Fresh Baked Classic Images

Brand new CG renders of photographs we grew up with -

+

+

+

Ghost in the Machine

“… I’ve got you, under my skin…”

In Enterprise episode “Vox Sola”, a lost alien life form hitches a ride IN the ship. That means I got to build a number of spooky “tween”deck spaces and Jefferies tubes for the wraith-like critter to traverse. How great to get to do classic horror lighting! Joy!

Xindi Aquatic Interface

Don’t drink the water… the Xindi’s F*** in it!

A concept I submitted for a Xindi Aquatic communication console for Enterprise. The scene was ultimately deleted from the script, but that never diminishes the fun of creating it.

New Romulan Shuttle Shots Uncovered!

Gary Hutzel prepares to shoot Meinenger’s DS9 mid-ring bay model at Image G.  Note C stand with gangway set up to meet the arriving shuttle.

The Romulan shuttle images drex files ran last month were an unexpected hit. Rooting through the archives last night, I came across a cache of shots that had been lost in a temporal whirlpool. Standby to receive data…

Days of Future Past – The Trek\NYWF Connection

Twice a week  and for two summers, impressionable eleven year old Doug Drexler was dropped off by his Dad at the front gate of the world of tomorrow. It did not neccessitate a slingshot around the sun, nor did it call for call for Mr. Atoz and his Atavachron.  The lad’s awe inspiring and futuristic destination was not some far flung decade,  but then and there in 1964. It rose from the most unlikely of places… a landfill in Flushing Meadow. It was the  New York World’s Fair, and it was the proverbial world of tomorrow. It would impress him to the core.

As Spock observed, time could be perceived as a river, with eddies and backwashes. Someone else was washed up onto that shore, and our paths undoubtedly crossed at the jetting waters of the iconic Unisphere,  or trekked side by side along the undulating Kodak Moon Deck, or stood in line at Ford’s Magic Skyway. My fellow time traveller was Walter “Matt” Jefferies…  aviator, illustrator, art director, and he would become one of the most important artistic influences in my life.

The 1964-65 New York World’s Fair was the largest international exhibition ever buit in the United States, and it was all about THE FUTURE. Never before, and never again would there be such an amazing conglomeration of optimistic, sci-fi, wet dream, futurism in one place. Matt Jefferies absorbed it all with intense fascination. And so the New York World’s Fair was the birthplace of the Star Trek design ethic. I would never be the same because of it… and although you probably were never there, and most likely never heard of it, neither would you…

For the Good of the Service

Mike Okuda, doing that voodoo, that he do, so well.

There is nothing quite like putting the candy-coating, finishing touches on a spectacular filming miniature.  The fact that it is a starship is enough to put you in orbit!  I’m sure that most of you are aware that there is a lot of inter-office politics in film production. This can be especially true between two shows being produced by the same company. As observed by a Vulcan scientist of some reknown, “… it is not logical, but it often true.”  Although I did work on both shows, I was “officially” on DS9, so when it came time to graphic the Voyager, Mike was forbidden to use crossover crew. There was no good reason for this that we could perceive.

One thing about Mike Okuda, is that all he cares about is doing the best job possible in the time available. When it came time to launch the Voyager, Mike wanted me with him, damn the decree.

Franz Joseph Lives

Enterprise escorts a Starfleet Transport Command vessel.

An image I planned to use for the Ships of the Line calendar, but Pocket Books was not able to secure the rights to use Franz Joseph’s design. Just ran across it. Thought is was fun!

Dis fight is to de det

 

That Gerald Fried is one cool cat.

 

Spaceflight Memorial

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

Mike Okuda takes a moment to reflect on America’s heroes, on this significant

day in manned spaceflight -

Most of us who love science fiction are also admirers of the real-life
men and women who risk their lives to explore space.  Today marks the
first of three solemn anniversaries of the bravery and sacrifice of
these extraordinary souls.  For some unknown reason, although years
apart, each of these wrenching events occurred within a few calendar
days of each other.

On Friday, January 27, 1967, the United States space program was
stunned when a flash fire destroyed the Apollo 1 spacecraft, killing
astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White II, and Roger Chaffee.

Tragedy struck again on January 28, 1986, when frigid temperatures
caused one of Space Shuttle Challenger’s booster motors to burn
through, triggering an explosion in the sky that took the lives of
Francis Scobee, Michael Smith, Judith Resnick, Ronald McNair, Ellison
Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, and Sharon Christa McAuliffe.

And on a Saturday morning, February 3, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia
disintegrated during re-entry, some 40 miles up, scattering debris
across the United States and killing astronauts Rick Husband, William
McCool, Michael Anderson, David Brown, Kalpana Chawla, Laurel Clark,
and Ilan Ramon.

NASA’s incredible successes with Apollo, the Space Shuttle, the
International Space Station, Mars rovers, the Hubble Space Telescope,
and so many other missions have made the dangerous business of space
exploration seem almost routine.  But these three tragedies are harsh
reminders of how difficult it is to challenge the cosmos, for the
extreme environments of space will always be a dangerous and
unforgiving arena.  These seventeen heroes gave their lives in pursuit
of the human exploration of space, in the hopes that their efforts
would help pave the way to a better tomorrow for all of us.

