Memory Alpha
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Memory Alpha
Memory Alpha
57,146
pages
in: Film performers, Performers
English

Changes: David Gautreaux

Back to page
Sign in to edit
m (grm.)
m (grm.)
Line 16: Line 16:
 
By the time of the public announcement the search of the Xon performer was actually already completed. After his screen tests, Gautreaux was cast in the role on 26 September 1977. However, his casting became somewhat unhinged for awhile as [[Majel Barrett]], recast as [[Christine Chapel]], raised some objections. Barret, unaware that both the series concept and the character of Spock were already dropped and fearing that the ''Original Series'' "unrequited love of Chapel for Spock" plot-line will not play well against an actor as young as Gautreux, requested an older actor to play against. A new test-screening was called with both Gautreux and an older British actor in mid-October, but the older actor's performance was "absolutely abominable" and Gautreux was definitively reaffirmed by the third week of October. (''[[Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series]]'', pp. 53-54)
  
By the time of the public announcement the search of the Xon performer was actually already completed. After his screen tests, Gautreaux was cast in the role on 26 September 1977. However, his casting became somewhat unhinged for awhile as [[Majel Barrett]], recast as [[Christine Chapel]], raised some objections. Barret, unaware that both the series concept and the character of Spock were already dropped and fearing that the ''Original Series'' "unrequited love of Chapel for Spock" plot-line will not play well against an actor as young as Gautreux, requested an older actor to play against. A new test-screening was called with both Gautreux and an older British actor in mid-October, but the older actor's performance was "absolutely abominable" and Gautreux was definitively reaffirmed by the third week of October. (''[[Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series]]'', pp. 53-54)
   
−
Pure by chance, Gautreaux became the very first performer who learned of the upgrade decision of ''Phase II'' to a full-blown theatrical feature film, nearly a month before the decision became formal, when he walked in on Friday 21 October 1977 on an informal celebration, to sign his contract. At that moment, only three studio executives and four producers were privy to the decision made that day. ({{STTM|2|8|27}}) At first this had no consequences for the Xon character, but after the movie's new Director [[Robert Wise]] pushed for it, Spock definitively returned when Leonard Nimoy was signed on 27 March 1978. (''[[Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History]]'', p. 101) As soon as he was confirmed, a frantic series of yet another round of rewrites was started to get the Spock character into the movie. This however, had now ramifications for Xon, as it was now dropped as a principal character. Despite Gautreaux having been reassured that he was to play a major role in the movie, since he was now a "part of the family", nothing came of it and by summer's start, the Xon was definitively struck as a principal character, only to appear in a very minor role. Having emotionally invested in the role for months, but also because he did not want to be locked down as a stand-by performer as he had by then resumed his theater career, Gautreaux declined to appear as Xon in this capacity and instead accepted the somewhat larger consolation role of Commander Branch. Gautreaux shot his Epsilon IX in the summer of 1979, long after principal photography had wrapped in January, and he has never interacted on-set with any of the principal cast. The studio, which had committed to a "play-or-pay" contract, compensated Gautreaux with $35,000 in September for him missing out on a signed lead role. (''[[Starlog (magazine)|Starlog]]'', issue 139, p. 13; ''[[Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series]]'', p. 77; ''[[Star Trek Movie Memories]]'', pp. 111-112)
+
Pure by chance, Gautreaux became the very first performer who learned of the upgrade decision of ''Phase II'' to a full-blown theatrical feature film, nearly a month before the decision became formal, when he walked in on Friday 21 October 1977 on an informal celebration, to sign his contract. At that moment, only three studio executives and four producers were privy to the decision made that day. ({{STTM|2|8|27}}) At first this had no consequences for the Xon character, but after the movie's new Director [[Robert Wise]] pushed for it, Spock definitively returned when Leonard Nimoy was signed on 27 March 1978. (''[[Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History]]'', p. 101) As soon as he was confirmed, a frantic series of yet another round of rewrites was started to get the Spock character into the movie. This however, had now ramifications for Xon, as it was now dropped as a principal character. Despite Gautreaux having been reassured that he was to play a major role in the movie, since he was now a "part of the family", nothing came of it and by summer's start, the Xon was definitively struck as a principal character, only to appear in a very minor role. Having emotionally invested in the role for months, but also because he did not want to be locked down as a stand-by performer as he had by then resumed his theater career, Gautreaux declined to appear as Xon in this capacity and instead accepted the somewhat larger consolation role of Commander Branch. Gautreaux shot his Epsilon IX scenes in the summer of 1979, long after principal photography had wrapped in January, and he has never interacted on-set with any of the principal cast. The studio, which had committed to a "play-or-pay" contract, compensated Gautreaux with $35,000 in September for him missing out on a signed lead role. (''[[Starlog (magazine)|Starlog]]'', issue 139, p. 13; ''[[Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series]]'', p. 77; ''[[Star Trek Movie Memories]]'', pp. 111-112)
   
 
In 1994, Gautreux was interviewed in-depth by [[William Shatner]] for his memoir ''[[Star Trek Movie Memories]]'' about his involvement with the ''[[Star Trek]]'' franchise and these, as transcribed, were the most elaborate ones Gautreux has ever given on his involvement to date. Subsequently, in 2001, he was interviewed for a special feature on the [[Star Trek: The Motion Picture (The Director's Edition)|''Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' (The Director's Edition)]] [[DVD]].
  
