Video: Douglas Trumbull Saved STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE

[Maurice]

So there's this video where Trumbull talks about the effects challenges of TMP.

Unfortunately, while he's accurate about a lot of it, he does make some mistakes. Notably, he takes credit for the pearlescent paint job, but Andy Probert confirmed that said surface was initiated by Richard Taylor under Robert Abel and Associates. Trumbull also erroneously credits Ron Gress with the paintjob, which was actually Paul Olsen's work. Gress did paint models, notably the Klingon fleet emblem on the battlecruiser, but didn't do the Enterprise.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

EDIT: I should add that Olsen was the primary painter, but I was reminded that Gress may have been responsible for painting part or most of the engineering hull (and strongback, maybe?). I'll have to look this up.

 

[Firebird]

Thanks for that interview, Maurice! Always nice to hear Trumbull talk about Trek.

On a side note, anyone know what the backing musical score is in the piece? It has some classic TOS or 50's adventure epic feel.

 

[Maurice]

I can barely hear the music at all.

 

[JamesRye]

Thanks for the link, this was a good video. I thought Harold Michelson came up with the idea for the aztec panneling?

According to memory alpha, with reference to Ron Gress:

Though not having received official credit for the production, he has made a significant contribution, when he was hired to work with lead painter Paul Olsen of the refit-Enterprise model, and was responsible for the application of the paint job on the secondary hull. [1]

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Ron_Gress