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trekcetera_museum [2017/10/04 11:29] – [Unanswered Questions by Trekcetera] adds discussion link Carlos Pedrazatrekcetera_museum [2017/10/05 22:49] (current) – [Trekcetera Thanks] Carlos Pedraza
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 According to Axanar producer [[Alec Peters]], the museum had secured another $5,000 on its own from unnamed sources, successfully raising the needed funds.(([[face>Axanarfilm/photos/a.289851977795999.67773.289256531188877/1430881410359711/?type=3|Alec Peters post, Axanar Film]] Facebook page, 10/3/17.)) According to Axanar producer [[Alec Peters]], the museum had secured another $5,000 on its own from unnamed sources, successfully raising the needed funds.(([[face>Axanarfilm/photos/a.289851977795999.67773.289256531188877/1430881410359711/?type=3|Alec Peters post, Axanar Film]] Facebook page, 10/3/17.))
 +
 +==== Trekcetera Thanks ====
 +
 +**AxaMonitor** attempted to reach the museum operators to confirm the financial claims in Watkins' GoFundMe campaign about its emergency need to make a loan payment. While they did not answer our email, (see "[[#Unanswered Questions by Trekcetera]]"), Trekcetera eventually acknowledged receiving the GoFundMe money on October 4, singling out Axanar's Peters and Watkins for thanks.
 +
 +> Thanks to all the Star Trek fans who came to our aid over the past day and a half. We received their generous contributions this morning via PayPal and are now able to focus on making Trekcetera Canada’s best Star Trek and vintage TV museum! To Reece, Alec and all our fans who provided moral and financial support: "Live long and prosper.” And thanks.(([[face>TrekceteraMuseum/posts/792987737547817|Post on Trekcetera Facebook page]], 10/4/17.))
  
 ===== Axanar Connection? ===== ===== Axanar Connection? =====
  
-Meanwhile, neither Trekcetera's [[https://www.facebook.com/TrekceteraMuseum/|Facebook page]] nor its [[http://www.trekcetera.com|website]] mentioned the ostensibly third-party GoFundMe effort or the need for a big cash infusion to save it from defaulting on its debt.+Previously, neither Trekcetera's [[https://www.facebook.com/TrekceteraMuseum/|Facebook page]] nor its [[http://www.trekcetera.com|website]] mentioned the ostensibly third-party GoFundMe effort or the need for a big cash payment to save it from defaulting on its debt.
  
 {{youtube>1YV9X04fpUw?large|Trekcetera Museum}} \\ {{youtube>1YV9X04fpUw?large|Trekcetera Museum}} \\
  
-==== No Comment from Museum ====+==== Legal Connection to Axanar PR Director ==== 
 + 
 +<WRAP right round important 50%> 
 +<wrap lo><wrap em>UPDATED</wrap> with replies from Axanar spokesman Mike Bawden.</wrap> 
 +</WRAP>
  
-**AxaMonitor** attempted to reach the museum operators to confirm the claims in Watkins' GoFundMe campaign. They did not answer our email. (See "[[#Unanswered Questions for Trekcetera]].")+While the GoFundMe effort was not formally operated by Axanar, its PR director, Mike Bawden, agreed to handle the financial transaction between GoFundMe and Trekcetera:
  
 [{{ :bawden-peters.jpg|Axanar PR director **Mike Bawden** and producer **Alec Peters**.}}] [{{ :bawden-peters.jpg|Axanar PR director **Mike Bawden** and producer **Alec Peters**.}}]
  
-==== Legal Connection to Axanar Official ====+>  I offered to help get the money to the guys in Canada because [they] don’t have a U.S. bank account that can receive the funds raised via the GoFundMe campaign. I’ve already sent an amount of money to the museum’s PayPal account today that is equal to what GoFundMe is sending to me next Monday, so they can cover their immediate cash needs. The amount I’ll be receiving from GoFundMe, I assume, already has the credit card processing and related fees owed to GoFundMe taken out of it, so all I’ll be out is the accumulated interest for five days’ “float” on the money — I’m happy to write that off.((Email from Mike Bawden to AxaMonitor editor Carlos Pedraza, 10/4/17.))
  
