Why do you think Beltran was/has been so critical?

[Anwar]

It's a vicious cycle thing, if Beltran had been a better sport then the writers and producers would have tried more with him. By being a dick, he just ensured they wouldn't give him more chances in the future.

Of course, there were fundamental problems with him to begin with. Being a former Fleeter who had no problems with the Feds (otherwise he'd have outright defected and betrayed secrets instead of formally resigning) doesn't make for a good foil to Janeway.

 

[Cepstrum]

Ok, I see the manifold reasons why Beltran said the things he did about the production staff:

• it's his personality

• he perceived his character was underdeveloped/getting shortchanged

• didn't like the allegged treatment of some the actors by some of the producers

• was annoyed that it became the Seven-Doctor-Janeway show

• doesn't like sci-fi (though why'd he sign up for Trek?)


The question remains: why be critical of the fans? Does he think people who like Trek are dumb? Did he have unpleasant experiences with fans? ?



Regardless, I still like the Chakotay character. He was one of my favorites (clearly I'm a poor judge of such matters). I'm just saddened to hear Mr. Beltran have such disdain, even if it's partially tongue-in-cheek and/or hyperbole.

And yes, I wish he'd had a little bigger role, for he struck me as a competent, charismatic leader who would make a very capable XO and CO (when needed). He's probably my favorite XO of the four spinoff series (Riker, Kira, Chakotay, and T'Pol/Trip). Though Riker was excellent and Visitor did a great job portraying Kira. I just happen to like Chakotay's cool demeanor and screen presence. He seemed a little more serious and principled than Riker and less volatile than Kira (though it made sense for her character as a former Bajoran Resistance hero and someone skeptical of SF's motives).


But can anyone explain why Beltran went after sci-fi and Trek fans? He *did* sign on to a long-term Trek show, so I don't understand why he'd do it if he likes neither Trek nor its fans. After all, Patrick Stewart, as a Shakespeare stage actor must have felt a little embarrassed in a Trek uniform reciting technobabble (initially, at least).

 

[exodus]

Ok, I see the manifold reasons why Beltran said the things he did about the production staff:

• it's his personality

• he perceived his character was underdeveloped/getting shortchanged

• didn't like the allegged treatment of some the actors by some of the producers

• was annoyed that it became the Seven-Doctor-Janeway show

• doesn't like sci-fi (though why'd he sign up for Trek?)


The question remains: why be critical of the fans? Does he think people who like Trek are dumb? Did he have unpleasant experiences with fans? ?



Regardless, I still like the Chakotay character. He was one of my favorites (clearly I'm a poor judge of such matters). I'm just saddened to hear Mr. Beltran have such disdain, even if it's partially tongue-in-cheek and/or hyperbole.

And yes, I wish he'd had a little bigger role, for he struck me as a competent, charismatic leader who would make a very capable XO and CO (when needed). He's probably my favorite XO of the four spinoff series (Riker, Kira, Chakotay, and T'Pol/Trip). Though Riker was excellent and Visitor did a great job portraying Kira. I just happen to like Chakotay's cool demeanor and screen presence. He seemed a little more serious and principled than Riker and less volatile than Kira (though it made sense for her character as a former Bajoran Resistance hero and someone skeptical of SF's motives).


But can anyone explain why Beltran went after sci-fi and Trek fans? He *did* sign on to a long-term Trek show, so I don't understand why he'd do it if he likes neither Trek nor its fans. After all, Patrick Stewart, as a Shakespeare stage actor must have felt a little embarrassed in a Trek uniform reciting technobabble (initially, at least).

It's a job.
Everybody has bills too pay.
Not even actors have the luxury all the time of working on projects were they like or are fimilar with the material. Sometimes you work out of necessity.


I don't think he dislike us but some of us can be overzelous and that turns off the actors, Brent Spiner being one of them. Spiner had a run in with an overzelous fan that scared the shit out of him, due to that he would sign autographs and meet the fans one on one. Plus, look at Wil Wheton. While he was on the show, he recieved tons of hate mail from fans and he was just a kid. Why would someone in their right mind send such mail to a child? How much hate mail did Berman or Braga get from fans over a TV show? It's behavior like that which causes the actors not to like us.

 

[kimc]

Robert Beltran on the series finale of Voyager:

"It was a wistful kind of sadness for me because that time was filled with unnecessary tension. They were manufacturing this huge 'The end of Voyager' thing.

Sadly, Kate [Mulgrew] got caught up in it and decided she wasn't going to have any fun. She made it way too difficult to work with her in the last couple of months of the show.

She really felt that by doing it a certain way maybe she could have cured cancer, and totally forgot it’s just a TV show. Some people just have to build castles in the sky."

Agree or disagree, this is Beltran!

I don't have the quote from Mulgrew's side of it but I recall her saying that "certain actors" were coming to the set unprepared resulting in her putting in even longer hours than the demanding finale schedule required for her. Given her concerns about already not getting enough time for her family I'm sure it pissed her off.

