Denise appeared as "Tasha Yar" in the early seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and recently produced the documentary "Trekkies." Roger is the Director and Editor of the film "Trekkies."
Question: What is "Trekkies" about?
Gary Beyer
Roger Nygard: About 86 and a half minutes. It's about the most interesting fans of star trek that we could find... and a few not so interesting fans.
Denise Crosby: It's about me... me... me!!!! Just kidding! It's a look at this phenomenon that we've been aware of for 30 years.
RN: And it asks the question, why? Why does it exist?
Q: Do you think there is life in outer space?
Clare
RN: I'd say more likely yes than no. I'm a Carl Saganite.
DC: I hope so. I hope life is much farther evolved than we are. I'd hate to think that this is it... that this is as good as it gets.
RN: I guess I'm getting tired of the same old food here. Maybe they'll bring some new alien food here.
Q: IS 'TREKKIES' A MOVIE THAT WILL BE PLAYED IN THEATERS? WHERE CAN YOU SEE IT?
Leigh!
RN: There's a list of theatres at our webpage... www.trekdoc.com It's currently in theatres and GO SEE IT NOW!!!! BEFORE IT'S GONE!!! Foreign release will follow sometime in the next several months.
DC: And then of course you can always buy the video after that.
Q: Do you like to go to conventions?
LPaxton
DC: My experience at conventions is what sparked the idea for the film. "Trekkies". I owe a great deal to the opportunities I have great love of the fans of Star Trek.
Q: Did you feel like you were missing out on anything after you left the show? Were you surprised at the continued fan following?
LPaxton
DC: I was very surprised and continue to be surprised. By returning in "Yesterday's Enterprise" my life in Star Trek continues. Which by the way happens to be my favorite episode.
RN: Mine too!
Q: Crosby: Has Star Trek influenced your decisions about current or future career moves? What was your reaction when you were approached to do TNG? Did you ever regret leaving the series to only appear in one or two unusual episodes?
Modo
DC: I'd say the next series I do I want the character to have a chair. Standing at the controls wrecked my back during that show. And preferably I won't be dressed in spandex. But apart from that, I weigh each opportunity on its own. I have no regrets. I feel that I had to die at the end of the first season ironically to get the best episode. "Yesterday's Enterprise", as I said earlier, and then of course Sela continues. I loved the idea of coming back, as long as it wasn't a dream shower sequence.
Q: Denise, Are you going to be in any upcoming movies??
Dugi
DC: There's nothing on the slate right now. I took some time off to have a baby and be with my child, so hopefully soon I'll get back to work. Right Roger? Deep Impact... Jackie Brown... Trekkies is in the theatres. I'm a busy girl.
Q: Denise, Lt. Yar is my all-time favorite Trek character. Is there any possibility you might reprise that role either on television or a motion picture. If not, how about the return of Romulan Commander Sela?
John
DC: I think it would have to be an extremely clever script to figure out how to see Tasha again. It could be done. You guys will have to e-mail Paramount, demanding the return of Tasha Yar. You guys have done it before... you can do it again. And that would be a blast. I asked Brannon Braga, one of the interviewees of "Trekkies" and also Exec. Producer of Voyager if Sela could show up on Voyager. He kind of grunted and groaned and couldn't quite figure it out. So, once again, time to e-mail Paramount demanding Sela.
Q: will trekkies be shown in australia?
annette
RN: I'm sure it will probably make it to the English-speaking countries first....
DC: I love Australia! I did four conventions there. I climbed Ayers Rock.
RN: If you're having a convention in Australia, invite us and we'll bring the film if Paramount will let us.
Q: When is the movie going to come out? Also, where can I get Starfleet Uniforms? :-)
U.S.S. Prometheus
RN: It's currently out in North America on 339 screens. We hope that it's in your city. If not, it may be coming to other cities in secondary markets soon if the fans get out and support the film.
DC: And you can check our website at www.trekdoc.com
RN: Gabriel Koerner, another one of our profilees in Trekkies, told me that he has recently taken up sewing and become very proficient. If you e-mail Gabriel, I bet he would be able to make you a perfect uniform. Check news.startrek.com/startrek.filmtrekkies That's where you can find Gabriel Koerner, the ambassador for Trekkies.
Q: Would either of you rate yourselves as "Trekkies", and if so why did you want to make the movie.
Dan
RN: For me, I'm an outsider looking in in making this movie. I used to watch the original series but I never attended a convention, so it was pretty new to me. And interesting... fascinating...
DC: I became more interested in the fan phenomenon than the actual series, so I always felt it was a great documentary subject.
