Last weekend I was at Colossalcon, and while scoping out the panel schedule, I noticed that Vic Mignogna (dub voice of Ed Elric, Obito Uchiha, Tamaki Suoh, and a ton of other cool kids) would be leading a panel called “Star Trek Continues with Vic Mignogna”. Now, I knew that Vic was a huge fuckin’ nerd and that he loved Star Trek from previous panels of his that I’ve attended, but I apparently didn’t know how far his obsession extended. My friends and I went to the panel without a real idea of what was going to happen there.
Turns out Vic had put together a you-had-to-see-it-to-believe-it cast that ranged from fellow anime voice actor Todd Haberkorn (Death the Kid, Ling Yao, Natsu Dragneel) as Spock, to James Doohan’s son Chris Doohan as Scotty, to Mythbuster Grant Imahara as Sulu, and had built sets that were exact replicas of the TOS stages*. They filmed an episode that was a sort-of sequel to TOS’s “Who Mourns for Adonais?” starring the original actor who played Apollo.
Star Trek Continues is, so far, only one the episode, but it really captures the feel of TOS in a way that Abrams’s film adaptations have proved themselves incapable of. Vic, as such a huge fan of the original series, understands that the real draw of Star Trek is the human drama and philosophical dilemmas rather than flash-bang action and lens flares, and the episode shows it.
My only real complaint about the first episode is that Vic has such a high voice, and I know there’s nothing he can do about that and that his voice is sort of his trademark…. But he looks and acts so much like Shatner’s original Kirk that it’s a bit jarring to hear Edward Elric’s voice come out of him.
The first episode was entirely funded by the actors as proof that they could do what they were setting out to do, but according to Vic they’ll be kicking off some sort of crowdfunding effort through Kickstarter or some such in the near future. As this isn’t actually licensed by CBS, this is basically filmed fanfiction that they can’t legally make money from, but they can cover the costs of creation. With the varied fanbases of the actors involved, I don’t doubt that they’ll easily reach their funding goal, but that won’t stop me from encouraging folks to donate when the time comes!
Watch the first episode here at StarTrekContinues.com!
*Edited to clarify: sets were created by Farrugut Films and used by the STC crew.
Lady Geek Girl and Friends 
1st off, Vic and crew didn’t build those sets, they borrowed them from another group of fans.
2nd, really? Vic does a bad Shatner impersonation and everyone falls in love. How about he does some real acting and he wouldn’t have to impersonate Shatner.
3rd check out Phase 2 for real fans making real Trek.
1) Actually the new studio and set construction is a partnership between Vic and his STC crew and the crew and builders of Farragut Films. Vic directs for them sometimes and they decided to team up. It’s a joint effort and they have since moved into a new studio that they share together.
2) Directly compare it with a TOS episode; it’s not Shatner Vic is acting like, it’s Kirk. I think he did a fine job.
3) Phase 2 is awesome! 😀 I never would have found out about it if it wasn’t for STC, but I’m glad I did. It’s very well done.
I think the cast did a great Job- Vic did not try to immitate Shatner but was able to catch the original flavor of TOS, I also though that Michele Specht was a great new comer and could have easily been seen in the original, she was probably the best actor out of
the group, except of course, Apollo
2) Directly compare it with a TOS episode; it’s not Shatner Vic is acting like, it’s Kirk.
Those are not Kirk mannerisms. They are Shatner mannerisms. Vic should just act, not overact.
And the high pitched voice doesn’t help either!
1) Actually the new studio and set construction is a partnership between Vic and his STC crew and the crew and builders of Farragut Films. Vic directs for them sometimes and they decided to team up. It’s a joint effort and they have since moved into a new studio that they share together.
Exactly my point. Vic did not build the sets as the article states. Farragut did. Just clarifying.
I’m afraid he did more than that. He and the main core of Farragut Films stole the sets from the Starship Ajax production back in December of 2011.
These links will provide the information. Plus a few other controversial issues on Vic Mignogna and the Starship Farragut personnel.
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=133657&page=53
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?p=5440252
http://trekmovie.com/2012/03/26/new-star-trek-fan-film-to-feature-chris-doohan-as-scotty-and-mythbusters-imahara-as-sulu/
More like Vic and Farragut Films stole the sets from another production.
I like the continuation of TOS, but please, pick another crew and ship.
Apollo has returned to the Star Trek realm. But the sadly in an episode produced by a group of people who have a very bad reputation. One of which, who gives a very unconvincing performance as Captain
James Tiberius Kirk, himself.
It’s a shame this episode was rejected by the Phase 2 production team. It had the potential to be something good and wonderful. Personally, I would have liked to have seen ‘Pilgrim Of Eternity’(after being heavily re-written)produced as a Phase 2 adventure instead of as the premiere episode of this steaming pile of cow droppings. I can understand why this episode was rejected and sent to the slush pile(the place of rejected script ideas that has become the only source of filmed episodes, since no writer wants to work with Mignogna and the Farragut Films staff).
