I'm So Sick Of The Secrecy...

[T'Cal]

I don't get it either. So many best-selling novels have been made into great movies. Millions of people have read those stories, which means they know what the plot is and what the likely ending is to be; that doesn't keep them out of the theatres. I don't want to know the entire script nor do I want to know every plotline or even the ending. But there's no reason why they couldn't come out and say something like:

"Here's the story: An aging Spock learns that alien renegades have gone back in time to change the past, specifically to stop young James T. Kirk from becoming the hero he's destined to be. So Spock goes back to protect his friend and preserve the proper timeline. While staying within what has been established in the vast history of Star Trek and staying true to Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's vision, we will bring you a fresh and original story that we hope you will find exciting, dramatic, and fun. You'll see many of your favorite Star Trek characters like you've never seen them before. We hope to impress the very loyal fans of the Original Series while capturing new fans. Here are a few pictures of our cast in costume and on the sets, and a few behind-the-scenes videos of the filming..."

That would build anticipation, too. This super-secret stuff is more annoying than anything else.

 

[Ovation]

AudioBridge said:
I'm VERY tired of all the secrecy.

There are several reasons for so much secrecy. They can talk all they want about preserving the surprise or building interest. Ultimately, that's bull plop.

First, their biggest projects so far, Lost-Alias-MI3, relied heavily on keeping the stories secret. At this point, Abrams team simply operates on secrecy. That's how they do it.

And it works quite well. Lost and Alias, especially, would NOT have worked without the secrecy. And why the "bull plop"? How is working with secrecy as a rule incompatible with wanting to keep things surprising?

Second, I'm sure there is a big fear that if they release some images or info too soon it could generate a negative response. Remember, Abrams got burned once before when his early draft script for a Superman movie got out and was trashed by AICN and the fans. Enterprise is also a good lesson; the first image of the NX-01 was panned far more than it was praised by fandom. Already the ship shown in the teaser trailer has generated a lot of controversy among fans.

That's an argument FOR secrecy--not against.

Abrams and team need to get over themselves and release something juicy. A shot of the crew on the bridge, Kirk firing a phaser, old spock with new spock, a short behind the scenes video...SOMETHING, please.

Actually, "fans" need to get over themselves and just wait for the movie. The filmmakers owe us NOTHING but their best effort for the finished product. A trailer (and one hopes it is not too revealing) 4 months or so before the film, along with another teaser a few months earlier than that (said teaser should be heavy on atmosphere and short on specifics) is AMPLE.

I don't want the story spoiled; I know enough about it already to know I don't like it. I'm hoping the dialogue, acting and directing make up for it. But it's time to offer up a true appetizer to the fans. I can wait for the meal.

Wow. Takes very little for you to make up your mind, then. If you already KNOW you won't like it, why bother stressing over it at all? I prefer to see a finished product before pronouncing judgment, myself, but that's just me. Besides, if you already KNOW you won't like it, there is little incentive for the filmmakers to indulge you. If you said you have reservations based on the paucity of information at hand but you're willing to reserve judgment until you see the movie for yourself, your desire for an "appetizer" would be more sympathetic. But as you KNOW you won't like it, well...why should Abrams and co. indulge "you" (not you personally, of course, but the attitude you represent)?

 

[Warp Coil]

I'm actually happy about the secrecy. It keeps people interested, and it prevents films from getting ruined by internet fanboys who post scripts and pics on the web, and start protesting the film months before it comes out.

I honestly don't want to know everything about this movie before it comes out. I want to walk into the theater and not really know what I'm in for.

 

[ancient]

I want to see the new Enterprise. The new unifroms.

I'd rather not be spoiled on the story though.

 

[AudioBridge]

Lost and Alias, especially, would NOT have worked without the secrecy.

My point is this isn't a mystery/spy/supernatural concept like Lost and Alias. Such secrecy isn't necessary. And I said I'm not asking to be spoiled. Just less secrecy.

That's an argument FOR secrecy--not against.

I didn't say it wasn't But they're going to live or die by what they come up with already. Might as well be confident in it.

The filmmakers owe us NOTHING

Never said they did. Just making the point that all this secrecy is like anti-marketing.

If you already KNOW you won't like it, why bother stressing over it at all?

I'm simply tired of time travel in Trek. It's supremely contrived at this point. That doesn't mean I don't like Trek anymore, or won't enjoy the film. If I wasn't excited about the movie I wouldn't care about all the secrecy! I just don't like the plot premise. If you'd read closely you'd have seen that.

Folks, look at the new Indiana Jones film. There have been a couple in depth articles and set/cast photos released at opportune times that whet your appetite for the film (and give faith that they're staying true to what's come before) without spoiling the movie. There have been toy and marketing materials that were released without authorization that have spoiled some aspects of the film, and I don't condone that.

But pre-release handling of IJ has been much better than Star Trek. Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are also good examples. All I'm saying is that I hope Abrams' team adopts that approach, and sooner rather than later.

 

[Samuel T. Cogley]

Frontier said:
Anyone else sick and tired of this super-secrecy?

What, exactly, is the point?

It's called "anticipation."

Build enough of it, and we will be knocking the walls down to get in to see this movie. And that translates to dollars and (most likely) a more enjoyable film experience.

Abrams is doing a great job of building anticipation. This thread and others are proof of that.

And boys, if you can build anticipation like this with a woman, you will have her eating out of your hand. Take note. Chicks dig anticipation. (A lot more than chicks dig Star Trek. )

 

[AudioBridge]

It's called "anticipation."

Yeah, as in I anticpate them actually giving us something of substance to build anticipation. I'm tired of anticipation. They need to give the fans some metaphorical foreplay.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Samuel T. Cogley said:

It's called "anticipation."

Damn you, now Carly Simon will be in my head all afternoon. And not in a good way.