-**AxaMonitor** also sought answers from Axanar spokesman Mike Bawden regarding his and/or Axanar's legal connection to Trekcetera and the manner in which the GoFundMe money was raised and would be transferred to the Canadian company. Bawden was asked: +Bawden explained he had sent all the money raised except for the fees charged by GoFundMe, and that the tax liability for the money was a non-issue: "As for tax liabilities I may or may not be incurring, don’t worry about it. That’s not really anyone’s business but mine."((Email from Mike Bawden to AxaMonitor editor Carlos Pedraza, 10/4/17.))
- +
-  - Does he intend to give Trekcetera the money despite CBS' alleged wishes? +
-  - Who is liable for the taxes on the money raised? Him? Watkins? The museum? Is he subtracting the tax liability from the money being sent to Trekcetera? +
-  - By what instrument is he transferring the money to Trekcetera? Since they appear to be a business rather than a charity it can't be a donation: how does that affect tax liability, especially with the transaction taking place across national boundaries? +
-  - How is accountability for funds raised and disbursed on Trekcetera's behalf being assured to donors and the museum's licensor, CBS? +
-  - The GoFundMe included an offer to help Trekcetera with fulfillment of perks, even though none are mentioned on the campaign page. Given Axanar’s own trouble with perk fulfillment, how is this relevant and how will it be assured?+
  
 <WRAP> <WRAP>
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 Members of that group were unnamed except for Watkins on the GoFundMe page. Later on October 2, the phrase "on behalf of Mike Bawden" appeared on the page. Bawden is Axanar's director of public relations. Also publicly seeking support for Trekcetera was blogger and Axanar surrogate Jonathan Lane on his Fan Film Factor website. Members of that group were unnamed except for Watkins on the GoFundMe page. Later on October 2, the phrase "on behalf of Mike Bawden" appeared on the page. Bawden is Axanar's director of public relations. Also publicly seeking support for Trekcetera was blogger and Axanar surrogate Jonathan Lane on his Fan Film Factor website.
  
-[{{ :reece-watkins.jpg?150|**REECE WATKINS**: Axanar surrogate of "Friend of Trekcetera."}}]+[{{ :reece-watkins.jpg?150|**REECE WATKINS**: Axanar surrogate and "Friend of Trekcetera."}}]
  
 The "Friends of Trekcetera" moniker appeared to obscure the fundraising efforts from Axanar's own, which had raised nearly $2 million to produce the //Axanar// feature film, only to see the money largely spent on activities resulting in no film. The "Friends of Trekcetera" moniker appeared to obscure the fundraising efforts from Axanar's own, which had raised nearly $2 million to produce the //Axanar// feature film, only to see the money largely spent on activities resulting in no film.
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 ==== Former Fan Questions Fundraiser ==== ==== Former Fan Questions Fundraiser ====
  
-That history caused former Axanar supporter Dave Kroll to criticize Peters' backing of the Trekcetera funding effort:+That history caused members of Axanar's Facebook fan group to call Peters' involvement into question. Dave Kroll was one of several who criticized Peters' backing of the Trekcetera funding effort:
  
