Takei In Zero Gravity

George Takei got to experience floating in zero gravity yesterday.
The actor and his husband Brad joined twenty fans who had each paid $6,500 to ride in the special commercial aircraft which “achieves an altitude that simulates weightless free fall.
Rod Roddenberry, son of Gene Roddenberry, also took part in the flight, in a joint collaboration between Roddenberry Adventures and The Zero Gravity Corporation, who provides the zero gravity experience.
“We are so happy we could celebrate [Trek’s Fiftieth Anniversary] with George and his fans,” said Terese Brewster, President and COO of Zero Gravity.
Roddenberry Adventures is an “adventure club…embedded with the philosophies of Star Trek” which includes activities such as scuba diving trips, a Hawaii Trek convention and the ‘zero g’ adventure.

Seven of Nine was supposed to be in a Star Trek: The Next Generation movie.

Seven of Nine was supposed to appear in Star Trek Nemesis and possibly further Star Trek: The Next Generation films, but actress Jeri Ryan turned down the role.

Seven of Nine was an extraordinarily popular character and after Star Trek: Voyager ended the producers of Star Trek Nemesis wanted to take advantage of that. Last night during the 50 Years of Star Trek special Jeri Ryan revealed that she had been offered a part in the Star Trek: The Next Generation film. Ryan says she turned down the role because she didn’t want to be pigeon holded as an actress

 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Barry Jenner passes away at the age of 75.

If Seven of Nine had been in Star Trek Nemesis she would have replaced one of the characters in the film. I don’t think this means they would have written anyone in the cast out, but that Seven would have ended up replacing someone.
The obvious character for her to replace would of course be Data. Brent Spiner didn’t want to continue to play Data because he was getting older and thought it didn’t look right for him to be portraying the android. This was also the reasoning behind B4 replacing Data; B4 was of course originally supposed to be played by a different actor.
It’s obvious that the creators of Star Trek Nemesis wanted a plan in place to make further Star Trek: The Next Generation films without Data. And as much as I love Star Trek: The Next Generation, I’m really glad they didn’t go through with this plan. Star Trek: The Next Generation would be like Star Trek: The Original Series without Spock. It would still be most of the crew, but you’d be missing a very important piece of the puzzle. Explaining why Riker and Troi were back and not on the Titan would have been hard to do in future movies as well of course.
Jeri Ryan is fantastic, and I’m a fan of Seven of Nine, but it just wouldn’t have felt the same having Seven on the bridge in Data’s place.

50 years of star trek in history channel

“50 Years of Star Trek” celebrates the iconic Star Trek franchise that has spanned generations and spawned a diehard cult following. Cast and creators, including Leonard Nimoy in one of his final full length interviews, give an inside look into the series and reflect on its legacy. The two-hour documentary “50 Years of Star Trek” premieres Sunday, August 14 at 8pm ET/PT on HISTORY®.
From primetime television series to worldwide blockbuster, the Star Trek franchise has long been a pop culture phenomenon. Directed by Ian Roumain, “50 Years of Star Trek” explores the series with those who know it best. The documentary features interviews with cast members and creators from all Star Trek television series and films including Whoopi Goldberg (“Guinan”), Jonathan Frakes (“Riker”), Nichelle Nichols (“Uhura”), J.J. Abrams, Bryan Fuller, and Simon Pegg as they reflect on their contribution to the ground breaking franchise and reveal their all-time favorite episodes and iconic moments from the past 50 years. The documentary also highlights the unique fan culture the series has created. Notable Trekkies Michael McKean, Olivia Munn, Bruce Campbell and others share their memories about the series and explore how it has impacted American history and culture.

“50 Years of Star Trek” also includes one of the final full length television interviews with Leonard Nimoy, the beloved actor who originated the role of Spock. Nimoy shares memories and stories from the five decades he spent aboard the USS Enterprise.
“50 Years of Star Trek” is produced by New Wave Entertainment. Executive producers for New Wave Entertainment are Brian Volk Weiss and Joe Braswell.

Ira Steven Behr Reveals Details About Deep Space Nine Documentary Coming Soon

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine showrunner Ira Steven Behr today revealed that he has been working on a documentary on DS9 for several years that explores what the show was really about and its lasting impact on the Star Trek franchise and culture. After the announcement, TrekMovie secured an exclusive interview with Behr to further discuss the project, which he hopes will be out in 2017.

