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Star Trek Continues Kickstarter 2.0

The Real Dr John writes Vic Mignogna and crew have launched their second Kickstarter campaign to produce 2 or more additional episodes of Star Trek Continues, a fan-based web series finishing up the 5 year mission of the original Star Trek television series. The first Kickstarter campaign raised enough money for 4 episodes, 3 of which have already been aired. Depending on how much funding they get this time, they plan to produce up to 4 additional episodes.

28 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Damnit Jim by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm a doctor not a banker!

  2. Amazing work.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    These people are really knocking it out of the ballpark with the episodes they have done already. Seriously they got JJ spanked when it comes to the original series.

    1. Re:Amazing work.. by MightyMartian · · Score: 4, Funny

      They're okay, but not nearly enough lens flare, and man oh man, shot length is insane. I really do demand far more quick cuts and dialogue needs to be cut to about three words per cut. Being a modern viewer, I don't want to hear all that blah-blah-blah, and just want to be nailed with a solid hour of uninterpretable action, shallow dialogue, even shallow characterization, and bad (or possibly even missing) plotting.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    2. Re:Amazing work.. by hairyfeet · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Man isn't it sad that the fan mades are getting better quality story wise than the actual bloody films? I just hope Tim Russ is able to do as good with the new Star Trek Renegades as these guys have done with STC. I saw his "Star Trek: Of Gods & Men" and it was damned good, well acted, nice twists and turns in the story, and unlike Generations he used the actors from ST: TOS that appeared in roles that actually mattered to the story.

      I don't know about everybody else but I found the JJ movies alternated between "WTF?" and "You have GOT to be kidding, that's retarded!" when it came to plot. Pines' Kirk comes off as a fratboy and the "plot" just seems to be an excuse to go from one action set piece to another. Honestly it felt more like a video game than a movie and NOT in a good way. That is why I'm happy we have these...now if we can only get Joss Whedon to let Greenwalt and Noxon do that Spike and Dru series my happiness will be complete.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    3. Re:Amazing work.. by ifiwereasculptor · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They really, really are. My god, this Spock is SO MUCH better than Quinto's it's embarassing. All the cast is pretty great (with the exception of Grant - he's not an actor, and it unfortunately shows), with the new Scotty being the highlight of the series. Really, they god pretty much everything - pacing, writing, acting - right. Which is the main problem, I guess, since they enter uncanny valley territory. The new Kirk is great, very well done, very well researched, fights like a drunk Wrestlemania participant, exactly like the original... which seems to highlight the minuscule differences left in speech and body language (he should talk louder and faster, for instance). But really, a great, great job. I think we're all impressed and they'll surely get some of my money.

    4. Re:Amazing work.. by ifiwereasculptor · · Score: 2

      Agree with you on pretty much everything. As for JJ Abrams's, there's a distiction to be made: the first one was actually somewhat enjoyable, despite the absurdities (red matter? WTF?). In Into Darkness, absolutely nothing made sense. Really, plot and character-wise, it was worse than Yor.

    5. Re:Amazing work.. by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

      About the only actor in the reboots that I feel comes anywhere close to the original is Karl Urban as McCoy. Pine is just awful, and other than wearing the same shirt, has nothing in common with Shatner's Kirk. Zachary Quinto could probably be a passable Spock, if he wasn't waited with bad dialogue and pointless asides like the romantic angle with Uruha.

      All in all, the reboots to me are little more than a series of films that vaguely resemble Star Trek, but in no substantial way evoke the original series' strengths, or even attempt to create the kind of chemistry that the Kirk-Spock-McCoy triad had. Now maybe it is impossible, as chemistry between actors isn't something you can really force, but heck these fan productions do a far better job of evoking the friendship than a multi million dollar film with one of Hollywood's "ace" directors and a cast filled with all the young beautiful people that one could possibly get under one roof.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    6. Re:Amazing work.. by hairyfeet · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It was enjoyable in that "its a brain dead boom fest" kinda way which frankly isn't what I go to a ST movies expecting or wanting. Hell the whole "Red Matter can send you back in time OR blow up a planet, just depending what the plot calls for" bullshit totally took me out of the story, not to mention the whole "alternate timeline" mess which made no fucking sense and doesn't behave anywhere near every. single. other. timeline. we have seen in the ST universe and we have seen plenty. I'll always remember what one reviewer said "It would be like you made a Batman reboot and out of the blue Batman could just burst into flames like Human Torch with NO explanation!"

      I mean if you wanna suspend disbelief with the new actors looking almost nothing like the originals? that is fine and dandy, I have no problem doing that with Star Trek Continues so I'm not gonna fault 'em for that, some of the originals are sadly gone and for some damned reason they didn't feel like they could tell any other story in such a wealthy universe? Fine, okay, I'll go along with that....but the fucking Klingons man, WHAT THE FUCK! Why do the Klingons look like fucking WOW Orcs, tell me why? I mean we even had a perfect explanation as to why TOS Klingons didn't have the bumpy forehead thanks to them fucking around with the same Eugenics that made Khan, but even if you wanted to write that event out by saying Marcus fucked with the time line that still doesn't explain WTH is up with them looking like fricking Orcs? And even if you give them that why in the hell are they spending countless trillions on starships when you have transporters that can reach across the galaxy faster than a fucking Tardis?

