In his vast career, William Shatner has directed five features. Three of them were documentaries about the making of "Star Trek" including "The Captains" in 2011, "Get a Life!" in 2012, and "Chaos on the Bridge" in 2014. Prior to these, Shatner also helmed a 2002 sci-fi film called "Groom Lake," which he co-wrote with the notorious "Star Trek" producer Maurice Hurley.
Shatner's highest-profile directing gig, however, came in 1989 with the release of "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." To this day, "Star Trek V" is considered the least of the "Star Trek" movies, lambasted for its clunky script, weird central conceit, and cheap special effects. In the film, the U.S.S. Enterprise is hijacked by Sybok (Laurence Luckinbill), the half-brother of Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Sybok flies the ship to the very center of the galaxy where he hopes to meet God face-to-face. Along the way, Sybok converts several Enterprise crew members to...
Shatner's highest-profile directing gig, however, came in 1989 with the release of "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." To this day, "Star Trek V" is considered the least of the "Star Trek" movies, lambasted for its clunky script, weird central conceit, and cheap special effects. In the film, the U.S.S. Enterprise is hijacked by Sybok (Laurence Luckinbill), the half-brother of Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Sybok flies the ship to the very center of the galaxy where he hopes to meet God face-to-face. Along the way, Sybok converts several Enterprise crew members to...
- 3/18/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
For such a great show, it's remarkable how many times "Star Trek: The Next Generation" almost didn't get made. Read any behind-the-scenes story from the making of the show and you'll hear about chaos, power struggles, budget restrictions, and moments that almost blew up the entire project. William Shatner's 2014 film "Chaos on the Bridge" candidly documented the best, worst, and wildest stories from the making of the show, setting the record straight on decades-old gossip and giving actors, writers, and producers a chance to explain exactly what the hell was going on at Paramount from 1987 to 1994.
Hilariously, "Chaos on the Bridge" includes an entire section about situations in which legendary actor Patrick Stewart almost got fired. It's impossible to imagine "Star Trek" without its stoic genius Captain Picard, but apparently tensions on set led to at least one instance in which the actor ended up called to task by...
Hilariously, "Chaos on the Bridge" includes an entire section about situations in which legendary actor Patrick Stewart almost got fired. It's impossible to imagine "Star Trek" without its stoic genius Captain Picard, but apparently tensions on set led to at least one instance in which the actor ended up called to task by...
- 12/24/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Patrick Stewart has noted in multiple interviews, at convention appearances, and in his new autobiography "Making It So: A Memoir," that he began to lose his hair as early as age 17. Throughout his decades-long career, Stewart was rarely seen wearing wigs or hairpieces, at least on screen. One might stumble upon his performance as Sejanus in the famed 1976 miniseries "I, Claudius," and see him sporting a curly-haired wig. Or perhaps one might catch his 1974 performance in the BBC's version of "Antony and Cleopatra" wherein his Enobarbus had a mere receding hairline. In both cases, Stewart doesn't look natural. A hairless Patrick Stewart is now so familiar to audiences through his highly visible performances in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and in multiple "X-Men" films that it's difficult to accept him with hair.
But there was a time when Stewart's baldness caused him anxiety. Evidently, he owned a special...
But there was a time when Stewart's baldness caused him anxiety. Evidently, he owned a special...
- 12/1/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Gene Roddenberry's celebrated sci-fi TV series "Star Trek" debuted on September 8, 1966, and recently celebrated its 57th anniversary. Initially, "Trek" wasn't terribly popular, and only managed to make a third season thanks to a coordinated letter-writing campaign (a campaign that Roddenberry was accused of orchestrating and encouraging himself). It wouldn't be until after "Star Trek" was canceled in 1969 that its popularity would significantly begin to grow. Thanks to a sweet infinite syndication deal, "Star Trek" reruns were common, and a cult began to form. By the early 1970s, the first "Trek" conventions began to appear. Naturally, conventions were a great place for the show's stars and creators to congregate and share production stories with a rising tide of obsessives. Fans were able to talk to and get autographs from William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, Majel Barrett, Walter Koenig, George Takei, James Doohan, and Grace Lee Whitney, as...
- 9/26/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In the first season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," the chief medical officer on board the U.S.S. Enterprise-d was Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), a fearlessly moral, mature character who was already at the peak of her professional career. Dr. Crusher was a great character as she was always eager to speak her mind and always knew where she stood on any ethical issues. Unlike many other characters on the show, who were still discovering their humanity, their career tracks, or their identity, Dr. Crusher had already arrived, as it were. She was one of the few "adults" on the show.
She was also hated by one of the "Next Generation" producers, Maurice Hurley. As Trekkies likely know, the first season of "Next Generation" was a tumultuous time behind the scenes, with show creator Gene Roddenberry, his personal lawyer Leonard Maizlish, and multiple other showrunners and producers...
