CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

[Albinator]

As I understand it Christian Gossett (who directed Prelude) was supposed to direct Axanar as well but left the project in May 2015.
Here's the post in the production blog: http://www.axanarproductions.com/captains-log-may-12-2015/
There's some chat about it in August on this TrekBBS thread: Star Trek: Axanar

I didn't read more than a handful of posts, but from what I see I can see that:

1) the were certainly "differences" beyond creative concerns that lead to his departure, whatever they might be, and all sides had their own spin.
2) the Axanar team had no idea what they were doing as late as August. A lot of talk on how they'd be fulfilling KS pledges without a completed film. Keep in mind at the time of the posts the July, 2015 fulfillment date had passed, and they were still not close to even beginning pre-production on the actual movie.

I am also forced to wonder how much of Christian's departure was due to their "visionary creator's" behavior, as Tony Todd likewise implied.

 

[Firebird]

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"Furniture from Ikea, 'cause we're cost-conscious."

If you're going to present yourself as a professional production, I think it's fair to judge it as a professional production.

As a professional production, they have failed massively.

They're like a low-budget version of Fox's Cleopatra fiasco.

 

[BillJ]

I wonder when the die-hards are going to figure out Peters is pissing in a glass and telling them it's Lemonade?

 

[Tellarites4Ever]

I really didn't like this video. >_> Not only was the music in the background incredibly distracting (and really loud by the end to the point where you could hardly hear Alec), but I also felt like all he was doing was showing off and bragging about all the 'cool' props he has probably for the sake of Propworx. I can't really stand people who brag about stuff... and I just mean in general. I'm not even sure what the video was supposed to accomplish... they're working from mostly empty rooms. Yay?

 

[Tellarites4Ever]

And.... apparently it didn't add the video to my post.. it's the one with Alec in the last couple of pages. >_>

 

[Noname Given]

I really didn't like this video. >_> Not only was the music in the background incredibly distracting (and really loud by the end to the point where you could hardly hear Alec), but I also felt like all he was doing was showing off and bragging about all the 'cool' props he has probably for the sake of Propworx. I can't really stand people who brag about stuff... and I just mean in general. I'm not even sure what the video was supposed to accomplish... they're working from mostly empty rooms. Yay?

Well all he's been doing for the last couple of years is bragging how good his Axanar feature will be (to garner donations); but was REALLY slow with regard to actual production of the feature as I guess he was having too good a time talking it up at various Sci-Fi and Star Trek conventions (on the Backer's dime of course.)

I mean hell, all we have is a 3 minute scene on Vulcan and a 21 minute VFX demo reel courtesy of Tobias Richter (who did the real work for that part) - yet somehow based on that alone, the Axanar faithful led by Mr. Peters think Axanar (to date) is/will be the best Star Trek produced since 1987 or so.

(And they deride JJ Abrams Star Trek for being all explosions and "pew-pew"; which is funny given how they fawn over the VFX for "Prelude to Axanar". I guess they had their eyes closed through most of it.)

 

[Michael Hinman]

Isn't RMB the director?

 

[Campe]

At one point, Christian Gossett (who also directed Prelude) was to direct Axanar.

 

[Albinator]

(And they deride JJ Abrams Star Trek for being all explosions and "pew-pew"; which is funny given how they fawn over the VFX for "Prelude to Axanar". I guess they had their eyes closed through most of it.)

I think what I find most funny from the fan side is how they hate JJ-Trek because it's all-spectacle and FX, and not what Star Trek is "really about" while out of the other side of their mouths talk about how amazing the FX in Axanar are going to be with amazing space battles and ILM-level CGI.

Meanwhile, they also call Axanar "real Trek" despite it being a dark, grim war story, and a complete tonal departure from TOS and TNG, and more along the lines of DS9's Dominion War, the very arc the same fans criticize for not being consistent with "Gene's vision."

 

[The Hobbit]

At one point, Christian Gossett (who also directed Prelude) was to direct Axanar.

Yep. RMB took over when Gossett left.
http://www.axanarproductions.com/captains-log-may-23-2015/

Gossett is also mentioned in the annual report:

"Originally, I’d planned on shooting everything on the sets of Star Trek: New Voyages, where James Cawley had generously offered to let us film. We would have converted their sets to look less like TOS, shot the film, then gone into post-production on it (and frankly, Axanar would probably have been done by now, if we’d stuck to the original plan).

But then, Prelude to Axanar director Christian Gossett said no, he couldn’t shoot there—not even at the new facility I had helped James rent and move into. He said there wasn’t enough room to do what he wanted and the sound stage was too small. He also didn’t want to use James’ crew, which was comprised of all amateurs. Christian felt our only option was to find a facility in Los Angeles. This decision changed Axanar dramatically, as it suddenly meant that the first Axanar Kickstarter would have to pay for the infrastructure, not the production."

 

[Smoked Salmon]

That video disturbs me. He says they're taking on more staff and that the studio is to be rented out. He's mad. How utterly foolish.

