CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar
- Thread starter Richard Baker
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Considering how long it took them to essentially type up bullet points, if they decided to do an actual report as hinted at, I expect to be long dead by the time he typed the first sentence.
It's almost as if they started with the exact total of the donations, and worked their way back.
That's great. When the IRS and FTC come a'courtin', they'll know exactly what receipts should be produced for each dollar of claimed business expense on the tax return, and what dollars were spent on the production vs. a bait and switch. And they'll be able to measure the intentional maliciousness level of the bait and switch by the difference between the 'report' and what they actually find.
Something that was mentioned on the facebook group got my wheels spinning. I really don't think LFIM and his acolytes are done pushing things. What if Axanar wasn't the goal either, what if it was just the means to an end? By that, I mean what if LFIM's ultimate goal is to make C/P go nuclear and crack down on ALL fan produced media.......thus turning fandom itself against C/P and making himself out to be its Lord and Savior (thus satiating his ego/satisfying his narcissism)??
The way this section of the recent financial report reads, that's what it sounds like to me...........
The way this section of the recent financial report reads, that's what it sounds like to me...........
Since they used Axanar's mailing list to announce & promote this next crowdfunding effort, how could it not violate the guidelines/settlement? Wouldn't that make it a de facto crowdfunder for Axanar?
Looks like a CAN SPAM issue too. See:
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/can-spam-act-compliance-guide-business
Do proper names count?
Something that was mentioned on the facebook group got my wheels spinning. I really don't think LFIM and his acolytes are done pushing things. What if Axanar wasn't the goal either, what if it was just the means to an end? By that, I mean what if LFIM's ultimate goal is to make C/P go nuclear and crack down on ALL fan produced media.......thus turning fandom itself against C/P and making himself out to be its Lord and Savior (thus satiating his ego/satisfying his narcissism)??
The way this section of the recent financial report reads, that's what it sounds like to me...........
It looks like they believe they have a right to produce long form Trek, and they are going to take it one way or another if they can find any angle to do it. It doesn't seem to me they really care what consequences their efforts may have on fan works generally.
'Fund the Industry Studios so it has time that is paid for that we can use for free for Axanar.' The Industry Studios kickstarter is clearly intended to create time on the IS calendar that is prepaid, so Axanar Productions can have its production costs prepaid. The KS itself looks like a violation.
If they got permission to mail, which for donors and their store customers they presumably have, they just have to express the mailing in certain ways - have an opt out link that works, identify where the email came from, etc. If they cross-promote to Propworx customers, then its a problem. Is that what you were noting?
Its just outrageous that they are taking their campaign to steal long-format Trek into every other distribution channel. The clear message of the guidelines is "independent stories in 2x15 minute format, long format (including serialization into 'parts') is the turf of the studios".
Yes, an injunction against Axanar might be much easier than making multimedia guidelines and fighting it out wrt/ whether Axanar is covered or grandfathered. And it would salvage things for other productions.
But I wonder whether TPTB in fan relations at CBS will be able to walk back their attorneys/front office from demanding a full ban. How can the promoters of fan works guarantee that this won't just keep happening so long as *any* angle exists for an exploiter to cause trouble? Its a very difficult argument to make.
And in the end, Axanar could probably argue that the settlement grandfathers them into the current guidelines.
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Right, but here is an extreme case - he's raised a ton of money and violated the spirit, if not the letter, of the guidelines, and doesn't seem to care about the rules. If CBS is targeting the one rulebreaker with a big enough hammer it shows the others that they can toe the line.
"Peters first leased the space, located on Industry Drive, in January of last year. He originally called the facility Ares Studios and intended to produce “Star Trek” fan films there, but he faced legal challenges from copyright holders. This year he rebranded the facility to Industry Studios."
Umm, more truthfully?
