Creating the outline of a Space Opera

Science-fiction is heavily laden with context rather than plot. Those series that feature good plot and good, well-thought out character stand out from the crowd, even when the cinematography and set are not up-to professional standards.

I like the idea of something that stands out. Think BSG (either actually, but more the reimagined series), Lexx, Firefly, Red Dwarf.

Rather than coming up with a central concept, I'm thinking of approaching it from the top down instead. So for this series, I'm going to write the rules first and then see what the series or the movie could look like. I don't want to choose opposites for all the stock characters, plot devices, etc. Lexx already mixed a lot of those up, providing the viewers with 4 different major characters:

a cowardly anti-hero
a dead assassin
a sex-slave who's now half-lizard
a robot head infatuated with the sex-slave

The Rules

Here are some of the rules that I've been thinking about setting up for a series:

1) Plot Immunity

Characters will have plot immunity for a maximum of one series. This can be renewed per series, but viewers should not expect a character to last throughout. This fits with actors committing for a series and also allows for actors to break-off after a series for other commitments.

2) No time-travel

I don't want any time-travel plots. They reek of lack of creativity. I'll listen if anybody comes up with a great script involving time-travel but the odds are stacked against me accepting it in the first series. I'd prefer the focus of writers to be on other plots.

3) Multi-planet Galaxy

The series will involve travel between planets under a variety of governments and alliances.

4) FTL

Faster than light travel will exist. Ok, perhaps it isn't hard sci-fi but for a first sci-fi series that doesn't really bother me too much.

5) No Aliens

There will be alien life-forms, but no aliens. Where do I draw the line? Well, I expect plants and small animals to exist on other planets. I just don't want any dodgy alien characters or humans with knobbly heads.

6) No Reset Button

Characters may end up better or worse than they were at the end of an episode. They may affect their environment detrimentally.

7) Sequence

If it's a movie, then I like the idea of the Sequence Writing. It allows for short episodes to have their own internal structure and also fit into a full feature-length movie.

8) Narrator

I like the idea of a narrator, even one that's involved in the on-screen action as well as sitting outside of it. The closest I can think of is Che in Evita. This concept would require some more thought but I am attracted by the idea.

9) Non-US-centric

A lot of the series out there are based too much on the US. That's understandable when you think where the bulk of the series are made. Maybe I've seen too much Space: Above and Beyond recently :-)

10) Plot Generator

I'm undecided on this. It does make for easier script writing in the longer term. It would have to be more original than what's currently around. Space Opera in itself is a plot generator including different planets and technologies.

a) Some ideas for a plot generator that fit the bill:

Bounty hunter - been done as major character in Space Hunter and episode characters in Firefly, BSG, Star Wars. I didn't think it was done well enough in Space Hunter so there's still opportunity there.
Trader - been done as major character in Star Wars, Firefly/Serenity
Smuggler - been done as major character in Star Wars, Firefly/Serenity
Soldier - been done in Space: Above and Beyond, Star Wars, BSG
Detective - Dr Who
Mercenary - in lots of books Janissaries or Hammers Slammers
Thief

Those are all a bit macho and male-oriented. Even if the character is played by a woman, the role would probably appeals to male viewers. They also allows for lots of action in each episode.

b) Service Sector

Maybe we should look more at the service sector for a different role, after all many of those roles should still exist in the future. These would be less likely to act as a plot generator though.

Teacher
Nurse
Therapist
Civil Servant
Facilitator/Mediator - just writing what I know about, no ego.
Trouble Shooter
Priest
Scientist
Professor

c) Other roles

And again there are other jobs and roles in the world

Janitor
Traffic Warden
Dinner lady (is there a PC term for this?)
Security Guard (done in Lexx albeit being a cowardly security guard)

11) No Faith

I'm not interested in getting involved in the concept of faith. That doesn't mean that religion won't exist in the series nor will the series deny existence of any gods. But in as much the same way as Friends or Neighbours aren't spiritual, there's no reason this series will be either.

12) Space Warfare doesn't need to be Naval

I like the carrier concept in BSG and a few other series but space warfare doesn't have to be based on naval warfare. It could be made more interesting if there was a limit to the size of spaceship so that carriers couldn't exist. Alternatively the series could focus on the smaller scale of warfare (think the ground units in Hammers Slammers). Or better still, not focus on war at all.

13) Space Opera Noir

I like the distinction of Space Opera Noir. It's a new one on me. I like the idea that you don't have to have heroes who are god through and through or evil villains who are thoroughly evil. People are human complete with their failings.

Plot Resources

Some other resources for developing plots (I've ignored the multitude of sci-fi plot generators)

Ansible's always a good place to look at for what not to do.

Raygun Revival

Basic plots in literature

Information for formatting screenplays.

Or a comparison for Hard Sci-fi, there's Orion's Arm Universe Project