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axanar_kickstarter_details [2016/03/05 07:37] – [Moving the Goalposts] Carlos Pedrazaaxanar_kickstarter_details [Unknown date] (current) – external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1
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 +{{:life-sciences.jpg?nolink|}}
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 ====== Axanar Kickstarter Details ====== ====== Axanar Kickstarter Details ======
  
 <wrap lo>//Main article: [[Crowdfunding Platforms]]// \\ <wrap lo>//Main article: [[Crowdfunding Platforms]]// \\
-//See also: [[Prelude Kickstarter Details]] and [[Axanar Indiegogo Details]]//</wrap>+//See also: [[Prelude Kickstarter Details]], [[Axanar Indiegogo Details]] and [[ambition_vs._achievement|Ambition vs. achievement]]//</wrap>
 [{{ ::starfleet-patch-5.jpg?200|**FIRST TO THE FIGHT** This Starfleet patch was a reward offered only to early backers in Axanar's second Kickstarter campaign.}}] [{{ ::starfleet-patch-5.jpg?200|**FIRST TO THE FIGHT** This Starfleet patch was a reward offered only to early backers in Axanar's second Kickstarter campaign.}}]
  
 This is an analysis of the publicly available information about Axanar's second Kickstarter campaign, a month-long effort launched in July 2014, following release of the short film, //[[Prelude to Axanar]]//. The effort succeeded in raising $638,471 from 8,548 backers; its goal was $100,000. Of the three [[crowdfunding platforms|crowdfunding campaigns]], this one raised the most in the shortest time. This is an analysis of the publicly available information about Axanar's second Kickstarter campaign, a month-long effort launched in July 2014, following release of the short film, //[[Prelude to Axanar]]//. The effort succeeded in raising $638,471 from 8,548 backers; its goal was $100,000. Of the three [[crowdfunding platforms|crowdfunding campaigns]], this one raised the most in the shortest time.
  
-**CONTROVERSY** This campaign is also the production's most controversial, as it marks the production's [[#moving the goalposts|departure from its original goal]] of simply producing //Star Trek: Axanar//, the feature film, and instead investing a significant portion of donors' dollars in the infrastructure of [[Ares Studios]], a for-profit venture by [[Axanar Productions]] to produce future Star Trek-related films and other science fiction properties.(({{:axanar-annual-report-v2.pdf|Axanar Annual Report 2015, Revised}}, pp. 7, 8, 15, 20.))+**CONTROVERSY** This campaign is also the production's most controversial, as it marks the production's [[moving the goalposts|departure from its original goal]] of simply producing //Star Trek: Axanar//, the feature film, and instead investing a significant portion of donors' dollars in the infrastructure of [[Ares Studios]], a for-profit venture by [[Axanar Productions]] to produce future Star Trek-related films and other science fiction properties.(({{:axanar-annual-report-v2.pdf|Axanar Annual Report 2015, Revised}}, pp. 7, 8, 15, 20.))
  
 <WRAP center round important> <WRAP center round important>
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 While the total amount raised in this campaign was $638,471, only $610,065 (95.6 percent) came from 8,272 people (96.8 percent of total backers) who selected rewards among the 22 reward levels offered. While the total amount raised in this campaign was $638,471, only $610,065 (95.6 percent) came from 8,272 people (96.8 percent of total backers) who selected rewards among the 22 reward levels offered.
  
-The remaining $28,406 came from 276 backers who appear to have not selected any rewards, so the amount of their contributions were not publicly disclosed. The average undisclosed donation was about $103.+The remaining $28,406 came from 276 backers who appear to have not selected any rewards, so the amount of their individual contributions were not publicly disclosed. The average undisclosed donation was about $103.
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
- 
  
 ==== Donations Divvied Up ==== ==== Donations Divvied Up ====
  
 Consequently, the analysis below is based only on the total raised from donors who did choose rewards, for a total of $610,065.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/description|Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 3/1/16.)) Consequently, the analysis below is based only on the total raised from donors who did choose rewards, for a total of $610,065.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/description|Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 3/1/16.))
 +
 +{{page>analysis box}}
  
 The following charts demonstrate: The following charts demonstrate:
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 The following charts tease out interesting information about backers and the rewards they selected. The following charts tease out interesting information about backers and the rewards they selected.
  
