These new "guidelines" for Star Trek fan films are a massive slap in the face to previous fan films.https://t.co/jiunwz043U, — John Callaham (@JCalAndAuth) June 23, 2016. Amidst ongoing litigation against fan film Star Trek Axanar, today CBS and Paramount Pictures have issued guidelines to all current and would-be Star Trek fan productions. Get ready to do some studying because CBS and Paramount just released their official Star Trek fan film guidelines and they are…extensive. Anybody who was part of a previous Star Trek production can’t participate in a Star Trek film—and the people who work on it cannot be compensated. The copyright holders of “Star Trek” have set forth new guidelines for fan films based in the sci-fi franchise’s universe. “We want to show our appreciation by bringing fan films back to their roots,” companies say in joint statement. CBS and Paramount Pictures The fan film community has received some coverage from the mainstream media. Now no more fan films will be made. Collider News with Sinéad de Vries looks at the new, official guidelines for Paramount Pictures' fan film contest for Star Trek! I once joked with John Van Citters that CBS treated fan films with “benign neglect” and that was good, as fan films did nothing but help the franchise. Fan productions cannot create or imply any association or endorsement by CBS or Paramount Pictures. [29] Alec Peters had several times suggested that the rights holders should issue guidelines to fanfilm makers, even going so far as proposing some prior to the CBS official guidelines release, a number of which were similar to those finally imposed. “While CBS and Paramount claim to want to encourage the passion of fans to produce ‘reasonable fan fiction,’ the restrictions presented do just the opposite, willfully ignoring over forty years of fan works that helped buoy the Star Trek franchise through some very lean years and enthusiastically spread the magic of the franchise in more plentiful times,” Peters continued. The guidelines also prevent filmmakers from using the words “Star Trek” in the official title while also containing the subtitle “A Star Trek Fan Production.” Filmmakers may utilize aspects that directly impinge on the Star Trek copyright, like the iconic uniforms, but these items “must be official merchandise and not bootleg items or imitations of such commercially available products.”, After Axanar‘s $1 million fundraising goal put the fan film in CBS/Paramount crosshairs, the companies have now mandated that the production budget of fan films cannot exceed $50,000, that only amateur cast and crew can be used and the film can only be shared on “a no-charge basis.”. Paramount and CBS will not object to, or take legal action against, ‘Star Trek’ fan productions that are non-professional, amateur, and otherwise meet the Guidelines… You have to use official Star Trek merchandise in your production (and not knockoffs). The producers behind Axanar condemned the new guidelines. The companies are already locked in a legal battle over a fan film , but fortunately for any budding cinephiles, they have compiled a list of guidelines to make sure you can create a Star Trek fan film without ending up in court. Under these guidelines, Star Trek: Axanar and other popular fan film creations such as Star Trek: Renegades, Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, and Star Trek: New Voyages would have to cease production and distribution immediately. In a statement, the two companies said “Throughout the years, many of you have expressed your love for the franchise through creative endeavors such as fan films. “The heart of these fan films has always been about expressing one’s love and passion for Star Trek,” the companies said. (And even then that doesn’t guarantee your film’s safety; CBS and Paramount “reserve the right to revise, revoke and/or withdraw these guidelines at any time in their own discretion.”). Woman featured on David Dobrik’s YouTube channel accuses Vlog Squad member of rape, Obscure ‘Star Wars’ spinoffs like ‘Ewoks: The Battle for Endor’ are coming to Disney+, Tamir Rice’s mom calls out activists for commodifying Black grief, TikTok shows beloved streamer hanging out with lonely kid on his birthday, received support from J.J. Abrams and Justin Lin. CBS and Paramount Pictures reserve the right to revise, revoke and/or withdraw these guidelines at any time in their own discretion. CBS and Paramount Pictures announce new guidelines on ‘Star Trek’ fan films Two fans dressed up as Klingons at the sci-fi fan meeting FedCon in Bonn on May 13, 2016. Effectively they were paying themselves out of the fund. STAR TREK Fan Film Guidelines - Focus Group Report 3 Summarized Results for Each Guideline (continued) GUIDELINE 6. The length of a Star Trek fan film has to be less than 15 minutes for a self-contained story) up to two episodes or parts with a 30-minute time limit. She is based in Brooklyn. “They have been about fan creativity and sharing unique stories with other fans to show admiration for the TV shows and movies. The Guidelines do indeed seem limited to fan films and even from Paramount and CBS's perspective; they don't apply to crafts, fanvids, cosplay, fan fiction, fan games, fan art, or anything else. Furthermore, funds were also being used to set up Peters own studio, which, it was planned, would go on to make for profit features. Send us a tip using our anonymous form. Fan films must include a disclaimer that says CBS Studios and Paramount Pictures are not endorsed or affiliated with their film. We want to hear from you! https://t.co/RCto5KP8NQ. So today, we want to show our appreciation by bringing fan films back to their roots.” The The rules … Weasel wording aside, this is a textbook definition of ‘profiting’ and they were doing it based on the Star Trek IP. In the