Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

It's film Jim- but not as we know it
The Scotsman ^ | September 23, 2004 | JACQUI GODDARD

Posted on 09/22/2004 10:12:35 PM PDT by MadIvan

Key points

• Stars who played Kirk and Spock to return in low-budget sci-fi Invasion Iowa

• Shatner, who directs the film, promises film will feature a big-name celebrity

• Film is set in town that claims to be fictional birthplace of Captain Kirk

Key quote

"This is my passion. I have had this movie on executive desks for a long time" - William Shatner

Story in full HE WAS set a mission to seek out new life and new civilisations - to boldly go where no man has gone before. So, Captain James T Kirk, fearless commander of the Starship Enterprise, headed for Iowa ... to make a low-budget sci-fi flick.

William Shatner, who immortalised the intergalactic explorer in Star Trek, arrived in the small town of Riverside yesterday to film Invasion Iowa, penned by Shatner and his co-star Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr Spock in the series.

The location was not accidental - Riverside has been busy trying to build a tourism industry by claiming to be the birthplace of Captain Kirk after Star Trek’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, revealed that the explorer came from "a small town in the state of Iowa".

At $4 million (£2.2 million), Invasion Iowa’s budget is a fraction of the $35 million spent on the first Star Trek film, 25 years ago. But Shatner, 73, who can bank on the support of millions of Star Trek fans to boost his box-office takings, is excited. "This is my passion," he said of the film, which has a futuristic, cosmic theme but is unrelated to Star Trek. "I have had this movie on executive desks for a long time."

Shatner will direct the movie, whose plot, he says mysteriously, revolves around "regret, and being able to go back in time and fix things". Equally mysterious is the cast list, which will feature a big-name celebrity, according to Shatner. He will only reveal that the star is called Sean or Shaun, leading locals to wonder whether it might be Connery, Penn or Combs.

There was no transporter to get him to Riverside, just a chauffeur-driven, black limousine, out of which he stepped to be met by adoring fans and a marching band. To the 930 residents, their hero was home at last.

"We finally got Captain Kirk to Riverside - it is wonderful," enthused Steve Miller, a former member of the local council, which, in 1980, declared the town to be the space hero’s official birthplace.

There is now a special gate and a stone monument commemorating its most famous son - or future son, given that his official birth date is not until 22 March, 2233 - and the University of Iowa has built a space observatory nearby. Thousands of fans come for an annual convention.

Shatner’s post-Star Trek career has had mixed fortunes and, at times, appeared to have been heading into the screen world’s equivalent of a black hole.

His lowest point came when his third wife, Nerine, drowned in the swimming pool of their Los Angeles home in 1999.

Now remarried and celebrating a prestigious Emmy award for his guest appearance on the US drama series The Practice, he launched his new project by holding auditions in Riverside for seven speaking roles. Among the lucky chosen few was the mayor’s son, Mike Poch, who landed a part as a punk.

For Shatner and Nimoy - who reunited with other Star Trek cast members last month in honour of actor James Doohan, 84, who played Scotty and is bowing out of public life after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease - Invasion Iowa will be a new challenge and a lot of fun.

"He’s become quite a droll fellow and I love him very much," said Shatner of Nimoy. "Whenever we find ourselves together, we love to talk about the past, present and future."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: film; nimoy; shatner
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-35 last
To: MadIvan

bring back the churchill pict


21 posted on 09/22/2004 10:46:18 PM PDT by Walkingfeather (q)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Hank Rearden

Trekkies and Trekkers breed like tribbles. Start Trek is timeless and will probably go on for as long as humans live on this planet. It is part of our societal fabric now and has been for 30+ years. And in that time, the following has done nothing but expand. I enjoy the show in all it's forms and have studied the phenomenon at length and have written term papers on it. Most of modern Science fiction owes much to Star Trek and it's creator. What they did was ground breaking. The characters were like extensions of people's own family. And as it's been said, 'you can only be first once.'


22 posted on 09/22/2004 10:49:48 PM PDT by Havoc (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Arkinsaw
I am betting on Shaun Cassidy.

Personally, I'm holding out for Shaun-ade O'Connor...

("Vee-Jer, phone home...")

23 posted on 09/22/2004 10:58:08 PM PDT by Skibane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: B-Chan

We will send you home ... to your wet sand.


24 posted on 09/22/2004 10:58:24 PM PDT by asgardshill (Got a lump of coal? Tell Mary Mapes to 'shove it' - in 2 weeks you'll have a diamond.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Hank Rearden

25 posted on 09/22/2004 10:58:49 PM PDT by WSGilcrest (I........come..........in...........peace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Arkinsaw

Maybe Sean Astin, who played Sam Gamgee to Elijah Woods' Frodo in the three LOTR films?


26 posted on 09/22/2004 11:00:25 PM PDT by ikka
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Hank Rearden
More like speciesist

I would take exception to that! {LOL}

27 posted on 09/22/2004 11:07:55 PM PDT by Species8472
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: asgardshill
No boink I.

Very funny!

Yes, we breed. And then we take our little tribbles to conventions where they can meet others like themselves and start the process all over again.

28 posted on 09/22/2004 11:42:15 PM PDT by radiohead (Burn in hell, Kerry.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

I hope it's not a musical - with Shatner singing! Eek!


29 posted on 09/23/2004 12:56:13 AM PDT by Happygal (liberalism - a narrow tribal outlook largely founded on class prejudice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


30 posted on 09/23/2004 1:26:51 AM PDT by KneelBeforeZod (Deus Lo Volt!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: radiohead
Yes, we breed. And then we take our little tribbles to conventions where they can meet others like themselves and start the process all over again.

The one couple in my ship that has produced offspring met at a con.

Peace Through Superior Firepower; All You Can Eat for $4.99. USS Chesapeake
31 posted on 09/23/2004 5:41:47 AM PDT by Talking_Mouse (Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just... Thomas Jefferson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: MadIvan

What about Shawn Wayans of the Wayans brothers?


32 posted on 09/23/2004 6:24:53 AM PDT by swampmonster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: biblewonk
Iowa ping.
33 posted on 09/23/2004 8:31:01 AM PDT by newgeezer (...until the voters discover they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jwfiv
Awesome.
34 posted on 09/23/2004 9:47:45 AM PDT by Serb5150 (Mongo only pawn in game of life.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Happygal
I hope it's not a musical - with Shatner singing! Eek!

Have you heard Shatner's version of Pulp's 'Common People?' It got played on BBC Radio 2 today. Surreal is a word often misused, but is apposite in this case...

35 posted on 09/23/2004 1:50:03 PM PDT by Da_Shrimp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-35 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson