Star Trek II - Sulu's cut lines about promotion

[Tomalak]

^No need to apologize. The one-sided opinion comes from the poster named for his hero, Kirk/Shatner.

I have worked with both Shatner and Takei. Shatner is an egotistical ass. He cared only for Shatner. Takei actually cared about the craft and the growth of his character. This is why he pulled for Sulu to get his own command.

It was rather ridiculous for Kirk to make admiral while Sulu couldn't even get his own command. It was final justice when Sulu did get the Excelsior.

Justice? He was a supporting character, and always was. Of course Shatner/Kirk took precedence, and rightly so.

I'm not saying Shatner wasn't egotistical and dismissive of other actors, but Takei seems to take it all so personally. Nichols and Koenig for the most part just get on with it. They might have wished for bigger parts in the series and movies, but they are grateful for their careers. The constant sniping from Takei is just pathetic.

 

[Kirk1980]

"No! You're not the boss; I'll do it this way!"

And Shatner shrugged and said "OK."

Koenig says if he'd known that that was all it took, he'd have stood up more on the series, but of course none of the second-string cast felt confident enough to to do that...

Hmm.. That's what I never got about the "stealing close-ups" claim. The actor doesn't get to choose the shot (except in Trek V of course.) so why do they blame him?

Because he's the captain?

Seriously, I have no idea. Of course the dude wants to be on screen a bunch. I'd want to be. But if it was pointed out, I'd go, oh, okay.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

Well, the way Takei always tells the story is that Shatner purposely sabotaged the take by delivering his lines so badly that there was no way they could use that scene. I've never been sure that I believe that, but make of it what you will, I guess.

Doohan tells a similar story about a scene he had to do with Shatner.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

Yeah, last I knew, everybody except for Takei had moved on and indeed even in 1994 (circa Generations), Shatner, Doohan and Koenig had settled things and by all accounts were no longer enemies. Shatner honestly seems a little sad sometimes when he realizes how much time he wasted not getting to know his castmates outside of Nimoy and Kelley.

Shatner and Doohan didn't bury the hatchet until right before Doohan died.

Thus the very obvious glee with which Doohan delivered the "Finding retirement a little lonely, are we?" line in Generations. Nice little bit of VERY public payback!

 

[darkwing_duck1]

^No need to apologize. The one-sided opinion comes from the poster named for his hero, Kirk/Shatner.

I have worked with both Shatner and Takei. Shatner is an egotistical ass. He cared only for Shatner. Takei actually cared about the craft and the growth of his character. This is why he pulled for Sulu to get his own command.

It was rather ridiculous for Kirk to make admiral while Sulu couldn't even get his own command. It was final justice when Sulu did get the Excelsior.

I know there's no way in Hades you're going to tell us who you really are, so I'll just ask...would we know your name if you did, and would it be one that surprised us?

 

[ScatmanRescueMe]

Well, the way Takei always tells the story is that Shatner purposely sabotaged the take by delivering his lines so badly that there was no way they could use that scene. I've never been sure that I believe that, but make of it what you will, I guess.

Doohan tells a similar story about a scene he had to do with Shatner.

The only problem is that the scene he referred to a lot is from TWOK in the sickbay. He swears Shatner tried to ruin it. (The part after Preston died)

One problem, it's very clear after seeing the full scene restored that Shatner did nothing to ruin that scene. In fact, it would have been self-defeating since most of the restored footage doesn't contain Doohan but actually is a great Kirk scene. In cutting that scene out originally---they hurt Shatner more than Doohan.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

Well, the way Takei always tells the story is that Shatner purposely sabotaged the take by delivering his lines so badly that there was no way they could use that scene. I've never been sure that I believe that, but make of it what you will, I guess.

Doohan tells a similar story about a scene he had to do with Shatner.

The only problem is that the scene he referred to a lot is from TWOK in the sickbay. He swears Shatner tried to ruin it. (The part after Preston died)

One problem, it's very clear after seeing the full scene restored that Shatner did nothing to ruin that scene. In fact, it would have been self-defeating since most of the restored footage doesn't contain Doohan but actually is a great Kirk scene. In cutting that scene out originally---they hurt Shatner more than Doohan.

