LIVE CHAT - Eugene W. Roddenberry

Chat transcript from 01-19-2002 (Content edited for readability)

Perry 
Will there be EFC DVDs?

EUGENE W.RODDENBERRY
I'm not sure about EFC DVD's there really are enough people who want them.....It will be a financial decision... I'm pretty sure we will not carry them at the store. It would cost too much to have them made and we'd probably only sell 20 or 30.

GJK 
is there any truth that there will be a spin off of EFC and dare we hope for Da'an and Boone to be in it? Will we see the character of S1 in it?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
EFC has been cancelled becasue it is not making enough money.... Why would the PTB make more? I wish we could start agian at season 1 also. AS far as I'm concerned it was the only season, the best season. It was EFC

Nighthawk
Do you have any new shows in development?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
Nighthawk... I currently do not have any in development... but Many ideas are brewing.

wile1
You said that non-sense is good but not for a Roddenberry show, Andromeda has some great one line non sense stuff and its a great show, I'm looking forward to the changes, what do you see for its future and can we expect more wonderful funny things from Harper?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY
In my opinion, Andromeda had potential when Robert Hewitt Wolfe was involved but now.... Non-Sense is the word of the day. Andromeda is it's own show. I don't and have never had anything to do with it... This goes for the good things and the bad. No credit no blame. It may still be a great show but with my limited experience with those running it , I'm certain it will not be a Roddenberry show.

Perry
How can they be compared, they are two different shows?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY
I compare all these show not to each other but to the "Gene Roddenberry" Philosophy... The vision he has passed on throughout Star Trek. Roddenberry shows need to be about humanity... not special FX, not super heroes. They can have non-sense but they also need to be balance by believability as well as good stories about people. A Roddenberry hero is not a hero at all.... It is an ordinary human in and extra-ordinary circumstance.

M
Eugene, boxers or briefs? What Roddenberry themes are best shown in efc?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
Briefs and.... It really depends on the seasons But overall I'd say...There aren't many but humanities willingness to reach out to others... alien or human. It's a good question. 


Slicer 
How has the over all experience on EFC over the past 5 years been?


EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
As much as I may bitch about the show the experience was one of the best in my life. There are so many levels to how it has affected me. I met some of the greatest people I will ever meet.... I also met some of the worst people on this planet. One of the best things was that everyone who work on the show wanted it to be a great show...not because they want a paycheque but because they wanted to be a part of something special... something great. I learned a lot from those people. If I had a chance to change my past I would not.

GJK 
What's new on the Star Trek horizon or any new sci fi show for us fans? Aside from "Nemisis", will there be more Star Trek TV series and movies? How about Star Fleet Academy? You Dad's vision carried many of us into this new millennium and we need new vision for the next generation...Boone was a "Roddenberry" hero, yes? Will we see the "like" again? EFC1 was GREAT TV! and KK was a fine addition to the Roddenberry legend.

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
I learned a great deal AND HOPE TO GET ABNCK UP TO Canada TO work on and produce more Roddenberry TV

GJK
will we see more Star Trek series any KK in Start Trek series Roddenberry productions

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
Well, Again Paramount make all the decisions on Star Trek. They decide if there will be another series... but as long as it is making the studio money I do not see why they'd stop it. I'm guessing there will be another series in the next 2 -4 years as far as KK goes... I'm not sure I think it would be great if all the cast from EFC individually made it into star trek somehow... as different characters of course They are excellent actor and deserve as show that will let hem show it! I think it would be great if all the cast from EFC individually made it into star trek somehow... as different characters of course

Nighthawk 
Do you feel that the changes currently occurring on Andromeda with the writing team and the creative vision are similar to those changes which happened to EFC after Season 1? Is this history repeating itself? Or are seasoned EFC fans (and Andromeda fans) getting a little jumpy without due cause? Or is what's happening on Andromeda a totally different thing altogether from what went on with EFC (in your opinion)?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY
As you mention this is ALL in my OPINION I am concerned that it is history repeating it's self I felt that RHW was the should of the series and removing him was not a wise choice. This now means that Tribune is running the show.

WAGS 
what do you say to all those who are always finding fault with every show that you guys have out there? because all the ragging they do at the sphere isn't doing a thing, except feeding their egos 

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
Remember... it's only my opinion I have been wrong countless times in my life Well, true and the same can be said for me. I think it's time to move on. It's over and we have to look to the future.

