In a letter to Gene Roddenberry, Dorothy Fontana makes the case for accepting a story from Larry Niven into the production of Star Trek: The Animated Series. In a separate letter to Larry, Dorothy suggests a collaborative approach to bring his story to the small screen. In this episode of The Trek Files, we are thrilled to welcome the award-winning science-fiction novelist Larry Niven himself to share his recollection of working with Dorothy and adapting his story for Star Trek!

Document and additional references: Letters to Gene Roddenberry and Larry Niven - 1973

The Trek Files Season 13 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The conversation continues on Discord with live chats and the Roddenberry Podcasts community! Join today!

Just over 30 years ago, filming began on a Star Trek series that would launch a new TV network. The exit of a star player brought production to a halt while executives figured out how to recast the series lead. The Trek Files welcomes back Dave Rossi, who was there on day one, with stories of Voyager finding its way and introducing the newest Captain to her ship. Don't miss our season finale!

Document and additional references: Star Trek: Voyager call sheets - September, 1994

The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

Few people had as much influence on shaping Star Trek: Voyager and the role of Captain Janeway than the late Jeri Taylor. Known in the business as much for her professional output as for her humility and kindness, Jeri had re-emerged in the last few years to  connect with the Trek fans who were influenced by her work. The Trek Files welcomes longtime friend and colleague Lolita Fatjo to discuss Jeri's legacy and comment on our document the connect's directly to your host!

Document and additional references: Nemecek Pitch - December 14, 1994

The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The story of the once missing, now discovered, three-foot filming model of the USS Enterprise has been all over the news lately, leading Star Trek fans to investigate and speculate. From Gene's desk to an abandoned storage unit, there's more than a 40 year gap. This week, prompted by Gene's memo to get his model back, The Trek Files is happy to shed a little more light on the story. Learn how a few more items found at auction led one Trekspert, David Tilotta, to piece together the Enterprise's journey in front of the holographic lens. Don't miss this revealing bit of Trek history!

Document and additional references: "Three-Foot Enterprise Model" - November 5, 1979

The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

Director Paul Lynch returns to The Trek Files to discuss his other first regular episode for the franchise, Deep Space Nine's "A Man Alone." An industry veteran, Lynch dives into the director-actor relationship about bringing the best performances out of the cast. Which DS9 actors were ready on day one? And which ones needed time to settle into their roles? Lynch shares his insights from day one of DS9.

Document and additional references: "A Man Alone" call sheet - September 29, 1992

The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

After a TV pilot is carefully produced, the task of creating a regular weekly series can get underway. "The Naked Now" was Star Trek: The Next Generation's first series episode, and The Trek Files is pleased to welcome the episodes' director, Paul Lynch, to discuss his work. Find out what actors required the least direction and who studio executives thought the real "star" of the series was at the time!

Document and additional references: "The Naked Now" daily production report - July 6,1987

The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

The Trek Files goes back into the world of audio for an in-depth discussion about Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Specifically, the many complexities of character dialogue recording and re-recording are the focus for special guest Mike Matessino who was a post-production supervisor on both of TMP's Director's Editions. A memo from Robert Wise about actor ADR kicks off a discussion about the noisy Enterprise bridge, the changes given to Vulcan subtitles over the years, and much more.

Document and additional references: "Star Trek" Looping - August 15, 1979

The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of TAS' second season with guest Aaron Harvey, author of "Star Trek: The Official Guide to the Animated Series." In many ways, TAS broke new ground by expanding on what had come from TOS and making the Trek universe a richer place. For the first time, Orion pirates were seen, and they, along with many other TAS creations, have left an indelible mark on the franchise ever since. Dive into the roots of felinoid species, what makes "canon" and more on this week's episode of The Trek Files.

Document and additional references: "The Pirates of Orion" storyboards - 1974

The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

A series of memos from the earliest days of The Next Generation contemplate the scientific advances of the new Enterprise. Specifically, the bridge would undergo a radical redesign to emphasize a more comfortable, thoughtful interaction of the crew. In addition, the special effects advances since the 1960s meant that the views of space could be much more realistic. We welcome back Dr. Barrett Caldwell to help explore the intersection of technology and humanity, where Star Trek gets it right, and where it stretches our imaginations.

Document and additional references: The Front Window of the Enterprise - 1986

The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.

This week on The Trek Files, we focus our ears on the sounds that make Star Trek. From TOS to the movies, we are pleased to bring you exclusive behind-the-scenes audio clips like you've never heard them before. Those, along with our document from Gene's archive, are illuminated by our special guest Steve Lee, veteran audio expert and "sound wrangler" for film and television. Steve currently archives the industry's work at the Hollywood Sound Museum.

Document and additional references: Dubbing and Scoring Schedule - July 10 - 14, 1967

The Trek Files Season 12 on Memory Alpha

All episodes and documents: The Trek Files on Memory Alpha

Visit the Trekland site for behind-the-scenes access and exclusive merchandise.