Christopher James Miller Christopher James Miller is the actor who played René Picard in the film . The role was originated by David Tristan Birkin in the episode . Miller had previously appeared in an episode of the science fiction television series " seaQuest DSV " along with fellow " Star Trek " alumni William Shatner and Richard Herd in which Miller played Shatner ' s son . He also guest - starred on " Evening Shade " and " Maybe This Time " . With a growing interest in makeup and special effects , Miller began working with Emmy Award winning makeup artist Dean C . Jones at American Makeup and FX on such films as " Roman " and " Night of the Living Dead 3D " . Miller also contributed special makeup effects for the TV shows " Over There " and " Dexter " . In 2006 , Miller started Razorwire Pictures , a film production company specializing in horror films and animation . Miller has since written , directed and provided the musical scores for numerous features and short films . Miller started doing extensive stop - motion animation work for the 2008 children ' s variety show " Polyphony " , which was an official selection at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival . His other animated shorts can be found on the " Bizarre Cartoons " and " Avant - garde animation " DVD compilations . In 2009 , Miller released " The Mondo Splatter Collection " , a DVD containing his first three feature films , " Marblehead " , " October Nightmare " and " Carrion " . In 2009 , Miller directed the horror - musical " Ironhorse " , starring Eric Lutes , adult film star Brittany O ' Neil , and Carl Crew ( " Blood Diner " ) . Horror website Cinemaglob praised the film , comparing it to " Eraserhead " and " Forbidden Zone " due to its grainy black and white visuals , and surrealistic elements . Most of the music from the soundtrack was released on CD by Miller under the pseudonym " Krzysztof Muller " . In 2010 , Miller received two Pixie awards from the American Pixel Academy for his work in stop motion animation . In 2011 , he received two Empixx awards in the animation category for his short films " The Lightbulb Factory " and " Crawfish . " Also in 2011 , Miller directed various interview specials and promos for Hart D . Fisher ' s American Horrors channel on FilmOn . com . Miller also did some editing work and designed the stop motion title sequence for the feature film Toolbox Murders 2 AKA " Coffin Baby " . That same year he also co - wrote the screenplays to the Christian dramas , " Lukewarm " , which stars John Schneider , Bill Cobbs and Jenna von Oÿ , and " Online " which were distributed by Image Entertainment . Both movies received positive reviews from the Dove Foundation . In 2012 , Miller completed " The Second Self " , starring Kyle Morris ( " 2012 : Ice Age " ) completing a short film trilogy based on his dreams that began with " Crawfish " and " Tioga " . The three shorts appear together on the DVD compilation " The Second Self . . . and Other Stories " . Critics have compared Chris J . Miller ' s films to the early works of such directors as David Lynch , Terry Gilliam , David Cronenberg , Jan Švankmajer , Ed Wood and John Waters . In 2013 Miller completed the post - apocalyptic feature " 2035 : Forbidden Dimensions " which was an official selection at The New Orleans Horror film festival . In 2014 , ITN Entertainment picked up " 2035 : Forbidden Dimensions " for worldwide distribution and a special screening was held at San Diego Comic Con . Critical reviews from horror websites Dread Central and Horror News praised the film ' s 80 ' s VHS style homages , practical makeup effects and psychedelic overtones . Miller also worked on various projects for independent movie company The Asylum as an art director for the films " The Coed and the Zombie Stoner " and the Christmas special " Santa Claws " . He also did special makeup effects for " Sharknado 3 " . Miller is an avid collector of cult film memorabilia and provided rare deleted scenes and other bonus features for the 2016 Blu - ray release of Claudio Fragasso ' s Monster Dog . Most recently Miller finished " Mortuary Massacre " , a grindhouse horror anthology which was picked up for worldwide distribution by Wild Eye Releasing . " Mortuary Massacre " was an official selection at Fester : The Mindfuck Film Festival and premiered at the California Institute of Abnormalarts . According to his official facebook page , Miller was very sick during shooting , and in July of 2016 , while doing the final edits on " Mortuary Massacre " Miller was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin ' s Lymphoma . After completing his film he immediately went into chemotherapy . In April 2017 his cancer was in full remission . Miller is currently in the process of putting out a collection of his artwork entitled " Chemobrain : The Art of Chris J . Miller " . Miller is married to fellow animator and mortician Lydia Blaisdell - Miller .