If so then great, more movies get made where story & acting are what matter. If not then we’ll get more ‘cookie-cutter’ movies which appeal to no-one (except the studios finance execs maybe).

I like indie films, not because they’re ‘indie’ but because they often deal with situations and stories that categorically would not be released by big studios. If they can remain ‘hands-off’ while still using their marketing and distribution muscle then all is good for me.

So, fine, the studios want to put (a tiny bit of) money into these micro-budget films, in the hopes of an obscene pay-day at the end of the exercise. I (sort of) understand where they’re coming from.

But damn it, there are literally hundreds of incredible, brilliant sci-fi books out there, just BEGGING to be made into movies. And yet, no one is going after them.

Arther C. Clarke has a BUNCH of books that would make great films, a few would even make relatively low-budget projects (“Childhood’s End” for example.. I can’t see that film requiring a $100 million+ budget).

While Larry Niven has a BOOKCASE full of fantastic popcorn sci-fi stories that would make great space opera films! Far beyond the likes of Star Wars.

Sure, Hollywood. Go ahead, put some money into these hit-or-miss micro-budget films, in the hopes of a cash grab in the end.

But please! Fire your regular stable of writers and just use the damned books that already exist and make some films with GOOD stories. (and I don’t mean wrist-slasher feel-bad movies like “The Road”.. good as it is, it ain’t my idea of an entertaining afternoon at the movies)