 The Genesis planet was produced via matte paintings and soundstages on Paramount lots under art director John Edward <unk> II . Much of the planet occupied Stage 15 , known as the DeMille stage in honor of the director 's Parting of the Red Sea on the stage during filming of The Ten Commandments ( 1956 ) . The space measured 300 by 100 feet ( 91 by 30 m ) . The perceived boundaries of the scenes were extended via matte paintings created by Chris Evans , Frank Ordaz , and Michael <unk> . Because parts of the set had to literally collapse during the planet 's destruction , the set was built 16 feet ( 4 @.@ 9 m ) off the ground and featured trapdoors and pyrotechnics in the floor . The hundreds of 10 @,@ 000 watt lights in the rafters were covered in silk for day scenes to soften the light , and fitted with blue filters for night ; dimmers eased the transition between periods . Since the doomed planet was no longer a paradise , the art director , Nimoy , Bennett and Correll considered constant changes to the colors on the scenes , but decided not to get " fancy photographically " . While many of the scenes appeared lit with minimal light sources such as flickering fires , Correll tried to use as much light as possible . To get the fire to reflect on the actor 's faces , Correll used a variety of tricks with normal lights ; using natural fire would not have provided the required intensity . 
