BREAKING: Official Fan Film Guidelines Issued

[Amaris]

Given that most of us had not heard of their production until they made the statement...I'd go with publicity...like the saying goes...there is no such thing as bad publicity.

I guess that's true to a point, but I'm the type of person who looks at that kind of publicity and weighs it against my own personal opinion. In this case, I didn't know much of anything about Raven, and after this stunt, I don't wish to know anything about Raven. So instead of an excited "Hey, rara, come see our new fan film!" they decide to play petulant child. I don't watch fan films produced by petulant children.

 

[USS Intrepid]

Given that most of us had not heard of their production until they made the statement...I'd go with publicity...like the saying goes...there is no such thing as bad publicity.

I'd heard of them. They'd run a couple of crowdfunding campaigns that weren't successful. I believe they also had some plans build a studio with recreations of the Voyager sets, though I don't know where they're at with that.

 

[Zaminhon]

I guess that's true to a point, but I'm the type of person who looks at that kind of publicity and weighs it against my own personal opinion. In this case, I didn't know much of anything about Raven, and after this stunt, I don't wish to know anything about Raven. So instead of an excited "Hey, rara, come see our new fan film!" they decide to play petulant child. I don't watch fan films produced by petulant children.

Yeah, that makes me want to go right out and contribute to their project. Nah, doesn't sound like a lost cause to me. That'll be money well spent. smh

 

[Zeppster]

Seems like suing these people for making movies/episodes does CBS/Paramount no good. And they really won't get much out of it. Film makers lose and fans lose that's about it.

 

[Firebird]

Seems like suing these people for making movies/episodes does CBS/Paramount no good. And they really won't get much out of it. Film makers lose and fans lose that's about it.

That's a very simplistic view of the Axanar situation. I'd advise reading more about the financially-questionable actions of the Axanar crew before making such statements.

 

[ThankYouGeneR]

Seems like suing these people for making movies/episodes does CBS/Paramount no good. And they really won't get much out of it. Film makers lose and fans lose that's about it.

That's a very simplistic view of the Axanar situation. I'd advise reading more about the financially-questionable actions of the Axanar crew before making such statements.

You know, I will go back even further than the financials coming fully to light.

It's when I was still a donor and Full Supporter and saw in print being said by the defendant himself that his intent was to make an 'independent' Star Trek movie, put Star Trek into the hands of the fans, promoting not paying for cable, and getting what we want in Star Trek from a streaming service. Which he wanted to be part of.

In his own words he said this.

And remember at that point I was still a donor Full Supporter.. and saying "They just have to quit saying this stuff because if I owned ST and read this I would put a stop to it myself."

Then I saw the production website was advertising an unlicensed Star Trek product and stating that if we bought this product part of the price would be donated to the production. Money from bootlegged Star Trek product advertised on his (still at that time) Star Trek film website.

And at that time 'still' being a donor & Full Supporter was saying "They have to take that product off their site. It's making them look bad."

Start that far back if you decide to look into this. You can see the defendant himself saying it was his intention to take something someone else owned away from them.

He said he intended to make this product so good people wouldn't be able to tell the difference..... He said that with his own voice that you can listen to on his 'own' podcast.

This wasn't CBS/P suing people for making movies/episodes. We've been doing this for decades.

This was the owner of a product. And a person who he himself repeatedly and well documented said out loud to media, on his podcast, to fans - that he wanted to take that product away from them. And make his copy of the product so good no one could tell the difference.

His podcast, his articles written by him on his website, his crowdfunding write up. This is all directly from him.

 

[asurob]

And at that time 'still' being a donor & Full Supporter was saying "They have to take that product off their site. It's making them look bad."

This is precisely what got me to start paying attention to my donation. I kept seeing things pop up in the donor facebook for sale...and I knew that there was no way that CBS/Paramount would be okay with them doing that. I think I even posted my misgivings there and remember being told that they were allowed to sell stuff.

 

[Mordock]

I think I found another loophole in the guidelines; they stipulate that Joe Fanfilm can only crowdfund up to $50,000 USD. What happens if Joe Fanfilm persuades a crazed lottery millionaire to donate $500,000 in in-kind resources?

 

[Wowbagger]

I think I found another loophole in the guidelines; they stipulate that Joe Fanfilm can only crowdfund up to $50,000 USD. What happens if Joe Fanfilm persuades a crazed lottery millionaire to donate $500,000 in in-kind resources?

Discussed in the John Van Citters interview. This is okay, per JVC.

 

[USS Triumphant]

Playing devil's advocate here, engaging in a little hypothetical thinking, and NOT suggesting anyone try this: if productions are limited to $50,000 of crowdsourced funds per 15 minutes, but they can have $2 million donated from a single entity (crazy Uncle Joe or whomever), then....

Suppose someone were to run a Kickstarter for $2 million with the stated goal that they want to hold a contest for amateur sci-fi production ideas, to encourage independent sci-fi films and up-and-coming talents. People are allowed to nominate contestants and vote, independent of giving to the Kickstarter. The prizes are $800,000 for 1st place, $700,000 for 2nd, and $500,000 for 3rd.

