Yes we do.
Thanks for backing up my point about there being a difference between production and filming.
Master Replicas is going to publish a Starfleet Academy book that honestly looks pretty cool: “Jett Reno's Guide to the U.S.S. Athena”
Here‘s the blurb from their website:
Looks like this will likely answer all questions we have about the ship. The only thing I would like them to include is a section about the design process for the Athena.
Here’s some preview pics …
Here‘s the blurb from their website:
Looks like this will likely answer all questions we have about the ship. The only thing I would like them to include is a section about the design process for the Athena.
Here’s some preview pics …
It's about time we've gotten some more technical manuals! This is an easy purchase for me.
Oof
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Brian Tatosky (@virtualbri@mastodon.online)
https://www.masterreplicas.com/en-us/collections/all-products/products/star-trek-briefings-jett-renos-guide-to-the-u-s-s-athena Hrm. If it's the one that was sent to me as an internal only doc by Art months ago, it's riddled with errors, most of which are because they didn't talk to anyone in...
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While I understand Brian's sentiments, it's wild to say it's riddled with "errors," when the Art Department were the ones who designed the ship in the first place.Oof
Brian Tatosky (@virtualbri@mastodon.online)
https://www.masterreplicas.com/en-us/collections/all-products/products/star-trek-briefings-jett-renos-guide-to-the-u-s-s-athena Hrm. If it's the one that was sent to me as an internal only doc by Art months ago, it's riddled with errors, most of which are because they didn't talk to anyone in...
Kinda speaks to the ongoing issues the shows have been having the last decade where the VFX department keeps making choices that overrule the designer's intent (i.e. changing elements on the Discoprise without John Eaves' knowledge).
It's animated in RL right?
The eyes seem to follow you.
Agreed. While it’s somewhat unfortunate that internally those departments aren’t communicating more efficiently, I can’t say this bothers me too much or dampens my enthusiasm for this being published. The title “Jett Reno’s Guide” is cute, but it’s clearly described as an internal production document, and as such I wouldn’t even have expected this to be absolutely “accurate”. I view this as an artifact of the production of a TV show and much prefer it as that as opposed to a sort of “real in-universe document”. In any case, it will be interesting to learn about the intention behind the various design aspects of the Athena, even if some of the details didn’t made it to the screen.
Did anyone notice that there’s two photos in those book preview images that suspiciously look like shots from an upcoming season two episode? It appears to show two characters (Darem and Caleb?) working on some sort of flyer in the shuttlebay? This would kinda track with both Darem wearing what could be interpreted as a flight squad pin in those season two set photos we got a while back and with something George Hawkins mentioned during his Fedcon panel about “Darem taking a flyer”. Certainly looks like these will feature in some way in season two.
That would be pretty neat, wouldn’t it?
Got a couple of curious looks at the shirt during the Fedcon weekend. Waiting in line for a photo opportunity someone behind me even asked where I got it.
By the way, in my treasured group shot with the Starfleet Academy cadet cast (minus Kerrice Brooks, who sadly had to leave early because they annoyingly had lost her luggage at the airport) you can see the front of the shirt, which I created specifically for the convention. Karim and George even commented on it during the shoot, saying they loved it.
I can report that it was a fantastic weekend in Bonn and that meeting Sandro, Bella, Karim, George and Zoë was an absolute highlight. They are delightful, intelligent and charming young people, who clearly have become the best of friends. What was interesting was getting a feel for the group dynamics during the SFA cast panel, which made it obvious that somewhat surprisingly George Hawkins actually seems to be the natural IRL leader of the group. He’s super funny and quick-witted and he rocked his one-man panel. Sandro almost seemed too cool at first, which initially made me think he somehow didn’t want to be there, but I quickly realized that I was wrong and that he loved the experience. Zoë and Bella struck me as very close to their onscreen personalities, with Bella perhaps being a bit more shy and soft-spoken than Genesis.
