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| Name = Michael Piller
  
| Name = Michael Piller
 
| image = Michael Piller.jpg
  
| image = Michael Piller.jpg
−
| Birth name = Michael Piller
 +
| Birth name = Michael B. Piller
 
| Gender = Male
  
| Gender = Male
 
| Date of birth = {{d|30|May|1948}}
  
| Date of birth = {{d|30|May|1948}}
Line 9: Line 9:
 
| Date of death = {{d|1|November|2005}} (age 57)
  
| Date of death = {{d|1|November|2005}} (age 57)
 
| Place of death = Los Angeles, California, USA
  
| Place of death = Los Angeles, California, USA
−
| Awards for Trek = [[Emmy Award|1 Emmy nomination]]
 +
| Awards for Trek = 1 [[Emmy Award]] nomination<br/>1 [[Hugo Award]] nomination<br/>1 [[FantastiCon Award|Gene Roddenberry Award]]
 
| Roles = Writer, producer ([[TNG]], [[DS9]], [[VOY]])
  
| Roles = Writer, producer ([[TNG]], [[DS9]], [[VOY]])
 
| Characters =
  
| Characters =
−
| image2 =
 +
| image2 = Piller, Moore, Behr, 1989.jpg
  +
| imagecap2 = Piller with [[Ronald D. Moore|Ron Moore]] and [[Ira Steven Behr|Ira Behr]] in 1989
  +
| image3 = Piller in office.jpg
  +
| imagecap3 = In his office during the TNG years
 
}}
  
}}
  +
{| class="wiki-sidebar"
  +
|-
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" | [[File:Piller and Berman, DS9 set.jpg|140px]]
  +
| colspan="1" align="center" | [[File:Michael Piller tribute.jpg|140px]]
  +
|-
  +
| class="even" | <center>Piller and Rick Berman on the set of ''Deep Space Nine''</center>
  +
| class="even" | <center>.Daily Variety 11/10/05</center>
  +
|}
 
'''Michael B. Piller''' {{born|30|May|1948|died|1|November|2005}} was a writer and Executive Producer of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', and co-creator of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''. He is probably best known for co-writing {{e|The Best of Both Worlds}} and the pilots of both ''Deep Space Nine'' and ''Voyager'' ({{e|Emissary}} and {{e|Caretaker}}, respectively). A [[24th century]] chemical [[element]], [[pillerium]], was named for him.
  
'''Michael B. Piller''' {{born|30|May|1948|died|1|November|2005}} was a writer and Executive Producer of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', and co-creator of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' and ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''. He is probably best known for co-writing {{e|The Best of Both Worlds}} and the pilots of both ''Deep Space Nine'' and ''Voyager'' ({{e|Emissary}} and {{e|Caretaker}}, respectively). A [[24th century]] chemical [[element]], [[pillerium]], was named for him.
   
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=== ''Star Trek'' ===
  
=== ''Star Trek'' ===
  +
In 1989, Piller's long-time friend [[Maurice Hurley]] called upon him to script a few episodes for ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''. His stories were widely acclaimed, and Piller eventually became an Executive Producer of the series. His tenure is noted for its character development, rather than for exploiting sci-fi gadgetry of the future. Piller originally had a one year contract and was ready to leave ''The Next Generation'' with the ending of [[TNG Season 3|Season 3]]. [[Gene Roddenberry]] himself asked him to come back for another year, noting that the [[TNG Season 4|fourth season]] was the one where the audience would fall in love with the series. ([[TNG Season 3 DVD]]-special feature, "Mission Overview Year Three - Ending Season Three")
−
[[File:Insurrection_poster.jpg|thumb|Written by Michael Piller (1998)]]
  
