October 2015 - From the Captain’s Chair

We are honored with the overwhelming reaction to our latest STAR TREK CONTINUES episode, “Divided We Stand.”  If you’ve watched the episode on YouTube or at STARTREKCONTINUES.com, then you know some exceptional effort went into the first “outside the studio” shoot.  Read more about how we delivered on Civil War authenticity this month, as well as a question-and-answer interview with Chuck “Dr. McCoy” Huber.

Farscape’s Gigi Edgley to Guest Star in Episode VI

When Episode VI of STAR TREK CONTINUES goes into production, a familiar face will be on board.  “While details of the shoot and the script will be kept under wraps until that episode premieres, we’re very excited to announce that the amazing Gigi Edgley will join the cast as our guest star,” says STAR TREK CONTINUES executive producer Vic Mignogna.

A Chat with the Good Doctor: Actor and Producer Chuck Huber brings Dr. McCoy to Life

With more than 75 anime episodes on his resume, Chuck Huber is best known in that genre for his work as Android 17 on Dragon Ball Z and for his role on anime’s Soul Eater.  Huber’s work can be seen on network television, but he is probably best known for playing Dr. Leonard McCoy on STAR TREK CONTINUES.

Civil War Reenactors Add Authentic Touch to Episode V

When Kirk and McCoy are transported to the battlefields of Maryland in “Divided We Stand,” the latest episode from STAR TREK CONTINUES, they emerge in a distant time and very real gunfire.

In fact, the use of uniformed reenactors proved to be a masterstroke.

“Reenactors come with wardrobe, weapons, tents and other camping gear, and a wealth of knowledge on the subject matter. They are also already quite used to roughing it, and doing it authentically--they never had any need to get into costume or into character--they could be put on camera at any time. They're the next best thing to time travel,” said Jay Pennington, wore multiple hats in Episode V as Second Assistant Director, Location Coordinator, and Set Dresser.

September 2015 - FROM THE CAPTAIN’S CHAIR

We’re now just a few hours away from the debut screening of Episode V of STAR TREK CONTINUES, with fans assembled for the Salt Lake City Comicon.  Several of our cast and crew have made the trip to Utah, and we can’t wait to hear the reaction to our first “off the ship” episode.

Your chance to see Episode V comes tomorrow morning, September 26, starting at 8:00am Pacific time.  Just navigate to StarTrekContinues.com to see for yourself what our team has spent months putting together.  I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises, and we’d love to hear your feedback on Facebook!

Several of the people who make STAR TREK CONTINUES possible converged on Las Vegas for Creation’s annual STAR TREK VEGAS event.  It was truly monumental and a great prelude to next year’s 50th anniversary celebrations for The Original Series.

More than 200 people packed the theater our late-night screening of Episode IV, “The White Iris,” and we took questions for more than an hour after running the episode on the big screen at the AMC Town Square theatre.

We were also humbled and honored that both Rod Roddenberry and Marina Sirtis from STAR TREK: The Next Generation publicly praised STAR TREK CONTINUES during their sessions in Vegas.

As you’ll read below, the final work is now underway on Scotty’s Engineering Room at our own Stage Nine in southern Georgia, as we prepare to shoot more episodes this fall.  We want to make sure we celebrate 50 years of STAR TREK with our best salute to the spirit of Gene Roddenberry and the team that brought The Original Series to life.

Our fifth episode, which premieres this weekend, is dedicated in loving memory to Grace Lee Whitney.  Her star shines brightly.

Vic Mignogna

Executive Producer and “Captain Kirk”

ENGINEERING ROOM READIED FOR SCOTTY

With just a few weeks to go until another shoot at the Stage Nine studio, STAR TREK CONTINUES volunteers are working to finish a breathtaking addition to the Enterprise – a full-scale replica of the Engineering Room that’s been under construction since May.

Will Smith is the mastermind behind TOSGraphics.com, the definitive source for information about The Original Series and the Matt Jefferies designs brought to life by studio carpenters.  Smith is also the Art Director and Property Master of STAR TREK CONTINUES, working almost non-stop this summer to finish the mammoth undertaking.

FROM THE CAPTAIN'S CHAIR

With just two weeks to go until Episode Four of STAR TREK CONTINUES enjoys a debut screening at Phoenix COMICON, we’re excited to see your reaction to our fourth full-length episode.  We can’t wait to meet our fans, answer questions, sign autographs, and celebrate what so many of you have made possible. 

Earlier this year, our cast and crew gathered to shoot Episodes IV and V at the same time.  We have a strong commitment to proper stewardship of the funds that fans have contributed.  It’s far less expensive to shoot two episodes in the same period, saving on travel and hotel costs as well as rentals and other expenses.  Later this year, we’re planning to release our fifth episode (which will also be the first episode of STAR TREK CONTINUES to feature many scenes shot on location).

Our friends and fans contributed more than $200,000 through the very successful “Kirkstarter 2.0” STAR TREK CONTINUES crowdfunding campaign.  We not only reached our “Kirkstarter” goal, we reached a “stretch” goal to Build Scotty an Engine Room!  Work began on that massive project a few weeks ago and you’ll find an update in this issue of Subspace Chatter.

STAR TREK CONTINUES also now completely owns our shooting sets in south Georgia. We have taken over the remainder of the building that has now been christened as “Stage Nine,” – in honor of Desilu Stage Nine (where the Enterprise sets for the first season took shape nearly 50 years ago).  At 18,500 square feet, our facilities are by far the largest of any STAR TREK web series – and nobody has ever built the Engine Room!  We salute the team at Farragut Films who did much of the actual construction on the current sets and wish them well as they turn to new Trek endeavors.

In addition to a place for Chris Doohan’s “Scotty” to hang out when not on the Bridge, we’re also making several improvements to the standing sets – rounding out the Bridge to make it a full 360-degree set.  As my friend and set designer Will Smith frequently says, “we’re making STAR TREK!”  And Will has a three-page list of enhancements to the Enterprise sets that are also on the docket.

One of the most endearing things about the Original Series was the variety of stories that they told.  Continuing in that spirit, our Episode IV will be a much more personal, dramatic story than our previous outing.  It’s called “The White Iris,” and it features a special guest appearance by Colin Baker (“Dr. Who” from 1984 to 1986). 

Tune in online starting May 29 to see our next big adventure as STAR TREK CONTINUES.

-Vic Mignogna

Executive Producer and “Captain Kirk”