BREAKING: Official Fan Film Guidelines Issued

[BillJ]

This is fandom. It goes all the way back to the moment the 2nd episode of TOS started airing!

The thing is, it isn't like fan films were keeping the Abrams detractors quiet. They still took every chance to blast Paramount and the movies. What is the benefit to CBS to allow fan films if they don't offset the butthurt over the Abrams films?

 

[Krandor]

and Potempkin just released a video showing what can still be done even with the new guidelines.

 

[Warped9]

It's going to have to be proven.

When I sit back to watch a story unfold in an egaging way I want and need some meat to it. I'm not interested in seeing a collection of unrelated vignettes.

I speak only for myself. The vast majority of fanfilms don't interest me. If the ones that do interest me are castrated and pushed into oblivion then it will take something absolutely amazing to bring me back.

 

[T'Arwen]

No matter what a company like CBS or Paramount does, some people are going to feel alienated. This goes all the way back to The Motion Picture.

True, it wouldn't be Star Trek without anal fans. That's why we have Shatner's Get a Life skit from SNL. You know the same tired arguments of the canon police concerning ENT as well as me. But if they made Vulcans less jerky, some would have complained about alien monoculture. You can't please everyone, and that doesn't just go for companies.

I'm just saying that with TATV and the behind-the-scenes shenanigans Bermaga revealed in the Blu-rays, it's not just the anal ones who were alienated. In other words, a special case. That's a hard blow to reputation for a company to come back from.

It may very well be just a theory if JJ is the most frequent punching bag of Axanar fans. But it's possible some might have what happened to ENT in mind. I don't know if Paramount is run by the same people who wanted boy bands on ENT anymore but some are going to take the guidelines as an indication the culture hasn't changed at all.

 

[Potemkin_Prod]

and Potemkin just released a video showing what can still be done even with the new guidelines.

Most of our productions have met most of the guidelines since we started our series. Sorry you don't care for them, Warpwd9. We enjoy what we do, and we enjoy sharing them with fans.

 

[Krandor]

Most of our productions have met most of the guidelines since we started our series. Sorry you don't care for them, Warpwd9. We enjoy what we do, and we enjoy sharing them with fans.

Understand that.

In the current climate though it is good to see a post-guideline film come out to show all fan films are not dead. Somebody needed to be first.

 

[Warped9]

My comment wasn't meant a slam against Potemkin since I haven't seen it yet. Sorry.

 

[Potemkin_Prod]

No worries, sir.

 

[muCephi]

Who wouldn't want a little more "having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting", and a little less "initiate aft thrusters, shields up, ready photon torpedoes, wait for it, wait for it... btw why don't we have a computer to do these things quicker?".

Fanboys, that's who.

Writing may be getting a chance to fight back against tektek pewpew. Even Stargate dumped the whizzy tunnel after the first few episodes. CBS/P may have opened the art house to fans.

Perhaps controversial thought: drop the bridge. Wouldn't that buy the time difference, and a lot of the cost difference? "Bridgeless Trek, the New Wave in Art SF".

 

[JonnyQuest037]

And you ignored my link to the Star Wreck series of books that was commercially sold in major book stores. Come on, buddy. You have no basis for what you're saying.

I remember those! I actually own them, too, somewhere. Those were finally stopped after 7, I think, when Paramount came down hard on everyone. That was around the same time when Phil Farrand's Nitpickers Guides were also shut down.

Wow, it only took one post for someone to prove my point. Ongoing series of parodies = Copyright infringement.

Here's another example of what I'm talking about: http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2012/01/20/comic-book-legends-revealed-350/

One time is okay, an ongoing series is infringement.

 

[Phoenix219]

No worries, sir.

You have had recurring characters, like the Captain, right? How will you be getting around that particular piece of it?

 

[Potemkin_Prod]

You have had recurring characters, like the Captain, right? How will you be getting around that particular piece of it?

The guidelines do not address recurring characters in any way.

 

[asurob]

The guidelines do not address recurring characters in any way.

True statement which is why films like Intrepid and even continues could continue (in a shorter format).

 

[asurob]

Engage is live now!
https://overcast.fm/+GuW5Epb-k

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Actually what would happen if someone made a Captain Proton film?

 

[BrEnDoN]

Actually what would happen if someone made a Captain Proton film?

It's still Star Trek property, I would imagine all guidelines apply...

(assuming there are actually "commercially available" costumes and props out there, I don't know)

 

[Shaw]

The guidelines do not address recurring characters in any way.

The fan production must be less than 15 minutes for a single self-contained story, or no more than 2 segments, episodes or parts, not to exceed 30 minutes total, with no additional seasons, episodes, parts, sequels or remakes.​

I'd say your central characters get at most two at-bats and then they need to disappear or fall far into the background. Otherwise you're venturing into stories which would fall under the classification of episodic/sequels. At best, your stories can take place in the same Trek based universe, but your characters are limited to 15 minutes (or 30 minutes) of fame.

 

[asurob]

CBS will not be taking down any current fan films that are posted anywhere on the internet. The new guidelines are not retroactive!

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

CBS will not be taking down any current fan films that are posted anywhere on the internet. The new guidelines are not retroactive!

Well that's one blessing out of this.

 

[asurob]

Listening to engage right now. Some good info from the CBS, though he is definitely toeing the company PR line.