Commentary: Trek Stars 100: Yay, Editors!

Wise, Part 2: Citizen Kane.

Robert Wise is best known to movie fans as the multi Oscar-winning director of The Sound of Music and West Side Story. He's best known to sci-fi fans as the man who brought The Day the Earth Stood Still and Star Trek: The Motion Picture to the big  screen. But his most important contribution to the history of cinema came 38 years prior to going where no man had gone before. In 1941, Robert Wise edited Citizen Kane.

In this, the 100th episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike examine Wise's work on Orson Welles's masterpiece. We discuss what it is that an editor does, why Citizen Kane is so important to film history, and how Wise played an integral role in the picture's creation.

Running Time: 58 minutes 49 seconds

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Hosts

Max Hegel and Mike Schindler

Editor and Producer

Mike Schindler

Associate Producer

Become one! Support Trek.fm and Commentary: Trek Stars at the $25/month level or higher! Visit patreon.com/trekfm

Chapters

Editing (2:36)
Citizen Kane (13:25)
Editing Kane (29:07)
Trek Editors (45:44)
Wrap-up (49:53)

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As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 97: Only Half a Mess

Lindelof, Part 6: World War Z.

Despite its enormous popularity, Damon Lindelof's television series, Lost, is often criticized for its ending. But that did not stop Marc Forster and his team from hiring Lindelof to re-write the third act of the troubled Brad Pitt vehicle, World War Z. The movie went on to huge box office success, and much of the credit went to Lindelof and his co-writer, Drew Goddard.

On this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max are joined by John Mills of Words with Nerds to look at Lindelof's most recent cinematic endeavor. We discuss the similarities between the movie and the novel upon which it was based, the structural issues associated with the film, and how Lindelof and Goddard wrote the best ending possible for the movie. We also marvel at the cast of the audiobook.

Running Time: 56 Minutes 45 Minutes

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Hosts

Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Guest

John Mills

Topics

World War Z (1:45)
Thoughts on the Film (12:44)
The Ending (25:34)
Final Thoughts (37:56)
Wrap-Up (44:32)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 96: Spectacle Creep

Lindelof, Part 5: Star Trek Into Darkness.

Last year on Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike looked at the films that Damon Lindelof had written up to that point. Since then, Lindelof has written two more films. The first of these was Star Trek Into Darkness.

In this episode, we return to Lindelof's body of work to examine his work as a Star Trek writer. We discuss the concept of "spectacle creep" and how it applies to Into Darkness, the similarities and differences between Into Darkness and The Wrath of Khan, and the challenges of telling a small story on a big scale. We also remember the work of Next Generation director Robert Wiemer.

Running Time: 48 Minutes 37 Seconds

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Hosts

Max Hegel and Mike Schindler

Topics

The Parsec Awards (1:17)
Into Darkness (5:13)
Spock vs. Khan (15:57)
Kirk's Sacrifice (27:01)
Final Thoughts (32:29)
Robert Wiemer (39:31)
Wrap-Up (41:46)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 95: A Crazy Possessed Typewriter

Abrams, Part 4: Recap.

For someone held in such high regard by the film industry, J.J. Abrams has a fairly short resume when it comes to directing. As of now, he has only directed four features, including Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek, Super 8, and Star Trek Into Darkness.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max recap their look at Abrams's directorial work. We also discuss his upcoming film, Star Wars: Episode VII, and answer a listener's questions about Max's opinion of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.

Running Time: 1 Hour 19 Minutes 53 Seconds

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Hosts

Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Topics

Mission: Impossible III (1:05)
Star Trek (2:56)
Super 8 (32:40)
Star Trek Into Darkness (34:48)
Star Wars: Episode VII (41:04)
Final Thoughts (44:49)
Listener Feedback (51:10)
Closing (1:14:56)

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Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 94: What's in the Box?

Abrams, Part 3: Super 8.

In between Star Trek films, J.J. Abrams took a break from the franchise to direct his passion project, Super 8. The film, about a group of kids who accidentally film the wreck of a government train transporting an alien, is Abrams's homage to Steven Spielberg-era sci-fi blockbusters.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike are joined by John Mills of Words with Nerds to look at Abrams's most personal movie to date. We discuss the motivations of alien, what's inside the mystery box, and of course, lens flares. Max also answers a listener's question about what movies he thinks are good.

Running Time: 1 Hour 7 Minutes 46 Seconds

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Hosts

Max Hegel and Mike Schindler

Guest

John Mills

Topics

Super 8 (3:40)
The Alien (12:11)
The Mystery Box (20:59)
Lens Flares (30:45)
Final Thoughts (40:28)
Listener Mail (50:15)
Closing (1:03:11)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 93: A Giant Group of Talented Weirdos

Abrams, Part 2: Mission: Impossible III.

