'Enterprise' Writing Staff Shuffle

The Enterprise writing staff underwent some changes over the summer hiatus, with three writers leaving the series and another three receiving promotions.

Story editors André and Maria Jacquemetton and consulting producer Fred Dekker have left the series, according to the credits for 'Shockwave, Part II' posted at Psi Phi. It is not known why these writers left the Enterprise writing staff.

Executive story editors Mike Sussman and Phyllis Strong have been promoted to co-producer. As previously reported Chris Black has risen to the rank of co-executive producer, while former X-Files writer John Shiban has also joined the staff as co-executive producer.

The writing staff could also be undergoing further changes as the season progresses. Executive producer Rick Berman recently told Star Trek Monthly (via Sci-Fi Pulse) that the producers are "looking to bring in another writer as well and I will hopefully be able to tell you more about that next month."

Husband and wife writing team André and Maria Jacquemetton contributed to three episodes in season one, penning the episodes 'Breaking the Ice' and 'Dear Doctor', and writing the teleplay for 'Acquisition' based on a story by Berman and Brannon Braga. Dekker also worked on three episodes, scripting 'Sleeping Dogs', and the teleplays for 'The Andorian Incident' and 'Vox Sola' based on stories developed with Berman and Braga. All three writers had been with the series since 'Fight or Flight', the first regular Enterprise episode.

Sussman and Strong joined the Trek family as story editors in Voyager's final season, although Sussman had previously worked on episodes such as 'The Swarm' and 'Unimatrix Zero.' The writing team wrote the episode 'Civilization' last season, as well as the teleplays for 'Strange New World', 'Shadows of P'Jem', 'Fusion', and 'Detained', which were based on stories by Berman and Braga. They have also penned the upcoming season two episode 'Dead Stop'.

Black's promotion to co-executive producer and Shiban's appointment to the series were announced by trade paper Variety in March this year (story). As supervising producer in season one, Black worked on 'Rogue Planet' (story & teleplay), 'Fallen Hero' (story), and 'Two Days And Two Nights' (teleplay). Black's first season two episode, 'Carbon Creek', will air next week, while Shiban's Trek debut, 'Minefield', will follow on October 2.

Over the course of season one, several writers left the series. Producer Antoinette Stella departed after penning a single episode ('Terra Nova'), while co-producer Tim Finch's only credit was 'Cold Front'. Executive story editor Stephen Beck worked on 'Cold Front' and 'Oasis', but also left the series after the latter episode. Staff writer André Bormanis was promoted to story editor as of 'Detained.'

Writers such as Sussman, Strong, Black, and Shiban receive producer titles based on their contracts and creative influence within the series. Their status as creative producers differs from other high-ranking staff such as supervising producers Merri D. Howard, responsible for overseeing the production elements of the episode such as budgeting, scheduling, and administration, and Peter Lauritson, who is in charge of post-production.

On some television series the title of co-executive producer may indicate two or more people sharing the role of executive producer. However, on Enterprise the rank of co-executive producer indicates a senior member of the staff one step below executive producers Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. It is Berman and Braga who are ultimately responsible for overseeing all aspects of production and guiding the creative direction of the series. Trek veterans such as Ira Steven Behr, Kenneth Biller, and even Berman and Braga themselves have held the position of co-executive producer before receiving promotions to full executive producer.

The Enterprise writing team currently consists of executive producers Berman and Braga, co-executive producers Black and Shiban, co-producers Sussman and Strong, and story editor Bormanis.

The original article is available here at Psi Phi, while the on-screen credits for 'Shockwave, Part II' can be found at this page.

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