Many of you know Steve Neil already. For most of his life he has been a professional makeup artist for motion pictures and television. Steve worked for Fred Phillips in the Star Trek:The Motion Picture makeup department. For the last year, working with Gary Kerr’s definitive plans, Steve has built a six foot, original series Enterprise. At the tail of the article find a video that Steve sent over, and when you’re thru with that, check the blog roll and visit his site. The man is amazing. If you have any questions for Steve, ask away, he’ll be monitoring your comments!
Archive for the 'TOS' Category
04
Dec
11
Steve Neil And The Big E
04
Dec
11
Robert Lansing – 12 O’Clock High
(Left) Lansing in his iconic role as Gary Seven, in the classic double-duty TOS episode, “Assignment Earth”. AE was a backdoor pilot for a new Roddenberry series that was never realized. (Right) Lansing prior to Star Trek, in his arguably quintessential role as General Frank Savage, in Quinn Martin’s WWII epic, “12 O’Clock High”.
Robert Lansing was one of the most underated actors in television during the 1960′s. That may have been because Lansing was known as a hot head. By the end of the first season of 12 O’Clock High, inspite of his stellar performance, Lansing was sacked by QM. He may have been a difficult man on stage, but we are left with an incredible character on screen, that more likely than not, benefited by Lansing’s personal intensity.
One of the great mysteries is why 12 O’Clock has never been released on DVD. Well, you’re in luck. Below find the pilot episode of “12 O’Clock High” in it’s entirety. At least watch Lansing tear up the teaser, and then stick around for the title sequence, with music by the always amazing Dominic Frontiere, who scored the original Outer Limits.
Kudos to the supporting cast, including Paul Burke, Bruce Dern, Frank Overton, and Paul Comi.
Andy Probert has a landmark painting in the works for the Ships of the Line 2014 – The aftermath of Wolf 359, and starfleet’s salvage operation of the monumental battle. One Borg cube left the once mighty Federation fleet an awe-inspiring vista of wreckage. Here are some of Probert’s exploratory sketches of a starfleet tug and salvage vessel. The CG model is a light, and perspective guide. As you work your way down the images, note that we are working our way backward in the design process.
Andy Probert - “This whole idea came about when a fan suggested that I design a new Starfleet Deep SpaceTug & Repair Ship for the calendar a couple of years ago. I already was into another idea at the time but started playing around with the idea because it intrigued me. As time went by, I continued to sketch up various concepts but nothing looked quite right. I eventually expanded it’s roll to lifeboat rescue (the four docking ports on top) added a shuttle bay, a mid-hull cargo section, and more clearly defined the ‘service deck’ (flat area on the “bottom”) which incorporates an inverted gravity field within it’s two decks. That allows those working on repairing & servicing smaller ships that have “landed” on that surface to have a ‘heads-up’ orientation to that surface. Incorporating it’s own exterior gravity plates, ships and personal could use it as an Earth-bound strip of tarmac. With flexible side ‘arms’ extending from the sides, that same surface may also be used to store large (or segments of) ships for transport to a repair base. Two tractor beam emitters are mounted at the rear for towing, with cable winches available as tangible backups. Finally, there are the obligatory phaser strips as a security measure.
When my computer died last year, the name of that fan went with it. If he’s still out there, he should find it interesting that his idea if finally going to be implemented.”
One thing is certain – A lot of us fans are champing at the bit to see Andy’s upcoming painting. It’s bound to be awe inspiring.
(Above) Movie posters of the great Frank McCarthy. (Top L-R) The Dirty Dozen, PT-109, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. (Above L-R) The Blue Max, Around The World Under The Sea.
When I was growing up, movie posters were usually incredibly electrifying paintings that were larger than life. They distilled in one mind blowing image all the excitement that one motion picture could possibly contain. Frank McCarthy was one of the all time greats, and his movie work is seared into my brain. When I get the occasional cover assignment from Pocket Books, and loads of action is called for, I always think of McCarthy.
