I started the SMALL ACCESS protest campaign on Facebook last July, shortly after CBS and Paramount released the new guidelines that seemed to spell certain doom for Star Trek fan films. I’d hoped we could start a “movement” that would make the studios take notice and convince them to revisit and revise the guidelines.
It’s now almost a year later, and the guidelines remain in place…unchanged. We tried to get bunch of the guidelines changed all at once, but that didn’t work. And I realized instead that, if we tried to “eat the elephant” in smaller bites (try to change one guideline at a time), then we might have more luck in convincing the studios to listen to us and maybe even work with us.
And our offer would be simple: revise just one guideline, and our members will subscribe to CBS All Access for a month (to check it out, see if we like it). Revise two guidelines, two months. And so on. The first guideline we wanted to target was the “no ongoing fan series” rule (we voted on that), suggesting that Guideline #1 could be rewritten with a revised second part:
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. The production can continue featuring the same title, characters, and settings for additional episodes as long as no single story extends beyond two consecutive segments, episodes or parts.
The big question was: would the members of SMALL ACCESS agree to subscribe for a month if the studios made his first revision to Guideline #1? I published the results of a survey last week in Part 7, but here they are for you again…
If we simplify the results down to a sample of 20 members…
- 10 would be willing to subscribe for a month if we got our way.
- 4 refuse to ever subscribe, even if we get a goodwill gesture from CBS.
- 5 live outside of the U.S and Canada and will get Star Trek: Discovery via Netflix.
- 1 was planning to subscribe to All Access anyway.
So there’s two problems. First, only a small fraction of our members (1 in 6) even bothered to take the poll. Second, only half are willing to subscribe for a month if we get our way.
It’s kinda ridiculous for me to go to CBS and say, “Hey, if you change this one guideline, I can get you NEARLY A HUNDRED subscribers to All Access for at least a month! How does that sound???”
It sounds pretty laughable. CBS is looking to count subscribers in the millions. A hundred isn’t even a rounding error.
So what do we do?
As the title of this blog entry says: size DOES matter! Unless SMALL ACCESS embiggens itself (Simpsons reference, folks) in a major way, we’re looking at virtually no chance to even get noticed.
SMALL ACCESS needs a SMALL ARMY!
We grew pretty fast over the first few weeks, but once we hit 1,200-1,300 members, we pretty much plateaued. We’d gain a few, lose a few, and still stay in the same range. (Even as I type this, we’ve got 1,281.) I’d hoped that news of the SMALL Access Facebook group would grow organically through word of mouth. That didn’t happen much after the second month, and the small size of SMALL ACCESS falls mainly on me. I let the group down. I coasted. And the group stopped growing.
It’s time to fix that!
Over the past few weeks, I’ve reached out to certain friends of mine in the fan community to ask for their help and guidance in setting up ways to expand the membership of SMALL ACCESS. These are people with way more knowledge of and experience with guerilla marketing tactics utilizing social media than I currently have. And we’ve started brainstorming some ideas. Perhaps you’ve already see some changes at the SMALL ACCESS Facebook group page: a new banner, a membership counter promising perks when we reach certain member milestones, and a slightly revised logo that can be put on those perks without being directly derivative of the CBS logo.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be taking to Twitter and headtalker.com, setting up online “rallies,” and introducing some new slogans like “Fighting for TREK Fan Films One Guideline at a time!” and “Think: SMALL!”
And there’ll be more ideas, too. In fact, if you’ve got some and don’t mind lending us a hand or two, we’re looking for some more SMALL Generals for our SMALL Army! But even if you don’t have the time to be a leader, we need SMALL troops, too.
We’re going to do our best during the next few months to INCREASE the membership size of SMALL ACCESS. Can we double our size to 2,500? Can we reach 5,000 or 10,o00 or beyond? Hey, it might be pie in the sky, but at least we’ll know we’ve tried.
