StarTalk Podcast: Creating Science Fiction, with Gale Anne Hurd

"The Terminator," "The Walking Dead," "Aliens," and a lot more. Those are just some of the producing credits for this week’s main guest on StarTalk Radio. Neil deGrasse Tyson sits down with producer-extraordinaire Gale Anne Hurd to explore what it takes to bring great science fiction to life. Neil is joined by comic co-host Chuck Nice, science fiction expert Jason Ellis, PhD, and volcanologist Janine Krippner, PhD.
Because science fiction comes in many different forms and through many different avenues, there are many ways to get into it. You’ll learn how Gale’s childhood love of Marvel comic books and science fiction novels translated into a career “making what she likes to see.” She tells us how she served as a science fiction consultant to her local library to make sure their stock was up to date. Jason shares why not being able to see Star Wars in the theater sparked a rebellious love for science fiction.
You’ll hear about the history of science fiction and how it combines the STEM fields and the humanities. We debate if science fiction informs the future of every technological invention. You’ll find out about a lawsuit H.G Wells brought upon military figureheads because he claimed they stole his idea from one of his science fiction stories. Explore using science fiction as social commentary. Discover more about the famous kiss between Captain Kirk and Lt. Uhura, and how William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols purposely flubbed takes to make sure it stayed in the episode.
We take a deep dive into "Dante’s Peak" as volcanologist Janine Krippner stops by to share her take on the film. She explains why she thinks it’s still the best volcano movie even with its flaws. Gale gives us a behind-the-scenes look on how she fought for even more scientific realism to be in the film but encountered pushback from the studio. Neil also confronts Gale on the famous scientific inaccuracies of "Armageddon." Chuck shares his love for "The Expanse," we discuss "Interstellar," and Neil tells us about his involvement in "The Europa Report."
Lastly, you’ll also find out the differences between creating science fiction for television and film. According to Hugo Gernsback, the father of science fiction, sci-fi should be 75% romance and 25% science - is that still the goal? All that, plus, Jason caps it off with a story on how he was criticizing the film "Sunshine" right in front of director Danny Boyle’s family.
This episode originally aired on May 30, 2019.
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About StarTalk:
Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up!
#StarTalk #NeilDeGrasseTyson #GaleAnnHurd

[@JavierVegaPerry]

Every time i see a StarTalk video and Neil starts laughing i just see him as a kid having fun in a grown up body, this is the kind of fun most of us have when we do things we like, sometimes we lose a part of this, and just as an spectator i recall so many memories of having this kind of fun with my closest friends...Neil, this is why you engage with your audience, Chuck is great too, and you can call him a comedian and all, but with time he has become more and more scientifically literate, he's definitely not dumb. I hope StarTalk keeps going for many years more, and nurture all our scientific, curious and fun side for a long, long time.

[@earthgirl8917]

I was about to write a very similar comment haha. A grown-up kid is still a kid; when I watch them two I feel like they found each other to have fun like old childhood friends.

[@Joe-xo4yg]

Amen 👍 Oops 🙏 🙃

[@economicinfo823]

aaaaaaammmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnn

[@TwinsenR]

FINALLY The Expanse gets mentioned. Now if we can just get Neil and Chuck to review "The Science of the Expanse". I would be satisfied for the year.

[@Ketraar]

Bump this up until it gets noticed.

[@zeljjko70766]

love Expanse ..i was so worried in case they cancel but now i can sleep tight :)

[@hadleys.4869]

Byron Reid I also love The Expanse. I hope it goes for a long time.

[@Lolraphael]

I'd love to see that. Gimme Titanfall 3 and a startalk Episode about the expanse and I'm ready to lay down in my grave

[@TwinsenR]

@@Lolraphael Don't think it's going to happen...it's been THREE YEARS since I posted that comment. :(

[@crodd92]

I love the expanse, highly recommend that show!

[@Ketraar]

Yes, cant recommend it enough, its the best SciFi out there.

[@johnyepthomi892]

I know. And I found it one day while I was looking for a new series to watch. It was a big decision because I don't want to commit and the be disappointed. But I took a dive a watched it. I love it. Beautiful and very relevant.

