Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been like?

[Ro_Laren]

I am sure that a lot of you guys (all the Trek authors that visit this Board) have run into different Trek actors at various Trek conventions. I was just wondering what your interactions were like. Did any of them read your novels? Did they know who you are (looks, it's KRAD!!!!!)? Did they thank you for continuing to tell stories about the characters they portrayed???? Which actors gave you the most positive reactions to your work? Just curious...

 

[Christopher]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

I have yet to get up the nerve to actually talk to any of the actors at a convention. Or maybe it's partly a matter of not knowing what to say. I'm not the autograph-seeking type, and just saying "I loved you in _____" seems kind of hollow.

A few years back, I went to see George Takei performing onstage in Sondheim's Pacific Overtures (playing the role Mako played in the original production). It was in a small theater with no separate stage, just an open floor, and he was hanging around during the intermission or just after the show, so I was tempted to introduce myself as a Trek author. But I was too new at the time; I think I only had Aftermath out at that point.

I did briefly meet Robert Duncan McNeill a few years earlier, when I was a tour guide at the ST Federation Science museum exhibit when it came to my city. He was the guest celebrity for opening night, and he chatted to a group of us. The main thing I remember was being surprised by how tall he was. Although when I said that afterward, one or two women in the group said he was shorter than they expected.

 

[KRAD]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

I've met several of the Trek actors, but the only ones who knew who I was before I met them were J.G. Hertzler, by virtue of his working with Marco on The Left Hand of Destiny, and Aron Eisenberg, who recognized my name as one of the guys doing post-finale DS9 fiction.

The worst reception I've gotten was polite interest, and I mean that as a compliment.

I've met and chatted briefly with Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Nana Visitor, Jeffrey Combs, Garrett Wang, John Billingsley, Scott Bakula, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig, John deLancie, and Marc Alaimo.

I've met and talked extensively with Majel Barrett*, Mark Lenard*, Robert Picardo**, and Suzie Plakson**.

I've gotten to hang out with George Takei***, Aron Eisenberg****, J.G. Hertzler, Chase Masterson*****, Robert O'Reilly, Armin Shimerman******, Max Grodenchik, Casey Biggs, and Ethan Phillips.

I didn't get to meet Nicole deBoer or Cirroc Lofton, but I was at the same convention as them once, and saw them across the room and was amused to see them standing next to each other, since Lofton is about nine feet taller than deBoer....

I've been at the same show with any number of others (Frakes, Dorn, Brooks, Mulgrew, Stewart, Sirtis, Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley, etc.) but never got to actually meet them.



* Met Barrett and Lenard at Shore Leave in 1992 when John Drew and I were doing the public access show The Chronic Rift, and I got to interview them both. Barrett was gregarious and wonderful, and Lenard was gentlemanly and thoughtful. They were both joys to interview.

** TerriO and I met Picardo and Plakson at the L.A. WorldCon in 2006, and we got to give them copies of, respectively, Distant Shores and No Limits, both of which had stories by Terri in which characters they played had big parts. The next time we saw Plakson was at Farpoint in 2007, and she told Terri she loved "'Q'uandary" and she was making her brother read it. That was very very cool.

*** I have many many many fond memories of George, and I'm sure I'll have more after this year's Shore Leave, but perhaps my favorite was at Peter David's wedding, when we're on the receiving line waiting for Peter and Kathleen, and a silence descends on the crowd except for George, who says, "You have to understand -- this is normal." You know you've entered the twilight zone when Mr. Sulu's telling you what's normal....

**** Aron and I came very close to collaborating on a writing project, but alas, it never came to pass. Maybe some day....

***** One of my proudest moments was at Comic-Con in San Diego one year when Chase saw me in the hallway and called out my name. We chatted for a bit, then went our separate ways, and these two fangoobers walk up to me all wide-eyed and slack-jawed and said, "You know Chase Masterson??????"

****** Armin is quite possibly the nicest human being on the planet. I can't say enough nice things about him, or his lovely wife, Kitty Swink. Armin, Kitty, J.G., and I spent a glorious couple of hours in the hotel bar at one of the Slanted Fedora shows in New York.

 

[David Mack]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

I've met a handful of the Trek actors over the years, and all of them have been at the least polite. I met Johnathan Frakes on the lot; pleasant fellow. Had lunch with George Takei in the Paramount Commissary; fun guy to hang out with. Chase Masterson, of course, is a total sweetheart.

