The entry, called Paramount Pictures…100 Years of Movie Magic, paid homage to past studio productions, including Star Trek.

Fifty-five feet in length, the float included Star Trek‘s USS Enterprise, the 1948 Ford Deluxe “Greased Lightning” from Grease, the Paramount Bronson Street gate, Transformers character Bumblebee, the WWI biplane from Wings and the bench from Forrest Gump.

Photos of the process of creating the float can be seen at Byrne Robotics where Rick Senger, who helped to decorate the Paramount float, can be seen decorating the Enterprise, using sweet uber white rice. Onion seed was used for the black colorings on the ship.

This was Paramount Pictures first ever entry into the Rose Parade. Ten Paramount employees rode on the float during the parade. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge.

http://youtu.be/VMHnWB4mezs

The studio is said to have “really liked” the pitch for the sequel and it didn’t hurt that Star Trek XI grossed over $385 million worldwide, so the studio is willing to take the chance on another successful film.

The script is said to be close to completion and production may begin this August. Star Trek XII will open next summer. And in other Star Trek XII news, actor Paul Giamatti (Cinderella Man, Sideways) has made it known that he’d like to play a Klingon in the sequel.

Each of the pre-loaded movies must be unlocked by special keys, available for purchase, but Star Trek XI will be provided for free after purchase with the redemption of a promotional code provided by Seagate.

The films, listed below, will be licensed for multiple devices “to allow for portability and enjoyment of them on a desktop computer, laptop computer or widescreen television, using the FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player.

Films pre-loaded on the 500GB FreeAgent Go HD:

• Star Trek XI
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• GI Joe
• Shooter
• The Hunt for Red October
• The Italian Job (2003)
• Ghost
• Patriot Games
• Beowulf
• Enemy at the Gates
• The Spiderwick Chronicles
• The Love Guru
• Coach Carter
• The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
• Nacho Libre
• Jackass 2.5
• A Plumm Summer
• Carriers
• Dance Flick
• Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
• Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow

“Collaborating with Seagate on this massive movie pre-load reinforces our commitment to embrace technologies that give consumers choice and flexibility in how they access and purchase their digital entertainment, ” said Malik Ducard, senior vice president, Digital Distribution, The Americas, Paramount Digital Entertainment.  “Paramount Digital Entertainment has created a powerful solution that allows companies like Seagate to offer a seamless experience for consumers to access and securely activate pre-loaded movies, ensuring that exciting films are available everywhere they wish to enjoy them.

“And with over 38 hours of movie viewing enjoyment pre-loaded onto the portable device, we are offering consumers a great opportunity to jump start their digital libraries.”

“Seagate and Paramount Pictures are delivering major motion pictures to consumers in a unique and innovative solution,” said Dave Mosley, executive vice president, Sales, Marketing and Product Line Management, Seagate. “For years Seagate hard drives have been powering the devices that allow consumers to enjoy their digital libraries. Today, we are simplifying content delivery by giving consumers the ultimate flexibility in how they enjoy their movies all in a convenient package.”

Viacom, which owns media properties such as MTV and Nickelodeon cable networks, as well as Paramount, attributes the increase in profitability to its Filmed Entertainment segment as well as to cost containment measures throughout the company.

“Viacom’s results over the past year have been extraordinary and illustrate the value of a well planned strategy and execution,” said Viacom Executive Chairman Sumner M. Redstone. “Despite the economic challenges, we performed extremely well across our media networks and motion picture operations. As a result of the quality of our operations and wealth of creative talent throughout the company, we are well positioned for success not only today but long into the future.”

“Paramount Pictures significantly boosted its profitability in 2009 as the studio’s strategy of producing a smaller slate of films, anchored by franchises, began to pick up momentum,” said Viacom President and CEO Philippe Dauman. “We also were pleased to see renewed consumer demand for our new DVD and Blu-ray releases in the fourth quarter.”

Star Trek XI was part of the reason for the increase in profitability in the fourth quarter of 2009, as noted in the corporate report.  “Worldwide home entertainment revenues of $1.15 billion represent a 12% increase over the prior year’s fourth quarter results and reflect the strong performance of the DVD and Blu-ray releases of Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen, Star Trek and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Worldwide television license fees grew 27% to $445 million.”

For the full year, “…adjusted operating income grew 1% to $3.0 billion versus $2.98 billion in 2008, reflecting a significant increase in profitability in the Filmed Entertainment segment primarily fueled by the success of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Star Trek and Paranormal Activity as well as the benefit of restructuring and other cost-containment initiatives.’

Ellison filed suit against Paramount and the Writers Guild of America in March, looking for an accounting and payment from merchandising, publishing and other exploitations of his famous teleplay, The City on the Edge of Forever.

The WGA was included because they failed to act on Ellison’s behalf after multiple requests. Ellison’s lawyer, John H. Carmichael, said at the time “Writers under that WGA agreement are supposed to get 25% of the revenue from the licensing of publication rights.”

The Crucible series (Crucible: McCoy-Provenance of Shadows, Crucible: Spock-The Fire, Crucible: Kirk-The Star to Every Wandering) of books used Ellison’s “unique story elements.” In addition to books, there was merchandise such as a Hallmark Christmas ornament of the “talking” Guardian of Forever which used actual lines that Ellison wrote for his teleplay.

Ellison posted on his website today, saying “The Star Trek lawsuit is over. I am pleased with the outcome. An ‘agreed-upon statement’ will be coming from me and my attorney John Carmichael and CBS/Paramount today or in the next two-three days. It is carefully worded. Wait for it. But, at bottom, three years’ litigation is completed. Lordy, I am tired. Smiling at last.”

Trektoday will post the statement when it becomes available.

As reported by Variety, the first quarter for Paramount was a dismal one, with the studio posting a &_#36;123 million operating loss. “We were in a situation where we weren’t fully in control of our release slate,” said Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. “We now have full control of our slate. We won’t be in a position where our big, franchise pictures are offset” by a handful of smaller, less successful films.”

“That’s why Star Trek is so important,” he added. “We greenlit Star Trek 2 several weeks before the release of 1 because we knew what we had.”

Star Trek XI continues to do well at the box office. It has earned &_#36;193 million in three weeks and is well on pace to become the highest grossing film of 2009. That position is currently held by Monsters vs. Aliens, which has been running for nine weeks.

To read more, head to the article located here.

As reported by Harlanellison.com, the lawsuit also names the Writers Guild of America, alleging that the WGA failed to act on Ellison’s behalf after numerous requests.Ellison’s lawyer, John H. Carmichael said, “Writers under that WGA agreement are supposed to get 25% of the revenue from the licensing of publication rights.”

Paramount, through its sister-corporation Simon & Schuster, through its Pocket Books division, licensed the right to publish a trilogy of the episode (Crucible: McCoy: Provenance of Shadows, Crucible: Spock–The Fire and the Rose and Crucible: Kirk: The Star to Every Wandering, all by David R. George III,) using Ellison’s unique story elements. Paramount also licensed merchandise, such as the Guardian of Forever Hallmark Christmas ornament.

According to Carmichael, “Paramount will not respond to any alleged Guild requests for an accounting. Not just for the books, but for much City-related merchandise, such as a Hallmark Christmas ornament of the “talking” Guardian of Forever actually using lines Ellison wrote for his script, obvious re-uses of Ellison’s singular creation, for which he should be compensated.