      I'm glad you found some enjoyment out of them because I found them to just be dreadful and I have a feeling history will NOT be kind to them, in a decade we'll look back at them and groan as much as we do at something like Attack Of The Clones (although to give them credit neither movie was as bad as Phantom Menace but I'd rather watch Ice Pirates than that snoozefest).

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    7. Re:Amazing work.. by tnk1 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Actually, I don't have a problem in-universe with time travel via Red Matter. It makes about as much sense as going to high warp around a star and going back in time. Red Matter does something with altering or destabilizing mass to an extreme degree, causing a singularity which certainly could mimic a star's effect with the warp drive or simply causes a wormhole with an opening into the past. It's not too far outside of the usual faux science that Trek uses.

      What I am tired of is Star Trek relying on time travel. Just stop. Please.

      I know this isn't hard science fiction, and time travel is a common plot device in soft sci-fi, but at least make it rare or something. I get a headache with the epic things they do with time travel and how it still all ends up with them right back with everything the way it should be at the end of the episode/movie.

      All that said, it actually made sense for a reboot. Particularly since time travel was set up in canon to be so damn easy to do. Using time travel for a reboot is consistent, albeit annoying, since you really are just setting up an alternate time line, not "fixing the past". It's one of the few time travel stories in Trek to actually truly display the massive consequences of changing a timeline.

      As for the Klingons... eh. I had more of a problem with the transporter that lets Khan transport all the way to Qo'noS from Earth. WTF does that bad-guy Starfleet admiral need a dreadnought starship for when he could just transport megatons worth of weaponry through the Klingons' planetary defenses all the way from Earth? If they can transport a man, I doubt they would have trouble with a photon torpedo/bomb.

    8. Re:Amazing work.. by JackieBrown · · Score: 2

      Karl Urban does a great job as McCoy. It might help that he is the only one that plays a grown up in the new series.

  3. Ob. Space Balls reference by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 2

    This Star Trek campaign is obviously an infringement on "Space Balls 2: the search for more money". :-)

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  4. Re:So how are they by Jhon · · Score: 4, Informative

    They aren't bad at all. While I won't say they are "great", I enjoyed watching them and they certainly weren't a waste of my time.

  5. Re:Kirk on Fan Films by Bomarc · · Score: 2

    It's not the fans that are dying ... it's the competent executives (and writers). STC has them, and I they will continue.

  6. Re:So how are they by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 2

    They are very good. They get all the notes of the original as close to exactly-right as you could possibly expect of a production. I would go so far as to say a studio would do worse because they'd want to interject some new concept.

    It takes me 5 minutes of each episode to get used to "Kirk's" higher-pitched voice, but that incongruity fades rather quickly. And, sorry, but I keep expecting Grant to unleash a robot.

    Regardless, the first three were better "TV" than most of what's on broadcast today. And I suppose there's an outside chance that the success of "Continues" will have an influence on how Paramount views the fanbase.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  7. "Kirkstarter 2.0" by BetterThanCaesar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Submitter totally missed the "Kirk-starter" pun.

    Anyway, I enjoyed the first three episodes. They capture the mood and cheese of the original series quite well. I've donated a few dollars to the second run as well now.

    --
    "Stop failing the Turing test!" -- Dilbert
    1. Re:"Kirkstarter 2.0" by MightyMartian · · Score: 2

      I have as well. I feel it's money better spent than the money I forked over for the reboot films. At least when I look at the screen, I'm seeing what I consider the Star Trek experience, as opposed to a generic action film that happens to have the USS Enterprise.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
  8. Re:No!!! by alexander_686 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Expect they can't sell them. As long as they give them away for free as fan based art, Paramount will tolerate the infringement. Start charging, probably not.

  9. Re:So how are they by newcastlejon · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've really enjoyed them so far. For me they rank in order of air date: the first one was pleasing mainly for the return of Apollo and the actor who played the role in TOS, the second is a really solid story in the original style helped no end by casting Lou Ferrigno as on Orion slaver and an admirable performance by (sorry, had to look this up) Fiona Vroom* and the third was an excellent continuation of Mirror, Mirror.

    Vig Mignogna plays Shatner to a T and easily surpasses him in the role of Mirror Kirk, while Chris Doohan (yes, it's his son) has obviously spent many an hour watching his old man and gets the accent just right. The series as a whole is well worth watching and I'll definitely be throwing some money their way if it means I get to enjoy more of the same; the show has clearly been put together by people who have spent far more time watching the original series than I. There are a number of small guest appearances that will bring a smile to your face, not least of which is Michael Dorn.

    *Points also earned for having such a cool name.

