Mike, I've added your review to my listings of A Stone Unturned both in the Headline and on the Intrepid page.
Intrepid Updates
- Thread starter USS Intrepid
- Start date
Just a small point, but it's The Stone Unturned, not A Stone Unturned. 
Loken
Lieutenant Commander
Wow. Very well done Nick! Having just had lunch with Giles I promised him I would watch it this weekend. There were a lot of things I liked. I thought you were really good. I liked the quality of the green screen work. So much fun to see Giles play Picard.
Bravo!
Alec
Bravo!
Alec
Alec, thanks, glad you found things you like. I think we learned a lot from this one that will lead to a vastly better production when we tackle our next one.
I will say that there is one particular edit that I saw several times that I suspect will not be a part of future episodes. 
Yeah, there's a number of things that I'd do differently in hindsight. First and foremost, is bring in more people behind the camera so we have enough manpower to do things properly, because we really do do this stuff on a wing and a prayer. Or in my case, just a wing.
We need to wrap up the story we're shooting at the moment, after that I think we'll be taking a step back to look at what we do and how we do it before we crack on with my next script. I've also got a non Trek project I really need to put some work into getting off the ground, so that will hopefully benefit from some of the lessons learned (and to come).
We need to wrap up the story we're shooting at the moment, after that I think we'll be taking a step back to look at what we do and how we do it before we crack on with my next script. I've also got a non Trek project I really need to put some work into getting off the ground, so that will hopefully benefit from some of the lessons learned (and to come).
cool! I didn't realize you guys had another episdoe done. Off to watch it now! Thanks.
Another Good episode! A few minor complaints that I'm sure you've already heard but I'll mention anyway just in case no one else has:
1. I though Captain Picard was a little unprofessional. i like that the events from the pilot were revisited but it seemed a little exaggerated the conflict between Hunter and Picard.
2. the Romulan villain's motivations could have been clearer. And why did he have a nervous breakdown at the end?
3. Your commodore (or was he an admiral) was on board 1 scene and then talking to Hunter via screen later. Did he leave on the shuttle with the XO? That wasn't clear.
4. the way the XO was written out the episode seemed a little inelegant and forced.
1 thing you might have done to give further reason for Picard's presence might have been for him to be mediating some sort of talks bewtween the Romulans and other galactic powers. In dispute at the talks are archaeological rights which the federation are curious as to why the Romulans care a fig about. The Enterprise is hosting the talks so that would be why the Intrepid has to do the investigating.
1. I though Captain Picard was a little unprofessional. i like that the events from the pilot were revisited but it seemed a little exaggerated the conflict between Hunter and Picard.
2. the Romulan villain's motivations could have been clearer. And why did he have a nervous breakdown at the end?
3. Your commodore (or was he an admiral) was on board 1 scene and then talking to Hunter via screen later. Did he leave on the shuttle with the XO? That wasn't clear.
4. the way the XO was written out the episode seemed a little inelegant and forced.
1 thing you might have done to give further reason for Picard's presence might have been for him to be mediating some sort of talks bewtween the Romulans and other galactic powers. In dispute at the talks are archaeological rights which the federation are curious as to why the Romulans care a fig about. The Enterprise is hosting the talks so that would be why the Intrepid has to do the investigating.
Than you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Yeah I tend to agree, we did force that aspect a little to make a point, and as a result Picard may have been a bit out of character. We probably could have handled that better.
Picard pretty much outlines Coleb's motivations for us at the end, by telling us "he could have blackmailed the Senate into doing or giving him anything." Coleb was a complete opportunist, out for self gain. He himself says he is "not an academic" and that he "doesn't even like archaeology."
The reasoning for his breakdown is a bit more vague, but I'd argue the very sudden reversal of fortunes he suffered (from the verge of great power, to a common criminal in a cell) could have resulted in such a breakdown. Ultimately, that either works for you or it doesn't.
The Admiral came aboard from the colony, he returned there when Intrepid shipped out to explore the first Debrune ruin. It was utterly irrelevant to the plot, and I'm not convinced it was something that required any exposition. That said, I think Shelby would have worked better for that comm chat.
No argument. We discussed that a little in the commentary, and the reason for it.
While I can see where you're coming from here, I think that would have been avery different story. This wasn't a story about governments, this was a much smaller story about individuals. The Romulans had no interest at all, since Coleb was a rogue element working alone. Picard, in his own words, was on vacation, and had essentially gone off in pursuit of Coleb after he murdered the rest of the expedition team. Which is not entirely without precedent.
Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts. It's always interesting (and fun) to see the different impressions and thoughts, and I hope you find my response of interest, even if you might not agree.
Thanks for responding to my points.
Your point about working in Picard to the plot is well-made. You were telling your story your way. Just becuase I can see another way doesn't mean my conception was superior. I did not mean to imply that.
Kudos to you and your team for all the Intrepid work, the shorts and the episodes. Your quality work is an inspiration for others.
Your point about working in Picard to the plot is well-made. You were telling your story your way. Just becuase I can see another way doesn't mean my conception was superior. I did not mean to imply that.
Kudos to you and your team for all the Intrepid work, the shorts and the episodes. Your quality work is an inspiration for others.
Oh I wouldn't have thought that, I know it was constructive feedback and I took it as such. I like responding to such comments, so thanks again for posting.
Also, a quick note for those of you in Scotland; you can catch us on STV news tonight, any time in the next 15 minutes or so.
Also, a quick note for those of you in Scotland; you can catch us on STV news tonight, any time in the next 15 minutes or so.
I suspect this will only work for folks in the UK (and those with ways around it) but Scottish TV news did a nice little piece on The Stone Unturned tonight.
http://news.stv.tv/tayside/226597-arbroath-is-final-frontier-for-star-trek-films-made-on-tayside/
http://news.stv.tv/tayside/226597-arbroath-is-final-frontier-for-star-trek-films-made-on-tayside/
Apparently this link does work outside the UK.
Works from Germany, but it's usually good to have http://www.proxfree.com/ in your bookmarks to get around idiotic region restrictions like that.Apparently this link does work outside the UK.
Anyway, congratulations on the good PR.
Good point. And thanks.
Thanks Kelso, I'm happy to hear that.
I watched it yesterday. Nick Cook and cast/crew did a fine job. They improve with each new episode and I always look forward to more.
