Star Trek fans haven't had a chance to see any episodes of the original series (or “TOS” as it's known in fandom) on any of their local stations for years. But thanks to the Internet and fans with enough passion, technical know-how and money it's possible to enjoy new adventures set in the Star Trek universe created by Gene Roddenberry in the early 60's. Perhaps the most successful such effort is “Star Trek: Phase II” which recreates the original series with volunteer actors recreating the iconic roles of Kirk, McCoy, Spock and the rest of the Enterprise crew.
However, another group led by brothers Jimm and Josh Johnson took a slightly different tack with. Rather than trying to recreate the original series, they decided they could tell better stories by setting their show in the same universe, but on board a sister ship to the Enterprise: the U.S.S. Exeter. The first effort, "Starship Exeter: The Savage Empire” was a clearly amateur effort in terms of story and acting, but it gained widespread attention when it was released in 2002 for the nearly obsessive efforts to recreate the sets and overall ambiance of the Star Trek universe.
In 2003, work began on an even more ambitious episode. “The Tressaurian Intersection” featured a script written by Dennis Bailey who had written the Star Trek: The Next Generation” episode “Tin Man” and direction by independent film maker Scott Cummins. Shooting took place in Austin, Texas as scheduled, but instead of being released in 2005, “TTI” was released one segment at a time over the next several years.
Despite being unfinished, TTI gained widespread acclaim for its action-packed script and the complex interpersonal dynamics between the crew which were very different from the warm, family atmosphere of the original series. Unfortunately post-production problems proved overwhelming and to date the final act is still unreleased.
Hope remains since Bailey and others say they are still working on the final act. In one posting on a Star Trek BBS, Bailey said the “end is in sight.” That was in March of 2009.
Even if it never gets finished, “The Tressaurian Intersection” is still a tantalizing testament to the way technology has made it possible for someone besides Hollywood professionals to make high quality television shows with a shoestring budget and lots of enthusiasm.
To see the first act of The Tressaurian Intersection click here. You can visit the Exeter website by clicking here.
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