The way I approach one of these novel covers is not at all the way I approach a shot for a television show. On a show, we go for as real as possible. On a novel I go larger than life, and painterly. Here are two new action covers, one for one for the big Vanguard finale, Storming Heaven, and one for Enterprise: The Romulan Wars.
(Above) Vanguard: Storming Heaven. (Below) Enterprise: The Romulan Wars.
03
Jul
11
Rock Out With Your Spock Out
Jack Marshall just sent me this. Don’t know who the artist is. First I’ve seen of it. LMAO.
01
Jun
11
The Lazy Song
If you know much about Gene Roddenberry, you know that before Star Trek he was a leading writer on the phenomenally popular and quintessential western, “Have Gun – Will Travel”. Not so ironically perhaps, HGWT was one of my earliest favorite shows as a child. I had the toy gunbelt and hat, and I can even be seen wearing a “Have Gun” bolo tie in my first grade class picture.
It’s easy to see why this Western series was an overnight success. Making its debut on September 14, 1957, the half-hour show ranked at the top of the ratings charts during all six years of its run. Richard Boone was perfectly cast in the lead role of Paladin, a cultured gunslinger. A polyglot, whose West Point education, impeccable style, literate sophistication, and distinguished Civil War service made him unique among Western heroes, and the prototype for many dashing figures to follow. Based in San Francisco’s ritzy Carlton Hotel, he scans newspapers to locate trouble throughout the wild west, then cagily markets his services (via his legendary calling card, “Have Gun–Will Travel”) as a hired gun, moral arbiter, voice of reason, and reluctant killer of badmen. Understanding the complexities of frontier justice, Paladin (whose full name is never revealed) could turn on those who hired him if he suspected dubious motivations. He wore black, but he traveled in an ethical gray zone. It doesn’t take long to see that if you you squeezed KIrk, Spock and McCoy into one guy, they would be Paladin… the leader, the polyglot, the human being.
With the release of all six seasons of HGWT, we have been given an amazing opportunity to understand the roots of Star Trek, and watch Gene Roddenberry’s evolution as a television writer as never before. Gene wrote a prolific 24 episodes of “Have Gun”. It’s interesting to note that there are only a handfull of Trek episodes with Gene’s name on them, but when you realize that Roddenberry rewrote nearly every episode of the first season of TOS without credit, you understand why. If you want a real education in writing teleplays, and wish to add another brick to your understanding of Gene Roddenberry, and the genesis of Star Trek, watching Gene’s 24 episodes of this classic show is a must. At the end of the entry I’ll run a list of GR’s “Have Gun – Will Travel” writing credits.
In the meantime I have a real treat for you Roddenberry lovers out there. Here are five selected clips from the episode “Maggie O’Bannon” that are pure Roddenberry. You could drop Kirk into everyone of these clips, and the fit would be perfect.
The setup – When crossing over open country, Paladin is bushwacked by a bad gang of cattlemen. Knocking him out, they steal his horse, gun, gear and clothing. When Paladin comes to, he finds that he has been left with a flithy and stinking set of clothing worn by the man who stole his own trademarked black oufit. He makes his way to a ranch house and discovers that it is the origin of the bushwackers, gone on a cattle drive, and will not be back for a week. There Paladin makes the acquaintance of two woman, Maggie O’Bannon and her housekeeper. O’Bannon decides she doesn’t like Paladin, but needs an extra hand and hires him against her better judgement. Over the next week, Paladin wins the affection of the two women even more deftly than Kirk ever could, while waiting for the return of the men who left him for dead.
(Below) In a scene reminiscent of “The City on the Edge of Forever”, Maggie, who has made up her mind that Paladin is nothing but a down and out saddle tramp, begins to suspect there is something more to this guy. She is moved by his charm, making her most uncomfortable.
