Re: New Series Announcement from StarTrek.com - Begins January 17, 201
Fan films happen for so many reasons that saying we get them because of a void, is rather limiting. Fan films, regardless of genre or franchise, have existed since film cameras were accessible to the greater public.
CBS now has more impetus to consider cracking down on fan films as, when their new series comes out, they will have a stake in the profits that could potentially be lost. That's a greater question to be asking.
However, fan films will continue on, crowd funded or not, as fans attempt to put their own stamp on a franchise, just like other fan art and fiction. The idea that C&D from CBS will stop the practice is not quite accurate due to the reasons fan films are made in the first place.
Fan fiction didn't stop when the pro novels started coming out regularly. In fact, the fanfiction site linked in my sig consists of a fan version of Star Trek that's been going on for over 30 years (obviously it began in the print 'zines). There are tens of thousands of Star Trek stories on fanfiction.net, and that's just one site. There are many others.
Some copyright holders have forbidden fan interpretations of their work. For instance, Marion Zimmer Bradley's estate forbids publication of Darkover fanfiction (this was not always so; long story). But that doesn't mean it's not out there - you just either have to find the stuff that was published before the restriction came down, or else ignore the directive that ordered anyone who had written any Darkover fanfiction to either destroy it or rewrite it so it was no longer recognizable as Darkover fanfic. Obviously most of us thumbed our noses at that... I'm not going to destroy a story I wrote that's never been published and that I wrote strictly for my own enjoyment and never did intend to show anyone else. I should think it would be the same if CBS decided to crack down on Star Trek fanfiction. There are literally millions of stories, poems, and pieces of fan art out there and it's impossible to stop it.
They might consider doing that with fan films, though, as those are getting good enough to offer real competition for fans' attention. I know I prefer Star Trek Continues, and even Phase II/New Voyages fan films to Abramstrek, and Red Shirt Diaries is a hoot. I'd hate to see those prohibited by CBS, especially if this new Star Trek project fizzles.
For Canadian fans, rumour going is around that Crave TV (Bell's online streaming service) will likely be providing the show to Canadians as Crave TV has the rights to all of Star Trek's TV library (Netflix Canada currently has TNG but my understanding is those rights end next year).
I've had a Netflix subscription for a long time, but never bothered watching TNG. There might be a dozen episodes that I like enough to rewatch them, so I don't really think about it.
The customer service guy talked me into a trial subscription to Crave awhile ago, so I'll check it out. But except for binge watching some favorites and keeping up with my soap and a handful of shows either on CBS or Netflix, I don't watch anywhere close to as much TV as I used to. There was a time some years ago when I didn't have a TV, so I just got out of the habit... and never really went back much. As long as I get my soap, whichever CBS reality show that's on, and the stuff I like from Netflix (repeat Downton Abbey bingewatcher here
), I'm okay.
If this has anything to do with the Abramsverse in any way whatsoever, I will not watch it.
If it's a completely new universe, I'd give it a chance... if I could access it.
I don't understand why you wouldn't even give it a chance. I understand that you don't like the new movies, and that's fine, but the new show could still be set in the same universe and have a completely different tone than the movies.
Also, you're in Canada, aren't you? It's only going to be streaming in the US. Chances are one of our channels like Space will carry it.
Okay, I would give it a chance. One chance, maybe two, given that the first episode often isn't the best representative of a show. But it would have to be damn good, with stories that make sense, people who can actually act, and not be a sitcom with starships and phasers.
I know I'm stubborn about this. But I tend to prefer the original/classic versions of TV shows and movies anyway. There are some Classic Doctor Who stories that I've seen easily a dozen times and would watch a dozen more times with no hesitation. But my tolerance for anything Matt Smith and beyond is once. Maybe twice, if it's a Christmas/Boxing Day marathon and I'm not in the mood to read. And there are some parts of the Smith era that you'd have to pay me to rewatch.
As for Abramstrek... well, I saw the first movie on the Space Channel, and the second when I redeemed an On Demand coupon from my cable company. I forced myself to watch that thing 3 times during the 48 hours I had access to it, and it didn't really improve on subsequent viewings.
So this new series would have to have none of the things I hate about the movies, which is a rather tall order.
Yes, I'm in Canada, but I don't get the Space Channel. It costs extra for me, and I don't watch enough TV these days (or at least not enough SF) to make it worth my while. Also, the only way to get it is to also have to take a bunch of other channels I never watch. I subscribed last year for Doctor Who and last year's Who was godawful. Wouldn't you know, this year it's not too bad - the best year since David Tennant left, in my opinion. And naturally I wasn't expecting much improvement over last year so I didn't bother subscribing. But since there's a site where I can watch it online for free, I'm not missing out.
