Lois & Clark Forums Forums General Discussion Fun with Polls Archive, Annesplace, FoLCVideo, MBs fundraising poll

I said I'd send a donation whether I get anything or not. I personally like Tank's idea of a download. And I'm on a dial-up. Although the laptop is WiFi and I can sneak over to McDonald's parking lot and dl it faster!
I've gotten so many years of enjoyment out of all the sites and I'd really like that to continue. Truth be told, though, I'm more a fanfic fan than a trailer fan, but that's me.
Another way to raise money might be to "auction" off a story from a favorite author. For instance, I'd pay to have Nan write a story and e-mail it to me privately first. Then after I've read it, it could go on the various sites. It would be like being a beta reader, in that you know the story before anyone else, and not having to do any work!
I think the DVD mailing thing might become a big hassle for the committee and Tank is right about people not wanting to share home addresses.
Annette seems to have delt with the technical issue of DVD compatibility.
Anyway, just my $.02.

Artemis
Offline for a few days - going to Oregon

If the video content on the DVD would be playable on a TV, I'd much prefer that option. When Anna was here a few weeks ago we watched a bunch of music videos on the television and it was so much more fun than watching on the computer! And I'm not convinced the encoding/formatting would be that much of a hassle; once you got it done once you'd just be burning copies. I'd be happy to help with that if need be.

On the other hand, if they're just going to play on a computer, a website seems just as accessible as a DVD.

The only other thought I had was that it might be fun to have a few trailers on the DVD for "coming attractions," stories that aren't out yet, the way that commercial DVDs have previews at the beginning. Maybe even for stories that would appear in next year's fundraiser incentive . Assuming anyone would want to commit to having a story ready that far in advance (and that shouldn't be misconstrued to mean I'm volunteering ).

At any rate, I think the plan on the whole sounds great. Good work, guys!
Kaylle

Coming attractions... well, maybe people could make trailers for stories/sequels that they want to see finished?

And I love the idea of auctioning off a story

PJ

Another idea to throw into the mix would be to "auction off" a music video or trailer. I'd be more than happy to let somebody tell me what song or story to vid and any clips or effects they want used. They could even beta it and we could work together till we get something they're really happy with.

~Anna

But dial up is a pain as mentioned above. I'd much rather have a dvd/cd I can load to my computer.

I'm getting in late on this discussion so if it's already been decided, then nevermind.

TEEEEEJ

Don't worry, TJ - you guys on dialup are the major reason why we wouldn't offer a download as the sole 'product'.

At the moment, we're looking at offering a choice between the DVD and a download - we haven't decided on minimum donation levels yet, but my guess is that it would be lower for the download because, of course, we have no production or shipping costs. Course, with the DVD you'll not only get a shiny disk in your hot little hand, but - we hope - some terrific cover art that one of FoLCdom's most artistically-talented people has volunteered to produce for us.

And can I say once more, on behalf of your impromptu, volunteer fundraising committee, a huge thank you to everyone who's offered to help out with this effort, in all sorts of ways. FoLCs are amazing, and we love you all.

This email confirms that you have paid amciotola@aol.com using PayPal. This credit card transaction will appear on your bill as "PAYPAL *AMCIOTOLA".


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DONE!! Gimme!!

TEEEEEJ

Whoa... It's just in the beginning stages of production right now, TJ.

Thank you so much for the donation!!

Yeah I figured that, but I'm officially in line to get my copy now .

TEEEEEEJ

I hate to burst your bubble, but this is a bad idea. You have to drop it. This idea breaks copyright laws. Even if the network does not care about the amount of stories on this site that do not hold disclaimers, they will really have a problem with you all making money off of their copyrighted material. Like, the clips used in your videos.

Then there is the RIAA, who is on a witch hunt right now. Downloading stuff is harder to find, but you all are here posting something that is being left up for all to see, making it public that you are making these dvd's and making money off of them. Does not matter if it is a fundraiser or not. You know that when money is in the mix, they will really start to care.

If the RIAA finds out you are using music from major record labels, there is going to be serious problems...

Just a heads up..

Actually, fic is legal. The fandom's been around for a long time, and TPTB have made it clear that they're aware of us. I have been assured by a corperate lawyer from a prominent NYC firm that since they haven't told us to stop in all that time, they have legally given up their right to do so.

