But its not about a bad product or how good you are, its about warm, fun, friendship and camaderie! If its not about being official, professional quality or canon, then there is no reason to not release the things that his help worked extremely hard on, whose doners spent hard earned money on. Its like even in retirement, he doesn't want any other productions to be better accepted (canonized) or loved then his own, and has to knock everyone down to the same level.
Re reading it, the "only One True Star Trek (TM) and it starred Bill Shatner!" and the "it ran from '66 to '69 and *had no 4th season* seem even more like passive aggressive digs at STC and any fans that consider their (completed run of full length episodes) an unofficial 4th season/finale, and Vic to be a legit face for Captain Kirk.
There is just ONE level, whether we're talking about New Voyages, Of Gods and Men, Starship Exeter, STC or many others: they are Fan Films. Point final.
For fun, I do some 3D modeling on the side and sell it for bubkus in an online marketplace. I'm constantly taking down my old stuff and refining my newer stuff because I dont think that fits the level of quality I want to represent myself. People are allowed to be perfectionists, even if its just about a hobby,
I think you all are reading into comments made by James based on a perceived feud or animosity towards a particular group. Honestly as Star Trek fans canon Star Trek is The TV Series (TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT, DSC) and the movies, to elevate ANY FAN SERIES to that level is preposterous... whether it is CONTINUES, NEW VOYAGES, FARRAGUT, HIDDEN FRONTIER and so on. And that is the basic idea James I believe was trying to convey. Also those of us who did or do film fan Star Trek, for the most part do it to have fun doing what we love, and anyone who wants to further their careers with it are doing it for the wrong reasons. When I did Trek it was 2 weeks of Summer Camp with my friends and that is what it is all about
This. I can enjoy STC or Exeter and things like that, but they all have that tint of nostalgia, that hint of fan love that separates from the rest. It starts from a different place than an original production. Not good, not bad, just is.
Yeah, but nothing any fanfilm has ever had to say approaches anything Nietszche mumbled in his sleep, and James doesn't have a bitching theme tune written by [EDIT] Strauss.
Which Vic Mignogna kept rolling the dice with some pretty production value, and using all of Paramount's IP and likenesses (Costumes, models etc) used for his own means. Hey, he got away with it. I did see a trailer for Phase II New Voyages with Brian Gross, a very good Kirk IMO, where there was a follow up to "For the World is Hollow and I have Touched the Sky". I'm wondering if Cawley will release that fanfilm, I have to say, what I saw looked impressive.
Well, he stayed in constant contact with CBS the entire run of the series to make sure he was not making them angry and that what he was doing was ok with them. Both of your statements "kept rolling the dice" and "he got away with it" are very misleading. It wasn't like he took a bunch of money from people and did nothing; he did exactly what he promised to do and CBS graciously allowed it even after the guidelines. CBS dose not hate the fans and sues them if they make a fan-film; they only do that with scam-artists as we have seen.
The situation with STC strikes me as a sort of extended grandfathering. CBS knew that they'd already finished fundraising for the final episodes, and that the group was an official non-profit with a lot of fans. Vic's diplomacy helped, sure, but going after STC would have been a PR nightmare with virtually no benefit. Now, if Vic tried to do another season of STC and put up a new Kickstarter, CBS wouldn't have hesitated to stop him.
Well, we don't know that for sure, and the only person that can decide whether that risk is worthwhile or not is Vic himself. I, for one, wouldn't hesitate to test the waters if I was them - a single bottle episode of a post TMP show as a proof of concept paid for out of pocket (like Pilgrims of Eternity) to test response couldn't hurt anything. The worst case? being told "no" and not being able to continue.
New Voyages filmed several TrekFan projects but I thought it was the sfx which wasn't ready, as Cawley mentioned he's not filming, but there were films done before the guidelines. Does post production count when it comes to the guidelines? Vic Mignogna ignored the CBS guidelines and he continued to film and did post. He didn't get any lawsuit papers; Cawley should finished what was done. Maybe all the Trekfanfilms should follow Vic and roll the dice.
No, he didn't get any "lawsuit papers" because CBS decided not to pursue a lawsuit. <--- That's all we know.