CBS/Paramount sues to stop Axanar

Wow - a Marine with a straw man argument. What about the fact that had Axanar Productions not gone so far over the line, with persons NOT entitled to financial gain, making financial gain, marketing unrelated/unlicensed ancillary products (like Coffee - yes sir when I think of 'Star Trek' I IMMEDIATELY associate it with coffee...), etc; that said people who pledged (myself among them) would NOT be out our Pledge with nothing to show but a raving group of fanatics who now somehow believe it's their God-given right to produce 'Axanar' - and have gone to such insane lengths - based on a 20 minute special effects reel - and a 3 minute scene on Vulcan - have many convinced that 'Axanar' will somehow be the greatest Star Trek episode produced since the series premiere in 1966?

Yes, I was interested enough in seeing 'Axanar' that I pledged $75. Funny thing though, I did think, or expect it to be the 'Best Trek ever', or somehow because I pledged and wanted to see 'Axanar' that I was/am somehow dissatisfied with what Desilu/Paramount has produced over the years (yes, I've been disappointed with some episodes and films since I started watching Star Trek first run in 1969 - I was 6 years old - (I rank TOS as the best Star Trek series, but for me 'Enterprise' is second, TAS third, then DS9, and TNG - VOY IMO was crap - great premise but TERRIBLE execution.)

As for 'JJ Trek' as it's been called by many LOVE IT - it really does go back to what the core of Star Trek originally was - action/adventure with a little bit of occasional social commentary - YMMV.) Still, the interesting thing is if you look at the set up and plot of 'Axanar' as talked about to date, it's HARDLY what GR would have called Star Trek (GR didn't like either Star Trek II: TWoK - he thought it 'too militaristic' - nor STIII:TSFS (because it was a direct continuation of STII - and further, he hated the fact Kirk destroyed the 1701 Enterprise, as to him - regardless of the situation, it's something the character in his eyes would NEVER do) -- so yeah, given all that it's interesting for me to see Mr. Peter's claim that Axanar is somehow returning 'Star Trek' to 'Gene's Vision' - but hey, to each their own.

I guess in the end I'm tired of the folks at Axanar portraying:

- Everyone who Pledged (although recently changed to 'the majority') are fine with Mr. Peters salary and other actions.
- Everyone who pledged is somehow dissatisfied with the 'Star Trek product' CBS/Paramount has been producing.
^^^
When it's all unsubstantiated conjecture on their part (and 100% false in my case as a person who did Pledge $75.) The fact they remain 100% unrepentant - and have in the past and currently continue to misrepresent what was done in some cases and boldface LIE in others makes me wish I could get the funds back and not be associated with such a raging group of ego driven maniacs. (And hell, in the long run, no $75 is not a lot of money to me as I make a very good living in what I do - but at this point, it IS the ridiculous actions of the core Axanar 'team' and the general principle of the thing.)

The bottom line is by THIER OWN ACTIONS Mr. Peters and his Axanar group 100% brought this on themselves. Their continued misrepresentation of their actions and outright lies over the last couple of years have brought the situation to where it is today.

 

Let's be clear here: In this context, Star Trek is NOT for the fans, and never has been. Star Trek is for the studios to make money on. That's the whole and entire reason why movies, television, and other forms of "professional entertainment" are produced: to make money. Yes, some of the artists involved are truly dedicated to the craft for the sake of the craft, but the studio as a whole is not, and never has been.

They're a business.

Do they want to make the fans happy? Of course, that's how they make their money -- but there are limits. Pandering to an infinitesimally small group of fans that wants to make their own Star Trek on the financial backs of another infinitesimally small group of fans (and pocket a healthy chunk of change along the way)? That's never going to happen.

And when that infinitesimally small group of fans gets uppity in a way that might threaten the business, they're going to get smacked down.

My kind of typo!

 

Saying that Star Trek wouldn't exist without the fans is a stupid argument because literally every product and service wouldn't exist without consumers. Should we place EVERYTHING in the public domain?

 

Its okay, Wetworth... That guy was an Axanerd who tried to invade the board - Luckily the tit was seen off fairly rapidly

 

Yeah... I would like to think he's just someone with a bit misguided view on this whole mess, but, this being the internet, it's almost certainly a troll.

The thing it, I can see why people are upset about the lawsuit. I was excited when I saw Prelude for the first time. The documentary format appealed to the historian in me. New ship, new crew, new story. The acting wasn't bad (imho), and the animations were good. I wanted to see this movie.

