Was Geordi's VISOR ever spelled lower-case in "Star Trek: TNG" scripts?

Was Geordi's VISOR ever spelled lower-case in "Star Trek: TNG" scripts? - If You Judge People You Have No Time To Love Them text spelled out with pink letter tiles of famous word game against black background

Reference materials for Star Trek spell the visual aide used by character Geordi LaForge as the acronym VISOR, instead of the word visor. Was this also the case in the scripts for the television show? Or were there some scripts (particularly early ones) where the prop is spelled in lower-case?

What I wonder is whether the producers took ideas from third-party merchandise and retroactively applied them to the television show, instead of coming up with the ideas themselves. If the term appeared in lower-case early in the show's scripts, before it appeared in upper-case in third party merchandise, that becomes strong evidence that the producers ret-conned material from third-party sources.

Star Wars is notorious for this practice (Palpatine's name, Coruscant, kyber crystals, etc.). Did the producers of Star Trek also do this?



Best Answer

It's standard notation for scripts to capitalize important props, so I'm not sure that upper or lower case in the script has any special significance, even if a contrived acronym was created before or after the script was written. Longshank's answer seems to follow the script-writing convention that important plot and prop items are capitalized in scripts.

Generally, text in a screenplay’s actions or stage directions will be in ALL CAPS when something deserves special attention.

Some common all caps examples:

  • The first time a character is introduced, his or her name should be in all caps. This is the one steadfast all caps rule.

  • Visual or special effects will often be in all caps.

  • Specific, important sounds that either have to be captured during filming or added in during post.

  • Any integral or specifically important props, wardrobe, or other details the first time it is mentioned.

Source




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What does VISOR stand for in Star Trek?

According to IMDB.com, \u201cGeordi's VISOR was improvised on the first day of shooting using chiefly an automotive air filter and a hair band.\u201d After the first day, a more permanent prop was created and used going forward.




More answers regarding was Geordi's VISOR ever spelled lower-case in "Star Trek: TNG" scripts?

Answer 2

There are what appear to be shooting scripts for TNG episodes here: Star Trek Minutiae

The script for season 1, episode 4 "Code of Honor" contains the first mention of VISOR I could find, written as all capitals:

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

47 INT. ENTERPRISE - GEORDI'S QUARTERS

Geordi is standing alone in his room, his glasses on a table. Without his VISOR his eyes are dead grey. He holds a glowing 2-inch blue cube in his hand which he moves up, down and across his face an inch or so away from the skin. He is shaving. There is a CHIME from his door.

However,

There is at least one instance where it is both upper and lowercase, in season 7's The Descent:

DATA Give me your Visor.

GEORDI (disbelieving) Why?

Data raises his Borg WEAPON threateningly.

DATA Give it to me or I will take it by force.

Geordi has no choice but to surrender it. He takes the VISOR and EXITS the cell. The Borg Guard activates the force-field, which FRITZES on and is visible for only a moment. Data turns and regards his old friends with a cold eye.

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