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(Below) In a scene that foreshadows “The Cage”, Paladin charms Maggie like she has never been charmed in her life. This is distilled Roddenberry wine, served at the peak of perfection. The male-female dynamic seen so often on Star Trek can be seen here in spades.
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(Below) And where would TOS be without a good old fashioned fist fight? The bad men return, amazed to find that Paladin has won over their boss and is practically running the ranch. This culminates in the classic Roddenberry TOS knock down drag out mano-a-mano rumble.
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(Below) And here is the genesis of that classic wrap up where the goo goo eyed gals say goodbye to Jim Kirk. I will watch the the lights in the sky, James Kirk… and I will remember. It’s actually done better here than I’ve ever seen it done on Trek. What a sweet scene.
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(Below) Had to post this as well. It is the title sequence of HGWT, which every week used a different quote from the upcoming episode. The music for the sequence was composed by the immortal Bernard Hermann, who scored so many classic films… Citizen Kane, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Psycho, North by Northwest, The Twilight Zone… the list goes on and on.
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“Have Gun – Will Travel” 24 episodes By Gene Roddenberry
- The Great Mojave Chase (28 September 1957) – Writer (written by)
- The Yuma Treasure (14 December 1957) – Writer (written by)
- The Hanging Cross (21 December 1957) – Writer (written by)
- Helen of Abajinian (28 December 1957) – Writer (written by)
- Ella West (4 January 1958) – Writer (written by)
- The Hanging of Roy Carter (4 October 1958) – Writer (written by)
- The Road to Wickenberg (25 October 1958) – Writer (written by)
- Juliet (31 January 1959) – Writer (written by)
- The Monster of Moon Ridge (28 February 1959) – Writer (written by)
- Maggie O’Bannion (4 April 1959) – Writer (written by)
- Return of Roy Carter (2 May 1959) – Writer (written by)
- Episode in Laredo (19 September 1959) – Writer (written by)
- Les Girls (26 September 1959) – Writer (written by)
- The Posse (3 October 1959) – Writer (written by)
- The Golden Toad (21 November 1959) – Writer (written by)
- Tiger (28 November 1959) – Writer (written by)
- Charley Red Dog (12 December 1959) – Writer (written by)
- El Paso Stage (15 April 1961) – Writer (writer)
- Alice (17 March 1962) – Writer (written by)
- Taylor’s Woman (22 September 1962) – Writer (writer)
- Marshal of Sweetwater (24 November 1962) – Writer (writer)
- Trial at Tablerock (15 December 1962) – Writer (writer)
- Cage at McNaab (16 February 1963) – Writer (writer)
- The Savages (16 March 1963) – Writer (writer)
The episodes are available from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_20?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=have+gun+will+travel&sprefix=have+gun+will+travel and can also be streamed to your computer on Netflix at http://movies.netflix.com
Have fun. You’re in for a great ride!
(Above) Last night at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood… Dorothy, Luna, Jimmy C, Mike Forest and Diana had the great pleasure of seeing Jason Alexander in Niel Simon’s “The Prisoner of Second Avenue”. The show was outstanding, and Jason’s comic timing sheer genius. The audience roared all the way through. Afterward, Jason gleefully met with his Trek idols. A true gentleman, he was warm, friendly, and everything you wanted him to be. It’s no secret that original series Star Trek motivated Jason to become an actor.
Before the show I told Mike that Jason would love to meet him afterward. But why? He answered. Dude I sez, you simply don’t understand. Jason will go bonkers to meet you and Luna. Trust me. (Below) Jason gushing over Mike’s performance in “Who Mourns For Adonais”. Look at Mike. He’s dumbfounded.
(Above) Mysterious Luna. Undoubtedly she has a magic scarab that sucks the youth from the unsuspecting.
(Below) One big, happy, fleet. It’s a night we won’t soon forget… and neither will Jason! One of us! Gooble gobble!
03
May
11
Doctors Orders
Sometimes it’s ee
rie.
