BREAKING: Official Fan Film Guidelines Issued

[Kor]

Hmm. That would suggest that there might be no such limit in direct donattions through a production's website.

Well, the $50,000 rule actually says "fundraising," rather than "crowdfunding." So it sounds like it wouldn't only apply to crowdfunding, but to any other way of raising money, whether face to face, by phone, by website, bake sales, or any other conceivable method.

Kor

 

[batboy853]

I mean what if a production raises the 50,000 and then say someone stops by and says I'm going to drop this 100 dollar bill on the ground for you. Is the production supposed to then say I don't see the 100 dollar bill?

Just playing devils advocate.

 

[BillJ]

I mean what if a production raises the 50,000 and then say someone stops by and says I'm going to drop this 100 dollar bill on the ground for you. Is the production supposed to then say I don't see the 100 dollar bill?

Depends if they want to play by the rules?

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Well, the $50,000 rule actually says "fundraising," rather than "crowdfunding." So it sounds like it wouldn't only apply to crowdfunding, but to any other way of raising money, whether face to face, by phone, by website, bake sales, or any other conceivable method.

To me, "fundraising" means actively soliciting money. As distinct from someone deciding to give you money unprompted. But of course, I'm not CBS/P.

 

[Mordock]

Although it's what people are complaining about the most, I'm interested to see how the filmmakers handle the time limit. There are some really great independant short films out there that are well under 15 minutes so I'm sure compelling stories can be told in that time. Just think of the old Twilight Zone episodes.

Absolutely. Look at La Jetée for another SF example; less than 30 minutes long, B&W, and constructed from still photographs, and if you see it once, you'll never forget it.

 

[Maurice]

Absolutely. Look at La Jetée for another SF example; less than 30 minutes long, B&W, and constructed from still photographs, and if you see it once, you'll never forget it.

Well, there's a SINGLE motion shot in it. But it is amazing.

 

[Wowbagger]

The "official Star Trek podcast" is evidently taking questions here, and claim they can get official answers from CBS/P.

https://www.facebook.com/EngageTheOfficialStarTrekPodcast

 

[Starfury]

A cool fan film series that is German that has been made with no budget is Star Trek Explorer
They are making their 3rd episode now.

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The maker of Explorer is a good friend of mine and he's not sure if he can continue. The third episode would be longer than 15 Minutes and it's part of an ongoing Story (more or less). Explorer is actually pretty safe... except for the first rule of this new guideline. So... it's propably dead Jim? It's just heartbreaking.

 

[BillJ]

The maker of Explorer is a good friend of mine and he's not sure if he can continue. The third episode would be longer than 15 Minutes and it's part of an ongoing Story (more or less). Explorer is actually pretty safe... except for the first rule of this new guideline. So... it's propably dead Jim? It's just heartbreaking.

#ThanksAlec

 

[JRoss]

I haven't read the other posts in this thread. I just came from reading the guidelines. I have to say that all of you who love to make fan films have my sympathy.

 

[Amaris]

#ThanksAlec

No, no, remember? Alec is the ONLY ONE fighting for the fans! It's why he's still trying to bring in money, why they're still selling retroactive donor packages, and why they haven't even completed a script, or a cast lineup after years of donations. It's why Alec paid himself a salary. It's why they mocked CBS/Paramount when the lawsuit arrived, and it's why they're doubling down now. It's all for YOU! THE FANS!

 

[montalban]

I'll admit, the time restriction is the most disappointing guideline for me. Sure, you can tell a complete story in any amount of time, but employing a format closer to that of classic Star Trek episodes was part of the charm of productions like STC. It was adopting a formula that was both nostalgic and familiar, and honestly that was all I wanted from the series. I didn't go in expecting a fan-created web version of a 50-year-old tv show to reinvent the wheel or deliver something groundbreaking.

However, I did like the way the online medium opened up all kinds of storytelling possibilities and that crowdfunding had allowed fan films to evolve to a point of being almost professional productions. Both of those innovations are now effectively dead thanks to the new guidelines, and I can't say I'm excited to see the state of fan films regress. Of course, I'm happy that Paramount is open to offering a way forward for existing Trek filmmakers (and potential new ones), but would still prefer to see the studio figure out a way to make better use of this whole phenomenon.

And let's be honest, it's not as though the studio is getting absolutely nothing out of the bargain here. If they wanted to end fan productions for good, they would. End of story. The fact that they aren't taking that route suggests they are either feeling super generous or they have simply weighed the possible options and decided extending an olive branch was in their best interest. I'm guessing it's probably the latter.

