NEWS & INFO

Here are some great pictures taken from the season finally of "Voyager"!

April/21/98

Trouble A Brewin'

Well I thought something like this would happen and it did it looks like Kate Mulgrew is in a snit here are the Details:

Voyager star KATE MULGREW is in a snit since newcomer JERI RYAN stole her thunder. Jeri, the sexy, spandex-clad actress who plays a character called "Seven of Nine," is a hit with viewers, and her picture is splashed on magazine covers. Storylines are all about her, and Kate feels neglected. "This has turned into The Jeri Ryan Show!" she declared. Kate's threatening to leave next year.

For the interview between Kate Mulgrew and T.V Guide click Here!

April/10/98

SEASON FINALE FEVER:

DS9's finale will be called "Tears of the Prophets" and will resolve Dax's (Terry Farrell) leaving the show. It should also be noted that the Tears of the Prophets are another name for the Orbs the wormhole aliens (or Prophets) sent to the Bajorans. (Hm...) And as Voyager's production has been put on hold for a couple months, (the mid-year hiatus is on) I hope to get further info on upcoming episodes, including the finale, "Hope and Fear."

April/3/98

DAX'S DEATH:

Worf and Dax are thinking about having a kid, when...

Dukat kills Dax by stabbing her!

Sisko will resign from Starfleet at the end of the episode!

Mar/30/98

THE NEXT STAR TREK SERIES:

The following is from one of the more reputable sites on the internet, however there's no confirmation on this (it's only a rumour):

<< I have got this rumor about another Star Trek show, that should replace Star Trek: Voyager in 2 or 3 years. That is in its 6th or 7th season, but if Voyager is doing badly in ratings, it could be before.

The show is called Star Trek: Defender, and its time period is about 50 to 100 years after TNG, DS9 and Voyager.

It looks like this show will air instead of DS9 and Voyager. It could be after Voyager's 5th season, but my guess is that Voyager will end after its 6th season, and then its going air Star Trek: Defender.

And it then looks like there will be no syndicated Star Trek show after DS9.

Okay, here are some facts about it:

*They've made a 5-hour test footage tape that was designed to test ship design, and garner interest in the project.

*The project wouldn't go to air for another 2 to 3 years.

*One scene has 12 fighters swarming two Black Coloured Klingon Birds of Prey.

*There are 7 different variants on the U.S.S. Defender:

*One looks sort of like the Robotech SDF-1

*One looks like a cross between the SDF-1 and a Mon Calamari (Star Wars) Battle Cruiser

*One looks sort of like 2 Saucer sections and 4 Nacelles

*The rest are pretty much varients of colors and stuff

*They went more advanced, though the pics seem to have the same bright feel of TNG

*The weapons look much better than on Voyager

*The weapons are mounted in turrets, much like the turrets on the SDF-1 (from Robotech) or the Earth ships in Starblazers

*Overall review of the video was "really cool!"

*The U.S.S. Defender is a space craft carrier that uses Trans Warp Conduit Technology!

*It's the largest ship the Federation has ever built

*The Federation is at war with a coalition of forces including the Klingons, Romulans, Vulcans (no, it's not an error they are at war with the Vulcans) and Dominion! >>

{Mar 22}

Well it was a big shock but the rumor is that Terry Farrell (Dax) has not signed on for the last season of Deep Space Nine . She told someone that not only is she leaving the show but she is to die just before this season ends and she said it in a strange tone.

{Jan 22}

Message In A Bottle overnightrating

The overnightrating for Star Trek Voyagers "Message In A Bottle" is in, and it was a massive 6.0. But please remeber that it is an overnight rating, and can we very high from the normal rating, that should be in beging of next week! "Star Trek: Voyager" was 6.0/9 on UPN from 8-9. "The Sentinel" had a 3.8/6 at 9.

Last weeks "Waking Moments" had a 5.2 in overnight rating, but only a 3.7 when the normal rating came out, so take the rating above with a gram of salt!!

