Brannon Braga

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Brannon Braga

Brannon Braga speaking at an atheist conference in 2006
Born August 14, 1965 (1965-08-14) (age 42)
Bozeman, Montana
Nationality American
Occupation Television producer
Screenwriter
Religious beliefs Atheist

Brannon Braga (born August 14, 1965, in Bozeman, Montana) is an American television producer and screenwriter, currently working on the writing crew of 24 for Season 7; with the credit of co-executive producer.[1] He is mostly known for his work on various Star Trek series since 1990. He is credited as one of the co-creators and executive producers of Star Trek: Enterprise and was creator and producer of the short-lived alien invasion drama Threshold. Braga received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Kent State University Stark in 2005. He is an atheist.[2]

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] Star Trek: The Next Generation

In 1990, Braga received an eight-week internship from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, joining the writing team of Star Trek: The Next Generation. His first assignment was rewriting a script called "Reunion" with staff writer Ronald D. Moore, then doing a solo rewrite on a spec script titled "Identity Crisis". This led to a staff position in 1991 as a script-writer, resulting in credits for a number of popular episodes including "Cause and Effect", "Frame of Mind" and "Parallels".

At the start of The Next Generation's final season, Braga (now a co-producer) and Ronald D. Moore (whom he had worked with a few times in the intervening four years) were picked to write a script for the first cinema appearance of The Next Generation crew, Star Trek Generations, which they developed over the final year. They were again picked to write the script for the series finale "All Good Things...", for which they won a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.

[edit] Star Trek: Voyager

After The Next Generation concluded in 1994, Braga joined the creative staff on Star Trek: Voyager as a producer. In 1996, Braga and Moore collaborated again, on the second The Next Generation film, Star Trek: First Contact, which received the highest gross of all the Star Trek films. After the departure of Jeri Taylor at the end of Voyager's fourth season in 1998, Braga became an executive producer and was effectively running the show on Voyager.

Braga and Moore again collaborated in 1999, on the Mission: Impossible II screenplay. Although their draft was not the final one used, it did earn them a story credit in the film. They were approached to do a third Star Trek film starring The Next Generation cast, but declined.

When Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended in 1999, Moore transferred over to the creative staff of Voyager as a co-executive producer, but quickly departed citing problems working with his old writing partner, Braga:

"I have very hurt feelings about Brannon. What happened between he and I is just between he and I. It was a breakdown of trust. I would have quit any show where I was not allowed to participate in the process like that. I wasn’t allowed to participate in the process, and I wasn’t part of the show. I felt like I was freelancing my own show. ... I was very disappointed that my long-time friend and writing partner acted in that manner, that crossed lines to the point where I felt like I had to walk away from STAR TREK, which was something that meant a lot to me for a very long time, from my childhood right through my entire professional career." [3]

However, Moore and Braga mended their friendship after the end of the Voyager's run.

During the later seasons of Voyager, Braga became romantically linked with series actress Jeri Ryan, which generated a negative backlash from some Star Trek fans.

[edit] Star Trek: Enterprise

When Voyager concluded in 2001, Braga developed Star Trek: Enterprise with Rick Berman. From the series debut in September 2001 until the end of the third season in May 2004, Braga was the executive producer in charge of the day to day running of the show, handing over the reins of the writing staff to Manny Coto for season four. However, due to declining viewing figures, Enterprise was cancelled by UPN after season four.

[edit] Threshold

Before the cancellation of Enterprise, Braga started developing a new science fiction series for CBS called Threshold, which debuted in September 2005. Braga formed his own production company, Braga Productions to facilitate this project. Set in the modern day, the series focuses on a group of experts who are investigating an alien craft discovered in the Atlantic ocean. The series was first shown on Friday nights, but was moved to Tuesday in an attempt to improve its ratings. This effort did not succeed, and CBS cancelled the series on November 23, 2005.

The concept of Threshold was created by David S. Goyer (co-writer of Batman Begins, writer or co-writer of the Blade films, director of Blade: Trinity) and David Heyman (producer of the Harry Potter films). Threshold did earn some good reviews during its run, including four out of four stars from 'USA Today'.[4]

[edit] Controversy

Responding to accusations from Star Trek fandom that he was responsible for Star Trek 's declining ratings and eventual cancellation, Braga commented: "It isn't a pleasant thing to think of yourself as to blame. There are other factors involved with Star Trek losing its audience appeal over the years. But I would be lying if I said... I will take my share of the blame creatively. It's almost impossible for me to sit here and say 'yes I did this that and this wrong.'"[5]


[edit] References

  1. ^ Fall Network TV Preview: ABC, CBS, FOX
  2. ^ Every religion has a mythology. Sidmennt, the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association (16 August 2006). Retrieved on 2006-12-19.
  3. ^ Anna L. Kaplan (January 18, 2000). STAR TREK Profile: Fan-Writer-Producer Ronald D. Moore Part 1. Mania (Cinescape). Retrieved on 2005-10-20.
  4. ^ Robert Bianco (September 15, 2005). 'Threshold' is at home in alien territory. USA Today. Retrieved on 2006-08-13.
  5. ^ Chase interviews Brannon Braga, one of the most controversial figures in Star Trek! (MP3). TheFandom (August 22, 2005). Retrieved on 2006-08-13.

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Braga, Brannon
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Television producer
DATE OF BIRTH 14 August 1965
PLACE OF BIRTH Bozeman, Montana
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH