Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.92
Posted: Tue Aug  6 12:14:55 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Aug-85 02:49:21 EDT
References: <2160@sdcc6.UUCP> <1348@uwmacc.UUCP> <2019@sunybcs.UUCP>
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 43

You people are all going up the wrong track.  The reason for the
"WHHHOOOSSSSHHHH!" is Star Fleet Regulations.  Well, indirectly, anyway.

Star Fleet regulations require that ships operating in close proximity must
"remain in continuous subspace radio contact."  Channel F (sub one to sub
1024) are allocated to this use.

For the filming of the opening sequence, Star Fleet allocated USS Korolov,
a "Carpenter" class Cosmographic survey vessel, as camera ship.  Korolov
was position, and Enterprise made several passes for use in the credit
sequences.  Later, shots of Enterprise orbiting various planets were taken.
As an aside, time allowed visiting only three planets; this explains the
sameness noted on the show.  Stock footage of Enterprise and Earth (for use
in "Tommorow is Yesterday" and "Assignment: Earth") was already available.

Anyway, back to the "WHHHHOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!," Korolov and Enterprise were
using Channel F sub 334 for the required com link, as the Big E made its
passes.  However, nobody considered the subspace field interference between
the two ships.  The subspace sidetones of the two vessels interfered,
building in volume as the Enterprise approached.  The interference,
unbeknownst to the film crew, insinuated itself into the digitial film
file, with Doppler effect (ships were in normal space) causing a building
of level with a sudden release.

Note, this didn't just insert itself in the sound track... like a
overmodulated signal, it bled all over the visuals, too.  This subspace
effect is liberated whenever the flim is played, and is percieved by humans
as a "WHHHHOOOOOSSSSHHHHH!"  Vulcans, on the other hand, smell T'alna root
when the film is run.  

They tried to get rid of it.  "Where No Man Has Gone Before" shows what
happened... the credit sequence is of poor quality.

Star Fleet wouldn't let them reshoot the sequence, since they were out of
PR budget.  So, don't blame the producers for the "WHHHHOOOOOSSSHHHH!"
If they hadn't been required to maintain subspace contact, it never would
have happened.

					 Ron Wanttaja
					 (ssc-vax!wanttaja)

Sure, you know the reg.  It's the one right after the
"Hot Potatoes" chapter...