During the first Deep Space Nine panel at the 50th anniversary convention, showrunner Ira Steven Behr revealed that he had been working for years on a documentary that explored what DS9 was really about, and what its lasting impact has been on the Star Trek franchise and culture in general.
As part of the documentary, which is currently being edited, Behr brought together the DS9 writing staff and gave them one task: break the story for the first episode of season eight.

Nicole DeBoer learns from Ira that her character will get a story in “season eight”

Behr commented, in an exclusive interview with TrekMovie, that the writers still had the same chemistry they had when they were making DS9. The writers even went on to map out some of what they would like to do later in a notional season eight, even though they were only tasked with coming up with the first episode.

August-September 2016 Trek Conventions And Appearances

There will be nineteen conventions, shows or appearances in August and September that will feature actors of interest to Star Trek fans. This listing of conventions and shows features actors from all of the televised series and several of the Star Trek movies.
August begins with the Official Star Trek 50th Anniversary Convention, to be held Aug. 3-7 at the Rio Suites Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. In attendance at the Official Star Trek 50th Anniversary Convention will be just about everyone in Star Trek, so it seems, including: Kirstie Alley, Vaughn Armstrong, Rene Auberjonois, Scott Bakula, Ira Steven Behr, Robert Beltran, Casey Biggs, John Billingsley, Robert Blackman, Paula Block, Brannon Braga, LeVar Burton, Bobby Clark, Jeffrey Combs, Denise Crosby, Robin Curtis, James Darren, Nicole de Boer, John de Lancie, Elinor Donahue, Jack Donner, Christopher Doohan, Michael Dorn, Doug Drexler, Aron Eisenberg, Ike Eisenmann (Peter Preston), Terry Erdman, Terry Farrell, Michael Forest, Jonathan Frakes, Whoopi Goldberg, Gary Graham, Max Grodenchik, Martha Hackett, Hana Hatae (Molly O’Brien), Richard Herd, J.G. Hertzler, Clint Howard, Sherry Jackson, Barry Jenner, Dominic Keating, Sally Kellerman, Sean Kenney, Walter Koenig, Gary Lockwood, Cirroc Lofton, Barbara Luna, Chase Masterson, Neal McDonough (Hawk in Star Trek: First Contact), Gates McFadden, Robert Duncan McNeill, Eric Menyuk, Lawrence Montaigne, Anthony Montgomery, Ronald D. Moore, Kate Mulgrew, Larry Nemecek, Nichelle Nichols, Adam Nimoy, Natalija Nogulich, Mike and Denise Okuda, Robert O’Reilly, Eddie Paskey, Ethan Phillips, Robert Picardo, Suzie Plakson, Andrew Robinson, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth (Executive Producer for Star Trek Discovery), Tim Russ, Jeri Ryan, Camille Saviola (Kai Opaka), William Shatner, Armin Shimerman, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, George Takei, Hallie Todd, Bjo and John Trimble, Connor Trinneer, Nana Visitor, Garrett Wang, Gwynth Walsh, Celeste Yarnall, and more.
Next up is Creation Entertainment’s 50 Year Mission Tour which will be held Aug. 12-14 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In attendance at Creation Entertainment’s 50 Year Mission Tour will be Vaughn Armstrong, Casey Biggs, Jeffrey Combs, Michael Dorn, Aron Eisenberg, Terry Farrell, Max Grodenchik, J.G. Hertzler, Dominic Keating, John de Lancie, Chase Masterson, Gates McFadden, Robert O’Reilly, Ethan Phillips, William Shatner, Marina Sirtis, and Connor Trinneer.
The Boston Comic Con will be held Aug. 12-14 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts. In attendance at Boston Comic Con will be William Shatner.
The Steel City Con will be held Aug. 12-14 at the Monroeville Convention Center in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. In attendance at Steel City Con will be Sid Haig and Christopher Lloyd.
Wizard World Comic Con Chicago will be held Aug. 18-21 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. In attendance at Wizard World Comic Con Chicago will be Christopher Lloyd, Kate Mulgrew, and William Sadler.
The Pensacola Comic Con will be held Aug. 20-21 at the Pensacola Interstate Fair in Pensacola, Florida. In attendance at Pensacola Comic Con will be Larry Nemecek and Tim Russ.
TerrifiCon will be held Aug. 19-21 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. In attendance at TerrifiCon will be Rene Auberjonois, and Tony Todd.
Wrapping up August will be Creation Entertainment’s 50 Year Mission Tour will be held Aug. 26-28 at the Crowne Plaza Cherry Hill in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. In attendance at Creation Entertainment’s 50 Year Mission Tour will be Vaughn Armstrong, Casey Biggs, LeVar Burton, Jeffrey Combs, Robin Curtis, Nicole De Boer, John de Lancie, Michael Dorn, Max Grodenchik, Dominic Keating, Walter Koenig, Chase Masterson, Gates McFadden, Ethan Phillips, William Shatner, Brent Spiner, Connor Trinneer, Nana Visitor, and Garrett Wang.
September begins with the Fan Expo Canada, to be held Sept. 1-4 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In attendance at Fan Expo Canada will be Christopher Lloyd, Kate Mulgrew, Nichelle Nichols, William Shatner, Brent Spiner, and George Takei.
Next up is the Salt Lake Comic Con, to be held Sept. 1-3 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. In attendance at the Salt Lake Comic Con will be William Shatner.
Star Trek: Mission New York will be held Sept. 2-4 at the Javits Center in New York, New York. In attendance at Star Trek: Mission New York will be Rene Auberjonois, Robert Beltran, John Billingsley, Brannon Braga, LeVar Burton, Robin Curtis, Michael Dorn, Alice Eve, Terry Farrell, Jonathan Frakes, Bruce Greenwood, Dominic Keating, Walter Koenig, Cirroc Lofton, Gates McFadden, Robert Duncan McNeill, Anthony Montgomery, Kate Mulgrew, Adam Nimoy, Julie Nimoy, Ethan Phillips, Robert Picardo, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth, William Shatner, Armin Shimerman, Marina Sirtis, Connor Trinneer, Karl Urban, Nana Visitor, and Peter Weller.
Dragon*Con will be held Sept. 2-4 at various hotels in Atlanta, Georgia. In attendance at Dragon*Con will be William Shatner and Alexander Siddig.
Starkane will be held Sept. 8-10 at Red Lion Templin’s in Post Falls, Idaho. In attendance at Starkane will be Chris Doohan, Walter Koenig, Lawrence Montaigne, Tim Russ, Rick Sternbach, and Connor Trinneer.
Next up is Creation Entertainment’s 50 Year Mission Tour, to take place Sept. 9-11 at the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois. In attendance at Creation Entertainment’s 50 Year Mission Tour will be Vaughn Armstrong, Casey Biggs, LeVar Burton, Jeffrey Combs, James Darren, John de Lancie, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Max Grodenchik, Chase Masterson, Gates McFadden, Suzie Plakson, Andrew Robinson, William Shatner, Armin Shimerman, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, and Nana Visitor.
The Rose City Comic Con will be held Sept. 10-11 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. In attendance at the Rose City Comic Con will be Denise Crosby.
HawaiiCon will be held Sept. 15-18 at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows in Puako, Hawaii. In attendance at HawaiiCon will be Jonathan Frakes, Manu Intiraymi, Walter Koenig, Chase Masterson, Nichelle Nichols, and Rod Roddenberry.
Intervention 7 will be held Sept. 16-18 at the Hilton Washington DC Rockville in Rockville, Maryland. In attendance at Intervention 7 will be Rene Auberjonois and Dwight Schultz.
The London Comic Con will be held Sept. 23-25 at the Western Fair District in London, Ontario, Canada. In attendance at London Comic Con will be LeVar Burton.
Wrapping up September will be Wizard World Comic Con Austin will be held Sept. 23-25 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. In attendance at Wizard World Comic Con Austin will be William Shatner (Saturday only).

