Trek Movie scored a Web chat session on Friday with Star Trek XI director J.J. Abrams, who was intermittently joined by members of the creative team and cast, all of whom were participating in the online chat between filming on the movie’s Enterprise bridge set. (That’s a photo at right sent to the chat of Abrams on the bridge!)
During the chat, it was revealed that production is scheduled to wrap at the beginning of April, a full trailer is planned for theatrical release in early to mid summer, and, yes, the doors on the ship will go “SWOOSH”! (Nice!!!)
In the teaser trailer that debuted last week, the Enterprise is seen being built in a ground-based drydock, which is not consistent with Star Trek lore. This has been a cause of concern for Trek fans. When asked if it’s possible we’d see the ship completed in space at the San Francisco Orbital Yard, executive producer/co-writer Roberto Orci replied:
Without giving anything away, nothing in the teaser precludes final assembly in space.
Visual Effects Supervisor Roger Guyett revealed that Star Trek XI will have about 1,000 visual effects shots and Abrams said that the Enterprise will be a combo of the physical and the virtual (and that a photo of it is forthcoming!).
Abrams, who worked with ILM to make the virtual shots “photo-real,” talked in length about how he doesn’t want the film to look fake, as if it was all shot in front of a green screen:
… my goal is to make Trek REAL — that is to say, not have it be camp — not have it be phony — not have it look like a scrap of green screen was used anywhere. Of course, this is Star Trek. We’re using every trick in the book. But WHEREVER WE CAN, we are shooting on sets — either built on sound stages or expanding upon found locations. This is important. What this means is that the movie won’t have that “actors performing in a blue or green void then placed in front of a spaceship set” feeling that makes me insane.
For those of you, like me, who hope to eventually view some behind-the-scenes footage, executive producer Bryan Burk, confirmed plans for a “Making of” documentary and possible more:
From the beginning there has been behind the scenes DVD team capturing all phases of pre-production and production. There’s been talks of possibly having book as well, but that’s contingent on an interest for it.
Read the full chat transcript online now in Q&A format at Trek Movie for more Trek XI tidbits and thoughts from the cast.
I am very curious about this film. Can they pull it off?