That's not the scene I'm thinking of...I'm trying to remember which one (it's been awhile).

 

[BrownShatner]

I always figured that Shatner was never that into the convention scene, while Takei etc. were more than willing to hang around and sign autographs and gladhand the fans. Therefore the fans readily accepted any stories of Shatner being arrogant or egocentric.

Also I know how certain stories get exaggerated over the years. This is probably especially true if someone is selling a book.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

Doohan tells a similar story about a scene he had to do with Shatner.

The only problem is that the scene he referred to a lot is from TWOK in the sickbay. He swears Shatner tried to ruin it. (The part after Preston died)

One problem, it's very clear after seeing the full scene restored that Shatner did nothing to ruin that scene. In fact, it would have been self-defeating since most of the restored footage doesn't contain Doohan but actually is a great Kirk scene. In cutting that scene out originally---they hurt Shatner more than Doohan.

That's not the scene I'm thinking of...I'm trying to remember which one (it's been awhile).

Are you hinking of the scene where Kirk meets Preston and the cut part where Scotty points out that Preston is his nephew?

 

[Kaziarl]

The only problem is that the scene he referred to a lot is from TWOK in the sickbay. He swears Shatner tried to ruin it. (The part after Preston died)

One problem, it's very clear after seeing the full scene restored that Shatner did nothing to ruin that scene. In fact, it would have been self-defeating since most of the restored footage doesn't contain Doohan but actually is a great Kirk scene. In cutting that scene out originally---they hurt Shatner more than Doohan.

That's not the scene I'm thinking of...I'm trying to remember which one (it's been awhile).

Are you hinking of the scene where Kirk meets Preston and the cut part where Scotty points out that Preston is his nephew?

Wait... Are you sure? Was it added in the directors cut or something? cause I'm sure I remember that. Either from that or possibly the novel. I need to go watch some of these again, it's just been to long.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

The only problem is that the scene he referred to a lot is from TWOK in the sickbay. He swears Shatner tried to ruin it. (The part after Preston died)

One problem, it's very clear after seeing the full scene restored that Shatner did nothing to ruin that scene. In fact, it would have been self-defeating since most of the restored footage doesn't contain Doohan but actually is a great Kirk scene. In cutting that scene out originally---they hurt Shatner more than Doohan.

That's not the scene I'm thinking of...I'm trying to remember which one (it's been awhile).

Are you hinking of the scene where Kirk meets Preston and the cut part where Scotty points out that Preston is his nephew?

That's not the scene I'm thinking of...I'm trying to remember which one (it's been awhile).

Are you hinking of the scene where Kirk meets Preston and the cut part where Scotty points out that Preston is his nephew?

Wait... Are you sure? Was it added in the directors cut or something? cause I'm sure I remember that. Either from that or possibly the novel. I need to go watch some of these again, it's just been to long.

No, it's not the Preston scene.

I finally remembered. It's not quite a case of sabotaging someone's scene, but it's bad manners.

What happned (I finally remembered) was that Shatner would refuse to participate in "coverage" shots.

How this works is that when two people are talking in a scene, first they shoot the "two shot" (showing both people). Then they shoot each person separately from different angles.

It is customary (and considered "good professional manners") for the actor NOT being filmed at the moment to read his lines off camera so that the one being filmed is still reacting to the same performance.

Shatner would refuse to do that, and an AD would have to read his lines instead.

 

[Hartzilla2007]

That's not the scene I'm thinking of...I'm trying to remember which one (it's been awhile).

Are you hinking of the scene where Kirk meets Preston and the cut part where Scotty points out that Preston is his nephew?

Wait... Are you sure? Was it added in the directors cut or something? cause I'm sure I remember that. Either from that or possibly the novel. I need to go watch some of these again, it's just been to long.

It's in the director's cut.