    --
    If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
  10. Re:So how are they by roc97007 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I guess this means I've been living under a rock, but this hasn't been on my radar to watch at all yet. Are the first three pretty good? Are they adequately carrying on the legacy?

    My background: I grew up watching TOS, was at first excited and then bored by TNG and the rest of the Berman series, and had my interest renewed by Abrams' films, which I believe are reviled primarily by Berman "endless meetings" era fans, and not first-run TOS fans. That said:

    Star Trek Continues (TOS-C?) is, so far, surprisingly good. The sets, costumes, tools, and effects are easily equal to TOS Remastered. But besides that, the plots are interesting and after you get over different people playing the characters, it's like episodes of TOS that for some reason you hadn't seen yet.

    Wife and I both loved them, and my 20 year old daughter, who grew up watching TOS Remastered, has given it her conditional seal of approval.

    Something we all agree on is that there needs to be more episodes. Daughter holds back full approval only because there hasn't been enough so far to have an informed opinion.

    --
    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  11. Re:So how are they by retroworks · · Score: 2

    I watched until 5:50. 2 Most important things:

    1) Chris Doohan is spooky (son of James Doohan, reprising his father as "Scotty")

    2) Has a holodeck like ST Next Generation, but says "Where no MAN has gone before" in opening credits

    Aside from that, it wasn't horrible, in fact they capture the 60's style so well that it's like a really good Vegas tribute act, an Elvis-Karaoke worth paying a compliment to.

    --
    Gently reply
  12. Re:So how are they by Minwee · · Score: 5, Informative

    They _are_ the original series. Same sets, same costumes, same props, just a different cast.

    It's not a "reboot" or "reimagining", it's actually an attempt to continue the original Star Trek as though it had never ended. While there naturally are some differences in writing style, the similarities to the original series are amazing.

    If you liked Star Trek (1966), watch it. If you preferred Star Trek (2009), then it may not be your thing.

  13. Re:No!!! by tlhIngan · · Score: 3, Informative

    Expect they can't sell them. As long as they give them away for free as fan based art, Paramount will tolerate the infringement. Start charging, probably not.

    Paramount is awful at that - they actually tried to shut down a bunch of fan sites many years ago because it infringed on their trademarks.

    CBS (who owns Paramount and pretty much reserves Paramount for movies) has been far more tolerant and I think actually gave their approval. Not to make money, but at least CBS won't pursue action against them for making this.

    Effectively, CBS has blessed this work of fan fiction...

  14. It's good by kuzb · · Score: 4, Informative

    Star Trek Continues is surprisingly good, IF and only IF you happen to like the old-school filming and storytelling style employed by the original Star Trek. It's an amazingly faithful recreation which deserves a lot of props for hitting the mark so carefully.

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    BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
  15. Re:So how are they by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 2

    Sounds like a lot of buried rage there. Careful or it will flare up.

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  16. First season of TNG sucked.. by oldbitcollector · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The first season of TNG wasn't that great.. It took the actors until the third season before The Next Generation got it's stride. Personally, I'd love to see this group given the chance to really get their stride.. If it's already better than JJ's.. Wait until they've had a few more episodes... I'm in....

  17. Re:So how are they by flargleblarg · · Score: 2

    The Star Trek Continues episode in the mirror universe is actually really good. Like seriously good.

  18. This *IS* Star Trek! by Announcer · · Score: 2

    The first fan-fiction Star Trek I watched was "New Voyages" a number of years ago. As a fan of Trek since TOS was in syndication in the early 70's (I was only 4 in 1966!) I have to admit, I was quite pleasantly surprised! Then, along came Star Trek Continues, running in pretty much the same vein, and with similar quality to "New Voyages".

    As others here have said, this really *IS* like watching "lost episodes" from TOS! Both my wife and I really enjoy this! It is like getting brand new Star Trek stories, again... just a LONG wait between each one.

    It is also quite telling, when you see that both of these high-quality fan-fiction productions are actually getting the ORIGINAL actors and actresses to reprise their TOS roles in various ways... this is where "time-travel" stories are actually being used in an enjoyable and meaningful way. For example, "World Enough and Time" (By New Voyages) was only the 2'nd Star Trek story to bring tears to my eyes! (The first was "Inner Light" on TNG.) Yeah, it was THAT good!

    I look forward to watching what BOTH of these top-notch fan-fiction production groups do in the days ahead! If the Powers That Be would REALLY PAY ATTENTION, they would see what the majority of the Star Trek fan base REALLY WANTS.

    Those "new" movies don't even deserve more than this one-line mention. I only saw the 1'st one. That did it for me. No more.

    Live Long and Prosper, New Voyages and Star Trek Continues!!

    --
    Willie...
  19. Re:So how are they by bdenton42 · · Score: 2

    Vic does a great job as Kirk

    He's got the look and mannerisms down but he just does not have the command presence and the authority voice... he sounds wimpy and whiney. I think he needs to find a drill sergeant to work with him on it.