Memory Alpha:AOL chats/Ronald D. Moore/ron044.txt

Subj: Answers Date: 7/28/97 19:17:18 From: RonDMoore

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Sorry, but I have no idea.

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We wanted a chance to do some stories with the Klingons and posting Worf to Martok's ship gave us that opportunity. The feeling on the staff was that we had too many people on the Defiant anyway and that Worf wouldn't end up with much to do if he stayed. We also wanted to separate Worf and Dax for a while. The internal rationale in the series is that Worf will coordinate Klingon/Federation military activities in addition to serving as Martok's First Officer while aboard the Rotarran.

<< i reaally want to know if we will see an episode that features Kira and Sisko.>>

Possibly, but not until we get the station back!

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No. There was actually a point where we discussed a cameo appearanc of Kahn for something (sorry, I can't recall which episode or why, but it was a couple of years ago on DS9) and we were told that Ricardo Montalban's health wouldn't permit him to do it.

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I thought it was a great episode. We've brought up "Lower Decks" several times on DS9 among the staff and our feeling is that unlike TNG, we actually do many episodes and storylines that revolve around the characters on the "lower" decks: Rom, Leeta, Nog, Muniz, all the crewmembers from "Empok Nor", etc.

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We don't get back the station and life under the Dominion is not what you'd expect.

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"Shades of Gray" is embarassing. So is "Up the Long Ladder".

<< I was wondering if you ever heard of Stephen E. Whitfield or even heard of [The Making of Star Trek]?>>

I read the book many years ago when I was a kid and thoroughly enjoyed it. I met Stephen Whitfield a year or two ago, and I believe he's now working on a book on the making of Voyager.

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I don't know much about Brent in 1776. I hope I get a chance to see it -- it's my favorite movie musical of all time but I've never seen it performed on stage. Anyone know if he's touring? I doubt that the play will interfere with him appearing in Trek 9.

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It's not me. Although it was certainly plausible that I'd be the idiot standing there chewing gum and screwing up the shot while I tried to find an "out of the way" place to stand on the set.

Subj: Answers Date: 7/28/97 19:35:00 From: RonDMoore

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Always nice to hear from a fan.

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Technically, the only "team" I participate in is when I work with Brannon. As a team, we work on every line through the entire script, scene by scene, page by page. On the DS9 staff, we get together quite often to discuss story ideas, give notes on each other's scripts, "break" (outline) stories, watch dailies, etc. virtually every day.

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Yes.

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As a general rule, I don't answer fan e-mail directly. I have to draw the line somewhere and I'm afraid that keeping up with the questions here on the board is more than enough work. I'd much rather put my energy here since more people can read and enjoy the responses.

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Rick has the overall control on all Star Trek filmed media. He has no "insidious agenda" and theories to the contrary are a bunch of crap.

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You gotta stick with it and keep sending your stuff to agents and to anyone and everyone else you can think of.

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I'm sure it hasn't been determined yet.

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I haven't read the comics and we on the writing staff have no contact with anyone at Marvel. I assume they have a contact at Paramount in Merchandising and Licensing who tracks the continuity. On the show, we only consider
 * filmed* material to be canon (not including the CD-ROMs).

<<Do you think that Paramount will make a DS9 movie ?>>

No one knows at this point.

<<what did Drex say to Odo in "The Way of the Warrior?" Garak responded with "Actually, I don't think Constable Odo HAS a mother.">>

I don't think this was translated into English in the script since it seemed best left to the imagination.

<<Why has the crew of the Enterprise been stuck for so long at their current ranks.>>

Promotions are always difficult in Trek since moving up in rank would usually promote the characters right off the Bridge and onto another ship. Yes, Geordi, Data, and Troi could always be moved up to full Commanders, but that would make them equal to Riker and Crusher and you'd have six characters with the same rank. Moving Crusher and Riker up means having three captains on board and moving Picard up to Admiral obviously creates other problems.

<<What do you think of the addition of a FEMALE BORG to the crew of Voyager.>>

I really don't have much of an opinion about it. I haven't read the script or seen any footage, so I'll just wait and see the episode along with the rest of you.

<<Is there any chance of Eddington resurfacing next season? >>

I don't think so.

<<In an earlier folder you ranked the Star Trek movies as to your personal favorites, but neglected to include The Undiscovered Country or First Contact on the list. So how do the rankings currently stack up?>>

My rankings would be:

Wrath of Khan/First Contact -- tie Voyage Home Generations Search for Spock Undiscovered Country The Motion Picture Final Frontier - Subj: Answers Date: 7/28/97 19:42:27 From: RonDMoore

<<Do you have a fundamental problem with the premise of Voyager looking for a way home to the Alpha Quadrant? It always seemed that the purpose Gene had in mind was exploration- not ripping off Gilligan's Island and Quantum Leap. While VGR has definitely turned out some quality episodes and introduced some interesting new races- do you see the premise as flawed, cliched, or a contradiction of Gene's vision?>>

I see nothing wrong with Voyager's premise. In fact, I like the premise that they're far from home and free to see and do new things every week.

<<What would you say are the chances of seeing the Ent-H in about 7-10 years from now?>>

It's certainly possible, but it's WAY too early to speculate.

<<I submitted a DS9 spec script to Paramount in late May of 1996 and have yet to hear back. Is that normal, or should I start panicking?>>

It's normal, unfortunately.

<<One of the few continuity holes in a season of carefully-structured continuity was the absence of First Minister Shakaar in quite a few episodes in which his presence was almost required. I understand it was extremely difficult to book Duncan Regher (sp?) this year, so is it possible that Shakaar will be recast with a more available actor? In any case, will we see more of Shakaar next year?>>

The absence of Shakaar had less to do with Duncan's schedule and more to do with already crowded stories that needed trimming and with budgetary considerations. We haven't planned any Shakaar appearances yet for Season 6, but we still might.

<<do you think you guys have been a little spenthrifty with the term "Vedek" in the past few years?>>

That's probably true.

<<Do you think that given exactly the same scripts, same performances, and the same actors, but without the title Star Trek, that DS9, were it on NBC Thursdays at 10, would have garnered some of the big nominations? >>

That's a very good question, and one that I've asked myself both on TNG and DS9. I do think that if either show had been a network series that we'd have garnered at least one or two of the "big" nominations over the years (not forgetting TNG's Best Drama nom in year 7). At the very least, Patrick and Brent would've gotten a nomination and possibly Avery, Rene, and Armin. ---