Fan Edit of Kelvin Trek

[SonOfUncleSam]

I am working on a fan edit of the Kelvin movies that would remove those things which feel like major deviations to end up with something that feels more like Trek.

First thing is the result will be episodes instead of movies. I have completed the first hour-long Pilot. I am in the process of making the second episode. The result feels like a mix of classic Star Trek, Star Trek Discovery and the TV show Lost (It is JJ Abrhams material after all). It will be hard to wrap up the story with the alterations I am making, so rather than it be a complete story, It should be viewed more as a proposed pilot, or an incompleted series.

I am editing the story to be more of a retcon than a reboot. The retcon has the tragic backstory for Kirk and how he is recruited by Pike. It includes more of the deleted backstory childhood scenes for Kirk and Spock. Scenes outdoors on Vulcan are more yellow and contrasted to make it appear more alien and hot.

Taken out so far are the following plots:
Story jumps from the inquiry into Kirk's cheating on his test to the opening mission of Into Darkness at the volcano. (the year of the Volcanon Niburu mission is changed to 2264, advancing the story six years from the Academy inquiry scene)

This means no more destruction of Vulcan, no more death of Spock's mom, no more romantic relationship between Uhura and Spock. (instead it is re-edited so that Uhura seems more like an emphatic character, warm, affectionate who cares about her crewmate, Spock who is being heroic and putting himself in danger) No more uncharacteristic revenge plots. Having Kirk and Spock watch Nero die did not feel very much like Trek.

Benedict Cumberbatch is no longer Khan, but John Harrison Section 31 rouge agent. Christopher Pike is wounded but does not die. Carol Marcus is removed from this edit (Carol Marcus wasn't British)!

Meanwhile, the Nero storyline will very slowly unfold in the background.

Episode one has the Kirk and Spock Origins -> up to the inquiry of Kirk at the Academy -> The volcano mission on Nibiru -> "Space the Final frontier" from Beyond leading into the theme and title sequence -> Post credits the deleted scene with Nero breaks out of the prison planet -> regular credits (black background, not fancy CGI title sequence)

So the end result is as I said, a retcon of Kirk's origin but the rest could fit into Prime timeline, and series of early adventures of the original crew right before they officially get the five-year mission.

----

Now on episode two I am stuck. I need an image for two to four second of someone (a man) in some kind of life support, sickbay bed, maybe even iron lung type of machine. So, I have re-edited John Harrison's attack on Starfleet so that we don't see Pike get shot, but we see Spock drag him out. The next scene where Kirk gets a comm signal from Spock saying they have discovered something in the wreckage of Harrison's ship, I want to edit it so it looks like Kirk is standing by Pike who is recovering. I thought of using an image of the old school sickbay display from the Original of the arrows and sliders display, but the scene doesn't make scene without some kind of body sitting in a bed recovering.

I know somewhere in all of the sci-fi and movies made I must be able to find a two to four second image that makes it clear there is a person in the bed on life support, but doesn't show the face so we can be tricked into think it is Pike.

Any help on finding an image that works would be helpful. Also, ideas for the fan edit are welcome.

 

[SonOfUncleSam]

Story-wise. I watch the edited pilot, it works. It is a story about these two characters, Spock and Kirk. Kirk by saving Spock from the volcano gets to be the hero his dad was on the Kelvin. Spock too is a hero to the civilization on Nibiru he saves, finding his calling in Starfleet instead of staying on Vulcan in the Science Academy.

 

[Campe]

It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought and effort into this. However, while far from perfect, I enjoy the Kelvin movies and the changes that were made. Good luck but I’m gonna pass.

 

[SonOfUncleSam]

It sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought and effort into this. However, while far from perfect, I enjoy the Kelvin movies and the changes that were made. Good luck but I’m gonna pass.

I actually did it in an afternoon. Really after seeing Discovery I gained the motivation to do it. I am also creating it as I go along, as opposed to mapping it all out.

Thanx for the wishes of luck.

 

[trynda1701]

Is there any way to use the cryogenic chambers that contain Khans crew from "Into Darkness" with a shot of Kirk?

