Enterprise "Class Picture" -- Click to enlarge
This is pretty much the family that brought you series Star Trek for nearly two decades. Behind us is the Bronson Gate Entrance, one of the most photographed studio entrances and where many movie stars took their first steps toward fame. If you have ever seen Sunset Blvd. (and if you haven’t, stop depriving youself of classic motion pictures), this is the gate Gloria Swanson entered the studio through. If you look straight back you will see stage 4, home of DS9’s OPs. Beyond that is what we referred to as Star Trek Blvd. At it’s peak, two series and one motion picture were in production there at the same time. You can see Dorth. She is the only one with a lime geen sweater. Behind her and to the right is Mike and Denise Okuda. Allllll the way in the back, on the right is me Vanover, and Eaves. Gee, I miss these guys!
VEry cool dude!
Wasn’t there three series going at one time, with TNG, DS9, and VOY?
LLP,
deg
Like the “Where’s Waldo?” trying to find you Doug … amazing the way a guys eyes immediatley find Jolene though.
Voyager didn’t start up until TNG was over… Voyager’s sets were built in the spaces that the TNG sets had stood.
Enlarging it helps:
http://drexfiles.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/class_pic.jpg
Doug you really gotta start adding a hyperlink to the larger versions when you click on the small version.
Hi Matt – I’ll look into hyperlinking!
Thanks for sharing the pic, Doug. Seeing all those who provided many hours of Star Trek all there at the historic Bronson gate. Thanks again.
I could see the Okudas and all the main cast, plus Brannon Braga straight away, but I couldn’t find you and John Eaves till I read your caption. Ooh, there’s an Andorian at the back.
Cool Doug! Pearse Doug is next to the Andorian!
Again Thanks!
This is lovely. I guess many people worked on Trek since the movies all the way up to “These are the Voyages”. I was watching the ENT bonus materials a while back, and I really feel sorry for Berman, giving a speech during the wrap party. Must have been hard to be the guy in charge when Trek went out of production.
There was a group of about a dozen of us who worked on Star Trek straight through since the first season of TNG to the end of Enterprise.
Regarding Rick Berman: There are definitely things that he did that I disagree with, but in my opinion, his stewardship of Star Trek should be viewed as an amazing success. He ran the show for 18 years, during which he produced an incredible 27 full seasons of science fiction television, plus four feature films. That’s virtually unprecedented in the entertainment industry, and an incredibly hard thing to do.
I think I’m gonna photoshop my head on top of Brannon Braga and see if anyone notices
You started even earlier than that didn’t you, Mike? I think remember you did some graphics work for Star Trek IV. Or am I confused?
^ Thanks for that Mike. I also disagree with a few things he did over the years but I have never understood why so many fans choose to vilify him like they do. I guess folks always have to have someone to blame. (I really hope he does write that book he was talking about. I don’t care if he tries to set the record straight but I would love to know about Trek from his point of view. There is always two sides to every story.)
And Doug this picture makes me very sad. It’s like someone caught the last fleeting moment before the ether of modern Trek evaporated, the last of Roddenberry’s lightening in a bottle.
For some reason the first thing I found was Connor´s boyish grin. If you look to the left of Dorth you´ll find a young woman who´s wearing purple. And right behind her there´s Connor Trinneer, Dominic Keating and Anthony Montgomery.
It´s also easy to spot John Billingsley (2nd row behind Mike and Denise) and Scott and Jolene are impossible to miss in the front rows. Same goes for Linda´s smile.
The one who got the worst deal is probably the poor soul in the alien costume on the far left.
Wow, nice photo! Is this after it was certain that ENT wouldn’t go on? What a great picture of some VERY talented folks. I can’t say enough thanks for all of the work and dedication that was put into the top quality sci fi phenomenon that Star Trek is…from the humble beginnings all the way through, well this photo, I guess!! I’m glad you shared this.
Stars? I don’t see the stars in this photo, just a few really good lookin’ guys in the back right corner.
And some guy sneaking into the shot while he nonchalantly looks out a window…the nerve!
Jay: Yes, I started on Star Trek IV.
Also, I made a typo in the previous post. Rick produced 25 seasons of Star Trek, still an extraordinary feat.
Finally, Bryant, don’t feel too sad. It looks like Star Trek is still in good hands.
DeanneM: The guy in the window is the late Jerry Fleck, First Assistant Director extraordinaire, and our dear friend. I Photoshopped him into the window so he’d be with us.
Thanks, Mike! You’re a gentleman and a scholar, sir.
