By episode: Updating FX for all 176 episodes (+ minutia!)

[DostoyevskyClone]

***WARNING - unless you have obsessive-compulsive tendencies or just love minutia, reading this thread may give you a MASSIVE headache!***

First off, since we're dealing with minutia here - is it 176 or 178? Memory Alpha says 176 but with the note that two of the feature-length episodes were split into two parts for reruns (I tend to go with 176 myself).

I'm by no means broke, but having recently spent *a lot* of money on a Yamaha synthesizer, I've decided it's best that I don't get any new DVD's for a while. On top of that, I'm running out of ideas for "hottest" polls and I need a new Trek-orientated project to work on.

As a result, I've decided that I'm going to rewatch the entire TNG series. Initially, I thought I'd post my thoughts on each episode in this thread about what specifically needed to be reworked with regard to special effects and/or audio. I like what they are doing in the TOS forum by having a seperate thread for each episode and essentially making a wish-list of things they'd like improved. I think we can basically do the same here in one thread. While I realize some 'remastered' threads have been created here before, they tend to not to be as specific as they could be, addressing the series as a whole instead of going episode by episode (which is what I hope to do).

I also thought I should maximize my effort by cataloguing some things that no one else has bothered to ever catalogue before - things like the number of on-screen deaths, the various feline supplements that Data creates for his cat, etc. Phil Farrand did stuff like this in his 'Nitpickers' books and it was actually pretty damned entertaining to read a lot of it (stuff like the number of times Riker was knocked down in the series, the number of times Picard was kidnapped, etc.)

I plan on getting started with the 'Encounter at Farpoint' in the next couple of days. I realize Spider and several others are already working their way through the series, but I welcome all comments regarding special effects reworks, nitpicks about errors made in the original production (I plan on referring to Farrand's comments quite a bit, both for errors that could be fixed with audio or visual touchups, or simply "What were they thinking?!"), and anything else that normally wouldn't be discussed in a typical episode analysis. If you've got anything you'd like to see catalogued (the number of times Picard actually said "Make it so!" etc), then let me know and I may take a note of it!

I look forward to this and I hope several of you decide to tag along (damn - I hope at least ONE person decides to tag along or make comments because otherwise I doubt the moderators will allow me to sit here and post comment after comment to myself!)

 

[tomalak301]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

We had a thread going about this very same thing right here. You're welcome to tag along, even though most of the people posting are on Season 2 currently. Looking forward to your comments.

 

[DostoyevskyClone]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

I appreciate the invite, but isn't that thread just dealing with people's cursory analyses of each episode? I'm talking MINUTIA baby! How many times did Picard do the whole "I'll talk to you formally as your commanding officer and then let you walk halfway out the room and then say your first name and have a personal heart-to-heart"?

Seriously though, I realize that thread is still up and running, but I'm not looking to critique or grade the story so much as the following:

1. Specifically talk about which special effects could be updated and correctable oversights of each episode.

2. Talk about all of those silly details that most people think are...silly.

If the mods think it's too close to 'A Journey' thread, I guess I'll just have to live with it.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

^If that's your angle...don't forget to include all the times they fail to abort an unauthorized shuttle launch.

 

[DostoyevskyClone]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

Oooh - that's a good one: consider that added to the list!

:thumbsup:

 

[Salinga]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

If I recall the GEN DVD commentary right, in most episodes the Number "42" appears in one way or another. Maybe it is time to prove this. ;-)

 

[Jack Bauer]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

It's the number 47 not 42.

 

[Spider]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

DostoyevskyClone said:If the mods think it's too close to 'A Journey' thread, I guess I'll just have to live with it.

This thread is sufficiently different to stand on its own, as long as it stays the direction in which it’s intended.

 

[Smiley]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

How many times did Troi give Picard an emotional report that was blindingly obvious even without Betazoid talents?

 

[2of1million]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

How many times did Tasha say 'hailing frequencies open'?

 

[DostoyevskyClone]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

Spider - thanks. That's a bit of good news there (I could see why some may debate the point).

Smiley said:

How many times did Troi give Picard an emotional report that was blindingly obvious even without Betazoid talents?

Brilliant - I'll definitely track that one.

 

[Kegek]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

^
Please also track: Data gives a dictionary definition. I believe the first case of this is 'snoop' in 'Encounter at Farpoint', but he does it dozens of times across the series.

And, of course, Wesley Saves the Ship. And if you want to be really technical... When Picard Does the Picard Manouvre.

 

[Smiley]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

You just reminded me of another one. How many times does Riker call for "Red alert! Shields up!"? You could just track red alerts in general.

