American Cinematographer - December 1986 - 46

the philosophy the kind of stuff
that lingers with you, that is re¬
vealed to you later. You think,
'Was there something going on in
that movie while I was sitting there

Sliding tilt plate

Model 190B

enjoying myself? Could this possi¬
bly happen?' This is not a China
Syndrome, in other words, where
the problem is what the picture is
about." Nimoy hesitated, ".
It is
.

and it isn't. It's handled in

.

an en¬

tirely different way."
Star Trek IV

Matte box rod holder

SA-66

clearly has

a

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7943 Haskell Avenue Unit #32
Van

Nuys, California 91406

Introducing

Larry's Bag.

film in

a vacuum.

can

There

make

are

a

many

but three. With the

same cast.

of fans. With over
70 story lines that have already
been developed. In other words,
how could a director possibly
come up with something original,
zo

years

but true to its origins? Nimoy no
doubt called upon all his re¬

plus those of his alter ego
Spock, to come up with a new ap¬
proach for a Star Trek movie. This
one takes place primarily in con¬
temporary San Francisco, and it's
funny.
sources,

"What

do, frankly, is

have

a very

set out to

dangerous. I

to serve a lot of mas¬
I wanted to continue and

wrap up some

left

we

trying

ters.

threads that

were

from Star Trek III. At the
time I wanted to make an

over

same

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Patentpending

one

give any impression that
turning our back on the
fans or are leaving them behind at
all. Quite the contrary, I think
they are going to eat this up! One
of the things that Star Trek fans
always enjoyed a lot about the se¬
want to

we

are

ries

was

the humor. There

sibilities for a
much of the film

December 1986

the pos¬
"movie movie,"
shot

on

loca¬

al¬

was forbidden. I mean it was
forbidden! It was decided that we

I it

ture

doing a serious motion pic¬
here, we would not do funny

stuff.
"I'll
-

give

you an

example.

which filmed for six

months was really a trial for the
because we were not very
much in it at all. We were, much
of the time, looking off camera at
-

things that would later be done by
Doug Trumbull or his crew. We
were looking in wonderment and
awe and saying things like, 'What
do you think it is?'
"

'1 don't know.'

"

'What do you

up

was

was

something tongue-in-cheek if
not flat-out comedy. There was al¬
ways some wry look, a line, an
eyebrow raised, something that let
them in on the joke. On Star Trek
ways

actors

open

It is

be reckoned with if one
makes Star Trek movies. "I don't

people who had

To

turn.

must

Star Trek I

on that. I also wanted to make it
accessible to people who don't go
to Star Trek movies. I wanted to
make it a movie movie."

left

intentionally very different. I felt
strongly about the fact that II
and III were really of a kind. They
both were played with black-hat
heavies. We are the good guys and
they are the bad guys and we have
to beat them. I really wanted to
make a change in that this time."
Nimoy was quick to
point out that he had not forgot¬
ten the fans. They are a force that

wanted to make a film that would
be accessible and enjoyable to

joy this picture. I think we're okay

a

very

were

not seen Star Trek
III. I hate to think that people
would think that they have to have
seen Star Trek III in order to en¬

is different in

tone. Star Trek IV
like a Star Trek movie

entirely different kind of film.
opposition
think we
pulled it off. At the same time, I

Those ideas seemed in
to each other, but I

44

Nimoy. "This
setting and in
starts out

was

The first
filmmaker's bag
designed by a working filmmaker.
Provides ready access to accessories
in any working situation. Holds most
16/35mm 400' magazines plus Matt
Box. rods, French flag, Slate, etc.
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carry-on requirements. Weighs less
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complete information, call or write:
Larry Huston Studio,
40 E. 21 St., N.Y, N.Y. 10010

stages with Star Trek. Numbers /,
II and III were all shot primarily
on
sound stages," explained

and then it makes

No director

too.

With

JB

firma of the 1980s. "In the past,
have been confined to sound

we

side,

one,

Model 280M

right where the last one left off.
Through a familiar science fiction
device, our voyagers soon find
themselves on the good old terra

serious side. But there is another

things that must be considered,
but Nimoy was confronted by an
unprecedented dilemma. How
many television shows have been
developed into money-making,
award-winning features? Not just

Geared tilt plate

tions in the San Francisco area. It
starts out in space - on Vulcan,

think it is

going to do next?'
"

'I don't know!'
American Cinematographer - December 1986

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