SCI-FI’S BIG QUESTION

There is just something about science fiction that has excited me since I discovered reruns of the original Star Trek television series as a child growing up in the 70s and 80s.

I think the key to its enduring appeal is it poses one simple, profound question:

“What if?”

Shows like Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, Battlestar Galactica, Babylon 5, The X-Files, and LOST have captured the imagination of millions, as well as left an indelible mark on our cultural zeitgeist.

The Rise Of Television’s Rival

However times have changed, and the web has risen to challenge broadcast television as the premiere medium for quality genre programming.

Two major developments occurred in the last decade to cause this seismic shift in the media landscape.

YouTube made the sharing and viewing of online video convenient and accessible on a massive scale.

When Netflix began its landmark film streaming service in 2007, no one could have predicted how it would alter our at-home viewing habits.

Now more than several years later, watching television series and films via streaming on the web has become as ubiquitous as Blockbuster video rentals were in the 90s.

As a result, narrative films are being created specifically to be viewed and consumed online.

These developments have been a boon for independent filmmakers, including those creating works within the genre of science fiction.

Web Series — A New Frontier

By creating web series, independent filmmakers benefit from advantages they would not enjoy if they were to tell their stories through traditional broadcast networks.

Advantages such as dealing with very little censorship, retaining full creative control of their vision, and receiving more immediate feedback from their target audience.

Another major advantage of web series is the medium allows filmmakers from marginalized groups to have a voice.

However, one of the biggest drawbacks to creating an independent web series is the lack of financial backing from a network or Hollywood studio.

Still, determined filmmakers are finding resourceful ways to overcome this hurdle.

For example, many are turning to crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter to not only raise production funds, but also to help build their audience.

Advances in hardware and software tools used in filmmaking have lowered the cost of these resources to within the price range of many independent artists.

As a result, every aspect of production can be completed on a shoe-string budget, with quality comparable to many television series.

In the years since I founded The7thMatrix.com to help promote science fiction web series, I have been astounded at level of production quality of many of these projects.

This development — in addition to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and Yahoo committing to producing more original content — heralds the web coming into its own as a viable alternative to broadcast television.

The following are six outstanding science fiction and genre web series that feature broadcast-quality production value.

Enjoy!

DYNAMO

Part cyberpunk romp, part space opera, and part dark dystopian dreamscape, this science fiction opus from the mad creatives at Karma Pirates draws from each of those sub-genres to create a surreal aesthetic all its own.

Filled with breathtaking visual effects, you will be hard pressed not to believe this web series didn’t cost millions to produce.

Enjoy the rest of Dynamo here.

Haphead

This series is set in a near-future dystopia where video games use advanced haptic technology to create fully immersive experiences.

When young Maxine and her friends gain access to experimental haptic peripherals, they discover they retain the skills learned in their virtual gaming environment.

Soon they become members of an underground subculture of rebels who use the technology to learn lethal combat skills.

Haphead not only features an intriguing narrative centered around a relatable young heroine, but its subject matter also seems eerily prophetic — especially in light of sensational virtual reality tech like Oculus Rift and Microsoft’s Hololens making headlines.

Watch the complete series here.

Nightwing: The Series

Produced by Ismahawk Productions, this independent series is the latest to capitalize on the red-hot popularity of comic book superheroes.

Nightwing tells the story of Dick Grayson, Batman’s former partner who has embarked on his own solo crime-fighting career in the city of Bludhaven.

Filled with explosive action scenes and dynamic fight choreography, this project looks like an unofficial companion show to hit CW series Arrow and The Flash.

Watch the complete series here.

BAMF GIRLS CLUB

Produced by Comediva, this hilarious web series imagines what would happen if the world’s most famous heroines (Katniss Everdeen, Hermione Granger, Michonne, Lisbeth Salander, etc.) from pop literature were to inhabit the same house a lá Big Brother.

This imaginative satire both celebrates and pokes fun at these pop culture favorites with sharply funny observational humor.

Watch more of BAMF Girls Club here.

Anamnesis

This dazzling mystery-drama about a disparate group of individuals whose lives are affected by the phenomenon of lucid dreaming is stunning.

Produced by Finite Films, Anamnesis uses gorgeous cinematography and captivating performances to create a world where our dreams and reality intertwine in unpredictable ways.

Watch Anamnesis in its entirety here.

RCVR

Set in the 1970s, RCVR centers on a federal agent who has been tasked with investigating UFO sightings across the country.

However, as the investigation progresses, it becomes clear the government is involved in an elaborate conspiracy regarding UFOs and extraterrestrial contact.

Produced by the multi-channel digital network Machinima, RCVR is a compelling science fiction mystery-thriller that is reminiscent of The X-Files.

Watch RCVR in its entirety here.

These six science fiction web series are just a tiny sampling of the extraordinary content created solely for viewing online.

Just further proof that if you’re looking for quality genre programming, the web provides an exciting alternative — and the best is yet to come!