Will update as it's updated. Will lock this so that it'll stay clean until it's finished.
How deeply do you feel the weight of responsibility that comes with carrying the torch of the Star Trek franchise?
JJ ABRAMS: It’s funny that you phrased it that way — carrying the torch — because that’s exactly what it feels like. Trek means a great deal to many people, and I fully appreciate that responsibility. But I have never been overwhelmed by that burden. Quite the opposite. The fans have been part of the inspiration. This experience has felt, from the beginning, like a truly unbelievable opportunity. We’re only half-way through principle photography, but the torch is burning bright and we’re running hard!
When we will see more detailed clips from the new movie..?
BRYAN BURKE: Barring any thievery from our production office, we’re working on our first trailer right now, which will hopefully be in theaters early to mid summer.
What was the greatest challenge you faced when you first decided to take on Star Trek?
JJ: This may not be a fair answer, but there were two greatest challenges: the first was getting a handle on the vision of the future. The fact that most of the tech that we use in our everyday lives seems modeled after — and actually more advanced than — TOS, made it tricky to find a way to make our movie’s world far more advanced than where we currently are, and yet also consistent with the original show.
The other challenge was, obviously, casting. How in the world were we ever going to find actors who can fill the shoes of that remarkable original cast? It was tough in theory and harder in practice. We couldn’t — and wouldn’t have — gone into production with a cast that simply didn’t WORK.
With the amazing efforts of April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg (our casting directors), we somehow did it. This cast is massively talented and smart as hell and funny and dedicated and completely inhabiting these roles. You will see. Kirk f’n LIVES. Spock is HERE, right now. I can see him. Uhura and Bones and Chekov and Sulu and Scotty are ON THE BRIDGE and they are wonderful.
In short, WHEW.
What’s your favorite on-set moment so far? Best on-set prank? (Answers expected to be spoiler free, of course!)
ZACHARY QUINTO: Definitely the first time Leonard and I were both in costume at the same time for the wardrobe test.
Has writing for this film brought you any new realizations or insights about Trek, its stories, or the people who have worked to bring it to life?
ORCI: Writing this film with my high school chum Alex Kurtzman has reminded me how solidly constructed the original paradigm for Star Trek really was. Our job was to just do our homework. We not only went back to our favorite episodes and books and movies, but we also read graduate level dissertations about the meaning of Star Trek. It was like going back to Star Trek school, and it made us appreciate Trek even more, which I didn’t think was possible.
Do you follow what fans are saying on the internet at all?
THE GANG (various people): Not really. We never take time to find out what fans on the net are thinking. Thanks for asking.
ORCI: Just to set the scene a bit, call time today was 1 PM. So JJ is setting up his first shot right now on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise — bear with us.
And do you have a targeted wrap date for the film?
JJ: Currently it is scheduled to wrap the beginning of April. Which means we’ll be shooting until September. I’m kidding. I hope. No, I am.
How important is humour in your vision of Star Trek? And what kind of humour do you enjoy most?
JJ: I’m afraid to answer this question, because The Haters will think that I’m looking at Trek as a comedy. I am not. But humor is hugely important. Humor and humanity go hand-in-hand — there is such wit in the screenplay (kudos, Kurtzman/Orci), and the actors bring such intelligence and humor, that my job is just to keep the thing REAL. Dramatic as hell, but also LAUGHS. Without comedy (my fave TOS eps had GREAT wit), the audience finds their own places to laugh. And in a world of humans and aliens, that could be disastrous. So the short answer? It’s very important.
Seriously, how often do you have to pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming? A dyed-in-the-wool Trekker getting the opportunity to add to the mythos. It must be awesome. How many pages of ideas do you already have for the sequels?
ORCI: No kidding. I think I speak for many of us when I say that we pinch ourselves every day, and it still doesn’t work. I’d ask Quinto or Nimoy to “pinch” me, but I just think that would make it more surreal.
Random script question… what is the 10th word on the 10th page of the ST script?
BURKE: "...and..."
Two questions:
1.) In your Producer roles, how are you having the history-making production of “Star Trek” documented?
2.) If the Writer’s Strike ends before filming ends, are you hoping to have Orci & Kurtzman contribute new script work for potential reworked scenes, or even to add additional scenes?
Thanks for your time!
BURKE: From the beginning there has been behind the scenes DVD team capturing all phases of pre-production and production. There’s been talks of possibly having book as well, but that’s contingent on an interest for it.
The Trek teaser trailer was very American focused, with all the sound bites from American space program (and none from anywhere else). Star Trek often seemed overly American. How will you make sure that Star Trek is a global film that appeals in Europe, Asia, Latin America, etc?
