Beltran to play Chak in the next Renegades

[2takesfrakes]

Guy has a point, certainly. And I'm not Robert Beltran's agent, I can't speak for the Man and am not in any position to be concerned with his best interests. But Fan Films have great potential to lead to embarrassment and there's no cause to invite it. Especially burdened with an already lack-luster career. So, yes, I feel that Renegades is a sort of a step down for Beltran. It's bad enough to be in a proper, cheap movie.

Nevertheless, cheapness has - in very rare instances - benefitted some original productions, in the past. The original TERMATOR, for example was made most decidedly on the cheap. And look at the results: it became internationally famous, well-regarded and influential. But its cheap productions values were not just presented to the audience, raw, as if to say ... "what can you do ... you know?" It wasn't like that.

Unfortunately, Fan Films aren't known for using their limited resources in this way. They bite off more than they can chew, because STAR TREK incorporates too much fantasy design that has to be included. The bridge of the Enterprise, or a similar set, doesn't look like anything you can just dredge up, from somewhere. This becomes such a drain on the budget, I've even seen Fan Films shot on bluescreen, with a still image of an empty Enterprise-D bridge superimposed on it.

The whole thing was shot in this manner. When what they should do is take aspects of STAR TREK that are affordable and can be done extremely well ... and expound upon them. Like Tom Riker's survival years. Or even Khan's survival years after Ceti Alpha 6 exploded. Aspects of STAR TREK that are very self-contained and more easily told. Instead, they try to present Starfleet in action without good resources. Without any resources, actually ...

 

[Drone]

I'm confident that Beltran will end up with egg on his face, thanks to his starring in this fan film. But I like Beltran as an actor and find him to be quite capable. I am also a fan of the character of Chakotay -- and the reasons are two:

1st, because he's a natural leader and an effective XO.
And 2nd? Because he is a Man with deeply held, Spiritual beliefs.

As to whether these beliefs were presented in an appropriate manner is entirely up for debate. But the fact that a 24th Century Man from the STAR TREK franchise believes in higher levels of being is a worthy update to Gene Roddenberry's previous demands that Humans of the future have abandoned all Faith as baseless and primitive superstition. "There is more in Heaven & Earth, Horatio, than is dreamt of in your philosophy."

.... Agreed!
In The Deed, Agreed!

It's interesting as people have been expounding on Chakotay, that another actor from an earlier time seemed to suffer the same fate, upstaged by other characters, who made his role and significance in the production become harder and harder to even discern. Guy Williams. Both, vital and virile men, that one would have suspected from their presence and early primacy in their respective shows would continue to mark them as important characters with many many things to contribute over the course of the productions. Far from it, however, as it turned out. Interestingly, though with some variation, they both devolved into little more than spear carriers, in large part, because of the burgeoning dominance of a triumvirate of characters, who came to define the latter stages of the shows. At least, one can say, Beltran didn't have to suffer the ignominy that Williams did by irrevocably being put in the shade by the likes of Will, the Tin Man, and the Coward!!!! Ouch!!!!

I still can't get over watching that Mrs. Columbo intro.

Just terrible terrible casting.

She looked around 25, and far too young for that part. Peter Falk was in his 40's when he was doing Columbo. Mrs. Columbo shouldn't be any younger than late 30's. He's not the sort of character to have some midlife crisis or chase a woman young enough to be his daughter.

If all the other characters were as badly cast, no wonder the show wasn't a success. Just makes me wonder what they were thinking...

Staying in the time frame during which the show was produced of course, I wonder which contemporaneous actress people might suggest would have been a good fit for the character and how she should have been portrayed, rather than the ludicrous casting decision (sorry Cap'n) that was made. A genuine foil for her brilliant, if unseen, husband, who was smart, productive, and idiosyncratic in her own right perhaps, but if nothing else, would be of the appropriate vintage!!!

Thoughts??

