It seems like filming it in pieces would cause the costs to go through the proverbial roof. Because, one of their funding drives mentions a David Gerrold series filming as well. So, then do they film part of Axanar, tear down the sets, film this other series, either whole or piecemeal then reconstruct the Axanar sets for the next filming and so on...
Yes, we have optioned a script from David, however we wouldn't need to tear down the Axanar sets. They're built in a modular fashion and on casters, so they literally come apart in pieces and can just be rolled in to a corner of the studio space like a game of seriously geeky Tetris, or even rolled in to the parking lot (which is pretty big) to get them out of the way entirely in a more extreme scenario.
The VFX Indie was done by our VFX supervisors actually, not any of the producers. So my issue in not multiple drives, that's totally fine.
Factually correct, but not perceptually correct, since I donated to that fundraiser and remember it well. The 'this is being done by the VFX people and not the production proper' is, at face value, a bit disingenuous in my opinion, because it was directly for the benefit of the film, it was created and managed by crew on the film, and Sky is shown in the organizer 'contact' section as having control in the fundraiser. See, perception, which may or may not be correct, because I didn't ask -- kind of like what some people are questioning with us, because if they had a question they haven't asked, or didn't at the time. In the end it is what it is and isn't worth a dispute though. =)
My point is, giving the notion to the fans in the first Kickstarter that you would make the full film for roughly 700k (your studios set costs as listed in that Kickstarter are only about 325k). I fully expected you would have a second funding drive to ask for a little bit more funds to get the film done (200k at most) which is totally cool, since some thing tend to be underestimated. But, to my surprise, you guys come out asking for 1.3M more to get the full film done. And, then tell fans if we don't get, what is roughly 1.9 mill total, we can't do the full film but can give you pieces (acts) of it.
Asked and answered.
What's to say the the third funding drive you guys ask for even more money or you can even do the 20 or 30 minutes of act 1?
Nothing says that won't happen and I say that as a reasonable person. Is it likely to happen? Very, very unlikely re: raising the bar even higher down the road. Our highly experienced and qualified Line Producer has worked out the budget, based on the script, so the budget now is the budget. That said, if we have to cut some corners then we'll cut corners to come in on target.
Also, since you are creating a 'for profit' studio business from these drives, those funds you make on that business revenue should totally bring down the funds your asking of the fans, rather than asking them for an additional 1.3 mil. Your using a the fans money to build a business model that will also net you plenty of profit. IMO, when this Indiegogo drive ends just use what you got to make the full film and keep the fans/donors happy.
Could bring it down? No. Could subsidize some of the cost? Absolutely possible. You could look at it as using fan's money to build a for-profit business, sure. But, the studio would have been needed in any case. The sets would have to have been built in any case. So, what we're hoping to do is not walk away when Axanar is in the can and continue on with having the studio be self-funding through other efforts which will benefit not only us for future Trek installments that are planned, but allow the for-profit side to subsidize the non-profit side, as well as having standing sets for other efforts -- already in planning or that are to come -- available on the west coast. As you may know, it's not cheap or easy to fly everyone to NY if James were to allow another production to use/lease his sets, or to OK for Starbase Studios or to GA for ST:C's sets, either. Now there's a fourth option and we hope that option remains available for years to come on its own merit and financial stability. For example, Captain Pike may be leasing our sets and that revenue would go in to Axanar -- I say may because their people and Alec have only had a few brief conversations about the possibility existing and nothing has been agreed upon or signed.
Funny because it's sometimes true.
Lighten up.
