Go BIG or GO HOME!

[Admiral2]

You want to know another of my ideas? I shall tell you.

Ages ago, I proposed a new series idea where a huge-ass Federation starship with a civilization aboard would travel out into the wider cosmos, because I thought it was time that Star Trek went big or went home. Now that MGM has reworked that proposal into Stargate: Universe - and once again dared to go where Trek's creators won't - I would like to revisit my original theme, only this time, the mountains will come to Mohammed.

The premise of this series, SUNDOWN, is that the crew of a Nova-class Federation Starship become the go-to crew whenever anybody in the Federation faces the biggest, scariest, most mind-boggling threats anyone could ever imagine.

And I mean "biggest" quite literally.

I am talking about continent-sized, artificial hurricanes! I am talking about skyscraper-sized robots bent on galactic conquest! I am talking about sentient and really pissed off class-M planets! Anything that isn't human-sized and wearing pancake make-up that has the same politics and passions as human beings. GO BIG OR GO HOME!

Naturally, doing this as a traditional weekly series could be problematic, so I would propose a Saturday night movie of the week to compete with Syfy's crappy movies. All I'd ask for is three movies to prove the concept. I might get one if CBS is in a real generous mood.

The series would have a "Big Three": Captain Dian Phua, Lt. Commander Alenn and Doctor Sandra Langkowski. I've already used them and the ship in this fanfic in a monthly contest. You may read it to get a feel for the stars.

I'm saving details of the pilot for a fanfic (cuz, let's be real...that's probably the only place this would get done), but I'll gladly discuss other details if you'd like.

I'm Admiral2 and I approved this post.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Yeah...go home.

 

[Admiral2]

Yeah...go home.

I'll take that as a nay.


Any other takers?

 

[Chaos Descending]

I also vote for "GO HOME", of the two choices given.

Sorry.

 

[Admiral2]

I also vote for "GO HOME", of the two choices given.

Sorry.

Hmmmm...

Another Nay.


Sensing a pattern...

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Please don't use Stargate as an example of anything Star Trek should ever be doing. Particularly not the unwatchable crap show currently on the air. Judging from your post, you don't get Star Trek at all, anyway.

 

[T'Girl]

... and Doctor Sandra Langkowski.

Any relation to marvel comic's Dr. Langkowski?

Who's self-experimentation with gamma radiation (didn't see that one coming) resulted in the ability to become
"The Sasquatch." As we all know, Star Trek has long lacked a shaggy orange haired giant character in a position
of authority.

The omission is really racist if you think about it.

 

[Admiral2]

Please don't use Stargate as an example of anything Star Trek should ever be doing. Particularly not the unwatchable crap show currently on the air. Judging from your post, you don't get Star Trek at all, anyway.

First, Stargate has cribbed so much stuff from Star Trek that it would seem only fair that the process should work in reverse once in a while.

Second, the existence of canon epsiodes like TOS's "The Immunity Syndrome" (E versus the system-sized amoeba), "The Doomsday Machine" (E versus the giant cornicopia), TNG's "Encounter at Farpoint" (E versus the giant lifeform-mate of the base) and "Tin Man" (E versus the giant living asteroid) and movies like ST: The Motion Picture (E versus the giant V'GER construct) demonstrate that people who got paid to write Star Trek have had the same idea more than once. All I'm saying is it should be the main focus of the next series.

Third, there's a difference between me "not getting" Star Trek and just not getting what you think Star Trek is. I'll cop to the latter.

T'Girl wrote:
Any relation to marvel comic's Dr. Langkowski?

Who's self-experimentation with gamma radiation (didn't see that one coming) resulted in the ability to become
"The Sasquatch." As we all know, Star Trek has long lacked a shaggy orange haired giant character in a position
of authority.

The omission is really racist if you think about it.

Well, if the good doctor changed into an orange-haired sasquatch in the middle of a crisis it might make a very good B-story...

Seriously, I was just stuck for a name and that was the first thing that made sense.

 

[Scout101]

If you're going to crib off of something, though, it should be something that's either a critical or ratings success. Copying off of something that's not doing all that great is an excellent way to pre-cancel your show.

