Once in a while the graphics department would host a special guest tape worm. The legendary Greg Jein couldn’t resist, and taped up these props we were prepping for set. Taping for tech is an art form all it’s own. These were executed with Okudian precision.
Archive for the 'General Trek' Category
25
Oct
09
Taped
22
Oct
09
Jörg’s LA Away Mission – Part 4
(Above) Bronson caves… hard to believe that this remote looking cave\canyon combo is just a few minutes from the Paramount main gate. (Above) Bev and Picard egress the Trek side of the cave.
LA trip – day four
My last day in LA. My plane would leave at 2.30 PM so I had until noon to visit one more shooting location. Originally, I had planned to visit the MTA building and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Monday morning, but as I had squeezed that in on Sunday, I had some spare time for yet another location. But where to go? In comes Larry Nemecek to save the day. He offered to take me to Bronson Canyon to see more than just Batcave. I had always thought Bronson was too far away and that I wouldn’t have enough time to go there, so I never took any screenshots with me. I would have to do this one without any research – this made the experience much more memorable, though.
(Below) This location has literally appeared in hundreds of movies and TV shows.
15
Oct
09
Jörg’s LA Away Mission – Part 3
The Chronowerx building from “Future’s End.
LA trip – day three
I had a hard time sleeping the second night in LA, I guess I was still suffering from jetlag and a little nervous because of the upcoming day, so I got up really early and changed my plans for the day a little (I’m glad I did in retrospect!). I had originally planned to visit the MTA building (Henry Starling’s Chronowerx building in “Future’s end I+II”) and the square in front of Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (again Future’s end II, the Doctor meets Paris, Tuvok and Rain Robinson here) early Monday morning, before I had to get on the plane at 2.30 PM. I decided to go Sunday morning instead, which left me half a day on Monday to visit another location.
So, I set off at 6.30 AM to visit two locations from “Future’s end” on my own.
Whereas LA had been intimidatingly crowded Friday night at the Walk of Fame, downtown was eerily quiet and deserted Sunday morning shortly after sunrise. I got to see a completely different side of the city that morning. I took the empty Red line subway to Union Station and got off to see my first downtown shooting location: the MTA building. It was funny seeing the building without the Chronowerx signs added in post production but visiting this place before the morning rush was really something. There was nobody except for me on the long plaza, so I took countless photos from all angles. I had forgotten my sheet with screenshots of the building, so I tried to remember the few camera angles that were used. Funny how I expected the Aeon to smash through some upper windows any second! After getting my shots, I went down to Union Station again to cross over (under?) to the other site of the highway. I could have taken the subway to Civic Center to quickly get to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, but I wanted to take the scenic route, past the famous LA City Hall. I had used google Earth to memorize the trip from Union Station past the City Hall to Dorothy Chandler Pavilion so it was easy finding my way around. I passed some interesting sights, especially The Times building seemed really spooky and Hollywood-like.
(Below) The MTA building which doubled as the “Future’s End” landmark.
Arriving at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, I realized that not much had changed since Future’s end was shot in 1996. I was able to recreate many of the shots from my screenshot worksheet and it took several attempts until the fountain on the square was sputtering water in the same formation as it had on my screenshot of the Doctor in front of the fountain (it annoyed me that I had forgotten the screenshots of the MTA building so I had to do this as accurately as possible 
)
(Below) The good Doctor at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from “Future’s End”.
(Above) The Chandler pavilion as it appears today, in downtown LA.
After that, I took the still deserted subway back to my hotel and waited for Jeff to pick me up to see the two biggest shooting locations: the Tillman water reclamation plant (actually the Japanese Garden in front of it) and Vasquez Rocks.
13
Oct
09
Jörg’s LA Away Mission – Part 1
Jörg at the gateway to nearly every Star Trek adventure ever filmed.
Having freshly returned from the land of dreams, Drex Files contributor Jörg takes us along on his trip to Hollywood. Part one of four.
LA trip – day one
On Friday the 25th of September I headed off to LA to spend an amazing Star Trek weekend in the city. My plan was to visit as many Star Trek shooting locations as possible and meet fans and people that worked on the shows, some that I had known for years through the internet but had never met in person. I can certainly say that my expectations were exceeded by far!
