Reveal: New transporter design!

[Prax]

People often overlook how much of the design of past shows were simply limited by budget and resources. Paramount had limited stage space, and considering the transporter room wasn't going to be a major set we'd spend a ton of time in, they usually made them fairly small.

So this "it's too big" critique is such a silly complaint.

Those shows had large, healthy budgets. One of the goals of TNG was to create TV show with cinema quality production values. I hardly can see them enlarging sets just because they have more money.

Now I don't think this new transporter room set is too big at all. And if a bunch of people had said that, it might warrant quotations, but "It's too big" can be a warranted complaint in other aspects of a ship. It's a starship after all, and should have a practical functionality to it, and should be built for efficiency.

 

[KirkusOveractus]

Those shows had large, healthy budgets. One of the goals of TNG was to create TV show with cinema quality production values. I hardly can see them enlarging sets just because they have more money.

Now I don't think this new transporter room set is too big at all. And if a bunch of people had said that, it might warrant quotations, but "It's too big" can be a warranted complaint in other aspects of a ship. It's a starship after all, and should have a practical functionality to it, and should be built for efficiency.

In-universe, I think that it's because certain parts of transporter technology, what's been approved for transport of beings safely, is in its refinement stages.

 

[Jedman67]

The budget for TNG was about $1 million ($1.8 m in todays dollars) per episode; Discovery is reported to be about $6m per episode.
So bigger budget means a little more creative freedom; including big honking movie style sets somewhat similar to the 2009 Films.

 

[Psion]

The budget for TNG was about $1 million ($1.8 m in todays dollars) per episode; Discovery is reported to be about $6m per episode.
So bigger budget means a little more creative freedom; including big honking movie style sets somewhat similar to the 2009 Films.

Don't forget ... we're also getting fewer episodes. But let's look at the real numbers. First, inflation from 1987 to 2017 is 2.59%, and the announced cost-per-episode of TNG's first season was 1.3 million dollars. In today's economy, that's $2.8 million per episode. TNG's first season ran for 26 episodes, giving a rough budget of $72.8 million in today's market for the season. With Discovery, the total season cost is $90 million ... not as huge a difference as it first looked!

 

[Mudd]

TNG had a healthy budget, yeah - but nothing like the resources of Discovery. TNG was able to achieve a great deal because the producers were able to repurpose all of the sets and models that had been built for four Star Trek feature films.

 

[Albinator]

Those shows had large, healthy budgets. One of the goals of TNG was to create TV show with cinema quality production values. I hardly can see them enlarging sets just because they have more money.

If you've seen any of the b-h-s stuff on TNG, they indeed had many budget crunches.

 

[fireproof78]

Those shows had large, healthy budgets. One of the goals of TNG was to create TV show with cinema quality production values. I hardly can see them enlarging sets just because they have more money.

Now I don't think this new transporter room set is too big at all. And if a bunch of people had said that, it might warrant quotations, but "It's too big" can be a warranted complaint in other aspects of a ship. It's a starship after all, and should have a practical functionality to it, and should be built for efficiency.

Perhaps it was built larger to avoid any "cross-contamination" like with what happened in Enterprise or Tuvix.

 

[Albinator]

We can come up with whatever in-universe explanations we want (which is fun) but the truth is, they wanted a nicer looking set for HDTV, and so they made it bigger. From a purely visual standpoint on a show that they want to look cinematic and more impressive, this makes perfect sense.

 

[Kevin Wolff]

The size is fine but they didn't design the space very well. Also having EW shoot promo photos with supermarket lighting doesn't do the production much justice. They should have shot their own promo photos and distributed them to the media.

 

[Albinator]

The size is fine but they didn't design the space very well.

What makes you say that?

 

[Kevin Wolff]

What makes you say that?

Too glossy, too many repeating shapes, too much blue yet again, uninspired overhead details, and a big greeble in the middle where the cargo pad should be.

 

[Albinator]

Too glossy, too many repeating shapes, too much blue yet again, uninspired overhead details, and a big greeble in the middle where the cargo pad should be.

Well you must admit that's all terribly subjective. I think it looks great, and very consistent with the transporter rooms we've seen before, with a cinematic spin to it.

 

[Kevin Wolff]

Well you must admit that's all terribly subjective. I think it looks great, and very consistent with the transporter rooms we've seen before, with a cinematic spin to it.

Of course. Most opinions are. Just stating my preference. I dislike most of the interior details we've seen except for the Klingons but it won't keep me from watching.

 

[Albinator]

Also, I've never heard of the "cargo pad" and can find no reference online. As far as I ever knew, the cargo bays had their own dedicated transporter for cargo, and when crew members wanted to transport equipment they just stood next to it on their pad.

 

[fireproof78]

We can come up with whatever in-universe explanations we want (which is fun) but the truth is, they wanted a nicer looking set for HDTV, and so they made it bigger. From a purely visual standpoint on a show that they want to look cinematic and more impressive, this makes perfect sense.

You're talking to the guy who can rationalize the functioning of a Lego computer tile. Trust me, I get the production standpoint ideas. I just like having fun with the tech side

Also, I've never heard of the "cargo pad" and can find no reference online. As far as I ever knew, the cargo bays had their own dedicated transporter for cargo, and when crew members wanted to transport equipment they just stood next to it on their pad.

Was it only shown in TNG's "The All Black Planet" episode? That might be why you can't find it.

 

[Albinator]

Was it only shown in TNG's "The All Black Planet" episode? That might be why you can't find it.

Not exactly sure what he's referring to-- it sounds like he's referencing the blue center pad on TNG's pad (and shows after TNG) which doesn't appear in TOS? Oddly enough, that center disc was used in the episode you cited ("Code of Honor") and it was used to transport in Tasha and an injured woman, not cargo.

 

[Noname Given]

TNG had a healthy budget, yeah - but nothing like the resources of Discovery. TNG was able to achieve a great deal because the producers were able to repurpose all of the sets and models that had been built for four Star Trek feature films.

^^^^
And then reuse those same TV sets (redressed a bit) for STV, STVI and STVII.

 

[Albinator]

Don't forget ... we're also getting fewer episodes. But let's look at the real numbers. First, inflation from 1987 to 2017 is 2.59%, and the announced cost-per-episode of TNG's first season was 1.3 million dollars. In today's economy, that's $2.8 million per episode. TNG's first season ran for 26 episodes, giving a rough budget of $72.8 million in today's market for the season. With Discovery, the total season cost is $90 million ... not as huge a difference as it first looked!

You're neglecting the fewer episodes to skew the results in favor of the notion that the budgets are very similar. But 6 million per episode for Discovery is still more than twice the 2.8 million per episode you have listed for TNG.

 

[Noname Given]

Don't forget ... we're also getting fewer episodes. But let's look at the real numbers. First, inflation from 1987 to 2017 is 2.59%, and the announced cost-per-episode of TNG's first season was 1.3 million dollars. In today's economy, that's $2.8 million per episode. TNG's first season ran for 26 episodes, giving a rough budget of $72.8 million in today's market for the season. With Discovery, the total season cost is $90 million ... not as huge a difference as it first looked!

Um if ST: D had 26 episodes a season that would make it' Season 1 cost 156 million - so even adjusted for inflation (and using your figure), ST: D is costing OVER TWICE as much as TNG.

 

[Kevin Wolff]

There were really only 4 times when they threw A-level money at Trek. TMP, 09 and STID, and DSC. However, in the context of first-run syndication at the time, TNG had a huge budget. Best in class, one might say, but nothing compared to DSC money if the 6+ million per ep reporting is true.