The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

Latest Episodes:

10-2 Star Trek II Writers-Directors Guide - 1977 Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

"Star Trek: Picard" production designer Dave Blass joins us again, this time to look at a document from the first attempt to bring Star Trek back to TV. Familiar refrains from 1977 ring true today about Trek's "perfect" characters and the realism of the story's drama.

See the documents: Star Trek II Writers-Directors Guide - 1977

The Trek Files Season 10 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

10-1 "The Offspring" call sheet - 1989 Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

The Trek Files returns for season 10 with special guest Jonathan Frakes! We look at two call sheets, one from TNG "The Offspring" and the other from "Star Trek: Picard," to kick off a conversation about Jonathan's directing career and how it stacks up against playing William Riker.

Sponsored by - TOYNK.com - take 15% off your order with code "RODDENBERRY" at checkout!

See the documents - "The Offspring" call sheet - 1989

Visit Dr. Trek - larrynemecek.com

The Trek Files Season 10 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

9-24 Star Trek The Next Generation Writers-Directors Guide - 1987 Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

The closer we get to the start of "Star Trek: Picard" season 3, it's the perfect time to look back at one of TNG's founding documents with Terry Matalas. We look back at early discussions of altering the Star Trek format for a new generation and what it means to "take good care of Star Trek" on The Trek Files' 9th season finale!

Sponsored by Toynk.com - take 15% off your order with checkout code "RODDENBERRY"

See the documents: Star Trek The Next Generation Writers-Directors Guide - 1987

The Trek Files Season 9 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

9-23 Bridge assignment positions - 1987 Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Production design overlaps with creative decisions on Star Trek in unique ways. Writers may have ideas about who is on the bridge of a starship, but the producers and designers have their say in making it all come together. "Star Trek: Picard" Production Designer Dave Blass joins The Trek Files again to discuss a 1987 memo about who occupies the center seats and who really is flying the ship.

See the documents: Bridge assignment positions - 1987

The Trek Files Season 9 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

9-22 Star Trek Ride Presentation - 1994 Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary year of "Star Trek The Experience," we return to the roots of the attraction: from a Korean expo to a dazzling transporter effect to a proposed full-scale Enterprise in downtown Las Vegas. Hear the story from one of the show's chief architects, Gary Goddard, on this week's episode of The Trek Files!

See the documents: Star Trek Ride Presentation - 1994

The Trek Files Season 9 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

9-21 TNG Bible notes - 1986 Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

A look back at Star Trek: The Next Generation's early development reveals a lot about how the current crop of Star Trek shows are produced. On the verge of "Star Trek: Picard" season 3, we are happy to welcome showrunner Terry Matalas to discuss creating Trek stories for a whole new generation.

See the documents: TNG Bible notes - 1986

The Trek Files Season 9 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

9-20 Star Trek Writers memo - 1968 Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

Fred Frieberger made the case to Gene Roddenberry in 1968 that the lower budget for "Spectre of the Gun" could work to their creative advantage by enhancing the horror. Today, we welcome Star Trek: Picard's Dave Blass to share tricks of the trade by making some shortcuts elevate the art of production design.

See the documents: Star Trek Writers memo - 1968

The Trek Files Season 9 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

9-19 Ship Terms and Rank Structure - 1987 Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

Bob Justman spelled out some of the possible terminology and ranks to be used aboard the new Enterprise for Star Trek: The Next Generation. We welcome back "Enterprise" Assistant Director Mike Demerrit to talk about creative development and the little details on this week's The Trek Files.

See the documents: Ship Terms and Rank Structure - 1987

The Trek Files Season 9 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

9-18 The Star Trek Formula Revealed - 1975 Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

In one of Gene Roddenberry's many speeches, he "reveals" the Star Trek formula... which may or may not have been entirely truthful. In this week's The Trek Files, we examine the details of a ca. 1975 speech that shares the audience's optimism for quality stories and the secret that makes Star Trek tick.

See the documents: The Star Trek Formula Revealed - 1975

The Trek Files Season 9 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

9-17 The Crypt by Harlan Ellison - 1987 Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

Harlan Ellison's tumultuous history with Star Trek has been well documented. What is not known to most people is how he almost came back to the franchise with a story for The Next Generation. We look at Ellison's pitch for "The Crypt," and its unlikely origin, with special guest Ben Robinson on this week's The Trek Files.

See the documents: The Crypt by Harlan Ellison - 1987

The Trek Files Season 9 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected