After defying expectations twice, Vince Gilligan is going for a hat trick. The creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul satisfied fans with two spectacular shows, put Albuquerque on the crime series map, and rarely, if ever, made a mistake. With his next show, he’s going back to his roots....
Sci-fi and horror have historically focused on White protagonists and their experiences, leaving Black audiences disregarded by the mainstream. But Black fans of those genres have been here all along.
Took time to gather my thoughts after a sneak preview of ‘The Creator’ – this gorgeous, action-packed movie is SO much more than the reviews are saying. I’m still an anxiety-ridden mess so I don’t go out, but thanks to a friend I got to see ‘The Creator’ anyway.
Make no mistake – we’ve left the ‘hater therapy’ portion of sci-fi, where we try to make movies and stories for the haters to ‘bring them along.’ The Creator just goes all-out to tell an fun, interesting science fiction story and it doesn’t care whether /r/scifi likes it or not. THAT, my friends, is makes it great.
But wait, Jackson – you say – nothing about this movie is ORIGINAL. The script sounds like it was generated by an AI! Yes, yes – we’ll get to the complaints in a few moments. Let’s set the stage correctly. The Creator is the celebration of original scifi we needed – it feels like what great science fiction used to feel like – unshackled by public opinion, content to let you figure out what’s going on.
It reminded me in some ways of ‘La La Land’ when it came out. Before you ask ‘What on Earth are you talking about?’ Let me explain: A movie review of ‘La La Land’ calls it ‘a gorgeously photographed, unashamedly nostalgic, bittersweet marriage of the modern and the traditional’ which, if you think about it, is a perfect description of ‘The Creator.’ It, too, is a gorgeously photographed, unashamedly nostalgic, bittersweet marriage of the modern and the traditional science fiction.
Just as Casablanca works because it’s a collection of tropes told in a way that people can relate to on a human level, The Creator doesn’t attempt to be THE MOST ORIGINAL SCIFI IN THE WORLD. Rather, it’s trying to be the best science fiction story for the most people. It’s trying to bring people together. That’s why I loved it and that’s why I recommend it. It’s also why I think the sci-fi community is doing a massive disservice to itself if it doesn’t support this original, well-told science fiction story. But this isn’t ‘hater therapy’ time – it’s time to talk about The Creator. Here are some quick notes: https://inkican.com/the-creator-scifi-thats-so-much-more/
Science fiction novels and movies are packed with far-out ideas, most often as the springboard for an action-packed adventure rather than a serious attempt to predict future trends in science or technology. Some of the most common tropes, such as accelerating a spacecraft to fantastic speeds in a matter of seconds without...
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the release of Half-Life we reunited the original development team to share their memories of creating Valve's first gam...
"Yes, I know. I know who's the Thing and who's not in the very end," he said during an interview with ComicBook.com. But if you were hoping for any elaboration, then keep on hoping. "Nope," Carpenter added when probed for more information. "Cannot tell you. Sorry,"...
A safety panel highlighted the urgency of safely deorbiting the International Space Station (ISS) after it retires in 2030, warning of a catastrophe if the spacecraft were to make an uncontrolled reentry through Earth’s atmosphere....
Doctor Who enters a transformative era with Russell T. Davies at the helm, confirming its significant shift to Disney+ in 2024, a daring decision for the esteemed British science-fiction series. After reigning as a sci-fi TV favorite for sixty years, the series is making a comeback, complete with a significant alteration that...
It’s become increasingly common to lend genre films some semblance of emotional depth by having their protagonists burdened from the start with profound grief or loss. That is especially the case with “Aporia,” producer Jared Moshe’s third feature as writer-director. Its variation on a particular kind of fantasy premise...
He later orbited the moon, but in 1970 he was bumped from the Apollo flight after being exposed to measles. Then, from mission control, he helped it avert disaster.