 +{{ :view-charts.png|Rotate mobile device for best view of chart}}
 === Top 5 Rewards === === Top 5 Rewards ===
  
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 ^ ^ Top 5 rewards raised $334,925 (55 percent of total) from 6,534 backers (79 percent of total) ||| ^ ^ Top 5 rewards raised $334,925 (55 percent of total) from 6,534 backers (79 percent of total) |||
  
- {{ :kickstarter_logo.jpg?nolink&100|}}+{{:kickstarter_logo.jpg?nolink&100 |}}
 <WRAP centeralign><wrap lo>//Figure 3//</wrap></WRAP> <WRAP centeralign><wrap lo>//Figure 3//</wrap></WRAP>
 {{:axanar-1-crowd.jpg?direct|}} {{:axanar-1-crowd.jpg?direct|}}
  
 +{{ :view-charts.png|Rotate mobile device for best view of chart}}
 === High-End Rewards === === High-End Rewards ===
  
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 {{section>crowdfunding platforms#Source Data}} {{section>crowdfunding platforms#Source Data}}
  
-===== Moving the Goalposts? ===== +{{page>moving the goalposts?}}
-<wrap lo>//See also: [[copyright infringement#Fan Films and Infringement]] and [[fan_films_breaking_the_unwritten_rules_and_defining_profit|Fan Films: Breaking the Unwritten Rules and Defining Profit]]//</wrap> +
- +
-The trajectory of the Axanar project's crowdfunding effort, as it was articulated in the Prelude Kickstarter, began this way: +
- +
-> //[[Prelude to Axanar]]// will then allow us to launch into //[[Axanar]]// having proven our ability to deliver professional quality Star Trek. There will be a subsequent Kickstarter for the feature-length //Axanar//.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-prelude-to-axanar/description|Prelude to Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 3/4/16.)) +
- +
-==== At the Outset ==== +
- +
-The Prelude Kickstarter started out with a modest $10,000 goal. It ended up with $101,171. Of that amount, executive producer [[Alec Peters]] allotted $10,000 to what he called "infrastructure for Axanar Productions." +
- +
-> This means the legal paperwork needed to create our production company and the rather expensive insurance to cover all our productions over the coming year. It allows us to set up production offices … and start to produce //Axanar//.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-prelude-to-axanar/description|Prelude to Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 3/4/16.)) +
- +
-==== The 'Infrastructure Kickstarter' ==== +
-[{{ ::idic-patch.jpg?200|**IDIC** Artwork from the Axanar Kickstarter campaign page.}}] +
- +
-The release of //Prelude to Axanar// and subsequent acclaim may have been a game-changer, because the second Kickstarter campaign, for //Axanar// itself, turned out not to be really for producing the film. +
- +
-> [The] Axanar Kickstarter was launched with some very specific goals in mind, namely, <wrap hi>building the infrastructure that would allow us to make //Axanar// and other Star Trek properties.</wrap>(({{:axanar-annual-report-v2.pdf|Axanar Annual Report 2015, Revised}}, p. 7, 12/15/15.)) +
- +
-In Axanar's 2015 Annual Report, Peters acknowledges the public perception of the Axanar Kickstarter was to "<wrap hi>incorrectly assume that the money was to go to production costs."</wrap>(({{:axanar-annual-report-v2.pdf|Axanar Annual Report 2015, Revised}}, p. 8, 12/15/15.)) +
- +
-Instead, this Kickstarter money was destined for infrastructure, which the campaign defined as: +
-  * Set construction, $100,000 +
-  * Soundstage, $125,000. "This will be the permanent home of Axanar Productions and <wrap hi>allow us to do more than just Axanar, from other adventures in the Star Trek universe and beyond.</wrap>  David Gerrold (author of "The Trouble with Tribbles") is already lined up to shoot his sci-fi series 'Running Dark' here. First year's rent is $ 125,000." +
