Picturing: Modelling at Niagara Falls

Exploring: AMT USS Enterprise Spaceship Model Kit

Yesterday, while rummaging through my closet in search of the Star Trek: The Motion Picture tie-in novelization for my series on that picture's 45th anniversary release date, I uncovered an unopened plastic model kit indirectly related to the book I was looking for.

The price sticker, as I had already guessed without looking closely, was from "Leisure World". This would have been the store in downtown Toronto, as that (now gone) location was where I picked up a few things hobby related.

AMT's "U.S.S. Enterprise Space Ship Model Kit" was a popular item. Released a couple of months after Star Trek premiered in September of 1966, it went on to sell over 100,000 units in the show's first season alone. I came along a few years later and built more than one before I exited my teens.

What other morsels of goodness await me as I journey through some unexplored space?

Star Trek Motion Picture Day: The Tie-in Novelization

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

— A Novel —

by

Gene Roddenberry

Pocket Books

December 1979

***

I never did finish reading this book, which I bought at Coles before Star Trek: The Motion Picture opened later that same week. Why did I not read past the first few pages, pages I could not resist sampling before seeing the flick itself? I saw the movie.

Star Trek Motion Picture Day: 45 Years Ago Today

This morning I learned that it was forty-five years ago today that the first Star Trek movie was released. In March of 1978 I was listening to Toronto radio station CKFM when a news bit announced: "Paramount Pictures will spend fifteen million dollars on a Star Trek movie . . . It will be released in December next year."

On Friday, December 7, 1979, Star Trek: The Motion Picture finally hit movie theatres after much anticipation and fanfare, and on that very day I stood in line with friends for some movie that ended up disappointing many people ― even though it went on to make a lot of money ― but became the favourite film 'in the series' for some.

Picture a dozen teenagers meeting at the big picture house to see one of the most anticipated pictures ever. Try and imagine our disappointment when the end credits rolled: not that we wanted the show to go on, but more a case of "that was it?"; or as friend Mike said after he turned to me from the seat to my left: "I thought it would be better than that."

(The next morning I shuffled to the living room, where siblings were watching the Star Trek episode "Wink of an Eye". Is this some sort of joke? An editorial on what I saw last night? You thought this episode was bad? Last night's event flick made "Wink of an Eye" look like a masterpiece?)

Star Trek: The Motion Picture was, and still is, a polarizing piece of celluloid. "We get it, you hate this movie." (The dirty little secret is a lot of fans do not like ST: TMP for the simple reason that there are virtually no "starship battles". Boo. Hoo. Trekkies!)

One thing's for sure, it is still the biggest budget Trek of the bunch, the only one given "A-picture" status by Paramount Pictures ― not that it means anything outside of trivia circles. However, the studio was not entirely happy with the box office results; even though the film brought in the bucks it was not highly "profitable", which is proportion of money made compared to money put in. While touted as soaking up 42 million production dollars, its real cost was about 28 million. (In its zeal to promote TMP as being epic in cash outlays, Paramount included the costs of the aborted Treks: the motion picture of a planned 1976 release, and a return to television scheduled for 1977.)

More importantly, that great cast was back, even if their magical chemistry was seemingly put on hold for 132 minutes. One hundred and thirty-two minutes.

What do I think of the picture now? Well, the last time I saw TMP, years ago, I liked it... more.

Perhaps I should watch it again. Tonight I will see if I like it even more.

Star Trek Motion Picture Day: Into Box Office Orbit

The above is a little and archival newspaper clipping from the Toronto Sun regarding the week following the December 7th, 1979, opening of the very first Star Trek movie; titled, simply enough, Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

I remember reading at the time — in another newspaper piece — that the film took the classic dip after its opening week but regained some of its traction with the movie-going public immediately afterward. It ended its run having made a lot of money, but not as much as Paramount had hoped for considering the investment.

The last time I saw the featured film was about twenty years ago: I like it more "now".

Did I see Star Trek Into Darkness, or any of the "Next Gen" features? No. No interest whatsoever.

Star Trek Motion Picture Day: The Music Score

If one is really into film scores, he or she probably knows Jerry Goldsmith's brilliant music for 1979's science fiction epic, Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

The production itself was fraught with problems, the primary and underlying one being that the original script was to be the blueprint for a 2-hour telefilm ― actual running time, about 95 minutes. Instead, the core idea stretched out unnaturally to a 142 minute theatrical length. Even with the new extended running time, there did not seem to be enough time for great character scenes and bits, which were the major identifying marks of the original television series; a series with a few outstanding markings, including superb and memorable music scoring. ("Tunes, man! Tunes!")

As much as I'm into the art and craft of film scoring, I appreciate film music most when it's played with the movie (picture and sound) it was designed to accompany. However, some scores do work very well as standalone works ― Goldsmith's stellar work for ST:TMP is one of them.

In January of 1980, one month after the flick's release, the original soundtrack album LP hit store shelves in my town. And I hit Records on Wheels. But just before I did, a fellow teenaged geek invited me over to premiere his unit of that particular piece of vinyl. His audio system was high-end, and when the music kicked up, at a beefy volume, I felt as though I was listening to something cosmically beautiful. That beautiful.

