fusion patrol | photographing starship models | lower decks | new officers ON THE cover: Former UFP members acting in costume as part of the popular 90’s cable access TV show “Fusion Patrol.” Story on Page 6.

our 46th year | Issue 1 | september / october 2020

CAPTAIN Kim Smith EDITOR/DESIGNER David Matteson We aim to highlight the interests FIRST OFFICER Annette Sexton-Ruiz UFP CONTACT Dave Williams of our diverse membership. Help RECords OFFICER Walt Bartlow EMAIL [email protected] us by contributing your story to COMM OFFICER Victor Bugg WEBSITE www.u-f-p.org Subspace Chatter. Email us today! the united federation of phoenix in this issue

The United Federation of Phoenix (UFP) is the Southwest’s oldest Star 02 Table of contents and credits Trek and science fiction fan organization, continuously operating since 03 Captain’s Log by Dr. Kimberly Smith 1975. The club meets bi-weekly at various locations around the Phoenix 04 Photographing The Model’s Best Side metropolitan area. As a group we have picnics, go hiking, watch movies, by VFX Artist David Stipes play games, take trips, and are active in the volunteer community. 06 Fusion Patrol by David Matteson You are about to read Subspace Chatter, our official publication, which 09 Lower Decks by Dr. David A. Williams highlights science fiction and fandom events, spotlights our members, 10 Incoming Transmissions and provides a resource for all things UFP. If you are in the area and 11 Official UFP club briefing would like to attend one of our meetings, email us at [email protected] 11 New UFP officers revealed

2 | Subspace Chatter captain'S log VIRTUALLY TOGETHER BY KIM SMITH, UFP CLUB CAPTAIN

Captain’s Log, stardate 202009.16. purchase. We still have wine glasses private mailing list, which we serve ($10) and a few 45th Anniversary up info on all sorts of virtual Trek- Well here we are six months into T-shirts ($15) left for sale. related events you can “attend” the Covid-19 pandemic! online! For example, did The UFP is going strong you know that Gates with our Zoom meetings, McFadden and Marina which usually attract Sirtis are appearing 10-16 members, and the at Sorcery&Spectacle? occasional socially-distant Learn about the pool party or wine tasting! making of II at deschuteslibrary. At our last meeting org. And there are two we elected the star-studded days of TNG following officers by panels at GalaxyCon, acclamation: Captain Kim Smith, Yearly fees are due now to retain including Q&A and autograph First Officer Annette Sexton-Ruiz, your existing membership, or join signings from the comfort of home! Communications Officer Victor the UFP. Please mail a check for $15 Bugg, and Records Officer Walt per person to United Federation of I hope all of you are staying safe and Bartlow. Thank you to our 2020-2021 Phoenix, PO Box 37224, Phoenix, AZ healthy. Live long and prosper. officers for their service. 85069. You could also pay by PayPal by contacting myself at We have ordered pint glasses (which [email protected] for instructions. had issues so we received a refund), wine glasses, and T-shirts during this UFP membership comes with many pandemic for individual members to perks, including being a part of our Dr. Kimberly Smith - UFP Captain

Subspace Chatter | 3 photographing the model’s best side By David Stipes | Star Trek Visual Effects Supervisor & UFP Member

isual effects shots in a Star Trek episode the model. My challenge was to avoid any side or front require a combination of input and work shots. Like photographing actors you want to get their V from a variety of people and sometimes “best side” to emphasize present unusual design challenges. Star Trek Voyager their most attractive episode 129 “Prototype” required a new spaceship to features. be designed and photographed. The story involved the Praylor and the Cravic, two warring robotic cultures. Their spaceships were identical except with one grayish and the other tan in color.

The producers called upon our in- designer, Rick Sternbach, for spaceship designs. Rick provided producers with top/bottom/side view designs for the new Praylor/Cravic top ¾ view spaceship. Based on the top view they went by Rick Sternbach with the design which was ultimately used. It was decided that a physical model was to be I thought that the top design was interesting as well. constructed. Master model maker/VFX artist, Tony However, the side and front views of the ship revealed Doublin, delivered the model in three and a half that the fuselage was flat and elongated with enlarged weeks for $15,000. The spaceship was painted top and bottom structures; not nearly as interesting as a middle gray color to allow easy color-shifting the top or bottom views. I was concerned about how during digital compositing to distinguish between to photograph it effectively. Since the best features of the Praylor and Cravic crafts. The model was the spaceship were the top and the bottom I needed to photographed at Image G studios with their motion design shots where the camera is looking up or down on control system in mid-November 1995.