  +
−
In 1989, Piller's long-time friend [[Maurice Hurley]] called upon him to script a few episodes for ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''. His stories were widely acclaimed, and Piller eventually became an Executive Producer of the series. His tenure is noted for its character development, rather than for exploiting sci-fi gadgetry of the future. In 1992, Piller (along with [[Rick Berman]]) began the creation of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', and he contributed to the series' writing, casting, and budgetary direction, all the while continuing his duties as executive producer of TNG. Piller was an avid baseball card collector, reportedly with a collection numbering in the hundred-thousands (hence [[Benjamin Sisko]]'s affinity for the game). After two seasons with DS9, Piller left the show to help create ''Star Trek: Voyager'', which launched in 1995 as the "flagship vessel" of the newly-created UPN (United Paramount Network). He left the staff of ''Voyager'' in 1996 after seven continuous years with the ''Star Trek'' franchise, but remained a "creative consultant" for ''Voyager''. He subsequently returned to write and co-produce {{film|9}} in 1998.
 +
In 1992, Piller (along with [[Rick Berman]]) began the creation of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', and he contributed to the series' writing, casting, and budgetary direction, all the while continuing his duties as executive producer of TNG. Piller was an avid baseball card collector, reportedly with a collection numbering in the hundred-thousands (hence [[Benjamin Sisko]]'s affinity for the game). After two seasons with DS9, Piller left the show to help create ''Star Trek: Voyager'', which launched in 1995 as the "flagship vessel" of the newly-created UPN (United Paramount Network). He left the staff of ''Voyager'' in 1996 after seven continuous years with the ''Star Trek'' franchise, but remained a "creative consultant" for ''Voyager''. He subsequently returned to write and co-produce {{film|9}} in 1998.
   
 
=== Later works ===
  
=== Later works ===
 
During his ''Star Trek'' years, Piller only made one major venture outside the franchise. The result was the unusual sci-fi western series ''Legend'', which he created with [[Bill Dial]] and which starred [[John de Lancie]]. This series had a very brief run on UPN in 1995.
  
During his ''Star Trek'' years, Piller only made one major venture outside the franchise. The result was the unusual sci-fi western series ''Legend'', which he created with [[Bill Dial]] and which starred [[John de Lancie]]. This series had a very brief run on UPN in 1995.
   
−
In 2002, Piller co-developed (with his son, Shawn) the television series based upon the Stephen King novel ''{{w|The Dead Zone (TV series)|The Dead Zone}}''. That series featured DS9's [[Nicole de Boer]] and TNG guest star [[David Ogden Stiers]].
 +
In 2002, Piller co-developed (with his son, Shawn) the television series based upon the Stephen King novel {{wt|The Dead Zone (TV series)|The Dead Zone}}. That series featured DS9's [[Nicole de Boer]] and TNG guest star [[David Ogden Stiers]].
   
 
Piller wrote a screenplay called ''Oversight'', which he described as a Washington-based thriller that is not a big action movie but rather a "small personal character story." The screenplay has yet to be produced.
  
Piller wrote a screenplay called ''Oversight'', which he described as a Washington-based thriller that is not a big action movie but rather a "small personal character story." The screenplay has yet to be produced.
Line 35: Line 47:
   
 
== Writing credits ==
  
== Writing credits ==
−
[[File:Michael Piller tribute.jpg|thumb|Daily Variety 11/10/05]]
  
 
<div class="appear">
  
<div class="appear">
−
*[[TNG Season 3]]:
 +
*[[TNG Season 3]]
 
**{{e|Evolution}} (teleplay, story with [[Michael Wagner]])
  
**{{e|Evolution}} (teleplay, story with [[Michael Wagner]])
  +
**{{e|Booby Trap}} (teleplay with [[Ron Roman]] and [[Richard Danus]])
 
**{{e|The Enemy}} (with [[David Kemper]])
  
**{{e|The Enemy}} (with [[David Kemper]])
−
**{{e|Booby Trap}} (teleplay with Ron Roman and [[Richard Danus]])
 +
**{{e|Yesterday's Enterprise}} (teleplay, uncredited)
−
**{{e|Yesterday's Enterprise}} (uncredited)
  
 
**{{e|The Best of Both Worlds}}
  
**{{e|The Best of Both Worlds}}
−
*[[TNG Season 4]]:
+
*[[TNG Season 4]]
 
**{{e|The Best of Both Worlds, Part II}}
  
**{{e|The Best of Both Worlds, Part II}}
 
**{{e|First Contact}} (teleplay with [[Dennis Russell Bailey]], [[David Bischoff]], [[Joe Menosky]], and [[Ronald D. Moore]])
  
