QuestChat

Date: September 16, 1998

Featuring: Eugene Roddenberry
Technical Advisor, "Earth: Final Conflict"
Toronto, Ontario Canada

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 9 - 15:14:48 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] I am logged in for todays chat
Welcome, Skytzo. We expect to begin our chat in approximately 15 minutes. Please stay with us!

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 12 - 15:30:02 ]
Hello and welcome to today's Space Team Online-Challenge Project chat with Eugene Roddenberry! Eugene is currently working on a science fiction television series called "Earth: Final Conflict". He is the son of Gene Roddenberry, who was the creator of the original "Star Trek" series. His goal is to ensure that the "Gene Roddenberry Philosophy" stays alive and well within the series. He provides useful commentary and suggestions on each and every outline, script, and revision that is spawned.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 13 - 15:30:46 ]
And now, here is Eugene Roddenberry to answer your questions.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 16 - 15:36:46 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] Hi, I was wondering, are you working on and of the Star Trek Shows as well, or just the Earth - final conflict ?
Skytzo, I'm just working on EFC for now. Paramount is doing a fine job with the Star Treks.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 18 - 15:37:26 ]
RE: [EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto] Skytzo, I'm just working on EFC for now. Paramount is doing a fine job with the Star Treks.
Have u enjoyed the both EFC and Star Trek?

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 19 - 15:39:17 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] And, Being interested in Science Fiction and intertainment industry, I was wondering if you knew how one would go about getting involved in that field ?
Skytzo, that's a good question. It is a difficult field to get inot. Some of us have it a bit easier that others. Obviously my father got me into the business. But I know it takes a lot of time, hard work, and persistence. Keeping at it is the best thing you can do~!

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 21 - 15:40:41 ]
RE: [EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto] Skytzo, that's a good question. It is a difficult field to get inot. Some of us have it a bit easier that others. Obviously my father got me into the business. But I know it takes a lot of time, hard work, and persistence. Keeping at it is the best thing you can do~!
Don't ever get down on yourself or thing you are notgood enough for the business. Just about anyone who like to think can do it.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 23 - 15:43:30 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] I love the Star-Trek series, more the Voyager and Enterprise series to the Deep space 9 though.. I'm afraid I haven't seen Earth - final confilct actually yet.. AS I live in South Africa, and we are a bit behind as far as shows are concerned.
I see, Hopefully you will get it soon! It is very different from Star Trek.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 25 - 15:45:19 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] I am interested in Computers and that field, and have always wanted to work for LucasARts or Dream Works special effects as being able to make special effects as seen in the Star-Trek series and/or movies such as Armageddon . . . But there aren't exactly courses in special effects at university.
WEll, I'm not so sure about that. I'm not sure about where you are thinking of going, as far as universities go, but I know that there are some good film school that caver a variety of modern day movie making. I just don't know where, exactly, they are.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 27 - 15:48:04 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] So what exactly do you advise on for the series ?? Do you adjust the script every week or advise when they have a question on technical details concerning the show ?
Another Good Question, I advice on the shows continuity, meaning I try and make sure that what they do in one episode does not contradict what they do in another. I also add general comments throughout the script.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 30 - 15:52:15 ]
Skytzo, do you mind if i ask you name? First name only of course.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 32 - 15:53:37 ]
Skytzo and others, do you have additional questions for Eugene Roddenberry?

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 35 - 15:59:30 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] My name is Josh.. Yeah, I have a few questions. I am actually American, but live in South Africa, and will be going back next year. Thats why I am interested in looking into possibly channeling into the digital effects domain.
Wel, as far as comnpanies gfo, I know for a fact that there a Jobs in Toronto. Unfortunately you need to know your stuff. There's a school up hgere called SHERIDAN. Apparenlty almost everyone who works up here in Digital/Visual/Speacial effects went to this school.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 38 - 16:00:47 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] tell me, are you the one who gets do make up or imagine the new technology and new races that are discovered on the show ? Such as the klingon race, as I understand that an entire language had to be created for them.. is that true ?
Well, I unfortunately do not have that job. Most of those detail about our aliens are usually created later by the fans.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 41 - 16:03:49 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] As i have not seen Earth - final conflict, I must ask, does it also show the Earth of the future in a situation that you believe we will one day witness ourselves. Such as Star-Trek and a peaceful united earth Federation ?
Well, so far this show doesn't really touch on that so much. The producrs have geared it more for action. Very few "what if" senerios have been broached.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 43 - 16:04:25 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] Sheridan.. Sounds interesting.. thanks.
actually, send me an email and I will try and get u more information.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 44 - 16:06:04 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] Is EFC filmed in Toronto because its cheaper to film in Canada ?
That's 100% correct!

