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Fan films have always been a delicate balance between paying tribute and avoiding copyright violations. Some companies, like Lucasfilm, have welcomed the creations of Star Wars fans by organizing amateur film festivals and holding contests; Steven Spielberg even met with a group of individuals working on a Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) remake.
However, with the growing amounts of money raised through crowdfunding platforms and the availability of more affordable, near-professional production tools, the issue has begun to catch the attention of studios. In late 2015, Paramount and CBS, the co-owners of the Star Trek franchise, sued the creators of Star Trek: Anaxar, an independent project that raised $1.2 million on Kickstarter and Indiegogo.
While the lawsuit remains unresolved, Paramount and CBS have recently issued a set of guidelines for fan filmmakers in an effort to avoid further legal conflicts, SlashFilm reports. Some of the key points include:
Fan films must not exceed a total length of 30 minutes and cannot be part of an ongoing “season.”
Cast and crew members are prohibited from receiving payment for their contributions.
Fundraising efforts cannot surpass $50,000.
The final product must be made available for free online, with no physical copies (Blu-ray, DVD) being distributed.
Alec Peters, a producer on Anaxar, shared with The Wrap that the rules seem specifically designed to “shut down” fan projects and will likely be “discouraging” for amateur Trek filmmakers. For the complete set of guidelines, visit StarTrek.com.
