Are Star Trek Fan Films Still Worth Making?

[@TheDaveCullenShow]

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[@galacticmind9060]

Dave. I have years of experience in film, but, all my skills are analog. I went back to school in 2017 studying Digital: Virtual Reality, 3D modeling, and 2D imaging. I wrote a STAR TREK VR experience: STARFLEET V.R, (based on the "Legend of the Red Shirt Ensign") a cinematic game of the RSE saving a diplomatic base under attack. I put together a crew and we built it and got it working, and started putting it together, and it was awesome. In late 2018, Viacom (the copyright holders) shut everyone with a VR game down, (after ST 2 & 3 films, and ST Discovery were bombs) because the "amateur" work was better than the "professional" stuff being released. It seems like STAR WARS and other IPs that are taken over by companies that don't know what they are doing, will run the IP into the ground.

[@leejohnstone3051]

The copyright to Doctor Who is not held by the BBC. Under copyright laws in the 1960s any writer working on Doctor Who created a companion or monster they kept the copyright which is why The Terry Nation estate owns the copyright to the Daleks. Heck the BBC doesn't own the copyright to the Tardis

[@Dangerous2099]

Where’s that Joker review Dave?

[@axanarfilm]

Dave, would love to chat with you. Alec Peters alec at axanarproductions dot com

[@BerndFelsche]

Fans can develop credible and interesting characters and stories in 15 minutes. Studios can't do it in a season.

[@derrickcrawford1081]

I like a challenge

[@richardclarke376]

that's the truth

[@remaincalm2]

There are a few short fan films that by the end I've developed an affection for a character. You wouldn't think it would be possible, but skilful writing, production and the right choice of actor can make it so. (Are Picard phrases copyright?) It's so sad that I'll never see the character again despite the huge potential. Shame on CBS and Paramount for crapping on fans and creativity.

[@ecmorgan69]

It's hard to have good content when you have to fill your content with social justice and a Leftist narrative. Cancer and cringe then ensue.

[@cbalan777]

Who cares. These fan productions are dumb. Fan fiction in general is a huge waste of time. If you're going to write, then write your own new story. You shouldn't have to piggyback off of an existing thing unless you suck.

[@urbanesoul8400]

Vic Mignogna's series Star Trek Continues was so good I reached out to him on Twitter to tell him how much I liked it & he reminded me of watching Shatner as a kid. He was very gracious & humble. I was sad when it was forced to stop producing episodes. Even sadder to see such a promising actor devastated by the me too nonsense of the woke brigade.

[@urbanesoul8400]

Stephen Farrow for me it was TOS reruns during the 80's. Vic did such an awesome job playing Shatner, eh? He seemed very touched by the comparison & his humility is what stands out to me even after a few years now. That show was such great nostalgia 😍

[@nofutureproductions9242]

I'll never forgive CBS for putting the kibosh on STC via the 'new' rules. Vic was more gracious than I would've been in his situation. I funded a lot of those episodes, and think Vic had a lot more planned; even though he said they accomplished what they want to - episode wise.

[@urbanesoul8400]

Stephen Farrow yes the entire show was realistic & took very seriously their attempt to portray the original in all things. They had some great guest actors too.

[@urbanesoul8400]

No Future Productions agreed, I think he had hopes of making it for much longer, perhaps developing an overarching story arc instead of stand alone episodic shows. He was exceedingly gracious about the whole thing, as you say. He just seems to be that sort of person, forgiving & thoughtful of the fans who support him.

[@STho205]

CBS let him finish with his concluding two part episode. He spoke on that at a public forum and thanked them for it. He said in that speech Peters had gone too far with profit raising and taking producer salary on a trademark he didn't own, crashing the ability of others to do what STC and Phase II did . Vic did plan one or two more episodes before the finale, but he couldn't do those. However he may have run out of steam as the momentum was slowing. His last episode was the best Star Trek TV episode I have seen produced since 1968. His guest casting and directing on that one was impeccable.

[@vulkanofnocturne]

They just salty fans are better than hollywood at their own game.

[@RobertWilkinsonJKekMaloy]

Yup

[@quarreneverett4767]

@Daniel Appleton uh oh nvidia

[@Lawful_Rebel]

That's they're or they are. Just sayin'. Commenting is important but grammar is importanter 😉

[@Erikjust]

@Daniel Appleton So does that mean we can´t talk about the roman god Vulcan without getting sued by CBS/Paramount.. damn a LOT of mythology channels will get a nasty surprise in the mail box.