16
Apr
11
The Remastereds That Never Were
By the way, wandering through the corridors of the Drex Files, I realized that the entry on our never used TOS Enterprise built for the remastereds (we lost the show at the very last minute), did not have links to larger images. I’ve fixed that. Revisit them now, give them a click, and see this CG TOS Enterprise in a larger format -
http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2009/01/31/fresh-baked-classic-images/
26
Mar
11
Off The Scale!
“Fesarius” – Gable\Wray
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(Above) My final for the latest Star Trek: Vanguard novel “Declassified” by Dayton Ward, Kevin Dilmore, Marco Palmieri, and David Mack .
Special thanks to Karen Schnaubelt Turner Dick, for encouraging us to use her father’s groundbreaking designs from the iconic, and best selling, Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual.
(Left) A sneak peek at the action cover for the upcoming Vanguard adventure, “What Judgements Come” by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore. I really enjoy doing book covers. It’s like getting to do a classic movie poster from the late 60′s.
26
Mar
11
Star Track
Have you seen this? Aside from another wonderful interpretation of Alexander Courage’s classic television theme, I just love the look of joy on her face, as she takes advantage of the amazing acoustics of the NYC subway system.
Oh my Godzilla! I’m so excited to post these today! More goodness from the Hutzel! These shots are 2K images scanned directly from the original master print of “The Trouble With Tribbles”. When we did “Trials and Tribble-ations”, Gary had to pull plates off of the original print in order to create comps rivaling “Forrest Gump”. You will never see TOS looking better than this! Abondanza!
25
Dec
10
Daedalus
I first received a note from my new friend William Smith a couple of weeks ago. Will is an excellent physical modeler who is currently building Matt Jefferies’s early sphere-based design for the Enterprise. In his search for whatever reference he could find, Will turned up on my E-doorstep.
Almost ten years ago I had built a rough and ready CG model of this Jefferies classic for the New Voyages episode “In Harm’s Way”. The amazing Greg Jein had built a physical model of this ship for our use on Deep Space Nine, and it was seen in Captain Sisko’s office through the run of the series. When it came time to bash out a CG model on my lunch break, I went down to set dressing and borrowed Greg’s model from Laura. Now it sat on my desk, the best reference in the world, and I got to work. You’d love to spend a few days on something like this, but we were in the middle of making a TV show. When Will asked me if I had any reference to speed him on his way, I dusted off the old CD storage book, located the disk, and fired up the ship’s systems. Like all good starfleet vessels, the Daedalus rumbled to life, ready for action.
I set up a few cameras, snapped away, zipped them into an archive, and shipped ‘em off to Will. A week later Will surprised me with this poster he assembled. Enjoy!
29
Oct
10
drex-TV 02
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“…All the stuff that you do… the hundreds and hundreds of hours, and the hundreds and hundreds of things, and then there’s a few oddball items that you end up being remembered the most for…”
In my career working in Hollywood, I’ve known many actors. I’ve worked with them as closely as anyone can during my makeup days. The truth is that most of them are crazy. I think you have to be a little crazy. In “The Producers”, Leo Bloom says actors are human beings, when Max Bialystock looks at him incredulously and shouts, “Have you ever eaten with one?!” I’ve seen them at their worst… throwing the lunch tray against the wall of the Winnebago, ripping off their prosthetics and wrecking the makeup room. I remember on “Dick Tracy” when John Caglione asked Bill Forsythe (Flattop) to cut his shoulder length hair. After all, Bill would have endure having it stuffed under a bald cap 56 times. He looked up at us with puppy dog eyes and asked if it would make things easier for us. Yes, we said, absolutely! “Well then *uck you!” he snarled. Don’t judge Bill harshly. It was hilarious… in retrospect. Let’s just say that actors can oft times be challenging. That’s why, when you are fortunate to know and be friends with an actor like Mike Forest, you keep him… and yes, I’ve had lunch with him. We’ve flown B-17s together (http://drexfiles.wordpress.com/2010/03/28/a-god-apollo-is-my-co-pilot/). He even gave in to my childish begging and watched my favorite Outer Limits episode with me, “It Crawled Out Of The Woodwork” (That was the Twilight Zone for me, and Luna was there too. How do you beat that?) Meet Mike Forest, a one in a million guy. A terrific actor, artist, and wonderful friend.
