ST:Academy years Bennet interview and...production art!

[RAMA]

http://trekmovie.com/2010/08/25/harve-bennett-talks-academy-years-concept-jj-abrams-star-trek/

I love the old films, but I agree with what I've read on the board here recently where the shooting technique HAS/HAD to change for the 21st century.

File under deja vu!

RAMA

 

[Admiral James Kirk]

Simply amazing how much that looks like the Akiraprise.

 

[Potemkin_Prod]

Looks like a stylized Loknar class to me.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

There's a good summary of the general plot of the proposed movie here:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/22789

 

[number6]

There's a good summary of the general plot of the proposed movie here:

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/22789

I'm glad we got the Abrams movie instead. This looks awful.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

You know I have to ask what the heck is this enlightenment thing the Federation was said to have gone through before TOS Bennetmentions in the summary I never heard anything about it before.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Re: ST: Academy years Benett interview

It seems he thinks the Federation quit racism shortly prior to TOS. In the Academy script, the Federation is considering doing buisness with slave traders (heir to the throne of these slave traders is a fellow Starfleet cadet), and Cadet Spock gets the shit kicked out of him by hooded cadets for being a "green blood".

I like how George Kirk is a shadow over Jim in both this and STXI, but I've gotta ask: If George disappeared with the Bonaventure, why the hell didn't Kirk go looking for him when they found the long-lost ship in TAS "The Time Trap"?

I find the Academy Years story a fascinating "what might have been". It's a shame the proposed novelization of the script never materialized.

 

[JarodRussell]

Oh dear, this was rejected for a reason.

But the best thing about it is that in the end they all go seperate ways again (like it should have been done in nuTrek), and at least it was supposed to be a proper prequel and not a reboot.

 

[F. King Daniel]

IIRC the reason it was rejected was because of the massive fan backlash, based on the notion the film was going to be "Police Academy in space" .

 

[22 Stars]

^ No, not Police Academy, 90210 In Space.... I recall back then that Luke Perry even appeared on Arsenio Hall wearing a classic gold Kirk Uniform. I wish I could find a clip of that, but my guess is every young actor wanted that role, and Luke was willing to do everything in his power to make it clear.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Oh yeah, any attempt to revitalize Star Trek by retiring the geriatric participants is always met by tacking the name of some teeny franchise to the proposal. Eliminates the need to think...

I see Bennett puts the spike in the oft-repeated claim that the big problem with TFF was the studio's refusal to fund the special effects needed.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

From the way it was described, it sounds dreadful. The line about how it's "cadets, teenagers" is like, oh lawd, this could be awful.

Add in the fact that what we got instead for the sixth film remains my favorite in the series and you can imagine how glad I am that this was rejected. Sorry, Mr. Bennett.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Re: ST: Academy years Benett interview

I like how George Kirk is a shadow over Jim in both this and STXI, but I've gotta ask: If George disappeared with the Bonaventure, why the hell didn't Kirk go looking for him when they found the long-lost ship in TAS "The Time Trap"?

Don't forget that this was written at a time when TAS was not considered to be canon by the studio. The Bonaventure reference is probably just a tip of the hat in-joke to TAS, not an actual tie-in.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I recall back then that Luke Perry even appeared on Arsenio Hall wearing a classic gold Kirk Uniform. I wish I could find a clip of that, but my guess is every young actor wanted that role, and Luke was willing to do everything in his power to make it clear.

According to Bennett, they had cast Ethan Hawke as Kirk and John Cusack as Spock when production shut down. They'd scouted locations, Paramount had even begun to build a building on the campus of Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. Then someone high up realized the film wasn't going to have Shatner and Nimoy in it, and it was put into turnaround.

It's difficult to imagine Hawke and Cusack now, but look at Dead Poets Society and Say Anything... and it's almost possible.

 

[Therin of Andor]

IIRC the reason it was rejected was because of the massive fan backlash, based on the notion the film was going to be "Police Academy in space" .

Certainly, when Doohan, Takei, Nichols and Koenig realised that they would not be required for this proposed movie, but that humour had been a proven ingredient of the hugely successful ST IV, they did make "Police Academy" jokes as part of their convention shtick.

 

[Saul]

Would really love to read the script of this. It has to be out there somewhere.

 

[RandyS]

Simply amazing how much that looks like the Akiraprise.

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[RandyS]

Looks like a stylized Loknar class to me.

I'm not familiar with that class. what show or movie was it on?

 

[kkozoriz1]

Loknar was from the FASA role playing game
http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Loknar_class

 

[Allyn Gibson]

IIRC the reason it was rejected was because of the massive fan backlash, based on the notion the film was going to be "Police Academy in space" .

Certainly, when Doohan, Takei, Nichols and Koenig realised that they would not be required for this proposed movie, but that humour had been a proven ingredient of the hugely successful ST IV, they did make "Police Academy" jokes as part of their convention shtick.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. That was a douchebag move on their part. :-/

Yes, I realize they were trying to get the con-going audience riled up on their behalf, and they were trying to use that audience to protect their careers, such as they were, but that doesn't excuse their churlishness. No one went to see a Star Trek film because of George Takei. It's sad, but it's true.

All that said, ironically Koenig would have had a brief role in the Academy film as Chekov.