If it weren't for David Gerrold mentioning him in his book, I'd never have known his name. It's so nice to see these great creative people finally being mentioned and given their due.
Thank you for creating this mini-documentary about Wah Ming Chang. He is essential to the history of Star Trek and needs to be a more familiar name among the fans.
I'm a Star Trek fanatic and had never heard of Mr. Chang. Thank you for this video. It shows that no matter how much you think you know, there's always more to learn.
Wow, this was amazing. We need a full Wah Chang documentary or book - is there more non-Trek work? But dang was this video fantastic. He was brilliant!
I became of Wah Ming Chang's work through the Star Trek Sketchbook that the Solows produced. The work is impeccable! Too bad the Romulan Bird of Prey no longer exists but I can understand why it was used as a piñata in Chang's backyard!
I heard a story from someone that got to see the original cage laser pistol. They said the black paint was coming off and under the paint was the same clear material and circuitry as the communicator.
When I first learned of Mr. Chang's work, it immediately occurred to me that Chang had made the classic phasers to replace pilot lasers because I remember reading somewhere, a producer stating something to effect, "The original laser pistols built by the in-house prop house at Desilu were awful crude things with typewriter keys glued on. We sourced better phasers as soon as we could." It might have been in the making of Star Trek. Could also have been in a Starlog in the 80s. I know that's not much help, Jim. Thanks for the excellent discourse on TOS.
This was a great profile on Wah Ming Chang. A talented man who toiled in obscurity for decades due to racism in the movie and tv industry. The list of productions he worked on include classic movies and iconic tv shows. Maybe you can consider a profile on Patricio "Pato" Guzman. The production designer on the "The Cage". He created preproduction designs for the bridge, Capt. Pike's quarters and worked with Gene Roddenberry and Matt Jefferies on the exterior of the Enterprise.
What was done to this man was stealing, plain and simple. People saw the quality of his work and wanted his work, but just couldn't give him his due. I truly can't understand how he didn't become bitter. He's a big man.
I have both the books mention here. A treasure-trove of information no Trekker/Trekkie should be without. Along with Star Trek the inside story -they make up my Holy Trinity of second gen Trek books. My 1st gen Trinity being The Making of Star Trek, The World of Star Trek and The Trouble with Tribbles making of book. The last two written by David Gerrold. Was an in-depth look at Outer Limits ever done here. A live podcast would be cool. So much to talk about. Especially how so many production people ended up on Tos Trek following OL's cancelation.😊
I don't know how Chang workrd 3yrs of The Outer Limits when it only ran on ABC for a year and a half? It was cancelled med season. Even with Lead-Time 3yrs is a stretch but was he on staff getting a steady paycheck or was he a freelancer?
Hi Lester!!! I hope we’ll see you this weekend on the watch party. IMDB lists that there were two seasons. 32 episodes in 1, and 17 in the second. And it lists both Fred Philips and Bob Justman as working on Outer Limits from 1963 - 1965. Wah was uncredited, (of course), but I know he was with Bob & Fred on the same tenure. Jim Sent from my iPad
What happened to Chang is a classic example of 'Workers controlling the Means of production' And in my book that's Socialism at best. Communism at worst. Its 'gate keeping'. Unions decide who does and doesn't get in. But thats the distinction between being an Artist and being a Technician. And Chang was clearly an Artist. Unions are specialists and stay in their lanes. Artists don't want anything interfering with their Visions. There's a famous quote in Hollywood. 'It aint Show Art its Show Business.'😊😊😊
Sorry. I don't know it you do live-streams but audio only ones with background pics are way easier and not everybody can set up or want to set up a web can but audio can be done from any cell phone.
Actually, I have working solution now for that. You may have noticed the latest videos now feature a dial-in line. I will be adding that telephone line to livestreams in the near future; and for the caller it will be just like calling into a live radio show.
Just my $.02 worth, but I feel that the union's objection to the use of Mr Chang and subsequent denial of membership in the union goes beyond simple racism. It might not have had anything to do with Chang at all. It might have been an underlying dispute between the union and Desilu or one of the principals at the studio or Star Trek. Just my opinion, your mileage may vary.
That outrageous that he suffered such prejudice. In the 70s, as a kid from overseas, Asian students were just other kids, and in high school I noticed that the WASPy teenage boys went for the Asian girls. The Smithsonian ought to do a special for him.
