CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

[muCephi]

I've actually given that a lot of thought myself.

Kirk: “There are a million things in this universe you can have and there are a million things you can’t have. It’s no fun facing that, but that’s the way things are.”

McCoy: "Look, I'm a doctor, not an escalator!"

Spock: “Evil does seek to maintain power by suppressing the truth.”

Jimmy Carter, advice to Trump: "Just do a good job. Tell the truth."

Axanar Productions:

 

[muCephi]

There are times when I like to put 20/20 hindsight to work and pontificate how everything LFIM attempted to do, might have been done without pushing any "Red Alert" buttons.

I think the answer is really, really simple. Earn, don't scam. Make great films without other reward or ego aggrandizement *first*, then you can have support to build a studio and be part of Trek and even have some bragging rights.

How many googleplex times will it take the universe telling Axanar this, before it gets through to them?

 

[dmac]

I think the answer is really, really simple. Earn, don't scam. Make great films without other reward or ego aggrandizement *first*, then you can have support to build a studio and be part of Trek and even have some bragging rights.

How many googleplex times will it take the universe telling Axanar this, before it gets through to them?

What if you ran into a crowd funding that read that they are planing to raise $2 million dollars in stages, they have 5 known actors, proven producer, director, camera crew, vfx team, camera ect all in place.
Our goal is to create a Film studio production company... blab blab blab Lionsgate blab blab blab hunger games blab blab blab...fan films blab blab blab....
Intro video.

Perks by donation level
Thank you credits
DVD/ Bluray of current finished production
Join the film crew
Face in the crowd
Talking part
ect....
Would you consider kicking in a hundred bucks or so?

 

[muCephi]

What if you ran into a crowd funding that read that they are planing to raise $2 million dollars in stages, they have 5 known actors, proven producer, director, camera crew, vfx team, camera ect all in place.
Our goal is to create a Film studio production company... blab blab blab ...
Would you consider kicking in a hundred buck or so?

Is it legit?

 

[dmac]

Is it legit?

Well....I just made it up but consider it's well intended

 

[muCephi]

Well....I just made it up but consider it's well intended

Then sure, depending on who is pitching I might consider it.

My pitch of a specific limited strategy for how Axanar could have been legit is in the context of working in Trek, an existing IP. Working greenfield could entertain your pitch. In both cases, I think the basic applies: earn, don't scam.

 

[dmac]

Then sure, depending on who is pitching I might consider it.

My pitch of a specific strategy for how Axanar could have been legit is in the context of working in Trek, an existing IP. Working greenfield could entertain your pitch. In both cases, I think the basic applies: earn, don't scam.

Like STC and a few others then?

 

[DrCorby]

btw--- what does CFPB stand for?

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau -- www.consumerfinance.gov/

From their website: "a U.S. government agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly." Probably on the endangered list under the new administration and Congressional leadership...

 

[muCephi]

Like STC and a few others then?

As legit projects proposing to build a studio for future profit on the customer goodwill of existing IP? I doubt I would support that either. Using the name of an existing IP to fundraise for a private benefit, without the agreement of the IP holder for the profit/value taking, would probably not be legit no matter who is doing it.

And while I might give something small to an artist trying to establish a company and promising a legitimately licensed or original performance, there is a threshold where I would start to see it as an investment that should be accompanied by equity, and the controls that follow.

Thus I might start getting concerned if a pitch offered high donation levels satisfied only with perks. Crowdfunding at a certain scale is payoff territory for fraud and as others have said, and really should be regulated under comparable investment law, rather than encouraged with uncritical support.

 

[dmac]

As legit projects proposing to build a studio for future profit on the customer goodwill of existing IP? I doubt I would support that either. Using the name of an existing IP to fundraise for a private benefit, without the agreement of the IP holder for the profit/value taking, would probably not be legit no matter who is doing it.

And while I might give something small to an artist trying to establish a company and promising a legitimately licensed or original performance, there is a threshold where I would start to see it as an investment that should be accompanied by equity, and the controls that follow.