Gary Kerr on Remakes

Curmudgeon Gary Kerr sounds off about movie remakes

Keeping in mind the fact that today’s movies must reflect modern sensibilities, here’s my treatment for a movie I want to pitch:

This is a movie about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, but I had to make changes to appeal to my target audience: 15-25 year old males.  First, I updated the attacking planes, since Mitsubishi Zeros are over 60 years old.  I mean, PROPELLOR planes are so 20th century.  Hip, modern audiences wouldn’t believe that these outdated planes could cripple the Pacific Fleet, so in my improved story, the Japanese are flying F-16s, which are way cooler than Zeros. 

Second, I moved the site of the attack to the Washington DC Navy Yard so I could have a cool scene where 25-year-old studmuffin FDR floats out of the White House on his hover-chair, witnesses the attack, and realizes that it’s his destiny to win the war.  By the way, FDR’s coming from a wealthy, patrician family isn’t edgy enough for today’s young males, so in my version, FDR is confined to his hover-chair, following an assault by his abusive step-father.

Following some steamy sex with his super-hot wife, Eleanor, FDR and the members of his Cabinet (all 25 years old, since they were all in the same high school graduating class), jump into their F-22 Raptors, follow the Japanese jets, and sink the Japanese fleet with tactical nukes.  End of story.

Sounds like a sure-fire hit to me!  JJ – call me.

Gary

Vintage Nimoy

“Massachusetts Slim” takes a break.

One from the vaults. An amazing picture of Leonard Nimoy on the Desilu backlot, vintage 1966. West of the Water tower, and what was shortly to become annexed by Paramount Pictures.

The Indomitable Andy Probert

Andy with last years magnificent Ships of the Line Calendar page

 Ok, I’m a fan. I genuflect to this artist. I’ve referred to him as “Fountainhead” in past blogs, and if I’ve ever known anyone who might be Howard Roark, it’s him.

His influence on the look of Star Trek after TNG was so powerful that it dominated the shows design ethic for decades to come, even though he was only there for the first  season.

He is highly opinionated, and outspoken, sometimes to his own detriment. This has earned him a reputation as a maverick. Some find him infuriating. All find him brilliant.

Just yesterday, a gang of us were chatting back and forth via E-mail about Star Trek design. My favorite part of the debate was between David Merriman, and Andy –

Rarified Air – The Permanents

1966 – Forty two years ago.

Looking from the “permanents”. Grip territory. The distinctive arches of the TOS briefing room are plainly seen.  Notice the set phone at lower center, and the little “AD” desk, dragged to where the action is. At ten o’clock you can make out a ship’s corridor dead ending, framed by distinctive Jefferies transporter style “girders”.

“To climb up into the permanents is to truly travel into the past, as if the rarifed atmosphere of Hollywood’s golden age had become trapped in the upper strata of the ancient soundstage. The feeling was tangible… the electricity of eighty years of motion picture history.”

Runabout Flight Deck Set

The runabout on the stand at Image G.

The runabout was our puddle jumping, PT boat. Don’t confuse it with a shuttleraft. It’s fast like a starship, and it’s operational envelope is way high and to the right. When it came time to build the interior, clean and straight forward was where the runabout design ethic lived. The exterior has the benefit of that famous no-nonsense Sternbach sensibility. The interior carries that forward.

+

Okuda’s Tape Worms

Denise Okuda standing by the full scale Runabout section. A dandy example of the power of graphic tape. (Sigh. This cool set piece was only used once, stored uncovered, and slowly melted over one of California’s wet winters)

I remember that Herman Zimmerman asked us to join him on stage where a crashed section of runabout had been built. It looked like a white lump for sure. But all I could see was the potential. Little hearts were popping over my head, and I’m thinking… OhboyOboyOboyOboy! I am going to get to tape this sucker! Joy!

Herman apologetically explained they he was going to have to ask me to tape up the runabout set piece. Me? I’m doin’ a little jig! “Thank you, Herman! Thank you!!” I gush. Herman looks at Denise and says… “Is he kidding?” Denise grins, “No, Herman. He’s not kidding!”

Butt of the Joke

Red Alert! Mon capitan!

I was in the TNG makeup lab, prepping some appliance molds, when Mike Westmore dashed in, “Doug, the union doesn’t have any “body” makeup artists available today, so guess what?”

Images of sugar plums danced in my head! What beauty would I be bronzing today! I’m the luckiest boy in the world! “It’s John Delancy.” said Mr Wes’mo, as my shoulders slumped. ” He appears naked on the bridge, stripped of his Q powers by his fellow Q, and dumped on The Enterprise.” “Very well, sir!” I respond dutifully. “Where to, and what with?” Mike handes me a Max Factor pancake and a sponge. “He’s waiting in his trailer.”

USS Lakota\Enterprise B – Details

Man, is this a great shot of a gallant lady, or what?

