By GustavoLeao / 09:38, 7 March 2008 / General Star Trek

The controversy about the inclusion of the Star Trek New Voyages/Phase II episode World Enough and Time among the nominations for Best Script continues. World Enough and Time director Marc Scott Zicree made a statement (story), in which he made several claims to the project's professional status.

But now New Voyages producer and Kirk actor James Cawley, made public a letter that he sent to the Science Fiction Writers of America , in which he declines any claim to professional status and says Zicree is wrong in his statement.

Here is the transcript of the letter, posted at the TrekBBS :

This was my letter to SFWA, regarding Mr. Zicrees quest to get his Nebula.

Regretfully, SOME of his public statement, paints a wrong picture of My project and it's participants:

To the Board of Directors of the Science Fiction Writers of America,

I am the Executive Producer of Star Trek New Voyages. I apologize for any confusion created by Marc Scott Zicree's efforts on behalf of the "World Enough And Time" episode of Star Trek New Voyages. It does not come from my offices nor does it reflect my wishes.

Here is what you need to know about our situation:

Paramount Pictures owns the copyright to Star Trek. The relationship of Star Trek New Voyages with Paramount Pictures is very strictly defined.

We are not allowed to sell tickets to screenings of our episodes. We are not allowed to sell advertising for our episodes. We are not allowed to sell DVD copies of our episodes. We are not allowed in any way to produce or distribute our episodes for profit. These are the rules by which Paramount allows us to continue. We will not allow anyone connected with STNV to violate those guidelines or misrepresent our efforts.

Legally, we are a fan-based production. We exist solely because we maintain our amateur status, and good faith relationship with Paramount CBS.

Contrary to anything stated anywhere else, we have not sold tickets for any public exhibition of any of our episodes nor have we authorized anyone else to do so.

Yes, many of the people who have worked in our episodes are
professionals in their respective fields. We have been privileged to have Walter Koenig, George Takei, Denise Crosby, Bill Blair, Bobby Quinn Rice, Kim Stinger, Ben Tolpin and other professionals play key roles in our episodes. We have been privileged to have produced scripts by DC Fontana, J. Michael Reaves, and David Gerrold.

We have been privileged to have technical experts like Ron Moore, Doug Drexler, Ron Thornton, Brian Kelley, and others, working behind the scenes as well. Yes, we have paid some of our performers, those who are SAG members; but always with the understanding that we are a fan-based production.

Speaking for myself, it has been enormously gratifying to tap into such a wellspring of enthusiasm for classic Star Trek. All of us on STNV aspire to produce episodes that meet or surpass the standards of excellence established by the original Star Trek series and I believe the Nebula consideration of "World Enough And Time" is acknowledgment that we are starting to achieve that goal.

But I must stress this as strongly as I can. We are committed to maintaining our relationship with Paramount Pictures. We are a fan-based production. Legally, our episodes are AMATEUR. Marc Scott Zicree's claims otherwise are notwithstanding.

I certainly understand and respect Marc Scott Zicree's desire to have "World Enough And Time" on the Nebula ballot. The script that he and Michael Reaves wrote was one of the best we've ever seen and George Takei's performance was stunning. We are all very proud of the episode and we believe it does deserve consideration.

As I understand the situation, as it was explained to me by Rules Committee Chair, Jeff Carver, the award requirements specify that only PROFESSIONAL productions are eligible for consideration. Therefore, by the rules of the SFWA, the episode is not eligible. I understand this and I respect and agree with that position. The SFWA is a highly regarded professional organization and your awards are intended to
acknowledge professional excellence.

But it is also my understanding that the Board of Directors of the Science Fiction Writers of America has the authority to waive the professional production requirement in this case or reinterpret it to include Internet productions. This is new territory for everyone and I hope we can find a solution that serves us all. Our next episode, David Gerrold's "Blood and Fire" is nearing completion and I expect it to be even better than "World Enough And Time."

Speaking on behalf of everyone who worked on "World Enough And Time" we would be honored to see the episode on the Nebula awards ballot.

We are all grateful that you are taking time to consider the
eligibility of the episode. I look forward to your decision. Whatever you decide, I hope that the SFWA has a wonderful and exciting Awards Ceremony.

Sincerely yours,
James M. Cawley
Senior Executive Producer/Creator New Voyages

The original post of the letter can be found here.

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