 

[2takesfrakes]

I have to admit, I was unaware of Guy Williams, that's an interesting comparison, though, as I'm currently reading about him. It's funny that you should mention "indignity" in terms of characterisations. In STAR TREK V, David Warner, of course, had the indignity of being a sideline greaseball in a glorified cameo. David Warner (!!!). But this indignity seems to have been deliberately compensated for in the next STAR TREK feature, which was nice. I really don't know LOST IN SPACE or any of Guy's work, to be honest. But it does seem his career was lackluster ... At least if any of us fans have a lackluster career we can keep it under wraps .... and close to the vest. Beltran's has nowhere to hide. Not just from thee and me ... but the whole ... PLANET!!!

 

[Drone]

He certainly wasn't a huge star, in some ways funnily enough, analogous to Jonathan Harris's career arc. Williams had bit film roles in the 50's, but by far made his biggest mark prior to LIS as the title character in the popular series Zorro. He might of made a similarly large mark on TV again a few years later, but for unfortunate bad timing, of a sort. He was set to replace Pernell Roberts as the fourth regular on Bonanza, and actually appeared twice, but primarily because Roberts made a late decision to remain for another year, the opportunity didn't come off. He didn't act at all after LIS, not necessarily because of a potential dearth of opportunities, but due to retiring and enjoying the fruits of the rather successful investment ventures he had been involved in.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

Does anyone know when the 2nd episode will be released?

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

Well, according to the official site of ST:Renegades, the web serie will count only a limited number of episodes (the shooting of the episode 2 called, Requiem and which should be in 2 parts, including Robert Beltran, Terry Russel and Cie, will begin on June 25th for a release by around Sept, I guess).
But what is interesting is that, this two-part episode of Renegades will be the last production of the series.

It seems that the transplant didn't take (possible reasons: a broadcasting on the web instead of a national network like CBS; more limited means; not enough searched scenarios, an average casting with ageing - and not inevitably motivated actors ... I don't know but it seems that it didn't work -> It is often difficult to make something new out of something old and then at the same time, seen the number of Star Trek web fictions on the www, we get lost little there!) in spite of Tim Russ's best will.

(Source:
http://startrekrenegades.com/home/str-the-requiem-special-announcement/)


It isn't very encouraging for the new Star Trek series which has to be aired in January 2017 ... on the web via a paid service (only the pilot will be aired on CBS on prime time).

The only thing I want to know is 1) does Chakotay work for the Federation (as a Starfleet senior officer again or in self-employment) or did he join the Maquis again
2) will Seven and/or Adm.Janeway be quoted OR will they make as if this period had never existed...

I want some kind of answers with regard of "Endgame", to know if I was totally wrong or right in my expectations .

 

[2takesfrakes]

Thank Providence, I'll never have to witness Robert Beltran, or any of my favourite actors shame themselves again, in STAR TREK-based fan films! For a while, there, things were getting shaky ...

 

[Guy Gardener]

They could even do a legal drama together, and then I'll pretend that they time travelling and under cover to catch a bad guy.

"Sigh"

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

For information, since June 23rd, (Star Trek) Renegades, had to adopt a new fan film guidelines issues by CBS and Paramount
(ref 1: http://renegades.show/home/a-message-from-the-renegades-team-regarding-the-new-fan-film-guidelines/).

One of the very first consequences was the deleting of all Star Trek references, from characters to uniforms, etc...
Result: Tuvok became Kovok; Jadzia became Jada, etc... Adm Chekov is just called Admiral now.
(ref 2: (http://renegades.show/home/renegades-production-media/)


I guess that Beltran's character, Chakotay, will get a name changing too (his famous could disappear too!).

I am curious to see how the producer is going to by-pass the difficulty.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Once Tim Russ gets an idea in his head ...
he doesn't let go!

 

[JeffinOakland]

Beltran's performance in Voyager can, I think, be fairly summed up as him being two Chakotays: "Kes Chakotay" where Beltran was on board with being the token indigenous and actually acting the part and seeing what might develop and "7of9 Chakotay" where Beltran is mostly bored and disengaged and is obviously just collecting a paycheck for a job he hates.

 

[Catarina]

Once Tim Russ gets an idea in his head ...
he doesn't let go!

tell me about it. And fans are angry they can't get refunded because they won't get what they paid for. I kinda saw this coming. with the new ST due out, CBS was bound to get territorial.

