Mr. Spock beams aboard to help Vulcan, Alta., land Star Trek premiere

Mr. Spock would never admit to any emotion, but the actor who portrayed the very logical character on Star Trek  is peeved the premiere of the new movie based on the popular sci-fi series won't be shown in the southern Alberta town of Vulcan.

Leonard Nimoy thinks Star Trek XI should go where no film has gone before.

A mission by the town with the same name as Spock's birthplace on the television show to beam in the movie on opening day, May 8, appeared to have failed this week when Paramount Pictures said it couldn't work out the details.

The community southeast of Calgary has used the Star Trek  connection to develop a small tourist industry, and now Spock has returned to help his people.

"It seems to me that someone at Paramount should show some interest and not take this lightly. This is a serious issue," Nimoy said in a phone interview from Los Angeles with the Canadian Press.

'My position is if they can produce this gigantic movie and get it done with all the physical requirements that are involved in making this film, they can find some way to show it in Alberta, Canada.' —Leonard Nimoy, actor

"The people of my home planet of Vulcan are not happy about this. I won't say they're sad or upset because that would express emotion, but they think it's illogical that somehow Paramount could not arrange to get a screening of the movie up there in Vulcan," he said, laughing.

Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock in the original series as well as several Star Trek movies, only learned of Vulcan, Alta., when he saw an online story about its failed bid Thursday.

He said he's been sending emails to Paramount every couple of hours in an attempt to force the movie giant to do something for the town.

"I got the word out to Paramount that there's an issue here that should be dealt with," he said. "The Paramount press people are aware of it, and hopefully, the word will filter into the proper offices, and somebody will do something about it.

"My position is if they can produce this gigantic movie and get it done with all the physical requirements that are involved in making this film, they can find some way to show it in Alberta, Canada.

"The people of Vulcan deserve their day in the sun."

Nimoy has a small part in Star Trek XI, which focuses on Mr. Spock and Capt. James T. Kirk's early years.

Vulcan pulled out all the stops to try to land the premiere or even a sneak peak of the movie. It even launched a Facebook site, which now boasts over 1,500 members.

Dayna Dickens, tourism co-ordinator for Vulcan, was nearly speechless over Mr. Spock's endorsement and had an embarrassing admission.

"I got a call from Leonard Nimoy this morning, but I... seriously thought it was a prank call," she sighed.

"We get calls from people pretending to be Montgomery Scott [Scotty] and Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock. I always respond professionally, and I will play along to a certain extent. But I can't believe this. Wow."

Nimoy laughed when told that Dickens questioned the authenticity of his call and noted she did appear a "bit guarded." He said he will not be beaming in any reinforcements from the old Star Trek cast, which includes Canadian-born William Shatner.

"No, I think this is strictly a Vulcan project, but Zachary Quinto, who plays the young Spock, he might be interested. I'll have to talk to him," Nimoy said.

Vulcan held its first Vul-con convention in 1993. Two years later, the town unveiled its own Star Ship FX6-1995-A to welcome visitors. A plaque includes greetings written in English, Vulcan and Klingon.

Another sign welcomes visitors with the Vulcan motto "Live Long and Prosper." There's also a space-themed visitors centre and, in an odd combination of Prairie tradition and outer space zeal, there's also the annual Spock Days Rodeo.