William Shatner
William Shatner (born 22 March 1931) is a Canadian actor known for portraying Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek television and film franchise. He became involved in paintball in 2002 through a series of charity scenario games known as SPPLAT Attack or Shatnerball.[1][2]
Shatner participated in three documented large-scale paintball events between 2002 and 2004. The games combined recreational paintball, themed scenarios, celebrity appearances and charitable fundraising. They were organised with the involvement of the Society of Paintball Players and Teams (SPPLAT), Tom Kaye of Airgun Designs and other members of the American paintball industry.[1][3]
The events supported Ahead With Horses, a charity providing therapeutic activities involving horses for children and adults with disabilities.[1][3]
Paintball involvement
[edit]Origins of SPPLAT Attack
[edit]Shatner became involved in paintball through JJ Brookshire, founder of the Society of Paintball Players and Teams.
In a July 2002 interview with WARPIG, Shatner explained that Brookshire had previously proposed organising a paintball exhibition at a charity horse show.
Although that initial proposal did not proceed, Brookshire subsequently developed the idea into a large-scale charity scenario game at Challenge Park Xtreme in Joliet, Illinois.[1]
Shatner stated that he had not previously played paintball but was interested in the opportunity to participate in an outdoor activity while raising money for charity.
He became involved in developing the event's storyline and arrangements for filming the game.[1]
SPPLAT Attack (2002)
[edit]The first William Shatner's SPPLAT Attack was held on 31 August 2002 at Challenge Park Xtreme, near Joliet, Illinois.
The event used a Star Trek-themed scenario, with permission from Paramount Pictures to incorporate names and imagery from the franchise.
Participants were divided into three armies:
- Federation – Commanded by William Shatner, assisted by scenario organisers Patric "PacMan" McKinnon and Kerry "Viper" Rosenberry.
- Borg – Commanded by Tom Kaye, president of Airgun Designs, with assistance from Bud Orr of Worr Game Products.
- Klingons – Commanded by Chicago radio presenter Eric "Mancow" Muller.
The participating armies competed for objectives across the playing fields, with missions and alliances contributing to the scenario's outcome.[2][4]
The event also incorporated other entertainment and paintball activities, including a pump-marker tournament and demonstrations.
Shatner arrived at the playing area using a powered paraglider.
Contemporary coverage documented his active participation, including commanding players, negotiating with opposing forces and taking part in the paintball action.[4]
The event attracted more than 1,000 participants, including experienced scenario players, recreational players and Star Trek enthusiasts.[3]
Shatnerball II: The Wrath of Tom (2003)
[edit]The second event, Shatnerball II: The Wrath of Tom, took place on 31 August 2003 at EMR Paintball in New Milford, Pennsylvania.
The venue was operated by Michael "Blue" Hanse and was known for its scenario games, including Castle Conquest.[3]
The 2003 event replaced the science-fiction theme with a Wild West storyline.
Shatner commanded the Cavalry forces, supported by Mancow's Posse, while Tom Kaye commanded the opposing Tek Nuts faction.
Glenn Palmer of Palmer's Pursuit Shop commanded the Raiders after the originally announced celebrity participant, Wayne Brady, became unavailable.[3]
The event attracted approximately 800 registered players.
It incorporated large woodland battles, themed missions and a smaller elimination-format game featuring the opposing commanders.
During the final scenario battle, Shatner's Cavalry and Mancow's Posse secured the objective and won the game.[3]
A charity auction following the event raised money for Ahead With Horses.
Contemporary WARPIG reporting estimated the auction proceeds at nearly US$10,000.[3]
Shatnerball III (2004)
[edit]A third Shatnerball event was held on 5 September 2004 at Challenge Park Xtreme, returning the series to the Chicago area.
The scenario was titled Mobster Mash and featured a fictional conflict between rival criminal organisations.
Shatner appeared as William "The Shaft" Shatner, commanding the blue team.
His opponent was Tom "The Don" Kaye, who commanded the maroon team.
