"Traitor's Race: A Han Solo Adventure"- Full fan film build log (Pic Heavy)
Scote
Well-Known Member
Could you redirect us to the fact? I would like to read from the source of your claim. It will be usefull to read it for the other fans from the source itself and not just a guy who claim it (no disrespect)
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Gearhead
Active Member
Hi Scote, that's a great thing to ask for. It's always prudent to make sure you're covered, whether you are embarking on a fan film or not.
If you are not already versed with US/International Copyright Law, it's worth your while to study. For fan projects, it's virtually a necessity, since (under the strictest legal definition) every fan project- whether it be cosplay, replica props, fiction or films- is a violation of copyright.
Unfortunately, as is always the case with legislation in the United States, it is extremely difficult ( and a cynical man might say that this was by design) to point at a specific passage of Copyright Law and say "Here! It says my project is protected right here!"
This is because- and this should not be a surprise- Copyright Law was designed to protect the entities that hold the copyrights, not fans.
So, where does this leave the proverbial "little guy" who has an idea for a fan film that he feels people would like, but can't make it happen without rallying the troops?
Rather than bog the thread down with heaping mounds of legalese, I'll be as succinct as I can be on such an involved subject. First, here's a comprehensive breakdown of how copyright and fair use relates to producers.
Then, check out SWTheory's videos detailing his travails with the Mouse/WarnerChapell:
-Part 1-
-Part 2-
-Part 3-
This all came as quite a surprise to the fan film scene. Many felt/feel that Lucasfilm's announcement was the beginning of a new golden age of fan content, while others took the more cynical view that WDS had only conceded to a "tactical retreat" because they had realized in the wake of TLJ that is was financially unwise to antagonize the fans further.
While Lucasfilm's intervention on his (and by extension, the community's) behalf did not result in a black-and-white amendment to the DMCA or Copyright Law writ large, it did set a valuable precedent for SW fan films. The Mouse has (for the time being, anyway) tacitly agreed to sit back and take some of the pressure off, provided that future fan projects abide by the unofficial guidelines mentioned before.
In the year since, we've seen some really phenomenal SW fan films result, many of which have taken full advantage of crowd funding as a resource. The most notable examples are from actor/producer Jamie Costa, who has raised nearly $50,000 for his SW fan films through crowd funding.
Now, many folks will point to the debacle surrounding "Star Trek: Axanar" and the stringent regulations that the Trek fan community finds itself under as the natural conclusion of such "guidelines" from WDS. Still others might bring up the controversy surrounding "Power/Rangers" as proof that fan films are ultimately little more than exercises in futility.
Those are extreme examples, however. Both films were produced by industry professionals on very large budgets ("Axanar"'s was over one million dollars) with A and B-list talent, and were produced with the express intention of showing the copyright holders "how it should be done."
Naturally, CBS and Saban had them shut down. We can debate whether or not said shutdowns were "necessary" until the cows come home, but from a legal standpoint they were entirely above board. While copyright law is a bit more nebulous when small, amateur productions are involved, things are a bit more clear-cut when a "rogue studio" has "hijacked" an IP.
Now, whether "Axanar" and "Power/Rangers" were expressly intended to be competition for the IP holder's official content is up for debate, but they certainly were intended to upstage the official content. From a financial/legal standpoint, that was grounds enough to have them shut down.
Now, there are many people out there who justifiably feel that fan films are foolish endeavors because the IP holder will inevitably crack down on them. And who knows, maybe they are right? The Mouse has backpedaled before, they may do it again. That is their prerogative as the copyright holder. And I know whereof I speak... way back when they first took possession of the IP, they nuked both parts of my "Star Wars Voice Reel" at the height of its popularity, XD.
There's no iron-clad defense against a fan project getting the ax. What I do know is that if fans lived in fear of repudiation from some "official" source, there would be no Rebel Legion, no 501st... and this forum wouldn't exist.
We do/make things for the love of the lore and what it means to us. Sometimes they work out, sometimes they don't... but we keep trying
Gearhead
Active Member
Happy 2020, friends and neighbors! I was obliged to take a few days away from the forum and focus on some other obligations, but I'm back with another dump of photos for the prototype A-295.
