'Beam me up' Fans dress in character for ‘Star Trek' movie debut

By WENDI WINTERS For the Maryland Gazette

The crowds of Vulcans, Klingons, Romulans, Ferengi and the occasional Borg that began lining up before dinnertime Thursday at Cinemark Egyptian at Arundel Mills would probably have blended in well at a 15th-century Venetian carnival.

Instead, they and hundreds of perfectly normal-looking humans were eager to be among the first in the area to view the latest movie in the Star Trek canon.

Simply titled, "Star Trek," it is the 11th film based on the TV series.

At Third Eye Comics in Parole, three "Star Trek" fans were making plans for the movie's debut.

Michael Torma, 19, of Edgewater, was dressed in his "casual" Klingon uniform.

"I have a few different Klingon outfits. I wear this one around town," he said, noting that he had hand-cast the Klingon insignia pin attached to his costume from a mold a friend sculpted for him.

"I have a more festive outfit that I wear to conventions, two or three a year, and movies. I'll wear it tonight," Torma said.

Dressed as Tormak Bachuk (which means "Bringer of Thunder" in the Klingon language) Torma was not sporting the bony forehead ridges associated with Klingons.

"In the original 'Star Trek' series, Klingons did not have the ridges," he asserted. "They even referenced that when several members of the Deep Space Nine crew time-traveled back to the 'Trouble With Tribbles' episode. They couldn't understand the absence of forehead ridges either, and Warf didn't want to talk about it."

"Besides, in this wet weather, the stuff doesn't stick to my skin too well."

A graphic arts major at Anne Arundel Community College, the teen became a Trekkie five years ago when he came across the original series in reruns. He admires Klingons because "they're warlike, awesome, intense and a proud species."

Two weeks ago, Torma purchased tickets online to several "Star Trek" showings this weekend. He planned to spend every available minute at the movie theater. He will also carry his Bat'Leth - a two-handed Klingon weapon - and a phaser.

"I don't dress up to go to the supermarket," he said, "I do like meeting people at conventions. I'm trying to start a 'Star Trek' club at AACC."

To Torma, "Star Trek" means "adventure, excitement and going where no man has gone before," he said. To folks who look askance at his fondness for "Star Trek," he says simply: "Don't knock it 'til you try it."

His friend, fellow AACC student Trish Rabbitt, 20, works part time at Third Eye. She was wearing the Federation officer's uniform of Melina, a character who appeared on the "Star Trek" series "Deep Space 9."

"All the awesome females were on that show," Rabbitt said. "I also have a uniform from the show, 'Star Trek: The Next Generation.' "

Rabbitt also enjoys video games, and collecting Hello Kitty items and Japanese anime.

She grew up watching "Star Trek" episodes with her 56-year-old father, who is also a fan. The two attend a couple of regional conventions each year, and sometimes take her mother. At the conventions, the Rabbitts purchase props from the shows. Her dad bought himself a handmade costume similar to one worn by Q, a "Next Generation" character.

She planned to see the movie "twice on opening night, at least once on Friday with my brother, and I'll see the Sunday matinee show with my parents."

Third Eye Comics owner Steve Anderson, 26, fielded calls throughout the afternoon from friends who were making plans to see the movie.

Though Anderson enjoys just about anything in the horror, science fiction and pop culture realms, he enjoys the original "Star Trek" series.

"It felt a lot more unfiltered. They dealt with the issue of the '60s on this hokey series in a really cool way. They explored big issues on a small budget. The aliens were cooler, too."

Dr. Benna Sherman is a licensed psychologist who lives and works in Severna Park. She is a member of the Maryland Psychological Association's Education Committee. She admits to being a bit of a Trekkie herself.

"More people speak Klingon here on Earth than Esperanto, a universal language that was created so everyone could speak to each other," she said.

"As a series, Gene Roddenberry's 'Star Trek' was particularly positive and humanistic. It was about what was good with humankind. That's part of why people want to be a part of the 'Star Trek' world. It has a very positive and optimistic outlook."

The psychologist said dressing to look like a "Star Trek" character is "a basic opportunity for fantasy. They're stepping outside of their normal life and routine. It's set aside when you put away your normal clothing and your normal universe. You are liberated from things that are normally weighing on you."

"Star Trek," especially, gives people the opportunity to be a part of a community.

"Trekkies are part of a community, a social connectedness," she said. "You are automatically admitted as soon as you put on the costume. It's a club and you're part of the 'in group.' "

Wendi Winters is a freelance reporter who lives on the Broadneck Peninsula.