Star Trek the original series Special Editions (TRAILER!)

[ndat]

Cool I'll give it a chance, but why are they not showing the series in order?

[Xevious]

I kinda want to see a before and after picture.

[anakinbrego]

This is so aweome, now the show will be more watchable!

[Professor Moriarty]

Star Trek was perfectly watchable before, thank you. Or do you think that we should go back and mess with other science fiction classics to make them "watchable", too? Howzabout we retrofit Forbidden Planet? I can't stand watching that stargate sequence from 2001: A Space Odyssey... let's change that too, shall we?

This sucks. I hope that picture in TV Guide was a preliminary photo and not the final model, because the Enterprise looks F-A-K-E in that image. And I still can't believe they're screwing around with the music and "fixing" live action scenes.

:(

[eek]

I hope that picture in TV Guide was a preliminary photo and not the final model, because the Enterprise looks F-A-K-E in that image. :(

Ha, ummm... i dont think the Enterprise looked too real in the original series!
(i still watched it insessently every week)


http://www.segginger.net/Star_Trek/Starship_Enterprise/Tosent.gif

[Professor Moriarty]

Quite frankly, I think the E looks better in that 1966 photo!

And before anyone points out that I'm doing exactly the same thing with my "Doomsday Machine" project, let me just say

(1) I'm an amateur, not Paramount. I'm not putting my work out there as an official replacement for the original series (hell, I'm only doing ONE episode, not all 79).

(2) My project is only meant as an exercise for my own CGI skills. I have no problem with the original series effects and have said many, many times that I don't want to see the original series disappear in its original form. The effects are what they are and are part of Star Trek's legacy and history. To replace them implies that there is something "wrong" with them. There isn't.

(3) I'm certainly not doing anything as blasphemous as replacing the music. HOW can they replace the music??!

I am really surprised that Mike and Denise Okuda are involved with this, and even more amazed that they allowed that picture to be posted at TV Guide. I'm sorry, maybe it's just me but that model doesn't look quite finished.

Blech.

[Geta-Ve]

Quite frankly, I think the E looks better in that 1966 photo!

And before anyone points out that I'm doing exactly the same thing with my "Doomsday Machine" project, let me just say

(1) I'm an amateur, not Paramount. I'm not putting my work out there as an official replacement for the original series (hell, I'm only doing ONE episode, not all 79).

(2) My project is only meant as an exercise for my own CGI skills. I have no problem with the original series effects and have said many, many times that I don't want to see the original series disappear in its original form. The effects are what they are and are part of Star Trek's legacy and history. To replace them implies that there is something "wrong" with them. There isn't.

(3) I'm certainly not doing anything as blasphemous as replacing the music. HOW can they replace the music??!

I am really surprised that Mike and Denise Okuda are involved with this, and even more amazed that they allowed that picture to be posted at TV Guide. I'm sorry, maybe it's just me but that model doesn't look quite finished.

Blech.

Wow, you are taking this really personally. For me I didn't like the original series too much because of its campy..ness.. Although at the same time I think that was its charm.

However, I will definately go back and rewatch them now to see how it all is. There is one thing though, as much as you can improve the effects of the show you can never improve the quality of acting. :D Thus is the only reason I can see the new effects not working out, you have b-grade acting with a-grade effects.

Will be interesting though.

[eek]

oooohhh... ah yes I see... competition.

..bugger!

Ok whoever makes the best looking Tracy Island with paper mache, PVA glue and sticky back plastic. I'll give a gold star to.:D

http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1050000/images/_1052584_anthea150.jpg

[Rikof]

Nice to read my rumor from yesterday isn't a rumor anymore.... :-p
---

As long as B&B are not involved, not even far away from another galaxy, I'm happy. sortoff, its probably the only way to bring life back (untill the next movie) to a dead beat horse... I mean franchise.

start sarcasm
Prolly Good Job B&B!
/sarcasm

[Greentea|]

As long as they dont screw it up like they did with Star Wars

[Gonzomuse]

Doesn't "if it aint broke, dont fix it" mean anything to anyone....

Star Trek was a product of its time, trying to "enhance" it like this seems very odd. The new shots will stick out like a sore thumb.

[lovisx]

I think they should remake the classic commander rob episodes ...

http://www.commanderrob.com (http://www.commanderrob.com/)

[RobertoOrtiz]

From Startrek.com

Quote:
"Star Trek journeys to the 21st century as the Original Series returns to broadcast syndication for the first time in 16 years with brand-new digitally remastered episodes to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
CBS Paramount Domestic Television has officially announced that they are releasing digitally remastered episodes of Star Trek, with all new special effects and music, to celebrate the groundbreaking series' 40th anniversary, according to John Nogawski, president of CBS Paramount Domestic Television.