That is so cool, Mike. Thanks for sharing that story with us…it’s those special details that keep me hanging around Doug’s blog.
This picture is undoubtedly such a very personal momento for all in the picture.
It marks the end of an era.
I look at it and feel like it’s that last school photo taken just before you loose contact with your friends as they all splinter off to lead their lives.
Star Trek as we knew it is done. There will probably never be another TV show. No new stories to make us anxiously wait for that day of the week to roll on by and reveal the resolution to the crew’s dilemmas.
Great picture. Very nostalgic and a great momento.
Wow, when I used to do theatre I always had fun taking the combined Cast and Crew photo.
And this photo, like any production, demostrates how MANY more people work behind the camera than in front of it, and how vital everyone’s efforts are. Good to see everyone getting shared recognition in this photo.
I share many of the above mentioned sentiments about what feels like the end of that Star Trek franchise, as it is morphed into something new. And while I really like some of the films, I think Star Trek is at its most engaging in the medium of television, where I hope it returns one day.
Thanks Doug for posting this one, and to all those who put their creative efforts into Star Trek for us all to enjoy.
Cheers
Mark
Hi Mark – I agree with you 100%. The series medium is the best medium for sci fi like Trek. You get to try out many ideas. A movie almost always degenerates into a car chase, and saving the universe.
One thing that always comes through when reading tales of Trek production is the sense of family you all shared, so it’s lovely to see shots like this. Thanks!
If you look waaaaaaaay the heck in the back to the right of the dudes on the ladder (they definitely wanted to be seen), there is a lonely Andorian…and I though they were camera shy!
It is obvious they took this during Enterprise. Doug, were there other “class” pics taken during the other series’, like TNG, Voyager, DS9?
This is a great pic…everyone seems so happy. I’m sure it was another story while on the set.
Hi Creative! We had a really happy crew who had been together a long time, even when the going got rough. Different casts set different ones. TNG was the silliest and most fun. There were not class pictures for all of the shows.
Wait a tick…did no one notice Dr. Phlox peeking above the crowd? I did. He’s two heads back from the Okudas.
Is that Levar Burton two people behind Jolene Blalock?
Television is a uniquely collaborative medium. To see all the faces like this, and be reminded just how many people work together to put on a show, is a very cool thing.
I agree that the TV series medium is the best for Star Trek. The movies only really work because you had years and years on television to get to know and emotionally invest in the characters. A movie like Star trek II, for example, would never have worked as well if the viewer’s only prior exposure to the characters had been the one previous movie. For Spock’s death to hit you where you live, you had to live with him on TV for years. Good stories, action, effects, and all that are important parts to a successful Star Trek movie, but IMO it all comes back to the audience loving those characters and wanting to see them every couple of years.
Left hand side thrid row, at the end.
These a guy there in full alien Make up, it so heavy you can’t see his normal featuers.
Doug or Mike, you guys remember who that is?
deg, not quite. TNG ended in 1994 and VOY started the next year. Both shows overlapped with DS9. TNG Seasons 6 & 7 were on during DS9 Seasons 1 & 2. VOY Seasons 1-5 were on with DS9 Seasons 3-7. After DS9’s 7th season, VOY was by itself for seasons 6 & 7. When VOY ended in May 2001, ENT premiered in Sept. 2001. The 1990’s was a great time to be a Trekkie. Hopefully the next decade will be also.
Mr. Drexler, this is an excellent site and I’ve been visiting every day since I fist heard about it on Ex-Astris-Scientia.org. I’m very impressed and I enjoy the inside information on the best franchise ever created.
“Finally, Bryant, don’t feel too sad. It looks like Star Trek is still in good hands.”
I don’t doubt that. (And never meant to imply that I did… sorry!) Actually I am looking forward to what JJ has cooking. It looks to be a lot of fun. Trek is moving into a new age and I fascinated to see what might be coming over the next few years with this new “Post Modern” Trek.
But to clarify, when “Enterprise” was canceled and you all went your separate ways, it was the end to an era. You kids were the last touchstone to the new “Modern” Trek that Gene had started back in 1986. Someone had broken up the family. But, as we all know, all good things must come to an end.
Thank you Mr Okuda.
“There are definitely things that he did that I disagree with, but in my opinion, his stewardship of Star Trek should be viewed as an amazing success.”
He must be like a bad uncle. Love/hate relationship. Haha.
Wow. That photo represents quite a piece of history. Far more than just “Enterprise”.
Is that Vaughn Armstrong in the back right, under the tree?