We’ve got until Star Trek: Discovery debuts…that’s our window. If it does well and attracts lots of subscribers, then we probably won’t matter. But if it’s struggling and CBS wants/needs to boost those subscription numbers—and we’re large enough to register on the radar by that point—then it might just be worth CBS’s while to make a minor change to one or two of those silly guidelines if it’ll mean better numbers for All Access showing up in their annual report to the shareholders.
So that’s our new Prime Directive right now: grow, grow, grow. We might be starting SMALL, but for the sake of Star Trek fan films, SMALL ACCESS needs to finish BIG…because size DOES matter!
If you haven’t joined SMALL ACCESS, click on the banner below…and tell yours friends, too!
I didn’t see the poll on facebook sorry, sometimes facebook doesn’t let us see everything in our feeds 🙁
That’s okay, John. But I do need troops in our SMALL army. Can I count you in?
I’m on board, because this is what I’ve been waiting for.
It doesn’t matter if we lose the battle as long as we can continue to fight the war.
Our objective should be to take advantage of CBS’s lowest point of failure for our highest success.
Even if Discovery is a success it doesn’t mean we’ve lost.
…it appears that discovery will suck in a very similar fashion to nu-trek =(
therefore, i will not watch it. period. (thanks kurtzman!) =(
looking forward to orville though! =)
I see you’re using your clairvoyance to read read ahead to tomorrow’s blog again! 🙂
…orville? YAY!! =D
…kurtzman? feh!! =(
Read my new blog today and tomorrow. 🙂
I saw the logo and was immediately concerned about the psychology of the thumbs down. This doesn’t really reflect can-do spirit or love for the product; it kind of seems like a downer. If the goal is to grow and get big, I would worry that people seeing this would immediately be turned off by the negative connotation.
🙁
Hmmmm…
The thumbs down was to signal disapproval, but I see your point. What would you suggest might be put into the center instead? (Note: it can’t be anything Star Trek related, as most of their graphics fall under trademark protection.)
… a “poo-poo face” emoji? 😉
That’s a good question. If you look at this from the reverse angle, project small access is more about creating and growing something (more ST or Sci-Fi fan films, a community that supports fan films, a better relationship with CBS/P etc) than just stopping the CBS guidelines, right? It’s less the position (this is the line in the sand) than the goal (more flexible guideline are better for everyone because…), right?
Ideally, the logo and slogan would be something a little less obstructive and a little more aspirational. Shoot me an email and let’s bat some ideas around.
Okay, I just shot you an e-mail. Now I have to go pick up my son from school.
Essentially you want CBS to change a rule because you want to use their IP, yet their IP is their IP, loving Star Trek doesn’t mean you own it, the IP owners have to be able to make decisions on how the IP is used, I get it many of the Fans of Fan films don’t like what Parmount or CBS is doing because it doesn’t fit their view of what Trek should be, so they feel they should be able to make Nicky Fan Stuff that is the Trek they want, but the IP holder also wants to make Trek, and a Trek that is Successful beyond the Core fan base, IF they changed the Guidelines so that your happy, it doesn’t help them because these people want the Niche stuff because that’s the Trek they want not what the IP holders are giving, and in the end they are not supporting those who make Offical Star Trek cause they will not pander to the hardcore fan base wants and needs for Trek..Get over it, Trek has to be accessible to people beyond the Hardcore fan base to survive.
We’re not saying the studios can’t set guidelines for fan films. We acknowledge wholeheartedly that CBS owns Star Trek and the guidelines provide a unique opportunity for fans. (See Part 3 of the blog series.) However, we feel that a few key guidelines have overshot the mark and could be revised to give a little more leeway to fan films while still protecting the interests of the studio(s). Read our proposed change to Guideline #1. It’s actually quite modest. As John Van Citters of CBS Licensing said, he hoped this would begin a conversation. Well, we’re simply continuing the conversation.
