The Success of Our Time: Axanar Powers On

Are we heading into a new golden age of Star Trek spurred on by fans and their passion for the subject?

From our perspective it seems like it after the first Star Trek: Axanar Kickstarter campaign closed last weekend smashing it's $100,000 target and reaching $638,471 by close of play on Sunday 24th August. The highest stretch goal they had accounted for was at $400,000 so this was massively unexpected and incredibly $200,000 was added in the last 24 hours after one George Takei promoted the film and showed his support for the project.

But what is it about this independent Star Trek production which has inspired not just fans and backers but members of the show's various casts to not only promote Axanar but want to be in it as well? What is it that has made this the Star Trek film every fan this side of the Bajoran Wormhole is talking about?

Axanar

"I first saw mention of the Axanar project on Doug Drexler’s Facebook page. I can’t recall if he posted or commented, but the reference was to Tobias Richter doing some design work for a pre-TOS project." said friend of SKoST and franchise fan, Dan Foster; "I went to their Facebook and have been watching closely ever since. I was really impressed early on with references to the FASA game timeline (which was really the game that pushed me over the edge from “casual fan” to “Trekkie Acolyte”) and that Richter would be borrowing some influence from the Alternate Original Series (AOS) timeline, popularly known as the JJVerse."

For Dan though, what's drawn him in and might be the same for many fans is the work of that graphic designer: "I think Mr. Richter did an incredible job taking the best of the two design philosophies.  I am a sucker for “nacelle porn” and he was really delivering.  Then they started talked about the Prelude film and cast and I realized this was more than just a fun fan production; this was the next step in Star Trek’s evolution."

Axanar

Interesting points there because those designs by Richter are simply spectacular and have taken the outer space experience to another level that makes CGI from the latter Star Trek series look amateur on occasion. Having Richter among those involved steps up the game for Axanar and shows they are 110% serious about delivering the ultimate Star Trek experience that fans want.

"I am a fan of the Abrams films," continued Dan,  "- we can have that discussion another time - but have watched the available technology available to any fandom reach a point where the studios are no longer really necessary for new features.  If a show was cancelled too soon, OK.  That show’s fandom can now take it a run with it.  I know Star Trek isn't dead (the box office on the last two movies proves that) but since Star Trek has always lent itself toward alternate versions or histories or different takes on canon, it is a great platform to showcase the professional level fan production.  Axanar seems to be doing just that.

In the end, I will pay for good entertainment.  I go to movies, buy videos; now instead of a movie ticket I just give to Kickstarter.  I can live with my money going there rather than CBS or Paramount (though I wonder how long those companies will be comfortable with it) and Paramount never sent me a cool uniform patch for buying a ticket!"

Can't argue with any of that at all. It seems to be the way forward. We hear a lot more about great series, films and more finding their audience before they even get made through the power of these funding campaigns - if you can't raise it, no-one wants to see it. Fans can keep projects alive and series going by having them funded and put elsewhere. Ripper Street in the UK is a good example - axed by the BBC and picked up by Netflix; Renegades from Tim Russ and co is also crowd-funded and looking for a web-series after the pilot if it's a success. Would Firefly have continued for instance if Kickstarter or Netflix had existed back in the day?

Anyway - the crucial thing with Axanar is that it's returning Star Trek to the fans and back to its origins that have also welcomed series Phase II and Continues to name but two.

And what about why fans have given their cash so freely to the project? Is it because of that? "I think some is a nostalgia for the pre-JJ days," continued Dan, "but I also think the obvious care and passion the producers of Axanar have for this project is what sways a lot of people. We like to support people who enjoy what we do, and as much as I defend the Abrams movies, he is the guy who said in interviews he wasn't a fan."

Aaron Gallo from the Starfleet Escape Podcast, who interviewed Alec Peters early on before Prelude had been filmed, thinks it might be down to the exec producer as to why Axanar has been a killer success with fans; "I think a lot of it has to do with the enthusiasm of Alec Peters. The way he pitches the story to the world makes you think, "Hey this could be something great." I think it will borrow a lot of the grit from the Dominion Wars and add a sense of realism to the battles that we have not seen before in Star Trek. There seems to be dedication to keeping this in line with what is canon in the "prime" universe which I think fans care about."