[@EnsignRedshirtRicky]

Not just some, but ALL the fan films are better than their Prime Universe (25% different) crap.

[@anime-mun]

Look at Walter Koenig's Star Trek Renegades which had to be rebranded that was supposed to star the daughter of Kahn. Yeah, that's why they put in #5.

[@RobertWilkinsonJKekMaloy]

Anime - Mun because cbs/paramount is a pile of cucked out bitches

[@STho205]

And it appears they took the "Renegades" idea of blackops StarFleet on a grungy ship of smugglers actually run from HQ by old starfleet senior staff... ...And called it "Picard"

[@jpasby779]

@@STho205 @ S Tho, probably right! Renegades first movie was excellent.

[@MrTheequark]

"Greed is eternal".

[@Shalom_Mike]

Rules of Acquisition 115

[@scottmantooth8785]

greed leads to riches...riches lead to betrayal...betrayal leads to painful agonizing death

[@EmmanuelGoldsteinINGSOC]

Well, simple - just don't call your production a fan film or mention Star Trek at all and give them slightly different uniforms, but keep pretty much everything else and then you can have multiple seasons with veteran Star Trek actors and have it broadcast world wide and make a ton of money with it... oh wait... Seth MacFarlane already did that...

[@derrickcrawford1081]

Which means we should do the same

[@k1productions87]

Better idea, be more original. Build your own universe with your own history and story behind it. Don't try to look like Star Trek. Orville is fun and all... but because of how it looks, it will never stop being perceived as an attempt to look just like TNG. The Expanse however looks much different than almost anything we've had before, and is still deeply engaging. Why skirt the rules when you can avoid them entirely? It may take a bit more work, but will be much more worth it in the end.

[@dorkvader5332]

They aren`t allowed to use professional actors.eg ex star trek actors.

[@randomhuman9672]

Dr Darkly if it’s a Star Trek fan film but it’s not

[@johnc9546]

@@k1productions87 Same reason Hollywood doesn't do new things (see John Carter) because they don't think people will be interested unless it has Star Trek or Star wars name associated with it. Pretty narrow minded thinking but that is the world we live in.

[@echozgus]

Picard and Discovery look more fan films than the fan films which respect the real trek

[@charlesking6815]

echozgus Picard is just a remake of Star Trek Renegades which was a fan series, basically Picard will form a ragtag group of misfits go against Starfleet and at the end of the first season Picard will die and the rebel ship will be renamed The SS Picard.

[@k1productions87]

@@charlesking6815 I totally forgot about the Renegades similarities,... now I expect that young girl to be the daughter of an Augment, and to see an Engineer who doesn't realize he's a hologram.

[@prolamer7]

They look more like bad parody by someone who hated those smart nerds watching ST, because he was stupid and lazzy himself, but had rich daddy.

[@Trekkie46]

Kinda cheesy low budget fan films capture what Hollywood never will again. Such a shame.

[@scottmantooth8785]

time for a sock puppet production...and does anyone remember the Hick Trek films?

[@SteinerArts]

I don't see it as a bad thing... just boycott Hollywood and enjoy your fan works! 👍🏻

[@nofutureproductions9242]

"Never give up, never surrender!" GQ

[@HighFiveTheTodd]

I can honestly say, speaking as a fan, I'm WAY more interested in seeing the next episodes of Axanar than I am in seeing any of ST:D (I tried watching the first episode but it was so bad I didn't finish), or even the Picard series.

[@runevi]

Could you IMAGINE the good press Paramount would've gotten had they decided to work with Axaanar? "Studio is so impressed by fan's dedication they give blessing and agree to revenue share deal!" they might've seemed like first (and frankly only) giant mega-corporation that didn't seem like it was just shaking down the public for a quick buck.

[@JAGtheTrekkieGEMINI1701]

I was crushed back when those NONESENSICAL rules against Star Trek Fan Films were introduced... I loved Star Trek Continues and Axanar looked SO promising! 😐😢😫

[@pixlexiathefox]

You should look up whats been going on with one of those fan film actors, Vic Mignogna, being me tooed out of voice roles like Broly from DB and Qrow from rwby. His jobs were taken away by slanderous hags and other horrible people involved.

[@brianriley5108]

The fall of Axanar was the primary reason I won't support anything CBS Trek. They were moronic in their approach and they will learn that lesson eventually.

[@manickreations]

ok

[@doltBmB]

The correct way is to hire the people behind Axenar, just look at Valve.

