Locally produced Web series picks up where ‘Star Trek’ shows and attraction left off

The continuing mission of "Star Trek" — to boldly go where no one has gone before — may have ended for the time being on television, but Brian Gardner and a few of his friends are making sure the stories carry on. Unofficially, of course.

The Web series "Quark's Space Station" picks up where "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and the local attraction Star Trek: The Experience left off. The final episode of the television program aired in June 1999, and the attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton — which is now the Westgate, 3000 Paradise Road — closed in September 2008, but a group of three local Star Trek fans is creating fan films showing their version of what happened in that setting afterward.

Gardner moved to town last year and has been helping craft that world by creating props from phasers to wine glasses for the show. He recently showed them at a one-day exhibition on Aug. 23 at the Church Multicultural and Arts center in the Church of Scientology & Celebrity Centre Las Vegas, 2761 Emerson Ave.

"I was organizing all the information on the props I've made for the show into a binder and realized I had 90 of them, and I thought it would be fun to show them all off to the public," Gardner said. "I'm a member of the church, so I had the opportunity to use the space for free."

In the television series and at the Las Vegas attraction, Quark was the owner of a bar and casino in what was essentially a mall in a space station. In the fan-created series, the character has acquired his own station and has become embroiled in adventures spun off from ideas from the continuity developed in the nearly 50 years of the "Star Trek" universe.

"There are a lot of 'Star Trek' fan series out there, and some of them look very good because they spend a lot of money," said Cathy Wilson, one of the second-season directors for "Quark's Space Station." "We're on the other end of the scale, but each season, we get better and better because we get in touch with more people who love 'Star Trek' and have skills."

The locally produced Web series strays a bit from the general mood of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry's original vision and several of the more serious fanfiction and other Web series.

"Our series is going for humor," Wilson said. "It's not trying to be realistic; it's more of a fun thing."

Longtime musician and artist Gardner moved to the valley to be close to his grandchildren. He works out of his east valley home as the marketing director of his son's printing company, Franklin Document Services. Creating props is a new passion for him and one he hopes to expand.

"It's really a lot of fun, tracking down items to modify and giving the actors something physical to work with," he said. "It's been great taking 21st century items and turning them into believable 24th century props. I'm looking for more projects to work on because I've really been bitten by the prop-making bug."

Like the actors, directors and other members of the production team of the Web series, Gardner is a volunteer, creating the work on his own time. He said the production is really a team effort, and even some of his props are enhanced by others' talents.

"We have one guy who is really good with electronics, so he'll take something I've made and add lights and wiring so the switches function to turn on a light or light up a panel," Gardner said. "I think we're all pulling together to make the sets now."

So far, the show has been filmed and edited annually, with a friend of the producer coming out from Chicago to help film the show in the valley and in crew members' homes. The editing is done in Chicago, and the episodes are released on YouTube.

"It's amazing to see how much better the props look on camera," Gardner said. "That's not to say I make sloppy props or that they don't look good in person, but they're so much better-looking on the screen. If you see one of the props from the actual TV show, they don't look as good in person as they do in the show."

Gardner has sought out other prop makers to compare notes and help him improve his craft. While he may add on other projects, "Star Trek" will always hold a special place in his heart.

"Roddenberry always envisioned a future that was full of hope and possibilities," Gardner said. "Like anyone else, I have also faced upsets and losses and disappointments in my life. I believe that 'Star Trek's' viewpoint has often helped me to keep positive through the difficult times I faced. I'm also involved in a variety of community betterment activities, as I try to do my part to help the future of this world, to be the positive one Roddenberry envisioned it would be."

Visit tinyurl.com/pcnyatd or facebook.com/quarksspacestation.

— To reach East Valley View reporter F. Andrew Taylor, email ataylor@viewnews.com or call 702-380-4532.