 > Due to the fact that you are advertising this, it must be a scam to steal money from people therefore I will not support it and let [Trekcetera] know that if they wish to succeed in their venture, then your company should have nothing to do with it! … I'm that special someone that invested money expecting to revive a promised product, only to find out [Axanar] had no idea what they were doing, and are now making a profit with the money I invested and never provided the promised product. (([[face>Axanarfilm/posts/1429581823823003?comment_id=1430680590379793&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R1%22%7D|Dave Kroll comment, Axanar Facebook page]], 10/3/17.)) > Due to the fact that you are advertising this, it must be a scam to steal money from people therefore I will not support it and let [Trekcetera] know that if they wish to succeed in their venture, then your company should have nothing to do with it! … I'm that special someone that invested money expecting to revive a promised product, only to find out [Axanar] had no idea what they were doing, and are now making a profit with the money I invested and never provided the promised product. (([[face>Axanarfilm/posts/1429581823823003?comment_id=1430680590379793&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R1%22%7D|Dave Kroll comment, Axanar Facebook page]], 10/3/17.))
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 ==== Unsubstantiated Claim ==== ==== Unsubstantiated Claim ====
  
-Peters provided no documentation of the alleged CBS contact with the museum's operators. Peters' comments characterized the alleged intervention as an action against fans rather than potentially exercising an option of the licensing agreement between two business entities. Peters, of course, has generally described the copyright infringement lawsuit against him as an attack on fans in general.+Peters provided no documentation of the alleged CBS contact with the museum's operators. Peters' comments characterized the alleged intervention as an action against fans rather than potentially exercising an option of the licensing agreement between two business partners. Peters, of course, has generally described the copyright infringement lawsuit against him as an attack on all fans.
  
 **AxaMonitor** sought comment from CBS but was unable to reach officials late on October 3. **AxaMonitor** sought comment from CBS but was unable to reach officials late on October 3.
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 ===== Unanswered Questions by Trekcetera ===== ===== Unanswered Questions by Trekcetera =====
  
-These are the questions **AxaMonitor** asked October 2 of museum operators Daniels and Mangold. They had not replied more than 24 hours later.+These are the questions **AxaMonitor** asked October 2 of museum operators Daniels and Mangold. They had not replied more than 48 hours later.
  
   - **OFFICIAL ASSOCIATION** Given Axanar's record of raising nearly USD $2 million yet not producing its promised film nor crowdfunding perks, I was wondering if you have officially associated your museum — a CBS licensee — with this fundraising effort.   - **OFFICIAL ASSOCIATION** Given Axanar's record of raising nearly USD $2 million yet not producing its promised film nor crowdfunding perks, I was wondering if you have officially associated your museum — a CBS licensee — with this fundraising effort.
   - **ACCOUNTABILITY** Do you have an arrangement with Mr. Peters or Mr. Watkins regarding how money they raise will be disbursed by them to you, how accountability for funds raised and disbursed on your behalf will be assured to donors and to your licensor, CBS?   - **ACCOUNTABILITY** Do you have an arrangement with Mr. Peters or Mr. Watkins regarding how money they raise will be disbursed by them to you, how accountability for funds raised and disbursed on your behalf will be assured to donors and to your licensor, CBS?
   - **AXANAR BACKING** Are you comfortable officially associating yourself as a CBS licensee with a group that was sued by your licensor for copyright infringement?   - **AXANAR BACKING** Are you comfortable officially associating yourself as a CBS licensee with a group that was sued by your licensor for copyright infringement?
-  - **PERKS** The GoFundMe also includes an offer to "help [you] with the fulfillment of perks" — even though none are mentioned on the gofundme page, and Axanar's public record on perk fulfillment is less than exemplary. {{:axamonitor-ico.gif?nolink|}}+  - **PERKS** The GoFundMe also includes an offer to "help [you] with the fulfillment of perks" — even though none are mentioned on the GoFundMe page, and Axanar's public [[perks|record on perk fulfillment]] is less than exemplary. 
 + 
 +Despite Watkin's explicit mention of perks, Axanar spokesman Bawden said the offer was irrelevant: "I have no idea about anything concerning perk fulfillment. As far as I know, there are no perks to fulfill."((Email from Mike Bawden to AxaMonitor editor Carlos Pedraza, 10/4/17.)) {{:axamonitor-ico.gif?nolink|}}
  
 <WRAP tip 75%> <WRAP tip 75%>