To commemorate the advent of Star Trek: Enterprise going digital, Sony Electronics, in conjunction with Paramount Television, sponsored a Season 4 premiere Monday night on the Paramount lot with a screening of "Storm Front." The episode — part one of a double-header to start the season that is also a cliffhanger continuation from the third season — is a fast-paced and visually stunning work featuring P-51 fighter planes, alien Nazis and more. The cast and crew of Enterprise were in attendance, along with press, executives from Paramount, UPN and Sony, and special guests from the military.

With Entertainment Tonight's weekend anchor Kevin Frazier hosting, the evening commenced with the introduction of Andrew Stucker, general manager of digital production systems for Sony, to talk briefly about the advantages that come with this new camera system now used by Director of Photography Marvin Rush and the Enterprise production team. Stucker pointed out how this was the first time a Star Trek production has been shot using digital photography. The camera, a Sony HDW-F900 Digital Camcorder, uses the Sony Cinealta 24P High-Definition technology to provide a seamless blend of special effects and live action. The projection for the evening's entertainment was also done digitally to complete the experience.

Stucker then introduced show co-creator and executive producer Rick Berman who spoke briefly about the long decision-making process that took place before the switch. Now was the right time — as fellow executive producer Brannon Braga later agreed — to make the switch to digital as the technology was at a place that matched, or even surpassed, normal 35mm filmmaking.

Following the screening, a panel convened on stage to talk about the fourth season, the technical aspects of digital photography, and other topics such as when the DVDs for Enterprise will be released (around May '05 was the answer). The panel was comprised of Peter Lauritson (supervising producer), Marvin Rush (director of photography), Allan Kroeker ("Storm Front" director), Manny Coto (executive producer and "Storm Front" writer), Scott Bakula ("Captain Archer"), Braga and two Sony executives, Andrew Stucker and Yasuhiko Mikami.

Camera maestro Rush spoke of how he wasn't too worried about moving to digital. "I felt it would be an easy transition," he stated confidently. Rush also noted how they are able to have a high-definition monitor on set that gives the team a clear view of what the finished shot will look like. The benefit here is that it allows for the different departments, such as make-up, to look at the monitor and make immediate adjustments. Working with film would not allow such flexibility, as film has to be sent out to be developed before it can be checked.

"This system works better than film," summed up Rush.

Bakula wasn't as comfortable as Rush with the transition. "I was nervous about going [to digital]," he noted. But he observed that the show just screened opened on scenes from last season, which were shot on film, and they blend seamlessly into the new footage. Now, Bakula feels that the digital format is able to show everybody's work much more effectively than before.

Producer Lauritson talked of the lower costs of tape stock, as opposed to film stock, and the time saved on set. In post production, for example, the editors get their dailies quicker. For producers, these are important considerations!

"It's a clean format," said Lauritson. "We don't have to clean up the dirt or scratches."

For all the talk of the benefits of digital photography, one could almost believe that no task is beyond the realm of possibility for this nascent technology. Showrunner Coto, who talked of how the fourth season will touch on several themes from the the Original Series, was the most optimistic about the digital camera: "I understand the next generation of camera will have a button you push that produces a fully-formed teleplay," he joked.

Following the screening and discussion, guests were invited to sample desserts courtesy of the Twin Palms restaurant in Pasadena. At least calories will never be replaced digitally.