Star Trek fans first leased the space, located on Industry Drive, in January of last year to produce *a* Star Trek Fan film as a Kickstarter-funded project. After the project manager redirected the fan money to be put into an asset he personally leased with improvements he personally owned, Ares Studios, and expanded the fan film to be the start of a for profit empire of professional unlicensed Star Trek productions, he was sued by Star Trek's owners for abject copyright violation and profiteering. He took a settlement stopping the fan film but allowing him to keep the fan-paid-for facility. This year he rebranded the facility to Industry Studios.
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Alec (more accurately, one of his minions) has been halfheartedly trying to create a web presence for "Industry Studios."
The link to their website is found here - http://industrystudios.la/
One of the sup pages leads to "floor plans"
LOL
I reviewed them, and these are my comments...
Lots to discuss.
First, they include an erroneous document - the floor plan to Avalon Business Center - an industrial storage facility in Valencia California. Why is that included? Because the architect/engineer likely erroneously added to the electronic file he sent Alec, and I suspect that Alec never looked at the entire package before he copy/pasted the file to his "chief technologist" who ALSO didn't look as he coded it into the website. Very, very professional.
Second - THESE. ARE. NOT. FLOOR. PLANS.
They are spec drawings created by an engineer/architect for a contractor to follow. They aren't even "as builts" which show what is actually in place, so there is no guarantee what they depict is actually there. If a prospective client needed to know about where he or she could hook up to power, etc, they wouldn't be able to learn off the website.
Third - nothing is shown about the ACTUAL SHOOTING AREA, you know where people work?
It seems that no improvements have been done to that area at all, which is sort of the point. So you have A/C and dimmer switches in all the second floor areas, but no improvements to the actual work area, including the downstairs bathroom. Skippy.
Fourth, considering the endless discussion about the "Green Screen" I was pretty astonished to see no drawings or specs for that installation. I would think that the "tenant" would have been sure to get that work permitted, which in the great state of California no doubt would require an entirely separate set of drawings and plans.
Maybe Alec has those filed with a file name that doesn't include the word "plans" so when he did his cursory search to give the webmaster the "floor plans" he missed them. Hey Alec - try "green screen" or "stupid waste of money" on your next search. I am sure you will find them then... you can do it!
Fifth, the lack of "as builts" makes me wonder what, if any, contractor he used for the upgrades. The fact that apparently the electrical system is STILL not up to spec for him to rent out the facility makes me think he went cheap - and that would be an area of concern. I am curious as to what interest the landlord (or his management company) has put into this project. If it was me, I would be keeping a very careful eye, but who knows.
Sixth, Alec apparently approached improving the warehouse from the perspective of "Let's make it a comfy and cool place for me and my girlfriend to work, and climate controlled so I can store my props here, then we'll get more money from the fans and finish the whole thing"
Finally, he spent almost $700,000 for this? Give me a break. Those plans, even at inflated CA prices couldn't have cost more than $25,000k TOTAL... figure about $3,000 or so tops for permitting (it would be cheaper in FL) say another... hard to say... in Florida what he had done might run into the high five figures, but say inflating 50% for CA prices 125-150k for the improvements (the electrical was minimal - adding AC would be expensive) plus another 25k for the stuff that was not shown (paint, carpet, furniture) that's maybe $400k TOPS for all that work. Did that green screen really cost $289,000 to install? I have a hard time making all the figures work...
The link to their website is found here - http://industrystudios.la/
One of the sup pages leads to "floor plans"
LOL
I reviewed them, and these are my comments...
Lots to discuss.
First, they include an erroneous document - the floor plan to Avalon Business Center - an industrial storage facility in Valencia California. Why is that included? Because the architect/engineer likely erroneously added to the electronic file he sent Alec, and I suspect that Alec never looked at the entire package before he copy/pasted the file to his "chief technologist" who ALSO didn't look as he coded it into the website. Very, very professional.
Second - THESE. ARE. NOT. FLOOR. PLANS.
