Commentary: Trek Stars: The Work of Star Trek Creators Outside of Star Trek
182: Let's See What's Out There
Series Finale.

Running Time: 1 hours 32 minutes 33 seconds

For the past three and a half years, Mike, John and Max have examined the work of Star Trek creators outside of Star Trek. From the series creator Gene Roddenberry to the director of Star Trek Beyond, Justin Lin, we have covered television shows, films, novels, and more from writers, directors and actors who have worked throughout the franchise. But all good things...

In the final episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John reflect on 182 episodes of podcasting. We discuss how the show came about, what our favorite works by Trek creators are, and what we regret not covering. We also reveal our plans for the future.

Chapters
Secret Origins (00:01:45)
Favorite Works (00:29:48)
Favorite Creators (00:50:42)
What We Missed (01:01:26)
Final Thoughts (01:10:13)
Stage Nine (01:14:27)
Thanks (01:25:58)

Hosts
Mike Schindler and John Mills

Production
Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)
Direct download: ctrek-182.mp3
Category:Star Trek -- posted at: 9:00am MDT

181: Deep Cuts
Lin, Part 8: Recap.

Running Time: 1 hour 3 minutes 21 seconds

Throughout the course of Commentary: Trek Stars, we have covered thirty eight different people who have helped to create Star Trek. We began with the very first Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry, and we end with the current leader of the franchise, Justin Lin.

In our penultimate episode, Mike and John recap their series on Lin's career as a film director. We look at all seven of his movies, including Better Luck Tomorrow, Annapolis, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Finishing the Game, Fast & Furious, Fast Five, and Furious 6. We also discuss the news of J.J. Abrams' latest production, Kolma, and what the rumors of the new Trek series' format could mean for future creators.

Chapters
Lin's Early Films (00:01:11)
Fast & Furious (00:18:35)
News (00:41:55)

Hosts
Mike Schindler and John Mills

Production
Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Direct download: ctrek-181.mp3
Category:Justin Lin -- posted at: 9:00am MDT

180: Faster, More Intense
Lin, Part 7: Furious 6.

Running Time: 1 hour 21 minutes 34 seconds

In 2013, Justin Lin directed his fourth and final installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, Furious 6. The film continues the franchise's trend of creating movies that are bigger and better than what has come before. This time around, the crew needs to stop an international criminal who is  trying to steal a technology which could allow him to take over the world.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by Megan of Educating Geeks to look at Lin's most recent movie. We discuss how the film achieves its large scale, how it fits into the overall continuity of the franchise, and of course, the title.

Chapters
Furious 6 (00:08:33)
Hand-To-Hand Combat (00:27:34)
The Return of Letty (00:42:10)
Final Thoughts (00:59:40)

Hosts
John Mills and Mike Schindler

Guest
Megan Calcote

Production
Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)
Direct download: ctrek-180.mp3
Category:Justin Lin -- posted at: 9:00am MDT

179: The Avengers of Fast & Furiousness
Lin, Part 6: Fast Five.

Running Time: 59 minutes 33 seconds

After reinvigorating the franchise with Fast & FuriousStar Trek Beyond director Justin Lin returned to helm the fifth film in the series, Fast Five. This installment acted as a reunion of sorts, as series regulars Vin Diesel and Paul Walker were joined by stars of the previous films, including Tyrese Gibson, Gal Gadot and Sung Kang for an Ocean's Eleven-style heist movie.

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John continue their series on Lin's work as a director by looking at his sixth picture. We discuss how Fast Five builds on what has come before, Lin's continued collaboration with his crew, and what this film tells us about his ability to handle the large cast of Star Trek Beyond. We also discuss the trailer for Star Wars: Rogue One, because why not?

Chapters
Fast Five (00:00:45)
Lin's Style (00:17:47)
Sung Kang in Beyond? (00:29:07)
Wrap-up (00:45:07)

Hosts
Mike Schindler and John Mills

Production
Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Direct download: ctrek-179.mp3
Category:Justin Lin -- posted at: 9:00am MDT

178: Getting Rid of the Thes

Lin, Part 5: Fast & Furious.

 

Running Time: 1 hour 9 minutes 17 seconds

 

In 2009, Justin Lin returned to what would become his marquee franchise with Fast & Furious. The fourth film in the series was a return to basics, featuring a reunion of the original cast, including both Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, in an effort to revitalize the franchise.

 

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by Zach Moore of Always Hold On To Smallville to look at Lin's fifth film. We discuss the decision to bring Lin back after Tokyo Drift, the stylistic differences between the two films, and of course, the title. We also take a look at the career of Star Trek 2017's newest writer, Jesse Alexander.

 

Chapters

Fast & Furious (00:05:40)

Lin's Return (00:21:57)

Final Thoughts (00:38:17)

Jesse Alexander (00:45:15)

Wrap-up (01:00:30)

 

Hosts

John Mills and Mike Schindler

 

Guest

Zach Moore

 

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Direct download: ctrek-178.mp3
Category:Justin Lin -- posted at: 9:00am MDT

177: True Detective: Tokyo Drift

Lin, Part 4: Finishing the Game.

 

Running Time: 48 minutes 22 seconds

 

After two consecutive Hollywood blockbuster, Justin Lin returned to the world of independent filmmaking with Finishing the Game. The film is unlike any other in Lin's filmography, a "mockumentary" about finding an actor to replace Bruce Lee in his final movie, The Game of Death.

