Yesterday, we looked at the history of STARBASE STUDIOS from its founding in 2010 to its move from Oklahoma to Arkansas at the beginning of 2017. Things started to get tense and messy by early summer, with DAN REYNOLDS stepping aside, leaving GLEN L. WOLFE wanting to charge fan producers $500/day (plus extra fees) to use the studios TOS sets and resources…while SCOTT JOHNSON and KENT “WORDS” EDWARDS wanted to keep the sets free for use by fans (only requesting a donation to cover the cost of electricity for the day). And as long as CHARLES “BUD” PELSOR, the landlord of the warehouse where the STARBASE STUDIOS sets were being housed in Dogpatch, AR, was providing free rent until the end of 2018, offering use of the sets essentially for free was certainly doable.
Then, in early August, as recounted in this recent blog a large number props and items both freestanding and attached to the sets were removed and taken from the warehouse. It was not a break-in, as there was no indication of forced entry. Later on, when the police were brought in,they spoke with Glen’s attorney who explained that the items taken were the personal property of Glen Wolfe, and if Scott and “Words” wanted to prove otherwise, they would need to do so in civil court. The police then told everyone that they would stay out of the matter until ownership was clearly and legally established.
Quite a sticky wicket! Here’s what happened next…
CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?
For three months, the incident was kept under wraps by both sides…although a few key people outside of those directly involved knew what was going on. Their concern was that, if this became a “thing,” the fan film community could be ripped apart again (we don’t do well with legal battles in civil court, dontcha know!). And there was some worry that, if CBS and Paramount caught wind of the controversy, they might decide that if the fans weren’t able to play nice with each other, then maybe it was time to shut down Trek fan films altogether.
So instead, efforts were made behind-the-scenes to try to get the two sides to talk and hopefully work things out. I tried to help a little myself, as I was chatting with some of the people involved on both sides and could act as a go-between. But I quickly realized there were a lot of strong feelings of righteous indignation on all sides, and this was gonna like negotiating peace in the Middle East!
Rumors circulated that ALEC PETERS of Axanar became involved, and yes, he was one of the members of the fan film community talking to both sides and trying to help find a way to smooth things over and get Starbase Studios back into one piece again. But Alec wasn’t the only one. JOSHUA JOHNSON (Starship Exeter), JOHN ATKINS (Yorktown), RAY TESI (Starship Republic), GLEN MILLER (Star Trek: Phase II)…everyone failed to make any headway. After 90 days of no progress, Scott and “Words” hoped that publicly releasing this video listing the items that were taken and showing the damage might help to move things forward to negotiations, but it had little effect.
Finally, a few weeks ago, VANCE MAJOR and JAMES HAMS actually came the closest to hammering out a compromise (i.e. an agreement that BOTH sides didn’t really like much, but each side gave a little and got a little). I’m not certain whether I’m permitted to discuss the specifics of the mediated agreement or why it fell through, but suffice it to say, it didn’t happen. In fact, some of the people involved confided to me that they suspect Glen might (might!) have been using the negotiations as a delaying tactic, as his lawyer had already been preparing a legal summons and filed it on October 26…while negotiations with Scott and “Words” were still in process.
On November 7, “Words” received a copy of the summons through LegalZoom.com (because Starbase Studios lists them as their registered legal agent). Scott was not contacted or served, but “Words” forwarded a copy to him. Interestingly, “Bud” had also been served about 10 days earlier, even though he’s not technically a part of Starbase Studios—he’s only the landlord. (I suspect that, because Scott lives in Oklahoma City and “Words” lives in Kansas, that the Arkansas-based legal server only bothered handing the summons in person to the one guy who lived nearby in Newton County, AR.)
Starbase Studios was being sued and had just FIVE BUINSESS DAYS to file a response or risk an automatic summary judgment against them by the court. Take a look…
After this opening page there’s a page that includes plaintiff and defendants’ names and addresses, and I’ll keep that info off of the blog out of respect for privacy (although the full document is public).