 

[Kemaiku]

No thanks.

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

Sounds interesting. Although I don’t think something can be salvaged from the STID mess, I’m intrigued.

 

[SonOfUncleSam]

I think the second episode and the entire project might end with them capturing John Harrison from Kronos but before the whole "I am Khan speech".

I think that is a great idea for the cyro tube. I will have to look more closely. I think a quick shot of cyro tube (maybe in reverse showing it close? or just of the torso) followed by the Classic TOS medical display with arrows and sliders, and on the display super-impose the text "Pike, Christopher", then cut to Kirk getting the comm from Spock. Hopefully that will work.

 

[SonOfUncleSam]

Also, ideas of what to title this project and where to eventually post it would also be appreciated for those interested.

 

[SonOfUncleSam]

Is there any way to use the cryogenic chambers that contain Khans crew from "Into Darkness" with a shot of Kirk?

So I can't really use the cryo tubes because they are basically the opposite of what I want, which is they show the face but hide the body so that if you take a shot without the face it just looks like a tube, no markers to ID as a body

There is a shot with Kirk in bed towards the end of the movie when he is resurrected, that if I crop it, it could work, but that would lower the resolution quite a bit.

So stay on the lookout for a usable shot!

 

[Barbreader]

Just be aware that what you are planning is a massive violation of both standard copyright law and the Guidelines. You may find some of these links useful: http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/234.html

 

[DonIago]

If the goal of this is "Let's see if we can create a version of the Nuniverse that keeps things basically as they're presented but cleans things up a bit", then that's an interesting thought project.

But I'm concerned that it sounds more like "Screw Abrams for ruining Trek, I'm going to take his shite and do anything I can with it to make it what I wish it was", in which case I have no interest in a project borne from so little respect for its origins.

Not to mention, on a practical level, the obvious and blatant copyright issues.

 

[SonOfUncleSam]

Just be aware that what you are planning is a massive violation of both standard copyright law and the Guidelines. You may find some of these links useful: http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/234.html

Well, at this point, it is still for personal use, so nothing wrong has been done yet.

I have come across a number of fan edits of films before, from Twin Peaks to Prometheus. Usually they are about adding deleted scenes.
I guess the real issue is how aggressive the movie studio will be with this, because I certainly don't want to get a lawsuit.

 

[SonOfUncleSam]

If the goal of this is "Let's see if we can create a version of the Nuniverse that keeps things basically as they're presented but cleans things up a bit", then that's an interesting thought project.

But I'm concerned that it sounds more like "Screw Abrams for ruining Trek, I'm going to take his shite and do anything I can with it to make it what I wish it was", in which case I have no interest in a project borne from so little respect for its origins.

Not to mention, on a practical level, the obvious and blatant copyright issues.

To each his own. One of the earliest fan edits I came across was "The Phantom Edit" of Star Wars episode one. Episode one was a mess, but this edit did interesting things like deleting young Anakin's "Whoopee!" and corniest moments. In the scene where he jumps into a space fighter the effect was interesting, showing him automatically knowing how to pilot the craft while being cold and almost emotionless. That edit gave the character a more Vader feel, which I think worked better than the Leave it to Beaver feel of the original.

My edit, which as of now is only for personal use, although I will explore options, is trying to take out those things in "Nuverse" that don't feel consistent with Trek and preserve those things which work great. I personally love the updated origin for Kirk, so that's in. I definitely disliked making the Enterprise characters darker and more vengeful, which doesn't have the optimism of Trek. So yeah, a lot of story from "Nuverse" will be edited out.

So as I started out by saying, to each his/her own. Folks will always have these movies unedited, and in my view it isn't so much that I am making "my vision of Trek" , as much as taking what Abrams got right and deleted what I think he got wrong and goes against Trek tradition. It in my mind is a scenario like: "we had this guy running our show/movie, but we got rid of him or he left, here is the footage, can you salvage any of this and make something that feels like Star Trek out of it."

