Can’t get enough Star Trek? We do live in a Trek Nation, after all. A trailer for the upcoming documentary has just hit the net, check it out below.
Full disclosure- I’m very close friends with one of the editors of this film, someone who’s worked for years to get this together. I’m not the biggest Trek fan in the world and there’s certainly no shortage of films on the subject, but I really dig how they’re trying to show the power of this 40-year-old tv show by relating what was going on in the world around it. It’s something that made the horror doc The American Nightmare as successful as it is, as it’s always fascinating to see how film and culture reflects what’s going on in society, and vice versa.
Trek Nation also shows Gene Roddenberry’s son Eugene (“Rod”) as he explores the influence of his father’s work. Due to his involvement they were able to get their hands on never-before-seen pictures and video footage from Roddenberry’s personal collection. As you can see they also talked extensively with castmembers from all of the shows and a whole heap of famous filmmakers.
The film is currently seeking distribution- check their official site for more.
11 comments
Looks interesting and look forward to seeing it, but I would lose the cosplay goons. There are enough valid examples of positive relationships between Trek and society to fill many hours without having to show the losers in their home made outfits, which to be honest are a big part of what gives fans a bad name. Hopefully they talk with all the scientists, engineers, and inventors out there who owe a debt of gratitude to Trek for influencing them to go into their respective fields. And, of course, who Trek was always a reflection of the times, at least when Roddenberry was at the helm. More of that type of thing, and less of the tools in the Borg suits please.
What's the protest stuff about? Weird.
As the director of this 10-year project, I assure you we steered away from the costume-clad zealotry you might find in similar docs. And, yes, you will find numerous interviews from scientists, television writers, and even rock stars — all influenced by the visionary and *hopeful* thinking of GR and his team of writers. This is a very thought-provoking film that deserves multiple views, I promise.
If you want to see smart, contemporary costume-clad trekkies, have a look at some recent interviews I just completed for EPIX HD: http://vimeo.com/7731250
Thanks for your interest.
Re: Tools in Costumes: I think Trek is the cornerstone "unhealthy geek" property, so they do need to examine that aspect. TNG even tipped to the hat to the concept with their holodeck. A future of simulated fantasies is a far more realistic prospect than swish warp-drive capable spaceships and shapely crew in tight clothing. In fact the future is likely to be closer to borg-cubes on 500 year missions, with each borg plugged into a simulation that creates the Federation fantasy around them as they go about their business.
Does Harlan Ellison appear in this doc?
He does if he gets paid for it
"It's something that made the horror doc The American Nightmare as successful as it is," – never heard of it
The American Nightmare is a very good doc. that you should watch.
35 years later… broke and about to be thrown out of his father's mansion… his son embarks on a quest of discovery…to the average man it's called "working"… Hoping to find his father…and recieve his first real paycheck for once in his life… he embraces his legacy… because he has no other discernable talents…. and mines a group of nerds for every penny he can unearth….
The editing in this trailer is stellar. Tonally it feels so much better than similar docs. I look forward to seeing it.
"Rod" has been working on this forever. Amazing that he's done nothing else besides ride on his fathers coattails his entire life. His only 'producing' jobs came from Roddenberry productions, and his entire fame is because of his father's name. Maybe this is good, but I can't imagine it saying anything more than what TWO Trekkies movies already did.
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