A Star Trek The Motion Picture blooper?

[pfontaine2]

Something I only just noticed when watching ST:TMP. When Commander Sonak first gets Kirk's attention, the camera catches what appears to be a stagehand and some of the extras standing off to the left of the frame.

It literally lasts a fraction of a second but this screencap (taken from movie-screencaps.com) shows what appears to be a stagehand in a silver jacket, slacks and brown shoes. If you watch the actual sequence carefully, you can see the blond woman who soon walks through the shot standing next to him waiting for her cue to start walking.

Perhaps I'm mistaken but I don't think so! It's definitely worth a look at the actual footage to see this apparent gaffe.

 

[Lance]

Interesting! I'd be tempted to wonder if it isn't just 23rd century civilian clothing (the silver jacket could conceivably be 'futuristic' rather than '1979'). But that shirt collar and those buttons definitely make me think it's a stage hand whose gotten into the shot by accident. The shirt doesn't seem particularly 'Star Trek'.

There are similar bloopers in the classic Doctor Who. 1982's ''Earthshock'' features one scene where a 'script supervisor' can be seen standing in the background, flipping through the pages of the script apparently unaware that she's managed to get on camera (and nobody else picked it up before broadcast, either!)

 

[Therin of Andor]

But that shirt collar and those buttons definitely make me think it's a stage hand whose gotten into the shot by accident.

The embroidered crew jackets for TMP were silver, IIRC. (As were the ones with LEDs sold in "Starlog".)

The other blooper is when you can see briefly the reflection of a guy in goggles pushing the probe light-pole around the bridge on a dolly.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Man, that woman who was right behind Kirk in his closeup is certainly taking her time getting off the shuttle.

 

[Kor]

^ Undoubtedly she was trying to nonchalantly prevent anyone seeing them exit at the same time and put two and two together in connection with their uh... meeting in the shuttle.

Kor

 

[Melakon]

Interesting! I'd be tempted to wonder if it isn't just 23rd century civilian clothing (the silver jacket could conceivably be 'futuristic' rather than '1979'). But that shirt collar and those buttons definitely make me think it's a stage hand whose gotten into the shot by accident. The shirt doesn't seem particularly 'Star Trek'.

We could theorize that he's just some Federation dweeb who likes shopping for vintage clothing.

 

[Timo]

It amazes me that anybody could think of this flying limo with stewardesses and chauffeurettes included as a form of future public transport ("air tram")...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[BillJ]

Maybe guy is poor and just collecting change?

 

[FormerLurker]

The woman may in fact be part of the shuttle staff, and was only behind Kirk to make sure he got off at the correct stop.

 

[J.T.B.]

If it had been a Star Wars movie that guy would probably have been given a name and life story beginning at conception.

 

[tharpdevenport]

The woman may in fact be part of the shuttle staff, and was only behind Kirk to make sure he got off at the correct stop.

Two for a shuttle that small? You can see one's head at the pilot seat.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Man, that woman who was right behind Kirk in his closeup is certainly taking her time getting off the shuttle.

I always figured she was a stewardess or possibly the pilot or copilot.

I watched this scene the other night and the guy is standing there plain as day. Oops! Great catch!

 

[BillJ]

If it had been a Star Wars movie that guy would probably have been given a name and life story beginning at conception.

And an action figure!

 

[FormerLurker]

The woman may in fact be part of the shuttle staff, and was only behind Kirk to make sure he got off at the correct stop.

Two for a shuttle that small? You can see one's head at the pilot seat.

There might even be a couple more in the rear compartment. That's an intraplanetary(earthbound) shuttle with an admiral on board. I could easily see Starfleet assigning stewards or stewardesses to such flights.

 

[Therin of Andor]

If it had been a Star Wars movie that guy would probably have been given a name and life story beginning at conception.

And an action figure.

And an action figure!

Drat.

 

[Christopher]

Interesting! I'd be tempted to wonder if it isn't just 23rd century civilian clothing (the silver jacket could conceivably be 'futuristic' rather than '1979'). But that shirt collar and those buttons definitely make me think it's a stage hand whose gotten into the shot by accident. The shirt doesn't seem particularly 'Star Trek'.

There are human-civilian extras in the scene, and their attire is skimpy and flowing and gauzy, nothing like that.

 

[J.T.B.]

If it had been a Star Wars movie that guy would probably have been given a name and life story beginning at conception.

And an action figure!

How could I forget the most important part?!

 

[Nerys Myk]

Man, that woman who was right behind Kirk in his closeup is certainly taking her time getting off the shuttle.

She's not sure this is her stop or she's looking for her ride.

The guy in front of her seems to be staring right into the camera.

 

[Therin of Andor]

The guy in front of her seems to be staring right into the camera.

On the other hand, this guy's attempt at hiding is... half-hearted.


ST TMP by Ian McLean, on Flickr

 

[Christopher]

She's not sure this is her stop or she's looking for her ride.

She's probably the air tram's flight attendant.

The guy in front of her seems to be staring right into the camera.

He's looking at Admiral Kirk. Natural enough for an enlisted man (no stripes on the sleeves) to stare when an admiral goes by.