Abrams, Orci, Lindelof Video Interviews

TrekMovie.com has posted two video interviews, one with JJ Abrams and other with Producers Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof as they were at the Star Trek Home Video Release Party earlier this week.

In the first video Abrams talks about the sequel or at least try since "its way to early" to get into specifics. Abrams indicated that while he is slated to direct the sequel that could change depending on circumstances at that time (which would probably be around mid 2011 when filming is likely to start).

In the second movie Orci says they will "mediate over Christmas and hit the ground running in the new year" for writing the sequel and try to knock it out in 2010 despite the likely 2012 release date for the movie. Part of the way he is preparing for the sequel is marathons of The Original Series" and looking at "great epic sci-fi stories." Lindelof seemed open to a 2011 release date but said to hit 2010 they would have to "get writing now". The goal for the sequel is "to give the audience an experience that feels that it is not a sequel, in all the best ways."

JJ Abrams


Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof

Orci Talks New Directions

Despite there being no script and no meaningful leaks on what direction the writers are going in, the talk of Khan continues as this recent interview with Star Trek Writer and Producer Roberto Orci attests to. Long story short, nothing has been determined but they are not opposed to the idea (personally I don't see it happening). Snippets below, full interview here.

Nrama: Now that you know people are happy with the reboot, are you guys coming up with more nods to the series to stick in there? Do you feel like you can do more of that now?
Orci: Yeah, you know, because we do our homework, and now the whole team has done their homework and read a bunch of stuff, you can't help but have that bubble up. Because you invariably come to some situation and say, 'Someone should come in and, oh! It should be...oh! That's perfect!' We don't even have to try for that at this point. As we go through the story, the story will tell us what needs to come out and hopefully we'll still have the knowledge accumulated to do it justice.

Nrama: Sooo, are we admitting anything about Khan yet...?
Orci: [shakes head] Cause in a way, even if we do Khan, or not, we're trying to approach the story as just what's best for it, and then can that character become Khan or not, you know. You're not trying to rely on previous knowledge or love of it, so you almost want to strip all the names away and just come up with the emotional forces and the scientific forces that are going to come into play, and then start letting the details kind of bleed in.

Nrama: So, Shatner accepting a Scream Award for JJ Abrams...does that mean anything? That he might show up in the sequel?
Orci: Well, we wrote a scene for him in the first one and I got outvoted in terms of where it ended up. I'll write another one and we'll see what happens. [laughs]

Star Trek Online Starship Tactics and Bridge

Two new videos are now online for Star Trek Online that shows some off some features of the game. The first video shows off some of the starship fighting techniques using pre-beta footage. It shows how combat is handled within the game using various ship designs and I believe this is the first time the user interface is shown off.

The second video gives you a brief look at the bridge feature of the game, which will be an environment players can visit within their ship. Exactly what functionality the bridge will provide is unknown. It also shows off more battle footage and planet environments. Of note is apparently one of those planets is where the Guardian of Forever resides from the famous episode "The City on the Edge of Forever." I just hope that Cryptic got permission to use that character as its creator, Harlan Ellison, has shown in the past a williness to sue to get money for anytime any element form that episode is used without his permission.

Star Trek Online Q&A

Cryptic participated in a Q&A session with readers from Massively.com about the upcoming MMORPG that is coming in February. The questions cover things from combat, the various alien factions, ship designs and much more.

Page One | Page Two
Few highlights:
- A ship's look will not affect its stats. Stats are based on class and configuration, not aesthetics.
- Except for Bridge, ship's interiors are not explorable but feature being worked on.
- Any ship acquired is "yours for the rest of your career" but sounds like no reason to go back to older, lower level ships.
- Ships of different classes (escort, science, engineering, etc) will have different attributes that provide different strengths and weaknesses.
- The Federation continues to not use cloaking technology but there are exceptions in the game.

Star Trek DVD, Blu-Ray Price Guide

Below is an exclusive feature and sale price guide to help determine where is the best place to go to buy Star Trek in its various editions when it’s released on Tuesday November 17th. Most stores don't have anything exclusive but some do, often at an extra charge.

I will add stores (or alter prices) as new information becomes available. In addition, if you’re on the fence about what version to buy, click here for a detailed review by AICN of the movie and all the special features to decide if they are worth the extra bucks to you. The deals after the break.

