Re: VL: Old Vulcan pferree Thu, 23 Oct 1997 19:37:27 -0700 On Thu, 23 Oct 1997 19:12:18 -0500 "Saul Epstein" writes: >From: Patrick J Ferree >Date: Thursday, October 23, 1997 5:06 PM > >> On Thu, 23 Oct 1997 08:47:39 -0500 Rob Zook >writes: >> >> >Expecting the kind of background which would take a Tolkien >> >to create from anyone at Paramount (except for maybe Okrand) >> >seems rather unrealistic. I agree they should work all these >> >details out and make every part of the universe consistent >> >with every other part - but as I've said before if the question >> >starts with "why don't they..." then the answer is always >> >"money". Time "is" money they say, and would require a >> >significant investment on Paramount's time. > >Not only would such effort not make it money in the short term, which >is all it cares about, such effort doesn't match with its whole >philosophy of production. IMO, Paramount doesn't know how to advertise or market products, where did they find these marketers, on the streets? Quite frankly the reason they wouldn't make much money, is because they don't know how. I wouldn't blame the product, I'd blame the producers of the product, in this case being Paramount. Any of the commercials I've seen don't exactly make me jump out of my seat and go get the product. >> If there were a large group of people who could make such a thing >as creating or finishing a whole language, don't you think they should >do it? (eh hem) > >eh-hem, back atcha. Indeed, however one doesn't make a group, but if you count outside the Mailing Lists, that may be a different story. >> We all have the means to do it, the motivation, but perhaps >> not the time. Is that the problem time? Say we did. Say we did >complete the Vulcan language. Do you think Paramount would market it? > >Though I am not usually moved to such modes of expression, I feel >compelled to say that I don't give a rat's ass about what Paramount >does or doesn't market. The only effect Paramount's actions have is >to make it more or less money -- which has nothing to do with me. >Paramount owns the right to make money from Roddenberry's Vision, but >it does not own Star Trek. Paramount almost completely controls the franchise and anything that is marketed. It may not own Star Trek, but they definitely control it, at least it's merchandize. >I am interested in elaborating the Zvelebil Construction and in >making the results available to the ST community, primarily through >online distribution -- interested as an "amateur," which is literally >one who does something out of love. However, how many people will see it? What if Paramount decides to do the language (for some offbeat reason) on their own? And so what if Paramount makes a lot of money off our (who ever would make it's) work, there would be no money made anyway, and not as many people would see it, nor hear about it. Yes, what will be developed in the Zvelebil Project will be a lot of words and written as well as spoken language, however it would not compare to the Klingon Language lab which is complete, because there aren't that many words that are Canon. The *entire* world should have access to it and have knowledge of it. There may be many people on the internet, but not many who would find out about it, nor do many people have the internet. >I'm sure Paramount will be happy to make as much money as they can from our >work, if you can convince them that there is any money to be made. Good luck. I've ran into many Star Trek fans who simply forgot about Star Trek, or at least what kind of websites and merchandize is out there. Five out of ten people I know are ST fans, but simply lost track due to lack of advertisement, they shouldn't....,If it is marketed in the fans' vision, or at least if they listened to us....,no, I won't go there. If I convince Paramount to make a Vulcan Language Lab......,whoever wants to help...,let me put it this way..,if I Convince Paramount, yes I know that is a BIG if, whoever wants to help, can help, perhaps take over the project, depending on the circumstances, we'll just have to see their reaction, before jumping to any conclusions. I'm sure I can pull out a little persuasion. In fact, I shall work on the letter Friday, 2:00pm. Patrick J Ferree (Pferree*juno,com) MENE SAKKHET UR-SEVEH! "Science Fiction - Step Into Reality"