Mini-Series SCI-FI tells an epic story in a limited number of TV episodes. Increasingly in recent years, streaming services like Amazon Prime have produced big budget adaptations of Original Stories and Classic works of Science Fiction.
V — (1983)
V is a two-part American SCI-FI miniseries, written and directed by Kenneth Johnson — concerning Aliens known as the “Visitors” trying to gain control of Earth.
Inspired by Sinclair Lewis’ antifascist novel It Can’t Happen Here (1935), Johnson wrote an adaptation titled “Storm Warnings” in 1982. Initially rejected by NBC as too “cerebral” for the average viewer, the fascists were recast as man-eating Aliens in order to capitalize on the popularity of Sci-Fi franchises like Star Wars.
With the Visitors’ swastika-like emblem, their SS-like uniforms, and their German Luger-like laser weapons, the miniseries became an allegory of Nazism. A youth auxiliary movement called the “Friends of the Visitors” has similarities to the Hitler Youth. The miniseries’ portrayal of human interaction with the Visitors bears resemblance to Occupied Europe during World War II, with some citizens choosing collaboration, while others join underground resistance movements.
TAKEN — (2002)
Taken (from executive producer Steven Spielberg) is an American SCI-FI miniseries that first aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in December 2002.
The story takes place from 1944 to 2002 and follows the lives of three families: the Crawfords, who seek to cover up the Roswell crash and the existence of Aliens; the Keyses, who are subject to frequent experimentation by the Aliens; and the Clarkes, who sheltered one of the surviving Aliens from the crash.
As a result of the decades-long storyline, not a single actor or character appears in every episode of the series, though the voice of Dakota Fanning (who narrates as well as stars as Allie Keys) is in every episode.
ASCENSION — (2014)
Ascension is a 2014 SCI-FI mystery drama miniseries which aired on Syfy in the United States. It consisted of six 43 minute episodes, grouped into three chapters of two episodes each.
The premise of the show is that in 1963 President John F. Kennedy and the U.S. government, fearing the Cold War will escalate and lead to the destruction of Earth, launched the Ascension, an Orion-class spaceship, to colonize a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, assuring the survival of the human race
The story begins 51 years into their 100 year journey (i.e., in the present), as they approach the point of no return (when the ship would flip and begin the deceleration to their final destination, after which time they would have insufficient fuel to initiate a return trip). The action begins with the mysterious murder of a young woman — the first homicide since the Ascension was launched.
The investigation causes some of the ship’s crew to question the true nature of their mission.
STATION ELEVEN — (2021)
Station Eleven is an American post-apocalyptic dystopian SCI-FI miniseries created by Patrick Somerville based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Emily St. John Mandel. The miniseries premiered on HBO Max on December 16, 2021 and ran for ten episodes.
The Premise: 20 years after a flu pandemic resulted in the collapse of civilization, a group of survivors who make their living as traveling performers encounter a violent cult led by a man whose past is unknowingly linked to a member of the troupe.
According to a NY Times Review: “Station Eleven focuses less on survival than on how the human spirit, as expressed through art, insists on thriving. At times dark and heartbreaking, it’s also luminous, wondrous, even funny — the most uplifting show about life after the end of the world that you are likely to see.”
THE SURVIVAL TRILOGY
Created to empower Women and People of Color, the TRILOGY sheds light on racial injustice — as it explores the human connection to Ancient Aliens through the eyes of Native Mythology. Its universal appeal begs for adaptation — as an eight-part SURVIVAL Mini-Series on Netflix or Amazon.
Book 1 A GLEAM OF LIGHT explores Native American Mythology as UNA, half-Hopi bureaucrat from D.C., is summoned to Hopiland. Her connection to the white man’s world makes her uniquely qualified to help solve a mystery linked to an ancient discovery, as she tries to reconnect with her roots and cultural identity.
Book 2 THE DRAGON’S GLARE explores Asian American Mythology with UNA on special assignment to investigate unexplained violence in Chinatown, New York City. She discovers a deep-seated cultural connection with Tibetan immigrants as Ancient Chinese wisdom battles a threat from Ancient Evil.
Book 3 BEYOND THE WORLD explores African American Mythology as UNA, briefly stranded on her honeymoon adventure in Yosemite, uncovers a UFO mystery that leads to an Alien Conspiracy. Together with teen members of Explorer’s Club from the Kikuyu Tribe, she must track down the source of strange events and fight to save humanity.
Mini-Series SCI-FI has become perhaps the best way to reach today’s fans with sweeping adaptations of epic Sci-Fi stories that matter. As Award-winning Authors of THE SURVIVAL TRILOGY, we’ve been reaching out to emerging Female Filmmakers, hoping one of them will feel Inspired to bring our story to life — for all the world to see!
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