But isn’t this a form of Manipulation of the IP holder? we’ll support Star Trek Discovery and all acess for 1 month, what about after the 1 month, what do your demands become then? Isn’t this about wanting CBS to allow you to make a Star Trek that panders to part of the Fan base that dislikes what the IP holders have done, Essentially your competition to the Offical stuff made by the IP holders?
I’m not really sure what you’re asking, Bill. We’re simply requesting that fan films (which are already allowed by CBS and Paramount) be permitted to extend beyond just a two-part episode. We’ve built in assurances to ensure that fan producers cannot simply chop a 2-hour fan movie into eight 15-minute parts by requiring all main stories to conclude within no more than two 15-minute episodes. But if a fan series wants to produce additional 15-minute episodes with the same “actors” playing the same characters on the same starship, we’re simply asking that such a thing be allowed. But fan films themselves are already permitted…so I doubt CBS sees most of them as “competition” when they follow the guidelines. And since we’re not seeking sweeping changes to the guidelines but rather only minor tweaks, I doubt the studios will see us as any kind of significant “threat” to their IP.
Good luck but I think the ‘windmill’ does not care how noble your steed Rosinante really is.
Perhaps not, but it’s 400 years later, and we’re still talking about the guy! Ah, to have that kind of fame. I doubt Small Access be remembered quite that long, though… 🙂
I won’t matter one bit. The guidelines haven’t stopped fan films and most producers have embraced them. CBS has absolutely no reason whatsoever to amend any of the guidelines and even if you increase your membership by a factor of 10 you won’t get their attention.
Your track record of shameless promotion for a production that got sued by CBS is your downfall. The problem is the messenger. They will never listen to you nor anything you promote.
gotta love that Sandy is always good for a ray of sunshine on your parade, so to speak.
There’s two kinds of people in this world. Sandy is one of them. 🙂
Sandy’s like Tom in the last episode of Halt And Catch Fire. I want to pitch him a video game where you have a conveyor belt of light bulbs and you have to shat on them to get them to turn on. It’ll be called “You’re An A&&hole!”
I’m not sure if that’s a direct insult to Sandy or not. But watch it. Even the snarky people are covered by the “no direct insults” rule.
I guess you don’t watch the show….
I usually get the lion’s share of the media references because I spend way too much time watching TV and movies (or at least I used to before fatherhood), but no, I haven’t seen the show.
If you have Netflix, check it out!
Do you have any idea how far behind I am on TV already????? 🙂
Here’s an idea. How about just leaving it alone and following the guidelines. CBS isn’t going to be bullied by a group like “Small Access”, which has direct ties to Axanar. If CBS wants to alter the guidelines in the future, they can do that all on their own.
We have direct ties to Axanar??? I never got that memo! 🙂
That said, we’ve also got 1,200 members–and not all of them like Axanar. That’s one of the reasons that Axanar is the one forbidden subject on Small Access that we don’t allow commentary on. Too many strong opinions even though it’s really not relevant to Small Access at all.
Jonathan, don’t you remember that Alec Peters has intimate knowledge of our prostates?!?!?!? 😮
Ewwwwww….
What Big Smoke said.
And here is an example of an episode being written under the guidelines.
Captain’s Log. Stardate 3521.7. First Officer Spock recording. Captain
Kirk is still in Sickbay while Dr. McCoy attempts to treat the infection that
has debilitated him. We believe that he might have picked it up from a knife
wound that he received several weeks ago while en route to the planet Babel.
The captain’s wound has not healed and he appears to be in considerable pain,
though he denies it when questioned. Dr. McCoy also reports that the captain
continues to run a fever. The doctor is trying yet another series of
antibiotics. If he is unsuccessful, I will request permission to divert the
ship from its mission and take the captain to Starbase 14 for further
treatment.
