Do you mind if I use your link over at TrekBBS to pose a request for additional information on this movie? I have a theory that it was either never completed or that ParaBorg swept down before the movie could ever see the inside of a Trek Con, since there seems to be ZERO information on it's existance that I can find beyond the StarLog snippet that you show us. What issue is that, anyhow?
Go for it Jeff - my link is your link I'd love to learn more about this flick too. The Starlog issue is #119. I'd tried the IMDB search too. Even looked up all the email addies for "Stan Woo" and tried asking them. 2 got bounced back, and I never got a reply from any of the others
I also emailed Andrew Probert about the design, waaay back in '98.
quote:In a message dated 8/8/98 4:43:54 AM, you wrote:
>I read an article in a "Starlog" magazine, sometime in the mid 80's, about >an unofficial 'Star Trek' film (I think it was called 'Yorktown II') that >you were said to be providing some designs for.
Yep.
>The article included a drawing of a Klingon scout-ship, and credited you >with designing the "Yorktown", which was described as being a mixture of >the Original Series and Movie Era type starship.
Yes, well, it would be more of an intermediate design.
>I don't know if the movie was ever completed or screened , but I was wondering >if you might still have some drawings or photographs of the "Yorktown", and if I >might be able to obtain a copy of them?
Sorry, I can't lie to you, I do have them somewhere, but we just moved and I'd rather not dig for them through all the boxes, just now.
>If that isn't possible, could you tell me if the "Yorktown" design is >anything like the "Enterprise" model that was being built for 'Star Trek - >Phase II'
No. A friend built that model from parts of plastic hobby kits.
If memory serves I tried emailing him again a few months later (after he'd settled in from moving house) but never got a reply. So I'm reluctant to try again.
Cheers!
Jim.
-------------------- It's life Jim, but not as we know it...
Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Jim NCC1701A: I also emailed Andrew Probert about the design, waaay back in '98.
[snip]
If memory serves I tried emailing him again a few months later (after he'd settled in from moving house) but never got a reply. So I'm reluctant to try again.
As a friend of Andy's I can tell you that he gets a lot of requests for stuff like this; and having been to his home (back when he lived in the SF Bay Area), I know that a lot of it IS packed away and not always easy to get to (I was lucky enough to get to go through his sketchbooks for the GCS design so I've seen virutally every drawing of that baby's development...so turn green with envy mere mortals! ).
That said, I asked him about this film in an email today. I'll let you know if he says anything illuminating.
-------------------- "Well, I mean, it's generally understood that, of all of the people in the world, Mike Nelson is the best." -- ULTRA MAGNUS, steadfast in curmudgeon
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Thanks for looking into this. I remember seeing that article many years ago and wondering whatever happened to this project. Sulu has always been one of my favorites and I was looking forward to seeing this.
My thinking has been that the legal department at Paramount shot it down, threatened lawsuits to the participants, or confiscated all work and materials.
Registered: Jun 2003
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Sure thing. I'm intensely curious to know about this, as well. After some thought, I do recall reading that Starlog article, tho don't have it in my limited collection of backissues.
Still no information in the thread over at TrekBBS. You'd think that out of the thousand or so posts a day that place gets that someone out of the several thousand members would know something about this fan-produced movie!
Parabastards and TIIC almost had to have gotten this flick canned, IMO....
(TIIC = The Idiots In Charge)
Registered: Apr 2003
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ME: Did you actually work on this, or did they just take some of your work to use?
ANDY PROBERT: Yeah, many years ago, I agreed to help this guy out. It was kinda fun and it gave me a chance to come up with some alternate Trek designs. I never saw the final result.
So, he doesn't know if it was finished or not, either.
Speaking of Fan Flix, I see the Starship Exeter guys are going to make more episodes...I wonder how long it'll be before they get a C&D from Paramount?
-------------------- "Well, I mean, it's generally understood that, of all of the people in the world, Mike Nelson is the best." -- ULTRA MAGNUS, steadfast in curmudgeon
Registered: Feb 2001
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Kewel. Thanks for asking the question and posting the answer, MrNeutron. Appreciate it, even if it doesn't really give us anything.
I haven't seen the "Starship Exeter" mini-movies/episodes/whatever. I've heard about them, but had problems viewing them way back when I got the link. Haven't tried to view them for some time. Have a link for their stuff? Background info on their previous work(s)?
Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Griffworks: Kewel. Thanks for asking the question and posting the answer, MrNeutron. Appreciate it, even if it doesn't really give us anything.
No problem. I've been talking to Andy a lot lately and we're discussing my doing a REALLY extensive interview with him where we'll get into a lot of stuff he never gets asked about. If that happens, I'll solicit possible questions here.
quote:I haven't seen the "Starship Exeter" mini-movies/episodes/whatever. I've heard about them, but had problems viewing them way back when I got the link. Haven't tried to view them for some time. Have a link for their stuff? Background info on their previous work(s)?
