Dorothy Fontana
Writer
About This Interview
Dorothy C. Fontana was interviewed for three-and-a-half hours in Studio City, CA. Fontana recalled her early career working for producers such as Samuel Peeples and Del Reisman, and described how she came to work for writer/producer Gene Roddenberry as his assistant on The Lieutenant . Next, she spoke about the development of the science-fiction series Star Trek . She talked at great length about the show, including discussing the cast, the technology, and working with Roddenberry. She also explained how she came to be a writer on the series, and described the episodes that she wrote. Later, she discussed her other many writing credits, including Star Trek: The Animated Series, The Streets of San Francisco, Logan's Run , and The Waltons . Finally, Fontana talked about her experiences working on the first season of the series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The interview was conducted by Karen Herman on December 29, 2003.
Related To This Video
Featured Content
Video: According to her Archive interview, Dorothy Fontana's favorite - Star Trek full episode "Journey to Babel" written by D.C. Fontana (airdate: November 17, 1967)
YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
Highlights
Dorothy "DC" Fontana on her favorite Star Trek episode "Journey to Babel" about Spock's parents
Clip begins at: 15:38, Duration: 01m 28s- Dorothy "DC" Fontana on Leonard Nimoy and his character "Mr. Spock" on Star Trek
Clip begins at: 02:06, Duration: 00m 46s - Dorothy "DC" Fontana on "Uhura" and "Number One"- one of the first major female black characters, on Star Trek
Clip begins at: 04:24, Duration: 01m 29s - Dorothy "DC" Fontana on the Star Trek episode "Friday's Child", over which she argued with Gene Rodenberry about the portrayal of women; she had a different ending
Clip begins at: 17:06, Duration: 01m 55s
Interview
- Part 1
- On her early years and influences, her education, and her interest in writing
Clip begins at: 0:34 - On her first job in television as a secretary at Screen Gems in New York, where she decided to write for television
Clip begins at: 06:16 - On moving to California and working at Revue Studios, where she was mentored by Samuel Peeples; on selling her first television story for The Tall Man; on writing scripts for Shotgun Slade and Frontier Circus
Clip begins at: 07:53 - On the challenges of being a woman writer and using D.C. Fontana on her scripts so that she would be given a chance
Clip begins at: 15:17 - On becoming secretary for Del Reisman and Gene Roddenberry on The Lieutenant; and her early involvement in the Writers Guild
Clip begins at: 18:18 - On the original concept and vision of Star Trek, the pilot process, and the sale of the series to NBC; on Desilu Studios where the series was filmed
Clip begins at: 19:12 - Part 2
- On Star Trek's production schedule; on other pilots being produced by Gene Roddenberry; on being hired on Star Trek
Clip begins at: 0:39 - On Star Trek's initial production crew and on developing the look of the series and of the starship
Clip begins at: 03:54 - On Star Trek's creation of aliens using "the Horta" from "The Devil in the Dark" episode as an example; on the technology used in Star Trek's world
Clip begins at: 07:30 - On the casting of Star Trek; on her duties on the series; on being promoted to story editor; on working with the writers
Clip begins at: 12:11 - On the direction given to Star Trek writers; on writing a television script; the minimal censorship issues
Clip begins at: 20:41 - On the working environment in the Star Trek production offices; on Gene Roddenberry's working style
Clip begins at: 26:11 - Part 3
- On the Star Trek cast and the characters they portrayed
Clip begins at: 0:26 - On the Star Trek episodes she wrote and some of her favorite episodes from the series
Clip begins at: 10:56 - Part 4
- On her least-favorite episode of Star Trek; Klingons; on Gene Roddenberry's "Great Bird of the Galaxy " nickname; on leaving the series at the end of the second season but remaining as a freelancer
Clip begins at: 0:26 - On her freelance writing work including Bonanza, The Big Valley, Here Come the Brides, and Then Came Bronson
Clip begins at: 03:37 - On her writing process and philosophy
Clip begins at: 08:48 - On being associate producer of Star Trek: The Animated Series
Clip begins at: 19:00 - Part 5
- On Star Trek: The Animated Series
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On writing for The Streets of San Francisco
Clip begins at: 03:06 - Part 6
- On the characters of Data, Picard and Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation; updating the 1960s technology and worldview for The Next Generation; on some of the episodes she wrote; on leaving the series after the first season
Clip begins at: 0:19 - On Star Trek and Gene Roddenberry's legacy and Star Trek fan culture
Clip begins at: 14:45 - On working on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Babylon 5, and Earth: Final Conflict; on writing animation scripts
Clip begins at: 18:27 - Part 7
- Full Chapter Seven
Clip begins at: 0:0
Shows
People
Topics
Genres
Professions
What a valuable interview this is in so many ways. DC Fontana understands ST-TOS better than anyone else and this conversation proves it.
Post new comment