On January 27, 2022, Farragut Films and Kaotica Studios premiered the prologue to Farragut Forward (a Star Trek Fan Production) on YouTube, and we we’ve been blown away by the positive response!
UPDATE: Farragut Forward is now funding on INDIEGOGO!
This article contains spoilers, so before we get started, watch the three-minute prologue and give it a LIKE!:
The fan response has been amazing! Some of our favorite comments are posted below:
- This is AMAZING!!!. You took a quantum leap in your uniforms and lighting. I really feel like I was watching a Hollywood short.
- A spectacular return Farragut team, beautifully shot and designed. Can’t wait to see what’s next!
- Love the meticulous detail on the uniforms…
- What a wonderful job you guys have done! So excited to watch this! I’ve been watching Discovery and thinking how much I missed the “old” Klingons – it’s so wonderful to see the best of Trek given new life
- It’s Star Trek back on track…!!! Hail movie era…!!
Farragut Forward not only marks the collaboration between Kaotica Studios and Farragut Films, but also the continuation of the long-running Starship Farragut fan series into the “movie era” of 1980s Star Trek! The Starship Farragut series is one of the longest-running and most successful Star Trek fan productions, tracing its roots back nearly 20 years.
Love those “monster maroon” uniforms? So do we, and we couldn’t wait to get them on screen!
Pre-production on the prologue launched in summer 2021. At that time, several key decisions were made on the production’s tone and visual style, including the costumes, sets, lighting, and an emphasis on filming practical ship models as an homage to the 1980s era of sci-fi filmmaking, and to the early days of Industrial Light and Magic (ILM).
Fans can expect a more ‘sophisticated’ version of Farragut… a darker, more serious side. After a camera/lighting test, (director) Johnny K. said, “This isn’t your Daddy’s Farragut!” He’s right, and my expectation is that our fanbase will be highly impressed, wanting to see more with new fans following.
– Executive Producer John Broughton
With the actors prepared and the set constructed, production kicked off in October 2021. The cast (particularly Michael Bednar who plays Tacket) underwent heavy makeup to show “battle-damage,” and with costumes heavily distressed, courtesy of costume and makeup assistants Belle Bredehoft and Ashley Mills.
The single set was a very small room (roughly 10′ by 10′), which was packed full of lights, gear, smoke, and at some points, as many as 10 actors and crew. Filming was originally planned for two days, but thanks to the hard work of the cast and crew, production wrapped in a single 12-hour day, including a full set rebuild halfway through.
The three-minute prologue was a lot of work crammed into a very tight production period. It took many of our actors several hours to get into their costumes, prosthetics, and makeup, so instead of coming back and doing it all over again on the second day of filming, everyone pushed to wrap the shoot in a single day. We even tore the set down at lunch and rebuilt it for the turnaround shots. It made for a very long day, in a very cramped set, but the results were well worth it. In fact, after we wrapped, no one left, and we transitioned immediately into an impromptu wrap party!
– Director Johnny K.
The prologue was shot in 6K on a Blackmagic 6KPro Cinema Camera with Sigma lenses.
With principal photography concluding in October, editing began and a rough-cut screening was held for the cast and crew in November 2021, with everyone seeing it for the first time together as a group. Sound design and visual effects shots were added and finalized soon after, including the filming of the practical Bird-of-Prey ship model, built by actor and model-maker Michael Bednar.
THE CAST: The Farragut Forward prologue marks the return of prominent characters from the Farragut universe, including John Broughton as Carter and Michael Bednar as Tacket. Paul Sieber reprises his role as the evil “mirror” version of Prescott. William Jay, Dale Henry, and Matt Henry play Klingon officers.
THE MUSIC: The Farragut Forward prologue features the track “War Drums” by Rhythm Scott, as well as music by Austrian composer Martin Puehringer.
WHAT’S NEXT? With the story’s prologue now released, preproduction moves forward on the full episode of Farragut Forward, currently scheduled to be filmed in summer 2022.
Want to help? Farragut Forward is now funding on INDIEGOGO!
Stay tuned to Kaotica Studios and Starship Farragut social media channels for more information!
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Star Trek and all related marks, logos and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan production is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made film intended for recreational use. No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures.
