STC Ep. 7: "Embrace The Winds" speculation and discussion....

[JE Smith]

Here's some episode 7 speculation: We will never get to see it.

Sure we will. Given that Vic & Co. have already had some contact with Paramount, it's highly doubtful they're going to take a hard line on projects that are already in progress. As others have suggested, the guidelines will be applied most stringently to (a) productions begun after today and (b) anything that seems too popular, or too "big" for its britches, like Axanar.

 

[Maurice]

I'm reminded that Trek fan film fans who have had the itch to actually see some non-human on board a starship (and not just hear about them (i.e. the Vulcan-manned Intrepid) already had that itch scratched years ago in the Star Trek Phase II episode "Enemy: Starfleet!" We saw the Andorian captain of the Andorian-manned U.S.S. Eagle.

B'fuselek beat you there by about 8 years. Hell, Josh Johnson even shaved his eyebrows off to play the part in TTI.

 

[Kemaiku]

Since work is mostly done, it was prior to the posting of the guidelines and their "sink in time". They can get 7 out, but I don't know if they'd be allowed to do anything other than a single 15 minute single or 30 minute two parter ending for 8.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Since work is mostly done, it was prior to the posting of the guidelines and their "sink in time". They can get 7 out, but I don't know if they'd be allowed to do anything other than a single 15 minute single or 30 minute two parter ending for 8.

It doesn't matter if it was done prior to the posting of the guidelines. CBS could prevent them from releasing it even if the guidelines never existed, so the fact that it was "mostly done" before the guidelines were posted has little relevance to what STC "can" do.

That said, I hope CBS lets them know via backchannels that they'll be allowed to release it since it is mostly done.

 

[Kemaiku]

I'd like to think Paramount would have a grace period for the existing series that have played nicely with the IP before the proceedings, at least until they can deal with the new rules.

It just means a harder time for newer productions, but it might make them drop a lot of the filler that others have used until now.

 

[Warped9]

Alec Peters: complete asshole.

And thats being kind.

 

[Warped9]

If a fan production were limited to 30 minutes that could be doable given there were such things as half-hour dramas on television for many years.

But it could mean ongoing series like STC and others could be finished IF they are not allowed to continue as a series of segments even if each story is not connected to the others (ongoing storylines) and are not sequels or followups to previous official productions.


I'm hoping STC's Ep. 7 will be permitted to be released given most of it is complete anyway.

The real question is what happens going forward given the money already collected for the next few episodes. Is it possible STC could be talking to CBS even now to clarify how or if they can proceed from here?

 

[drt]

I think the "no additional seasons, episodes" kills any additional episodes, but it seems like STC could still release a trimmed down Ep7 (might not even seem that cut up since I recall a couple of episodes are 35-40m long).

 

[Kemaiku]

If the production teams approach Paramount with their problems honestly, I'd say the studio will be lenient in helping them out to work around the aftermath of the guidelines.

I'm sure everyone who's played nice until now is going to have some level of support from the fans and CBS alike, it's just those who were causing the problem that have to deal with the worst of it.

 

[Warped9]

It's a damned shame that this effectively ends Doug Drexler's involvement with STC. That said he left a sufficient body of work that can serve as a template for how it's done.

 

[Kemaiku]

There was a post or annoucement to the effect that Episode 7 was his final outing with the project regardless. So they would have had to move on without him anyway.

 

[Nightowl1701]

I wonder how far they'd gotten in writing Episodes 8-13. Hopefully there's no objection to putting the scripts online at least, so we can get some idea of how it would've ended.

 

[mos6507]

I'd like to think Paramount would have a grace period for the existing series that have played nicely with the IP before the proceedings, at least until they can deal with the new rules.

It just means a harder time for newer productions, but it might make them drop a lot of the filler that others have used until now.

This situation could have been handled better if CBS/P contacted these shows and let them know proactively what their status is. I mean, if they can send a C&D to Tommy Kraft, they can let Vic know if STC is toast or not when he already has crowdfunding money for future episodes in his coffers.

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

Is it possible STC could be talking to CBS even now to clarify how or if they can proceed from here?

It seems they almost certainly would be. They've always had a good working relationship with CBS... remember how hard CBS worked to get The White Iris restored to YouTube.

 

[Warped9]

While I have my nitpicky criticisms with STC it is the most I've enjoyed Trek in a very long time. I never hoped to ever again see the original characters in their prime in action again and in the setting which captivated me originally. Outside of reading a book and imagining it in your mind this was as close as it was going to get.

