15 replies to this topic

[Doctor Shatterhand]

Well, it was fun while it lasted. The amazing part of all this is that they only shut down Part 1. Parts 2, 3, and 4 are still on YouTube. What is also interesting is that an 8mm fan film is a threat to MGM while numerous clips and re-edits continue to flood the website.

Here is the email they sent me:

*********************************************

Dear Member:

This is to notify you that we have removed or disabled access to the following material as a result of a third-party notification by Metro Goldwyn Mayer Inc. claiming that this material is infringing:

James Bond in Moonraker - 1978 Fan Film - Part 1 of 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pATx-coJIR4

Please Note: Repeat incidents of copyright infringement will result in the deletion of your account and all videos uploaded to that account. In order to prevent this from happening, please delete any videos to which you do not own the rights, and refrain from uploading additional videos that infringe on the copyrights of others. For more information about YouTube's copyright policy, please read the Copyright Tips guide.

If you elect to send us a counter notice, please go to our Help Center to access the instructions.

Be aware that there may be adverse legal consequences in your country if you make a false or bad faith allegation of copyright infringement by using this process.
Sincerely,
YouTube, Inc.

***********************************************

I will keep this as a badge of honor.

The remaining parts will stay up for the duration of this week. I will then delete them and put my fan film away forever.

[Shamelord]

I am sorry to hear that. The whole witch hunt feeling of the copyright protection push is not fun. Not counting that this is getting very stupid. Hopefully you can share your film on other sites.

Good luck. I am sure Moonraker 78 is certainly not dead.

[Mr Twilight]

Damn. I have to check out but I think I have download it already and saved it on my home computer (I'm at work at the moment). So I feel lucky. Anyway I did watched it earlier and It was really good.

EDIT: Btw, if you like to get the film out anyway you could "promote" it on www.fanedit.org for example. An opportunity to make it available for more Bondlovers...maybe!?

Edited by Mr Twilight, 04 June 2008 - 08:32 AM.

[Dolt]

This is terrible news; I wrote up an extensive post on this today at my fan film blog, fancinematoday.com. It's at:

MGM Kills Historic James Bond Fan Film

[Mr Twilight]

Doctor Shatterhand, do you have any thoughts of release the film in some other form other than Youtube, like the suggested www.fanedit.org or through your own site in one way or the other?

[Doctor Shatterhand]

Doctor Shatterhand, do you have any thoughts of release the film in some other form other than Youtube, like the suggested www.fanedit.org or through your own site in one way or the other?

I doubt if MOONRAKER '78 will ever see the light of day ever again. I certainly don't want the lawyers at MGM to come and put a lien on my house or rake me over the coals in a court of law.

There is the possibility that it may turn up at a fan film convention, free to the public of course.

Unfortunately, MGM is extremely protective of their properties, but I just do not understand why shut down one James Bond fan film when there are numerous Bond fan films on YouTube. Not to mention the homemade music videos of various OO7 films as well as the clever re-edits such as six James Bonds in a casino.

LucasFilm Ltd allows fan films of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, and even hands out yearly awards for the best. MGM should do the same and get free publicity in exchange.

Moonraker '78 may be a memory but it had a great one year run on YouTube. I had so many people from so many countries compliment the film, and that is the best thing money could ever buy. Since the late 70s, Moonraker '78 never made one dime. I refused to because of the copyright, and up until last year, the film was never seen outside of a few cast members and my family. I was scared to even offer it to a fan film convention for fear that MGM/UA would sue my donkey. But watching other people upload their OO7 fan films and seeing that they were not being shut down gave me hope, only to be slammed.

If anyone has never seen this film and would like to one day, send me an email and I will try my best to offer a special screening. I cannot promise anything, but you never can tell. Maybe MGM will think better one day and allow fan films to be seen.

After all, imitation is the highest form of flattery.

[ImTheMoneypenny]

Doctor Shatterhand, do you have any thoughts of release the film in some other form other than Youtube, like the suggested www.fanedit.org or through your own site in one way or the other?

I doubt if MOONRAKER '78 will ever see the light of day ever again. I certainly don't want the lawyers at MGM to come and put a lien on my house or rake me over the coals in a court of law.

There is the possibility that it may turn up at a fan film convention, free to the public of course.

Unfortunately, MGM is extremely protective of their properties, but I just do not understand why shut down one James Bond fan film when there are numerous Bond fan films on YouTube. Not to mention the homemade music videos of various OO7 films as well as the clever re-edits such as six James Bonds in a casino.

LucasFilm Ltd allows fan films of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, and even hands out yearly awards for the best. MGM should do the same and get free publicity in exchange.

Moonraker '78 may be a memory but it had a great one year run on YouTube. I had so many people from so many countries compliment the film, and that is the best thing money could ever buy. Since the late 70s, Moonraker '78 never made one dime. I refused to because of the copyright, and up until last year, the film was never seen outside of a few cast members and my family. I was scared to even offer it to a fan film convention for fear that MGM/UA would sue my donkey. But watching other people upload their OO7 fan films and seeing that they were not being shut down gave me hope, only to be slammed.

If anyone has never seen this film and would like to one day, send me an email and I will try my best to offer a special screening. I cannot promise anything, but you never can tell. Maybe MGM will think better one day and allow fan films to be seen.

After all, imitation is the highest form of flattery.

In the comic book world if you're an artist and you get as we call it 'popped' by the company it's a sure sign that it's good, too good. I was recently threatened by Warner Brothers over Poison Ivy art, she was not even wearing the official costume, but because it had the Batman symbol on it they screamed copyright infringement, of course people are selling bootlegged belt buckles, sun catchers and so on with the same emblem. Sometimes it means something internally is happening within the company because 'homage art' as it's called for free and profit has always been an accepted practice in the comic book industry. Warners has only popped those doing Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, yet they leave Batgirl fans alone. Means they are going to do something with those characters. Perhaps there are plans for Moonraker?

