A few happy snaps I took of the set, in preparation for decking the it out with graphics. I figure at this point we had 1-2 days before they would be shooting in there. Put the spurs to ‘er, Chuck!
Somebody up there likes me – Mikey O gave me the assignment to finish off this set of the Bajoran interceptor bridge on DS9. It’s all about speed, and knowing your topic. The camera waits for no one, and it never blinks. I had designed all of the Bajoran emblems and etc, so I was the man for the job. Bajoran interfaces reflected the culture, and it was all based on the wormhole. Wheels within wheels. I also broke up some of the white ceiling plexi with graphic gingerbread that made use of the Bajoran military emblem.
(Above) The paint department has finished it’s spackle pass, and in an hour they will be in there with their spray gun, hosing it down in bronzy Bajoran tones. Be sure to wear your respirator!
(Below) Bajoran user interface – Wheels within wheels. The Cardassian interface was all pointy and predatory. The Bajoran UI was round and easy. It’s amazing to look back on some of this stuff after all these years. It’s almost as if someone else did them. It’s a great POV. Even though it’s along time ago, in many ways I see it clearer now, than when I was actually doing the work. When you are under fire, you grit your teeth and just move ahead no matter what, and hope you’re hitting the target.
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(Below) Lookit Nana striking that Captain pose. She’s got it all goin’ on! Good times!
Screen caps courtesy Jörg
Was there any kind of logic to the space and number of circles? For example, the important systems being controlled by the inner circles and secondary systems by the outer ones?
Actually, just the opposite!
That is cool to see such a small set being built. I am surprised they put the carpet down so early while building, and painting.
From Jorg -
Here an update on the Bajoran interceptor bridge, as some people were wondering, why there was already carpet on the floor, although the set wasn’t finished yet.
The aft part of the bridge is a redress of the cockpit/bridge of the Cousteau, the Captain’s yacht of the USS Enterprise-E, as seen in Star Trek: Insurrection. The front part of the set (with the slanted cockpit windows) was removed and a whole new, much larger front section was added to turn the set into the Bajoran interceptor bridge.
The cockpit of the Cousteau was the only new auxiliary craft cockpit set created for the film, as the cockpit of the Enterprise-E shuttle was a re-use of the Runabout cockpit set and the scoutship cockpit was a re-use of the Voyager type 9 shuttle (the speedboat) cockpit set.
I always knew this, even though every site with reference information said that the Cousteau was a redress of the runabout set. You wouldn’t by chance have any images of when it was dressed as the Cousteau would you?
Art, pure art!
It is also interesting that Digital Muse apparently built a CG model for this episode.
I’m trying to remember which episode this is. Is it while Nana was pregnant? (that at least gives me a time frame
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Great stuff, I love the way DS9 blended in more “alien” designs than the previous shows had. It really gave you guys in the art department more to work with and you don’t disappoint.
It’s “Shadows and symbols”, the second episode of Season 7.
Thanks a lot.
I’ve been rewatching the series, but I’m only up to “The Sword of Kahless,” so I have a while before I get to “Shadows and Symbols.”
Did you explain your ideas of how the user interface worked or were the actors on their own as far as figuring out what looked good on camera?
It’s astounding how fast a show’s art department can put sets like this together and make them look so good. I had no idea that part of the set was a re-use of the Ent-E captain’s yacht. Since it all has to come together so quickly, I’m wondering … do the actors have to work surrounded by the smell of paint fumes, or is there enough time for the air to clear?
Movie, or rather Drexler Magic. Amazing! Simply.
Just saw Nana on Grimm the other night. She’s still hot. Not as hot as she was sitting there in her snug uniform in the cap’n's chair, but still lovely an’ hot just the same.
Oh yeah! Always had a bit of a crush on Nana!
Ditto!
Wow! I love the before and after pictures! The graphics on the monitors and the additions to the plexi lights totally transforms the set into something that looks like its living. Love the Bajoran UI look! It has an elegance and grace to it while being functional.
Fantastic. Those were good times.
There really is some kind of crazymad head-rush about doing design at broadcast speeds (aka Warp 9.999999999999ish!)
Spot-on comment about knowing your source material being essential for that. And now I’m hoping for a good sci-fi series that lasts long enough to build up that knowledge base!
Here’s a screenshot of the set in “Star Trek: Insurrection”.
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/CousteaucockpitStarTrekInsurrection1.jpg
and another one
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/CousteaucockpitStarTrekInsurrection3.jpg
I am very fond of the Interceptor as i own the filming model, and managing to get one of the interior LCARS as well.
http://i891.photobucket.com/albums/ac113/Trekpropcollector/Bajoran/438d25d7.jpg
http://i891.photobucket.com/albums/ac113/Trekpropcollector/Bajoran/8508fa42.jpg
Doug – keep the details coming!
It never occurred to me until seeing the ceiling panels here, but did the Bajoran logo intentionally suggest a stylized silhouette of the Enterprise?
I’m a Trek collector, and managed to obtain one of these panels…never saw any others that survived
And i own the physical model as well:
One of my favorites.
When I first saw this episode, I was so taken with the ship that I wished the Interceptor had appeared in other episodes (giving Nerys a ship)! Usually the graphics in ‘lesser’ governments tended to be more bulky in contrast to Federation tech (I totally get why and I think it’s great), but the Bajoran tech was so beautiful, I wish I could have seen more! This is wonderful work Doug, so inspiring!