6 | Subspace Chatter For solitary shots of the spaceship, I used wide-angle lenses to enhance the sense of scale. When the two ships were together I still used wide-angle lenses but designed the shots to look as if I had used a telephoto lens to compress the perspective and feature their most interesting shapes.

Praylor/Cravic ship, approx side view

Based upon rough storyboard sketches, the motion- controlled camera was positioned very close to the model representing the Cravic ship. The camera and ship move was programmed and photographed. The model was repositioned to represent the Praylor craft and a second camera/model move was programmed My favorite shot (shown above in filmstrip) involved and photographed. The Voyager shuttle was then the two big spaceships and a Voyager shuttle. The programmed and filmed. diminishing size of the shuttle revealed the huge scale of the robot’s ships which were to be twice the Compositing and weapon effects animation was size of Voyager. I also wanted a sense of the Praylor accomplished at Digital Magic facilities. and Cravic crafts being perilously close and strafing each other. This allowed me to look down on one of Focusing upon the strengths in the spaceship designs the ships and simultaneously look up at the other solved my challenges and inspired some fun and again at their best angles. visually exciting Star Trek Voyager shots.

David Stipes is a visual effects consultant, artist and compositor. In 1992 David joined the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” team, and two years later received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Visual Effects. Embracing the change from physical models to computer effects, David championed the use of CGI in several Star Trek series over the years. Recently David has lent his talents to productions filmed right here in Arizona. As a member of the United Federation of Phoenix, David offers his unique insights from his professional life to fellow fans through his contributions to this publication. Learn more at davidstipes.com.

This is an in informative publication only, and is not for profit, for sale, or for commercial use. All “Star Trek” titles, associated names, and imagery are the sole property of Paramount Pictures. Star Trek is a registered trademark of CBS Corporation. Subspace Chatter | 5 FUSION ------storypatrol by david matteson featuring eugene glover Did you know that license came a provision for public values gave Eugene Glover an several members of the access. That is a channel open to epiphany. If they could do it, why UFP had their own TV residents of the city to use as they couldn’t he? In fact, without any show in the 1990’s? saw fit without any censorship. prior filmmaking experience, Glover You could have a show about was convinced he could create this is the story of religion, music, culture and even something better, more coherent “Fusion Patrol.” nudism. This of course led to many and hopefully more professional. At questionable programs which least compared to what else was on. were of concern to the TV viewing audiences of the time. But while “One night following a club meeting some protested the programming, at my house, the stragglers and former UFP member Eugene Glover I were tuned in to Public Access. saw an opportunity to embrace It was so awful that we were the service to create something compelled to watch, much like different for the fandom community. how a mute TV in a restaurant commands your attention.” – Glover continued. “I did research Fade-in on anchorwoman Patty on Public Access and the concept Kirkpatrick shuffling papers at her fascinated me—the democratization desk while Good Evening Arizona of television. I cashed in my income resumes its nightly news. She looks into the camera lens with tax return and bought a camcorder.” sobering concern. Glover assembled a small team, “Have you seen what’s on cable including his best friend, David lately?” – Kirkpatrick asks. “We’re not talking about HBO or “Sometime in late 1993, a few Showtime. We’re talking about friends and I tuned into Public Public Access, and 3-On-Your-Side Access and stumbled across a is about to open your eyes.” program called Argyle Socks. We watched the show with a horrific In the 1990’s, long before You-Tube, fascination akin to staring at an it was nearly impossible for the auto wreck.” – Glover said. “Three average Joe or aspiring filmmaker young men stood in some semi- to get an audience. Television constructed building taking turns Laskowski (member of Dr. Who production is expensive and most smoking, spitting and reciting the fan club TARDIS) and co-worker people didn’t have access to a video lyrics to heavy metal songs.” Woody Harper (member of the camera. But a unique channel in UFP). Joining the initial trio were Phoenix was changing all that. While shows like Argyle Socks and UFP members Jeff George, Lee the infamous John Frazzini Presents Whiteside, Jim Cryer, Morgan Hunt, Arizona used to grant a broadcasting were giving headaches to the Matt Addickes, John Kittlesrud, license to Dimension Cable (later straight-laced viewing audiences of Alice Harper, John Wheeler and Cox Cable), and along with that the time, their shoestring production other friends and family.