How many episodes does the computer, voiced by Majel Barrett, speak in?

 

[DostoyevskyClone]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

Kegek - Farrand actually already did the tally on the number of times Wesley comes up with the "needed solution": 7 (The Naked Now, The Battle, The Big Goodbye, The Enemy, The High Ground, Ménage à Troi, and The Game).

Here's the list of things I'm definitely going to track so far. I'm trying to make sure I include every character in some way or another, so there's definitely stuff to be added:

- The number of times each main character killed another sentient being

- The number of times they fail to abort an unauthorized shuttle launch

- The number of times Troi gives Picard an emotional report that was blindingly obvious even without Betazoid talents

- The number of times Data gives a dictionary definition

- The number of times Riker calls for “Red Alert! Shields Up!”

- The number of times Geordi uses his VISOR’s capabilities to report on something

- The number of times Picard formally speaks to another crew member as his or her commanding officer and then, after letting them walk halfway across the room, says the crew member’s first name and has a personal heart-to-heart moment with him or her

 

[Kegek]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

^
Ah. How about Picard calling for conference in the middle of a crisis? He seemed to do that a lot.

DostoevskyClone said:
- The number of times Geordi uses his VISOR’s capabilities to report on something

If memory serves, this gimmick was used a lot in the first season then dropped off considerably. In plot terms, it couldn't do anything a tricorder or ships sensors couldn't do.

 

[Squiggy]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

Most of those quirks of the show were limited to the first season (thank God).

 

[K-Star]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

Want more possibilities to check? Try looking up the TNG drinking game for a nice list.

 

[DostoyevskyClone]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

I'm planning on watching an episode every day (except on on some Saturdays and Sundays). Before I post about "Encounter at Farpoint" though, I want to make a couple of brief statements...

Special effects in general

It should be assumed that all of the following shots would be updated in terms of special effects (and therefore I shouldn‘t have to list every single one in every single episode):

- exterior shots of the Enterprise
- shots of other ships, star fields, planets from space, etc.
- all transporter effects (Federation or otherwise)
- any image seen on the main view screen that used a model/special effect
- the ‘black line’ that surrounds anyone who stands in front of the main view screen and the noticeable lighting disparity
- the ‘black line’ that surrounds anyone who is going into/coming out of the Holodeck and the noticeable lighting disparity

With regards to exterior shots of the Enterprise and shots of other ships, star fields, planets from space, etc.: the original angles should be kept, but the effects should be updated. My episode analysis will deal with the finer points (weapons, explosions, etc.)

So, in general, I will only list the shots where the episode:

a) reused footage and they need to make a new angle or do something different with it so that the viewer can never claim “They reused that shot from another episode”
b) has something ‘interesting’ or ‘unusual’ going on (i.e something besides the ship just flying in space) and what they can do to improve the shot

Any time I say that a shot is reused, I am therefore also saying that they could do any number of things with it (primarily, show us a different angle we haven’t seen before so we can get a better idea of the surrounding environment and not get bored with the same images over and over again).

I just wanted to post this before I get started to show a small example of how much cooler it would be to have an 'updated' Enterprise. To me the more recent version is more crisp (as is the star field behind it). I realize also that the effects could be even better than they were in "These are the Voyages":

"Encounter at Farpoint" [BELOW]:

"These are the Voyages" [BELOW]:

P.S. - for those of you who don't think TNG needs to have its effects updated, prepared to be blown away by the sheer number of effects shots there are in some of these episodes and how many of them were *reused*. Think about how much cooler the series would look if all of the shots I document were updated...

 

[DostoyevskyClone]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

The opening title sequence for the series in the first two seasons :
They should add the appropriate moons for Mars and Saturn (I mean, come on! Saturn has (basically) 60! You’d be bound to see at least a few of them!) In addition, the scale with regard to Earth vs. Saturn seems WAY off. Saturn should appear to be much larger on-screen than actually shown.

