“Fade In: The Writing of Star Trek Insurrection”

Got an email from The Bitter Script Reader:

Hey Scott,

I tweeted about this, but I think this might be worth of a link on your blog. Back when Star Trek: Insurrection was in production, Michael Piller wrote a book for Pocket Books that would have detailed the behind the scenes process of writing the film. I read an interview with him where he said it was his hope that it would take the reader inside the making of the film in a way no other book had, and really documented the genesis of the script from treatment, to studio notes to accommodating actor notes to production. He claimed that after he delivered the manuscript to Pocket, the book was killed by someone in the highest levels of Paramount Studios.

Well, apparently enough time has passed that the book stands no chance of being profitable, nor will anyone at Paramount object to the free release of the document online. Sadly, Mr. Piller is no longer with us, but the fan site Trek Core has made his manuscript available online. They describe it as “an unpublished book honestly detailing the writing process for Star Trek Insurrection. The book was written by the movie’s writer, Michael Piller, who passed away back in 2005. It includes story drafts, internal memos, letters from actors, etc. It’s an incredibly insightful read into the process, even if it is unfinished.”

You should be able to find it here: http://www.trekcore.com/

Not only for you Trekkies, but anybody interested in reading first-hand the experience of a professional screenwriter and their writing process.

For further information on Piller:

Interview: BBC

Interview: TrekWeb

Interview: Trek Today

IMDB page

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