Brannon Braga (who is responsible for writing and producing most Star Trek TNG, VOY and ENT episodes we all love, plus Generations and First Contact) appeared with Andre Bormanis (science consultant and writer) for a very open and transparent discussion on writing for Star Trek. I’ll admit that I’m big fans of them personally. I love how Braga has a typical writers personality; self-depreciative and introverted despite being able to engage a large audience and clearly a very talented man.
Andre Bormanis is someone I friended on Facebook in that way you friend people on Facebook you have never met and the only interaction is the occasional ‘liking’ of posts. But from this vague connection I’ve gained an affinity towards him.
Here’s what was revealed:
"It had to be the Borg, there was no question about what we were doing and it was fun beginning to end" @BrannonBraga on First Contact #stlv
— Trekkie Girls (@TrekkieGirls) August 5, 2017
On some of the writers rules @BrannonBraga recalls they were:
"No dream sequences
No time travel
Many others
I broke all of them" #stlv— Trekkie Girls (@TrekkieGirls) August 5, 2017
On Enterprise they originally wanted it to be Earth bound with end of S1 seeing the launch of the ship but there was pressure against that.
— Trekkie Girls (@TrekkieGirls) August 5, 2017
About #StarTrekDiscovery "I'm looking forward to watching it with fresh eyes" #AndreBormanis #stlv
— Trekkie Girls (@TrekkieGirls) August 5, 2017
On These are the Voyages "We thought it was a good send off. But it was kind of a slap in the face…I know everyone told me!" Brannon #stlv
— Trekkie Girls (@TrekkieGirls) August 5, 2017
I asked about comedy on Star Trek. @BrannonBraga felt TNG=Funniest. Humour was based in character incongruity e.g Worf and prune Juice #stlv
— Trekkie Girls (@TrekkieGirls) August 5, 2017
A TNG Mirror Universe episode was discussed in the writers room but never happened. #STLV
— Trekkie Girls (@TrekkieGirls) August 5, 2017
Conclusion: What was refreshing about this panel was the sheer honesty. It’s the difference between an ongoing series which has a marketing campaign driving it and an analysis by people who haven’t worked on the show for eleven years. Such as the admission that the last Enterprise episode was a ‘slap in the face’ but how it had felt right at the time. It’s just writers, explaining their thought process with the benefit of reflection.
Highlight: Listening to their enthusiasm about the prospect of watching Star Trek Discovery as fans and not knowing what is going to happen.
Also, the audience loved it whenever they mentioned The Orville!
On The Orville. "Its its own thing, the stakes are real. It's a good mixture of comedy and drama" – @BrannonBraga #stlv
— Trekkie Girls (@TrekkieGirls) August 5, 2017
Weird bit: An audience member asked why do they come to conventions and do panels when they received so much harsh criticism. Braga sounded exactly like Shinzon when he replied “I’m lonely!”
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