"Origins: The Protracted Man" back on?

[GSchnitzer]

Great news Greg.

It makes lots of sense for him to do it that way, especially if you can't get two of the main players to fill the gaps.

Understood. My concern is that, organizationally, James is a single point of failure in so many ways. If he gets swamped or if he gets too many plates that he has to keep spinning, it all comes crashing down--not just one plate. But all in all, an exciting time for us.

More of a curiosity question... I thought David Gerrold was coming on board to alleviate a lot of that overload, and take over some of the show-running duties. Did that fall through?

I only ask because I haven't heard his name come up very often recently.

Yancy

Yes, that's exactly the case: David Gerrold was brought in as our "Show Runner." I'm not sure what that means, task-wise for our production. So, no answer here. But maybe James will explain exactly what David does for us other than "run the show."

 

[The Transformed Man]

Yeah, I would think David could help alleviate some of the massive plate spinning that's being required from James.

 

[dswynne1]

To James and the NV crew:

I know that you guys want to deliver the best NV episodes you can. I also know that you guys don't want to produce schlock, or an incomplete film. Speaking for myself, don't try TOO hard. We fans of NV appreciate what you guys do, so we are very forgiven of the occasional "bad episode". In fact, even TOS has had a few bad episodes, but those episodes are still part of the family, as it were. But, in the end, it's all about having fun and doing what you love. I still watch "Come What May", because it was a fun episode, and you guys clearly have a love for the franchise, as evident by your acting.

Anyway, again, don't try to be a perfectionist. You will always have fans that adore your work, both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes.

 

[E-DUB]

I used to say at my job that I'd rather have 90% of my work 100% done than 100% of my work 90% done.

Take from that what you will.

 

[PattyW]

You forgot to mention the family responsibilities James has as well, Greg....

But, as to finishing Origins - groan. I'm afraid it will set NV back further behind STC, perhaps fatally. But that's just my humble opinion.

 

[Maurice]

Why groan? Is there some horrible problem with it?

 

[BillJ]

But, as to finishing Origins - groan. I'm afraid it will set NV back further behind STC, perhaps fatally. But that's just my humble opinion.

I wasn't aware it was a race?

 

[scifib5st]

Has there been a transporter accident? Do we have two JC, one evil one good!

I will love to see these episodes slide out the door. All of you at Phase 2 are doing great work! Thanks for the update.

 

[PattyW]

Has there been a transporter accident? Do we have two JC, one evil one good!

Absolutely not. There's one great one - a James that is a committed perfectionist, purest, and believes in the goodness and potential of everyone he meets - even after he's been screwed by that person repeatedly.

However, a committed perfectionist can get wrapped up in stuff so deeply that there's no light coming out of that black hole he's working in - and, as Greg implied, sometimes that gets frustrating for the people who love and work with him. But every person has their quirks and, as quirks go, it's a pretty good one compared to other people's. Patience is the work, Grasshopper.

 

[Kor]

Is "The Protracted Man" that older story idea about the guy who gets phased into three? As I recall, it would have been depicted with red, blue and yellow versions of himself trailing behind one another, or something like that.

Kor

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Is "The Protracted Man" that older story idea about the guy who gets phased into three? As I recall, it would have been depicted with red, blue and yellow versions of himself trailing behind one another, or something like that.

Kor

Yep — that's the one.

 

[Kor]

I thought so. I looked it up, too... a David Gerrold story! It's definitely a winner.

Kor

 

[PattyW]

Yes, the story treatment is in David Gerrold's book "The Trouble With Tribbles". When I found out David was directing I suggested we shelve the one I wrote and let David realize his dream now that the technology was available to pull it off. (The reason it wasn't done in the 60s is because Trek didn't have the technology to pull it off). I figured a choice between me and a Trek alumni as a writer was a no brainer. David did offer me the first write of the script using his outline, though. I declined the gracious offer and Dave Galanter stepped in to do the first draft.

 

[Maurice]

I don't think they rejected it just because of the optical effects... there wasn't much story there. Just a situation.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I don't think they rejected it just because of the optical effects... there wasn't much story there. Just a situation.

I recall the story from Gerrold's "Tribbles" book, and often thought the concept (coincidentally?) inspired the Manheim Effect in Data's solution to evnts in "We'll Always Have Paris" (TNG).

 

[PattyW]

I don't think they rejected it just because of the optical effects... there wasn't much story there. Just a situation.

The story given was that the optical effects weren't do-able by TOS era Trek. Gerrold added that there was no reason to care about the protracted man so the audience wouldn't be invested. He thought making it Kirk's father solved the later issue.

 

[Maurice]

I don't think they rejected it just because of the optical effects... there wasn't much story there. Just a situation.

The story given was that the optical effects weren't do-able by TOS era Trek. Gerrold added that there was no reason to care about the protracted man so the audience wouldn't be invested. He thought making it Kirk's father solved the later issue.

The effects described could have been done in the TOS era (Gerrold admits he got the idea from an effect in West Side Story), and it appears a test was done on such an effect for "I Mudd", but regardless so MANY effects would have been outside of the possible budget.

I don't recall all the particulars of the story as recounted in Gerrold's Tribbles book, but I do recall thinking the story was just gimmicky and lacking in real drama, regardless of who the titular Protracted Man was.

 

[Christopher Miles]

I don't think they rejected it just because of the optical effects... there wasn't much story there. Just a situation.

The story given was that the optical effects weren't do-able by TOS era Trek. Gerrold added that there was no reason to care about the protracted man so the audience wouldn't be invested. He thought making it Kirk's father solved the later issue.

So is there a way to be delicate about this? I am now assuming an edit was/is in progress to change/de-emphasize the George Kirk footage?

I'm of the opinion that it will be worth waiting for whatever edit(s)/version(s) David Gerrold feels would make a great story.

No rush on this.

 

[Karzak]

Gerrold hasn't really demonstrated that he understands what "would make a great story" in quite a while though. Certainly not in the fan film world, anyway.

 

[BillJ]

Gerrold hasn't really demonstrate that he understands what "would make a great story" in quite a while though. Certainly not in the fan film world, anyway.

+1