Liu Cixin: Domestic science fiction films focus on special effects and neglect scripts, which is putting the cart before the horse

Recently, science fiction writer Liu Cixin said in an interview that there is a tendency for domestic science fiction films to focus on special effects and neglect scripts, which is putting the cart before the horse. At present, most domestic science fiction films are IP adaptations, lacking original scripts and professional screenwriters familiar with science fiction.

Liu Cixin recently said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that science fiction blurs national and ethnic boundaries and is the most resonant literary genre for readers from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Now, quite a number of Chinese science fiction works have been translated into English, Japanese and other languages ​​and circulated overseas, and the world knows much more about Chinese science fiction than before.

But whether it is science fiction literature or film and television, the most important thing at the moment is to strengthen the creation of original science fiction content. Chinese science fiction should speed up the overall creation level and show more excellent works to the world. Science fiction is closely related to technological development and the development of the times. You must express the issues that all mankind cares about in science fiction novels, rather than just the issues that your nation or country cares about.

Regarding the development of domestic science fiction films and TV series, Liu Cixin said that in addition to creating more influential science fiction literary IPs, it is also necessary to further strengthen creativity. Liu Cixin said that science fiction films and TV series are a creativity-intensive project, part of which comes from the special effects production of the film itself, and the other part comes from the story told by the film.

Liu Cixin believes that there is a tendency for domestic science fiction films and TV series to focus more on special effects and less on scripts, which is putting the cart before the horse. "A truly good story can be successful even without first-class special effects." "Compared with science fiction writers, science fiction screenwriters are even more scarce. The reason why most domestic science fiction films and TV series are currently adapted from IPs and lack original scripts is precisely because there is a lack of professional screenwriters familiar with science fiction."