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BREAKING: Official Fan Film Guidelines Issued

I've seen some people saying not to ask for changes to these guidelines. I feel like that's bunk. Don't DEMAND changes, don't threaten if changes aren't made. But so long as we're polite and we make it clear that everyone is clear that the final decision is and will remain that of CBS/P, then *absolutely* we should *ask*. You don't get anywhere in life, otherwise. :)
 
I've seen some people saying not to ask for changes to these guidelines. I feel like that's bunk. Don't DEMAND changes, don't threaten if changes aren't made. But so long as we're polite and we make it clear that everyone is clear that the final decision is and will remain that of CBS/P, then *absolutely* we should *ask*. You don't get anywhere in life, otherwise. :)

I think it would be great if people TRIED the guidelines before asking.
 
I feel like all Trek productions will turn into comedy parodies just to break these rules.

Studios still can't do shit against parodies since those are protected by under fair use laws.
 
I think it would be great if people TRIED the guidelines before asking.
I don't know about that. I mean, certainly, if the parameters of what they're trying to make can be made compatible with the guidelines without utterly destroying what they intended to make.

I would say, though, that it would probably do to wait to see what CBS/P has to say on the 29th. And then, if some of the fan projects still feel like it is necessary, they should work together to put together ONE very politely worded *request* for the smallest number of changes that they feel like would be reasonable - preferably, with insight into how those changes will, at worst, not harm CBS/P's ability to make money, and at best, how they would HELP CBS/P make money off of their IP. A heap of diplomacy and a little creative thinking. :)
 
I don't know about that. I mean, certainly, if the parameters of what they're trying to make can be made compatible with the guidelines without utterly destroying what they intended to make.

I would say, though, that it would probably do to wait to see what CBS/P has to say on the 29th. And then, if some of the fan projects still feel like it is necessary, they should work together to put together ONE very politely worded *request* for the smallest number of changes that they feel like would be reasonable - preferably, with insight into how those changes will, at worst, not harm CBS/P's ability to make money, and at best, how they would HELP CBS/P make money off of their IP. A heap of diplomacy and a little creative thinking. :)

I'm mostly saying "Hey, let's try the rules for a second" because I feel like I'm seeing a lot of people trying to figure out how to GET AROUND the guidelines...

Because, that wouldn't piss off the bear, the bear wouldn't decide, you know what, fuck it, no more.

Can't we just play NICE for a second?
 
I think the new rules are fair. Seen friends post stuff how they don't like it. Or can't support (or make) their fan films, they want they want. Also seen friends post about boycotts and trying to get CBS/P to change or adjust the rules. Sadly this is the problem of Axanar and to me, some people are forgetting that. I'm sick of people thinking that Axanar are the good guys here.
 
I'm mostly saying "Hey, let's try the rules for a second" because I feel like I'm seeing a lot of people trying to figure out how to GET AROUND the guidelines...

Because, that wouldn't piss off the bear, the bear wouldn't decide, you know what, fuck it, no more.

Can't we just play NICE for a second?
To me it goes back to entitlement. It's the idea that says "my creation is super special, and deserves to flout the rules." If your creation is that special, put it in your own universe and build it up with your own rules, using your own intellectual property. Surely, if it is that wonderful, the characterizations that vital, then it deserves its own sandbox, and not taking advantage of someone else's.
 
No. Not odd.
They DID sue a fan film. That's not very passive.
And, I'm assuming the guidelines start now.

I meant passive regarding the "Guidelines". Especially when NV/P2 have 2 or 3 in post-production, STC has one in post-production and Farragut has 1 in post-production.
 
I'm mostly saying "Hey, let's try the rules for a second" because I feel like I'm seeing a lot of people trying to figure out how to GET AROUND the guidelines...

Because, that wouldn't piss off the bear, the bear wouldn't decide, you know what, fuck it, no more.

Can't we just play NICE for a second?
That, I agree with. And I hope everyone understands that *my* "suggestion" of leaking Yorktown was strictly tongue-in-cheek - meant as a statement of admiration for the product of their work, not as an *actual* suggestion to break the guidelines. I feel like about half of the things I've seen here along those lines are similarly innocent.

The rest of ya? Knock it off. You're gonna get us all in trouble and cause problems for people making stuff you claim to like. :sigh:
 
I meant passive regarding the "Guidelines". Especially when NV/P2 have 2 or 3 in post-production, STC has one in post-production and Farragut has 1 in post-production.

No, I understand that you meant in terms of the guidelines.
I just don't think it's odd. And I don't think it's a sign they are being passive.
And as far as the fan films in post, well... CBS and Paramount aren't involved, why would they know where any particular fan film is in their process? And why should it matter, at least, to them?
It's unfortunate that those that played by the unwritten rules that this will bite them in the ass, but... I'm sorry, they were always playing with fire.
 
No, I understand that you meant in terms of the guidelines.
I just don't think it's odd. And I don't think it's a sign they are being passive.
And as far as the fan films in post, well... CBS and Paramount aren't involved, why would they know where any particular fan film is in their process? And why should it matter, at least, to them?
It's unfortunate that those that played by the unwritten rules that this will bite them in the ass, but... I'm sorry, they were always playing with fire.
Yeah, they were playing with fire. Many of them even acknowledged they were playing with fire. Well, they got burned, and instead of going "we always knew this could happen when you play with fire," some of them are saying "omg! it burned me! How could this have happened?! This is grossly unfair!"
 