**{{e|First Contact}} (teleplay with [[Dennis Russell Bailey]], [[David Bischoff]], [[Joe Menosky]], and [[Ronald D. Moore]])
−
*[[TNG Season 5]]:
 +
*[[TNG Season 5]]
 
**{{e|Ensign Ro}} (teleplay, story with [[Rick Berman]])
  
**{{e|Ensign Ro}} (teleplay, story with [[Rick Berman]])
 
**{{e|Unification I}} (story with Rick Berman)
  
**{{e|Unification I}} (story with Rick Berman)
−
**{{e|Unification II}} (1991) (teleplay, story with Rick Berman)
 +
**{{e|Unification II}} (teleplay, story with Rick Berman)
 
**{{e|The Masterpiece Society}} (teleplay with [[Adam Belanoff]])
 
**{{e|The Masterpiece Society}} (teleplay with [[Adam Belanoff]])
 
**{{e|The Perfect Mate}} (teleplay with Gary Perconte)
  
**{{e|The Perfect Mate}} (teleplay with Gary Perconte)
 
**{{e|Time's Arrow}} (teleplay with [[Joe Menosky]])
  
**{{e|Time's Arrow}} (teleplay with [[Joe Menosky]])
−
*[[TNG Season 6]]:
 +
*[[TNG Season 6]]
 
**{{e|Rascals}} (story with [[Ward Botsford]] and [[Diana Dru Botsford]])
  
**{{e|Rascals}} (story with [[Ward Botsford]] and [[Diana Dru Botsford]])
−
*[[DS9 Season 1]]:
 +
*[[DS9 Season 1]]
 
**{{e|Emissary}} (teleplay, story with Rick Berman)
  
**{{e|Emissary}} (teleplay, story with Rick Berman)
 
**{{e|A Man Alone}} (teleplay, story with [[Gerald Sanford]])
  
**{{e|A Man Alone}} (teleplay, story with [[Gerald Sanford]])
Line 63: Line 74:
 
**{{e|If Wishes Were Horses}} (teleplay with [[Nell McCue Crawford]] and [[William L. Crawford]])
  
**{{e|If Wishes Were Horses}} (teleplay with [[Nell McCue Crawford]] and [[William L. Crawford]])
 
**{{e|The Forsaken}} (teleplay with [[Don Carlos Dunaway]])
  
**{{e|The Forsaken}} (teleplay with [[Don Carlos Dunaway]])
−
*[[DS9 Season 2]]:
 +
*[[DS9 Season 2]]
 
**{{e|The Siege}}
  
**{{e|The Siege}}
 
**{{e|Melora}} (teleplay with [[Evan Carlos Somers]] and [[James Crocker]])
  
**{{e|Melora}} (teleplay with [[Evan Carlos Somers]] and [[James Crocker]])
 
**{{e|Rivals}} (story with [[Jim Trombetta]])
  
**{{e|Rivals}} (story with [[Jim Trombetta]])
−
**{{e|Whispers}} (tekeplay with [[Paul Robert Coyle]])
 +
**{{e|Whispers}} (teleplay with [[Paul Robert Coyle]])
 
