Spoilers VOY DOC: To The Journey | Rating and Review

[Tomalak]

Maybe I need to reread that email but my response to it was a big "Fuck You". Maybe on the survay if they allow feedback it will be another big fuck you.

Edit (like 20 minutes later)

I reread the email and did the survey. Here was my response in the any other questions and feedback area and it was a lot more diplomatic than what I posted here:

Well said. If these interviews were conducted as part of the Voyager doc, then backers have already paid for them. It’s taking the piss to ask for yet more money, especially when they failed to deliver fully on their stretch goals.

A free download for backers is the least they can do.

 

[Akiraprise]

Here is the email if anyone is curious.

Spoiler: Full Email

Dear BACKER,

Thank you again for your enthusiasm and continued support of To The Journey.

This update reflects your feedback and outlines our next steps as we move into final production planning.

What’s Included with Your Deluxe Set

Your pledge includes the Standard Deluxe Set, featuring:

• To The Journey feature documentary on region-free DVD and Blu-ray

• Approximately 3 hours of bonus content, including:
– Extensive in-depth interviews with Voyager cast members
– A deeply personal conversation with Kate Mulgrew
– Our fan confessional segment

As we finalize disc authoring and production, we will include as much content as possible within the physical media promised.

Why You’re Receiving This Email

Over the course of production, we filmed a tremendous amount of material — far more than can fit within the available disc space.

Rather than leave this footage unseen, we are exploring the possibility of offering an optional exclusive bonus content package created in celebration of Star Trek’s 60th anniversary.

This optional package would include:
• A feature-length, in-depth interview documentary centered on George Takei
• Additional exclusive interviews with Voyager cast members whose material did not fit within the Standard Package
• A collection of other never-before-seen extras

This exclusive bonus content would be offered to backers first, and would be:

✔ Never released before
✔ Available as early access for backers
✔ Offered at a discounted backer price of $25 (with no additional charges for shipping or handling)

One Final Preference Check
At this stage, we are not asking you to purchase anything.

We simply invite you to share your preferences regarding:

• Delivery format for your Standard Deluxe Set
• Interest in potential exclusive bonus content

Please respond by Thursday, February 26

Take the Brief Preference Survey
After reviewing feedback, there will be a final confirmation step before any optional upgrade is offered.

Timing of Delivery
We’re planning to deliver all Standard Deluxe Set content — and any approved exclusive bonus content — by the end of June 2026.

We’ll continue to share updates as production milestones are finalized.

Summary
• Your Standard Deluxe Set is already secured
• Includes extensive Voyager cast interviews and Kate Mulgrew’s deeply personal home interview
• We’re exploring an exclusive anniversary bonus package featuring the George Takei documentary, additional Voyager cast interviews and additional never-before-seen extras
• Offered only to backers first as early access at a discounted price
• Survey is for preferences and interest only — no payment yet

Bonus Content Sneak Peek
A preview of select bonus content segments from both the Standard Deluxe Set and potential anniversary release

PLAY!

Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey.

David Zappone
455 Films

 

[Tosk]

The new follow up email has quietly replaced "a collection of other never-before-seen extras" with this:

"Exclusive tributes to Michael Piller and Jeri Taylor"

So unless they plan on revealing more later, it sounds as though the full contents of the theoretical additional disc is:

• A feature-length, in-depth interview documentary centered on George Takei

• Additional exclusive interviews with Voyager cast members whose material did not fit within the Standard Package

• Exclusive tributes to Michael Piller and Jeri Taylor


Personally, I'm thinking I'll probably just stick with the original disc.

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[Tomalak]

I love Takei, but I don't particularly feel like there's much more I can learn that he hasn't already said over the last six decades.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

If I ever needed an opinion about voices and dogs, ...

 

[DonIago]

If the interview with Takei is really "feature-length" then I would imagine it's at least 90 minutes long and probably only tangentially about his apperance in "Flashback", which makes it sound like they just have the documentary around and want to use it for something. But if the total length of the additional features is three hours, that makes half of them barely about the show itself. It would help if they said which cast members would be included as well.

Seems like a tough sell for $25. I've said I'm Not Sure, and mentioned in the comments that runtimes and more details would be nice, as well as some mention of timelines on this given how delayed the production has already been.

 

[Akiraprise]

I would like to see the VOY cast interviews that perhaps should have been included on the doc... I'd rather not pay again for them. I also said Not Sure.

 

[DonIago]

Oh derp, I just realized the email says it would all be delivered by the end of June.I stopped reading at the point where they linked to the survey (mostly because that was where I'd scrolled down to and I didn't realize there was more).

Just watched the preview. Other than perhaps Takei, it just seemed to be more of the regulars, though I will say they seemed a little more critical of the show here than they did in my (possibly flawed!) memories of the documentary.

 

[Tosk]

I would like to see the VOY cast interviews that perhaps should have been included on the doc... I'd rather not pay again for them. I also said Not Sure.

Plus there is already "Extensive in-depth interviews with Voyager cast members / A deeply personal conversation with Kate Mulgrew" on the main disc already.

So the extra disc would contain the interview stuff that wasn't good enough for the doc, and wasn't good enough for the bonus features.

 

[Caretaker]

I’ve watched it because at least I wanted to see what I paid for. It’s not exactly horrible but it pales in comparison to What We Left Behind. It just feels, I don’t know, pointless I guess.

Regarding Enterprise, the docs on the blu-rays are pretty comprehensive. I don’t think there’s anything that 455 can add to that.

Haven't watched it yet, but - this sounds like the DS9 Companion vs. the VGR companion - one fully loaded and huge with lots of in-depth stuff and the other more bare bones.

