anonymous (the Unknown User) (03/21/91)
KNIK GLACIER, Alaska (UPI) -- An other-worldly Alaska glacier became one of the stars of the newest Star Trek movie, which began filming Wednesday north of Anchorage. ``We wanted a cold look,'' producer Steven Jaffe said of the selection of Knik Glacier for filming a segment in the latest Star Trek adventure. None of the Star Trek stars journeyed to Alaska for this week's filming, though Paramount Pictures said the film will reunite the original stars. ``There are just stunt people,'' Jaffe said mysteriously, refusing to reveal what they'll be doing, except to say, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, ``We'll be doing the usual sorts of things you do on glaciers.'' About a dozen people were involved in filming the segment for a movie that is otherwise being shot in Hollywood, Jaffe told reporters in an Anchorage hotel. Although Jaffe said he could not reveal anything about the plot, a few clues escaped. On one side of the room were large boots with four claw-like toes. A hastily-removed picture, titled ``Dead Klingon,'' showed a body on the snow. ``They are very secretive,'' said Mary Pignalberi, head of the state of Alaska film office in Anchorage. She said the crew wanted to film on a frozen lake, in an ice cave, in front of a wall of ice and other glacial settings. ``This is primarily for an escape scene in the movie,'' Pignalberi said. ``There is a high element of surprise.'' Jaffe said the crew was not looking for Alaska postcard weather. Awful weather would do just fine. ``We actually came here to get bad weather.'' Wednesday began with thick ice fog and temperatures barely above zero, but forecasters predicted a mix of sun, clouds, snow and milder, but still below freezing, temperatures for the few days of filming Jaffe anticipated. Star Trek VI was intially slated for a three-week shoot in Alaska, but Paramount budget cuts reduced the glacier filming and Hollywood will find a way to do some of those scenes, Pignalberi said. Knik Glacier is about 50 miles northeast of Anchorage but is not accessible by road and is very difficult to get to overland, leaving helicopter or ski plane as the only other way of getting to the glacier. Summer travelers can approach the face of the glacier by small boat up the Knik River. Helicopters were delivering the Star Trek crew and gear to the glacier daily. Jaffe serves as producer and director of the Alaska scenes. Film director is Nicholas Meyer. Leonard Nimoy is executive producer, and he also stars as Mr. Spock. Filming began 25 years after the science fiction adventure premiered on television. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Edited by Jim "The Big Dweeb" Griffith - the official scapegoat for r.a.s.i. Email submissions to trek-info@dweeb.fx.com, and questions to trek-info-request@dweeb.fx.com