Movie USS Enterprise Restoration Kickstarter

 A new project seeks to raise funds to recreate the USS Enterprise seen in the early Star Trek movies.

“Thanks to the personal involvement of Star Trek legend Nichelle Nichols leading and inspiring the original Enterprise design team, with the support of Rod Roddenberry, Star Trek fans can be a part of something that will preserve Star Trek history and share that passion for the Trek universe – regardless of timeline – with something lasting and meaningful.
“Star Trek is now without it’s most loved, revered, and recognized iconic movie symbol since Paramount sold off our damaged, resprayed, and mishandled original movie Enterprise, which has become the quintessential Enterprise in the minds and hearts of fans, into private hands in 2006. This is a cinematic catastrophe, and while we are still around to do it, we want to correct this ridiculous state of affairs by recreating our original Starship—only this time fifty percent larger and two-hundred percent more beautiful than our original using the most modern technology and materials to then travel the world forever for the delight of Star Trek fans everywhere. Not a digital phantom, but the real Enterprise by the people who created her in the first place. We guarantee she will knock your socks off when you see her. But as Nichelle says, first, we need your help, and we have some fabulous incentives and great premiums to offer you in exchange for your contribution at any level.
“Once out of space dock, this brand new Enterprise will go on tour around the world over and over again and forever to bring joy and satisfaction to Star Trek fans everywhere. This isn’t going to be a CGI representation or an intriguing work of digital wizardry but a real and solid and tangible Enterprise by the people who created her in the first place.
“The perks on offer are nothing short of extraordinary and should be considered every Star Trek fan’s dream come true. Rewards include rare collectibles from behind the scenes from Star Trek including Enterprise blueprints, signed show scripts, autographed books, collectible patches and other goodies that will light up the smiles of Trekkies brighter than dilithium crystals.
“For as little as $20, every fan can achieve Star Trek immortality by having their name projected on the Scroll of Honor sculpture designed by Richard Taylor, who designed the movie Enterprise, that will accompany the Enterprise on her dais wherever she appears. Fans can also choose to have their names fired from the Enterprise onto the scroll, have their names placed inside the Enterprise on a golden scroll, and receive a credit in the feature documentary of the rebuild. True immortality. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Phase Two fans and expires September 11, 2016.”

