About
"I understood very quickly the theory of how to make film work for you. Nothing exists outside of that box. What's in that box is what counts. Everything else can fall away and it doesn't matter. You create your own world."
In his over four-hour interview, Robert Justman (1926-2008) talks about breaking into the entertainment industry as a production assistant in low-budget feature films, and discusses his entrance into television as a second assistant director on the series Adventures of Superman. Justman describes his continued work in television where he moved up to first assistant director and unit production manager on such series as The Outer Limits. He discusses in great detail his work as an associate producer on the classic science fiction series Star Trek and its later incarnation Star Trek: The Next Generation (for which he served as the supervising producer in its first season). Regarding Star Trek, he discusses working with creator Gene Roddenberry, talks about the cast members, and describes memorable episodes. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the two-part interview on June 17 and 18, 2003 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Robert Justman on meeting Gene Roddenberry
Robert Justman on who Gene Roddenberry based the character of Captain Kirk
Robert Justman on Captain Kirk's chair
Robert Justman on advice to aspiring producers and ADs
Robert Justman on making the monster in the pilot episode of The Outer Limits
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early years; on college and serving in the Navy; on his start in the film industry as a production assistant
On his transition to television as an assistant director; on entering the Directors Guild; on getting the job as second assistant director on Adventures of Superman
Chapter 2
On his work on Adventures of Superman - shooting schedule, budgets, production; on The Doctor; on Amos 'N' Andy; on The Loretta Young Show
On his work on Lassie, My Friend Flicka, The Mickey Mouse Club
Chapter 3
On working on various filmed shows and features; on working with Fritz Lang; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on working with Peter Lawford and meeting JFK
On working on Northwest Passage; on working as first assistant director on Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond; on Best of The Post; on The Tab Hunter Show; on The Asphalt Jungle
Chapter 4
On his work as produciton supervisor at MGM Television
On his work on The Outer Limits
Chapter 5
On working on the Mission: Impossible pilot and the Star Trek pilots; on the development of Star Trek
On the casting of Star Trek; on production of Star Trek after the second pilot was approved; on filming at Desilu; on the props and effects created for Star Trek
Chapter 6
On birthday parties that Gene Roddenberry threw on Star Trek; on working with the cast and crew of Star Trek
On various episodes of the series - "The City on the Edge of Forever", "Mudd's Women", "Spock's Brain", "Amok Time", "The Menagerie"
Chapter 7
On the "Mirror, Mirror", "Shore Leave", "The Trouble with Tribbles" episodes of Star Trek; on memorable set pieces; on fans of the show; on leaving the series
On the development of Star Trek: The Next Generation; on joining the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; on the casting of Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard
Chapter 8
On ILM; Star Trek: The Next Generation; on the Star Trek movies; on syndication; on his book on Star Trek; on the legacy of Star Trek;
On producing Then Came Bronson, Man from Atlantis, McClain's Law, Gideon's Trumpet, Emergency Room, Force Seven, Magruder and Loud, and Dark Mansions
Chapter 9
On his (then) current projects; on Star Trek conventions; on his favorite film projects
On the differences between working in film and television; on his greatest career achievememt; on advice to aspiring producers and ADs; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Adventures of Superman
Robert Justman on working as second assistant director on Adventures of Superman
Robert Justman on getting the job as second assistant director on Adventures of Superman
Amos 'N' Andy
Robert Justman on working as second assistant director on Amos 'N' Andy
Asphalt Jungle, The
Robert Justman on working on Asphalt Jungle
Best of the Post
