Let’s Talk Worldbuilding
John Ink2Quill
www.ink2quill.com

In so many movies, theater productions and books the world that the story takes place in is so important and under-rated. We notice it in films and theater productions when it is not well done. How many movies have terrible sets, customs and CGI? Quite a few. But. But. But. When it is well done it becomes invisible and is rarely mentioned. Think of movies like “Dune 2021” and “Blade Runner” even “Blade Runner 2049”. These are such well done films with excellent worldbuilding. As a result they aged very well and I would say that they are timeless. I still enjoy “Blade Runner” from time to time. I talk a lot about the Scifi genre but this is true with all genres.

Take the crime, action, drama “Se7en” for example. The dreary world of the detectives in “Se7en” adds to the fear and sense of foreboding in the film. Think also of good stage sets like in the Broadway play “Just In Time”. I loved the sets for that play and the story was so interesting too. Worldbuilding is the unsung hero of storytelling. It often takes an army of talented people tom create most of those worlds and they never really get credit.

Worldbuilding doesn’t have to be extravagant, classical and beautiful. It can be simple. Think of the recent film “Backrooms”. The world of “Backrooms” looks simple, at first glance at least, but the devil is on the details. In this film the viewer has to pay special attention to what appears to be a simple place with a hidden menace. The furniture in the rooms, the automated voice recordings and notes that seem random are in fact clues as to what is going on. There are so many clues and foreshadowing that you should see the film at least twice to fully understand the mystery that are these ‘liminal spaces’. What a truly strange concept and the excellent worldbuilding really adds to the mystery. Hat’s off to the worldbuilding.

There is also the worldbuilding that is less of a mystery and more of what we expect. We could call it ‘classic worldbuilding’ where the viewer is not so much surprised by the world and comfortable in it. I think of the recent film “Project Hail Mary”. The world if this story is Earth, simple enough, and the hero being on a ship sent far from Earth. It is also on an alien ship which is remarkable similar to the Earthship. Just another storytelling element that brings us, the viewer, closer to the alien. At least that’s what I thought. The CGI and sets and locations work well and that is why I think this film will not age quickly. It’s a fine film with simple and deep themes.

One movie franchise that understood the importance of worldbuilding better than most anyone else of their time is the “Star Wars: Series”. They are pioneers that brought us the viewer into a strange and fantastical world of many alien planets and cultures. They really revolutionized the concept of worldbuilding to Hollywood and the world. You cannot mention the idea of worldbuilding and not mention the contributions of the “Star Wars” series. BTW, the “Empire Strikes Back” is my favorite for the simple gall of letting the bad guys actually win once and smear the Rebels and keep them on their toes and not fall into complacency. Realistic no.

Books can have excellent worldbuilding too. Especially the Classics. Think of the classic “Moby Dick: The Whale”, written by Herman Melville. Let me start by saying that I was hesitant to read this classic piece of literature at first because I did not care so much about New England whaling. But when I started reading it I could not put it down. It’s fascinating and what a great story. I did learn about whaling, like how they were able to catch whales that could swim so deep in the ocean. How fascinating. And the craziness aboard the ship was horrifying and sometimes laughable. In my opinion, the main character of the story is of course the Great White Whale. Captain Ahab stole the thunder as far as I’m concerned. My point is that the worldbuilding is absolutely fantastic. So, great worldbuilding exists in all forms of self expression and storytelling.

Anywho. The next time you experience a great story or production know that the team that built the world, whether it’s with technologies, makeup, costumes or hammers, are a big reason for its existence. They are the pillars to great stories that seldom get noticed.

This is in recognition to all their hard work and sharing their talents with us.

John Ink2Quill

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