Happy Holidays to all my fellow Vulcanologists (if you're celebrating something)!
See you in 2012!
LLAP
CBS
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Vulcan Video: Balance of Terror
Since we celebrated the 45th anniversary of "Balance of Terror" earlier this week, I thought it appropriate to take a look at some important clips from the episode.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Vendetta Conspiracy
Keep your eyes open in March for a new, two-issue IDW Star Trek comic that features a Vulcan story arc. It follows the events of Star Trek XI. Vulcans are dealing with the aftermath of the destruction of their homeworld and apparently, some of them think that revenge is the logical response.
Check back here in March for my review!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Balance of Terror's 45th Anniversary!
Today marks the 45th anniversary of "Balance of Terror." It first aired on September 13, 1966 and was the 14th episode of Star Trek to be aired. It was directed by Vincent McEveety and written by Paul Schneider. We owe Schneider a great debt of gratitude for introducing "those who march beneath the Raptor's wings." Our cousins, the Romulans.
Mark Lenard places his feet firmly in the wet cement of the Romulan species. He is shown to be a "creature of duty." In fact, he is so focused on duty and his dedication to the praetor that he follows it instead of his better judgement, leading to the destruction of his ship and the deaths of his crew. Though Lenard's character is never named on screen, the Star Trek CCG names him Keras.
It becomes clear very quickly that the Romulans are more passionate than the Vulcans. However, they are similar in that they both appreciate the value of duty and service. They are loyal to their commander and, in turn, to their praetor. We know they are warlike because the Romulan centurion reveals that he has fought with Keras in hundreds of campaigns. This is the major difference we see between the peaceful Vulcans and their cousins.
I hope you'll take some time today to watch this excellent episode and reflect on how important the Romulans have come to be in the last 45 years of Star Trek history.
It's also worth noting that this is the 9th anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek: Nemesis, the first Trek film to deal heavily with the Romulans.
Mark Lenard places his feet firmly in the wet cement of the Romulan species. He is shown to be a "creature of duty." In fact, he is so focused on duty and his dedication to the praetor that he follows it instead of his better judgement, leading to the destruction of his ship and the deaths of his crew. Though Lenard's character is never named on screen, the Star Trek CCG names him Keras.
It becomes clear very quickly that the Romulans are more passionate than the Vulcans. However, they are similar in that they both appreciate the value of duty and service. They are loyal to their commander and, in turn, to their praetor. We know they are warlike because the Romulan centurion reveals that he has fought with Keras in hundreds of campaigns. This is the major difference we see between the peaceful Vulcans and their cousins.
I hope you'll take some time today to watch this excellent episode and reflect on how important the Romulans have come to be in the last 45 years of Star Trek history.
It's also worth noting that this is the 9th anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek: Nemesis, the first Trek film to deal heavily with the Romulans.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Vulcan Video: Falor's Journey
This week's Vulcan Video is from the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Innocence." Tuvok finds himself stranded on a moon with three "children." To help them fall to sleep he sings Falor's Journey, which he refers to as a "tale of enlightenment."
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
EXCLUSIVE! Interview with Tim Russ
Greetings, my fellow Vulcanologists!
I have a special treat for you today. The one and only Tim Russ has agreed to do a brief interview with me.
Vulcanologists will of course be most familiar with Tim Russ as Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager but he also played three separate characters on Star Trek: TNG, Star Trek: DS9 and in Star Trek: Generations. His history with Star Trek goes even farther back to 1986-1987 when he auditioned for the role of Geordi LaForge.
Since Voyager ended in 2001, Tim has continued to provide the voice of Tuvok in Star Trek video games and in 2007 he directed and starred in the fan film, Star Trek: Of Gods and Men. Outside of Star Trek, Tim has become highly recognizable from his stints on Samantha Who? and iCarly. In addition, Tim has released four EP albums and his songs are now available on iTunes. Keep an eye out for more new songs on iTunes as well.
Recently, Tim has been directing and starring in a web series called Bloomers. He'll shortly appear in a new film called Rampart and he's looking at several new directing projects between now and the spring.
It may surprise you to know that Tim's favourite Voyager episodes are not Tuvok or Vulcan-centric. "I liked the "Distant Origin" episode which dealt with evolution--many of the sciences are interests of mine." Another favourite is "Living Witness", an episode he directed that deals with revisionist history. "I think history is profoundly important to examine and learn from."