The first important page to look at is here…
Glen told me that he has canceled checks and receipts to back up all of these numbers, although $15,000 for a corridor did raise an eyebrow for me…especially if the 2/3 of the much-larger-and-more-elaborate bridge set was valued at only $6,500. But…who knows? Maybe it was a typo.
Anyway, the important thing to note here is that Glen wants to take possession of all of the above items (not quite sure how you divide the bridge into 2/3 and 1/3…and neither was Glen when I asked him, but he suggested, “I guess one of us could buy the others out”). He is also looking for reimbursement of court and legal fees and compensation for any damage to the property that the defendants may have caused.
Here is the full Legal Summons with all addresses blurred.
STARBASE STUDIOS RESPONDS
I spoke with Scott Johnson in the middle of this past week, just as Starbase Studios was submitting their response to the court. “I really hate that it’s come down to using lawyers because now nobody wins,” Scott told me. “Lawyers are expensive, lawsuits are expensive, and ‘Words’ and I would have really preferred to spend what little money we have making Starbase Studios as good as it can be for fans who want to use it. But Glen’s lawsuit gave us only five days to respond, and so we did. And now we have to go find a lawyer, too. This isn’t the way fan films should be!”
Last Wednesday, Scott and “Words” submitted their response to the Office of the Circuit Clerk for Newton County, Arkansas…
Obviously, Scott, “Words,” and “Bud” are not going quietly into that good night. And I am told they’ve been reaching out to some Arkansas law firms to see if one is willing to take the case without breaking the bank. Of course, there’s the possibility of trying to attract a firm with the potential of monetary damages awarded in a counter-suit, but as of right now, no counter-suit has been filed. All Starbase Studios has done is to respond to the summons, and now a court date will be set.
Before I continue, I’d like to take a moment to look at their point #15:
These films are allowed to be made by the good graces of the IP owner, CBS/Paramount. Under that public agreement, there can be no profiting. The suggested day rate $500 per day by Mr. Wolfe and Mr. Reynolds would violate this agreement, as the set designs, color schemes, and prop designs are the IP of CBS/Paramount.
This is actually a very strong point in favor of NOT charging for the use of Starbase Studios beyond the cost of maintenance and upkeep. But it has also led some fans into a flurry of panic thinking that Starbase Studios itself is somehow CBS’s property or that the sets’ very existence is somehow an infringement of copyright. As it happens, I had dinner on Thursday night with one of my old “legal eagles” (remember them?), and he had this to say:
“As long as no one is making any kind of profit or revenue from the Starbase Studios sets, they don’t infringe. The simple act of building, having, and using the sets is not, in and of itself, an ‘infringing act.’ As an example, imagine if you paint the USS Enterprise, Captain Kirk, and Mr. Spock onto your car and drive around. That’s not infringing. CBS doesn’t suddenly own your car. But now imagine that you use this painted car to set up a cab service and call it ‘Star Trek Taxi’ and drive people around for money. Then you might have a problem.”
CBS and Paramount don’t have an issue with Trek fan films as long as they follow the guidelines, which most Starbase Studios productions typically do. But what if Starbase Studios begins charging $500/day (way more than the cost of maintaining the sets if the rent is free) and also charging for props, costumes, and day-rate services when those services are provided exclusively in and around those Star Trek sets? Is that like turning your custom-painted car into a revenue-generating Star Trek taxi? It’s an iffy question at best.
THE “SMOKING GUN”?
There’s one more document that hasn’t been publicly released yet, but I’ve been given permission to share it here on Fan Film Factor. This is a photograph of a volunteer liability waiver contract signed by Glen Wolfe back in 2013…
There is no question that it is Glen’s signature, as multiple people witnessed him sign it. And indeed, all volunteers at Starbase Studios back in Oklahoma City were required to sign this waiver before being allowed to participate. So now the question becomes: how significant is this piece of paper?
At least two people involved in this situation are calling this “the smoking gun.” And I’m told that, once Starbase Studios has a lawyer and goes to court, this document will be submitted into evidence. But is it really a smoking gun?