RN: When people ask Denise if she's a Trekkie, she usually says, "I'm already in Starfleet... I'm an honorary Trekkie"
Q: I am constantly being laughed at when I'm in school because people think that star trek is just for nerds. What could I do to stop this?
Trekkie
DC: Tell them all to race out to see this movie.
RN: There's nothing wrong with being a nerd... I was one and still am. And look where that got me. Wherever that is. Bill Gates was a nerd. And we're all working for him now. The nerds will inherit the Earth. Nobody can laugh at you if you laugh first.
DC: I guess if Bob Dylan, Ben Stiller, Stephen Hawking, Whoopie Goldberg The Dalai Lama... can admit they're fans of Star Trek, then you're in good company and nerds rule.
RN: Start a company. Buy up your whole town and shut it down.
Q: Denise and Roger, saw the film with my girlfriend, we both loved it!! In fact my question is do either of you have any idea when it will be out on Video?!?
Brandon
RN: I'll bet anything it'll be out before Christmas.
DC: By the way, thanks for seeing the movie and your compliment. Glad you loved it.
Q: Denise, which of Bing's sons is your father?
Tiare
DC: Dennis Crosby. Hence, Denise.... ha ha ha...
Q: How did it feel to return to Star Trek after a number of years, Denise?
Neville
DC: Sort of strange and unfamiliar, yet, also as if I'd never left. I was just happy that my space suit still fit. It's always fun to see the cast. I sort of act as a barometer measuring who has changed and what's gone on around the set. I have enough distance that I'm more or less objective about the show and the people involved.
Q: Did you find any of the Trekkers pretty weird the first time you met them, Denise?
Neville
RN: How do you define weird?
DC: To quote Brent Spiner: "Aren't we all peculiar?" I find agents, managers and producers much stranger.
RN: And publicists.
Q: I saw some previews of the movie but I couldn't quite figure out what the movie was. Is it a movie just about people who love Star Trek or is it going to have a plot and be like some of the other Star Trek movies?
tom
RN: It's the true story behind the fans of Star Trek. A documentary, if you will, which to quote many of the reviewers is "One of the funniest movies that you may see all year" and it's also, and I'm quoting the reviewers again... "An affectionate look at the fans of Star Trek." And just how obsessive they can get about Star Trek.
Q: Hi Denise, what happened to Jonathan's "famous" pink bathrobe? :)) Was it just a coincidence that it disappeared at the same time you left TNG?!? :)))
Pat
DC: Okay, you busted me. I'm wearing it now, Pat. Just kidding. I don't know what happened to that famous, hot pink, chennille, WOMAN'S bathrobe. I hope it's framed somewhere.
Q: Is the Trekkie movie a reflection of our society or is it a color that won't wash out?
Slovokor
RN: Yes.
Q: I noticed in your credits that your movie had an Internet consultant. Why did you need one and what does such a consultant do on a documentary?
Curt
RN: Because we had no idea how to build a Web page, so I called my brother Steve, who does that sort of thing for a living, and got him to do it basically for free. Since we weren't paying him, at least a credit was in order. He's responsible for www.trekdoc.com
Q: This question is for Denise -- You did great as Tasha on ST:NG!!!! Tell me, what did you think about the way you were "killed" off that first time. It was mentioned more than once on the show that it was a "meaningless" death. Did you think so too?
MJ
DC: Well, it wasn't meaningless because the point was to show how evil Armus was. That he could kill something without provocation. I think it has been somewhat of an anticlimatic ending in hindsight. I think Tasha should have gone down in a bloodbath, with her last dying gasp, saved the Enterprise and crew.
RN: A glorious death, like Shatners'?
DC: More so. Tasha could have kicked Shatner's butt.
Q: Your were great in Deep Impact It would be hard being in that situation. Are you the granddaughter of Bing Crosby? And did you ever meet him?
MonicaLee
DC: I am the granddaughter of Bing. No, I never met him, I'm sorry to say. And thank you very much for that compliment.
Q: Hi Denise, Now that "Trekkies" is over and in the theaters, will you have time to answer any fan mail? You're my favorite Trek woman and I hope you can autograph a photo I sent to you over a year ago. I'm going to see the film tomorrow!
Kaloble
DC: Please forgive me. I handle all my fan mail myself. I have no help and no service to do it for me.
RN: So as soon as Augie is through college....
DC: Wait a minute! I do have a great excuse... my son is only 11 months old. Yes, I do hope to get to this fan mail soon now.
Q: Where there some people who were just too extreme to be put in the movie?
Jonathan
RN: Never. I can't think of anything that's too extreme. Can you?
DC: No, I agree.
RN: Try and stump us for Trekkies II. Stay in contact with us through our webpage. If you feel you are an interesting subject for another look at Trek fandom, we'd love to be able to reach you.
