Exeter "The Tressaurian Intersection" Grading & Discussion Thread

[MikeH92467]

Truth to tell, I'm surprised and pleased that we fooled as many folks as we apparently did as to how Vandi Richards would wind up - especially since she's wearing red.

I figured that the only way we might keep some suspense there was by misdirection - since Richards's role was very similar to that of the female yeomen in the original series, maybe viewers would just take Vandi as a character analogous to Rand who was being added to the permanent cast rather than a guest character. If OTOH she were clearly the Scientist-and-or-Romance-of-The-Week, the fact that she at least wouldn't be sticking around would be more obvious.

I actually read the casualty report Garrovick accessed while composing the condolence letter to her parents. (I know I'm a geek...you gotta problem with that?)

 

[Psion]

Out-FREAKING-standing!

Each act delivered on the promise of the teaser and it was very much worth waiting to see it all in one sitting. My wife nodded off after a long day and didn't last the whole episode, but I have to give her credit for calling Richard's fate even before Act one was halfway through. I didn't believe her, Dennis, so you folks had me fooled. Although I *did* remark about the "weapon", "My, that looks Tholian!"

How many of the sets with bodies were scale models? I honestly couldn't tell, except that it would have been cost-prohibitive to do all those sets full-size when there was no talent acting in them.

Speaking of physical models, they were incredible -- especially if my guess about the sets is correct. I'm assuming there was little to no CGI in this.

I said it once in the other thread, but it deserves repeating, thank you cast and crew of Starship Exeter, you folks did an amazing job.

Okay, Dennis, I'm getting back in the car. Take me home.



That joke never gets old.

 

[pymfan2000]

Very well done. The long wait was frustrating but..kudos to the production for hanging in there and seeing it through to an end product.
I wish more Trek fan films were filmed, produced or penned half as good as Exeter managed.

I have to admit I was amongst those who doubted this would ever see a finished product. I am very pleased (and humbled) to admit I was wrong!

edit: penned or written half as well not half as good. Don't know what my mind was working on there.

 

[Lieut. Arex]

Congratulations on a job well done and thank you to all involved

 

[Bixby]

Saw the whole episode in one sitting and was pleasantly surprised that the story is really tight, engaging and dramatic in the best way. I found it a worthy heir to the best of TOS.

In a way, Tressaurian Intersection seems to be a mixture of the Doomsday Machine and Wrath of Khan: a sister ship dismantled and gutted by an overwhelming force, its Captain dead or soon-to-be...The prototype and what it does to the star is akin to the Genesis device, and the episode ends with Richards/Spock running from the bridge to the transporter room/engineering to save the ship, sacrificing her/his life for the others. The ship barely escapes a cosmic-level Armageddon at the last second, with the Captain told about the tragedy...

One thing that came to me some time ago about the cast of this series: in a way, they are the Anti-Star Trek : You have Kirk who is charming, gregarious, laidback...then you have Garrovick who can be surly, uptight and hotheaded. Bones is cranky but also a southern gentleman, while Cutty can be blue-collar pragmatic. McCoy has bedside manner to spare but his other alter ego, Azato is a bone fide misanthrope.

Spock is reserved, dignified and intellectual to the point of arrogance. Harris seems to play these qualities up to a point, B'Fuselek as the alien standardbearer is easily agitated and pretty clueless...

Anyhoo, I don't really have anything to quibble about, save that the Doctor's casualty list seems incomplete: It mentions Ensign Richards, the security guy who got vaporized by the two invading Tressaurians, and the brig officer whose neck was snapped by the escaping Tressaurian...But what about the redshirt who was, I assume, killed just outside the transporter room (whose phaser is appropriated by Richards), as well as the two transporter technicians (we see one's limp body lying against the transporter platform)?

Favorite scene in this episode? If I had to choose, it would be in the conference room as Richards cluelessly goes on and on about Garrovick's personal history, and everybody's reactions (Cutty, Azato and the helmsman) as they just know what the Captain's reaction is going to be...Priceless!!

 

[Mudd]

Well, Azato had filed the report about Director Scott Cummin's - I mean, the nameless redshirt's death in the corridor earlier. The report at the end was for the three folks who we saw killed. Honestly, I have no idea what happened to the transporter operators.

There was a lot of CG used in this show for the outer space stuff - the Exeter, the Tholian and Tressaurian ships, the BMFM (the giant Tholian device) - only one or two partial physical models in one or two shots (the crashed Kongo saucer, though surrounded by a matte painting, was a model). Models were used for a couple of interior sets - corridors, the main Engineering deck. Most sets were full-size.

 

[JT Perfecthair]

That was awesome. Several of my friends commented at the same time that whatever limitations of not being high definition video, the production has just incredible sound.

Maybe somebody could include a cliff notes version of the 140+ page "whatever happened to Starship Exeter" thread to explain the delays in completing the episode.

 

[RJDiogenes]

What th--?! Exeter is finished? I can't believe it. Time to start checking Amazon for The Last Dangerous Visions, I guess.

