You Can Call Me Bill

Star Trek spawned the pathway for the rest of his life. Yes, he goes on about his other iconic roles, including T.J. Hooker, Denny Crane, and the Priceline Negotiator, to name a few. But did you know he also came to a career as a “singer,” poet, and world-class lover of life?

Shatner was 91 when he sat down for his You Can Call Me Bill interview. How is he 91? At this age, the beloved icon still tries to squeeze every ounce of life into anything he does. He rides horses every morning, stands alone on a 14,000-foot glacier, and goes to outer space for crying out loud. While in space, rather than celebrate with Jeff Bezos and the other passengers, Shatner speaks of looking back at the beauty of Earth as an overwhelming emotional experience.

“…I sat there mesmerized…”

The film ends with what many interpreted as William Shatner not having long to live, but it is not a declaration of death. Instead, it is an intense feeling that even with the life he’s lived, Shatner is not immortal. He doesn’t want a grand memorial at his final resting place when he passes. He simply wants to be a tree, having redwood planted over his ashes.

Yes, I did absolutely no justice in describing this film. All I can tell you is I sat there mesmerized by the greatness of William Shatner and wishing my life could be as great as his. You Can Call Me Bill is truly an intimate portrait of William Shatner: his passions, hopes, and concerns for the world he’ll eventually leave behind. If you’re looking for dirt on his cohorts and colleagues, this is not that documentary. Instead, it’s a celebration of a life that I’m sure will go on for more years than we can possibly imagine.

You Can Call Me Bill premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival and the 2023 Newport Beach Film Festival.