[@erixouther]

Man, chuck nice is literally PERFECT for this. Power power.

[@IchigoKurosaki3119]

I love the many many bits neil and chuck have during every podcast.

[@miloreavis1125]

i randomly found The Unlisted on netflix and watched the trailer over and over again and FINALLY watched it and WOW!!! it is amazing an sci fi tv series!

[@IceJackal1984]

Neil, do a show on TV series The Expanse

[@GENZGAMER_]

Yessss 🙂!!!!!

[@gornes2403]

@@GENZGAMER_ its a must!

[@chacdogful]

Without chuck......

[@TheReferrer72]

@@chacdogful With chuck

[@zaprese]

Good idea. One of the best shows and books ever.

[@johnyepthomi892]

It's amazing to see Chuck getting more and more refined. Keep it going !!!

[@annikabrownfield9712]

That needed to be three times longer!

[@EmpyreanLightASMR]

Agreed, they barely scratched the surface. It's an awesome topic. Michio Kaku loves referencing movies in all his books. It helps, it makes the reader feel like they know where the scientist is coming from since we aren't all astronauts, but we've all seen space movies :)

[@ktrishan3165]

Who needs a Startalk show on Anime🤩🤩!!

[@pratikraut6354]

My eyes just glitter when I see a notification of new video from this channel. ❤

[@runatn2537]

i can see , Chuck improvising day by day with Neil . Keep it up chuck , always love both of you , both of you already change my life so much . Thanks

[@krzysztofbandyk168]

If StarTalk has a narrative arc then Chuck is the protagonist.

[@bimmergeezer]

Wonderful and fun video. And once again Chuck Nice proved what an intelligent guy he is!

[@BackgroundExtra]

Robert E Howard Lin Carter L Sprague de Camp these writers took a you to place out of this world in another world Beautiful art of writing True artists from my childhood 🙏💜

[@Miumiu0404]

I love this podcast. I really enjoyed the morbid episode.

[@Renallis]

Great episode all! I said The Expanse to lol also a great show! :D

[@gregorylifanov8067]

Am I the only one that cried like a baby during Interstellar? I felt like it was a perfect mix of science and emotion.

[@AndrewNiccol]

That movie is so stupid, I laugh all the way through.

[@AMikeStein]

I loved interstellar, the fact they had Kip Thorne do the science and consulted for it shows the depth they were willing to go to make it as accurate as they could. Also creating the black hole which scientists now base what they look like off of says something.

[@taemanai5887]

The universe curves back on itself. I'm watching Niel's Star Talk sponsored by Niel's Master Class!

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

I always enjoy the interviews he has on this show! NDT rocks!

[@OGMrWayne]

Its just chuck I wish wasn't there

[@animatedfun1803]

Science popularizer such as Neil Tyson is bad for science

[@macgyver4269]

Great show guys

[@christophersexton3608]

Great show, always nice to take a break and talk about how science fiction plays a part in encouraging how current technology could play a part in future advances. I’ve never heard you talk about it, but the movie “Oblivion,” a must see!... and probably a real account of what first contact might be?!?

[@2MANYWWWWWWWWWWWWS4U]

He always has Chuck for the comedic relief... but he's 10× funnier!!!

[@marcusanderson9042]

21:58 High praise, from Caesar. Chuck Nice slays. : )

[@istvansipos9940]

we need a (kinda) Bad Boys movie with Neil and Chuck. the universe needs it!

[@LostConcept]

Hello, thanks my planet guy! SCIFI is fun, and Red Rising is my favorite series right now; I'm in the middle of book 5 of that series by Pierce Brown.

[@FPVREVIEWS]

We all know the real star of this show is Chuck. He holds it all together with his unmatched wit. I want to see a chuck Nice show, with Niel as a guest.

[@JohnBare747]

The Mote in God's Eye! One of my favorite Sci-Fi books of all time.

[@zeljjko70766]

i watched Interstellar at least 3 times..absolute gem

[@dragoninthewest1]

I am so happy Chuck has watched The Expanse.