She was also hated by one of the "Next Generation" producers, Maurice Hurley. As Trekkies likely know, the first season of "Next Generation" was a tumultuous time behind the scenes, with show creator Gene Roddenberry, his personal lawyer Leonard Maizlish, and multiple other showrunners and producers...
- 9/12/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In the expansive "Star Trek" universe, some of its brightest stars embarked on unforeseen journeys, abruptly departing the franchise to both the dismay and intrigue of fandom.
Why didn't Kirstie Alley return as the beloved Lt. Saavik? What prompted Jeffrey Hunter to relinquish the role of Captain Pike? Who ejected Gates McFadden's Dr. Crusher from the airlock? How come Diana Muldaur, her replacement, endured only a single season? Why did Wil Wheaton part ways with Wesley Crusher? And why was Grace Lee Whitney, as Yeoman Janice Rand, dropped from the cast even before the original series premiered in 1966?
These departures stemmed from a myriad of forces: financial constraints, contract negotiations, miscasting, yearnings for new horizons or strange new opportunities, life-altering events, creative and personal conflicts, or a blend of these influences. Most were unexpected and frequently controversial. Whether these exits bolstered or hindered the franchise, the judgment is yours,...
Why didn't Kirstie Alley return as the beloved Lt. Saavik? What prompted Jeffrey Hunter to relinquish the role of Captain Pike? Who ejected Gates McFadden's Dr. Crusher from the airlock? How come Diana Muldaur, her replacement, endured only a single season? Why did Wil Wheaton part ways with Wesley Crusher? And why was Grace Lee Whitney, as Yeoman Janice Rand, dropped from the cast even before the original series premiered in 1966?
These departures stemmed from a myriad of forces: financial constraints, contract negotiations, miscasting, yearnings for new horizons or strange new opportunities, life-altering events, creative and personal conflicts, or a blend of these influences. Most were unexpected and frequently controversial. Whether these exits bolstered or hindered the franchise, the judgment is yours,...
- 9/3/2023
- by Maurice Molyneaux
- Slash Film
As all good Trekkies know, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" got off to a rocky start. As detailed in William Shatner's 2014 documentary "Chaos on the Bridge," "Next Generation" was hotly contested, with various producers and showrunners all vying for control over the project. There was a lot of animosity, as a result, and a lot of arguments as to what kind of scripts would be used. Show creator Gene Roddenberry, according to the film, was insistent that he had control over every facet of the production as he had been barred from working on the second, third, and fourth "Star Trek" movies, and wanted to make sure "his baby" was safe. There were, however, reports that Gene Roddenberry's personal lawyer, Leonard Maizlish, was taking completed scripts and re-writing them in secret. Executive Producer Rick Berman suspected that the written notes he received from Roddenberry were actually Maizlish's doing.
Maislish...
Maislish...
- 5/9/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
It's worth remembering, even with some of the franchise's better shows, that no "Star Trek" series started strong ("Strange New Worlds" perhaps notwithstanding). "Star Trek" might serve as the prime example of the old television criticism cliché "It doesn't get good until season three." Luckily, the characters and settings were typically strong enough to keep casual viewers interested until the shows improved.
As detailed in the documentary "Chaos on the Bridge," "Star Trek: The Next Generation" famously stumbled for two seasons as writers and producers jockeyed for power behind the scenes. It wasn't until the show underwent a massive restructuring at the start of its third year that it hit its stride. A new writing ethos dictated that "Next Generation" was going to be more character-focused, often centering individual episodes on a single member of its ensemble. Through such an approach, viewers saw how each character developed a unique working relationship with each other character.
As detailed in the documentary "Chaos on the Bridge," "Star Trek: The Next Generation" famously stumbled for two seasons as writers and producers jockeyed for power behind the scenes. It wasn't until the show underwent a massive restructuring at the start of its third year that it hit its stride. A new writing ethos dictated that "Next Generation" was going to be more character-focused, often centering individual episodes on a single member of its ensemble. Through such an approach, viewers saw how each character developed a unique working relationship with each other character.
- 2/10/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
While "Star Trek: Lower Decks" is a delightful workplace comedy in its own right, Trekkies have been having a ball combing through every episode looking for cute references to classic "Star Trek" episodes. In the first season episode "Veritas," the characters visited a museum of alien artifacts that featured a 50-foot humanoid skeleton that appeared to be wearing a tattered blue Starfleet uniform. This, for the well-trained eye, was a reference to the "Star Trek: The Animated Series" episode "The Infinite Vulcan" wherein a species of intelligent plant people cloned a giant version of Spock to be their leader. At some point, that giant clone died and, by the 24th century events of "Lower Decks," ended up in an alien archive lightyears away. For the uninitiated, that skeleton was a spooky background detail. For Trekkies, it was everything.
