The Great Trek Con

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The Great Trek Con

<Editor's Note>

Last issue we printed a Trek story submitted by one of the Nest's users, Dan Norris, but it looks like Dan was a content hacker. Half the story was made up, the other half was borrowed from Anna Kaplan (and Fandom.com). Here, Anna lays the truth on the line.

</Editor's Note>

After receiving reports about an article posted at the SF Crowsnest site about the future of STAR TREK according to Rick Berman, I thought I should go take a look. In a May article, with no byline or author’s name given, someone wrote an article full of quotes taken from an interview I did with Rick Berman, published in an article at www.fandom.com on March 23, 2000.

The Crowsnest article uses quotes that are essentially identical, word-for-word, to mine. However, they are taken out of context, and the writer has added his or her own opinions to them.

Below you can read on the left the article from Crowsnest in italics. On the right are portions of my article. The identical (or nearly) passages are in bold, larger type.

I spoke to Rick Berman myself, and when he said, "I will be a little bit of a tease..." or "What I can tell you..." he was speaking to me. This type of wording makes it seem like he was speaking to the author of the Crowsnest article, which he was not. Mr. Berman did not say the next movie would definitely feature the cast of THE NEXT GENERATION, but that it might, as is clear in the full quote. He also never used the words Star Trek Excellent, nor did he comment to me about the Captain Sulu series. What he did tell me is in the context indicated in my article.

I do not know where the last two quotes came from, or if they are even real. Readers can compare these two articles themselves. Please feel free to look at the full article at Fandom.

Voyager's producer, Rick Berman, has confirmed that the Star Trek franchise is not going to be given a rest. No indeed, it is planned to bounce back with all the vigour of Kirk chasing some alien skirt around the Vegas sands dunes.

Why? Well for starters, there is a tenth Star Trek movie in the pipe, which Berman has now said it will definitely feature the cast of The Next Generation.

"I will be a little bit of a tease and tell you that although I can't talk about the new movie, or even talk about who is involved, I can say that we are about to begin the writing stages on what hopefully will be the next Star Trek feature film," Berman said.

On the new Star Trek Excellent TV series, Berman said: "What I can tell you is that it's something that we have been working on nearly a year. Contrary to rumours, it's the only concept that we've developed. It's not one of three concepts we've developed. It's a concept that the studio is behind, and that we are discussing and finessing. As far as when it's going to go into production, as far as when it's going to go on the air, I don't know."

Berman offers a little morsel of something about the next TREK feature

film. He says, "I will be a tease a little bit to you and tell you that although I can’t talk about it, or even talk about who is involved, I can say that we are about to begin the writing stages on what hopefully will be the next STAR TREK feature film. It’s in a very, very, early stage, a stage so early that I can’t even discuss who is involved. But we’re diving into it this very week. There is definitely a story, and people involved with writing it, and hopefully it will work out to be the next STAR TREK feature film, and also the next STAR TREK feature film featuring the cast from THE NEXT GENERATION. There’s a little tidbit for you."

On Tuesday March 21st, in answer to the question, "Can you tell me what the next series will be about?" he says, regretfully, "No, I’m sorry, I can’t. What I can tell you is that it’s something that we have been working on nearly a year. Contrary to rumors, it’s

Berman confirmed the new series would not be featuring the prequal adventures of Hikaru Sulu and his new command, the U.S.S. Excelsior. "The only thing I can say about the new Star Trek Excellent series is that it's definitely Star Trek, but it is dramatically different. It is going to be far more different than all three of the last series have been from the original."

"Star Trek Excellent is set in a totally different part of Federation Space," he explained. "This will allow us a lot of latitude in the range of races, situations and story lines we will be able to incorporate in the new series."

"We've got a detailed plan in play to bring a level of CGI and FX to the next series which will redefine the standard. Seriously, it will blow the viewers away."

the only concept that we’ve developed. It’s not one of three concepts we’ve developed. It’s a concept that the studio is behind, and that we are discussing and finessing. As far as when it’s going to go into production, as far as when it’s going to go on the air, I don’t know."

The only thing I can say about the series is that it’s definitely STAR TREK, but it is dramatically different. It is going to be far more different than really all three of the last series have been from the original."

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