What is your biggest gripe, complaint, or criticism about fan films in general.
Mine is a tie between costumes and music.
Mine is a tie between costumes and music.
What is your biggest gripe about fan films.
- Thread starter Data Holmes
- Start date
So you dislike all fanfilm costuming and scoring?
The majority of it yes...
It's funny. I can enjoy a fan film with bad acting, sub par effects, poor writing...
But bad score and bad costuming can yank me out and annoy the hell out of me in the back of my brain the whole time I'm watching.
I guess I'll have to disagree on that "majority" comment. There's some pretty damn good costuming and scoring going on these days. And while I won't comment on other peoples' efforts, I'll defend those aspects of our production to the hilt. Are we perfect? Hell no. But that's not an aspect that we fall down on either.
For the record though, I'll forgive costuming gripes long before I'll forgive poor writing. That's the one aspect fanfilms have no excuse for skimping on, because it costs nothing.
My major issue with most fan films/series is the reliance on somehow being tied to TOS, TNG, DS9, VGR or ENT. This usually entails using characters already established, continuing stories or story lines, continuing cancelled shows.
Why be encumbered by what has already be done, strike out on your own. Everyone knows what Star Trek is, why be shackled by it. Create your own stories, characters, etc.
Why be encumbered by what has already be done, strike out on your own. Everyone knows what Star Trek is, why be shackled by it. Create your own stories, characters, etc.
I have really be impressed by almost all of the fan films I have seen to date. There is a not a lot to fault, especially since these are labors of love that are being given out for FREE to all of us greedy fans. My only gripe, if you can even call it that, is that too often the cast is made up of people who just look too young to me. They don't give command of starships to teenagers, and having real adults in these movies gives them a sense of gravitas that really adds to the drama. I recognize that mainly young people want to make these, but a few grown ups in the cast goes a long way! Even Kirk, in TOS, was in his 30's and was supposed to be YOUNG for a captain. Ron Tracey and Bob Wesley were probably more the norm in Starfleet.
I agree with many of the comments in this thread. Mostly all the fan films I've seen are definitely worth watching, each with their own take on the material. Some of my favorite productions include Star Track: Idomo, STOGAM, Star Wreck, New Voyages/Phase 2, Starship Farragut, and a few others.
One of my biggest gripes of fan productions is they're sometimes boring. There are different reasons for this...sometimes its the story, the acting or characters, the approach, and/or lack of certain production techniques. I think the most successful fan filmss emphasize interesting characters in exciting stories and a good chemistry/charisma among the crew.
One of my biggest gripes of fan productions is they're sometimes boring. There are different reasons for this...sometimes its the story, the acting or characters, the approach, and/or lack of certain production techniques. I think the most successful fan filmss emphasize interesting characters in exciting stories and a good chemistry/charisma among the crew.
Fair 'nough.
I don't especially mind when that happens, as long as it serves the story, and said characters are well-realised. I do prefer original characters though.
How you doin' anyway, Tom? Haven't seen you 'round here in ages.
Well, except TIME. People tend to undervalue writers and the amount of effort it takes to write a good, solid, cohesive script, where every word matters and there's no dead air or pointless asides. It's extremely hard to do, and do well.
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Something different every week. Lately it's lighting.
Actually, that's not a complaint or gripe or criticism. It's a concern.
Actually, that's not a complaint or gripe or criticism. It's a concern.
Fair 'nough.
Yours didn't really bother me by the way. I actually liked it quite well...
I do have one question... why do you have some starfleet crew in FC era grays, but that other guy in TNG style uniform? Was that ever explained to mean something?
I don't especially mind when that happens, as long as it serves the story, and said characters are well-realised. I do prefer original characters though[/quote]
Indeed. There is a whole universe to play in, why limit yourself to using other charecters/ships. I will never get why people behind these projects limit themselves with that.
Also true.
We go by the conceit that they TNG uniforms are still in service, since they're seen alongside First Contact uniforms as late as season 6 of DS9. Those characters we put in them are staff officers, travelling aboardship, but not part of the actual crew. So it was also a means to visually differentiate them.
That said, we're pretty much moving away from using the TNGs. They'll pop up from time to time on background characters, but the main cast are pretty much all in First Contact uniforms. Expect to see some additional variants mixed in though.
I'm in the process of making a new batch of First Contacts just now, which should be pretty close to the real thing.
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>>What is your biggest gripe, complaint, or criticism about fan films in general.<<
I've been a fan of fan films ever since a friend of mine who works at a local comic book store told me there was some new work online involving Classic Trek.
