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Star Trek: Phase II web series

post #1 of 17
6/11/09 at 5:04pm
Thread Starter 
Parallel Universe: The Observatory: DIY Fandom

This story ran on msn this morning. It seems like some fans have been making a TOS spin-off for the web, and they've been doing it for quite a few years already. They use authentic looking sets and even feature original cast members as guest stars! (Walter Koenig, George Takei and Denise Crosby have all guested).

Yes, I've seen fan-made webisodes of popular tv shows and movies. That's nothing new. But I've never seen anything with such work put into it. The acting, I will admit, is not very good, but the writing is. They've even gotten some of TOS's original writers to do these things!!

And for whatever reason, i've never even heard of this web series!!

My question is--how in the world does such an elaborate thing fly under the radar? How are they not getting sued by Paramount?


(Mods forgive me but I couldn't find a discussion forum for web-only shows. Maybe we can start one?? Is there enough interest?)
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post #2 of 17
6/11/09 at 10:33pm

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

Much like Starship Exeter, (which wasn't even mentioned!) so long as they aren't selling or making a profit from it, Paramount will live and let live.
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post #3 of 17
6/12/09 at 5:21am

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

You can even get a free DVD of the fan film Of Gods And Men (starring Koenig, Nichols, and many other Trek stars) when you buy something from the studio's web site. The movie was directed by Tim Russ.
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post #4 of 17
6/12/09 at 6:03am

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

This actually has been discussed here before. Some of these episodes are great, some are not. The one with George Takei was brilliant, but I lost interest after that.
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post #5 of 17
6/12/09 at 6:52am

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

I've been hearing about these for years, but never actually watched one. I may have to take some time and watch them this summer.
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post #6 of 17
6/12/09 at 9:43am

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

Greetings

The latest one ... Blood and Fire is pretty good. (Except for that 5 min segment with the two guys in the room ... brought the show to a halt.) The rest of the show was entertaining trek.

The show is blessed by the Roddenberry's ... and paramount leaves them alone as long as they don't violate copyrights. Charge $$. That's why they also have the go ahead to produce episodes of the aborted Trek Phase 2 series back in the late 70's.

They still have to work on the pacing of the shows, but they are way better now than where they started.

All volunteer ... and labor of love.

Also fascinating to see how an independent group can create a show versus the 8-10 weeks it takes to make one episode for a TV series. (Working on many shows at one time.)

regards
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post #7 of 17
6/12/09 at 9:54am
Thread Starter 

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael TLV
Greetings

The latest one ... Blood and Fire is pretty good. (Except for that 5 min segment with the two guys in the room ... brought the show to a halt.) The rest of the show was entertaining trek.

The show is blessed by the Roddenberry's ... and paramount leaves them alone as long as they don't violate copyrights. Charge $$. That's why they also have the go ahead to produce episodes of the aborted Trek Phase 2 series back in the late 70's.

They still have to work on the pacing of the shows, but they are way better now than where they started.

All volunteer ... and labor of love.

Also fascinating to see how an independent group can create a show versus the 8-10 weeks it takes to make one episode for a TV series. (Working on many shows at one time.)

regards

I'm actually very proud of their efforts; that's a LOTTA work. I actually wish the whole thing could be available on dvd--I have trouble viewing videos on my computer.
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post #8 of 17
6/13/09 at 1:34pm

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael TLV
(Except for that 5 min segment with the two guys in the room ... brought the show to a halt.) The rest of the show was entertaining trek.
Yeah, live and let live I say, but that was so in your face it was ridiculous.
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post #9 of 17
6/13/09 at 2:33pm

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

Quote:
Yeah, live and let live I say, but that was so in your face it was ridiculous.

As opposed to all the straight "love" scenes we've been forced to watch over the past 43 years?

It's taking forever for the second part of "Blood and Fire" to be released.
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post #10 of 17
6/13/09 at 4:28pm

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hewell
..It's taking forever for the second part of "Blood and Fire" to be released.
At least it's now listed as "Coming Soon" and not "Post Production"
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post #11 of 17
6/14/09 at 4:16am

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hewell
As opposed to all the straight "love" scenes we've been forced to watch over the past 43 years?
Just ma-a-a-y-be why it stood out and came across as in your face, you think?
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post #12 of 17
6/14/09 at 6:54am

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

I only watched part of the first episode way back when this first came out, so I haven't been keeping up with it. "Kirk"'s Elvis 'do more than anything made the whole thing seem a bit ridiculous and I didn't stick with it.

I just downloaded and watched "Blood & Fire, Pt. 1" and it's an entertaining story. The story stays true to Trek commenting on current issues. The special effects won't win them any awards but are decent enough for what it is. Whoever built the sets, though, did a simply incredible job. Those are amazing top notch re-creations.
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post #13 of 17
6/14/09 at 10:10pm

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

I think the FX were a lot better than they ever achieved in TOS in the sixties.
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post #14 of 17
6/15/09 at 4:28am

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin Hewell
As opposed to all the straight "love" scenes we've been forced to watch over the past 43 years?
Can't stand those either. Movie and television love scenes of either sexual orientation are so incredibly fake and unrealistic, I would prefer they weren't included at all.
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post #15 of 17
6/15/09 at 5:56am

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

I'm still waiting on Part 2 of "Blood and Fire."
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post #16 of 17
6/15/09 at 8:49am

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

I watched the episode with Sulu. Not bad. The acting is pretty bad, but overall production quality is great. The story drug a bit here and there, and could have been 10 minutes shorter, but I'd give it a solid B.
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post #17 of 17
6/17/09 at 8:53am

Re: Star Trek: Phase II web series

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Kettell
Whoever built the sets, though, did a simply incredible job. Those are amazing top notch re-creations.

I seem to recall reading that at least some of the sets and props are the actual items that were used in the original series.
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