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Official ST Fan FIlm Guidelines
oldmangreg
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Post edited by oldmangreg on
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I wonder if this is going to be retroactively enforced, or if this is just a "this is what you can do from here on out" kind of thing. Because, if they're going to enforce it on films already made, then a lot of great films are going to be no longer available, which is truly sad.
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Sort of. I can actually see their side and a few ways in which this is a good move. For one thing, fan films have almost become an industry of their own. Several of them very closely skate along the line of what is and what isn't allowed in Fair Use. People are actually being paid for their work in fan films, which kind of defeats the purpose. It's also borderline illegal, as fan productions themselves have never been allowed to make money, so why should people who work on them be allowed to make money? Fan films are just that; films made by fans. If you're being paid for your services, can you really call yourself a fan of anything besides money?
Another way it helps is leveling the playing field a bit. Some fan productions aren't as blessed in the people they get to work on them, paid or otherwise. How do a group of friends coming together to make a film compete against a production that's made up of mostly industry professionals? And, if you don't think they're competing, check out what happens when one of those amateur productions posts on social media. Even if it's something that's been made to the best of their ability, spoiled fans roast them for not being as good as the professionals.
Now, do I think a few things are a bit too strict? Sure. Saying that a professional can't work on one of these films is basically saying that they can't do something they want to do in their free time. If a professional actor decides to participate in a fan production for free because they like it, what is the harm? Same with an effects person, or another crew member. But, I guess they felt people would abuse even that, so they banned it entirely.
Incidentally, Star Wars has had rules very similar to these for years and a number of aspiring filmmakers have put together some wonderful short films. There's even an annual awards show picking out some of the best. Some of those small films even lead to people being hired in the industry. Star Trek could do something similar, showcase some of the best that some amateurs have to offer and maybe they won't continue being amateurs. It's also easier to tell what is and what isn't professionally done if none of it is.
Furthermore, at least CBS/Paramount isn't saying you can't make fan films altogether. Some Sci-Fi franchise IP owners have done that.
Instead it reads like CBS/Para do not want others to do better than them so any format that can challenge this is to be ceased.
I definitely do not agree with the one shot, 2 part only, and time "limitations"
I know legally they are under obligation to enforce the copyright or lose it. The whole lawsuit thing I thought was aimed in the wrong direction as they fundamentally missed out on the main thing that made that production different than ones that came before. Add in the fact they targeted asset and likeness over profiteering then dropping the suit did nothing to protect the rights of those with lesser capital to protect their rights. (READ small timers like us) Who knows maybe it is "just as planned"
It is no surprise though given how neutrek was strictly limited to only directly related product. Joke is this happened after the film was considers a "success"
Oh well it is theirs to do with as they think is right.
What I'd like now is for groups like Phase II and Continues to make original productions instead. Make their own universes and alter the sets that they have for it, to avoid infringement. It would be great to see what these groups can come up with themselves.
Agreed. With the talent in those groups, there is literally no limit. I'll bet the won't have issues getting crowd funding for original films, either. They're already established as groups who do great work.
If the forum is truly dying out, maybe this can be the legacy we leave behind? (And hell, half the people here can build awesome models for fan productions to use!)
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http://io9.gizmodo.com/paramounts-lawsuit-against-axanar-productions-star-trek-1777959978
Has that all gone tits up then?
:rolleyes:
Besides, they're only two producers, not the CEOs of these companis, their words carry as much weight as an ants compared to ours....
Probably was a cheap trick to soothe the angry fanbase anyway. Get some positive vibes for Beyond....
They probably figure some groups will bitch and moan at first but, with nowhere to go legally, will shortly just quietly go away. Meanwhile, lawsuits can drag on for years and a single suit doesn't address the larger issue.
History has shown Star Trek fans don't do 'quiet'.
In a nutshell, CBS is providing "safe harbor" guidelines, what you can do if you want to be protected from a C&D or lawsuit. The rules apply to new productions, existing ones which have been filmed just need to be finished up are OK.
There's a lot of flexibility; they want to encourage fans to make fan films, not to (re)create their own trek features or "tv-shows" - that is CBS's job. And 100k for half an hour of film is quite generous.
2. They can use their own costumes and props, but if they want to buy, they have to go through official Star Trek stores.
3. All films that came out and/or are nearly finished before the guidelines are safe.
4. Non-professionals-only makes sense because it creates unfair advantages for fans who don't have access to those resources.
5. No merchandise selling: anyone who has used ebay gets this
6. Music from the shows and movies are third party, so you must contact the respective owners.
7. It seems like no shared universe films; i.e. a bunch of different crews on different ships in the same fleet (such as TNG, DS9, VOY)
6. Family friendly: to help promote the optimism for a better future for humanity.