Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 15, 1994 TAG: 9411160041
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: IAN SPELLING
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
After all, he'd planned to turn down a role in the film after reading an early draft of its script - a version that featured every principal ``Trek''-classic character - because he felt Chekov was given too little to do.
When the script was rewritten to include only Kirk (William Shatner), Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Koenig figured the decision had been made for him.
But things changed when Nimoy and Kelley rejected invitations to participate. The filmmakers turned to Koenig, asking him to reprise his Chekov role.
Still not satisfied with the scope of the part, Koenig declined the offer.
``[Executive producer] Rick Berman then called and asked me to come in and discuss it with the writers,'' the 57-year-old actor explains during a telephone interview from his Los Angeles home. ``A little tweaking was done and I felt more comfortable.
``Even though it would be a small role, it was an opportunity to do something significant with the character. Indeed, I was very pleased with the scenes we shot, particularly one that had Chekov and Scotty [James Doohan] dealing with what we think is Kirk's death.''
That scene touched a very personal chord, Koenig says.
``And I think it showed. In terms of satisfaction, this film was probably the third best of the seven, after `Voyage Home' [1986] and `Wrath of Khan' [1982].
``Then they started editing the film, and I've been apprised of the fact that my work is eviscerated, including that particular little moment.''
Koenig says he never would have agreed to appear in the film if he had known what would happen to some of his scenes.
Still, he had a good time making ``Generations,'' enjoyed working with director David Carson, got along fine with Shatner and expects that Trekkers will like the film.
``I imagine it'll be good and very satisfying for `Next Gen' fans,'' he says. ``Patrick Stewart is quite marvelous, and the rest of the people who've been given an opportunity acquitted themselves very well.
``There's no bitterness on my part, just disappointment. It's just not the way I wanted to go out as Chekov.''
Not one to let a disappointment slow him down, Koenig has moved on to other projects.
He recently filmed his second episode of TV's ``Babylon 5,'' reprising his role as the villainous Bester.
``Bester is really bad in this one,'' Koenig says enthusiastically. ``He's so manipulative. You think he's sincere, think he has some semblance of sensitivity, but Bester has no conscience at all.''
The episode is scheduled to air in January.
``There will be at least one more appearance for Bester before the end of the season,'' the actor says, ``so I'm very excited.''
Koenig also sounds excited about his plans to attend a European ``Trek'' convention this month with his son Joshua, an actor who goes by the stage name Andrew Koenig. The two intend to turn the trip into a minivacation.
Once he returns, Koenig will work on transforming his ``Raver'' comic-book series into a graphic novel.
In February, he'll join his friend Mark Lenard, ``Trek's'' Sarek, in a Los Angeles staging of ``The Boys in Autumn.''
At the same time he will be working on - you guessed it - his autobiography.
He's already drafted 60 pages and is synopsizing the rest so his representatives at the William Morris Agency can begin negotiations with the major publishing companies.
``My book will be very anecdotal and I'm fighting for the title `Beaming Up and Getting Off,''' he says. ``It'll be about the things that have happened in my life.
``A good portion will be devoted to `Star Trek,' but it'll really be about my becoming an actor, the industry itself and, especially, the machinations of trying to survive in Hollywood.''
by CNB