Star Trek: CAPTAIN PIKE

[Bixby]

Yet another new Kickstarter campaign, this one for an ambitious-sounding project featuring Captain Christopher Pike of the starship Enterprise.

Apparently they already have commitments from well-known genre actors to appear as various familiar-sounding characters (among them Ray Wise, Enterprise's Linda Park, Dwight Schultz, Bruce Davison, Chase Masterson and Robert Picardo).

As of today, they've already accumulated over 4 Gs of a hoped-for 110, 000S total. They do say they wish to build a bridge set in the LA area (another one? shouldn't somebody tell them to save themselves 100 grand in set building fees and to partner up with another production group with an existing set?

Their big pluses are experienced actors for all except the lead role, the VFX wizardry of Tobias Richter apparently, and experienced film industry people for many crew positions.

The negatives I can see are too many wink wink characters that are related to previously-seen TOS ones, and fannish fill-in-the-dots (wanting to show how Spock met Kirk, showing Pike's battle on Rigel that was somewhat shown in the Cage)...

 

[mos6507]

My immediate vibe from this is that it is becoming the newest way for ex-Trek actors to pay their bills rather than convention appearances. And the promotional materials here look very much like a convention poster. If an actor wants to pay their respects to the fans by agreeing to appear in a one-off episode like Walter Koenig or George Takei did, great. I am all for that. But if their IMDB credits show that they are doing nothing but shift from one kickstarted fan-Trek project to another...well, I really don't think this is what fan-films were meant to evolve into.

 

[aalenfae]

I get some frightening vibes from this production. Their pitch video doesn't inspire confidence in me. The talking heads kind of sound like they're being paid to say what they're saying, and their lack of media scares me.

But who knows? There might be an incredible production here - just... the kickstarter video makes me feel uncomfortable.

 

[mos6507]

The important ad copy is this:

"we will be submitting our Proposed Pilot to CBS for consideration as an ongoing cable or Web Series."

It's Renegades all over again. It's driven ultimately by a profit-motive.

 

[Karzak]

Wouldn't be a fan film Kickstarter without namechecking "the fan film CBS wants!"

 

[Bixby]

I wish all of the people who boast about their film being geared as a pitch for a new Trek series just suddenly realize that while this one film's script that probably took many sleepless nights to write up, coming up with 13 or even 26 other quality premises is exponentially harder...

 

[Kor]

While I was hoping for a fan series along these lines, I agree that what they have so far doesn't inspire much confidence.

Something like this should have been done fifteen years ago and starred Ray Liotta as Christopher Pike.

Kor

 

[Amaris]

I'll say the same thing I said over on FB when I read about this:

I'm all for zeal and positivity in a new fan film, but such claims about CBS picking the film up as a series go overboard, and a number of fans are so desperate for a new Star Trek TV series, they'll believe those claims because they recognize "Star Trek people" and assume it's semi-official.

I'm also tired of the over-the-top "TV pilot!" mantra that these films push.

Renegades? These pewpewpew and teh actors in black leather suits with de guns and angery facez will make CBS say "TV Pilotz!"

Captain Pike? Lookit! Captain Pike will make de Star Trek fanz all tingly with de nostalgics! Lookit de superstarz from the Stars Treks shows back in teh 1990s! CBS will see dis and say "TV Pilotz!"

Also, as I'm sure you can tell, I'm kind of tired of the "epic battlez!" angle that many of these films take. Some of my favorite Star Trek episodes were introspective, and didn't involve huge fleet battles with pewpewpew. In fact, few of my favorite episodes involved *any* epic fleet battles with pewpewpew.

 

[DCR]

I'd be happy to watch it if it makes it to production, but I think more of these productions should focus on existing sets rather than making their own. (Axanar gets a pass because they look to be the first on the West Coast).

Still, I'm pulling for the lot of them, especially those that don't say they're pitching to CBS.

 

[Maurice]

Oh brother. Another one?

 

[Mark 2000]

"What happened on Pike’s first mission with his female first officer, and his science officer, Mr. Spock? "

Something female related I'm sure.

 

[Amaris]

Oh brother. Another one?

It's annoying, and I guess that will be the new angle for some of these bigger films going forward:

"We're not a fan film, we're a TV pilot!"

It makes me glad to know there are still plenty of Trek fan films out there who just want to entertain. I judge "TV pilots" a lot harder than I do fan films, because I expect a TV pilot to be up to broadcasting standards associated with major studios. A fan film is going to be a mix of new and experienced people, and are created on the time and funding of some very dedicated folks who just want to tell a good story. While that doesn't mean I'm going to necessarily enjoy a film where the Orions get into a boxing match with the Borg while flying Captain Spock home to Vulcan in order to meet his previously unknown daughter, Vanessa Picard, for the first time, but it will be fully understood for what it is, which is a labor of love.

 

[Barbreader]

We won't be seeing Trek on TV as long as the current group of suits rule at CBS. I wish every fan effort well, even if they try to be pros. The only exception to that was a film that SOLD itself as a fan film group, and then, having raised money as a fan film, did a film which was part 1 of a multi-episode story. However, they DID DO a PITCh to CBS. When it wasn't bought, the just walked away, never finishing the story.

Most of you know of whom I speak. The rest of you, you are better off not knowing.

 

[urbandefault]

So, if one of these films that are sold to fans as a "TV pilot" ever actually got a screening for the suits, I could see it ending something like this ...

"Ok, nice job. Recast the captain and do it again."

 

[DCR]

It's one thing I like about PII/NV/Farragut/Intrepid/Axanar - none are saying they're trying to get CBS to pick them up as a series.

 

[mos6507]

So, if one of these films that are sold to fans as a "TV pilot" ever actually got a screening for the suits, I could see it ending something like this ...

"Ok, nice job. Recast the captain and do it again."

Worked alright in the end for TOS, didn't it?

 

[USS Intrepid]

It's one thing I like about PII/NV/Farragut/Intrepid/Axanar - none are saying they're trying to get CBS to pick them up as a series.

Though it could be fairly amusing being marched off the premises by security.

"But Intrepid should be the next series! I'm not crazy! What's in that syringe!? Ohhhhhhhh........"

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

"What happened on Pike’s first mission with his female first officer, and his science officer, Mr. Spock? "

Something female related I'm sure.

Wasn't that called "The Cage" or something?

 

[Maurice]

"We're legit! We genuflected to CBS, so you know we are! Pleeeeeeeeeaaaaase!"

 

[uniderth]

"We know Captain Pike’s father is Admiral Josh Pike,"

We do? I've never heard that before.

"LINDA PARK (Star Trek: Enterprise, Legends TV series) AS CAPTAIN JULIE DECKER (USS REPUBLIC)"

Apparently, they didn't get the memo about there being no female starship captains in this era. (Yes, I'm one of THOSE fans.)