The Enterprise is currently in orbit around Delta Sigmus IV, a planet that
has petitioned for membership in the Federation. At this time it would hardly
seem to be an ideal candidate for Federation membership, as the inhabitants of
the planet are unwilling or unable to put aside their differences. Delta
Sigmus IV is divided into several heavily armed factions, each poised on the
brink of war, and each possessing the capability to eliminate all life from the
face of the planet. One can only hope that a diplomatic solution will be found
before Delta Sigmus IV destroys itself. That is not the task of the Enterprise.
Rather, it is the responsibility of the diplomatic liaison currently engaged
in negotiations on the planet. **
“Mr. Spock. I have detected an increase in the energy output at one
of the Vlas missile bases on the planet. It appears that they may be arming
their warheads. Two other bases appear to be answering in kind, sir. Both the
Banias and the Resbs have gone on alert. Shall I contact the ambassador?”
Lieutenant Uhura lifted her head from the console in front of her and looked at
the first officer for direction.
“Indeed, Lieutenant. Inform the ambassador that it may become necessary
to beam her up at any moment. Have her party stand by. Then, continue
monitoring the transmissions from the planet. Perhaps you will be able to
discern their intentions.”
Mr. Spock turned his attention to the Russian navigator.
“Mr. Chekov, take the science station and see if you can determine the
nature of the warheads.”
“Aye, sir.” Mr. Chekov positioned himself at the monitor as a replacement
navigator slipped into his vacated spot.
“Mr. Spock, should I notify the captain?” asked the communications
officer.
“I am of the opinion that it will not be necessary, Lieutenant. In spite
of Dr. McCoy’s best efforts, I believe the captain is monitoring the bridge.
He should be here momentarily,” replied the Vulcan.
The communications officer hid a smile. They all knew their captain’s
reputation as the worst patient on the Enterprise. The bridge crew turned with
one motion as the turbolift doors opened. As predicted, Captain Kirk strode
onto the bridge with a visibly angry Dr. McCoy trailing behind.
“Report, Mr. Spock.”
The first officer lifted an eyebrow at Captain Kirk to signal his concern
then answered, “Captain, we have detected a possible countdown to missile
launch on the planet below. Several of the factions seem to be following suit.
Lieutenant Uhura has notified the ambassador to stand by for transport. Mr.
Chekov is currently determining the nature of the warheads.”
“Captain,” a shocked voice broke in. “The warheads, they are biological,
sir.”
There was silence for a moment as the bridge crew took in the horror of
that pronouncement. Biological warheads, the dirtiest and most ruthless of all
weapons. Long banned by Federation worlds, they were capable of extinguishing
all life on the planet. What could drive people to contemplate using such
indiscriminate implements of war? They turned to look at their captain who now
sat, sweating and feverish in the command chair.
Captain Kirk banged at a button on his command console. “Transporter
room. This is the captain. Beam up the ambassador’s party immediately and ask
her to report to the bridge.”
He turned to his first officer, “Mr. Spock, if there is a launch, can we
disable the weapons and detonate the biological material from here?”
“Not from the ship, Captain. There would be too great a chance of some of
the material contaminating the planet. It would be far safer to approach the
planet in a shuttlecraft and destroy the missiles at very close range. Even
from a shuttlecraft, the timing would have to be most precise in order to avoid
poisoning the atmosphere. And, sir, may I remind you that the Prime Directive
prohibits us from taking direct action in the affairs of the planet. If Delta
Sigmus IV were already a Federation member, the Prime Directive would not come
into play. However, I do not believe that is the case.”
The anguished expression on the captain’s face was very familiar to his
bridge crew. From long experience, they knew he could not simply accept the
possibility of doing nothing while an entire race rushed to extinction.
However, Kirk also fully appreciated the difficult position he would be in if
he knowingly violated one of the Federation’s highest principles. The captain
rubbed his knuckle across his lips, back in forth, as if to concentrate his
thoughts. “Status of the missiles?” he snapped.
“Still arming, Captain,” replied Uhura.