[@LouisWritingSomethingCrazy]

How to kill a fandom: Step 1: step on any fan who attempts to show their love for your product.

[@startrekphase2DE]

Thanks for mentioning us, but you are underselling the quality of our episodes. Look at World Enough and Time, Kitumba, The Holiest Thing and they are very high quality productions. Yes, the fan-film guidelines forced us to stop and we could not even release our final three episodes. Learn more at www.stnv.de

[@kevinbendall9119]

Thanks, Dave. I watched both shorts, and I feel better. Unlike a lot of people, I did appreciate "Enterprise", as it showed the early years, not to mention that real people had to fix real breakdowns instead of playing with a key panel. But these fan films are so much better than the "official" crap. I give kudos to all of them. Love and respect shines through.

[@Vention1MGTOW]

They've wrecked the star trek fan base (for themselves anyway). The result is less profits for them. Oh well.

[@peterfrancis4769]

Hi Dave. I watched both of these fan productions quite some time ago. Both well made considering all of the constraints. I enjoy your work. Thanks for doing what you do.

[@qwaurk985]

Just make the films. They can't sue everyone. Make it so that it would be cost ineffective to try and stop them all.

[@anarex0929]

Then would you jump in front of the bus first for us? No thought not.

[@qwaurk985]

@@anarex0929 The quality of film I could make wouldn't concern them, but if I could then yes I'd be doing it.

[@aramfingal5180]

They won't sue over a fan film unless it's blatant copying and it makes money. But they will file DMCA takedown notices to keep "unreasonable" fan films off of any online video platform. And of course in the EU thanks to Article 13 they don't even have to bother filing notices.

[@anarex0929]

@@aramfingal5180 exactly the only way to save star trek is to let the cbs ver die. I totally agree

[@anarex0929]

@@aramfingal5180 they will sue any film regardless, the rules that they said crippled any production which was the entire intent it was not to restrict it was to cripple. Any film that is good will be harassed. Your naivete speaks volumes.

[@coecludd]

It's a real shame on the restrictions on fan films as Star Trek: Continues was such a good production and Star Trek: New Voyages/Phase II has it's moments. I am really glad that you made this video after receiving the e-mail from Gary O'Brien. I saw Chance Encounter a while back and really enjoyed it. Chance Encounter was also very good and I hope that this video will get Gary's productions more attention and I also hope that he will continue to make great Star Trek content. :-)

[@absynthminded]

Passion does not always Equate to Worth. By the numbers no it is not worth it, but to satisfy your passions is a priceless treasure.

[@GeorgeSaint666]

The best fan made Star Trek series "out there" at this time is: "The Orville". Freck CBS-Paramount.

[@deimosoverkill]

If all those incredibly creative fans just put all that energy and effort into their own IP´s...

[@stevenmcgrath5114]

Oh, HELL YES ! ! ! Never give up the fight ! ! !

[@dumbbo1]

I remember when they had to retool “Star Trek: Renegades” into simply “Renegades”. Even though the second half has yet to be released (to my knowledge), it showed how you can use Star Trek as a template, the way Roddenberry used “Forbidden Planet” as a template for Star Trek. Anyone who thinks that all these ideas and characters sprang full-grown from the brow of the Great Bird of the Galaxy has apparently never seen Leslie Nielsen as anyone other than a bumbling police detective or a doctor who doesn’t like to be called Shirley.

[@keeper0523]

Yes, because fan films seem to be better than anything on the tv and hopefully they make it there.

[@snake56]

There's a well known guy who made a TOS fanfilm with his friends when he was a teen a long time ago, his name is Seth MacFarlane. watch?v=sn_Sgcxg5PQ (I'm not writing the entire link so KZbin doesn't think it's spam).

[@ecclestonsangel]

