Never seen TOS scenes, but would've been nice...

[Warped9]

Re: Never seen refit?

Kazeite, you did indeed clean-up my quick-and-dirty pic. Good show.

reno floyd, I like some of what you added, but I also think some of it is overdone and looks jarring. I particularly like the additions to the overhead screens.

Earlier in his career Lee Marvi-- er Commodore Braxton-York was actually the Farragut's First Officer under the now deceased Captain Garrovick, a young Kirk's mentor so to speak. I'll bet he busted Kirk's ass a few times.

 

[reno floyd]

Re: Never seen refit?

Are you talking about the bridge? I'm hostng them for websbestcomics he worked hard. I'm too dang lazy to do all that.

 

[Warped9]

Re: Never seen refit?

Posted by reno floyd:
Are you talking about the bridge? I'm hostng them for websbestcomics he worked hard. I'm too dang lazy to do all that.

Sorry. Yes, I was referring to the bridge scenes.

I don't believe it, but this thread is about to cross the 10,000 views mark. Kinda wild.

 

[Guest]

Re: Never seen refit?

Here's another one--this is a scene from City On The Edge Of Forever, one of those great episodes that could have used a more 'epic' approach to some of the scenery...took a photo and 'pulled the camera back' to show those ruins that 'stretch to the horizon'...

City On The Edge of Forever 'Special Edition'

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Re: Never seen refit?

Looks great, but now it makes me wish the gateway was a bit bigger (or at least, the ruins around the hole itself should stretch a bit further).

 

[Warped9]

Re: Never seen refit?

Posted by websbestcomics:
Here's another one--this is a scene from City On The Edge Of Forever, one of those great episodes that could have used a more 'epic' approach to some of the scenery...took a photo and 'pulled the camera back' to show those ruins that 'stretch to the horizon'...

City On The Edge of Forever 'Special Edition'

Whoa! I can quibble about the details, but the concept behind the thinking is wild! Nifty.

 

[Warped9]

Re: Never seen refit?

After their 5-year voyage Kirk accompanies Spock on a visit to the city of Shi-Kahr on Vulcan...

 

[reno floyd]

Re: Never seen refit?

Posted by websbestcomics:
Here's another one--this is a scene from City On The Edge Of Forever, one of those great episodes that could have used a more 'epic' approach to some of the scenery...took a photo and 'pulled the camera back' to show those ruins that 'stretch to the horizon'...

City On The Edge of Forever 'Special Edition'

Man that is just great

 

[Guest]

Re: Never seen refit?

Thanks. Here's a shot of the conference room, with some minor changes... Enterprise conference room

 

[Guest]

Re: Never seen refit?

Another conference room re-imagined... Enterprise conference room 2

 

[Kagan]

Re: Never seen refit?

Nice W9, you do in again!

I wonder what Spock is reading on that tricorder?

1) Lematyas in the distance?
2) Location of a favored shelat's grave to place flowers?
3) Location of the home of Stonn and T'Pring to bring a belated wedding gift?
4) Location of the little fat kid who use to taunt Spock as a child...hey, I brought my best friend...and we're fresh out of bubblegum?
5) Is Daddy home?
6) All the above

 

[Brikar99]

Re: Never seen refit?

Not to be nitpicky, because it's a cool image, but... Vulcan doesn't have any moons.

 

[Kagan]

Re: Never seen refit?

Posted by Brikar99:
Not to be nitpicky, because it's a cool image, but... Vulcan doesn't have any moons.

Got into this discussion on another board, someone suggested that the so called "moon" in TMP was actually another planet in the same orbit of their sun. Although it's looking mighty darn close to me. Maybe like Romulus and Remus...

 

[Warped9]

Re: Never seen refit?

Posted by Brikar99:
Not to be nitpicky, because it's a cool image, but... Vulcan doesn't have any moons.

Well the image is straight from the TAS episode "Yesteryear," and as someone said this has been debated before for a very long time. I don't know what that is over the horizon, but I wasn't yet prepared to change it. Star Trek used matte paintings to good effect and so I thought I'd try it for a lark here. The problem is though is it's tough to convert what was an animated image (abilbeit a nicely rendered one) into a believeable background for live-action figures. I tried blurring the horizon and objects in the bakground to convey a sense of receding distance. I also toned down the saturation of colours on the foreground figures (as would appear at night). It's not bad, but not great. Regarding the background to the story I didn't give it much thought--I was simply trying to envision some ways to to some animated scenes as live-action like I've done before. Originally with "Yesteryear" I wanted just Spock in the image, but I couldn't find Spock in suitable clothing although something like he was attired in "Errand Of Mercy" might have worked.

websbestcomics, the technique is flawless in which I can find no fault. However, in all candor I feel there is too much extraneous detail added to the point that it no longer looks authentic. Adding lights to a chair in the second conference room shot? This was akin to them adding lights to a dartboard in DS9--it has no rationalization. This was one of my beefs with contemporary Trek in that they added "winkies" to everything (or so it seemed) just for a "wow" effect. There will likely always be disagreement on what TOS' "style" was I suppose, but there is a very fine line bewteen what looks as if it really could have been there originally and something that obviously looks added after the fact. Some of the graphics shown for example would simply not have existed in the '60s, something which is very apparent to someone who grew up in the time.

 

[Guest]

Re: Never seen refit?

websbestcomics, the technique is flawless in which I can find no fault. However, in all candor I feel there is too much extraneous detail added to the point that it no longer looks authentic. Adding lights to a chair in the second conference room shot? This was akin to them adding lights to a dartboard in DS9--it has no rationalization. This was one of my beefs with contemporary Trek in that they added "winkies" to everything (or so it seemed) just for a "wow" effect. There will likely always be disagreement on what TOS' "style" was I suppose, but there is a very fine line bewteen what looks as if it really could have been there originally and something that obviously looks added after the fact. Some of the graphics shown for example would simply not have existed in the '60s, something which is very apparent to someone who grew up in the time.

