"Enterprise" is scoring much better than expected ratings for UPN, returning Star Trek at the network's top series, but there could be some belt tightening when it comes to costs on the show.

According to SFX Magazine, the high cost of the series premiere and some of the episodes following it has forced Paramount Television to cut back expenditures on the show a bit.

"We're working on an episode ["Shuttlepod One"] written by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga where everything is being shot in a shuttlepod," the source said. "They're cutting everything back as far as possible. We'll probably just put the pod on a gimbal and shake it around, stuff like that.

"We've also done a lot of scenes in episodes already where characters run around in the dark with flashlights, you can't even tell where you are."

And speaking of "Shuttlepod One," Berman recently took some time to comment about the episode, which will air sometime during February sweeps.

"There is a show that Brannon and I are working on right now, which is a strong episode for Trip (Conner Trinneer) and Reed (Dominic Keating), and I think will bond those two characters together," Berman recently told Star Trek Communicator.

So far, the fifth Star Trek series has been nothing but a success, and Berman couldn't stop singing its praises.

"When the people from the network and the studio call me elated about the numbers, I know that we're doing something right," he said. "We have a lot more viewers than ["Star Trek:] Voyager" had in its last few years. Hopefully, we are going to hold on to them and the numbers will continue to grow."

Berman also talked about the next movie, "Star Trek: Nemesis," which production began last month.

"It's the biggest and most exciting adventure sequence that we've ever done. It's filled with four-wheel vehicles and lots and lots of surprises. There is a big battle scene on a planet called Kolaris. It's a big action-packed and funny opening."

There will be less money being spent on "Nemesis" than in other films that are being made right now, but Berman prided his staff in being able to "make $75 million movies for $65 million."

Thanks to TrekWeb for transcripts from Star Trek Communicator.