Star Trek has inspired millions of fans across the world for decades now. Recently, as film production (editing and effects) has become more accessible, fundraising is now crowdsourced (KickStarter) and inexpensive direct to home widespread distribution a reality (YouTube) , fan films have blossomed.
I’ve gathered together the serious efforts, all of which take place around the time of the original series. For me, and I guess for those involved, this timeframe has the most nostalgia value. The soundtrack and effects are excellent, as are the sets, uniforms and props. While recreating a cheap 60’s era set and props isn’t that hard, there is an impressive degree of accuracy in what they accomplished years later. There are even episodes where the original actors (Nichols, Koenig, Russ and Takei) reprise their iconic roles.
Star Trek New Voyages/Phase II and Star Trek Continues both endeavour to continue the five year mission right where the original series left off. As a fan I think the hardest thing to recreate is the relationship between the principal characters, Kirk, Spock and McCoy. This can be hit and miss. Cawley and Mignogna who play Kirk definitely give a nod to the Shatner School of Acting, though with Cawley and his distracting Elvis-like dark pompadour is less convincing. In later episodes of New Voyages, Brian Gross takes over the lead role. While he definitely looks the part, the jury is still out on his performance.
Starship Farragut and Starship Exeter develop their own crews though continue the in the original series tradition. Axanar, Of Gods and Men and Renegades are one-off movies with high production quality and impressive array of familiar actors.
Star Trek Axanar
A recent addition to the Trek family, The Four Years War aims to be a movie, but currently is a work in progress expected some time early 2016. From the 20 minute teaser, it looks fantastic. Best acting and production quality to date. Features Richard Hatch of Battlestar Galactica, Tony Todd who played Worf’s brother in ST:TNG and Gary Graham who will be reprising his role of the Vulcan Ambassador Soval, whom he previously played on Star Trek: Enterprise.
Star Trek New Voyages / Phase II
Come What May (pilot)
http://www.startrekphase2.de/comewhatmay
Released 2003, the pilot is always the roughest.
After receiving a distress call, the USS Enterprise, commanded by Captain James T. Kirk (James Cawley), is assigned to investigate an intruder attacking the Primus IV colony. Once there, the crew encounters a strange alien life form that can produce visions of personal events displaced in time. These visions may hold the key to better understanding the threat they are about to encounter.
The actors don’t remain consistent over the episodes (which, considering they span some 10 years is forgivable). Eventually everyone changes.
- James Cawley as Captain James T. Kirk
- Jeffery Quinn as Mr. Spock
- John M. Kelley as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
- Jack Marshall as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott
- Jasen Tucker as Chekov
In Harm’s Way (e1)
http://www.startrekphase2.de/inharmsway
In an adventure that spans centuries, Captain Kirk fights alongside a U.S.S. Enterprise from the past to stop the devastating “Doomsday Wars” that should never have happened. In a universe forever changed by those events, the crew of the Enterprise must once again battle the powerful juggernaut known as the “Doomsday Machine.“
- James Cawley as Captain James T. Kirk
- Jeffery Quinn as Mr. Spock
- John M. Kelley as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
- Charles Root as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott
- Julienne Irons as Lt. Nyota Uhura
To Serve All My Days (e2)
http://www.startrekphase2.de/toserveallmydays
Chekov ages rapidly resulting in… Walker Koenig!
While a Klingons ship is threatening the Enterprise and Captain Kirk needs Chekov on the bridge, but Lt. Chekov is incapacitated with a debilitating disease that is causing him to age rapidly… a disease for which Dr. McCoy can find no cure.
- James Cawley as Captain James T. Kirk
- Jeffery Quinn as Mr. Spock
- John M. Kelley as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
- Charles Root as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott
- Julienne Irons as Lt. Nyota Uhura
- John Lim as Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- Andy Bray as Lt. Pavel Chekov (Young)
World Enough and Time (e3)
http://www.startrekphase2.de/worldenoughandtime
An alternate future Sulu (played by George Takei) saves the Enterprise. Majel Barrett Rodenberry lends her voice to the Enterprise computer.
A Romulan weapons test goes awry and snares the Enterprise in an inter-dimensional trap. Lt. Commander Sulu returns to find himself 30 years out of place and the key to saving the crew of the Enterprise as the precarious grasp on their own dimension begins to slip.