I really would like to see CBS enforce that actor rule, especially if they're not under contract. You don't tell actors what they can and can't do, not if you expect them to ever come and work for you again. And CBS pretty much managed to cut their own throats with that rule, as well as the rest of the ridiculous, idiotic rules. I am part of the Axa-fam, and the plain and simple situation is this: Alec went to CBS heaven knows how many times, asking over and over for CBS to give him some guidelines, because he was trying not to step on toes, only to be rebuffed by CBS. At last, he finally gave up and decided to begin principal cinematography and preliminary shooting on the main movie. He put out a trailer for fans to get a taste of what was coming, the now infamous "Vulcan Scene." That's when CBS realized they had some serious "competition" on their hands, and not just that; someone who had a far superior product to what they were gping to put out! So naturally, they freaked, and decided to sue. Alec went right back to them. He told them he'd asked time after time for guidelines, and time after time he was rebuffed. He offered them Axanar. He offered to GIVE them the Axanar property FOR FREE! Nothing doing. CBS was not about to have some upstart with superior skills and product interfere with THEIR dark, grim vision for Trek! And naturally, what some big, behemoth corporation wants, they must have, right? They bribe Congress and do whatever nasty, underhand thing they can do to get their way, never mind they're a pack of liars and thieves. I seem to recall Gene Roddenberry running afoul of The Evil Eye over 50 years ago, the first time around with Star Trek. This is NOT what Gene wanted! He loved the fans making homages to Star Trek. It delighted him, and he wrote a letter to that effect. The letter has surfaced, and hopefully it can do some good now that it has been found. As for Axanar? Well, shooting began on the 4th of October. I think you might be pleasantly surprised to find out just how much story we can cram into half an hour! We have plans to release summer 2020. Wanna see some cool behind the scenes footage? Check out the Ares Studio footage. It's gonna blow your mind!

[@Network126]

This is awesome! Can't wait!

[@Mr72Dolphins]

Time for Orville fan films. Screw ST.

[@moonsofmadness8850]

As I understand it, McFarlane is fine with fan films, (however, due diligence is in order in any case.)

[@moonsofmadness8850]

@Daniel Appleton I'll have to go check that out! Considering any lawsuits, well, I'm thinking Seth can afford real good lawyers. ;)

[@thephantomraspberryblower2675]

@Daniel Appleton I love watching the Sunday night hour long compilations that Dust put out on their KZbin channel.

[@thephantomraspberryblower2675]

@Daniel Appleton I know what you mean tho, some if not a large percentage of the short films deserve a much larger buget to expand on their premises. I dare say many would be profitable at the box office/TV/streaming service. Just need my lotto number to come up then it's a new career as a film producer for me LOL!

[@thephantomraspberryblower2675]

@Daniel Appleton Blimey! Redecorating is expensive! Welcome aboard as Chief Writer for the team of nerds I plan to assemble to kill off"Woke" Hollywierd's Sci-Fi shambles. AND NO FUCKING SUPERHEROES! That shit is for kids and Yanks!

[@Kefka.]

Star Trek Continues was amazing. I liked it as much as the real TOS often times.

[@jw9737]

Some of these don't seem like they're legally enforceable.

[@scottmantooth8785]

they are going for and relying on the intimidation factor for most of these

[@Reziac]

They may not be, but Paramount has bigger lawyers.

[@scottmantooth8785]

@@Reziac very true...however while we (the fan base) may be small in stature (but not in number) we have a better shot at their knee caps...and we need to use that to our advantage

[@Reziac]

Would that were true. Defending copyright is just the excuse. The huge money churn (where everyone gets paid every week whether the series flies or flops) is really what they want to keep going. Fan-made productions put no money in union coffers or studio producers' pockets. A million bucks per episode all goes into someone's bank account, and that is what they are really protecting. The fact that the fan-made shows are often better, and made for pennies on the dollar? That just goes to show how Hollywood is largely a financial scam, and we can't have _that_ .

[@jw9737]

@@Reziac it's sad but true.

[@WilliamHBaird-eq2hp]

I agree with you 100% The copyright rules can be rediculous! Fan Films are a great STAR TREK Fix. The story ideas are often original and unique. I have seen so many I can overlook the lack of production value and enjoy them regardless. I hope they continue.

[@Nimiety327]

You're after my own heart now. I've been saying for years that Star Trek needs to be in the public domain now. At least for TOS.

[@Spirit250-D]

I love star trek New Voyages and Corinues. I spoke to James, who played kirk in star trek new voyages. He seemed to have had a very drafted attitude about fan films, but I told him he kept trek alive in my heart from 2004-2009. He seemed to appreciate the comment

[@ironwarmonger]

The Actor and Crew clause is something that new and limited to Star Trek Fan films. In the Table Top RPG world there was a magazine called Gygax, and two of the staff of the Magazine were Gary Jr. Gygax and Luke Gygax, the sons of D&D co-creator Gary Gygax. Gary Gygax's second wife and widow, sued the magazine saying they were using the Gygax name unlawfully. After the court battle, the final rulling declared that Gary Gygax's sons could not work in the RPG Hobby Industry because of their last names! I am not sure how that can be allowed, and if it can how can Michael Douglas or Charles Sheen still be allow to be Actors, because of who their fathers are?