-  * Soundstage renovation.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-prelude-to-axanar/description|Prelude to Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 3/4/16.)) The description includes this: +
- +
-> Sci-Fi Film School  -  After the sets our built, we will be holding a Sci-Fi film school. Learn all about film making from our veteran industry staff including David Gerrold (writing), Richard Hatch and Gary Graham (acting), Robert Burnett (Editing/Directing), Christian Gossett (writing/directing) and Academy Award winner Kevin Haney and Star Trek veteran Brad Look (make-up).  Donors will get first shot at the initial film school session. +
- +
-  * Axanar pre-production costs, $50,000. This includes costume manufacture, VFX pre-visualization and modeling, and make-up."These are just pre-production costs to get these departments going."(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-prelude-to-axanar/description|Prelude to Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 3/4/16.)) +
-  * Axanar production costs, $325,000-$425,000.(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-prelude-to-axanar/description|Prelude to Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 3/4/16.)) +
- +
-[{{ :undefined:early-bridge.jpg?200|**SET CONSTRUCTION** Concept drawing for the bridge set of the U.S.S. Ares.}}] +
-==== Ballooning Costs ==== +
- +
-Curiously, this last item — part of the Kickstarter campaign page — does not correspondingly appear in the Annual Report. The project needs articulated during the campaign totaled $404,000 (including Kickstarter fees and the cost of backers' rewards). The total raised was $638,471. Peters concluded the campaign on August 24, 2014, with this statement: +
- +
-> Well, due to all your generosity, we have everything we need for the sets and studio and are <wrap hi>well on our way to covering most of the budget.</wrap>(([[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-prelude-to-axanar/description|Prelude to Axanar Kickstarter campaign page]], retrieved 3/4/16.)) +
- +
-As it turned out, costs — especially to build out the studio Peters intended to use for commercial projects, and to rent out to bring in revenue(({{:axanar-annual-report-v2.pdf|Axanar Annual Report 2015, Revised}}, p. 15, 12/15/15.)) — rapidly grew. +
- +
-> We outlined costs … for infrastructure that we would need to raise roughly $400,000 for. … <wrap hi>That was before we found out what everything would really cost and what we didn't even know we needed.</wrap>(({{:axanar-annual-report-v2.pdf|Axanar Annual Report 2015, Revised}}, p. 8, 12/15/15.)) +
- +
-According to the Annual Report, even the $638,471 raised — more than six times the campaign's original $100,000 goal(([[http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar/|Kicktraq profile for Axanar Kickstarter]], retrieved 3/4/16)) — was insufficient to cover all the infrastructure costs Axanar Productions encountered.(({{:axanar-annual-report-v2.pdf|Axanar Annual Report 2015, Revised}}, p. 10, 12/15/15.)) +
- +
-By the time Peters embarked on his third crowdfunding campaign, this time on [[Axanar Indiegogo Details|Indiegogo]] nearly a year later, not only had the [[budget analysis|costs ballooned]] … so had his [[Axanar Productions#subsidiary activities|ambitions]] for Axanar Productions.(({{:axanar-annual-report-v2.pdf|Axanar Annual Report 2015, Revised}}, pp. 20-21, 12/15/15.)) +
- +
-> In the end, it was agreed that more time and more money would equal greater quality.(({{:axanar-annual-report-v2.pdf|Axanar Annual Report 2015, Revised}}, p. 12, 12/15/15.)) +
- +
-And so Axanar moved to its most ambitious campaign, and moved to another crowdfunding platform — [[Axanar Indiegogo Details|Indiegogo]]. +
- +
-/* Draw distinction between Ares' 'no standing sets so we can rent out the studio' and the other fan films. +
-*/+
  
  
 ---- ----
-**Keywords** {{tag>stub crowdfunding commercial}}+**Keywords** {{tag>crowdfunding commercial}}