash-landed off the normal starship routes for quite a number of years. Of course that dampening field didn't help any rescue efforts.
Posted by Irishman (Member # 1188) on :
You are so right.
Posted by WizArtist II (Member # 1425) on :
I guess what I am trying to get is a "Star Trek / Earth 2" type of secenario instead of a Voyager theme. Basicly, there IS NO WAY home or hope of help. Without the Federation being Big Brother, would the social acceptance of other species begin to dissolve? How would crew interaction really be when the only goal is self-preservation? Would the old interspecies rifts beging to reform and fracture the "Crew" mentality?
What happens to a Fed crew when there is no Starbase nearby and they have to start doing things without all the conveniences of ship's supplies, processors, replicators and such?
I think that might actually take Trek back to the stories of the "human condition" that have seemed to be lacking.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Somehow the pitch "Star Trek: Earth 2" fails to excite me.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Seriously though Wiz - I know what you are saying - it sounds like what Voyager SHOULD have been. Also sounds a little Lost-esque. Thing is with Voyager it too was a little "Lost-esque" - people stranded away from home etc. etc. Thing is Lost works because of the flashbacks - and we get to see more and more of these people's lives BUT we still get their interactions in their new environment. One of the BIGGEST mistakes that was made with Voyager - was that (and I should try and track down that interview) Berman and Braga and probably Taylor did NOT want ANY character backstories - actually I think the interview was with Berman. He said that Voyager was NOT going to look at any crewmember's lives before the events of "The Caretaker". BIG mistake. People's history is what makes them. The background to characters are what make them real and believalbe. From that moment Voyager was a damaged show. The only two characters that really worked were the two who's lives had no backstory (really) and whose lives sort of "began" on the ship - that is the EMH and Seven of Nine.
Actually with Seven of Nine was saw quite a bit more of her background than a lot of the other characters. (Even though that consisted of her being a little girl "Dark Frontier" and life as a borg - when she was an individual for a small part in "Survival Instinct".
From season 1 they should have been exploring the backgrounds of Janeway, Chakotay, Kim, Tuvok, B'Elanna etc.
They only really touched briefly on Tuvok - which was a good episode - where we saw that early in his life he couldn't supress his emotions.
To know the character's backrounds is to know what makes them tick, which allows a viewer to empathise with them and understand where they are coming from. This also allows the writers to develop the characters. Voyager had basically NO character development (Except for the EMH and Seven). The series suffered, and continually reverted to actioned-laced/T'n'A-peppered/technobabbly episodes that were poor copies of TNG episodes in a lot of cases.
ANYWAY - back to what I was replying about. Might be a good idea in theory - but from history we've seen that in the wrong hands - like Berman and Braga - it wouldn't work and every episode every character would return to a near-carte blanche state - and the ship would never change and they would never worry about supplies or rations or energy or weapons etc. etc. etc.
Just going back to characterisation - look how much more INTERESTING DS9 was when you could actually enjoy and empathise with the characters - in two minutes I could write a blurb that would explain each of the main cast:
Sisko: originally a broken man, lost his wife, single father, put in charge of a backwater station, thrown into the unlikely positition of the Emissary of the Prophets to the Bajorans which conflicts with the Prime Directive of the Federation. Eventually takes on the immense task of being the first line of defence for the Alpha Quadrant against the Dominion.
Kira: Resented the Federation presence after the cardassian withdrawl from Bajor, very passionate about her planet and people. Very passionate about most things. A Spiritual woman who was hardened by what she did and saw during the occupation. A Woman that was actually quite influential on Bajor due to her situation yet didn't like that idea at all.
Dax: (Sadly the least developed - and I dont know why) A young woman with the wisdom of 8 lifetimes. Smart and beautiful, previous host a mentor of Sisko. Has hidden secrets about her previous hosts. Has the heart of a Klingon and captured the heart of a Klingon. Has a unique perspective and relationship with the Ferengi people.
Bashir: Naive brilliant Doctor who slowly is revealed to have many "human" flaws. Intruiged by intruige, works tirelessly to heal people friend or enemy. Eventually revealed to be genetically enhanced which actually ties in very well to his original characterisation.
O'Brien: The everyman, trying to raise a family in a not very welcome environment. A "miracle worker". Doesn't take fools kindly. Loyal to friends, family and Starfleet. Has seen action and atrocities previously by Cardassians.
Quark: Odo: Jake: Worf: Garak: Dukat: Kai Winn: Weyoun: The Founders: Damar: Rom: Nog: Ishka: The Nagus: Leeta: Morn: - yes even Morn! I think he was a more fully developed character than Harry Kim!
One could go on and on and on.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine v Star Trek: Voyager - you could write a thesis on that!
Andrew
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
quote: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine v Star Trek: Voyager - you could write a thesis on that!
But please don't. Please. Think of the children.
Posted by wingsabre (Member # 1682) on :
Notice AndrewR's list of characters form DS9 and try to match the same amount for Voyager. With a ship of 100 crewmen we saw very little repeat characters.
Also a mini-series idea would not be bad but i would only worry about designing the bridges. You can replace sickbays with a standard one, look at First Contact, they used Voy's sickbay. As for the hallways, i would just green room that. They might just green room a lot of sets and save cash.
