How One Director Shaped Star Trek's Greatest Episodes | The Genius of Joseph Pevney
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 มิ.ย. 2024
- A look at legendary TV director Joseph Pevney, director of some of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, including "Arena," "The Devil in the Dark," "The Trouble with Tribbles," and "The City on the Edge of Forever."
▶Join this channel to get access to perks:
th-cam.com/users/steveshivesjoin
▶Watch more Trek, Actually videos at: • Trek, Actually
▶Watch our Star Trek: Deep Space Nine watch-along series, Trek Reluctantly, at: • Trek, Reluctantly
▶Listen to our Trek-themed comedy podcast, The Ensign's Log:
▶RSS: / sounds.rss
▶Soundcloud: / the-ensigns-log-podcast
▶Read my photo comic, Star Trek: Nemeses: photos.app.goo.gl/yC3Jib6hNQL...
▶Patreon: / steveshives
▶PayPal: www.paypal.me/SteveShives
▶Venmo: venmo.com/thatguysteveshives
▶Twitter: / steve_shives
▶Facebook: / thatguysteveshives
▶Instagram: / steve.shives
Listen to the Late Seating podcast:
▶RSS: / sounds.rss
▶Soundcloud: / late-seating
#startrek #videoessay #startrektheoriginalseries #startrektos - บันเทิง
Bit of a tangent here. I want to use this opportunity to point out that the title "The Devil in the Dark" works from the point of view of the humans and of the Horta. Both see the other as evil creatures lurking in the dark recesses of the mine, devils to be hunted down and destroyed. I do like that (probably unintentional) ambiguity.
No Kill I !
I've always thought it was intentional.
I think it's also important to acknowledge that even the best director can be frustrated and let down by the cast if they aren't professionals. That long, single two-minute take in the dungeon scene of "The Return Of The Archons" would have been a nightmare to shoot with actors who didn't hit their marks or remember their lines. As an actor himself, Joseph Pevney knew what he had in the cast and trusted them to do what needed to be done. In the hands of a less-talented director or a less professional cast, that shot would never have happened.
The best part is, when you watch the episode, you don't even realize what Pevney is doing. It seems natural and organic. In my opinion, the best directors are the ones that make themselves invisible. Joseph Pevney was one of them.
That one shot of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock in the Guardian of Forever is so iconic that Hallmark actually made a Christmas ornament of it 🍩🖖🏼
Actually, it was the shot of Kirk and Spock, jumping through the guardian porthole, which is another great shot. 🎥
Well, hell, Steve.
My favorite alien, for over sixty years, reduced to burnt cheese!
And I'll never be able to unsee that!
Thanks! 😭
I wish you'd do more of these film school lectures.
I never notice the stuff you do, and learning new stuff about something I thought I knew is fascinating!
Well, on the bright side, every time I burn cheese, I'll think of Horta, I guess.....🖖🏾
Even as a kid, the horta reminded me of the "cheese blisters" on pizza.
In that 2 min 'oner' shot, it looks fluid like one's own eye movements as they track people of interest. Just natural and seamless.
Most of the time the director shoots a oner, it seems like they feel the need to go out of their way to point out it's a oner: lots of people coming in and out of frame, moving through different locations (think about the club entrance scene in GoodFellas when Henry goes in through the kitchen), stuff happening. "Hey guys, look at this! Isn't this awesome? There was a lot of work to go into this shot and I'm going to make sure you notice it!" For this one, I never actually realized it was a oner just because it was so natural.
I love this. I got a chance over several yeasrs in the early '00s to do several musicals with Joseph Pevney's son, Jay. A very talented actor/singer/dancer. And, all around fun person to work with.
The breakdown of that long shot from "Return of the Archons" was great. I always knew it "looked good" but I couldn't put my finger on why. Thanks!
I've enjoyed the various _Star Trek_ reviews you've done quite a bit, but I really loved this one because I learned something about _Trek_ that I didn't know before. Analysis is entertaining, but history is _precious._
Excellent idea for a series! 🌟
One of the best things in Trek is that the people behind the camera were very interesting too. I think that’s one of the reasons why Trek endures. Interesting people with something to say and lots to contribute.