Robert Justman on working on Best of the Post
Dark Mansions
Robert Justman on producing Dark Mansions
Doctor, The
Robert Justman on working as second assistant director on The Doctor
Dr. Kildare
Robert Justman on his role on recommending composer Jerry Goldsmith for Dr. Kildare
Emergency Room
Robert Justman on producing Emergency Room
Gideon's Trumpet
Robert Justman on producing Gideon's Trumpet
Loretta Young Show, The
Robert Justman on working as second assistant director on The Loretta Young Show
Man From Atlantis
Robert Justman on producing Man from Atlantis
Martha Raye Show, The
Robert Justman on working as second assistant director on The Martha Raye Show
McClain's Law
Robert Justman on producing McClain's Law
Mickey Mouse Club, The
Robert Justman on working as second assistant director on The Mickey Mouse Club
Mission: Impossible
Robert Justman on working on the Mission: Impossible pilot and the Star Trek pilots
Robert Justman on the Mission: Impossible pilot and series
My Friend Flicka
Robert Justman on working as second assistant director on My Friend Flicka, where an actor was injured during a stunt
Northwest Passage
Robert Justman on working on Northwest Passage
One Step Beyond
Robert Justman on working as a first assistant director on One Step Beyond
Outer Limits, The (1963-65)
Robert Justman on working as a co-producer/production manager on The Outer Limits
Robert Justman on "The Zanti Misfits" episode of The Outer Limits
Outer Limits, The (1963-65): "The Zanti Misfits"
Robert Justman on "The Zanti Misfits" episode of The Outer Limits
Planet Earth
Robert Justman on producing Planet Earth
Search
Robert Justman on producing Search
Star Trek
Robert Justman on working on the Mission: Impossible pilot and the Star Trek pilots
Associate producer Robert Justman on the development of Star Trek
Associate producer Robert Justman on the props created for Star Trek
Robert Justman on working with the cast and crew of Star Trek; on various episodes of the series
Robert Justman on "The City of the Edge of Forever" episode of Star Trek
Robert Justman on "The Menagerie" episode of Star Trek
Robert Justman on some notable episodes of Star Trek; on leaving the series
Star Trek: "The City on the Edge of Forever"
Robert Justman on "The City of the Edge of Forever" episode of Star Trek
Star Trek: "The Menagerie"
Robert Justman on "The Menagerie" episode of Star Trek
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Robert Justman on the development of Star Trek: The Next Generation; on the casting of Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard
Robert Justman on ILM and Star Trek: The Next Generation
Tab Hunter Show, The
Robert Justman on working on The Tab Hunter Show
Then Came Bronson
Robert Justman on producing Then Came Bronson
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Robert Justman on notes from Standards & Practices for Star Trek
Characters & Catchphrases
Robert Justman on Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley and William Shatner and their Star Trek characters
Robert Justman on LeVar Burton's character on Star Trek: The Next Generation
Classic TV Series Episodes
Robert Justman on "The Zanti Misfits" episode of The Outer Limits
Hollywood Blacklist
Robert Justman on the Hollywood Blacklist
Television Industry
Robert Justman on notes from Standards & Practices for Star Trek
Robert Justman on working on the Mission: Impossible pilot and the Star Trek pilots
Underrepresented Voices
Robert Justman on the development of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Professions
Directors
Robert Justman on becoming a first assistant director
Producers
Robert Justman on advice to aspiring producers and ADs
Unit Production Manager
Robert Justman on the differences between Unit Production Manager and first assistant director
Genres
Children's Programming
Robert Justman on working as second assistant director on The Mickey Mouse Club
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
Robert Justman on working as a first assistant director on One Step Beyond
Robert Justman on working as a co-producer/production manager on The Outer Limits
Associate producer Robert Justman on the props and effects created for Star Trek
Robert Justman on working with the cast and crew of Star Trek; on various episodes of the series
