CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar
- Thread starter Richard Baker
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Or Snuffeupagus comes to your house and eats a couple dozen burritos.
It means "obfuscation"
Yes, I respect what you're saying here. I do. And I'm a donor too, who never followed anything that I could have been aware of after my initial understanding from the original FAQ. Which I see now was my own bad. And I do admire you speaking up about your feelings.
My first awareness that anything 'might' be untoward was the Dec 30th posting about the lawsuit, first elsewhere, and then I came here too. It was only then that I began paying attention. Only then I started backtracking research on the internet to find whatever I could rely on as fact about this whole matter.
I choose to not feel like an idiot for believing, for donating, nor for doing so without continued vigilance. Even if I find it said or implied. Because that kind of thing just never occurred to me that it would be needed. I donate to several other fan productions and looking more deeply into what I have been donating to has just never occurred to me. I choose to not feel like an idiot. Naive, yes. Idiot, no. And though I feel differently about this whole thing now, very very differently, I will respect that there are those among us who will continue to support this particular enterprise. I will respect their logic regarding this matter. Censure using fear, tracking & monitoring oppositional posters, bullying, doxxing, intent to do harm, on either side of this issue, nope.
LLAP, S.M. Oliva, Squiggy.
The thing about internet commenting is magnified even more by fan internet commenting on their particular fandom. It generally holds true across the board of any fandom. And there will always be variety within the commenters; those seeking information, those sharing information, those with likes/dislikes, those finding a place to vent, those with stronnnng opinions, and those in it for the entertainment and chaos.
In this matter, this lawsuit, I'm noticing a same selection of commenters on both sides of this issue. I mean if that helps any. This has become a polarizing issue with some posters on both sides doing the exact same kind of thing. If 'that' helps any.
At times it is troubling to me too. Sure. Both sides.So I will laughingly end with something from our latest and continued endlessly vilified by some postings, Star Trek Into Darkness. A movie I find deeply thought provoking and profound in its addressing of the ethics and psychology that bonded and has held me to StarTrek since September 8, 1966:
"There will always be those who mean to do us harm. To stop them, we risk awakening the same evil within ourselves. ..........But that's not who we are... ."
Anyway, that's what I choose. The truth is I fail, or at least fall short at this more than I like, but the bigger truth for me is that I keep striving to find my way back to this choice.
Thank you for your posted feelings. It is a reminder to myself as I continue to follow and post on this matter.
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I'd say it would lend some credence to his perpetual boasting about how this project is the greatest thing ever.
He has a "ticking clock" problem. Unless he can figure out how to pay $12,000+ a month for rent and utilities for the last two years of his lease he could get booted out of his new studio. Anything screwed into the walls or ceiling are considered leasehold improvements and would become the property of the building's owner. It's possible he will use the last of the Indiegogo money for rent to save himself from being sued by his landlord for non payment of rent and having his commercial credit destroyed. Although he probably doesn't have great credit from the Propworx bankruptcy.
Anyone remember how he bragged about paying a full year's rent on the new studio up front? Well, he probably had to because he had a bankruptcy, and the building's owner wouldn't rent to him otherwise. NOBODY hands their landlord a full year's rent up front.
Well, it's definitely not a choice I would make. I can't judge another person's choices, however, because I don't know the exact circumstances behind them. I don't know if that metaphorical pack of cigarettes is the only thing bringing someone a bit of joy in an otherwise joyless life or if they're overcome by decision fatigue or if they've never been particularly good at decision making.
A
Amaris
Guest
This. There are times when someone needs something that brings them a modicum of joy or pleasure, regardless of their level of income.
As someone here (who has been vocal) and who also pledged ($75 tier) to the first feature length Axanar KS campaign. I know EXACTLY how much I will be out dollar wise; and I accept it as part of the risk. At that time I thought Mr. Peters might just pull it off or I wouldn't have donated.
All that said: In following what's been going on with that production (long before the lawsuit hit); I've also seen what I can only describe as outrageous and idiotic behavior by Mr. Peters and many members of the Axanar production team) - and those actions are WHY Paramount/CBS decided to file the suit. Had I know they were planning on doing ridiculous items like coffee, going out and baiting Paramount/CBS with comments like "It's not really a fan film, it's the first independent Star Trek film with industry professional talent behind the scenes..."; and that he was also paying himself, and his girlfriend salaries; and using funds donated for PRODUCTION top instead fly himself and others to Conventions/Independent Film festivals, paty for admission/hotel rooms, etc. - all claiming "it's part of producing the film..", etc. beforehand, I would have kept my money; but Mr. Peters had a good pitch, and has played it off like a good con man.
So, given I know I'm out my $75 pledge; and given I do work in a court and HAVE heard and seen cases of copyright infringement adjudicated; I have no issues expressing my opinions based on what I see as the actual reality of this situation, and point out why Mr. Peters and the Axanar group's belief that somehow/someway Paramount/CBS will settle in a way that allows Mr. peters to keep his for profit studio and get the Axanar feature film completed; OR (even more ridiculous) that they somehow believe they'll 'win' the lawsuit be able to go back and continue with their fundraising/marketing, etc,; and create new case law in the process.
If not believing the delusional postings of the Axanar team is "mean spirited"; then I guess I am mean spirited as well. However, I see it as venting and being realistic; (and if Mr. peters HAD been more realistic and followed the unwritten guidelines that have allowed other high profile Star Trek fan film groups with higher than average fan film production values to exist over the past 10+ years; we who pledged MIGHT have gotten to see the film he wanted to make. But ddue to Mr. Peter's ego, avarice and stupidity, we have the situation we have now where Axanar as envisioned will NEVER be completed; and those of us who did pledge money to see it be made will be out those funds.
Huh. Now that's an interesting point to me. I don't have a sound basis from which I can say I fully agree about the part that 'nobody' does that or anything, though I clearly remember when this was said and the odd sense I experienced about it as it was 'being' said..
Commercial real estate is different than residential real estate, so it might be standard fare to pay a year upfront (commercial ain't my gig) - but his bankruptcy certainly doesn't help matters.
I didn't really put the two together to be honest. No sane landlord should've taken him on in the first place. Oh well, the landlord has three years worth of rent no matter what happens.
Plus new carpet. Don't forget the new carpet.
Ah yes, a capital improvement.Plus new carpet. Don't forget the new carpet.
Maybe, but we don't know where the $574,000 final Indiegogo funds are being spent. Green screen? Lighting grid? Sets? Travel? Auto? Rent? Sushi? We haven't seen the financial report from 8/1/2015 to present, and likely never will. Oh, and the income from the Donor store, additional donations via Ares Digital, and sales of "Retroactive Donor Packages" are apparently not on the 2015 financial report, at least not where I can see it. What were those donations spent on? How much was raised? Where were they accounted for?
And the one(s) who threatened S.M. Oliva
We discussed it again (God, it's becoming a regular segment) on the show.
Blog and YouTube video to follow. This time, the discussion is closer to the start of the show than it has been for the past few weeks. I'll have links up when I get them.
Thank you, as always, for your kind support. It is greatly appreciated.
Blog and YouTube video to follow. This time, the discussion is closer to the start of the show than it has been for the past few weeks. I'll have links up when I get them.
Thank you, as always, for your kind support. It is greatly appreciated.
First I've heard of this. And yet Alec "Transparency" Peters didn't think to share this with his donors until months later? Hmmm....
G & T's new podcast has just loaded on iTunes
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