I haven’t asked my legal eagles about this item yet (I only got it on Friday), but on the face of it, I don’t see how this helps Glen at all…and it more likely hurts him. At best, he’s now forced into arguing that this contract does not specifically prevent him from creating items of his own and bringing them along to use at the studio for his own production(s) while retaining ownership of the things he’s built.
Except for one thing:
I am helping build…inside and outside the studio on a VOLUNTEER BASIS ONLY…
That’s a biggie. If you volunteer with Habitat for Humanity to help build a house for a family, you don’t get to own that house when you’re done. And even if you donate a flower bed for that house with materials you pay for yourself, you still don’t get to come back to the house years later and rip out that flower bed to take back home with you.
So it can potentially be argued that Glen signed a contract in 2013 agreeing that anything he built—inside or outside the studio—that was to be used for a Starbase Studios production would be considered volunteer work. And since this contract does not specify an end date, it is technically still in effect and has been all along. There was no reason for Starbase Studios to assume that Glen was acting in anything other than a purely volunteer capacity (like dozens of others who donated their time, talent, and occasionally money and materials without intending to “own” anything). In other words, what realistic reason did the Starbase Studios folks have to assume that Glen needed to be treated differently than all of the other volunteers?
Now, if Glen wanted to petition Starbase Studios to amend his contract or end the term of its commitment, he could certainly have requested that at any point. But to my knowledge, he never attempted to do that in writing (or even verbally), which is one of the reasons folks were so shocked to see all of these items removed, some of which had been part of the sets for years.
In fact, Scott told me that the only time Glen ever officially “loaned” something to the studio and made it clear he wanted it back at some point, it was two Burke chairs for the helm and navigation stations. Those chairs were used for multiple productions over the years, but Scott and “Words” always understood that, if Starbase Studios ever closed down, those chairs would be returned to Glen. However, according to Scott, that was the only time and those were the only items where Glen specifically made clear it was a loan and not a donation.
So is it a “smoking gun?” I can’t say with any certainty, and I don’t have access to my legal eagles right now. However, I do agree with Scott Johnson on one thing he said: if this goes to court, nobody wins. Even if one side or the other comes out “victorious,” buckets of money will have been thrown at attorneys, and Star Trek fandom will have yet another blemish to deal with. We’ve already battled among ourselves over the quality of Star Trek: Discovery, the merits of the Axanar lawsuit, JJ Trek, and even with the launches of Enterprise, Deep Space Nine, and Next Generation. (I don’t recall fans saying that Voyager wasn’t “true” Star Trek. But the other shows were all controversial in their own ways when they began.)
If this Starbase Studios case goes to court, I just know that fans are going to take sides…again! I can already see them starting to line up on “Team Glen/Dan” 0r “Team Scott/Words.” Do we really need that?
Most civil cases (like over 95%) settle before ever making it to trial. With luck, so will this one. The volunteer contract/waiver might not be a complete smoking gun, but maybe—just maybe—it’s enough of a potential land mine to bring both sides back to the negotiating table and finally hammer out a fair agreement that everyone can live with.
Starbase Studios means so much to so many. It’s made it possible for the fan film “little” guy (and gal)—the ones without the big budget to build $10,000 and $100,000 sets—to realize their dreams. Starbase studios has been “the great equalizer,” an unimaginably amazing resource and gift to the Star Trek fan film community.
I sincerely hope that things can be worked out between the two sides before the studio (and possibly fan film fandom itself) gets torn apart in a lawsuit.
Intriguing, from the way you tell it, it sounds like Glen acts as another Terry Mcintosh, getting so transfixed on some sense of perceived injustice as to completely loose sense of perspective. Even if Glen thought he had ownership of these items, why did he feel the need to take them without telling anyone else about it, “hey fellow Starbase Studios people, I have decided I want these items of mine back, I will take possession of them in a few days time, so don’t feel alarmed if you walk in and find these items missing”. That this didn’t get said sounds quite dodgy to me.
Do we miss anything here that you cannot tell us, i.e. you have only had authorisation from one side to tell us their side of the story.
Oh, and for ““little” guy (and gal)”, why not say ““little” person”, then you accommodate all genders and not just those who fall into the binary system :).
