Star Trek: The Adventure Continues
by herbalsheila
In a recent hour long interview posted by StarTrek.com, Walter Koenig spoke of starring in the new upcoming fan powered, star studded release, “Of Gods and Men” a new miniseries soon to be finished and then released on the Internet. The final release date is unknown at this time.
“Of Gods and Men” looks to be loaded with outstanding music, great acting by consummate professionals, believable special effects, and an engaging and suspense filled storyline. It is being filmed out of love and respect on a mainly voluntary basis for the Star Trek genre fans and to honor its creator Gene Roddenberry.
Also fondly referred to as a ‘Webisode” by Koenig in the interview, he stated that it takes place 40 years after The Original Series. Skye Conway, Ethan Calk and Jack Trevino wrote the film script and shooting will continue through May 2007. Filming is taking place in part on the fabulous New Voyages sets in New York, though it is an independent production from Star Trek: The New Voyages.
Tim Russ is directing a stellar cast which, in addition to Koenig, includes Nichelle Nichols, Alan Ruck, Tim Russ, Garret Wang, JG Hertzler, Chase Masterson, Gary Graham, Crystal Allen, Ethan Philips, Lawrence Montaigne, Cirroc Lofton, William Wellman, and Grace Lee Whitney. Skye Conway is also in charge of production.
Tim Russ will reprise his role as the Vulcan Tuvok (Voyager), Grace Lee Whitney will again be playing Janice Rand (TOS), Nichelle Nichols will be playing Nyota Uhura (TOS), Lawrence Montaigne as Stonn (TOS), while Cirroc Lofton (DS9), Gary Graham (Enterprise), Crystal Allen (Enterprise), Chase Masterson (DS9), Garret Wang (Voyager), and JG Hertzler (DS9) will play entirely new characters.
Walter Koenig will be playing Chekov, but according to him, ”This ain’t your Daddy’s Chekov.” The plot and this interpretation of Chekov, promises to be more guttural and will include a surprising old character that has resurfaced. Chekov himself will have suffered a great loss and yearns for revenge. It promises to be “electrically dynamic and controversial.”
To view this fanstastic piece of Star Trek history, which is being done independently of CBS Paramount to celebrate 40 years of Star Trek, go to the site to view the teaser and trailers, and check out the first three minutes of Act 1. http://www.startrekofgodsandmen.com/index.htm
Independent of OGAM and CBS Paramount are the other webisodes directed by James Cawley which can be downloaded for free at http://www.newvoyages.com/ and also look to be well written and acted. One of the more recent ones, written by DC Fontana, “To Serve All My Days” is a sequel in idea to the TOS episode ‘The Deadly Years.” It stars Walter Koenig as the much beloved Chekov and gives insight into the stages of terminal illness and what those with terminal illnesses go through.
To obtain a download, free software is given on the New Voyages site, called Bit Torrent, and is used to view the New Voyages. Be aware, however, that actual downloads of the webisodes themselves can take over an hour or more even with a broadband connection. The teaser trailers and first three minutes for "Of Gods and Men" are set up to view directly from the OGAM site.