I watched the Exeter film and it's...well, a fan film. It's impressive how much work they put into it, but it's too bad the script is so weak (and let's not get into the acting). They have new scripts on their Exeter Studios Website, and the one I read part of was not good (too much pointless bickering masquerading as characterization).
Back on topic, I captured some images from a video I have where the Phase II model appears, but I'm still sorting through the images to see if I can determine which are the Brick Price Phase II model and which are of the TMP ship under construction.
-------------------- "Well, I mean, it's generally understood that, of all of the people in the world, Mike Nelson is the best." -- ULTRA MAGNUS, steadfast in curmudgeon
Registered: Feb 2001
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Well, someone over on TrekBBS claims to have seen "a 20 second clips from a fan site a long time ago". Doesn't really help us though - no link to or name of the website, and no idea if it was from the finished film.
"I hate mysteries. They give me a belly-ache, and I've got a beauty." Captain Kirk in The Man Trap
-------------------- It's life Jim, but not as we know it...
Registered: Apr 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Kazeite: To comment on the Exter movie, the sets are amazing, costumes are very good, SFX are ok, acting is average, and script is awful
The sets would be amazing if the bridge wasn't a cheap model chromakeyed behind the actors. The costumes are very good. The SFX are weak...the movement is choppy and the lighting choices are bad. The acting is is average for local theater. The script is putrid.
Part of the problem is that the guys writing the scripts don't have a grasp on story construction, dramatic arcs, or even basic plotting. Their script for "The Mighty Galvanaut" is worse than the episode already made. In short, a lot happens, but nothing happens. In other words, there are a lot of scenes, but there's no point, and the scenes don't build up to anything. Worse, the characters bicker and tease like high school students, and this is all that passes for characterization.
What I think is funny is they plan to do a "series" about this Galvanaut character...so they're going to use their 2nd or 3rd Exeter film to make a "pilot"! haha
Don't get me wrong: I admire their enthusiasm and StickToIt-iveness, but they really need better scripts.
Actually, I was toying with offering them my services on a script, just for giggles. (I wrote several spec TNG scripts and submitted them in 1989-90...didn't sell any of them, but one of them is amongst the best things I've ever written...but I submitted it to TNG right at the time they produced "Sins of the Father", and my story was a Klingon episode that took a different tack...ah well!)
quote:To comment on Constitution... briliant. Simply briliant
And just what is this "Constituion" you say is brilliant?
-------------------- "Well, I mean, it's generally understood that, of all of the people in the world, Mike Nelson is the best." -- ULTRA MAGNUS, steadfast in curmudgeon
Registered: Feb 2001
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The folks of Starship Exeter did some test footage on the bridge built for this new TOS adventure.
Some of the Phase II costume designs are also being used for this project. Alas, they aren't using the Phase II ship design.
Registered: Dec 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Middy Seafort: Speaking of the adventures of the starship Exeter, there is another TOS-venture in the realm of indie (or fan) flix.
Check out the "New Voyages" of the starship Enterprise at:
The folks of Starship Exeter did some test footage on the bridge built for this new TOS adventure.
Some of the Phase II costume designs are also being used for this project. Alas, they aren't using the Phase II ship design.
These guys have to be REALLY careful, because even if it's technically "non-profit" they're getting into Trademark violation issues just by using the name Star Trek, and Trademarked character names, etc. That's why many unauthorized books about Star Trek can't bear the Star Trek name. I think both these groups are bound to get a rude Cease & Desist from Paramount. The "New Voyages" group in particular.
-------------------- "Well, I mean, it's generally understood that, of all of the people in the world, Mike Nelson is the best." -- ULTRA MAGNUS, steadfast in curmudgeon
Registered: Feb 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Middy Seafort: Speaking of the adventures of the starship Exeter, there is another TOS-venture in the realm of indie (or fan) flix.
Check out the "New Voyages" of the starship Enterprise at:
The folks of Starship Exeter did some test footage on the bridge built for this new TOS adventure.
Some of the Phase II costume designs are also being used for this project. Alas, they aren't using the Phase II ship design.
These guys have to be REALLY careful, because even if it's technically "non-profit" they're getting into Trademark violation issues just by using the name Star Trek, and Trademarked character names, etc. That's why many unauthorized books about Star Trek can't bear the Star Trek name. I think both these groups are bound to get a rude Cease & Desist from Paramount. The "New Voyages" group in particular.
No doubt, Neutron, they are all threading thin ice. Also, they plan on adapting some of the novels, which gets into even sticker rights issues.
It would be more logical, especially if they want to do their version of Trek, that they relay more on original work based upon the Trek characters and universe.
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I'd love to learn more about this flick too. The Starlog issue is #119.![[Frown]](frown.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
).![[Wink]](wink.gif)
but I meant to say that I like Masaki's work. 
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