Star Trek Day

Today, the Geek Speak Radio Celebrates all things Trek! First, we'll talk with Nicholas Meyer who wrote & directed some of the most popular films in the franchise. Then, author Paula M. Block tells us about her new book Star Trek The Original Series 365. And finally, Rod Roddenberry returns to the show to fill us in on the status of his documentary Trek Nation.

Episode Segments:

GSRS HR 1: Nicholas Meyer & Paula M. Block Henry & Nicholas discuss Meyer’s early career, Sherlock Holmes, Time After Time, and the lasting impact of the day after. We also find out how he approached the Wrath of Khan, complete with behind the scene stories, and the bittersweet end of the franchise with Star Trek VI. Then, author Paula M. Block talks about her long lasting love of Star Trek, and her book Star Trek: The Original Series 365
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GSRS HR 2: Rod Roddenberry Rod shares the story of how he came to love and respect his father’s creation, and the impact it has had on him and on numerous other lives. He also talks about some of the projects he has in the works, including the documentary Trek Nation
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Links to Related Websites:

Trek Nation The Official Website of Rod Roddenberry's Trek documentary. View the trailer & more.

Star Trek: The Original Series 365 A visual celebration of the original voyages of the Starship Enterprise, the book covers the entire series in unprecedented detail, combining in-depth commentary, behind-the-scenes histories, and interviews with writers, cast, and crew with synopses for each of the series' 79 episodes

Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

Rod Roddenberry Eugene Wesley Roddenberry, Jr., also known as Rod, was born into a family empire that is adored by fans worldwide. He is the son of legendary science fiction producer Gene Roddenberry, whose television series Star Trek changed the face of television. Balancing his personal creativity with the responsibility of his family legacy, it is Eugene's ambition to be the guardian of his father's ideals as well as a champion of their introduction to a new generation. Although Eugene resisted going into the family business throughout his teenage years, hints of him starting to follow in his father's footsteps were evident even at a young age. He quenched his thirst for space and astronomy working as a Telescope Operator at the Mt. Wilson Observatory during the summer. Eugene spent time teaching children to scuba dive at a camp in Big Pine Key, Florida, encouraging them to explore the unknown worlds below the ocean's surface. And during his years at Harvard-Westlake School, Eugene first dipped his foot into the entertainment industry as a Production Assistant on several of the Star Trek spin-off series. Eugene's life changed dramatically during his senior year of high school with the passing of his father. It was at this point that he began to comprehend the enormity of the universe his father had created. Eugene realized that Star Trek was more than just a TV show, and wanted to understand why it touched the lives of so many. As Rod started to understand the legacy he would be inheriting, college beckoned. Leaving Los Angeles to attend Hampshire College in Massachusetts, Rod balanced his educational path with his familial exploration. Studying Astronomy, Physics, and Photography, he delved into areas that intrigued and inspired him. Rod also spent time learning about Star Trek as well as his father's life and work. Stories from millions of fans and Gene's own writings, helped Rod discover a new world of philosophy, social & cultural commentary and the in-depth examination of the human condition. Nearing the end of his college career, Eugene got the opportunity to join the Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict television series as a Technical Advisor. For the next four years, Eugene relocated to Toronto, Canada and gained production experience, working with a brilliant cast and crew. He also came to realize the difficulties and disappointments that come with the business that is Hollywood. On top of a strong production foundation, Eugene gained a new respect for his father's accomplishments and set a higher bar of integrity for any future project that carries the Roddenberry name.Since then, Eugene has spoken at science fiction conventions around the world and hosted worldwide forums on topics from literature to the future of space travel. He has taken a position as a board member on the X Prize (a private-sector, international space exploration competition), and tirelessly works to bridge the gap between science and science fiction by participating in efforts with NASA, JPL, The Planetary Society and The Kennedy Space Center. In 2001, upon returning to Los Angeles, Eugene reopened the family merchandising business. He has since expanded the company, creating Roddenberry Productions the promise of which is to bring the Roddenberry Spirit and Ideals to people in new forms, through new media. The organization pledges the development and production of many multimedia projects including the completion of Eugene's first independent documentary, "Trek Nation." As a documentary about the positive influences of his father's work and how it has impacted lives around the world, Eugene hopes that "Trek Nation" will pay homage to the fans who have sustained his legacy and the father who created it. Roddenberry Productions Website

Nicholas Meyer Nicholas Meyer is probably best known for his involvement in the Star Trek films. According to his website, it was seeing his first movie The Beggar's Opera (1953) that inspired him to become a filmmaker. He was fascinated by such literary classics as Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and made an ambitious 8mm film adaptation of "Around the World in 80 Days". His start in the business included work as unit publicist for the Paramount hit Love Story (1970). From that experience he wrote "The Story of Love Story" using the income from that book to move to the West Coast. He parlayed his love for Sherlock Holmes mysteries into the novel, "The Severn-Per-Cent Solution" and adapted it for the screen: The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976). He received an Oscar nomination for this screenplay. His collaborations with producer Harve Bennett and later Leonard Nimoy resulted in the most popular and profitable entries in the Star Trek features canon. In addition to directing Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) he also wrote the shooting script for that film (uncredited). This was done in the span of two weeks using material from several other writers occasionally attached to the ever-evolving project. His script contributions to Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) involved the centre section of the film taking place in 1986 San Francisco. His brutally graphic nuclear war drama The Day After (1983) (TV) attained the highest ratings for a television movie. He has a keen sense of film history. This is evident in his films such as The Day After (1983) (TV) where at the end when the song "Waltzing Matilda" is played as it was in the classic post-nuclear drama On the Beach (1959). Though primarily a story-oriented director, his style incorporates busy visuals and flowing camera movement. Meyer also places a great deal of importance on the incidental music in his films, working closely with a composer to create themes to reinforce his vision of the story. He likes to maintain a sense of mystery in a story so that audiences will leave the film contemplating situations that are not fully explained. When approached by a film-goer and asked to explain such situations, Mr. Meyer's characteristic response is "what do YOU think it means?" He can be heard on several DVD bonus tracks, including Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) and the special edition The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) which was directed by fellow Trek alum Robert Wise. His commentaries are notably insightful and fascinating. Nicholas Meyer at IMDB

Paula M. Block Paula M. Block spent 19 years as publishing director for Paramount Pictures and CBS, and with Terry J. Erdmann, has written numerous books about the entertainment industry, including Star Trek 101, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, and Star Trek: Action!. They live in Oregon. Paula's Bibliography