A critical look at TMP set design…

[mb22]

The costumes in the 1980 TV movie version of Brave New World strongly resemble those of TMP. Both were produced around the same time and show the same 1970s futurist sensibility.

 

[XCV330]

The sets looked good, and considering just how long parts of that set was recycled into the Berman era, I think they would have worked just fine on a television show for many seasons (apart from the usual wear and tear of filming) The costumes.. no. They didn't work well on the big screen, though clearly some like them, but on the small grainy antenna-provided images of era.. just no.

Theiss had it right, going back to bold colors for TNG. It's what audiences expected from a TV show and it worked.

 

[pfontaine2]

Which isn’t a great idea if you expect people to be living in it for extended periods.

I'm in agreement that the gray/steel aesthetic was off-putting but perhaps the corridor light panels along the floor and ceiling could have provided a sense of warmth. Frankly the orange panels used in corridor scene between Ilia and Decker hint at how effective color could be to designate the function of that part of the ship, especially for areas designated as living quarters.

One of the smart things the set designers of Space:1999 did was make the wall panels change color to reflect time of day/mood/function. When all you can see out your window is the gray landscape of the moon, the lighted panels provided some warmth, even a feeling of coziness in areas.

 

[Mres_was_framed!]

A thought exercise.

This isn’t is take on TMP as a film, which I actually like and am so looking forward to the upgraded version of the Director’s Edition.

This is a different look. TMP basically morphed out of a planned then aborted television pilot for Star Trek: Phase II. It not only morphed out of the planned pilot it was ramped up, particularly in terms of models, set designs and visual fx.

But what if what followed TMP’s release had happened differently. Despite a lukewarm critical reception TMP did pretty well at the box office. Indeed adjusting for inflation it is one of the more successful Trek films financially.

So what if Paramount had gone back to one of its initial proposals for a new Star Trek televisions series and used TMP as the pilot for a series of television films released once a month? Certainly part of the startup costs would be covered in terms of sets and models already built. Of course, there is the possibility those sets might have had to be relocated for television production use.

If this had happened it raises interesting questions. While the new Starfleet uniforms worked well enough for a one-time feature film they might not have been suitable for a series production (that one-piece jumpsuit would have had to go). It’s possible the general designs could have been tweaked and a bit more colour added. Ditto for some of the sets.

The TMP bridge set evokes the colour scheme as seen way back in “The Cage.” Not bad, but it could use a bit more colour although not to the extent as seen with the TOS series bridge. I think Kirk’s command chair would look better elevated like it was in TOS.

Sickbay and Kirk’s quarters worked well enough and Kirk’s cabin could have been redressed for use as quarters for other characters.

The TMP transporter room was a sterile, cold and unwelcoming looking set. I think that one would have needed a serious upgrade to make it series production friendly as well as more interesting looking. Since the Enterprise refit in TMP was rushed into service to intercept Vger it could be rationalized the upgraded sets represented the refit as completed.

The set I have the biggest gripe with is Main Engineering. While it certainly is a visual spectacle I have never really cared for it. And it looks nightmarish in terms of regular series production. It certainly doesn’t look to have the same room to move around in it as you did on the TOS set. In terms of ship design I have never liked the idea of the intermix conduit going up through the photon torpedo launcher. It strikes me as really dumb. I’d be inclined to really revise this set.

Finally there are the corridors. In TOS the corridors were wide to accommodate the bulky cameras of the day. The by product was the Enterprise didn’t feel claustrophobic. Mind you it’s entirely possible some of the TOS Enterprise corridors weren’t all that spacious and some were more like narrow service corridors. In counterpoint the corridors in TMP looked very claustrophobic, or maybe we didn’t really get to see the bigger versions.

Thoughts anyone?

Someone may have said this already, but since TNG used altered versions of those same sets, that it at at least one look that a TV show using those designs as a basis. Since Voyager's sets were built in the same places using the same basic structure in some cases, it could serve as such an example to a lesser extent, as well.