Aaron and the Podcast team recently discussed the Prelude and were clearly blown away as we all were - even suggesting a campaign of #archerforaxanar via Twitter - which makes sense seeing as the former NX-01 captain was present at the launch of NCC-1701.

"Fans have been saturated with crowd funded projects recently." said Aaron; "I myself never imagined fans would raise the amount of funds that they have in the past year. Is that sustainable? I honestly do not know. Axanar might be special in the fact that they produced a quality 20 minute feature that gave fans a taste of something they've never seen in the realm of independent Star Trek productions. Would another Kickstarter campaign from Axanar reach the same levels that this one has? I don't know. I find it hard to see that happening without a second short production being produced in the interim to entice new donors to the table."

Axanar

And there Aaron has hit the nail on the head - Phase II and Continues as well as Brit Star Trek project Ambush have done very well from crowd-funding (and there are a lot that have failed) but it's been near impossible to get away (not that we want to) from Axanar. The campaign has been spectacular and the transparency of how the money will be used has been exceptional from the off. The recently concluded first fundraiser raised almost double it's top stretch goal and seeing if this is sustainable to the end is going to be well worth the wait. I think Axanar will make the grade because fans want to invest in it. Prelude showed what could be achieved on a fraction of the budget and still be a unique and professional production. It made us believe to a point where even we donated to the cause which never happens.

For me the detail that we know about the background of Axanar is key to fans buy in as they understand what the aims of the project are coupled with some brilliant perks for those willing to part with their cash. At the end though there was one massive hand that helped push the funds to another level as exec producer Alec Peters adds; "Without a doubt, the two posts by George Takei on his Facebook page, and his Tweet, gave us a huge boost on the last day. We owe him a huge debt of gratitude."

Not that it needed a big boost but having the social media powerhouse of Takei behind them can't be a bad thing. There again is another winning factor - the Axanar team have created something that people directly linked to the franchise's 50 year history are proud to discuss and shout about - it's that good. So good that even as we roll towards the time to get sets built and film the adventure, even more names are getting linked to the production.

And how about a word from the latest addition to the Axanar cast who will be playing the role of a Klingon commander? None other than one of the most accommodating actors we've had the pleasure to chat to, a man who was intrigued by the chance to play a member of the classic warrior race; Garrett "Harry Kim" Wang; "I think it is a climate of hope for new Trek television content. It's been 9 yrs [and] I think it's the choice of actors like JG Hertzler finally playing a human character; my playing Klingon for the very first time..."

He's not wrong - and we've still to see Michael Hogan in front of the screen to add to the Roll of Honour that makes up the exceptional cast. For every cast and production there has to be someone conducting that orchestra so to speak and in this instance it's Christian Gossett.

Taking a few moments from his busy schedule, Christian also shared his thoughts on why Axanar has gone from strength to strength: "First you have Alec, for whom this is a do or die project of love and vision. Secondly, there is Alec's choice of director and writing partner(!)"

While that point might have been made with tongue firmly in cheek, Christian is a key element in the whole process, bringing Alec's vision to the screen and making sure it holds true to the page. In fact the director's perspective here is really interesting, looking more about how the team has worked behind the camera to bring this production to life - a team of stellar talent who truly believe in Axanar and have decades of experience between them.

"I'd have to say that the professional network of co-producer Jhennifer Webberley was absolutely critical to our success. Thanks to her we brought on Carter Smith, a veteran camera professional to assemble a world class camera, lighting and electric team. This alone put us on par with world class productions. It also allowed us to take full advantage of the incredible cast we had. Actors are very important to me, and I wanted them shot right, made up right, taken care of correctly, to be involved in the making of their characters and dialogue. This was possible because of Jhennifer and Carter, both veterans of the industry.

The next element for me is director of photography Milton Santiago, who sculpted the light so beautifully on the faces of our actors and gave us a look that matched the unique and incomparable 3D action of Tobias Richter, without whom everything Alec and I dreamed of becomes much more difficult if not impossible."

Richter has had a massive impact on the imagery of the project as noted already. His creations are not only iconic but an essential part of the Axanar experience. "I'll give Alec the lion's share of the credit here as he approached Tobias and earned his interest. Every time I think of Tobias, I breathe a sigh of gratitude and relief. His love for Star Trek is expressed in his work and his work is, I will repeat, incomparable."

