Indie Trek - most exciting at the moment?

[Danlav05]

I use indie Trek as a broad term - some are made by budding filmmakers, hobby groups or even Hollywood professionals (fyi I see no hirearchy - we are all fans who have different ways of showing our passion for Trek!), but 10 years after Enterprise ended there is seemingly more of a variety of these things than ever.

We have Horizon, Tommy Kraft's Romulan War film which poses to wrap some of Enterprise's storylines; Axanar which looks phenomenal; Captain Pike is starting up; Phase II and Continues... continue; Yorktown is finally going to fly after over 3 decades; Farragut and Isolation are moving from the TOS era to movie; Intrepid are readying more shorts and Renegades will bring back old faces - plus there are countless other projects being made or in the pipeline - no doubt countless talented fans will want to salute next year's 50th Anniversary.

Yes I still think a new Trek series should be on TV (or Netflix/Amazon Prime) but you look at that list and think that there is so much great Trek in the works right now - undeniably a variety of different things produced to a very high standard, not counting the novels and comics (oh yeah and Star Trek Beyond)!!

 

[Amaris]

I like seeing so many fan films. There's plenty of variety, and a lot of dedication. My current favorites are "Continues" and "Phase II", but I love seeing so many attempts at making fun and engaging Star Trek, and wish everyone the very best of luck in seeing those episodes get off the ground. From one fan to another, it is greatly appreciated.

P.S. - A shout-out to the great people at "Starship Excelsior", who produce a great audio drama. Just because it's not on TV doesn't mean it isn't awesome!

 

[Barbreader]

There are also a dozen series that are not available in English, (e.g, Bohemia in Czech). I continue to urge those filmmakers to provide subtitles, so far with limited success.

I would also mention (sticking with series that have produced at least one episode and are still in production) Antyllus, Project Potemkin and it's 4 spin-off series now that Potemkin is ending, (including Starship Tristan, Starship Deimos, and a Klingon series), ongoing work by Aurora, Dreadnought Dominion, comedy The Redshirt Diaries, Dark Armada, Star Trekz Empire, Reliant, Improvised Star Trek (mostly live), Eternal Night, Rendevous, Cataja (German and English), Romulan Wars, Star Trek:Enterprise, The New Generation. In addition, there are a few dozen groups that say they are working on films, (e.g., Anthology) but have not yet released a complete episode.

There are also over four dozen Star Trek Fan-made Audio Dramas, http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/247.html

 

[Danlav05]

There are also a dozen series that are not available in English, (e.g, Bohemia in Czech). I continue to urge those filmmakers to provide subtitles, so far without success.

I would also mention (sticking with series still in production) Antyllus, Project Potemkin and it's 4 spin-off series now that Potemkin is ending, (including Starship Tristan, Starship Deimos, and a Klingon series), Farragut, and their spin-off, Isolation, ongoing work by Aurora, Dreadnought Dominion, comedy The Redshirt Diaries, Dark Armada, Star Trekz Empire, Reliant, Improvised Star Trek (mostly live), Eternal Night, Rendevous, Cataja (German and English). In addition, there are a few dozen groups that say they are working on films, (e.g., Anthology) but have not yet released a complete episode.

There are also over four dozen Star Trek Fan-made Audio Dramas, http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/247.html

Thanks I did acknowledge these two above I'm looking forward to them starting adventures in the Movie Era, it will be a nice change and regarding as we already know the 5YM era versions of these characters.

I feel somewhat a hypocrite for not following the audio dramas being a huge fan of Big Finish Doctor Who!!

 

[Barbreader]

Thanks I did acknowledge these two above I'm looking forward to them starting adventures in the Movie Era, it will be a nice change and regarding as we already know the 5YM era versions of these characters.

I feel somewhat a hypocrite for not following the audio dramas being a huge fan of Big Finish Doctor Who!!

I have over three dozen groups working on Trek Fan Films that haven't produced any yet. http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/210.html (The 25 groups in single letter or digit appear active and moving forward, the 17 with two letters starting with an A such as (AF) say they are active, but they are moving slowly or are on short-term hold. The rest (more than 80) are classified as being on long term hold or abandon.)

 

[Phantassm]

There are also a dozen series that are not available in English, (e.g, Bohemia in Czech). I continue to urge those filmmakers to provide subtitles, so far with limited success.

I would also mention (sticking with series that have produced at least one episode and are still in production) Antyllus, Project Potemkin and it's 4 spin-off series now that Potemkin is ending, (including Starship Tristan, Starship Deimos, and a Klingon series), ongoing work by Aurora, Dreadnought Dominion, comedy The Redshirt Diaries, Dark Armada, Star Trekz Empire, Reliant, Improvised Star Trek (mostly live), Eternal Night, Rendevous, Cataja (German and English), Romulan Wars, Star Trek:Enterprise, The New Generation. In addition, there are a few dozen groups that say they are working on films, (e.g., Anthology) but have not yet released a complete episode.

There are also over four dozen Star Trek Fan-made Audio Dramas, http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/247.html

I would also mention Starship Valiant.

 

[Barbreader]

I would also mention Starship Valiant.

You are correct, Sir. My mistake: http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/42.html
There is also Star Trek: Valiant, http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/52.html
and Nature's Hunger: http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/44.html

There are probably more that I missed in scanning my website for active fan film groups that produced films. And, there are those that claim to be coming back to life, but haven't released films for many years, e.g. Star Trek: Beyond, http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/170.html which claims to be working on a sequel series, Minotaur. (Also, Red Squad, http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/116.html, Fem Trekz/Earhart, etc.)