**{{e|Playing God}} (teleplay with Jim Trombetta)
  
**{{e|Playing God}} (teleplay with Jim Trombetta)
 
**{{e|The Maquis, Part I}} (story with Rick Berman, [[Jeri Taylor]], and James Crocker)
  
**{{e|The Maquis, Part I}} (story with Rick Berman, [[Jeri Taylor]], and James Crocker)
 
**{{e|The Maquis, Part II}} (story with Rick Berman, Jeri Taylor, and [[Ira Steven Behr]])
  
**{{e|The Maquis, Part II}} (story with Rick Berman, Jeri Taylor, and [[Ira Steven Behr]])
 
**{{e|Crossover}} (teleplay with [[Peter Allan Fields]])
  
**{{e|Crossover}} (teleplay with [[Peter Allan Fields]])
−
*[[VOY Season 1]]:
 +
*[[VOY Season 1]]
 
**{{e|Caretaker}} (teleplay with Jeri Taylor, story with Rick Berman and Jeri Taylor)
  
**{{e|Caretaker}} (teleplay with Jeri Taylor, story with Rick Berman and Jeri Taylor)
 
**{{e|Time and Again}} (teleplay with David Kemper)
  
**{{e|Time and Again}} (teleplay with David Kemper)
  +
**{{e|The Cloud}} (teleplay with [[Tom Szollosi]])
 
**{{e|Ex Post Facto}} (teleplay with Evan Carlos Somers)
  
**{{e|Ex Post Facto}} (teleplay with Evan Carlos Somers)
−
*[[VOY Season 2]]:
 +
*[[VOY Season 2]]
 
**{{e|Tattoo}} (teleplay)
  
**{{e|Tattoo}} (teleplay)
 
**{{e|Death Wish}} (teleplay)
  
**{{e|Death Wish}} (teleplay)
 
**{{e|Meld}} (teleplay)
  
**{{e|Meld}} (teleplay)
 
**{{e|Basics, Part I}}
  
**{{e|Basics, Part I}}
−
*[[VOY Season 3]]:
 +
*[[VOY Season 3]]
 
**{{e|Basics, Part II}}
  
**{{e|Basics, Part II}}
 
*{{film|9}} (screenplay, story with Rick Berman)
  
*{{film|9}} (screenplay, story with Rick Berman)
 
</div>
  
</div>
  +
  +
== Producing credits ==
  +
* ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' ({{e|The Bonding}} - {{e|The Best of Both Worlds}}) - Co-Executive Producer
  +
* ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'' ({{e|The Best of Both Worlds, Part II}} - {{e|All Good Things...}}) - Executive Producer
  +
* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' ({{e|Emissary}} - {{e|Through the Looking Glass}}) - Executive Producer
  +
* ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' ({{e|Caretaker}} - {{e|Basics, Part II}}) - Executive Producer
  +
* {{film|9}} - Co-Producer
   
 
== ''Star Trek'' interviews ==
  
== ''Star Trek'' interviews ==
 
Piller was interviewed on {{d|1|October|1992}} about the creation of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. This interview was later used as part of the [[DS9 Season 1 DVD]] special feature "Deep Space Nine: A Bold Beginning".
  
Piller was interviewed on {{d|1|October|1992}} about the creation of ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''. This interview was later used as part of the [[DS9 Season 1 DVD]] special feature "Deep Space Nine: A Bold Beginning".
   