How many times have we had co-workers who didn't pull their own weight and we had to pick up the slack? I know I've been there!

 

[exodus]

Robert Beltran on the series finale of Voyager:

"It was a wistful kind of sadness for me because that time was filled with unnecessary tension. They were manufacturing this huge 'The end of Voyager' thing.

Sadly, Kate [Mulgrew] got caught up in it and decided she wasn't going to have any fun. She made it way too difficult to work with her in the last couple of months of the show.

She really felt that by doing it a certain way maybe she could have cured cancer, and totally forgot it’s just a TV show. Some people just have to build castles in the sky."

Agree or disagree, this is Beltran!

I don't have the quote from Mulgrew's side of it but I recall her saying that "certain actors" were coming to the set unprepared resulting in her putting in even longer hours than the demanding finale schedule required for her. Given her concerns about already not getting enough time for her family I'm sure it pissed her off.

How many times have we had co-workers who didn't pull their own weight and we had to pick up the slack? I know I've been there!

Mulgrew wasn't always very reasonable herself.
It's not like she herself hasn't been reported on causing drama on the set.

 

[HoneyBLilly]

Agree or disagree, this is Beltran!

I don't have the quote from Mulgrew's side of it but I recall her saying that "certain actors" were coming to the set unprepared resulting in her putting in even longer hours than the demanding finale schedule required for her. Given her concerns about already not getting enough time for her family I'm sure it pissed her off.

How many times have we had co-workers who didn't pull their own weight and we had to pick up the slack? I know I've been there!

Mulgrew wasn't always very reasonable herself.
It's not like she herself hasn't been reported on causing drama on the set.

I think I need articles to hear this. Right now I'm in a trashy gossip kind of mood. And this is making me laugh.

And she said that at a con, Tulsa I think in 2007 maybe '08

 

[propita]

I don't have the quote from Mulgrew's side of it but I recall her saying that "certain actors" were coming to the set unprepared resulting in her putting in even longer hours than the demanding finale schedule required for her. Given her concerns about already not getting enough time for her family I'm sure it pissed her off.

And there was plenty of info that the re-writes were coming so fast that the lines would continually change. I agree with why bother memorizing lines which would not be in the scene. Be familiar with the scene, yes; but memorize lines which would not be used? No.

And Beltran had proven that he could memorize lines as well or better than other actors. Many VOY fans have read the anecdote of Beltran and Ray Walston doing an entire scene from Hamlet while waiting for a scene to be shot (Walston played an 8472/Boothby).

I don't think Beltran had a memory problem. It appears that his behavior on set was not what it might've been--but since I wasn't there to know what was happening and the history of everything on the set by those present, I can't judge.

 

[firecrackerrrr]

Actually, I liked "Endgame", for the most part. Of course, I, too, did not like the sudden pairing of Chakotay and Seven at all.

But I'm curious: did anyone? (I hope I didn't set that up to make people reluctant to answer "yes"!)

I genuinely liked Endgame. My only complaint is I wish Endgame was a 4-part-episode or something. I wish whatever happened in Endgame happened before the last two episodes. I wanted to see them on Earth ya know?

 

[exodus]

I don't have the quote from Mulgrew's side of it but I recall her saying that "certain actors" were coming to the set unprepared resulting in her putting in even longer hours than the demanding finale schedule required for her. Given her concerns about already not getting enough time for her family I'm sure it pissed her off.

And there was plenty of info that the re-writes were coming so fast that the lines would continually change. I agree with why bother memorizing lines which would not be in the scene. Be familiar with the scene, yes; but memorize lines which would not be used? No.

And Beltran had proven that he could memorize lines as well or better than other actors. Many VOY fans have read the anecdote of Beltran and Ray Walston doing an entire scene from Hamlet while waiting for a scene to be shot (Walston played an 8472/Boothby).

I don't think Beltran had a memory problem. It appears that his behavior on set was not what it might've been--but since I wasn't there to know what was happening and the history of everything on the set by those present, I can't judge.

True, plus it's not like Beltran doesn't admit to his own faults. He openly admitted that he had trouble saying the technobabble. Beltran is simply upset because he wanted to do more with Chakotay and wasn't given much oppertunity to do so. For so many that wanted Voy. to be a better show & Chakotay to be a better character, why aren't more supporting him?

 

[propita]

This is not directed at exodus, but is general commentary:

Because it's too late now to support a show that's over.

They're actors (and directors, now), and the job is over. No matter how much we fans keep this show close to our hearts (for all its attributes and flaws), it was a job to them. When we leave a job, we have, hopefully, some happy memories and thoughts, but we usually don't mourn forever. We move on. Likely, this is just what they all did.

Was the show perfect? Well, no, since different fans want different things, even if many fans wanted one thing, there would be other fans wanting the opposite.

Was the show good for what it was? Yes.