The USS Excelsior extensively retooled for it’s appearance in Star Trek: Generations, which begat The USS Lakota. The Lakota was a Named after one of the Sioux Indian groups from North America. The Lakota under the command of Captain Erika Benteen intercepts the USS Defiant on the latter’s way to earth during Vice Admiral Leyton’s attempted coup.

 

I’ve dug up some teriffic detail shots. You are in for a treat. Here are a few of them just to whet your appetite… ready?

USS Jupp – Deep Space – Deep Background

This speciman was labeled USS Jupp.

Knowing that some of you guys are nuts for the little incidental ships built for the squint zone, I’ll be posting these VFX polaroid “catalog” snapshots to help satiate your Red Hour urges. If memory serves, I used these for reference while illustrating the Star Trek Encyclopedia.

Be warned. They were built fast, and meant to be little better than a smudge on screen.

Bit Player

 The walls have ears, and so does Doug.

It’s 1988, about two in the morning, and my phone is ringing off the hook. Who the hell is calling me at 2 am? I stumble out of bed, making my way through the darkness, I stub my toe, “Crimminies!” I yell. Snatching up the phone, “Who? What? Whattaya’ want at freaking 2am!” “Dougie!” yells the voice at the other end of the line. It’s David Smith, Makeup maestro Dick Smith’s son. “I’m sittin’ on the crapper, I pick up a copy of Newsweek magazine, and you are quoted on the quotable quotes page!” The quote is some cute comment I made about how I’ve given new meaning to the term “bit part”. The walls have ears, and so do I… as the tradition continues…

Bugs is Bugs

Laura Richarz, our irrepressible DS9 set decorator asked Mike Okuda for a few bugs for her boys. I mean Cardassian tech labels. A little graphic knot of information, that looked like a squashed bug. So they became known as “squashed bugs.” Mike would point and say, “… we need some squashed bugs on that console,” and we knew what he meant. Anyway, sometimes when the set dec crew was moving consoles around, or having them repainted, the “bugs” would get knocked or peeled off . “So you see Mike,” Laura explained, “if you give me some bugs for my boys, they’ll replace ‘em as they get lost.”  “Cool!” said Mike, “Red bugs or blue bugs?” Laura looked at Mike like he was crazy. “Red or blue?! What’s the difference? Bugs is bugs!” Mike looked incredulous. “How can you say that about our noble friend, the bug? That’s just another form of bigotry. Bugs is bugs, indeeed!”

 

The next morning when Laura came in, she found she had been greived by NAPSB, presumeably the National Association for the Prevention of Slander against Bugs :

Kahless

 

 

Man, this cracked me up when I came across it last night.

In the TNG episode “Rightful Heir”, Klingon legend, Kahless the Unforgettable is reincarnated. The actor they chose to play Kahless was surprisingly small in stature, and it sent a quiet chuckle through the production.

Scenic artist Wengy Drapanis added this bit of pointed fun to our infamous bulletin board.

I save everything folks!

Inspection Pod

The pilot episode of Enterprise featured an inspection pod, in which Trip takes Archer on a tour of his brand new experimental warp vessel.

The basis of the pod interior was Zefram Cochran’s warp ship from First Contact. This would dictate the configuration of the exterior. Form follows function. A significant difference between Cochran’s module and the inspection pod, was that this new vehicle was wide open with expansive observation windows. This meant that the pod interior would have to be extensively detailed to match the set. In homage to the TMP travel pod, which took Kirk on a similar tour, I made our little “space jeep” number 05.

 

Coil One

 Enterprise D warp coil model

In TNG episode “Eye of the Beholder”, the script called for a look inside one of the Enterprise D’s warp nacelles. I made a couple of sketches for Mike Okuda to approve, traced out the profile of a warp coil, ran down to the mill, and had the boys cut a wooden template. I handed that off to Anthony Fredrickson who used a vacuum form machine left over from the makeup days to pull a bunch of warp coils. He then painted and assembled it. That was fun!

The model was a little over 2.5 feet across.

Grandpa Simpson’s Legacy

At least it was hand signed!

When the second letter writing campaign to save Star Trek failed in 1969, this was the letter I received from NBC.  This hung on the wall of the Trek art department for ten years, and was a constant source of amusement.

Every time I see it, I can hear Grandpa Simpson’s plaintive cry, as he confessed his deep, dark secret… “I’M THE ONE WHO CANCELLED START TREK!”

 

ENT/TOS Defiant Bridge in Okudavision

Mike Okuda talks about creating the most advanced Hollywood version of Matt Jefferies timeless design ever.

For this re-creation of the bridge, co-producer and episode writer Mike Sussman asked Herman Zimmerman, our boss (and production designer), to make subtle upgrades where the original set might look a little clunky for present-day audiences.  On the whole, Herman stayed very, very close to the original.  One of the few things he did change was to give a gentle curve to the bridge railings, which had been straight in the 1960s.  Poor Herman had to put up with all of us who were in love with Matt Jefferies’ original and didn’t want a single line changed.  But even we agreed that the curved railings looked pretty good.