AfterElton.com - Exploring the Queer Frontier

Exploring the Queer Frontier
by Michael Ricci, August 10, 2006

Since AfterElton.com examined the fan-produced, gay-themed, internet series Star Trek: Hidden Frontier last June, the series has drawn the attention of several national media outlets. The low-budget production, which is shot in a back bedroom of a Los Angeles home, has been mentioned in the New York Times and Variety, and been featured on The Today Show, MSNBC, ABC, and G4 TV.

"We've had all kinds of new media opportunities since being featured on AfterElton," Rob Caves, producer of Hidden Frontier, tells us. "This has led to a lot of buzz among Trek fans and on internet sites. We've seen an influx of this fandom on our website and forums. The media attention has really taken off!"

Caves continues, "[The] mainstream media treated us very well. NBC chose to make it a part of their story, and they handled it with tact and compassion. ABC was the same, though ultimately they had to cut the gay references for time. Everyone has been wonderful about the subject matter."

"Not only did we get an increase in downloads to the site," says fellow producer J.T. Tepnapa of the site's roughly doubled traffic flow, "but also there were dozens of actors from all over the country asking for roles on Hidden Frontier. All of a sudden it was cool to be a Trekkie."

Caves and Tepnapa have also been placed on the guest list for Star Trek's 40th anniversary celebration in Seattle. On Sept. 8, 2006, Caves and Tepnapa will join several big Trek names, including Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi on The Next Generation), Jonathan Frakes (William Riker on The Next Generation), Tim Russ (Tuvok on Voyager), and George Takei (Sulu on the original series) to honor Gene Roddenberry's visionary sci-fi franchise.

"This is will be my first Star Trek convention. I am really nervous about it," Tepnapa admits. "I'm wondering if anyone will recognize me from the show. And, even more scared to hear the responses from people. The last convention I did was [Gaylaxian]. They greeted us with open arms. I'm sure the general Trek fans at large will be harder to win over."

The show's unabashed embrace of episodes with gay themes has been both hailed and criticized by fans. Dubbed the "gay Trek " by both sides of their audience, Caves doesn't take that label negatively. "I think that if there's one thing that we're remembered for, the tackling of the GLBT issue is one I am not ashamed of," he says. "It's understandable that the gay story arcs are given a bit more attention than other parts of [Hidden Frontier] since our approach in that regard is new to Trek. I would hope, though, that people check out our show and see that it is so much more than just a Trek show that has a gay character."

Caves goes on to say, "Hidden Frontier has been exposed to a large straight audience, so it will be interesting to see how some of our gay-themed episodes play with a larger, straight audience."