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memyselfandI
Commodore
Joined: 25 Nov 2004
Posts: 1948
Location: Michigan
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 Sun Apr 03, 2005 8:29 am FAQ for the TrekUnited campaign |
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| Quote: | Hello all,
I've asked some of the TU volunteers to release this post on a number of bulletin boards to answer a number of reoccurring questions, observations and statements that seem to crop up over a number of bulletin boards. I hope you find this helpful. This is a major response to these collected queries and will act as a focal point for others in the future. If any questions here are unanswered, please visit www.trekunited.com for more information, or contact the info team at [email protected].
1. The Basics
TrekUnited (www.trekunited.com) is run by Tim Brazeal, the leader of the high-profile Save Enterprise campaign last year which raised funds to the tune of thousands of dollars in order to place newspaper/magazine advertisements supporting the show. They also organised an extensive letter writing campaign.
TrekUnited's aim is the continuation of Star Trek via Enterprise, and its primary goal is to get the show back on the air by whatever means available. Its secondary aim is to unite as many Trek fans together as possible in this common goal.
One of the most high-profile methods of ensuring a fifth season is the contribution system, where fans have put in, to date (as of March 17th), $3,124,000+ of their own money, which they have pledged to support the costs involved in putting the show back on the air if needs be. This money may turn out to be largely symbolic in convincing the powers that be, although all donors understand that such funds may actually be used as part of any deal to bring back Enterprise. A stated goal is the $36 million estimated to be needed for a fifth season; it cannot be stated strongly enough though that we don't need $36 million to get a fifth season, and conversely reaching $36 million does not guarantee another season. That figure is a goal to aim for, but it is not necessarily connected to aim of getting the show on air.
2. Why donate money if there's no guarantee?
We don't know at what Paramount will change their mind. It may be we hit $5 million and they decide it's evidence of enough support. It could be that we pass $36 million and they never take it, but rallies around the world and a flow of letters and phone calls achieves it. We need a goal in the contribution system, but we honestly don't what level of effort by the fans, or which avenue we use (of which the money system is only one) will result in victory.
3. Who's making money on this?
None of the TU staff are paid; they are all fans like you donating skills, time and money themselves to see this through. The contribution scheme states that 5% of all money would not be returned in the event we are unsuccessful (at which point, all money barring this will be refunded). This is money to cover various banking and organisational charges involved with handling so much money. A full breakdown of exactly where this 5% is spent will be available at the end of the campaign; any excess not used to cover charges will be donated to the American Red Cross for the Tsunami Appeal, and this too will be documented.
4. And just who decides when it finishes?
If you read the information in the contribution system, you will discover that the stated aim in the Terms of Agreement is that we put Star Trek: Enterprise back on the air for the 2005/2006 season. We are cautious about putting an exact date on when the campaign would end, because we do not know at this point when the latest date would be. Suffice it to say that if it became too late to get the show on for the 2005/2006 season (at any point during that season, no matter how late), the money angle would be considered redundant and we would begin the refunding process. The campaign would be reshaped to reflect a campaign ready for a more entrenched, longer war- but the money system would stop. Suffice it to say we will not be collecting money ad infinitum.
5. These talks TU is supposed to be having with Paramount. What's going on there?
TrekUnited and Paramount have indeed opened a dialogue and been in contact for some time now. We cannot, however, release any details on the content or nature of these conversations. To expose information of negotiations, inside information, deals in progress, confidential talks or anything of that nature in the media industry is just about the best way to scupper such discussion.
Ultimately, this is a fan effort and it is about all the fans. However, in cases such as this where revealing information would hurt our efforts, we are obliged to keep such information confidential until such time as more details can be released without fear of cutting off valuable sources.
It should also be noted that we have opened a dialogue- that is to say, we are IN talks, not brokering some deal made in a couple of hours. Clearly the campaign has been successful enough to attract Paramount's attention and we are discussing a wide range of issues and scenarios with them regarding our intent and theirs. This is a protracted process, not aided by the fact that Paramount is a large organisation with a big agenda, a huge number of employees, meetings, procedures, different divisions, etc. It takes time for information to pass through and time for decisions to be made. Please bear with us; these talks are ongoing and when we are free to release more information, we will.
5. I keep seeing that Paramount have said the decision is final...
And we'd expect nothing less. Regardless of whatever is being mooted in the decision-making parts of Paramount, their marketing, legal, PR departments and front desks will push the official line, which is the last definite decision made by execs- that the show is cancelled. Regardless of any possibility of reprieve that may be being considered, that is how Paramount's PR will respond until such time as another decision is made definite. Even if Paramount's execs thought that they'd probably agree to renewal next week with a 99% certainty, none of their front people would be authorised to push that new line until the very minute the decision was taken. This is the way business works.
6. A source from (website, magazine, other media) has bad news...
One thing we've discovered in this campaign is that EVERYONE seems to have their �sources�. Another thing we've also discovered is a great deal of them are not accurate. You don't need to take my word on this; consider an example. Enterprise's sets were due to be demolished starting Tuesday March 8th. At the very last minute this order was reversed and changed so the sets were moved to the side of the soundstage (recently confirmed by members of the production team at the Grand Slam convention). TU sources tell us this is probably very likely down to Paramount wanting to see what happens with fan efforts before axing the sets.
