Star Trek Discovery: The Galactic Barrier 2022

Star Trek Discovery
Season 4 - Episode 10
”The Galactic Barrier”

Synopsis

Captain Burnham and her crew must go where few have gone before: beyond the Galactic Barrier. Meanwhile, Book learns the truth of what drives Ruon Tarka.

Our Human Hearts

I had never imagined directing a show like this, and I was so grateful to Alex Kurtzman for bringing me from Clarice over to the Star Trek universe. What I loved so much about working on Discovery was the realization that, it doesn’t matter where the story I’m telling takes place, it can be on earth in the 1800s or in space in a future time, and any and everywhere in between, it’s always about our humanity. The relationships between people, how we love, how we deal with those more or less powerful than us, how we feel, and then try to regulate those emotions. Even when the story is in galaxies, it’s always the same… our human needs, our human hearts. Or alien hearts as the case may be, yet still so deeply and beautifully reflecting who we are.

Legacy of Representation

I love how ahead of its time the Star Trek series has always been, and the legacy of it carrying a fundamental throughline of diversity in front of and behind the camera, with all kinds of races, genders, sexual orientations, and beyond. It really moved me, both watching these shows and then directing “Discovery,” how much of an impact this kind of storytelling has had and continues to have on the world. The themes of love, of total acceptance, of giving voice and onscreen representation to those who rarely get to see themselves portrayed are so vital to today’s storytelling. The love story in this episode between two seemingly male characters, yet one is an alien, was so beautiful and very meaningful to direct. I felt a deep connection with the actors, thinking of my LGBTQ+ friends who would be so delighted to see this story, this representation of their lives.

Sonequa

What an absolute force Sonequa Martin-Green is, the stunning actress and producer who plays Michael Burnam, the commander of Discovery. She blew me away, as an actress and as a woman. The depth of spirit she offers the world through her performance, as well as the depth of generosity she offers the crew as a producer, is so profound. I felt incredibly honored for this opportunity to hold space for her exquisite talent, and the humanity, ferocity, and vulnerability. Working with her on our episode, I fell in love with her, over and over. Her sense of humor and charm are infectious, and she brings all of that to so generously to this epic character.

Floating in Space

I loved the constant movement of the camera in this show, and how it felt like the spaceship itself, always moving through space, subtly at times, aggressively at others, but always moving. Getting to collaborate and expand on the beautifully established visual language of the series was inspiring. It was a real thrill to work with my DP Franco Tata to begin my episode in an upside-down reflection of David Cronenberg, swiftly rotating the camera right side up as he begins to speak. Containing my excitement at the total surreality of directing him, however, was another feat altogether…