Less than a day after putting out a call to find Star Trek fans interested in taking part in a new photographic book, Eugene W. Roddenberry also is looking for some fan help to finish up his documentary project, "Trek Nation."

"For the last year, I have been in pre-production on a documentary titled 'Trek Nation,'" said Roddenberry, son of the late "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, in a release. "We are at the point in the documentary where we are trying to find our most significant stories from around the world. Stories of how Star Trek has changed lives for the better. We are not looking for the strange or bizarre, but rather, the most poignant and influential stories out there."

Roddenberry said he has heard that people used to sneak videotapes of "Star Trek" over the Berlin Wall in Germany. He said that he's also heard that there are Star Trek fans in Iraq.

"I have also heard of Vietnam veterans who contemplated suicide only to have their minds changed everyday by watching an episode of 'Star Trek,'" Roddenberry said. "I have heard these and other such amazing stories, but have been unable to find the sources. I am hoping, with your help, I will be able to locate these and other individuals."

Those who wish to contribute a story can e-mail Roddenberry at treknation@roddenberry.com.

"Trek Nation" is being produced in cooperation with Atmosphere Pictures.

"One of the ideas behind the documentary is to explore how far Star Trek has gone, how many cultures it's touched, how many boundaries it's pierced," Roddenberry told Airlock Alpha's Michael Hinman back in April 2003. "Finding out day after day about different countries, different kinds of people who have found this idea, and that it's permeated in so many places, it says something."

"You like Star Trek? That's nerdy that's dumb," Roddenberry said at the time about some of the reactions fans get. "When you look at the people who were inspired by Star Trek, look at where they are now, look at what it's done for them ... it's done a lot more than what any politician has, and more than what some parents have. It's not the best thing in the world, but I'm so amazed that a TV show has inspired so many people in a powerful way, that it's changed their life for the better."

The documentary, which is detailed at www.treknationdoc.com, also will contain scores of interviews with fans, actors and celebrities, including some of the famous faces from the five existing Star Trek series. Roddenberry recently announced that "Star Wars" creator George Lucas has agreed to sit down with the "Trek Nation" crew in order to talk about how Star Trek has inspired him.

Talk about this story on the Airlock Alpha message boards. Click here!.

RELATED STORIES
Roddenberry looking for Star Trek fans for new book