Except that he has no actual film, just an extended trailer. When you get right down to it, Axanar's popularity is a mirage. From what I've seen it was largely fueled by a core group of fans who rabidly disliked the Kelvin timeline films and were upset there hasn't been a new series since "Enterprise." But between the largely positive reaction to "Beyond" and the upcoming "Discovery" series, I imagine a lot of that fan-rage has dissipated. What you're left with are people who (a) don't want to admit they were conned and (b) people who simply define their fandon as hatred of the mainstream.
'Prelude to Axanar' is a 23 minute short film and it's ALL Alec Peters has got. <-- That's the 'film' I was referring to And again, you're spot on in that with Alec Peters having driven all the professionals who were fans and who wanted and were willing to make the feature version of Axanar away - for two years he's been conducting a classic 'smoke and mirrors' campaign; thinking somehow he'd rope an BIG investor that would fund him and his for profit studio project - all the while claiming :
"I'm not in it for the money (like the suits at CBS/Paramount); for me it's 'Star Trek first', money second - just like Gene..."
Of course anyone who actually looks into Gene Roddenberry's history will know he was JUST as interested in making as MUCH MONEY as he could from STAR TREK; and was just as much a 'suit' in that regard as anyone currently at CBS/Paramount, but many fans have only heard the hype that somehow STAR TREK was a 'vision' GR had for humanity and he himself wasn't interested in money - just this 'vision' of a better world that he wanted everyone to see and believe in.
But of course anyone still buying into the above is either blind; or so upset that Paramount (as they see it) hasn't done anything they've liked - and is somehow just 'milking' the Star Trek brand for as much money as they can get - and the real 'gullible fans are those going to/paying for the Paramount films, and new CBS Star Trek content.
The sad thing is - Alec Peters is in fact a lot like the real Gene Roddenberry in that he's trying to squeeze every cent he can from Star Trek (like Gene did during his life); while pandering to the remaining die hards in Alec's pledge base; making them believe they're the smart ones; and everyone else is just jealous that Alec came up with a 'new way' to make/distribute Star Trek that fans want; and big/evil/corporate Paramount/CBS are blind and just out to protect the status quo.
Again, that is why I think:
- Alec Peters will never accept ANY Paramount/CBS settlement offer (although I doubt any more such offers are being made or remain on the table.)
- Will drag this out in Court (and as far up the Appellate chain as he can get); and for the remainder of his life will paint himself as the:
"One TRUE Star Trek fan who understood
'Gene's Vision''™ and tried to do the
'truest'™ version of Star Trek; and was supported by Star Trek fandom worldwide - but the evil/money-grubbing corporate suits won out due to unjust laws designed to promote the status quo..."
Personally though, I hope in the end he's only able to do so living out of the cardboard box he'll be living in after CBS/Paramount get the sizable civil and punitive monetary damages Judgement against him that they should when all is said and done.
This case truly is an example of what can happen when someone decides to really take advantage of an IP owner who for nearly two decades, let the fans do what they want as long as they didn't make money or openly and directly sell unlicensed IP merchandise.unlicensed merchandise.