If we look at "Waking Moments" rating, and calculate the rating for "Message In A Bottle", it would end a 4.3. BUT I am sure that the rating for Message In A Bottle is much higher, at least over 5.0!!! Becourse if you look at the rating before cristmas when they did a rerun, then the overnight rating was only of by 0.1. (Overnight:3.9, rating:3.8) So cross your finger that the rating is high!!!!!!! (X) :-))

{Jan 11}

Earlier I had reported that ST9 will most likely have a smaller budget being that DS9 and Voyager are currently in production, IMAX is on the way, they just shelled out $70 million for ST:TX and now they are going to shell out money for ST9. Now, read this article by Army Archerd, Daily Variety Senior Columnist, who attended the opening of ST:TX : ....Berman says, "The 'Experience' pushes 'Star Trek' ahead light years!" And he should know -- he's done eight "Star Trek" features, readying a ninth (budgeted over $50 million) plus three TV series and a 35-40-minute "Star Trek" Imax feature. Wether or not this is accurate is still up in the air. I'll find out for sure for ya!

{Jan 6}

In a recent TV Guide interview, Rick Berman was quoted as saying about Mike Piller's script, that ST9 has a link to the book "Lost Horizon". Now, for those of you who don't know what it's about, "Lost Horizon" is about a group in the Amazon who are looking for a place which brings "...lasting happiness and eternal life...". Now take THAT into account and read my mini-synopsis on {Dec 15}. And remember what I said about Paramount staff into this whole "mis-information" campaign???

January 6, 1998: Star Trek: Voyager Season 4: Episode #19: An alien takes possession of Tom Paris's body.

Deep Space 9: Apparently, earlier news of an upcoming Kira episode entitled "Wishes Darker than..." is now under the working title of "Wrongs Darker than Death or Night." Thanks to my sources!

Important: As many of you may know, Pocket Books publishes one novelized version of a Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space 9 script/episode every television season. Now, from an extremely reliable source, I've learned that the novelized DS9 for the 1997-98 season is"Far Beyond Stars." Voyager's has already been done; it was "Day of Honour.") Now, although internet sources may state that the "Far Beyond Stars" storyline has no working name, this information seems to contradict the fact. Further information may be found at StarTrekBooks.Com.

As of January 4th, 1998: Twenty of Voyager's 26 episodes are now "in the can." Production will be ending in early March which, by no coincidence is when Star Trek IX is due to start filming... (Hm...)

Added some new Deep Space 9 episode information at the bottom (the last three episodes listed).

As of January 1st, 1998: Excerpted from a TV Guide article by Michael Logan...

The reports of the impending death of the Star Trek phenomenon are unfounded, according to Rick Berman. "This season, ratings are up on both Deep Space Nine and Voyager," says the executive producer of both series. "That marks the first time they've been higher than the year before." The ninth Trek film -- to be directed by Jonathan Frakes -- is now in preproduction, with all stars of The Next Generation on board (Patrick Stewart, left, is pocketing $12 million in a package deal with Paramount that will give him first crack at several non-Trek scripts). Due in theaters next November, the as-yet-untitled film has been reported by Variety to be based on the classic Joseph Conrad novel Heart of Darkness (as was Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now). "But that is greatly exaggerated," Berman insists. "There were similarities to Heart in earlier drafts, but now there is no more than a suggestion." While Berman does admit there are elements of Lost Horizon in the new film, he says he's "doing everything but taking retinal thumbprints to keep the script out of the wrong hands." Secrecy also envelops Berman's $10 million, 40-minute Star Trek film to be produced in IMAX 3-D. "The first draft will be ready in January and involves both familiar and newly created Trek characters." The projected premiere date? "Well, it'll be this millennium," Berman says with a laugh. "But that depends on whether you think the millennium ends in 1999 or 2000."

{Dec 15}

Mr. X update: The plot is basically about relocating settlers on a planet which supposedly provides eternal life. Some Starfleet types go renegade and try to take over the planet (with Data's help--- Hence the 'Heart of Darkness' theme) and Picard has to stop them.