This was one of those deceptively complex builds that sort of sneak up on you. Right when I thought I was finished, I'd realize there was a piece i had neglected. Fortunately, the main body of the blaster is completed.
Adding DAP to some of the compound curves.
The last little bit of filling and sanding before the main body is ready to be primed.
This was one of those deceptively complex builds that sort of sneak up on you. Right when I thought I was finished, I'd realize there was a piece i had neglected. Fortunately, the main body of the blaster is completed.
Adding DAP to some of the compound curves.
The last little bit of filling and sanding before the main body is ready to be primed.
Gearhead
Active Member
Disliking the look of my original prototype scope, I went back to the "Obey Juan" method of using copper pipe reducers as the body.
In the interest of structural integrity, The scope has a poplar dowel running through the length of the body.
Matching up with the "V8" shroud, pre filling and sanding.
The addition of a little scrap foam around the first reducer helps it fit snugly into the pvc shroud.
In the spirit of "waste not", the cut-off section of the central reducer has been re-purposed as the end of the shroud.
the tip of the rangefinder, constructed out of a humble super glue cap and a sheet metal screw.
In the interest of structural integrity, The scope has a poplar dowel running through the length of the body.
Matching up with the "V8" shroud, pre filling and sanding.
The addition of a little scrap foam around the first reducer helps it fit snugly into the pvc shroud.
In the spirit of "waste not", the cut-off section of the central reducer has been re-purposed as the end of the shroud.
the tip of the rangefinder, constructed out of a humble super glue cap and a sheet metal screw.
Gearhead
Active Member
Drilled out the "piston" to accept the detail screws.
Rough fitting of the scope/rangefinder prior to filling and sanding.
It's currently a jumble of colors and textures, but the addition of the rangefinder really adds the necessary "Star Wars" factor to this piece.
Now, all that remains is to add the stock. Then on to primer, plasti-dip and paint at long last!
Rough fitting of the scope/rangefinder prior to filling and sanding.
It's currently a jumble of colors and textures, but the addition of the rangefinder really adds the necessary "Star Wars" factor to this piece.
Now, all that remains is to add the stock. Then on to primer, plasti-dip and paint at long last!
Gearhead
Active Member
Back again, back again... it's been a busy week!
We're obviously not sharing this to social media since it's just a mock-up for our artist, but here is the mock-up of the poster for TR, composed of existing assets since the principal roles have not yet been cast. Inspired loosely by the 1997 VHS re-release sleeves.
We're obviously not sharing this to social media since it's just a mock-up for our artist, but here is the mock-up of the poster for TR, composed of existing assets since the principal roles have not yet been cast. Inspired loosely by the 1997 VHS re-release sleeves.
Gearhead
Active Member
It's my (and by extension, the crew's) great pleasure to announce that we have retained award-winning composer/director/sound designer Benjamin Inniger to helm the composition and direction of the original orchestral score for "Traitor's Race"!
Benji and I have worked together on several stage productions before, and the man is immensely talented. He was our first choice to score the film and we are utterly, utterly chuffed that he's agreed!
But you don't have to take my word for it, he outlines his process and thoughts about the project in a video on our official facebook page.
To see what else Benji does and his other current projects, give his website a peek if you are so inclined. A lot of video game projects in the works.
Benji and I have worked together on several stage productions before, and the man is immensely talented. He was our first choice to score the film and we are utterly, utterly chuffed that he's agreed!
But you don't have to take my word for it, he outlines his process and thoughts about the project in a video on our official facebook page.
To see what else Benji does and his other current projects, give his website a peek if you are so inclined. A lot of video game projects in the works.
NakedMoleRat
Master Member
Take Harrison out of the artwork. He’s not the guy playing Han in you fan film and should not be in the poster. It almost feels like a deceitful cheesy grab for attention to your project.
NakedMoleRat - the post clearly states the poster is a mock up as input for the artist.
Gearhead
Active Member
I see that JamesM242 already pointed this out, but as stated in the post this is just a mock-up, not for public dissemination. The final version (slated for August 2020) will feature our actual cast!
NakedMoleRat
Master Member
That’s looking incredible!
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