Robert Justman on the development of Star Trek: The Next Generation; on the casting of Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard
Robert Justman on ILM and Star Trek: The Next Generation
People
Bud Abbott
Robert Justman on working as a PA on Abbott and Costello films
Robert Aldrich
Robert Justman on working as second assistant director on The Doctor
Robert Justman on as an assistant director for director Robert Aldrich
James Arness
Robert Justman on producing MClain's Law starring James Arness
Lucille Ball
Associate producer Robert Justman on one of Lucille Ball's favorite pilots
Associate producer Robert Justman on Lucille Ball
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry
Robert Justman on Majel Barrett-Roddenberry
John Barrymore
Robert Justman on working on Fritz Lang's film While the City Sleeps
LeVar Burton
Robert Justman on LeVar Burton's character on Star Trek: The Next Generation
Rosemary Clooney
Robert Justman on working with Rosemary Clooney on The Martha Raye Show
Gene Coon
Associate producer Robert Justman on the cast and casting of Star Trek
Lou Costello
Robert Justman on working as a PA on Abbott and Costello films
Wally Cox
Associate producer Robert Justman on Wally Cox in the pilot episode of Alfred of the Amazon
James Doohan
Robert Justman on working with James Doohan
Patrick Duffy
Robert Justman on casting Patrick Duffy in The Man from Atlantis
Henry Fonda
Robert Justman on producing Gideon's Trumpet starring Henry Fonda
Jerry Goldsmith
Robert Justman on recommending composer Jerry Goldsmith for Dr. Kildare
John Houseman
Robert Justman on producing Gideon's Trumpet with John Houseman
Boris Karloff
Robert Justman on working with Boris Karloff on The Martha Raye Show
DeForest Kelley
Robert Justman on DeForest Kelley guest starring on Northwest Passage
Associate producer Robert Justman on the cast and casting of Star Trek
Robert Justman on working with DeForest Kelley
John F. Kennedy
Robert Justman on Peter Lawford introducing him to brother-in-law John F. Kennedy
Walter Koenig
Robert Justman on working with Walter Koenig
Fritz Lang
Robert Justman on working on Fritz Lang's film While the City Sleeps
Peter Lawford
Robert Justman on working with Peter Lawford
Cloris Leachman
Robert Justman on Cloris Leachman guest starring on One Step Beyond
Jack Lord
Robert Justman on Jack Lord
Ida Lupino
Robert Justman on Ida Lupino calling his house
David McCallum
Robert Justman on working with David McCallum on The Outer Limits
Robert Justman on an episode of The Outer Limits with David McCallum
Burgess Meredith
Robert Justman on producing Search
John Newland
Robert Justman on host John Newland of One Step Beyond
Nichelle Nichols
Robert Justman on working with Nichelle Nichols
Leonard Nimoy
Associate producer Robert Justman on the cast and casting of Star Trek
Robert Justman on working with Leonard Nimoy
Hugh O'Brian
Robert Justman on producing Search
Michael Parks
Robert Justman on producing Then Came Bronson
Otto Preminger
Robert Justman on working as a PA on Otto Preminger's film The Moon is Blue
George Reeves
Robert Justman on working with George Reeves on Adventures of Superman
Cliff Robertson
Robert Justman on the pilot episode of The Outer Limits
Gene Roddenberry
Robert Justman on Gene Roddenberry hiring DeForest Kelley
Robert Justman on meeting Gene Roddenberry
Associate producer Robert Justman on the development of Star Trek
Associate producer Robert Justman on the cast and casting of Star Trek
Robert Justman on working with Gene Rodenberry
Robert Justman on the development of Star Trek: The Next Generation; on the casting of Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard
Robert Justman on producing Planet Earth
William Shatner
Robert Justman on William Shatner
Associate producer Robert Justman on the cast and casting of Star Trek
Robert Justman on working with William Shatner
Herbert F. Solow
Associate producer Robert Justman on Herb Solow declaring that Justman work on Star Trek
Aaron Spelling
Robert Justman on producing Dark Mansions
Joseph Stefano
Robert Justman on working as a co-producer/production manager on The Outer Limits
Patrick Stewart
Robert Justman on the casting of Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard
George Takei
Robert Justman on working with George Takei
Loretta Young
Robert Justman on being second assistant director on The Loretta Young Show