One of the laws of physics is that the first episode of all groups will tend to be very slowly paced. But most of them make up for what they lack in art, they usually make up with heart.
First thing out of the bag, I want to say that I consider New Voyages/Phase II to be the gold standards for fan products. My favorite one was the first "official" episode. A strong story with cool extra faces that made it feel like Trek. I have yet to see a Phase II production that disappointed me.
The second group I got interested is Starship Exeter. As usual, the first episode was a "maiden voyage" but what I've seen of the second is light years ahead. I wish we had some of that water in "Blink of a Eye" so they could go faster when putting out more great episodes.
It used to be that the lamest part of productions were the ships that obviously hanging on a string but the costumes were great. Now, the ships are generated by computers and the costumes look likt they came from a really big sale at Wal-Mart.
I've watched and enjoyed videos from other groups, the Hidden Frontier gang, Starship Farragut, and a special tip of the hat to the folks at Starship Intrepid. They've found fertile new territory for a post-Nemesis story that features some civilains who don't always agree with Starfleet.
The biggest complaint I have in general of all "independent productions" is that most of them move very slowly. I know everybody wants to show up for the camera, but a faster pace usually means a stronger story.
And that's the way it is.....
I've been a fan of fan films ever since a friend of mine who works at a local comic book store told me there was some new work online involving Classic Trek.
One of the laws of physics is that the first episode of all groups will tend to be very slowly paced. But most of them make up for what they lack in art, they usually make up with heart.
First thing out of the bag, I want to say that I consider New Voyages/Phase II to be the gold standards for fan products. My favorite one was the first "official" episode. A strong story with cool extra faces that made it feel like Trek. I have yet to see a Phase II production that disappointed me.
The second group I got interested is Starship Exeter. As usual, the first episode was a "maiden voyage" but what I've seen of the second is light years ahead. I wish we had some of that water in "Blink of a Eye" so they could go faster when putting out more great episodes.
It used to be that the lamest part of productions were the ships that obviously hanging on a string but the costumes were great. Now, the ships are generated by computers and the costumes look likt they came from a really big sale at Wal-Mart.
I've watched and enjoyed videos from other groups, the Hidden Frontier gang, Starship Farragut, and a special tip of the hat to the folks at Starship Intrepid. They've found fertile new territory for a post-Nemesis story that features some civilains who don't always agree with Starfleet.
The biggest complaint I have in general of all "independent productions" is that most of them move very slowly. I know everybody wants to show up for the camera, but a faster pace usually means a stronger story.
And that's the way it is.....
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Also true.
We go by the conceit that they TNG uniforms are still in service, since they're seen alongside First Contact uniforms as late as season 6 of DS9. Those characters we put in them are staff officers, travelling aboardship, but not part of the actual crew. So it was also a means to visually differentiate them.
That said, we're pretty much moving away from using the TNGs. They'll pop up from time to time on background characters, but the main cast are pretty much all in First Contact uniforms. Expect to see some additional variants mixed in though.
I'm in the process of making a new batch of First Contacts just now, which should be pretty close to the real thing.
Ok. I figured that it was to show "starfleet command" officers outside the ships command structure, so I was pretty close with your thinking.
Starfleet's uniform systems have always driven me a little nuts even in the actuall shows as well, too... Perhaps it's just an OCD type thing.
They're fan films. Nuff said! -- RR
Yeah, it's always amused me that Starfleet has such alimited array of uniforms available to their personnel. One thing I thought Voyager did well, was show some different variants. I also liked the black assault jackets used on a few episodes of DS9.Starfleet's uniform systems have always driven me a little nuts even in the actuall shows as well, too... Perhaps it's just an OCD type thing.
IDK if you all are ready for my opinions here, but I just could not resist. These are my issues with fanfilms, and my reasons for them...
First of all, Imy BIGGEST grip with fanfilms, is the penchant for people to want to use the biggest, uberest, fanwankathon, ship-of-death "dreadnought", with nothing of worth to it, but a fugly third nacelle slapped onto it, and a megaphaser cannon, or a hull bristling with super-duper quanto-photonic phase-missiles, or some BS. You DON'T need the biggest or most powerful ship!!! The STORY makes the film, not the tech!
The same with stories I see of late... nothing but people finding new ways to either revive old wars, or plunge the UFP into anew "devastating" war. BS. WTF is wrong with having the UFP, oh, I dunno... explore? A big war is a cloak for a total lack of imagination, and originality. If you have a truly fresh and captivating story, it can and will stand on its own, without having to use a crutch of millions of phaser beams, and exploding ships. But the downside to that, is that it means you'll actually have to THINK, to create an original and thought-provoking story. Perish the thought, huh?