On that note we just can't wait - the more we do though, the more calibre actors we see added to the impressive "Who's Who" line up. As we noted, the perks for supporting are amazing - posters, t-shirts, fleet patches, scripts, (and for the more financially stable) set visits and production credits. A donor store is due to open soon if you've missed anything from the earlier campaigns that might have tempted you to open the wallet. Star Trek: Axanar is a force to be reckoned with and that's not to question because 8,548 backers can't be wrong. Set construction is now funded and as well as donors getting a nice Andorian patch extra, the team can modify their warehouse for the film and pay pre-production costs. I would also suspect the additional funds over that total will be well-used to make the final film even more stunning and well-produced. We're in for the long haul and wish every success to the team.

Why do you think Axanar has been such a runaway fundraising success? Have we got it right? Why not comment below...

Thanks also to all those who contributed to this article!

You can view the brilliant Prelude to Axanar via the official site NOW

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Going Green: Susan Oliver's Story In Full

Fiercely Independent

Those two words have stayed with me all the way since I first spoke to George Pappy about his biographical opus, The Green Girl in February of this year and now, having seen the pic, I agree that those six syllables do sum up Susan Oliver very succinctly.

Even with spending a good amount of time talking to director/writer/producer George, I didn't know what I was going to get but I did know it would be something that I would walk away from at least knowing a bit more about the girl behind the green.

Let's touch on that first actually - aside from the introductory reel and a few minutes within the body of the documentary, Star Trek and Susan's appearance in it do not take up a great deal of the running time. Now for some fans that might make you let your shoulders drop and feel shortchanged but what it makes you realise is how such a small part of her life made her recognisable to millions - and still does.

Pappy's work here covers everything from her birth as Charlotte Gercke on February 13th 1932 through to her death on May 10th 1990 but rather than taking a straight journey between those two points we're taken through a structured narrative arranged around key parts of her full life; her early acting career, the multitude of guest star roles, her relationship with her mother, her money issues, relationships, becoming a qualified pilot and her adept but underused skills at directing for television.

greengirlmovie.com

Edited by Pappy and Amy Glickman Brown, the format is standard with talking heads mixed with footage from a ton of classic shows such as The Invaders, Rawhide, Peyton Place, Wagon Train and The Virginian - but naming only those is a tiny drop in the pool and a search on IMDb will show you how prolific Susan Oliver was in the 1950's, '60's and 70's in front of the camera.

But as I said to start, those words echoed right through my watching of The Green Girl and as you listen to her friends, family and co-stars you get a better idea that Susan only ever did what she wanted to do and when she wanted to do it. Yes, there were year on year guest appearances in certain shows that she went back for but there was more going on away from the screen to keep her busy whether it was property management, getting to grips with the nature of the male-dominant directorial world or challenging herself to fly across the Atlantic solo. The acting helped pay for all this to become a reality but we do get a sense that it wasn't all happiness.

Google Images

Appearing alongside her step-brother James Gercke and step-sister Skip Gercke are female director Nancy Malone (who is credited on a couple of Voyager episodes) who is still fired up about the lack of women behind the camera and relates just how difficult life there was made difficult for Susan to the point where she had trouble getting a gig. There's also Celeste Yarnall who guest starred in The Apple as Yeoman Martha Landon and Catwoman/Star Trek guest Lee Merriwether. Talking more of their appreciation of Susan Oliver as an actress goes to show how well known she was but how her choice early in her career to get out of a contract affected her ability to get a major role thereafter. 

However as we see, she blossomed in other areas that even to the people interviewed find amazing to hear about in some cases. I for one found the story of her relationship (in more than one sense it seems) with flight instructor Mira Slovak very interesting when you got into the finer points about Susan's choice to make the potentially life-threatening flight across the Atlantic. Great for publicity but awful for your health but that didn't stop her from accumulating five flight world records during her time in the air. 

That's the big draw with The Green Girl aside from the blatant Star Trek link - Susan Oliver was not just a bit part actress. Her potential, even at the time of her death, was still hugely untapped and there could have been a chunk more for her to do - maybe even direct. That side to her was, as we see from both actors who worked for her on assignments or from peers such as Laurie Agard and the previously noted Nancy Malone, scuppered mainly due to a bad experience on one show one time - but as with the acting career that never flourished into full A-List stardom, one problem can cause life to spiral in a different direction. 