- James Cawley as Captain James T. Kirk
- Jeffery Quinn as Mr. Spock
- John M. Kelley as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
- Charles Root as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott
- Julienne Irons as Lt. Nyota Uhura
- John Lim as Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu (Young)
- Andy Bray as Lt. Pavel Chekov
Blood and Fire (e4, e5)
http://www.startrekphase2.de/bloodandfire
Denise Crosby (“Tasha Yar” from TNG) features.
Pursued and damaged by repeated Klingon attacks, the crew of the Enterprise must respond to the distress call from a Federation research ship. In a matter of hours the ship and crew will be consumed by a nearby star and the crew of the Enterprise will be consumed by an mysterious horror that threatens both ships as the Klingons watch and wait.
- James Cawley as Captain James T. Kirk
- * Ben Tolpin as Mr. Spock
- John M. Kelley as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
- Charles Root as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott
- * Kim Stinger as Lt. Nyota Uhura (also Star Trek Continues)
- John Lim as Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- Andy Bray as Lt. Pavel Chekov
Enemy Starfleet (e6)
http://www.startrekphase2.de/enemystarfleet
Attacked while exploring a new sector of space, Captain James T. Kirk and his crew find themselves thrust in the middle of a war. The USS Eagle, lost eight years before, is now in the clutches of a woman who bends starships and their captains to her will and has been reverse engineered into a fleet that is bent on domination and genocide. The Enterprise may be the only ship able to stop the Peshan homeworld from falling to Alersa and her enemy starfleet.
- James Cawley as Captain James T. Kirk
- * Brandon Stacy as Mr. Spock
- John M. Kelley as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
- Charles Root as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott
- Kim Stinger as Lt. Nyota Uhura (also Star Trek Continues)
- * J.T. Tepnapa as Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- * Johnathan Zungre as Lt. Pavel Chekov
The Child (e7)
http://www.startrekphase2.de/thechild
While the Enterprise passes through a strange energy cloud, a mysterious light force enters the ship and impregnates Ensign Isel who, within days, gives birth to a baby girl, Irska. The child grows up at a tremendous rate and while she appears to be human, it is feared she could endanger the ship after a strange alien spacecraft appears and puts everyone in jeopardy…
- James Cawley as Captain James T. Kirk
- Brandon Stacy as Mr. Spock
- John M. Kelley as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
- Charles Root as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott
- J.T. Tepnapa as Lt. Cmdr. Hikaru Sulu
- Johnathan Zungre as Lt. Pavel Chekov
Kitumba (e8)
http://www.startrekphase2.de/kitumba
“Kitumba” depicts the Enterprise on a suicide mission to the heart of the Klingon Empire. Pulled in every direction by warlords and people that have their own agenda, the Kitumba suddenly finds himself confronting his very enemy: Captain James Kirk and the Enterprise. The choices he makes will resonate through the galaxy for years to come.
- James Cawley as Captain James T. Kirk
- Brandon Stacy as Mr. Spock
- John M. Kelley as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
- Charles Root as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott
- Kim Stinger as Lt. Nyota Uhura (also Star Trek Continues)
- Johnathan Zungre as Lt. Pavel Chekov
Mind Sifter (e9)
http://www.startrekphase2.de/mindsifter
Klingons kidnap Kirk on Nimbus III and extract the location of the Guardian of Forever (introduced in “The City on the Edge of Forever”)
When the crew of the Enterprise is forced to accept the death of Captain Kirk, Spock and McCoy must come to terms with their own grief, but when Spock discovers a plot by the Klingons to send Kirk back in time in order to destroy the Federation, it will take all the courage and abilities of the crew of the Enterprise to rescue their beloved Captain in time before he succumbs to the horrific torture of the Mind-Sifter (introduced in “Errand of Mercy”).
