David Empey

I recently found an amateur Star Trek production on the web, and it turns out there are a number of such productions. These are downloadable episodes of  Trek-inspired series that are produced by fans and distributed for free (apparently to avoid copyright problems).  I've found five of them (and a couple of parodies not listed here).

1. Star Trek: The New Voyages, which picks up where the original 1960's series left off. A small number of episodes can be downloaded now, and more are planned. The most recent release includes a guest appearance by Walter Koenig, and the next one announced features George Takei.
2. Star Trek: Hidden Frontier, which picks up where the movie Star Trek: Insurrection leaves off  and features (mostly) new characters. This series has provided many episodes and has explored some new territory (a gay storyline involving several of the main characters).  It is about the end, and the producers have announced a new project, Star Trek: Odyssey, to replace it.
3. Star Trek: Of Gods And Men, which has not yet been released, but is a feature length story involving several original series characters played by the original actors. It also includes performances by many Trek actors in different roles. This one is more professionally produced than are the others.
4. Star Trek: Intrepid, which occurs some time after the last movie (Nemesis) and appears to be a feature length story. It is scheduled to be released this month.
5. Starship Farragut, set at the time of the original 1960's series. This one creates a new ship and set of characters. The first episode has been released, and a second one announced.

I watched one episode of New Voyages and a couple of Hidden Frontier. As you would expect, the acting isn't terrific and the production values are what you would expect from amateur productions (though, you may be surprised - modern computers and editing software mean you can do an awful lot at home). However, some of the stories are shockingly good and worthy of notice. It is also interesting the caliber of talent New Voyages and especially Of Gods And Men have been able to attract. And the premise behind Hidden Frontier is well thought out and interesting.

I'm not serious enough a Trek fan to download all this stuff, but if you are you may be surprised.