Donny’s Late TOS Movie Era Interiors
- Thread starter Donny
- Start date
I've had an uncharacteristically stressful week at work finishing up a project on STO, and I'll be honest: finishing up the other two transporter rooms right now feels like work to me, so I'm considering starting a new interior set this weekend instead; one that feels fresh and fun. I'm finding that trying to do three versions of a room over a single compressed period of time is draining...I'll pick the transporter rooms back up when I feel like inhabiting that space mentally again. I have an idea of what I'm starting next, but I'll keep a lid on it until I've actually chosen and begun work.
That being said, my brain has shifted back into excitement over some TFF stuff again, and wanted to showcase something I did last month but kept it a secret. The corridors in TFF have always bothered me, being hardly a redress at all of the TNG corridors. What we do see is almost unmodified from that series, except for some grey paneling they placed over the black plexiglass lining the concentric corridors:
The radial corridors only gained one thing: a roll of carpet on the left hand side of frame
I've decided to take the TNG corridors and alter the aesthetic to fit the vibe of the Enterprise-A as seen in TFF. Looking at the other sets, with their grey walls, carpeting, use of wood, and doors and neon blue mixed with warm-toned accent lighting, I've decided to visualize my "idealized" version of the TFF corridors. I also took cues from the deck signage we saw in the dreaded turboshaft scene (the style of the signage, not the wacky numbering) and the little numbered grey panels we saw in that same scene and the Jefferies tube.
Of course, this clashes with the cramped battleship-grey metallic deck-plating submarine-like corridors of the Ent-A in TUC, but recall from earlier in the thread where I'll be treating the two depictions of the Ent-A as either having a heavy refit in between films, or that they exist in two different parallel universes all together. This is a personal choice, one many may not agree with, but I'm very satisfied with the results.
Let me know your thoughts!
I love how you mix your passion for being as screen accurate as possible with extrapolating some things that makes sense for the aesthetics of the film that we don’t necessarily see!
I’d love to see your take on the engine room we briefly see Scotty in, as well as a TFF version of the recreation deck we see in the first film. That’s probably a mountain of work though!
There was a brief appearance of the Engine Room but I believe it should be expanded and something different than TNG warp core.
Just a note for everyone that follows my threads.
Obviously, with starting the job at OTOY on the Roddenberrry Archive, the nature of my work has changed. I used to craft Star Trek ship interiors in Unreal as a hobby on nights and weekends for fun, separate from my job as a ship model artist on STO. Because that work was a hobby and mine, I was able to post WIPs, final renders, etc whenever and however I pleased.
Now, I unfortunately cannot show any work I'm done for the archive until I'm given permission to. And, to be honest, I have no idea when that will be. I'm sure some details will emerge as OTOY decides to publish certain images, videos, etc, but that's completely out of my control now. Therefore, unless I'm doing work that is specifically not for the archive, I won't be posting images on these threads anymore unless I'm given the go ahead to do so.
This is leading me to realize I need to come up with a non-Archive project to work on, to keep interacting with you all here on my threads. Or, I can start venturing outside of my threads a bit more than in the past to interact with you all on your threads
This kind of feels like an end of an era to a certain degree, but rest assured I will come up with my own stuff to work on (non-cannon interiors, eh?) as soon as the newness of my job settles.
Obviously, with starting the job at OTOY on the Roddenberrry Archive, the nature of my work has changed. I used to craft Star Trek ship interiors in Unreal as a hobby on nights and weekends for fun, separate from my job as a ship model artist on STO. Because that work was a hobby and mine, I was able to post WIPs, final renders, etc whenever and however I pleased.
Now, I unfortunately cannot show any work I'm done for the archive until I'm given permission to. And, to be honest, I have no idea when that will be. I'm sure some details will emerge as OTOY decides to publish certain images, videos, etc, but that's completely out of my control now. Therefore, unless I'm doing work that is specifically not for the archive, I won't be posting images on these threads anymore unless I'm given the go ahead to do so.
This is leading me to realize I need to come up with a non-Archive project to work on, to keep interacting with you all here on my threads. Or, I can start venturing outside of my threads a bit more than in the past to interact with you all on your threads
This kind of feels like an end of an era to a certain degree, but rest assured I will come up with my own stuff to work on (non-cannon interiors, eh?) as soon as the newness of my job settles.
Understood Donny, but can you, or perhaps someone else, explain what the OTOY is doing? I mean, I've seen the images and of course you and the others being hired, but for...what? How is this work being utilized? Is it games or websites, or what?
I can't really say with certainty that I won't be divulging information I'm under NDA not to. For now you'll just have to go off of whatever official announcements OTOY has made.