 

[William Leisner]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

I met George Takei at a con way back, pre-SNW. We'll see if, at Shore Leave, I can work up the guts to approach him and mention my Sulu story in Constellations...

 

[TGTheodore]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

Okay, Trek writing vets, you can skip this post because you know what's coming, but since the OP asked, here come the chestnuts:

1. When DS9 was in its final weeks of filming, I made a CD of all the music performed by James Darren as Vic Fontaine, and I included the songs by Nana Visitor and Avery Brooks as well, (and did a graphics sleeve from the early 1960's. The "label" was Holodecca Records) . A friend was an intern on Voyager, and friends with most of the DS9 cast and writers. She said if I wanted, she'd give copies of the CD to the DS9 cast and writing staff (private gift, no money involved). She later told me a number of them were quite moved by it and said it was a very nice keepsake. One of the staff writers actually wrote me a very nice thank you note. But none of them would know me from Adam. About two years later, Darren re-recorded a number of the songs and released it commercially.

2. Same intern. Bob Picardo and Ethan Phillips were looking for a Trek writer to work with them on a two-man stage show for conventions and special occasions. The intern, Lynda Martinez Foley, recommended me to Bob. Bob called me at home and explained the five or six basic things they wanted to include (two songs, and a few general story points). I fleshed them into a 45-minute one-act play, "House Calls" and sent it to them.

They liked what I had written very much and invited me down to Burbank for lunch and a read-thru. I met with them for lunch, and somehow through the laughing for two hours, we ended up at Ethan's house then read-thru the script (and I fixed Ethan's PowerBook problem). We all made notes and I incorporated the notes into the script. From that point, we sent the script back and forth. We had a great time and it was a fun process. A year later, I collaborated with them on a second stage show.

To this day, Bob and Ethan always give me co-credit just before they perform either show at a con. And Bob still mispronounces my actual last name. I still correspond with Bob.

3. Marina Sirtis, at her very first con appearance, gave me a great big kiss (on the cheek) and full body hug in the lobby afterward. I was in a show and couldn't make the con, so I sent her roses instead and just happened to run into her in the hotel lobby after her appearance. It was well worth the drive! This has absolutely nothing to do with writing, but I just like to boast about it.

4. I was told by William Shatner's manager that he took my screenplay for a fourth Trek movie (yes, this was a long time ago) to his ranch with him because he was "eager to read it". Never heard back. (I'm sure it was lip service, but still a better one than most managers will pay you.) But I had submitted it to Nimoy as well, and the court-martial scene in STIV is virtually identical in dialogue and shot as the one in my script. I wasn't ripped off, it's the only "logical" way one could have done the court-martial scene, I think. (Although in mine, Kirk was demoted to Commodore, not Captain.)

5. Robert Mendenhall and I sent a signed copy of SNW6 (my short story was "Bum Radish: Five Spins on a Turquoise Reindeer" dealing with Scotty as a child, Bob's was "Ancient History" dealing with Scotty's later life) to James Doohan about a year before his death, sort of as a "thank you/get well soon" gift, but understandably never heard back.

I DID meet Jimmy when TWOK was promoting and he came to the radio station where I worked at the time. Super nice guy, happily chatted with everyone. He and I had about ten minutes to yak while the recording session was being prepared and he signed a vinyl copy of my TMP soundtrack, and used my name throughout our conversation. Sounds like a little thing, but it's actually very revealing about a person.

--Ted

 

[Dayton Ward]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

Hand to God, this is a true story: I once stood at adjoining urinals with Marc Alaimo.

I was already there, and the first thing I noticed upon entering was that the light above the urinals was out, casting that area of the restroom into shadow.

As I was going about my business, I heard someone enter the room, followed by footsteps coming up alongside me. Observing Normal Mens' Restroon Etiquette, I refrained from turning my head in that direction to see who it might be.

Then, I heard Gul Dukat (Yes, the voice) say, "Jesus. Can it get any more fucking dark in here?"

Thankfully, I was already taking care of things, otherwise I would have wet myself from laughing so hard.