- * Brian Gross as Captain James T. Kirk
- Brandon Stacy as Mr. Spock
- * Jeff Bond as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
- Charles Root as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott
- * Jasmine Pierce as Lt. Nyota Uhura
- * Shyaporn Theerakulstit as Lt. Hikaru Sulu
The Holiest Thing (e10)
Not released yet
http://www.startrekphase2.de/theholiestthing
Kirk meets Dr Carol Markus
- Brian Gross as Captain James T. Kirk
- Brandon Stacy as Mr. Spock
- Charles Root as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott
Star Trek Continues
http://www.startrekcontinues.com
- Vic Mignogna as Captain James T. Kirk
- Todd Haberkorn as Mr. Spock
- Chuck Huber as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
- Chris Doohan as Lt. Cmdr Montgomery Scott (yes, the son of the original Scotty)
- Kim Stinger as Lt. Nyota Uhura (also Star Trek New Voyages 4,5,6,8)
- Grant Imahara as Lt. Hikaru Sulu (former Mythbuster)
- Wyatt Lenhart as Ens. Pavel Chekov
Pilgrim of Eternity (e1)
http://player.vimeo.com/video/66784863
Apollo returns to wreak havoc on Kirk and the Enterprise.
The same actor who played Apollo in “Who Mourns For Adonais” reprises his role.
Marina Sirtis (Troy) provides the voice of the computer.
Lolani (e2)
http://player.vimeo.com/video/86215323
A survivor from a distressed Tellarite vessel pulls Captain Kirk and his crew into a moral quandary over her sovereignty.
Includes a green Lou Ferrigno (of Hulk fame), Erin Grey (Buck Rogers) and Orion Slave women.
Fairest of them All (e3)
http://player.vimeo.com/video/98076892
In the Mirror Universe, Spock faces a choice that determines the future of the Terran Empire. Basically events directly after “Mirror, Mirror”.
Michael Dorn (Worf) is the computer voice.
The White Iris (e4)
http://player.vimeo.com/video/128304406
Captain Kirk finds himself haunted by guilt from his past as the fate of an alien world hangs in the balance. Kirk has heart! He actually remembers all those women from his past (but forgets his password).
Marina Sirtis (Troy) provides the voice of the computer.
Star Trek: Of Gods and Men
http://startrekofgodsandmen.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFqAME7dx58
It is the year 2306. Thirteen years have passed since Captain James T. Kirk was swept away by the Nexus, after saving the crew of the Enterprise-B. The remaining crew members of the original USS Enterprise have gone their separate ways. Captain Nyota Uhura and Captain Pavel Chekov, along with Captain John Harriman of the Enterprise-B, come together for a special dedication in honor of Kirk’s Enterprise. Their reunion is cut short when they receive a distress call from a mysterious planet, that presses the three friends to embark on a mission that will change their lives forever.
God-like Gary Mitchell (“Where No Man Has Gone Before”), Charlie Evans (“Charlie X”) and The Guardian of Forever (“The City on the Edge of Forever”) forge an alternate timeline without Kirk (akin to “Mirror, Mirror”). My head is spinning from all the cross references.
- Walter Koenig as Captain Pavel Chekov
- Nichelle Nichols as Captain Nyota Uhura
- Alan Ruck as Captain John Harriman (Star Trek: Generations)
- Tim Russ as Tuvok (Star Trek Voyager)
- Garrett Wang as Garan (Harry Kim from Star Trek Voyager)
- Ethan Phillips as The Data Clerk (Neelix from Star Trek Voyager)
- Lawrence Montaigne as Stonn (ST:TNG “Amok Time“)
- Cirroc Lofton as Sevar (Jake Sisko from ST: DS9)
- William Wellman Jr. as Charlie Evans (ST:TNG “Charlie X“)
- Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand (ST:TNG)
- Herbert Jefferson Jr. as Colonel Galt (Lt. Boomer from Battlestar Galactica)
- James Cawley as Commander Peter Kirk (Star Trek Phase II)
- Jeffery Quinn as helmsman (Star Trek Phase II)
Star Trek Renegades
To be released (soon?)
It is ten years after Voyager’s return from the Delta Quadrant, and the Federation is in a crisis. The Federation’s main suppliers of dilithium crystals are disappearing. Space and time have folded around several planets, effectively isolating them from any contact with outside worlds. And this phenomenon is not natural – someone or something is causing this to happen. This necessitates drastic measures; some of which are outside the Federation’s normal jurisdiction. For this, Admiral Pavel Chekov, head of Starfleet Intelligence, turns to Commander Tuvok, Voyager’s former security officer and current head of the newly reorganized Section 31. Tuvok must put together a new covert, renegade crew – mostly outcasts and rogues – even criminals. This new crew is tasked with finding out what is causing the folding of time and space, and stopping it – at all costs. But will they be able to put aside their differences and stop trying to kill one another in time to accomplish their mission?
