Glad you guys like the pics I'm putting on the site, production has been fun and everyone is in great spirits!
Support? Does anyone here remember the reaction to the first Renegades film? Let's just say that Trek fans soft-balled their critiques out of goodwill for the stars that put their time into it. Viable commercial competition for an audience on a level playing field it's not. I don't think CBS/P is worried in the slightest about Renegades becoming any sort of Trek alternative the way, let's say, Babylon 5 was to DS9. It's inhabiting that nether-region between fan-film and no-budget sy-fy fare. Once you file off the serial numbers then Trek fans have a much harder time using their imagination to pretend Renegades is some sort of plausible extension of Trek canon, imagining the futures of Tuvok, Checkov, etc... and it's kind of a sad knockoff with typecast actors who can't get a better gig.
But then they'll be sued for a "Cheers" IP violation (which was why the character was named 'Morn' on DS9 at the bar in the first place . )
I have mixed feelings about this. I would have thought you guys would have delayed a week, or would have opened a dialog with C/P as soon as the rules had dropped, after all you should have had connections as the first episode was a pilot to be pitched. I am disappointed that this project has been sterilized of star trek yet so much of it is still star trek. A feeling of Knockoffs is definitely in the air. Wonder how the cast took this, if they were able to take it seriously. On the other side I am excited that this will take you away from the canon anchor, but it means that you will face challenges, can this series get off the ground with out it's trek back bone / peak enough interest for future episodes. I would like to see more set photos of your shuttle craft interior, curious how it looks
I think Renegades really got stung by the timing. They had just started principal photography when the guidelines came down. A shutdown, even for just a few days, would have been immensely expensive and Renegades has limited resources... so they absolutely had to roll cameras immediately, with no time to hold a dialogue with CBS.
They knew the lawsuit was pending. They took a calculated risk in continuing at all. BTW, looks to me their set design hasn't changed at all. That by itself is a copyright violation, the LCARS displays and what not. If CBS wanted to go after them, they could still find enough ammo to do so. I really think they're making a bad situation worse right now.
Can't delay, the stages were already rented, it was do or die. Renegades will not be violating any copyrights. Somethings will be also adjusted in post. for Instance, the VFX Archer model has already been redesigned etc., some displays will be altered, adding holographic displays etc...
Honestly, I think you guys have done more than enough to file off the serial numbers. I realize I have absolutely no authority on which to base this hunch, but I don't think CBS will care at this point. If they look, they can clearly see where you've done everything you can to remove anything Trek related.