Phone Interview with Nicholas Meyer

[intrinsical]

http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/star-tre...-star-trek-series-is-innovative-and-different

There isn't much as even Meyer himself doesn't know much. He's still waiting to be told when to report for work. The only thing new is that Brian Fuller is using The Undiscovered Country as a taking off point for the new series and that it won't re-tread on old Trek.

From this, I'm guessing the new series will be set in era of peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Perhaps instead of just following one ship, the new series will be centered on two crews, one Federation, one Klingon?

 

[trekfan_1]

I think it’s going to be a different Star Trek. It will go in a different direction. And I think that is probably good. Because the thing that mainly troubles me about Star Trek is the fear of it being maybe re-treads of itself

I could be wrong but based on what has been previously been said about the new show and now how Meyer worded his answers, my gut feeling tells me we will be getting a full-on Reboot. A total Re-imagining of Star Trek almost to it's core. If so, I'm not sure what to think about that. The Star Trek fan in me will inherently want to resist this notion. But If it is made well I could be swayed.

If they do go with a total reboot, my guess is the "template" of Star Trek will still be there otherwise why call it Star Trek. The optimistic future, starfeet, the Federation will all probably be there. Other than that I think everything else could be totally different - When and who invented Warp drive, some or all of the familiar races may not "exist". All characters like Kirk or Picard will not part of the new "universe". I think this could end up being an even bigger "reboot" than JJ Trek.

 

[Dukhat]

I should have known that! So, the politics of both Star Trek IV and Star Trek VI are what make those movies what they are. Is there something from the existing political landscape that might make its way into these new Star Treks?

The one thing I can relate to you is that The Undiscovered Country—according to Bryan [Fuller]—is a real sort of taking off point, or touchstone for how I guess he’s thinking about the direction of the new show. I don’t want to be misquoted and I don’t want to misquote him, but he’s fond of that film. Let’s put it that way.

Sounds like the new show is going to be about politics, not that it's literally going to take place after TUC. That's my interpretation of these lines.

 

[trekfan_1]

Yes the TUC connection he cited seemed to be more of a metaphorical comparison in tone rather than a direct connection.

One thing is clear though, since Meyer doesn't "understand" the Abrams movies and seemingly wasn't a fan of them, the new series will almost certainly not be similar in style or tone to JJ trek at all. That is a good thing. Although I have been mildly entertained by JJ's movies for what they are, that approach will not work for a long running tv show format.

 

[STEPhon IT]

That still all depends on what the studio execs want. They might want the meeting of the minds, a little bit of JJ Trek, a little bit of TWOK/TUC, and a little bit of TOS/TNG; the best of both worlds of success. I'm rooting for another Black Captain, my God its been too long since we haven't seen one, also maybe a little more diverse cast instead of the usual white people as the majority of the Federation. The one thing I think JJ Abrams' Star Trek keeps getting right is presenting the future with a mixed of white, blacks, and asians in the universe. Even diversity in alien make up was done well, something which was non-present in the Berman Productions I couldn't stand with the single black crap done.

TNG made huge improvements with black people: Geordi, Worf, Guinan, and the woman Helm officer piloting the 1701-D in later seasons.
Then came the decline on DS9 with 2 blacks: Sisko, and Jake. Later Worf came around and then Berman and the bunch cast even more whites.
And then another decline on Voyager. Just 1: Tuvok.
And finally Star Trek Enterprise with 1: Mayweather, a wonderful example of progress in Hollywood.

 

[Trekkin]

Poor, forgotten Kassidy.

 

[Takeru]

From this, I'm guessing the new series will be set in era of peace between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Perhaps instead of just following one ship, the new series will be centered on two crews, one Federation, one Klingon?

Eww, no klingons except for minor appearances, please! I've had enough of them, TNG did a lot with them and I liked them fine enough but towards the end of DS9 I couldn't stand them anymore, there are more species out there than klingons.

I hope by following TUC they mean more focus on interstellar politics (unlike ferryimg cargo around and beaming down to unknown planet z to solve a conflict there in 42 minutes) and maybe conflict within Starfleet and the Federation and in that case I mean clashing ideas and ideologies where there's no easy answer who's right and wrong.

TNG made huge improvements with black people: Geordi, Worf, Guinan, and the woman Helm officer piloting the 1701-D in later seasons.
Then came the decline on DS9 with 2 blacks: Sisko, and Jake. Later Worf came around and then Berman and the bunch cast even more whites.

You count extra on TNG but ignore Kassidy, Jennifer and Ben's father on DS9? All of those had way more significance than "woman helm officer".

 

[Oso Blanco]

TNG made huge improvements with black people: Geordi, Worf, Guinan, and the woman Helm officer piloting the 1701-D in later seasons.

Worf wasn't black, he was Klingon. I don't understand that obsession with skin color anyway ... does it really matter that much if someone is black or white?

 

[Wulff359]

So..... TUC as a starting point. Inbetween the decomission of the big E and the first Episode of TNG?

ITS CAPTAIN SULU! YEAH! GEORGE FINALLY GETS HIS OWN SHOW

 

[intrinsical]

Worf wasn't black, he was Klingon. I don't understand that obsession with skin color anyway ... does it really matter that much if someone is black or white?