BURKE: There were different versions around the world of the teaser trailer around the world to deal with exactly that.
I am a big fan of yours, but also of your friend and so called good luck charm, Greg Grunberg. Can you tell us if he will make an appearance, and if so perhaps a hint as to his part ???? Thanks!
JJ: I am so pissed at Grunberg. The guy was about to be in the movie — had a GREAT PART — but had to bow out because of some LAME OTHER MOVIE HE’S DOING.
All right, so I’m half-kidding and just disappointed: Grunny WAS gonna be in Trek, and he IS doing another movie, so he can’t be in ours — but his movie isn’t lame, it’s funny, and he’s producing and co-writing and long-time collaborator Larry Trilling is writing with him and directing, so I wish them all the best. Even though I hate Greg now. Who knows, maybe he’ll be a tribble.
his is for the screenwriters. Mssrs Orci and Kurtzman:
Have you taken anything from the novels? My dream Trek movie would be an adaption of Diane Duane, whos Trek novels combine hard SF with vivid elaborations of the classic characters, and are so well written that they are totally unembarassing to read in public. Thanks.
ORCI: We have absolutely been inspired by the novels. We’ve mentioned before how much we loved Prime Directive and many others as a great example of all things TOS at its best.
How many visual effects shots will there be in the new movie?
ROGER GUYETT (Visual Effects Supervisor): We’re anticipating about 1000.
Has there been a particular moment while filming that has caught you off-guard and made you stand back and say “wow” or just made you think “how cool is this”?
CHRIS PINE: For me, I still get the chills every time I sit in “the” chair, and every time I say who I am in the movie.
My current English teacher, Mr. Zimmerman, doesn’t like Star Trek and doesn’t want this movie to happen. What do you say to that?
ORCI: Please tell Mr. Zimmerman that there will be plenty of English spoken in the movie.
First, I want to say, I’m a fan of your work. I’m an aspiring VFX artist (compositor) myself. I was wondering what types of software you will be using for 3D animation, but also for compositing. I know you have many in house tools as well. Thanks.
GUYETT: We’ll be using lots of different pieces of software, a lot of ILM proprietary tools, but we’ll also be using Maya, Renderman and Shake (the compositing software). Good luck with your career in VFX!
ILM is doing the effects for the film. Will it all be CGI or have they built a physical model of the New Enterprise? Also when will we see a photo of the finished Enterprise?
JJ: I was lucky enough to work with ILM on Mission: Impossible III. Roger Guyette and Sherri Hanson are geniuses who are also a true joy to work with. ILM has always been the best — but in recent years they have — remarkably — gotten even better, making the virtual photo-real.
Having said that, my goal is to make Trek REAL — that is to say, not have it be camp — not have it be phony — not have it look like a scrap of green screen was used anywhere. Of course, this is Star Trek. We’re using every trick in the book. But WHEREVER WE CAN, we are shooting on sets — either built on sound stages or expanding upon found locations. This is important. What this means is that the movie won’t have that “actors performing in a blue or green void then placed in front of a spaceship set” feeling that makes me insane. One of our really talented designers recently commented online how we shot on a green screen set and what a shame that was, since we could have built something incredible. And she was right — for that one scene, which will last for maybe thirty seconds on screen, we built only pieces and were surrounded by green. But that is the exception. We can’t build EVERYTHING, and need to make this film on a budget (partly because that’s the $ we have, and partly because I want the studio to see Trek as viable!).
The Enterprise will be a combo of the physical and the virtual. A photo is forthcoming!
A lot of good questions so far, but I don’t think the key issue has been addressed yet. WILL THE DOORS GO SWOOSH WHEN THEY OPEN?
JJ: Dude. Will they ever.
Is there anything I can say to my girlfriend to convince her to go see a movie with me that is titled “Star Trek”? If so, that could be very helpful.
JJ: First of all, I’m relieved you have a girlfriend. Secondly, this movie is not being made solely for Trekkers — that is not to say we aren’t giving the true believers the fix they want — but we’re also making a movie for people (men AND women) who have never seen Trek once in any incarnation.
What finally pushed me over the edge to direct and not just produce Star Trek was my wife, Katie’s, reaction. She loved the characters. She confirmed my deep suspicions that I should direct this movie. The story is dramatic and funny and emotional and romantic and full of adventure. I know I’m biased — but I think people are going to love this experience. For some, perhaps, DESPITE the fact that it’s called Star Trek. Who knows? Maybe your girlfriend will see the movie and become a fan of the show.
THE GANG: We will be answering a few more questions over the next few hours as time permits us between set-ups. Thanks for all the great questions.
