Disqus - Latest Comments for moreyaltman

Re: How the Author of The Graduate, Walked Away From Middle-Class Mores

moreyaltman — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:05:01 -0000

What a fascinating story and beautifully written, Beverly. He was clearly a character but it sounds you were touched by his humanity and have shared that. So thanks!

Re: Star Wars: 12 Unanswered Questions in The Rise of Skywalker

moreyaltman — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 04:27:54 -0000

It would have made more sense to return their lightsabers to Naboo, birthplace of their Mother. The only reason it was Tatooine was to look cool. Like everything else in these films, logic and substance has been replaced with scenes that look exciting and evoke the most evanescent emotional response.

Re: Remembering Richard Hatch

moreyaltman — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 03:52:04 -0000

Thanks Bear. That was so sweet. I only knew Richard through my work as Axanar's PR person, but he was always generous and thoughtful. My sincere condolences to you, his family, friends and many, many fans.

Re: Star Trek Voyager: 10 great guest performances

moreyaltman — Sun, 01 Jan 2017 12:42:06 -0000

No love for the brilliant Brad Dourif ("Basics pt 1&2)?

Re: Star Trek, and the non-existent 50th birthday party

moreyaltman — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 13:22:06 -0000

Agreed. The risk-taking doesn't always work but when it has - Blink, as an example - it has produced some of the best television on the air. Star Trek began as a risk-taking show. It has triumphed when it has challenged fan expectations: redesigning the Klingons, killing Spock, destroying the Enterprise. I'd like to see more of that rather than the derivative, gutless SFX-demo reels, I mean reboots, we've been given.

Re: Star Trek, and the non-existent 50th birthday party

moreyaltman — Thu, 22 Sep 2016 11:27:56 -0000

The sad truth is that the current IP holders have no sentimental connection to Star Trek as a legacy or cultural icon; they see it only as a profit-making franchise. There's also a lot of animosity between CBS and Paramount. CBS has no interest in promoting the new timeline; Paramount, which has been in some financial difficulties, isn't inclined to spend a penny to promote the previous shows.

I have great faith in Bryan Fuller but, I promise, he will be in a constant fight with the suits and lawyers which now control Star Trek to do anything truly daring or meaningful. We already know how Paramount pulled the plug on every creative idea suggested for Voyager and Enterprise.

The BBC made some brave decisions in how they promoted the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. The documentary could have been a ratings disaster, given that there's a large new audience for the show that has never seen a doctor before Chris Eccleston. They've also approved the oldest doctor, after two young doctors hugely popular with a young adult audience. Whatever criticism we may have of the new shows, the producers have been supported by a brave network.

The same cannot be said for Star Trek. It has hobbled along more out of luck and habit than resolve. And without resolve, what has there been to celebrate? As far as the present check-signers at the studios are concerned, apparently not much.

Re: Recontacting Star Trek: First Contact

moreyaltman — Tue, 19 Jul 2016 16:01:20 -0000

I don't think the two things are mutually exclusive. I've seen plenty of action films that didn't scrimp on characterization. Die Hard, for example, balances both things beautifully. In the Star trek universe, I think ST6 also finds a nice balance. But, I agree that a TV series offers more, and better, opportunities for character exploration. The TOS movies generally worked because we already knew the characters from the show. That's why Into Drekness was such a dismal failure narratively; there's was no history behind their actions. The new film looks like it's going to stick to the action and that's a good thing. The new Star Trek series, on the other hand, should introduce us to new characters and use that as a springboard for thoughtful storytelling. Well, that's the theory anyway ;)

Re: Recontacting Star Trek: First Contact

moreyaltman — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:09:24 -0000

My 2nd favourite Trek film after TWoK. It's near perfect, despite what some people consider out-of-character moments for Picard. They never bothered me. My only complaint - and it's a small one - is a sense that the movie needed one more scene, the crew at the statue of Cochrane that Geordie had mentioned previously. But, I understand that Frakes wanted to leave us on a high after the Vulcan first contact, and that was an awesome scene. After the debacle that was Generations, FC should have set the tone for more action-oriented films. It's a shame the producers let themselves be swayed by the interests of the lead actors.

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Sat, 28 May 2016 15:30:36 -0000

T'Bonz, I'm trying not to take what you've written personally. I may be a PR representative but my background is broadcasting and journalism, so I take accuracy very seriously.

