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CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

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Agreed. Either that or his law firm is taking him for a ride.
The other day he was claiming that someone was going to act for him pro bono. Perhaps they aren't acting as of today so he's in full blown litigant in person mode. That'd be a ticket to failure if ever there was one.

Of course, he still needs some sort of an attorney to represent Axanar Productions. As you well know, a fool can represent himself, but not a corporation.
Indeed, but if the money that the corporation is running on is the crowd sourced funding then he only has a fixed budget, especially if he's going ahead with production. It may be that he's holding out as long as possible before engaging someone or otherwise simply can't afford anyone at this stage (hence the pro bono suggestion).

What I find interesting is that he's clearly reading this thread and many of the others online (judging by the fact that he's commented on nearly every one he has access to such as Trekmovie and even your blog) so he would have seen many of the opinions of those fans with either legal or IP experience. Granted a lot of that comes from people who don't practice in California, such as Jenspah/Janet who hasn't practiced in 25 years in NY and myself who is British and practices in England and Wales, but the fact is that there are nonetheless certain hallmarks that come with litigation practice that are universal, and you'd think at the very least the man would look at what's being said and think to himself "I'd better be sure I'm right before pushing ahead". His conduct suggests to me this hasn't occurred. If anything he takes the whole thing personally because he acts as if dissenters have a personal beef with him and are pro-JJTrek (I, myself, am neither and am just one example of how that would be a false accusation).

I think the man needs to get his head out of his arse, put his hubris and bravado aside, and start thinking sensibly about this litigation. At the very least this action presents the possibility of his enterprise (no pun intended) going down the toilet. That in of itself should be a reason for caution.
 
So this means his entire main cast will be SAG-AFTRA members? Or, put another way, in what way is this still a "fan film"?
I think we must get out of the habit of even passing reference to this being a fan film. It isn't, and we all agree on that.

Exactly.

The "CBS is suing fans" narrative is evasive bullshit at this point.

CBS is suing a million-dollar California corporation for stealing its IP and using it commercially.
Exactly....made even more clear by the fact that Peters' history has been about commercial enterprise, even to the extent of his prior dealings with CBS with the failed Propworx.
 

So this means his entire main cast will be SAG-AFTRA members? Or, put another way, in what way is this still a "fan film"?
It can still (technically) be a "fan film" even with SAG actors and union shop builders (see "Renegades" for example). I think the line is inevitably "personal profit" - anyone drawing a salary (specifically the producers) that is not legally required to under union rules.

Amazing. I can only assume he's ignoring legal advice. If I were acting for him I'd have told him quite explicitly not to engage any further employees pending the court's decision on (at the very least) the application for an injunction.

Agreed. Either that or his law firm is taking him for a ride.
The other day he was claiming that someone was going to act for him pro bono. Perhaps they aren't acting as of today so he's in full blown litigant in person mode. That'd be a ticket to failure if ever there was one.
This was on his blog. He doesn't seem to be following any reasonable legal advice, if he's even been given any.


So this means his entire main cast will be SAG-AFTRA members? Or, put another way, in what way is this still a "fan film"?

Going by what Peters is saying, it isn't. From the link:

And, if we want to be a professional production, then we really need a professional actor in the lead role.
A hallmark of fan films is the creator making himself the central character, whether that is Kirk or Pike or whomever. While that is fine for a fan film, we are shooting for something different.
What I just don't quite understand is what's in it for the actors? Are they insulated from any fallout on this, thus making it a reasonable job opportunity for them? Or are they going to run like hell when the casting director calls?

It just seems like being a part of a production that CBS and Paramount, two big employers of actors, most likely consider outlaw might not be the best career move.
Either the actors being cast are new and/or rabid trek fans and will take any foot in any door or anything with trek in it; Haven't been following the news of the lawsuit (their agents should be on top of that if they get a call!) or don't care.

I doubt that anyone professionally involved would take such a job after this lawsuit made the news.
 

So this means his entire main cast will be SAG-AFTRA members? Or, put another way, in what way is this still a "fan film"?
I think we must get out of the habit of even passing reference to this being a fan film. It isn't, and we all agree on that.

Going by their logic, Beyond is a fan film because it's director is a fan.

Unless their argument is that the only difference because a "film" and "fan film" is that one is authorized and one is not. I doubt they want to use that bold legal strategy.
 
So this means his entire main cast will be SAG-AFTRA members? Or, put another way, in what way is this still a "fan film"?
I think we must get out of the habit of even passing reference to this being a fan film. It isn't, and we all agree on that.

Going by their logic, Beyond is a fan film because it's director is a fan.

Unless their argument is that the only difference because a "film" and "fan film" is that one is authorized and one is not. I doubt they want to use that bold legal strategy.

I think, they are trying to hang the legality of their project under the guise of it being "Non-Profit".... what I wonder is, IS it classified as a non profit by the IRS. I didn't see any demarkation in the Secretary State registry of corporations that it was.
 
...

If anything he takes the whole thing personally because he acts as if dissenters have a personal beef with him and are pro-JJTrek (I, myself, am neither and am just one example of how that would be a false accusation).

I'm going to be honest after 7+ years of JJ Trek... Why is it anyone who doesn't like one of the fan films immediately labelled pro JJ whether they actually like those films in the slightest or not.

I actually quite like the JJ movies, I have my gripes and nitpicks with them, but I also like all of the series and previous films and again have gripes and nitpicks with them. If I said that to JJ bashers the second part of that statement would be ignored.

