William Shatner happens to be one of the hippest icons on the planet. He embraces each day with this young-at-heart attitude that inspires us all. At 88 years young, the very first “Star Trek” captain goes to sleep every night with creative ideas spinning around in his head.
Shatner is recognized around the world from his roles in the “Star Trek” series and films, “Boston Legal,” “TJ Hooker,” and recently for exploring Europe and Asia on “Better Late Than Never.” With 242 acting credits, a long list of writing, directing, and producing credits, his fans can agree that he has pretty much done it all. Catch up with his latest projects and come meet him in person at StarFest Denver this weekend Apr. 26-28, 2019. The event is a must for Trekkies as he will be joined by Nichelle Nichols enjoying her farewell tour.
Colleen Bement: You’re headed back to StarFest Denver this weekend and we’re looking forward to seeing you.
William Shatner: I’m looking forward to it as well. I’ll be coming from South Texas and I’ll be there all day Sunday and I’m looking forward to meeting you and the fans. My granddaughter and her father were there last week looking at universities. She’s 16 and beginning to visit where she might like to go to college.
WS: She was looking at the University of Denver and then one other, and I don’t remember which one.
CB: I hope she finds one she likes.
WS: Well it would be wonderful. She doesn’t ski yet, but I’m sure she’ll take it up. When I was skiing I’d come into Denver all the time and ski at the various ski areas beyond the Eisenhower Tunnel. I used to go there all of the time.
CB: I hear that you stay so young by saying “Yes” to everything. You certainly did that on your show “Better Late Than Never,” and ended up eating the craziest foods!
WS: Well when I’m asked to jump off a bridge, that’s when I say no. We could exaggerate saying yes to everything, but what I really am saying is saying yes to life.
CB: You never stop doing. Never stop going. I’m picturing what it’s like to be you at night when you’re falling asleep, do you have two or three ideas spinning around in your head?
WS: Well, that’s actually true! I’m either making a speech to my grandchildren, lecturing them about something. I wake up the next morning and think well I’d better not say that! Or I’m tossing over an idea. I have a company that I call Shatner Universe and we’re busy selling all kinds of shows.
This afternoon, I’m talking to A&E about a cop show and we’re very close to selling it. That occupies a good part of my time: Inventing shows and putting a team together and then going to a network or an outlet on trying to sell them on the idea that we can make the show for them. That’s the ultimate, really. Getting an idea, getting it written, getting a team together, and putting the sales tools which are a little bit of film on what the concept is, and some of the episodes written down on what you think the episodes might be, and going in and having people beside you and behind you. It’s an enormous effort and the success rate is so small, but it dangles the dream in front of you if you keep reaching for it.
CB: THAT is inspirational!
WS: Well that’s really what life is, isn’t it? I think this book I have out ‘Live Long and…‘ one of the thesis is you can’t really advise anyone about anything since we filter our own reality. Whatever I say, the words are certainly a level of the philosophy behind the words, so that all I can say is that what I do, and if it resonates with you, you might try it.
CB: Tell us more about the book.
WS: The premise is Say Yes to Life. After the age of six or seven, I’m thinking of my grandchildren. There’s an independence of a desire to do their own thing, and almost an insolence about experience because of their telephones and the feedback they’re getting from this new technology which is great and destructive at the same time. Like everything else man invents like the internal combustion engine: It’s our savior and it’s our death. So that everything we do has a two-edged sword. We’ve got to govern it so that we extract the good, and minimize the damage.
CB: I take that to heart.
WS: Well you gotta keep banging, eventually they come to it, and hopefully it won’t be too late. It’s apparent to everybody else in the world, with a few exceptions, is incredible. We don’t give thanks enough for it. Our life here no matter the circumstances is incredible compared to 7 billion people in the world, the other 6 billion people who live in poverty. We should be giving thanks every day to our good fortune.
CB: I feel extra blessed now, and actually we’re blessed to have you come to Denver.
WS: I feel blessed coming to Denver. I have a chance to talk to the Denver fans on Sunday and sign some autographs and pose for some pictures and have a good time visiting with people. I hope your audience will be there and I hope you’ll be there as well.
CB: Of course I’ll be there! Are you kidding, I grew up with you! You’ve come to Denver a few times for StarFest and other conventions.
WS: I’m no stranger to Denver both for skiing and visiting and motorcycling. I’ve done it all there.
CB: I heard someone built you a motorcycle.
WS: Yeah, with a 500 horsepower Cadillac engine in it. And it didn’t work. I filmed it and I’m still editing the film on it and it’s called “The Ride.” So many people involved in “The Ride” both the ride on the motorcycle and the ride in their lives, it should be interesting.
Catch William Shatner along with Nichelle Nichols and more amazing guests in Denver, CO this weekend at StarFest Denver. Tickets are still available and prices go up at the door.
Written by Colleen Bement
1 thought on “Interview: Living legend William Shatner says YES to life!”
Comments are closed.