−
Piller has also been interviewed in an [[Memory Alpha:AOL chats/Michael Piller/pillrcht.txt|online chat]]. Piller stated that his favorite TNG episodes were {{e|The Inner Light}}, {{e|The Measure Of A Man}} and {{e|The Offspring}}, "''because they had remarkable emotional impacts. And they genuinely explored the human condition, which this franchise does better than any other when it does it well.''"
 +
Piller has also been interviewed in an [[Memory Alpha:AOL chats/Michael Piller/pillrcht.txt|online chat]]. Piller stated that his favorite TNG episodes were {{e|The Inner Light}}, {{e|The Measure Of A Man}} and {{e|The Offspring}}, "''because they had remarkable emotional impacts. And they genuinely explored the Human condition, which this franchise does better than any other when it does it well.''"
  +
  +
* [[TNG Season 3 DVD]] special feature "Mission Overview Year Three" ("Introduction", "Ending Season Three"), interviewed on {{d|22|January|2002}}
  +
* TNG Season 3 DVD special feature "Selected Crew Analysis - Year Three" ("Crew Profile: Worf"), interviewed on {{d|21|August|1991}}
  +
* TNG Season 3 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Three" ("Production", "A New Writing Staff", "Technical Consultation"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* TNG Season 3 DVD special feature "Memorable Missions" ("The Most Toys", "Deja Q"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* [[TNG Season 4 DVD]] special feature "Mission Overview Year Four", interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* TNG Season 4 DVD special feature "Chronicles from the Final Frontier", interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* TNG Season 4 DVD special feature "Inside the Star Trek Archives" ("First Contact"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* [[TNG Season 5 DVD]] special feature "Mission Overview Year Five" ("A Visit from [[Spock]]", {{e|Darmok}}, {{e|The Inner Light}}, {{e|I Borg}}), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Five" ({{e|The First Duty}}), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "Intergalactic Guest Stars" ("Crew Profile: [[Ensign]] [[Ro Laren]]"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* [[TNG Season 6 DVD]] special feature "Mission Overview Year Six" ("Resolving the Cliffhanger", "January 1993 ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' Debuts", "Chain of Command"), interviewed on {{d|1|October|1992}} and 22 January 2002
  +
* [[TNG Season 7 DVD]] special feature "Mission Overview Year Seven" ("An Ending And A Beginning"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Starfleet Moments & Memories Year Seven" ("A Unique Legacy"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "The Making of "All Good Things..." Year Seven" ("Writing The Final Episode"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
* TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Special Profiles Year Seven" ("[[Q]]"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  +
  +
== ''Star Trek'' awards ==
  +
For his work on ''Star Trek'' Michael Piller received the following award and nominations in the various writing and producer categories.
  +
  +
=== Emmy Award ===
  +
Piller received the following [[Emmy Award]] nomination in the category Outstanding Drama Series
  +
* {{y|1994}} for ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', shared with [[Rick Berman]], [[Ron D. Moore]], [[Jeri Taylor]], [[David Livingston]], [[Peter Lauritson]], [[Merri D. Howard]], [[Wendy Neuss]], and [[Brannon Braga]]
  +
  +
=== Hugo Award ===
  +
Piller received the following [[Hugo Award]] nomination in the category Best Dramatic Presentation
  +
* {{y|1999}} for {{film|9}}, shared with [[Jonathan Frakes]] and Rick Berman
  +
  +
=== Gene Roddenberry Award ===
  +
Piller received the following honorary [[FantastiCon Award|Gene Roddenberry Award]] as Executive Producer/Writer from the FantastiCon Science-Fiction Convention, which was presented to him by original {{wt|Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica}} actress Anne Lockhart {{brokenlink|http://www.startrek.com/news/news.asp?ID{{=}}112038}}:
  +
* {{y|2000}} for ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Voyager]]'', and {{film|9}}
  +
  +
== Bibliography ==
  +
Piller wrote a book about the writing of ''Star Trek: Insurrection'' entitled ''[[Fade In: From Idea to Final Draft]]''. The manuscript was completed, but he died before it could be published. Officially, both Paramount and the Piller family have exercised legal options to keep the book private, though Piller's widow, Sandra who described the work as "brutally honest", later, in 2013, gave somewhat more nuanced reasons for its non-publication, "''Well, when he first got the go-ahead from the studio to write the book, and he got it signed-off with all the actors and everyone... when he finally turned it in, he was shocked! They said, "We can't let the public know what we do here, what goes on behind the scenes!"''" {{trekcore|blog/2013/06/exclusive-interview-with-sandra-piller-the-best-of-both-worlds-screening/}}. Nevertheless, due to a miscommunication, the full text was [http://www.aintitcool.com/node/46662 briefly published] by {{trekcore}} in 2010. It has never been fully suppressed since. Sandra Piller furthermore revealed that she was looking into the possibility to have the work yet published.
   
