The Savage Empire (Starship Exeter episode)

"The Savage Empire" is an original self-produced pilot intended as a concept for a new television serial based on the look and feel of Star Trek: The Original Series. With an eye for detail, the sets, props, costumes, and visual effects were all painstakingly reproduced by amateurs on a shoestring budget in exacting 1960's style.

Overview

The USS Exeter, freshly recrewed and commanded by Captain John Garrovick, is on a mission to save a ship infected with the deadly Canopus plague. The Exeter must travel to the homeworld of Andorian Lieutenant B'fuselek to find the cure. But Andorian rebels have other plans . . . and so do the Klingons!

Cast

Exeter

• Captain John Q. Garrovick (played by James Culhane), commanding officer of the Exeter
• Lieutenant B'fuselek (Joshua Caleb), communications officer
• Commander Paul Cutty (Michael Buford), chief security officer and chief tactical officer
• Commander Jo Harris (Holly Guess), chief science officer and executive officer
• Lieutenant Joseph D'Agosta (Patrick Scullin), junior security officer

• Ensign Halley (Ben Hazen)
• Junior communications officer (Mark Svara)
• Commodore Jennings (Richard Lamanchikafka, credited as Mr. Lamanchikafka)
• Junior Science Officer (Clark Jones)
• Engineer (Rolf Anderson)
• Crewmen (Charles Hackett, Chris Cahoon, and Andy Heimstead)

Andorians

• Governor Kinthmus (played by Keith St. Louis)
• Andorian Spy (played by Brian Peter)
• Senator Therin (played by Ian McLean)

Klingons

• Chang (played by Nathan Wolf)
• Klingon lieutenant (played by Kegan Bader)
• Klingon spy (played by Jeff Lynx)
• Klingon guard (played by Jesse Johnson)

Vessels

• USS Exeter
• USS Lexington

Locations

• Epsilon Indi IV

Quotes

"Yes, I know you were just covering all your bets."

— Garrovick to B'fuselek

Background information

• James Culhane and Joshua Caleb are performer names for the producers Jimm and Josh Johnson.
• Ian McLean's scene as Senator Therin was videotaped in Sydney, Australia, on a camcorder. The tape was mailed to Jimm Johnson to be edited in as a special effect.

External links

Official websites

• Trailer (on YouTube)
• Starship Exeter official website (has links to QuickTime movie files)
• Exeter Studio official website

Commentary

• Video with Jimm and Josh Johnson’s commentary: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

Reference

• Starship Exeter: The Savage Empire on the Internet Movie Database

Media

• New York Times article which includes Starship Exeter