Star Trek fans pay tribute to Anton Yelchin at 50th anniversary convention

Leaving personal messages on a larger-than-life poster, grieving fans honor the actor who died in an accident in June.

 Fans express their love for Anton Yelchin.

Walter Koenig originated the role of Pavel Chekov on "Star Trek" in the 1960s, but young actor Anton Yelchin carried the torch forward in the reboot movies, including this year's "Star Trek Beyond." Yelchin died in June after being pinned by his SUV in an accident. The Star Trek 50th anniversary convention is happening in Las Vegas this weekend. And one of the main halls here hosts a large photo mural of Yelchin where fans are paying their respects in short messages.
Hundreds of handwritten notes already cover the poster, even though it's only the second day of the convention. Here are some of the heartfelt messages: "You are now among the stars!" "An amazing talent, lost far too early." "You will always be in our hearts. Live long and prosper." "May you go boldly into that final frontier, but stay forever in our hearts."
Russian-born Yelchin was just 27 years old when he died. The likable Chekov was not the only role he played, but it was the one he was best known for. There are many beautiful thoughts written on the mural, but this is perhaps the one that touched me the most: "Your mission ended too soon. Forever will you sail with the stars."
The organizers hope to the deliver the fans' tribute to Yelchin's family after the convention.

Star Trek Bluetooth Communicator Review

Anton Yelchin: parents of Star Trek actor sue Jeep manufacturer for wrongful death 

 The parents of "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin on Tuesday sued the makers of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, an SUV that was under recall when it crushed and killed the 27-year-old.

Victor and Irina Yelchin filed the wrongful-death and product-liability lawsuit against automaker Fiat Chrysler in Los Angeles Superior Court roughly six weeks after their son was killed. The suit contends that the gear selector in the actor's Jeep was defective and poorly designed and manufactured.

Anton Yelchin 

"Anton Yelchin was crushed and lingered alive for some time, trapped and suffocating until his death," the lawsuit says.
It does not say how much Yelchin's parents are seeking in damages.

The damaged gate at the home of Anton Yelchin who died in a freak accident at his home in Los Angeles, California Credit: Splash News

The actor's Jeep rolled backward down the driveway of his Los Angeles home June 19, pinning him between a mailbox and a security fence. The SUV was among 1.1 million vehicles recalled in April because its gear shifters have confused drivers, causing the vehicles to roll away unexpectedly and leading to dozens of injuries.
The lawsuit says Yelchin's SUV did not engage or maintain its "park" gear and that led to the vehicle crushing the actor.
Yelchin is perhaps best known for his role as Pavel Chekov in the rebooted "Star Trek" franchise. The third film in the series, "Star Trek Beyond," has grossed more than $106 million in the U.S. in its first two weekends.

 

The actor was the Yelchins' only son, and they filed Friday to oversee his estate, which is valued at nearly $1.4 million. Anton Yelchin left behind several unreleased projects, including the Netflix animated series "Trollhunters" and four films.
Fiat Chrysler extended its sympathies to Yelchin's parents in a statement released before the suit was filed but added that the company had not been served with the case and could not comment on it.
Drivers of the Jeep under recall have complained that they had trouble telling if they put the transmission in "park" after stopping. Many reported the vehicles rolled off after the driver exited.
A government investigation into the gear shifters found 266 crashes that had injured 68 people as of late June.
Fiat Chrysler has said it is speeding up its recall of the vehicle. Both the company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have urged drivers of vehicles subject to the gear shift recall to set their parking brakes before getting out of their vehicles.