Q: How much input does Stephen King have in this version of The Dead Zone?
iamcassiopia

Michael Piller: The only input that Stephen King has in this version of The Dead Zone is "The Dead Zone" novel itself. We are very fortunate to have a great blueprint for this series that he's provided us in the book, and we intend to deal with the original material with great reverence.

Q: The cast of The Dead Zone already includes two Trek alumni — David Ogden Stiers and Nicole deBoer. Is there any chance of seeing more Trek talent in the series?
od0_ital

MP: I certainly hope so. And we always look at each guest role with a long list of actors who might be right for the part and I would certainly love to work with some of the members of the cast of the great Star Trek shows that I've worked on over time.

Q: Kudos for having the right newspaper in "Bangor Daily News," the correct county via "Penobscot," and neighboring towns like "Brewer" (pronounce it Brew-ah though!). Who is doing "Maine fact-checking" for you?
Dsturm

MP: All the writers do research, and we often call Maine directly. Plus we have material in the book that helps us stay true to the Maine origins. But we do have a fact checker that I used on Star Trek for years, and that's Joan Pierce Research, who also goes through every script.

Q: What do you think Star Trek fans will most enjoy about The Dead Zone?
visser59

MP: Well, first of all, I want to thank the Star Trek fans that have come to check us out already, because my honest feeling is that without them, we wouldn't have gotten the record-breaking ratings that we received in our two broadcasts to date. I'm hoping that Star Trek fans will respond to the kind of ambitious adult, smart, provocative stories that we are trying to tell about psychic phenomena, and of course, we have cool special effects.

Q: If you were in Johnny Smith's place (as far as waking up from a coma after six years and being surprised to have psychic abilities), how would you react to the situation?
Shayne

MP: That's what I do for a living! And I mean that sincerely. Every time I sit down at the word processor, I am putting myself in Johnny's shoes, and everything you see him do is essentially either what Michael Piller would do or one of the other writers would do in his place.

Q: Any news of a U.K. showing of The Dead Zone?
gammaq

MP: We're checking to see the status of our show in the U.K. I can tell you we've had an enormously successful response in worldwide markets. A deal is being negotiated in the U.K. as we speak, but we have no dates to report at this time.

Q: Which Star Trek show did you have the most fun working on?
scftw7

MP: That's a hard question to answer, because each one had its own pleasures. But I would have to say that the most memorable time was the summer after season 3 of Next Generation, as we were preparing to launch the fourth season and we watched this remarkable groundswell of excitement that "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I" created.

Q: I noticed in the picture that Startrek.com has of you that you're wearing a UNC hat. Are you a big UNC fan?
visser59

MP: Yes. And I'm also an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. We are in the process of creating a screenwriting and dramatic writing program at the University that I hope will become a leading source of talent in the future.

Q: Will The Dead Zone series end where the novel ends?
servbot

MP: I don't know how The Dead Zone series with end because I hope it won't end for seven, eight years or so. I can tell you that we will be introducing the character of politician Greg Stillson in early September.

Q: How did you submit your first script? Said another way, how did you break into the business of writing?
zeron

MP: I was working as a censor at CBS television in Hollywood, and I saw writing screenplays as a way to move ahead with my career. I used the opportunity at CBS to meet a lot of people in the business, people who would be able to read and hopefully hire me as a writer someday. It took me three or four years before I really started writing professional quality screenplays. But finally the producers of Simon and Simon, and Cagney and Lacey agreed to give me my first writing assignment, and so I left CBS.

Q: You wrote one episode of Miami Vice, an unusual and classic one about Sonny, his wife and son. What drove you to write such a character-driven episode rather than the usual detective action typically seen by season 4?
MrMxyzptlk

MP: I always come from a character motivation when I think about just about any story. I think if you look at the work that I've done on any series, I usually try to explore some facets of the leading characters' personalities.

Q: Great first show of The Dead Zone! I've been following your journal on the Web site and I wondered why you didn't comment on USA cutting you back to 13 episodes? Also wonder if they've smartened up since the premiere :-) We're all watching, may the Prophets be with you!
FLAtRich

MP: Thank you. The cut back to 13 episodes was really a non-event. We knew from the beginning that only 13 episodes would run, because USA did not want to be on against the network fall premieres. We had been working on a final episode cliffhanger from the very start. What you are reading about was an adjustment in the contract with Lion's Gate that has really no relationship to USA's confidence in the show. In fact, we had always had 13 scripts to work with.

