Session description: Over the past several years, the Internet has tangibly changed the way that movies and TV shows are produced and marketed. Blogs will call out ridiculous scientific errors found in stories and the critique can go viral very quickly; therefore, science advising is on the rise in an attempt to add some semblance of plausibility to your favorite flicks. As tools on the web continue to evolve, filmmakers and television creators are finding new ways to connect with and market to their viewers. For some shows, this has meant tapping into the science featured in their content, ranging from an exploration of the roots of the science that has been fictionalized to the expansion of a scientific topic explored in a documentary. In this session, we’ll look at how online video and social networking tools are playing a part in connecting science, Hollywood and its fans.
The session was led by Tamara Krinsky (@tamarakrinsky) and Jennifer Ouellette.
Here’s the session wiki page.
Things getting started at “Science and Entertainment: Beyond Blogging” #scio10
Cool watching scientists and Hollywood types excited about working together in Science Entertainment Exchange video #scio10
Oops, that should be Science *and* Entertainment Exchange #scio10
Hollywood can tell an amazing story (but accuracy and entertainment value are separable) #scio10
Recognizing scientists as creative, telling a compelling story (w/in a framework of certain rules) as conversation opener #scio10
NAS wants to encourage trend toward science themes in entertainment #scio10
Central plot-points vs. light fact-checking can affect accuracy of the science in the entertainment #scio10
Might it also influence how compelling the sci elements are for the audience? #scio10
Story will always win out over real science. (Is it b/c entertainments rely on creating a parallel world to real one?) #scio10
Zombie Science Night sounds like one of the top ten best events ever #scio10
What Hollywood CAN do: inspire kids to want to be scientists, promote pos perceptions of sci/scientists, embed teaching moments #scio10
Hollywood isn’t interested in TEACHING science, though #scio10
Even when little of scientist’s input makes it into movie, forming a lasting relationship (and get hook to make science attractive) #scio10
@sundapp In Soviet Russia, whole zombie thing gets you! #scio10
Adding layers of real science on top of sci fi (in DVD extras, web promotional stuff, etc.) #scio10
Routes Project – multi-platform exploration of genetics & bioethics developed w/Wellcome Trust #scio10
www.routesgame.com, encouraging participating, esp. from younger audience. Also fictional murder mystery #scio10
Game on www.routesgame.com based on spreading infection thru sneezing. I think sprogs would dig it. #scio10
RT @edyong209 I swear watching US ads is like getting punched in the cortex by a hyperactive kid. #scio10
Routes Project multiplatform storytelling aimed at reaching 14- to 19-year-olds where they live #scio10
Wellcome Trust to validate the story Routes Project was trying to tell kids about genetics. How much sci “fits” in the storytelling? #scio10
Work with someone who knows how to do storytelling to use story as vehicle to deliver sci w/out losing audience #scio10
Scientific depth might not be in linear storytelling #scio10
Perceived need to include extras w/DVDs provides point of entry for scientists interested in helping provide good content #scio10
Need something that sells in quick high-concept pitch->scientists as characters w/issues (’cause issues are interesting) #scio10
Henry Gee to makers of sci fi in Hollywood: 40 years have elapsed since you established these storytelling conventions #scio10
@TomLevenson Or did Plato hate drama? (Irony was one of his favorite literary devices.) #scio10
How to explain all the *awful* examples of Hollywood storytelling? (Cf. Transformers, other works of Michael Bay) #scio10
Huge marketing budget as eliminating middle-sized movies betw. blockbusters and small indy films. (Analogy to print communication) #scio10
Closing the loop — scientists involved in movie/marketing, but what abt fans participating by doing science? #scio10
Programs like CSI driving student interests in majors, career paths. Does Hollywood recognize its power? #scio10
Scientists going into consult with agenda->didn’t go well. Need to attend to story, but not filmmaker’s job to have societal impact #scio10
We all want the world to be more altruistic but we all have to eat & Hollywood has v. expensive tastes #scio10
(Every panelist, in every session, seems to love taking a Q from @BoraZ) #scio10
Problematic consult w/ doc filmmakers: 1. how little sci they knew, 2. how uncreative they are, 3. not listening to sci input #scio10
@everydaycloning Well, every session @BoraZ attends. (But I still think there’s more than one of him!) #scio10
Scientist: “You got the seaweed all wrong!” Filmmaker: “Yeah, and fish don’t actually talk!” #scio10
“(Every panelist, in every session, seems to love taking a Q from @BoraZ) #scio10”
Hey, I civilly (or is that politely?) raise my hand just like everyone else ;-
But it is nice to get to ask questions….
Very difficult for me to find a list of your tweets (or any other tweets) useful. I, like you, am slowly discovering twitter, and reading this, I suddenly realize how twitter has a much, much, shorter life than what I already know. Reading the twits of an event is useful when reading “live”, but a few days later, I would much much hope to read a synthesis of your own… Sorry, because, yes, I do know how much work it is… But you are so good at it!