 

[Amy Sisson]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

I am the autograph-seeking type, so I've been enjoying the last several Shore Leave conventions, which make it pretty easy to get the actors' autographs. At my first Trek convention many years ago, I asked Denise Crosby to sign a print of a pen-and-ink sketch of her as Tasha and Sela. She paused to admire it and was very sweet about it. (Of course, I hadn't drawn it -- I bought it in the dealer's room.) Marina Sirtis was kind enough to sign my copy of Peter David's Imzadi. Nicole DeBoer signed my copy of The Lives of Dax -- I'd love to get Terry Farrell's autograph on there too, as I love that book cover. Except for Nicole DeBoer, this was all before I had any Trek published (or written, for that matter). And I didn't bring it up to Ms. DeBoer because there was a line of about a zillion people behind me.

My more personal interactions with science fiction actors have all been the new Battlestar Galactica, and Stargate: Atlantis. No good stories with the Trek actors.

 

[Jim Johnson]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

The only two Trek actors I've interacted with beyond the usual fan connection at a convention are Chase Masterson and Avery Brooks.

I chatted with Chase Masterson at a writing panel she ran with Kevin Dilmore. I think there were like a total of five people there all together--Chase, me, Kevin, my fellow Paneranormal and SNWer Susan McCrackin, and Dayton, though Dayton was off to the side working on a manuscript and listening in. I think Chase's personal assistant was there too. Anyway, I spent the whole time chatting with Chase and Kevin. She's pretty cool.

I met Avery Brooks at a patron meet and greet when he was in DC performing Othello for the Shakespeare Theater. I talked to him about theater for about ten minutes and asked him about Trek all of once. Avery did most of the talking--I was a bit overwhelmed at just how awesomely cool and gracious he is in person. Another Paneranormal and SNWer, Kevin Summers, was there too, and he chatted with Avery a bit as well I believe.

 

[Kevin Dilmore]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

My encounters with on-screen types in relation to my fiction work have been limited. We gave Vaughn Armstrong copies of our "A Time to ..." books because Admiral Forrest was featured in one chapter. He was gracious and seemed very interested. I think that's about it, though.

Through my work on Star Trek Communicator, I've been blessed with opportunities to interview either on the phone or in person a great number of performers and behind-the-scenes talent involved in Star Trek, from every regular on the original series excepting DeForest Kelley through every regular on Enterprise excepting Scott Bakula. I'd list them all, but ... sheesh.

And I say sincerely that I've never had a bad experience meeting any of them. I've been treated with grace, openness and friendship from everyone.

If I was going to pick a few favorite moments, I'd have to go with talking to James Doohan at the grand opening of Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton, interviewing Andrew Robinson about his writing "A Stitch in Time" and then having him autograph the first copy of the book he ever signed in his life for me, talking to Louise Fletcher on the phone while she packed for a trip to Paris for a short-notice role, and obviously meeting Dayton on an interview and subsequently starting a hell of an adventure with him.

But the best part of it all has been the friends I've made that go beyond the assignments. Dayton, first and foremost. Dan Madsen and Larry Nemecek, John Ordover and Marco and Margaret and Keith, the Star Trek writers who for some reason call me a peer (at least to my face), all the SNW'ers, Lynn Norton at Hallmark, and Chase, who got me started in the whole damn thing and has hung with me ever since.

So, yeah, it's been fun.

Kevin

 

[Dayton Ward]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

Folks interesting in checking out something approaching a longer list of the folks Kevin's interviewed, can look here.

 

[Bob Greenberger]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

Being ancient, I have had repeated encounters with many of the performers since attending the earliest conventions back in the 1970s. Then, when I worked at Starlog, I wound up interviewing many of them, renewing acquaintances.

Then, at DC, working on the comic book, I actually got to hire Walter Koenig, George Takei and John DeLancie to write for the comics. (OK, Walter had more to do with an offer from Marv Wolfman, but I got to take it from there.)

Since then, as a working Trek writer, I see the performers at the cons and as a result, they have been very welcoming and friendly. Shore Leave certainly makes everyone feel comfortable so impromptu run-ins with performers are common. Hanging out with Armin Shimmerman by the escalators and swapping John Ordover stories is one bright moment, for example.

In 1986, Shore Leave was held in Baltimore, near Inner Harbor. Robin Curtis was the guest and took to the infant now known as Katie. When we all went out for dinner that first night, she insisted on pushing the stroller. She saw Kate a few years later at a Canadian show and then again, a decade later. It's gotten somewhat funny to trot Kate out every few years and hear Robin exclaim "oh my, god, I'm old."

Robbie thought it was particularly cool when we gave George a lift from a restaurant back to I-Con two years ago and he settled in and exclaimed, "Just don't ask me to tell you how to get there, I'm terrible with directions."