But I think no-one was really prepared for the force of nature that is Karim Diané! Hot damn, that guy has the most delightful energy, always smiling with a disarming sense of humor that immediately lets you feel like you’ve known him as a friend for years. He practically gave out free hugs to everyone, made sure to take the time and really meet everyone who approached him. Karim was obviously born for the stage; he couldn't sit still for very long and always jumped around on stage, when you met him on the floor or during the photo shoots. The convention audience instantly fell in love with him and applause for him always seemed to be a bit louder than for the rest of the cast.
They all stated that they had a wonderful time at Fedcon (which for all of them was the first convention experience, saying they viewed Comic-Con as a promo event) and that they would try to be there should they be invited again. I for one can’t wait to see them again in the next years, and then hopefully meet Kerrice too!
I have to say, it was so refreshing to realize how much the con audience loved Starfleet Academy! Sure, I get that this is a self-selected group of fans who even paid money to be there and see these people, but still, it’s kinda elating to be in a room with a thousand or so fans of the show who just unapologetically fell in love with the concept and the characters. Ever the pessimist I feared the part of fandom that’s viewing the show less favorably or even professes an outright hate for it online would rear its ugly had at the con, but no, the vibe was overwhelmingly positive all the way through. The haters either didn't show up in the first place or managed to keep their mouths shut for the proceedings, but it was certainly interesting to realize the disparity of the hatred the show is facing online versus the love it received in real life. Heck, even the presenters and organizers commented on this fact a couple of times on stage, mentioning how they were positively surprised to see all the love the cast was getting. There were countless people in SFA shirts, uniforms and elaborate makeup, which was so nice to see. The best SFA costumes were someone in full Lura Thok makeup and a young woman cosplaying as a Chend, complete with red skin, red wig and grey cadet uniform.
Here’s some interesting bits they dropped during the individual actor panels and the group panel, including some hints for season two:
- Bella Sheppard talked about how much she would have loved to explore Dar-Sha culture on the show. She was so invested in creating a background for the new species that she even created a sort of Dar-Sha lookbook with sketches and clippings, outlining her own concepts and ideas. Hopefully she’ll make that available at some point in the future.
- She said the initial makeup for Genesis was much more subtle and that they added the chrome highlights later. Regarding her hairstyle they pretty much let her influence what she wanted to do with it.
- She confirmed that season two will finally feature “a solo Genesis episode” that will see “Genesis go ‘existential’ and face her insecurities” and that she and another actor she wouldn’t name put a lot of work into the episode.
- She also said we would learn more about Genesis’ father, although the way she worded it made it sound like we wouldn’t necessarily meet him or that something was happening to him.
- She talked about the scene with a drunken Tarima in “The Light of the Stars” being one of her favorites in season one and how much she appreciated that the writers didn’t really pit her and Tarima against each other, even though they were both attracted to Caleb.
- She also mentioned how much fun it was filming “Ko’Zeine” with Sandro.
- George Hawkins dropped a few hints about season two, mentioning that episode four (IIRC) would be special; it will be a point that changes everything for Darem and forces the character to go on despite everything being messed up for him.
- Like Bella and her fascination with the Dar-Sha, George seems super invested in Khionian culture and learning more about them.
- He always begged the producers to have more scenes in full Khionian makeup, but that the budget didn’t allow for it.
- He talked about how brilliant and funny Romeo Carere (Ocam Sadal) is.
- Asked what future he would wish for his character, he said he would love to see Darem become a teacher or mentor.
- Zoë Steiner would have loved to have the show visit Betazed at some point (implying that we wouldn’t see it in season two).
- She admits that she was initially confused about what Tarima was thinking about her neural inhibitor, assuming that she didn’t like it. But that later the writers told her that this wasn’t necessarily so.
- Asked what prop or costume she would like to keep as a memento, she said she actually asked for the white dress that Tarima is wearing in her first appearance, but that unfortunately she wouldn’t get that.
