Yeah, and Dennis and I have both said again and again that no Trek fanfilm ever made has hit the minimum standard of a professional Trek show... and that includes the ones we helped with.
JAMES CAWLEY SPEAKS!
- Thread starter HerbFlynn
- Start date
Add me to that Maurice...but it seems like we're still going to hear again and again from the same peanut gallery who just won't accept that Continues, despite having some talented people and a can do attitude, not ONE of their episodes would ever be greenlit for broadcast at any network.
The sets in Ticonderoga are not available for filming unless you are part of the CBS " Film School" which is not a traditional fan production environment.
As for the "is there a problem?" - well that depends on who you ask. The ultimate arbiter is the license holder and their licensees...they would be the ones who would determine the "problem" but I would think that there will eventually be a "problem" with the Stage 9 sets.
There is a 3rd bridge set that has been made available for fan film shooting (the original Exeter sets that used to be in Oklahoma, I forget where they now are. Starship Valiant and a few other series are produced there), and weirdly enough they were not mentioned by James Cawley as being problematic, why would that be?
Oh right, that's because ALL they are doing is lending the use for their set ONLY for fan film shooting...
Unfortunately I agree. There is a problem because:
1. They were the sets that STC used. You cannot ignore the bad blood there.
2. They are "complete" sets unlike the ones in OK or wherever (those were flooded - not sure if they are back operational)
When it comes down to it - at what point were fan films constrained by the availability of replica sets?
Fan films have long been able to create their own sets, or shoot on location, or do SOMETHING to make the film.
The sets in Ticonderoga are awesome because they are exact duplicates of the original, and have value as more than just a location to film...
If you are a fan film maker, the lack of availability of a replica set should not be a hindrance to creativity.
Fan films have long been able to create their own sets, or shoot on location, or do SOMETHING to make the film.
The sets in Ticonderoga are awesome because they are exact duplicates of the original, and have value as more than just a location to film...
If you are a fan film maker, the lack of availability of a replica set should not be a hindrance to creativity.
Has anyone done the fan school? I recall reading the rules and thought it was very limiting.
nope. sorry but I'm a big fan of men like Gene Coon, Rod Serling and Roy Huggins and Sam Rolfe, and you are totally insulting these men's work right now...No, but I think STC did come consistently closer to a professional production standard than any other group did.
At least, a 1966 professional standard.
Well, most of those folks are writers. I'm talking about the production values. A lot of the time STC looked quite a bit like TOS.
Yup.
Starbase Studios' sets were moved to Arkansas where disputes between the owners have crippled productions. The status of the Arkansas sets is presently unknown. Glen Wolfe is now constructing his own sets.
As I understand it, the film school requires you to select one of their "approved" scripts to shoot, thus it's not really a fan film.
I admire Ray Tesi for trying to open his Stage 9 Studios to all fan films, but I don't see how it can be financially possible unless folks issue donations to defray rent, utilities, etc.
As I understand it, the film school requires you to select one of their "approved" scripts to shoot, thus it's not really a fan film.
I admire Ray Tesi for trying to open his Stage 9 Studios to all fan films, but I don't see how it can be financially possible unless folks issue donations to defray rent, utilities, etc.
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The studio has no AC or heating which I suppose keeps the electric bill down but also limits the time of year when a Fan film can actually be shot. STC once said the rent for the whole building was 5K per month. Stage 9 has about 1/2 of the building now. From the interviews I have heard Ray do, I think he is in this for the long haul on his own dime. Hats off to him.
I may be wrong, but I heard that Ray Tesi actually owns the property and the warehouse the sets are in, but I am not sure of that. I was there during fan weekend, and it was great. The sets were wonderful. However, they looked the part of used sets, with all the imperfections one would expect. I'm sure Mr. Cawley's sets, being a museum now, would be of even more pristine and complete quality and would therefore be a treasure to view. If I had the opportunity and the money to travel to Ticonderoga, I would most definitely do so, as I'm sure most would.
If I had the money to build my own sets, on my own property, and then invited friends and like-minded people to come hang out and see what I have, would that constitute a violation of someone's license to an "official" product? Seems like a gray area, especially since CBS didn't shut him down.
As for the quality of STC shows... to me, they're great and will be part of my head canon, and do nothing to "insult" the work of TOS writers, etc., no more that NV episodes did.
What are the minimum standards implied above?
If the upthread references as to Film Avademy, that has occured.
That is not true, Ray does not own the property or the warehouse.
Ok, well it certainly helps when you have $50 000 per episode to play with and 95% of other producers must make do with shoestring, or even 0 spare dollars.