The doors to the turbolift opened and the Federation ambassador and old
friend of the Captain’s, entered the bridge. Kirk swiveled in his command
chair to speak to her, “Well, Ambassador Shaw, we’ve got a real mess on our
hands. Your pals down there seem hell bent on wiping themselves off the face
of the planet. Any ideas, Ariel?”
Former lawyer and new Federation diplomat, Ariel Shaw had been briefed by
Lieutenant Uhura. She looked with concern at her old friend as he sat,
obviously weak and ill. She was struck by how odd it seemed to see him sitting
down during a crisis. It was an oft-repeated joke that the flooring on the
bridge of the Enterprise had to be replaced more often than any other ship’s in
Starfleet, due to Kirk’s constant pacing.
The distress in the Ambassador’s voice was palpable as she answered.
“Jim, we were on the verge of an agreement. I really believe that all of the
factions want one. We were so close to signing a planet-wide treaty. I’m sure
of that. This must be just a few hotheads who are trying to sabotage this deal
for everyone, or maybe even a mistake.”
The captain was silent. He looked at Ariel Shaw as if trying to see into
her soul.
“Are you completely certain, Ambassador?”
Shaw paused for a moment before she answered. She was only too aware of
the consequences of her words. A planet’s fate and that of her friend might be
decided on by what she said next.
“Completely, Captain.”
Kirk turned to Lieutenant Uhura. “Open a channel to the Vlas, Lieutenant.
Let’s see if we can….”
“Captain,” Uhura’s urgent voice broke in. “The first warheads have
launched. Six in all. Impact in nine minutes.”
Without hesitation, the captain replied, “Belay that order, Lieutenant.
We no longer have the time to talk. Ambassador, draw up the necessary papers.
As of now, Delta Sigmus IV is a member of the Federation. The Federation’s
newest member is not going to self-destruct on my watch. Mr. Spock, have a
shuttle ready for me in two minutes.”
Kirk swiveled to leave his chair and as he stood, his legs refused to hold
him. McCoy, who had been hovering at his back, reached out to support him.
“Jim, you can’t do this. You’re in no condition. Besides, this could be
a violation of the Prime Directive. What if Starfleet doesn’t agree with your
decision? You could loose your command. Think about the implications.” The
doctor made no attempt to keep the fear from his voice.
The captain steadied himself and answered. His friend deserved an answer.
“I am thinking about the implications, Bones. I can not watch a whole
planet wipe itself out for no good reason, while we stand by on a technicality.
Because some papers that should have been signed, haven’t been yet? No. I’m
going to take out those missiles and buy this planet some time to think. But,
I also can’t allow anyone else to do this. I’m willing to take this risk. I’m
making the decision to act. It may not be the correct decision, but it is the
right thing to do.”
“But Jim, you’re dead on your feet. You won’t be able to fly the
shuttlecraft.”
A strong and steady voice answered before the captain could.
“I will fly the shuttlecraft, Doctor. I do this freely and voluntarily.
As a Vulcan, I too cannot stand by and watch an entire race wipe itself out.”
The captain turned to his friend. His voice was very soft as he responded.
“Thank you Mr. Spock, I could use the help. You fly and I’ll do the shooting.
That way, maybe Starfleet will only come down on me. You’ve got the conn, Mr.
Sulu. Keep the ship out of trouble. And, Bones, I could use your help, too.
Something to get me through the next few minutes, a stimulant.”
“Captain, if I give you a stimulant in your condition, you could stroke
out.”
“Another calculated risk, Doctor. Now hurry. We haven’t much time.”
“Then, Jim, I’m coming too. I’ll give you something when we are in the
shuttlecraft, but I’m going to be there to monitor you,” the doctor growled.
“I don’t know who’s crazier. You, for trying this fool thing, or me for going
along with you.”
The captain smiled at his two friends and together, they left the bridge.
The log tapes shifted to the inside of the shuttlecraft carrying Captain
Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy. The first officer was piloting, while the
captain plotted the phaser deployments that would destroy the warheads quickly
and without contaminating the planet below. The beep of a medical tricorder
and the hiss of a hypospray indicated McCoy was at work.
