StarTrek.com – Barney Burman won an Oscar, his first, as part of the makeup team that brought to life the creatures in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek feature. But that film wasn’t his first foray into the Star Trek universe; far from it in fact. Makeup F/X runs in his blood and several family members are not only in the business, but also worked on assortedStar Trek series and features. StarTrek.com recently caught up with Burman for an exclusive interview in which he revealed his Star Trek connections, discussed winning an Oscar and revealed his hope to breathe life into some Klingons in the next Star Trek feature.

Your first known credit is Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Let’s start there. What do you remember of that experience? Working on the film with your father (Thomas Burman)?

I was pretty young, not yet 18, and didn’t have much drive as far as doing makeup. I helped out in the shop, but it was after school and mostly I just assisted where I was needed. I did get to sculpt my very first alien face, though. And my dad like it, but the design concept changed and it had to be redone. The memory that sticks out the most, however, is I was fortunate enough to go to the Star Trek III “Lift Off” party, where all the products and cast, except (William) Shatner, gathered to celebrate the beginning of the adventure. It was at one of the producer’s houses and I remember being very vocal about hoping to get a part as an actor. Eventually, one of the producers pulled me aside and chewed me a new one! He said, “This is a party for people to have a good time, not a place for you to get a job!” He was right. I was being obnoxious about it. Well, I left that party nearly in tears, certain my career as an actor was over even before it had begun. A week alter a list of the actors that were to appear in the bar scene was sent into my father’s studio and lo and behold, my name as on it!

Read the rest of the interview here.