DC: We're particularly interested in foreign fans for Trekkies II.
RN: The more obscure place you come from the better.
Q: Has any Trekkie built a really big model of any of the Enterprises, or any other ship featured in any of the series? I would if I had a few million dollars laying around.
Julie
RN: How about a 31 foot Enterprise. Is that big enough for you? You can find out the location if you go see Trekkies....
Q: Denise, my cousin, Coleen R. was in a movie with you, I was wondering if you remembered it, "Max" I was just wondering if you remember that movie at all?
priestx
DC: I loved that film! And I remember Coleen very well. She played my daughter, if I'm not mistaken. That was a film I did in Canada. A very touching family film. I believe it is available on video... I'm not absolutely sure. Please, when you speak to Coleen, give her my love.
Q: Hi Roger, We spoke before about your film Trekkies and I was wondering how you feel now that the film has a wider distribution? Being on the East Coast this has been my first opportunity to see the film. How has the response been?
Kelly
RN: We're obviously thrilled it's being released in theatres, which is a very rare accomplishment for documentary. I hope it will allow for other documentaries to be shown as well. The reviews have been terrific. Thumbs up from Roger Ebert and guest reviewer, Lei Rozen. An A-minus from Entertainment Weekly. And raves from the NY Times to the LA Times. There was one paper, I think, in Illinois that called the film vandalism against Star Trek, and I'm glad that there is something besides raves to read because I was getting tired of reading the same thing over and over.
Q: Denise, do you honor autograph requests? If so, where might we write to you? Thanks!
Dave_J.
DC: I do try to get to all my fanmail. You can always send something here to Paramount 5555 Melrose, Hollywood CA 90038. They're very good about forwarding my mail.
Q: Hi Denise and Roger. Denise, great work on TNG! After finishing the documentary, do you have a perception of Star Trek fans that was different than the one you had of us (if any) before doing the documentary? Thanks! It's a pleasure "talking" with you
Dave_J.
DC: I already had feelings and compassion for the fans. Some I know quite well and the particular characters in our film I have special feelings for, but I always felt that the fans were somewhat misunderstood because of their portrayal in the media. They were characterized fairly one-dimensionally and I knew from my own personal experience there was much more going on... much more diversity amongst the fans.
RN: Until I met the Trekkies and Trekkers first-hand, my perception of a ST fan was definitely influenced by the cliche propagated by William Shatner's "Get a Life" sketch from Saturday Night Live of the fan who lives in his mother's basement but I was amazed and pleased to find out that as a group, they are the most upbeat, positive people I've ever met and defy any sort of cliche classification.
Q: hi Ms Crosby and Mr Nygard!! my comment is that the movie was great but are you going to do a sequel about more fans and about the chat room lounge lizards in it too?
Lynsee or LtLeah
DC: That's a great idea! I'm all for it. I love the couple who have met and gotten married through the chat rooms.
RN: Send us your stories.
DC: Especially you married folks out there. trekdoc@aol.com is our e-mail.
Q: Denise, does any one particular scene or situation, from when you were doing TNG, stay with you even to today? Thanks!
Dave_J.
DC: There are a number of them. The hologram in the final episode stands out in my mind. It was very difficult to shoot. Very emotional. The Naked Now certainly is a classic. If I hiccupped, my costume would have fallen off. I think the pilot episode, Encounter at Farpoint, stays with me. Just because we were so niave... we didn't even know what to do with a phaser or a communicator badge... Let alone try to react to some kind of alien. We were all just laughing hysterically all the time.
Q: is the star trek cast in the film?
sisko10717
RN: We have everybody from the original series represented, answering questions, talking about their experiences with the fans...
DC: We have Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Wil Wheaton, Michael Dorn... John de Lancie...
RN: A good cross-section... Chase Masterson, Robert O'Reilly...
DC: Kate Mulgrew... Grace Lee Whitney...
RN: If you're interesting in seeing the film, you can help by spreading the word. E-mail anyone you think might be interested that the movie is out and they should see it.
DC: We're depending on you fans, as always, to help us get the word out about the movie.
RN: Being a documentary, there is very little advertising for the movie so the only way people can find out is through word of mouth and reviews.
DC: And the reviews have been stellar. I think anyone who sees the movie is in for a good time.
RN: And even if you don't like it, we'd love to hear from you. Hear your opinion on the movie.
DC: Here's what you guys can do. I do it all the time. Buy a ticket to Trekkies... Watch it... Then you can sneak over to watch Star Wars. Lucas has enough money. I've got a kid to send through college. And Roger has expensive tastes.
RN: I'm developing expensive tastes, as we speak.