Looking forward to more from this series. Surprised you didn't mention that Sean Penn's dad directed an episode of TOS.
Would love to see you create a future video on Gerry Finnerman - although he wasn't a director of TOS, his genius was responsible for so much of the iconic look of the show.
This is so cool! YES! Honoring Trek directors! Steve, will you be doing a video on David Carson? I mean "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "The Next Phase" (which has the greatest chase sequence in the history of the franchise) and DS9's pilot "Emissary" (the Battle of Wolf 359 still sticks with me 30+ years later) have some incredible cinematic moments. There are some even some amazing parts in the troubled Star Trek Generations. Once again: this looks like a lot of fun. Thanks, Steve!
I have a list of future subjects for videos like this, and Carson is on the list!
@@SteveShives YUSSSS!
I grew up watching the original Star Trek in syndication in the early 80s. I have *very* strong memories of the Devil in the Dark. In particular, I always referred to the horta as the "pizza monster", because it was clearly made of pizza. It warms the cockles of my heart to hear you describe the horta as being made of burnt cheese.
Shout out to the great Harlan Ellison for the script for “City On The Edge Of Forever.”
Being an irascible bastard, he hated it after all.
Yup. Great episode. I can’t find it in my heart to be mad at them for making the changes they made to Harlan’s script though. Sux that he hated it, but oh well! Still one of the best episodes of Trek ever!
About time Trek’s TV directors get some tribute by its fans. Can’t wait for you to do David Livingston - the man who directed more Trek episodes than anyone else!
Steve made an especially great video this time. I didn’t know who Joseph Pevney was until now! And I am a HUGE Trekkie (I watched the original broadcasts of Trek when I was five(!) because my dad let me stay up late!).
It would be cool if Steve did more videos about the people behind the scenes in Star Trek because they are REALLY interesting. For example: it seems like Joseph Pevney knew Lucille Ball, who I believe was pivotal in bringing Star Trek to life. The story of Lucille Ball’s involvement in Trek would be epic - IMHO.
I really enjoyed Steve’s comments on the two-minute shot. I had never noticed that before, but I’m sure that was pretty rare on TV, and even more rare these days. It takes a lot of skill to make a shot like that - by everyone involved.
Wow, thank you for connecting the dots on this man directing so many iconic episodes.
There's something to be admired about all classic Trek directors. They were basically given five bucks, one camera, and some duct tape and told to go make cinema. The best directors are like a philosopher's stone of talent, turning lead into gold and hoping no gets poisoned by the mercury they used.
Gosh, this is a fabulous episode. Thanks for this, Steve.
Looking forward to this series!
This was a great tribute to a great Star Trek director. For those interested in seeing Joseph Pevney as an actor, I recommend "The Street with No Name" (1948), a film noir directed by William Keighley. Pevney has a memorable role as a henchman to Richard Widmark's character.
Thank you Steve! Yours are the best reviews! ❤🎉
Loved this! Also add Marc Daniels to your list - he also shot 14 episodes, including one of my favorites, The Doomsday Machine.
Nicholas Meyer's director's commentary on Wrath of Khan is basically a film school lecture given by your favorite professor. Anyone who loves the craft should check it out. I don't normally care about commentary tracks but that was something special.
I watched all the commentaries on my DVDs back in the day. But I don't recall hardly anything about that one, except for him joking about fighting to get that "no smoking" sign included. I should watch it again.
Awesome tribute, Steve. I just loved this very valuable exposé on arguably the best of the best Trek directors.🖖
Always been a sucker for long tracking shots, never noticed that one in archons, thanks for that!
Wow. The name rang a bell, but I had no idea.
Thanks, Steve!
Thank you. This was very enlightening. Usually when I watch a movie or TV show, I pay attention to the acting, the dialog & the plot/narrative. It isn't until repeat viewings that I start paying attention to details like costume & set design. Lighting, shot framing & the visual storytelling elements. I always enjoy learning about those elements of filming I'm not aware of like cuts & long takes & wide angle shots. I'm not usually consciously aware of the camera unless shaky cam or jerky cuts become obnoxious & distracting or too repetitive even I can't ignore them. That said, after viewing this video I can now have another layer of appreciation for ST:TOS--the director.
