STC: To Boldly Indiegogo

[QuantumMechanic]

It would be passing weird if a federally-approved 501(c)(3) charity were told to stop operating on grounds that the very charitable purpose for which it was created violated federal law.

501(c)(3) status is not a defense against copyright infringement. Also, for reference, here's STC's mission statement as a charity: http://startrekcontinues.com/nonprofit.html

Anyways, as a huge STC fan I have my fingers crossed (a) that CBS doesn't care that much about TOS tribute films and will leave them alone, (b) that CBS will let STC go ahead with whatever money STC gets from this Indiegogo (though I expect CBS will put the kibosh on all crowdfunding by anyone until the Axanar case concludes), and (c) that after the Axanar case concludes, CBS doesn't kill off crowdfunding altogether but instead unofficially imposes per-campaign limits on the various fan film productions.

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

Yeah, I didn't say it was impossible, just passing weird.

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

FWIW, this was STC's response to someone on Twitter who basically asked, "How do we know you won't be the next Federation Rising?"

"can't comment yet except to say all donations are perfectly safe with us."

 

[OtherGene]

Then again if this Axanar crap could be resolved reasonably quick and if no other productions are halted then maybe the air will clear and fan trepidation will fade away.

There's something in the water from Axanar due today allegedly but I doubt it's any news that's likely to help.

 

[Warped9]

There's something in the water from Axanar due today allegedly but I doubt it's any news that's likely to help.

Whatever it is it will mostly likely be a distortion of reality or completely fictitious.

 

[Astra]

If STC can't comment yet, that may mean there is something to comment about?

Also, nice number at the moment! All fours LOL

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

If STC can't comment yet, that may mean there is something to comment about?

Possibly. But whatever it may be, it's safe to contribute.

 

[Mudd]

Any non-trekkie could as easily confuse STC with new studio content as they could Axanar.

 

[Warped9]

Any non-trekkie could as easily confuse STC with new studio content as they could Axanar.

STC doesn't look like a contemporay production. Granted there are occasionally some things done in STC that wouldn't or maybe couldn't have been done back in the day, but overall it doesn't have the same veneer as a contemporary production. Also the way the show is written as well as the way it's scored is not how it's done today. And no contemporary production would film in a 4:3 aspect ratio. It would all be widescreen.

And that is a large part of STC trying to feel like authentic TOS--recreating how the show was produced in as many elements as possible. Thats a large part of its appeal.

If CBS were actually doing a TOS era production it would be distinctly different than what TOS did and what STC strives to do.



They're getting maybe about $1,000 a day presently. That puts them at maybe $160,000 by the end of the drive in ten days unless there's a surge of some kind near the end. That is way behind their previous drives and (sadly) I don't see them making even the $200,000 goal let alone the original $350,000 target.

Thats a damned shame and they deserve better. The current well has been seriously poisoned.

May AP fucking rot in hell.

 

[Zaminhon]

Any non-trekkie could as easily confuse STC with new studio content as they could Axanar.

Hollywood would never go retro. Like any current remake, reboot or whatever, they would sacrifice the story for action, action, action - something that would appeal to 2 minute attention spans. (I'm expecting this is going to be the case with the new series).

 

[Mudd]

You have STC firmly fixed in your mind as "retro" and Axanar as somehow modern. The average person seeing this stuff hyped on the Internet with a few images or a trailer is just gonna see Star Trek, all of which looks more than a bit goofy to the casual viewer.

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

I don't read ignored content, so I'm just going to say "Nope."

 

[STEPhon IT]

501(c)(3) status is not a defense against copyright infringement. Also, for reference, here's STC's mission statement as a charity: http://startrekcontinues.com/nonprofit.html

Anyways, as a huge STC fan I have my fingers crossed (a) that CBS doesn't care that much about TOS tribute films and will leave them alone, (b) that CBS will let STC go ahead with whatever money STC gets from this Indiegogo (though I expect CBS will put the kibosh on all crowdfunding by anyone until the Axanar case concludes), and (c) that after the Axanar case concludes, CBS doesn't kill off crowdfunding altogether but instead unofficially imposes per-campaign limits on the various fan film productions.

Why would you think CBS would do that to STC? Vic appears to be doing this because he's a fan of Star Trek; he's been involved in fanfilms for a long time and has been nothing but sincere about his handling and ambitions of his ventures. There's never been an indication of Vic building production studios and paying talent, and then producing weekly backhanded compliments about CBS' properties and legal positions on Youtube.

I may not be a champion of Vic's constant fanwanking approach to narrative storytelling, but his production to detail is extraordinary and looks better than what was done 50 years ago. CBS is aware of his agenda but they're keeping a close eye to what he's doing, but that's the legal team's job.

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

CBS is aware of his agenda but they're keeping a close eye to what he's doing, but that's the legal team's job.

Likewise the IRS. If any production can stand up to scrutiny, it's STC.

 

[Warped9]

A sincere and heartfelt sounding video by Michael Forest posted on STC's FB page.

 

[9gs]

It would be passing weird if a federally-approved 501(c)(3) charity were told to stop operating on grounds that the very charitable purpose for which it was created violated federal law.

Anyway, I keep circling back to the fact that it's CBS Marketing who made the call to Tommy Kraft: in other words, product confusion as part of the legal theory. Nobody is going to mistake a TOS clone for being the hot new Star Trek property we've heard about.

If it follows that pattern then maybe Renegades or Capt Pike will be the next casualty.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

Why would you think CBS would do that to STC?

Because lawyers. If the team hired by CBS to litigate the Axanar case says to CBS "It will help the case to shut down all the fanfilms" or "It will help the case to shut down any fanfilm using crowdfunding", CBS will do so in a heartbeat.

Now, I hope that nothing happens to STC at all. Of course, I was hoping that nothing would happen to any production other than Axanar, but after what happened to Tommy Kraft and what he says he was told and the rumors around Renegades that's clearly and sadly not going to happen. So I'm hoping they'll at least let STC make what they can with the money they're getting from the Indiegogo. And I expect that CBS will impose a moratorium on all Trek fanfilm crowdfunding for the duration of the Axanar case and until CBS figures out what they want their long-term position on fan film crowdfunding to be. I suspect that CBS will either continue to leave it shut down or will only allow small amounts. For one thing, CBS won't want the crowdsourcing platforms themselves to be making money off CBS's IP.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Because lawyers. If the team hired by CBS to litigate the Axanar case says to CBS "It will help the case to shut down all the fanfilms" or "It will help the case to shut down any fanfilm using crowdfunding", CBS will do so in a heartbeat.

Now, I hope that nothing happens to STC at all. Of course, I was hoping that nothing would happen to any production other than Axanar, but after what happened to Tommy Kraft and what he says he was told and the rumors around Renegades that's clearly and sadly not going to happen. So I'm hoping they'll at least let STC make what they can with the money they're getting from the Indiegogo. And I expect that CBS will impose a moratorium on all Trek fanfilm crowdfunding for the duration of the Axanar case and until CBS figures out what they want their long-term position on fan film crowdfunding to be. I suspect that CBS will either continue to leave it shut down or will only allow small amounts. For one thing, CBS won't want the crowdsourcing platforms themselves to be making money off CBS's IP.

Did Renegades or Captain Pike asked permission to film these fanfilms? What is the process for fans to make these projects which are based on a property? I hope they didn't just collect money and decided it was okay to shoot CBS' property.

 

[BoredShipCapt'n]

Axadweebs are starting to post vicious comments on STC's Facebook entries.

 

[Warped9]

Axadweebs are starting to post vicious comments on STC's Facebook entries.

Yep. Real class....not