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Wang to B&B: "Thanks for nothing!"

Mach5

Admiral
Admiral
Kim was probed, beaten, tortured and held the distinction of being the first Voyager crew member to die and come back to life. What more does a guy have to do to get promoted to Lieutenant for frak’s sake? To add further insult to injury, other crew members such as Tuvok (Russ) and Paris were being promoted, demoted and then re- promoted throughout the seven-year run of Voyager.
I’m not trying to be negative here; just saying it like it is. During the fourth season, I called writer/producer Brannon Braga and asked him why my character hadn’t received a promotion yet. His response? “Well, somebody’s gotta be the ensign.” Geez, thanks. Thanks for nothing.

http://trekmovie.com/2011/06/22/gar...lost-opportunity-for-star-trek-voyager-movie/

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Walter Koenig once told the story of being momentarily excited that Chekov had been promoted to lieutenant in ST:TMP, then immediately embarrassed at having confused a factoid about the character with his work as an actor. He'd seen movies, he noted, where the leads played PFCs and the generals were all played by extras.

How humiliating for Wang to be so prideful and confused. Perhaps if his most widely-noticed role in the past ten years had been anything other than a supporting role in overreaching fan film he'd have some more realistic points of reference.
 
What's so humiliating about actually CARING for the evolution of the character that you're expected to breathe life into?

There are numerous examples of actors clashing with TPTB because of creative differences regarding their characters.
 
Wang is right. Absolutely right!

And yes, he did care about his character.
 
What's so humiliating about actually CARING for the evolution of the character that you're expected to breathe life into?
If Wang cared so much, he would have put more effort into his job. Instead he was continuously late to the set and often goofed off once he did arrive, as reported by all his co-workers. Caring about your job is displayed by having a good work ethic.

There will always be creative conflict of character direction.
That can & does happen on several shows across the dial.
Wangs gripe holds little to no water if he himself made little effort to show he was serious about his career and the character he played. Especially when his co-stars like McNiel, Dawson, Russ & Picardo all asked for more to do in front and behind the camera. They got what they asked for because they showed they were serious and dedicated to their careers.

We are talking about the same guy that made the absurd claim that Rick Berman was racist for not allowing him to direct when asked. Why should this guy be taken seriously if he's going to over react and slander someone without seeing his own fault in the situation?
 
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I'm a bit leery of the "only actor in the history of Trek not to direct claim, too.

You know who impressed me as having a solid work ethic? Ethan Phillips. Sat through hours of makeup every day he went to work for seven years, knew he looked like a reggae hedgehog, and always seemed to give it his all.

Obviously not having been on the set I can't anything about what went on behind the scenes, but when I think of how much harder Phillips had to work than everyone else--and how much less payoff he got onscreen most of the time--I have only admiration for him. A quintessential professional.
 
I'm a bit leery of the "only actor in the history of Trek not to direct claim, too.

You know who impressed me as having a solid work ethic? Ethan Phillips. Sat through hours of makeup every day he went to work for seven years, knew he looked like a reggae hedgehog, and always seemed to give it his all.

Obviously not having been on the set I can't anything about what went on behind the scenes, but when I think of how much harder Phillips had to work than everyone else--and how much less payoff he got onscreen most of the time--I have only admiration for him. A quintessential professional.
Agreed.
 
I think Wang's number one purpose these days is to promote Wang, so he's going to say things that will catch the interest of the fans. Somebody does have to be the ensign, and so what? He was getting a regular paycheck to be the ensign. I never heard Gary Burghoff complain that Radar O'Reilly was always a corporal, did you? :rofl:
 
There will always be creative conflict of character direction.
That can & does happen on several shows across the dial.
Wangs gripe holds little to no water if he himself made little effort to show he was serious about his career and the character he played. Especially when his co-stars like McNiel, Dawson, Russ & Picardo all asked for more to do in front and behind the camera. They got what they asked for because they showed they were serious and dedicated to their careers.

Yes. Maybe he should ask himself why those people got to direct and he didn't, 'cause it sure as heck wasn't racism.

Dawson's even gone on to direct and produce on about 50 billion different shows since Voyager, as well. She's basically made a second career out of it. Hard work and dedication tend to do that for a person.
 
Which is why God invented extras and recurring characters like Sito Jaxa.
Unfortunately it was Man that created business economics, money and a budget to prevent all that from happening. Still I have no doubt that B&B prayed for money to rain from the sky, just like we all do.
 
Somebody does have to be the ensign
Which is why God invented extras and recurring characters like Sito Jaxa.

I never heard Gary Burghoff complain that Radar O'Reilly was always a corporal, did you? :rofl:
Wasn't Radar actually bumped to Lieutenant once, but then for some reason got demoted back to corporal?

He was promoted because of a bet. He didn't like being an officer and was happy to go back to being a corporal. Another time, when BJ first arrived, they sneaked him into an officer's club by putting captain's bars on him and calling him a "corporal captain."
 
This bit cracked me up:

" At some point, I even approached Kate Mulgrew and frustratedly asked her why I wasn't promoted yet. In hindsight, this action on my part was hilarious because Kate Mulgrew had no more influence in promoting my character than a random person on the street."

It amuses me that he went to Kate Mulgrew as though she was really the captain :lol:
 
Guy collected a paycheck for seven years with little obvious effort. Should have saved some of those Trek checks.
 
Guy collected a paycheck for seven years with little obvious effort. Should have saved some of those Trek checks.

So you can't complain about your job because they are paying you? That would be news to a lot of people.

I have a hard time believing anyone who complains with a cupcake job like Wang had. Get up mumble a few lines o' technobabble head back to my trailer relax (with free food), get up and mumble a few more lines o' technobabble then call it a day. With an adoring fanbase that is willing to pay me as well for simply putting my name on a piece of paper.

Conditions obviously weren't that unbearable or else he'd have quit at some point. But then again who exactly was gonna hire him to do what he did for the amount of money Paramount was paying him? No one. Because I haven't seen anyone beating down his door for his acting skills since Voyager ended.

He should be grateful for whoever cast him in the first place. He's gotta be one of the shittiest actors to ever walk onto a Trek sound-stage. And that really says something.
 
Guy collected a paycheck for seven years with little obvious effort. Should have saved some of those Trek checks.

So you can't complain about your job because they are paying you? That would be news to a lot of people.

Nah, you can complain. Just don't expect any perks from your boss if he or she finds out about it.

Exactly.

Hence why Beltran and Wang got the bad characters.

They never stopped whining!
 
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