Last week Axanar submitted a response which included a Counterclaim for Declaratory Relief. Period. Saying that this is almost the same as a "countersuit" is irrelevant; one thing happened, another didn't. The fact is Carlos substituted the term counterclaim, used throughout the response, with countersuit, which never appears in the filing (or any correspondences in which I'm included). In other words he chose to use a word with more emotional resonance because it made for a stronger headline.

Does it matter? I think so. As writer, I believe in the vitality of words. This isn’t just an issue of semantics but of truth. The meaning of a word is connected to its fate. In the words of Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr, "A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged; it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used."

As such, I was concerned that the colloquial understanding of “countersuit" would imply that Axanar had abruptly filed a separate lawsuit for monetary damages, a move which could be seen as vindictive and adversarial, when nothing could be further from the truth. We all want this resolved. The Counterclaim for Declaratory Relief was a standard addition for a filing of this type, which was made according to a schedule agreed upon by both parties. Those are the facts; you can decide who is manipulating them.

As for my request, in fact, I make similar appeals all the time, and my right to do so has never been challenged - not once - until now. It doesn't happen simply because as professionals we understand our roles. Mine is to defend the integrity of my client; theirs is to get at the truth. Which is why I generally receive a response along the lines of, "Thanks for the clarification. I've forwarded it to my editor." Sometimes they make the correction, sometimes they don't. I respect their decision, either way. And let's be very clear about something: controlling the narrative is exactly what public relations is all about. My counterpart at CBS, one of the powerful publicists in the U.S, is attempting to do exactly the same, and he has a large team, and a multimillion dollar budget with which to do so.

Which brings us to the distinction between legitimate news services and indie bloggers: accountability. I've already conceded that Carlos tries to be impartial, but there's still no editorial infrastructure in place. That's a concern. My Buzzfeed contact (since we're talking about them) must answer to an editor who fact-checks, and authorizes his comments. Does that ensure veracity? Of course not, but at least there's a process in place. It's not a numbers game and I'm sorry I implied that it was. But the reality is that sites like Buzzfeed and Yahoo are huge because of the perception of authenticity.

I think the problem here is that you resent being put in the middle and for that, I apologize. But, my role is to present Axanar's position as faithfully as possible. I would expect and encourage a reporter to contact someone at CBS or Paramount for their interpretation of every statement we make. Let's be fair: if there wasn't two sides to this story, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

Look, I've known you a long time Tbonz. (I've been on the TrekBBS almost from the start) and I respect your devotion to both Trek and the site. Don't start second guessing yourself now; make a decision and stick with it. I would respect you no less if you had told me the headline stands because you were simply quoting an original source. You have your role here too.

As for Alec, I won't publicly discuss a client. I'm happy to connect you two if you'd like to speak with him directly.

I hope you'll appreciate that no one on Team Axanar signed up to fight a lawsuit; I wanted to fulfill a lifelong dream of working on a Star Trek film. But I certainly couldn't abandon a client just because the going got rough. That unfortunate turn-of-events has everyone on tenterhooks, and many inappropriate things have been said. I've worked very hard to resolve these conflicts because, as corny as this sounds, I still believe in Gene Roddenberry's future.

I hope that makes sense. Take care.

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Thu, 26 May 2016 17:00:12 -0000

To be clear, NO countersuit was filed. A response was filed which included a "Counterclaim for Declaratory Relief." That's the distinction. I can't speak to a cut-and-paste from someone in MA. I provided you with a quote from our California-registered lawyer.

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Thu, 26 May 2016 16:07:58 -0000

Hey Carlos,

Thank you for your thoughtful response to my comment. You're absolutely correct and I'm very sorry. I was trying to put out a fire in the middle of the night - in this case a non-existent "countersuit" story that was spreading - and forgot that Mike is in touch with you. Please appreciate that it's a busy time, I have many clients, and despite my superhero good looks and out-of-this-world chicken wing recipes, I'm only human.

Our titles are actually somewhat nebulous. I manage international because I'm overseas, speak a few languages, and have more European contacts. I also handle tech and most genre outlets. But if someone has a contact, or establishes a new one, we go with it regardless of the title. We work on press releases together, and consult with each other on everything.

As for reliability, I push sites that have spoken to us to ensure our narrative is heard - that's actually PR's role - but as I've already mentioned, forgot that you were on Mike's list. We actually look at AxaMonitor almost daily and have noted your desire to remain unbiased.

So please, again, accept my sincere apology. Hopefully, soon, we can all go back to just being fans. In the meantime, if you can't reach Mike for info on anything, don't hesitate to contact me.