“Little person” is sometimes a politically correct way of saying “midget.” “Little guy” usually means the underdog, someone not blessed with money or means.
As for things I can’t tell you, yes, there are a few. But for the most part, I got clearance to share most of what I know. I’ve offered Glen, Dan, Scott, and Words a opportunity to rebut anything here in a guest blog–no editorial commentary from me. Glen and Dan are considering it, Scott said he’s pretty much done commenting publicly.
Hmm, I would have thought that context would have ensured “little person” gave the correct meaning, but I see where you come from, in which case how about underdog, or noob, small fry, little fish, etcetera, as genderless descriptions :).
Jonathan, to keep commentary out of it I am asking you to most the questions you asked with my answers.
For the record, here is the complete list of questions I asked Glen…and their answers:
1) What happened over the past several months to precipitate your decision to remove these set pieces? What is/are your beef(s) with Scott Johnson and Kent Edwards?
No sets pieces where removed, only props and set decoration used for my last shoot.
2) When was the ownership of the sets and Starbase Studios established (as a 1/3, 1/3, 1/6, 1/6 partnership)? How did the partners buy in? Was there any paperwork signed? How does anyone prove they own a part of the entity that is called Starbase Studios?
Bridge was purchased in Dec 2016, checks issued would be the evidence. Percentage was based on the money invested. Money was for the sets, not the studio. I am not a part of the studio.
3) Glen, you believe that you paid for certain items and that, therefore, they are your property to repossess? Is that correct? Obviously, Scott and Kent disagree. How do you intend to prove (to fans and potentially to a judge and jury) your claim to these items? How did you decide which items to repossess?
I bought, paid for and build a lot of sets specifically for my shoot, receipts for everything. For the record I do not need to prove anything to the fans, but I have overwhelming documentation to verify my ownership of every item that I bought.
4) Where are the remainder of the sets located right now (the stuff that wasn’t removed)? Who is paying the rent on the building where they are stored? How much longer can that rent be afforded? (I assume you’re not comfortable disclosing the location of the set pieces that were removed).
All the sets still on location, no rent being paid. Understand I am not a part of Starbase Studios so I do not have knowledge of finances.
5) I know that you and Scott were very good friends going way back (Scott told me this). How did things go so wrong? When did your friendship start to break down, and did you try to resolve things before the incident of three months ago? If so, how? Why didn’t it work?
Scott and Kent decided to go on their own in July, told me and Dan they where keeping everything. We where acquaintances for some time.
6) This is a tough one: What would make you happy right now? (I realize the answer to that is obvious, but bear with me.) What would make you happy right now? I know you previously made an offer that was rejected by Scott and Kent. Can you describe that offer (clearly and concisely) and speculate as to why they didn’t agree?
Acknowledgment of what is actually mine, then they can go ahead and keep borrowing my stuff to make movies. And now a very public apology for all the lies and innuendos they have put out on social media.
7) Realizing that, when two sides disagree as ardently as you do with Scott and Kent, it’s unlikely any agreement not imposed by a judge is going to make BOTH sides happy. So assuming you’re ultimately gonna be pissed off by a hypothetical agreement AND they are going to be pissed off by the same agreement, what kind of compromise (i.e. something that pisses you ALL off!) do you think both sides could live with?
See #6
8) Has an actual lawsuit been filed yet? If so, in what jurisdiction? (I’d like to look it up or, if you wouldn’t mind, could you e-mail a copy of the complaint…which is public record when filed?) If the lawsuit has not been filed yet, do you have an estimated date of when it will be?
There is a lawsuit, I think it is in Jasper County, I do not have the paperwork in front of me.
9) Has the entity known as Starbase Studios been officially disbanded, or are there still owners? Scott and Kent seem to think the entity still exists, but you said that they “decided to go their own way.” Obviously, those are mutually exclusive situations–either there is still an entity made up of multiple owners or it has been dissolved. Can you elaborate on your thoughts regarding the ownership of the assets of Starbase Studios?