{Dec 13} Trekweb chat with Mike Piller:

Q: (About ST9 being like Heart of Darkness): A: My original idea was to do something I called 'Heart of Lightness' and surprisingly the end result is going to be very close to fitting that description. I really can't say more specifically anything else about the plot.

Q: Given that Star Trek IX will be "lighter" and more "humorous" than the previous two films will there be more emphasis on character relationships, and any worthwhile interaction between Picard/Crusher (romantic or otherwise)? Especially with Picard's lamentation of his being the only Picard left? A: Yes. It will be one of the most romantic movies in the Star Trek series. One of my goals for this film was to show how important the family of the Enterprise crew is to one another and in a sense, this movie is about the ties of these characters, depicted in a way they haven't been since the series ended. That said, Picard and Data will play major parts in the plot, of course.

Q: Is the enemy in Star Trek IX going to be a new enemy or an old favorite? Also, can you give a current [working] title? (other than "Stardust" ?) A: We still don't know what to call it, but one of the villains are called the Son'a. In the first story they were the Romulans, but noone here felt a great deal of enthusiasm for that decision.

Q: One aspect of the original movies that made them so unique was the personification of the Starship Enterprise. The scenes in ST2 where Sulu mentions the privilege of serving on the "Enterprise" and where Kirk makes his inspection of the "tall ship" developed a bond between the Enterprise, her crew, and the audience. The latest films have approached the ship less like a vessel with a personality all its own, and more like just a tool to get from point A to point B. Will ST9 bring back the awe of our favorite Starship and its majesty? A: I hope so.*

Q: Is the story idea for Star Trek IX an idea you've had for some time, or is it something that Rick Berman came up with for you to help? A: Rick's first idea for the movie was to adapt a classic tale, like "Prisoner of Zenda", and I watched that movie and came away concerned that it really would be a story about a man posing as Picard, and I felt that audiences who had waited for two years to see their hero might be angry. The premise I brought back to him came to me as I was rubbing in my Rogaine one morning.

Q: DS9 has been terrific this season. But I think it would be great fun if some reference were made about the Enterprise-E in the Dominion War. And will reference to the war be made in Star Trek 9? A: Only in passing. But the effects of the war will play an important part.*

Q: Riker has been first officer for about twelve years now. I think its about time for him to get his own ship. Is there any chance of that happening in ST9? A: Yes.*

Q: Worf is in it *I think*. Will we hear a mention of Dax? A: In the current draft, yes.*

Q If Jonathan Frakes directs, will that affect Riker's role? Will the commander have a prominent role anyway? A: Riker will have a romance, will Captain a ship, and perform a major manuever against a superior force that's attacking him, what do you think?*

Q: We have seen many rumors that your first script for ST9 was disappointing, and not approved by Patrick Stewart - how do you feel about this? Do you agree? or did you think that you had produced a good piece of preliminary work? A: The rumors are not incorrect, except Patrick's objections were to the first story, not the first script. We did have some conflict at that point, and I can say without hesitation that a better movie was the result of that conflict. Rick and I had taken the story into a much more serious vein and Patrick objected because we had talked with him about some of our earlier, lighter ideas and he missed them. So we went back to them and did exactly the wrong thing by trying to tell both stories in one script. And Patrick never saw that script, but Rick and I both agreed it didn't work and went back and started over. And everyone has had a positive reaction to this draft. I've heard reactions such as "uplifting," "warm," "made me cry," "made me laugh," "exciting." Many of the people at the studio have compared it in tone to Star Trek IV. Rick and I have had such a good time, and the journey has been so interesting that we're thinking about writing a book about the writing of Star Trek IX that would include all the versions of the story and that dreadful first script. In that script, we got to meet Picard at the Academy, one of his best friends (who played a huge part in the movie), Boothby, and the planet of 10-year-olds. I can tell you this, because none of them remain.*

Q: Will Q be making an appearance in Star Trek 9? A: No.*

{Dec 12} Mr. X update: Strange things are afoot! "Paramount execs HATE the Trek script from what I'm hearing..."No Villian...this is not what Kirk would do...what's supposed to be happening here..." etc. Not a good sign." Sounds like Mike Piller is a good Spin Doctor.

