(What follows is a summary of information sent to backers and donors via our latest DONOR UPDATE)
Dear Friends, Fans and Donors:
Here’s a quick re-cap of what we’ve been working on for the past few weeks and an update on the Indiegogo Campaign currently underway for Industry Studios.
Industry Studios
Thanks to many of you, our Indiegogo campaign has raised over $19,000 and could raise as much as $25,000 by the end of the campaign. And while we won’t hit our goal and be able to stay in our Valencia, CA facility moving forward, we have some very good news that will allow Industry Studios to continue. Our awesome landlord Danny, will be taking over the facility, and continuing Industry Studios as the boutique sound stage it was meant to be. This is a positive development for two reasons:
First, Danny will retain the infrastructure build-out we made and to make it available to commercial and non-commercial productions. Danny will keep the Industry Studios name, website and even some of the personnel for on-site management. This means our co-productions like Personal Space and Cholo vs. Vampires, will be able to shoot at the studio! For all other aspects of their productions, their access to Axanar Production’s services “portfolio” remains unchanged. So the vision of Industry Studios continues!
Second, Axanar will be reimbursed for some of the build out we did. The details of this will be worked out, but Danny wants us to leave the lighting grid and the power upgrades as they are essential to making the facility work as a functioning commercial sound stage. And of course, while we can’t take build out such as the green screen or the office space we built, Danny sees the value of what we put into the studio and will help us all out in the long run.
So although we will be leaving the studio at the end of the month, Industry Studios will continue – just not as a part of Axanar Productions.
A new home for the Axanar Sets
So the most important need for Axanar is a place to keep our sets while we work towards shooting Axanar and other Star Trek and genre projects that will use these sets. And so we have to make a decision quickly, either put the sets in storage, get a new, much less expensive facility elsewhere, or some combination of the two.
We are considering options all over the country right now and we expect the decision-making process to happen quickly, with your help! We love hearing from our fans and backers and your opinions matter to us. So please pay attention to the Axanar Fan Group for more information. We will be posting a poll there as well as sending one out via email. We need your input and guidance as we move forward.
Whatever our final decision, we plan to let all of our latest backers (from our current Indiegogo campaign) know in advance and decide if they want to maintain their pledge of support. If they do (and we hope they will), great. But for those who have a change of heart, we’ll provide a full, no-questions-asked refund.
Axanar Productions
First, our quest to achieve tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) has moved forward. The State of California’s Secretary of State’s office accepted our request to be listed as a domestic non-profit entity.
Second, work continues on the script for Axanar’s two 15-minute segments we are allowed to produce under the terms of our negotiated settlement with CBS and Paramount.
Third, Axanar Productions will be producing more projects – including more Star Trek-related content. We have three projects in development that celebrate the things we love about the Star Trek universe: adventure, science, character and fans! These projects all fall squarely under Fair Use and will not in any way conflict with CBS or Star Trek Fan Film Guidelines.
So many thing happening. So many things to do – and none of it could happen without your help and support.
From all of us at Axanar Productions, a warm thanks and a promise of even better things to come..
Good news. Hope to see it soon.
Thumbs up !
That is wonderful news, I’m happy for all of you and team as you move forward into your life’s journey in your new Axanar location and work. Sending you all my hopes for brighter days.
So, everything the Axanar donors contributed to build outside of the sets is now going to Danny and won’t be used for Axanar?
No, not everything, just the studio build out. We are pretty clear about that. Do you have a better solution that does not involve paying $ 15,000 a month in rent and utilities?
Alec, there will be people who just cannot understand the issues that were involved in this entire adventure, and the fact that no one asked for it, or wanted it. Be that as it may, good wishes and fairy tales only go so far before reality hits. There will be a lot of people who will try the “see we told you so” without thinking that they may very well have been contributing to the problem through some of the negative comments people made. This is just a thing that happened, and you folks have done the best you could in a less than optimum situation. Stay the course, we support you and make the best of what you have.
Sean:
1) No, all donations now go to a new Axanar studio space and preserving the sets so we can finish them and use them, as we specifically say.
2) No, we only lose the portion of $ we invested in the studio build out, but as noted in teh post, we have a chance of recovering that based on the success of the studio. All $ we get from this will go right into Axanar.
3) No, we are taking all the sets to a new location.
This is what I call “rolling with the punches”. Axanar took a big and underhanded hit from the studios, but is still doing what they can to make the film. I applaud the effort and finding solutions to problems that were not foreseen by Axanar. Good job guys and gals and I look forward to seeing your work.
This is AWESOME news!!! For the latest on Axanar, and even MORE awesome news, including EXCLUSIVE details that you won’t hear ANYWHERE else, check out our latest interview with Alec on the ‘Computer Talk Radio Nerdcast’!
http://computertalkradio.com/nerdcast
Really glad to know that you folks are still very much in business – Still hating on CBS, but really happy for you guys and your progress – Keep on pushing, Alec, and be well, alright?… P 🙂
I am very happy for this new way, mabye this new opportunity will be find the right way for the fans to make projects in respect
of the law. Congratulations Alec for you and your team.
[…] as many of you probably already know, ALEC PETERS broke the Internet by making this announcement. Although the INDUSTRY STUDIOS Indiegogo campaign has raised $20,000 and still has 14 days to go, […]
This is amazing! Thank you thank you thank you Mr. Peters for staying in the game. I truly thought that, when that “other” ST fan film was tacitly allowed by CBS to “continue”, yet you guys were sued, that you’d throw in the towel. But you graciously turned over a new leaf- turned death into a fighting chance to live! You are going out with your heads held high and will hopefully be able to make at least SOME fan content wherever our sets wind up. Please know that we the fans are behind you 100% and feel sorry for you and will support you no matter what.
I wish the best for Industry Studios. I never got to visit the studio on any of the previous Open House days, I’d like to know if there are any plans to make a visit to the sets before they are taken down. It would be a bittersweet visit, but worthwhile in any case.
We have a few days when volunteers will be helping at teh studio and you are more than welcome to come and help and see the sets. Stay tuned to the Facebook page.
Alec
As a story teller, I understand how plans can change, narrative development shifts in ways you don’t expect, logistical snafu happens.
You adjust. I don’t believe this is bait and switch. Reject cynicism.
What does the production schedule seem like? 6 months? 1 year?
Cant say exactly now, but we hope to have the next episode out by year’s end, maybe both.
[…] and sometimes life hands you a Kobayashi Maru. Over the past few days since ALEC PETERS‘ announced the departure of AXANAR PRODUCTIONS from INDUSTRY STUDIOS, there have been discussions, debates, and some […]