In the interim, I personally have seen that: the sets are to be redressed for the next movie; the sets actually have been destroyed; the sets are always kept up for a few extra weeks anyway for the hell of it; the sets are being moved to Vancouver; the sets are being cannibalised for another TV show altogether...
These have all come from various media �sources�. Even if you don't believe TU's line, it's clear that the vast majority of them are unreliable.
We believe that our track record shows thus far that we have been completely honest with fans; but regardless of whether you believe that, we'd suggest that you ignore hyped sources unless information is released officially from Paramount, or unless coverage is so widely-based and backed up from multiple sources that it is clearly self-evident.
7. Why should we trust TU? This could be a scam.
TrekUnited's leader, Tim Brazeal, has handled large amounts of fan money in the past to fund advertisements promoting the show and has delivered on every one. He is a respected figure by fans and those associated with the show alike, and has made appearances at conventions and rallies publicly to show his support. Other members of the TU staff have been members of fan communities for years.
Some of this bottles down to common sense too; TU has been on radio stations, in newspapers, on television, reported on by websites. The media and the world have been invited to look at what we are doing and draw their own conclusions. In addition, contact information for senior staff is published on the TrekUnited website. This entire approach would be considerably foolhardy if someone were scamming people; with the level of light we've shed on our campaign, any such attempt would be exposed immediately. And that's without beginning to take into account the credibility those running the campaign have established for themselves over time. They are just fans of the show doing their best to save it.
8. I disagree with a decision TU has made
Please, do let us know. We have extensive forums at www.trekunited.com/forums/index.php � they are the best way to get your voice heard in the TU community. [email protected] is another good way to send in information or feedback. Please note that senior staff members often have overflowing mail boxes and are not always physically able to reply personally to every individual email, although we do our best to handle as many requests as we can.
That said, please also recognise that we cannot please everyone at the same time. We are doing our best to secure the show and do what the majority of the fanbase wants. We welcome feedback and alternative points of view, but at the end of the day there will always be those who disagree. If you have fundamental issues with how we operate, you are of course free not to back us or indeed start your own campaign to save the show.
9. Do you actually have the $3 million? I heard it was just a pledge
To avoid the huge banking charges on transferring that much money, we have instead signed a legal agreement with the donors authorising us to use the funds for the aims stated in the Terms of Agreement of the contribution system. Hence, the money is ours to use for this campaign so yes, legally we do have it even though we have elected not to move it into our account.
10. TrekUnited doesn't release enough news/information
A lot of this harks back to the comments I made in point five. We are not always able; but when there is news, your best source is the TrekUnited site and the forums there. That is where we will distribute all information and news; whilst we have volunteers at a number of boards and many will repost, we cannot guarantee you will receive full information at anywhere other than TU itself.
It also must be said that the world does not work like Internet bulletin boards. People seem to expect results in hours or days; chiefly they take weeks and months in the real world. We will release news as often as we can and when we are able; but there may be times when there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes and we have nothing concrete to report on. At these times it is folly to assume we are doing nothing, because I can assure you the staff never stops working and for that I must commend them. Chances are we are working on a number of projects which may all reach fruition at a similar point. Likewise you can assume it is wrong if anyone states that the campaign simply has not been successful; this campaign is not disappearing. Our principle aim, to get Enterprise back for the next television season, cannot have �failed� for at least some months to come as there is ample time for it to succeed; shooting for a fifth season would ordinarily not begin for a few months yet, and there is a long way to go before the 2005/06 TV season starts, let alone ends.
11. How can I help?
Visit the TrekUnited home page; we have a set of five steps in which all can participate. The page is changed relatively frequently so keep an eye out! But most importantly, to actively get involved with working inside the TU campaign machine, email [email protected]. They will usually reply promptly; please make sure your spam filter does not filter the reply out!
Most importantly though, we need positivity and plenty of it. TrekUnited's staff and volunteers do not live in the clouds; we know what an uphill struggle this is and we know logistically and realistically what needs to be done. Posting complaints, casting aspersions on our motives, speculating on potential failure, panicking at every unsubstantiated and over-hyped media headline, knocking our efforts or anything of the sort does nothing but damage our chances of success; thankfully, there are few individuals on the Internet nasty enough to do these kind of things with intent in order to damage our campaign.
What we do need is for everyone to pitch in. We need every single body on the ground with us, as part of us, alongside us. Everyone's efforts and help, however small and in whatever fashion, are greatly appreciated. We need Trek fans to unite together as one army ready to fight for the return of TV's most important show. Only by everyone getting active and involved, fighting for results rather than commentating from the sidelines, can this be done.
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I hope this helps. Most of the senior staff are frequently very busy and don't get to regularly visit all the various Internet message boards, though some do try to drop in from time to time. However, it's easy enough to find news, info, ask questions- head over to www.trekunited.com, visit our forums, or email our questions team at [email protected]
Many thanks, and we look forward to working alongside many of you! smile.gif
Chris Wales
Chief of Operations
www.trekunited.com |
This has some valuble information! I hope some of you can make use of it! 
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Sonic74205
Rear Admiral
Joined: 01 Feb 2004
Posts: 4081
Location: England
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| Sun Apr 03, 2005 9:19 am |
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Kool, thanks for the info. I'm intregued
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