In 1994, Gautreux was interviewed in-depth by [[William Shatner]] for his memoir ''[[Star Trek Movie Memories]]'' about his involvement with the ''[[Star Trek]]'' franchise and these, as transcribed, were the most elaborate ones Gautreux has ever given on his involvement to date. Subsequently, in 2001, he was interviewed for a special feature on the [[Star Trek: The Motion Picture (The Director's Edition)|''Star Trek: The Motion Picture'' (The Director's Edition)]] [[DVD]].

Revision as of 14:56, 4 November 2014

Template:Realworld

David Gautreaux (born 28 June 1951; age 72) was to have featured as Lieutenant Xon in Star Trek: Phase II. However, the series was canceled, and it was decided to produce Star Trek: The Motion Picture instead. Gautreaux was then recast in a minor role as Commander Branch of Epsilon IX station.

The character of Xon was conceived after it became abundantly clear that Spock performer Leonard Nimoy declined to reprise his role for the Phase II-project. What was already known for quite some time in production circles, was made public on 22 October 1977 by Gene Roddenberry in a lengthy expose to hundreds of Star Trek fanclubs, finally confirming the rumors that had abounded for months. Negotiations with Nimoy had actually already been conducted since the 1975 The God Thing project, but by July 1977 it became clear that Nimoy had declined the rigors of a weekly television show. It was for this reason that the Xon and Commander Decker characters, dividing between them the characteristics of the role Spock played on Star Trek: The Original Series, were conceived for the new series in the first place. (The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, p. 39)

By the time of the public announcement the search of the Xon performer was actually already completed. After his screen tests, Gautreaux was cast in the role on 26 September 1977. However, his casting became somewhat unhinged for awhile as Majel Barrett, recast as Christine Chapel, raised some objections. Barret, unaware that both the series concept and the character of Spock were already dropped and fearing that the Original Series "unrequited love of Chapel for Spock" plot-line will not play well against an actor as young as Gautreux, requested an older actor to play against. A new test-screening was called with both Gautreux and an older British actor in mid-October, but the older actor's performance was "absolutely abominable" and Gautreux was definitively reaffirmed by the third week of October. (Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series, pp. 53-54)

Pure by chance, Gautreaux became the very first performer who learned of the upgrade decision of Phase II to a full-blown theatrical feature film, nearly a month before the decision became formal, when he walked in on Friday 21 October 1977 on an informal celebration, to sign his contract. At that moment, only three studio executives and four producers were privy to the decision made that day. (Star Trek: The Magazine Volume 2, Issue 8, p. 27) At first this had no consequences for the Xon character, but after the movie's new Director Robert Wise pushed for it, Spock definitively returned when Leonard Nimoy was signed on 27 March 1978. (Star Trek: The Complete Unauthorized History, p. 101) As soon as he was confirmed, a frantic series of yet another round of rewrites was started to get the Spock character into the movie. This however, had now ramifications for Xon, as it was now dropped as a principal character. Despite Gautreaux having been reassured that he was to play a major role in the movie, since he was now a "part of the family", nothing came of it and by summer's start, the Xon was definitively struck as a principal character, only to appear in a very minor role. Having emotionally invested in the role for months, but also because he did not want to be locked down as a stand-by performer as he had by then resumed his theater career, Gautreaux declined to appear as Xon in this capacity and instead accepted the somewhat larger consolation role of Commander Branch. Gautreaux shot his Epsilon IX scenes in the summer of 1979, long after principal photography had wrapped in January, and he has never interacted on-set with any of the principal cast. The studio, which had committed to a "play-or-pay" contract, compensated Gautreaux with $35,000 in September for him missing out on a signed lead role. (Starlog, issue 139, p. 13; Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series, p. 77; Star Trek Movie Memories, pp. 111-112)

In 1994, Gautreux was interviewed in-depth by William Shatner for his memoir Star Trek Movie Memories about his involvement with the Star Trek franchise and these, as transcribed, were the most elaborate ones Gautreux has ever given on his involvement to date. Subsequently, in 2001, he was interviewed for a special feature on the Star Trek: The Motion Picture (The Director's Edition) DVD.

In 2005, he guest starred in two episodes of Brannon Braga's short-lived series Threshold, which starred Brent Spiner. In 2008, he guest starred in an episode of Boston Legal, which starred William Shatner and John Larroquette.

Appearances

Star Trek interviews

Further reading

External links

Deutsch Español Français
Community content is available under CC-BY-NC unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms