TrekUnited Reports Mission Successful at Trek Rallies 413
Lord Prox writes "TrekUnited.com has the scoop on the LA/Paramount, Tel Aviv, and New York rallies. Surprises include a group of donors pledging a resounding $3mil and the appearances of cast and crew members. Reuters and Wired have details on the rallies and I took a few snapshots as well."
In Case It Goes Out... (Score:2, Informative)
Rallies draw attention on fan efforts / TrekUnited fund passes 50,000$
Posted by: Chris R. - 02.25.05
As fan rallies in Tel Aviv, New York City and Los Angeles to protest the cancellation of Star Trek: Enterprise have come to an end, first reports indicate a "Mission successful!"
On Thursday, Israel-based Star Trek fans met inside Tel Aviv University for an information lecture and Star Trek screening, as a first of several global rallies voicing support for the show. BBC Entertainment reported on the event.
In New York, rally participants had a busy Friday despite the icy temperatures, touring from CBS, NBC, Viacom, Paramount's New York headquarters and FOX station to the Sci Fi Channel office - the logical home for Enterprise, as a "Save Enterprise" funded L.A. times ad stated one week ago. Several members of the group managed to get on the "Today Show". Local media and ABC reported.
Meanwhile in Los Angeles, hundreds of fans gathered at the gates of Paramount studios for the main rally of the day, led by Tim Brazeal, founder of the SaveEnterprise and TrekUnited campaigns. From 8:30 in the morning, the rally did not only draw attention from the bypassing cars on Melrose Avenue, which showed their support by honking and driver's waving. Cast and crew of "Star Trek: Enterprise" present at the day joined the crowd and thanked fans for their help to save the show, among them executive producer Manny Coto (as he had promised during a live chat at TrekUnited the previous week), writers Mike Sussman and Judith and Garfield Reeve-Stevens as well as actors Jolene Blalock ('T'Pol'), Anthony Montgomery ('Mayweather') and Jeffrey Combs ('Shran') and Mike Okuda, Doug Drexler and Michael Westmore from the production team. Special guests Eugene Roddenberry, son of Gene Roddenberry, and Larry Nemecek from Star Trek Communicator also attended the rally.
Major media were present to follow the fan efforts, including ABC, WB, Discovery Channel and local tv and radio stations, interviewing fans and present Trek United staff members. Startrek.com devoted a special feature to "Demonstration Day". In a Reuters news article, Candice McCallie, director of PR, pointed out the creative peak "Star Trek: Enterprise" is experiencing during its 4th season. "We believe Star Trek is worth keeping", chimes in Chris Wales, Chief of Operations, at startrek.com.
The rally dispersed at around 3:30pm local time, with a special Trek United / Save Enterprise party coming up later the evening with Manny Coto, Larry Nemecek, Mike Sussman and others from the Star Trek: Enterprise production crew.
Just an hour later, the TrekUnited fund for sponsoring production of a fifth Enterprise season surpassed 50,000$, with contributions having sped up thanks to the tremendous positive attention for TrekUnited's bold mission as well as a single contribution of 5000$ by a devoted fan.
The earlier surprising revelation that a group of donors had pledged a resounding $3m to TrekUnited certainly helped to increase enthusiasm for the fan campaign and its mission to keep "Star Trek: Enterprise" on the air and Star Trek alive. "As long as we can make a major impact with funds and fan support, I think we have a chance here.", Tim Brazeal told wired.com
And the campaign keeps making an impact. Tomorrow, European Star Trek fans will rally in London, UK. Stay tuned for exclusive information and footage for Saturday's main event, as well as the rallies on Friday.
Re:If they fail... (Score:2, Informative)
If the Trekkies' efforts fail, all the money will be refunded to donors, minus the PayPal transaction costs and minor legal fees, Brazeal said.
Re:If they fail... (Score:2, Informative)
If the campaign fails the money will be returned to those who donated. If the campaign succeeds overwhelmingly, the excess raised (over the cost of producing another season) will be donated to the Tsunami Relief Fund. So if the campaign fails, you get your loot back. If you succeed
From the FAQ:
What guarantee do I have that the contribution is safe and legal?
TrekUnited has put considerable effort into ensuring that all contributions are financially and legally secure, and that all transactions are transparent to both the contributing fans and Paramount Pictures.
Our proposal to Paramount is to sponsor the production of another season of Star Trek: Enterprise in 2005/06 without any further creative and legal demands ("no strings attached"). It may be sold to any network or cable channel, or broadcasted in first-run syndication.
To achieve this goal, the TrekUnited staff, relying upon legal assistance from our attorney, Mr. Andrew Beardall, Esq., as well as the work of PR and IT professionals within our team, has set up both the required administrative and technical infrastructure to ensure that fans can contribute to this cause without risk.
All contributed money is used for sponsoring Enterprise; only transactional fees charged to us by payment systems and banks (set to a flat 5% because of the varying payment methods and individual fees) are deducted. Furthermore, all potential excess in fees will be donated to the American Tsunami Relief Fund. If no agreement can be made with Paramount, your contribution will be refunded to you. All these guarantees of funding and refunding are fixed in a legally binding terms of agreement presented to you before contributing, providing not only safety, but a win-win scenario. How often do you take a chance in life which has a guaranteed payback even in case of failure?
The primary way to contribute money on the internet is PayPal (www.paypal.com), a secure online payment system with an international reputation. PayPal can be used world-wide with credit card or bank account withdrawal. Acknowledging the worries some may have about online payment, a number of alternative methods of contribution are avaiable or will be available shortly.
However contributed, all money is transferred to a trust account at ORNL Federal Credit Union. Money can only be withdrawn from this account with the signatures of several trustees. You can learn more about contribution, as well as contribute yourself, on www.trekunited.com/amember. For any questions, please kindly contact our attorney (attorney@trekunited.com).
The trouble (Score:3, Informative)
It's dead, Jim.
And my take: Doctor Who > Blake's 7 > all.. (Score:4, Informative)
I'll see your chain of US Sci-fi and raise you British Sci-fi:
Doctor Who > Blake's 7 > Red Dwarf > all the takes-itself-too-seriously-American crap
(Am actually a fan of the TITSAC so don't burn me too badly. Also haven't seen the new Doctor Who yet, which may suck relative to Tom Baker, so will have to wait and see.)
Re:A Few Notes: (Score:3, Informative)
It was a two-parter:
SPOILER WARNING
Earlier in the season it was revealed that Dr. Soong (great-grandparent of the one who made Data & Lore) had raised some leftover embryos of the genetically modified humans who caused the trouble back in the Eugenics Wars. There was some interaction with the Klingons, and the Klingons decided that in order to compete with genetically-modified humans (who were as strong and agressive as Klingons) they needed to make genetically-modified Klingons. But rather than starting from scratch, they used DNA from the dead bodies of some of the genetically modified humans to develop a virus which would enhance Klingons. The virus had a number of unfortunate side effects, such as killing the recipient, and causing a human-like appearnace by removing the cranial ridges. (The second effect was probably considered worse by most of the recipients.)
The Klingons kidnapped Dr. Phlox to help them find a cure for the virus, which he manages to do in the nick of time (of course) but it is only mostly effective .. the virus still removes the cranial ridges of the Klingons. Oh, and it changes their DNA such that their kids won't have cranial ridges either.
So there you have it. The lack of prosthetic makeup on the original series Klingons is connected with Khan. Wacky, ain't it?