Q: How did you get started with Star Trek, and have you always been a sci-fi fan?
gurux

MP: I wrote an episode of The Next Generation called "Evolution" as a freelance writer. It was received with a great deal of enthusiasm at a time where there were a lot of problems between Gene and the writing staff of Next Generation. They needed someone new to run the staff and they asked me. I have been a certain kind of sci-fi fan ever since I was dedicated to the original broadcasts of the Twilight Zone in my youth. Now you know how old I am.

Q: What's it like making the switch from Star Trek to something else? You seemed to have a better intuitive understanding of Gene's vision than anyone else; has that had any effect on the work you've done since?
Rubygalact

MP:Thank you. The things I've learned from Gene have influenced everything that I have done since. I am particularly attuned to the need for a human theme to explore in every episode of television that I write or produce.

Q: Besides Shawn having written some episodes of TNG and Voyager, is this your first major collaboration with your son and is it fun working with him?
iamcassiopia

MP: Shawn and I wrote and produced a pilot for The WB last year called Day One, which was a great sci-fi premise, but this is the first series we've actually gotten on the air. We're having a great time working together.

Q: When you began as a journalist, did you ever imagine you would end up where you are now?
iamcassiopia

MP: Honestly, yes. But it was a dream — not really anything I expected to come true. I'd always been in love with this business from afar, and I did grow up in an entertainment-oriented family (my mother is a composer who wrote the New York Mets theme song), but I certainly took a circuitous route to get here.

Q: Mr. Piller, which of the episodes you have helped to write were your favorite? What do you feel has been your best single work?
mendon

MP: As a writer, I would have to say "Best of Both Worlds." However, I have a particular affection for "The Perfect Mate." As a producer, I think "The Inner Light" would be my proudest achievement.

Q: One good thing about writing is that you can do it anywhere. Where do you do your best writing, creatively?
skyotter

MP: I often get up around 4 o'clock in the morning and go into our den, and work until about 10, after which I can spend the day doing other important things like having meetings. However, as you may know as a writer, we never really stop writing. I will often get my best ideas waking up in the middle of the night or in the shower.

Q: Do you think that you will return to the Star Trek universe again, either writing a new story for Enterprise, or a screenplay for future Trek movies? Or perhaps even direct a Trek movie?
RMTrekFan

MP: I have no interest in directing at all. Especially after seeing someone like Rob Lieberman do such an extraordinary job on The Dead Zone pilot. I would never rule out any possibility when it comes to Star Trek, but I felt that I had done just about everything I could do in space when I left.

Q: Were you inspired by Virgil's "The Aeneid" when you wrote the Deep Space Nine pilot script? There are quite a few close parallels in what both Aeneas and Sisko go through.
howard

MP: I am unfamiliar with the source you quote.

Q: As the co-creator of DS9, do you know if there is any truth to the rumor that Samuel Jackson is interested in making a DS9 movie, playing Sisko? Or any other chance that we'll ever see DS9 as a feature?

MP: I have no information about a DS9 movie, so I really can't help you.

Q: What is the most fulfilling thing you've done in your life?
visser59

MP: Have a family. Watch my son and daughter grow up.

Q: Mr. Piller, what do you like to do in your spare time?
mikejmoe

MP: Tennis, watch baseball.

Q: I heard you were looking for story ideas. How can someone submit their ideas?
Hbriles

MP: At the moment, we have no procedure in place to accept speculative material unless you have an agent. As we did with Star Trek, it is my hope, once we are established, that our studio's legal departments will allow us to look at submitted materials. But we'll have to wait a year on that, which is what we did on Star Trek as well.

Q: Mr. Piller, do you belive in aliens/ETs?
soleta1

MP: Yes.

Q: What is your favorite alien species?
delta_flyer

MP: My favorite species ... is the Ferengi.

Q: Are you watching Wimbledon this week?
gammaq

MP:I don't watch much tennis on TV, but I'll probably catch a match or two.

