Tim Russ says people actively pitching a new Series

[AviTrek]

http://trekmovie.com/2010/11/30/tim...ek-movie-talks-possible-star-trek-tv-pitches/

Star Trek’s been around 40 years, spun off 6 series and 11 movies. Is it time to give the Trek franchise a rest?

“In a sense it is in hiatus right now, because there’s nothing on. "(Star Trek) Enterprise" was the last series, and that’s been off several years. They’re discussing other Star Trek projects, other series. I think there’s still a loyal audience out there that would love to have something to watch that’s Star Trek-related.”
If you were approached for another Star Trek role, would you do it?

“It depends on what kind of role it is. It’s certainly possible that if it was offered I certainly would consider it, given it’s work. … I don’t have any large projects right now. They’re pitching a new Trek series, so I could possibly wind up as a cast member on that. … Currently, I’m doing voiceovers for the Cartoon Network series, “Sym-Bionic Titan” (Russ portrays Solomon on the show, which debuted in September). Russ added that a former series cast member is actively pursuing a Trek project, but wouldn’t publicly disclose who it is."

Until this news comes from someone at CBS its still not much more than speculation. But it's good to know that at least CBS is listening and a new series is on the radar of industry insiders.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Actually, it's not anything more than speculation.

 

[AviTrek]

They’re pitching a new Trek series

a former series cast member is actively pursuing a Trek project

That may not indicate interest on the part of CBS, but that's more than speculation.

Now my speculation is that the cast member is Frakes, and he's working with his friend Dean Devlin on a cable pitch to air on TNT. Or Roxanne Dawson who was a producer on Cold Case and has the CBS contacts.

 

[CaptainStoner]

Squee!!!

 

[Dac]

Things like this always make me happy.

Then nothing ever happens, and im sad. As long as we don't get another clusterfrak like Of Gods and Men was, im all for it.

 

[Dukhat]

They’re pitching a new Trek series, so I could possibly wind up as a cast member on that.

Who is pitching a new Star Trek series? Certainly not CBS, and if it ain't CBS, then it ain't legitimate. And if it is CBS, how the hell would Tim Russ know about it, unless he was asked to star in it, which he seems to say he has not? Perhaps he's talking about something like Phase II?

 

[Shatnertage]

Wouldn't people pitch it to CBS? How does the process work?

 

[BillJ]

People can pitch series all day, but if CBS isn't interested in producing it...

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

They’re pitching a new Trek series

a former series cast member is actively pursuing a Trek project

That may not indicate interest on the part of CBS, but that's more than speculation.

Really? What makes it that? Because Tim Russ said it?

Russ says all sorts of silly things when asked. In 2007 he said, of the fan film "Of Gods And Men":

This is not a fan film. This is an independent Trek feature, and we have every intention of selling it to the public as either a download or on DVD.

Mind you, this was a project he was directing and he didn't know what was going on with the business side of it. Why assume for a moment that he knows what producers are pitching to Paramount studios?

People seem to think that anyone ever associated with Star Trek actually has their ear to the ground or an inside track or "sources" or some such thing. Former Trek actors have said all manner of things about the future of the Franchise or about what's going on at the studio that turn out to have no basis in fact at all.

This will be interesting if and when someone who's actually at least marginally involved with Star Trek or Paramount studios at the current moment suggests that it's so.

 

[AviTrek]

They’re pitching a new Trek series

That may not indicate interest on the part of CBS, but that's more than speculation.

Really? What makes it that? Because Tim Russ said it?

Russ says all sorts of silly things when asked. In 2007 he said, of the fan film "Of Gods And Men":

This is not a fan film. This is an independent Trek feature, and we have every intention of selling it to the public as either a download or on DVD.

Mind you, this was a project he was directing and he didn't know what was going on with the business side of it. Why assume for a moment that he knows what producers are pitching to Paramount studios?

People seem to think that anyone ever associated with Star Trek actually has their ear to the ground or an inside track or "sources" or some such thing. Former Trek actors have said all manner of things about the future of the Franchise or about what's going on at the studio that turn out to have no basis in fact at all.

This will be interesting if and when someone who's actually at least marginally involved with Star Trek or Paramount studios at the current moment suggests that it's so.

