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Feb. 16, 2005
Creating Science Fiction Villainy
Did you try the Science Fiction Villains quiz? Some of the evil plots that villains invented were pretty weird. Writers who create such villains work hard to come up with exciting, evil ideas. These ideas need to be close enough to reality to scare viewers or readers. Short of becoming an evil genius yourself, how is this done?
You guessed it. It's all about the root of science fiction, the "what if. . . ?" question that we use to inspire a story idea.
In the case of a villain's evil plot, writers ask that question in a specific way: "What if this real science or technology were used for an evil purpose?" Then, they speculate how it might be done, starting with what might be dangerous about that science or technology, then letting their imaginations fly.
Depending on the audience and the writer, this could lead to something as silly as a vacuum cleaner designed to clean a house of everyone inside. Or it could be something close to a real danger and so terrifyingly possible that it helps warn us to care about the proper use of science.
Challenge: Devise an Evil Plot!
Imagine you are writing the script for a movie featuring an evil villain. Let's call him Dr. Nullpoint. You've been asked to come up with his ultimate evil plot and design the weapon or threat that he's going to use against humanity. The producer of your movie hands you the following article describing a new science idea she wants you to use. How will you use it? What do you think might happen in the story? That's all up to you.
From Science News, Vol. 166, Dec. 18 & 25, 2004, p. 400.
- The science idea in the article (above) may be familiar to you. If not, take a moment to find information about it. Be sure you understand what this article means before you try to devise a plot from it. You don't have to be an expert, but the more you know, the better your evil plot idea will be. (Screenwriters and authors will not only do this type of research themselves but also ask experts. Discuss it with others you know.) Focus on how the new material described in the article could be used. For example, textiles can be used to make anything from clothes to signs to seat belts to hot air balloons.
- Decide the kind of movie this will be. It could be funny. In that case, your evil plot could be something your audience will know couldn't possibly work. It could be an epic adventure. In that case, your evil plot could be something on a very large scale, perhaps a threat to Earth itself. Or you could do a small-scale movie—perhaps a threat facing one town or even one person. It's up to you.
- Create Dr. Nullpoint's evil plot in writing or as a flowchart.
Send your Evil Plot to us at challenge@snkids.com. Please include your first name, age, city or town, and state. If you are under 13 years old, get your parent's permission to write to us. You may be eligible to win a prize.
Going Beyond
Here are some other aspects for you to think about when you're creating an evil plot for a movie:
- What special effects will you need in the movie? For example, will there be explosions?
- Whoops! You've just finished your list of special effects, and your producer cuts your budget in half. Quick! Rewrite your evil plot so it needs fewer effects shots.
- Your producer sends you a frantic e-mail. The type of movie you've picked has to be changed. It's too much like one already being made by another company. Quick! Rewrite your evil plot.
This week's recommended scifi books
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