Episode Behind the Scenes

TREKCORE > TNG > EPISODES > RELICS > Behind the Scenes
 

Earlier ideas for recreating the Original Series bridge included using a fan built replica or a miniaturization.
   
Designer Richard James suggested using just a section of the bridge with a blue screen matte to incorporate an "empty bridge scene" from classic Trek. Such a scene existed in the first season episode "This Side of Paradise".
   
Only the turbolift and engineering station were built anew.
   
Cameraman Jonathan West research the original camera angles and lenses so the footage of Scotty and Picard would seamlessly match the classic series.
   
Richard James on "Relics": "They lit the set with color [in the sixties], and that threw us off trying to establish what color to paint our set. We had to look through old calendars and photographs - were were really back to the level of fans!"
   
Star Trek fan Steven Horch's centre console and captain's chair replica were rented to add extra depth to the replication.
   
The reproduction passed even to the eager eye of Original Series producer Bob Justman, with the exception of the carpet color, Richard James recalls - "They had the gray carpet but it looked rust, and I just assumed it was that because in those days that was such a common color. But he [Bob] pointed it out and I said 'Why didn't I call you?' and he laughed and said 'I don't know!'"
   
Ronald D. Moore on "Relics": "The people in the production department put in a lot of extra hours and a lot of free work because they really wanted it to look good. They really wanted to sweat the details because they knew everyone was going to be watching us - it's the kind of thing you better not screw up or you're going to be hearing about every little thing!"
   
Michael Piller on bringing a classic character back: "McCoy is old, Spock's playing James Bond on Romulus - and we couldn't do Kirk; it would raise too many other things. Nothings against the other characters, but Scotty seemed like the one with the most 'fun' quotient."
   
Two scenes cut for time included the "It's green" scene being portrayed between Doohan and Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan. A filmed but cut scene included Troi's visit with Scotty after his blowup with Geordi. The three page scene has Scotty declaring he's "not crazy", and telling Troi "I know what I need and it's not here!".
   
Ronald Moore on the blunder of Scotty and Geordi beaming through the Jenolen's shields: "I didn't think about it, I didn't catch it, the producers didn't catch it, the technical consultants didn't catch it - it was just one of those things and a single line of dialogue could've explained it away."
   
The Jenolen was named for some caves Moore visited during a convention trip near Sydney, Australia which in turn provided it's Syndey class designation.
   
The Jenolen began life as the admiral's shuttle in Star Trek VI. It was turned upside down and an additional bridge module and Starfleet nacelles were added.
   
Bartel is called a lieutenant in the episode but only wears an Ensign's pip.

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