The episode was, actually, conceived by Gene Coon under his pseudonym of Lee Cronin. Moreover, it was filmed during the third season when GR bailed out of the daily production of the series, sensing its impending cancellation. Fred Friedberger was in charge that season.
The black on one side and white on one side was the brainchild of the episode's director, Jud Taylor. Originally, the separation was to be at the waist.
See:http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Let_That_Be_Your_Last_Battlefield_(episode)
Opps. Try: http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Let_That_Be_Your_Last_Battlefield
Wonder what the hissy fit was specifically about with that episode. On another note, and forgive me if it's been told before, but how did that pitch go with Jeri Taylor?EDIT ADDON: Hard to tell on GR thinking with TNG, since lots of that stuff was other writers with stuff he messed up (like JUSTICE.) He was still causing trouble during season 4, because my pitch session with Piller got bumped over to Jeri Taylor because GR was having a hissy fit about what turned out to be REDEMPTION pt 1 and Piller had to go placate him.