(Below) Here is my quintessential Michael Forest\Outer Limits moment. It’s a wonderful pantomime of terror masterfully conceived and shot by genius cinematographer Conrad Hall. Some of his later films include Road to Perdition, American Beauty, Marathon Man, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, In Cold Blood. Incidentally, Mike Forest just KILLS here.
I always liked that Gary Hutzel guy.
From the first moment I met him on stage while shooting TNG, I knew he was special. Not only is he a genius visual effects supervisor, but he is FUNNY, and there is nothing better than that. One day during a grueling Galactica work marathon, Gary brought in a dusty box of old video tapes from early TNG. It was like having a time machine, and peering back through the mists of science fiction history. I was blown away. I’d heard the stories of the Thanksgiving battle for the 4 footer at Greg Jein’s place, and now I was there. Now you will be, too. Thank you, Gary Hutzel. How do I know all the one in a million guys?
Everyday we would get Enterprise dailies in the art department.
Everyday there was something funny. One day I realized I was letting some classic stuff evaporate. I decided to put an end to that sort of wastefulness and began saving them. Cutting them together a la Bob Justman was yet another dream come true for me. I wish we could have injected Enterprise with just ten percent of the fun I see here. Have a couple of my favorites, including an alien football game where Trip gets more than his fair share. Good stuff.
I had the strangest thing happen to me when I was cutting together this shuttle pod footage.
I got all emotional. No kidding. I never expected that. We were shooting the Enterprise pilot on the “Planet Hell” stage. It was that enormous Rigel spaceport set. There was pyro, and environmental effects, and the excitement of a new project. Mike Okuda and I were on stage to give the shuttle pod the once over on its maiden voyage and I just happened to bring the video cam along. I’m a very bad citizen, bringing a video cam on stage and all. Bad Doug! So I came across the footage of that day, and thought it might make a nice peek behind the curtains, if I could cut it together in a way that told a story… except that I couldn’t. Try as I might, it was just a string of not so amazing GNDN moments that came to no culmination. As I struggled to make something of it, I kept having to put aside emo rushes while watching in order to concentrate. Hey, waitaminit! It doesn’t need to go anywhere, it’s there! If I’m getting choked up, stick a fork in it! It’s done! I love this piece because of the sensation of being on stage… the sounds, the activity, the voices of a busy crew, the sound of the bell. The images are reference shots of the pod for our records, but the neighboring environment of distinctly Hollywood sounds and activity make it a moment trapped in amber.
Ships Of The Line: Active Duty! – More of what was a hit last time.
You can’t have too many images of starships. Thanks deg, Richter, Rem, Probert, and Boardman. Guys who still play with spaceships. deg is crazy, and works for bananas. Rivard is passionate… rein that in a little, buddy! Richter makes the new Enterprise look like a Goddess. Probert is a fraking genius. Rem lives in a bunker under the Hollywood sign, and Boardman is out of control. Let’s hope that whatever sickness they have never gets better.
By the way, word has it that there are Romulan spies everywhere. I suggest you put on a tie.
(Above) While you wait, an astonishing shot of the Shat I’ve never seen before! Wow! From “Bread And Circuses”. Thanks to Aurore! (Below) And this just came in from madman Chris Dawson. This shot is right outside stage 9. That big door lead to the planet and swing set stage.