{Dec 11} Here's info from my friend Garth over at Dark Horizons Interveiw with the Rickster! Both today's info AND yesterdays info come from the same source..... it appears the Aussies are getting the jump on the U.S. for ST9 info. ;)

•Has Rick Berman slipped some juicy tidbits about the Trek 9 script past US fans? It appears he might have. The latest issue of the "Star Trek" Official Fan Club magazine in Australia has apparently conducted an interview with Berman about the new film. While Berman repeated a lot of what was already known, there were some other major plot points he brought up that haven't been heard before. The basic layout of the film will be about "Picard having to make a moral decision about saving some 600 people, and that Starfleet and their alien allies will not like his decision". Two other tidbits were that the first 30 pages of the script focussed on Data and why he was doing unusual things, while Data's emotion chip will not be mentioned at all during the film. Finally he ended saying that there'll be a lot of character development in the film, especially between Riker and someone else (he wouldn't give away who). I should be able to confirm whether this rumour is accurate/false tomorrow (I'll just check the local newsagency), however it does sound likely and would match what information we already know.

{Dec 10} Michael Piller interview from an Australian Trek magazine. Eric Stillwell (Piller's assistant) confirmed its legitamacy....

Q. What have you been up to on the film since we last spoke in July? A. "The process has been very interesting. The first draft was extremely funny, which was a major goal- this was going to be the Moliere version- a farce. This was going to be a different Star Trek movie- "lets show them what we can do musical comedy" is what Patrick Stewart said. "

"The first draft was simply schizphrenic. It had enough plot to be a mini series. It went from very very dark to very very light. It was uncomfortable despite having some wonderful scenes in it and some characters that I'll miss, but it was simply not working. So Rick and I went back and took the same basic premise that we had started working with and worked very hard to merge the various elements. We really had two movies and had to make it one., and came out with a far superior version. A story that had purpose and resonance and is not a farce, which I think is a good thing in the long run; Moliere is nowhere in sight."

"It does not mean there is not a great deal of humor init and fun and adventure, but I feel like I am in my element now. It is a story about the family and difficult choices and mortal quandaries, and a lot of action and a lot of excitement. You know, most movies according to my assistant Eric are about saving the universe and looking back at the other eight films, it is true. To me the greatest episodes of the series we did had very little to do with saving the universe, although Best Of Both Worlds was certainly one of my better moments but I always thought the Star Trek story was a bunch of small stories on one large canvas. Sometimes a small story can have extradoniary consequences and remarkable action, but I wanted to do a story that had a wide impact on a large thematic level but not necessarily a plot level. So that it is a universe that is at stake, it is a group of 600 people whose lives and culture is at risk. Ultimately Picard decides that his principles demand that he come to thier defence and stand up for thier right to exist even though it is not really in the best interests of the Federation or Starfleet and thier allies. "

"I think it is a moral dillema for Picard- it is one of those most heroic stories that Picard has lived through and I like his character. I like him and I like the situation a great deal. As I write the 2nd draft (I am on Page 70 at the moment) the action is getting heavy and I am enjoying it. It is a funny thing about writing- when you are not with the characters you cannot tell. You do not know until someone reads the script and says "You missed". Then you look and yell out "What could I have been thinking?" The irony is that when you are with the characters and you are really with the story, you DO know. I honestly believe the draft of this script will work well and will translate into a fine film."

