A just-completed panel at this week’s Creation Star Trek Convention out in Las Vegas has revealed some new details about the upcoming Season 7 Blu-ray release of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Blu-ray bonus content producer Roger Lay, Jr. hosted the discussion, joined by consultants Michael and Denise Okuda and Trek director James Conway.
Conway, the Okudas, and Lay. (Photo via Twitter)
The group confirmed that an “In Conversation” piece — originally planned for the TNG Season 6 release — will be included in the final Blu-ray set, focusing on the filming of the series and will include Conway along with producer/director David Livingston and longtime Trek director of photography Jonathan West.
Roger Lay: “We hope to take the viewer into the process [of creating the show].”
James Conway: “It was so much fun to go back and sit down and talk to them about it… it’s been twenty years and it felt like yesterday.”
In addition to the usual long-format documentary interviews covering the end of the series (set to be a whopping two hours), there will also be a never-before-seen ‘home movie,’ shot by the Okudas on the empty TNG sets before they were damaged and destroyed for Star Trek Generations!
Roger Lay: “This is the definitive account of how wonderful the environment they created was.”
Mike Okuda: “There’s always a lot of security around shows like these, and and you’re not supposed to bring a camera in to shoot this type of footage — but we did.”
On the subject of episode audio commentaries, while we’re hoping Brannon Braga’s “Parallels” track from the Alternate Realities Fan Collective DVD set will be included, the panel wouldn’t offer many specifics as to which Season 7 episodes may receive recordings — though they did throw a bone to TNG fans and confirm that “All Good Things…” will have a new commentary track!
When asked about the possibility of seeing Deep Space Nine on Blu-ray, however, Mike Okuda shot down any talk regarding the spin-off series, wary of CBS representatives in the audience:
Mike Okuda: “Please understand when we say we are not allowed to talk about potential or future projects.”
Finally, the Okudas took a moment to reflect on this second Next Generation conclusion, after returning to work on the series these past few years.
Denise Okuda: “It’s very strange — for the last three years we’ve been immersed in it again.”
Mike Okuda: “There’s definitely some separation anxiety… but it’s an unprecedented accomplishment and we’re very proud to be part of it.”
We’ll continue to bring you more information regarding TNG Season 7 on Blu-ray as we get closer to the release date this winter — but what do you think about these teases?
Reporting by James Moorehouse for TrekCore.com