The event's organisers identified Steve "Hammer" Sciuga as Shatner's executive officer and Bobby "Darkman" Gogolin as Kaye's executive officer.[5]
Contemporary accounts by members of the Canadian P.A. Predators paintball team document Shatner arriving by powered parachute and participating in the day's activities.
Approximately 660 players attended.
The event included themed costumes, paintball vehicles, scenario objectives and an auction of memorabilia and equipment.[6]
The P.A. Predators account describes Kaye's team dominating much of the main scenario game.
Paintball equipment
[edit]Shatner used an electronic E-Mag paintball marker supplied by Airgun Designs during the original SPPLAT Attack.
The marker was customised for the event with Star Trek-themed engraving and decorative controls labelled "Stun" and "Kill".
Photographs of the marker appeared in WARPIG's September 2002 coverage of the Bad Boyz Toyz Pig Roast.[7]
The original SPPLAT Attack DVD also included supplementary footage explaining the marker and documenting Shatner's introductory paintball training.[4]
Film and television coverage
[edit]William Shatner's SPPLAT Attack
[edit]The inaugural 2002 game was documented by a film crew from Creative Light Video.
The production combined footage from the playing fields with interviews, command decisions and elements of the fictional scenario.
It was released as William Shatner's SPPLAT Attack on DVD on 10 December 2002.[8]
The production was also distributed through pay-per-view television.
WARPIG reviewer Bill Mills described the documentary's approach to covering a large scenario game, including the use of multiple camera operators to record events taking place simultaneously across the venue.[4]
The DVD included additional material concerning Shatner's training, his paintball equipment and the event's participants.
Subsequent coverage
[edit]The 2003 Shatnerball event was documented by specialist paintball publications, including WARPIG and Paintball 2Xtremes.
Television cameras and other media crews also attended.
The event featured a special elimination match between teams led by Shatner and Tom Kaye, organised partly for media coverage.[3]
Charitable activities
[edit]Charitable fundraising was a principal objective of the Shatnerball events.
The 2002 event supported the Hollywood Charity Horse Show and Ahead With Horses.
Shatner had an existing association with equestrian activities and used the paintball events to promote charitable support for people with disabilities.[1][4]
The 2003 event continued the fundraising programme, including an auction of autographed equipment and memorabilia.[3]
Although contemporary sources document these activities, a complete independently verified total for fundraising across all three events has not been established.
Significance in paintball
[edit]Shatner's participation brought attention to recreational and scenario paintball beyond the sport's established audience.
The events combined appearances by a widely recognised television actor with support from equipment manufacturers, scenario organisers, competitive players and paintball publications.
They also introduced some Star Trek enthusiasts to paintball through a fictional setting familiar to them.
The original SPPLAT Attack was subsequently preserved in a commercial video documentary.
Shatner's documented contribution to paintball was primarily through large-scale scenario events, entertainment and fundraising, rather than professional tournament competition.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- WARPIG – Shatner Writes Scenario. Bill Mills, July 2002. Contemporary interview documenting Shatner's introduction to paintball, event planning and charitable objectives.
- WARPIG – SPPLAT Scenario Grows into Festival. August 2002. Contemporary announcement of the inaugural game, commanders, venue and additional activities.
- WARPIG – Shatnerball II: The Wrath of Tom. Joshua D. Silverman, 2003. Contemporary report documenting the 2003 game, participants, outcome and fundraising.
- WARPIG – William Shatner's SPPLAT Attack. Bill Mills. Review of the original event documentary, including coverage of the game's organisation, filming and Shatner's equipment.
- Automags.org – Leading the Troops. Mackz Xtreme Sportz, 11–17 June 2004. Contemporary organiser announcements identifying Shatnerball III's opposing commanders and personnel.
- P.A. Predators – Shatnerball Trip 2004. Firsthand participant account documenting the September 2004 event at Challenge Park Xtreme.
- WARPIG – Bad Boyz Toyz Pig Roast Gallery. September 2002. Photographic record identifying Shatner's customised E-Mag.
- Film Threat – SPPLAT Happy Shatner. 9 December 2002. Contemporary announcement of the SPPLAT Attack DVD release.