(Above) deg adds the sizzle. Click for a closer look!Heya Drex Gang! I recall it like tomorrow is yesterday; Stardate: 02.20.2009: There I was, having just found the Drex Files a week or so before, I was in a complete state of unbridled anaphylactic Trekker BTS geek-glee! as never before, as I spent me last few days swingin’ on the fun-vine o’ life gobbling up and reading every single day of Doug’s backlog entries on the Files up to that point. But I wasn’t only reading, no, I can’t keep me chimpy-joy all pent up inside all unexpressed like some un-peeled banana, so I was commenting on every single day-entry as well, in my innate (non)sense brand of chimpy-loony.
(Below) A deg in his natural habitat.
Well, this bouncing flurry of deg posting, unbeknownst to me, I guess piqued Doug’s interest in just who this “deg” goof-ball was, and next thing I know; what this?! Kirk and E be praised! An email from the Drex-Man himself in my in-box!!! And it wasn’t one asking me to leave the blog due to me nuttiness! No, Doug is actually asking me if he could feature me TOS.5 E on his blog! And as if that’s not enough Drex-y goodness right there, oh my frakin’ stars and garters!, he also asks me if I would be interested in doing a shot for SOTL: 2011! CROM, wha wha wha’d, he say? The room starts to spin a bit… Honee, I need a banana quick to stabilize me aped-systems… Well, you know my default response when Trek Masters come a’knockin’: YES PLEASE!!!
So, fast-forward to Stardate: 12.26.09, in-comes the email to commence design. I submit a concept that I had in mind with the two ships cruising along-side each other, kinda like in ST:VI. It was meant to be a “Day of the Dove” homage to peace. Ships are too small and far away, Doug kindly shares. I rework it. Not enough sizzle, Doug kindly shares. I rework it again. Still not doin’ it for me, Doug again oh-so-kindly shares. Still not working for me either really. Doug loves me F-104 pacing E shot. We considered using that (perhaps in the future if Doug asks me back, as I love that shot as well). But I wanted something deg-freshy-fresh for me debut and I had just finished Johnny’s D4 design that I really really love. So I start thinkin’ about a Trek game of starship chicken, and how that would play out to me; how me (our) man!
(Above) Wireframe of deg’s in progress interstellar altercation. Klingon driver! Double-dumbass!
Kirk, being Kirk in his Kirky-Kirk-iness could even stare and back down a mighty confrontation-obsessed Klingon captain (without the use of a Flying Two-Footed Kirk Drop-Kick™ or the Kirk-Chop™), and thus was born this shot. And Doug shared: “That’s the stuff!” Yea! And there was much rejoicing! And then I composed the pulse-fire as Kirk slappin’ the K-cap’n on the arse out the door, not at all meaning to actually hit the D4, just a cocky-Kirk-ism in effect sayin’; Yeah, that’s right, bee-ach, you’re the one that veered off, and I’m James T-i-b-e-r-i-u-s Kirk! *SMACK**
Some words about production; not counting me mesh build-time, about 2 weeks back-and-forth for us to come up with the composition, and about three days to get it all executed after that, IIRC. Doug asked me to animate it for “SOTL: ACTIVE DUTY!”, and, what was my response? 
Then I started thinkin’ about it. Actual movement, no prob. But that pulse-fire efx, I have no idea how to animate that as I’ve never done that type o’ work before. I’ll just have to figure that part out, hopefully… Bear with me, dug! Thanks to you, for havin’ me (on everything so far!), and to all the Drex Gang! Hope you all enjoy the shot as much as I enjoyed creating it with Doug’s awesome and kind help and his eye for what works best. Hey, it’s what he does! 
Then I started thinkin’ about it. Actual movement, no prob. But that pulse-fire efx, I have no idea how to animate that as I’ve never done that type o’ work before. I’ll just have to figure that part out, hopefully… Bear with me, dug! Thanks to you, for havin’ me (on everything so far!), and to all the Drex Gang! Hope you all enjoy the shot as much as I enjoyed creating it with Doug’s awesome and kind help and his eye for what works best. Hey, it’s what he does! peace and long life & bananas – deg
01
Aug
10
drex-TV 01
Full HD! Blow it up full screen!