[@michaelpettersson4919]

Fans need to invent their own setting. Orville are essentaly that and it is recognizable by StarTrek fans. Star Trek fans could create their own setting as well.

[@derrickcrawford1081]

Unless CBS claims copyright infringement and tries to sue you. But that doesn't mean we still shouldn't try to do this

[@k1productions87]

I say take it one step further. Don't try to look like Star Trek (as the Orville does, and will never be able to shake of the image of "trying to be another TNG") and instead be as original as you can.

[@michaelpettersson4919]

@@k1productions87 Indeed, I am not asking for a clone of Star Trek but neverdeless a show with spaceships.

[@MLPDethDealr32]

I have and will continue to make Star Trek fan animations. CBS can keep their bullshit , I'd be willing to work out of my house and help Axanar , or anyone, that would be willing to make a animated short even if its amateurish.

[@pauldrive7243]

Funny you should mention that! someone on the axanar stream offered to do animated series with Alec Peters and he was all for it perhaps you should contact him?

[@MLPDethDealr32]

@@pauldrive7243 KZbin needs to fix their notification system. that aside, Im subbed to Alec's streams and have talked to him. I got his permission to use the audio from their Victory through Strength trailer and turn into an SFM animation. Ive even shared stuff with AntiTrekker. Im working on another one as i type this with the Borg in mind. If you want i can link some of them. Do keep in mind they do have a pony character just to let you know ok.

[@LordBitememan]

That's crazy. You'd think you'd see something like this with the Halloween fan films with all the new installments coming out, but those are largely all still up.

[@mysticindigo]

Thank you for telling the world about these fan films. These are amazing!

[@maxsmodels]

Star Trek Continues was AWESOME!

[@AkuTenshiiZero]

I love when people come up with awesome props from stuff they found at the store. It reminds me of being a kid and seeing some object with a cool shape, and pretending it's some alien relic or fantasy weapon.

[@MrBnetV]

Star Trek fan films are worth making, but being creative within guidelines isn't for everyone. I'm on my 4th Star Trek fan production (of 6), and a good story can be told within 15 minutes. The downside is that it can be awfully difficult to fit in every spontaneous moment when you know there's only so much time within which to operate. Great video. Lot of truth in there.

[@GuyusSeralius]

This may be a blessing in disguise, because it will motivate fans to go off and create their own space show series that is completely unrelated to the Star Trek universe, yet respectfully inspired by the franchise, where they have far more creative control, more freedom and rights to do as they please. I, myself, have fantasized about creating such a series for many years (I'm working on the screenplays for it now and will soon be modeling the main ship in Blender). Thankfully, movie making is now so much more affordable and accessible to fans and amateurs and low budget creators. I'm a major Star Trek fan, but to be honest, I'm a bit Treked out these days (though I can always watch the original shows). I feel the same about Star Wars. Those two universes have been mangled and beaten to death by corporate machines. Let us make CBS, and the like, regret those new legal limitations by setting off on our own to create our own shows, graphic novels, video games, etc., because they likely have just stirred up a bee's nest and made things even worse for themselves and have encouraged content that will be even more competitive.

[@wrybreadspread]

6:50 In my poor opinion, Star Trek Continues rules. It's a worthy companion piece to The Original Series.

[@Jabberstax]

That fan film you highlighted looks awesome.

[@michaelpalmer4387]

What's the point of having original ideas when studios will probably steal them anyway?

[@Dinoslay]

"Civilization ends beyond the waterline. After that we enter the foodchain, and not always right at the top." There are always those who want to claim the accomplishments of others for themselves. In that sense the business world is simply another jungle. Even so, it doesn't mean that we shouldn't try our best to keep ourselves and our hobbies alive. Just my two cents.

[@k1productions87]

Protect your idea as you go. Copyright works for us too (in the short term at least), provided you make the effort to register everything as you go.

[@michaelpalmer4387]

@@k1productions87 the problem with the whole copyright system is that the big entertainment firms like Disney can seemingly get copyright extended as many times as they like. I don't think even big pharma can get drug patents beyond 20 years

[@evertonporter7887]

That's why you have patents, copyright law and intellectual property law.