"Starship Lollipop: A Star Trek Fan Production" wins 2nd place. If they accept that money, is it a crowdsourced fund they aren't allowed to have, or a donation from crazy Uncle Joe (or in this case, the prize committee for the contest) that they *are* allowed to have?

 

[Philip Guyott]

Axanar have posted a Change.org petition on it's Facebook page petitioning CBS for a new set of guidelines! Link
It currently has just over 1700 supporters.

 

[dmac]

Playing devil's advocate here, engaging in a little hypothetical thinking, and NOT suggesting anyone try this: if productions are limited to $50,000 of crowdsourced funds per 15 minutes, but they can have $2 million donated from a single entity (crazy Uncle Joe or whomever), then....

Suppose someone were to run a Kickstarter for $2 million with the stated goal that they want to hold a contest for amateur sci-fi production ideas, to encourage independent sci-fi films and up-and-coming talents. People are allowed to nominate contestants and vote, independent of giving to the Kickstarter. The prizes are $800,000 for 1st place, $700,000 for 2nd, and $500,000 for 3rd.

"Starship Lollipop: A Star Trek Fan Production" wins 2nd place. If they accept that money, is it a crowdsourced fund they aren't allowed to have, or a donation from crazy Uncle Joe (or in this case, the prize committee for the contest) that they *are* allowed to have?

I love crazy Joe.

 

[USS Triumphant]

I love crazy Joe.

Me, too. Always handing out money like that.

I know my scenario might sound a bit convoluted, but my concern is that the next step would be that the guy who is running the Kickstarter "to promote amateur sci-fi" would also just happen to be connected to the Star Trek fan film somehow, wink wink nudge nudge. And if I can think of it, I think Axanar may have shown us someone will TRY it, eventually.

I think I'd almost suggest to CBS/P that they put a hard cap of $50k from crowdsourcing and $50k from all other sources, period - and maybe give us back a 45 minute time limit, to give us something in exchange, just because they're such incredibly nice folks?

 

[dmac]

I think the Guidelines are trying to say that if you're going to create some thing that big and epic, try going original and become the next George Lucas

 

[Sgt_G]

suggest to CBS/P that they put a hard cap of $50k from crowdsourcing and $50k from all other sources,

CBS doesn't want to do that. They can see the Kickstarter goal and totals as that's public information. But for them to monitor private gifts, they can't really do that without asking to see the books. What if you say "no"? They can't force you to show it to them without a court order, which means filing a lawsuit. JvC said they put the cap on crowd-funding to limit the amount of swag people were getting because that seems to be turning fan films into gift factories.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Me, too. Always handing out money like that.

I know my scenario might sound a bit convoluted, but my concern is that the next step would be that the guy who is running the Kickstarter "to promote amateur sci-fi" would also just happen to be connected to the Star Trek fan film somehow, wink wink nudge nudge. And if I can think of it, I think Axanar may have shown us someone will TRY it, eventually.

I think I'd almost suggest to CBS/P that they put a hard cap of $50k from crowdsourcing and $50k from all other sources, period - and maybe give us back a 45 minute time limit, to give us something in exchange, just because they're such incredibly nice folks?

I think it's going to be really tough to raise cash, a lot of cash, on Kickstarter without using a franchise name.

 

[HerbFlynn]

I think it's going to be really tough to raise cash, a lot of cash, on Kickstarter without using a franchise name.

They can still subtitle it "A Star Trek Fan Film".

However, those going there own way, I personally think "Renegades" is the winner in all this - They are free from direct "Trek" connection, can cast whomever they want from previous "Trek" which is a draw for many fans - to see their favorite actors working on a scifi project together - and can be marketed any and every way.

 

[Sgt_G]

Herb, you have to read the first post in this thought. The idea was someone would raise a bunch of money to support a sci-fi contest and feed the money to Trek fan-films.

I almost made the same mistake you did. I was getting ready to ask, "Where do you see anything that prevent someone from using the words 'Star Trek' in their Kick-starter drive?", but then I noticed the quoted text.

 

[wamdue]

Axanar have posted a Change.org petition on it's Facebook page petitioning CBS for a new set of guidelines! Link
It currently has just over 1700 supporters.

JJ Abrams must be wondering why the hell he ever went to bat for these day.

That said whilst he only ever said he is getting the law suit dropped, he has a played in these new guidelines, which have prevented Axnar and other productions from happening, so his little stunt seems to have back fired.

This whole thing has blown up in his face, but I think he did make a mistake being involved.

 

[Professor Zoom]

JJ Abrams must be wondering why the hell he ever went to bat for these day.

That said whilst he only ever said he is getting the law suit dropped, he has a played in these new guidelines, which have prevented Axnar and other productions from happening, so his little stunt seems to have back fired.

This whole thing has blown up in his face, but I think he did make a mistake being involved.

I doubt Abrams thinks this has blown up in his face. That would imply he knows what's happening and that he cares. He's producing a Star Trek movie, Star Wars movies, and his own shit. I doubt he's given a fuck since he made the statement.