Unpack a Star Trek 2 producer's strongly formulated 1978 -Memo

Summary

• A notorious Memo from 1978 addressed to Majel Roddenberry instructed her to stop leaking Star Trek 2 -Info.

• The leaks about Star Trek details were seen as a threat to paramount control of the franchise.

• Star Trek's intricate history reveals behind the scenes tension and drama around a big movie.

In the behind the scenes the world of Star TrekNothing says “Bold goes where no one has gone before” entirely as a passive-aggressive corporate memo. The now drunk 1978 communication from Paramount Executive Jeffrey Katzenberg to actress and Star Trek Royalty Majel Barrett Roddenberry is a rare window in the drama at the production offices. While the franchise swung from a proposed new TV series to a big movie, the excitement was already at warpical speed.

Memo, which resurrected thanks The three files Podcast hosted by Larry Nemecek, Paramount reveals increasing anxiety over leaks from within Star Trek Inner circle. Katzenberg pointed his finger – somewhat diplomatically – at Majel Barrett Roddenberry. Majel was an influential figure in the franchise, not just as a wife to Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry, but as an artist (nurse chapel, business computer and later Lwaxana Troi) and creative power.

The notorious Star Trek 2 Production Memo to Majel Roddenberry

Star Trek Is not a stranger to old memos that resumes to highlight creative conflicts from previous times. Dated January 19, 1978, Katzenberg Star Trek 2 Memo is addressed directly to Majel is a masterclass in professional discipline – with specify the facts and then go in to kill.

As you may know, we are currently analyzing all the aspects required to proceed with Star Trek II as a theatrical film.

Unfortunately, a lot of information-early and potentially destroying for our long-term planning-has leaked to the media and the public.

These are studio numbers for: “We love the free marketing, but we lose control of the story and you have to keep quiet.” Katzenberg (only 27 years old at this memo) continued with an order for Majel to stop leaking information about the upcoming film and added a carefully placed all-CAP command.

This has become most alarming, although we appreciate such a widespread interest in the project and aware of its future value for us. It is therefore imperative that no information about the film is currently being released. All requests and requests for such information should be referred to John Rothwell, who has joined us as a publicist on the project.

Podcast -Svärd Nemecek developed Majel's involvement in the press leaks. According to him, she ran the Convention Trail at that time and distributed potential information from internal documents to fans on the PR circuit. It may even have been Majel himself who lost the bomb that another movie was in works at Paramount. Thankfully for the impressed fans, this was the era before NDA's, the binding contracts that prevent Hollywood -insiders from spilling information.

Nemeck also suggests that some of the information leaked by Majel included details from the suspended Star Trek: Phase 2 series as well as internal production memos from early planning for what would become Star Trek 2: Khan's anger. And this was two months before the studio would continue with any official announcements. This was not free gossip-it was sensitive, insider level content that could increase the marketing strategies and send fan speculation that spiraled out of control at a time when the project was still in a fragile, early stage.

Why did Majel leaked Star Trek Info?

Majel probably did not spread rumors with the intention of harming the studio. She had a close relationship with fans of the franchise, and maybe just wanted to ignite the tension for the coming Hike Project, whatever it would be. She was often bombarded with questions from the press and fans of the Trekkie Conventions, and it is not difficult to see why she may have felt comfortable to let some things slide. After all, she was the wife of the original Creator, and maybe she assumed it gave her Carte Blanche.

Paramount had an interest in creating a new version of Star Trek that can succeed after the mixed critical reception of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Leaks about casting choices, character bows and thematic changes can put fans expectations in ways that the studio may not meet – or may not even want to. Majel's informal “status reports”, while they may have been well mean, went on the studio's toes.

But after the recent restoration of the Memoet 1978, some fans have claimed the possibility that her actions, at least partially, were in line with her husband Gene Roddenberry's increasingly full position in the studio. To know what we know now about Genes frustration over Star Trek 2 As a project, it is possible that the reason was more LUMS.

The larger picture brews behind memo

It was widely known that Roddenberry was dissatisfied with its declining role during the development of Khan's anger. He collided with Star Trek 2 Director Nicholas Meyer. He even tried to sabotage the project by leaking large plot points to the press itself-Nice death by fan favorite Tos Character, Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy).

Although direct evidence is scarce, it makes sense to wonder if Majel's leaks were part of a larger rowdenberry plan to influence public opinion or reconsider control over the franchise. That said, no public registers confirms Majel deliberately shared sensitive material against the wishes of the studio, and any speculation should be treated with care. Whether it is intentional or not, the result was the same: Paramount panicked and sent young Exec Katzenberg to close Majel. Memo ended with a pointed reminder and final request:

The project at its current stage can be seriously affected. And the success of a properly timed, well-coordinated future PR campaign can be compromised. I thank you for your cooperation. [Signed] JK

It is a mild basic element of the corporate velvet, but a clear signal that the studio saw the leaks – and potentially rowdenberry camp – as a threat to their control over the franchise.

Khan's anger Meet Roddenberry's anger

Many are considering now Star Trek 2: Khan's anger To be the movie that saved the franchise. Paramount brought in producer Harve Bennett to renew the struggling film series, and he brought with him a practical budget discipline in television style. Nicholas Meyer, a relative outsider to Hike The universe, was dropped to direct and reshape the tone of the series. Where Roddenberry's vision had leaned to cerebral sci-fi and utopian ideals, Meyer leaned to military precision, emotionally depth and classical story.

Meyer wrote the famous script in just twelve days – unredredged – and introduced a tone that was narrower, darker and more founded in character conflict. He centered the film on themes for aging, sacrifice and revenge and brought a welcome dose gravitas to the franchise. His approach reasoned both audiences and critics, but it was in sharp contrast to Roddenberry's idealism. It is no wonder that Roddenberry felt strange from the project.

While the source of the Spock leak has never been definitely confirmed, the latest speculation points to Roddenberry's office. The leak of Vulcan's death triggered intensive fan refunds before filming was even wrapped, and the filmmakers moved Spock's death to the climax and added hints to a possible resurrection.

Majel Barrett: A power player in his own right

Reducing Majel Barrett Roddenberry to “Genes wife” would be objectively incorrect. Majel was a basic figure in the franchise, both on the screen and behind the scenes. As an artist she had been a part of Star Trek From the start. As a business woman, she together led Lincoln Enterprises, a merchandising company that retained Hike Brand brand alive and profitable during their vacant years.

Her relationship with fans was built on openness and mutual enthusiasm. She was known to be sincere and treat fans as collaborators rather than consumers. From what was known about her as a person, it ultimately seems likely that her relationship with the fans affected her decision to share sensitive material in 1978, rather than Genes personal friction with the studio. But in the cold calculation of the company's Hollywood, this type of openness was risky. Studios saw fandom as an asset to be handled; Majel saw it as a society. And in 1978 these two opinions collided.