Q: Are you a Trekkie or a Trekker?
davidn

John Logan: I'm a Trekkie, because I've been a fan since the Captain Kirk days, where there was no such thing as a Trekker.

Q: Mr. Logan, congratulations on your success with "Gladiator." What gave you the idea to use Romulans, as well as a conflict between Romulus and its sisterworld, Remus?
swtiger86

JL: I've always liked the Romulans. I think they're very political, very sexy, very sophisticated, and we've never seen them in a movie before. And the idea about using the Remans just came from my curiosity about what that world might be like.

Q: Being a Star Trek fan yourself, how did you react when you learned that you would be writing a Star Trek movie? What did you do?
designationlocutus

JL: The first thing I did was call my mother, who for years had argued about letting me stay up to watch the original Star Trek. Then I called all my friends, who, I'm glad to say, are as big Star Trek fans as I am.

Q: Did being a Star Trek fan make it more or less difficult to write "Nemesis?"
cassiopia

JL: Both. It made it easier in that I felt I knew the characters, it made it more difficult in that I felt a great sense of responsibility to the franchise, the characters and the fans. But, I've never had so much fun as working on this movie.

Q: Mr. Logan, which part of the script was written by Brent Spiner? Greetings from Switzerland!
slm

JL: Brent Spiner, Rick Berman and I all developed the story equally. We spent about a year discussing the plot and the characters before I went away and wrote the first draft. Brent was absolutely involved in everything, and was particularly great at coming up with cool action sequences.

Q: John, how does the original script that you wrote compare to the final film? Are you satisfied with the movie?
ronnie1of1

JL: I'm thrilled with the movie, and couldn't be prouder of it. The original script was very long and we had to cut some things that I liked very much, but in the end, I think we have a great movie.

Q: If the movie is half as good as "Gladiator" was, I'll be thrilled. I heard the first cut of "Nemesis" clocked in at 2 hours, 50 minutes. In an interview recently you said that a lot of individual character scenes and those focusing on the crew as a "family" were cut. Any chance of that first cut being part of a Director's Edition DVD? Fans (including this one) would love it.
kylemc

JL: I think that would be great, and I hope every fan out there writes to Paramount and tells them they'd love to see a special edition DVD.

Q: Did you have anyone in mind when you wrote the part for Shinzon?
multitronic

JL: No. But if I had known Tom Hardy then, he would have been the actor I wrote for. Because as you'll see when you see the movie, he's incredibly dynamic.

Q: How do you feel about the "Nemesis" script being available on the Internet way before the film's release?
gareth

JL: I think it's an outrage, and I think it cheats both the fans and everyone who worked so hard on the movie.

Q: Is it true that Wesley Crusher's scene was cut?
captian_kermode

JL: Yes. Unfortunately, the sequence that featured Wesley had to be cut for running time. But it was very exciting meeting Wil, and I think he had a great time seeing all his friends again.

Q: Many blessings over for marrying Will and Deanna. I've been waiting on that for years. I know you're a big fan and I wonder what it was like for you when you met and talked with the cast of this movie that you had watched on TV and the big screen for all of these years for the first time?
sarah

JL: It was absolutely a dream come true! Like every fan, I spent all those years with those characters, and then getting to meet the actors was a treat. They really are an incredibly close family. And it was an honor getting to be a part of that family for a while.

Q: Were you on the set for every day of the filming of the movie?
tongoradoh

JL: No, not every day, but I was there for big chunks of time — partly to do my job as the screenwriter, and partly because as a fan, they couldn't tear me away.

Q: What is your favorite original series episode?
multitronic

JL: "Arena."

Q: Was it hard to work Kate Mulgrew's character into the script?
mrpsychic

JL: No, not at all. I've always loved Captain Janeway and there was a very obvious place in the script to include her and discover what she'd been up to for the last few years.

Q: Which character(s) did you most enjoy writing for?
cassiopia

JL: Although I enjoyed writing for all the characters, I had a particular affinity writing for Data and for Riker. The most difficult character to write was Captain Picard, because he's so intelligent and sophisticated.

Q: Other than "Nemesis," what's your favorite Trek film? And be honest!
qlotti

JL: "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," which I think is not only a great Star Trek movie, it's one of the greatest movies ever made.

Q: Did you draw anything from Kirk's nemesis, Khan, when creating Shinzon?
designationlocutus

JL: Absolutely. Kirk and Khan worked so well because of their personal history. So we wanted a villain that Picard could respond to in an emotional, personal way. And in a way, that relationship pays homage to the great "Wrath of Khan."

Q: "Nemesis" is advertised as "a generation's final journey." Is there room for a sequel?
mezick8501

JL: I absolutely hope so. It will depend on how this movie fares at the box office, and how the fans like it.

Q: Did you try out the "Big Chair" when you first went onto the Enterprise-E's bridge set? How did it feel to you, being a fan?
designationlocutus

JL: Absolutely!! The first thing I did was walk up to Patrick, tell him to get the hell out of the chair, and I sat down. Let me tell you, it feels great. I then called everyone I know on a cell phone from the captain's chair.