Now, I’m sitting here back home in Germany in front of my computer, looking at all the homepages of those shooting locations, all the sites still open on my browser three weeks later. Funny looking at the photos and information again, now that I have seen all of it! A piece of advice for people who want to go on a similar trip: Internet research using google maps, google earth and analyzing Star Trek screenshots certainly pays off, it made finding the right spots quickly much easier. If only I had also written down not only the addresses of the places but also the “how to get theres”, it would have made Jeff’s life (and that of his wife at home on the phone) much easier…
Anyway, you wanna hear about the places I visited and people I met? Here we go!
The first place I saw, actually from the plane, was Griffith Observatory, which was featured in “Future’s end I”. Right, it was just a white blotch in the distance, but as it was located to the east of another white blotch, the Hollywood sign, I realized I had come to the right place.
25
Aug
09
Because We’re in Love.
06
Aug
09
Dorth Gets Her Dining Room Back.
01
Jul
09
The Amazing Dan Curry
Dan’s ”Visible Klingon” was used in the Klingon med lab on Enterprise. It is an oil painting.
Getting to work on Star Trek was only half the fun, the other half was getting to know the amazingly talented people who could be astonishingly creative on demand… week after week, year after year, day in and day out. As you can imagine, people like that are quite the personality. You know how Forrest Gump said that life was like a box of chocolates? Well, the creative crew of Star Trek was like a Whitman Sampler on steroids. Undoubtedly one of the most unique characters on the show was VFX supervisor Dan Curry. When the door opened in the art department, and Dan walked in, you knew it was going to be interesting. Usually Dan would have some creative problem for us to tackle, but as soon as we settled that, it would be on to funny business, and some of his jaw dropping adventures. Dan was a very entertaining story teller, and had a unique perspective on everything.
CG modeler Brandon MacDougal remembered working with Dan on Trek: “Dan was always fun to work with! His understanding of art always had a positive impact on the show. To be frank, some some of the Foundation Imaging supervisors where intimated, but for me it was like working with an old friend from day one. He would come by Foundation once or twice a week to check up on shots, then spend the rest of his time going over details with me… that is when he was not telling a joke or two… and he was funny! ”
23
Jun
09
Trek Desktop Viewers
Trek desk top viewers through the ages. Another concept that is becoming part of our everyday lives.
Ran across my file on Trek desk top viewers, starting with Matt Jefferies design for the original series (Top row). I just love that Jefferies ability to make something stylish out of the most simple shapes. So distinctive. I don’t think anything since, regardless of how ornate, comes close. But that’s just me, and you know what I like!
(Second row) The next example is the TNG desktop viewer, not sure if this is Andy or Rick (guys, let me know). What I love about this design is it’s simplicity. It’s no more than it needs to be. Nothing frivolous about it. This viewer was pre laptop, and I can’t help but be impressed at how close this design came to what we are used to.
(Third row) Ben Sisko’s DS9 viewer. Almost the utilitarian version of the TNG viewer. Designed by Joltin’ Jimmy Martin, who I think was still officially a PA at the time! I remember this prop being very heavy.
(Fourth row) The Ferengi viewer in it’s trademark Ferengi bronze. It’s quite ornate. You may have noticed that it was built up from a TNG starfleet viewer.
(Last row) Finally, the most interesting desk top viewer ever… Joe Hodges Cardassian design from the DS9 pilot… it’s simply beautiful. It’s a work of art, and it’s beautifully made too. Unfortunately, I don’t think we ever used it again. It was big, it was heavy, and the dealbreaker problem was that there was no angle where an optical would not be required, making it expensive to shoot. Gee, it’s pretty.
With the exception of the Cardassian viewer, they all adorned with a helping of renowned Okudian tape work to break up the flat planes.
22
Jun
09
SOTL 2010 – More Than A Peak!
Vaal bless Margaret Clark’s little ‘ol heart! She has given us a go for throttle up on what I consider a heck of a lot more than a sneak peak of the SOTL 2010 Calendar! As I hinted at in an early entry detailing my visit to Pocket Books in NYC, this year we shook the box hard and ended up with what I think is a gorgeous array of new Trek art! Veterans have returned this year along with hungry new recruits to spice things up! This is the first Ships Calendar that takes full advantage of the considerable budding talent out there in Fandom, and they stand shoulder to shoulder with seasoned professionals! Congratulations lads!
