Fan Film Ideas Used in Pro Productions

[Admiral Buzzkill]

That's a thrice-told tale, and the actual course of events was different.

James Cawley: I am basically a glorified extra. It started because Marc Zicree, who directed "World Enough and Time," was friends with J.J. Abrams; J.J.'s a big Twilight Zone fan, and Marc Zicree wrote the Bible about The Twilight Zone. They met and Marc said, 'I'm doing this Star Trek thing' and J.J. was very interested because he had just taken the job to do the new feature film. As things progressed, Marc said, 'You really should take a look at James. Maybe there's something in the picture you could put him in. That would be really cool.' I thanked Marc for that, but never expected anything. Then I got a call for an audition. I auditioned in New York. They videotaped it, sent it out.[...]


I flew out to California on other business, for New Voyages, and while I was on the plane I had I call from another gentleman at Paramount who wanted to talk to me in depth about some New Voyages projects. That's what I was doing on the lot. I was with a friend of mine who had been a stuntwoman on Voyager. She said, 'Let's walk by the soundstages.' J.J. came out on lunch break and recognized me. He knew who I was and said 'What are you doing here?'

Link

One can infer from that, if one chooses, that the writers and producers of ST 09 might possibly have been familiar with fan films, but that's not what was said.

I don't think there's anything in the least "curious or bizarre" about the perspective that those of us who make these films have about what the level of awareness of our work is, other than that they aren't the responses you may have expected.

 

[jamesmc]

I can say that they had all seen New Voyages.

 

[Barbreader]

I can say that they had all seen New Voyages.

I heard an interview in which somebody (I think it was James Cawley) said that Chris Pine greeted Cawley as a fellow Captain Kirk. I have to admit in searching for it on google, I was very impressed that just hours after Dennis posted here, his post, supra, came up in my search. Google is amazing.

I'm just glad that we are doing this in it's own thread now, because this discussion was invading a lot of inappropriate threads...

It just occurred to me... is JamesMC James Cawley? If so, thank you for joining this discussion!! Wow, talk about getting some big guns! Not that I don't consider Dennis a big gun, too, but ... in the fan film world, no one is bigger than James Cawley. Frankly, it's an honor to post with both of you.

I have no idea if I heard that interview on the web or on TV.

 

[Tom]

I can say that they had all seen New Voyages.

Thank James, I knew that was the case. Not sure about other fan films but New Voyages is very well known in those circles.

..And yes Barbreader, that is indeed James Cawley who stops in from time to time to clear up questions regarding NV/PII and give valuable insight. Also, not sure if you knew, but Dennis has as also writen Star Trek episodes (like TNG's Tin man). You will find there are many people who have been involved in Star Trek production that post here (either publicly or under a cover name).

 

[jamesmc]

Barbreader,
Thank You for the kind words. Chris Pine did in fact call me one of the three Kirk's, and I have it in writing from him !
Chris is a terrific guy, and it was a pleasure spending time with him.
James Cawley

 

[Barbreader]

Wow. Tin man is one of my absolute favorite Trek episodes of all time. TNG is my favorite series, and that is one of the best TNG episodes. I have to tell my friends that I've been posting with the writer!! I had no idea I was posting with such genius. It's funny, because some of my Trek liking friends keep asking if I've run into ... [some actor's name.]. The truth is, I'm way more excited about meeting the writers and behind the scenes people.

Nevertheless, I had read a lot about James Cawley and J.J. Abrams, and I also have a lot of respect for him, and I do discuss him a lot on my website. I was pretty sure the troop of people out at Paramount had seen New Voyages. I just started watching it for a second time because I hadn't started my website the first time I watched, which means the NV episodes don't have proper treatment there.

I have't been surrounded by sheer genius like this since I graduated from Yale and couldn't see Meryl Streep live for $3 a pop! (I was at the first performance of Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, several years later when I moved back to New Haven for other reasons, too!!).

 

[DestinyCaptain]

I can say that they had all seen New Voyages.

Thanks for weighing in. Hope I haven't told your personal stories incorrectly.

So, were back to where we started on page one...

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Wow. Tin man is one of my absolute favorite Trek episodes of all time. TNG is my favorite series, and that is one of the best TNG episodes. I have to tell my friends that I've been posting with the writer!! I had no idea I was posting with such genius.

Neither did I. More like a lucky fan, in the right place at the right time. But thank you.

 

[Barbreader]

Wow. Tin man is one of my absolute favorite Trek episodes of all time. TNG is my favorite series, and that is one of the best TNG episodes. I have to tell my friends that I've been posting with the writer!! I had no idea I was posting with such genius.

Neither did I. More like a lucky fan, in the right place at the right time. But thanks.

Tin Man is an absolutely amazing episode. It is one of the most unique stories in the history of Trek. I don't know most Trek episodes by name. In fact, if it wasn't for Wikipedia, you, and everyone else here, would be fully aware of the fact that I know my Superman stuff a lot better than I know my Trek stuff. But I will go to a friend's house who has an HD TV monitor and watch it again sometime this month after realizing I have cyber'met' the writer.

And let me tell you, he will be IMPRESSED.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Well, again I thank you. It was a lot of fun to work on.

 

[Barbreader]

Well, again I thank you. It was a lot of fun to work on.

You are very welcome. And I hope there will be a new Pro Trek TV show within the next decade, and you get a few more scripts accepted.

 

[Shazam!]

if you read enough fan boards you discover that of those who have seen a couple not all are particularly impressed.

Hello.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Goodbye.

 

[Captain Robert April]

You say goodbye, and I say hello....

 

[Kirk Only]

James, you and your crew do fantastic work. Maybe one of these days the Shat himself will make an appearance in your work.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Hey, even having him and Nimoy just show up for a photo op would be a red letter day.

 

[Barbreader]

Hey, even having him and Nimoy just show up for a photo op would be a red letter day.

Perhaps everyone could compromise and meet at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater at 95th and Broadway for an evening of discussion and fan films.

 

[USS Intrepid]

I frankly find the arguments here that the writers at Paramount were ignorant of the fan films curious and bizarre.

I have no doubt they may well be aware of fanfilms, and have probably seen some of them (New Voyages certainly). But being aware of something that is, at best, a curiosity for most people, is a long way from borrowing ideas.

That said, I wouldn't be too surprised if New Voyages/Phase 2 went some way towards influencing the powers that be to make an Original Series reboot. But I'd be surprised if it went any deeper than that.

 

[Maurice]

I bet Casino Royale had more of an influence on the idea of a reboot than any fanfilm.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Honestly, a reboot, restart, reimagining, rewhateverthehellyouwannacallit was a no brainer which didn't need to be influenced by anything other than the realization that if you want to re(insert your preferred word choice) Star Trek, go back to the original.