Q: In any of the scripts was Lwaxanna Troi in them? She would've been happy that Deanna was getting married.
qlotti

JL: No. Because of the mechanics of the plot, we unfortunately couldn't feature her, much as I love the character.

Q: Was there any one particular scene that you felt turned out better than what you had actually written?
tongoradoh

JL: My favorite scene is a scene between Data and the B-4 in Data's cabin. It's a very quiet, tender scene that takes place in the last third of the movie. I don't think Brent has ever been better.

Q: Who thought up the character "B-4?"
johnnytrek

JL: It was Rick, Brent and me all working together. We thought it would be interesting if Data had a parallel character like Picard does in the movie. So, thematically, they would be dealing with the same issues.

Q: The Star Trek films have generally had a great balance of humor along with action. Will we see that again in "Nemesis?" If so, who gets the comedy this time?
ange

JL: There is a good amount of comedy in the first part of the movie, and then, frankly, it gets pretty serious. We were all interested in telling an intense, dramatic story this time. But I don't think any fan will be disappointed.

Q: Where did you come up with the name Shinzon?
jbullard25

JL: It's an ancient Chinese name. In homage to Gene Roddenberry, all the Romulan and Reman names are based on Chinese names because the Romulans were his equivalent of the Chinese communists.

Q: What do you think of Enterprise, the new series?
kirk2234

JL: I think it's thrilling. I think the concept is bold and exciting, and I eagerly tune in every Wednesday night.

Q: What are your next projects, John? And do you think you might end up writing for the current television series Enterprise?
captainavenger1

JL: I'm currently working on a biography of Abraham Lincoln for Steven Spielberg, and a biography of Howard Hughes for Martin Scorsese, as well as the sequel for "Gladiator." I'll gladly write for Enterprise, and have talked to Rick and Brannon about something I'd like to do.

Q: Did you get to keep anything from the set?
multitronic

JL: Yes. And it's all top secret. (laughs) I have a bridge plate from the Enterprise, so the one that you see on the bridge …

Q: John, what did you think was your most memorable moment during the filming?
mrpsychic

JL: For me, it was walking onto the bridge for the first time with the full cast there. Seeing all those characters in their full uniforms was an amazing experience.

Q: Do you think people outside of the "normal" Star Trek fan base will want to watch this movie? Or is it the kind of movie you would have to have seen the other movies to understand?
derekf85

JL: I think it will appeal to a general audience. And although it's focused around the family of our crew, it introduces a story that is new and original to us as well.

Q: Star Trek has always been known for its moral themes. What themes do you try to show in "Nemesis?"
chris_kle

JL: The whole movie is really about the question of destiny and what it is to be human. That's something that Picard and Data and Shinzon grapple with through the entire story. There are some pretty intense scenes dealing with those issues. For me, Star Trek works best when it's grappling with moral issues head-on.

Q: How long did it take to write "Nemesis" and "Gladiator," and which movie was more difficult to write?
Doreen

JL: "Gladiator" I worked on for about a year, and "Nemesis" took about two years. They were equally difficult in different ways.

Q: First, I'd like to tell you that you've got fans also here in Estonia. About your writing, what does the process look like? Do you start out with an idea and start to write around it or let the idea grow out from some of the key plot elements? What motivates you?
Pelle

JL: I always start with a full outline and try to follow it. Invariably, my imagination will take me to areas I didn't expect. So it's always a combination of following an outline and letting curiosity take me to new places.

Q: What made you want to be a screenwriter?
porthose

JL: Because it's the only thing I can do. I discovered long ago I had a gift for nothing else but telling stories.

Q: Have you been to any Trek conventions? And what did you make of them?
dharm08

JL: I certainly have, and I love going to conventions so I can hang out with people who are as into Star Trek as I am. The only problem is that I tend to spend too much money and buy everything.

Q: Will you be attending any Star Trek conventions in the future?
leer

JL: I hope to be, but I don't know specifically.

Q: Did you, yourself, try on a uniform when nobody was looking?
jbullard25

JL: (laughs) I was mightily tempted to, but they keep the uniforms under lock and key.

Q: I was wondering Mr. Logan, if you had any word of advice for aspiring screenwriters?
zarove

JL: Read a lot of drama. Start with Shakespeare, and just keep reading. All the technical demands of writing a screenplay you can learn in a few months. Learning to be a storyteller is a lifetime occupation.

Q: Was Stuart Baird receptive to your creative input (taking into account his lack of Star Trek expertise)?
omnibuscortex

JL: Absolutely. Stuart was very generous and incredibly respectful of my work.

Q: John, is it true that you were originally going to name the Nemesis movie "Destiny's Child?"
ronnie1of1

JL: No! (laughs) That was another story that Brent and I were tinkering with.

Star Trek Host: Please thank John for joining us today!

JL: It was a pleasure. I hope you all enjoy "Nemesis" — after all, it was supposed to be a movie for the fans.

Goodnight John, and may the Great Bird of the Galaxy bless you.
mrpsychic

Bye John, thanks for your time.
gareth

Thank you, Mr. Logan, for spending time here with the fanz!
borg_8_of_9

Thank you so much, John!
i_am_a_pixie