Crossovers are quite challenging to pull off! Indeed, in the long history of Star Trek, despite multiple opportunities when more than one series was running concurrently (e.g. DS9 and YOYAGER, DISCOVERY / PICARD / LOWER DECKS / STRANGE NEW WORLDS / PRODIGY), there was never a true crossover where a storyline that began in one series concluded in a different series.
Oh, there were certainly cameos, as when DS9‘s Dr. Bashir appeared in TNG‘s “Birthright, Part 1” or when Mariner and Boimler traveled back in time to Pike’s era in SNW‘s “Those Old Scientists.” But storylines themselves never crossed over to start with one series and end in another.
This hasn’t been the case with other network franchises like Chicago Med/Fire/PD, Law & Order, and of course, Stargate SG-1/Atlantis/Universe, which all featured crossover events.
Obviously, crossovers are challenging to make. Often, different writing teams on separate series have to come together, and schedules have to be carefully adjusted to allow for certain actors and sets to be used for shows in which they don’t usually appear. Production resources often need to be shared, and script continuity coordinators have to be extra vigilant. It can can messy pretty fast if not handled right.
So what about Star Trek fan films?
Like the various studio-produced Star Trek, the vast majority of “crossovers” between different fan series have gone no farther than special guest cameo appearances of certain characters in fan series that weren’t their own. Individuals like VANCE MAJOR’s Erick Minard, GEORGE KAYAIAN’s Captain Allen, NICK COOK’s Captain Hunter, or JOSE CEPEDA’s Captain Ramsey have certainly made the rounds. But seldom if ever has a plot line that began in one fan series ended in another.
Until now, that is.
Last summer, the folks at DOMINION MEDIA released the first of a 3-part trilogy crossing over into a trio of different fan series. Admittedly, all three are made under the Dominion Media umbrella, but they are shot in two entirely different locations 900 miles apart. The first part of the trilogy debuted as part of the fan series PROJECT: RUNABOUT, filmed mainly in the basement of co-showrunner GARY DAVIS, whose home in Ohio features a full TOS-era Starfleet runabout set. “IT’S ALL DONE WITH MIRRORS” was the third installment of that fan series, which began during the COVID lockdown in 2021.
The second installment premiered on March 12 of this year as the second full-length episode of WARBIRD VALDORE. Their first full-length episode, “THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE FEDERATION” debuted during the summer of 2023 and focused entirely on missions of the commander and crew of a Romulan warship. “SMOKE AND MIRRORS” then continued the trilogy storyline begun during Project: Runabout. Take a look…
The story will conclude with an exciting episode of Dominion Media‘s flagship fan series (pun intended), DREADNOUGHT DOMINION, later this year. Both that series and Valdore shoot their episodes at NEUTRAL ZONE STUDIOS, which up until recently was located in Kingsland, Georgia but is in the process of relocating to Sandusky, Ohio. How will this move affect all three of Dominion Media‘s ongoing fan series?
I posed this question and several others to Gary Davis…
JONATHAN – As I just mentioned in the intro, producing a multi-fan series crossover is a rather unique undertaking. How did you and your co-showrunner/writer RANDY WRENN initially come up with the idea?
GARY – Well, like most of our ideas, they come about organically. The idea was born during our post-production Dreadnought Dominion dinner. I was the first at Cracker Barrel to get the table. I had time to order a beer—on an empty stomach—then another waiting on my order, and another with dinner. I wasn’t driving; I had a ride back to the hotel. By the time everyone was at the table and we were all bouncing ideas back and forth for the next Dreadnought Dominion, I just let it out. “WE NEED TO DO MIRROR UNIVERSE again!”
I was laying out story points, wild ideas as to how we get there, what would be happening, who would be in it, costumes, aliens, THE WORKS. Randy was doing his best to contain his famous eye roll as he thought, “Oh, it’s just the beer talking.” However, by the time I had food in my stomach and the ideas were gelling better, I actually had won him over a bit.
I think it was after I returned to Ohio, and I was starting to get an idea for the next Project: Runabout episode—that included shooting outdoors at a state park—that I thought, “Hmmmm…what if we did a crossover between Runabout and Dominion?” Then it wasn’t a stretch to begin to wonder, “What if we crossed ALL THREE productions in one loosely’ ‘based story arc?”
I pitched it to Randy, and by then, he knew that the train had already left the station; there was no way of calling it back. I wrote the outline for all three productions, including a scene that would appear in both Warbird Valdore and Dreadnought Dominion. The scene would serve as a direct link between the stories, still maintaining a separation in their stories, to avoid breaking a Fan Film Guideline. I took my Runabout story and crafted it a bit to start the three-production story arc and then, again, wrote a scene outline that would link Runabout to Valdore. Randy took the outlines and turned them into actual scripts with amazing dialogue—staying true to my outline and concepts—that made them separate yet connected.
JONATHAN – What has been the most challenging aspect in doing these three crossover fan films?
GARY – I’d be remiss if I said that any film doesn’t have challenges, but we really didn’t have any huge obstacles to overcome in doing all three shows for this crossover. With a person like Randy wrangling talent, formatting the shooting schedule, and getting the information out, the foundation for these productions was laid out. All that remained was getting the crew and twisting the arm of our director of photography, JOSHUA MICHAEL IRWIN, to make the drive to Kingsland to bring amazing shooting visions to life for us.
