At least they got the Bridge set painted....
Deadline reporting new Trek series, what about fan productions?
- Thread starter DCR
- Start date
At least they got the Bridge set painted....
I'm seeing comments that suggest CBS won't do X or Y because of the potential of "fan backlash."
Curious: is there any evidence to suggest that a studio has made any kind of change in an executive decision for fear of a fan backlash or ill will?
Personally, I don't see why they would feel beholden to any fan production or have any compunction about putting down the ban hammer if they felt a fan production would pose any financial risk for the brand. I think it's a matter of when, not if, and then fan productions would go into the exciting underground phase.
Curious: is there any evidence to suggest that a studio has made any kind of change in an executive decision for fear of a fan backlash or ill will?
Personally, I don't see why they would feel beholden to any fan production or have any compunction about putting down the ban hammer if they felt a fan production would pose any financial risk for the brand. I think it's a matter of when, not if, and then fan productions would go into the exciting underground phase.
CBS should just require every fan film to carry a commercial for their new series at the beginning of every episode, with a working associated link on the download page to a sign-up page for CBS All Access.
From my understanding, they can't do that. CBS isn't in a place where they can support, recognize, or even appear to do those things with Fan Films, or they risk losing control of their IP. Having Fan films insert a commercial in front of their works, might look as though they were supporting or endorsing non licensed works.
There is still 14 months before the new show airs, so there is a window. My surprise was they announced it this early, I thought they would have announced around the time of the STB release this July and the news series air date would be more mid-2017. Looks like they moved much faster than I thought (which could be good or bad).
As for STR, our plan was just to make episodes, and when a new series was announced we would cross that bridge when (and if )we come to it. Our hope is to still make episodes 2 or 3, after that, those who knows. Our KS stands at 131k (of 350k) with 30 days left to go. We are all currently talking about how the news of the new series will effect STR, and what actions (if any) we need to take.
As for STR, our plan was just to make episodes, and when a new series was announced we would cross that bridge when (and if )we come to it. Our hope is to still make episodes 2 or 3, after that, those who knows. Our KS stands at 131k (of 350k) with 30 days left to go. We are all currently talking about how the news of the new series will effect STR, and what actions (if any) we need to take.
CBS should just require every fan film to carry a commercial for their new series at the beginning of every episode, with a working associated link on the download page to a sign-up page for CBS All Access.
From my understanding, they can't do that. CBS isn't in a place where they can support, recognize, or even appear to do those things with Fan Films, or they risk losing control of their IP. Having Fan films insert a commercial in front of their works, might look as though they were supporting or endorsing non licensed works.
True, still is good marketing idea
In the past, CBS has been willing to not-enforce non-profit fan productions. Considering that fan films raise privately a fraction of the cost of a new studio-funded series, I don't see them "bringing down the hammer" anytime soon. I could see them enforcing the usage of iconic star trek symbols and logos and the name "Star Trek" itself - requiring fan films to rename themselves, for example.
^"In the past," have fan films ever attempted to raise north of $500k? That changes a lot in terms of the hammer dropping. From the sound of things from Tom, whom I actually take as someone knowledgeable on the subject, it could be that it will change the face of Trek fan films. As of right now, we just don't know.
From your mouth.....CBS should just require every fan film to carry a commercial for their new series at the beginning of every episode, with a working associated link on the download page to a sign-up page for CBS All Access.
While I agree that's the likely scenario they may find some merit in any publicity Star Trek is getting in the media. A piece on a fanfilm could potentially be considered beneficial to their marketing.
Few people would confuse a fan-film with a current broadcast series. They can't clamp down on news services discussing fan productions, although they could ask such news sites to put a disclaimer that the production under discussion is not licensed or approved by CBS.
From your mouth.....CBS should just require every fan film to carry a commercial for their new series at the beginning of every episode, with a working associated link on the download page to a sign-up page for CBS All Access.
While I agree that's the likely scenario they may find some merit in any publicity Star Trek is getting in the media. A piece on a fanfilm could potentially be considered beneficial to their marketing.
Much of the press about Axanar has been about "The Other Star Trek Film" coming out next year... or "The film trek fans want"...
That's not good marketing, not one bit. The Axanar Press makes it seem like Fans don't like the new films because they are all Space Battles and Pew Pew, and they want something meatier... while Axanar itself has only shown us space battles and Pew Pew....
So, here's the thing... Right now you have an extremely fractured fanbase. One moreso then ever before. You have people who love it all, hate it all (and call themselves Trek fans anyway) or just love the new movies, love the novels, or this new group of fans love the fan films. And of course, there's a mix and match too.
Fan films have drawn in a significant amount of money that takes away from the fans buying products direct from the licensees. So much so that they could be considered a threat to this new series which is being distributed in a way quite similar to the way fan films are... aka the interwebs.
Some of these productions utilize familiar actors and characters from the existing Star Trek universe. Some of them claim that they are going to look just as good as anything official. Some of them have raised a significant amount of money from the fans in order to allow for the production of their series.
I would be shocked if CBS wasn't starting to make their intentions known to the fan filmmaking community that they need to cool their jets on raising funds for these productions. It is CBS' IP and they have turned a blind eye to fan productions for over a decade. CBS has the right to do whatever they want. Will it be a quick C&D? I doubt it. But, people are making money off of these. The actors, the writers, etc. For some of them, its a full time job. For others, its a stepping stone to other things. I would be very surprised if the face of fan productions doesn't change in the next fourteen months.
Few people are "making money" off fan films. For STC and NV, most actors are volunteers or professionals being paid peanuts. Producers, crew, etc are likely also being paid minimally. Axanar is a different game altogether. The sets are being built with donated money, and most of the crew are professionals and union workers, with it's own rules and requirements. Even so, many are donating their time or drawing only a basic salary rather than industry standard pay.
I do hope that Team Axanar gets their act together, rebudgets the film with the money they do have, cut or CG the sets they can't afford, and make the damn movie.
I do hope that Team Axanar gets their act together, rebudgets the film with the money they do have, cut or CG the sets they can't afford, and make the damn movie.
I agree with this.
Me to... I just don't think it's gonna happen.
By the time they film the first act to use for promotion to get the 660k for the second half, it maybe to close to the new series premiere. It's interesting to see what they will do. My opinion is to make the film with the 500k they just got from the indiegogo campaign since they already spent the 660k from the KS drive.
Alec has a get out of jail free card, because he can cite the new series is why he had to make it on half the budget he wanted. The longer he waits, the more backers will sharpen there pitchforks.
I guess you should worry about your own project as well then, Tom - Renegades is in the exact same boat as Axanar. As far as I have read your current fundraiser, you are also trying to raise more then a million dollars to fully fund your episodes 2 and 3 (which are connected as far as I know - doing only one would left fans hanging in the middle) - so pretty much exactly what Axanar is doing.
Some of these Axanar backers are going to have pitchforks at the ready whatever happens methinks.
While I've certainly been appreciating the behind the scenes changes Renegades is doing, I also have to applaud you, Tom, for being upfront in the fact that right now the future is very unclear for your series. Other fan series seem to be strangely quiet at the moment.
While I've certainly been appreciating the behind the scenes changes Renegades is doing, I also have to applaud you, Tom, for being upfront in the fact that right now the future is very unclear for your series. Other fan series seem to be strangely quiet at the moment.
Well other than speculation, there's really not anything to say at this point. Yeah, speculation's fun and all but until such time as CBS acts (or doesn't) we're pretty much in the dark.
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