Long story short(too late, sorry). . . I had a lawyer buyer/friend tell me that whoever it was who sold me out to eBay would have to prove they are Warner Bros to make me stop selling the art, and they'd have to begin suing everyone and go to the person's individual state/country to do it, but I did't want to take the risk of getting sued into the stone age so I dropped the art. I totally sympathise with what you're going through. I've been in that same boat bailing water! It's sort of disillusioning, and hurts to be turned on in such a cold fashion over something innocent.

[Mr Twilight]

I was desperatly searching for the 4 parts of Moonraker '78 on my computer both at home and at work without luck today. I was so sure that I downloaded them just in case of they would disapear from Youtube, as they also did. When my mood was as low as the coastline of the Nederlands, I made a last desperate move. Searching through all the different USB-memorys I had and YES, there they where!!!

Happy again!

[Shamelord]

but I just do not understand why shut down one James Bond fan film when there are numerous Bond fan films on YouTube.

I do... Moonraker was in your title.
Anyway I'm sad because the Hard Drive Moonraker 78 was in has crashed and I am not sure it can be repaired.

[Bryce (003)]

That's a shame Doc. Then again, we all here know that the "swat of the lion's paw" can be deadly. *cough* DAD script pages *cough*

It's funny, but Moonraker (being among my favorites of the Fleming books) and I have a similar history.

When I was a film student, my "magnum opus" final film project was to be a 16mm film. I, of course, planned to make a Bond film. I adapted the novel into a slighly contemporized version but keeping true to the book. All the key elements were there, the rocket base, Gala Brand, Lil', dinner at blades and the bridge game, the steam hose torture, the chase and wreck in pursuit of Gala after she's grabbed by Drax and Krebbs, the blasting on the cliffs.

My teacher ruled it out. I argued that it was an adaptation, but he'd hear none of it citing that it wasn't a true original story and the possibility that I or the school or both could be sued.

My advisor and the Dean of the department loved the script, but left it as being the teachers call. Hence, I wrote what became my film "Last Exit". It had some great moments, but was not what I had hoped for. I still pull it out once in a while and torture people with it, but several scenes do entertain.

I recently came across my original first draft and, while slightly painful to read what never was, it was and still is a damn fine 65 pages. The girl who was to play Gala began wearing a black beret "at a rakish angle" all the time and she matched the stats all the way down the list from her dossier in the novel.

Anyway Doc, you did good and I'd hope to see it again some day.

[Doctor Shatterhand]

That's a shame Doc. Then again, we all here know that the "swat of the lion's paw" can be deadly. *cough* DAD script pages *cough*

It's funny, but Moonraker (being among my favorites of the Fleming books) and I have a similar history.

When I was a film student, my "magnum opus" final film project was to be a 16mm film. I, of course, planned to make a Bond film. I adapted the novel into a slighly contemporized version but keeping true to the book. All the key elements were there, the rocket base, Gala Brand, Lil', dinner at blades and the bridge game, the steam hose torture, the chase and wreck in pursuit of Gala after she's grabbed by Drax and Krebbs, the blasting on the cliffs.

My teacher ruled it out. I argued that it was an adaptation, but he'd hear none of it citing that it wasn't a true original story and the possibility that I or the school or both could be sued.

My advisor and the Dean of the department loved the script, but left it as being the teachers call. Hence, I wrote what became my film "Last Exit". It had some great moments, but was not what I had hoped for. I still pull it out once in a while and torture people with it, but several scenes do entertain.

I recently came across my original first draft and, while slightly painful to read what never was, it was and still is a damn fine 65 pages. The girl who was to play Gala began wearing a black beret "at a rakish angle" all the time and she matched the stats all the way down the list from her dossier in the novel.

Anyway Doc, you did good and I'd hope to see it again some day.

Thanks Bryce. I'm interested in seeing your 16mm film. Any chance of uploading it to YouTube? Also, can you upload the copy of your first draft script? Would love to read it.

[Bryce (003)]

Oh NO. It will never see You Tube. I have a master list of EVERY SINGLE PERSON who has a copy and I do hold certain copyright documents pertaining to it as personal property.

If anyone tried to put it out there, my attorney and I would load our PPK's and go after 'em. Well, he'd load his briefcase. I'd go for hollow points.

Also, I still have the orginal negs, masters and audio. One of these days, I may just remaster it. I did end it with sequel promise.

"The End of Last Exit, but this James Bond will return in "Live To Tell".

Cheers Doc.

[madelineangelahind]

as someone who is about to start a fan film this is something I'd like to discuss with others more knowledgable.
I also got together with a group of friends in uni to do audio adapts of most of Gardner's novels...

[madelineangelahind]

i guess bond audios are not of interest

[Bryce (003)]

By no means. There have been several great audio adaptaions of Bond novels.

As to your fan-film, what are you going for? The real issue being if it is a school project or an independent. I suggest a disclaimer at the beginning. It covers you and expalins why it is being done. It also must never be made for profit or entered into any competetions where cash awards are offered.

Just speaking from experience here. Even if Eon were to emabrace it (not likely), without the above mentioned insurance, you could get taken over the coals.

Now, naysaying aside, I say go for it. But, as I've witnessed on youtube, Wardrobe. Locations. Sets. - If you're going to do it - and I've learned the hard way - do it RIGHT. Get the action right. Of course, a good script and editing and music help too.

Best of luck.

[Mr Twilight]

The resurrection of Moonraker '78 - Dr Shatterhand's Moonraker 78

Check out in the end of the article and you find the link to download this fan film