Sneak Peak – Trek Nation on Science: Gene Roddenberry, JJ Abrams, George Lucas, and…Seth McFarlane?
Photo: SCIENCE
We all have a memory of Star Trek. How can we not? For many of us, Gene Roddenberry introduced us to the world beyond the stars and a utopian world where things were better for the human race. For me it started as a child watching the original series on rerun in the ‘80’s. Shortly thereafter I was led to Star Trek: TNG. My dad was a trekkie. I still blame him for my unusual appreciation for old school kung fu flicks (a la Kung Fu Theatre) and cheesy sci-fi.
Then came DS9 and Voyager. It was under the command of Captain Kathryn Janeway that I finally departed the Star Trek universe. But I left with fond memories and an enduring appreciation for the series. Now as a child I never understood the depth of Roddenberry’s Star Trek. But as an adult I finally gained a deeper appreciation of the storytelling coming from the show.
Later today, or perhaps earlier depending on when you read this, the SCIENCE channel is airing a documentary by Eugene Roddenberry called Trek Nation, an in depth look not only to the franchise but more into the father son relationship. The film is an attempt for a distant son who lost his father to come to understand the man through the only means left to him, the father’s legacy. SCIENCE describes the show as follows:
…celebrate[ing] the 45th anniversary of one of the greatest television franchises of all time, Star Trek, with the world-premiere two-hour event, TREK NATION. This tribute follows Gene Roddenberry’s son, Rod, as he explores the deep impact of his father’s singular vision for the future. Through interviews with fans, including George Lucas, J.J. Abrams, Seth MacFarlane, and many notable Star Trek alums, TREK NATION chronicles a son’s journey to discover his father’s work that helped defined science fiction. TREK NATION premieres on SCIENCE on Wednesday, November 30 at 8PM ET/PT.
TREK NATION draws on hours of exclusive footage, including never-before-seen home movies from the Roddenberry family collection and the first-ever Star Trek convention. This film demonstrates that Roddenberry’s work has not only inspired legions of fans across the globe, but generated a cultural movement. Star Trek is a phenomenon that goes beyond entertainment; it has influenced politics, space travel, social morality and much more. Star Trek was a catalyst that has fostered an enhanced understanding of the human condition, capturing man’s constant search for a better world.
I can’t help but think that this is a core element to Roddenberry’s storytelling that some people, especially newer fans of the J.J. Abrams revisit to the franchise, might be missing. The time that Star Trek arrived was a time of turmoil, war, poverty, conflict, racism, sexism, and a confluence of the worst we had to offer as humanity. Roddenberry dared to tell a different, a hopeful tale in the format that defied all logic for television of its day. This was evidenced by the short run of the show and eventual abandonment of the show by Roddenberry in season three, just before it was cancelled. The time might not have been ripe for the show’s corporate success, but the story Gene had to tell wouldn’t be kept silent.
Debbie Myers, general manager and executive vice president of SCIENCE is quoted as saying “Gene Roddenberry is the original thought-provocateur; the rebel-genius who was not afraid to push the boundaries of what science can accomplish. Star Trek used science fiction to hold a mirror to society, leveraging its storylines as a platform for social commentary touching on topics such as racism, sexism, the economy, war, peace and religion. Working with Rod, and showing footage never shared on television is what makes Trek Nation truly inspiring.” And here in lies a truth of quality storytelling, which most of the franchise has been, the use of a fantastic setting to reflect on the human condition.
During the writing of The Next Generation, Gene would constantly come back to the staff of writers and tell them to take the interpersonal conflict out of the scripts because future humanity was without such petty conditions in his mind. There was no hunger, no greed, and no anger among us. There was only the great unknown to be discovered. The possibility of what was to come. Gene Roddenberry was by no means a perfect man, and that is made clear in this film. He was however, a visionary that has impacted the generations of television and filmmakers that would come after him. At the core of that is Gene’s deep need to tell a story of hope, something applicable for all people across all time.
Trek Nation is an excellent documentary and you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice by not tuning in tonight to watch. Trekkie or not. You’ll be surprised by some of the things people had to say about Roddenberry and his vision, including Martin Luther King. Enjoy.
