'Star Date' To Explore History of Conventions

Screenwriter Paul Hernandez hopes to make his feature film directing debut with a movie about the origins of Star Trek conventions, Star Date.

"Picture this: In the opening scene it's 1972, and a couple is necking in this car, and this guy is very visibly a nerd, and you wonder what she's doing with him," he explained to Sci Fi Wire, saying the concept was based on a true story. "Then, he notices the time, and he says he has to run home because there's a rerun of a Star Trek episode that he has missed, and he never saw it. Well, she breaks up with him."

Hernandez explained that the character goes on to suggest to his friends that they throw a viewing party to attract women more amenable to watching Star Trek with them. They expect perhaps ten guests, but "they end up getting about 10,000 people involved, and it's the invention of pop culture and results in the first convention," continued Hernandez, who previously co-wrote the film Sky High, which opens July 29th. Though the story may be based on reality, it is not Hernandez's story: "I did go to a few of the conventions myself as an 11-year-old kid," Hernandez said, but he did not become a "Trekkie" until the era of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Because Star Date will come from Paramount Pictures, Hernandez will be able to incorporate original footage of the series and early conventions. He is also hoping that William Shatner (Kirk) and Leonard Nimoy (Spock) will be involved.

The original item is at Sci Fi Wire.

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