Book Review

ROBERT BELTRAN RECONNAISANCE

"A Vision of the Future Star Trek Voyager,"

by Stephen Edward Poe

Readily available at Amazon.com. List price: $18.00

Interested in what went on behind the scenes as "Voyager" got started? Then this is the book for you. It tracks the entire process from first concept to the end of season three, with brief mentions of season four and Seven of Nine.

A friend of Gene Roddenberry's (they co-owned a 36 foot sloop named "Star Trek"), Poe is uncompromisingly positive. He doesn't apologize for this. "I was not quite a participant, but I was not quite a completely detached observer either." He has tried to present a balanced view and in many ways, I think he has succeeded. Even if some of the quotes (especially those from Trek's producers), seem strange when we look at them from a perspective influenced by hindsight.

Publishing under the pseudonym Stephen E. Whitfield, Poe researched and wrote "The Making of Star Trek" in 1966-1968. He sees himself as the chronicler of a phenomenon. "...I have tried to tell the story of "Voyager", while at the same time exploring a much wider issue - culturally, socially, psychologically, personally. Because each affects the others...I have tried to tell a balanced story, which means I have talked about some positives and some negatives. It is very difficult to do this. However, I do not think that it is realistic to discuss only the niceties of television life, nor do I think the reader would be interested in reading a lengthy press release."

The cast members are only featured as one of the many aspects of a complicated process but there are some interesting observations about both the actors and their characters. These samples include a very detailed account of what occurred during the casting and first few days of working with Genevieve Bujold as Captain Janeway.

The only major problem I see with this volume is the lack of any index. And that can be frustrating to any "Star Trek" fan! But persevering, in spite of the awkwardness this presents, is worth it when you come across insightful information and observations such as:

"The "Star Trek" universe does not ask much of its icons. It demands everything."

Helps to put convention reports and interview comments into perspective and offers a framework for admiring and appreciating Trek's personnel!

REFERENCES TO ROBERT BELTRAN:

Not as many as could be but they're revealing. Here are some examples but there are lots of other notes; including some information about Chakotay's tattoo, it's development and origins:

* Speaking about the media attention leading up to "Voyager's" premier in 1994.

"...Garret Wang (Ensign Harry Kim), a professional actor for only two and a half years, clearly loved every minute of the attention. Wang (pronounced "Wong") readily made himself available to all comers. Ethan Phillips (Neelix) and Robert Beltran (Chakotay), also veteran stage, screen, and television actors, welcomed the media spotlight with trouper-like aplomb. The media, in turn, loved them because they were always ready with a joke or a wisecrack. Both Phillips and Beltran were quickly getting a reputation for being "Voyager's" resident comedians. More than that, the two seemed to have a sixth sense about when tensions on the set needed lightening up. It was a talent that would be put to good use, and often."

AND...

"...The relentless press of the media was intense, and completely unlike anything the cast, from Mulgrew on down, had ever experienced before.

Robert Beltran: It is intense. I'm not used to this. It doesn't really bother me yet. But I can see where it could interfere with my ability to stay focused and work when I have a lot of scenes with a lot of dialogue. I'm finding this new to me because in other projects I've done they just don't have the money for this kind of media stuff. The actors have to pay for it themselves. They go out and get a publicist. I've done that before, and I find that very awkward. You're hiring these people not knowing exactly what they can do for you. What magazines they can get interested in you. So you're just kind of blindly asking these people to do some publicity for you. This is different because you know what magazine it is, you know what television channel it is, you know who it's for. So it's much easier to do that because it's less stressful than having to go out and hire a publicist yourself, and end up being totally dissatisfied with what they're doing."

* The casting process.

"..."Voyager" was one of the least painful casting processes Robert Beltran had ever experienced. Probably because at first, he was indifferent to the idea of playing Chakotay - or any role - in a "Star Trek" series. His was also one of the last roles cast.

Robert Beltran: I was never a science-fiction fan, but I told my agent okay. I felt neutral about the audition, didn't care much one way or the other. I went in for the first time and wasn't really trying to get the part. They asked to see me again, said they wanted to see more of an edge to the character. I thought okay, I'll give them a little more edge.

After I'd read the two scenes the second time, Michael Piller said do it again, but pretend this guy is the villain of the piece. Right away I understood what was lacking in the previous readings, and it made me relax more and have more fun with the character.

Apparently the producers were pleased with Beltran's response to Piller's suggestion. After the second run-through he was told he would be notified when to come back to read for the studio."

AND...

"When Robert Beltran returned to the Cooper Building for the final studio/UPN reading on August 31, he really wanted the role of Chakotay. What had precipitated his change of heart were two factors.

First of all, he'd heard that Genevieve Bujold had been cast as the captain. He liked her work, and wanted to be in a series with her. Second, in the intervening time since his last reading for the part, Beltran had been surprised to learn how many of his friends were "Star Trek" fans, and how excited they were for him that he might be in a "Star Trek" series. Most said he would "have it made." His attitude changed. Suddenly he was no longer indifferent about the role.

Beltran went in for the read and "gave it everything I could." Two days later, on September 1, his agent called and said he had the role.

Rick Berman: Robert Beltran was a very, very smart pick for us. He is a handsome, Native American-looking guy, square-jawed, great voice. He's very on the nose. There were those of us who were nervous about that, but he has just turned out to be great.

The producer's apprehension about Beltran being "on the nose" were based on long experience with casting. The phrase is usually not a great recommendation for a part because it means the actor is, for that role, very obvious and predictable looking - a stereotype of the character-image they were searching for. The old silent film-era image of a dark, leering, mustache-twirling man cast as the villain is someone who is very much on the nose. Producers generally do not like an actor - or anything else - to be too on the nose. Occasionally, however, it works. In Beltran's case, it works extremely well.

Like most actors, Beltran does not like the usual casting process. His experience at Paramount was atypical.

Robert Beltran: Casting, to me, is unpleasant. For other studios (not at Paramount) they put you in this little arena like a little bullring. And they all sit around you and they're all looking at you like you're some specimen in a lab. It's a very sterile and intimidating thing that you have to go through.

So in comparison to other network auditions I have had it was really painless. Luckily I didn't go into it right away longing for the role. I've been rejected enough in this business in the twelve or thirteen years that I've been doing this to not really get too excited about something before it's given to me."

AND...

"...Robert Beltran had a private meeting with Berman, Piller, and Taylor.

Robert Beltran: We talked about how some people are very sensitive to anyone playing an Indian role. I said the same thing I said in the auditions - I'm Mexican. I think of myself as Mexican. Meaning I'm Mestizo, which is a blend of European blood and indigenous Central American. So I think it's perfectly within my right to play an Indian. They said fine, that's what we wanted to hear. That's what we wanted to hear.

Later, Beltran called Jeri Taylor and suggested they move Chakotay's tribal background south of the border. He could be Mayan, Aztec, Inca, even Olmec. These were all cultures known to be highly advanced in science and astronomy. Taylor eventually agreed, and the change was gradually incorporated into the series bible."

What a great pity they didn't stay with and develop Robert's suggestion! Maybe then, Chakotay would have become a far stronger and more useful character throughout the series' run rather than slowly crawling into the background!

The book is a good read, full of information and fascinating to consider now the series is in re-runs. It's fun to go through the quotes and wonder how many of those words Rick Berman would now like to eat! Pass the mustard...