Sickbay barely changed in appearance on the 1701-refit, 1701B, 1701D and 1701E, as well as the Intrepid class. It seems odd that Captain Garret would say she had never seen a sickbay like that one before, when she wakes up on the Enterprise-D. I don't see why 1701C would have had all that different looking a sickbay

 

[STEPhon IT]

The one-piece uniform with the shoes as part of the garment makes sense with the in-universe concept of having clothes materialize directly onto the body, like with the Ilia probe in the sonic shower. Though how do you go to the bathroom in the onesie? Maybe an opening is temporarily de-materialized and then sealed up again.

Kor

And THAT was the magic of Star Trek; what's on screen used to open the gateways of imagination. Things didn't have to always be defined from a 20th century point of view. Like Warp Speed and those Propulsion Nacelle Engine Units, we know what it does but the dynamics were a mystery because we shouldn't have a clue -- IT'S FUTURISTIC.

Someone may have said this already, but since TNG used altered versions of those same sets, that it at at least one look that a TV show using those designs as a basis. Since Voyager's sets were built in the same places using the same basic structure in some cases, it could serve as such an example to a lesser extent, as well.

Sickbay barely changed in appearance on the 1701-refit, 1701B, 1701D and 1701E, as well as the Intrepid class. It seems odd that Captain Garret would say she had never seen a sickbay like that one before, when she wakes up on the Enterprise-D. I don't see why 1701C would have had all that different looking a sickbay

Its simply a dumbass of the day moment, clearly bad writing on that one. It's like a person who's been in a hospital and travels into the future and enters a hospital and is clueless of the foundations of what a hospital looks like??? I agree with you.

The costumes in the 1980 TV movie version of Brave New World strongly resemble those of TMP. Both were produced around the same time and show the same 1970s futurist sensibility.

Please try to remember, when TMP was in pre-production the creators were THINKING FORWARD, leaving what was in the past. There will be elements in the project presented that was supposed to feel unrelated to a 20th Century mindset. That's what science fiction was supposed to be about. Glad TMP had the guts to go there implementing a one piece.

 

[Warped9]

From the perspective of the 18th, 19th and early 20th century some of our contemporary fashions would look truly bizarre. The costumes of TWOK-TUC don’t look futuristic—they look rather retro.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Agreed and not very Star Trek at all, but the longing magic from TWOK has lingered the favoritism of those subjective outfits.

 

[Mres_was_framed!]

Movie costumes are designed for appearance and certainly not long term everyday use. That said the concept of the two-piece TMP uniform isn’t a big deal given it’s basically what looks like a pullover top and trousers. Where it ran into trouble was having the trousers integrated with the shoes. Simply ditch that idea along with the one-piece jumpsuit.

If a TMP based series were being made today we could take advantage of fabrics that simply didn’t exist in the 1970s.

I’m not overly fond of the entire uniform being all the same colour or the cut of the tunic’s hem, but I do get they were trying for something that looked evolved from what is worn today. Fashion changes and what is perfectly acceptable in one era can look bizarre to another. People of the past would find what we wear today rather strange, and thats being kind. Business attire is far more casual looking than people of the past could imagine. Casual attire today leaves a lot of people looking like bums and people of the past could see women of today dressing scandalously half naked in their eyes.

Designing something futuristic is tricky because you’re not trying to appeal to a genuine 23rd century audience, but rather a 20th/21st century audience with their societal perceptions and biases grounded in that era.

It seems like TMP was trying to make something that looked like what a 23rd century person might expect, maybe even at the expense of the expectations 20th century time in which it was made. Supposing that some future material was used that was easier to get on and off, I could see them as more comfortable. I could see the way that some fabrics are worn today, not too different from the way they "looked" onscreen like Troi's or Seven of Nine's outfits, could look uncomfortably tight to someone in a past time who did not know about them...we know in real life that these garment could be uncomfortable on the actress when they show was mad,e but now we have stuff that looks similar but supposedly is more tolerable.