Slicer 
i have heard that EFC was a planned 5 year arc from the beginning. How closely has the writers/producers followed this arc over the years?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
First it was never planned that way...that was a myth that went around at the beginning. It never had a 5 year arc like B5. People just hoped it went for 5 years. Also we have a new writing team every season... As you probably can tell it did not really follow anything

wile1
I was around for the original Star Trek series, probably almost in the same place I am now watching, I'm looking forward to the new movie, can you tell us who the guest stars will be?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY
I feel so bad.... So many people think I have the inside scoop for these shows... unfortunately I do not. I get all my info from u guys.. Paramount probably won't let me on the set. To answer your question I don't know... I'd ask it to someone else in the room... they'd probably have more info than me.

Cookie 
Maybe someone already asked this one but...who made the choice on Enterprise's main theme song? has you a choice to make? Because honestly, the song isn't so good..isn't it? a plain music without words would have been far better (my opinion)

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
Cookie, interesting topic I didn't have anything to do with it. but I think it is a nice opening. I actually enjoy it. 
IT makes me think of my father and his journey bring ST to the world.. and after seeing it a number of time I still get teary-eyed. I know there is a huge debate between people who like and dsilike it... I don't think the debate will go away

Nighthawk 
Is there any show on television right now that you feel has the qualities that you would like to aim for in a show you develop?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY
"THE WEST WING" although not Sci-fi it really embodies good story telling It's one of my favourites There are a lot of good show on TV but I can't find one SCIFI I still have to watch TNG to get my fix of good sci-fi true... i hear FS is good. I have not gotten into it I tell you... them next series I'm involved in will be written by the fans!

Slicer 
While I am one of the few who is enjoying the direction of the new season, what was the motivation to write out (more or less) the taelons at the end of year 4 and bring in the Atavus as the main 'villains'? (btw, i totally enjoy the performance of Alan Van Spring as Howlyn)

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
I heard something on set once... We need to get the bufy audience I think it was an attempt to get a new, or get more, people to watch the show. EFC was notorious for grabbing onto the "Cool ideas" of the time. Liam got his long trench coat after MATRIX came out

M 
what's your favourite 'Roddenberry' episode and why?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
I'd start by saying TNG is my favourite series of all. I'll tell you a few Ship in a bottle.... Chain of Command PTII
I can't really tell u that many right now. The Q ones were good as well.

Cookie 
i've heard that James Masters, from the TV show "Buffy" plays in Andromeda. What make you choose him? did he asked to be on the show (like W. Goldberg did, for example)? because i know he's a big ST fan...

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
I know that the PTB will make any attempt to gain audience members... some idea are good and some no so good. They was to bring audience member to the show by bringing familiar actors. It's not a bad strategy... in most cases... it depend on how it done. Again... I have nothing to do with Andromeda

Blorf 
Would you like to be involved in EFC movies made from the EFC books? That would be very cool. Or maybe even a spin-off series?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
I would love to... It depends on who would be producing it. I think a spin would be great if modelled on the 1st season.

Nighthawk 
From all the shows (all the STs, EFC, Andromeda, etc.), what one character do you consider most Roddenberry-esque? Which character do you like best personally and why?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
I'd still have to say Picard. He had all the qualities of a Roddenberry "Hero"

wile1 
You stated you thought it was bad that they got rid of RHW as a writer, why? and what makes him better than any other qualified good writer?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY 
WILE, I do not consider him to be a better writer. However, he was the one who develop the series. He was the back bone I spoke with him on a few occasions and felt his vision for the series was closest to the Roddenberry Philosophy I consider all the other writer on the show to be excellent writers however they are, for the most part, being told how and what to write by the PTB. RHW was their shield in a way... their conduit to the PTB. I felt that he had the ability to compromise between TPTB and the Story.

M
Are you going to have a show written by the fans how will it be set up? And what is your favourite fan fic?

EUGENE W. RODDENBERRY I can't answer it completely but I'll try and shed some light on my idea First we will need a team of Lawyer and Readers. All submissions will be done through an internet website. Fan writers will have to send their submissions in based on very specific writing criteria.... They will also have to sign their lives away. Things can get real messy legally. The idea is not to steal stories for the fan but get their stories on the screen We will choose a submission have a team of writer RE-WRITE it to fit the budget and other constants. Once finishes it will aure. The fan writer will get credit but we have to find out how. WGA will not let a non-wga member get a "WRITTEN BY" credit so it.... will have to be a "STORY by" credit or something like that. Either way it is a good idea that I think will open up eye to how much talent is really out there!

Anyhow... I got to go now.. It's been a great chat and I'll have another one set up soon. take care all!!!!!
bye!