Is the bridge at a funny angle?

Discussion in 'Star Trek - The Original & Animated Series' started by Mike Doyle, Dec 17, 2020.

  1. yotsuya

    yotsuya Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    Interesting how you put that because there were two episodes where we follow Kirk onto the bridge through the turbolift. The camera is moving and could have panned to both sides of the bridge to get the complete view. But in WNMHGB we she the port side and in The Corbimite Maneuver we she the starboard side. That episode (the first series production episode - the one I have listed as episode 3 in production order) shows that each piece of the bridge is distinct and we see each one on screen. In The Doomsday Machine Spock's station has been moved over one, probably to allow camera access. The wedge normally removed to get shots of Spock at his station has been omitted. So the only sections of the bridge not seen in that shot are the omitted one, Communications, and the turbolift. I think it is safe to assume that those two were in their original positions (being connected to the command island) and Spock's station was moved over one and that area left blank for camera access. Just a few minutes later there are a couple of shots that pan across two of the port wedges, the turbolift, communications and to Spock. So through slight of hand, we sort of get a 360 view of the bridge in this episode, we are just one wedge short (the slight of hand).
     
  2. GNDN18

    GNDN18 270 Rear Admiral

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    You might be right over all, but the command module (per FJD), was not connected to anything. It started moving around the bridge as early as “The Cage”
    [​IMG]
    and WNMHGB
    [​IMG]
    Not to mention BAON
    [​IMG]
     
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  3. BK613

    BK613 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Exactly so.
    We also know that (at least early on) the command chair could be removed, like it was in Charlie X:
    Notice how much space there is here and the angles of the platform.
    https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd519.jpg
    https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd520.jpg
    https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd521.jpg
    And compare that to the reverse shot:
    https://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x02hd/charliexhd524.jpg
     
  4. GNDN18

    GNDN18 270 Rear Admiral

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    I see. The post-Pike foot rest could easily be removed, but I’m uncertain whether the column supporting the chair is anchored to anything.

    These shots might be helpful. I see that two are birdofthegalaxy restorations, so I’m sharing a low-res version
    [​IMG]
     
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  5. BK613

    BK613 Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    No, just speculating, but I think the whole chair and post-Cage pedestal is a unit, the helm/nav console is a unit and the platform those two set on are two units (with the dividing line being the black line you see at Pike's feet and as a seam in that one Kirk closeup from my post)
     
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  6. GNDN18

    GNDN18 270 Rear Admiral

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    I think you’re right.
    [​IMG]
     
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  7. yotsuya

    yotsuya Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    True, all the sets were designed and built as modular so they could be reconfigured for different shots or even for different purposes. But after a certain point, a lot of that modular ability was ignored. So while some things could be moved, as the series went on, there is less evidence that they were, unless it was something frequently used, like the bridge wedges. For instance, after the set redesign for season 2, the engine room set was never used for anything else.
     
  8. cooleddie74

    cooleddie74 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Except maybe auxiliary control for the U.S.S. Constellation, which appeared to be a redress of the Season 2 Enterprise engine room set.
     
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  9. Phaser Two

    Phaser Two Commodore Premium Member

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    Really! I thought that was just auxiliary control, possibly in its first appearance, and perhaps looking a bit different as they hadn't settled on its "proper" look yet. (Actually auxiliary control always looks a little different to me in each separate ep in which it appears.) What makes you say it was a redress of engineering?
     
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  10. GNDN18

    GNDN18 270 Rear Admiral

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    I can’t speak for Eddie, but the 1st season engine room panel
    [​IMG]
    is also seen in the phaser control room
    [​IMG]
    and the auxiliary control room.
    [​IMG]
    The grill might be the cathedral gate, too.
     
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  11. CorporalCaptain

    CorporalCaptain Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Is that ceiling arch from the briefing room?
     
  12. Phaser Two

    Phaser Two Commodore Premium Member

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    Hmmm. But on the actual blueprints of the Desilu/Paramount stage (Stage 9?), isn't auxiliary control shown as its own separate space?
     
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  13. GNDN18

    GNDN18 270 Rear Admiral

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    I think so. The view screen, repurposed from the pilots, was also part of the season 1 briefing room configuration.
    You might have seen blueprints for “The Doomsday Machine,” or another episode.
    This image, purportedly from “Journey to Babel,”
    [​IMG]
    show the rec room. Other prints have that space down as the briefing room, complete with conference table.

    It seems likely that this set was redressed as auxiliary control with elements borrowed from engineering.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2021
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  14. Phaser Two

    Phaser Two Commodore Premium Member

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    Yes, I think that's got to be right. And come to think of it, when Auxiliary Control appears, the Briefing Room does not, at least not as far as I can remember. I'm assuming they wouldn't have the time (practically speaking) or inclination to redress a set in the middle of the filming of one episode.

    It also seems likely, from corridor and door position, that the briefing room/rec room/Auxiliary Control set was Environmental Engineering in Wink of an Eye. They did a nice job making that look like a completely different room.
     
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  15. cooleddie74

    cooleddie74 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I knew it was a reuse of engineering but just got the season wrong. The background of the Constellation auxiliary control room clearly uses a redressed engine room section from the Enterprise.
     
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  16. jackoverfull

    jackoverfull Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    In that episode Scotty is seen in the engine room in what’s definitely new footage, though.
     
  17. GNDN18

    GNDN18 270 Rear Admiral

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    Well, not all new footage.
    [​IMG] :whistle:
     
  18. Henoch

    Henoch Rear Admiral Premium Member

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    The cardboard set showed the Auxiliary Control Room as a modular set, along with Emergency Manual Monitor.
    [​IMG]
     
  19. ZapBrannigan

    ZapBrannigan Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    That is definitive, because it was the planning tool used by directors to plan their shoots. Auxiliary Control was its own, purpose-built set they added to enhance the second season.

    Also, you see the little boxy piece that's up against the two removed bridge segments? That must be the Emergency Manual Monitor, which was also built for year 2. It was on stilts, and apparently wild like the bridge pieces so they could get it out of the way when not in use.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2021
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  20. ZapBrannigan

    ZapBrannigan Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Well, we've established that Aux Control was not a redress of the Briefing Room. And not to pile on, but I have a hard, documented fact that fits right in here:

    As everyone knows, the ship's chapel was a redress of the Briefing Room. Fun fact: the Stage 9 blueprint for "Balance of Terror" has a hand-written note pointing to the Briefing Room that says "Chapel Shoots Mon 25 July [1966]. Note-- Chapel Shoots First then Revamps to Briefing Room."

    So they were comfortable doing a major set redress during the shooting week.