Franz Joseph (artist)
Encyclopedia
Franz Joseph was an artist and author loosely associated with the 1960’s American television show Star Trek
. Joseph is perhaps best known for his 1973 Star Trek Blueprints (ISBN 0-345-25821-5), to date the only set of blueprints of the original Starship Enterprise
ever officially endorsed by Paramount Pictures
, owners of the licensing rights to all things Star Trek.
In the purest sense, the blueprints are not particularly accurate, as there are dozens of discrepancies between Joseph’s plans and the filming miniatures used in the show. Joseph himself has stated that his intention in drawing the plans was to flesh out the ship’s design rather than to accurately depict what viewers saw on-screen. Nonetheless, the drawings sparked a wave of fan-designed (that is, unofficial) blueprints of other invented spacecraft intended to fit into the Star Trek idiom. Although the blueprints were published after the original show's cancellation, portions have been used for on-screen displays in the Star Trek films and later television series, elevating them to the level of "canon" in some fans' eyes. The Booklet of General Plans, as the blueprints are perhaps more properly known (the title "Star Trek Blueprints" appears only on the outer sleeve), is not currently in print.
Joseph is also the author and illustrator of The Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual
(ISBN 0-345-34074-4), a book further fleshing out the Enterprise as well as a handful of spacecraft invented by Joseph. The book contains information about uniforms (complete with sewing patterns), furniture, weapons, devices, protocols, and other minutiae from Joseph’s take on the Star Trek universe. Similar complaints of inaccuracy were made regarding the Technical Manual, but Joseph's own recollections and explanations (at conventions in the years prior to his death in 1994) cite the errors as being the result of the source material he was forced to use: individual frames from the shows themselves. He had no access whatsoever to any of the production notes or diagrams, such as those by Wah Chang
, Dick Datin, Walter Matt Jeffries or Irving Feinberg. Joseph did, however, acknowledge the help of some of these individuals in the frontispiece of the Technical Manual.
Unlike the Booklet of General Plans, the Technical Manual has enjoyed several reprints, and when available is still a high-volume seller.
As an unexpected legacy, Franz Joseph's blueprint and book are responsible for beginning the sub-genre revolving around the blueprints and schematics of fictional vehicles and locations from Star Trek.
He is survived by his daughter, Karen Schnaubelt Turner Dick
.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
. Joseph is perhaps best known for his 1973 Star Trek Blueprints (ISBN 0-345-25821-5), to date the only set of blueprints of the original Starship Enterprise
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)
The USS Enterprise, NCC-1701, is a fictional starship in the Star Trek media franchise. The original Star Trek series depicts her crew's mission "to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before" under the command of Captain James...
ever officially endorsed by Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, owners of the licensing rights to all things Star Trek.
In the purest sense, the blueprints are not particularly accurate, as there are dozens of discrepancies between Joseph’s plans and the filming miniatures used in the show. Joseph himself has stated that his intention in drawing the plans was to flesh out the ship’s design rather than to accurately depict what viewers saw on-screen. Nonetheless, the drawings sparked a wave of fan-designed (that is, unofficial) blueprints of other invented spacecraft intended to fit into the Star Trek idiom. Although the blueprints were published after the original show's cancellation, portions have been used for on-screen displays in the Star Trek films and later television series, elevating them to the level of "canon" in some fans' eyes. The Booklet of General Plans, as the blueprints are perhaps more properly known (the title "Star Trek Blueprints" appears only on the outer sleeve), is not currently in print.
Joseph is also the author and illustrator of The Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual
The Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual
The Star Trek Star Fleet Technical Manual is a fiction reference book by Franz Joseph Schnaubelt, about the workings of Starfleet, a military, exploratory, and diplomatic organization featured in the television series, Star Trek.Although it is fiction, the book is presented as an in-universe...
(ISBN 0-345-34074-4), a book further fleshing out the Enterprise as well as a handful of spacecraft invented by Joseph. The book contains information about uniforms (complete with sewing patterns), furniture, weapons, devices, protocols, and other minutiae from Joseph’s take on the Star Trek universe. Similar complaints of inaccuracy were made regarding the Technical Manual, but Joseph's own recollections and explanations (at conventions in the years prior to his death in 1994) cite the errors as being the result of the source material he was forced to use: individual frames from the shows themselves. He had no access whatsoever to any of the production notes or diagrams, such as those by Wah Chang
Wah Chang
Wah Ming Chang was a Chinese American designer, sculptor, and artist. He is known primarily for his sculpture and the props he designed for Star Trek , including the tricorder, and communicator...
, Dick Datin, Walter Matt Jeffries or Irving Feinberg. Joseph did, however, acknowledge the help of some of these individuals in the frontispiece of the Technical Manual.
Unlike the Booklet of General Plans, the Technical Manual has enjoyed several reprints, and when available is still a high-volume seller.
As an unexpected legacy, Franz Joseph's blueprint and book are responsible for beginning the sub-genre revolving around the blueprints and schematics of fictional vehicles and locations from Star Trek.
He is survived by his daughter, Karen Schnaubelt Turner Dick
Karen Schnaubelt Turner Dick
Karen Schnaubelt Turner Dick is the daughter of Franz Schnaubelt, founding chairperson of , and creator of .-Biography:Karen was born in San Diego, California...
.
External links
- Trekplace - Star TrekStar TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
fan site featuring interviews with and information about Franz Joseph - The Props of Planet Earth - interview with daughter Karen Schnaubelt Turner DickKaren Schnaubelt Turner DickKaren Schnaubelt Turner Dick is the daughter of Franz Schnaubelt, founding chairperson of , and creator of .-Biography:Karen was born in San Diego, California...
concerning his work on Planet Earth