It is indeed that Fierce Independence which took Susan Oliver through every point in her life and made such an impact on the people we see here and I came away feeling as though Hollywood let her down or maybe passed her off to easily when there were seemingly so many who appreciated and understood what she was about.

The most telling aspects of The Green Girl are from two of her friends, actor Biff Maynard and Ron Wright-Sherr. While the other faces provide us with a close analysis of her working life such as David Hedison (nice guy, met him once on the way to the loo), Monte Markham (sadly I only remember him from a stint on Baywatch) and Ray Thinnes (quite good in The X Files as well as The Invaders); it is these two people who take us closest to Susan Oliver's real persona and seem to have understood who she was the most. After 90 minutes of putting the pieces of her life into perspective for the camera it is the emotions that rise to the surface for both Ron and Biff which show how much she is still missed 24 years after she succumbed to cancer.

It left me a little emptier knowing how such a packed, vibrant life had flicked and fizzled at the end - maybe fame was something Susan Oliver subconsciously shunned (she adamantly refused to have a star on the Boulevard) and is only now, thanks to this production, being recognised. I'm very glad that these 90 minutes don't focus heavily on her Star Trek appearance as it could easily have done. Fans of the show will be drawn because of the title but I don't think they will be disappointed with the result.

George Pappy has devoted the last few years to The Green Girl and I think he can walk away happy. It is a superb testament to the work ethic, the life and the beliefs of a woman who has for too long only been remembered for being Vina, stuck behind the final shot of the closing credits of one season of Star Trek when there were more layers and stories about her that had never been told. This documentary lays it all out and while it paints a very favourable picture of Susan Oliver you feel that there are still more things that we could do with understanding but may never uncover, in particular the relationship with her mother which is touched upon but not to the extent that it seems to have controlled her life. Nor do we see any of those who disagreed with Susan or had issue with her at one time or another.

While that might have put a negative spin on some aspects it would have darkened the production and the overall focus on achievement which we see in Susan's 58 years on this world. Keeping it positive reflects that ferocity to succeed in shadowy times that this actress faced at points in her life and I think she would be proud. The tragedy that was her forgotten, extensive and varied career is now worldwide - after all, having your story immortalised in such a poetic way through the words and recollections of those you knew alongside the moments of your career is going to last a lot longer than any old star on a pavement....

You can get your copy of The Green Girl now by heading over to the website.

When We Talked to Marc

With all our technical obstacles overcome we can finally post our interview with author, Marc Cushman.

For those of you in the know, it's also a pretty time to post this as July 13th marks 45 years since Star Trek was originally broadcast in the UK. For me in particular this is massively significant since without my Dad ever watching those airings I would never have caught the bug in the mid-80's and watched the BBC2 repeats then.

Shortly before the release of These are the Voyages season two we were granted a hour to chat to the man behind the three-volume series - but it went over by some time.

Which is why we've edited the interview into "bitesize" segments running from the introduction right through to our little test for Marc - but we'd recommend you listen in order.

So without anymore waffle, drop in and join us as we talk to Marc about all things Star Trek and importantly, the arrival of the second book in the series....and there are a few gems of info dotted here and there too....

Introduction

Back to the 80's

So how did Marc get into all this and where did it stem from?

Getting into the Voyages

It took a few years to get started but now it's in full flow...

Compiling the Volumes

Marc talks about his expectations for the series.

Printing Up

Working with the publishers, producing the covers and the differences in the stills used and others out there.

Talking Research

Getting those key interviews and sources before it's too late; and what was going on with Spock's Brain???

Six from SKoST

And just to test Marc's substantial knowledge of The Original Series...

Wrapping Up

Thanks to Marc and signing off...

These are the Voyages is available right now from Jacobs Brown priced $29.95. You can purchase your copy by dropping over to the site HERE.

Did you know you can now join up with us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or even +1 us on Google+? If you didn't why not drop over there now!

Takei - as in Okay

How have I missed this?

To Be Takei might not be your standard movie offering but I genuinely had no idea that there was a film purely focusing on the diverse life and experiences of Enterprise helmsman and Excelsior captain and all round top guy, George Takei.