Since the '80s there are bits and pieces of "official" Trek that caught me for a moment or so, but overall the forms it took left me wanting. I can appreciate something new, but when the new doesn't resonate anymore for you it's sad. Thankfully there was other SF to catch my interest.

The recent film reboot has been a complete bust for me wherein I recognize nothing of the original that fascinated me initially. And the new that replaces it holds zero interest for me. As such I have no interest or intent whatsoever to see the next film. I can only hope the next reboot (whenever that might be) will be more inline with what interested me in Trek in the first place.

As for the new forthcoming series I will sample it if and when it becomes available in some reasonable manner in Canada. I have faint hope for it given several years of disappointment.

In the meantime I'm crossing my fingers that somehow STC manages a way forward to complete their project.

 

[Kemaiku]

This situation could have been handled better if CBS/P contacted these shows and let them know proactively what their status is.

I was hoping that they would, but from the comments on each projects pages, no one has been in touch yet. That might change in the next few days.

As for the new forthcoming series I will sample it if and when it becomes available in some reasonable manner in Canada. I have faint hope for it given several years of disappointment.

In the meantime I'm crossing my fingers that somehow STC manages a way forward to complete their project.

Yesterdays news is hinting at a more "adult" series, still not addressing what universe it's in, but sounding more like a third one altogether.

One thing is that it will have an overall arc, not an anthology as some rumours pointed out. But that brings up a point from Facebook this morning.

Someone posted that these guidelines are esentially the Twilight Zone's (original) framework. If the new series isn't an anthology, the fans could very well manage a TZ-esque one themselves without stepping on the new series' toes.

 

[Tuskin38]

As for the new forthcoming series I will sample it if and when it becomes available in some reasonable manner in Canada.

I can't see it not being in Canada, CBS said it will be available internationally.

 

[Noname Given]

Yes, upon reflection, I stand corrected. I subscribed to the urban legend for ages, and had always thought the Intrepid crew to be some sort of special case, back in the day.

Mark

The "Mr. Spock is the only Vulcan in Starfleet" is similar to fans (and the writers in STII:TWoK and even DC Fontana in her TAS "Yesteryear" episode script) stating "Vulcans never lie."
^^^
That was because in the TOS episode "The Enterprise Incident" - there was this exchange between Spock and the Romulan Commander:
ROMULAN COMMANDER: He is a Vulcan. Our forebears had the same roots and origins. Something you wouldn't understand, Captain. We can appreciate the Vulcans, our distant brothers. I have heard of Vulcan integrity and personal honour. There's a well-known saying, or is it a myth, that Vulcans are incapable of lying?

SPOCK: It is no myth.
^^^
If you take this outside of the entire context of the episode's story - yes, you could say "See, Spock stated Vulcans never lie; except in the context of the episodes story Spock was LYING to the Commander when saying that reply. Plus we already had earlier episodes where Spock was caught lying ( "Erand of Mercy" and "The Menagerie I & II".) But even if you argue "Spock's half human"; you have an example a Spock's father Sarek lying to his wife, Amanda, Spock and Kirk in "Journey to Babel".

 

[urbandefault]

An exaggeration, an error, a misstatement, in the interest of serving a higher cause. Maybe not exactly ethical, but logical.

 

[STEPhon IT]

If the production teams approach Paramount with their problems honestly, I'd say the studio will be lenient in helping them out to work around the aftermath of the guidelines.

I'm sure everyone who's played nice until now is going to have some level of support from the fans and CBS alike, it's just those who were causing the problem that have to deal with the worst of it.

At this point, based on the lawsuit CBS is battling against a scrupulous individual, and because of the lawsuit it wouldn't be in the studios interest to be lenient on one person and not be be with another.

It's their property, and I think the guidelines are fair, and this will present some inventive storytelling and financing for filmmakers. As for STC, I think everyone here should count their blessings including Vic; he had the opportunity to make films which simulated Star Trek, and was able to produce multiple of films. Some wish could raise the cash to make just 1, but he made a lot them.

For CBS to be lenient, the drama, and the Hollywood communities impulse to exploit Paramount's property has to clear or better yet the fad has to fade away in order for them to look the other way again. Paramount can't allow faux Hollywood producers to raise a million dollars to make films based upon their property. The ethics in the Axanar situation is just twisted.
"If I can't do them... well... NOBODY WILL."