The Star Trek episodes will begin airing on the more than 200 stations that own the rights to the weekend broadcast syndication window starting September 16. (As always, please check your local listings for station and dates.) The plan is for all 79 episodes of the Original Series to be remastered, with the first batch of episodes chosen from a list of Star Trek fans' favorite shows. With the running order to be determined, it's unlikely to follow the classic air-date order or production order format familiar to fans.

"Star Trek redefined science-fiction and constantly pushed the envelope with concepts that were ahead of their time," Nogawski said. "By giving the series a digital upgrade using the best technology available today, it will continue to be a leader in cutting-edge television programming as we introduce the series to a new generation of viewers."

The most noticeable change will be redoing many of the special effects, created with 1960s technology, with 21st century computer-generated imagery (CGI). Upgrades include:


Space ship exteriors – The Enterprise, as well as other starships, will be replaced with state of the art CGI-created ships. The new computer-generated Enterprise is based on the exact measurements of the original model, which now rests in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
Show opening – The Enterprise and planets seen in the main title sequence will be redone, giving them depth and dimension for the first time.
Galaxy shots – All the graphics of the galaxy, so frequently seen through the viewscreen on the Enterprise's bridge, will be redone.
Exteriors – The battle scenes, planets and ships from other cultures (notably the Romulan Bird of Prey and Klingon Battle Cruisers) will be updated.
Background scenes – Some of the iconic, yet flat, matte paintings used as backdrops for the strange, new worlds explored by the Enterprise crew will get a CGI face-lift, adding atmosphere and lighting."
http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/23775.html

-R

[NanoGator]

That sounds cool! :thumb:

[mynewcat]

Quite frankly, I think the E looks better in that 1966 photo!

And before anyone points out that I'm doing exactly the same thing with my "Doomsday Machine" project, let me just say

(1) I'm an amateur, not Paramount. I'm not putting my work out there as an official replacement for the original series (hell, I'm only doing ONE episode, not all 79).

(2) My project is only meant as an exercise for my own CGI skills. I have no problem with the original series effects and have said many, many times that I don't want to see the original series disappear in its original form. The effects are what they are and are part of Star Trek's legacy and history. To replace them implies that there is something "wrong" with them. There isn't.

(3) I'm certainly not doing anything as blasphemous as replacing the music. HOW can they replace the music??!

I am really surprised that Mike and Denise Okuda are involved with this, and even more amazed that they allowed that picture to be posted at TV Guide. I'm sorry, maybe it's just me but that model doesn't look quite finished.

Blech.

Yeah man, I gotta say you are seeming like you're having an epileptic fit over this - but, let me say I think your doomsday project is really cool and I'm plugging it on linkbunnie(see my sig)

[EricLyman]

Bummer. Part of what made the original series so much fun for me were the cheap effects. Not to mention adding in present day caliber effects will look horribly out of place in a 60's TV series. Sort of like (sorry for bringing it up) the revamped star wars movies. Need I remind everyone of the added shockwave when the death star explodes at the end of the first movie? Ugh.

[NanoGator]

Need I remind everyone of the added shockwave when the death star explodes at the end of the first movie? Ugh.

Alternatively, I'd remind you of the Tribbles episode of Deep Space Nine.

[Arrghman]

Sort of like (sorry for bringing it up) the revamped star wars movies. Need I remind everyone of the added shockwave when the death star explodes at the end of the first movie? Ugh.

The difference here, though, is that TOS is currently available in its original form on DVD... unlike with Star Wars. So if people don't like these new visual effects, they can just watch the existing DVDs!

[Geta-Ve]

Need I remind everyone of the added shockwave when the death star explodes at the end of the first movie? Ugh.

I thought that scene was great! Most of the changes to the star wars movies I liked :) and I think I will like these too.

If not it is just like Arrghman said, the original series is out already so just go watch that instead :)

[EricLyman]

The difference here, though, is that TOS is currently available in its original form on DVD... unlike with Star Wars. So if people don't like these new visual effects, they can just watch the existing DVDs!

Ah... that IS good news! Ok, in that case I don't really have a problem with it. So long as both versions are available, I see no harm done.

[Boone]

All the CG in the world will not fix what was wrong with that series...

