Thinking of a fan film, need help

[juise15]

I am considering the prospect of creating a new fan series or film concerning Star Trek. Now I know a lot of people are doing the same thing but I want to goto the days of the Enterprise B, or C.

My production will need to take place in Louisiana and Texas so if anyone is interested please email me and we can talk about it.

This is just an idea that I had so comments and suggestions are appreciated. My email is contact<at>zone91.com

 

[K'riq Sa]

What type of help are you looking for?







uninformedly,

K'riq Sa
Minister of the Church of Light Weight

 

[johnhazard]

Also, what resources are you bringing to the table?

Any filmmaking or writing experience?

What medium are you hoping to work in (video, animation, CGI)?

Here's a problem you, juise15 , and all fanfilm hopefulls face-

Anybody can say, "I want to make a Trek fanfilm!" but very few can make a really good go of actually doing it. I wanted to make an animated Trek episode, I wrote a script, drew up storyboards, bought applications- but then I got a weekly freelance gig and my free time flew out the window. And I REALLY wanted to make that film.

When you propose something like this, people's reaction is skeptical. And it should be. Folks on this forum have seen many proposed and budding projects (like mine) come and go. One production even turned out to be a total scam!

I say these things not to discourage you and others from starting a production. On the contrary- I want to see as many Trek fan productions, made by as many different people, as possible. I'm more excited about new episodes of New Voyages, Oddysee, Farragut, etc than I am about the new Paramount movie. But having a degree in film & video, and having tried and failed to make a fanfilm, I have some idea of how hard it can be.

You've taken a good first step- coming up with a basic concept ( I'd LOVE to see something about the Enterprise B) and putting the word out. An important next step is getting something together- images, a website, SOMETHING- to get others excited about your production, and to prove to others that you're willing and capable of getting things together.

Look at Star Trek The Continuing Mission- they're an audio series, but they have a website, a nice, original CGI starship, and crew profiles. Sure, at this stage you probably shouldn't lock down too much- you want to collaborate with others, pool ideas, etc- but it's great that they have something, and what you start out with doesn't have to be what you end up with.

Anyway, hope I'm being helpful and not meddling. This was not really directed just at you, but at any fan film hopefuls on the board.

Good luck! :thumbsup:

 

[juise15]

Well I have a BA Science in Television, and I work in a television station. I am finishing up my first Star Trek Fan production which is a documentary focusing on the 40th anniversary.

What I am hoping for is (I know its incomparable) something similar to the grand efforts going on with New Voyages and Of Gods and Men. Now what I am referring to is the quality of people who have the same vision to do something.

The vast majority of this video is probably going to be done using a massive green screen or actually creating the set. I have some pull in the area so getting a place to house a few sets will not be a problem.

I have some experience in animation and modeling in a CGI environment using Lightwave. We will need folks who can do a better job than I can (which isnt too hard).

My writing is ok, I work better when people are contributing to a story rather than coming up with something entirely on my own.

 

[johnhazard]

Now THAT'S an awesome start. I feel inspired already!

Are you looking for volunteers on other boards? Maybe even non- trek boards, like maybe a board for indie filmmakers in your area? Try Yahoo! Groups or something.

 

[juise15]

I haven't tried other board. We do have a film makers club here in town, but those people are so anti scifi movies or videos or anything that they would rather not be involved.

 

[K'riq Sa]

..... .These Are Not The Droids Your Looking For ...........

[Where are you located? Doh! <Louisiana and Texas >]





Sorry skimmed your post....


nefariously,

K'riq Sa
Minister of the Church of Evil Midget Twins

 

[Acky_12]

Although I'm a huge fan of New Orleans, I'm quite a ways away to help out in person, but I'd be interested in helping with the writing aspect, if you want it. I've got a handful of samples I can send you off-board if you'd prefer.

 

[juise15]

Hollywood, I hope to be there soon!

 

[RookieBatman]

I would also be interested in collaborating with the script. I'm not sure how many collaborators you want, but feel free to send me a PM if you are interested. If you look a few months back in the Fan Fiction forum, you can find a little of my writing there. (I'm not trying to compete with Acky_12, just thought he might want more than one writer.)

 

[Acky_12]

Hey - I'm all for creating a big team of writers... trying to (unsuccessfully) do it myself for a project

 

[lexington1709]

Lexington does theirs with 4 writers from all walks of life but they always are looking for more.

 

[RookieBatman]

I'm better at thinking of the grand concepts and leaving the nuts and bolts to others, but I guess that's true of most people.

 

[Acky_12]

uhoh- I'm pretty similar RookieBatman! I've done the nuts and bolts but I think one of my strengths is looking at big pictures... arc stories, etc. Pfft... it'd be a challenge!

 

[juise15]

Cool. I will take a look when I get a couple seconds of free time. Other than that I look forward to this!

 

[RookieBatman]

Acky_12 said:
uhoh- I'm pretty similar RookieBatman! I've done the nuts and bolts but I think one of my strengths is looking at big pictures... arc stories, etc. Pfft... it'd be a challenge!

Not surprising. I think the nuts and bolts are just a bit harder and less interesting to do.

 

[juise15]

What are your takes on that old game "Secrets of the Vulcan Fury"?

 

[RookieBatman]

Do you mean, you want to make a fanfilm based on it? Like, what's my take on what the story would be like? If that's what you mean, I'm afraid it's not something I've ever really thought about. The trailers don't really give much information from which to derive a story.

 

[juise15]

If this helps..

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Star_Trek:_Secret_of_Vulcan_Fury

 

[Acky_12]

That would certainly move away from your return to "the days of the Enterprise B, or C." (Unless you were somehow thinking of taking that story and transplanting it in the later era)

And I agree with RookieBatman even the wiki link doesn't provide enough information to really build a story... it's a pretty lose and weak description that doesn't help a lot. Even the "structure" section, which goes into a bit more detail, is still setup in a very video game format (one main character in each section) and would require a lot of work to overlap these stories and make a convincing script.

And when I say a lot of work, I mean, it'd just be a heck of a lot easier all the way around to just start from scratch. You might want to be thinking about your shooting conditions as well - you'd be starting from scratch... what do you have the ability to build (both physical and CG) set wise? Especially your first time out, you'll want to give a list of those restrictions so that a script can be created to match those... you don't want to get a create a good story that is too epic and has too many locales for you to actually pull off.

For that matter, deciding on the era for the story is going to make a big deal in terms of galactic events and what you can show to stay within continuity.