They own a virtual entity called Starbase Studios which they started in July, the old Starbase Studios (OKC) folded in Dec 2016 with the selling of the sets. They have started a new studio using the same name in Arkansas, this is when they “broke away” thus causing the legal issue of attempting to assume ownership of other peoples property.
Whats the air speed velocity of an unladen African swallow? Sorry, all the good question were taken…
Are you sure you don’t want o know my favourite color?
Glenn It does not help you at all Infact those questions make you look like a little child crying to his mommy because he did not get his way… Pathetic
It sounds like you are upset because you didn’t get your way too.
Justin isn’t getting his way in life right now, and it’s not a good situation. He’s asking fans for some help:
https://www.gofundme.com/crmyx2-emergency-moving-expenses
Only most why hide questions Glen ? Ahamed at how pathetic your answers make you look? 500$ a day what a JOKE!
Hey, it’s okay to disagree, but taunting is not kosher on this blog. Please be civil.
Where did this $500 a day number come from? Was this ever stated publicly by Glen? I have only ever heard this magic number in Facebook posts by Scott, with nothing to back it up.
The pay-day studio usage number was quoted to multiple fan film producers including Vance Major, who confirmed it for me.
Good comment, Jonathan interviewed me but chose not to include my perspective in this piece for unknown reasons.
I quoted what bits from Glen’s interview answers that I could. There wasn’t much to work from.
A win for everyone would be the sets being able to be filmed on by the little guy, who has no money but just a dream, because then that means everyone can shoot. Having it only for a select few is not a good thing and tarnishes what both Wolfe and Scott has worked together to accomplish in the past.
I sincerely hope that this can be resolved. Ill never return to the place, as my production ppl lost their personal money thanks to this and it’s left such a bad taste in my mouth I have no passion for fan films anymore. But what abt ppl like Michael king, Ray tesi, Gary Davis, Adam Mullen, or Joey benoice? They need a place to shoot. We can’t let it end like this. And splitting off because of what….tempers? Ego? Come on. We’re better than that. Wolfe and Scott are better than that.
Despite all this, I still believe in both guys you work it out.
Fingers crossed
My fingers are crossed, too. Starbase Studios is simply too important to the fan film community to let it be torn apart like this. Thanks for posting a comment, Vance. I’m sorry to see you step away from fan films, but after the dozens you’ve worked on and are still finishing up and releasing, you’ve earned a rest and a place in the fan film hall of fame (assuming we ever build one!). 🙂
Have the Johnson brothers weighed in on this or are they steering clear of the whole matter? I mean how can Scott and “Words” legally transfer ownership of something they don’t really own (i.e. 2/3rds of the bridge set) to Dan and Glen?
Jonathan, just checking, why did you interview me at all and then not include any of my answers to your questions in this article? Just for the record, I have not talked to James Hamms or Vance Major about this, so a solution from them was never submitted. Also, as those who know me know I have never charged for anything Star Trek related for fan films. I also do not run the studio, so I have no say in what they charge.
Like a number of things that Scott said about you that I could not confirm from a second source (and therefore did not include), I can’t confirm any of the things you just said about Scott, Glen.
You did include many things from Scott that cannot be confirmed, I will state again, I have never charged anyone for use of props, uniforms, set decorations. In fact I have built props for Vance particularly for no charge, not even for material.
I’ll let Vance respond to that, Glen.
Sure you have. I’ve never denied that. I don’t think anyone ever has. I don’t revise history jyst because the here and now sucks. What sucks is being told that ill be charged 300 a day for a director. It’s not like it was covering gas to get there. I could understand covering gas, which is what the case is with Scott. But with another person, same guy who yelled at me that he’s “too f#cking tired to talk to me”, sigh, I was appalled. You tho, no. I’m good. But the 500 bucks a day, can’t afford that. That’s not realistic for the average everyday Joe. That, mixed with the nickel and diming of the films is what pushed Gary from dominion, Adam from defiant and others away. Myself included.
Now abt not hearing abt the deal….
You haven’t talked to me cause you didn’t pick up the phone each time I called you. You do realize the one who said that they didn’t want cbs to destroy all fan films was James and myself. That whole deal that you wanted “proof” of was us not wanting fandom to be taken down. And the plans they brought to you were a result of that. You choose not to go that route, why? Shrugs.
