tech tales from the Hollywood backlot

Blade Runner — courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Over the years I’ve interviewed many movie directors, and most (but not all) do their homework when it comes to technology plausibility for their plots.

However, when they don’t, I have a few scientists on speed-dial (or know people who do) and like to run scenarios past them, get access to their labs, and generally flesh out the story behind the silver screen. Then I present the director/writer — and sometimes star — with what I’ve found (it doesn’t always go down well) — to ground the story-about-their-movie in sometimes far-off reality.

Here are a few of my favorite interviews over the years:

Ad Astra

Brad Pitt in Ad Astra courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Science Fiction/Hollywood/Labs: Androids (Ridley/Luke Scott)

Michael Fassbender in ALIEN COVENANT courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Science Fiction/Hollywood/Labs: Microbiology (Luke Scott)

Morgan, directed by Luke Scott, courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Science Fiction/Hollywood/Labs: Philip K Dick’s Electric Dreams/VR

Science Fiction/Hollywood/Labs: Lucy (Scarlett Johansson)

Scarlett Johansson in Lucy, directed by Luc Besson, courtesy of Universal Pictures

Science Fiction/Hollywood/Labs: Cloning Consciousness (Keanu Reeves)

Replicas, starring Keanu Reeves, courtesy of Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures

Science Fiction/Hollywood/Labs: Human Stasis (Jennifer Lawrence)

Passengers: courtesy of Sony Pictures

Science Fiction/Hollywood/Labs: SETI (Arrival)

Amy Adams in ARRIVAL courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Science Fiction/Hollywood/Labs: SETI (Independence Day)

courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Science Fiction/Hollywood/Labs: Single Unified Field (Mindgamers)

Mindgamers, courtesy of Terra Mater Film Studios

//ENDS

S.C. Stuart is an award-winning futurist (and sci-fi writer), technology commentator and strategist focusing on AI, DARPA, exoskeletons, NASA, medical/military innovation, robots and virtual humans for companies including 20th Century Fox, DTCC (Wall Street), Four Seasons, Milken Institute, Nano (empowering global human health), New Line Cinema, RAND Corporation, Smithsonian and Sony Pictures. Published in ELLE China, Esquire Latin America, Four Seasons Magazine (global), Mosaic (Morgan Stanley), Singularity Hub and Ziff Davis PCMag.