Not trying to dis Trek or Abrams. I happen to think Lost was once of the best shows of all time (despite the ending which in my mind I correct to a better one SPOILERS where the last season has more to do with an alternate timeline being created because of the detonation of the bomb in the islands past created a new timeline, which is way better than the lame afterlife ending).

The passion is purely as a fan. Star Trek conveyed certain values on to me which were important in my formative years. I want to create an edit that stays consistent to that message.

 

[Danlav05]

I'm really interested in this idea. Dare I ask but are youi going to attempt anything with ST Beyond and the 2013 videogame?

For private use I have created 15 episodes of "Star Trek: Phase III" with help and ideas from a friend who did TMP as a pilot, It's literally the whole saga of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Sulu, Uhura and Chekov post-TOS, played by the original cast, so it includes Movies 1-7, the Starfleet Academy game, Universal Studios Adventure, a bit of the Powergen ad, TNG, Voyager (this is an experiment so I wanted to take some of the Excelsior Flashback scenes and see how they integrate with TUC as a subplot), a bit of Old Spock from JJ's films and even a few fan film appearances carrying forward several of the characters. Anything I could fit? It's there as I went all-out. A couple of bits like Kirk at the 2013 Oscars and a few commercials didn't make the cut.

Like I stress, these are NOT online and purely a personal creative experiment. It works well as a TV show as Movies 1-4 and 6 forge an arc for the first half and for the second the crew has gone their own way.


Someone on the fanedit website has done the Enterprise-E films as three episodes of 'TNG Season 8'. Because of their format I did question how the JJ films would work. I am looking forward to following your effort.

 

[SonOfUncleSam]

I'm really interested in this idea. Dare I ask but are youi going to attempt anything with ST Beyond and the 2013 videogame?

For private use I have created 15 episodes of "Star Trek: Phase III" with help and ideas from a friend who did TMP as a pilot, It's literally the whole saga of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scotty, Sulu, Uhura and Chekov post-TOS, played by the original cast, so it includes Movies 1-7, the Starfleet Academy game, Universal Studios Adventure, a bit of the Powergen ad, TNG, Voyager (this is an experiment so I wanted to take some of the Excelsior Flashback scenes and see how they integrate with TUC as a subplot), a bit of Old Spock from JJ's films and even a few fan film appearances carrying forward several of the characters. Anything I could fit? It's there as I went all-out. A couple of bits like Kirk at the 2013 Oscars and a few commercials didn't make the cut.

Like I stress, these are NOT online and purely a personal creative experiment. It works well as a TV show as Movies 1-4 and 6 forge an arc for the first half and for the second the crew has gone their own way.


Someone on the fanedit website has done the Enterprise-E films as three episodes of 'TNG Season 8'. Because of their format I did question how the JJ films would work. I am looking forward to following your effort.

I don't know much about the video game, but I suppose I will YouTube it and see if anything would be useful.

I just finished the second episode today. I included the six minute long fill credits at the end for each episode (give folks their credit). With those six minute credits the run time is currently 59 minutes and change for episode one and 51 minutes and change for episode two.

I am just gonna show them to friends for now. I do know that to the studio have been going after Trek stuff since Axanar pretty heavy.

However, in general, I have never heard of a fan edit being gone after, or such copywrite infringement being gone after with more than cease and desist. Still, worried about getting fined for all that money.

Although in all fairness, once a torrent is out there in the community, if put on a torrent site, how would they trace it back?

So that is the dilemma.

As far as anything from Beyond, only minimal stuff. I am using the "Space the Final Frontier" from Beyond in each episode. I am also using the opening diplomatic mission from Beyond in episode two after the opening credits. The opening scene for episode two is the deleted scene of the Captain's log for the Nibiru volcano mission with some edits from the end of the first 2009 film with some bridge commands to Sulu to bookend the Captain's log.

The problem with Beyond is it jumps three more years, and after all the origin jumping in episode one, I wanted to stabilize it the way a normal Trek series feels. Also the ship gets destroyed and that pretty much ends it.

Episode two basically ends with John Harrison surrendering and being taken into custody, and then it cuts back to the Nero storyline where he intercepts future Spock to end on another cliffhanger.