 

[Smoked Salmon]

I think what I find most funny from the fan side is how they hate JJ-Trek because it's all-spectacle and FX, and not what Star Trek is "really about" while out of the other side of their mouths talk about how amazing the FX in Axanar are going to be with amazing space battles and ILM-level CGI.

Meanwhile, they also call Axanar "real Trek" despite it being a dark, grim war story, and a complete tonal departure from TOS and TNG, and more along the lines of DS9's Dominion War, the very arc the same fans criticize for not being consistent with "Gene's vision."

This is exactly the problem I've had with it. Other than being prime universe there is not indication it's any more philosophical or intelligent than JJTrek. The whole idea that people view it as true Trek and go to it out of hatred of JJTrek is totally disingenuous,

 

[The Hobbit]

Interesting comment on this blog post: http://theback40k.blogspot.co.at/2016/02/axanar-sued.html

Loken February 6, 2016 at 11:00 AM
hey man, Alec from Axanar and Heresy30K here! THANK YOU for your article. Happy to do an interview if you want. And FYI Aaron Dembski-Bowden is writing the novelization of Axanar. :-)

 

[Squiggy]

http://theback40k.blogspot.co.at/?

Not exactly Hollywood Reporter but I guess he's gotta take what he can get.

And clearly since the author didn't even know about any of this until 7 weeks into the suit - they're really on top of things.

 

[jespah]

http://theback40k.blogspot.co.at/?

Not exactly Hollywood Reporter but I guess he's gotta take what he can get.

And clearly since the author didn't even know about any of this until 7 weeks into the suit - they're really on top of things.

They also have standards for copyright and trademark confused, at least in terms of the assertion of rights requirement. Yes for trademark, not necessary for copyright. This is, in fact, what W & S seem to want to make law in, e. g. to carve out an assertion requirement and claim waiver in a pure copyright matter.

 

[Professor Zoom]

http://theback40k.blogspot.co.at/?

Not exactly Hollywood Reporter but I guess he's gotta take what he can get.

And clearly since the author didn't even know about any of this until 7 weeks into the suit - they're really on top of things.

ugh. And the blog continues the misunderstanding of copyright and trademark law.
You DON'T have to go after everyone regarding copyright.
God damn. I hate people coming late to a party thinking they know what the fuck they are talking about.

 

[Mudd]

Nobody is claiming that they're not working at all, but working HARD? Debatable. They've been at this for literally years and have no footage other than a fully green screened scene to show for it (that required none of what you cited).

If they were really working hard, the movie would have been done a year ago or more.

Based on my own experience with these kind of projects I'm just going to disagree. Working hard, though, is not necessarily working in the most efficient or organized way. Professional productions of this kind are highly organized and coordinated activities - hence the long credit rolls at the ends of TV shows and movies sorting everyone involved into carefully defined titles and assignments. That is how things are brought in on set schedules.

As a practical matter, in terms of how they set schedules and approach the work at this stage, Axanar appears to remain a fan film that's overgrown its bounds.

Storyboarding is arguably part of pre-production. I guess it's a question of how specifically the agreement not to engage in production has been spelled out. My guess is that CBS may simply be satisfied that the cameras not roll on this movie.

 

[Count Zero]

This is, in fact, what W & S seem to want to make law in, e. g. to carve out an assertion requirement and claim waiver in a pure copyright matter.

I'm not sure I want them to succeed if that's really what they're after. It would mean that anything fan-made would be stamped out from now on.

 

[Mudd]

They also have standards for copyright and trademark confused, at least in terms of the assertion of rights requirement. Yes for trademark, not necessary for copyright. This is, in fact, what W & S seem to want to make law in, e. g. to carve out an assertion requirement and claim waiver in a pure copyright matter.

Can that kind of law be made at a state level, or does this necessarily begin climbing the federal courts if Axanar somehow prevailed?

 

[Albinator]

Based on my own experience with these kind of projects I'm just going to disagree. Working hard, though, is not necessarily working in the most efficient or organized way. Professional productions of this kind are highly organized and coordinated activities - hence the long credit rolls at the ends of TV shows and movies sorting everyone involved into carefully defined titles and assignments. That is how things are brought in on set schedules.

As a practical matter, in terms of how they set schedules and approach the work at this stage, Axanar appears to remain a fan film that's overgrown its bounds.

Storyboarding is arguably part of pre-production. I guess it's a question of how specifically the agreement not to engage in production has been spelled out. My guess is that CBS may simply be satisfied that the cameras not roll on this movie.

So?

If they were working so hard, there'd have been progress. All we've seen are a two-minute clip filmed on green screen, and pictures of people laying carpet and eating sushi.

I call total BS on the hard-working claim, small team or not. 1701's article about the Horizon fan-film shows how a small team (essentially one-man) can accomplish a lot with real hard work. Oh, and he can avoid getting sued.