In 2012, La La Land Records released an "all-in" 3-CD set. I never acquired that boxed set, but I understand that all its versions, variations, and alternate cues, worked well ― certainly for completists.

In February of 2022, La La Land released a new-new boxed set, this one of 2 CDs.

Some sonic samples....

The "overture" (beautiful piece)

Meet V'Ger (the composer gave an all-but inanimate object some dimension and personality)

A Good Start (the Enterprise flies off) (If you heard this on its own you could be forgiven for thinking you just missed a good movie ― you did not.)

Final note: In the "Meet V'Ger" sample piece one can really hear a pipe organ. The instrument heard here is housed at the 20th Century Fox Studios Scoring Stage (now the "Newman Scoring Stage"). Composer Goldsmith wanted to utilize this special instrument, so he recorded his score at Fox, even though ST:TMP was a Paramount picture. The subsequent original-batch Trekkie feature films all had their respective scores recorded at Paramount's "Stage M", a music stage with a history in that most of the original Star Trek television series' music was recorded there. (Stage M was closed in 2006.)

I've not bought the 2-CD set. I'm just too cheap, I guess.

Star Trek Motion Picture Day: Douglas Trumbull VFX

In mid-1979 the late great visual effects master Douglas Trumbull was hired along with his contemporary, John Dykstra, in order to facilitate Star Trek: The Motion Picture's need for completed special visual effects, of which there were hundreds, for a fast-approaching release date: Friday, December 7, 1979. The masters' work, and its met completion date, was outstanding, especially so given that a lot of optical composites were of the "first pass through the printer" type. Meaning: No recomposites to improve or perfect the matte fits. "It'll have to do, there's not enough time to redo it" was something many technicians had to live with on this picture.

Douglas Trumbull's big widescreen break came when he was cast as a major contributor to, what would become, groundbreaking VFX for the great 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). He was just 23 years of age when director Stanley Kubrick hired him in 1965. "The Big Four", my own name for the space epic's "Special Effects Supervisor" team, consisted of Trumbull, Con Pederson, Wally Veevers, and Tom Howard. The visual success of 2001 shot the then very young Trumbull to the top shelf of experienced visual effects artists.

He was also a director: Silent Running, which I saw and enjoyed when it was first released in 1972, was packaged as another space film; but one with an on-its-sleeve heart, brought to life through a very fine performance by Bruce Dern — guided by someone considered an 'effects' man. The ecological message inherent in Silent Running would have been newsworthy in the early seventies, but for some reason even this propellant did not make the relatively low-budgeted film earn its money back.

Mr Trumbull later directed Brainstorm, but unfortunately, the death of actress Natalie Wood before principle photography had been competed put a thorn into the side of the intended story. The director had to rewrite the script somewhat to account for his loss. Trumbull's insistence on completing the film did not go over well with MGM, which was willing to cut its losses then and there, and the director's name was then entered on a blacklist of sorts. The flick was released in 1983 and it tanked, unfortunately for the talented director helmsman. (I saw Brainstorm projected in 70mm at the Ontario Place Cinesphere, but its superior imagery and imaging was not enough for me. "There's an interesting idea in there, somewhere.")

Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Yes. The great Douglas Trumbull was convinced to take the visual effects helm on that one; a troubled production that, it could be argued, had access to way too much money and faith from Paramount Pictures (holders of "The Seven-Nine Jewels"). He explains the production's complications and successes, here in the very fine TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) video short embedded above: Douglas Trumbull - Lighting the Starship Enterprise

Postscript: As a teen, I was aware of the man genius who had worked behind the scenes on 2001: A Space Odyssey, Silent Running, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. This lead to me, ultimately, working in visual effects as an 'optical camera/printer operator'. (Compositing.)

Star Trek Motion Picture Day: AMT Klingon Cruiser

Walter "Matt" Jefferies was the man who designed the brilliant fictional starship, U.S.S. Enterprise. For Star Trek he also produced another brilliant space vessel, the Klingon Battle Cruiser.

Two years ago a friend of mine gave me the above AMT-ERTL plastic model kit: "Star Trek: The Motion Picture Klingon Cruiser", the souped-up movie version from 1979. He's been going on a buying spree, of a sort, grabbing old AMT Star Trek kits. He's managed to find the "Romulan Bird of Prey" (designed by the great Wah Chang) and an early "U.S.S. Enterprise" kit. "Early", meaning it is an example produced within the first few years of, essentially, a decades-long manufacturing run by AMT ― and later, AMT-ERTL.

My collecting friend was able to get the 1984 pressing of the "Star Trek: The Motion Picture Klingon Cruiser", not the 1979 version. Sans "Battle", but many thanks!

Postscript: Geeks

Picturing: TTC Subway Train at Spadina Station

As I dropped down the steps to "Spadina" station's southbound platform, I caught a train idling, allowing me enough time to fire off half a dozen snaps. Seconds later it continued on its journey to Toronto's downtown core.

