Submit TNG production questions

[GalaxyX]

My understanding is that "too short a season" was an episode that was going to include Captain Kirk. I don't remember if there was a reason they didn't go that route, or if they planned to include him in a future episode at some point?

 

[Tosk]

I understand. Producer and Post Production, various positions through TNG and early VOY

That sounds suspiciously like Wendy Neuss. How close am I?

 

[ALF]

Who (of the main cast members) ate the most of the food at meal breaks?

 

[Jon1701]

Funniest person on set?

Who was the unsung hero on the crew?

Who had the biggest trailer?

Can you remember the day when Roddenberry died?

Can you remember the day Mark Leonard/Leonard Nimoy/Jimmy Doohan came onto the set?

Who opened the turbolift doors?

Who was the first to break up a scene by laughing?


That should keep you going.

 

[Anji]

Ask them to define the relationship between Berman and Roddenberry. I'd be interested in when they began to part ways in their creative vision of the show and how the writers kept it together when the fighting began. And which writers fell into each camp.

Thanks!

 

[bullethead]

Ask about Maurice Hurley and how he was seen by the other staff, including the writers.

 

[22 Stars]

Ask them to define the relationship between Berman and Roddenberry. I'd be interested in when they began to part ways in their creative vision of the show and how the writers kept it together when the fighting began. And which writers fell into each camp.

Thanks!

Berman did his best to keep TNG true to the Gene's vision. I'm sorry if this wasn't clear, but this is to jog her memory not write an expose.

 

[TheSeeker]

Were there any famous guest stars we almost had? I know about Robing Williams but that's about it.

 

[trekker670]

Were there any famous guest stars we almost had? I know about Robing Williams but that's about it.

Going off this post, what about famous guest visitor. For example I recall hearing about Reagan visiting the TNG set at one point.

 

[Maxwell Everett]

When the shows were being produced, did the producers ever put any though into how the shows might be transferred to and aired in HD one day (kind of like how Babylon 5 was produced), besides just shooting on film?

And what type of lenses and film stock were used? I know that the Reeves-Stevens book "The Making of Deep Space Nine" mentions that TNG used 24mm lenses and DS9 used 20mm lenses, but were you shooting on Super 35 or regular 35 with Wide Angle lenses? Did you do any shooting with anamorphic or hard matte boxes?

I can actually answer some of these:

• DP's Jonathan West and Marvin Rush didn't start thinking about protecting for 16x9 until Season 5 of DS9 and Season 3 of VOY.
• They used Panavision zoom lenses and Kodak film stock. They weren't limited to any one focal length.
• They shot 4-perf with standard 35mm cameras at least until the seasons mentioned.
• Anamorphic lenses were only used to accomplish certain post production panning shots as seen in "The Last Outpost" and "The Battle", among others.

 

[22 Stars]

Ok well that was fun, we talked TNG for over 3 hours and there will be more conversations to come. They would like to shoot her sit-down at the end of February so we have a few more weeks to talk. Lots of great stories, some can be shared in the interview and, some not Below are the answers that she could provide.

Here is the setting I provided for our discussion:

http://flic.kr/p/bpQSVt

 

[22 Stars]

How far ahead were the writers thinking with regard to character development? Was it like 'this season we'll explorer characters x, y and z', or did it take more of a 'we've not done a lot with character x for a while, lets give him a story' type approach?

There were writers meetings outside of the general production staff meetings where these were discussed.

What kind of info arethe bluray makers looking for from her, and does she know if there is a long documentary involved with project.

Does she have any funny anecdotes :-)

In addtion to anecdotes they are going to provide some guiding questions shortly.

What were the best foods on the craft services table?

She often ate at the commiasary, not from crafts services

Are the bloopers intact? Where there bloopers for every season? Was a blooper reel made for every season? We want bloopers damnit! Bloopers are a must!

Patrick Stewart was on a talk show here and he said during one scene where he is speaking to an alien on the viewscreen from the captains chair he actually fell asleep when he was supposed to give his line, he stated the blooper is locked away in Paramount somewhere, we need to see this

Saw that interview. No she does not think there actually were blooper reels from each season surprisingly enough.

Unfortunately I think Stewart has always been vehemently against releasing the bloopers, so I doubt we'll ever see them.

This seems to be the case. And were not regularly presented even at holiday parties etc. as we hear many other shows do.

I always heard it was Berman who didn't want them released however I am uncertain of that because Enterprise had blooper reels made and released..... it would be a shame to not see them but if Patrick Stewart is against it then I suppose we will never see them. Someone needs to ask about this at a convention.

Seems to be a combination of both. I do not believe we will see many if any. But access to the original footage could change this

Did the shift in visual style in season three happen because of a change in cinematographers, an edict by Rick Berman, studio pressure, something else, or a combination of those?

It was a change in DP and new blood creating a more 'modern' style show vs. the old guard who started TNG.

When the shows were being produced, did the producers ever put any though into how the shows might be transferred to and aired in HD one day (kind of like how Babylon 5 was produced), besides just shooting on film?

And what type of lenses and film stock were used? I know that the Reeves-Stevens book "The Making of Deep Space Nine" mentions that TNG used 24mm lenses and DS9 used 20mm lenses, but were you shooting on Super 35 or regular 35 with Wide Angle lenses? Did you do any shooting with anamorphic or hard matte boxes?

Not sure on the tech, but only much later in the series was there consideration for other formats (16x9 aspect ratio).

Were there any famous guest stars we almost had? I know about Robing Williams but that's about it.

No information sadly on this.

Some very funny and touching stories about Majel, and other cast members. Hand doubles used throughout the series in some very amusing ways. Sorry to be vague but would like to keep the anecdotes fresh for my friend. Will post more soon!

Also she loved that people cared enough to ask questions so keep them coming and I will do a phase 2 before the interview!

 

[sojourner]

She often ate at the commiasary, not from crafts services

Stick to your guns. Tell her to stop avoiding the question.

 

[22 Stars]

She often ate at the commiasary, not from crafts services

Stick to your guns. Tell her to stop avoiding the question.

I'm satisfied with that answer, I hope you enjoyed it being asked. We ordered in last night, and she enjoyed a chicken quesadilla.

 

[Tosk]

Out of curiosity, are you ever going to cop to who it might be? You know once the discs are out and we see the interviews it's gonna be fairly obvious who it is anyway.

 

[22 Stars]

Oh of course, as has been mentioned it is fairly obvious. PM me anytime.

 

[sojourner]

She often ate at the commiasary, not from crafts services

Stick to your guns. Tell her to stop avoiding the question.

I'm satisfied with that answer, I hope you enjoyed it being asked. We ordered in last night, and she enjoyed a chicken quesadilla.

I smell a cover up, or is that the quesadilla?

 

[TheSeeker]

^Probably the fajitas. That smell just doesn't go away.

 

[22 Stars]

No fajitas, sorry. Thanks for caring though.

 

[22 Stars]

Just an update, today my friend is meeting with the producer of the TNG-R bonus content today. She won't be shooting her sit-down just yet. She wanted more information and questions prior to shooting anything. Will update with anything I can share!