Stowaway: My View Of This Sci-fi Movie as a Science Consultant

Over the last few years I've acted as a script consultant for the movie 'Stowaway', a few weeks ago I talked about the spacecraft design and other things seen in the trailer. Now the movie is released I want to cover a few more things from the final product and explain how some of my contributions ended up on screen.

As a consultant, I wasn't trying to rewrite the script, I was trying to ensure that the story could be told without too many massive holes in the science supporting it. And this means that whenever I saw ways to save the situation I'd suggest ways to make sure that it wasn't an option.

Here's my previous video covering the trailer:

[quantumac]

Still think they should have snuck in Scott telling the crew "Fly safe!"

[rubikmonat]

An artistic point that really struck me in a good way was not ever hearing the earth side of the conversations, it really drove home how far they were from help.

[rauljosegarcia]

I can't believe they actually had a "tether consultant" and still didn't show any tethers in the scenes where they went for the oxygen. Who does a spacewalk without tethering!!?!?!?!?

[JustFamilyPlaytime]

"Stowaway - The Consultant's Cut". Coming to a cinema near you in 2022!

[max_archer]

My dad is a movie/TV art director, and a well-known director once said to him "learn everything about a subject, and then decide which parts you want to ignore for the story." It seems like quite a bit of that went on with this production.

[somethingsomethingsomethingdar]

My only issue with the movie from a plot point of view...HOW THE HELL DID A MAN GET SEALED INTO A BULKHEAD? They literally removed screws to open the panel where he “stowed away” in. Did a technician see him and just say “oh well don’t have time to fix this off ya go!”

[MattRogersdesigns]

The real question is why did Anna Kendrick have a different sweatshirt for every scene?!? Those aren't light, maybe should have brought more oxygen and fewer sweatshirts.

[SeanHodgins]

Immediately recognized your voice in the beginning of the movie.

[Eminar]

The EVA scenes gave me a sense of dread that no other EVA scene has come close to. That's seriously impressive.

[frewlp]

Spot the eve player: "i have put together a spreadsheet"

[kj]

The coolest movie making bit for me was how they chose to cut down on budget by making the ship a centrifuge. That meant minimal money going into floating and saved it for important scenes. Great storytelling

[razorwings]

One thing that peeved me was the fact that the station's modules are docked perpendicular to the direction of the artificial gravity, which, unless I'm mistaken, would put a lot of strain on the docking ports.

[FolixOrision]

paused, watched the movie and came back. I'm happy you got input into the movie. Main thing I noticed that was a bit hard to belive was the lack of contacts on eva. kept thinking, "She let go with both hands before getting a follow up grip" and "they should be tethered the whole way"

[TaeruAlethea]

I just don't get how Michael got stuck inside a screwed closed panel. How he made it into the ship and up into space isn't covered well

[quazar]

Movie Makers : Only a miracle will safe our protagonists from this situation!
Science Comsultants : Only a miracle will bring our protagonists in this situation!

[ericlotze]

Moral of the Story: Clip Yourself (And Any Belongings) In When Climbing

[louisrovegno]

It’s refreshing to find someone who understands both science and storytelling. Great work Scott!

[DarenPage]

Even with the few inaccuracies, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Totally glad you had some input on this.

[ss-oqpc]

I thought it was ridiculous that they didn't have at least 1 back up unit to scrub the air with considering how critical and small it was. The stowaway was also somehow screwed into the compartment he was in. I still liked the movie though.

[tigger]

It was great to see a sci-fi movie where the astronauts don't have lights inside their helmets.