| | |  Entertainment | June 2009 
Beamed Up to the Big Screen
 Francisco Candido - The News
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Chances are that if you aren´t one, you´ve known one or had one in your family. The Trekkie, that near-mythical creature whose existence is often defined by Star Trek, walks among us all. Even U.S. President Barack Obama has garnered some Trekkie-cred.
So it´s no surprise that there are Trekkies here in Mexico too. And with the newest Star Trek film, directed by J.J. Abrams, hitting theaters on Friday, expect to see them - I mean, us - come out of the woodwork. Guess there are some in Mexico.
Whenever a Star Trek movie comes to town, the special screening, for fans and press alike, becomes the hot ticket. The last four films, for instance, featured special screenings for the Star Trek fan club and other sci-fi fans. This one, however, didn´t. Having been delayed for a month on account of the swine flu, releasing the movie seems to be the No. 1 priority.
What a shame Mexico´s Trekkies weren´t invited to a special event.
I remember vividly all the screenings for "Star Trek Generations" and the first "Next Generation" big-screen installment - where my brother and I got at least a dozen freebies in promotional material.
At another release, a Science Fiction film festival was tied in with the several screenings. At one official premier, catering was provided by a sushi restaurant. (We even had a big Starship Enterprise made of sushi rolls!) Posters were given away - I still have a couple of them - and the entrance to the theater boasted a gigantic inflatable Enterprise. Costume-wearing Trek-promoters circled the area doing their thing.
After the premier, some of the "senior members" of the club - or The Core, as we called ourselves - drove to the caterers´ restaurant for a paid-in-full Trekkie dinner.
At those premieres, the whole Star Trek Fan Club would be present - some of us even brought dates! - and academic conferences would often accompany the release of a new movie.
I was once on panels at the UNAM, UAM and Tech de Monterrey. I confess that I don´t ever expect to speak at such packed conference at those universities ever again.
TIMES HAVE CHANGED
Those truly were the good old days.
This time around, at the press screening for the new Star Trek movie, I saw just one of the old boys from the club - a friend who is now in local radio. No one else was there - not one Star Trek communicator, jacket or even T-shirt was to be seen.
There was no special screening for Trek Mexico, nor were there freebies, posters or the always coveted press kit.
Maybe it´s understandable. With the Internet and piracy, a DVD version in any language is readily available at many Mexico City markets and stalls.
Given the month-long delay of the release because of swine flu, one can assume every hard-core Trekkie already has a copy on his or her shelf. Chances are many of Mexico´s Trekkies already headed to the other side to catch the earlier U.S. release.
Perhaps the Trekkies who used to attend these oh-so-special screenings weren´t notified - or more realistically, have grown up, have families, social engagements or jobs that demand actual time. Perhaps they have outgrown the need for Trek 24/7 and have other responsibilities.
To the Star Trek club and all the Trekkies in Mexico, wherever you are... Live long and Prosper - or just, good luck. |
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