Picturing: A Special Television Series on Blu-ray

To me, The Prisoner (1967 - 1968) is quite possibly the greatest hour-long dramatic television series ever made.

I first caught it as a kid: German television network ZDF premiered it in that country in 1969. My Deutsch was limited enough, even though we lived in a German town, that I did not know what was going on plot-wise, but the visual sense, even when displayed in black & white, carried me through the 50 minutes.

The Rovers did spook me a little as they bubbled from the sea to 'consume' whatever renegade needed arresting. When one is watching a program in a foreign language, one is arrested by the visuals. I would have understood snippets of the dialogue, of course.

When I saw The Prisoner again years later — thank you, CITY-TV — I understood what was being said. And what was being said. Last week I splurged on the Blu-ray set after stumbling upon it at Toronto's superb video store, Bay Street Video. (A friend of mine had given me the heads up on this Australian release since he knew I was a big fan.) It wasn't cheap, but given what this special series represents to me, and how those extras will, no doubt, please me, it was money well spent.

The Prisoner is more relevant now than it was when it was produced. "Free For All" is chilling.

Picturing: Construction Room at TTC Spadina Station

After making my way down the pedestrian tunnel at the Toronto Transit Commission's "Spadina" station, I had a choice of going to the left, which would take me to the southbound subway line, or to the right, the northbound line. Since I was acting as a pedestrian this day, I could take either since I was just aiming for the station's north exit.

Exciting stuff, especially the construction, which has made the stairways on both sides extra narrow. It's a good thing I'm skinny!

Yes, my life is that exciting, day to day. Oh, I forgot Boris' treats....

Picturing: A Bay Street Video Store Visit Today

I hadn't been by Bay Street Video in a few months, since the summer, but a visit to Toronto's most superb video store is essential for any movie (and television) lover — me making infrequent trips there is odd given the fact that I live just minutes away.

The selection of titles is something to behold; the store staff is knowledgeable and always helpful. Suspect Video is long gone, making BSV my go-to store of this type. It certainly is when a friend of mine visits from out of town. (Sometimes I think I'm more a bonus feature than the main show.)

In keeping with excellent customer service and support, they will order-in a title if they are out of stock... or wouldn't have it in stock. The pleasant lady who served me today was quick and enthusiastic in fulfilling my request for a certain Blu-ray boxed set.

When in Toronto, make sure to visit Bay Street Video. It's on, no surprise, Bay Street, on the west side, just south of Bloor Street West.

(The TTC subway station "Bay" is just north of Bloor, on the west side of Bay Street.)

Picturing: A Violinist in the Spadina Pedestrian Tunnel

A violinist entertains noon-hour travellers in the "Spadina" TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) station pedestrian tunnel, yesterday (Tuesday, November 26th). My Tim Hortons coffee entertained my left hand allowing my right to fire my trusty Canon.  After I started firing away, the virtuoso became animated, dancing across the path and along the opposite wall.

I think he was playing Vivaldi.

Picturing: Serenading Violinist Plays on the TTC

With a Tim Hortons coffee in hand I strutted down the TTC "Spadina" station's pedestrian tunnel at noon yesterday (Tuesday, November 26th). With my other hand I activated my Canon camera to capture a dynamic violinist as he serenaded transit travellers.

Picturing: A Subway Train Arrives at Spadina Station

A TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) subway train pulled into "Spadina" station at noon, yesterday (Tuesday, November 26th), while I carried my Tim Hortons coffee.

Pierre Poilievre Is a Cartoon Character!

"Only one [film] short was made featuring 'PP Poilievre'. He did make a few subsequent guest appearances, usually as a bumbling fool, an object of scorn and ridicule, before Tex Avery quietly dropped the character."

I knew it!

Picturing: Violinist Struts in TTC Pedestrian Tunnel

With coffee in hand I strutted down the TTC "Spadina" station's pedestrian tunnel at noon today. With my other hand I activated my trusty Canon camera to capture a dynamic violinist as he strutted along the tunnel wall.

I think he was playing some Vivaldi.

Athot for the Day: What Tunes?

What the?....

BBC Radio 2 is already playing Christmas songs.

I thought London was just 5 hours ahead of Toronto, not 3 weeks!

Picturing: Taylor Swift Eras Poster on TTC Subway

While travelling on the subway this morning, I took my seat, looked up, and saw a poster for Taylor Swift's Toronto Eras Tour. The scene before me displayed a nice unity.

The poster's emphasis on the colour red goes nicely with the Bombardier subway car seats.

Picturing: TTC Subway Pedestrian Tunnel Sunday A.M.

About an hour ago, as part of my Sunday morning Tim Hortons coffee pickup, I decided to use the pedestrian connecting tunnel at the TTC's "Spadina" station as part of my journey. (The tunnel connects the east-west and north-south subway train platforms, which are about 500 feet apart.)

As for the picture: I don't think I've ever seen this before, a scene of this tunnel sans people. I had to snap a few pics... I actually had a few seconds to do my work.

Postscript: British readers of my post will realize that we North Americans use the term "Subway" to denote what they would refer to as "The Underground". In the UK, a "Subway" refers to a pedestrian walkway.