Phase II Kickstarter

[jamesmc]

First off, I did not write up the content of the Kickstarter page.
We did release our first episode in 2003, and I have been building and working on this project since 1998, Which is why all those sets were ready to film with in 03'. I love the Exeter film and am thrilled for all of them that thy were finally able to release and I was and am a huge fan of Hidden Frontier. Phase II is the oldest still operating fan film group and that was the intent of the writer. For some to sit back and nit over that one line is silly, and let's not miss a chance for a personal attack on me either. Thank You Dennis and Nick for always having class and congrats again to Exeter for getting it all done! I know how tough that can be.
James

 

[Mudd]

You're a friend, James.

 

[USS Intrepid]

^^^ What he said.

 

[MikeH92467]

Thank you for everything James!

 

[PattyW]

Semantics, really. But disconcerting to see Cawley playing fast and loose with the facts as part of his own PR machine.

You're completely off base. James ALWAYS speaks directly from the heart and accusing him of ANY kind of "spin" is beyond ridiculous. Anyone who knows him can attest to that.

The KS page (which I am sure he didn't write, and with Gerrold now the "showrunner" and James in charge of "creative direction", I don't think you can even assume he read and approved it) is filled with "sort of" stuff that could have an * by it - but it gets the point across. "James' one and only tunic"...TOS tunic? Phase II tunic? Wrap tunic? Phase II short sleeve tunic? Mirror, Mirror tunic? "Cage Era tunics" Screen used for "Origins"? and so on...

Does it really have to be written in "legalize" to make people satisfied? It comes across as written by a bunch of fans, and since they are a bunch of fans talking to other fans, that's could be seen as a good choice...by most people.

(and people take him seriously enough with "that hair" to support Phase II for over 10 years, knowing "that hair" paid for it for at least 8 of it - and has kept him working for over 27 years. You should be glad that your work doesn't require you to look a certain way whether you are at work or not.)

 

[c64man1701]

I wish Phase II the best of luck in their Kickstarter. I worked on 2 shoots and it was the best experience of my life. James has been nothing but professional and is a great guy. I didn't see him playing fast and loose in the Kickstarter video. It was a great honor working with James, and I consider him and the rest of the crew friends

It's because of James and the crew at Phase II that has given me the courage to start my own production.

Again I wish them all the best in this endeavor, The episodes are top notch. My son and I watch them and cannot wait for the next one.

 

[doubleohfive]

Semantics, really. But disconcerting to see Cawley playing fast and loose with the facts as part of his own PR machine.

You're completely off base. James ALWAYS speaks directly from the heart and accusing him of ANY kind of "spin" is beyond ridiculous. Anyone who knows him can attest to that.

First of all, settle down.

(and people take him seriously enough with "that hair" to support Phase II for over 10 years, knowing "that hair" paid for it for at least 8 of it - and has kept him working for over 27 years. You should be glad that your work doesn't require you to look a certain way whether you are at work or not.)

Secondly, I never said anything about James' hair. That was someone else. Please do not ascribe malicious insults to me that were not ever posted by me.

The KS page (which I am sure he didn't write, and with Gerrold now the "showrunner" and James in charge of "creative direction", I don't think you can even assume he read and approved it)

Thirdly: Though I know you are no longer officially associated with the production, you make my point for me here. Cawley may not have written the text of the Kickstarter campaign, but he did read it on camera. I don't doubt that he has the best intentions and I have been a fan of Phase II since all the way back to 'Come What May,' regardless of my own critical opinion of the series.

The point I was making in my earlier post was that that James reading that factually incorrect statement gave that factually incorrect statement some legitimacy as it came straight from his own mouth. Is he not the guy in charge? Shouldn't he be the one to have the final approval on what Phase II puts out?

It doesn't really matter though as it seems the Kickstarter has successfully been funded, so hooray! You guys have no problem soaking up the praise like a sponge, but the minute someone has anything contrary to say, suddenly it's an attack. It'd just be nice if the personnel behind the show weren't so sensitive to even the slightest bit of criticism.

 

[USS Intrepid]

I don't recall the exact words from the video, but I don't recall anything factually inaccurate. Either way, I still think there's a bit of over-analysing going on here.

It's a pity we're not all sitting in a coffee shop somewhere discussing this. I bet it'd be a far more pleasant experience for everyone, since meaning and intent would be far more obvious for us all.

Actually, that's not a bad idea. First meeting's in Dundee, who's coming?

 

[MikeH92467]

I don't do coffee, but a pint of something foamy might work....just sayin'

 

[Maurice]

"I am a Vulcan. I have no axe to grind." Oh, wait, that's not the quote.

 

[USS Intrepid]

Mike, I'd rather have coffee to be honest. Not much of a drinker. But each to their own.

Anyway, I'm digressing, so my apologies.

 

[PattyW]

doubleohfive I don't need to "settle down"...I'm perfectly calm and wasn't taking offense at the "slightest critisim". I was simply correcting your statement that James was "playing fast and loose with facts". That's just wrong. I'm sorry if I wasn't clear or sounded offended. What he DOES "play fast and loose with" (in my experience) is anything written down for him to read/act on camera. So - even if he had a "script" - what he was saying was coming from his heart, not from some fact checker at an encyclopedia. He was simply "chatting" with other fans. And, as Nick pointed out (and I tried to) I think it's nitpicking for no reason to complain about actual wording - especially since this thread seems to point out by itself the debate on which came first and which was the longest....and some of the posts claim James was correct in exactly how he said it. Seems to be you that need to "lighten up".

