TMP's uniforms

[QuasarVM]

It's useless and unused because it contributed NOTHING to the plot/script. What was the point? We didn't even see it used. It was just a belt buckle as far as the audience was concerned.

And I thought the belt monitors looked cool. They didn't "take away" from the uniforms.

Well, to me they did. And you can't compare those to a bridge monitor. Bridge monitors weren't in your face all the time like the characters are.

Oh well...let's agree to disagree. I just think if it's on the screen...or rather an actor...it should have a purpose that serves the script.

But, I'm crazy that way. I'm crazy in a lot of other ways too...but I am crazy like that about pointless and unused technology attached to characters.

Just looking "kewl" isn't enough for me.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

I just think if it's on the screen...or rather an actor...it should have a purpose that serves the script.

about pointless and unused technology attached to characters.

I realize this thread is under ST:TMP but is your argument only for a feature film or if they are wearing it on a TV series for say 4 episodes and then in episode 5 if it is used according to a plot point in the script wouldn't it be proper as part of their uniform tools?

A TriCorder is usually used on a planet but on say Voyager a medical Tricorder is not used by the doctor until it is needed.

 

[QuasarVM]

I just think if it's on the screen...or rather an actor...it should have a purpose that serves the script.

about pointless and unused technology attached to characters.

I realize this thread is under ST:TMP but is your argument only for a feature film or if they are wearing it on a TV series for say 4 episodes and then in episode 5 if it is used according to a plot point in the script wouldn't it be proper as part of their uniform tools?

A TriCorder is usually used on a planet but on say Voyager a medical Tricorder is not used by the doctor until it is needed.

Nah, I was just talking about in the context of TMP. Now if it was used in a series...we'd probably see the thing used at some point. That, I could get behind...

Or they should have kept those uniforms for the other films. You know, they could have had McCoy check the reading on the thing after the Ceti Eel leaves Chekov in TWOK...something like that would have been cool.

 

[Christopher]

Oh well...let's agree to disagree. I just think if it's on the screen...or rather an actor...it should have a purpose that serves the script.

The script is only one element in creating a film. The purpose of much of what's on the screen in any film is to go beyond the script, to create a world. To sell the illusion that the story doesn't simply exist in a vacuum, but is taking place within a larger reality.

Sometimes in a Law & Order episode, you'll see the cops wearing black mourning bands across their badges, even though there's nothing in the script about a cop being killed. Is that wrong for them to do? Hell, no. Because it makes sense. New York is a big city, with far more going on in it than any one show can depict. Knowing that a police officer was killed recently may have no bearing on the script, but it contributes to the illusion that the show takes place in a larger, credible world, that there are things going on in that world beyond what you see on camera.

Limiting yourself to the script alone is the worst thing you can possibly do as a filmmaker. The script is just the beginning of the process.

 

[WendellM]

The actual real life military does not have, nor has it ever had, a rainbow collection of colored uniforms...

Generally true, though to be complete, USN carrier deck crews are an exception (but perhaps jerseys aren't really "uniforms"):

More here.

 

[Christopher]

Bright color coding probably makes good sense in an environment like the deck of an aircraft carrier, where it can be helpful to know who's who at a distance. It doesn't seem quite as practical in the corridors of a starship.

 

[Stardate]

I like the TMP uniform specially Kirk admiral uniform and McCoy white uniform.

 

[QuasarVM]

I'm all for getting rid of the women's uniforms.

All they should wear is that black box thingy and a Starfleet delta.

Who's with me?!

 

[S'kai]

TMP uniforms are the most realistic. Visually a bit boring. Wrath of Khan uniforms were so thick and heavy. They must have been torture for the actors to wear.

They still are. The people who make uniforms for costuming warn about this. They are made of wool, lined, double breasted, and over another layer. Most unpleasant in hot weather.

Probably no fun under camera lights either. Probably had extra people on the set just to mot the sweat off the actors before each take.

 

[WendellM]

Wrath of Khan uniforms were so thick and heavy.

They are made of wool, lined, double breasted, and over another layer. Most unpleasant in hot weather.

Good thing that "it is very cold... in spaaace."

 

[Data Holmes]

TMP uniforms are the most realistic. Visually a bit boring. Wrath of Khan uniforms were so thick and heavy. They must have been torture for the actors to wear.

They still are. The people who make uniforms for costuming warn about this. They are made of wool, lined, double breasted, and over another layer. Most unpleasant in hot weather.