Back in the nineties I grabbed a copy of his To the Stars autobiography and was surprised at the diverse ways in which his life had turned. I wasn't as enamored with it as I had been with both of Shatner's Memories books but I still found it to be a great read and full of wonderful anecdotes about George Takei.

Directed by Bill Weber and Jennifer M Kroot, the initial release of this biopic was January 2014 but it will now receive a universal release with the USA opening on (provisionally) August 22nd 2014

To Be Takei looks to place a lot of the material in that book onto the screen as well as more intimate details about Takei's life with partner Brad and more on the events that have taken place since the original publication of the book. George's rise to even greater levels of fame are clearly going to be explored here and I'd say that's the biggest change since he originally put pen to paper. The focus on his sexuality is a major piece here since it had to be "closeted" to ensure his career was a success in the early years while now it is openly and happily acknowledged.

As with Wil Wheaton, the coming of the digital age and the explosion of social media has provided George with a whole new audience as well as the ability for long-time Star Trek fans to follow his tweets, Facebook musings and Google+ highlights - damn it even my step-son follows him and he won't ever be found watching the teaser of a Voyager let alone the titles or anything thereafter. His material on any platform is very accessible to all ages and George has 100% hit the mark and the button which makes people interested in what he has to say whether it's over a weird meme or on gay rights for which he has become a major voice in the USA and dare we say, globally.

This trailer gives a fantastic journey into the original Sulu's life seeingly intercut with interviews from Nichelle Nichols, Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig, Bill Shatner and even the current Enterprise helmsman, John Cho, giving their thoughts on the popularity of Takei. Aside from the cast there are critics and journalists who join the fray to talk about his life from internment during the Second World War right up to today.

It looks like a stunning story and much expanded since the commitment to paper a while back and I'm genuinely excited to see the result which looks to hit just about every emotional tick-box you can imagine from pulling at your heart over his formative years through to the possibly comedic interactions we see with his partner, Brad at several points in this two minute trailer. 

Considering George Takei's meteoric rise in popularity in the last decade this could well be as surprise a hit as Star Trek (2009) but with a larger appeal to the general public who have warmed to the former Star Trek actor because of his seemingly endless and tireless activity and ambassadorial nature for gay rights in particular. Also, who can resist any of those memes he posts which reveal a very "smart humour" or some of the more hard hitting material that we see him share on his sites? For those people who aren't familiar with his background, To the Stars autobiography or his life away from Star Trek I guarantee this will be an absolute eye-opener and you'll instantly love the guy and follow his posts on whatever platform you choose to frequent.

Some time back there was a disproved rumour that Takei didn't operate his pages himself. The release of this movie should reinforce that he is behind the keyboard and takes a keen interest in his fans. As it's noted here in the trailer, no-one gets more positive reactions than Mr Sulu and this will be the icing on that very cake.

We'll be hoping to review the full movie as soon as it's released. Until then, here's the trailer...

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The Art of War - Klingon Style

"Well it's a hardback book."

So came the official review from my wonderful wife when I asked her to open the box and tell me what had arrived.

I expected a thin, quirky little volume akin to the recent A Very Klingon Khristmas and was pleasantly surprised to find that this is so much more than a gimmick and from the very start you can see there is genuine research and time taken in producing this book. Drawing extensively from episodes such as Rightful Heir, Firstborn, Apocalypse Rising and Soldiers of the Empire, Keith R A DeCandido has delved deep into Klingon heritage, separating the principles of how to prove yourself in the way of the warrior with ten distinctive principles. Covering everything from how to choose your enemy, to face them in battle through to die in a manner appropriate (avoiding imprisonment of course) it's the most thorough reference material into what makes a Klingon tick since Marc Okrand created their language. 

Each section relates a "real" event in-universe to the teachings to be put into practice. Linking those events in alongside numerous references to episodic material from every generation allows readers very easy access to the principles. The tragedy is that some of the material explaining historical events might not exactly be from the onscreen universe which means I did tend to read each page with a pinch of salt or might have indicated that I've forgotten a lot of things we've been told about the Klingons in the last 50 years.