[@ridwansetiadi8393]

As a casual Anime Fan, I agree that characters in anime talk, explain, e.t.c in their own mind a lot. 😂 I love when Sci-Fi movie makes differences, which somehow problematic or even taboo in real word, unimportant because there are bigger threats to overcome.

[@cloudrouju526]

I can’t wait to watch Dr. Tyson’s review of The Wondering Earth. I’m guessing half of his hair will be pulled out!

[@UN_Banished]

Hi Neil Tyson I’m a kid who watches you show and is a fan of your show Cosmos and Let me just say it was amazing this is what helped me get into space,science and so much history and I would like to thank you for being the person you are I’ve never been so interested in a single person in my life I own my own telescope and have seen the moon and Jupiter and 4 of its moons what I mean is I just love your shows and the facts you’ve made and if you don’t mind I’d like to ask some questions 1.Why did you become a astronomer? 2.What was the first planet you saw though a telescope 3.What do you think is the our existence is in the universe if their are so many other planets? 4.Is there life on other planets in and out of our solar system? 5.Do Enceladus and Europa Have life based on the information we’ve gathered. 6.And lastly what are your thoughts on life?

[@francisjohnson665]

When I was, maybe 7 years old , there was a TV show , called The Big Show . I saw my first scary UFO and Alien show on that . Scared the shit out of me . I had dreams about that until after I married. Compared to the movies now , it was like a raindrop in the ocean . I expect because I was young and my first UFO and Alien show, I am 72years old now , and remember it like it was yesterday. I can watch all the absolutely amazing scifi movies now and never think about them again. 🤣🤣

[@StarFinderWebb]

Again love you Neil. Named my son Edison astro Tyson hallman. Keep being an educator till the day your atoms meet the Cosmo's

[@StarFinderWebb]

Didnt name him after neil because I wanted him to he neil lol I named him after a human I respect. Because he a role model worth living up to. Don't like it then buh humbug .

[@mitch4080]

Agents Rants buh humbug he shall be thee greatest Short-bus Operator in history

[@gornes2403]

your son will hate u one day for that most impractical name ever but until then enjoy it lol

[@chacdogful]

gornes accurate...what was this guy and more importantly, what was his wife thinking haha

[@krzysztofbandyk168]

I understand Edison Hallman and Edison T. Hallman but why the astro?

[@technophile419]

My favorite part is when they interrupt the guests after asking them a question before they can answer.

[@BackgroundExtra]

Asimov i read when i was 12 That was amazing 🙏

[@wyrdewyn]

One of my English electives in high school, back in the 80s, was a course on science fiction and fantasy lit. (:

[@sumans7620]

Spin that Wheel!!

[@daniellundberg2875]

I love that Chuck mentioned anime, because it works just fine, and the whole thing is that we don't do it in the west.

[@Constantinesis]

Interesting talk! Lets not forget there is a reason for these movies are called Science-Fiction and not just Science. But still you are raising a good point about how nowadays movies tend to be more scientifically true. I think its not easy to to that when you make a movie about the future. You are either a prophet, a futurist or just someone with a great imagination.

[@BackgroundExtra]

The Conan pockets where also my favorite in the 80thees Master writers of a fantasy story 🙏👐👐👐👐💜

[@PMW3]

"At least we knew that we were braking those laws" I'm going to use that if I ever get pulled over

[@sweiland75]

breaking LOL

[@foetaltreborus2017]

Reading The Expanse & watching the amazing series just exploded in my mind on the present people in space , since I watched the moon landing in 69 ..it just died a slow death but Expanse just went WOW !

[@jorrellrichardson3181]

Prodigious producer of this particular product

[@sandeebrooke5623]

My first film was Fantasia. I made grandfather read all the Disney people who made the movie ❤

[@praneetk1991]

Speaking of sunshine, you guys should check out this Korean movie called, "Wandering Earth".

[@G5349]

It's actually chinese. Based on a novel written by Liu Cixin, who also wrote the 3 body problem trilogy.

[@ZeroOskul]

I spent years trying to write scifi that would satisfy me. I had to learn some science. Now I'm working on physical geometry.