Likewise! I will notice all the hand held camera shots because I fricken HATE them. Otherwise, the behind scenes magic doesn’t usually come to my mind while watching. Except for costumes and languages. I’m kinda geeky about those. Everything else is just “part of the mix.”
Anyhow, thanks, Steve. This was a lovely episode that really brought more and deeper enjoyment to one of my favorite TV shows of all time.
I love this idea; I'm really looking forward to the Winrich Kolbe episode. And then the second Winrich Kolbe episode. And then the third Winrich Kolbe episode.
All in focus in one shot. Master work.
There's also a great one-take shot in The Trouble With Tribbles when Kirk is on the bridge and loses his temper over the tribbles, also with carefully blocked camera motion into multiple types of shot, so I was pretty much expecting the reveal he did that episode too.
Steve ! This is one of your best.
Perhaps one of your best reviews. Thanks!
This guy is the Cliff Bole of TOS
Excellent. Thanks Steve.
Thanks, Steve! Another great informative video! 🖖
thankyou Steve, excellent idea, looking forward to more - Frakes in particular (whose direction I find very dull, but dependable for sure)
This was pretty interesting. I hope to see more of it.
Loved this one, Steve!
Great essay, Steve!
Joseph Pevney 1911-2008 🖖😔
Wow! That’s a good long run! So glad he gave us all of those great episodes. They were truly some of the very best.
Didn't know about the foil shot... and I watched it many many many times before the remastering.
Great tribute. :)
I don't know if it's the directing, writing, acting, or a combination of all things, but at the end of The City on the Edge of Forever - after the gang fought their way back to modern time and Kirk is emotionally destroyed having had to choose to let his beloved die (and watch it happen) ... The Guardian says almost jovially, "Many more such journeys are possible!" That is the most twisted and excellent moment of television I've ever seen.
I think i like this series! Please keep doing it :)
12:18 - Fascinating how the Guardian seems to flash in synch with your speech here. Are you sure your "real" name isn't Carl?
This reminds me of the way every fan of Babylon 5 praises Mike Vehar as the best director of the show.
Fantastic video, Steve!
I’ve heard over the years (read: seen on other YT vids) that the Guardian of Forever set appeared as it did due to a big miscommunication - it was apparently supposed to look like an “ancient computer” but the word “ancient” got transmogrified into “Ancient Greek/Roman” with columns and fragments, etc. Did you find anything supporting this in your research for this episode? Just curious…
I can’t wait to see more of your vids in this series! Loved your example of resourceful directing via continuous take - really well explained visually and with your narration.
Finally, about the black foil: you were right, you cannot unsee it once you know! Is it normal to keep thinking of unappealing things to hide with black foil? The Trump side of the debate stage, overused buzz words, my love handles, etc.?
Great video. TV director need more apreciation in general. ❤❤❤
Luvs me a giant portal shot, but also luv amok time.
Ooh new series!
I can make some good guesses as to who’ll feature in future instalments… Nicholas Meyer of course, Frakes, Winrich Kolbe (48 episodes across TNG, DS9, VOY & Enterprise!)… maybe Leonard Nimoy?
All excellent suggestions, and all on the list!
For me, the “iconic” shot from COTEF is at 12:15.
Did anyone else think the title was a play on the word detractor and going in you thought Steve was going to talk about a critic who’s criticism positively changed Star Trek?
most of my favorite all time episodes of TOS were listed in this video -- terry and his toybox could learn a thing or two from pevney
Arguably, The Arena would be in the top three as well.
You know how several cast members pull double-duty as directors as well? I wonder who the best director amongst the cast is, and why it’s Jonathan Frakes.
Will this series cover series regulars who went on to direct Trek, too? There are so many of those that it could be it's own series.
Devil in the Dark is my favorite. Who is the bad guy?
The 2 best Star Trek movies... Voyage Home and First Contact share a director??
Sounds like you are a fan.
That tribble shot is a bit less funny when you remember Kirk is nipple deep in a pile of dead tribbles
sup
Edith Keeler, Isekai Protagonist.
He should have been the one to direct Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Robert Wise is a great Director, but he was the wrong choice to direct a Star Trek movie.
A group of minors? Oh no, is Dr Disrespect attacking them?