Robert Wilde “We Come in peace For All Mankind”
Andy Probert and I were knocking around ideas on how to inject some new life into the Calendar when he asked me if I had considered some of the fan talent knocking around out there in Cyberspace. The minute he said it I knew it was a great idea. Robert Wilde is one of those guys. Holy smoke! I love Bob’s page, and wet my pants when I first saw it. Beautiful work!
Gregory Stewart “Operation Return”
Here is another crazy man from fandom! Greg Stewart! Step up here and get your diploma! Great sense of action and composition, and buddy, the image fairly crackles with excitment! Just a great image that you want to look at for a month. You can tell just by looking at it that Greg was excited!
Andrew Probert “Refit at Station Gray”
Well what can I say? It’s freaking Andy Probert! If I could I would buy him and keep him for my own. Here is the guy I want designing my Star Trek movie! Are there folks out there who really believe that there is nothing dynamic left to be done with this territory? I’m thrilled enough as it is, and then Andy honors me by using my Romulan shuttle design in one of his paintings! Can you believe he does this with some gooey colors on a stick? Every molecule of chroma is placed there by hand. I have to sit down.
Doug Drexler “No Bloody A, B, C, or D”
This guy is a bum, I’d take Max Rem anyday!
Max Gabl and Neil Wray “Flight Deck”
Sexy time starfleet style! This is just a superb image from the TOS remastereds, sweetened up with all the classic goodness you could ever want. I almost swallowed my tongue when I saw it! If loving this is wrong, I don’t want to be right!
Max Rem “RIP Galileo”
The 2010 Ships Of The Line Calendar is now ready for pre-order at Amazon.com for the rediculously low price of $11.99! So don’t just stand there jawin’, Spock! You and Doctor Wallace get crackin’!
Trekmovie is featuring a few more delightful Calendar images, so check it out - http://trekmovie.com/2009/06/21/exclusive-first-look-at-inside-of-2010-ships-of-the-line-calendar/
Revisit our visit to Pocket Books and Margaret Clark in the Big Apple! Pocket Books: The bastion of all beloved eras of Star Trek ! http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/04/13/we-visit-pocket-books/
05
Jun
09
Countdown to 2010 SOTL!
SOTL 2007 – “Captain Arriving” – by Andrew Probert
Coming soon: The 2010 Ship’s of the Line Calendar! Let the countdown begin!
From Pocket Books, where all eras of Star Trek live!
Click for a better look.
05
Jun
09
Enterprise XCV 330
One spaceship concept that just won’t let go of our imaginations, is Matt Jefferies revolutionary design for Gene Roddenberry’s unsold pilot, “Starship”. This ship first became known as Enterprise in a scene from Star Trek: TMP. Since then we’ve done our best to keep it alive in the Trek universe. Two beautiful examples of that effort were created by Mike Okuda for The Enterprise episode “First Flight”. They were displayed in the 602 Club, a latter day Pancho’s, where starfleet pilots gathered to trade hair raising experiences.
For a nice image of the infamous 602 club, click here: http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/02/20/transmission-point-okuda/
04
Jun
09
Illusion Arts Tribute
RIP Illusion Arts. You guys rock!
In case you haven’t heard, it’s the end of an era. Syd Dutton’s Illusion Arts, the landmark company which has provided thousands of matte paintings to motion pictures and television, is closing it’s doors after a quarter of a century in Hollywood. If you love Star Trek, you’ve seen Illusion Arts handiwork many, many times, and to prove it to you, Jörg, Mike, and myself have arranged a mini tribute gallery, so that you may relive some of the many, many memories… the awe… the power, and majesty of IA’s hand painted mattes. I’m sure you will agree, that Syd and company have played a special part in our lives over the years. Certainly Star Trek would not have been the same without Illusion Arts. Thanks to all the good folk who made IA so special.
(Below) Syd Dutton of the ground breaking Hollywood matte house, Illusion Arts.
Enter the Illusion Arts Mini Gallery. Behold!
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