2. INTRODUCTION TO TV SERIES
• Star Trek is a TV show created in 1966 by Gene Roddenberry. It showed the
journeys of a group of space explorers on the star ship Enterprise and on
alien planets. The show explored philosophical ideals and paralleled There
were 5 TV series in total.
• The Original Series
• The Next Generation
• Deep Space Nine
• Voyager
• Enterprise
3. WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE STAR TREK?
• Social/Political Commentary
• Groundbreaking (first interracial kiss on US television, ethnically varied cast)
• Inspiration for technologies (tablets, flip phones, desktops)
4. INTRODUCTION TO FILM SERIES
• Alongside the TV series, there were feature films
that were released. There were 6 that were
based on the original series, 4 that were based
upon The Next Generation and 2 films that
rebooted the series. Number Title Release date Director Cast
1
Star Trek: The
Motion Picture
December 7,
1979
Robert Wise
The Original
Series
2
Star Trek II: The
Wrath of Khan
June 4, 1982 Nicholas Meyer
3
Star Trek III: The
Search for Spock
June 1, 1984
Leonard Nimoy
4
Star Trek IV: The
Voyage Home
November 26,
1986
5
Star Trek V: The
Final Frontier
June 9, 1989 William Shatner
6
Star Trek VI: The
Undiscovered
Country
December 6,
1991
Nicholas Meyer
7
Star Trek
Generations
November 18,
1994
David Carson
The Next
Generation
8
Star Trek: First
Contact
November 22,
1996
Jonathan Frakes
9
Star Trek:
Insurrection
December 11,
1998
10
Star Trek:
Nemesis
December 13,
2002
Stuart Baird
11 Star Trek May 8, 2009
J. J. Abrams Reboot films
12
Star Trek Into
Darkness
May 16, 2013
5. FAN RECEPTION TO REBOOT FILMS
• Fan reactions to the 1st reboot film were pretty positive
with fans and critics praising the relationships between
the characters, action, CGI, makeup that’s faithful to
the original show and so on.
• Fan reactions in particular to the 2nd reboot film, Star Trek
Into Darkness were overwhelmingly negative. At a
Las-Vegas convention, it was voted the worst out of all
12 Star Trek films and Galaxy Quest, a film that satirized
the TV show. The film was booed at mention of it and
one fan got on the stage, took the microphone and said
that the reboot films shouldn’t even be considered on
this list. I simply couldn’t list everything that’s wrong with
this.
Rank Film
1 II: The Wrath of Khan
2 First Contact
3 VI: The Undiscovered
Country
4 IV: The Voyage
Home
5 The Search For Spock
6 Star Trek (2009)
7 Galaxy Quest
8 Generations
9 The Motion Picture
10 Nemesis
11 Insurrection
12 V: The Final Frontier
13 Into Darkness
6. MARKETING THE REBOOTS
• The challenge with creating a new Star Trek movie would be making it
appealing to the masses, yet still retaining everything that made it appealing
to Trek fans in the first place.
• Fan service in the form of memorable quotes, locations, character(s/istics)
etc would be suitable to retain the interest of old fans.
• Promotional material served to strip away the sci-fi elements while focusing
on the new, younger cast and action to attract a new audience.
8. This is a shot of Kirk in a bar fight. It
may be appealing to fans of the TV
show, as Kirk is partially known for
getting into fistfights often with his
enemies.
This informs the viewer that this will go
into Kirk’s origin, as a student at
Starfleet academy. It could be
pleasing to fans, as they may’ve
wanted to know what Starfleet was
for Kirk.
This is a shot of three characters
being sent down to the surface of a
planet. This indicates a focus on
intense setpieces.
This is a shot of the Enterprise being
attacked by a ship. This will appeal
to those that enjoyed the spacecraft
battles of the TV series.
9. This is a shot of a structure in low
orbit, firing a laser down onto a
planet. This makes it seem like the
threat is great which makes it
appealing to general audiences.
This is a shot of a massive arctic plain.
It highlights the effort that’s going
into the CGI, as this scene was filmed
in California.
This is a shot of a spaceship coming
out of a black hole, right in front of a
sun. This, coupled with the orchestral
score, emphasises the scale of the
threat and makes it seem more epic,
and thus draws in the audience.
This is a shot of a planet being
devoured by a black hole at the
centre. It makes the danger look like
it’s on a grand scale.
10. This is a shot of Spock embracing
Uhura. Because Spock is half-Vulcan,
a race which doesn’t feel emotion,
this retconning may displease fans of
the TV show.
This is a shot of Sulu fighting a
Klingon. This highlights the focus on
action, presenting one-on-one fights
instead of ship-to-ship battles.
This is a shot of the Enterprise
approaching Nero’s ship. Nero’s ship
seems to be much more intimidating
than the Enterprise, which may make
the odds seem hopeless for the
protagonists.
This is a shot of Spock’s mother
observing a laser piercing the clouds.
Despite the trailer not making it clear
that is Spock’s mother, it still works
because it makes it seem like Nero
will hurt the innocent.
11. This is a shot of the Enterprise coming
out of light speed into a debris field
from the view of the bridge. This can
please fans because it looks quite
faithful to the bridge for The Original
Series.
This is a shot of George Kirk being
thrust forward on the Enterprise
bridge. This presents an alternate
version of James Kirk’s father which
could please fans of the TV show.
This shot of Simon Pegg as
Montgomery Scott indicates that the
film may not just have a focus on
grandiose action, that it could also
have some comic relief.
This is a shot of Kirk being chased by
a creature in the snow. This can
appeal to the general audience, as
it provides a sense of excitement
and danger.
12. FANDOM
• There are two terms that are used to describe the fan base of Star Trek,
Trekkie, the original word created by Gene Roddenberry, and Trekker, the
term that the fans created for themselves because at the time, “Trekkie” was
typically used as an insult.
• Trekkies are stereotyped as overweight, socially awkward people who
become ecstatic over any reference to Star Trek. This has a negative effect
on those who may consider beginning to watch the show as it may put them
off it.