Why do you think Beltran was/has been so critical?

[Cepstrum]

Hello.

As many of you know, I'm a big VOY fan. Watching reruns got me into all of the TNG-era series, which I now like equally (though VOY remains my first "love").

And, with the exception of Kes — who I didn't dislike — I really enjoyed all the VOY characters. I liked Chakotay very much.

So it was a big shock to me to later discover he was critical of the show while it was running and is still critical of it today. I can understand that the actors would be a little displeased once it essentially became the Doctor/Seven/Janeway show, but it's not as though they cut the others' salary because their roles shrunk (at least, AFAIK).

And for someone like Beltran, who attained the cachet and prestige of being a main cast figure on Trek for seven years, *without* getting typecast because of it (unlike, say Nimoy, or others who became highly associated with their unique Trek characters), I'd think it'd be great for his résumé as well as pocketbook. Later casters will simply know him as someone who was a principal cast regular on the acclaimed Trek franchise but not associate him with a difficult-to-shed image/stereotype. For future casting, they're not going to look at how many Chakotay stories were on VOY. They'd just know he was able to put in a solid seven years on a difficult and respectable show.


So why was/is he so disgruntled? Was it really that important that he didn't get as many shows/lines as he felt he deserved? If anything, I'd think that make his work on VOY easier.


Can anyone help me understand his vocal criticisms, which he even aimed at fans sometimes?

 

[JarodRussell]

Just like most Voyager characters, Chakotay was hollow and empty. That's not something actors are really happy with.

 

[C.E. Evans]

IMO, it's just that Beltran wasn't very happy during his time on VOY. There were things he didn't like once the show was underway, and it got only worse for him as the series went on. And rather than be quiet about it, he spoke his mind. Some may consider that a lack of professionalism, but you do have people who aren't happy on a job--and are very vocal about it--but continue to work there anyway in order to pay the bills or because the job pays good.

 

[Cepstrum]

^^^^

I guess then that Beltran maintained a sense of "integrity" by being honest with his displeasure instead of just kicking back, getting the checks, and gaining greater visibility.

He must take acting very seriously if he's not content to get all the money and glory Trek bestowed and instead fought — vocally — for a better role.


I just can't see myself doing that. Those guys worked *really* long hours, sometimes from 4am until after midnight. With a diminished role, he wouldn't have to put as much grueling time in yet still get paid and enjoy the prestige.

So is the explanation simply that he considers acting more important than things such as money and prestige? If so, I suppose I'd have to respect him for that. I simply can't relate.


What's worse (or just as bad), is that I never detected his underutilization or evidently increasingly flat performances as the series went on. He completely fooled me. I wish I were better at recognizing things like that.



But one more thing: why go after fans and disparage Trekkies? Wasn't his issue with the producers? What'd fans do to him to earn his disrespect? I find it all sad, for I really did like his character.

 

[indolover]

Beltran was in his right to be so.

His character was woefully underdeveloped and wasted, most of the characters were relegated in the later seasons since Seven came on board, and we never even knew who his mother was or which tribe he came from.

 

[Neutral Zone]

Problem with his character was it never grew or progressed. He got to be made Janeway's first officer at the start of the Voyager series and that's where he stayed. It was more the fault of the writers than anything, but for someone who was disgruntled he knew which side his bread was buttered. He stayed with the show no matter what, so what's his problem?

 

[USS Kongo]

I agree that Beltran had a right to be annoyed at the way his character was treated. The writers really short-changed him (and many others) on that series.

He's not the only one. I've read an interview with Garret Wang where he said he was also unhappy with the way things went on the show--but at least Wang waited until Voyager was off the air before he revealed his true feelings in public.

Perhaps Beltran felt that, if he complained loudly enough, the writer/produces would fix the problem. And if this was the case, it turned out to be a mistake, because nothing came of it--at least for him.

Consider Robert Picardo, who said in an interview that he often approached the Voyager producers with story ideas for his character, and they used them. Maybe if Beltran used this same tactic, things might have gone better for him. Who knows?

Sean

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Of course Beltran had the right to speak his mind. Still, I would hope that he enjoyed at least *some* of the work he did on the show. He doesn't regret the whole thing, does he?

And even though he should, and did, speak out, there is such a thing as crossing the line from being a concerned actor to being a tactless dick who doesn't care about the fans. Time will tell if he's done that.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Chakotay is the dullest, most useless, most mind numbingly boring character in the entire history of Star Trek. Of course the actor wants to make it everyone else's fault he sucked so hard.

I wish they got the f--k rid of him a few episodes in. Utter waste of space. Anyone else would have done a better job.

The character should have been like Bearclaw from the old TOS DC comics. He was a young, bigoted, psychotic, abusive Native American on Kirk's crew and was an utter riot. He would have been perfect as leader of the Maquis. Janeway having a totally unhinged second-in-command could have been great.