Project Runabout was filmed in Ohio, and I served as director of photography using two iPhones for ALL of it—interior and exterior. We filmed the ship scenes in my basement and at a state park for the outdoor scenes. For Warbird Valdore and Dreadnought Dominion, we combined shooting where the first days were one show, and the succeeding days, the other. We had one crossover day where we did scenes for both. It was very helpful to film the crossover episodes somewhat close to one another so we could pay attention to continuity of events or reactions from one production to another.
JONATHAN – You were one of the last productions to film at the Kingsland location of Neutral Zone Studios before the move to Ohio. Did you know in advance that the Georgia facility would soon be shutting down, or did you find out later?
GARY – We did not know when we began filming. We always knew it was a possibility, but we knew that when the time came to be informed, Ray would let us know. He let us know a short time later, and in retrospect, we were relieved that we had done the marathon shooting schedule that put two productions in the can, ready for editing.
JONATHAN – What is it like knowing that you were one of the last groups to ever shoot there?
GARY – Bittersweet, panic, but mixed with confidence in a rebuild that will continue these wonderful sets. No one believed that these set pieces would end up on the curb for the trash. No one. If anything can be said with certainty about Ray, it is that he’s a great salesman and has been a consummate steward for keeping the sets going for fan films to utilize. We all had confidence that we’d see the sets again somewhere! And he sealed the deal with the new location inside the mall in Sandusky, Ohio.
JONATHAN – Speaking of which, now that the sets have moved 900 miles north, how will this impact each of your three fan series? Obviously, Project: Runabout already shoots in Ohio on a set in your basement, so you have lots of opportunities opening up there. But Dominion and Valdore will require much longer commutes from cast members and crew (except for you, Gary!). So how will that work?
GARY – We’re still in the planning stages of continuing the productions. The first order of business is to get the sets repaired, rebuilt, and in place for filming. That process is ongoing, and it’s GREAT to be so close! I’m a quick two-hour drive and participate when I can. Once we have sets up and Ray gives the green light for filming, we’ll pick right up with another Dreadnought Dominion episode. If we had JUST the bridge, we could probably do a shoot. However, we do want to do it right and would really enjoy highlighting the hard work and dedication in resurrecting these great set pieces built by the Farragut folks SO many years ago.
As far as our cast and crew, we have been chatting with the largest contingent of our folks in Jacksonville, FL, and they have plans to fly or drive up to Sandusky. The great thing about Sandusky is that there are two airports, Toledo and Cleveland, within an hour’s drive, and Columbus is a two-hour drive (and I am in Columbus!). I can pick folks up at any of these three airports and get them up to Sandusky.
We are also fortunate that hotels and AirBnBs are plentiful being on the shores of Lake Erie and close to Cedar Point Amusement Park. We have never filmed during the HOT weather of summer, so when we do have folks journey to Sandusky, we’re getting accommodations off-season.
Our plan going forward is to do one shoot a year where we’ll need to have the cast and crew make the drive to Sandusky. I can’t ask anyone to do something I wouldn’t or haven’t already done, and some years I did this three times in one calendar year! I spent ten years traveling twelve hours to film in Georgia, so I can confidently, and without guilt, ask folks to do this once a year…LOL!
JONATHAN – Since we’re on the subject of the move of Neutral Zone Studios, how are things going with the reassembly of those sets? More specifically, when do you estimate that everything will be finished and ready for filming to start again?
GARY – The process is AMAZING so far. SCOTT LYTLLE is a wizard, as he works on real Hollywood sets (are movies all still shot in Hollywood?) as a vocation. He is the foreman for the reconstruction and repair, which includes repainting EVERYTHING. When the first wall flats were raised—and the cornerstone of the sets, as I called it, went up—it was THRILLING. With the cornerstone set, we were able to continue in one direction, then make a turn, and continue. I don’t have an estimate as to when the process will be completed, but I am confident that the progress will pick up and start to REALLY take shape soon. Over half of the wall flats have received fresh coats of paint and look STUNNING!
JONATHAN – How often do you go there to help out?
I can get up there at least two weekends a month. Reconstruction volunteers come from the northeast mainly, as well as from as far away as the Dallas, TX and Atlanta, GA area! Some volunteers have stayed for as long as a month, with others parts of the week or, like myself, day trips or weekends.. The dedication that all the volunteers have is not surprising, as we all share the passion and respect for these sets, and we SO enjoy “makin’ Star Trek” when we get the chance!
JONATHAN – The final installment of the crossover trilogy will be Dreadnought Dominion. What can you tell us about the concluding episode, and when do you expect it to be released?
GARY – We are looking for a June release. Randy Wrenn has done the lion’s share of the work editing this latest Warbird Valdore, and then he’s been working on the final chapter of our crossover with Dreadnought Dominion. All I have to do is critique, score, and do transporter transitions! Randy has REALLY taken up the slack on editing, and I just don’t know what I’d have done without him.
What I can tell you about the production is that it takes us to the MIRROR UNIVERSE. I had thought about keeping it a secret, but then I disregarded my own counsel! How they get there, and what happens while there, is reserved for the release.
The poster for the production leaves no doubt as to what we were up to last February at Neutral Zone Studios in Kingsland! We had so much fun doing this episode that I survived the dreaded Randy eye roll when I proclaimed, “WE NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN!” Randy is the voice of reason not just some of the time, but MOST of the time. He reminds me that we shouldn’t repeat things too often with what we do, or it just won’t be special. However, I think we can manage to return to the Mirror Universe in 2026 or 2027. I just have to grow back that darn beard!
JONATHAN – It definitely suits you, my friend!