So I was disappointed when I heard about the lawsuit. But, reading up on it, I stumbled across this thread. I started to learn about the realities behind the YouTube video. While I'm still disappointed that we'll never get Axanar as a movie, I'm satisfied that these 13000 or so forum posts have entertained me to a far greater degree and length of time than Axanar ever could have.

Oh, and I took a quick poll between myself and someone I know who donated.

Results:
0% of those who responded agree Alec Peters speaks for them as a Star Trek fan
0% of those who responded support anyone associated with Axanar receiving a salary from their donations
100% of those who responded regret their donation
100% of those who responded are true Trek fans in that they love Star Trek

 

Its been prodding me today how much leeway for dollar shenanigans there is in a 'mystery' transfer of the main fan-paid asset to an 'investor' group.

the stated purpose it to return the cash value invested in building the sound stage back into the film. But:
1. who determines that value?
2. if the value is understated (and how for example do you value the time invested by volunteers), then the 'investor group' gets a sweet deal
3. if the value is overstated, well that is always an opportunity for some sort of dollar shenanigans via writing off at a loss artificially created, and who knows what other ways
4. if the 'investors' overlap the Axanar major players or anything they have their thumbs in, what kind of tangled mess will there be when the California AG comes knocking asking for the whole history of the cash flow and tries to determine if the principals benefited or were negligent, whether 2 or 3 happened, or other things?

it seems pretty obvious that the real reason to do this is to remove the vehicle which constitutes a taking of Trek IP money as an asset which can create future profit. and pragmatically I imagine they can disappear the accusation if they sell the stage off before their answer in court. but the process is wide open to even more wallpapering over the record by which fans could hope to really get an accounting. unless the AG comes and doesn't go home.

 

Actually, for your information, I never donated to Axanar. In fact, only a few weeks ago I saw the good prelude.

 

I have asked some version of these questions of Axanar's PR guy, Mike Bawden. He can't answer them yet on the record, but I told him the sooner the better because the questions will only mount, especially if it turns out that Alec or any other principal from Axanar is a member of that private group.

Also, we don't know what stage they're in for making the asset transfer. If they're just at the beginning, it could be months before the transfer is completed, well past the deadline for submitting their answer to the legal complaint. I'm definitely planning on tracking what happens with this deal.

 

assuming as much, I tried to give you the best view of one basic problem -- fans weren't really told the risks. there are other concerns but from where you were starting that seemed like the one to fill in first. there really are terrific resources on axamonitor.com and the blog section of gandtshow.com and the articles at 1701news.com, and I'd suggest they are worth your time to peruse.

 

Calm down, sweetheart - the way you were acting suggested, given the amount of people that have come here and failed, that you were in Camp Axanar

 

Interesting resources. Thank you, sir.

 

good, thanks. personally I give it about a 90% chance that Alec is still in the picture with the sound stage one way or another, just based on how it always seems to be something else with him around each corner that needs yet another flag attached.

you're welcome. ever growing knowledge and being able to make your own conclusions and ask questions without censorship or browbeating is essential to surfacing the facts about this matter. poking pins in ego acts like banning fans from the axanar groups is entertaining, but it is the bottom line facts that will eventually bring this to whatever end it deserves.

 

Because I am a socialist, unless these groups try to make money with their fanfilms, I think maybe we should (non profit films are OK)
I now see why Axanar was targeted.
They tried to make money, unlike other ones.
I now oppose ot and side with most others here (but did like the prelude).

 

Knew there was a reason i disliked you

 

How about we get back to the idea of the thread rather than discussing political views.

 

And hahaha to your location, @HMS Ark Royal
When did you put that there, by the way?

 

sure. if a sidebar gets started you don't have to pursue it. wrt the topic, I think some of us liked the prelude too. I was pretty dismayed at the centrality of pewpew but was willing to allow that the final effort might raise the bar on the storyline. I even think they tried a little too hard with the effects, adding an idic pin to the collar of ambassador Soval for example. but it will have to be for another group now to explore the next level of fan film quality. I see no way the studios will let this management team get another shot.

 

I was bored sitting in Alec Peters's mind... Got rather empty

 

How can you sit in someones mind (liar or not)?

 

Well I could extract their brain, cut it open, spread the bits around, sit in the middle and fulfil the premise of sitting in his brain...

Or I could simply read his mind