Inside Star Trek: The Real Story - Softcover

Herbert F. Solow; Robert H. Justman

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0671009745 ISBN 13: 9780671009748

Publisher: Star Trek, 1997

Synopsis

An insider's account of the making of the original classic television series discusses the origins and development of a cultural phenomenon, offering a fascinating look at the actors and their characters, scripts, directors, budgets, and weekly TV production. Reprint.

About this title

From the Publisher:

In the spring of 1964, a rumpled, soft-spoken ex-cop named Gene Roddenberry walked into the office of Herbert F. Solow, the new head of production at Desilu Studios. Roddenberry presented an idea for a new science fiction television series called Star Trek. Immediately seeing the show's potential, Solow struck a script development deal with Roddenberry on the spot. Soon, Solow and Roddenberry brought Robert H. Justman on board as assistant director and together the three men embarked on an incredible odyssey that would make television history. Inside Star Trek is a comprehensive look at the development and life of a television and cultural phenomenon. It is also a story no one else could tell. Between them, Solow and Justman had a hand in virtually every aspect of the development and production of Star Trek--from the battles with NBC and the internal conflicts with studio executives to the behind-the-scenes decisions about actors and their characters, writers, scripts, directors, budgets, and the endless details of weekly television production. Here is the simple, fascinating and accurate account of a unique television series launched against astronomical odds‹a series that transported millions of viewers into another world and into an unprecedented, thirty-year, multimedia, multibilliondollar cultural phenomenon.

From Kirkus Reviews:

A highly detailed account of the Star Trek phenomenon, written with affection but without zest by two men who were instrumental in the creation and production of that innovative show. Solow was ``responsible for the sale, development and production'' of the series; Justman served as Star Trek's co- producer. Together, they offer a chatty encyclopedia chronicling nearly every aspect of how the show was made. Fans of celebrity gossip will find some interesting (although generally familiar) material. For instance, the book explores, as it must, the brilliant yet flawed character of Star Trek's creator, Gene Roddenberry, and the competition between series stars William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. But the bulk of this volume concerns the technological and commercial aspects of producing the show. Justman and Solow recount in fervent detail how the lighting, special effects, music, costumes, scripts, and sets of the series were created. Desilu Studios, Star Trek's home, was not a wealthy operation, and the show's first season was an especially harried one. Scenes often had to be reshot because the studio's ancient arc lights popped and squealed. Only a few sets for scenes on alien planets existed; the same props were ingeniously altered for each new show. We learn, as well, about the studio personnel, about the corporate rivalries and in-fighting that typified television production in general and Desilu Studios in particular. (The anecdotes about Lucille Ball are wonderful, as are Solow and Justman's descriptions of the manic day-to-day business of producing a series.) To their credit, the authors are not mean- spirited, rarely pompous, and seldom self-righteous. Unfortunately, the narrative is listless and without a distinctive personality. The bland prose coupled with almost numbing detail make it slow going. Still, despite its flaws, Star Trek completists and fans certainly will want to read this book. (First printing of 75,000) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Star Trek
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0671009745
• ISBN 13: 9780671009748
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 480