It really boggles the mind as to why John and Tonya Broughton, Michael Bednar, Matt Bucy, Kasey Shaefsky, Dennis Bailey, and the Farragut Films staff would partner themselves with someone who has utterly tarnished, ruined, and decimated whatever credibility and reputation Farragut Films has. Especially after Mignogna’s unauthorized release of the Phase 2 episode ‘Kitumba’. An incident that made fan headlines last year and certainly did not help matters much for the Washington D.C. based film company. In fact, it pretty much was the final nail in their proverbial photon burial tube.
In the premiere of Star Trek – Continues, we are witness to what could have been a decent sequel to ‘Who Mourns For Adonais?’(an episode I once considered a personal favorite). Apollo returns to wreak havoc on
Kirk and the Enterprise in the first episode of this new series. Michael Forest(who originally played the Greek god of light and purity)reprises his role from the 1967 episode.
While there are some interesting moments in this episode(i.e. Kirk getting struck down(again)by Apollo, Uhura being fatally electrocuted by an energy discharge, Apollo’s speech in the recreation center, and Scotty’s resentment toward Apollo after the events from ‘Who Mourns For Adonais?’, and the exchange between Dr. Elise McKenna and Apollo about Carolyn Palamas’ fate), the rest of the episode seems more like a recycling and re-booling of a NG episode that involved another god-like entity losing his powers. While it was wonderful to see Apollo and the Enterprise crew(especially Scotty)make their peace, and watch the Greco-Roman deity start a new life(after learning something that the Olympian gods did not know before), it was not an impressive
episode.
If anything, it was a reminder of the dark side of Star Trek fandom taking physical form.
Like I said before about Vic Mignogna. Not only has he been branded as a toxic narcicisst, liar(a trait that he and Michael Bednar obviously share), thief, crook, manipulator, and other rotten things by many, his performance as the heroic Jim Kirk is nothing more than a belch from a bad onion. Or in this case the foul stench of someone passing
methane gas after eating spicy Italian food. Seriously, he doesn’t even have the voice for such a strong, heroic lead.
William Shatner, James Cawley, Christopher Pine, and Brian J. Gross certainly give better performances as James Kirk than this slab of rotten Fisher’s Ham(i.e. Mignogna).
It’s no secret within Star Trek fan film circles that Mignogna has a very controversial and very bad reputation. It is also no secret that he had tried and thankfully failed in his attempt to take over the entire Star Trek – New Voyages/Phase II production. The aftermath of that attempt led to
Mignogna and the Farragut Films staff(the Starship Farragut team)stealing newly constructed sets for the Starship Ajax production and going back on their promise to help the Ajax team with their film
(mostly because Mignogna and the Farragut Films staff lost out on obtaining the bridge set from the now defunct Starship Exeter production).
What it boils down to is this. Star Trek Continues is nothing more than Vic Mignogna’s attempt at petty revenge and personal spite against the hardworking, professional staff on the Star Trek – Phase 2
production and his constant pulling of new antics pulling over and over in his single minded obsession to destroy “friends” and the project he could not take over.
And that is only scratching the surface and putting a gloss on this situation.
It’s no secret that the glamour of filmmaking can have its elevations and pitfulls. However, when it comes to a fan film organization going into a partnership with a washed up Anime voiceover artist who has a very bad reputation….well, all I can say is this. The Devil and Daniel Webster have been given a new meaning. And a very toxic one at that!
Todd Haberkorn’s performance as Spock was certainly dull, dry, and regretfully one-dimensional. If anything, he could have learned a few things or more from Leonard Nimoy, Zachary Quinto, and Brandon Stacey. Those aforementioned three gave better performances as our favorite and beloved Vulcan. Haberkorn would have been better off in a different role. Maybe he could play Hikaru Sulu, again. Who knows?
Wyatt Lenart’s performance as every Star Trek fans favorite nationalistic Russian navigator, Pavel Chekov, was not all that great, either. For starters, his eye color was all wrong(Chekov was brown-eyed, NOT blue-eyed). Second, his Russian accent just was not convincing enough. Lenart, for all intenets and purposes, was seriously miscast. Better luck next time, Wyatt. Walter Koenig, Anton Yelchin, and Jonathan Zungre are the better versions of Pavel Andreivich Chekov.
Larry Nemecek did the best that he could as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy. Unfortunately, his weakness in his performance was the lack of a mild Southern accent(which the late DeForest Kelley wonderfully displayed)and the strong one-liners that were brilliantly conveyed by Karl Urban in the two Star Trek prequel/reboots. Larry’s greatest strengths are that of being a writer and a columnist concerning Star Trek. Sadly, acting is not one of them.
Kim Stinger’s performance as Nyota Uhura was better suited when she played the same role on Star Trek – New Voyages/Phase II. Especially when it comes to her singing voice. One wonders how much she was paid in silver to jump ship over to a production that she knew that would bring her some serious controversy. Judas would have obviously approved.