[@pattyjay9999]

The Holy Core, is damn good fan Trek❗️❗️❗️

[@Citizen_J]

Dave, Star Trek Continues was one of the best Star Trek shows ever made. If people can create more like THAT, then YES! Keep making them (yes I know they stopped because of the new rules)

[@jonathankozenko]

Your Ad for Raid Shadow Legends was better written than any 60 seconds of STD

[@Falstaff0809]

Looking at the recent “Short Treks” recently, I can see that CBS has watched it and was taking notes.

[@DGOODWIN19]

Star Trek continues was a great fan film series. They were limited by CBS as to how many episodes they could make, but definitely worth a watch.

[@paulk.dicostanzo2279]

It really does seem like Axanar struck a nerve with CBS. Not simply for use of its intellectual property, but because Axanar was legitimate competition for eyeballs. Those 20 minutes did more than the entire franchise since 2009. It was professional, they actually got these actors to reprise roles, it felt totally in universe without exception, and it was engrossing. By any other name, it would be competition to the CBS mothership. That they will never allow to pass, unless so influenced otherwise by reason of last resort.

[@chriscutress6542]

Creative use of unusual items was one of the things that made TOS great. Medical salt and pepper shakers just being one example.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

What matters to me is the willingness to try something new and different.

[@mikepachak9740]

At the rate tv seasons/content are shrinking (seemingly most are 10 episodes of 35-40 minutes each), "regular" tv will be nothing more than an extended fan film at come point. A single 90 minute episode like a "Sherlock" may become a "season" with 2-4 seasons per year. Currently the networks seem to be pushing a fall a season and a spring season with filler in between.. Long way from 24 episodes and 50 minute each.

[@livefreeordie9542]

If 15 minutes is a problem then why not produce a 30 minute video save it at double speed so it meets the 15 minute rule. Then just include an instruction to play video at 1/2 speed to watch the full 30 minute video?

[@tobyhines7587]

Just watched two very good fan films, Thanks for posting the links.

[@tarb1320]

Doesn't seem worth it anymore, Side note, Star Trek Continues was incredible.

[@LDGPixels]

Freedom is not copy writable! Great work... Support Freedom, not greed!

[@brianmcguinness9642]

I pretty much agree, but it should also be noted that fans are free to come up with their own science fiction universes that include the elements that made the early Star Trek series great while still being sufficiently different to avoid copyright restrictions. This also has the advantage that new works in the new universes would not be forced to perpetuate scientific errors or faulty predictions that have become embedded in Star Trek canon.

[@davedahl4461]

Yes. Passion has always been important to art.

[@LocalTribute]

I’ve watched Prelude to Axanar at least twenty times. I’ve seen one season of Douchcovery one time using that free seven day trail, and I never looked back. Either way if I want to see good Star Trek, I could just watch The Orville for free.

[@peterfmodel]

totally agree about copyright. Love the fan film scenes - they were excellent.

[@FixFilmsLtd]

Brilliant video post! Thanks for giving time to the Star Trek fan films I was part of. As a writer I found it fascinating to work within the Star Trek TNG Universe and I actually think the guidelines make sense from a creative perspective. At least CBS/Paramount did not ban them outright; it does make sense to protect their property!! You're right too - Gary deserves so much praise for his work on Holy Core and Chance Encounter. It was incredible what he achieved on so little budget. I agree too with your point that original content is the way forward and we have made lots of short original films too. Thanks again, Paul - Writer (Holy Core & Chance Encounter), Fix Films - www.fixfilms.co.uk

[@ronstone6839]

Being a big fan of both Star Trek Continues AND New Voyages, I will at least comment that Vic Mignogna has maintained that they were ALWAYS intending to be a limited run. They had originally intended 13 episodes, they completed 11. The intent was the story arc between the end of the original 'five year mission' and the beginning of TMP. The final two part finale would have been the ending episodes regardless, the missing ones would have been somewhere within but had not even been conceptualized or written. While yes, CBS DID give them the fuzzy end of the lollipop with this change, Vic defends them as it is their copyright and their decision that must be honored. It should be noted that both the STC sets (in Georgia) and the New Voyages sets (in New York State) are available for fan productions.

[@Trakker1985]

Best way to do it now is just change a few things here and there so it's at "the orville" level of different, but everyone knows it's star trek, but it's just far enough away that you can do whatever you want =P

[@michaelroy7754]

Did this effect the STO MMO? All the player/fan content was destroyed in an instant- without warning as far as I know. I worked on my saga for 6 years, redrafting and editing scripts and maps. I felt betrayed for lack of a better word- though I dobt know if that truly describes the feeling. Id have taken tìme off from exam studying to play Dark Legacies one more time and take screen shots of my writting. Havnt logged back on since

[@k1productions87]

I don't think the two are related. Cryptic had lost the developers who's primary focus was the Foundry, and nobody left really knew how to run it. So instead of letting it go and unleashing any number of errors and bugs (which has been a problem before. I remember the course of a full year when every bug they fixed created two more) they just scrapped the whole thing.