When it comes to the black, its mostly a US-only phenomena. Where I'm from, skin or hair color makes no difference.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

You count extra on TNG but ignore Kassidy, Jennifer and Ben's father on DS9? All of those had way more significance than "woman helm officer".

DS9 did much better than the other series in promoting African Americans in media. Having Brooks play the captain made him the most visible figure in the cast and the most prominent character in the most important stories in the overall narrative. And he is never white washed. Sisko is a character that is at least partially driven by African American experiences, something they started tapping into at least as early as "Paradise." Added to it was a fully developed family and personal life which none of the other captains had: son, a father, a late wife, and new wife.

That is really less significant than the balance that was put into place. The most prominent roles were given to an African American man and two women. The two "white male Americans" were two older stage actors, one being Jewish American. That was a big flip from what was typical of action adventure television from the era.

 

[Kor]

Worf wasn't black, he was Klingon. I don't understand that obsession with skin color anyway ... does it really matter that much if someone is black or white?

Different racial and ethnic groups have greatly differing social and cultural experiences, even within the shared setting of the same country.

When it comes to the black, its mostly a US-only phenomena. Where I'm from, skin or hair color makes no difference.

South Africa is still dealing with black/white racial tensions two decades after institutionalized racism ended.

Among expatriates in South Korea, people with dark skin, including those of African descent, face outright hiring discrimination and other forms of prejudice.

Those of African and Afro-Caribbean descent in the UK are still affected by social issues such as higher unemployment rates and a higher rate of imprisonment in comparison to white Britons.

There are plenty of other examples. It's not just a US thing.

Kor

 

[STEPhon IT]

I think the Berman camp went the wrong way when it comes to diversity, while JJ Abrams went the other way. Not so much in Star Wars, but I appreciated the effort. For me, it would be nice to see an Indonesian Captain or someone of color and present new characters other than my complexion. See less white people and more Aztec or Mayan descented cultures, even Pacific Islanders or Samoans, or Eskimos, the show should represent an image of the future which are rich with a salad bowl of Earth. Whites has dominated the shows representation for 50 years, there's not one person who thinks that was enough, and it's time for a path of progression... in Star Trek? We have a looooong way to go.

 

[STEPhon IT]

You count extra on TNG but ignore Kassidy, Jennifer and Ben's father on DS9? All of those had way more significance than "woman helm officer".

Even in the TOS Uhura, Sulu, Scotty, Chekhov were not cast members but featured players. Altho, Whoopi Goldberg was credited as a Special guest star but she functioned as a featured player. The woman helmsman was a stretch.
As for the late Brock Peters, Felecia Bell, and the great Penny Jerald, they were guest stars, and were not the main cast of DS9 nor were they featured players like Rom, Nog, Leeta, and later Martok.
I'm thinking more diversity with the main cast members and featured players. Hey, I'm white, and I love my white skin, and I love all of my people being inappropriately represented on TV, but for Star Trek I feel there should've been more diversity. The TV show Luther is another example of progressive casting, it's the London I'm accustomed to seeing when I travel.

 

[STEPhon IT]

When it comes to the black, its mostly a US-only phenomena. Where I'm from, skin or hair color makes no difference.

The future should not be misrepresented, it should be presenting an eventual reality, despite what you ignore to see.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Worf wasn't black, he was Klingon. I don't understand that obsession with skin color anyway ... does it really matter that much if someone is black or white?

Michael Dorn is black and he was Worf.

After more than 500 episodes, after 10 non-progressive films casting a majority of people who represented me? To answer you question, it probably doesn't matter... to my Mom, and my Dad, but for me it would be something different and interesting for the writers to create more characters with a history of culture.

 

[Bagofmostlywatr]

I think the Berman camp went the wrong way when it comes to diversity, while JJ Abrams went the other way. Not so much in Star Wars, but I appreciated the effort. For me, it would be nice to see an Indonesian Captain or someone of color and present new characters other than my complexion. See less white people and more Aztec or Mayan descented cultures, even Pacific Islanders or Samoans, or Eskimos, the show should represent an image of the future which are rich with a salad bowl of Earth. Whites has dominated the shows representation for 50 years, there's not one person who thinks that was enough, and it's time for a path of progression... in Star Trek? We have a looooong way to go.

On that thread, does the captain have to be human?

 

[STEPhon IT]

I was thinking about real life casting, like Michael Dorn a black man believe it not, for the series. Whatever the production plan is up to them.

 

[JoeCabby]

Sounds like the new show is going to be about politics, not that it's literally going to take place after TUC. That's my interpretation of these lines.

Yup, I'm thinking more along the lines of DS9, but not on a space station. Maybe earth is the focal point, they could use any Ship in the fleet for monster of the week type episodes. Hell, they could even include Captain Worf on occasion.

 

[dub]

LOL! I love Nick Meyer! You can really hear his voice in the interview transcript, just like you can hear his voice in many of the lines he wrote in Trek films. Can't wait to see the new series! "Tell them to cross their fingers!" LOL!