6 | Subspace Chatter “Woody and I came up times where we actually had a near- with the name, out of fully-baked idea on paper. These one of those lunchtime were really difficult to do because ------discussions. We were volunteer time is notoriously discussing the history unreliable. The UFP had a picnic of Monty Python’s at Encanto Park one Saturday. We Flying Circus, and convinced people to participate in all the non sequitur the Running Benny Man skit. Our names that they had ongoing protagonist, the Running (Owl-Stretching Time, Man, dashed through the park, etc.) and were trying screwing up the fun activities, to think along those lines. We chose the word “fusion” However, the submissions because it had a science sound were few, and the crew to it. We chose “patrol” because was forced to create Woody recently bought an old Jeep their own original and we thought it would look cool material. Most skits were to paint “Fusion Patrol” on the side. improvised and rarely did We figured we’d film shots of the they write scripts. Eugene jeep flying over sand dunes, like in would call up his friends that old show Rat Patrol. That never and whomever could happened, but the name stuck.” – show up would star in the Glover explains. show that week. They’d kick around ideas for an “We intended on making a show hour then start shooting in his living picking up a chain of angry chasers, to provide info to the nerdy sorts, room the same day. ala the Benny Hill show, set to like convention schedules. We Yakkity Sax. That was a challenging tried to use public access for “In the episodes where we’re seen day. Everyone was keen to do it, but what it was intended for – getting sitting around the table deciding on sometimes the heart is willing but what to do, that is far the body, not-so-much.” more organized than the actual process.” Some of the original ideas that – Glover discusses. Eugene and team filmed forFusion “For starters, we’d sit Patrol include a skit for a new TV on the comfy sofas, channel titled “The Pledge Break then go to the table Channel.” The idea being that PBS to shoot the fake was getting more and more like an brainstorming, which all-pledge break station, so why mirrored the real not do the job right and just show brainstorming. There all pledge breaks without any were occasional real programming?

the word out and letting smaller Glover soon learned communities have a voice. It that breaking into was also intended showcase television, even just others’ work. We knew that there the public access were frustrated filmmakers variety, wasn’t so out there. People wanted to easy. Dimension put together their “fan film” Cable wasn’t happy but had nowhere to show it. being forced to Initially, we managed to get a few provide public access, submissions, UFP’s Star Trek the and performed Home Movie being one of them.” the bare minimum

Subspace Chatter | 7 required by their contracts. The equipment was terrible – using retired S-VHS decks removed from the backs of Arizona Sports Network vans. This made editing difficult and the process frustrating for everyone. the concept fascinated me— “We had to ration our cuts as much as possible. It forced me to start the democratization pre-editing at home and eventually of television. completely editing at home. Also, you had an allotment of two three- budget meant less of the halls of Despite it’s troubled production run hour sessions per month in-studio, the USS Enterprise and more of the and random late-night scheduling, most of which were during the day hallways of his house. Cue: Fusion the Fusion Patrol team was gaining when I, like everyone else, was Patrol: 1999, with six fully-written some local recognition. at work.” – Glover remembers. scripts, a cast of dedicated actors, “You were expected to provide 13 and budget for props and set design. “I was in a sandwich shop and episodes per quarter, but they’d noticed a woman that appeared allow you to air the same episode “The premise, which was about to be staring at me. As she up to 4 times, meaning you could accidental explorers stuck in a approached, just as politely get by on 4 episodes per quarter. house floating in outer space and kindly as can be she asked, They also didn’t accept scheduling was driven by necessity. Also the “Excuse me, but aren’t you that guy requests and our show would absurdity of the idea, along with on Fusion Patrol?” This was not screen at random, usually at 1 am.” the long-standing jokes about the what I was expecting. Taken aback

These challenges drove Eugene scientific inaccuracies ofSpace: all I could manage was, “yes.” “My to invest in non-linear editing 1999 made me want to do it even girlfriend and I LOVE your show! hardware. As Fusion Patrol’s more.” – Eugene explains. We watch it all the time!” I was shooting seasons progressed, amazed.” – Eugene concludes. and technology advanced, so did “That version of the show crashed Eugene’s ambitions. and burned because it was too While Fusion Patrol’s time on ambitious. The model that we the airwaves came to an end “I’m a hack who really wanted to had for our original Fusion Patrol with Fusion Patrol: 1999, Eugene not be a hack. That didn’t happen, series was that people showed adapted his work into the novella but I had a lot of fun making Fusion up when they could. This couldn’t Spacefall, which is available in Patrol, even if I cringe watching work for a scripted program, and paperback on Amazon.com. the old episodes. I wanted to keep it took months to shoot the first He continues to take on new getting better and to justify the episode because people couldn’t video projects with Lone Locust computer equipment purchases. I show up when needed. We could Productions. And he keeps the wanted to make a “real” show.” shoot around some of that, but Fusion Patrol name alive on his when particular combinations of science-fiction and fandom reviews In his heart, Eugene really wanted characters had to appear together, podcast at fusionpatrol.com. to make Star Trek, but his limited shooting had to be scrubbed.”