- Sandro Rosta mentions how “intimate” (in a non-sexual way) his working relationship with Holly Hunter was and how special it was working with her.
- Talking about what kind of future he sees for Caleb, he said he could imagine him living outside of Starfleet and the Federation, but still adhering to their ideals, likening him to Ashoka from Star Wars. I found that answer interesting and I wonder what it potentially tells us about Caleb’s storyline in season two or even the season finale.
- Karim Diané hints that there will be an episode focussing on Jay-Den’s medical training in season two.
- He told the audience how Jay-Den’s story with his father abandoning him for his decision to join Starfleet and a medical profession coincidentally mirrors his own real life story of falling out with his father over him moving to Hollywood to become an actor. His family comes from an African background where men traditionally became warriors and how similar that was to Jay-Den’s Klingon parents expecting him to become a warrior.
Sounds like a lot of potential will be left bubbling beneath the surface when the show ends. Hopefully some writers/producers eventually spill the beans on all the ideas that we never got to see which naturally we as fans will flesh out.
Also can it just be said for the record George with the beard god fucking damn
Theres a dirty joke in thereHe's gonna start clambering over high backed chairs next
Fantastic
He's gonna start clambering over high backed chairs next
Responding here, since this is referencing some of the bits and pieces I mentioned from the convention upthread …
To be honest, I had completely forgotten about them saying that Genesis was a Dar-Sha hybrid. I think she only mentions it in the premiere and it doesn’t get referenced again after that. As these things usually go in Trek, I assume they are implying that she’s human on her mother’s side. Makes one wonder if a “full” Dar-Sha like her father looks significantly different in terms of appearance.
With Sandro’s answer about Caleb’s future I’m really wondering if he’s somehow going off of something that will happen in season two, even if just subconsciously. Maybe season two ends with Caleb quitting his Starfleet training for some reason? Why else would he even dream up a future for the character not in Starfleet?
In other news, on Friday Gina Yashere, Kerrice Brooks and Karim Diané accepted the Ensemble Award for their roles in SFA at the 3rd Annual Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television. Tig Notaro was honored as well, but couldn’t be there. Was nice to see that Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau attended as well, though.
Their acceptance speeches are really nice (and funny) and Karim even shouts out his experiences at Fedcon a week earlier, saying how good and affirming it felt to have so many LGBTQ+ fans come up to him and telling him how much his role means to them.
Re: Genesis’ makeup. To clarify, I think “chrome” is just what Bella called the makeup on her panel and I’m not sure she necessarily meant that in-universe it’s supposed to be chrome or some metallic skin quality. Come to think of it, I wonder if there’s a chance that even in-universe it’s just supposed to be makeup as opposed to an actual effect of her skin. But sure, it could very well signify something like you’re describing.
To be honest, I had completely forgotten about them saying that Genesis was a Dar-Sha hybrid. I think she only mentions it in the premiere and it doesn’t get referenced again after that. As these things usually go in Trek, I assume they are implying that she’s human on her mother’s side. Makes one wonder if a “full” Dar-Sha like her father looks significantly different in terms of appearance.
With Sandro’s answer about Caleb’s future I’m really wondering if he’s somehow going off of something that will happen in season two, even if just subconsciously. Maybe season two ends with Caleb quitting his Starfleet training for some reason? Why else would he even dream up a future for the character not in Starfleet?
In other news, on Friday Gina Yashere, Kerrice Brooks and Karim Diané accepted the Ensemble Award for their roles in SFA at the 3rd Annual Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television. Tig Notaro was honored as well, but couldn’t be there. Was nice to see that Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau attended as well, though.
Their acceptance speeches are really nice (and funny) and Karim even shouts out his experiences at Fedcon a week earlier, saying how good and affirming it felt to have so many LGBTQ+ fans come up to him and telling him how much his role means to them.
Aww Academy's fanbase may be smaller but the love is undeniable
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