Finally!
The plan is to make this a monthly thing. Hope you dig! Below is the article that accompanies this V-blog on the relaunched, refitted startrek.com -
Drex Files Video Addendum!
We’ve only explored 2% of the Galaxy!
I was a fan from the first glimmer of black and white cathode ray over forty years ago, and am still hip deep. I’m in the enviable position of having worked on Star Trek for nearly two decades and have probably worked in more capacities than anyone in the history of the show… makeup artist, scenic artist, illustrator, and visual effects artist, and you now what? I’ve never been able to get enough!
We’ve only explored 2% of the Galaxy!
I was a fan from the first glimmer of black and white cathode ray over forty years ago, and am still hip deep. I’m in the enviable position of having worked on Star Trek for nearly two decades and have probably worked in more capacities than anyone in the history of the show… makeup artist, scenic artist, illustrator, and visual effects artist, and you now what? I’ve never been able to get enough!
Many of you know me from my blog, “The Drex Files”. Man, I poured a lot of stuff into that site. When Ian Spellin of suggested my putting together a column for startrek.com, I was dubious. Would a year and a half on Drex Files leave me anything to explore? Watch this!
Andygram!
We look at one of Trek’s sleekest and sexiest unrealized designs, The sphinx shuttle.
Whenever I think of Andy Probert I think of that scene in “The Right Stuff” where a reporter asks Gordo Cooper who’s the best pilot he’s ever seen. I’m one of Andy Probert’s biggest fans, and for me he is the best look for Star Trek. His sense of logic and aesthetics has never been equaled. One of my favorite Probert designs is the unrealized “Sphinx” shuttle, a cousin of the classic workbee. We’ve rustled you up a heapin’ helpin’ of the man himself, and Douglas “Deg” Graves brings it to life with his newly minted 3D version of the fabled conveyance. A classic Trek design. Why would anyone make Star Trek without Probert attached?
They’re the Juggernaut, bitch!
Ode to the Mararthon Mill Construction crew.
One of the most thrilling things about working on Star Trek was watching the construction gang in the Marathon Mill take our sketches and blueprints and make them real… and like magic, sets would seemingly coalesce from thin air.
When Mike Westmore piped me aboard the Enterprise D as a a makeup artist, I got my first closeup look at those classiest of starship sets. Buddy, I was like a kid in a candy store, free to wander the 23rd century and marvel at the magnificent designs and incredible craftsmanship that went into even the smallest detail.
There is a saying in the makeup department… first to get there, last to leave. But there were days when I would finish up at 2am, pack my kit, head across the Paramount lot to the parking structure, and be blown away that the construction guys would still be at it full tilt. Later, when I made the jump from the makeup department to art department, I would learn who this amazing powerhouse of a gang was. Not only would I be privy to their world and particular brand of magic, but I would now be working with them hand in hand. I would not only be wowed by their incredible talent and skill, but by the unique characters and personalities that drove the Trek construction juggernaut. Heady days, my friend.
A rough and tumble world of pneumatic nail guns, saber saws and testosterone. The “Marathon Mill” was a wild and woolly pirate ship that demanded a thick skin and a sense of humor to successfully navigate. Working with construction was one of the funnest, coolest and most satisfying experiences of my widely varied life in Hollywood. Our Star Trek machine was well oiled, and in it’s veins flowed trust, affection, and admiration. I don’t believe that I have ever worked on another show where cooperation between departments was so powerful.
During construction of the NX sets I kept a video record, and this stuff’ll knock your socks off. The first installment makes maximum montage of the construction of the NX warp core and engineering department. Hey you know it, and I know it: A cool engineering department is central to a starship, and we were especially proud of this one. It’s a remarkable document of a very ambitious Star Trek set, and baby you are there!
