American Cinematographer - July 1989 - 113

Laszlo was the idea of
with Shatner. "Working

working
with Bill
was a
great incentive because
frankly, when an outsider directs
a

Star Trek movie, I don't think it

up. If they had called
and said we'd like you to
shoot this film and it'll be di¬
rected by so and so famous direc¬
measures
me

tor, the attraction would have
been a great deal less. The reason
I was attracted by the aspect of
Bill directing the film is that he
has been Star Trek, he is Star Trek.
You remove him from the scene
and there is no Star Trek. Who
understands Star Trek better from
the point of view of its special
audience than the person who is
Star Trek? I also wanted to do it
because it was part of a very fa¬
mous and well known series, and

having done

a

couple of those

before, such

as

First Blood and

Poltergeist II, I wanted to get
other one under my belt."

an¬

Laszlo's enthusiasm did
wane

Opposite page:
Scotty (James

possible film, but out of this kind

Doohan), followed
by Kirk (William
Shatner) and Spock
(Leonard Nimoy),

from time to time as he and
the director clashed over various
methods of achieving the best

of conflict often comes the most
creative solutions. "We were both
under different kinds of pressure

rush to try to save
the Enterprise.
Above: Crew

having to do with the tightness of

pitted

us

against each other. I understood
that Bill

was

under tremendous

Below: Laszlo

pressure, this being his first big
movie, especially since he hoped
to match the success of Leonard

takes

ing

on

light read¬
Bryant.

a

Nimoy, who had directed Star
Trek III and IV. Sometimes these

resulted in creative dif¬
we managed to do
not in spite of them, but

pressures

ferences, but

the film
because of them. We weathered
the storm and I have the highest

respect and admiration for the job
he's done and for the man that he
is. It was a great experience and

somehow,

as we

together,

we

went through it
became good

Laszlo

inevitably adjusts

friends."
his distinctive

style to accommo¬
date whatever film he happens to
be making, but prior to coming
aboard the Starship Enterprise,

ex¬

ploration team on a
strange planet.
Left: Capt. Klaa
(Todd Bryant) in
the Bird of Prey
prepares to attack.

the schedule and different ways
of doing things," Laszlo explains,

"and this sometimes

mem¬

bers watch the

he realized this

particular project

would have very specific de¬
mands due to the expectations of
Star Trek's legions of fans. "I felt
from the very first moment that
Star Trek has to be Star Trek," he

says emphatically. "Therefore,
my concept was not how to make
it different, but how to comply
with what I believed Star Trek's
audience expects to see.

If we
picture look like any of
other movies, I think we

made this

my

would have removed this film

July 1989

American

Cinematographer

59
American Cinematographer - July 1989

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