8 | Subspace Chatter By Dr. David A. Williams

The latest entry into the Star Trek television franchise finds friendship from engineering Ensign Rutherford, began on Thursday, August 6 with the premiere of Star who has a Vulcan cyborg implant and would rather Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek’s first animated comedy. spend his time crawling around Jeffries tubes. Most Executive-produced by Mike McMahan () episodes have an A- and B-plot pitting Mariner-Boimler with animation by Titmouse, Inc., the show takes a and Tendi-Rutherford in various silly situations, where comedic look into the lives of four Starfleet ensigns who they try to extract themselves while still upholding work on the lower decks of the USS Cerritos, a not-very- Starfleet principles, usually learning something important California-class starship that focuses on along the way. ‘second contact’, visiting worlds newly admitted to the Federation. The four ensigns, Beckett Mariner (Tawny Fans have Newsome), Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid), D’Vana Tendi been (Noëll Wells), and Sam Rutherford (Eugene Cordero) told to clash with various other crewmembers, aliens, and four expect bridge officers, Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis), some first officer Commander Jack Ransom (Jerry O’Connell), security chief Lieutenant Shax (Fred Tatasciore), and chief medical officer Dr. T’Ana (Gillian Vigman). The story takes place in the TNG era, approximately a year after the events of the movie Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). As of this writing the first 6 of 10 episodes have aired on CBS All-Access.

The show is definitely tongue-in-cheek, and does not take itself too seriously. It works best when the humor is derived from crazy situations rather than stupid actions of the characters. Still, the show is made by folks who have a deep love of the Star Trek franchise, and every episode is filled with Easter eggs and call backs to all prior TV series and movies, including the 1970s animated series. Most episodes that have aired so far have the characters speaking at a very fast pace, typical of modern animated TV shows. But just surprises in in the first six episodes we see character growth in all the remaining four episodes, four ensigns. The focus is on human commanders-in- including appearances by training Ensigns Mariner (a Kirk-like, rule-breaking bad legacy characters, including Q ass who is secretly the daughter of Capt. Freeman) and (John DeLancie). So far J.G. Hertzler (General Martok, Boimler (a no-nonsense, by-the-book, high-strung nerd), DS9) has appeared, voicing a Drookmari pirate captain. whom Mariner takes under her wing to make more The show was approved for a two-season order, and ‘street smart’ to put him on his desired Captain-track. McMahan has said they are well into writing the stories Science Ensign Tendi (an Orion female) is very excited for season 2, which will hopefully air late in 2021. All to be in Starfleet and eager for every assignment, and episodes can be watched on CBS All-Access.

Subspace Chatter | 9 welcome to 3188 ad Klingon Bloodwine John de Lancie as q

As part of CBS’s “Star Trek Day” After last year’s successful debut, Star Trek: Lower Decks showrunner celebration, the first real look at the team from Star Trek Wines Mike McMahan spilled a few Discovery’s upcoming 3rd season returns for another round of releases spoilers about some familiar return is finally here. this fall — this time from Qo’noS! voices we’ll be hearing in the last

In the new trailer, the USS Discovery From the far reaches of the Klingon five episodes of the first season — crew drop arrive in the year 3188 Empire comes the 2020 release of including famous Next Generation and find themselves in a galaxy Klingon Bloodwine, produced with and Voyager man of mischief Q, where an event known as “The help from the Klingon Language voiced of course by John de Lancie, Burn” served as a catalyst for the Institute and one that’s been in the reprising the role for the first time Federation’s near-collapse. works for more than a year. since 2001’s Voyager Episode “Q2.”