You could always do that render of the TSFS Excelsior bridge. 
Seriously though, I'm sorry if that brings this thread to an end, but given the opportunity you have now, it's a worthy tradeoff.
Just curious (and you might not be able to answer this because of your NDA), but with this being the "Roddenberry Archive," does that just entail the productions GR was directly involved with (TOS, TAS, TMP, and TNG), or does it encompass all Trek from the '60s to today? If it's the former, that could give you a direction to go next with your just-for-fun interiors.
Seriously though, I'm sorry if that brings this thread to an end, but given the opportunity you have now, it's a worthy tradeoff.
Just curious (and you might not be able to answer this because of your NDA), but with this being the "Roddenberry Archive," does that just entail the productions GR was directly involved with (TOS, TAS, TMP, and TNG), or does it encompass all Trek from the '60s to today? If it's the former, that could give you a direction to go next with your just-for-fun interiors.
Donny, I am so happy you're getting an opportunity to be part of the Roddenberry Archive; I am not sad at all your can't post your great work because I know it is another step in something special in your life. Where you lead, I will follow you anywhere that you tell me to. It's cool the fact I had the blessing to see what you've done throughout the years; it's been spectacular and when you're ready to return either permission or something outside the box I am all in, friend. Love Ya!Just a note for everyone that follows my threads.
Obviously, with starting the job at OTOY on the Roddenberrry Archive, the nature of my work has changed. I used to craft Star Trek ship interiors in Unreal as a hobby on nights and weekends for fun, separate from my job as a ship model artist on STO. Because that work was a hobby and mine, I was able to post WIPs, final renders, etc whenever and however I pleased.
Now, I unfortunately cannot show any work I'm done for the archive until I'm given permission to. And, to be honest, I have no idea when that will be. I'm sure some details will emerge as OTOY decides to publish certain images, videos, etc, but that's completely out of my control now. Therefore, unless I'm doing work that is specifically not for the archive, I won't be posting images on these threads anymore unless I'm given the go ahead to do so.
This is leading me to realize I need to come up with a non-Archive project to work on, to keep interacting with you all here on my threads. Or, I can start venturing outside of my threads a bit more than in the past to interact with you all on your threads
This kind of feels like an end of an era to a certain degree, but rest assured I will come up with my own stuff to work on (non-cannon interiors, eh?) as soon as the newness of my job settles.
If we have to take a break from seeing your amazing work for while, due to your success in your career then I can live with that.
I know you'll be back when your time (and your NDA) allows
That 3D interior refit project interestingly matches Donny’s unique skill set and portfolio of existing assets. Hmmm…
You expressed an interest in doing my Jefferies-inspired drydock. If that still interests you, let me know. I will do anything I can to assist you.
There was also the idea of translating some of the TMP sets into TOS form. I can’t imagine either of these things would tread on your new job’s territory.
There was also the idea of translating some of the TMP sets into TOS form. I can’t imagine either of these things would tread on your new job’s territory.
Are they doing all eras of Star Trek? If they're not covering Enterprise, I can help you out with a lot of reference.
See if the OTOY might work with the folks at Playmates…they can only say no. You might get them in touch with what is called the RETROBLASTING community.
The late Thomas Sasser was DST/Round2s guy. You and Yotsuya can be that for Playmates…and make this sets live in plastic perhaps.
The late Thomas Sasser was DST/Round2s guy. You and Yotsuya can be that for Playmates…and make this sets live in plastic perhaps.
That's also incorporating a separate project done by Neil F. Smith. You used to be able to purchase the model on Turbosquid, but it was pulled down, probably as part of some kind of exclusivity deal with the Roddenberry Archive. I was pretty surprised when I saw the model being used in a Cinema 4D demo as part of an Apple product announcement, though things made more sense after the Archive announced the model was being used as part of their project.
It does look like the model has been done up a little bit in some of the renders for the archive. I remember I always thought the neck was a bit too thick, but it looks like that's been fixed. You can see the thicker neck in the second collage of Neil's model on the Archive, and the Turbosquid page I just linked to, and the corrected proportions on the larger renders on the Archive page.
Unfortunately, Foundation3D is down, apparently permanently, so I can't link to when he said it, but Neil's model was inspired by my much-lower-detail version of window-boxes for the refit, which itself was heavily, though not exclusively, based on the Strategic Designs plans.
I know everyone has a lot of questions about the project, but again, I cannot divulge anything about scope or eras or content or format at this point without breaking NDA.
I will say that yes, Neil Smith is part of the team and I have already been working closely with him on this project, along with @Rekkert and a few others.
I will say that yes, Neil Smith is part of the team and I have already been working closely with him on this project, along with @Rekkert and a few others.