"The only way that they would let me do it is if I was shooting Battlestar during the day and White Noise 2 at night," she recalled to co-host and executive producer Kristian Harloff on the latest episode of her new podcast — Blah Blah Blah. "My mom came to Vancouver with me and stayed awake with me to keep me through it and...
Quick note on the self-promo posts I've been seeing on the Microblog - Let me start out by saying this:
WE WELCOME ARTISTS TO TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK ON /M/SCIFI.
However - artists who ONLY talk about their work on /m/scifi and contribute nothing else - no other content, articles, comments, engagement - will quickly wear out their welcome. I've had some direct conversations but it's starting to feel like a game of Whack-a-mole. I'm still figuring out how to make this community work for everyone, and it's disturbing to me to - other than @stopthatgirl7 - be the only people that post things for us to read/talk about on the threads. We're not Reddit - we're better than that.
Here's a quick re-cap of Rule #5
Rule 5: Self-promo is a privilege, not a right
The ratio of content to self-promotion in a community can vary depending on the specific context and the community's goals. However, it is generally recommended to prioritize content over self-promotion to maintain a healthy and engaging community environment. Here are some guidelines to consider:
Content First: Emphasize the importance of valuable and relevant content that adds value to the community.
Limit Self-Promotion: While self-promotion can have its place within a community, it should not dominate the content. Encourage members to engage with the community through meaningful discussions and contributions rather than solely promoting their own work or products.
Promote Community Engagement: Actively encourage community members to participate in discussions, share their perspectives, and contribute to the community's growth. Engaging content fosters a sense of community ownership and encourages members to interact with each other.
Clear Self-Promotion Guidelines: Establish clear guidelines regarding self-promotion to avoid ambiguity and ensure transparency.
Remember, the ultimate goal of a community is to facilitate meaningful interactions, shared learning, and the exchange of valuable content. By prioritizing content over self-promotion, the community can maintain its focus, encourage active participation, and create a more vibrant and engaging space for its members.
The microblog space has seen some AMAZING content - kudos to @SFRuminations, @ewdocparris, @TheSpaceshipper, and others for their continuing contributions that make this a fun, interesting place to be.
To wrap up - please consider this your Self-Promo yellow flag. Talk about your work, but contribute to the rest of the magazine too, please.
Additionally - I'm embarrassed to note that some NSFW content has swept into the Microblog. Let me restate: Rule #6 - No NSFW content - is very real and will result in an immediate/permanent ban. I can't be everywhere at once, so please **Report **any NSFW you come across here on /m/scifi.
Science fiction is quite simply one of the most popular genres of film that we have. The creation of faraway places and futuristic technology seems to be exactly what the medium of film was designed to create. Sci-fi on film has been around for as long as there have been movies. But which ones are the best? Figuring that out is...
Vince Gilligan teases "mild" sci-fi show with Rhea Seehorn (www.avclub.com)
After defying expectations twice, Vince Gilligan is going for a hat trick. The creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul satisfied fans with two spectacular shows, put Albuquerque on the crime series map, and rarely, if ever, made a mistake. With his next show, he’s going back to his roots....
Black characters and stories are finally in the sci-fi and horror spotlight. It’s been a long time coming for fans (www.cnn.com)
Sci-fi and horror have historically focused on White protagonists and their experiences, leaving Black audiences disregarded by the mainstream. But Black fans of those genres have been here all along.
Studio formerly owned and led by George Lucas faces lease expiration (www.ktvu.com)
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - The Bay Area could lose one of the birthplaces of modern filmmaking, a movie studio that very few people even know exists....
10 sci-fi concepts that are possible (in theory) (www.livescience.com)
Science fiction novels and movies are packed with far-out ideas, most often as the springboard for an action-packed adventure rather than a serious attempt to predict future trends in science or technology. Some of the most common tropes, such as accelerating a spacecraft to fantastic speeds in a matter of seconds without...
Half-Life: 25th Anniversary Documentary (youtu.be)
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the release of Half-Life we reunited the original development team to share their memories of creating Valve's first gam...
