The Origins of James Cawley - James Cawley Interview

[@todabrilla]

Thanks for this. I love Cawley. I'm sorry that some fans gave him a rough ride for a while. The haters are often the loudest contingent but there were a great many Trekkies who appreciated all that he and his crew were doing.

[@ballroomscott]

I've got a lot of respect for James Cawley. He's done some things that not everyone agrees with but he's done them boldly and without apology. Such as playing Kirk with Elvis hair or doing things on his version of Star Trek that they wouldn't have done in original TOS.

[@danielmoore7157]

I agree. I loved his take on the original series. Some people want all special effects to look like the original but I loved he made them more up to date. Especially with battle scenes, or even interior computer scenes. Will he be doing more I wander or is he done since CBS put out those draconian edicts?.

[@JeanLucPicard85]

These guys did such a great job, got me to overcome my fan film phobia so to speak. Thanks for the interview. I miss James playing Kirk. I felt that Elvis impersonation actually made for a great acting basis for playing Kirk because both are rock stars in a sense and have a similar flair. James may not have looked like Kirk much but he very much felt like him and that was the important part.

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

took a few episodes to get used to it. I appreciate all the work they put into the show and become a fan

[@timhiguera8499]

I would love to have a sit down with Mr. Cawley for a couple of hours and tal to him about Star Trek, Buck Rodgers and the Wild, Wild West! Thank You for your verison of Star Trek Mr. Cawley!

[@philipguyott3352]

Great interview, I really appreciate what he did for the fans. I know that he is not going to make anymore Star Trek fan films and I quite understand his reasons why. However, I was hoping that we might still get to see a couple of the episodes that were in post-production when he decided to quit. Do you guys over at Trekyards have any info on that? With Thanks, Phil

[@LordZontar]

I liked James Cawley's Capt. Kirk. I thought he did a great version of the character which clearly had its roots in the Shatner Original, but was also developed into an interpretation of its own which stood well on its own legs. I just don't see why a segment of fans couldn't unbend themselves to see the point Cawley had once made; that these iconic figures are like Shakespearian characters or the Sherlock Holmes characters, who will end up being played by different actors in future ages, all of whom will bring their interpretations to the role. If you're able to accept this with Shakespeare or Sherlock Holmes, it's possible to accept it with Star Trek. The only requirement is that each actor gets certain basic characteristics correct, the way both Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Brannaugh did with both Henry V and Hamlet, or Basil Rathbone and Jeremy Brett managed with their respective versions of Sherlock Holmes. Cawley succeeded in that requirement as far as I'm concerned, and I'm sorry he was driven to give up the part because of the blind resistance to his version. If they could have just gotten past whatever prejudice they were harbouring, they'd have seen the quality of Mr. Cawley's performance on its own merits. But those "critics" never gave it a chance. A real pity.

[@LordZontar]

I would also add that his performance was a little rough around the edges at first, but clearly improved with each episode, just as the New Voyages/Phase II series did.

[@FLAME4564]

Indeed infact Shatner himself would have been impressed with James's performance in the character :). Or he would have given as the fans call it the Shatner Approval :3.

[@jedrhodes4833]

With all due respect to Vic Mignogna, James Cawley is the kind of man a fan can aspire to be like. Vic’s a professional who used a bunch of professional contacts to make excellent quality films, but you could never imagine yourself making that stuff yourself. But James Cawley was a guy who got a bunch of his mates together and just had fun making crazy Trek adventures. I’ll always think the best fan films were the ones he was in, because that was when his New Voyages/Phase II series was the best fan film ever.

[@thetrekcollector976]

Great interview and love Jame's Captain Kirk. Well done again guys !!!

[@saquist]

A little shakey in the begining but I like the framing and I do like the continued use of text questions, very clear and very concise. Make for great snips.

[@tlwtobiasrichter]

Awesome interview. Just much too short!

[@AvoozlPlays]

A lot of these interviews done are in parts which Trekyards is gradually uploading.

[@SkyStarNova]

Rad Interview! I was trying to contact him regarding a script for a future episode and somebody answered they had stopped production on the series. This saddens me as a fan as well as a writer.

[@chrischeshire6528]

Very good and very interesting interview on just how far the ST legacy lives on. I hope to watch more episodes from him and his crew in the near future.

[@patrickvillers6454]

Hey Cawley you got Elvis and Star Trek nailed are you a 1966 Batman fan as well and would you consider building a full scale bat cave?

[@kingdave31]

I have a huge amount of respect for James Cawley. A lot of people complained about his acting but I thought he did just fine as Kirk.

[@unitruth]

the interview! Captain and Commander have you thought about episode of KZbin fan made Star Trek movies and episodes?

[@matthewgaudet4064]

I would love to see his pilot for Buck Rogers. Which was never finished because it never reached the crowdfunded threshold. It had Buck and Wilma from Gil Gerard series.

[@dustinchattaway7953]

which James t kirk was the best James t kirk? William Shatner, Chris pine, James c, or Vic m

[@dustinchattaway7953]

James did you miss playing jam t kirk?