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 47 - 16:08:37 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] So, where as I suppose you would like to use the shows as a "conduit" as you said in your auto-biography, you are still stuck with the fact that ratings count and thats what pays the bills. ??
Unfortunately that is also 100% correct!

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 49 - 16:09:37 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] So, where as I suppose you would like to use the shows as a "conduit" as you said in your auto-biography, you are still stuck with the fact that ratings count and thats what pays the bills. ??
Unfortunately that is also 100% correct!

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 51 - 16:11:22 ]
RE: [EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto] Unfortunately that is also 100% correct!
Ideally it would be nice to use the show as a conduit AND have good ratrings. However, that would take really excellent writers and I personally do not feel that I could accomplish that just yet.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 53 - 16:12:20 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] Do you ever plan on creating a show or series of your own one day ??
WEll, I'm 24 and have a long way to go before that happens. But I would definately like to do one in the future.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 54 - 16:13:35 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] where do you go to Scuba Dive, as I suppose Canada is not the best place for that..
Very True, Although I hear there is some nice diving in Georgian bay. I usually go in California, Channel Islands. The Florida Keys, and Rockport MA. Do u dive?

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 56 - 16:16:11 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] How many writers does it take to put a show like EFC together each week ?
hmmmm, Well, that all depends on the quality on material that you want to put out as well as the quality of writer you have working on the show.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 61 - 16:21:13 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] I would love to dive, as some of my friends do, but I hear the best places are The Great barrier Reef, Somewhere outside Kenya and at islands like Mauritius, Seycheles...... I'm finishing school this year, as South African Schools run on a January to December year.. So, when i get a job, then I suppose I could afford to scuba dive :)
True, it is a pricy sport!Just watch out for those Great White in SA!

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 63 - 16:22:40 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] Uhm, I was wondering, did your father come up with the idea for Earth Final Conflict as well as the way it is described seems to lead to that ?
Well, yes, my father did come up with the original concept of EFC. But it was originally called "Battleground Earth"

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 65 - 16:23:18 ]
SO what r u studying in SA?

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 66 - 16:24:18 ]
I had somne friend who spent a month diving in tha Seycheles.

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 71 - 16:29:29 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] hehe, Lucky for me the Great White are only found in the cold waters near Cape Town.
Well, Let me plug my website: http://www.philosophysphere.com Check it out!

[ EugeneRoddenberry/Toronto - 72 - 16:30:21 ]
RE: [Skytzo-Skytzo] I am finishing High-School.. I've done Math, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Art, Language and Computer Sciences.. I plan on doing a Bs in Computer Engeneering when I get back to the states. Prob at Boulder Colorado.
Take Care Josh!! -EWR

[ Skytzo-Skytzo - 74 - 16:30:50 ]
And from there, trying to use my degree or degree's to get into the entertainment industry.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 73 - 16:30:47 ]
This concludes our chat with Eugene Roddenberry, who is participating in the Space Team Online-Challenge Project.

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 76 - 16:31:41 ]
Check the Space Team Online chat schedule at http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/chats/challenge_chats.html for information on upcoming chats with Space Team and Challenge Project participants.

[ Skytzo-Skytzo - 78 - 16:32:21 ]
Ciao'

[ Oran/NASAChatHost - 79 - 16:33:03 ]
A special thanks to Eugene Roddenberry for chatting with us today. Please join us again for our Space Team Online-Challenge Project chats.