[@GoatzAreEpic]

cool story bro

[@ZeroOskul]

@@GoatzAreEpic See my video "Pirates of the Dirac Sea Supplemental Christmas Special" from last month for an actual story, if you like. Or my short film from 11 years ago, "The Tesseract" This reply is not SPAM, I am responding to another comment and sharing scifi based around real science, so it does fit the topic, upholds the discussion, and insults nobody; and I am selling nothing.

[@slater4765]

Love you neil

[@timcarder2170]

*Piers Anthony* , and *Fred Saberhagen* are two other amazing, and prolific authors, from back in the day along with, *Henlein* and *Asimov* and *Bradbury* . I read almost every genre, but do have an affinity for *sci-fi* and *fantasy* , Including the *post apocalyptic* novels from the likes of *James Axler* and *David Robbins* , as well as *near future* setting novels like *J.D. Robb's "In Death"* collection. So many, amazing writers out there, with their own niches, I could probably list a hundred or more suggestions (without even suggesting any of their books)

[@TwinsenR]

Better 4th than never!

[@fixxxery2k]

OMG, please watch the expanse!

[@zaprese]

Neil. Watch and talk about the Expanse.

[@petersemmens7398]

You Sir, are an inspirational and important gift to the world. When I saw you had a sextant on your shelf; well U DA Man. Thankyou. P

[@BenjiSun]

yep, i can definitely attest to volcanic "ash" being horrible crap. had it falling on me, my camera, and my rental car while i went to visit 2 active volcanos in Kyushu. Mt. Aso and Mt. Sakurajima. at Sakurajima it actually hurt like tiny hale pellets coming down, and took me a good hour to slowly brush off my camera lens which was completely covered by the stuff.

[@johnfarris6152]

With what they do to perfectly good books, it doesn't surprise me.

[@daviddavids2884]

at 30:28, jeezuss, even neil screws up, and says "Water"

[@Robert_McGarry_Poems]

Chuck: Mr Nice, Chuck Nice. Did you just compliment yourself? Chuck: I was doing the Bond thing...

[@WheelsOfDeath]

“Volcanic Doomy-bits,” HAS to be a/the new term for volcanic debris!

[@480pilot]

Guys! Your running over folks again. That said, this was fun!

[@the83rdtrombonist60]

Look y'all... you can't say "Ok, Google" when making these videos. It's setting our phones off.

[@jorrellrichardson3181]

Yea mine 2

[@IMAX]

LOLOLOL, when Chuck said it, I closed my eyes & said dammit Chuck...

[@617prettyboy]

I listen to startalk while driving to work. Lol luckily I was at a light.

[@johnchapman2307]

All I'm saying is you guys announced that you were gonna do sports every other week, and I'm so glad that has not held.

[@economicinfo823]

Usually films take less than a year to make, not 2 MABYE 3 no ONE maybe TWO. Ps: not hating love this show 💜💜💜

[@RayRay-zt7bj]

At 14:55 Cortana got jealous after Chuck left her out.

[@mosknows]

I would love for them to talk about HBO Watchmen..... Watchmen does everything their talking about...

[@davidneel8327]

Volcanos and weather. Check out the year without Summer. In the previous year there was a volcano the erupted in the are of Southeast Asia that caused extreme cold in the NE. US the following year.

[@areliablesource2848]

The most frequent point in which I get pissed off at a SciFi movie; hearing sound effect in the vacuum of space. I am watching (streaming) the Star Trek series on CBS.com; and what pops up, sounds within the vacuum of space. Bummer.

[@thedude7726]

Long live master neil

[@JamesSmith-rf8wo]

42:35 LMAO !!!

[@GOCrannell]

You're forgetting the movie "Dreamscape"!!

[@workingguy6666]

I'm really hoping this podcast is going to cover just how many laws of physics are FOLLOWED in "The Expanse" - otherwise, this would be a January 2020 podcast referencing old-school sci-fi material, and that just isn't what it's about anymore (for adults). 37:56 ! They mention it!

[@basicrockandmorsongs8034]

Neil, I have a question. Think about why it us this question. A space heater..., two. Does the air heat more quickly at higher temperatures ?