As for the "big" theme? So what? Yes, big things have showed up before, and been dealt with by our crews. Crystaline Entity is another good example. But how does that make it a show? In your examples, the show was about other things, and big stuff came up occasionally (to up drama, challenge the crew, or just to use kewl visuals of things the size of the ship, so you can show both on the screen together).

How would one even specialize in "big" things? Size isn't much of an indicator, and a crew that deals in giant space aliens and lifeforms may not be all that great against giant killer robots. Different strategy/tactics/weapons required.

The ship size doesn't even matter, because they drew the 'bad guy' so that it was roughly the same size, and you could show the two together. Not going to make one so big that the Enterprise only shows up as a speck, that's not interesting to look at. Same size, you can show both in detail.

Really don't see any workable idea here, just a mention that everything should be really big. Pass...

 

[Admiral2]

If you're going to crib off of something, though, it should be something that's either a critical or ratings success. Copying off of something that's not doing all that great is an excellent way to pre-cancel your show.

As for the "big" theme? So what? Yes, big things have showed up before, and been dealt with by our crews. Crystaline Entity is another good example. But how does that make it a show? In your examples, the show was about other things, and big stuff came up occasionally (to up drama, challenge the crew, or just to use kewl visuals of things the size of the ship, so you can show both on the screen together).

How would one even specialize in "big" things? Size isn't much of an indicator, and a crew that deals in giant space aliens and lifeforms may not be all that great against giant killer robots. Different strategy/tactics/weapons required.

The ship size doesn't even matter, because they drew the 'bad guy' so that it was roughly the same size, and you could show the two together. Not going to make one so big that the Enterprise only shows up as a speck, that's not interesting to look at. Same size, you can show both in detail.

Really don't see any workable idea here, just a mention that everything should be really big. Pass...

And another nay.

Fair enough.

 

[Scout101]

Not just a yes or no, but outside of things being bigger, what really is there TO your idea? Can't base a series around a cgi graphic that really lacks perspective in the first place...

 

[The Inquisitor]

Don't be put off by negative responses man. Keep at it. The idea isn't overly workable series wise but could possibly work as an animated one off. People can be so rude, constructive criticism seems to be lacking.

 

[Vance]

Got to give another nay.

"Kewl Awesoeme Kewl BIG Awesome Kewl!" is the mantra of bad fanfic. IT really sounds like you don't understand what made any iteration of Star Trek stand out from all the Flash Gordons and Buck Rogers of the world.

 

[Scout101]

Don't be put off by negative responses man. Keep at it.

That should be the behavior regardless of results. Posting here and getting an "i like it" doesn't result in it being picked up by anyone, turned into a novel, or even internet wins.

The idea isn't overly workable series wise but could possibly work as an animated one off.

How so? Seems like the worst possible execution of this idea, honestly. If you draw the monster bad guy ship, and then the super big Trek ship next to it, they both look the same size, right? Only way to convey this is to show them next to a speck of a regular Fleet ship, or draw a starbase really tiny, etc. This really isn't an idea for a series, it's an idea for the graphics of a series. And as you can only convey size by comparing it to other things, they'll all look the same anyway...

People can be so rude, constructive criticism seems to be lacking.

And a common complaint in here, seemingly from people that just don't understand how things work, or can't take ANYTHING other than strong praise. He's gotten plenty of constructive criticism, nudges as to how to refine things, and what specifically wasn't working for them. Not really anything rude in here at all. If you can't handle people saying they don't like your work (and very politely), then don't bother putting anything creative out there, as you'll cry yourself to sleep every night with all the people that 'hate' you...

 

[Admiral2]

The Inquisitor wrote:
Don't be put off by negative responses man. Keep at it.

Thank you for the support, but I'll be fine.

The idea isn't overly workable series wise but could possibly work as an animated one off.

Anything you can animate once you can animate five times, especially with most of the design prep work done for the pilot. Five episodes qualifies as a series.

People can be so rude, constructive criticism seems to be lacking.

I've delivered a negative critique or two myself. I'll survive these.

Vance wrote:
Got to give another nay.