You’re not the victim in this Wolfe. Both sides have a reason to be pissed. But both sides need to come at this and realize that if the end game is to make fan films for everyone, then start letting this hostility go. You’ve done a lot to make me upset, but even I’m willing to say “eh the klingons and federation made peace, can’t the guys?”
You and Scott were friends. Not just acquaintances, but friends. Let’s let this stuff go man. Seriously. We’re all losing here. Lets get back to making fan films.
Well Vance, are you trying to say that I told you I wanted paid to direct a film for you. I do not recall ever being asked to direct, much less accepting, or discussing any terms. You have my number, email and facebook. It seems odd that you never left a message about this “deal” via any of these venues.
I never asked you to direct, nor am I implying such. I’m talking abt your partner that yelled at me a week before my shoot. You and I both kno that the 500 dollar discussion a day and trickle down after that was the only thing I ever had a problem with you on. And we had several convos abt that on the phone earlier in the year. With the way you are with “records” I could send you my phone records to prove how many times we talked and how long lol but you kno this stuff is dumb. You kno I don’t have a bad thing to say abt you, but this is wrong. And not the man I kno. Everyone’s tempers need to chill. What’s said is said. But if we don’t start letting the shit go, none of us are going to be able to have fun.
Isn’t that what’s important?
Like I said, I have reasons to be mad. Don’t need to say why, it’s not important. What is, is getting things back on track. Both sides need the other. As much as that may burn.
So, we all have our positions, but cant we come at it from a “there’s the goal where we ALL win, let’s approach it like we’ve all won, and figure out how to get there”
The Wolfe I kno is one of the smartest guys I kno. A guy I trust and respect. I don’t like this. But I’m killing myself trying to help both sides.
So show me in right abt you and help me fix this
Warning about the s-word. Please say “shat” or “sh*t” or “poo-poo.”
Sorry to say, but after reading Glenn’s answers, he comes off as a bit of an “entitled snob”. It makes me hope even more that he gets his clock cleaned in the court room, and is forced to return everything he took, under the bright lights of local TV camera’s.
Scott and Words’ reply makes a common semantic error in it’s reference to “CBS/Paramount” as if they are one company. Should have been more properly referred to as “…the IP owners, CBS Studios Inc and Paramount Pictures Corporation.” Not a biggy, but could always be a nitpick the other side could complain about.
I think CBS would be the only one to take any potential interest in this, as nothing at or about Starbase Studios has any connection with movie Trek.
It’s all just sad all around no matter how you look at it.
You haven’t talked to me cause you didn’t pick up the phone each time I called you. You do realize the one who said that they didn’t want cbs to destroy all fan films was James and myself. That whole deal that you wanted “proof” of was us not wanting fandom to be taken down. And the plans they brought to you were a result of that. You choose not to go that route, why? Shrugs.
You’re not the victim in this Wolfe. Both sides have a reason to be pissed. But both sides need to come at this and realize that if the end game is to make fan films for everyone, then start letting this hostility go. You’ve done a lot to make me upset, but even I’m willing to say “eh the klingons and federation made peace, can’t the guys?”
You and Scott were friends. Not just acquaintances, but friends. Let’s let this stuff go man. Seriously. We’re all losing here. Lets get back to making fan films.
I do not know what this particular comment means, but feel free to contact me.
This is shaping up to get real ugly for all involved.
Let’s just hope The Powers That Be don’t take notice and say, “Okay, fan films are shut down for good.”
Glen, Scott, “Words”, et. al., I do hope you folks can come to an amicable solution. The fan film community certainly doesn’t need this huge black eye because of some perceived slight.
Doug
I don’t agree with the property being technically CBS infringement. I would lawyer up just to fight that perspective and I could guarantee a win. Charging rent for use of a studio is not the same as advertising a location or business as a Copyrighted IP. If any money you make with Trek is illegal then video about Star Trek on You Tube can’t be monetized, and they can’t accept crowd sourcing. It’s an inconsistent take at best and I bet doomed to fail in a court of law.
