To learn more about the making of this unique Star Trek fan film, visit:
https://fanfilmfactor.com/2024/04/29/...

Dedicated with love and appreciation to the deeply-missed LEONARD NIMOY and DeFOREST KELLEY.

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James T. Kirk has died saving the crew and passengers of the U.S.S. Enterprise-B from a spatial anomaly. Now Dr. McCoy is mourning his absent friend alone in a San Francisco bar, his only companions a bottle of bourbon and his own personal torment. Enter: Spock...having returned to Earth after hearing of "the incident." Spock, of course, is not allowing himself to become emotional over the loss of his best friend--the opposite of what McCoy is going through. Ironically, or perhaps fittingly, they each need what the other has, and they come together for a quiet, introspective conversation as each man, in his own way, helps the other come to terms with this devastating loss.

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AN ABSENT FRIEND" is the first-ever Star Trek fan film to use artificial intelligence exclusively to generate all of the voices, utilizing ElevenLabs' speech synthesis algorithms. And if anyone is wondering "Is it legal to use A.I. to generate the voice of a deceased actor?" the answer is currently yes, according to California Civil Code § 3344, Section 990, paragraph (n):

"This section shall not apply to the use of a deceased personality's name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness, in any of the following instances:

1) A play, book, magazine, newspaper, musical composition, FILM, radio or television program, other than an advertisement or commercial announcement not exempt under paragraph (4)."

Read the entire statute here:

https://corporate.findlaw.com/litigat...

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Writer / Producer / Director / Animator: JONATHAN LANE
Illustrator: MATT SLADE
Music: MATT MILNE
Opening Credits Sequence Animator: "MOJO"

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Every effort was made in the creation of this project to comply with the CBS and Paramount Pictures guidelines for Star Trek fan films located at:

https://www.startrek.com/fan-films

Star Trek and all related marks, logos and characters are solely owned by CBS Studios Inc. This fan production is not endorsed by, sponsored by, nor affiliated with CBS, Paramount Pictures, or any other Star Trek franchise, and is a non-commercial fan-made film intended for recreational use. No commercial exhibition or distribution is permitted. No alleged independent rights will be asserted against CBS or Paramount Pictures.