In line with the historic narrative is a commentary from the supposed "modern-day" Klingon editor, K'Ratak which explains how each of the sections should be implemented in the life of a Klingon and this makes it much more than a Klingon storybook if you will.  Ok, so from time to time I got utterly lost and/or engrossed in the text and lost my way completely. It's not the easiest book to follow, I can say that, but I absolutely loved it because it is utterly different from any other Star Trek book out there today.

Rightful Heir from The Next Generation's sixth season might not make many people's favourites list but it did give us Kahless in a more believable form than we saw in The Original Series' The Savage Curtain. DeCandido has clearly based his materials around this more philosophical version of the esteemed Klingon, turning the qeS'a (that's the Klingon name for The Art of War) into something resembling a biography of the famed father of Klingon society. We learn of his victories, his travels and his one love with each section, becoming more aware of how the building blocks of this society were put together.

Reviewing is a difficult task at times and it was in a car park that I got to read the Fifth Precept which dealt with aspects of the Klingon people referred to in both Birthright, Part II and By Inferno's Light. Not only do you end up occasionally having a memory-jog of "That Klingon Moment" but suddenly it all seems to make a ton more sense than you realised. Here in this section we learn about Klingon games and their significance in the culture beyond the narrative of the episode while tying it into things we are familiar with. Honour does pop up a lot here - and I do mean a lot as you would expect but its repeated appearances are always justified and linked into the narrative. It might be to do with ensuring your death is worthy of a warrior's life or choosing when and how to strike a foe or perhaps even when to raise a challenge either towards a wrongdoer or when seeking to take command - in every instance the detail and process is meticulously discussed leaving you clear as to how to proceed.

The more I went into the Precepts the more I found it a fascinating read, essentially defining what makes a Klingon a Klingon - and then not necessarily a warrior. The qeS'a, we are told, can be applied to any walk of life in Klingon society - it is much more a guide for all than just those heading off for battle. Honour, as we've said, is absolutely key but there are ways in which an honourable Klingon needs to act and can be used in every Klingon's life not just those intending to fight.

Adding instances relating to Kor and Kang do add depth to the book and even manage to draw in threads from their appearances in Deep Space Nine and Voyager which I didn't expect. The latter series is not only responsible for references to Kang's mission during the events of Star Trek VI but also the Barge of the Dead experienced by B'Elanna Torres. Clearly the research is extensive and footnotes throughout do help a little to keep track of the Klingon terms and their significance outside the context. Don't think that it's all limited to the 1990's shows though as DeCandido has pulled in material relating to the Gorkon assassination covering General Chang and also the subsequent succession of Azetbur to head of the High Council. While her on screen appearance did little to flesh out the role, the text here certainly does, even going as far as helping us understand the line from Gorkon, through his daughter down to K'mpec, Gowron and most recently Martok as Chancellor.

That said, DeCandido has stepped outside "official" canon to some degree throughout, referencing the Typhon Pact and Quo'noS' near destruction at the hands of the Borg to name but two. I found that this was one of those things fans will either love or hate - it links in the other publications that come from Simon and Schuster but might confuse those whose experience with Star Trek stops at on-screen appearances and anything that's linked to those filmed stories. Perhaps in another sense it is confirming for us, the fans, that Star Trek in the Prime Universe at least will only continue to exist in the literature of fans rather than the small or big screen.

One thing that's also worth noting here are the illustrations which open each of the Precepts - covering images relating to material within each chapter we have recreated pictures featuring a younger, fully-forehead endowed Kor, Azetbur, as well as images relating to the chapter content. The style of these is very much in keeping with the Klingon Khristmas book from last year although slightly more focused on the warrior aspects of these people.

Rounding off the text are a couple of appendices which cover some ground regarding weapons of the Empire as well as two narratives regarding a case study of a battle and also the search for the historical Kahless. Again, not expected but engrossing reads none the less.

Cards on the table this will be an acquired taste and if you're not fussed with the Klingons or learning about their background in a decent amount of depth then I would point you elsewhere. Long-term fans will find a lot of superb material here. How much is "accurate" should be taken with at least a pinch of salt I guess but I don't think there's a finer example of non-Federation background literature available at the moment than The Klingon Art of War. Keith R A DeCandido should be proud of his achievement here. As both a casual read and an ongoing reference book he's done a top job.