How deeply do you feel the weight of responsibility that comes with carrying the torch of the Star Trek franchise?
JJ ABRAMS: It’s funny that you phrased it that way — carrying the torch — because that’s exactly what it feels like. Trek means a great deal to many people, and I fully appreciate that responsibility. But I have never been overwhelmed by that burden. Quite the opposite. The fans have been part of the inspiration. This experience has felt, from the beginning, like a truly unbelievable opportunity. We’re only half-way through principle photography, but the torch is burning bright and we’re running hard!
When we will see more detailed clips from the new movie..?
BRYAN BURKE: Barring any thievery from our production office, we’re working on our first trailer right now, which will hopefully be in theaters early to mid summer.
What was the greatest challenge you faced when you first decided to take on Star Trek?
JJ: This may not be a fair answer, but there were two greatest challenges: the first was getting a handle on the vision of the future. The fact that most of the tech that we use in our everyday lives seems modeled after — and actually more advanced than — TOS, made it tricky to find a way to make our movie’s world far more advanced than where we currently are, and yet also consistent with the original show.
The other challenge was, obviously, casting. How in the world were we ever going to find actors who can fill the shoes of that remarkable original cast? It was tough in theory and harder in practice. We couldn’t — and wouldn’t have — gone into production with a cast that simply didn’t WORK.
With the amazing efforts of April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg (our casting directors), we somehow did it. This cast is massively talented and smart as hell and funny and dedicated and completely inhabiting these roles. You will see. Kirk f’n LIVES. Spock is HERE, right now. I can see him. Uhura and Bones and Chekov and Sulu and Scotty are ON THE BRIDGE and they are wonderful.
In short, WHEW.
What’s your favorite on-set moment so far? Best on-set prank? (Answers expected to be spoiler free, of course!)
ZACHARY QUINTO: Definitely the first time Leonard and I were both in costume at the same time for the wardrobe test.
Has writing for this film brought you any new realizations or insights about Trek, its stories, or the people who have worked to bring it to life?
ORCI: Writing this film with my high school chum Alex Kurtzman has reminded me how solidly constructed the original paradigm for Star Trek really was. Our job was to just do our homework. We not only went back to our favorite episodes and books and movies, but we also read graduate level dissertations about the meaning of Star Trek. It was like going back to Star Trek school, and it made us appreciate Trek even more, which I didn’t think was possible.
Do you follow what fans are saying on the internet at all?
THE GANG (various people): Not really. We never take time to find out what fans on the net are thinking. Thanks for asking.
ORCI: Just to set the scene a bit, call time today was 1 PM. So JJ is setting up his first shot right now on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise — bear with us.
And do you have a targeted wrap date for the film?
JJ: Currently it is scheduled to wrap the beginning of April. Which means we’ll be shooting until September. I’m kidding. I hope. No, I am.
How important is humour in your vision of Star Trek? And what kind of humour do you enjoy most?
JJ: I’m afraid to answer this question, because The Haters will think that I’m looking at Trek as a comedy. I am not. But humor is hugely important. Humor and humanity go hand-in-hand — there is such wit in the screenplay (kudos, Kurtzman/Orci), and the actors bring such intelligence and humor, that my job is just to keep the thing REAL. Dramatic as hell, but also LAUGHS. Without comedy (my fave TOS eps had GREAT wit), the audience finds their own places to laugh. And in a world of humans and aliens, that could be disastrous. So the short answer? It’s very important.
Seriously, how often do you have to pinch yourself to make sure you’re not dreaming? A dyed-in-the-wool Trekker getting the opportunity to add to the mythos. It must be awesome. How many pages of ideas do you already have for the sequels?
ORCI: No kidding. I think I speak for many of us when I say that we pinch ourselves every day, and it still doesn’t work. I’d ask Quinto or Nimoy to “pinch” me, but I just think that would make it more surreal.
Random script question… what is the 10th word on the 10th page of the ST script?
BURKE: "...and..."
Two questions:
1.) In your Producer roles, how are you having the history-making production of “Star Trek” documented?
2.) If the Writer’s Strike ends before filming ends, are you hoping to have Orci & Kurtzman contribute new script work for potential reworked scenes, or even to add additional scenes?
Thanks for your time!
BURKE: From the beginning there has been behind the scenes DVD team capturing all phases of pre-production and production. There’s been talks of possibly having book as well, but that’s contingent on an interest for it.
The Trek teaser trailer was very American focused, with all the sound bites from American space program (and none from anywhere else). Star Trek often seemed overly American. How will you make sure that Star Trek is a global film that appeals in Europe, Asia, Latin America, etc?
BURKE: There were different versions around the world of the teaser trailer around the world to deal with exactly that.