The voice of the Vulcan pierced the quiet. “Captain, you have one minute
and twenty-two seconds before the trajectory of the warheads takes them too
close to the planet. In that time you must destroy all six warheads. You are
clearly ill. Do you wish me to fire the phasers?”
The captain’s voice was weak and strained. His face was very flushed as
he seemed to be having difficulty focusing on the instruments beneath his
hands.
“No. I can do it. This is my call, Spock. Got one.”
The flash of light indicated that one of the warheads had been blown up.
“Two, no, good, three. Where are the others? Can’t find them…. Oh, there
are two of the buggers. Four and five.”
Captain Kirk’s voice was barely audible as a series of flashes illuminated
the shuttlecraft
“Just one more. Damn, where is it? Why can’t I get a target lock?”
“Captain, seventeen seconds. Do you require assistance?” asked the
first officer. Then with more urgency, “Captain, … Jim…let me help.”
“No, Spock, this is my job.” The captain’s breathing was laboured. He
seemed to gasp in pain. “I’m the one taking a risk with the Prime Directive.
I can’t let you. Got it. Six, and that’s….”
With a soft grunt that sounded almost surprised, the captain slumped to
the floor. McCoy grabbed for him and managed to prevent his head from slamming
against the instrument console. The doctor’s medical scanner was in his hand
before he remembered reaching for it.
“Dammit, we have to get Jim back to the ship right away, Spock. He’s
thrown a clot and I can’t stabilize him here.”
The first officer slammed the shuttlecraft into a violent turn and headed
back to the Enterprise. The anxious look on his face belied the common belief
that Vulcans were emotionless. The voice of Lieutenant Uhura broke through the
tension.
“Captain Kirk, this is the Enterprise.”
“The captain is … unavailable, Lieutenant. Go ahead.”
“Mr. Spock, we have just heard from the planet. They are very grateful
for the captain’s intervention. Apparently, the missile launch was the result
of a technical error. They never had any intention of launching, sir. The
other bases are standing down. All the factions realize that the Enterprise
has saved them from catastrophe and they request that Ambassador Shaw preside
over a planet wide disarmament. She asks permission to beam down to the planet
and finalize the treaty. Do you require assistance, sir?”
There was silence for a moment as Mr. Spock looked at the unconscious body
of his captain and friend. Once again he wondered at the luck or hunch or
prescience that had guided Captain Kirk, with seemingly insufficient data, and
with no time to think, to make the correct choices. Spock was certain that his
friend had made the right decision. They would have to see whether Starfleet
agreed.
“Tell the Ambassador to beam down at her convenience and have Sickbay
prepare to receive a critical patient.”
– There. A Star Trek episode that could be written under the new guidelines that gets the entire story across.
Hopefully that gets the point across. Short and to the point.
Well, I like it. Write it up in script form and film it. Maybe Vic Mignogna will let you rent out the STC sets (since they’re the only ones with a shuttlecraft interior). Alternately, Starbase Studios has the bridge and sickbay, and you could green screen composite the shuttle interior. I say go for it!
Oh, and it’s Areel Shaw, not Ariel. 🙂
That was a typo on my part.
All that aside, thank you for the compliments, but I WILL NOT EVER work with Vic Mignogna and the Starbase Studios staff. Like Alec Peters, they are also crooks, liars, and egomaniacs whose juvenile and immoral behavior have brought about the end of fan films.
I DON’T work with people who do not play nice in the Sandbox. I prefer working with professionals.
You do realize that fan films are still being produced, right?