The Klingon Art of War is available now from Simon and Schuster priced £17.99 ISBN 9781476757391

All sample images from startrek.com

London Called - Destination Star Trek Answered

Back at the place where it all started. It's official now even though we had a feeling it might just happen.

The return to the UK capital was announced on Friday 2nd May 2014 with tickets due to go on sale on Monday 2nd June 2014 but after the mammoth success of both London and Frankfurt, what more could this one do? What would we want to see at the third event?

We can assume there will be some form of The Next Generation reunion as hinted at by Marina Sirtis on Twitter recently but what else? Cast appearances are nothing new however there are a couple of significant anniversaries that are worth mentioning and we've been thinking a bit further...dangerous that.

Anniversary Celebrations

This year marks the 20th anniversary since the final episode of The Next Generation aired and Star Trek: Generations premiered (1994). What a great chance to get the crew and John de Launcie, Denise Crosby and Colm Meaney together for a bit of a reminisce? For Generations isn't this a great excuse for a Shatner/Stewart/McDowell chat? Braga and Moore could also be there to discuss the writing of both! 

Looking at the shows, Deep Space Nine also finished 15 years ago - I'd love to see the cast get together and maybe even get Andrew Robinson, Aron Eisenberg, Barry Jenner, Casey Biggs, Mark Alaimo, Louise Fletcher and JG Hertzler on board for a massive celebration? (I'm now thinking these ideas are taking the event way beyond any possibilities of budget but we can dream...)

Going back a bit further we can see that it's 30 years since The Search for Spock premiered in 1984 - need we say more? Perhaps something with the remaining cast and guest stars? How about a session with the guys who designed and built the iconic Bird-of-Prey, USS Excelsior and the Grissom?

It's also five years since Star Trek (2009) premiered - could this be the first chance to celebrate that rebirth in style and get SIX captains on the stage? Shatner, Stewart, Brooks, Mulgrew, Bakula AND Pine all at one event! Imagine that!

Fan Projects

While there will undoubtedly be a ton of costumes and props on display for all us fans to drool over why not have a big premiere event? Surely The Holiest Thing will be ready to go by October considering the recent splurge of funds from Kickstarter? If not what about if the fourth installment of Star Trek Continues will be available? It would certainly be a unique opportunity and something not done before. Also a chance to get the respective cast, producers and directors involved with Destination Star Trek and promote the continued voyages on this side of the pond.

Who could forget (nearly did actually) Renegades? Must be something they could pull out of the bag for this outstanding event what with all this new stuff they're drip feeding us?!

Hopefully this would also mean we might see some appearances from our friends at Axanar, Futures or Horizon leading a fan productions section? I'd be there for that one.

Bloggers' Forum/Workshops

Heck yes - this should be at the top of the list of course (!). Let's get the UK's foremost bloggers, media site managers and the like together for some idea battering and maybe even some Q and A with the attending fans - what do they like reading/seeing/engaging with? We're probably getting it all wrong so let's get some feedback from those that matter and make it all worthwhile (been a while since we last used that header...). We do know there will be fan forums with topics already being banded around on Twitter - Dominion War anyone? 

Gaming Sessions

Big event sessions for Star Trek Online or maybe the new Infinity Wars tradable online card game? Just a thought (and we have something on that shortly). It would get the community together in a different way - imagine seeing all those fans strategising in one place!

No question that Online will be there promo-ing loads of stunning upcoming new episodes and features - but what about having a special Destination episode that only gets to be played while the event is on or even more specifically AT the event? Given that it's only in October this might be a long shot. Still, hold it in reserve for the fourth one?!

Eaglemoss

Probably taking a bit of flak over the first run of issues but hey, what about this as a great occasion to officially reveal the 41-50 or even the 50-70 runs? Bring along some of the samples too - we've not seen much in the way of sneak peaks from the desk of Ben Robinson for a few months now. The last ones might even have been the Solar Sailor! Let's not stick them in a corner of an exhibitors room, why not get them on stage, get these guys to present what they're doing and interact with an audience - maybe even let a few of us bloggers interview them as part of the event? Wouldn't we love to see some juicy revelations about upcoming specials? How about having a starship that will only be available at the Destination events?! Hey, +Nils W. what about this being the USS Pasteur?!

What would you like to see at Destination Star Trek London? Is there an event you've thought would make a great attraction? Why not suggest it here!

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