The people of the Netherlands in Europe have a saying, “They say God created the earth but the Dutch built Holland!” This in because, about 500 years ago, water covered a quarter of what is currently known as The Netherlands (“Holland” is an outdated term because North and South Holland are only two of their twelve provinces and contain only about a third of the population). What kept the water out and allowed the 26% of the country that is below sea level to exist as land was Dutch ingenuity—dikes, dams, storm surge barriers, and lots and lots of pumps. And water constantly threatens to overwhelm the country from both sides: the fresh water rivers that flow from Germany as well as the sea water from the North sea. That fact that the Netherlands continues to survive and even thrive is a testament to the “can do” attitude and commitment of its citizens.
All of this is to say that the Netherlands now has a SECOND Star Trek fan film series! The first fan series, the a 24th century era DARK ARMADA which ran from 2005-2016, is starting up again, being renamed BATAVIA but still under the stewardship of ROBIN HIERT. And one would think, with the relatively small size of the country (about half the size of the U.S. state of West Virginia and ranking 31st in area among all European counties), that one Star Trek fan series would be enough. But not so fast, says THOMAS ARGANTE!
Thomas has just started up USS CASANDRA, a TOS-era fan series that will feature physical/practical sets and a decent-sized cast. Casandra just debuted in April with its pilot episode “Welcome Aboard.” Take a look…
Welcome aboard, indeed! I’d like to be among the first to welcome the cast and crew of USS Casandra to the Star Trek fan film community—although you are about to learn that Thomas Argante has already been with us for quite a while. Let’s start our interview…
JONATHAN – Nice to have you with us at Fan Film Factor, Thomas.
THOMAS – It’s a pleasure. Thank you for having me!
JONATHAN – You’ve previously been involved in a number of American fan films. How did you first become a part of them?
THOMAS – It all began in 2016—not on camera but behind the scenes as a prop maker. I started building Star Trek replica props for collectors and gradually got involved with fan film productions. Over time, more and more of my work appeared on screen, and I was honored to receive credits for the props featured in several fan films.
Things really gained momentum when I became involved with the DOMINION MEDIA group. They’re a wonderful, passionate team, and they welcomed me into their productions in a way I’ll always be grateful for. Thanks to them, I transitioned from prop work to voice-overs and then on-screen roles—something I never expected, but thoroughly enjoy.
JONATHAN – Which fan films have you appeared in?
THOMAS – With Dominion Media, I’ve appeared as Fleet Admiral Parmley in THE PASSENGER WITH BAGGAGE, a Klingon captain in the pilot of PROJECT: RUNABOUT, the same Klingon captain again in MOM, and there’s more to come.
I also worked with VANCE MAJOR in SINKING IN THE SWAMP, where I played Commodore Logan. It’s been a fantastic journey, and I feel incredibly lucky to be part of such a welcoming and creative fan film community.
JONATHAN – So what led you to make the decision to go from just appearing in other people’s fan films to making your own fan series in the Netherlands?
THOMAS – I’ve actually dreamed of creating my own fan film since back in 2016. That year, a good Star Trek friend and I wrote a full script titled “To Do a Great Right Do a Little Wrong.” We poured a lot of time and passion into it. It was ambitious, deeply rooted in classic Trek ideals… and honestly, a bit too long.
Then, in June of that same year, the official Star Trek fan film guidelines were released—and they changed everything. Unfortunately, our script didn’t fit within the new limitations, and we had to shelve the project. I still hope to return to it one day, possibly split into two episodes.
But the desire to tell our own stories never went away. After being involved in other productions, I felt it was time to create something closer to home, something that could grow organically with friends and fans—right here in the Netherlands. That’s how TrekTales Cinematics began: as a way to bring that vision to life…one small, manageable story at a time.
JONATHAN – What were your initial steps in preparing USS Cassandra for launch?
THOMAS – Once the decision was made to start small and grounded, the first step was to write a short script that could introduce the crew in a fun, character-driven way. That became “Welcome Aboard”—a lighthearted story designed to explore the team dynamic without relying on complex sets or heavy visual effects.
What made things really work is that we were already a team—a group of friends, each with our own creative talents, and all Star Trek fans. None of us are trained actors, but everyone brings something valuable: writing, filming, props, editing… it all came together because of our shared enthusiasm.