 

[Lapis Exilis]

I'm astonished - I just discovered the fan productions (after hearing about them for years and considering them as a curious, but probably not very interesting offshoot of fandom) while looking online for an available version of the story Mindsifter, which for some reason powerfully jumped out of my memory a few days ago. What do I find instead of the text short story but an episode of New Voyages which blew me away with the production values and the sheer earnestness and true... Trekness of its efforts. All I can say is Wow. It touched my heart and pleased my 12-year-old self, which is frequently wanting these days. I hope to dive in more over the coming months. Truly, Trekkies are impressive people.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Well, right now it's indie Trek versus novelverse versus Beyond, for the most part. Indie Trek is delivering the goods; novelverse is too, but there's such a thirst for the cinematic form as it's been ten years since the last "real" show left the airwaves, and for some, it wasn't even a good show. I'm super-stoked for Beyond, as both a Primeverse and a nuTrek fan, but we know next to nothing about it so I can't exactly put it on a pedestal of the mind at the moment.

I'd say that, yes, "indie Trek" is probably the most exciting wing of the brand.

Also, Lapis Exilis, I'm right there with you. It was only a few short days ago that I finally gave this whole fan production schtick an honest shot after 27 years (in other words, all my life) of Trek appreciation. I'm wondering if you and I are the shape of things to come: if perhaps more and more sci-fi fans will give this stuff its due and recognize the quality that's coming out of here. I hope so. It can only spell good things for the franchise's health.

The one thing I certainly want to see, however, is more non-TOS material. I kind of liken it to the indie gaming scene's big (and I mean huge) retro fascination over the past several years. 8-bit isn't really my thing, but it's easier to build (although still tough to make a great game, of course) and it's been super-hot again for years after being gone for decades. Now 16-bit is taking shape as well. I can't wait for 32-bit's renaissance, because that's what I spent the most time with growing up.

In Trek's case, TOS -- specifically, the 5YM -- is a completely logical place to focus on for a while, for any number of reasons. Not the least of which being perennial popularity. But what I want to see eventually is a big fan-production resurgence of some other eras. I grew up on the 24th century, and I also enjoy the 22nd. When I discovered that Gary Graham is back as Soval for Axanar my jaw dropped. I know there'll never be quite the same yearning for more 2150s content as 2260s, but something, anything, would be superb. Maybe I'll start learning the trade and contribute, myself. More 2370s/2380s would be fantastic as well. Renegades seems rather divisive thus far and I can see why, but screw it, I love me some nuBSG; give me the dark, give me the dank. I look forward to it, but largely because it's TNG-era.

 

[Karzak]

^ You should check out Star Trek Intrepid, a production done in Scotland. High quality stories, attention to detail, believable performances, and gorgeous scenery.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

^ You should check out Star Trek Intrepid, a production done in Scotland. High quality stories, attention to detail, believable performances, and gorgeous scenery.

Sounds great. I will so do that! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Mudd]

Intrepid is probably the most interesting of the current productions, at least given that Farragut in their current form are folding their tent.

 

[DCR]

Intrepid is probably the most interesting of the current productions, at least given that Farragut in their current form are folding their tent.

Although we still have The Crossing to come from Farragut, and I hope their new direction comes to fruition soon.

 

[Danlav05]

Intrepid is probably the most interesting of the current productions, at least given that Farragut in their current form are folding their tent.

Although we still have The Crossing to come from Farragut, and I hope their new direction comes to fruition soon.

Intrepid was great flying the flag for Britian with the HF crossovers and now it keeps the 24th Century flame alive, plus I can't wait to hear more about Farragut Forward and their new 'movie era' studio!

 

[Barbreader]

Intrepid was great flying the flag for Britian [sic] with the HF crossovers and now it keeps the 24th Century flame alive, plus I can't wait to hear more about Farragut Forward and their new 'movie era' studio!

The way things are going, Intrepid may be flying the flag for Scotland as Britain may go the way of the British Empire. Intrepid is also one of my favorites.

There are many TNG/DS9/VOY era (hereinafter 'silver age') Trek fan films, but many are not in English. Most non-English language Star Trek Fan Films are silver age.

Many people would point to Hidden Frontier's "Star Trek: Odyssey" as a particularly good English language silver age offering.

The Metrensky Incident, out of the Czech Republic, can be viewed with English subtitles. Sadly, the extensive series, Star Trek: Bohemia, is available only to those who speak Czech.

The animated (English language) series, Star Trek Time Warp, does not have a full voice cast. Still, many point to it as a quality silver age adventure.

I personally have a soft spot for Star Trekz Empire, with its focus on a Klingon crew and it's captain's friendship with a Federation captain who is a female Indian (subcontinent).

All of the major (more than 10 minutes) productions I know about in the silver age are listed at Star Trek Reviewed in Blogs 80 to 137. You can most easily access Blogs 80 to 137 through the Table of Contents, here: http://startrekreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/06/2.html

Be aware that Both Hidden Frontier and Star Trek: Osiris have made changes in their locations, and I am still updating the links to their work. (Likewise the TOS movie era series, Project Potemkin)

 

[USS Intrepid]

You folks are far too kind. I appreciate the kind words, and I'm proud of the work we've done, but for Lapis Exilis' benefit, I'm forced to admit that we're by far one of the more bargain basement productions.

 

[DCR]

You folks are far too kind. I appreciate the kind words but we're by far one of the more bargain basement productions.

Bargain basement or not, you do quality stories.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Most non-English language Star Trek Fan Films are silver age.

That's a bit fascinating, really. I wonder why this is the case.

 

[Mudd]

You folks are far too kind. I appreciate the kind words but we're by far one of the more bargain basement productions.

Bargain basement or not, you do quality stories.

Yep. It's not the budgets, it's the people and the stories.

 

[USS Intrepid]

Thanks folks, I really do appreciate it.