I'm not quite as sure about vids, but I can tell you that they're fairly common in a number of fandoms and I've never heard of anyone getting into trouble over them.

Frankly, even if they could, they'd be crazy to shut this down. They'd lose our good will and hurt the fandom (particularly the members of the fandom willing to spend money)... just as they're in the process of releasing the series on DVD. If they gave us trouble over the fundraiser and/or vids, they'd only end up hurting their own sales.

In any case, as mentioned in the beginning of this thread, we've held fundraisers like this before.

As to the recording industry... They're focusing on file sharing networks and such, worrying about losing CD sales. I hardly think they're about to start bothering small communities of vidders.

(Also, for the record, there's no profit being made, since the money is going to cover the costs of site hosting, etc... That does make a difference.)

So, basically... Speaking for myself, I think we're fine. No bubbles in need of bursting here.

Paul

You all just need to be aware that including music that is recent in those videos, and basically reselling it in a video, you are leaving yourself open for possable problems.

Fanfic is not legal. It is just something that most networks over look. Not many care.

But that is not the bigger problem. The use of the music is. Anyone donating is putting themself at possable risk.

Thanks for the warning

David (who'll be donating anyway - I like to live life on the edge )

I ment donating to the dvd..

No one is donating to the DVD, DS. Or paying for it. Everyone is donating to the upkeep of the sites listed above. The DVD is a free bonus 'gift', if you will, sent to those who donate above a specific level, in appreciation of them going the extra mile, so to speak.

The funds raised are for non-profit-making websites. No one is making a profit on donations.

There is therefore no difference between posting music videos here on the mbs and putting them on a DVD and sending them to people, free of charge. Think of it, if you like, in the same way as someone taping a show from TV and then sending the tape to a friend who's never seen it and wants to, but whose TV station doesn't show it.

Or, if you will - say that a member of these mbs loves music vids, but can't see the ones posted here because they use dialup and it's too slow to dl them for viewing. Another member dls the music vids and puts them on a DVD and sends it to them, so that they can share in the fun. That's basically what's happening here, more or less.

Are these things legal? Well that's blurry. But they are traditionally accepted as something not to get all het up and bothered about by all concerned and have been for decades.


LabRat

I hope you're wrong, DS, for the reasons others have stated -- but I wanted to thank you for sharing your concern with us. You saw what looked like a disaster in the making (and I can see why you'd be concerned, now that you've pointed it out), and instead of settling back to watch the train wreck, you took the time to speak up. That's the kind of community spirit we're hoping for around here

So, whether we take your advice or not, we appreciate you offering it

PJ

Again.

Donating, as in donating their work to the dvd. If someone has issues with this idea, anyone who has their name on that disc could be liable.

We'll take our chances. But thanks for warning us. Just a question? Is there anything you do like on these boards?

Rach

Well...like Rach said, we'll take our chances.

I for one am all for it! Raising money to keep one of the best boards on the web up and running...I see no harm in that.

I've already decided on a vid and maybe this time I'll take even LONGER making it. Who knows.

Later Days!
Andie (who is all in for the Fundraising drive)

I think that's a shift from the previous point you were making, DS, rather than the same one, but let me address this one too:

Is there a risk there? Absolutely! Just as there is in every single area of fandom that everyone involved in fandoms practises daily. No more, no less than that. Strictly speaking, we could incur the wrath of the great exec gods by writing fanfic, by posting pictures from the show, by letting people know where they can dl episodes, by making music videos, by quoting dialogue in the Hangman game...the list is endless.

Most of us are fandom veterans, we've been involved in more than one fandom for many years, in some cases for decades. So you're not telling us anything we don't already know, DS. We know how it all hangs together, the legal ins and outs, the risks, such as they are, that are taken every day and the line we walk - the way the world we operate in works. And, most especially, the way that our own particular fandom works. We're fully aware of any and all risks and are capable of using our experience in fandom to evaluate which ones we should be concerned about.

So, to reiterate Pam, many thanks for the warnings, but they're really unnecessary. We understand the point you've been making very clearly, but it's not something we feel we need to worry about at this time.

LabRat