STAR TREK THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) Storyboards by David J. Negron Sr.

Check out Star Trek: The Motion Picture storyboards by David J. Negron Sr.!

Every Friday, I feature artwork from a classic of science fiction cinema. This week's "Flashback Friday" post is on Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1976).

When Roddenberry and Paramount were developing a Star Trek movie, they realized the ground-breaking special effects of Star Wars demanded higher quality. Post-production supervisor Paul Rabwin suggested Robert Abel's production company, Robert Abel and Associates, develop special effects for the film. Robert Able hired accomplished storyboard artist David J. Negron to help him share his vision of the film with the studio. The studio eventually replaced him Douglas Trumbull. While the scenes were simplified because of budget constraints, they continued to use Negron's designs.

Negron is a professional concept and storyboard artist who's worked on classic Hollywood films like Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Last Action Hero (1993) and King Kong (1976). His son, David J. Negron Jr., followed in his footsteps and is also an accomplished artist.

Check out the rest of the images after the jump (click to enlarge).

These storyboards for Star Trek: The Motion Picture, are "color pencils on high-quality matt black board." He said that "it lent itself to showing elements well against the void of space."

They show an alternate version of Spock entering V'Ger with greatly enhanced special effects.

Here's what the scene looked like when it was filmed.

See more of David J. Negron Sr's artwork and American Impressionist paintings at http://www.davidjnegron.com/

Click on the links if you want to see more of David J. Negron Sr's designs and Star Trek: The Motion Pictureon my blog.

Images via Forgotten Trek

What do you think of the concept art? If you've seen Star Trek: The Motion Picture what did you think?

Official Star Trek: The Motion Picture Synopsis
"Kirk and his former crew reunite aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 to save Earth from a powerful living machine that is destroying everything in its path as it searches for its 'creator.' When we last saw this crew, at the end of the original Star Trek’s third season, the year was 2269. It is now 2271. Upon completion of his five-year mission, Kirk apparently accepted a well-deserved promotion to admiral, but he’s been having second thoughts about that decision. He feels he’s more suited to sitting in the captain’s chair aboard a starship than sitting behind a desk at Starfleet Headquarters. In the meantime, Spock has returned to his Vulcan homeworld to go through a ritual that will purge him of his emotions once and for all. Doctor McCoy has retired from active service. Chekov has changed his specialty, from navigation to ship’s security. Scotty, Uhura and Sulu continue to hold their familiar posts on the Enterprise. The ship itself, however, has gone through a major refit, with upgrades throughout."
Directed by Robert Wise
Cinematography by Richard H. Kline
Release date: December 7, 1979
© Copyright 1979 Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved

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