Post from the Past. The Starship Voyager Acting Challenge. Create A Memorable Character and Live Forever. The Imaginarium.

March 11, 2008
From the CMSEC's First Blog: SpaceEdVentures

Hello Troops,
Tonight I'm posting an article written in March 2008 announcing a challenge to the volunteers in the Space Center's Acting Guild back in the day.  After rereading the article, I decided to bring the concept back to my staff and volunteers on the new USS Voyager.  

OK Voyagers, read the article below and create that character never to be forgotten.  Let's see what you come up with.

Mr. Williamson

Wyatt Lenhart reimagined as The Red Blemish, spotted by one of the Space Center's Security Cameras

Great Acting. Great Actor. Great Character

Hello Troops,
A side note to the acting class. I watched very carefully and noticed that many of you are very good at impromptu acting. You think very fast on your feet and are excellent at staying in character. Let's talk for a minute.

I'm thinking of letting a few of you that have shown some talent in this regard try a little experiment.

1. Create a character. Someone that lives and works on board the USS Voyager in the 24th century. Give your character a name and write a complete biography of this person. Identify what ship department your character works for. Describe your character's personality, likes and dislikes. Flesh this person out completely. Provide a believable accent if you wish. 


2. Post this biography and character description on the egroup for all to see. If you are too embarrassed to post it then how in the world will you be able to become this character in front of a live audience. 


3. Be willing to make changes in this character based on the feedback you get from me and the rest of the egroup.


4. Pass this section and then we move on to the next:

Character Acting Level 2:

1. Write 2 or 3 scenes where this character can make an appearance in one of the Voyager's missions. What story would your character appear? Intolerance, PooPah, Greenpeace or perhaps your scenes would be good for all the stories. 


2. Remember, the reason for your character's appearance in the simulator must make sense. In addition, it would have to follow the following guidelines:
     A. If your character needs to make an appearance on the bridge then for how long and              for what purpose. 
     B. Your character cannot distract from the mission. Your performance's purpose is to                  make the mission and the ship more real to the audience (the crew). 
     C. Your performance can involve interaction with crew members. But, these interactions            must be with crew members whose jobs need to be enlarged and made more                        important. You know, your performance really makes the mission for the poor                        records officer that never feels that important on the mission.

or....... for example:

Let's say you are a character from the Astrophysics dept of the ship. Now, we all know the Science Officer in the Intolerance mission just interacts with the computer. The science officer only sends messages to Astrophysics but never actually meets anyone from that dept. Your character could be the Chief of Astrophysics - A sharp but nerdy person that 
comes to the bridge from time to time in the story to compare notes with the Science Officer and discusses the importance of what the Science Officer is discovering. 

This is an example. 

D. Your character must not be a vital part of the running of any mission because you are not here for every mission. But...... Your character could be someone we grow fond of in our
stories. A character like Tex that just makes the place special and memorable so that when you volunteer I look at you and say "Hey, We need your Dr. Zamo on this mission!"


E. Your character is not a comedy act! Tex can be funny but can also be as serious as a heart attack. We don't need stupid Paklids on every mission but we could use people that act like real people. Funny at times and serious at others.


F. Think of the Star Trek shows. Some great characters - Spock, The Dr. on Voyager, 7 of 9, Data.... just to name a few. Let these be your guide.

Once you have your scenes created you will sit down with me and we will discuss the possible use of your character and scenes within my missions. Remember, your scene could be as simple as sitting down in the crew quarters and talking with another Voyager or Pioneer (also in character). Security could be walking by and listen to your conversation about warp field technology and stop to listen for a minute. That is a good scene that accomplishes our purpose. Those security guards will walk back up on the bridge thinking that maybe there really are 300 people on this ship!

Once all is said and done and permissions are granted your character will make his/her grand opening night performance. If successful your character may become a regular on the USS Voyager like Tex. 

IF this works on the Voyager, the other flight directors may want to enrich their missions with good performances from other fine Voyager and Pioneers. 

I really think this might work. Who is first? Come on troops. IF you think you have it then post those characters and let's see the Voyager become alive with a solid crew of characters besides Tex. 

I'm sitting here waiting to read about the crew of the Voyager. I'm ready to be introduced to the crew that has been working on the lower decks of my ship for the past 10 years. People I knew were there in my imagination. Please bring these people up in the turbolift elevator 
and into my control room so I can shake their hand and send them out to the bridge of their ship to meet their captain and bridge officers. 

Deep in the brilliance of your imagination lives my crew and the heart and mind of the Voyager. BRING THEM OUT INTO THE LIGHT. 

Mr. Williamson

The Imaginarium

Another Walk Down Memory Lane: Pictures From the Space Center's Voyager Era (1990-2012). Three Space Centers Gather for Effects Training on the Starship Voyager. Meet This Week's Outstanding Young Astronauts and Voyagers. Theater Imaginarium.