Probably no fun under camera lights either. Probably had extra people on the set just to mot the sweat off the actors before each take.

I read somewhere that meyer was constantly telling the set grips or whoever to turn the AC down when filming the enterprise bridge scenes post kahn attack until someone pointed out that one of the extras was close to passing out between the heat and smoke.

 

[Delta1]

Bright color coding probably makes good sense in an environment like the deck of an aircraft carrier, where it can be helpful to know who's who at a distance. It doesn't seem quite as practical in the corridors of a starship.

Good thing Starfleet crews don't spend their entire careers in the corridors of starships. That would be boring.

 

[flandry84]

Just while we are trashing the TWOK uniforms,can we make an exception for those great field-jackets(another idea totally ignored by small screen Trek).

 

[Squiggy]

I like the Admiral Uniform that Kirk wears when he's introduced. That was classy. However, the color choice for the uniforms leave much to be desired. I mean, brown, white and beige? I'm not color blind!

It was 1979. What do you expect?

 

[Christopher]

Just while we are trashing the TWOK uniforms,can we make an exception for those great field-jackets(another idea totally ignored by small screen Trek).

Actually they did have field jackets in "The Cage," very similar to the field jackets in TMP. The outer garments in TWOK were more like cold-weather parkas, even heavier than the dress uniforms. I can't imagine how hot the actors must've been shooting those scenes. And I don't get why those parkas were worn on every away mission rather than just ones to ice planets or whatever.

 

[C.E. Evans]

I always felt the TMP uniforms were the most "realistic" for a 23rd-Century space navy. They were also the uniforms that featured the most variants (Kirk's uniform was supposedly formal officer's attire and wasn't reserved just for admirals), and it also featured two types of rank insignia (sleeve stripes and shoulder tabs) for the different uniforms.

IIRC, bluish-gray was for command-level officers...tan was for bridge officers...and brown and white represented two different specialist divisions (I think). There might have been a fifth color representing Starfleet HQ personnel...

 

[WendellM]

I don't get why those parkas were worn on every away mission rather than just ones to ice planets or whatever.

What part of Khan's "It is very cold in space" don't you get? He meant it! Just kidding. (And good "Cage" mention.)

You do touch on a good point... the uniforms in TMP seem to be more "tropical," with very thin (even "package-revealing") fabrics, while the TWOK ones all seem very cold-weather-oriented. Was this a deliberate reflection of the different themes of the two movies ("exploration of the unknown/the meaning of life/creation of new lifeform" vs. "revenge/wrath/death") or just a sign of the times (late 70s vs. early 80s)? (I'd originally thought another possibility was "one costume designer vs. another," but it was Bob Fletcher in both cases.)

 

[QuasarVM]

I always felt the TMP uniforms were the most "realistic" for a 23rd-Century space navy. They were also the uniforms that featured the most variants (Kirk's uniform was supposedly formal officer's attire and wasn't reserved just for admirals), and it also featured two types of rank insignia (sleeve stripes and shoulder tabs) for the different uniforms.

IIRC, bluish-gray was for command-level officers...tan was for bridge officers...and brown and white represented two different specialist divisions (I think). There might have been a fifth color representing Starfleet HQ personnel...

C.E. that avatar cracks me up!! Is that you cat?

Anyway...no takers on the naked Starfleet gals wearing nothin but the little black box and Starfleet shield?

Who could turn their noses up at that?

 

[cardinal biggles]

(I'd originally thought another possibility was "one costume designer vs. another," but it was Bob Fletcher in both cases.)

More likely "one director and producer vs. another." Roddenberry obviously had his ideas about what the future should look like, and Robert Wise seemed to be touching on a similar aesthetic to his earlier film The Andromeda Strain. With TWOK, I don't know that Harve Bennett had an opinion one way or the other about the uniforms, but Nick Meyer was obviously in love with that whole Prisoner of Zenda look.

 

[ncc-1017-e]

Well as for one I can tell you all that the TMP uniforms are a very well tailored costume! I own a actual screen used costume and for some reason folks do not like them. I have seen many costumes from trek over the years and most are cheaply made. The fabrics and tailoring in TMP uniforms are first class! As for them looking like PJs, well nothing looks more like a PJ than the first and second seasons of TNG! I love TMP and I like the uniforms in the film but I have to say it took a while back in 79 for them to grow on me!