All in all a new trek series should be syndicated. No more network crap. esp for sci-fi. national networks just dont get sci-fi. I would syndicate the series or just limit it to cable. At least when paramount was paramount they supported Trek, but when viacom bought it, they did a horrible job (like fox with firefly [dont get me started on that]).
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
quote:national networks just dont get sci-fi.
Who does? The fall (network) schedule is thick with sf shows of one stripe or another, the common element apparently being please God, deliver us another Lost. None look all that interesting, but who can say?
Posted by wingsabre (Member # 1682) on :
Actually I'll revise that to say, networks like Viacom and Fox don't get sci-fi. Even more specific, networks aiming at the younger views will move to dumb down their shows, and that doesn't work. Sad to say it but with all the good ideas from fans for the next star trek series i can picture the networks going for a Star Trek reality tv series.
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
And I can picture it killing off even us diehard fans as a result.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Yet, from a poll of, well, me, it seems that there are more quality sf shows on TV now than at most points in my TV-watching past.
Also: "networks like Viacom and Fox"?
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
quote:Originally posted by wingsabre: i would only worry about designing the bridges.
Really? You think that would be the most worrisome production issue?
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
OMG A Star Trek reality series? Ugh - what have some odd-ball sci-fi freak (all of us included of course) try to audition for a new Sci Fi Series?
Oh hang on isn't that that online TOS '4th series'? or "Exeter"? Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
"Who Wants to be On Star Trek?" "Joe Vulcan" "Par'Maq Factor" "The XO" "So You Think You Can Command a Starship?" "For Par'Maq or Latinum"
Posted by wingsabre (Member # 1682) on :
quote:Originally posted by Aban Rune:
quote:Originally posted by wingsabre: i would only worry about designing the bridges.
Really? You think that would be the most worrisome production issue?
I think that would be the most costly production issue. The casting should not be a huge problem because it'll be a Twilight Zone type of a show, so they'll be able to cast no name actors.
Enough advances have been made with green screens that they could do basic sets with it, like the teleport room. The corridors could be a simple hallway with modular parts.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Teleport room?
Posted by wingsabre (Member # 1682) on :
Transporter room
Eitherway generic sets could be made with modular walls and equipments
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
quote:Originally posted by Aban Rune: "Who Wants to be On Star Trek?" "Joe Vulcan" "Par'Maq Factor" "The XO" "So You Think You Can Command a Starship?" "For Par'Maq or Latinum"
"My Big Fat Obnoxious Ferengi" "The Medusan" "Big Q" "Changing Starships" "Starbase Blitz" "Survivor: Risa"
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
"I'm A Ferengi, Get Me Out Of Here!" "The Dishonourable Link" "Federation Love Asteroid"
Posted by wingsabre (Member # 1682) on :
"The Cadet" "The Cadet: Martha Steward Edition" "Rebel Admiral" "Temptation Station" "Tiny Ship" (Geico Commercial) "You're on Hidden Sensors" "Federation Idol" "Extreme First Contact" "ElimaRace" "The Real World: Qo'noS" "J'naii meets J'naii" "Queer Eye for the Trek Guy" "Trading Ships"
Joking aside the only plosible idea to me is a Star Trek Version of Cops. Though picking up a half naked, drunken vulcan who tries to logic out of an arrest is a little funny in my mind, but a little scary to think if it'll happen. It would be a good joke though.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
"What colour uniform not to wear" "Ferengi Eye for the Vulcan Guy" "Borg Eye for everyone" "The Real Universe" "Frontier Starbase" "My Replicator Rules" "Federation Idol" "The Weakest Greatest Link" "Newlyweds: Worf and Jadzia" "Race Around the Federation" "Celebrity Tongo"
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Bugger - I spent too long trying to find the correct spelling for J'Naii and got caught up looking at other web pages when I come back and realise that you've posted before me, wingsabre. Oh well - one or two are the similar.
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Anyone catch All-Star Whist on TV One? Ain't that a kick in the pants?
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
"Riker and Troi: Chaotic." "Sarek and Amanda: Logical" "Trip and T'Pol: Illogical"
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
quote:Originally posted by wingsabre: Joking aside...
I never agreed to that.
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Whist?
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
The similar?
Posted by AndrewR (Member # 44) on :
Did you meant Whilst?
Posted by Home Decor and Gardening (Member # 239) on :
Did you mean mean?
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
I see everything twice!
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
I see everything thrice!
Posted by HerbShrump (Member # 1230) on :
It's in 3-D
Posted by Jason Abbadon (Member # 882) on :
quote:Originally posted by wingsabre:
quote:Originally posted by Aban Rune:
quote:Originally posted by wingsabre: i would only worry about designing the bridges.
Really? You think that would be the most worrisome production issue?
I think that would be the most costly production issue. Enough advances have been made with green screens that they could do basic sets with it, like the teleport room. The corridors could be a simple hallway with modular parts.
They just need to shop smart this time- Nemesis featured a 10K captain's chair, but they bought Shinzon's knife from a Gil Hibben Catalog. Not even a new design either- I'd seen that on sale for a few years prior to the movie.
Posted by wingsabre (Member # 1682) on :
Nemesis's 10K captain's chair? Do you mean the one seen the most or the one in the end, that I think was cut out of the movie because they wanted to make more money with a shorter movie than a longer one?
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)