FATHER GEEK here with a report on one of those Test Marketing schemes being currently conducted in the Chicago area. The "Chicago Seven" give us a pretty detailed look at what these things are like and in the process we get a really cooool glimpse at the up coming Sci-Fi-Treklike spoof GALAXY QUEST...
Dear Harry,
Welcome to my home town. I'm glad we have some nice weather for your stay here.
Yesterday (10/25/99), I was stopped by a research company in a north suburban shopping mall that asked me to view a trailer for the upcoming movie "Galaxy Quest" to get my impressions. I was led into a small room and shown the brief video three times. This particular clip was labeled "Abduction" and had Dream Works printed on the opening frame which also showed a CGI animated ant crawling from screen left to right. It also identified the announcer/narrator, but unfortunately, I can't remember his name. The quality of the following film/video was poor and obviously not finished. Tim Allen had most of the screen time as he portrays a TV sci-fi actor, who is mistaken for a real space captain by aliens. He and some of the TV cast are kidnapped and forced into a real life space adventure.
Though I saw the tape three times, the individual cuts went by rather quickly. I can remember the following cuts as an announcer explains the films premise:
Allen sitting in a captains chair (obviously modeled on a Star Trek bridge set), looking appropriately smug and pompous while grunting to himself.
Human looking aliens with balding foreheads and dark hair combed back, looking for and identifying Allen and cast as the ones they wanted.
An effects shot of Allen, in black and white, being sucked through space in a kind of worm hole.
Allen and a cute young blonde running through hallways while explosions and flames erupted.
Father Geek note: Her Cuteness is indeed Sigourney Weaver!
A nice effects shot of a large alien space ship (which reminded me of a Romulan ship).
Some alien goo exploding, which covers the faces of several actors and aliens.
Allen running away from a CGI rock monster, while speaking into a communicator like device.
Several cast members fooling around with blaster guns and trying to look cool as they walk through a corridor.
The blonde (from the earlier cut) looking at some cute, green, round headed CGI aliens. She approaches saying "Aren't they cute?!" when suddenly their mouths open, revealing long sharp teeth.
The overall effect of the trailer was funny/ interesting, but a few of the jokes (the exploding goo) seemed hokey. The effects and CGI looked really good, with exception of the worm hole effect. The clip identified Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver, but when the announcer said Weaver's name they showed the blond I mentioned previously. The quality of the video was not the best, as I said, but it didn't look a thing like Weaver. Cards handed out with the viewing also mentioned Alan Rickman as a star, but I didn't recognize him in any of the shots.
The Chicago Seven