Jonathan, I think one of the things you need to consider is how much does anyone ever invest in a idea or commitment today? Look at Kickstarter, they fund things but usually with 1-2 thousand people. Even in your current membership, there is a wide variety of commitment to what they see as “acceptable”. Some think whatever CBS does is fine, they own it lock stock and barrel. Some think there are canon discontinuities, and if fixed, would be ok with it. Some say no way at all after Axanar. Some see this as just the tip of the corporate “take what we give you and like it” mentality. Today it is all about ease of communication, and simple, short, statements (i.e. all the news in a 10 second soundbite). So, maybe we need some talented people to make up a library of suggestive memes that can be posted. The snarkier, funnier, interesting it is, the more chances of re-posts to other feeds. Try a viral approach, maybe even a YouTube channel? Small Access with some vids around the different topics, say 5 mins or less? I think a little tool bin would be nice to pick up from and be able to post. But you are correct, CBS, and their masters, only think in terms of thousands, 10’s of thousands, and we are a non-registering blip on the lowest radar they have. You have to get noticed. The letter campaign of 1968 got thousands of letters they had to open, or dump, and back then they had a little more moral courage than to just shred and ignore (unlike the 10 copies I sent in that were never acknowledged). I had a similar issue with LG and a recall where they said their AC’s would burn down your house if not fixed, but all I got was “we call you back i 3-5 working days” which never happened. I went on FB and started posting about how hard it was and how bad their customer service was and bingo, they messaged me, got me 2 boxes prepaid, and sent them in to get fixed, and back in a week. That was just 10 FB posts to trigger. I think they have web bots that look for key phrases and stuff that trigger the Brontosaurus to wake up, we need to find them and try it.
Back when I got my book published in 2012, my dad used to say, “Just get Oprah to read it and talk about it on her show. You’ll sell a million copies.”
Why didn’t I think of that???
The problem with creating a meme that goes viral is…well…creating a meme that goes viral. If there are folks out there with talent who want to help me give it a try, then great. But my time available to nurture Small Access is limited. I’m going to step up my game, but I can’t plan for things that are too time-consuming. I’m going to try to target my efforts (with the help of my advisory team) on things that will hopefully get the most bang for the time I have available.
Shared your latest blog post on Facebook and Google+, and I know at least some of my Facebook friends are SF geeks like me . . . so perhaps they’ll take an interest?
Is one of your friends named Nicholas? We just got a join request from a Nicholas.
Also, mention to your friends that they can join SMALL ACCESS to learn more about Star Trek fan films, too. We do try to discuss those when we can.
Not sure; the name’s not familiar to me, but it could be a fan of my husband’s blog (hubby doesn’t do Facebook himself, so his combox buddies share stuff to me on Facebook instead).
Just remember the personal touch! If you’re enjoying Small Access, tell your friends why. 🙂
If CBS is willing to easy up on the first guideline, then, I think the other guidelines can maybe be worked with – I don’t know, what do you think, Jonathan? Maybe there are some loopholes in the other guidelines?
There’s certainly loopholes, but that’s not the goal here. We’d like the studio to consider whether the guidelines have been made too strict. When I was growing up, my mother didn’t like the messes that paints made. So I was allowed colored pencils and magic markers, but never paints. Later in life, as I became a decent artist, I never really developed any skill with a paintbrush because I could only paint once or twice a week for 45 minutes in school.
Hopefully, we can encourage CBS to at least consider making such a change.
Hoping for the best, Jonathan… P 🙂
I think the biggest problem with this (or any other plan of this nature),
Is that no matter how many members you get in Small Access will have no effect on what they do. While the effort is noble. We are the fly hitting the Windshield.
🙂
I gotta at least try. I don’t want to look at my son having given up before giving this my all. I never claimed we had anything other than a snowball’s chance. But if we give up completely, the snowball melts and is gone forever.
If the snowball melts it becomes water. Matter in neither created or destroyed, it just changes state.
Maybe instead of trying to change the guidelines you should get behind them and show what can be done with their limitations.
Well, that’s kinda the default setting. If the roof is leaking, you can always put out a bucket and save a little on your water bill. But I’m also going to try to get the roof fixed. I hope I don’t disturb you too much. 🙂