http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1156592170934&call_pageid=968867495754&col=969483191630
Future Enterprisers
Aug. 27, 2006.
MALENE ARPE
ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
The convention, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Star Trek
actors. Their continuing mission: to explore strange new convention
centres, to seek out questions they've heard a hundred times before, to
boldly charge $399 for a VIP ticket that guarantees having your photo
taken with the stars.
On the phone from Los Angeles, William Shatner, who may continue his
recent Emmy run at tonight's awards, appears either preoccupied or just
not into talking about Star Trek and conventions. Not that you can blame
him. Talking about the same thing for four decades is bound to get
tiresome. But darn it, that's why we're talking. I don't care about Boston
Legal.
Asked whether he enjoys the appearances, like the one with former
colleague Leonard Nimoy taking place next Sunday at the Fan Expo Canada
event at Toronto's Metro Convention Centre, he allows that "it's
interesting to me to see what people are thinking. Many times I can see
the growth that people have made from pure curiosity about Star Trek to
other subjects." He adds that "the whole thing becomes an exercise in
improvisational entertainment."
Next month will mark 40 years since Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek debuted
and, despite being cancelled after just three seasons, birthed a new kind
of television, a new kind of story and a new kind of fan. The kind of fan
who hopes some nugget of information is worth the $129 minimum that a
ticket to the Sunday session costs. Or who just delights in meeting the
former Captain Kirk and the former Mr. Spock.
Nimoy, on the phone from Lake Tahoe (which may account for his sunnier
mood), says he's cut down on the number of conventions he attends.
"I'm probably scheduled for four, five, six Star Trek events every year.
Now this year, there happens to be more interest because of the 40th
anniversary. That's kicked up some press interest and press interest kicks
up other interest."
Nimoy and Shatner, born four days apart in 1931, both seem to prefer doing
the appearance gigs together.
Says Nimoy: "I enjoy teasing him in public."
Says Shatner: "I enjoy his company very much, he's very funny on stage and
we seem to balance each other very well."
Retired from acting, Nimoy's preoccupation is with photography.
The published author and poet sounds content.
"It has always been a passion of mine and now that I don't need,
emotionally or financially, to act or direct any more, I'd rather spend my
time on my photography."
In contrast, Shatner is busier than most 25-year-olds. Lately, besides
Boston Legal, he's done voice work on The Wild and Over the Hedge ("These
animated films are for kids and I've got lots of grandchildren and I
anticipate taking them to these movies and having them say `that's sounds
like poppa.' Except my 4-year-old, I took to Over the Hedge and the bear
in the very first shot scared her, so we had to leave"). He's also devoted
time to the Emmy-nominated documentary How William Shatner Changed the
World.
Asked about his dream project, he answers cryptically. "Interestingly
enough I'm having a meeting in two hours about what could be my dream
project. It's a story idea, a script really, that I've invented that is a
unique idea and the production would also be never-done-before. We're
having a meeting to see if we can pull it together."
What? What?
"I can't tell you anything else about it."
Okay. What about the J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie project rumoured to be
about young Spock and young Kirk?
"I have no idea. All I know is I've received an okay from Paramount to go
ahead with a series of books that I'm writing on the young Captain Kirk
and the young Mr. Spock. I started work on that just recently. And that
will be my idea of what the story should be."
What should it be then?
"The troubled adolescence of Spock and Kirk lead them to a series of
adventures that make us conclude that they will become the wonderful
people that they did become," he replied.
(On another topic, for those who loved the comedy Free Enterprise in which
Shatner played himself, he says, "I know nothing" when asked about Free
Enterprise 2, which is described as being "in production" on the IMDb
website. )
Nimoy isn't particularly in the loop on the Star Trek movie project,
either.
"All I know is what I've been reading, probably the same as you, that
(Abrams) has been engaged and expressed interest in a Star Trek movie, and
the idea expressed so far is that it would be a prequel that would deal
with the time and place where Spock and Kirk first met in their academy
days."
Any casting ideas?
"I haven't gone there yet. I think it's premature. Although I do, by
contract, have the right to approve the casting ..."
