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CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

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Thanks to Search4, a vital and historically important piece of original Star Trek history was preserved for future generations. It is a testament to his belief in the Trek vision and his love of Star Trek; I'm sure I am speaking for all Trek fans that we owe him a great debt of gratitude. When I had to opportunity to see the restored Galileo it brought a tear to my eye; it was (and is) beautiful! I appreciate the TRUE Trek fans that are forward thinking and actually do something to help fandom. Transversely, I can't stand people who prey on peoples passions without producing anything positive. The Axanar debacle is a perfect example of the worst of Star Trek scamdom.
 
Search4 said:
feek61 said:
ThankYouGeneR said:
That has crossed my mind too. My thoughts keep turning back to the multiple reports I have come across in my research that have come in from unrelated sources over multiple events over multiple years that there has been (though unconfirmed by me at this time) what is it called.... shill(?) bidding on prop sales relating to this person to artificially drive up the cost of various props being bid on.

Again, unconfirmed by me at this time. Now were a person to demonstrate a propensity to inflate/distort/dissemble in one area of their business activity it would not be unexpected to see this also occurring in their other business activities.
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I'm pretty sure members here can confirm the shill bidding by LFIM
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I can confirm this was the case. Hence "friends don't let friends buy from Propworx".
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Ah. I understand now. First hand confirmation.
 
Indiegogo (and Kickstarter) seemed uninterested to discuss Axanar specifically, which I guess is fine, however they both refuse to comment in a generic sense on the issues I presented to them about misrepresentation (phantom donations under false names) and incomplete perk fulfilment.
 
Sure, it seems like it would be wise for the business to avoid public conversations about a client if they can. Yeah, I guess I can see that even discussing generic questions on phantom donations might also seem more complicated than at first. But I know *I'd* sure like to better understand how this is being addressed by these companies. On the one hand I, myself, prefer to donate totally anonymously and when possible use an ID name but it's eassssyyy for me to see how even giving 'me' that option could lead to an abuse of a crowdfund system if a client, or indeed supporters of a client, wanted to abuse it.

<scratching head>Huh. Or even me if I were inclined to believe I needed to protest a crowdfund product and its client for some reason. I hadn't thought about it from that angle. Huh.

Yeah, that's a tough one. Aren't there people starting to look into these flaws in crowdfunding? Maybe it would be possible to get one or some of them to address these questions. I mean, at least they wouldn't be answering questions from a place of also having to be careful about defending their own crowdfunding company. :lol:

But, yeah, that could be tough to get one of the crowdfund business to talk about stuff like that right now. Heck, they might not even have a handle on it yet themselves. Interesting.

Sort of like Exploits in software codes that keep needing new Patches.

And that perk fulfillment problem, now that needs some major spotlighting doesn't it. Seriously, you promise this if I give you that, but you can also add some words at the end telling me that it's possible for things to go sideways..... but no words about giving me back what I gave you?

Yup. There are some major flaws in the system as it exists now. This is totally a Buyer Beware isn't it. Dang. From what I been reading so far the majority of crowdfund clients do... are... anyway, things seem to end up well. But there are some epic fails out there too. Clients looking through rose colored glasses not having a strong business plan with foresight into all those inevitable problems/delays 'before' diving into a crowdfund. And donors like I've been for years "Sounds good to me, where do I Click". Never ever thinking to distrust or at least investigate 'before' Clicking. 'Cause, you know, sounds good. Plus in this particular case 'It's Star Trek! Why would I be wary of someone who says they want my help making a ST fan film!'

Naive, yes indeedy. Judging from the being reported dip in fan numbers donating across stronger ST crowdfunding platforms in general since thiswholething came to light I do think there are more people like me who have become aware of our naivete. Seriously, thiswholething has been a long past due education for me. Which I can see Now. But before the end of the first week of January 2015 I swear it just never occurred to me.....

I know I'd very much enjoy and value a Trekzone segment that could address these things from a potential donor point of view because I know *I* still need lots more education before I step back into donating to Anything any time soon.
 
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So this happened. In quotes cause long:
"Moving at warp speed.
Here's an update on everything we've been working on
over the past few weeks.


April 7, 2017

Dear Friends, Fans and Donors:

Here's a quick re-cap of what we've been working on for the past few weeks and an update on the Indiegogo Campaign currently underway for Industry Studios.

Industry Studios
Thanks to many of you, our Indiegogo campaign has raised over $19,000 and could raise as much as $25,000 by the end of the campaign. And while we won't hit our goal and be able to stay in our Valencia, CA facility moving forward, we have some very good news that will allow Industry Studios to continue. Our awesome landlord Danny, will be taking over the facility, and continuing Industry Studios as the boutique sound stage it was meant to be. This is a positive development for two reasons:

First, Danny will retain the infrastructure build-out we made and to make it available to commercial and non-commercial productions. Danny will keep the Industry Studios name, website and even some of the personnel for on-site management. This means our co-productions like Personal Space and Cholo vs. Vampires, will be able to shoot at the studio! For all other aspects of their productions, their access to Axanar Production's services "portfolio" remains unchanged. So the vision of Industry Studios continues!