"Kewl Awesoeme Kewl BIG Awesome Kewl!" is the mantra of bad fanfic.

Then I'll be sure never to use it again. Wouldn't want to write bad fanfic, would I?

IT really sounds like you don't understand what made any iteration of Star Trek stand out from all the Flash Gordons and Buck Rogers of the world.

What a wonderfully elitist notion you and Temis have adopted. Let's see...I've seen every episode of TOS, every episode of TNG, every episode of DS9, most of VOY and ENT, every movie except JJTrek, but I have no idea what Trek is about and I know jack about its uniqueness.

Dang it! Ya got me, Vance! I'll chalk up your "nay" vote.

Scout101 wrote:
Not just a yes or no, but outside of things being bigger, what really is there TO your idea?

I don't know what you want me to tell you, Scout. The idea is I am tired of Trek's creators - and Trek's fans - thinking small! I'm tired of political intrigue ideas, tired of badly disguised rip-offs of Firefly ideas, sick to ever-loving death of Starfleet Academy ideas! I would like to be in awe of the sheer power and magnitude of the situation the hero ship faces every week! I want a world saved every week! A galaxy saved during sweeps month!

And before some smart-ass says it: Yes, that is what Stargate did. SG-1 lasted ten seasons. All I'm asking for is one.

 

[Scout101]

So make the STAKES bigger (more action/drama/politics/intrigue/whatever), not the size of the ships. Just increasing the physical size of the ships doesn't change anything, especially when you have to show them on a screen, so have to scale everything else up with it, meaning it looks the same as it would have before...

The other problem is one to learn from 24. You can go over the top and shock people, but once you do it a couple times, there's nowhere left to go but even MORE over the top, and it very quickly reaches 'stupid' levels. If you want a different one of these every episode, you'll reach 'stupid' trying to top yourself before you run your first 6 episodes, and will never make it out of winter break, if you get there...

And if you save the galaxy the first few episodes in a row, any time you deal with something LESS than destruction of the universe, it's a letdown or filler episode.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Maybe I'm seeing something different in my head when I read what you've described than the rest of these folks, but I'm going to give it a Yay, and suggest making it a dramedy. I'd watch.

 

[Vance]

What a wonderfully elitist notion you and Temis have adopted.

And the BEST way to make sure you get Trek fans aboard your project is to behave like this. Since you've decided to cop an attitude and basically act like every other part-time fan-fic writer over the years that's come down the pipe, and also totally ignore any criticism and statements of WHY this project isn't all that great of an idea... I'm sure you're destined to do great things with it!

Obviously I just wasn't as enlightened as you. :P

 

[The Inquisitor]

Curse me for not being able to figure out how to use those dark blue quote snippets, im new to this.

Scout101, I'm fairly thick skinned and do 'understand how things work' (bar the multi quote). Just think being overly critical doesn't help is all. The day of my previous post was made while in the workplace while dealing with more than rude customers. Apologies if it came over the wrong way.

 

[Scout101]

But saying "yay, awesome!" no matter what people put out doesn't help, either. What's wrong with constructive criticism? Seems useful, getting someone with a fresh perspective to tell you things you missed because you were too close to the subject.

If you can't handle even gentle criticism, you should absolutely stop creating things that you intend to share with anyone, because you're just in for heartburn. Writing/creating is about the WORST profession/hobby for that sort of thing, as even successful writers are shot down 95% of the time...

If someone can't handle a question as simple as "what's the point?" or "how does it flesh out?" about their work, it's DOA no matter what. If you can't defend your idea (and ideally, refine it from there), it's not going to make it.

This idea just seemed to have big (pun intended) problems that make it unworkable. Can't really show BIG things without smaller things to put them in perspective, so if both ships are giants, they just look the same size on a tv screen, so no benefit there. If you mean big as in the stakes are huge, then it runs into the problem the show '24' had, where they had to go SO far over the top every season to top what they had already done that it just became retarded. If you go over the top every time, how do you rachet up the tension, or do the 'important' episodes? Max power all the time becomes boring, and then you have to do even dumber things to try and get a reaction after a while...