Of course the new graphics I added would not have existed in the 60's--this is after all the purpose of any proposed 'special edition' treatment of TOS. To update some of the sets and props that now seem very lacking compared with contemporary technology and especially against modern sci-fi was my intent. My take on this definitely is not for the Trek purist. I'm certainly not qualified to argue the practicality of technical gadgets that are supposed to look like they come from the 23rd century, either. It's all bells and whistles, it's intended to give a bit more depth to what is already on the screen. I love the simplicity of style too, but I also think TOS could be vastly improved by a few minor tweaks, just enough to restore believability for 21st century audiences. I enjoy seeing comments about my work, though, and I'll try to come up with some more images soon.

 

[Warped9]

Re: Never seen refit?

This debate has been hashed out before in other forums and the general consensus from many (but not all) was that they'd rather the episodes be left alone than tweaked to look more like contemporary productions, and on that point I agree. It's tough to walk a fine line between what they might have been able to do back in the days if they'd had the time and money and what they most obviously couldn't or wouldn't have done even if they'd have had the time and money. The latter approach is unwarranted revisionism disrespectful of the original producers' creative integrity.

Here's an example. In many shots of the Enterprise we can see evidence that the filming miniature was not finished on one side. This is reinforced by the fact that we usually see the ship from one side. The rare times we have seen the "other" side of the ship was because it was either filmed with reverse decals or the reversed image doesn't really allow you to clearly see that it's reveresed. However, I think it's safe to say that if they'd been able to completely finish the filming miniature and had had the time to shoot more angles than they did as well as show the finished side then they most certainly would have. Also they would not have used stock shots of the previous version of the filming miniature when all the shots should show the same production series version of the ship. And so when I render a new image with the ship where applicable I "finnish" the previously unfinished side of the ship or use the reverse decal approach (by reversing the registry number on the nacelles). What I do not do is add all sorts of extraneous detail to the ship that wasn't meant to be there or wouldn't be visible unless seen very close up.

Obviously many folks will have a different notion of "where to draw the line" so to speak. My feeling is that whatever I do I make an effort to make the image look as authentic as possible. Sometimes my skills aren't up to the task or I do something quick-and-dirty just to get the idea accross, by my approach is always guided by this sense of authenticity or else I feel it's monkeying around to no purpose. Yes, some of the pics in this thread and others are a bit whimsical, but even there we're making an effort to stay true to the show's style.

If Paramount ever did do special editions that used the approach of adding stuff to no point other than to jazz it up then I for one would not be buying. I'd sooner have the episodes in their original form and where my imagination alone fills in the blanks so to speak.

 

[Guest]

Re: Never seen refit?

I can respect that attitude, and in fact my opinion about a TOS 'refit' is not that different from yours. I would never want any new effects or other visuals to detract from the basic style and mood of the series. It's not about disrespecting the original designers at all. I have tremendous respect for what was accomplished by 1960's standards, but the fact of the matter is that TOS does not appeal to many, mostly because the effects are so dismal. Unless you have nostalgic attachments to TOS, it's pretty much a dead duck to everyone else. I do believe that the stories, characters and over-all film direction of the show could still attract new fans, but not without some serious help. If Paramount hopes to keep the Trek franchise alive, they would hopefully consider bringing TOS up to the standards of today's effects WITHOUT pillaging and destroying the magic of Star Trek. It's a thin line, I agree. I would be in favor of minor revisions, new visual effects, new and expanded location shots--all of which would be closely based on the existing effects.

If you'll notice in my 'special edition' photo's, I kept the basic elements all in place, and in fact used mostly the same style of technology in all of the additions. Obviously the monitor screens are based on current computer monitors, but otherwise, everything you see in those images comes from or is directly influenced by the style of technology in TOS. I'm not out to convince Trek purists, by the way. I'm just having fun with the designs....

 

[Warped9]

Re: Never seen TOS scenes...

The Enterprise encounters a strange apparition in deep space...

Please note: the image of the E is originally a cgi render by Kirkunit.

 

[Kagan]

Re: Never seen TOS scenes...

Kulakan!?!?

Nice W9

 

[Warped9]

Re: Never seen refit?

Posted by websbestcomics:
I can respect that attitude, and in fact my opinion about a TOS 'refit' is not that different from yours. I would never want any new effects or other visuals to detract from the basic style and mood of the series. It's not about disrespecting the original designers at all. I have tremendous respect for what was accomplished by 1960's standards, but the fact of the matter is that TOS does not appeal to many, mostly because the effects are so dismal. Unless you have nostalgic attachments to TOS, it's pretty much a dead duck to everyone else. I do believe that the stories, characters and over-all film direction of the show could still attract new fans, but not without some serious help. If Paramount hopes to keep the Trek franchise alive, they would hopefully consider bringing TOS up to the standards of today's effects WITHOUT pillaging and destroying the magic of Star Trek. It's a thin line, I agree. I would be in favor of minor revisions, new visual effects, new and expanded location shots--all of which would be closely based on the existing effects.

If you'll notice in my 'special edition' photo's, I kept the basic elements all in place, and in fact used mostly the same style of technology in all of the additions. Obviously the monitor screens are based on current computer monitors, but otherwise, everything you see in those images comes from or is directly influenced by the style of technology in TOS. I'm not out to convince Trek purists, by the way. I'm just having fun with the designs....

I find the view that TOS' F/X are a "dead duck" by today's standards rather amusing in a way because many of TNG's F/X are really starting to be painfully obvious after little more than a decade and in some ways seem more cartoony than TOS could ever lay claim to.