BREAKING: Official Fan Film Guidelines Issued

[Vance]

What's draconian about them?

I guess they were expecting Paramount to say "You can do whatever you want and make as much money as you want, 'cause you're better at Star Trekking than we are."

Again, these are the rules for fans to do what they want without worrying about the long-arm of the lawyer. Want to do more, contact CBS/Paramount and put on the daddy pants.

Or, heaven forbid, make your own damn IP.

 

[Amaris]

Arguably, it would be even worse if somebody ended up on the news because they got smashed on officially licensed Star Trek beer and caused a fatal accident.

Kor

Again, a property owned or licensed by CBS/P. They own it, they take responsibility for it. If you borrow my car and hit a telephone pole, even if you come out just fine, who gets the bad news?

 

[Indysolo]

Fan films won't be able to use officially-licensed Star Trek beers as props because that would violate the alcohol prohibition.

Kor

Star Trek characters probably wouldn't drink Star Trek beers in Star Trek anyway. Just like I doubt we'll ever see James Bond using this.

Neil

 

[Tom Hendricks]

You mean two 15 minute parts.

Yes, but I think most people will just make their projects 30 minutes and split in two. I'm already thinking about reduced screen credits and titles, maybe just bounce into the action after a quick splash screen with a title and then just a few rolling credits at the end.

 

[Captain Atkin]

Yes, but I think most people will just make their projects 30 minutes and split in two. I'm already thinking about reduced screen credits and titles, maybe just bounce into the action after a quick splash screen with a title and then just a few rolling credits at the end.

I don't understand the "split in two" rule. It would make more sense to just say it can't be longer than 30 minutes. I think they could amend that rule.

 

[Amaris]

I don't understand the "split in two" rule. It would make more sense to just say it can't be longer than 30 minutes. I think they could amend that rule.

If you make it 30 straight minutes, you've essentially made an episode.

 

[lurok]

Probably worth repeating this caveat:
"CBS and Paramount Pictures reserve the right to revise, revoke and/or withdraw these guidelines at any time in their own discretion."

So after the trial?

 

[Professor Zoom]

Whatever. It's just clearly a double standard.

Kor

No. It literally isn't a double standard.
It's the rules you get to play in there sandbox.

I might be fine doing drugs in my house, that doesn't mean I have to let YOU shoot up heroin in my house.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I can imagine that the rules may be adjusted at some point or tweaked. I think Paramount/CBS are reasonable, that have been for very long. They left in the ability to crowdfund, which I was completely shocked at. I'm more than willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and see if some changes will happen a few years or so down the line.

 

[Kemaiku]

Probably worth repeating this caveat:
"CBS and Paramount Pictures reserve the right to revise, revoke and/or withdraw these guidelines at any time in their own discretion."

So after the trial?

More like when him downstairs needs thermal undies.

 

[Vance]

I might be fine doing drugs in my house, that doesn't mean I have to let YOU shoot up heroin in my house.

And that's the problem we're seeing, and the disconnect. A lot of fans have started thinking "I really like what you did with the decor in the living room. In fact, I like it so much, it's MY living room now."

 

[Captain Atkin]

If you make it 30 straight minutes, you've essentially made an episode.

Last I checked, a Trek live-action episode was around 50 minutes. It's just being nitpicky. Youtube can play videos longer than 20 minutes now.

 

[Sgt_G]

Hang on, I thought Axanar had been asking for these guidelines for years.

As far back as 2012, if not before, he asked for and received the list of guidelines all the other fan-film projects were following.

See this thread: http://www.trekbbs.com/threads/cbss-rules-of-engagement-for-star-trek-fan-films.187825/page-2 and read posts 35. 36. and 39. He KNEW exactly what he could and could NOT do in a fan-film, and proceeded to use the do-not list as a check-list in his project plan.

 

[Venardhi]

My read on this: Make your thing for the fun of making it, don't try to crowdfund tens of thousands of dollars, don't try to make money off of it, don't blatantly flaunt "official" talent and don't try to present it as anything but an amateur fanfilm. CBS may take a few swipes at the big boys in the next few years but as long as another Axanar doesn't pop up any time soon their enforcement is likely to be minimal.

 

[Amaris]

Last I checked, a Trek live-action episode was around 50 minutes.

Many television shows, at least in the U.S., run about 30 minutes.

 

[Captain Atkin]

Many television shows, at least in the U.S., run about 30 minutes.

Regardless of that, I think that rule should be amended. I suspect some of these rules will be amended over the next year.

 

[Vance]

Regardless of that, I think that rule should be amended. I suspect some of these rules will be amended over the next year.

Considering they're already among the most fan-friendly of these sorts of things, I would seriously doubt it. Besides, anything past these points and you're trying to be a 'quasi-professional' venture again, which means at LEAST talking to CBS/Paramount about it...

 

[Amaris]

Regardless of that, I think that rule should be amended. I suspect some of these rules will be amended over the next year.

I doubt it. These guidelines are very generous. They far exceed Lucas' guidelines, and I bet Disney will make even those seem magnanimous in time. So if I were any aspiring fan production, I'd thank Gene for what I could get and work with that.

 

[Captain Atkin]

Considering they're already among the most fan-friendly of these sorts of things, I would seriously doubt it. Besides, anything past these points and you're trying to be a 'quasi-professional' venture again, which means at LEAST talking to CBS/Paramount about it...

Well, I have no choice but to talk to CBS now, based on the fact that one of their rules is not allowing original actors to appear in your fan film. I also have to trim YORKTOWN down to fit their 15 minute rule (our cut is 20 minutes). I have no desire to break it up into two videos.

 

[Warped9]

Alec Peters: complete asshole.

And thats being kind.