Watch Series one episode "Arena"...and Kirks "legendary" duel with the Ghorn-thingy. Note the cross-dresser at the end who says "Does my appearance surprise you?" - you almost expect Kirk( this is THE Will Shatner were talking about here) to reply "...errr...no. Of course not....whatever gave you that idea?" :rolleyes:

Though, to be honest, I think that if any series needed a slight bit of re-touching it would be the original BSG. The argument there would be that they recycled the same dogfighting-footage every week...

[Professor Moriarty]

Yeah man, I gotta say you are seeming like you're having an epileptic fit over this - but, let me say I think your doomsday project is really cool and I'm plugging it on linkbunnie(see my sig)
Hey, thanks for the free advertising. :)

I didn't think I was being "epileptic" in that post I made--I just wanted to preempt anyone accusing me of being a hypocrite with my preference that Star Trek not be "George Lucasified" while simultaneously working on a revamp of F/X for "Doomsday Machine". I also still hold the opinion that the model being shown at tvguide.com does not look all that great (although I am glad to see that at least it looks dimensionally-accurate).

Nonethless, I must admit I'm very curious to see how this turns out (in a dreading it sort of way). All that us fans can do now is cross our fingers and hope for the best.

[Derrik]

Well, let us hope they do a very good job on the overall look of the CG and match the colors and film grain as closely as possible. The re-done edition of Star Trek The Motion Picture was cleverly done and the CG matched the original footage quite well. The best examples of blending both old and new elements i have ever seen. Hopefully the team will take lessions from what work was done in TMP and not pull a Lucas where it is so obvious were the new CG shots are without making the effects actually look like they where still from 1977 through 1983. I am excitied about th fact that the series will be in HD Format and cleaned up but as long as the CG is made too look like it was still shot in the 1960s then i'd have no complaints.

[Boone]

Re: Derrick.

Agreed.

[Crook]

I've got no problem at all as long as the original versions will be available too. I haven't yet read that they will be available in HD, but I'm assuming they will be, cause then we get to buy them twice. A lesson well learned from Lucas there. :)

[megatronskeletor]

I just dont think the CG Enterprise looks very good, if that pic is real.
The old stuff does look more real. How can it not? It's a REAL model.
The CG pic looks like a half-assed fan render from about 9 years ago.

The surface is almost glowingly diffuse, the glow around the engine nacelles looks like photoshop gaussian blur... The lighting / texture is just really really bad, and its apparent scale is about 4 inches tall. I wonder who is doing the work for this. It's not up to the level of The Next Generation even...

I'm not really a Star Trek fan though, so I dont really care. I just think it's kind of weird.
I probably enjoy watching the old series sometimes just because it's campy and kind of funny though.
Some of it is really quite funny, especially inebriated. In college my roommate used to have it on with the sound off and sometimes while working / writing I would glance up to see some really strange things happening.. And of course Shatner making googly eyes at some alien babe or queen or whatever, chest
poked out, gut bulging.. It's really pretty classic.
The model stuff is charming and matches the visual er.. patina of the other footage. Throwing a bunch of overclean soft on the detail CG in with scratchy old TV footage really isnt going to work.

I think revision of old shows with CG is a really really poor application of effort.
Incredible advances have been made in image restoration, so why dont they just clean up the film and give it a nice color grade for HD. Slapping a bunch of CG in the frame doesnt make it look better. 'More dynamic' ship movement isnt going to really help either. If anything it will probably just destroy the sense of scale even more.

[Xevious]

http://www.emersons.net/mt/archives/img/sab-SaltMonster.jpg

They better not mess with the Salt Monster!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f294/2fast_2fuhrer/320x240.jpg

Or the Gorn!

[_mg_]

It was a product of it's time and a great one at that.

This compulsion to 'upgrade' such material highlights the current lack of innovation and ideas. Or the absence of will to try to re-contextualise old but still relevant ideas.

No doubt there will be a flurry of articles detailing how these new sequences were painstakingly digitally aged and graded to match the original too.

Who cares?

It's quite telling that the most anticipated dvd release of late has been the original, un-treated Star Wars movies.

[leejamesclark]

i'm going to wait and see before i pass judgement although i'm hoping they do a better job than lucas on star wars..most of the stuff in there was terrrible..stepping on jabba anyone ergh. but i got to say from looking at Professor Moriarty's (http://forums.cgsociety.org/member.php?u=143760) project it could work out quite well cause that looks great.


laters

[Professor Moriarty]

^^^ Thanks. :)

[Geta-Ve]

I think revision of old shows with CG is a really really poor application of effort.
Incredible advances have been made in image restoration, so why dont they just clean up the film and give it a nice color grade for HD. Slapping a bunch of CG in the frame doesnt make it look better. 'More dynamic' ship movement isnt going to really help either. If anything it will probably just destroy the sense of scale even more.