When the VGR bridge was pulled down, to completely clear the soundstages for the first time since "Phase II",

Yet another reason to be disappointed with that series from 2001.

and cybernetics

Is this to support the theory that V'Ger was assimilated by the Borg?

Makes sense.
we also see riker’s and worf’s offices on TNG. also I’m fairly sure we see belanna’s once or twice on voyager. And of course crusher’s.

I believe that the area behind the glass next to the war core on TNG was supposed to be Geordi's "office."

 

[Therin of Andor]

Yet another reason to be disappointed with that series from 2001.

The set was never expected to remain standing for decades. It created a record in Hollywood for an indoor standing set. The support struts were full of wood rot.

 

[dupersuper]

Sickbay barely changed in appearance on the 1701-refit, 1701B, 1701D and 1701E, as well as the Intrepid class. It seems odd that Captain Garret would say she had never seen a sickbay like that one before, when she wakes up on the Enterprise-D. I don't see why 1701C would have had all that different looking a sickbay

I'm guessing that the layout may have been the same, but - especially to those in the know - the tech was obviously much more advanced.

 

[danellis]

I'm guessing that the layout may have been the same, but - especially to those in the know - the tech was obviously much more advanced.

Yeah, I figure it like If a doctor jumped in time from the 1990s to today. Even if they went to the same hospital they worked in then; the structure of the building would probably be the same, but the fixtures, fittings, technology, would probably stand out as "unlike any hospital I've ever seen."


dJE

 

[Ottens]

From the perspective of the 18th, 19th and early 20th century some of our contemporary fashions would look truly bizarre. The costumes of TWOK-TUC don’t look futuristic—they look rather retro.

William Ware Theiss, who designed the uniforms of TOS and TNG, felt clothing was evolving toward a less structured look:

I try not to make my designs too complex, visually. Simpler is more effective.

I think he was right. Just look at how clothing has developed since the 1960s. It's why I think the uniforms of TMP are much more believable than those of TWOK-TUC.

 

[arch101]

I think he was right. Just look at how clothing has developed since the 1960s. It's why I think the uniforms of TMP are much more believable than those of TWOK-TUC.

The clothes of TWOK to TNG don't look very futuristic at all.
I will always find it ironic that the TMP uniforms look, by far, the most comfortable of Trek uniforms but were, in reality, among the most uncomfortable to wear. Movie magic, I guess.

 

[jackoverfull]

I never thought that those looked comfortable at all.

 

[Ottens]

Apparently the Season 1-2 TNG uniforms were even worse on the actors.

 

[Qonundrum]

The only thing I would change would be to put security guards in red like in STIII and STVI. I don't know how they expect to wash the blood out of the white uniforms.

Yeah but red stands out the most and makes for easy pickin's for even those who'd aim the worst...

 

[Qonundrum]

Apparently the Season 1-2 TNG uniforms were even worse on the actors.

Not the best fabric (spandex) as it caused pain... it's also very difficult to remove various bouquets and odors from said synthetic fabric, so it must have been a real joy to walk past the set and take a big whiff after 6PM...


(...thank sweat-wicking... if there's any consolation, they're flame-retardant so there's no "Flambé de stunt double" anywhere... again, that sweat wicking comes mighty in handy some of the time... )

 

[Pauln6]

Yeah but red stands out the most and makes for easy pickin's for even those who'd aim the worst...

Many alien species do not see in colour and/or in the 'visible' spectrum. They will probably be fine. They have plastic armour.

 

[Qonundrum]

Many alien species do not see in colour and/or in the 'visible' spectrum. They will probably be fine. They have plastic armour.

Great point!

 

[Qonundrum]

The costumes in the 1980 TV movie version of Brave New World strongly resemble those of TMP. Both were produced around the same time and show the same 1970s futurist sensibility.

I'm just glad the original Battlestar Galactica kept to the then-trendy "padded deep browns, beiges, and blues". Disco turned the world into pastel puke... I blame Buck Rogers (1979) for introducing the spandex nightmares, though at least few were... pastel *shudder*...