[@trazyntheinfinite9895]

cbs killed star trek the same way disney killed star wars:. it attacked the fans.

[@RuslanLagashkin]

Corps strike back.

[@snakeplissken2963]

It all comes down to money and total control. Money/Control: If a ton of fan films were approved, then Hollywood production companies would essentially lose money and go out of business. In other words, there would be no need for production companies because the fans would have total control.

[@agent7796]

I couldn't agree with you more, well said sir, 👏👏😎👍👍

[@bryanrickard7712]

The guy who made the thermos thing should be the kind of people that CBS is hiring to handle Trek

[@morning1500]

EXACTLY!!!!!

[@leroystea8069]

The Holy Core and Chance Encounter are so incredibly amazing. And I think this is what CBS is afraid of. Here you have super talented people, creating a story that is comprehensive, entertaining, thought-provoking in a very short time frame. Compare this to Star Trek Discovery which unfortunately looks lazy, unimaginative with pretty images. It really boils down to the ability to be a good story teller. Thanks for sharing. Have always been a huge fan of Fan fiction productions. There's a James Bond series, Mission Impossible series floating about which is pretty good.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I reckon it depends on how well produced the Star Trek series is. I grew up watching TNG and DS9. I loved both shows. Whether someone brings back Capt'n Picard or not is irrelevant. That ship has long sailed.

[@aurex8937]

Short answer: No. Long answer: Hell no.

[@josephchisholm2654]

They're crippling fan films by making them more like Short Treks? Hmmm...

[@SwingingInTheHood]

Fascinating. Thank yo u for making this. Very informative and educational.

[@greigcaird65]

Y'all should watch Egotastic Fun Time if you like Trek and the fan movies

[@KILRtv]

And Steve Shives. He puts quite a bit of research and thought into his videos.

[@mpjedi2]

Also....any actor who was in Trek at some point would be a member of the Screen Actors Guild (unless they had resigned from the union), and therefore, would be unable to work for free on a fan project. Even if they are doing it of their own free will, they'd still be receiving payment for their work (unless the union authorized a waiver, which, believe me, never happens). They may be getting a very small stipend, under SAG mirco-budget contracts, but...there would be a required exchange of payment.

[@weirdkitty07]

I also mentioned the guidelines while making my fan film, Starship Chimera, which took over a decade, but I was recently able to release it uncut, without any blow back, because I am not a Star Trek actor, and it was done using action figures, and at no point did it have ad sense, or a kick starter, and it is free to watch on KZbin. My friends and I did all of it for the love of the series. Starship Chimera 82405.

[@jamesbrigham1299]

I agree. I saw both of these prior to this video and they are great. It was Axanar that triggered this, but Axanar was something that stayed true to Star Trek.The timelines matched and it immediately drew me in. In the short time, there was a story, character development, great visuals, etc. If CBS was smart, they would have and still should license it into a full movie. It will cost them less and they will make BANK!

[@Shalom_Mike]

Why doesn't CBS/Paramount hire fans? Fans know what fans want!

[@ClaytonMalarkey]

i didnt even know there were fan made star trek films now that i know i am gonna do a search for them

[@richardcollier2031]

Speaking of fan films, Star Trek The First Frontier is one that was supposed to be out a long time ago, but appears to gave been silenced. With Discovery, and now the new Picard series on the way...does anybody know if "First Frontier" will ever be shown?

[@hermanspaerman3490]

Red Letter Media has made an excellent fan film that sums up Star Trek Discovery in a couple of minutes. Its a CBS Allass Production.

[@chrislutz416]

Mike and Rich at RLM are big Trek fans. You can tell that STD is painful for them. Even the Picard trailer was painful for them. Their little short was dead-on. Their review of STD season 2 was brutal.

[@hermanspaerman3490]

@@chrislutz416 , Agree, and I am a trek fan too but leaning more towards Deep Space Nine territory. I don't mind longer story arcs but compared to DS9 Discovery is just a huge facepalm fest.

[@Ms.Strahl]

I couldn't agree with you more about the need to reform copyright and for imaginative persons to create their own "Intellectual Properties".

