Kurtzman And Orci: Writing Trek And Future Plans

By T'Bonz

While writing summer blockbusters is satisfying, Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci have something else in mind when it comes to their future.

As reported by Film Journal International, making a popular Star Trek movie meant reaching beyond the established fanbase. "We call it tough love," said Orci, explaining how to write a story in such a way as to attract new fans. "You've got to really look at it and see what's going to translate to the storytelling that's relevant now and what has to be sacrificed. Sometimes it's hard to know, so it's important to be disciplined about it. You can't rely on the history of the franchise to engender goodwill. You've got to win the goodwill as if the franchise has never been seen before."

Writing a sequel presented its own challenges. "Sequels are frightening because you really have to come up with a reason to tell a second story that doesn't have to do with the first movie being successful," said Kurtzman. "The common denominator in [successful sequels] involved a major test for the hero and a bad guy who was truly frightening and who put the hero through the mill. Most importantly, you didn't have to see the previous movie to come into the sequel and like it."

As to the future, Kurtzman and Orci would like to direct a film. "The plan is to find the right film for us to direct in the next couple of years, said Orci. "We're happy being the guys that write the words, but we want to try everything. It's possible that we'll each direct our own projects, but we might be too jealous of what the other is doing and so we'll both have to do it!"

Orci even has a franchise in mind for his future endeavors. "I'd love to see [Nintendo's] The Legend of Zelda done right," he said. "Now that's letting your geek flag fly."

In the meanwhile, the two writers will have to content themselves with projects such as the second season of Fringe, as well as the next Star Trek movie, due out in 2011.

To read more, head to the article located here.

Sound off on Starfleet Forum!

Fuller: Bring 'Star Trek' Back To Television

By T'Bonz

Bryan Fuller is ready to work on another Star Trek series and would like to see the franchise back on television.

As reported by MTV, Fuller, who wrote for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager, feels that the time is right for the return of a Star Trek series to television. "I would love to do another 'Star Trek' series," said Fuller. "One where you could go back to the spirit and color of the original 'Star Trek,' because somehow, it got cold over the years. I love 'Next Generation,' but it's a little cooler and calmer than the ones from the '60s, which were so dynamic and passionate."

Currently working on Pushing Daisies, Fuller is impressed with J.J. Abram's version of Star Trek, especially the costumes. But he feels that Kirk, Spock and McCoy should remain in the movies. "You wouldn't have to be on the same ship or have the same characters as the original 'Star Trek,'" explained Fuller, "but you could be in the same timeline and universe. 'Star Trek' has to recreate itself. Otherwise, all the characters start to feel the same. You always have a captain, a doctor, a security officer, and you have the same arguments based on those perspectives. It starts to feel too familiar. So all those paradigms where it takes place on a starship have to be shaken up."

Fuller, a Star Trek fan himself, prefers Deep Space Nine of all the Star Trek incarnations. "'Deep Space Nine' was the best of the modern ones," he said, "because it was so emotionally complicated." Fuller was disappointed with Star Trek: Enterprise, saying, "'Enterprise' was the most sterile of all of them, when it should have been the most fun."

To read more, head to the article located here.

Cake Trek

By T'Bonz

Some Star Trek fans build intricate models of the Enterprise, but what about a model of the Enterprise that looks good and is edible?

As reported by Cake Wrecks, creative fans have designed cakes based on the various Star Trek TV shows or movies.

Amongst them is the Star Trek Enterprise 1701 refit cake created by brothers Edward and Antoni Frys of European Cake Gallery. Their Enterprise refit cake, seen here, took days to make, with the support structure alone taking three days.

The support base for the refit Enterprise was made of foam, but the nacelles were made from an edible mixture of Rice Krispie treats and white chocolate.

Other cakes are more traditional. One wedding cake had a Star Trek couple topper, as seen here, with a male Vulcan groom and a female Klingon bride. The real life bridal couple had a Star Trek wedding where the groom did portray a Vulcan and the bride was dressed up as a Klingon female.

Another cake had a large gold Federation symbol atop it, as was the case with a red sheet cake, on which was written "To Boldly Go..." Cakery Bakery had a whole Star Trek layout, consisting of two cakes and a dozen or so "Tribble" cupcakes.

The bridge of the Enterprise, seen here, caused a little controversy amongst Star Trek fans, because Scotty is shown sitting at the navigator's position.

To see all of the cakes, head to the article located here.

Sound off on Starfleet Forum!