Secrets From The 'Star Trek XI' Set

It's not only hard to get any information out of the "Star Trek XI" sets, it's almost impossible. But Dawn Brown, a multi-talented Hollywood artisan who has credits ranging from "Ocean's 11" to "The X-Files," has been working hard on J.J. Abrams' latest outing of the USS Enterprise, and while she still remains as tight-lipped as everyone else, Brown has some stories to tell.

There has been a lot of debate going back and forth on the Internet for months about what that Enterprise will look like -- with fans getting their first look at a new "Star Trek XI" teaser trailer next week on another Abrams film, "Cloverfield." It seems that those who were betting that the 2008 look of the NCC-1701 will be far different from the 1960s version should start collecting their winnings now.

"I think a lot of hardcore fans are going to freak out," Brown told SyFy Portal's Will N. Stape. "As far as I know, only the exterior of the Enterprise had to stay the same. I don't know if that came from J.J. or Paramount."

Some of that was to be expected, however, as only so much 1960s nostalgia would work in today's cinema. But stubbornness should really be checked at the door Christmas Day when the new Star Trek movie premieres.

"I can't discuss any details, all I can offer is that you lose all your expectations of what Star Trek should be," Brown said. "If you see this movie with an open mind and take it at face value, you may have a great time."

While there are some physical structures, a lot of "Star Trek XI's" sets will have what has become the more traditional CGI enhancements ... something that Brown is never fully happy with.

"I'm not a fan of the digital and green screen or blue screen sets," she said. "I understand they have their place, but I think it usually looks better when things are physically built. It gives the actors something to react to. The design of the film belongs to the art department, not the visual effects department. I worked on a very large set on 'Star Trek' that would have been an absolutely fantastic physical build. But it became a visual effects shot instead. My involvement was reduced to marking out blue screens and platforms. We have so many talented carpenters and scenic artists and sculptors, and I have seen some truly amazing sets. It is a shame to trade their contributions for green screens."

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