Stage Nine: A Podcast about the People Who Make Star Trek

Series Finale. For over five years and 261 episodes, through Commentary: Trek Stars and Stage Nine, Trek.fm has looked at the people who make Star Trek and and their work both inside and outside of the franchise. But all good things...

In the series finale of Stage Nine, Mike Schindler and John Mills reflect on their time at Trek.fm by recalling three key moments in their relationship. We look back at our first encounter online, recording the pilot for From There to Here, and finally meeting face to face.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) John Carpenter (00:04:47) From There to Here (00:22:50) Close Encounters (00:42:20) Closing (00:48:054) Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Jeff Sutter (Associate Producer) Chris Stenftenagel (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Discovery, Season One. Eighteen months ago, we began this podcast with a look at the writers working behind the scenes to create the latest incarnation of Star Trek. After a very long road, the finished product is finally here.

In this episode of Stage Nine, hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler take a look at the first season of Star Trek: Discovery. We discuss our thoughts on the series, how it lived up to our expectations, and what outside work we discovered along the way.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Discovery (00:02:23) Creative Standouts (00:23:13) Final Thoughts (00:59:41) Closing (01:04:55) Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Jeff Sutter (Associate Producer) Chris Stenftenagel (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Tarantino, Vol. 9: The Hateful Eight. Three months ago, word leaked that Quentin Tarantino was developing a new Star Trek film with J.J. Abrams producing. Some people were not happy. Others were overjoyed. But a lot can happen in three months. Last week, information was revealed about a car crash on the set of Tarantino's Kill Bill, which many feel he was largely responsible for. Ever since, the questions on everyone's minds are "How did this happen?" "Is Tarantino at fault?" "Should he even be allowed to direct Star Trek?"

In this episode of Stage Nine, hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills discuss the recent revelations regarding Tarantino, and question how that changes the way his work is perceived. We also conclude our series with Tarantino's latest film, The Hateful Eight. In news, we discuss the surprise release of the new Abrams production, The Cloverfield Paradox. And stay tuned to the end for a special announcement.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) The Cloverfield Paradox (00:01:17) Tarantino (00:14:32) The Hateful Eight (00:42:55) Final Thoughts (01:05:18) Announcement (01:15:23) Closing (01:20:35) Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Jeff Sutter (Associate Producer) Chris Stenftenagel (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Tarantino, Vol. 8: Django Unchained. In 2012, Quentin Tarantino returned to the western genre in another unconventional way with the release of Django Unchained. The film stars Jamie Foxx as a freed slave turned bounty hunter who is on a quest to find and save his wife.

In this episode of Stage Nine, hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler take a look at Tarantino's seventh film. We discuss westerns, the history of the Django character, and the idea of a Django/Zorro crossover.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Django Unchained (00:00:58) Closing (00:34:37) Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler

Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Jeff Sutter (Associate Producer) Chris Stenftenagel (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Tarantino, Vol. 7: Inglourious Basterds. While J.J. Abrams was relaunching the Star Trek franchise in 2009, Quentin Tarantino was in his own corner of the movie world making Inglourious Basterds. The film offers an alternative look at World War II from the perspective of a group of people from vastly different backgrounds who are all hell-bent on destroying the Nazi party.

In this episode of Stage Nine, hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills take a look at Tarantino's World War II western. We discuss the stellar work by the cast and crew, the importance of language in war, and the accurate portrayal of film projection. In news, we look at the work of Star Trek's latest director, Hanelle M. Culpepper.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Hanelle M. Culpepper (00:01:30) Inglourious Basterds (00:10:35) Closing (00:34:09) Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Jeff Sutter (Associate Producer) Chris Stenftenagel (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Tarantino, Vol. 6: Death Proof. Quentin Tarantino grew up in the 1970s watching double features of exploitation movies at run-down theaters known as grindhouses. It was a unique experience which does not exist today. In 2007, Tarantino teamed up with fellow director Robert Rodriguez to recreate the experience with a double feature appropriately titled Grindhouse.

In this episode of Stage Nine, hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler look at Tarantino's Grindhouse contribution, Death Proof. We discuss the theatrical presentation, the extended director's cut, and how the movie went about creating the film damage look. We also wonder if Zoe Bell exists in the Movie Universe.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Death Proof (00:01:21) Film Damage (00:19:31) Closing (00:43:07) Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Jeff Sutter (Associate Producer) Chris Stenftenagel (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Tarantino, Vol. 5: Kill Bill. After directing Jackie Brown, Quentin Tarantino disappeared from the movie scene for six years. But when he returned, it was with the four hour "roaring rampage of revenge" known as Kill Bill.

In this episode of Stage Nine, Mike Schindler and John MIlls take a look at Quentin Tarantino's exploitation epic. We discuss the build-up, our reactions to Volumes 1 and 2, the differences in The Whole Bloody Affair, and the film's connection to Star Trek. In news, check out the new Discovery writer/producer, Vaun Wilmott.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Vaun Wilmott (00:01:55) Kill Bill (00:06:05) Origins (00:18:58) Anticipation (00:23:33) Vol. 3 (00:44:07) Closing (00:49:03) Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Jeff Sutter (Associate Producer) Chris Stenftenagel (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Tarantino, Vol. 4: Jackie Brown. After the success of Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarantino was in a position in which he could make almost any movie he wanted. With that power, he chose to adapt Elmore Leonard's crime novel Rum Punch into the Blaxploitation homage Jackie Brown.

In this episode of Stage Nine, hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler take a look at Tarantino's third film. We discuss the choice to go with a smaller character piece as his follow-up to Pulp Fiction, the film's unconventional casting, and what this adaptation tells us about how Tarantion may approach Star Trek.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Jackie Brown (00:02:01) The Cast (00:18:15) Closing (00:32:47) Hosts Sir John Mills and Mike Schindler Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Jeff Sutter (Associate Producer) Chris Stenftenagel (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Tarantino, Vol. 3: Four Rooms. The 1990s produced numerous independent filmmakers who quickly became rockstars, and formed a tight-knit community. In that spirit, Quentin Tarantino teamed with three of his contemporaries to create the anthology film Four Rooms. The movie stars Tim Roth as a bellboy working alone at a hotel on New Year's Eve. As the title suggests, the film is divided into four stories, one for each "room," with each story written and directed by a different filmmaker. Those four filmmakers are Allison Anders, Alexandre Rockwell, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino.

In this episode of Stage Nine, hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills continue their series on Tarantino with a look at Four Rooms. We discuss the poor reception, the varying quality of the segments, and what makes Tarantino's segment a standout. In news, we look at the writer hired to pen the script for Star Trek 14, Mark L. Smith.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) News (00:01:17) Four Rooms (00:14:02) Tarantino's Room (00:30:34) Closing (00:35:42) Hosts Mike Schindler and John Mills Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Jeff Sutter (Associate Producer) Chris Stenftenagel (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)

Tarantino, Vol. 2: Pulp Fiction. In 1994, Quentin Tarantino released his second feature film, Pulp Fiction. The art form would never be the same.

In this episode of Stage Nine, John Mills and Mike Schindler look at what many consider to be Tarantino's masterpiece. We discuss the atmosphere of film culture at the time, our initial experiences with the film, and the impact it had on the medium.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Pulp Fiction (00:02:17) Memories (00:24:00) Closing (00:37:16) Hosts John Mills and Mike Schindler

Production Mike Schindler (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Jeff Sutter (Associate Producer) Chris Stenftenagel (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager) Brandon-Shea Mutala (Patreon Manager)