[Chris Fawkes]

I hear the waterboy has been signed to a three movie deal.

[kevin]

I'm looking forward to having a totally new team involved. Someone made the Scotty TSFS quote and I agree with that. It might turn out a good decision, it might turn out a bad one. But I think either way it's more than time for fresh input.

[jtrek79]

Originally Posted by Commodore

Eaves, as well as Geoffrey Mandel, etc., worked as members of large art departments under the direction of Rick Berman and longtime Trek production designer Herman Zimmerman, who both really had the final say in his designs. That won't be the case with Star Trek XI (J.J. Abrams and Scott Chamberliss).

Why they kept zimmerman out,he's an excellent prod.designer

[Zardoz]

Originally Posted by jtrek79

Why they kept zimmerman out,he's an excellent prod.designer

Fresh Start I guess.

[Chucky D]

Originally Posted by jtrek79

Why they kept zimmerman out,he's an excellent prod.designer

I completely agree about Zimmerman's abilities - he is a great designer. However, I think even Paramount wanted to make a total break from the 'old guard' and start fresh with a new team and a blank slate (so to speak).

If memory serves, a few years back production members previously involved in Trek made a pitch to make STXI and were turned down. I believe it was near that point that they pursued JJ Abrams (the rising star) and let him assemble his own team which, until that point in time, had been very successful with other franchises.

Let me know if I am mistaken here. My details may be as factual as a political convention speech.

[kevin]

Well Chambliss production designed five years of Alias and that had pretty good production values, but good though Zimmerman is, he would be very much working on 18 years of previous design. He wouldn't be as fresh as a new perspective. And every once in a while a total change is needed.

[MissionTrek08]

There's another factor for 'starting fresh' with Abrams' team: when production designers, set builders, costumers, prop makers and such work together, they develop 'shorthand' in the effort. If the guy in charge of building the E's bridge knows how the designer works, they work together more efficiently and quickly (i.e. cheaply) because there is less translation between minds.

On a film of this scope, such shortcuts no matter how small add up to better production in less time for less money, which usually translates to a better value and better film.

[Commodore]

Originally Posted by jtrek79

Why they kept zimmerman out,he's an excellent prod.designer

Zimmerman actually retired from the business after Star Trek: Nemesis (it was his last job after more than thirty years in Hollywood).

But even if Zimmerman was still working, I kind of doubt that he would have been asked to work on Star Trek XI. Zimmerman is largely credited for being responsible for the entire look of Trek from 1987 to 2002.

Originally Posted by Chucky D

If memory serves, a few years back production members previously involved in Trek made a pitch to make STXI and were turned down. I believe it was near that point that they pursued JJ Abrams (the rising star) and let him assemble his own team which, until that point in time, had been very successful with other franchises.

Let me know if I am mistaken here. My details may be as factual as a political convention speech.

I remember that Rick Berman made a pitch for the eleventh film to be "Star Trek: The Beginning", which would have dealt with the Romulan War and continued many elements (but no main characters) from ENT. The first draft of the script by Erik Jendressen, however, was said to have had a lukewarm reception by Paramount but after a major regime change at the studio, the new regime pretty much buried the whole project and then went in search of new blood to revitalize Trek...

[Zardoz]

GReat info MIssion and Commdore, you two should write a Trek refrence book togeter!

[Chucky D]

Mission, Commodore...as always, thank you