The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture

In The Making of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture", Susan Sackett and Gene Roddenberry continue what Stephen E. Whitfield began with his Making of "Star Trek". Sackett and Roddenberry begin with the work to revitalize interest in Star Trek, the initial plan to make a movie, the switch to make a

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sequel television series (which was to be titled Star Trek: Phase II), and the switch back to a feature film following the success of Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. As production on Phase II had already begun, Roddenberry and the rest of the production had to scale up to the demands of a film and rework plot elements of the abortive series into the movie. The book explores the writing of the script, the reunion of the original cast and casting of new actors, the creation of makeup, props, and special effects, as well as the challenges in realizing Roddenberry and director Robert Wise's vision. The Making of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" is an interesting volume, covering not just the making of this particular film, but offering insight into film-making in general. Unfortunately, Sackett and Roddenberry were writing while the film was still in post-production, and could not yet know about the reception of the film or its place in the later franchise. Star Trek: The Motion Picture was flawed as it attempted to scale up from a television series to a film, but it still captures the optimism and hope of the original series, unlike sequels Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (which derived its plot from an early story idea for The Motion Picture) and Star Trek Into Darkness. With that caveat in mind, this will appeal to both Trek fans and those interested in film-making.

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