1)In a Sci-Fi Thriller, What is more important?
(list in order of importance, 1 being the most important)
1 - Good interesting storyline
2 - Bringing out the audiences emotions (fear, etc.)
3 - Likable Characters
4 - Plot Twists
5 - Good believable acting
6 - Realistic Special effects
7 - Props, costumes and scenery
Notes: Not ordinarily a sci-fi fan myself, but if one has an original enough story (say, humanity has gone infertile and no children have been born in 18 years, or a killer cyborg is sent after an ordinary woman and will not stop ever until she's dead) it'll hook me in, so yeah, think that goes at No 1. Characters may not be likeable, but we oughta have some empathy (e.g. Silent Running, where the hero murders his colleagues early on, and we understand completely). Dodgy special effects can be forgiven, if there's enough imagination behind what they're trying to create (see pretty much any Red Dwarf episode).
2)Which is the scariest out of:
(Pick One)
- Giant Spiders
- Zombies
- Vampires
- Evil Robots
- Terrorists
- Freak-Weather
- Dragons
Notes:
Like the first reply, I reckon zombies - if they're done right. Not so wedded to the shuffling mindless type where they're just nameless extras, but there's something very scary about creatures that used to be human, reduced to primal hunger 'n that.
3)What is your view on fictional documentaries?
As comedies, they can be great (if only to string funny scenes together without the story needing an excuse to jump between them), but for more serious topics, the device can wear thin. Liked District 9 a lot, but then it pretty much stopped pretending to be a documentary after the first 20 minutes, and concentrated on telling the story. Which was good.
4) What is your view on Point of View films? (Cloverfield, Blair Witch Project, Etc.)
Cloverfield worked for me, as I liked the characters, but I know people who didn't, and hated it. May depend whose point of view we're getting. Doesn't matter if we're watching the world explode, if we're seeing it through the eyes of a moron I'm going to get bored.
5)What would be more annoying for you, the viewer, to see in a film…?
A character interacting with a very unrealistic looking creature?
Or
A character never actually seen interacting with the creature on camera?
Notes:
The character never interacting at all. Either way, it's broken the illusion, but at least unrealistic creatures can be fun. Thinking of the alien in Dark Star that's just a balloon with feet. And it's cool.
6)In your view, in a film when the world is coming to an end, people should…
Stand together and fight the threat?
Or
Go crazy, riot and fight each other?
Notes: Crazy, all the way. Would like to think in a real-life scenario there'd be a few noble heroic souls keeping the torch going, but let's face it...they'll probably be the minority.
7)Finally, Audiences love a…
- Happy Ending?
- Sad Ending?
- Surprise Me!
Notes: Happy ending - but if it's actually going to make me happy, I'll need to be a bit surprised too. Endings where the characters are happy, but have done nothing to earn it or got what they want in a predictable way, just make me sad. Or angry.