They are doing both. Clean up and CG. You haven't even seen any final take yet. Also, the original enterprise, there is not really anyway to rebuild it without it looking like a miniture. I also see no bad textures on the ship, point them out for me?

[richcz3]

The idea may look good on paper but pulling it off so it doesn't look a bolted on effort is another matter altogether.

If it wasn't for the forgetable multi series spinoffs ending in the Enterprise series, I wouldn't think it so much a bad idea, but I can't help but feel this is bad idea. I can still watch the old episodes as most of the stories hold up well regardless of the dated effects.

[3DDave]

I think the time and money would be better used to develop another solid series like Next Generation or DS9.

[Stormy151]

Why recreate them in CG at all? The original filming model still EXISTS! They filmed Next Gen using motion control, and it looked great! :)

[MadMax]

I was going to say something anyway, but since others brought it up.......

Regarding the Professor and his comments. I see nothing wrong with anything he had to say on the subject, and frankly I think the image shown looks like crap. Profs comments were inmo, reserved.

Having followed the Prof's progress on his model from day one, and having offered him hints on how to detail it along the way (yeah Prof, think about it, you know who this is!! ) I'd say his looks much better than that drek from TV guide.

For that matter so does mine ;)

Lets hope they provide better than the crap in the publicity image.

[Geta-Ve]

Lets hope they provide better than the crap in the publicity image.

That's just rude.. but hey your opinions are your own..

[Boone]

Yeah(just a quick laugh), I remember a few weeks back at work. It was lunch time and everyone sat round the TV and they had an episode of ST:TOS on BBC2.

It was the one where they had that guy with the "funny eyes"( sorry, that would be everyone in ST ) and he makes Kirk "kneel'n'pray" before him. Everyone just pissed themselves laughing!

When you have 30-odd "normal" people watching ST together, its a wonderful experiance!:applause:

[Trojan123]

I think this is a worth while idea, and I can't wait to see it.


Chris

[cyborgkatana]

How about updating the Klingons forehead ridges?

[MrWilde]

http://trekmovie.com/category/tos-in-hd/

http://trekmovie.com/2006/08/31/trek-movie-report-talks-to-edenfx-about-hdtv-treksee-their-test-footage/

Here's finally an example shot of EdenFX. Looks good as they only used CG to sharpen the image. Lighting and camera position are still the same.


But I'm not happy with the whole project either.

How about updating the Klingons forehead ridges?
YUK!

[Steve Green]

I noticed on the EdenFX article, that they're planning to edit the episodes down to fit the commercials. It seems a bit pointless to go to all that effort, just to cut the episodes.

I'm more interested in what they can do with TNG, that's always looked a bit murky.

- Steve

[Ed Bittner]

Personally, I think this is a stroke of genius, for two reasons. ( Or would that be two strokes)?
Anyway, point 1; If Paramount is going forward with the pre-tos story for the next film,( we've all heard the Matt Damon rumor), then what better way to get audiences used to the old uniforms, Enterprise class of ships, sets,( which I'm sure will be upgraded for the big screen), and characters, even though they'll be played by younger actors. It will be the re-introduction of the old favorites as we remember them with a "polishing" of the old effects. It will look and feel fresher.
Point two; Everyone has always said what made Star Trek the original series what it was, was not the effects budget, or the unrealistic space scenes, ( we know what space looks like now),
it was the telling of the stories. Character interaction. Drama. The way cast members had this relationship with one another. The shoddy FX didn't matter, because it would ultimately be the characters that won, whatever it was. Not some technobabble. As far as I'm concerned, this has been a long time coming. Salute to Professor Moriarty. Now audiences can, if they choose, have the best of all worlds. Actual drama back on TV, (though there are a few), with cleaned up newER fx, and the thing fans always wanted the most. The original Star Trek with updated,( I wonder how good that would look now), FX.
E.

[specialbrew]

For me, Scott's absolutely excellent Doomsday Machine work only highlights how Enterprise got it all so, so wrong... there was so much scope there for genuinely retro design, but design married with sympathetic CG treatment - such a wasted opportunity. I was very surprised how non-jarring the new elements in Scott's project sat with the original footage, working absolutely splendidly with Courage's untouchable score..... :thumbsup:

[Rikof]

http://www.startrek.com/
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/060907e.php

"To answer the most common questions, the official site has compiled a list and presented them to the people actually overseeing the all-new and improved digital effects. The group confirmed they're working on the full length episodes (which will be cut for syndication purposes), though any DVDs with these episodes will be full-length.