Before relaunching Star Trek, J.J. Abrams adapted another Desilu television show for the big screen with Mission: Impossible III. 

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max are joined by Tysto to look at Abrams's first feature. We discuss why Tom Cruise gave him the job, how it differs from the other Mission: Impossible films, and how it influenced his work in Trek. We also debate the merits of the script.

Running Time: 49 Minutes 38 Seconds

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Hosts

Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Guest

Tysto
 

Topics

Mission: Impossible III (4:22)
The Show (10:21)
The Movies (14:13)
Similarities to Alias (23:43)
The Writing (28:07)
Final Thoughts (38:06)
Wrap-up (39:19)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 92: A Fresh Coat of Paint

Abrams, Part 1: Trek.

In 2005, after eighteen consecutive seasons of television, Star Trek was suffering from "franchise fatigue." In an effort to revitalize the property, Paramount hired A-list filmmaker J.J. Abrams to direct a reboot of The Original Series.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike begin a new series looking at Abrams's career as a feature film director. In Part 1, we are joined by Matthew Rushing of The Orb and Literary Treks to examine Abrams's work on Star Trek. We discuss the reasons behind hiring Abrams, our initial thoughts concerning his involvement, and what exactly his contribution to the franchise has been. We also examine the similarities between the 2009 film and The Motion Picture.

Running Time: 1 hour 18 minutes 31 seconds

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Hosts 

Max Hegel and Mike Schindler

Guest

Matthew Rushing

Chapters

Intro (02:00)
Initial Thoughts (10:18)
Continuity (22:18)
The Mystery Box (33:13)
Mainstream Trek (39:52)
Final Thoughts (54:37)
Wrap-up (1:02:57)

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Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 91: Mike, Max, Blue, and Green

Wheaton, Part 4: Recap.

Since his early days on Star Trek: The Next Generation all the way up to the present, Wil Wheaton has always been an entertainer; but he has never settled into one specific role. Instead, he has adapted to the changing media landscape and used whatever tools were best suited for the task at hand. And whether it has been acting, writing or blogging, he has always excelled. The same is true for his career as a television producer/host.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max recap their look at Wheaton's current television work. We discuss both Tabletop and The Wil Wheaton Project, as well as touch on some of Wheaton's other projects from throughout his career. We also debate the merits of Monopoly.

Running Time: 35 Minutes 44 Seconds

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Hosts

Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Topics

Tabletop (1:43)
The Wil Wheaton Project (11:28)
Final Thoughts (19:28)
Wrap-Up (28:40)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 90: Maybe... But No

Wheaton, Part 3: The Wil Wheaton Project.

Wil Wheaton's history in Star Trek and presence in online media has made him a favorite among the sci-fi/fantasy crowd. His love for the genre, as well his comedic talent, made him the ideal host for SyFy's new talk show, coincidentally named The Wil Wheaton Project.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Max and Mike take a look at Wheaton's second series as a producer/host. We discuss the format of the show, the quality of the pre-produced segments, and Wheaton's talents as a comedian. We also fondly remember John Henson-era Talk Soup.

Running Time: 41 Minutes 23 Seconds

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Hosts

Max Hegel and Mike Schindler

Topics

The Wil Wheaton Project (1:24)
The pre-produced clips (10:53)
Thoughts on the show (21:35)
Wrap-up (28:15)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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Commentary: Trek Stars 89: Outside of the Box

Wheaton, Part 2: Tabletop.

Wil Wheaton may have started his career as an actor, but he has since become a much larger creative force in the geek community. One outlet that he has used to express himself is through television production and hosting.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and Max are joined by Drew of Standard Orbit to look at Wheaton's first television series, Tabletop. We discuss the show's unusual premise, the importance of good chemistry between the guests, and how it shows that Wheaton is truly a geek. We also spoil "Journey's End" for Drew.

Running Time: 49 minutes 43 seconds

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Hosts

Mike Schindler and Max Hegel

Guest

Drew Stewart

Topics

Intro (1:09)
Tabletop (7:37)
Production Value (17:23)
Favorite Episodes (25:23)
Final Thoughts (32:46)
Wrap-up (36:38)

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Sponsor

Audible is the premiere source for audiobooks with more than 150,000 titles to choose from, and new titles coming every week. From classics to current bestsellers, and even some of the most famous Star Trek books like Prime Directive, Federation, and Spock’s World, Audible has something for everyone.

As a Trek.fm listener you can get a free audiobook of your choice along with a 30-day trial to see just how great Audible is. So give it a try today, catch up on all those classic Star Trek books you’ve yet to read or that latest novel from you favorite author and support the network and our programming at the same time!

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More recent episodes of Commentary: Trek Stars...