- Walter Koenig as Admiral Pavel Chekov
- Tim Russ as Tuvok (Star Trek Voyager)
- Adrienne Wilkinson as Captain Lexxa Singh
- Bruce A. Young as Borrada
- Robert Picardo as Dr. Louis Zimmerman (Doctor Star Trek Voyager)
- Sean Young as Dr. Lucien (Dune, Bladerunner)
- Gary Graham as Ragnar (Ambassador Suvol, Star Trek Enterprise, Axanar)
- Richard Hurd as Admiral Paris (Star Trek Voyager)
- Grant Imahara as Lt Masaru (Mythbusters, Star Trek Continues)
- Vic Mignogna as Garis (Star Trek Continues)
Starship Farragut
http://www.starshipfarragut.com
- John Broughton as Captain John Thomas Carter
- Michael Bednar as XO Robert James Tacket, Science Officer
- Holly Bednar as Cmdr Michelle Renata Smithfield, Chief Engineer
- Dan Collis as Lt Commander Gary Weston, Security Chief
- Frank Hernandez as Commander George Howard Foster, Science Officer
- Gina Hernandez as Lt Commander Tia Logan, Helm
- Dean Rogers as Lt Roy Adam Morris, Helm, Navigation
The Captaincy (pilot)
Shortly after Captain Carter arrives on board his new command, he is called off to planet Diotama III to investigate the disappearance of a Federation Commodore, and a possible secret Klingon weapons facility. Carter must resolve this crisis, save the Commodore and destroy the Klingon weapon while learning what it means to be the captain of a starship.
For Want of a Nail (e2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJKQ1FHQc68
Crossover with Star Trek Continues.
The Starship Farragut has been dispatched on a diplomatic mission to Solon Prime to make first contact with a race of ancient scholars. What could possibly go wrong? Shortly after entering the transporter room and beaming down, the landing party finds itself not in the Solonai Council chambers, but in America’s past.
The Price of Anything (e3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k34lM7ZszoA
Captain Carter is reunitned with his estranged father for an important mission to secretly transport a plant that holds the vaccine for a disease that hit hard in the Federation. While enroute to Cerronos IV, their shuttle craft collides with a Romulan scout vessel and crash lands on a deserted planet. While Captain Carter and his father are working to survive on the planet, the Farragut gets attacked by another Romulan vessel. Can the captain make it off the planet with the valuable Nektoss plant? Will Commander Tacket defeat his Romulan adversary?
Conspiracy of Innocence (e4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZetyCEiytL0
While on a mission to a strange new world, Captain Carter and crew face the ultimate challenge as a close friend gives their life to save the others. Trapped in a world below the surface of a dying planet, the inhabitants share a secret which could change the galaxy forever. While Captain Carter and the crew grieve, a threat emerges which could mean the end of the Farragut.
Just Passing Through (vignettes 1 & 3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKI26MaRN4E
The Starship Farragut’s Chief Engineer, Michelle Smithfield, recalls the first time she met Commander Tacket on Starbase 12.
A Rock and a Hard Place (vignette 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIEm8Pu9Y5o
Captain Carter, despite objections from Chief Engineer Smithfield, decides to go on a planetary survey mission with an old flame. Are they the only ones interested in the rocks?
Night Shift (vignette 4)
Starship Exeter
The Savage Empire (pilot)
(video)
One of the first ‘serious’ fan films, Savage Empire was released in 2002. The production quality is rough, but improves somewhat in their second, much more recent episode.
It follows the crew of USS Enterprise’s sister ship the USS Exeter. We know the ultimate fate of that ship from “The Omega Glory” (short version: they die)
On a mission of peace, the Starship Exeter is drawn into a battle of political intrigue and espionage. Who will survive? Can even Caption Garrovick’s own crew be trusted?
The Tressaurian Intersection (e1)
(video)
Searching for a starship in distress, the crew of the Starship U.S.S. Exeter finds a destroyed starbase and a deepening mystery. Has an enemy species from Captain Garrovick’s past invented the ultimate weapon, or is the truth even stranger and more deadly?
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