 

[Tosk]

I hate to put it this way because it might be incredibly unfair to someone, but...the Voyager one just felt like there was no one with real passion for the doc with their hand on the rudder.

Like, it was made because they could.

As I said, that might be completely untrue. If that's the case, I'd have to revise my opinion to be that they just weren't up to the task they set themselves.

I will rewatch the doc when I get my disc, and I reserve the right to think better of the final product when that happens.

 

[Firebird]

I hate to put it this way because it might be incredibly unfair to someone, but...the Voyager one just felt like there was no one with real passion for the doc with their hand on the rudder.

Like, it was made because they could.

As I said, that might be completely untrue. If that's the case, I'd have to revise my opinion to be that they just weren't up to the task they set themselves.

I will rewatch the doc when I get my disc, and I reserve the right to think better of the final product when that happens.

That's been my view as well for a while. The DS9 doc had Ira at the helm on that one to guide it and also give it a tonal consistency with the original show itself. That made all the difference.

 

[tomalak301]

I saw the trailer a couple days ago, and with all due respect, why would I care about what George Takai has to say in a Voyager documentary? Now if they were to do a deep dive on the episode "Flashback" and maybe the chaos that was around the 30th (?) anniversary of Trek (Also the year that Trials and Tribble-Ations) came out, that would be great, but it doesn't seem like this is that. Why couldn't they do some deep dives on some of these episodes again? It seems like they are afraid to talk about the writing on this show and what decisions were made verse what decisions were scrapped.

 

[Qonundrum]

I saw the trailer a couple days ago, and with all due respect, why would I care about what George Takai has to say in a Voyager documentary? Now if they were to do a deep dive on the episode "Flashback" and maybe the chaos that was around the 30th (?) anniversary of Trek (Also the year that Trials and Tribble-Ations) came out, that would be great, but it doesn't seem like this is that. Why couldn't they do some deep dives on some of these episodes again? It seems like they are afraid to talk about the writing on this show and what decisions were made verse what decisions were scrapped.

Like other franchises where one actor from a different era wants to do a commentary or something. Kinda fun to get that additional perspective, and Takei was in a certain episode ostensibly designed to celebrate a semi-major milestone (which wasn't bad for the most part), and people who love Voyager and not otherwise being bothered with TOS might find something new in his interview, even if it's been said before?

It's all for little if adding all the unnecessary background music is used as that just distracts from what the actors are sharing. But that's a preview segment; I'd hope the full release isn't as audibly and visually cluttered.

 

[David cgc]

I got an email today with an update on the bonus feature situation:

Dear Backer,​

​

Thank you again for your support of our Voyager documentary, and for your purchase of the Standard Deluxe Blu-ray/DVD Set.​

​

Thanks as well for your feedback on our recent survey. It’s been incredibly helpful as we finalize delivery plans.​

​

We also appreciate your patience over the past several weeks as we worked through your input and aligned on the best path forward.​

​

Here’s what we heard:​

• The vast majority of you want your Standard Deluxe Set on physical disc (primarily Blu-ray, with some DVD)
• A strong majority said you’d be interested in additional bonus content
• Some of you also expressed interest in digital access

​

What You’ll Receive​

Your Standard Deluxe Set is moving forward as planned and now includes:​

• The feature documentary (DVD and Blu-ray)
• More than 2.5 hours of exclusive bonus content on Blu-ray

(We originally planned for 2 hours—so you’ll be receiving more than promised.)​

​

Optional: Bonus Special Features ($25)​

Because we captured so much additional material during production—and based on your strong interest—we’ve created a Bonus Special Features disc with 3+ additional hours of exclusive content, including:​

• A feature-length interview with George Takei (Happy birthday, George!)
• Additional Voyager cast interviews with Robert Picardo, Robbie Duncan McNeil, Roxann Dawson, and more, not included in the Standard set

​

Because you’ve already purchased the Standard Deluxe Set:​

• Add this disc for $25​

• No additional shipping cost if ordered by May 17 at 11:59 PM PT on BackerKit​

• It will ship together with your Standard set​

​

If ordered after May 17 on BackerKit, the disc will still be available but may ship separately with an added shipping cost.​

​

​

What’s Next​

Over the coming weeks, we’ll prepare for manufacturing and fulfillment, with all bundled orders finalized by May 17 on BackerKit.​

​

We’ll continue to share updates as we move through this process and will publish a set of Frequently Asked Questions in the coming week.​

 

[tomalak301]

Honestly at this point I would just want my $15 back. They want another $25 for this optional disc which shouldn't have been optional in the first place? I don't give a crap what Takai has to say on something for Voyager and they've dragged us along for such a long time that I just want it to go away. They really botched this whole thing, and it was worse in that the Documentary was not great. F them and their "Optional" set. They won't see another dime from me.

 

[DonIago]

Yeah, $25 for a disc of bonus features feels like a cash grab, and one that I suspect is going to go poorly for them.

 

[Tomalak]

Yeah. Absolutely no interest in the bonus disc here either. The feedback they received didn't suggest fans for clamouring for it either.

 

[Akiraprise]

Same. No interest in what Takei has probably said many times before. This is supposed to be a VOY project. I am interested in what the VOY cast has to say but I am not paying them anymore cash. Just want what we've been promised.

 

[Firebird]

*sigh* After the years-worth of delays and poor communication, asking for another $25 for this bonus disc on top of everything else is just the cherry on top of the indignity shit sandwich.

I stopped expecting much from this group, and yet was still disappointed.