The new season of "Lower Decks" premiered today, and it comes barreling...
The new season of "Lower Decks" premiered today, and it comes barreling...
- 8/25/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Exclusive: Sam Smith doc, Bryan Greenberg comedy-drama among pick-ups for La-based outfit.
La-based distributor Vision Films has bolstered its line-up with a trio of acquisitions.
Comedy-drama A Year And Change stars Bryan Greenberg (Friends with Benefits) as a man who decides to make some wholesale changes in his life after an accident at a New Year’s Eve party. Co-stars include T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), Jamie Chung (Big Hero 6), Claire van der Boom (Hawaii Five-o), Marshall Allman (True Blood) and Jamie Hector (Halo: Reach).
Rom-com A Date with Miss Fortune stars Ryan Scott as a man whose luck changes after meeting a beautiful Portuguese woman, played by Jeannette Sousa. Canada’s John L’Ecuyer directs.
Music documentary biopic Sam Smith: Dreams Come True - which includes performances of the musician’s most popular songs – will get a multi-continent release in partnership with distributor Odeon Entertainment Group in the UK.
It was revealed...
La-based distributor Vision Films has bolstered its line-up with a trio of acquisitions.
Comedy-drama A Year And Change stars Bryan Greenberg (Friends with Benefits) as a man who decides to make some wholesale changes in his life after an accident at a New Year’s Eve party. Co-stars include T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), Jamie Chung (Big Hero 6), Claire van der Boom (Hawaii Five-o), Marshall Allman (True Blood) and Jamie Hector (Halo: Reach).
Rom-com A Date with Miss Fortune stars Ryan Scott as a man whose luck changes after meeting a beautiful Portuguese woman, played by Jeannette Sousa. Canada’s John L’Ecuyer directs.
Music documentary biopic Sam Smith: Dreams Come True - which includes performances of the musician’s most popular songs – will get a multi-continent release in partnership with distributor Odeon Entertainment Group in the UK.
It was revealed...
- 9/11/2015
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
William Shatner presents a new documentary going behind the scenes on the early tumultuous years of Star Trek: The Next Generation...
The revival of Star Trek in the late 1980s ultimately proved so popular that it’s strange to think it was almost sunk by infighting and internal politics between those who most desperately wanted to see it succeed. And yet, that’s what happened. You don’t have to be a particularly keen fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation to notice that the earliest two seasons are ropey and inconsistent. In many ways, it’s surprising that they got made at all.
This is the stance taken by William Shatner’s latest Star Trek documentary, entitled Chaos On The Bridge, which examines the tumultuous early years of Tng and the circumstances surrounding its creation. It’s been more than 25 years since Star Trek: The Next Generation went into production,...
The revival of Star Trek in the late 1980s ultimately proved so popular that it’s strange to think it was almost sunk by infighting and internal politics between those who most desperately wanted to see it succeed. And yet, that’s what happened. You don’t have to be a particularly keen fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation to notice that the earliest two seasons are ropey and inconsistent. In many ways, it’s surprising that they got made at all.
This is the stance taken by William Shatner’s latest Star Trek documentary, entitled Chaos On The Bridge, which examines the tumultuous early years of Tng and the circumstances surrounding its creation. It’s been more than 25 years since Star Trek: The Next Generation went into production,...
- 8/17/2015
- by louisamellor
- Den of Geek
Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, chats to us about his Star Trek: The Next Generation documentary, Chaos On The Bridge...
William Shatner Presents: Chaos On The Bridge is a documentary covering the tumultuous early years of Star Trek: The Next Generation, as told by the writers and producers who worked on it. Written, produced and directed by William Shatner, the 60-minute film has recently been made available worldwide for the first time following a limited release last year, so we took a moment to sit down to talk with the man himself and find out what the story behind it really is.
So, the documentary is essentially the story of how Gene Roddenberry passed the Star Trek torch - or possibly had it wrested from him - during the first few years of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The first thing I'd like to ask is how you remember Gene,...
William Shatner Presents: Chaos On The Bridge is a documentary covering the tumultuous early years of Star Trek: The Next Generation, as told by the writers and producers who worked on it. Written, produced and directed by William Shatner, the 60-minute film has recently been made available worldwide for the first time following a limited release last year, so we took a moment to sit down to talk with the man himself and find out what the story behind it really is.
So, the documentary is essentially the story of how Gene Roddenberry passed the Star Trek torch - or possibly had it wrested from him - during the first few years of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The first thing I'd like to ask is how you remember Gene,...
- 8/16/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
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