Nicole, Brooklyn, ? , Megan, and Tyson in the Magellan Control Room

Hello Troops,
Let's take another quick stroll down memory lane with more newly discovered photographs from the Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center's Voyager Era.  
The photo above shows Nicole VandenBos giving explicit orders to Tyson and Megan on what, where, how, and when to stage a successful Magellan bridge take over.  Does anyone recognize the volunteer in the Discovery Room doorway?  
I wonder if those army green fatigues are still used at the CMSEC?  If they are, I suggest a series of fumigations.  I don't remember when old military fatigues became a thing at the Space Center.  Whatever the reason, the tradition has continued leaving children to assume that all universal bad guys are also the worst dressers in the galaxy.   

Brittney VandenBos and Casey Voeks Enjoy a Moment in the Magellan Control Room

Here's proof that Casey did indeed fly the Magellan.  I know one thing, the Magellan staff sure had fun at those overnight camps.

Christine Grosland

Christine in her black volunteer shirt before she was promoted to her Blues and eventual Set Director status of the Odyssey I.  Christine was always one to deliver a quality photo regardless of what her orders were - like quickly setting up an away team for the Odyssey no less.  

Hunter Halversen

Hunter was an excellent young volunteer. His sister Jennifer was top notch as well.  

Where is this?

 OK, today's mystery. Where was the photo above taken?  I remember those steps very well. Was this the entrance to the Magellan from the Discovery Room back in the day?  

Nicole and Alex Anderson

Finally, Nicole and Alex enjoying a moment in the Discovery Room.  Alex is wearing his Baby Blues, signifying his status in the Space Center's Programming Guild.  I wonder if this moment away from their duties was approved by Casey. It was either that or they just couldn't stand another moment listening to his engineering character!

The Space EdVenture Center Directors and Staff Celebrate the November 8th Space Centering Holiday on the Bridge of the USS Voyager Learning Blender and After Effects From One of Their Own

Nathan explaining Something to do with Blender to the Gathered partiers.  

Everyone in the Space Centering family celebrated (a slight exaggeration) the CMSEC's  27th Anniversary their own way on November 8th.  Members of the Space EdVentures Cooperative really brought the roof down on the new USS Voyager by gathering to learn the art and practices of special effects from one of their own - Nathan King of the Lions Gate Center at Lakeview Academy.  

Maeson Busk, Director of the Telos Discovery Space Center at Canyon Grove Academy, sat on the Damage Control steps with half his brain focused on the proceedings while the other half concentrated on new tactical screens for the Farpoint Space Education Center's Long Duration Mission program.  Maeson is a proud employee of three space centers, TDSC, the CMSEC, and the FSEC. Which in turn makes him a GMTI (a Grand Master of Troubadours International).    

Ryan Anderson, Executive Director of Telos Discovery Space Center, was present with family in tow.

The two Anderson boys seemed to quickly pick up Blender and After Effects.  The ultimate goal is better tactical effects to make better missions which in turn makes for a better experience in the simulators.  Another session is scheduled for this Wednesday.   

Meet More of Farpoint's Brave Young Men and Women in the Space Service. This Week's Crews.

Space Guard: Ready to Serve. Ready to Fight

It was a busy week at Renaissance Academy's Farpoint Space Education Center. Young Astronaut and Voyager Squadrons flew the Starship Voyager every afternoon.  For many of the 26 squadrons, November is launch month. The after-school meetings start with a review of the cadet's points. Cadets earn points for their math and science grades, community service, and performance in their ship duties.  

This year's Long Duration Mission briefing follows the point tally.  Launching the Voyager from Farpoint Station and setting the course for New Earth is all that is expected to conclude this month's meeting.  Easier said than done for some of our younger Young Astronauts. 

Meet the 6th Grade Cobra Squadron composed of students from two different schools.  Cobras always meet on Mondays. Ben was November's captain. He handled the launch from Farpoint Station well. 

May I introduce you to the Middle School Scorpion Squadron. Scorpion Tuesdays we say, because all five Scorpion squadrons meet on Tuesdays.  They succeed in launching the Voyager with a crew of five! It was nip and tuck a few times but they pulled it off.  Their missing crewmen would be proud. It was either launch on the Voyager's launch or miss their dress rehearsal for the school's production of "The Sound of Music".  

Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce you to the 4-6th Grade Wednesday Phoenix Squadron under Captain Roman's steady hand.  This team did an excellent job of realism.

You'd think you were watching a Hollywood production.  

The Middle School Lion's Squadron in two poses. The second pose is to intimidate the other squadrons.  The tough look and show of muscle should, if their thinking is correct, instill doubt in the minds of the other five middle school squadrons.  The five Young Astronaut and Voyager Club Lion Squadrons meet on Thursdays.   

 We wrap up the week with the Middle School Friday Squadron - the Tigers.  Savannah expertly led the crew as they skillfully departed Farpoint Station.  Not only was Savannah an outstanding captain, she had the starring role of Maria in Renaissance Academy's production of "The Sound of Music" (which explains the makeup). She stepped off the Voyager's bridge and right onto the school's stage for the Friday evening performance.  

Theater Imaginarium
The Week's Best Gifs Edited for a Gentler Audience