 

[ST-One]

AudioBridge said:
I'm VERY tired of all the secrecy.

There are several reasons for so much secrecy. They can talk all they want about preserving the surprise or building interest. Ultimately, that's bull plop.

First, their biggest projects so far, Lost-Alias-MI3, relied heavily on keeping the stories secret. At this point, Abrams team simply operates on secrecy. That's how they do it.

Second, I'm sure there is a big fear that if they release some images or info too soon it could generate a negative response. Remember, Abrams got burned once before when his early draft script for a Superman movie got out and was trashed by AICN and the fans. Enterprise is also a good lesson; the first image of the NX-01 was panned far more than it was praised by fandom. Already the ship shown in the teaser trailer has generated a lot of controversy among fans.

Abrams and team need to get over themselves and release something juicy. A shot of the crew on the bridge, Kirk firing a phaser, old spock with new spock, a short behind the scenes video...SOMETHING, please.

I don't want the story spoiled;...

So far to good...

AudioBridge said:
... I know enough about it already to know I don't like it. I'm hoping the dialogue, acting and directing make up for it. But it's time to offer up a true appetizer to the fans. I can wait for the meal.

But you just had to get 'Fan-wined' youself...

 

[AudioBridge]

AudioBridge said:
... I know enough about it already to know I don't like it. I'm hoping the dialogue, acting and directing make up for it. But it's time to offer up a true appetizer to the fans. I can wait for the meal.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



But you just had to get 'Fan-wined' youself...

I'm not sure what that means, but as I stated later I'm simply not enthused about another time travel story. It's overdone in Trek, and I was hoping for something more original. Why can't we just see these characters during these years without people from the future?

That doesn't mean that other aspects of the story won't be good. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt on that, but the underlying premise of Romulans traveling back in time to mess with Kirk is anathema to me. That being said, there are well made time travel stories and poorly made time travel stories. I'm also giving them the benefit of the doubt that they've fashioned a good one, even if a time travel story is not what I wanted.

 

[AudioBridge]

Incidentally, look at what the lack of materials from Abrams and Co has done; there's a thread full of people interested in a blurry video filmed by a helicopter in LA. People are so desperate for something to chew on that they're basically eating shoe leather. It's time for the movie folks to give us something substantinal.

 

[Michael]

AudioBridge said:
Incidentally, look at what the lack of materials from Abrams and Co has done; there's a thread full of people interested in a blurry video filmed by a helicopter in LA. People are so desperate for something to chew on that they're basically eating shoe leather.

And that is bad exactly why?

 

[cardinal biggles]

He wants something substantial to hate. He's already convinced he won't like this movie, he just wants Abrams to fill in the blanks for him.

 

[Nowhere Man]

I wouldn't say i'm sick of the secrecy, but i would like to see a shot of the crew at leas, but i don't want the whole movie spoiled like they did with Star Wars prequils, I think Abrahms took a lesson from Star Wars and i'm sure he wants to give us something, but a little at a time. I'm going to see the movie regardless, but I don't want the whole thing spoiled.the secrecy is alittle excessive, but it is a good way's away.

 

[Tralah]

We will get something more substantial at some point. We just have to be patient and wait. I know it can be hard to wait as I'm so excited about this movie, but keep in mind it's not going to be released until December. I don't see why we expect to have more info now when they're not even done filming. As the date get closer, I'm sure we'll get flooded with more information and promo shots, including a new trailer.

 

[cardinal biggles]

Yeah, it's what? 10½ months until the film opens? They've got to pace themselves with the information they release, or there won't be anything left to entice people with by the time they're into the home stretch.

 

[AudioBridge]

He wants something substantial to hate. He's already convinced he won't like this movie, he just wants Abrams to fill in the blanks for him.

You must be some kind of jerk, Biggles. If you'd read my posts, you would have seen I'm excited about the film. I'm unhappy about the underlying plot device, but I'm giving the benefit of the doubt in other areas. I'm not looking for anything to hate, but I could start with you, bigglebrain.

Ten months left to showtime? Then how about one teaser image or a 2 minute behind the scenes vignette each month? They might already be planning this, but that doesn't mean its unreasonable to suggest it to them.

 

[cardinal biggles]

I don't want the story spoiled; I know enough about it already to know I don't like it. I'm hoping the dialogue, acting and directing make up for it.

Those certainly sound like the words of an excited man. Unless to you "excited" is a synonym for "desperately seeking a reason not to give in to temptation and bash the shit out of a movie I haven't seen yet."

Sincerely,
bigglebrain

 

[AudioBridge]

Those certainly sound like the words of an excited man. Unless to you "excited" is a synonym for "desperately seeking a reason not to give in to temptation and bash the shit out of a movie I haven't seen yet."

Why are you making assumptions? I've stated how I feel. Let me clear the air for you...I can't wait for this film - I'm really looking forward to it - I love Star Trek...end of story. Got it? Sheesh.

On topic, don't you think it would only help to have more engaged marketing for this film start about now? They've been good about engaging the fans online, so now how about some online mini-documentaries, cast/crew interviews, etc?

 

[Garth Rockett]

AudioBridge said:
Folks, look at the new Indiana Jones film. There have been a couple in depth articles and set/cast photos released at opportune times that whet your appetite for the film (and give faith that they're staying true to what's come before) without spoiling the movie.

Most of the Indiana Jones stuff I've seen has been coming out in the last few weeks. The movie hits theaters in just three months, so one would expect more info at this point in the schedule. I don't remember very much info about Indy last summer while they were filming, which is the point Trek is right now.

Speaking of the new Indiana Jones movie, we're just over three months away and we still haven't gotten a trailer. Star Trek released a trailer last month, and has already released two teaser posters, so they've made more of an effort than Indy in some areas.