Regards,
Morey

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Thu, 26 May 2016 14:03:32 -0000

Except that his interpretation is wrong. Please see my response from Winston and Strawn, which may be quoted. Thanks.

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Thu, 26 May 2016 14:02:10 -0000

You're not correct. These aren't semantics. We're talking about legal definitions! From Winston and Strawn: "The term "countersuit" implies that it is ANOTHER lawsuit, however this is all happening in the same lawsuit, which is why it is a counterclaim. Also, Axanar is not suing CBS or Paramount for any money, but only asking that the judge provide declaratory relief so that it has clarity as to its obligations moving forward. It is true, however, that CBS and Paramount now have to respond to the declaratory relief counterclaim, so in that sense they have the same obligations. But this does not increase any discovery burdens, as the subject matter covers the same scope as Axanar's defenses to the claims originally asserted by CBS/Paramount, including fair use."

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Thu, 26 May 2016 11:47:23 -0000

I meant the eye roll ;)

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Wed, 25 May 2016 17:44:26 -0000

I appreciate that, but also know who are the reporters who seek out explanations from the filmmakers, legal team, and legal experts. No one expects good reporters to be scholars. I worry about bloggers who try to figure things out for themselves. That's called an opinion. That said, Axamonitor seems to be trying to remain unbiased, and original documents are definitely the way to go.

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Wed, 25 May 2016 17:39:27 -0000

I never suggested any bias on your part and wouldn't dare. I'll update you directly in the future. Thanks.

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Wed, 25 May 2016 17:33:37 -0000

Let me put it this way. Axamonitor is a blog that gets around 13K visitors a month. They have never once contacted me. On the other hand, I get requests for information from writers with Buzzfeed (260 MILLION monthly readers) and Yahoo (6 F'n BILLION readers a month.) That's what I mean by legitimate. They're obviously not as reliable as me since I'm actually connected to the production and speak to the filmmakers and legal team every day.

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Wed, 25 May 2016 17:26:46 -0000

What's your point? Or, do you actually think that was clever.

Re: The Flash season 2 episode 23 review: The Race Of His Life

moreyaltman — Wed, 25 May 2016 16:17:24 -0000

Yup. Seeing him back in a Flash costume was pretty amazing even if most of the show's audience didn't get how cool that was.

Re: Axanar Files Lawsuit Counterclaim

moreyaltman — Wed, 25 May 2016 15:15:27 -0000

No, we didn't countersue. We filed a counterCLAIM asking the judge to dismiss the case. Bonnie, It's better if you get your information from Axanar Productions or a legitimate news site rather than Axamonitor or 1701News. Send me you email address and I'll update myself morey dot altman at gmail dot com

Re: Milla Jovovich to star in Future World

moreyaltman — Sun, 22 May 2016 04:46:31 -0000

Dystopian future. Yawn.

Re: Gregory's Girl – 35 years on

moreyaltman — Wed, 11 May 2016 10:10:10 -0000

I suppose I'm in a minority but I thought it was charming when I saw in 1981 (I was 18) and it's charming still. Perhaps I simply identified with those horny, bumbling idiots. The sequel, btw, is weird and unsettling.

Re: The psychedelic funkiness of 1978‘s Dr Strange

moreyaltman — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 16:19:26 -0000

I loved this TV-movie (and even have it on VHS someplace) but admittedly, knew nothing of the comic book character (read:DC kid.) There was something about it that was mesmerizing. Maybe I just had a thing for Jessica Walter.

Re: Star Wars: examining A New Hope’s classic opening shot

moreyaltman — Tue, 12 Apr 2016 13:46:08 -0000

"For those of us too young to have seen Star Wars unfold on the screen for the first time ever in May 1977, we can only guess what it would have been like to see those opening shots for the first time."

It was freakin' breathtaking. I don't remember any cheers at this point - there were many later on - but I can still recall being blown away. It was SO big! And the level of detail was astonishing. From the first 30 seconds of the film, we felt like we were seeing something new and amazing: space-fantasy taken seriously. What a moment in film history.

Re: Green Lantern - what went wrong?

moreyaltman — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 06:37:54 -0000

A judicious fan-edit might make it semi-watchable. Lop off all the extraneous exposition at the beginning for starters. I also felt the movie tried to do way too much. I would have liked a much slower build to the story of the Green Lantern Corps. The first film could have been more about Hal. The character needed much more work, too. He was one of my favourite characters growing up but Reynolds depiction was pretty unlikable for most of the film. That said, the movie had its moments. But it should have been so much better.