(Despite due diligence, no answer from Shatner's people on whether he has
the same approval clause ... assuming so is probably okay.)
But back to Sunday's Fan Expo Canada event - where $399 will get you
priority seating at the Q&A session, your photo taken with Shatner and
Nimoy, their autographs "on an item of your choice" and an "exclusive"
40th anniversary Star Trek badge.
"It's a heart-warming, family reunion kind of event. It's like coming
home," Nimoy says.
"It's an opportunity to exchange ideas and stories about the history of
the show ... anecdotes on making the episodes, the relationships between
the actors. What is your favourite episode? Questions about Gene
Roddenberry. Do you see the other actors regularly?
"These are the things people want to hear about. It's a very pleasurable
experience. If it wasn't, I probably wouldn't be going."
------------------------------------------
Phaser shots from Shatner & Nimoy
RANDOM QUESTIONS FOR WILLIAM SHATNER
What's your favourite sports team?
I love football and we don't have a football team in L.A. My wife is from
Indianapolis and right now I'm enamoured with the Colts.
What car do you drive?
A Mercedes.
Are you afraid of flying?
I'm a pilot.
Where would you go if you were invisible for one day?
I'd probably find Osama bin Laden.
What do you like most about yourself?
That my body is so well-toned and shaped.
What do you most dislike?
My double chin.
Favourite comic-book hero?
It's always Superman.
Favourite electronic gadget?
My cellphone.
Where do you think we go when we die?
Back into the earth.
Jon Stewart or Anderson Cooper?
Anderson Cooper.
Who was the best James Bond?
Sean Connery.
What's the worst job you ever had?
Serving food at a curb-side restaurant.
What are you reading right now?
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire. I have been reading that for 20
years.
Do you think democracy works?
Yes.
Historical figure you'd like to meet?
Alexander the Great.
What's the greatest misconception about you?
That I'm handsome, smart and charming.
What's your motto?
Keep a stiff upper lip because your lower one is trembling.
RANDOM QUESTIONS FOR LEONARD NIMOY
What's the first movie you ever saw?
Gone With the Wind.
What's your favourite sports team?
L.A. Lakers.
Are you afraid of flying?
No. I'm a pilot.
Where would you go if you where invisible for a day?
Lebanon.
Favourite comic-book hero?
Batman.
Favourite electronic gadget?
Computer.
Jon Stewart or Anderson Cooper?
Jon Stewart.
Where do you think we go when we die?
We go to people's memories.
What's the worst job you ever had?
Selling newspapers on cold corners in the winter.
Who was the best James Bond?
Sean Connery.
What are you reading right now?
Short stories by Bernard Malamud.
What historical figure would you most like to meet?
Lincoln.
Do you collect anything?
Contemporary art.
What's your motto?
There's always room for one more good one.
-------------------------------------------------
As soon as rumours started flying about a J.J. Abrams-helmed Star Trek
movie that may focus on the lives of young Kirk and Spock, the Web lit up
with casting suggestions - some of them, we hope, in jest.
Some samples:
KIRK:
Matt Damon
Topher Grace
Ron Livingston
James Franco
Stephen Dorff
Casper van Dien
Larry the Cable Guy
Leonardo DiCaprio
Kirk Cameron
Thomas Jane
Heath Ledger
SPOCK:
Ben Affleck
Adrien Brody
Pauly Shore
Joaquin Phoenix
James Marsters
Cillian Murphy
David Schwimmer
Ioan Gryffudd
Jake Gyllenhaal
----------------------------------------------------------
SFX magazine recently published its list of the 20 television shows that
shaped science fiction. In reverse order:
20. Knight Rider
19. Captain Video
18. The Prisoner
17. V
16. Battlestar Galactica
15. Lost
14. Kolchak: The Night Stalker
13. Battle of the Planets
12. Fireball XL5
11. Doctor Who
10. Twin Peaks
9. The Avengers
8. Quatermass
7. The Incredible Hulk
6. Batman
5. Babylon 5
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
3. The Twilight Zone
2. The X-Files
1. Star Trek
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
