Neil Armstrong’s Star Trek Wish
2 min readFootage of the “Beam Me Up One Last Time Scotty” convention has been found by James Doohan‘s widow Wende, and in the video, which can now be seen online, Neil Armstrong speaks about his Star Trek wish.
The reclusive Armstrong wasn’t big on public appearances, but he came to the convention in 2004 to honor his “fellow engineer” Scotty who had just received his star on the Walk of Fame.
Armstrong was the keynote speaker during the convention, and gave a speech which was well-received by the audience which included Doohan.
“So, I’m hoping for my next command, to be given a Federation starship,” said Armstrong. “And, when I get that command, I would like to have a crew like Captain James T. Kirk had. Spock and Chekov and Uhura and Dr. McCoy and Sulu and the others we all remember.
“Now I have a confession to make. I am an engineer. And if I get that command, I want a chief engineering officer like Montgomery Scott. Because I know Scotty will get the job done and do it right. Even if I often hear him say, ‘But Captain, I dinna have enough time!’
“So from one old engineer to another, thanks, Scotty.”
According to Star Trek: Renegades Producer Sky Conway, Armstrong wanted to play an admiral in Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, but he was “out of the country” at the time of filming and “couldn’t fit it into his busy schedule.
“On behalf of the cast and crew of the upcoming production, Star Trek: Renegades, we dedicate the film to Neil Armstrong, a true space pioneer and real life hero, whose numerous contributions to humanity extended far beyond that one small step.”
While it would it have been cool to have seen Neil Armstrong play a character on Star Trek, I can understand and respect why he was unavailable at the time. I’ve always admired Mr. Armstrong for his notorious sense of privacy and wanting to stay out of the limelight. After achieving a goal such as the one he is most famous for, who wouldn’t want to continue to lead a private life?
While I appreciate the fact that the Star Trek – Renegades production is dedicating their film to the first man who walked on the moon, I think there is a better way for them to honor and respect one of the world’s greatest American heroes.
That being the following: firing Vic Mignogna and relieving him of his duties from what is bound to be a dud(i.e. flop)of a Star Trek fan film. Already Mignogna has tarnished the reputation of Starship Farragut and Farragut Films by some very controversial and unethical acts(it’s amazing how foolish John Broughton, Michael Bednar, Dennis Bailey, and the rest of that film company’s were in bringing him on as a business partner – talk about poor business decisions and handling). Already, he is poisoning the Star Trek fan film realm with his bastardization, farce, Phase 2 rip-off Star Trek Continues(a fan film he is doing out of some petty vengeance and personal spite against James Cawley and the hard working professionals on the Phase 2 production). Now he is going to poison and taint another portion of it(one that is already controversial for other semi-related issues)..
What’s next for him to poison? The entire Star Trek franchise, itself?
It sure seems to look that way, doesn’t it?
http://trekmovie.com/2012/03/26/new-star-trek-fan-film-to-feature-chris-doohan-as-scotty-and-mythbusters-imahara-as-sulu/#comment-4656857
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?p=6187033#post6187033
http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=169732
http://www.facebook.com/startrekphase2/posts/10150828754860934
http://trekbbs.com/showthread.php?p=5440252#post5440252
To even dedicate this production that Mignogna is associated with would be a huge offense to the memory of Neil Armstrong and the contributions he made to science and technology.
It’s amazing that whatever career this toxic narcicist has hasn’t ended because of his actions, be they past and present.
Will Rogers once said “I never met a man that I didn’t like.”
Obviously, he never met Vic Mignogna and his not-so-clear thinking minions.
In 2004 I hadn’t been to a Trek convention in nearly 20 years. I was in California at the time and seriously thought of going to Mr. Doohan’s last. Was always a little sorry I didn’t.
Was thinking just the other day the uniform high level of craftmanship there was among TV character actors in 1960s Hollywood. A golden age, in a way. Lots of stage-quality folks putting their best into every role. A category which includes James Doohan. Thanks for the memories, and RIP.
Your hijacking of this thread has actually managed to offend me. Perhaps it is time to take your annoying vendetta somewhere else.
You only remember the really good ones and the really bad ones
Hush now, don’t feed the troll. Polly wanna cracker?
I seem to recall that you have no great love for Farragut Films and its staff, either. Talk about throwing stones in a glass house.
More like certain people at Farragut Films are threatened by honesty.