After all, they have an expensive new Star Trek film opening in a few weeks and a new streaming series in the works. Would offending a small percentage of entitled fanboys really hurt the chances of success for either of those projects? Probably not, but both titles will be entering a crowded, competitive marketplace and, ideally, Paramount is going to want as much of Trek's passionate fanbase as possible to offer support. What the guidelines ultimately offer then is a way to greatly minimize any backlash from cracking down on the fan community and its creations. It allows Paramount to reduce fan films to a level that is more easy to dismiss, while also insuring that many fans come down on the side of the studio in the process.

 

[Amaris]

I'll admit, the time restriction is the most disappointing guideline for me. Sure, you can tell a complete story in any amount of time, but employing a format closer to that of classic Star Trek episodes was part of the charm of productions like STC. It was adopting a formula that was both nostalgic and familiar, and honestly that was all I wanted from the series. I didn't go in expecting a fan-created web version of a 50-year-old tv show to reinvent the wheel or deliver something groundbreaking.

However, I did like the way the online medium opened up all kinds of storytelling possibilities and that crowdfunding had allowed fan films to evolve to a point of being almost professional productions. Both of those innovations are now effectively dead thanks to the new guidelines, and I can't say I'm excited to see the state of fan films regress. Of course, I'm happy that Paramount is open to offering a way forward for existing Trek filmmakers (and potential new ones), but would still prefer to see the studio figure out a way to make better use of this whole phenomenon.

And let's be honest, it's not as though the studio is getting absolutely nothing out of the bargain here. If they wanted to end fan productions for good, they would. End of story. The fact that they aren't taking that route suggests they are either feeling super generous or they have simply weighed the possible options and decided extending an olive branch was in their best interest. I'm guessing it's probably the latter.

After all, they have an expensive new Star Trek film opening in a few weeks and a new streaming series in the works. Would offending a small percentage of entitled fanboys really hurt the chances of success for either of those projects? Probably not, but both titles will be entering a crowded, competitive marketplace and, ideally, Paramount is going to want as much of Trek's passionate fanbase as possible to offer support. What the guidelines ultimately offer then is a way to greatly minimize any backlash from cracking down on the fan community and its creations. It allows Paramount to reduce fan films to a level that is more easy to dismiss, while also insuring that many fans come down on the side of the studio in the process.

Indeed, and it will likely work, because the ones who are supremely butthurt are also the ones foolish enough to see all of this as it is right now, and still want to dump cash into the money pit that is Axanar. They are beyond gone. Alec could come right out and say he makes $200,000 a year on donations and they're paying his mortgage, "but hopefully in the next 5 years we'll get that film out!" and they would support him. For everyone else this will be an interesting/odd story, and nothing more as they walk into the theater.

 

[CorporalClegg]

There is an eerie--almost cultish--feel to the whole thing.

 

[urbandefault]

There is an eerie--almost cultish--feel to the whole thing.

I AM ZOR-ALEC! SEND ME ALL YOUR MONEY!

AND SUSHI FOR THE CAT!

 

[Khan 2.0]

I don't mind waving my own credentials. Made a film with the help of a background painter who I paid $75 to and a translator who I paid $50 to. It's under 2 minutes and was covered by multiple media outlets and garnered over 200,000 views. I did it over the course of a year with no donations.

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I think I remember at the time there was some gossip about this being a genuine paramount viral marketing thing to tease that the Klingons would be the central villain of Trek '2'

 

[wamdue]

I don't mind waving my own credentials. Made a film with the help of a background painter who I paid $75 to and a translator who I paid $50 to. It's under 2 minutes and was covered by multiple media outlets and garnered over 200,000 views. I did it over the course of a year with no donations.

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nice work, it does make me think that animation may be the future for fan films, it gets around some of the issues, ok you are still limited in length, and in who can assist, but its a heck of alot easier than live action now.

 

[lurok]

Not forgetting Aurora

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[drt]

It also occurs to me that in the Berman years, with the A/B plot structure, the A plot probably timed out less than 30 minutes, so there is plenty of precedent for telling a compelling live action Trek story in under thirty minutes.

 

[Salinga]

Maybe ST:C can continue as an licensed independend "off-canon" Star Trek production. Like the Star Trek books. Of course this means a future fundraiser has to include the cost of the lincense. It would be nice if CBS could include an official contact for producers who want to go this way and negotiate with CBS.

For example: $500.000 max raised per episode, 10% goes to CBS for the license (or a price by the minute; $2000 license per produced minute of material), 50% of a possible future profit goes to CBS. So these bigger "Fan" productions become semi-commercial.