Twitip

by Neal Wiser (@nealwiser)

Back in the mid 1990s, I worked at Paramount Pictures and their emergent television network, the now defunct United Paramount Network. It was a great time to be at Paramount if you were a Star Trek fan. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was in the middle of its run and Star Trek: Voyager had just premiered to ratings that rivaled some super bowls. In addition, Star Trek: First Contact was in production and when I wasn’t constantly running into people like Jonathan Frakes, Avery Brooks, and Colm Meaney, I was running into Klingons, Borg and Ferengi.

I was fortunate; I had access to the back lot and often visited many of the sound stages. I’ve sat in the cockpit of the plane from Wings, strolled down the New York Street (see, “Stages/NY Streets/Locations, Page 2, scroll to mid-page) and even caught the winning pass that won the Super Bowl (a rare acting opportunity for me on an utterly forgettable TV series). And while I’ve actually walked the decks of the Enterprise, Deep Space Nine and Voyager, the one thing I really wanted, the one thing I coveted, the one thing that no one except for special guests of the studio would ever have, was to sit in the Captain’s chair of a starship.

But now, I have my chance; and you do too. Showing now until September 20, 2009, at Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute (check here for other cities), you can go where no mere civilian has ever gone before. You too can sit in the Captain’s chair!

So why are you reading about the Star Trek Exhibit? Because of how I found out about it; via Twitter. Yes, the staff of the Star Trek Exhibit is using our favorite service to promote the exhibition. The following is a short interview with @StarTrekExhibit about how and why they’re using Twitter.

Engage!

Tell me about the purpose of the exhibit and the people behind it?

Star Trek the Exhibition is the largest collection of authentic Star Trek artifacts and information ever put on public display featuring sets, costumes, priceless museum pieces and props from all five Star Trek television series and eleven Star Trek feature films, including the new blockbuster film most recently released. The purpose of the exhibit is to let the fans see, touch and experience Start Trek on a new level.

Tell me about the purpose of the exhibit and the people behind it?

Star Trek the Exhibition is the largest collection of authentic Star Trek artifacts and information ever put on public display featuring sets, costumes, priceless museum pieces and props from all five Star Trek television series and eleven Star Trek feature films, including the new blockbuster film most recently released. The purpose of the exhibit is to let the fans see, touch and experience Start Trek on a new level.

Why did you decide to use Twitter?

We know that Twitter is just one way to connect with both old and new Star Trek fans. The movie has helped to encourage people who would not consider themselves “Trekkers” or “Trekkies” to engage in discussions about Star Trek. We wanted to be a part of that discussion.

What are your goals for using Twitter?

We want to make people aware of this amazing collection of Star Trek items (http://www.startrekexhibition.com/) and give them the opportunity to help bring the exhibit to their city.

Do you have any Twitter related events/tie-ins planned to promote the exhibit?

We are working on putting together a VIP tour of the exhibit where we invite influential bloggers, Twitter users and the media. From there we would work with these influencers to organize tweet-up with discounted tickets for the group.

Are you tracking how many people visit the exhibit based on your tweets?

Not yet, but that is our goal.

What tools do you use to manage Twitter?

Currently we use tools like NearbyTweets, Twellow, TwitterGrader, and the Twitter search tool to follow people who are local to the current exhibits or interested in Star Trek.

What other Social Media resources are you using?

We recently redesigned our website and included a blog that has interesting commentary on how Start Trek has inspired people and its influence in our culture. In addition, the exhibit has drawn a lot of interest from teachers as a tool to use in discussing science, culture, even history (there are teacher’s guides on the website). We know that educators, including the home schooling community are an active online community, and we are looking at this area as a way to expand our social media reach.

Where else is the Star Trek Exhibition going to be?

Right now the exhibit is in Philadelphia at the Franklin Institute and in Detroit at the Detroit Science Center. On the website we have a feature where you can notify your local museum that you want Star Trek the Exhibition to come to your city. We’ll be using that information as we discuss the next venue – so definitely use that form, and encourage your friends too as well if they want to see the exhibit in a local museum or science center!

Do you think Twitter will be around in the 23rd century?

If Twitter isn’t around in the 23^rd century, then there will be something similar. People are getting used to receiving information in quick snippets. The key will be to develop filters that help people set limits and organize when and from whom they receive the information…and technology that ties all their sources into one feed. The issue will be time management and helping people ’shut down’ for a few hours a day.

Would Captain Kirk use Twitter?

Definitely, he would use Twitter to stay on top of breaking news in the galaxy.

Which do you prefer; Kirk or Spock? TOS, TNG or Reboot? Trekkie or Trekker?

We like them all!  Star Trek and Gene Roddenberry’s vision of the future opened minds and inspired young people everywhere to imagine new possibilities and to believe that even the sky is not the limit. The continuation of that vision through TNG and through fans (however they identify themselves) just proves that humans see the importance of imagining the future.

Tweet Long and Prosper

To Boldly Sit Where I Have Never Sat Before