John Carpenter Confirms He Knows Who Was Human at the End of 1982's The Thing (www.syfy.com)
"Yes, I know. I know who's the Thing and who's not in the very end," he said during an interview with ComicBook.com. But if you were hoping for any elaboration, then keep on hoping. "Nope," Carpenter added when probed for more information. "Cannot tell you. Sorry,"...
A spacecraft to deorbit ISS 'not optional,' claims NASA safety panel (gizmodo.com)
A safety panel highlighted the urgency of safely deorbiting the International Space Station (ISS) after it retires in 2030, warning of a catastrophe if the spacecraft were to make an uncontrolled reentry through Earth’s atmosphere....
Doctor Who Showrunner Announces Controversial Change as It Joins Disney+ (movieweb.com)
Doctor Who enters a transformative era with Russell T. Davies at the helm, confirming its significant shift to Disney+ in 2024, a daring decision for the esteemed British science-fiction series. After reigning as a sci-fi TV favorite for sixty years, the series is making a comeback, complete with a significant alteration that...
‘Aporia’ Review: Judy Greer Leads a Lo-Fi Sci-Fi That Deals in Death as a Good Deed (www.msn.com)
It’s become increasingly common to lend genre films some semblance of emotional depth by having their protagonists burdened from the start with profound grief or loss. That is especially the case with “Aporia,” producer Jared Moshe’s third feature as writer-director. Its variation on a particular kind of fantasy premise...
Ken Mattingly, Astronaut Scrubbed From Apollo 13, Is Dead at 87 (www.nytimes.com)
He later orbited the moon, but in 1970 he was bumped from the Apollo flight after being exposed to measles. Then, from mission control, he helped it avert disaster.
Katee Sackhoff's story about not sleeping for 3 days during BSG filming (www.syfy.com)
"The only way that they would let me do it is if I was shooting Battlestar during the day and White Noise 2 at night," she recalled to co-host and executive producer Kristian Harloff on the latest episode of her new podcast — Blah Blah Blah. "My mom came to Vancouver with me and stayed awake with me to keep me through it and...
The Futurama Episode That Set The Show's Writers Free From Fox's Terrible Notes (www.slashfilm.com)
Fox seemingly hated Futurama and loaded the creative team with production notes, so the creators opted for a bit of malicious compliance.
4 annoying tropes of sci-fi weapons (www.yahoo.com)
We all love sci-fi weapons, right? But it's annoying when directors make the weapons super flashy onscreen.
From /r/scifi but it's hilarious: "So I heard someone refer to Elon Musk as "real-life Tony Stark." (preview.redd.it)
I don't know if they were joking or not, but it got me thinking about more accurate fictional analogues. I present: Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Musk.
NASA temporarily loses contact with V'ger (arstechnica.com)
The Voyagers were launched nearly half a century ago.
The 35 Best Sci-Fi Movies Of All Time, Ranked - Read the article, then argue (www.cinemablend.com)
Science fiction is quite simply one of the most popular genres of film that we have. The creation of faraway places and futuristic technology seems to be exactly what the medium of film was designed to create. Sci-fi on film has been around for as long as there have been movies. But which ones are the best? Figuring that out is...
Futurama review: Hulu's new revival is pure comfort TV (www.avclub.com)
The show is not here to challenge or surprise you—and that's just fine by us.
Choose Your Own MisAdventure: Let's Write the Worst, Cheesiest Scifi Story - one reply at a time.
I'll start:...
Erin Macdonald: Putting the Science in Science Fiction - Eos (eos.org)
The “Julia Child of science” makes science accessible through pop culture.
From Imgur - Get your Zardoz on! (i.imgur.com)
I love Zardoz and I will DIE on this hill.
What's your favorite sci-fi movie/ book / videos game quote?
Mine is...
Favorite Scifi Artists - GO!
Here are mine:...
Silicon Valley's latest hype: Eyeball-scanning silver orbs to confirm you're human (www.npr.org)
This was great the first time I saw it, when it was called 'Minority Report.'