In STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the newly commissioned Enterprise-E battle the insidious Borg to restore the rightful future of Earth.

Paramount Pictures Corporation presents a RICK BERMAN Production, STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, based upon "Star Trek" created by GENE RODDENBERRY from a story by RICK BERMAN & BRANNON BRAGA & RONALD D. MOORE. The film is executive produced by MARTY HORNSTEIN and co-produced by PETER LAURITSON. The screenplay is by Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga. The director of photography is MATTHEW F. LEONETTI, A.S.C. The editor is JOHN W. WHEELER, A.C.E. The production designer is HERMAN ZIMMERMAN. The special visual effects are by INDUSTRIAL LIGHT & MAGIC. The costume designer is DEBORAH EVERTON. The music is composed by JERRY GOLDSMITH. Produced by RICK BERMAN and directed by first-time feature film director JONATHAN FRAKES for the Motion Picture Group of Paramount Pictures. Paramount is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc.

Reprising their starring roles as the crew of the Enterprise are PATRICK STEWART (Captain Jean-Luc Picard), JONATHAN FRAKES (Commander William Riker), LEVAR BURTON (Lieutenant Commander Geordi La Forge), MICHAEL DORN (Lieutenant Commander Worf), GATES McFADDEN (Dr. Beverly Crusher), MARINA SIRTIS (Counselor Deanna Troi) and BRENT SPINER (android Lieutenant Commander Data). Joining the cast are actors ALFRE WOODARD (Primal Fear, How to Make an American Quilt) and JAMES CROMWELL (Babe).

About the Production

Principal photography began April 8, 1996 on STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, the first sequel to the 1994 hit Star Trek: Generations, and the eighth in the long-running, successful "Star Trek" film franchise. The film, slated for release on November 22, is part of a year-long celebration of the 30th anniversary of "Star Trek" created by Gene Roddenberry, of which the first television episode aired September 8, 1966. STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT marks the first film in the series which is solely comprised of the cast of the Emmy award-winning series, "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

The film is being directed by "Number One," first-time feature film director Jonathan Frakes, who portrays Commander William Riker. Previously, Frakes directed eight episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" as well as episodes of "Star Trek: Voyager," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Diagnosis: Murder" and "University Hospital."

For added inspiration prior to filming, Frakes says he viewed the films Alien, Aliens, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blade Runner and Jaws, made by some of his favorite action-adventure directors.

The 12-week production began at the dramatic Titan Missile Museum, a U.S. Air Force installation in Green Valley, Arizona, that houses a deactivated Titan II missile. After a two-year hiatus, the cast members reunited 146 feet below the surface and inside the 15-foot walls of the missile silo.

Alfre Woodard and James Cromwell join the "Star Trek" family in STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT. Cromwell portrays Zefram Cochrane, the 21st century creator of the warp drive which powers starships to fly at the speed of light and beyond. The character of Zefram Cochrane first appeared in the original 1967 "Star Trek" episode, "Metamorphosis," as portrayed by actor Glenn Corbett. This is the first time the character has been brought back to the screen, though he has appeared in numerous "Star Trek" original novels. Cochrane's partner is strong-willed Lily Sloane, portrayed by Alfre Woodard.

After the first week in Arizona, production continued at an exterior mountain location in the Angeles National Forest near Los Angeles, and at historic Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. The final nine weeks of production were completed on three soundstages at Paramount Pictures where, since late January, production designer Herman Zimmerman supervised over 100 construction workers, illustrators, set designers and model builders who were hard at work creating over a dozen complex interior sets that make up the newly-commissioned U.S.S. Enterprise-E. The previous Enterprise-D was destroyed in a crash landing at the end of Star Trek: Generations. The Enterprise-E features a newly-designed bridge, observation lounge, captain's ready room, engineering room, Jefferies Tube corridors and a visually stunning Borg Collective chamber.

Meanwhile, Academy Award®-winning make-up artist Michael Westmore is creating a new, enhanced look for the Borg. "They are very H.R. Giger-inspired," notes director Frakes, referring to the renowned artist who designed the aliens in the Alien film series. "The Borg look more evolved and detailed than they did in the television show," he adds.

The Borg, a group of cybernetically enhanced aliens, first appeared in the second season "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Q Who," before making numerous appearances. The Borg's mission is to absorb all life in the galaxy. They possess a collective mind. With the ability to adapt to any weapon used against them, they are the Federation's most lethal adversaries.

When Rick Berman, Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore got together to conceive the story for STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, they always knew that the Borg would be involved. "The Borg are, undoubtedly, the most popular villains in the history of the 'Next Generation' series, and we knew they would look great on the big screen," says co-screenwriter Brannon Braga. "We then incorporated time travel into it -- the other most popular element in the series. We took those two elements and crafted our story."

"In the film," says co-screenwriter Ronald D. Moore, "after a failed attack on Earth, the Borg institute a plan to go back in time to Earth at its most vulnerable time in history, the second dark age after the third world war, to stop first contact with aliens from happening."

Part of "Star Trek's" cultural phenomeon has always been its accurate reflection of human social concerns. That is again taken to task in the sub-text of STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT. "We wanted to get across that no one today has much vision to take a greater social responsibility for themselves and the world at large," says Braga. "We want to show how our group of characters [the crew of the Enterprise] are utterly selfless. They're willing to risk their lives, and go back in time for the greater good of these characters living in terrible times, who are unable to look beyond their own problems."

According to producer Rick Berman, "this is the best 'Trek' yet. It's full of action, drama, hope for the future, and a lot of new designs and surprises for the fans."