We've heard a lot about Axanar Productions doing things the wrong way. I think it would be productive to discuss how to do things the right way. How would you create a blueprint for the ideal fan film production?
Step 1: plot, write, re-write, agonize on, sweat, get feedback on, fix, new draft, next draft, shooting draft, revisions and hopefully final draft...
Beyond the obvious things like what's been said above, You should have a creative idea. We've seen countless recreations of TOS, a lifetime supply of war stories, and far too many sequels to events from canon. Come up with something bold and new that no one else would think of and you'll instantly stand out.
A good idea is important, hopefully something deeper than ''ship's crew come across some Klingons. Phaser fight ensues as the ship's crew and Captain try to survive. Crew beams back aboard ship and phaser fight until one survives...'' Sure, this kind of story can be entertaining, but it is more the right-wing version of Star Trek: good guys VS alien bad guys, weaponry rather than human wits wins the day... With what's happening all over the world these last few years, it is sadly easy to choose one and to give it a sci-fi bent...
Here's another reason why locking down your script before you move any further is the best idea: for one thing, it prevents you from wasting time, energy and $$$ on many things that could be written out if you have an incomplete script...you could be making props that won't be in the revised script, casting too many actors or not enough, not to mention costumes.
Have a story worth telling. Take it through multiple drafts, revisions and editions before sending it out to be reviewed. Have a very tight circle of reviewers so that there isn't an attempt to please everyone with multiple commentators. Accept criticism. This is the hardest part of the writing process, but necessary. The part that is loved by the writer, may be the part impacting the pacing of the story. Say your sentences out loud. Lines that type out easily may be awkward in speech. Know your limitations. When it comes to fan productions, its easy to imagine grand sequences and battles. But, rarely are fan films written by professional writers, and have access to professional actors. So, know that your actors might need some coaching in order to sell the scene. Limits are good but there needs to be an awareness of them. Finally, have fun. This is just from personal experience. I'm not a writer, producer or actor by trade or training. But, I've worked on enough fan productions that fizzled out because the dreams were too big.