I am a big fan of yours, but also of your friend and so called good luck charm, Greg Grunberg. Can you tell us if he will make an appearance, and if so perhaps a hint as to his part ???? Thanks!
JJ: I am so pissed at Grunberg. The guy was about to be in the movie — had a GREAT PART — but had to bow out because of some LAME OTHER MOVIE HE’S DOING.
All right, so I’m half-kidding and just disappointed: Grunny WAS gonna be in Trek, and he IS doing another movie, so he can’t be in ours — but his movie isn’t lame, it’s funny, and he’s producing and co-writing and long-time collaborator Larry Trilling is writing with him and directing, so I wish them all the best. Even though I hate Greg now. Who knows, maybe he’ll be a tribble.
his is for the screenwriters. Mssrs Orci and Kurtzman:
Have you taken anything from the novels? My dream Trek movie would be an adaption of Diane Duane, whos Trek novels combine hard SF with vivid elaborations of the classic characters, and are so well written that they are totally unembarassing to read in public. Thanks.
ORCI: We have absolutely been inspired by the novels. We’ve mentioned before how much we loved Prime Directive and many others as a great example of all things TOS at its best.
How many visual effects shots will there be in the new movie?
ROGER GUYETT (Visual Effects Supervisor): We’re anticipating about 1000.
Has there been a particular moment while filming that has caught you off-guard and made you stand back and say “wow” or just made you think “how cool is this”?
CHRIS PINE: For me, I still get the chills every time I sit in “the” chair, and every time I say who I am in the movie.
My current English teacher, Mr. Zimmerman, doesn’t like Star Trek and doesn’t want this movie to happen. What do you say to that?
ORCI: Please tell Mr. Zimmerman that there will be plenty of English spoken in the movie.
First, I want to say, I’m a fan of your work. I’m an aspiring VFX artist (compositor) myself. I was wondering what types of software you will be using for 3D animation, but also for compositing. I know you have many in house tools as well. Thanks.
GUYETT: We’ll be using lots of different pieces of software, a lot of ILM proprietary tools, but we’ll also be using Maya, Renderman and Shake (the compositing software). Good luck with your career in VFX!
ILM is doing the effects for the film. Will it all be CGI or have they built a physical model of the New Enterprise? Also when will we see a photo of the finished Enterprise?
JJ: I was lucky enough to work with ILM on Mission: Impossible III. Roger Guyette and Sherri Hanson are geniuses who are also a true joy to work with. ILM has always been the best — but in recent years they have — remarkably — gotten even better, making the virtual photo-real.
Having said that, my goal is to make Trek REAL — that is to say, not have it be camp — not have it be phony — not have it look like a scrap of green screen was used anywhere. Of course, this is Star Trek. We’re using every trick in the book. But WHEREVER WE CAN, we are shooting on sets — either built on sound stages or expanding upon found locations. This is important. What this means is that the movie won’t have that “actors performing in a blue or green void then placed in front of a spaceship set” feeling that makes me insane. One of our really talented designers recently commented online how we shot on a green screen set and what a shame that was, since we could have built something incredible. And she was right — for that one scene, which will last for maybe thirty seconds on screen, we built only pieces and were surrounded by green. But that is the exception. We can’t build EVERYTHING, and need to make this film on a budget (partly because that’s the $ we have, and partly because I want the studio to see Trek as viable!).
The Enterprise will be a combo of the physical and the virtual. A photo is forthcoming!
A lot of good questions so far, but I don’t think the key issue has been addressed yet. WILL THE DOORS GO SWOOSH WHEN THEY OPEN?
JJ: Dude. Will they ever.
Is there anything I can say to my girlfriend to convince her to go see a movie with me that is titled “Star Trek”? If so, that could be very helpful.
JJ: First of all, I’m relieved you have a girlfriend. Secondly, this movie is not being made solely for Trekkers — that is not to say we aren’t giving the true believers the fix they want — but we’re also making a movie for people (men AND women) who have never seen Trek once in any incarnation.
What finally pushed me over the edge to direct and not just produce Star Trek was my wife, Katie’s, reaction. She loved the characters. She confirmed my deep suspicions that I should direct this movie. The story is dramatic and funny and emotional and romantic and full of adventure. I know I’m biased — but I think people are going to love this experience. For some, perhaps, DESPITE the fact that it’s called Star Trek. Who knows? Maybe your girlfriend will see the movie and become a fan of the show.
THE GANG: We will be answering a few more questions over the next few hours as time permits us between set-ups. Thanks for all the great questions.
Berman was a tired politician in latter years. These guys on the other hand are overflowing with enthusiasm for the project. A very stark constrast.