 
== See also ==
  
== See also ==
Line 97: Line 150:
 
* {{wikipedia}}
  
* {{wikipedia}}
 
* {{IMDb-link|page=nm0683522}}
  
* {{IMDb-link|page=nm0683522}}
  +
* Sandra Piller's [http://www.startrek.com/article/sandra-piller-pays-tribute-to-her-late-husband-michael-piller tribute to her late husband]
 
* [[Ronald D. Moore]]'s [http://blog.scifi.com/battlestar/archives/2005/11/index.html#000091 goodbye to Michael Piller]
  
* [[Ronald D. Moore]]'s [http://blog.scifi.com/battlestar/archives/2005/11/index.html#000091 goodbye to Michael Piller]
 
* [[Wil Wheaton]]'s [http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/wwdnbackup/2005/11/no_goodbyes_jus.html memories of Michael Piller]
  
* [[Wil Wheaton]]'s [http://wilwheaton.typepad.com/wwdnbackup/2005/11/no_goodbyes_jus.html memories of Michael Piller]
 
* [[Eric A. Stillwell]]'s [http://www.treknation.com/articles/tribute_to_piller.shtml tribute to Michael Piller]
  
* [[Eric A. Stillwell]]'s [http://www.treknation.com/articles/tribute_to_piller.shtml tribute to Michael Piller]
  +
* {{trekcore|blog/2013/06/exclusive-interview-with-sandra-piller-the-best-of-both-worlds-screening/|2013 Sandra Piller interview|external}}
   
  ⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Piller, Michael}}
−  
⚫
[[Category:Writers|Piller, Michael]]
  
⚫
[[Category:Producers|Piller, Michael]]
  
⚫
[[Category:Emmy Award nominees|Piller, Michael]]
  
−  
 
[[de:Michael Piller]]
  
[[de:Michael Piller]]
 
[[es:Michael Piller]]
  
[[es:Michael Piller]]
 
[[ja:マイケル・ピラー]]
  
[[ja:マイケル・ピラー]]
 
[[nl:Michael Piller]]
  
[[nl:Michael Piller]]
  +
[[Category:Writers]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Producers]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Emmy Award nominees]]
  +
[[Category:FantastiCon Award winners]]
  +
[[Category:Hugo Award nominees]]

Revision as of 14:54, 18 October 2015

Template:Realworld

Piller and Berman, DS9 set Michael Piller tribute
Piller and Rick Berman on the set of Deep Space Nine
.Daily Variety 11/10/05

Michael B. Piller (30 May 1948 – 1 November 2005; age 57) was a writer and Executive Producer of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and co-creator of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. He is probably best known for co-writing "The Best of Both Worlds" and the pilots of both Deep Space Nine and Voyager ("Emissary" and "Caretaker", respectively). A 24th century chemical element, pillerium, was named for him.

Biography

Piller, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, began his career as a news producer for CBS News in New York. He later produced news programs in North Carolina and Chicago, eventually winning two Emmy awards for news journalism. In the late 1970s, he moved to Los Angeles and became a censor in the CBS television docudrama unit. His creative writing career began in the early 1980s, when he wrote numerous teleplays for hit shows, including Simon and Simon and the innovative Miami Vice. He also produced (or co-produced) many of the episodes he wrote.

Following a long illness, Piller died of head and neck cancer in his home in Los Angeles in 2005. He is survived by his wife Sandra, and his children Brent and Shawn.

Star Trek

In 1989, Piller's long-time friend Maurice Hurley called upon him to script a few episodes for Star Trek: The Next Generation. His stories were widely acclaimed, and Piller eventually became an Executive Producer of the series. His tenure is noted for its character development, rather than for exploiting sci-fi gadgetry of the future. Piller originally had a one year contract and was ready to leave The Next Generation with the ending of Season 3. Gene Roddenberry himself asked him to come back for another year, noting that the fourth season was the one where the audience would fall in love with the series. (TNG Season 3 DVD-special feature, "Mission Overview Year Three - Ending Season Three")

In 1992, Piller (along with Rick Berman) began the creation of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and he contributed to the series' writing, casting, and budgetary direction, all the while continuing his duties as executive producer of TNG. Piller was an avid baseball card collector, reportedly with a collection numbering in the hundred-thousands (hence Benjamin Sisko's affinity for the game). After two seasons with DS9, Piller left the show to help create Star Trek: Voyager, which launched in 1995 as the "flagship vessel" of the newly-created UPN (United Paramount Network). He left the staff of Voyager in 1996 after seven continuous years with the Star Trek franchise, but remained a "creative consultant" for Voyager. He subsequently returned to write and co-produce Star Trek: Insurrection in 1998.