Second, Axanar will be reimbursed for some of the build out we did. The details of this will be worked out, but Danny wants us to leave the lighting grid and the power upgrades as they are essential to making the facility work as a functioning commercial sound stage. And of course, while we can't take build out such as the green screen or the office space we built, Danny sees the value of what we put into the studio and will help us all out in the long run.

So although we will be leaving the studio at the end of the month, Industry Studios will continue - just not as a part of Axanar Productions.

A new home for the Axanar Sets
So the most important need for Axanar is a place to keep our sets while we work towards shooting Axanar and other Star Trek and genre projects that will use these sets. And so we have to make a decision quickly, either put the sets in storage, get a new, much less expensive facility elsewhere, or some combination of the two.

We are considering options all over the country right now and we expect the decision-making process to happen quickly, with your help! We love hearing from our fans and backers and your opinions matter to us. So please pay attention to the Axanar Fan Group for more information. We will be posting a poll there as well as sending one out via email. We need your input and guidance as we move forward.

Whatever our final decision, we plan to let all of our latest backers (from our current Indiegogo campaign) know in advance and decide if they want to maintain their pledge of support. If they do (and we hope they will), great. But for those who have a change of heart, we'll provide a full, no-questions-asked refund.

Axanar Productions
First, our quest to achieve tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) has moved forward. The State of California's Secretary of State's office accepted our request to be listed as a domestic non-profit entity.

Second, work continues on the script for Axanar's two 15-minute segments we are allowed to produce under the terms of our negotiated settlement with CBS and Paramount.

Third, Axanar Productions will be producing more projects - including more Star Trek-related content. We have three projects in development that celebrate the things we love about the Star Trek universe: adventure, science, character and fans! These projects all fall squarely under Fair Use and will not in any way conflict with CBS or Star Trek Fan Film Guidelines.

So many thing happening. So many things to do - and none of it could happen without your help and support.

From all of us at Axanar Productions, a warm thanks and a promise of even better things to come..

Live Long and Prosper,

Alec Peters
Axanar Productions"
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Posted in the Axamonitor Facebook group.
 
Hmmm... Another carrot being dangled answering many questions more succinctly than have been answered in the past. No mention of Georgia, but interesting that they got approved as non-profit in California! Their criteria of qualification must be pretty thin - anorexially so, considering the historical (and legal) concern of profit involved in the venture.

Not sure where this leaves things. A delaying tactic, at the very least. Interesting development, in any case. Thanks for the post!
 
So basically waht we have is he's out of money and cannot pay the rent so the landlord is repossessing the property and won't sue alec as long as he leaves all the upgrades at the facility. Landlord will rent it to the people who were planned to use it, but Alec doesn't get to use it anymore and must leave.

There goes all that donor money that built the studio.

Big question now is where does the IGG money go to now?
 
Krandor said:
So basically waht we have is he's out of money and cannot pay the rent so the landlord is repossessing the property and won't sue alec as long as he leaves all the upgrades at the facility. Landlord will rent it to the people who were planned to use it, but Alec doesn't get to use it anymore and must leave.

There goes all that donor money that built the studio.

Big question now is where does the IGG money go to now?
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His pocket, like it always has been, no question about it.
 
137th Gebirg said:
Not sure where this leaves things. A delaying tactic, at the very least. Interesting development, in any case. Thanks for the post!
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Where it leaves things is simple. $1.4M gone. Studio gone. Support gone. Movie never to be made.

He'll try a private crowdfunding for axanar but like the IGG it won't make neat enough and we'll have to call it quits on Axanar and either find new IP to steal or a new scam to start..
 
Krandor said:
Where it leaves things is simple. $1.4M gone. Studio gone. Support gone. Movie never to be made.

He'll try a private crowdfunding for axanar but like the IGG it won't make neat enough and we'll have to call it quits on Axanar and either find new IP to steal or a new scam to start..
Click to expand...

Yup and blame CBS and 'The Haters' for everything.
 
137th Gebirg said:
Hmmm... Another carrot being dangled answering many questions more succinctly than have been answered in the past. No mention of Georgia, but interesting that they got approved as non-profit in California! Their criteria of qualification must be pretty thin - anorexially so, considering the historical (and legal) concern of profit involved in the venture.

Not sure where this leaves things. A delaying tactic, at the very least. Interesting development, in any case. Thanks for the post!
Click to expand...
Being "approved" by California as a nonprofit is fairly meaningless. It's like saying California "approves" of your corporation because it allowed you to register it.

This registration is only the first step in a very long process to seek the federal tax exemption that really counts. Until then, Axanar pays taxes and donations made to it are not tax-deductible.
 
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