Motivational Stories Star Trek Movie Premier: The Story of Gene Roddenberry (Creator of Star Trek)
Eugene Gene Roddenberry is best known as the creator of the Star Trek Movie Premier universe. When he approached television executives with his concept for a show, they were not impressed. They called his proposed series “a childish concept” about unrealistic, unexciting aliens. They did not even like the name of the show, Star Trek. About two years later, the executives finally approved Roddenberry’s “crazy idea” for television. During its run, Star Trek was twice nominated for two Emmy Awards – Best Dramatic Series, but somehow, it had terrible ratings. Only its extremely loyal and supportive fans kept it on life-support for three years before it was finally cancelled in 1969. Gene became known as “the guy who made an expensive flop” and found it difficult to work.
Working with MGM Studios on a New Movie
By 1970, Gene was working with MGM Studios on a new movie, Pretty Maids All in a Row, a romantic comedy far removed from science fiction. The movie was expected to be one of the biggest blockbusters of 1971, but when it barely broke even, MGM terminated its relationship with Roddenberry. By 1973, Roddenberry had begun working on a new television series, Genesis II, for CBS. At the last moment, CBS pulled it from the schedule and replaced it with Planet of the Apes. During the next two years, Gene pitched three other sci-fi television series without success. He also served as an executive consultant for an animated version of Star Trek Movie Premier, which was even less successful than its predecessor.
The original show, however had developed a growing cult following. By 1972, Star Trek Movie Premier fan conventions had begun to spring up, and Gene became a popular lecturer at colleges. A measure of the show’s popularity was revealed when, in 1976, the first U.S. space shuttle was named Enterprise after the fictional Star Trek spaceship. NASA officials invited Roddenberry to attend the space shuttle launch.
About the same period of time, Paramount executives are desperately looking for more unique shows for their newly proposed network, Paramount Television Service. With that being said, they are willing to give Gene the green light to develop a continuation to the original ST. This was the birth of Star Trek: Phase II, it was aired in 1978 before the entire network was scuffled.
Caustically, Gene had proposed a Star Trek movie to the network several more times, but the idea had been rejected again and again. It was only after the success of Star Wars that they were convinced that science fiction could have a lot of potential to being extremely successful.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture premiered in 1979, grossed more than $80 million, and spawned four sequels. Its success led to five new television series and five additional over the top movie. In addition, fans can choose from myriad Star Trek novels, books, comics, video games, trading cards, and other merchandise.
There’s a saying “the harder I work, the luckier I get.” It’s extremely true. Hard work always pay off in the end. It’s only a matter of time! Never give up, never back down, keep working hard towards your dream and I’m sure you’ll reach your destination sooner than you think.