[@amehak1922]

A chance encounter was amazing

[@masonlaw3520]

Yes, because someone needs to preserve the greatness of what star trek once was, and we clearly can't trust CBS to do so.

[@mytruepower2]

The problem with trying to create new things is that the newer something is, the less time it's had to build up its lore, placing it at a disadvantage. I initially became interested in Star Trek because it was a long-running continuity that was challenging to exhaust. Fan films that serve as contenders for head-canon additions build on what was already there, giving it more of what made me want to experience it in the first place, but anything new has to build from scratch, and (1) doesn't have as much to offer yet, as well as (2) being more than likely to collapse before it really gets going. Most series don't last more than a couple of seasons, regardless of how good they are. There are ways to sidestep this, by using public domain characters and settings to flesh out the lore of your world, but I've only seen that done well a few times, and those continuities tend not to last very long either. The ideal would be a setting where, for every character shown, another ten are planned out as having had a major impact on the world in the past, and not immediately explained or even discussed, even though the results of their actions are seen. It's easier to do this when there are previous works to draw from (Marvel or DC, for instance,) but both Star Trek and Tolkien did it without that, and in my experience, that's a bit rare in long-running series. The things being created now don't have even three years worth of solid lore under their belts, meaning it'll be a long time before anything substantial distinguishes itself, and even if something gets off to a good start, it's pretty plain that the old guard will do everything they can to discourage it from continuing. I just don't feel comfortable getting onto any trains that haven't already been running for a while.

[@InAUGral]

The fan productions are superior to the official productions despite having far less of a budget.

[@HerrEllsworth]

Excellent points!

[@radagast7200]

The Joker Rising and The Clown Prince fan films are some of my favorites. Love to see your take on em dave.

[@SovereignStatesman]

Lawyer here. Here's how they can disallow former Trek actors from appearing in fan-films: ASSOCIATION. When an actor licenses their personage with a copyrighted character, they are therefore associated with that character in that genre; and therefore appearing in the genre, will continue that association as a breach of that copyright. For example if William Shatner appeared as in a Star Trek fan-film, obviously that would be a breach of copyright; even if they didn't address him as "Captain Kirk;" i.e. it would be obviously IMPLIED. Or at least, it would be a conflicted interest between the actor and the genre, by which the film could detract from the licensed franchise. Just like Adam West wasn't allowed to appear as Batman or Bruce Wayne, and Clayton Moore (IIRC) wasn't allowed to appear as The Lone Ranger while wearing the mask; i.e. due to the association with the copyrighted characters and genres. It's not about compensation, but protecting the integrity of the licensed intellectual property. While it's true that lobbyists are compromising democracy into plutocracy, that goes for ALL laws.

[@ToxicCrayon]

Copyright doesn't hamper creativity. Lucas made Star Wars in part because he couldn't make Flash Gordon because the rights were not available. Orson Welles often said, effectively, "The absence of limitations is the enemy of art." If you can't just play with someone else's toys and have to make your own that arguably requires *more* creativity.

[@Felix-Sited]

Dave......do you honestly play RAID Shadow Legends regularly? Be honest........

[@derrickcrawford1081]

If he doesn't she probably should since they're really good game

[@Felix-Sited]

@@derrickcrawford1081 I'm struggling to understand your response my dude.

[@Felix-Sited]

@@derrickcrawford1081 I feel like I'm in VR Mass Effect: Andromeda. I mean....shit......I feel like shit!!!!!!

[@trazyntheinfinite9895]

raid is like any other game like it: you hit a wall only cash will scale.

[@Markfr0mCanada]

If the makers of current Star Trek were confident of their work then they would welcome fan films as free advertisement for the brand. The fact that they see them as a threat says that they are aware of their own incompetence.

[@psychologicalwarfare8630]

continues and new voyages are the best star trek since enterprise.

[@moonsofmadness8850]

No. Because the juggernaut corporate entities will win. Every time. Take that passion, that creativity, and make your *_OWN_* ! Heaven knows we need an infusion of fresh IP's these days! Don't waste all that energy on something that belongs to somebody else! Create your own universes, your own stories, your own characters! That way, they all belong to you and nobody else. Just make sure its protected. I know... easy to say, very difficult to do.

[@derrickcrawford1081]

That doesn't mean we send still try

[@moonsofmadness8850]

@@derrickcrawford1081 Not at all. If that's your thing, I'm not judging. :)