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Ambassador Class Origins - An Interview with Andrew Probert

2/12/2014

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     When the idea of Star Trek Futures was initially forming we knew that we wanted to do something different and unique. We went out searching for starship designs that we're elegant, well crafted, and rooted in Star Trek canon. We had always liked the idea of using the Enterprise-C in our story line, so when doing research on the Ambassador class we came across a very interesting find. We found that the model that we see in the TNG episode "Yesterdays Enterprise" was actually not the original design for the Ambassador class. It turns out that Andrew Probert, who designed the Enterprise-D, amongst many other beautiful starships had also created a concept sketch for an Ambassador class to reside between the Enterprise-B and D. In correspondence with Mr. Probert he gave me some background on this...

      "During preproduction,  someone (me or a Producer) thought it would be a good idea to have some sort of size comparison between all ships named Enterprise.  I thought it should be on one of the walls in Main Engineering so I came up with a vertical arrangement for one of the narrow walls, sketching in a new “C” Enterprise between the “B” (Excelsior Class) and “D”.  The Producers liked the idea but thought, instead, that it should be seen in the Conference (changed to ‘observation’) Lounge wall so I took that opportunity to draft up a hard-line elevation of this new ship, to go along with the rest of the already-in-place Designs.  A craftsman was brought in to sculpt the ships as half-hull models, arranging them in a broader grouping,… which was more pleasing for the wall on which it was destined."
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     "Later, at the beginning of episode six, "Where No One Has Gone Before”, the Enterprise has a rendezvous with the ‘USS Fearless’ to pick up an Engineering specialist,… a five second establishing image.  Knowing  the Producers below Gene would not have an understanding that, being 85 years beyond Kirk’s time (later changed to 71 years), StarFleet would have a totally different look to the ships, similar to our Galaxy-Class Enterprise.  I knew that if I didn’t supply that ‘new’ ship cheaply, that they would resort to using one of the older models so I used that Enterprise-C Design in a small painting to be the Fearless.   Having seen a lot of the ‘stock footage’ already in the can, I picked a sequence of the Enterprise entering frame from the upper left corner, drifting toward center frame, and painted it already in orbit, waiting for the Enterprise.  This is a small portion of the frame which was mostly blank, waiting to be filled by the Enterprise element.  For some reason, I thought, at the time, that the space background should be blue screen-blue,… kinda silly now, but that was my attempt at establishing a new Fleet.  As you know, they used an Excelsior Class model and, of course, after I left the show, an episode came up actually featuring the Enterprise-C,… but the Design was changed and the sculpture-wall disappeared, pushing that Design into our foggy memories.

Now, at last, through the overwhelmingly complementary desire to feature this ship in: STAR TREK: FUTURES, and the genius talents of Tobias Richter, she will, at last… fly-"
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Probert drafting the Enterprise-C between a drawing of the Excelsior, below, and Enterprise-D (temporarily off the board) above.
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We hope you enjoyed hearing this story as much as we did! We personally believe that this Ambassador design is vastly more elegant than what we see in TNG and sits perfectly between the ships that came before and after it. We sincerely thank Mr. Probert for taking the time to give us this little piece of amazing Star Trek history!


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Our "Big-E"

2/10/2014

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We would proudly like to share with you a teaser featuring the one and only "Big-E." The Enterprise-C that is. We have obtained permission from the man himself, Andrew Probert to use his original concept design for the Ambassador class starship. We are incredibly thrilled to be bringing this ship to life as it was replaced by a different design in TNGs, Yesterdays Enterprise. Many thanks also to Tobias Richter for animating the incredible design. We hope that you will enjoy seeing this ship in action as we will. Stay tuned in for more updates in the up coming weeks! Thanks and don't forget to Like our page!

STF Production Team

Star Trek Futures (Enterprise NCC-1701-C) from startrekfutures on Vimeo.

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STF Inspiration - A Personal Note

1/15/2014

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Music will play a huge part of the Star Trek Futures experience. Personally my creativity has always been inspired by music first and foremost. This entire project has been encompassed by hours of musical inspiration but one song in particular, The Whaler by the group Thrice really sums up the feel and emotion of what we are aiming for in this project. Please take a listen and support the group if you enjoy the music. Thanks for letting me share a part of my inspiration with you.  Lyrics and Link below

-Dan
STF Production Team

My lover's arms, well, they beg me to stay
But I know the storms, they will sweep me away
My daughter's eyes, they are two tiny seas
Whose water will rise and then run down her cheeks

Father, where do you go so far out upon the sea?
When are you coming home to me?
Darling, why do you leave as the north wind begins to blow?
Will you be coming home to me?

The boat and the blade, they are all that I know
The sea calls my name and so I must go
While they still sleep, I slip out the door
But how can I leave with my anchors ashore?

Father, where do you go? It's farther than I can see
When are you coming home to me?
Darling, why do you leave as the north wind begins to blow?
Will you be coming home to me?


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A Work In Progress

12/27/2013

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Just a quick update in regards to the current pre production. We are currently working on some new character concept art as well as a new Enterprise bridge design in a style that we haven't seen in Trek before. Be ready for a slew of updates early next month. Thanks again for all the interest in the project thus far. 

-Dan
STF Production Team
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Welcome to Star Trek Futures!

12/17/2013

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Thanks for everyone who has checked out the website so far, and thanks for all the kind and encouraging words. Please visit our Facebook group and Like us if you haven't already. You can find us at all the major social media sites via the links to the right. More artwork is on the way and the story is in it's final stages of being drafted. Lots of long nights and coffee breaks are ahead of us but things are slowly moving forward. Please feel free to leave comments and let us know what you think of the project so far. Thanks!

-Dan
STF Production Team
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