I don't think there is anymore I can do with this project at this point, but maybe the game has some things I can use.

BTW, for now I was able to edit together that scene making it look like Kirk is watching over an injured and recover I ng Pike. Not perfect, but serviceable and clear enough in narrative.

 

[Phoenix219]

There have been really good fanedits in the past. In my own personal viewing canon, the Jack Marshall edit of Star Trek V is now the only one that is watched, and the Bionic Bob TMP / episode cut is actually exciting and well paced. I love fan edits. Man of Steel Remastered brings tears to my eyes.

Has anyone checked out Star Trek - Vengeance, a cut of STID? It looks quite impressive.

(Removed by T'Bonz)

Good luck to any and all of you and your personal endeavors!

 

[uniderth]

Seems like an interesting idea. I'm just afraid that in order to make these films watchable, very little of the original content would be left.

 

[Malaika]

so, in short, you want to delete the core purpose and all core narrative elements of the reboot, the fact it's another reality, and turn it into a completely different thing aka tos with different actors.

I am working on a fan edit of the Kelvin movies that would remove those things which feel like major deviations to end up with something that feels more like Trek.

you mean, that feels more like TOS trek, or the trek you'd like to see.
There is nothing inherently 'non trek' in these movies. You may not like most of the changes and narrative elements, but it's pretentious to say they aren't trek. Define what is trek?
You mention canon 'deviations' 'traditional trek' and 'things that don't feel right' and yet, one of your main examples is Spock/Uhura representing an interpersonal relationship of romantic nature.
- From a tos canon perspective: Spock was attracted to Uhura and viceversa even in tos (cue first episodes) so exploring the possibility of them having a relationship INTO ANOTHER REALITY where they maybe met under different circumstances is not that 'outrageous' or sh*tting on the characters, nor anything other reboots hadn't done before (battlestar galactica literally changed the gender of one of the main characters, Discovery now retconned Spock having a human adopted sister from the start, and Sarek apparently is even worse a dad than we thought he was before). If that relationship is OOC because you think Spock should only embrace logic and can't show feelings.. then sorry to tell you but it's too late for that because if that were the case, he wouldn't/shouldn't have friends and express feelings for them either. There is nothing that inherently makes platonic relationships more 'needed' than non platonic ones; both serve a similar purpose in the story (making the characters more real). The rest is up to personal preference only.
- In terms of 'trek' ideals, I don't need to tell you how ironic it is for you to imply that an interracial and interspecies couple that couldn't be made canon in the 60s because of racism, but is made canon in a modern reboot, is 'not trek' or not 'idic'. If that isn't 'trek', then what is trek? It seems like in that case 'trek' means preserving the white men status quo, and make bromance the be all end all of interpersonal relationships representation STILL.

Things like the destruction of vulcan, Spock's ptsd, Nero, the romance etc etc are foundamental events that define this trek and its characters - so deleting all these things isn't just making little modifications on something you like, it's altering the whole thing turning that into your own thing and something foundamentally different. It's not a fan edit of Kelvin trek, it's an AU fanfiction using clips of kelvin trek. Or better yet, using kelvin trek to do your own thing.

ps:

it is re-edited so that Uhura seems more like an emphatic character, warm, affectionate who cares about her crewmate

which basically is the way Uhura is already presented in the movies. The fact that in the actual canon she's in love with that person (and yes, they probably are sexual creatures because they are adult people, and there is enough evidence in tos to suggest that unlike some people's headcanons Spock wasn't a monk) doesn't make her less 'an emphatic, warm, affectionate character who cares about her crewmates'
Perhaps, she doesn't need to be a mammy stereotype in order to show those qualities.

 

[Phoenix219]

I don't see why anyone has a problem with a personal project. If you don't like the purpose or motive behind it, then fine, don't watch / contribute, but that doesn't make his personal goal *wrong* or a waste of time.... everyone has their own head canon and personal takes on stuff or wishes things were slightly different, so they can better enjoy it. This is just physically making that a reality. If its for private use, who cares?