With that being said, I don’t agree with charging the rent. It’s decisive and unnecessary. My perspective is that Fandom now more than ever need to be unified in every way. There is a larger issue here with Star Trek and I sense until the fans’ persistent quibbles are eliminated it will continue to be at the benefit of CBS and Paramount.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but this literally seems like a “pound of flesh” situation. Let’s assume Glen was right and he reposessed his own property. Given that those pieces apparently could not be extracted without doing harm to the sets as a whole, what liability does Glen have in damaging those sets in the process?
This isn’t about IPs or who owns what part of which sets.
It is about egos – on both sides.
“Acknowledgment of what is actually mine, then they can go ahead and keep borrowing my stuff to make movies. And now a very public apology for all the lies and innuendos they have put out on social media.”
Summons not withstanding, I think what Glen is asking for, as illustrated by his response to Jonathan’s question, is entirely reasonable.
My humble suggestion? Loose the lawyers and all the legal B.S. and sit down and talk to one another and keep doing that until you work something out!
Just my $0.02 worth of gold pressed latinum
Well, it takes two to negotiate…and both have to be willing to give a little. So far, that hasn’t been the case.
From the outside, it seems that “actually mine” and “my stuff” are exactly what this new controversy is about (one person’s private property vs a cooperative collection of gear paid for and maintained by a group albeit with differing amounts of money and labor by different members). With this gear, they then make films that the rest of us enjoy.
Does anyone else get embarrassed to call themselves Star Trek fans when they hear about other fans acting like this?
I mean, really. These are fan films and we all know the ‘what’s what’. These things are now all made on a cotton thread budget (shoestring now being too large thanks to CBS) and we all know that almost everything is volunteer built or sewn with lots of other pieces being loaned, pass around, or re-gifted like grandma’s 15lbs fruitcake.
If your ‘volunteering’ leads you to this level of pettiness, maybe volunteering is not for you.
“Does anyone else get embarrassed to call themselves Star Trek fans when they hear about other fans acting like this?”
Not me. I know of waaaaaaay more Star Trek fans who aren’t suing each other. In fact, I think the ratio is about 500:1 based on just those whom I know personally. I suspect the real ratio is closer to a million to one. If that’s the case, I remain proud to call myself a Trekkie…and I only lament the fact that this controversy is happening in Arkansas.
This sounds like a toxic situation and terribly unfortunate. I am not personally well acquainted with people on either side of this matter, so I’m not rooting for or against anyone on this. Hope y’all work it out and I’m gonna file this one under “not personally or materially invested enough to worry about it.”
Its petty and vengeful. Not good to read just after a deep tissue massage.
Sorry to ruin your relaxation, Gabe. But, in fairness, had you read the blog when it was first published, you would have had the massage AFTER you got all tense about the Starbase Studios situation. I can’t be blamed for someone else’s bad timing. 😉
I might have to get another one just to re-balance the universe… I don’t think my Stiff-to-the-point-of-Atrophy shoulder knots would complain…
hey Johnathan, Keshav here. What happened to those loons who kept commenting on Axanar posts? Have they gone? That man and woman.
I’m not sure which man and woman you mean specifically, Keshav. I stopped automatically approving all Axanar-related comments when I realized that they weren’t really adding anything new or interesting to the “dinner party” that is Fan Film Factor. I think that, once they realized I’d taken away their microphone, they stopped putting the effort into typing long dissertations as to what a [fill in the blank] Alec Peters is and why Axanar will never be made. Every so often, someone submits a comment with the same old accusations, occasionally with “I know you won’t dare to post this, Jonny, because you’ve got your [fill in the blank] up Alec’s [fill in the blank]….” Usually, I just trash those as soon as I spot the “I know you won’t dare to post this…” without reading the rest because it’s never worth it.
Actually, shouldn’t that read that Alec has his hand up your [fill in the blank], unless they are suggesting something much more perverse?
Oh, they’ve suggested all variety of positions and fill-in-the-blanks. It’s like reading Shakespeare or Fifty Shades of Gray or some other great literary work! 🙂