Sorry the second quote I commented on didn't apparently appear in the original post. I've learned you are supposed to do that here, as replying separately to separate posts gets you warned...and clearly I haven't figured out the way to do that.

 

[Barbreader]

Dennis Bailey mentioned me... and since Tin Man is among my favorite Trek episodes of all time, the least I can do is respond. (Tin Man got a now ex-boyfriend of mine to try TNG at a time we were dating and he was a TOS purist... )

As far as I'm concerned the details of the presentation are irrelevant. FUND PHASE II! I WANT MORE! The heck with who did what when! I don't care!

But, responding to Dennis's question... Arguably, the oldest Star Trek fan film still in active production is either Yorktown (but not in CONTINUOUS active production) or... if you consider Star Trek Continues a continuation of Vic's Vintage Voyages... it has a claim. Vic started playing Kirk when he was about 9 years old. Also, Hidden Frontier still releases an Audio episode once in a while, and it's the continuation of VoA... so if you count VoA and their audio... you can argue. Finally, Exeter started before Phase II and completed their second release after Kitumba, so you can claim that, too, if you want to get sticky. If you consider all of George Kayaian's productions as one, Multiverse Crisis/ST: Antyllus has a claim, too.

But if you only look at high quality continuous FILM productions, from ONE production company, of One series and only at multiple episodes with vaguely regular releases... they'd be the oldest still producing... that I know about. (The reason Star Trek Reviewed is the largest collection is I never take the position there is nothing out there I don't know about. I was just lead to a high quality TNG-era Trek fan film series with 9 full episodes, each over 30 minutes and less than 90 minutes long. Sadly, you have to speak or understand Czech to enjoy it. No English or other subtitles. I have been told by Czech Trek fans it's even better than Metrinsky Incident. I'm going to try to get the producers of "Star Trek: Bohemia" to add English subtitles! I'm a viewer, not a filmmaker!) If you count Phase II from the time James started building his sets, that extends their time period from 1998 to 2014, a period of 16 years. That would make the Phase II film production far longer than Hidden Frontier FILM production. It might also be OLDER. (But not older than George Kayaian, who was not doing the TOS crew). Phase II shows no sign of stopping either. So I think it WILL BE the longest in FILM production by any reasonable measure pretty soon... (again, there's George, who is also still producing. George is the top of what I call 'garage production.' But it's not what I call 'professional production.') Even without the set build, 2003-2014 is 11 years, which is comparable to the period HF produced films.

The oldest fan film without regard to quality featuring Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock that I know about is "Star Trek: The 8 MM movie." It was produced in the summer of 1967 by children using daddy's camera, no sound, ... (the music was added much later). It depends on what you want to count. http://www.break.com/video/ugc/star-trek-the-8mm-movie-1848482 2 minutes, 59 seconds.

If anyone knows of a Star Trek Fan Film produced over Christmas in 1966... well, there COULD be an older one!

As far as I know, Star Trek Phase II is the oldest Star Trek Fan Film featuring Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Bones McCoy, etc. which MOST PEOPLE consider high quality. I realize DoubleohFive doesn't consider them high quality. Doubleohfive has his opinions, there are also 'truthers' claiming Sandy Hook didn't happen. Everyone has opinions. Some people put their real names on their opinions.

 

[Taylirious]

I just wanted to say I appreciate all those who make Phase II possible. I applaud them and anyone that continues to bring Star Trek to those that care, whether it be the official powers that be or fans.

 

[doubleohfive]

I realize DoubleohFive doesn't consider them high quality. Doubleohfive has his opinions, there are also 'truthers' claiming Sandy Hook didn't happen. Everyone has opinions. Some people put their real names on their opinions.

Oh for crying out loud.

When or where did I ever say Phase II wasn't "high quality?"

Yes, I'm entitled to my opinion and yes there are things I've been very vocal about regarding Phase II and how they conduct themselves... but kindly do not put words in my mouth or attribute falsehoods to my name or compare me to lunatic truthers.

Some people put their real names on their opinions.

I'm going to go ahead and assume this is directed at me too.

When's the last time someone was heckled for their real name so that others could praise them? Oh that's right, never.

I don't know what it is with people on this board who think that just because they are comfortable using their real names online, everyone must.

Or that those of us who actually dare to share controversial or critical opinions must, simply because you do.

Or that because someone chooses NOT to share that information, it somehow negates whatever opinions they might have.

Well sorry kids, that's not how it works. I've worn this handle fore nearly 15 years (13 of which I've posted here) and I have my own perfectly good reasons for it that likely would never occur to some of you.

That doesn't mean I don't have the right to share my opinion and it doesn't rule out the possibility that my opinion might actually have some merit to it.

So can we, once and for all, retire this inane attempt to discredit others and move on?

Thanks.

 

[Loken]

Well, I see nothing has changed with the nonsense on this board.

 

[doubleohfive]

Well, I see nothing has changed with the nonsense on this board.

Always a pleasure to see you back here, Loken.

 

[GSchnitzer]

Well, I see nothing has changed with the nonsense on this board.

I challenge you to be the change you want to see in this Board. (Motes and beams and all that.)

 

[Duane]

I'm going way off topic, but since Tin Man has been mentioned, that was the first episode of TNG that really impressed me. I guess I was about 25 years old at the time, and I remember thinking to myself (when the episode concluded) "these guys are finally starting to get it right." Congrats to Dennis.

 

[Mudd]

Thanks, Duane.