The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture

The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture provides a behind-the-scenes account of the production of the first Star Trek feature film. Published in 1980, the book documents the journey from initial concept through completion of the movie. Authors Susan Sackett and Gene Roddenberry share extensive details about script development, casting decisions, visual effects challenges, and budget considerations. The text includes production photographs, concept art, and first-hand accounts from key creative personnel involved in bringing Star Trek to the big screen. The book chronicles the technical innovations required for creating the film's groundbreaking special effects, as well as the logistics of transitioning a television property into a major motion picture. Original production documents, memos, and correspondence provide insight into the day-to-day realities of mounting such an ambitious project. This work serves as both a historical record of a pivotal moment in science fiction filmmaking and an examination of how creative vision meets practical constraints in Hollywood production. The narrative highlights themes of persistence and adaptation in the face of technological and organizational challenges.

Readers found this behind-the-scenes book offers detailed documentation of Star Trek: The Motion Picture's production challenges, budget issues, and creative conflicts. Many reviews highlight the candid discussion of the film's troubled development and rushed completion. Liked: - Extensive photos and production artwork - Day-by-day accounts of filming complications - Insight into Gene Roddenberry's creative process - Technical details about special effects and set design Disliked: - Writing style can be dry and technical - Too much focus on administrative details - Some sections feel padded with unnecessary information - Limited coverage of the cast's perspectives Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (132 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (21 reviews) Notable Reader Comments: "Valuable time capsule of a troubled production" - Goodreads reviewer "More about office politics than moviemaking" - Amazon reviewer "Best documentation of the film's complex development" - Trek Core review

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🎬 Author Susan Sackett served as Gene Roddenberry's personal executive assistant for 17 years and had unprecedented behind-the-scenes access during the film's production. 🚀 The book reveals that the film's budget ballooned from an initial $15 million to over $40 million, making it one of the most expensive movies ever made at that time. 👨‍🚀 The original script for Star Trek: The Motion Picture was actually developed for a planned TV series called "Star Trek: Phase II" before being reworked into a feature film. 🎨 The book includes over 140 photographs and illustrations, many of which were never-before-seen production sketches and costume designs. 💫 The Enterprise model used in the film underwent such extensive modifications and detailing that it cost over $150,000 to rebuild, equivalent to nearly half a million dollars today.