Happy birthday, Star Trek!

Happy 49th birthday, Star Trek


Forty nine years ago, "The Man Cage" premiered and the legend was launched.

Thank you to Paramount for Trek

A very grateful thank you to Paramount Pictures for taking on a science fiction show that was cancelled after three seasons, but which proved to have legs :)

The Gene Roddenberry Building at Paramount Pictures (my photo)

Happy Birthday, Star Trek!

A very happy birthday to Star Trek!  Can't believe it's been 48 years.  Wow!  Celebrated by two of our best, also.  See below.

Congratulations to Simon Pegg!

Congratulations go out this morning to Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright.  Their film The World's End won the award for Best British Film during the Jameson Empire Awards 2014 yesterday on March 30, 2014, in London.

Awesome, fun film guys!  Thank you and congratulations!

Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg

Happy Birthdays to William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy!

Happy birthday wishes this week to two wonderful men, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.  Thank you for the years of "Star Trek"playing Kirk and Spock that you have given us.  Thank you for sharing with us your joys and your talents.  Many blessings to you both!

Chris Pine What Are You Doing?

Chris Pine, our new Captain Kirk in the reboot Star Trek movie franchise, was convicted of driving under the influence in New Zealand on Monday after being arrested on March 1 for having a blood alcohol level over the legal limit.  This story has so many tragedies it is hard to know where to begin.

Most obvious - if you have been drinking, do not get behind the wheel.  Especially when the bar has designated drivers for party goers to take advantage of.  That's tragedy number one.  Tragedy number two - there are eighty cast mates, crew members and friends who should have taken the keys from a friend.  Why didn't you?  Tragedy three - the media circus at the courthouse when Chris Pine arrived for his day in court.  I felt sorry for the guy having to walk the gauntlet to get in and out of court - and it was very kind of him to sign autographs for fans on what was probably one of the worst days of his life.  Tragedy four - while I understand that he probably wants to go back to hiding and recuperating from this nightmare, being an introvert caught in an ugly international media spotlight, he has not personally issued an apology statement. Statements by your representation in court do not count for much.



I covered the story over at my tumblr blog as it broke, following a reporter who was tweeting from inside the court room.  I run a Star Trek blog.  When actors who have worked on Trek screw up or do something spectacularly fantastic, I cover it.  I think I provided an accurate, reasonable and (frankly) favorable account of what happened.  Having worked on two Star Trek shows and for Paramount Pictures for a decade, I view myself as Trek extended family.  Family has each other's backs.  You do what you can to take care of your own.

So I say again - please make an apology statement, and not something written by a PR team.  Drunk driving is such an emotional topic.  No matter how messed up our celebrity-worshiping society is, people are disappointed. I am only summarizing what I hear repeatedly from the fandom.  If any of my readers know him (and I know some of you do) please pass this advice along.  I hope that he takes this last step to mend fences.

I hope this doesn't impact his future work prospects, they way similar incidents have ruined or waylaid the careers of others.  Fortunately, he has actual acting talent to fall back on.  Maybe that character acting career he has said he would prefer is within reach if he is no longer in demand as a leading man.  I personally just hope he has a career when this is behind him.  Paramount has been less than forgiving when their leading men mess up.  Remember Shia?

Good luck, Chris Pine, you're going to need it.

Baby Love

Just a little something I wrote today.  I posted it elsewhere anonymously, so I want it noted as mine.

Baby Love

Stand at the seashore and

Make a wish

For a thousand sleepless nights

And endless tears

And endless joy

And a dream come to fruition

Stand by the cradle and

Laugh with delight and cry in despair

As your heart walks around

Outside your body

Leaving you vulnerable

And stronger than you ever thought you could be

Stand by the rocking chair and

watch your two beloveds

dissolve into peaceful dreams

where one travels to distant lands

and two know they cannot follow

already

 ( by kerry a. vill, march 10, 2014)