 

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at Lin's fourth film. We discuss how it differs from the rest of his movies, what it says about Lin as an artist, and the impact which Bruce Lee had on the culture. We also touch on the upcoming Star Trek: 50 Artists, 50 Years exhibition.

 

Chapters

Finishing the Game (00:01:39)

The Style (00:18:24)

50 Artists, 50 Years (00:33:45)

Wrap-up (00:36:43)

 

Hosts

Mike Schindler and John Mills

 

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Direct download: ctrek-177.mp3
Category:Justin Lin -- posted at: 9:00am MDT

176: Citizen Kane: Tokyo Drift

Lin, Part 3: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.

 

Running Time: 1 hour 24 seconds

 

Less than five months after the release of Annapolis, Justin Lin was handed the keys to the Fast and the Furious franchise. His first of four consecutive sequels was The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The film offers and interesting take on the franchise, expanding the mythology by focusing on entirely new characters instead of continuing the story established in the first two. Written by Chris Morgan, the movie features Lucas Black, Nathalie Kelley, Bow Wow, and Sung Kang. 

 

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike are joined by Brandon of Melodic Treks to discuss Lin's third movie. We look at how it differs from the other films in the franchise thus far, the members of the crew who are joining Lin for Star Trek Beyond, and the return of Han from Better Luck Tomorrow. We also discuss news, including the release of J.J. Abrams' latest production, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and the casting of Shohreh Aghdashloo in Star Trek Beyond.

 

Chapters

Tokyo Drift (00:02:54)

Its Place in the Franchise (00:22:01)

News (00:41:41)

Wrap-up (00:52:14)

 

Hosts

John Mills and Mike Schindler

 

Guest

Brandon-Shea Mutala

 

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Direct download: ctrek-176.mp3
Category:Justin Lin -- posted at: 9:00am MDT

175: Quick and Angry

Lin, Part 2: Annapolis.

 

Running Time: 1 hour 27 seconds

 

After the success of Better Luck Tomorrow, Justin Lin was given the opportunity to work on big studio productions with substantially larger budgets. The first of these was Annapolis in 2006. The film, starring James Franco, Tyrese Gibson and Jordan Brewster, looks at a cadet's first year at the U.S. Naval Academy.

 

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John take a look at Lin's second film. We discuss how it effectively uses cliches, the similarities to J.J. Abrams' Star Trek, and how accurately it portrays the Academy. In news, we remember TNG and DS9 visual effects supervisor Gary Hutzel, discuss the hiring of Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth as executive producers on the new Star Trek series, and touch on the order of Doug Jung's new pilot, Scalped.

 

Chapters

Annapolis (00:00:44)

Accuracy (00:20:05)

News (00:50:26)

 

Hosts

Mike Schindler and John Mills

 

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Direct download: ctrek-175.mp3
Category:Justin Lin -- posted at: 9:00am MDT

174: Fast & Furious Expanded Universe

Lin, Part 1: Better Luck Tomorrow.

 

Running Time: 1 hour 29 minutes 57 seconds

 

Over the course of its history, many artists have left their mark on the Star Trek franchise. Back in 1966, Gene Roddenberry was the first. 50 years later, Star Trek is in the hands of The Fast and the Furious director, Justin Lin.

 

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, John and Mike begin their final series, looking at Justin Lin’s career as a feature film director. In Part 1, we are joined by Dennis Castello of Continuing Mission to examine Lin’s first film, Better Luck Tomorrow. We discuss the themes of the film, Lin’s distinctive style, and how the film is similar to George Lucas’ American Graffiti. Then, in a special news segment, we are joined by John Tenuto to discuss addition of Nicholas Meyer to the writing staff of Star Trek 2017.

 

Chapters

Better Luck Tomorrow (00:06:00)

John Cho (00:25:34)

Final Thoughts (00:35:17)

Nicholas Meyer (00:38:25)

Star Trek VI (00:55:47)

Wrap-up (01:16:10)

 

Hosts

Mike Schindler and John Mills

 

Guests

Dennis Castello and John Tenuto

 

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Direct download: ctrek-174.mp3
Category:Justin Lin -- posted at: 9:00am MDT

173: The Lawrence of Arabia of Mission: Impossible

Abrams II, Part 7: Recap.

 

Running Time: 51 minutes 50 seconds

 

J.J. Abrams may not be returning as the director of Star Trek Beyond, but that should not suggest that his presence will not be felt as a producer. What do his past producing efforts suggest about his contribution to the upcoming movie?

 

In this episode of Commentary: Trek Stars, Mike and John recap their series looking at all of the films which Abrams has produced for other filmmakers. We discuss his work on The PallbearerThe SuburbansJoy RideMorning GloryMission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. We also hold a tournament to determine which picture in his impressive filmography is the crappiest.

 

Chapters

The Early Years (00:02:08)

Bad Robot (00:10:02)

The Bracket (00:26:42)

Wrap-up (00:36:40)

 

Hosts

Mike Schindler and John Mills

 

Production

Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Will Nguyen (Content Manager)

Direct download: ctrek-173.mp3
Category:J.J. Abrams -- posted at: 9:00am MDT