 

[2takesfrakes]

The Ferengi First Rule Of Acquisition expressly states:
"Once you have their money, never give it back."

 

[borgboy]

I am a Renegade backer, and I am still looking forward to what they do with the new version.
Sure, I'd rather the fan film restrictions not be so strict, but I also understand that CBS has a right to control their property whether I like it or not.

 

[2takesfrakes]

It's always the few bad apples who ruin it for everybody, but really, Fan Films, in general, had just gotten way too self-important. As if they were, somehow, in the same league as the actual franchise. That you, the STAR TREK fan, were getting the same thing(s) that the licensed television shows and movies offered. Their being self-delusion even went so far as to actually begin handing out Awards, similar to The Oscars, for "Best Picture" and so forth. The entire Fan Film community got way out of hand - not with the snark of Axanar, perhaps, but it certainly bought into its own bullshit, quite heavily.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

To be honest, I found Episode 1 neither good or bad. I waited to watch the second one to make up my mind and with the arrival of known faces from Star Trek saga, it could have been exciting. Now, further to last events, I expect something vague.
On Renegades 's Facebook page, some people hoped to see the series be resumed by Netflix... . I am afraid whether it's an utopia.

 

[Jedi_Master]

It's always the few bad apples who ruin it for everybody, but really, Fan Films, in general, had just gotten way too self-important. As if they were, somehow, in the same league as the actual franchise. That you, the STAR TREK fan, were getting the same thing(s) that the licensed television shows and movies offered. Their being self-delusion even went so far as to actually begin handing out Awards, similar to The Oscars, for "Best Picture" and so forth. The entire Fan Film community got way out of hand - not with the snark of Axanar, perhaps, but it certainly bought into its own bullshit, quite heavily.

I agree.
The various echo chambers that sprung up on Facebook and other places didn't help, as there were plenty of fans that enjoyed being in close communication with a "producer" and were willing to support them no matter what.

 

[Commander Richard]

For information, since June 23rd, (Star Trek) Renegades, had to adopt a new fan film guidelines issues by CBS and Paramount
(ref 1: http://renegades.show/home/a-message-from-the-renegades-team-regarding-the-new-fan-film-guidelines/).

One of the very first consequences was the deleting of all Star Trek references, from characters to uniforms, etc...
Result: Tuvok became Kovok; Jadzia became Jada, etc... Adm Chekov is just called Admiral now.
(ref 2: (http://renegades.show/home/renegades-production-media/)


I guess that Beltran's character, Chakotay, will get a name changing too (his famous could disappear too!).

I am curious to see how the producer is going to by-pass the difficulty.

I'm not looking forward to that. May as well just scuttle the series.

 

[Mareika]

It would be so good if he could be Chakotay again.https://www.facebook.com/AtomicProd...118728619525/1215374478493943/?type=3&theater

 

[2takesfrakes]

It would've been great if VOYAGER had been able to break the mold, a little bit, and was actually allowed to have occasional TV movies, after it's 7 year run. If they weren't too frequent, I'm sure they would've been thoroughly entertaining. But no, every STAR TREK has to follow the same, goddamn course, with no deviation.

As for seeing Chakotay in Fan Films, again, it's not such a bad thing to have him portrayed by someone other than Robert Beltran. He's delivered ... he's left his mark on the celluloid, already and added so much to the STAR TREK legacy. I thank him for that. But it's time for Fan Films to reflect what they once did with such wonderful charm. And that is giving fans another avenue to express their love for the existing franchise.

When fan films made that leap from, "I'm doing this because I love STAR TREK," to "I'm competing with and within STAR TREK," that was self-delusional, from the get-go. Let these Fan Films be about how much they love shows like VOYAGER's "Resolutions". Personally, I wouldn't mind directing an "Expanded Version" of the episode, a sort of "what we didn't get to see, but was there, anyway," kind of a thing, with novice actors in the roles of Kathryn & Chakotay. That very confined, narrow, very limited scope would be just perfect to film as a sort of Valentine to Voyager. It would be a hoot! A Space Hoot ...