We were also fortunate to have access to existing Star Trek props and sets through a fan club we started in 2017. That gave us a visual head start and allowed us to focus on building chemistry and capturing strong performances, rather than worrying about building everything from scratch.
With the right people, the right energy, and just enough gear, USS Cassandra was ready for its first short.
JONATHAN – Tell us a little about your cast members. How did you find them? What is their dynamic like both on and off screen?
THOMAS – The cast didn’t need to be “found”—we’re already friends. Some of us have known each other for years. We’re all Star Trek fans with different creative strengths. Some are great at set design, others at character building, props, or storytelling. None of us are trained actors, which actually makes the experience more personal. We’re not trying to be flawless; we’re just trying to bring something we love to life.
There’s definitely a strong group dynamic, but if I’m honest, I’m usually the one who keeps things moving. I try to motivate the team, get things organized, and make sure things happen. That said, it’s very much a shared effort. What really motivates everyone is seeing the results: a solid edit, a funny or emotional scene, or encouraging feedback from viewers. That shared pride keeps the momentum going.
JONATHAN – Does everyone live pretty close to where you shoot, or do your cast members have to travel a bit? And what is “a bit” considered to be in the Netherlands?
THOMAS – By Dutch standards, we’re fairly spread out. Most of us live relatively close to the filming location, while others travel between 60 and 120 minutes to get there—which in the Netherlands basically counts as a road trip!
Still, no one complains. There’s a strong sense of purpose and friendship behind what we’re doing, and that makes the travel part of the fun.
JONATHAN – Was the script for your pilot episode tightly written, or did you go with a more improvisational approach? Or both?
The structure of “Welcome Aboard” was tightly written—we knew exactly what needed to happen and why. But within that structure, there was room for improvisation and spontaneity.
Because we’re friends, there was a natural freedom to experiment. Some lines were adjusted during rehearsal, and a few spontaneous reactions ended up being the most memorable moments on screen. So yes, it was very much a balance: carefully planned but flexible enough to stay fun and fresh.
JONATHAN – What sets will you be constructing for your fan series?
THOMAS – We were lucky to begin with access to existing Star Trek sets, which gave us a huge advantage for our first shoot. It allowed us to focus on storytelling and performance without having to build an entire environment from scratch.
That said, we’re gradually adding new elements to give the USS Cassandra its own unique identity. One of the most exciting developments is our very own shuttlecraft, the Henrietta. Unlike the other sets, the Henrietta had to be built from the ground up. You’ll see it featured in the next two episodes. Designing and building it to feel authentically Star Trek, while remaining practical for filming, has been a really fun challenge.
We’re also working on modular elements like a corridor, a transporter pad, and multi-use control panels that can be redressed to serve different parts of the ship. Step by step, we’re building toward a fully realized Starfleet environment.
JONATHAN – Have there been any funny or particularly memorable moments from your first few shoots?
THOMAS – Absolutely—quite a few! One moment actually made it into the final cut…sort of. At the end of “Welcome Aboard,” we included a bonus scene that plays like a blooper, where Lt. JG Kira Bright’s list of hobbies spirals hilariously out of control.
That moment was born entirely on set. Someone joked that her character probably had a lot of hobbies, and a few of us went online and started listing every obscure fiber art and crafting term we could find. It was so over-the-top, we couldn’t resist turning it into a post-credits moment.
It’s these little spontaneous ideas—the ones that come from just having fun together—that remind us why we love making this.
JONATHAN – Tell us a little about your upcoming episodes. What can fans expect from this new series? And when will new episodes get released?
THOMAS – After “Welcome Aboard,” which was a light and character-focused introduction to our crew, we’re shifting into two standalone episodes, each exploring a different kind of mystery in classic Star Trek tradition.
In one story, the crew investigates an experimental device from Starfleet R&D—something that was meant to assist with planetary analysis but doesn’t behave quite the way it should. In another, they visit a planet where communication takes a form they didn’t expect… and aren’t entirely sure how to interpret.
Both episodes will expand the world of the USS Cassandra—including the first look inside our shuttlecraft, the Henrietta, and scenes set on a mysterious new planet.
We’re aiming to release the next short around September 2025. Every step builds on the last, and we’re excited to show fans where the Cassandra is headed next.