[@sandeebrooke5623]

When I see movies I also want to know who did what to create the film. ❤ I love films❤

[@anniemorgan248]

Chuck what about the orig Star Trek episode with Frank Gorshin with the story line about the two color faces.

[@peterdollins3610]

Pro Haldane was also a commmunist who stayed over at our House when my Parents began the Taunton Communist Branch before the Second World War & through the War. A gossip note. He took Indian Citizenship after and helped set up an Indian University after the War.

[@alexboavida]

It's sad to see how many ppl failed to realize the point of Sunshine

[@909sickle]

Don't be spontaneously asking questions, Chuck! We let it happen organically! Totally organic pre-planned questions from a list, only.

[@davidchambliss5909]

I'd like to see a rundown with John Varley, who wrote the Gaea trilogy, "Titan", "Wizard" and "Demon" - with consultation of a NASA engineer to get the physics right..

[@scottcornford1644]

hot darn clicks on Neil Degrass Tyson video only to get an ad for Neil Degrass Tyson masterclass KZbin knows how to sell

[@ancientpoet6958]

Chuck always got jokes he pulls it out of thin air

[@NSE_Foden]

For a Sci-Fi TV show showing Ice Volcanoes check out the Classic Doctor Who episodes “Planet of the Daleks”. This is set on a planet called Spiridon and the Doctor uses the Ice Volcanoes to defeat the Daleks.

[@JimFortune]

If you read the story, Wells didn't really invent a tank. It was more an AFV with rifle ports.

[@sandeebrooke5623]

Arthur C Clark in 1933 wrote a story about people who would go to a machine to get some kind of funds. ACC invented the ATM 😮

[@StageGeek]

I don’t think Wells sued Swinton for the invention of the tank. There was some serious debate going on between them, eventually things got too heated. Then, Swinton decided to sue Wells for libel.

[@Anti-HyperLink]

I've never seen the food people listed. Also, Endgame's credits...

[@keithbutler9466]

The Martian left me with a totally different view of mashed potatoes. Thank you, science.😆

[@frostfirei]

I loved the Twilight Zone, I watched the entire series, from the first episode.

[@5353Jumper]

Black Mirror reminds me of a modern Twilight Zone.

[@johnyepthomi892]

The expanse Fan here.

[@johnchapman2307]

Your masterclass sounds good but I already learned how to think from listening to you. I catch myself ruining things in my head from picking them apart. I said "the only sound my dog makes us sighing" because she sighs a lot, but then I was like well no her paws make sound. Her sniffing makes a sound. Shit like that.

[@johnchapman2307]

Just over analyzing lol that's how you seem to think.

[@ancientpoet6958]

Oh wow I didn’t know that good information.... I didn’t know that was the first kiss on start track.... makes sense.... a way to bring culture together

[@bujoun76]

I think they missed the point of "Interstellar". Everything they said wasn't in it - was actually in it...

[@Dinkleslurp]

Anybody here knows how old the interview with Gale Anne Hurd Is?

[@jasonandrews2770]

lets go.

[@JaskoonerSingh]

I thought Falling Water was cancelled in 2018?

[@UtraVioletDreams]

Is it me or are audio and video out of synchronisation?

[@pwuk]

When Eyjafjallajökull was kicking off on 2010 and stopped most of European sue travel wasn't there a reduction in co2

[@ASMRMoto]

Dear Neil, in theory if I Im looking at a star 10 light years-away and I teleported to that star would I be there at 10 years in the past on that new star system because it would take light 10 years to get there. If so, would I be able to immediately teleport back to our solar system and it'd be 10 years in the past because from that stars perspective the light that is coming from our solar system is 10 years in the past

[@Anti-HyperLink]

I mean, volcanoes --> vulcanology --> Vulcan the God of fire and blacksmithing (and volcanoes I guess) --> Vulcan the species from Star Trek --> Sci-Fi. 🎤 | V

[@kflicted]

[@maximusaugustus6823]

cool beans

[@Russia-bullies]

As most wildlife are not capable of romance,what makes you think e. t. is capable of it?