TNG Workprints and Deleted Scenes?

[br4zil]

Hey everyone! As you might have seen me asking here on the forums, i am a new fan that has been recently marathoning Star Trek. I gone through TOS, TAS, Star Trek Continues and the first few movies.

As i approach the beginning of TNG, my OCD about viewing the versions with most content (or deleted/removed content) also flares up again. For TOS and the movies, you guys were extremely helpful in making sure i didint missed anything, so here i am asking the same for TNG.

Heres a few questions:

-Is there a list with all known workprints, removed/deleted content somewhere? memory alpha wiki seems to give me conflicting info.
-Is there a archive one could adquire these workprints? i managed to find this site, that at some point hosted a few workprints of TNG episodes: https://web.archive.org/web/20160403204216/http://www.patchou.com/trek/, hopefully someone still has backup of those.
-Is the blu-ray releases the only way to see some of the deleted scenes (not counting the above workprints)? Sadly the physical bluray is beyond my means at the moment (importing the collection costs more than a brand new PC here in my country, going above).

Finally, any opinions on the Old CGI vs New CGI that was apparently done for the newer releases of TNG? Which one you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance for all the answers.

 

[Unicron]

I seem to recall TrekCore doing some features on scenes that were filmed and then cut from the final broadcast versions of the episodes, and Memory Alpha has details on how many episodes evolved and what stuff got potentially cut, even if only in draft revisions. The original story concept for what became "Justice" was much different (and arguably potentially better) than the final version of the episode, and the finished version of "Yesterday's Enterprise" incorporated plot elements from two earlier, unrelated story pitches. One involving a prior Enterprise emerging into the present (but without disrupting history) and the other involving a time disruption that killed Surak in the past, resulting in the Vulcans never abandoning their violent ways and being at war with other powers. This version would have had Sarek go back in time and take Surak's place as the "historical" version.

I'm tempted to say these released scenes are on the blu-rays, but I don't own those versions so I can't speak definitively. Perhaps someone else can answer that question. I've also seen some alternate versions of TNG and DS9 scripts with extra dialogue, likely never filmed for time reasons, along with an earlier and considerably different script for "Loud as a Whisper." Beyond that I don't know what else I can recommend.

 

[Pikirk_Janesisko]

I seem to remember watching on the Internet Archive a workprint version of "The Wounded" without any of the post production effects and sounds. I also don't know much about the extra features on the blu-ray, but if I'm not mistaken, they included a longer cut of "The Measure of a Man".

 

[Kor]

I seem to remember watching on the Internet Archive a workprint version of "The Wounded" without any of the post production effects and sounds. I also don't know much about the extra features on the blu-ray, but if I'm not mistaken, they included a longer cut of "The Measure of a Man".

Yes, the Season 2 blu-ray includes the extended version of TMOAM, which is 13 minutes longer than the broadcast version. I understand that this was the way the episode was originally made, then they realized it was too long for broadcast. At the time of the TNG remaster project, this version only existed on VHS in the possession of Melinda Snodgrass, the writer of the episode. So this extended version was pieced back together for HD. The blu-ray also has a hybrid version with the episode mostly in HD and the VHS stuff inserted in.

Kor

 

[dupersuper]

Yes, the Season 2 blu-ray includes the extended version of TMOAM, which is 13 minutes longer than the broadcast version. I understand that this was the way the episode was originally made, then they realized it was too long for broadcast. At the time of the TNG remaster project, this version only existed on VHS in the possession of Melinda Snodgrass, the writer of the episode. So this extended version was pieced back together for HD. The blu-ray also has a hybrid version with the episode mostly in HD and the VHS stuff inserted in.

Kor

Ooooo, what was in the extra footage?

 

[Kor]

Ooooo, what was in the extra footage?

A number of small scenes. There are good character moments with Picard, and with Riker and Troi, and Data, and then one scene that makes Maddox look like an even bigger jerk.

Kor

 

[br4zil]

Hopefully these Workprints are not "lost to time", seems the deleted scenes are mostly on the Blu-Rays, but not in original format.
It is frustrating to know that only a few years ago they were freely avaiable online, but not anymore

 

[Takeru]

Yes, the Season 2 blu-ray includes the extended version of TMOAM, which is 13 minutes longer than the broadcast version. I understand that this was the way the episode was originally made, then they realized it was too long for broadcast.

They didn't realize it was too long, productions always shoot more than they need and all footage is then assembled and tuned into a rough cut before it is edited down into the finished episode. Every episode of TNG was initially a longer rough cut.

 

[Maurice]

They didn't realize it was too long, productions always shoot more than they need and all footage is then assembled and tuned into a rough cut before it is edited down into the finished episode. Every episode of TNG was initially a longer rough cut.

Part of the job of the producers is to “time” the script to get it as close to the necessary length. Bob Justman’s TOS memos often commented where his timing breakdowns indicated scripts are going to run X pages too short or Y pages too long. The goal is to get as close to the target runtime as possible without going under, because every foot of film cost $. But better to go over than under because it’s easier to cut material to get to a target length than have to go back and shoot more material if the show runs short.

Also every rough cut is long, because you finesse and tighten the edit as you go. The first assembly is rarely tight.