All episodes are being remastered in high definition and all 79 episodes will have visual effects work done. The extent of that work will vary though between 15-70 shots per episode, which will mean ultimately a change of up to 90 seconds per episode at most.

Whilst space ship and landscape effects will be done, aliens and sets will have little to no retouching. Where it doesn't affect storytelling, they will be generating new model ships for episodes which reused old props.

Most telling are two points though - firstly the episodes are not being edited from their original full & syndicated cuts. This means there'll be no new FX shots randomly thrown in - each of the updated FX shots can only be as long as the original effects shot they're replacing."

So everybody can rest assured. It will be done with taste and dignity ;-)

[RobertoOrtiz]

http://www.startrek.com/
http://www.darkhorizons.com/news06/060907e.php

"To answer the most common questions, the official site has compiled a list and presented them to the people actually overseeing the all-new and improved digital effects. The group confirmed they're working on the full length episodes (which will be cut for syndication purposes), though any DVDs with these episodes will be full-length.

All episodes are being remastered in high definition and all 79 episodes will have visual effects work done. The extent of that work will vary though between 15-70 shots per episode, which will mean ultimately a change of up to 90 seconds per episode at most.

Whilst space ship and landscape effects will be done, aliens and sets will have little to no retouching. Where it doesn't affect storytelling, they will be generating new model ships for episodes which reused old props.

Most telling are two points though - firstly the episodes are not being edited from their original full & syndicated cuts. This means there'll be no new FX shots randomly thrown in - each of the updated FX shots can only be as long as the original effects shot they're replacing."

So everybody can rest assured. It will be done with taste and dignity ;-)


Here is a direct link to the article:
http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/25055.html

[RobertoOrtiz]

UPDATE:

Star Trek CGI Upgrade: Behind the Scenes with CBS Digital

Quote:
"It's the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, the original series, and when we were bringing the show back to syndication, we took a look at it and decided it was time for some refurbishment," says David LaFountaine, Senior Vice President of Advertising and Promotion at CBS Paramount Domestic Television. "We decided to re-transfer and clean up the prints that we were going to deliver to the stations.
"It looks better than it did in 1966 when it first ran."

CBS Digital released behind-the-scenes commentary of their work (story (http://trekweb.com/stories.php?aid=44f6b4539a7d6)) to spice-up original Star Trek for the hi-tech tastes of an audience weaned on CGI.

"It's phenomenal," said Ryan Adams, Executive Consultant for CBS Paramount Television. "I mean, to look at what was put out in the original standard def and to put an A-B right up next to it of the high definition (http://trekweb.com/articles/2006/09/09/Star-Trek-CGI-Upgrade-Behind-the.shtml#), it speaks for itself."

Don Freeman, Digital Colorist at Sunset Digital, explains: "We use a process in scanning where we actually look beyond the surface of the film, and read the emulsion layers. So, it cleans up 90% of the dirt right off the bat."

Audio recording techniques have also advanced since the time of Alexander Courage's Star Trek theme score, so it too has been redone, and with considerable care.

"We're trying very hard to pay respect and homage to Courage's original score," notes musical (http://trekweb.com/articles/2006/09/09/Star-Trek-CGI-Upgrade-Behind-the.shtml#) conductor Greg Smith. "We're being very truthful and faithful to the original notes because it's sacred, hallowed ground, this theme."

"We've gone back into the archive and pulled out the original arrangements," adds LaFountaine. "Got the exact same number of musicians (http://trekweb.com/articles/2006/09/09/Star-Trek-CGI-Upgrade-Behind-the.shtml#), and gone to a big soundstage and recorded it all at once, just the same way they would've in 1966.""



>>LINK<< (http://trekweb.com/articles/2006/09/09/Star-Trek-CGI-Upgrade-Behind-the.shtml)


-R

[RobertoOrtiz]

http://trekweb.com/articles/2006/09/11/Watch-Full-Trailer-for-Remastered-Star.shtml

[richcz3]

Hey Roberto - Thanks very much for that link.
Very nice to see they didn't go in and overwork the effects visuals with inappropriate eye candy. I was concerned the any new work would appear bolted on distracting from the stories.
If this clip is sample of the work done, I am very much looking forward to seeing it now. Thanks again.

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