None, to by knowledge, have read my fiction and I cannot recall any mentioning it to me.

 

[Christopher]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

Robbie thought it was particularly cool when we gave George a lift from a restaurant back to I-Con two years ago and he settled in and exclaimed, "Just don't ask me to tell you how to get there, I'm terrible with directions."

That must be why he was the helmsman and not the navigator.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

Robbie thought it was particularly cool when we gave George a lift from a restaurant back to I-Con two years ago and he settled in and exclaimed, "Just don't ask me to tell you how to get there, I'm terrible with directions."

That must be why he was the helmsman and not the navigator.

A joke about that was put into George Takei's wonderful DC Star Trek Annual (#1?), IIRC, where Sulu says that he gets lost in Chinatown.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

I've met a lot of the actors at conventions and they're all very nice

Special mentions to George Takei, who pronounced my name correctly without being told how; Sid El Fadil, who remembered me five years after I'd last seen him; and Garrett Wang, who's one of only two thespy types (Ingrid Pitt's the other one) who've recognised my name and asked me to sign a book.

The interaction I've been most touched by, though, wasn't with a cast member, but a producer. A couple of years ago I wrote a retrospective on TOS season 3 for the Communicator. I wanted to rehabilitate the season a bit. After it came out, I got a letter from Bob Justman, and was thinking "Oh shit, have I fucked something up, pissed him off, and am about to get sued?" Then I opened it, and found a very sweet letter about how he'd liked seeing someone set the record a bit straighter about season 3, and rehabilitating it a bit.

That meant a lot to me, and I've still got the letter.

 

[nutsnbolts]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

I spent some time with Marc Alaimo at an after convention party. Went outside and had a cigarette with him where he signed my Playmates 9'' Dukat figure happily. A genuinely nice guy .

 

[Ro_Laren]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

Thank you for your stories!! You guys all have a pretty cool connection to the Trek world! Makes me jealous!!

My more personal interactions with science fiction actors have all been the new Battlestar Galactica, and Stargate: Atlantis. No good stories with the Trek actors.

So what were your interactions with the cast of nuBSG and SGA like???

 

[ronny]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

I'm not an author but I did have a sort of a meeting of an actor in a non-autograph session.

Five or six years ago while taking the F car to work through downtown San Francisco, George Takei was also there. He was showing a friend of his around the city and one of the things they were doing was taking one of old muni cars. The driver was chatting away with him and they were having a pleasant conversation. Then the driver started talking about what a great guy he thought William Shatner was. I don't know if this is still the case but I remember reading a bunch of rumors that Takei and Shatner don't really get along so I started to keep from laughing at this point and I noticed Takei's responses started getting shorter and shorter as time went on.

I'm like Christopher in that I don't have a lot to say to actors beyond "wow, you're on a great show" so I didn't say anything to him but it was a fun moment.

Sort of along those lines. A friend and I were going to a bookstore years ago to get The Difference Engine signed by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling. I told him I never had anything to say to authors I met beyond "I really admire your work". He's ahead of me in line and gets to Sterling and says "It's nice to meet you, I really admire your work" and turns and grins at me. All I could think of was "you bastard, now I don't even have that". They signed my book, I don't think I said anything beyond thank you and we had a laugh about it as we left the store.

 

[James Swallow]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

I'm pretty lucky in this regard, having been a media journalist before I turned to creative writing full time. I've met a lot of the Trek cast, as well as actors from other shows (Stargate, Doctor Who, X Files, Firefly, Andromeda, Space: Above and Beyond, Farscape, Babylon 5, among others) and also a lot of production people as well (In fact, it was meeting the Trek writers that got me the chance to pitch for the tv show, but that's another story).

Standout personal memories for me include; George Takei, who was the first actor to say to me "He's dead, Jim"; Armin Shimerman, who, in a turn-around from the usual, asked me what Shakespearian role I'd most like to play; Nicole DeBoer, who hung out with me in a bar and was just incredibly sweet; and Siddig El Fadil, who once hand-wrote me a letter on the back of page of DS9 script.

 

[Kevin Dilmore]

Re: Trek Authors- What have your interactions w/the Trek cast been lik

My more personal interactions with science fiction actors have all been the new Battlestar Galactica, and Stargate: Atlantis. No good stories with the Trek actors.

So what were your interactions with the cast of nuBSG and SGA like???

You've never heard of Sissy Plaster Caster? When she says "personal interactions," she means personal interactions.

Bubba D.