Wal-Mart

Exclusive: none

One-Disc DVD: $9.98

Two-Disc DVD: $18.86

Three-Disc Blu-ray: $19.96

Target

Exclusive: Enterprise Case

One-Disc DVD: $15.99

Two-Disc DVD: $22.99 ($26.99 for Enterprise case)

Three-Disc Blu-ray: $24.99 ($29.99 for Enterprise case)

Note: Enterprise case "transformers into replica of the USS Enterprise."

Best Buy

Exclusive: Blu-ray Gift Set with four replica Starfleet Division badges

One-Disc DVD: $14.99

Two-Disc DVD: $22.99

Three-Disc Blu-ray: $23.99

Three-Disc Blu-ray Gift Set: $39.99

Note: For first two hours stores are open on Tuesday, can take an additional $2 off DVD sale prices and $3 off the Blu-ray including the gift set. Also Star Trek: The Orginal Motion Picture Collection on Blu-ray (movies 1-6) is on sale for $69.99 and Star Trek: The Next Generation Motion Picture Collection on Blu-ray (movies 7-10) is $44.99.

Fry's

Exclusive: none

One-Disc DVD: $13.77

Two-Disc DVD: $24.99

Three-Disc Blu-ray: $19.99

Amazon

Exclusive: Enterprise Replica Gift Set

One-Disc DVD: $9.99

Two-Disc DVD: $21.49

Three-Disc Blu-ray: $20.99

Three-Disc Enterprise Replica Blu-ray Gift Set: ?

Note: Currently the Enterprise Replica set is not currently available for purchase. The set was going to be limited to 5000 copies and initially listed as costing $90.99. I am not sure if inability to order indicates it sold out or if its being revised or delayed.

FYE (U.S.)

Exclusive: DVD Steelbook

One-Disc DVD: $19.99

Two-Disc DVD: $24.99

Three-Disc Blu-ray: $29.99

FutureShop (Canada)

Exclusive: Blu-ray Steelbook

One-Disc DVD: $19.99

Two-Disc DVD: $24.99

Three-Disc Blu-ray: $29.99

Toys R Us

Exclusive: none

One-Disc DVD: $15.99

Two-Disc DVD: ?

Three-Disc Blu-ray: $29.99

MovieStop

Exclusive: Blu-ray Steelbook

One-Disc DVD: $13.87 (11/17 only)

Two-Disc DVD: $21.87 (11/17 only)

Three-Disc Blu-ray: $22.87 (11/17 only)

Note: MovieStop stores will open at midnight to sell Star Trek, with the sale prices for the first day only. Updated prices from info in the comments.

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Abrams Talks Sequel, Spock and More

TrekMovie.com has a two part interview with Star Trek director JJ Abrams as part of the home video release of the movie today. In the interview he discusses working on the film, design, possible sequel release date, and more.

Part One | Part Two
Highlights:
- "The Gag Reel really made me laugh. The whole process of Casting and finding the people and see the audition sections is fun. The design of a movie like this, it is easy to take it for granted, because there is so much in it, but when you get to sort of break down the sort of work that people like [Creature Designer] Neville Page did and [Concept Illustrator] James Clyne did, under the supervision of [Production Designer] Scott Chambliss, it is a terrific thing to see. You get a sense of how much work went into it, not just the construction and execution, but the
conception and design of it. There were thousands of hours that went into it, that if the job is done well, is invisible."
- On why Nimoy did the "Space, the final frontier": "To me what it was, honestly, was when you heard it was more a send-off, than it was Kirk’s moment. I understand that, and I think either would have worked, but there is something, especially given the legacy of Nimoy and his involvement in this, it somehow felt right."
- "I have never been moved yet to put together a version that was an extended or Director’s cut of something. Whenever I have worked on something that has been transferred to DVD, I sort of felt like ‘The movie was the movie’ and it should be left as is."
- "I think the key to Star Trek moving forward is that it retain the sense of adventure and fun and excitement, and at the same time, go a little bit deeper. ...No one wants a movie that feels like it is moralizing and some manifesto, but I feel like it has to go a little deeper. ...We are just trying to offer the story that is as rich as possible and fun as possible, but we are not looking to get on the soap box."
- "I believe the next Star Trek film will be in 2012."

Eight New Star Trek Clips

In time for the release of Star Trek on DVD and Blu-ray, eight new clips from the various featurettes that come with the film. They cover such topics as Simon Pegg's accent, casting, Leonard Nimoy, and more. (via IO9)