Blog Entries – Page 125 – Fan Film Factor

STAR TREK: HIDDEN FRONTIER (feature), part 1

As I mentioned in a few of my previous articles, the dawn of the “modern age of Star Trek fan films” arrived in the year 2000 with the release onto the Internet of Star Trek: Hidden Frontier. It was the quintessential fan film: Trekkie actors with little or no formal training, cheap store-bought or home-made costumes, zero budget, minimal sets, basic-level storytelling (that’s a euphemism for kinda sucky writing), and dubious sound and image quality.

But Hidden Frontier also had heart – a great deal of heart – plus a deep love for the franchise and determination to create fun and original Star Trek on a fan level.

Continue reading “STAR TREK: HIDDEN FRONTIER (feature), part 1”

AXANAR files legal response to CBS/Paramount Amended Lawsuit

On March 28, 2016, the legal team for Axanar Productions and Alec Peters, the firm of Winston & Strawn LLP, filed a response to the AMENDED copyright infringement complaint that was brought by Paramount and CBS on March 11, 2015. The response is Axanar’s second and again seeks a dismissal of the complaint on a number of legal grounds.

The original complaint was brought by Paramount and CBS on December 29, 2015. Axanar’s legal team filed a response on February 22, 2016 seeking dismissal of the lawsuit on a number of legal grounds. Presumably, that response is what has motivated Paramount and CBS to amend their complaint.

Here is a link to the text of the ORIGINAL lawsuit.

Here is a link to the text of Axanar‘s ORIGINAL response.

Here is a link to the text of the AMENDED lawsuit.

Here is a link to the text of Axanar’s LATEST response.

Please note: Fan Film Factor is taking a neutral stance regarding this lawsuit and will simply announce developments as they happen.

For a more complete list of media coverage of this story, Axanar has provided this Press Room Page full of links to news reports and editorials regarding the lawsuit.

STAR TREK VS. BATMAN (feature)

Holy campy cosmic crossovers!

Is it true that the Caped Crusader cunningly confronted a cranially-controlled Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock??? Did the Dynamic Duo actually encounter an Enterprise ensnared by a capricious collaboration of the Clown Prince of Crime and the captivating Catwoman??? Hold onto your phasers and buckle your utility belts, because Batman and the Boy Wonder are about to go where no Gotham superhero has gone before…

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STALLED TREK: AMUTT TIME (interview with MARK LARGENT), part 2

Last week: it was time to play the music, it was time to light the blinky lights, it was time to meet the puppets on the starship Second Prize…

I’m referring, of course, to the 15-minute computer-animated Star Trek parody fan film Stalled Trek and its lone episode, “Amutt Time.” It’s unique in that it features computer-generated puppets as the familiar characters of our favorite starship in a hilarious parody of the second season episode “Amok Time.” In this case, though, Mr. Spott is a Vulcanine (WOOF!) going through heat and needing to return to his home planet for mating with T’Pomeranian. Of course, Mr. Spot is only half-Vulcanine, so he’s essentially a “mutt”…hence, the title.

Continue reading “STALLED TREK: AMUTT TIME (interview with MARK LARGENT), part 2”

CBS/Paramount files an AMENDED complaint against AXANAR

On March 11, 2016, Paramount and CBS filed an amended complaint against Axanar Productions and Alec Peters for copyright infringement complaint, specifying precisely which elements of the Star Trek intellectual property that the two studios believe was illegally used without consent.

Here is a link to the text of the original lawsuit.

Here is a link to the text of Axanar‘s response.

Here is a link to the text of the AMENDED lawsuit.

Please note: Fan Film Factor is taking a neutral stance regarding this lawsuit and will simply announce developments as they happen.

For a more complete list of media coverage of this story, Axanar has provided this Press Room Page full of links to news reports and editorials regarding the lawsuit.

STALLED TREK: AMUTT TIME (interview with MARK LARGENT), part 1

Okay, now I’ve seen everything!

Star Trek MUPPETS??? Well, why not?

Truth to tell, when I first found this little gem—entirely by accident on YouTube—I wasn’t expecting much. It looked silly, and I didn’t really get what the title meant. And then I watched it. Hilarious! Brilliant! A perfect parody of one of the most classic fan-favorite TOS Star Trek episodes: “Amok Time.”

Continue reading “STALLED TREK: AMUTT TIME (interview with MARK LARGENT), part 1”

STAR TREK: HORIZON (interview with TOMMY KRAFT), part 2

Last time: we got our first look at the newest Star Trek fan film to take the online world by storm, Star Trek: Horizon. Since it debuted online seven days ago, it’s logged well over 300,000 views on YouTube! If you haven’t watched it yet, click that link in the opening sentence and do it. Do it NOW!!! (Imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice saying that.)

Seriously, though, this fan film is amazing, made even more so by the simple fact that it was filmed almost entirely in a basement against a green screen! It features trained actors, cutting edge quality visual effects, and an original composed musical score. Add to that a compelling story, engaging characters, solid directing, and top-notch editing…and you’ve got a MUST SEE fan film that both dazzles and delights. Continue reading “STAR TREK: HORIZON (interview with TOMMY KRAFT), part 2”

STAR TREK: HORIZON (interview with TOMMY KRAFT), part 1

Man, are you guys ever in for a treat! The full-length Star Trek: Horizon has just been released to the general public, and it is a cinematic triumph of Trek fan films.

Show-runner Tommy Kraft gave me a special link to view the movie early. I’d watched barely the first 15 minutes when I shot him a Facebook IM saying simply “F—king WOW!”

Horizon (no ‘s’ at the end, folks!) starts out with a bang—several, in fact—and immediately lets the viewers know that they’re in for a wild and high-quality fan film ride. Continue reading “STAR TREK: HORIZON (interview with TOMMY KRAFT), part 1”

AXANAR files legal response to CBS/Paramount Lawsuit

On February 22, 2016, the legal team for Axanar Productions and Alec Peters, the firm of Winston & Strawn LLP, filed a response to the copyright infringement complaint that was brought by Paramount and CBS on December 29, 2015. The response seeks a dismissal of the complaint on a number of legal grounds.

Here is a link to the text of the original lawsuit.

Here is a link to the text of Axanar‘s response.

Please note: Fan Film Factor is taking a neutral stance regarding this lawsuit and will simply announce developments as they happen.

For a more complete list of media coverage of this story, Axanar has provided this Press Room Page full of links to news reports and editorials regarding the lawsuit.

DIGITAL GHOST (feature)

It was the dawn of the Modern Age of Fan Films…

Although fan films date back to the early days of the original Star Trek series, it wasn’t until the mid-1990s that fans were finally able to create something with off-the-shelf consumer products that looked like more than just a crappy home movie. By the late 90s, fans could record and edit footage using digital cameras, do their own 3D effects and Chroma-keying, and even add music through the use of MIDI. Many fans were also getting quite good at costuming. Suddenly, the only limits facing fans who wanted to make their own filmed versions of their favorite genre franchises were their imaginations, creativity, and skills with these new technologies.

Continue reading “DIGITAL GHOST (feature)”