midst of a pivotal and ongoing lawsuit against the producers of a crowdfunded Star Trek fan film, CBS and Paramount Pictures have released a set of guidelines for future filmmakers. On June 23, 2016, Paramount and CBS released new fan film guidelines, which Axanar staff described as "disheartening" and "draconian." Skip to content October 20, 2020 well. Today, though, an official statement was released by Paramount and CBS, saying that fan films would be allowed, but only if certain guidelines were met. Good job Paramount/CBS you killed creativity completely. The guidelines first appeared on the Star Trek official website Thursday, and in an explanation accompanying it CBS and Paramount Pictures praised Star Trek fans’ support over the past five decades and emphasized that they “want to support this innovation and encourage celebrations of this beloved cultural phenomenon.”, “The heart of these fan films has always been about expressing one’s love and passion for Star Trek,” CBS and Paramount wrote. CBS and Paramount Pictures do not object to limited fundraising for the creation of a fan production, whether 1 or 2 segments and consistent with these guidelines, so long as the These are those guidelines in full: Guidelines for Avoiding Objections: The fan production must be less than 15 minutes for a single self-contained story, or no more than 2 segments, episodes or parts, not to exceed 30 minutes total, with … Well, we thought this was simple enough, and helped filmmakers understand the separation we need to keep between professional content and fan films. The fan production must be non-commercial: 6a. You can’t use “Star Trek” in the film’s name but you have to use “A Star Trek Fan Production” in your project’s subtitle and any promotions. Axanar is a full-length movie, it crowdfunded more than $1 million, and features several Star Trek alumni. That means that any fan film makers who choose to ignore the guidelines are rolling the dice and could possibly face legal action. The productions listed in this paragraph, as well as others, … Even after Star Trek reboot directors J.J. Abrams and Justin Lin held peace talks in an effort to reconcile the franchises’ rightsholders and its fervent fan base, the legal battle between CBS/Paramount and Axanar producers continues on in court. Screengrab via Paramount Pictures/YouTube. Some fans were quick to point out that the Star Trek Fan Film guidelines would stifle creativity and making it nearly impossible for fans to even make fan films. But at the end Paramount Pictures and CBS make Star Trek guidelines for fan fiction films. This were taken from http://www.startrek.com/fan-films : The guidelines are extremely strict in regards to usage of materials, actors, and trademarks related to Star Trek. Many of these guidelines would directly impact Star Trek Axanar, the fan film which CBS and Paramount Pictures have an ongoing lawsuit against. This fan production is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made film … These films are a labor of love for any fan with desire, imagination and a camera.”. However, in what could be epic trolling on the part of Axanar‘s filmmakers, the film’s second trailer was unveiled the same day Star Trek imposed their new guidelines: Want more Rolling Stone? Fan films are noncommercial and you can only raise up to $50,000 for your production. “Around the franchise’s 50th anniversary, we would have hoped CBS and Paramount would have taken this opportunity to unite with ‘Star Trek’ fans in celebration of their creativity, not seek to crush it.”. She covers entertainment, geek culture, and pop culture and has covered everything from the Sundance Film Festival, NYFF, and Tribeca to New York Comic Con and Con of Thrones. “The trouble with Axanar is that all the money raised wasn’t going on the Axanar feature,” Chris Murphy wrote. The "Guidelines for Avoiding Objections" specify 10 rules to avoid legal action from Paramount and CBS, including the fan production cannot use "Star Trek" in the title, but must include the phrase "A 'Star Trek' Fan Production" in the subtitle. “Throughout the years, many of you have expressed your love for the franchise through creative endeavors such as fan films. By now, you’ve likely heard that CBS and Paramount have finally, after decades of silence, released a series of guidelines for Star Trek fan films to follow and not get sued. See also: CBS Official Explains Fan Film Guidelines and Guidelines Aftermath and Star Wars Guidelines Comparisons and Axanar Tries to Rally Fan Films to Its Proposed Guidelines CBS and Paramount Pictures revealed a set of guidelines on June 23, 2016, for fan films that would preclude the use of any professionals and the formats used by the major fan productions, including Axanar. After Axanar ‘s $1 million fundraising goal put the fan film in CBS/Paramount crosshairs, the companies have now mandated that the production budget of fan films … And CBS told me over and over how it would be impossible to come up with fan film guidelines because of 50 years of Star Trek contracts and agreements with unions, guilds and actors. “They have been about fan creativity and sharing unique stories with other fans to show admiration for the TV shows and movies. In a blog post on the official site, CBS and Paramount have released a strict list of guidelines to govern all future fan film productions. CBS and Paramount Pictures do not object to limited fundraising for the creation of a fan production, whether 1 or 2 segments and consistent with these guidelines, so long as the total amount does not exceed $50,000, including all platform fees, and when the $50,000 goal is … (Caroline Seidel / EPA) So today, we want to show our appreciation by bringing fan films back to their roots,” CBS and Paramount said in a statement posted on the Star Trek site.