There’s also a brand new logo for “We spent time researching with While McMahan stressed that de the series. As Star Trek: Discovery leaders of the Klingon Assault Lancie’s time as Q in an upcoming leaves the 23rd century behind, a Group and Klingon Language episode is very much a small new streamlined title design joins Institute to get the cultural and moment in length, the near-cameo the crew in the far future. historic elements rights. From shot of those famous Q Continuum there, we focused on design judge robes made a starring role in Producer Alex Kurtzman related the elements, including a special silk the new late-season trailer, which reasons behind the logo change screen process with a unique debuted during Star Trek Day. during the Discovery livestream mesh texture that gives the bottle a panel; the original design used in certain gravitas.” Also, three-time Star Trek guest star Season 1 and 2 was meant to evoke Kurtwood Smith — who appeared in the Klingon War, and as the story Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were Voyager, Deep Space Nine, and Star has progressed away from Klingon cultivated to produce strong flavors Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country involvement, the show’s title design that glisten a vibrant ruby color in the — will be voicing an alien role in an needed to evolve as well. glass. Bottled with 4 unique corks. upcoming season as well.

Discovery returns on October 15, You can purchase Klingon Bloodwine Star Trek: Lower Decks airs exclusively on CBS All Access. now at startrekwines.com. Thursdays on CBS All Access.

10 | Subspace Chatter O FFIcial briefing

T REK at GALAXYCON T-Shirts and renewals

Join the cast of Star Trek: The It’s September again, which Next Generation on Sept 19th - means the anniversary of Star Trek 20th at Virtual GalaxyCon 2020! j oin our adventures the original series, the anniversary of the founding of the UFP, and the Video Chat One-to-One, Get The United Federation of Phoenix annual renewals of club dues! To Personalized Autographs, and see a (UFP) is the Southwest’s oldest keep your membership current, FREE Live Stream Q&A with the cast. Star Trek and science fiction please send a check for $15 to: fan organization, continuously The United Federation of Phoenix Saturday Sept 19th 9am (AZ) operating since 1975. P.O. Box 37224 Phoenix, AZ 85069.

- Jonathan Frakes “Cmdr Riker” This summer we have held bi-weekly We hope you continue to be with - John de Lancie “Q” Zoom meetings and small, safe us as we celebrate 45 years of the - Gates McFadden “Dr. Crusher” gatherings at Kim & Dave’s house UFP and beyond! Members can with swimming, wine tastings, and of receive a free copy of our 45th Sunday Sept 20th 11am (AZ) course discussing Star Trek! Anniversary issue of Subspace - Marina Sirtis “Deanna Troi” Chatter (while supplies last). And - Denise Crosby “Tasha Yar” If you are into Sci-Fi and are in you can pick up newly-designed - Brent Spiner “Cmdr Data” the Metro Phoenix area, consider T-shirts for $15 (all sizes up to attending one of our meetings. We XL, $17 for 2XL and above) by Learn more about this exciting would be glad to meet you. Email emailing Captain Kim for more event at galaxycon.com. us at [email protected] for more info. info at [email protected].

T he new officers of the united federation of phoenix

This past meeting the UFP voted to elect a new slate of officers. Most are returning to their previous roles, with one first-time officer—Victor Bugg—joining the crew. This is the first UFP election in club history that has been held entirely online from remote locations around Arizona. Your officers for our 2020-2021 year are...

Captain First Officer RECORDS officer COMM Officer Kim Smith Annette Sexton-Ruiz Walt Bartlow Victor Bugg

Subspace Chatter | 11 the united federation of phoenix

Welcome to the Southwest’s oldest Star Trek and science fiction fan organization, continuously operating since 1975. The UFP is a collective of like-minded men and women from all walks of life who get together to have fun, engage in activities, and celebrate our shared love for Star Trek. Inside these pages is “Subspace Chatter,” our official bi-monthly publication, which spotlights our members, and provides a resource for all things related to the UFP! If you like Sci-Fi and are in the Phoenix area, we want to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] for info.

isn ide this issue of subspace chatter

The UFP’s 46th year begins with the election of new club officers. Captain Kim Smith discusses remote meetings, and membership renewals in her Captain’s Log. Star Trek visual effects expert David Stipes teaches us about filming miniature models and showing off their best side. Dr. David A. Williams takes an in-depth look at the first half of the new animated comedy series Star Trek: Lower Decks. David Matteson interviews former UFP member Eugene Glover to explore the making of the 1990’s public access TV series Fusion Patrol, in which several UFP members were involved. We reveal the latest Star Trek news. And we wrap it up with our official club briefing, showcasing UFP news and upcoming activities.

The United Federation of Phoenix P.O. Box 37224 Phoenix, AZ 85069