Q. Do you have a working title for this fim yet? A. "We had a working title for the Moliere vesrion which was 'Stardust', but this will not be for the current draft." •Q. One of the most interesting elements of the whole Star Trek phenomenon is the role of the doctor, particulary Dr. McCoy. Despite all the action, all the romance, adventure, technology and so on, the most human part was the Doctor. Something that kept me as a viewre grounded and rooted to Earth. Will this theme be carried forward in your film? A. "I think the theme you are talking about is very signifigant in this movie, and is indirectly coming from Dr. Crusher, but it is from both the aliens and the captain that the theme is articulated. The first question I get from everybody is "How can you out Borg The Borg?". The answer is I am not. The Borg are remarkable villans and are as powerful as anything in the Trek universe or science fiction in the last 25 years. But the truth is we cannot makea new alien that is deadlier than the Borg. (Eds note- What about 8472- oh well.) I think that is a futile cause so the dillema is much closer to home- much more internal- and as a part of Picards life, and I hope that when the script is finished (I am sure it will go through more changes) that it will remain. It is a very interesting evil thats at work here. To me the best villans are those that think they are doing things for good reasons." •Q. There was a rumor that some of the cast were not returning. This is obviously not true from what you tell me. A. "Everybody has signed on. Once Brent signed, it was done." •Q. Has the comedy been toned down a lot? A. "No. It is just that previously it was a comedy that has now become a drama with humor. There is still a lot of humor present. The first draft we tried too hard and overcooked it, but this second draft is closer to the mark. The film can be described as gentle, warm, and fun - very different to the last one. It has a great deal of romance anda great deal of adventure about people you genuinely care about. It puts Picard and the family in a very unuusual situation. In some ways it has a relation ship to Star trek IV, because it too was warm, family orientated film with a very serious theme underneath. The latest film was very serious as well." •Q. Are you working on something new for Data, or just extending his character along. In the last 2 films, he has had a new ground character- not so much a continuation. A. "I can tell you one thing- you will not hear the word 'emotion chip' in this film, at least it is not in the script now. I havent spoken to Brent about this particular issue- it is not a favourite character development of mine. I started out by trying to get Data back to the innocence he represented, the charming character who wanted to grow up and become a real person. I don't know if this movie has acomplished this or not,, but by not dealing with emotions as a theme, and just dealing with the circumstances that he finds himself in, he is more like Data that I knew and loved before the movies, rather than the one he has been in the last fims."

"I don't know if it will please or pertrube fans, I think they'll like Datas role in this film- the story is a mystery about Data and why he is doing what he is doing for a good 30 pages, which leads us into an even greater, broader thematic mystery." •Q. Are you working with Jonathan Frakes on the film. A. "Yes, Jonathan has been sitting in on story conferences between Rick and I for a month. We have gone through the whiteboard right in front of you with him, and he is estatic with the changes." •Q. Will Jonathan go on to direct other Star Trek features? A. "I don't know- Its not my area. What I can say is there will be an advancement in relationship for a couple of the characters and Riker is one of them- in this movie." •Q. That is the balance- keeping the other characters in the family with enough to do rather than fill. A. "I hope I have the balance right." •Q. Still on schedule for March principle photography? A. "I am not sure. Pretty close. The studio wants to prep in December, but apart from that I don't know."

"It wont be the final draft in December, but at least the final elements will be set- enough to allow good prepping- such as fundamental decisions on locations and set construction." •Q. What is the budget ballpark figure? Have there been any constraints placed on you? A. "I am the writer. You're asking the wrong guy." •Q. But arent the writers the most expensive element? You can write a film costing $4 million or $200 million. A. "The first draft is mine. I get to write it as expensive as I want. I don't care what the deal is!"

{Nov 30} Mr. X update: First draft is finished and is NOW going through re-writes. {Nov 25}pm

Mr. X update: Paramount is throwing on the table that the next film have a smaller budget than First Contact's $40+or- million. Also, they may not be using ILM. LucasFilm (a.k.a. the Devil ;) ) has pretty much got them booked for the next couple years with the Star Wars trilogy coming to life. There have been serious talks with Sony Image Works to handle the SFX.