I also like a number of the fan films which includes the overall concept or the Axanar production however the one thing which has drained my interest for these productions is the general attitude towards the films and people who like them (its old).
 
His announcement this morning is that they are trying to cast the film, including a younger Garth; he"ll only play Garth for NV vignettes.
Amazing. I can only assume he's ignoring legal advice. If I were acting for him I'd have told him quite explicitly not to engage any further employees pending the court's decision on (at the very least) the application for an injunction.
The way this has been playing out, I'm beginning to think his lawyer "has a fool for a client".
 
I notice he says that no contracts have been signed - I wonder how many of the current pro actors suddenly find that they have a proctologist appointment that would clash with filming?
 
I notice he says that no contracts have been signed - I wonder how many of the current pro actors suddenly find that they have a proctologist appointment that would clash with filming?

The minute they find out about this lawsuit, they're going to follow Tony Todd out the door. Peters keeps torpedoing himself.

Like Darth Vader says -- "he is as clumsy as he is stupid."
 
I think we must get out of the habit of even passing reference to this being a fan film. It isn't, and we all agree on that.

Going by their logic, Beyond is a fan film because it's director is a fan.

Unless their argument is that the only difference because a "film" and "fan film" is that one is authorized and one is not. I doubt they want to use that bold legal strategy.

I think, they are trying to hang the legality of their project under the guise of it being "Non-Profit".... what I wonder is, IS it classified as a non profit by the IRS. I didn't see any demarkation in the Secretary State registry of corporations that it was.

It's not, I checked the IRS database. Star Trek Continues, however, has applied for tax-exempt nonprofit status.
 
So this means his entire main cast will be SAG-AFTRA members? Or, put another way, in what way is this still a "fan film"?
I think we must get out of the habit of even passing reference to this being a fan film. It isn't, and we all agree on that.

Going by their logic, Beyond is a fan film because it's director is a fan.

Unless their argument is that the only difference because a "film" and "fan film" is that one is authorized and one is not. I doubt they want to use that bold legal strategy.
The way I see it is this:-

Tobias Richter makes images of Trek ships at home on his PC for no money - fan work

Tobias Richter makes images of Trek ships at home on his PC and then sells them for a wage - professional contract

To use the example of one of those involved...
 
His announcement this morning is that they are trying to cast the film, including a younger Garth; he"ll only play Garth for NV vignettes.
Amazing. I can only assume he's ignoring legal advice. If I were acting for him I'd have told him quite explicitly not to engage any further employees pending the court's decision on (at the very least) the application for an injunction.
The way this has been playing out, I'm beginning to think his lawyer "has a fool for a client".
Ha, indeed!

Always loved that expression because it's so true.
 
I notice he says that no contracts have been signed - I wonder how many of the current pro actors suddenly find that they have a proctologist appointment that would clash with filming?

The minute they find out about this lawsuit, they're going to follow Tony Todd out the door. Peters keeps torpedoing himself.

Like Darth Vader says -- "he is as clumsy as he is stupid."
I don't get this:
Alec Peters said:
Unfortunately Tony Todd will not be back, though. Tony opted not to come back when we wouldn't pay the $15,000 day rate he was asking. (We paid a fraction of that for Prelude.) With Ramirez having a tiny part in Axanar, we really couldn’t justify that kind of expense. Andorian!
Why is it anyone's business what Todd charges?
 
I think we must get out of the habit of even passing reference to this being a fan film. It isn't, and we all agree on that.

Going by their logic, Beyond is a fan film because it's director is a fan.

Unless their argument is that the only difference because a "film" and "fan film" is that one is authorized and one is not. I doubt they want to use that bold legal strategy.
The way I see it is this:-

Tobias Richter makes images of Trek ships at home on his PC for no money - fan work

Tobias Richter makes images of Trek ships at home on his PC and then sells them for a wage - professional contract

To use the example of one of those involved...

Which makes me think - I wonder what the wording is of some of the contracts he's getting other people to sign??
 
Axanar is as much as a "Fan Film" as my live Internet Puppet Show is "Citizen Kane" ;-)

In other words... Not a whole lot in common... Shot on film / video... But not even the same thing... Maybe in AP's head perhaps... Reality says otherwise tho'
 
...

If anything he takes the whole thing personally because he acts as if dissenters have a personal beef with him and are pro-JJTrek (I, myself, am neither and am just one example of how that would be a false accusation).

I'm going to be honest after 7+ years of JJ Trek... Why is it anyone who doesn't like one of the fan films immediately labelled pro JJ whether they actually like those films in the slightest or not.

I actually quite like the JJ movies, I have my gripes and nitpicks with them, but I also like all of the series and previous films and again have gripes and nitpicks with them. If I said that to JJ bashers the second part of that statement would be ignored.

I also like a number of the fan films which includes the overall concept or the Axanar production however the one thing which has drained my interest for these productions is the general attitude towards the films and people who like them (its old).

Same. I was well on board with the concept of the fan films, and was frankly close to shipping off a donation at some point, but as someone who does not get his shorts in a bunch about NuTrek, my support has cooled as I see more and more this attitude of "the franchise is trying to shut us down because we are better than that awful Jar Jar Trek." The higher-ups seem to try to be more diplomatic on Facebook about it, but that attitude seems pretty common amongst the investors. Which is sad. Like there's not enough room for everyone's vision.
 
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