090: YORKTOWN: A TIME TO HEAL - The History of the '80s STAR (Studded) TREK Fan Film! - With Special Guest John Atkin

On Episode 090 of the RETROZEST podcast, Curtis celebrates the upcoming release of the Star (Studded) Trek Fan Film YORKTOWN: A TIME TO HEAL! Production on this now legendary 8mm film featuring heavy-hitters George Takei and James Shigeta began in 1985 and abruptly stopped (unfinished) in 1987, 35 years ago as of the posting of this podcast episode in 2022. It centers around the activities of a sister ship of the USS Enterprise, the USS Yorktown, upon which Lt. Commander Hikaru Sulu serves as First Officer. For over 20 years, the unfinished film was put on hiatus. However, in 2010, a Trek fan named John Atkin (who first heard about the film in 1987 via Starlog Magazine Issue #119) contacted producer Stan Woo about the unfinished film, and together they recruited a team of volunteer professionals to help finish the project. The scenes which were never filmed in the 1980s, featuring an attack on the USS Yorktown, were filmed in Vancouver in 2013. Contributors include other Star Trek Fan Film creators like George Kayaian of Starship Antyllus and Todd Haberkorn of Star Trek Continues! So now, the film is FINALLY finished 35 years later! It will be released on YouTube and Vimeo on April 5 of this year, which in the ST universe is known as First Contact Day. The finished film also features a song by Canadian artist RAYNA entitled "Into the Unknown" during the end credits. So to celebrate, the man who teamed up with Stan Woo to complete the film, Mr. John Atkin, is Curtis' very special guest on this landmark 90th episode of the RetroZest podcast! John has a lot of fun info to share about the film and his involvement in its final completion. You're in for a big time treat if your a Trek fan! Incidentally, check out the Potemkin Pictures Star Trek Fan Film The Chronicles of Lanclos, in which Curtis briefly appeared! Incidentally, you may help the RetroZest podcast by purchasing a unique STAR TREK T-Shirt or two (many different designs and colors!) from our store at store.retrozest.com/startrek. Contact Curtis at [email protected], on the RETROZEST Facebook page (facebook.com/zestretro/) or on Twitter (twitter.com/RetroZest).