Q: What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in television and film?
visser59

MP: Well, that depends on what career in television and film you have in mind. If you're talking about writing, I strongly suggest you read as many screenplays and teleplays as you can. I recommend William Goldman's book "Adventures in the Screen Trade," and then you really have to sit down and write scripts. Practice your craft.

Q: Did you ever regret leaving Star Trek?
soleta1

MP: Any time you leave a family, whether it's your own family to go off to college or the Star Trek family to go off and explore other worlds, there will always be bittersweet feelings. But I know it was the right thing to do.

Q: Have you watched Enterprise, and if so, what do you think of it?
scftw7

MP: I think Brannon and Rick are doing a great job.

Q: You were indeed one of the greatest Star Trek writers of all. Were you very happy with the success of both DS9 and Voyager throughout their seven year runs?
Reggie2172

MP: Thank you so much. I share the honors of the success of those shows with many, many talented writers and crew members and cast members. I believe Deep Space Nine will be appreciated more as time goes on, rather like the tradition of the original Star Trek.

Q: How do you keep replenishing your creative genius and from what sources do you draw ideas, inspiration and influences?
Judy & Bill

MP: I always try to explore myself and the world that I live in no matter what I write. And if I am honest with myself and am willing to confront my own demons in my work, I think my stories will have an emotional impact on you, the audience.

Q: Which is harder, writing or producing? Which is more fun to you :)?
RedLeaf

MP: I think the writing is the most fun. Producing requires politics and diplomacy, and meeting budgets, and so forth. My son is actually a far better producer than I am.

Q: What would your "dream project" be?
multitronic

MP: A script I wrote a couple years back called "Oversight" that's really about Shawn and me and the passing of control of the world we live in from one generation to the next set in an investigative sub-committee of the U.S. Congress.

Q: You say that writers are always writing ... can you give us any advice on what to do when you encounter writer's block?
fei

MP: I think writer's block is a very complex issue. I once took a course at UCLA, when I was a new writer, in writer's block. And it turned out that I had less writer's block than anyone else in the class, so they kept coming to me for advice. I think fear comes with judgment, and I strongly recommend you not judge your work before you write it, but allow what is inside you to go down on the page. Beyond that, I have always found psychotherapy extremely helpful.

Q: Are you a fan of Stephen King or horror stories in general?
RedLeaf

MP: I am a fan of Stephen King, but less of horror stories, more of his character-driven material. Despite its title, I think The Dead Zone falls into the latter group.

Q: What's it like working with Nicole deBoer?
pelgar

MP: Nicole is a darling. She is always professional, prepared, and cheerful to be with. Someone at a press conference asked me if Nicole was my idea of the ideal woman, and I said that I'd have to reserve that honor for my wife. But Nicole would be number two.

Q: I really enjoyed Legend with Richard Dean Anderson and John de Lancie. Any chance that show will get another opportunity to find an audience?
spamboy

MP: It's premature to discuss, but there are conversations taking place right now about the possibility of doing a Legend TV movie.

Q: In your opinion, who was the greatest ever Star Trek captain?
dok_flox

MP: I wouldn't even start.

Q: What was your favorite DS9 episode?
multitronic

MP: "Whispers," the one with the replicant of O'Brien. Of the shows that I personally worked on, I would choose "Duet."

Q:What are your plans for the future?
captain_canada

MP: My plan is to continue writing ambitious, challenging teleplays and screenplays, and to help build this company with my son, and to try to find and develop new writing talent from all across the country. I may end my career as a teacher. And in a way, a producer is a teacher. And in the meantime, my more specific plan is to watch The Dead Zone this Sunday night at 10:00.

StarTrekHost: It is now time for us to wrap up this chat. Everyone please thank Mr. Piller for joining us today!

Q: Thanks a lot for chatting and spending time with us today, Mike Piller. I hope you will come back and talk some more!!! See Ya!!!
mikejmoe

Q: Cya, Michael, nice to hear your views.
lone_wolf

Q: Thanks, Michael!
flatrich

Q: Thank you, Mr. Piller, it was great!!!
iamcassiopia

Q: Later.
captain_canada

Q: Thank you, Mr. Piller.
the_squirrel_smuggler

Michael Piller: Thanks, it's been great.

Q: Thank you, and thanks for Deep Space Nine.
Nx74205