But to be honest, Chakotay could have been cut midway through the series, not replaced and I bet most people wouldn't have noticed.

Rant over. I had that in me since Voyager's first run. Sorry, Chakotay lovers!

 

[stj]

His part wasn't big enough.

Also, he doesn't get science fiction (not that he's required to,) so as far as he's concerned none of it was any good. And, unlike some less experienced actors, he knows how to mask his disdain either as a joke or as a negotiating ploy.

 

[crusher]

Heard Beltran asked to be released but was refused and then downsized in part. Whether I'm getting the same pay or not if the job isn't fulfilling then I would want out.

 

[CoveTom]

Yes, believe it or not, for many actors it is not solely about the salary or the fame. There are a great number of actors who actually want to do quality work, and take pride in the work that they do. To have a precedent of the kind of good writing that had been seen on TNG and DS9, and sign a seven year contract to do a major role in a new Trek show, and then to find out that your character was extremely poorly written, would be frustrating to many an actor.

 

[Jax]

I would of loved to see his reaction when he learn't he would get it on with Seven. I would of asked B&B if they had smoked crack just before writing it.

 

[USS Kongo]

I would of loved to see his reaction when he learn't he would get it on with Seven. I would of asked B&B if they had smoked crack just before writing it.

That's a perfect example of the shoddy writing the Voyager actors had to put up with.

Sean

 

[Anthony Sabre]

I'm only into season 3 of my rewatch of VOY, but I can already understand why he wouldn't have been happy with the Chakotay character. Seems like the only episodes he gets of his own have to do with spirit walk or a Maquis issue. Also little things like the fact that his command code authorization was not required for initiating self destruct. I know his codes wouldn't have been online when VOY launched for obvious reasons, but you never get around to adding them later on? Even Kira had to concur with Sisko's decision to blow the Defiant.

Missed opportunities small and large.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Does Beltran do conventions? One wouldn't think he would, if he hated his time on the show that much.

 

[DonIago]

Well, not being satisfied with the show doesn't have to mean not being satisfied with the fans, particularly if he feels they generally understand where he's coming from.

I can understand where he's coming from. If Will Riker had been as downsized as he was TNG fans would still be going on about it.

 

[Destructor]

Yeah it's understandable that he was pissed, but it is pretty unprofessional to mouth off about a show while it is still on the air and you're still working on it. Was he trying to get fired?

 

[DonIago]

It's quite possible that if he was willing to mouth off as he was he didn't care whether or not he got fired.

It's possible he tried handling it discreetly for quite a long time before he went public.

 

[Dusty Ayres]

Chakotay is the dullest, most useless, most mind numbingly boring character in the entire history of Star Trek. Of course the actor wants to make it everyone else's fault he sucked so hard.

I wish they got the f--k rid of him a few episodes in. Utter waste of space. Anyone else would have done a better job.

The character should have been like Bearclaw from the old TOS DC comics. He was a young, bigoted, psychotic, abusive Native American on Kirk's crew and was an utter riot. He would have been perfect as leader of the Maquis. Janeway having a totally unhinged second-in-command could have been great.

But to be honest, Chakotay could have been cut midway through the series, not replaced and I bet most people wouldn't have noticed.

Rant over. I had that in me since Voyager's first run. Sorry, Chakotay lovers!

Sorry, but no, Bearclaw was an asshole, and should never have been in Starfleet, period. There's NOTHING great about him-he's basically like Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace or one of those goldbricks in the military who disgrace it by being there and are close to being thrown in the stockade or being dismissed from the service. Having Bearclaw on Voyager would have made it fun for people like yourself who love that kind of thing in a person, but hell for the rest of us (and for those Trekkers who are in the military) who want and expect Starfleet characters to behave to the highest standards that define 'The best of the best'. Also, where Bearclaw was in the Alpha Quadrant was good for him because it least he could be transfered off of the Enterprise (which is what happened in one issue.) On Voyager in the Delta Quadrant, he would have been a disaster, with no other place to transfer him to, and would likely have to be killed off or dumped in the nearest wormhole home (while Voyager would still have been stuck in the Delta Quadrant!) leaving Janeway to select Tuvok as XO-which might work.

If Beltran had been like Picardo or McNeil, he might have gotten what he wanted. Unfortunately, he seems to have been like Wang, who couldn't do what he was supposed to do in his goal to direct the show, and so he suffered. (I'm not trying to defend the writing on Voyager-I realized that it sucked sometimes, but as the old saying goes 'you can attract more flies with honey than with vinegar'.)

Perhaps Beltran, instead of acting like a suckyface, should have taken comfort in the fact that his character was an inspiration to younger Latinos and Latinas, and ran with it instead of being so negative. He should have also taken pride in the fact that Chakotay helped out Seven in her attempt to be more human by falling in love with her-an out-of-the-blue pairing that's been unjustly blasted by many Trekfans even though it actually did give Beltran/Chakotay something to do on the show and rounded out his character.