Like Leonard Nimoy with Spock, Tim brought many of his own ideas to the character of Tuvok. I asked Tim if he and the writers had ever discussed backstory elements for Tuvok that hadn't appeared on screen and he replied "No. The few ideas I talked with them about eventually became episodes in one fashion or another."
When Voyager premiered in 1995 there was some sexist and racist discourse about having a female captain and an African-American Vulcan on the series. Tim admits, "Well, it's part of the fabric of this country." But he's quick to point out that he never had any negative experiences with fans. "It seems counter to the typical Trek fan who tend to be above all that."
Tim is perhaps the studio-Trek actor with the most fan film experience, having directed the short film Roddenberry on Patrol and directed and starred in Of Gods and Men. I asked him about the differences between working on studio versus fan films. "Well, the budgets obviously are bigger for the network's shows. For the cost of shooting one episode of Voyager, you could shoot an entire low budget feature, or two. That makes a difference in production value and options for shooting."
I have a special treat for you today. The one and only Tim Russ has agreed to do a brief interview with me.
Vulcanologists will of course be most familiar with Tim Russ as Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager but he also played three separate characters on Star Trek: TNG, Star Trek: DS9 and in Star Trek: Generations. His history with Star Trek goes even farther back to 1986-1987 when he auditioned for the role of Geordi LaForge.
Since Voyager ended in 2001, Tim has continued to provide the voice of Tuvok in Star Trek video games and in 2007 he directed and starred in the fan film, Star Trek: Of Gods and Men. Outside of Star Trek, Tim has become highly recognizable from his stints on Samantha Who? and iCarly. In addition, Tim has released four EP albums and his songs are now available on iTunes. Keep an eye out for more new songs on iTunes as well.
Recently, Tim has been directing and starring in a web series called Bloomers. He'll shortly appear in a new film called Rampart and he's looking at several new directing projects between now and the spring.
It may surprise you to know that Tim's favourite Voyager episodes are not Tuvok or Vulcan-centric. "I liked the "Distant Origin" episode which dealt with evolution--many of the sciences are interests of mine." Another favourite is "Living Witness", an episode he directed that deals with revisionist history. "I think history is profoundly important to examine and learn from."
Like Leonard Nimoy with Spock, Tim brought many of his own ideas to the character of Tuvok. I asked Tim if he and the writers had ever discussed backstory elements for Tuvok that hadn't appeared on screen and he replied "No. The few ideas I talked with them about eventually became episodes in one fashion or another."
When Voyager premiered in 1995 there was some sexist and racist discourse about having a female captain and an African-American Vulcan on the series. Tim admits, "Well, it's part of the fabric of this country." But he's quick to point out that he never had any negative experiences with fans. "It seems counter to the typical Trek fan who tend to be above all that."
Tim is perhaps the studio-Trek actor with the most fan film experience, having directed the short film Roddenberry on Patrol and directed and starred in Of Gods and Men. I asked him about the differences between working on studio versus fan films. "Well, the budgets obviously are bigger for the network's shows. For the cost of shooting one episode of Voyager, you could shoot an entire low budget feature, or two. That makes a difference in production value and options for shooting."
Though Tim has no present plans to return to the fan film world he notes that he "will entertain any project that comes across my desk."
Finally, I asked Tim about whether or not he would be interested in playing Tuvok again if the opportunity presented itself. He said, "The timeline has to be correct to play Tuvok in a feature, but otherwise, I would certainly play the character again if asked to." (Hear that J.J.?). On the subject of the new J.J. Abrams Trek and the destruction of Vulcan, Tim has little to say except that "We blew up Vulcan in Star Trek: Of Gods and Men long before J.J. did." It seems as though the universe has it in for our poor planet Vulcan.
I'd like to thank Tim Russ for taking the time to answer my questions. Be sure to keep an eye on his website for updates on his projects and appearances.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Vulcan Video: Star Trek's Lost Vulcan, Xon
In 1977, Paramount decided to bring Star Trek back to TV as Star Trek: Phase II. Leonard Nimoy was not interested in returning to the role of Spock so a new Vulcan character was created.
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