Yeah, they were playing with fire. Many of them even acknowledged they were playing with fire. Well, they got burned, and instead of going "we always knew this could happen when you play with fire," some of them are saying "omg! it burned me! How could this have happened?! This is grossly unfair!"

But, to be fair, some of the bigger ones are saying, "we always knew this could happen." Renegades, for example.
 
Yeah, they were playing with fire. Many of them even acknowledged they were playing with fire. Well, they got burned, and instead of going "we always knew this could happen when you play with fire," some of them are saying "omg! it burned me! How could this have happened?! This is grossly unfair!"

People are simply looking for something to complain about. Fan films are suppose to be done by fans not Hollywood professionals with hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

I don't know how folks can characterize some of these things as "fan films".
 
But, to be fair, some of the bigger ones are saying, "we always knew this could happen." Renegades, for example.
Certainly. I made sure to put "some" in my reply because there are indeed fan productions who have accepted this. Renegades, for one, Continues is also one of them who accepted this whole thing with grace and respect as well.

People are simply looking for something to complain about. Fan films are suppose to be done by fans not Hollywood professionals with hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

I don't know how folks can characterize some of these things as "fan films".
Yeah, any time someone throws around the words "semi-professional," you've gone too far. I'm not saying I haven't enjoyed these outings, but many of them did go well beyond what would be considered a "fan film."
 
....And as far as the fan films in post, well... CBS and Paramount aren't involved, why would they know where any particular fan film is in their process? And why should it matter, at least, to them?....

But it goes to them knowing what is going on - I'm sure underpaid interns at CBS ( and most likely Paramount) follow every board and FB Group to report back to the bosses (*waves to the interns*)

It also goes to the fact when they published the rules they did not put language regarding the rules and the status of any production currently in production or post-production.

They easily could have said "All Current Production in any stage of production" but they did not. They did not, or have yet to, C&D a single current fan film.

But they've not yet said current production can wrap up either - the fan films are in a greater limbo than before the rules since the Axanar lawsuit. They threw these rules out there without clarification for current productions.

CBS can change the rules tomorrow, they can allow one group to finish and another not to. I don't think that will happen while the Axanar suit is ongoing.
 
I'll add the following: who is threatening anyone with a lawsuit?

I'm seeing a common misconception among various people that the guidelines are various things that they are not. They are not a threat to sue if a filmmaker does not comply with them. They are not a threat to sue if a filmmaker affirmatively does anything that is prohibited by the guidelines. Finally, they are not even "rules" to which there is any stated consequence if they are broken.

They are, merely, exactly what they say they are: guidelines which, if a filmmaker follows all of them, he or she can consider himself or herself free from the threat of a lawsuit by the studio. However, there is no corresponding statement – express or implied – in the guidelines that there is automatically any punitive consequence to not following the guidelines. The Studio may object or it may not. The only clear consequence from not following any of the guidelines is that the studio has not affirmatively told you that they will not object to your production. That's it.

The guidelines simply provide a safe harbor if you follow all of them – but they do not in any way constitue a threat of - or grounds for - liability if you do not. It is strictly the choice of the filmmaker as to whether it wants to follow the stated conditions and avail itself of the safe harbor that is being offered.

M
This is what I've begun to think. It mightn't be what many are automatically assuming.
 
Apparently, Fort Collins Comic Con has a negative thing or two to say on the subject. It seems the majority responses in the comments agree with it. Of course it's framed as David vs. Goliath, and that CBS/P has angered the fans and made a grave mistake. I responded with a reason as to why it wasn't as bad as they think it is, and I was greeted with a "fuck you" less than a minute later, so I feel welcome already. :lol:
 
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But it goes to them knowing what is going on - I'm sure underpaid interns at CBS ( and most likely Paramount) follow every board and FB Group to report back to the bosses (*waves to the interns*)

It also goes to the fact when they published the rules they did not put language regarding the rules and the status of any production currently in production or post-production.

They easily could have said "All Current Production in any stage of production" but they did not. They did not, or have yet to, C&D a single current fan film.

But they've not yet said current production can wrap up either - the fan films are in a greater limbo than before the rules since the Axanar lawsuit. They threw these rules out there without clarification for current productions.

CBS can change the rules tomorrow, they can allow one group to finish and another not to. I don't think that will happen while the Axanar suit is ongoing.

They might have an unpaid intern staring at this, probably not as much as we might think. But so what? This board and Facebook pages are the public faces of the productions. They aren't putting their production meeting notes out there.

But, why should it matter to CBS where they are in production? They wanted to issue guidelines as quickly as possible, it seems. Maybe they did it to have more leverage in the settlement talks, who knows. But why delay the inevitable?

But say they did? How long should they give? Should it be when Renegades is done? Continues? Whose production needs to finish before CBS can say ok now? And why some and not others?

I think the cleanest action is to just pull off the band aid and get it over with.
 
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