“Encounter at Farpoint”
4:40 - the Q net that appears can be redone
5:28 - the angle of the Enterprise in position with the Q net is reused
5:43 - the Q flash can be redone (and subsequent Q flashes)
6:17 - the Q net on the turbo lift door can be redone
11:26 - the angle of the Enterprise in position with the Q net is reused
15:34 - the torpedoes firing from the Enterprise can be redone
17:23 - the torpedo detonations can be redone
22:00 - is it possible to edit over a stunt double and put in the real Denise Crosby instead when she decks that one security guy?!
24:00 - a black border appears around the frame when the camera is in a close-up of Q - can that be edited out? (the same black border appears when the camera is in a close-up of Picard at 27:12)
25:20 - the “melting” of Yar can be redone
31:10 - the exterior of ‘Farpoint Station’ on the planet can be redone (apart from the flashing lights on the station, there is basically no movement in the picture and you can tell it’s a matte)
33:30 - a different exterior of the planet surface that can be redone
38:14 - the small viewscreen that Riker looks at can be redone
40:47 - the red ‘light’ of the right nacelle is out (when they redo the shot, this error would obviously no longer be there)
48:35 - the angle of the Enterprise in orbit of the planet is reused
50:38 - the exterior shot from 33:30 is reused, just in reverse
50:47 - the “old city” is shown and could be redone (you can almost tell it looks like a model - there aren’t many minute details and the place is completely deserted!)
54:31 - the doors of the Holodeck closing and disappearing behind Riker can be redone
57:34 - the distortion created by Data throwing the rock at the Holodeck wall can be redone
58:05 - again, can the stunt double for Brent Spiner be edited over as Data runs down to rescue Wesley from the water?!
58:39 - the shot of the Enterprise orbiting the planet is reused
59:39 - the exterior shot of Farpoint Station is reused AGAIN!
61:08 - a third exterior shot of the Farpoint Station that can be redone (it’s trying to set up that we are seeing things from the outskirts of the town which is fine, but it’s still very static and dull to look at - for example, a higher angle would at least give us a greater depth of field)
62:35 - the shot of the Enterprise orbiting the planet is reused AGAIN!
67:19 - the scanning beam from the alien ship can be redone
67:38 - another exterior shot of the Farpoint station that can be redone
68:10 - the angle of the Enterprise in relation the alien ship is reused
68:19 - the angle of the Enterprise in relation to the alien ship is reused AGAIN!
68:40 - the alien ship firing could be redone
68:50 - the old Bandi city being shot at could be redone and with a different angle (this same shot is used later at 70:19)
69:48 - the old Bandi city burning could be redone
70:05 - the phaser shot at the door can be redone
70:19 - the view of the old Bandi city being shot at can be redone (you’d have to keep the angle because Data and Riker are meant to be looking on - but you could redo the effects at least)
70:38 - the view of the old Bandi city burning can be redone (Riker makes some comment about “many casualties” being possible: I find this funny because we never see a single person walking around in earlier exterior shots of the old Bandi city and the place looks completely deserted!)
70:57 - the angle of the Enterprise in relation to the alien ship is reused AGAIN!
72:50 - the old Bandi city being shot at is reused
80:45 - the field which holds Zorn could be redone
81:27 - the phaser beams that Data and Riker fire could be redone
84:15 - the transformation effect of the alien ship could be redone
84:25 - the ‘jellyfish’ alien could be redone (it looks like it’s either animatronic or a puppet based on how its legs move - not very convincing!)
85:33 - the energy beam (which is meant to be rigged from the phasers as per Picard’s orders) from the Enterprise needs to be redone (it doesn’t come from the phaser emitter in this shot) [thank you Phil Farrand!]
85:42 - the beam hitting Farpoint Station could be redone
86:10 - the transformation of Farpoint Station could be redone
86:49 - the alien taking off from the planet could be redone
87:43 - the angle of the Enterprise relative to the aliens is reused - this could be redone
89:22 - the shot of the Enterprise orbiting the planet is reused AGAIN!

Some choice pictures illustrating need for updated special effects...

They try to make it look three-dimensional by making it ripple, but it just doesn't look convincing...

Riker makes some comment about “many casualties” being possible: I find this funny because we never see a single person walking around in earlier exterior shots of the old Bandi model...uhh, I mean "city" and the place looks completely deserted!

The legs are completely unconvincing in their movements; plus - can't we get a few more subtle colors thrown in there?

Other notes on special effects:
The shot of the Hood breaking orbit should be kept in with this episode. The problem never was that they used this shot the first time - it was that they used it several times throughout the series.

The end of the episode - the Enterprise flying off is an obvious reuse of the credits. If it were up to me, I’d probably let it slide this one time because it’s the first time it’s used within the context of storytelling

Even more minutia... (after 1 episode)
- The number of times Riker uses the word “Hell”: 1
- The number of times Data provides synonyms or a definition of something: 1
- The number of times Troi gives Picard an emotional report that was blindingly obvious even without Betazoid talents: 2
- The number of times Geordi uses his VISOR’s capabilities to report on something: 1

 

[CoveTom]

Re: I'm bored: The Minutia of all 176 TNG episodes right her

How about the number of times an Enterprise door magically anticipates a crew member's wishes by staying open or closed at the appropriate time, despite the person's proximity to the door?