Also, using gay or lesbian characters. I absolutely HATE this. It's SO not needed. By the 24th century, nobody gives a flying rat's ass if you're gay or not. It doesn't matter. Thus, it shouldn't be a major plot point, in any fanfilm. The ONLY reason for it to be, is to "shake up" the status quo, or shock us, in OUR time, which again, is stupid, because again, if it's nothing special in Trek's time, why would we care at all? Showing it to us is actually counterproductive, because it only serves to highlight that there might be something "different" about gay people.
Visual continuity. Again, here too many fanfilm producers go out of their way to change things... endless amounts of communicator designs, a careless mishmash of uniform designs, and super-duper-uber battleship bridges. Again... it only serves to look laughably silly. If you set your story in TOS time, use a TOS uniform. If TNG, use a TNG uniform, and so on. You don't need an AGT communicator, in the TNG time.
Finally, the production values. It is painfully obvious how many people use digital sets, and the effect shows. The echo effect of a lot of voice dubbing only hurts the illusion even more. It's clear that the audio is being taped in someone's garage or basement. A LOT of people don't know the art of dialogue... how to say lines with cinematic pacing, and effect, and again, this shows through. And you don't need to recycle old Trek music... be innovative, and write your own new scores.
Again, I don't want to sound mean or harsh, but these are my issues with a lot of productions. The visual FX on New Voyages are good. EVERYTHING is perfect on Starship Exeter. Same with Star Wreck. The production quality, the visuals, the audio, and the sets and uniforms. The acting can be shaky in some areas, but it is still among the best in any fanfilm I've seen.
Bottom line... just be original, and modest. Don't go for the dreadnoughts, and don't go for nothing but war and weapons... be ORIGINAL! Tell us a story about exploration... the mystery of the great unknown. If I want to see thousands of ships exploding, I have my DS9 DVDs.
First of all, Imy BIGGEST grip with fanfilms, is the penchant for people to want to use the biggest, uberest, fanwankathon, ship-of-death "dreadnought", with nothing of worth to it, but a fugly third nacelle slapped onto it, and a megaphaser cannon, or a hull bristling with super-duper quanto-photonic phase-missiles, or some BS. You DON'T need the biggest or most powerful ship!!! The STORY makes the film, not the tech!
The same with stories I see of late... nothing but people finding new ways to either revive old wars, or plunge the UFP into anew "devastating" war. BS. WTF is wrong with having the UFP, oh, I dunno... explore? A big war is a cloak for a total lack of imagination, and originality. If you have a truly fresh and captivating story, it can and will stand on its own, without having to use a crutch of millions of phaser beams, and exploding ships. But the downside to that, is that it means you'll actually have to THINK, to create an original and thought-provoking story. Perish the thought, huh?
Also, using gay or lesbian characters. I absolutely HATE this. It's SO not needed. By the 24th century, nobody gives a flying rat's ass if you're gay or not. It doesn't matter. Thus, it shouldn't be a major plot point, in any fanfilm. The ONLY reason for it to be, is to "shake up" the status quo, or shock us, in OUR time, which again, is stupid, because again, if it's nothing special in Trek's time, why would we care at all? Showing it to us is actually counterproductive, because it only serves to highlight that there might be something "different" about gay people.
Visual continuity. Again, here too many fanfilm producers go out of their way to change things... endless amounts of communicator designs, a careless mishmash of uniform designs, and super-duper-uber battleship bridges. Again... it only serves to look laughably silly. If you set your story in TOS time, use a TOS uniform. If TNG, use a TNG uniform, and so on. You don't need an AGT communicator, in the TNG time.
Finally, the production values. It is painfully obvious how many people use digital sets, and the effect shows. The echo effect of a lot of voice dubbing only hurts the illusion even more. It's clear that the audio is being taped in someone's garage or basement. A LOT of people don't know the art of dialogue... how to say lines with cinematic pacing, and effect, and again, this shows through. And you don't need to recycle old Trek music... be innovative, and write your own new scores.
Again, I don't want to sound mean or harsh, but these are my issues with a lot of productions. The visual FX on New Voyages are good. EVERYTHING is perfect on Starship Exeter. Same with Star Wreck. The production quality, the visuals, the audio, and the sets and uniforms. The acting can be shaky in some areas, but it is still among the best in any fanfilm I've seen.
Bottom line... just be original, and modest. Don't go for the dreadnoughts, and don't go for nothing but war and weapons... be ORIGINAL! Tell us a story about exploration... the mystery of the great unknown. If I want to see thousands of ships exploding, I have my DS9 DVDs.
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