Advice on sci-fi screenplays to read

[Dan]

Originally Posted by ATB

Passengers by Jon Spaihts.

I got a special kinda love for that script.

Agreed. 'Passengers' is definitely the best (unproduced) of the genre I've read - v strong characterisation.

It's pretty much the only sci-fi script not affiliated with an existing property that I could see getting made and doing well (if, obviously, done well...)

For sci-fi terminology, you're really best off with a Star Trek series (I'd suggest Voyager as a personal fave, but they all have their strengths).

Also, once you get a feel for the language etc., trust your instincts to develop it in your own unique way - if English is your second language, this may turn out to be a great advantage here, as you'll have an innately different way of putting those aspects together.

Good luck.

[christopher jon]

Agreed. 'Passengers' is definitely the best (unproduced) of the genre I've read - v strong characterisation.

Is that the one that's been around for years and had most of it's good ideas pillaged by other movies?

[Margie Kaptanoglu]

Gattaca is a great sci-fi film. The script can be found by Googling it, and probably has a good amount of technobabble.

[ATB]

Originally Posted by christopher jon

Is that the one that's been around for years and had most of it's good ideas pillaged by other movies?

You might be thinking of Killing on Carnival Row.

Passengers is relatively recent.

[Recreant]

Passengers remains the only script to leave me a little misty-eyed by the end.

[christopher jon]

You might be thinking of Killing on Carnival Row.

I couldn't get into that screenplay. I might have been in a weird mood at the time since everybody else seems to love it. I'll have to give it another try.

[Bobby Dazzler]

If only for s#!ts and giggles, read an early George Lucas draft of The Star Wars from 1974.

Highlights include:

- Han Solo is a "huge green skinned monster with no nose and large gills."
- "May the force of others be with you".
- The Luke Skywalker character (called Justin Valor in this draft) "making eyes" and flirting with a "cute young aide". "The young warrior pinches her ass" before taking her into a computer closet for a quickie.
- Luke/Justin punches Princess Zara/Leia "square on the jaw and knocks her [out] cold".

It's all over the shop...

[Development Hell]

Fahrenheit 451 - Frank Darabont
Logan's Run - Christopher McQuarrie

[christopher jon]

read an early George Lucas draft of The Star Wars from 1974.

And people wonder why every studio passed on it.

[Bobby Dazzler]

Originally Posted by christopher jon

And people wonder why every studio passed on it.

Haha!

Anyone who would've said yes to those early drafts would've been out on their arse.

Then put in a straightjacket...