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Star Track: The Metric System
News from the Far Reaches of Space

What is "The Metric System?" The Metric system is a spin-off of the hit show "Star Track." It takes place aboard the USS Genesis. It follows the missions of Captain Josef Savage and his valiant crew of miscreants. Created by Filming for Fun Productions under the supervision of Golden Media.

We recently talked with Will Dunham, creator and executive producer of Star Track: The Metric System and asked him a few questions about his show.
CLICK HERE FOR THE INTERVIEW!

Star Track: The Metric System Episode 1: Pilot
Captain Savage has been abducted before his first mission can even begin! Could the Klingons be behind it?

Star Track: The Metric System Episode 2
"These Warps go to Eleven"
The long anticipated second episode of Star Track: The Metric System!

Star Track: The Metric System Ep.2 "These Warps Go To Eleven" from Dubya Dee on Vimeo.

The Interview

Golden Media:

What inspired you to make The Metric System?
Willem:
Growing up, my father was into Star Trek and I used to catch a few episodes here or there but never really got into it. At the time though(early 90's), kids my age knew who Data or Geordi LaForge were. It was just pop culture at the time. You could take a hair grip and put it over your eyes, and people would say "Geordi LaForge!". I was always into Star Wars, and even got the chance to see all 3 films in their re-release. I also saw Star Trek: Insurrection for a birthday once, and enjoyed it.
Fast forward to many years later, I stumbled upon an episode of Star Track: The Next Hesitation. I usually find Star Trek parodies to be funny, so I checked into it and was hooked. It was great how it blended Star Trek with comedy that I enjoy. I soon showed it to a number of my friends, those who were mostly in a small film group called FFF(Filming For Fun Productions). We had been assembled from all meeting together in a final year Television course in high school. We all had a connected line through somebody we knew who knew the other person. After working together and discovering how we functioned together, we got into filming a few short films(often parodies) outside of school. So once I watched a few more episodes of Next Hesitation, I started watching Star Trek The Next Generation, and liked it a lot. Everybody else in the group had done the same, and we now all enjoy Star Trek.
There was also a lot of help from YTMND; they have a number of Star Trek TNG fads that we enjoyed too. I got into talks with Christian Fauteux, the creator of Star Track
The Next Hesitation, and just sent him a message saying that I enjoy the series and also a few inquiry questions about equipment and whatnot. After several other messages, I decided why not see if I could try making an episode for a show like theirs. I studied many of the Star Track episodes, Star Trek films and TNG series, then wrote up a complete episode about a new crew in the same Star Track universe. Some changes were made over time, and then Mr. Fauteux greenlit it. So it was watching The Next Hesitation, which developed into watching the Star Trek films and TNG series, plus a few YTMND sites that got me into
making a spin-off.

Golden Media:
How much inspiration are you taking from Star Track?
Willem:
Since The Metric System takes place in the same universe and time period as Idomo, I had to, of course, study their episodes and make sure to imput certain things that would unify the shows, like TNG and Deep Space Nine. I also got inspiration for how to plot out an episode, such as the "level flow" of comedy and drama, so that not everything is a huge joke. At the same time taking elements from the other show, I also had to make up a few new ones to make The Metric System unqiue in its own way.

Golden Media
How many episodes per year do you see yourselves making?
Willem:
Well right now we're close to starting up on the 2nd; its in the works still. We plan to film as many episodes as we can during this summer, as for at the end
we will have to make renovations for a new place to shoot(Dustin Roy, who plays Commander Scott Hall, is moving) but there shouldn't be a long delay.

Golden Media:
Genesis, where does that name come from? Sounds familiar.

We took Genesis from one of the greatest gaming consols of the same name. I was introduced to the Sega Genesis about a year or 2 ago, having grown up with a Super Nintendo. I automaticly loved it and I still buy games now. Me and Sean Watson(Lt. Kevin Mothersbaugh) both have a passion for it, as well do the other fellas. So we decided to name the ship Genesis and also involve Sega Genesis products; on the bridge there is a Generation 1 and 2 Sega Genesis, as well as an Arcade Controller. Also, the main viewing screen is a photoshopped version of the one from Star Trek: The Next Generation Echos From The Future
for Sega Genesis.

Golden Media:
Why name it "The metric system" why not Star Track: Genesis?
Willem:
Because we're not as good as Star Track: Idomo yet. When we get to that good of a level, we'll change the name haha :p. I never thought of changing the name
to include the ship's. The Metric System was just one of the many ideas for the series' name(it comes from a song by Atom and His Package). Such other ideas
for the name were Star Track: Delta, Star Track: MegaDrive, Star Track: The New Crew, etc. So perhaps down the line we might change the name, but for now its
Metric System.

Golden Media:
How many cast and crew are there?
Willem:
Basically, the cast is the crew. Besides guest roles, there are 7 of us, all doing cast and crew roles. For instance, Sean Watson portrays Lt. Kevin Mothersbaugh but also is Lighting Technician. We hope to expland it a bit in time, maybe a few new characters, recurring roles, or crew members.

Golden Media:
Who writes the episodes?
Willem:
As of right now, I have written the first and second episode. I hope from those 2 that some of the other guys can get the idea of what the series will be like and start making their own episodes; in a way this is to showcase everybody's talents from acting to directing. Everybody will get a chance to write an episode. Who knows, maybe me and Christian Fauteux down the line will switch places and write an episode for each others show!

Golden Media:
Who edits and directs?
Willem:
I do all the editing using Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 but I hope to upgrade soon and start using a newer version. I will be directing the first 2 episodes of The Metric
System, and most likely a few more down the line.

Golden Media:
Any plans for CGI work in the near future?
Willem:
Right this very moment, the Genesis is being created in CG graphics. After looking at the footage of the plastic ships used, we decided sometime soon to go to CG ships.
So possibly, episode 2 will have CG effects.

Golden Media:
How long will the episodes be?
Willem:
Standard episode length without the commercials, so about 20-25 minutes in total.

Golden Media
How much has golden media helped you with the project?
Willem:
Plenty! And it's incredibly appreciated from all of us at FFF! There was a fear that Golden Media would of found my first episode script to be lacking the Star Track taste, but it didn't. I had a few goals in mind while writing it, which were to please Golden Media and the fans of Idomo and Star Trek in general. Golden Media has helped with plenty of things, from suggestions to file sharing, all to help make our show successful as theirs is. We aren't in competition with them in any way, merely helping make Star Track bigger. We'll definitely take them out sometime for a round!

Golden Media:
What is your favourite episode of Star Track?
Willem:
Episode 16: Anomaly. It was the first my group and I saw, and got us into this big mess Smile

Golden Media:
Finally, whats your favorite pizza topping?
Willem:
Ya know, over the years I've had different kinds and favorites(like that Cheeseburger one from Pizza Pizza) but it all comes down to plain old pepperoni. And not
that kind that's all big and floppy and put underneath the cheese. I'm talking on top, crisp, and spicy. If you're in Ottawa sometime, be sure to grab a slice
from Tony's Pizza.

Golden Media:
Thanks for your time. We can't wait to see the pilot episode of "The Metric System" this weekend!