As for Grant Imahara’s performance as Hikaru Sulu…well, he worked for Lucasfilm during the making of the less than popular Star Wars prequel trilogy. He should keep his day job with Mythbusters or something better.
Christopher Doohan is probably the only shining light in this production. Sadly, it is a shining light that has severly faded by being part of this demented ‘French Farce’ of a Star Trek fan film. While he certainly recaptures the qualities of Montgomery Scott(who was played brilliantly by his late father and honored World War II veteran, James Doohan), it doesn’t help matters much that he is associated with a group of people who have a bad reputation in many fan circles. His talents are regretfully wasted in this less than productive endeavor. Frankly, his talents would be put to much better usage in either Star Trek – Phase 2 or the
J.J. Abrams films(for which he has clearly demonstrated).
Michelle Specht’s performance as Dr. Elise McKenna is clear statement as to why she is even in the film. While she is a very lovely
woman and an actress who seems to display some talent, her only reason for being there is just to be a symbol of nepotism. Being
Vic Mignogna’s soon to be wife, her role as a ship’s counselor(a rank and position that did not start until the NG era some twenty-
five years past)is merely window dressing. The only time we see something dimensional out of her is during her interactions with
Apollo, Jim Kirk(in a scene that was less than watchable – Kirk had his shirt off), and becoming overly emotional when she tried to
use a phaser on Apollo. I can see why Michelle is with someone like Mignogna. Similar mentalities and personalities think and act
alike. If not relate well.
I seem to recall that the name Elise McKenna was the name of the 19th Century stage actress played by British thespian Jane Seymour in
the 1980 time travel fantasy ‘Somewhere In Time’. Not only do we know where the entire sets from Star Trek Continues was taken from, we
now know where Mignogna hijacked the name for Michelle’s character from. Unoriginality indeed!
The bottom line is this. Pilgrim Of Eternity could have had potential had it been in the right professional hands. Sadly, it was not meant to happen. As a result, this piece of burnt celluloid refuse has become an eyesore that makes the bad points of Star Trek Into Darkness look pale in comparison.
Not even Jamie Bamber’s cameo(Apollo from the useless Battlestar Galactica remake – interesting Apollo connection, there)as the ill-fated
Crewman Simone helps the episode, either. It was probably for the better that his role was only a cameo and left at that.
I’m still amazed that fellow Louisvillian Stephanie Zoeller Hall(a renowned psychologist)was a part of this as well. Mental health certainly has been given a new meaning.
And what is with the ‘Spectre Of The Gun’ or Paladin homage at the beginning of the episode, anyway? Doug Drexler wastes his very productive artistic talents in that beginning segment.
The real downer of all, is Michael Forest’s participation in this piece of dreck. While it was cool to see Michael return in the role as a much older and wiser Apollo, costume, laurel leaves, and all,(especially his wife Diana Hale as the Greek Goddess Athena), and his explanation
of the relation between the Olympian gods and the phenomenon called the Realm, his stage talents are not entirely put to full use. Sadly,
Michael Forest has not aged well in the forty five some odd years since he appeared on Star Trek. At times, he looks like(at some points)an older Charlton Heston or Yul Brynner, physically. It would have been preferable if he had appeared on Phase 2.
Those who have worked on this madman’s production have certainly fallen under the category of ‘Guilty By Association’. Or to quote Star Trek fan’s post from a year past. “The folks at Farragut Films are in bed with a skunk. And the stink is going to stick with them.”
Spare yourself this menace to the Star Trek fan society and stick with Star Trek-New Voyages/Phase 2. The ONLY Star Trek fan film with professional experience in cinema/television production, acting, SFX, and quality artistic craftmanship and integrity. Or even the original series and the first six movies.
STC is a good series and I am glad to see a new trek fan series. What I don’t understand is the constant hatred you have against fandom. I mean its like you have a deep personal vendetta against Farragut/STC for the longest time yet I don’t see anyone else on any other fan film forum supporting your cause. From what I read on all accounts, the only nuisance I see about this mess is you. You keep bringing it up hoping to gain an audience but honestly has fallen upon deaf ears because in the end, all that matters is that /Phase II/Ajax/Farragut/STC/Excalibur and countless others are making Trek and keeping the brand alive. What are you doing to help the cause other than proclaiming that “Farragut being swallowed by The Doomsday Machine instead of the Constellation” in a post on your Trek fan page a few weeks ago or saying Farragut did this and STC did that like its going to show up on the nightly news. If you feel you can do a better job than any of the groups you hate, then grab a uniform, get a script and create your own trek. Otherwise, as William Shatner said so brilliantly – “Get A Life”. It’s just a fan film for science fiction franchise.
I’m only speaking the truth and what has been stated by others involved. If you and other fans can’t handle the truth, that is your problem.
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