Could it have been better, in writing or plot or characterization or even acting sometimes? Of course; nothing is perfect nor will it please everyone.

Do fans still enjoy it? Well, duh, or they wouldn't be fans.

 

[exodus]

This is not directed at exodus, but is general commentary:

Because it's too late now to support a show that's over.

They're actors (and directors, now), and the job is over. No matter how much we fans keep this show close to our hearts (for all its attributes and flaws), it was a job to them. When we leave a job, we have, hopefully, some happy memories and thoughts, but we usually don't mourn forever. We move on. Likely, this is just what they all did.

Was the show perfect? Well, no, since different fans want different things, even if many fans wanted one thing, there would be other fans wanting the opposite.

Was the show good for what it was? Yes.

Could it have been better, in writing or plot or characterization or even acting sometimes? Of course; nothing is perfect nor will it please everyone.

Do fans still enjoy it? Well, duh, or they wouldn't be fans.

Well said.

 

[kimc]

Agree or disagree, this is Beltran!

I don't have the quote from Mulgrew's side of it but I recall her saying that "certain actors" were coming to the set unprepared resulting in her putting in even longer hours than the demanding finale schedule required for her. Given her concerns about already not getting enough time for her family I'm sure it pissed her off.

How many times have we had co-workers who didn't pull their own weight and we had to pick up the slack? I know I've been there!

Mulgrew wasn't always very reasonable herself.
It's not like she herself hasn't been reported on causing drama on the set.

I'm not talking about "causing drama on the set". I'm talking about making work for others by not doing your own job. There's a difference.

 

[teya]

I don't have the quote from Mulgrew's side of it but I recall her saying that "certain actors" were coming to the set unprepared resulting in her putting in even longer hours than the demanding finale schedule required for her. Given her concerns about already not getting enough time for her family I'm sure it pissed her off.

How many times have we had co-workers who didn't pull their own weight and we had to pick up the slack? I know I've been there!

Mulgrew wasn't always very reasonable herself.
It's not like she herself hasn't been reported on causing drama on the set.

I'm not talking about "causing drama on the set". I'm talking about making work for others by not doing your own job. There's a difference.

Having worked with my share of divas over the years, folks who bring an attitude, snipe publically about coworkers and the like, do create a toxic environment that affects productivity and the quality of your product.


YMMV on that and likely does.

 

[exodus]

I don't have the quote from Mulgrew's side of it but I recall her saying that "certain actors" were coming to the set unprepared resulting in her putting in even longer hours than the demanding finale schedule required for her. Given her concerns about already not getting enough time for her family I'm sure it pissed her off.

How many times have we had co-workers who didn't pull their own weight and we had to pick up the slack? I know I've been there!

Mulgrew wasn't always very reasonable herself.
It's not like she herself hasn't been reported on causing drama on the set.

I'm not talking about "causing drama on the set". I'm talking about making work for others by not doing your own job. There's a difference.

I just don't agree with that.
An uncomfortable work environment, is an uncomfortable work environment no matter what the reason.

 

[kimc]

^ So is coming to work after not bathing for a week but I wasn't talking about THAT either.

 

[exodus]

^ So is coming to work after not bathing for a week but I wasn't talking about THAT either.

Interesting, neither was anyone else.

 

[kimc]

^ So is coming to work after not bathing for a week but I wasn't talking about THAT either.

Interesting, neither was anyone else.

True, it's about as related to my original post as your drama example...

 

[exodus]

^ So is coming to work after not bathing for a week but I wasn't talking about THAT either.

Interesting, neither was anyone else.

True, it's about as related to my original post as your drama example...

In reply to a post in which Beltran talked about how Kate was making it difficult to work with her on the set. If she's saying he was a problem & he's saying she became part of it too, so it seems related too me.

 

[Nightdiamond]

I agree too, I always pretty much accepted Chakotay -- I think the show itself went off in wild ways...

Strange, but Voyager seems to enjoy more mainstream popularity than DS9.

They've already been reruns for a few years now, and DS9 has been off tv for a long time.

I've even seen drawing, pictures where they present the captains of star trek and they show Kirk, Picard, and leave Sisko out...


I really hope they got along...Robert seems to indicate they did...

Sandy asks:
On VOYAGER, which cast member do you get along with and which cast member do you butt heads with most of the time?

Robert Beltran:
I get along with all of the members equally well. We all hate Garrett equally.

Robert Beltran on fans who take Star Trek too seriously;

I think the weirdest thing - and it's not that weird, it's just a small annoyance - is that people who take Star Trek very seriously seem to want to kill me, because I don't take it very seriously.

[Laughs] I find it very stange that people would actually hate me or dislike me because I don't like Star Trek. I think that's kind of having your head up your own backside.

If Chakotay was based on Robert Beltran himself, I'd nominate Voyager for two Emmys, lol

 

[Anwar]

That's strange, I heard that Mulgrew's husband hates Beltran because of how he treated Kate during the show.