They are spec drawings created by an engineer/architect for a contractor to follow. They aren't even "as builts" which show what is actually in place, so there is no guarantee what they depict is actually there. If a prospective client needed to know about where he or she could hook up to power, etc, they wouldn't be able to learn off the website.
Third - nothing is shown about the ACTUAL SHOOTING AREA, you know where people work?
It seems that no improvements have been done to that area at all, which is sort of the point. So you have A/C and dimmer switches in all the second floor areas, but no improvements to the actual work area, including the downstairs bathroom. Skippy.
Fourth, considering the endless discussion about the "Green Screen" I was pretty astonished to see no drawings or specs for that installation. I would think that the "tenant" would have been sure to get that work permitted, which in the great state of California no doubt would require an entirely separate set of drawings and plans.
Maybe Alec has those filed with a file name that doesn't include the word "plans" so when he did his cursory search to give the webmaster the "floor plans" he missed them. Hey Alec - try "green screen" or "stupid waste of money" on your next search. I am sure you will find them then... you can do it!
Fifth, the lack of "as builts" makes me wonder what, if any, contractor he used for the upgrades. The fact that apparently the electrical system is STILL not up to spec for him to rent out the facility makes me think he went cheap - and that would be an area of concern. I am curious as to what interest the landlord (or his management company) has put into this project. If it was me, I would be keeping a very careful eye, but who knows.
Sixth, Alec apparently approached improving the warehouse from the perspective of "Let's make it a comfy and cool place for me and my girlfriend to work, and climate controlled so I can store my props here, then we'll get more money from the fans and finish the whole thing"
Finally, he spent almost $700,000 for this? Give me a break. Those plans, even at inflated CA prices couldn't have cost more than $25,000k TOTAL... figure about $3,000 or so tops for permitting (it would be cheaper in FL) say another... hard to say... in Florida what he had done might run into the high five figures, but say inflating 50% for CA prices 125-150k for the improvements (the electrical was minimal - adding AC would be expensive) plus another 25k for the stuff that was not shown (paint, carpet, furniture) that's maybe $400k TOPS for all that work. Did that green screen really cost $289,000 to install? I have a hard time making all the figures work...
Taken from the Indistry Studios Website:
Yes, were I a Film Producer, a comment from a WEB DESIGNER (and it's the first comment) would really sell the thing for me....
wait, maybe if I were an idiot film producer who had zero clue about film production (like say, Alec Peters)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^WHAT PROFESSIONALS SAY ABOUT INDUSTRY STUDIOS
Industry Studios is the hidden gem in studio space, where professionals can find what they need for any production. Located in Santa Clarita within the 30 mile zone, conveniently located off of main freeways and close to hotels, and restaurants. Whether you are looking to use our large cyclo-rama green screen for a day, or take advantage of our full facility for a long term production, Industry Studios can serve your needs.
This might be the largest green screen I have ever seen. It's like a tsunami of neon green.
LEE QUESSENBERRY
Website Designer
Having the right equipment and the right space makes this Studio worth every penny to use.
MILTON SANTIAGO
Instructor At Columbia College Hollywood
Industry Studios will shape the future of filmmaking. Period.
ROBERT MEYER BURNETT
CEO & Founder At Ludovico Technique, LLC
Yes, were I a Film Producer, a comment from a WEB DESIGNER (and it's the first comment) would really sell the thing for me....
wait, maybe if I were an idiot film producer who had zero clue about film production (like say, Alec Peters)
It seems Axanar Productions will be non-profit but the studio won't.
http://fanfilmfactor.com/2017/03/10...r-productions-and-industry-studios/#more-3718
http://fanfilmfactor.com/2017/03/10...r-productions-and-industry-studios/#more-3718
What do you mean, he doesn't care about rules? He's the one who asked CBS to come up with written rules. He DEMANDED they do so. How can you say he doesn't care??
To be fair, that news article (which I quoted in this AxaMonitor article) was from last September, long before the settlement.
inferring based on the other (behavior-expressed) quote:
Read our scripts: screw you, taxes.
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