Congratulations to all concerned. I can't wait to see the final act, which will probably, hopefully, be tomorrow. I have no doubt that it will be a fantastic conclusion to a fantastic show.

 

[infullview]

I didn't care for the voice-over at the end. I assume this was done for pacing and to reflect a "life still goes on in her absence" or "showing us the ship is still standing thanks to her sacrifice" sentiment. I would have preferred to stick with Garrovick for the duration of the recording, perhaps in a static shot. But that's just personal preference, I guess.

I disagree. I think the intent was to summarize a theme that both Both Richards and Garrovick were cut from the same cloth. To me, the voice-over signalled Garrovicks' admiration. Their roles had been reversed.

 

[Mudd]

I was inspired by the image of Kirk's loneliness as he walked the corridors of the Enterprise at the end of "Balance of Terror."

 

[USS Intrepid]

I liked the voiceover, and I think it suited the character and the tone of the thing. That said, I'd personally have preferred a more melancholic tone for the last few lines. But that's entirely a matter of taste, and not a criticism of the choice that was made.

 

[RCAM]

I didn't care for the voice-over at the end. I assume this was done for pacing and to reflect a "life still goes on in her absence" or "showing us the ship is still standing thanks to her sacrifice" sentiment. I would have preferred to stick with Garrovick for the duration of the recording, perhaps in a static shot. But that's just personal preference, I guess.

I disagree. I think the intent was to summarize a theme that both Both Richards and Garrovick were cut from the same cloth. To me, the voice-over signalled Garrovicks' admiration. Their roles had been reversed.

That's an interesting thought. My preference remains the same, but if I watch it again, I'll have your interpretation on my mind.

 

[Maurice]

It would have been impossible to end the "letter" scene on Garrovick because the final lines were added as a "button" only about two months ago, so there's no footage of Jimm saying them.

 

[Kelso]

Very well done, folks.

 

[FredCFO]

There was some humor added to Act IV. Pause on the briefing room table monitor just before Garrovick dictates his letter. The casualty list and the death certificate have a few gags. There -- no spoilers I hope.

(I may have missed it, but I did not see anyone else mention this yet.)

Nice touch...especially considering "the agony and the esctasy" of finishing the episode. Thanks.

 

[MikeH92467]

There was some humor added to Act IV. Pause on the briefing room table monitor just before Garrovick dictates his letter. The casualty list and the death certificate have a few gags. There -- no spoilers I hope.

(I may have missed it, but I did not see anyone else mention this yet.)

Nice touch...especially considering "the agony and the esctasy" of finishing the episode. Thanks.

I mentioned it very obliquely. You really have to see it to appreciate it.

 

[Lord Garth FOI]

Christ Bailey that was awesome
Beautiful story which after years unwrapped itself in act four like a fine wine
Shit I want more

 

[RCAM]

It would have been impossible to end the "letter" scene on Garrovick because the final lines were added as a "button" only about two months ago, so there's no footage of Jimm saying them.

Ahhh... thanks for that tidbit. It would've been somewhat unsatisfying to end the monologue so early, meaning the voice-over was a necessary evil.

It does make more sense now that Garrovick flips the switch as if he's done talking, only for the monologue to continue (he thought he was done 10 years ago, but turns out he had more to say!).

That's one of the reasons the fan film community is nice. You have the filmmakers around to give you such information. Thanks to all the Exeter folks for taking the time.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I saw it yesterday, and was impressed.

I voted 'Good' but it could probably be 'Excellent' too. My major gripe is, as a guy who looks to act and direct in his own feature films someday, that Garrovick tends to 'go big' and animated during voice overs....but remain somewhat emotionless in his general delivery. Like a poster earlier brought out, it was a bit inconsistent.

With that said, I stayed with the episode till the end.

*SPOILERS*
As a fan of Officer Vandi Richards, I thought she was going to actually come back. For example, when she was clawed by the Tressaurian, I assumed that she was going to get patched up and be back on duty. However, fate had her become a sacrifice....in order to save the ship.

It was an interesting turn of events having her be a wet-behind-the-ears officer, or at least an officer who had a 'romantic' view of space exploration. As was brought out by Garrovick, sometimes what is thought of as heroic is just a person trying to survive.

Richards gets more kudos as well by being an individual who could fend off a Tressaurian, where trained security guards could not.

Sidenote: I can't find the post, but whoever 'posted' the story where the TOS crew meet the actors (i.e. Shatner, Nimoy, Kelly)...thank you! I was impressed with that Jean Lorrah short as well. It didn't pad along, and was very clever...

One little nitpick is that the story would obviously be fully understood by those familiar with classic Trek. For example, the 'Gene' is very possibly referencing Gene Coon, where many casual fans may automatically think it is Roddenberry.

But, I digress. It was a fun story.

 

[lurok]

Only seen a couple of fanfilms (OGAM, the two STC, SV and one of the early Phase II), but this was without a doubt best scripted and structured. Some stand-out shots: the crashed Kongo saucer, and 'black hole' sequence worthy of TV series. I just wished I liked Garrovick more. Harris and Cutty fine; I even quite liked the oddball Andorian.