Later works

During his Star Trek years, Piller only made one major venture outside the franchise. The result was the unusual sci-fi western series Legend, which he created with Bill Dial and which starred John de Lancie. This series had a very brief run on UPN in 1995.

In 2002, Piller co-developed (with his son, Shawn) the television series based upon the Stephen King novel The Dead Zone. That series featured DS9's Nicole de Boer and TNG guest star David Ogden Stiers.

Piller wrote a screenplay called Oversight, which he described as a Washington-based thriller that is not a big action movie but rather a "small personal character story." The screenplay has yet to be produced.

In early 2005, he created and produced a new television series, the family drama Wildfire, which starred DS9's Nana Visitor.

Writing credits

Producing credits

Star Trek interviews

Piller was interviewed on 1 October 1992 about the creation of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. This interview was later used as part of the DS9 Season 1 DVD special feature "Deep Space Nine: A Bold Beginning".

Piller has also been interviewed in an online chat. Piller stated that his favorite TNG episodes were "The Inner Light", "The Measure Of A Man" and "The Offspring", "because they had remarkable emotional impacts. And they genuinely explored the Human condition, which this franchise does better than any other when it does it well."

  • TNG Season 3 DVD special feature "Mission Overview Year Three" ("Introduction", "Ending Season Three"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 3 DVD special feature "Selected Crew Analysis - Year Three" ("Crew Profile: Worf"), interviewed on 21 August 1991
  • TNG Season 3 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Three" ("Production", "A New Writing Staff", "Technical Consultation"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 3 DVD special feature "Memorable Missions" ("The Most Toys", "Deja Q"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 4 DVD special feature "Mission Overview Year Four", interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 4 DVD special feature "Chronicles from the Final Frontier", interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 4 DVD special feature "Inside the Star Trek Archives" ("First Contact"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "Mission Overview Year Five" ("A Visit from Spock", "Darmok", "The Inner Light", "I Borg"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "Departmental Briefing Year Five" ("The First Duty"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "Intergalactic Guest Stars" ("Crew Profile: Ensign Ro Laren"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 6 DVD special feature "Mission Overview Year Six" ("Resolving the Cliffhanger", "January 1993 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Debuts", "Chain of Command"), interviewed on 1 October 1992 and 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Mission Overview Year Seven" ("An Ending And A Beginning"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Starfleet Moments & Memories Year Seven" ("A Unique Legacy"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "The Making of "All Good Things..." Year Seven" ("Writing The Final Episode"), interviewed on 22 January 2002
  • TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Special Profiles Year Seven" ("Q"), interviewed on 22 January 2002

Star Trek awards

For his work on Star Trek Michael Piller received the following award and nominations in the various writing and producer categories.

Emmy Award

Piller received the following Emmy Award nomination in the category Outstanding Drama Series

Hugo Award

Piller received the following Hugo Award nomination in the category Best Dramatic Presentation

Gene Roddenberry Award

Piller received the following honorary Gene Roddenberry Award as Executive Producer/Writer from the FantastiCon Science-Fiction Convention, which was presented to him by original Battlestar Galactica actress Anne Lockhart Template:Brokenlink:

Bibliography

Piller wrote a book about the writing of Star Trek: Insurrection entitled Fade In: From Idea to Final Draft. The manuscript was completed, but he died before it could be published. Officially, both Paramount and the Piller family have exercised legal options to keep the book private, though Piller's widow, Sandra who described the work as "brutally honest", later, in 2013, gave somewhat more nuanced reasons for its non-publication, "Well, when he first got the go-ahead from the studio to write the book, and he got it signed-off with all the actors and everyone... when he finally turned it in, he was shocked! They said, "We can't let the public know what we do here, what goes on behind the scenes!"" [1]. Nevertheless, due to a miscommunication, the full text was briefly published by TrekCore in 2010. It has never been fully suppressed since. Sandra Piller furthermore revealed that she was looking into the possibility to have the work yet published.

See also

External links

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