He later confirmed that Sky Conway was one of the people who has pitched a series. Again, he has never said that CBS is interested. But if he says he knows people who have pitched a series then I trust him that a pitch actually occurred.

Oh, and you can listen for Paramount to say something about Trek TV all you want, personally I am much more interested in what the current owner, CBS, has to say about it.

 

[Tom]

There are a bunch of people trying to pitch a new Trek series to CBS. CBS simply won't do anything for a series right now, it's as simple as that. CBS will watch the numbers when Trek XII comes out and if it proves to be successful again there may be a chance of a series at some point. As long as Les Moonves is in charge the chances are slim.

 

[USS Intrepid]

He later confirmed that Sky Conway was one of the people who has pitched a series. Again, he has never said that CBS is interested. But if he says he knows people who have pitched a series then I trust him that a pitch actually occurred.

Personally, Conway would be way down the list of people I'd want working on a new Trek series.

No scratch that, he wouldn't even be on the list.

 

[jcourtenay]

would be good but i doubt thats happening somehow after Enterprise got cancelled.

 

[Captaindemotion]

My take on it is that right now there is a successful Star Trek series - of movies. While I love the prime-universe, I fully understand the business point of view which says that too much Trek onscreen cheapens the brand and risks the success of those movies. The previous movies began to get less successful financially around the time TNG aired on tv.

Admittedly, this coincided with TFF, the weakest in the series but there is also a tendency for audiences to say 'Why pay into cinemas to see what I can see for free on tv?' So I reckon there'll be no tv Trek until JJ & co are finished with the nuTrek movies.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

He later confirmed that Sky Conway was one of the people who has pitched a series. Again, he has never said that CBS is interested. But if he says he knows people who have pitched a series then I trust him that a pitch actually occurred.

Do you?

That's nice.

And I suppose Russ would trust Conway that "a pitch actually occurred" as well.

Personally, Conway would be way down the list of people I'd want working on a new Trek series.

No scratch that, he wouldn't even be on the list.

Lots of people are pitching lots of other people all the time. The questions are, of course to whom and under what circumstances? If I stretched a bit I could claim to have "pitched a Trek series" at Paramount in 1991...but it would be a silly and self-aggrandizing claim to make. Who here has seen "The Player?"

 

[C.E. Evans]

I'm sure there are a lot of people pitching ideas for a new Trek series, but CBS just doesn't need a new Star Trek series right now. They actually just put reruns of TNG back in syndication and the Trek brand is doing well enough for them as it is without having to invest in a new TV series.

CBS may only consider another Trek series if they feel the brand is once again in need of revitalization at some point down the road, IMO...

 

[USS Intrepid]

Lots of people are pitching lots of other people all the time. The questions are, of course to whom and under what circumstances? If I stretched a bit I could claim to have "pitched a Trek series" at Paramount in 1991...but it would be a silly and self-aggrandizing claim to make. Who here has seen "The Player?"

Fair point.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I'd watch Tim Russ on a new series. Not as Tuvok, though. He sounds too much of a live wire to be stuck in a Vulcan role. He should be a sketchy space pirate or some such.

 

[USS Intrepid]

I'd watch Tim Russ on a new series. Not as Tuvok, though. He sounds too much of a live wire to be stuck in a Vulcan role. He should be a sketchy space pirate or some such.

I like Russ, and I liked him as Tuvok. I'd be quite happy seeing him on a new Trek show in some capacity.

 

[Tomalak]

My take on it is that right now there is a successful Star Trek series - of movies. While I love the prime-universe, I fully understand the business point of view which says that too much Trek onscreen cheapens the brand and risks the success of those movies. The previous movies began to get less successful financially around the time TNG aired on tv.

Admittedly, this coincided with TFF, the weakest in the series but there is also a tendency for audiences to say 'Why pay into cinemas to see what I can see for free on tv?' So I reckon there'll be no tv Trek until JJ & co are finished with the nuTrek movies.

Yeah, I think you speak a lot of sense. Then again, the Trek movies were previously pretty cheap to do. They used a lot of existing sets, props, costumes, established visual effects, and relied upon the producers, writers and directors from the TV series too.

At the moment we're in the 1969-86 hiatus period. Time for the movies to prove Star Trek has an audience beyond the fans for whom Russ would make his (doubtless awful) movie. Then it might be time to hit the small screen again.