Thus I might start getting concerned if a pitch offered high donation levels satisfied only with perks. This is payoff territory for fraud and as others have said, really should be regulated under comparable investment law, rather than encouraged with uncritical support.

Fan films are made by fans for fans. A certain amount of funding is required but I get a little squirmy when funding is required to contract out 3rd party work in order to directly recreate the I.P'S product. Somewhere, somehow, somebody is making a business from something they don't own unless they hold a license to do so.

 

[muCephi]

I don't see that as a problem. This isn't about PR. They've let other productions skate. Remember what we've learned here about copyright law: They are and always be the sole arbiter as to who they go after; anybody, nobody, and all points in between. How much of a PR disaster was this? Not much, I think.

The studios said this is the space in which you can play without likelihood we will stop you. I agree it isn't absolute. But that fine distinction probably wouldn't play well in the press. If others are immediately allowed to do things Axanar is now prohibited from doing, I believe it will paint the studios as hypocritical about the guidelines. I think the studios have to hold the line for a while to bake in the legitimacy of their boundaries with all concerned parties.

 

[muCephi]

...Somewhere, somehow, somebody is making a business from something they don't own unless they hold a license to do so.

I guess the studios want to grace fan films with some freedom to use IP value for those sorts of expenses, considering 100k budgets are allowed for just 30 minutes of product. "They are generously supporting amateur art" is how I would see that concern.

 

[dmac]

I guess the studios want to grace fan films with some freedom to use IP value for those sorts of expenses, considering 100k budgets are allowed for just 30 minutes of product. "They are generously supporting amateur art" is how I would see that concern.

I'm sure they put a lot of time and thought into it. They are far closer to the situation than any of us are so I have to trust they have a good reason.

 

[Mr. Nova]

Did you just stop by to shit on the thread, or did you bring pie?

We like pie.

He's just a drive-by deficator. Can't help it, I guess..

 

[Mr. Nova]

I await the hint-dropping and winking - hey, I know what's in the settlement and you don't, neener cubed, that sort of thing. And then something will leak and we'll find out the settlement involved chainsawing a tree on some backwater planet while wearing war paint and ritually chanting.

Jespah, you are a treasure!

 

[OtherGene]

To be fair to Alec

 

[OtherGene]

I suppose highly may be a matter of interpretation. I would classify Hunt's description of Peters' lack of experience requiring a constant mediator between producer and writer/director as "highly." I would describe Hunt's account of Peters' inexperienced understanding of what a producer is supposed to do as a source of conflict all through the production as "highly."

The connective tissue here is Hunt's recounting of Peters' lack of understanding being the source of constant trouble on more than one front. Hunt is clearly trying to be as nice about it as he can be (he was to be a witness for the defense, after all) but it's all there in the deposition. Moreover, it jibes with accounts from other witnesses.

I guess it's all immaterial now, but thanks for the reply. Also, and I hate to sound like I'm being critical because I'm really not, but in your most recent Axamonitor post it confusingly reads..

"Under the terms of the fan film guidelines, Axanar will not be able to have participants who have previously worked for CBS or Paramount. That would seem to preclude director Robert Meyer Burnett and most of the professional actors, such as Soval actor Gary Graham, whom Peters had literally banked on to attract money from Star Trek fans.

The settlement, however, did allow Axanar to use the following actors: Richard Hatch, Kate Vernon, J.G. Hertzler and Gary Graham"

Gary Graham appears to be both precluded and allowed.

 

[Red Shirt]

The lawsuit, nor its settlement, cannot compel anyone to do anything who is not a party to the suit. So, yes, I can confidently tell you that things will prove interesting over time

I have no doubt AP is scheming which will include many a foot bullet. Hail Axamonitor! And pie!

 

[RedForman]

Haven't browsed through TampAxanar's feed for a bit.......

 

[Red Shirt]

Haven't browsed through TampAxanar's feed for a bit.......

I had to look seeing what's up. AP is at the Axanar Kickstarter site lying through his teeth trying to do some damage control with his donors.