A special screening of "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" at Hollywood's historic Grauman's Chinese Theater will feature appearances by the film's director Nicholas Meyer, and by the widow and son of Gene Roddenberry, Majel Barrett and Eugene W. "Rod" Roddenberry Jr. Further "surprise" guests are also expected. The event will take place Tuesday, November 14, at 7:30 p.m. It is being held by The Story Makers Studio — a monthly program of screenings and celebrity interviews — in tribute to Star Trek's 40th anniversary. Tickets are $12.50, and can be purchased at the box office or on-line through this movietickets.com link (a $1 service charge will apply). The flyer for the event can be seen at this link.

The Grauman's Chinese complex is the location of the famous Forecourt of stars' hand- and footprints in cement, including those of Roddenberry and the Original Series cast done in 1991 for a 25th anniversary ceremony, and it's also been host to several premieres including "Star Trek Nemesis" in 2002 (related story). The Nov. 14 screening will take place in one of the six theaters in the venue, which adjoins the Hollywood & Highland complex.

Nimoy "More Comfortable with a Female God"

Leonard Nimoy spoke last Saturday night at a synagogue in the Santa Clarita Valley north of Los Angeles, and the event was covered by a local newspaper. "As a Jewish child growing up in Boston, Leonard Nimoy knew what it was like to be the outsider," stated an article in The Signal, and thus he identified with the character of Spock because "he too was a minority."

As in previous similar talks, Nimoy told the audience at Congregation Beth Shalom (CBS — no relation to our parent company!) "how he incorporated his own Jewish background into the portrayal of the half-Vulcan, half-human, including the creation of the infamous Vulcan greeting, modeled after a gesture he saw as a boy in temple." But of course, the main topic of the lecture was his still photography, particularly his book of black-and-white photos of the female form titled "Shekhina," named after the feminine aspect of God in ancient Jewish mysticism.

"I'm more comfortable with a female god than a male god," Nimoy said, according to the newspaper.

Read the full article at this link. Visit www.LeonardNimoyPhotography.com for more info about Nimoy's work, including how to purchase a signed book and signed prints.

Picardo in Play, on DVD with Dorn

Robert Picardo is currently performing on the stage in Burbank, Calif., in the lead of Arthur Miller's "Broken Glass." The play opened earlier this month at the Victory Theatre Center, and runs through December 3. "What mystery lies behind a beautiful woman's sudden paralysis?" reads the logline at the theater's website. "Set in 1938 Brooklyn, Miller's psychological stunner reveals the long-held secrets and fragility of a Jewish marriage. With reverberations from Nazi Germany, nothing is held back in this timely exploration of the price we pay for ignoring the truth in a darkening world." Showtimes are Friday and Saturday evening at 8:00, with Sunday matinees at 4:00. For more information and ticket reservations, visit www.TheVictoryTheatreCenter.org or call (818) 841-5421.

Picardo and Michael Dorn starred together in a Sci-Fi Channel original movie last May called "A.I. Assault," and now that movie is being released on DVD under the title "Shockwave" on November 7. It's about a team of Navy Seals trying to hunt down a pair of top-secret military robots before they grow too intelligent. The movie also stars Joe Lando ("Shore Patrolman" in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home") and Lisa Lo Cicero ("Miral Paris" in "Endgame"), with supporting performances by George Takei, Bill Mumy ("Kellin" in "The Siege of AR-558"), Clayton Landey ("Fuchida" in "Prodigal Daughter") and Terrell Tilford ("Marab" in "Affliction" and "Divergence"). You can pre-order "Shockwave" now at Amazon.com.

Stewart Set for London Convention in January

Because of his commitments to the Royal Shakespeare Company this past year, Patrick Stewart has been unavailable for convention appearances for awhile, on any continent. But he'll start getting back in the swing of things this January, when he will headline an event for Creation Entertainment in London which will celebrate both the 40th anniversary of the Star Trek franchise and the 20th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Creation will hold its London convention January 5-7, 2007, at the Hilton Metropole Hotel. Other special guests lined up so far include George Takei and Walter Koenig, Colm Meaney, Connor Trinneer, Marc Alaimo and Richard Arnold (former assistant to Gene Roddenberry). Update 10.30.06: Dominic Keating has just been added to the guest list. Visit www.creationent.com for more information.

Xenolinguistics Course Offered On-line

The languages of Romulan, Klingon, Tribble and other science-fiction races will be the subject of academic study through a new college course being offered on-line by Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC). "Xenolinguistics: The Anthropology of Alien Languages" will be taught by Daryl Frazetti, who previously has conducted classes on "The Anthropology of Star Trek." In the Xenolinguistics class, students will explore "the construction, evolution, distribution and function of languages in relation to all aspects of culture and cultural experiences" and will examine contact scenarios with life outside our solar system. Students will also have an opportunity to create their own alien language. The class will take place during the Winter Session starting January 2. Registration begins November 25. The LTCC website, www.ltcc.edu, does not currently list the winter curriculum, but you can get more information now by contacting Frazetti at frazetti@ltcc.edu. You can also view the flyer for the class at this link.

Trek on Exhibit at Moving Image Museum

The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, New York, has opened an exhibit called "Star Trek: 40 Years of Fandom" which explores the cultural phenomenon of Trek with more than 600 artifacts representing the plethora of licensed merchandise — action figures, trading cards, board games, comic books, etc. — as well as fan-generated magazines and films.

"Examining the fan culture that has developed around Star Trek highlights the increasingly close relationship between the producers of mass entertainment and their audiences," said Rochelle Slovin, museum director. "This exhibition surveys the ways in which Star Trek narratives and their related merchandise have been consumed, and how these artifacts and storylines are appropriated by fans who often create new voyages all their own." Thirty fan-produced films such as "Star Trek: New Voyages" are being shown at an interactive station.

The exhibit will run through April 15, 2007. For more information visit www.MovingImage.us.

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G4 Diversifies "Spock Market" Portfolio
Showbiz Briefs: Sci-Fi Channel, Shatner, Ryan, Moore, Mrs. Frakes
Science Brief: Conversational Translator Within Reach