Finding the Future: A Science Fiction Conversation (2004) (V)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Casey Moore

Genre:

Documentary | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The future will be found soon.

Plot:

For over a century science fiction writers and readers have speculated about where humanity is heading. Now, it almost seems we're living in a world taken straight from the pages of their futuristic fantasies.

Plot Keywords:

Future | Convention | Mundanes | Trekkie | Filk

Cast

Forrest J Ackerman	...	Himself
Catherine Asaro	...	Herself
Ben Bova	...	Himself
David Brin	...	Himself
Lois McMaster Bujold	...	Herself
Jack L. Chalker	...	Himself
Roger Christian
John DeChancie	...	Himself
Cory Doctorow	...	Himself
Bob Eggleton	...	Himself
Leslie Fish	...	Herself
John Flynn	...	Himself
Esther Friesner	...	Herself
James C. Glass	...	Himself
Nancy Kress	...	Herself
Kelly J.A. Lowrey	...	Herself
Michael J. 'Orange Mike' Lowrey	...	Himself
Mike Resnick	...	Himself
Fred Saberhagen	...	Himself
Joan Slonczewski	...	Herself
Larry Vela	...	Himself

Runtime:

USA:105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (RCA Sound System) | Stereo (RCA Sound System)

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Anomalous Entertainment LLC

The most intelligent, literate and, most importantly, respectful look at fandom I've ever seen.

I have to say that, without question, this is the most intelligent, literate and, most importantly, respectful look at fandom I've ever seen in the media. Instead of the standard, "Let's sneer at the geeks" attitude we're forced to endure in everything from the local news, to lame Conan O'Brien jokes, and even the better-known documentary Trekkies, this film asks serious questions about the past, present and future of our favorite genre, from both fans and pros alike. If a few mundanes would sit down and watch, they might discover that "nerds" do indeed possess some intelligence beneath their Klingon foreheads! Aside from the attributes I've already mentioned, this is also one of the most fun movies I've seen in years! Despite being severely handicapped, I attended cons regularly from 1982 to 1998, and they were some of the happiest days of my life. This movie brought it all back: the costumes, the panels, the filking, the impromptu debates in motel corridors, it was like an SF convention in my TV! I even saw some people whom I'd met in years past. When the final credits rolled, my eyes were stinging, because I never wanted it to end. In many ways, Finding the Future reminded me of something I might've seen on (the SCI FI Channel) in its glory days, back before a gang of know-nothing MBAs turned it into a dumping ground for Z-grade horror flicks, and sub-intelligent garbage like Mad Mad House and Tripping the Rift.

True, the editing in Finding the Future can be a bit choppy at times, the background music has a tendency to drown out the speakers, and I would've liked to have heard the opinions of fans other than those on the political left. But when one considers the condescending, almost mean-spirited coverage that fandom usually receives, this is no reason to complain.

Whether it's at a film festival, or its eventual release on DVD, see this movie! Afterwards, contact the producers and tell them what a great job they did. We owe them—big time.