Ever since STAR TREK CONTINUES released its 11th and final episode last November, fans have been asking, “What will happen to those amazing TOS sets???” They can’t be turned into a Star Trek set tour because there’s already one of those in upstate New York, and James Cawley’s license with CBS is exclusive. And despite some fans suggesting the sets just be sold/donated to a museum or to CBS itself, there are use too many set pieces to make relocating them anywhere near practical or cost effective.
The challenge for VIC MIGNOGNA, the showrunner for STC, is that the sets are currently housed in a building in Kingsland, GA that costs about $5,000 a month in rent (according to their 501(c)(3) non-profit filing from 2015). As much as Vic wants to keep the sets open and intact, $60K per year is a LOT to ask any Trekker to pay to keep those sets open.
Enter: RAY TESI. Ray will be the new owner of the TOS sets that were used by STC. Ray is the executive producer behind STARSHIP REPUBLIC, which released its first fan film vignette, the 9-minute “Serpent of Yesterday” almost one full year ago. I interviewed Ray here on Fan Film Factor when he was trying to generate funds through an Indiegogo campaign to complete their first episode. The plans were to shoot the scenes on the Starbase Studios sets in Arkansas. But with the current uncertainty regarding those sets, Ray wasn’t certain he’d be able to rely on Starbase to film his fan project. Now he’ll film in Georgia instead.
Ray has decided to keep the name STAGE 9 STUDIOS, which is what STC decided to call their facility (named after the location of the original TOS sets on the Paramount lot back in the late 1960s).
Obviously, there’s more news to come on this (including plans to restart Starship Republic later this year). I’ve requested an interview with Ray, but right now, here’s the press release that was just circulated by Star Trek Continues…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STAR TREK CONTINUES transfers set ownership to Stage 9 Studios
2/4/18
KINGSLAND, GA USA — Stage 9, the studio that has been home to the award-winning web series STAR TREK CONTINUES since 2013, has transferred the ownership of its sets to Ray Tesi of STAGE 9 STUDIOS LLC. The new entity will remain in the same building where STAR TREK CONTINUES filmed its 3 vignettes and 11 full length episodes.
Vic Mignogna, Executive Producer of STAR TREK CONTINUES, says, “The main priorities for me were to see that these beautiful sets remain intact where we built them, and to know that they would be preserved and well cared for. I’m extremely gratified that Ray Tesi has ensured that these priorities of mine are accomplished.”
STAR TREK CONTINUES completed filming their final episodes at this studio in February of 2017. The Board of Directors of Trek Continues, Inc., headed by Mr. Mignogna, have searched for a year for a suitable answer to the question of what to do with the sets that did not include dismantling or destroying them.
According to Ray Tesi, President of Stage 9 Studios, LLC: “This is a lifelong dream come true for me. This is NOT a money-making enterprise, but an opportunity to share the passion that millions of STAR TREK fans have for the series! What Vic and his cast and crew have created is remarkable. The mission of STAGE 9 STUDIOS is to pay homage to the legacy that is STAR TREK, and remain respectful to STAR TREK CONTINUES and CBS BROADCASTING, INC.”
STAGE 9 STUDIOS contains a full-scale suite of Constitution-class starship sets modeled after those used in the original STAR TREK series, including: the bridge, transporter room, engineering, sickbay, briefing room, captain’s quarters, auxiliary control, a 100 foot-long corridor, a nearby green screen location, and much more!
Related Links:
stage9studios.com
startrekcontinues.com
My name is kenny Smith from Rancho Cordova CA. I don’t want no one to give no part of the star trek set to CBS they don’t need it. They can fight all of the star trek fans to keep it and give it to them and not CBS. I don’t like CBS. I will give you my plans with the star trek tos set. Just get a hold of me thru this site.
Ah, Kenny’s back! Things were getting too quiet and coherent around here. 🙂
This gives people hope who had their dreams shot down over the Starbase nightmare here is hoping for many wonderful projects to resume and start back up.. And Ray if your watching… PLEASE do not repeat Starbases mistake and get everything SIGNED and notarized.
That’s good news. Congratulations to Ray Tesi.
I note the specific wording of “transfer of ownership.” Is that to say no money is changing hands?
Like how Vic says the sets would stay “where we built them.” Um, outside of the Engineering set, shouldn’t that credit be given to John Broughton and Starship Farragut?
The money changing hands is an unknown at present. I know that Vic put a lot of his own money into STC and that studio, just as Alec Peters put a lot of his own money into Industry Studios. So even if money did change hands (not saying it did!), I wouldn’t consider it profit in any sense of the word. As for the “we,” yes, many of the sets were built by the Farragut team, although not all. And many were constructed after STC and Farragut began cohabitating. You can call a penalty if you want, but I say “let ’em play.” Great Superbowl, eh? 🙂
I’m a Giants fan, the Super Bowl had no meaning for me.
It just would have been nice to see Vic give credit where credit was due.
I’m a long-suffering New York Jets fan. Life’s been tough these last 50 years. 🙂
Ha…the Jaguars almost made it again!
Much agreed in congratulating Mr. Tesi on the new venture. Looking forward to Starship Republic.
This is great news, so glad to hear there will be no dismantling of those set.