UPDATED: Go Behind-the-Scenes of the Restoration of Star Trek: The Motion Picture

In addition to the 1500+ edits required to complete the cut of the film, over 150 visual effects shots have been completed. Many of the additional shots have been digitally recombined with little to no loss in quality from the original negative of the elements of each shot.

This image and the next are two of the many shots that have been reassembled…

The final stage involved perfecting the color and look of the film. The Director’s Edition itself is the completion of the film with intended visual effects, fine editing to enrich and smooth the pacing, and a new powerful ATMOS sound mix; all focused on the goal to melting away your reality and take you on board the Enterprise as the crew faces a new unknown enemy heading for Earth. For the first time ever, the film's received a scene-by-scene dynamic HDR color grading that is visually satisfying, engaging, and fully pushes HDR to a level of spectacle that is nothing short of stunning… [Pun intended!].

Colorist Matt McFarland worked with us to perfect the color, brightness, and contrast to make everything compelling and spectacular in HDR.

As the Klingons face the cloud, the scenes have a deep, sharp, intensely moody appearance… 

This masked guy has been busy working out all of the details for months!

Using scans of original 1979 photography plates-including some intended to be used but were omitted at the time–our team is digitally recombining these elements to present them as they were originally intended, and with a clarity and quality unimagined. I can’t wait for everyone to see it!

Once inside the alien vessel discovered at the center of the cloud, the Enterprise travels to a floating island that grows towards the ship, giving our heroes a way to personally make contact with their captor.

The cloud sends out a probe to learn more about the Enterprise and her crew. Once outside the bridge, it forces its way in…

The cloud launches a deadly energy bolt to attack and absorb the Enterprise.

This moment of seeing Kirk reunited with his ship is now visually represented by the reflection.

As originally intended, Spock returns to the temple during the day…. This certainly makes sense since you can see him block sunlight from his eyes In a previous shot. The theatrical version had a night sky with moons… and as previously stated in the original show, “Vulcan has no moons!”

Together again... From right to left, Michael Matessino, Daren Dochterman, and I are back twenty-one years later to see how our baby has evolved.

To boldly go back... 

Left to Right: Michael Babcock, David C. Fein, & Michael Matessino

Reviewing Spock's Spacewalk... What's this you ask? Well it's... not something changed, (and a little unfinished), and NEW.

Pictured: David C. Fein

ATMOS mixer, Michael Babcock, experiences his first adventure on board the U.S.S. Enterprise with us!

Left to Right: Michael Babcock & Bruce Botnick

The reason we're here... Bob would be so thrilled at how far we've come. The ATMOS mix–with all of its subtleties–is such an active participant in telling the story, now more than ever! 

Left to Right: Michael Babcock & Bruce Botnick