Another quirk involving the original series’ tunics were the colors - in particular, “command.” Trekkies everywhere will swear Spock wore blue, Scotty wore red and Kirk wore gold. Wrong. The three Starfleet colors were blue, red and green. Lime green, to be exact. “It was one of those film stock things;” Theiss states, “it photographed one way - burnt orange or a gold. But in reality was another; the command shirts were definitely green.” As further proof, look at the wrap-around tunics as well as the dress uniform tunics of Kirk’s – all green. They came off as their true colors because they were constructed of different materials than the standard duty command shirts.
I mean, what matters is how they appeared on the show right? Like it doesn't matter if they look yellow, because of technical reasons, or because the physical shirt was yellow.
Like so what the physical props looked different in real life. That's how the medium works.
There’s a similar fun fact about the ‘60s Addams Family house interior being mostly pink. It worked perfectly well for a show filmed in black and white, but obviously no one would argue that that’s how Gomez and Morticia actually decorated their home.
You’re right… which is why, in-universe, the gold appearance becomes canon.
Sisko refers to it in their TOS time travel episode, SNW has command officers wearing gold too.
But it didn’t even take THAT long! Even as early as TAS, Kirk is wearing a gold uniform. Later, in the Monster Maroon era of the TOS films, we see gold being used for Enigneering (see Scotty when he’s not wearing his super cool vest…).
And of course, TNG uses red, blue, and gold despite the color swap for the command and operations divisions.
I don’t think “becomes” canon is correct, the color shifts in film were well understood. The costume color was chosen to appear gold on TV. Gold was always correct.
I’ve read about the command uniforms being lime green but appearing gold on screen before. But it’s never been clear to me if that was intentional on the part of the production crew or not.
19 Comments
SatyrSack@quokk.au · 77 pts · 37d
https://web.archive.org/web/20100917090118/http://www.startrekpropauthority.com/2008/05/bill-theiss-lost-interview-rare.html
https://quokk.au/c/tenforward/p/582458/trick-of-the-light
OneWomanCreamTeam@sh.itjust.works · 32 pts · 37d
I mean, what matters is how they appeared on the show right? Like it doesn't matter if they look yellow, because of technical reasons, or because the physical shirt was yellow.
Like so what the physical props looked different in real life. That's how the medium works.
usernamefactory@lemmy.ca · 26 pts · 37d
There’s a similar fun fact about the ‘60s Addams Family house interior being mostly pink. It worked perfectly well for a show filmed in black and white, but obviously no one would argue that that’s how Gomez and Morticia actually decorated their home.
But for the purposes of a meme, it’s fine.
marlowe221@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 37d
You’re right… which is why, in-universe, the gold appearance becomes canon.
Sisko refers to it in their TOS time travel episode, SNW has command officers wearing gold too.
But it didn’t even take THAT long! Even as early as TAS, Kirk is wearing a gold uniform. Later, in the Monster Maroon era of the TOS films, we see gold being used for Enigneering (see Scotty when he’s not wearing his super cool vest…).
And of course, TNG uses red, blue, and gold despite the color swap for the command and operations divisions.
So… yeah. Green goes away pretty fast!
Repelle@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 36d
I don’t think “becomes” canon is correct, the color shifts in film were well understood. The costume color was chosen to appear gold on TV. Gold was always correct.
marlowe221@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 36d
Maybe that’s true!
I’ve read about the command uniforms being lime green but appearing gold on screen before. But it’s never been clear to me if that was intentional on the part of the production crew or not.
VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 37d
Exactly. Shatner wore green, Kirk wore gold.
rustydrd@sh.itjust.works · 12 pts · 37d
Cows don't look like cows on film. You gotta use horses.
marlowe221@lemmy.world · 31 pts · 37d
I’ve never read the Witcher books, but I know how devoted to them Henry is/was.
I always felt some kinship with him when he was dealing with bullshit about a franchise he loved. The Trek fans were with you, brother!
Juviz@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 37d
TIL
DmMacniel@feddit.org · 4 pts · 37d
But Kirk also wore Gold/Yellow?
JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca · 10 pts · 37d
Check SatyrSack's reply. Fascinating.
DmMacniel@feddit.org · 2 pts · 37d
where?
Thebeardedsinglemalt@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 37d
Literally in this comment section
DmMacniel@feddit.org · 2 pts · 37d
I don't see their comment (quokk.au is defederated)
its_kim_love@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 14 pts · 37d
DmMacniel@feddit.org · 9 pts · 37d
thanks mate.
its_kim_love@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 37d
limelight79@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 37d
Red green or gold... Red green or gold...
Digit@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 33d