• Welcome! The TrekBBS is the number one place to chat about Star Trek with like-minded fans.
    If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Kitumba Script

The premise of “A Portrait in Black and White” might at best be an interesting topic for a philosophical debate, as an actual episode it would have been in rather poor taste.

You don't take the plight of an entire part of the population that has been marginalised, oppressed, enslaved, discriminated against and killed throughout history here in the real world and make a mockery of it as an over-simplified thought experiment for your action adventure sci-fi show. I'm glad Trek dodged that particular bullet.
Probably for its time but I still think its an interesting angle which should be explored in Star Trek. During that time the network didn't have that much interest in having Black people appearing to have some authority or power (Good or Bad), but again rewrites is the norm in the industry and again in order to have a better judgement of it I would have to read it myself. Still think it's an interesting concept.

That’s nice to hear. I wondered momentarily before watching it if doing so would ruin the experience of reading the script but then thought, nah, the ‘book’s’ always better. It’s easier to like both when you watch the movie first. Can’t wait to read the script.

Me as well, what I saw from James Cawley was not interesting at all, but reading the written words of the original intent would something I can imagine in the tales proper place in Star Trek. Another thing, I'm wondering if the Klingon Wolfman appearance was described in the script or were they the Klingons from TOS?
 
Last edited:
I meant ask him where/if you can get a copy of the script, as he undoubtedly has one.
I doubt Cawley would share the script with anyone, if that's what you're thinking. He has to respect CBS/Paramount's rights to the script. That's why New Voyages stopped making fan films based upon unused Trek scripts, and he's not going to jeopardize his relationship with the studio just to share a script with a stranger on the internet.
 
I doubt Cawley would share the script with anyone, if that's what you're thinking. He has to respect CBS/Paramount's rights to the script. That's why New Voyages stopped making fan films based upon unused Trek scripts, and he's not going to jeopardize his relationship with the studio just to share a script with a stranger on the internet.

True, but he might know where to get one.
 
I'm just speculating here since I don't have a copy of the script. But I think it's unlikely that the script called for the ridgy Klingon look, since Fred Phillips and Robert Fletcher reportedly came up with the new look after Phase II was scrapped in favor of a feature film, and the bigger budget allowed for more variety in alien designs.

Kor
 
^ The $125 cost might be a bit much for those who aren't avid collectors of scripts.

Kor
I’ve usually been seeing them go for $10-15 for reproductions. Paying more than that is silly unless you’re a hardcore collector of original studio copies.
 
In the script the Klingons are all just Klingons. There are no varieties other than which caste they are in. Just remind yourself that nothing after the original and the animated show existed at this point.
 
Last edited:
^ The $125 cost might be a bit much for those who aren't avid collectors of scripts.

Kor
Just finished searching and there are tons of available scripts out there and I agree $125 bucks is a lot much. From the synopsis of Kitumba; this was the adventures of Captain Kirk, McCoy with William Decker and Xon. So, whoever has read the script, the role Decker had was the 1st officer and Xon was more like the Data character of the series. Did Xon feel like his own character or was a Spock wannabe?
 
Xon was his own character in the sense he never slipped and showed any emotion, but IIRC none of the scripts other than "In Thy Image" gave him much to do to distinguish himself as a memorable character. In fact, Decker was just Young Kirk as written. I don't recall Ilia making much of an impression. But then, I found most of the scripts rather mediocre.
 
Last edited:
Did Kitumba warrant a 2 parter? Too many times in Star Trek I felt an episode only needed 55 mins to tell its tale but padded or stretch the story to make it another part. You've mentioned most of the script were mediocre would that Klingon story count as well?
 
Did Kitumba warrant a 2 parter? Too many times in Star Trek I felt an episode only needed 55 mins to tell its tale but padded or stretch the story to make it another part. You've mentioned most of the script were mediocre would that Klingon story count as well?
It was the only one I really found at all interesting because it rounded out the Klingon culture a bit. It was a first pass, so it obviously needed work, but it had enough stuff happening to be potentially worth a two-parter.
 
Last edited:
Why do people say Fanwank like it's a bad thing? Fanwank is good when you're a fan surely?
 
"The Tressaurian Intersection" was a film where I thought to myself, with a good budget and decent script, a fan could really do something with this. Taking the lore seriously and make compelling stories within TOS universe. Cawley's series of attempts along with Star Trek Continues was such a waste of time, effort and money.
 
If you are not already a member then please register an account and join in the discussion!

Sign up / Register


Back
Top