Le Voyage dans la lune!
When I was thirteen years old, four of the sexiest women on Earth were Raquel Welch, Brigette Bardot, Ursula Andress, and BarBara Luna. When I saw Luna as the Captain’s woman in the classic Trek episode “Mirror, Mirror” she was IT. She still has more of IT than any two women have a right to have of IT. How does she do it? A few weeks back, me, Dorth, Jimmy, and Luna went to see “CHIPs: The Musical” (no, I’m not kidding!) at Gary Marshall’s Eagle Theater in Tolucca Lake (It was hysterical, but that’s another story). I brought my video camera and captured some classic Luna. She’s silly and zany and adorable. Scamp, vixen, brat, comedian, artist, and legend. It’s silly for me to go on and on trying to impart the fun of BarBara Luna. Watch the video already!
Ship’s Of The Line: Active Duty!
This wild idea more than anything else gave me the impetus to create this vid\mag\column for startrek.com
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary… what could I do to make this column special? Then it hit me like a ton of neutronium! Oh you beautiful Galaxy! There were a hundred shots already set up for Ship’s of the Line that were dying to be animated! So I grabbed a bunch of my own pages, talked to Tobias, called Mark, shot up a flare to Rob… and in less than a week we had something special! Check your inertial dampers, fasten your seat belts, and be sure you’ve got your extra heavy reinforced Depends on because this is gold, Jerry! See the launch of the refit NX and Matt Jefferies iconic ringship taking flight! “SOTL: Active Duty” is the kick in the PTC you have been yearning for!
Hey, that was fun! I hope you got a kick out of the Drex Files Video Addendum! Fire a green flare if you’d like to see more, and in the meantime I’ll be fighting killer robots!
In fact I’m working tomorrow, but I’ll be off on Sunday and will be posting! Dugout!
(Above) The always impressive Malachi Throne. Don’t you love this guy? My god, what a voice, what a presence!
On Memorial Day, Dorth and I threw a BBQ in the backyard and invited three of our favorite people, who incidentally are three of our favorite actors… and three of yours as well… Malachi Throne, BarBara Luna, and Mike Forest. You know, I always thought I had a pretty decent eye, but when you have faces like these to work with you just can’t take a bad picture. Enjoy a few of my snaps…
(Below) Two of my favorite obsessions, Luna and Dorth shine for the camera.
08
Jun
10
Trek Ration Books
Dayton Ward waxes nostalgic about the “Great 70s Trek Drought”, and his monthly ration of fan musings found in our first of it’s kind publication, the Star Trek Poster Book.
23
May
10
Nimoy Sunset Pie
A big hit in the department this week was “Nimoy Sunset Pie”. What the hell does it mean? Where does it come from? What’s the deal? What’s the diff! It’s hilariously mind-bending… and delicious! Seriously, NSP is one of the coolest and most off beat Trek themed sites I’ve been to. Go and enjoy a slice with Spock while computing its value!
http://nimoysunsetpie.tumblr.com/
Tall tales of a time-traveling Tribble – A Tribble Travelogue
As transcribed by Jörg Hillebrand
Whenever I’m on vacation, my owner accompanies me. He’s been to all parts of Germany, London, Rome, Australia, St. Louis and Los Angeles. When I spent some time in Los Angeles (and some other interesting places all around the Milky Way Galaxy) last month, he kindly offered to take some snapshots of me at some pretty famous locations. First, we went to Santa Monica Pier, where Janeway and her crew beamed down in 1996 to find a way back home to the 24th Century.(01) Continue reading ‘Tall Tales of a Time-Traveling Tribble – A Tribble Travelogue’
28
Mar
10
In Theiss-ing
Where do they get these ideas?
Flipping through one of Dorth’s Lucky Magazine issues I came across this unmistakably Bill Thiess TOS look. Love it. Looked futuristic and sleek then, looks futuristic and sleek now.
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