Help with a story I'm writing (alien abductions)

[Bug-Eyed Earl]

Screenplay scenario:

A well known(blank; insert profession here) goes on an LA talk show to promote his book debunking alien abductions. The host surprises him with a walk-on by a prominent UFO researcher who has a few beefs with him.

But the writer was prepared; he knew what to expect from this host, and charmed the producer of the show beforehand to dig up a tape from a paranormal prgram that is particularly embarrassing to the researcher- him vouching for a piece of footage that turned out to be a fake.

1. What field of study would be most credible for a UFO debunker? Psychologist? Astronomer?

2. What topics could the UFO researcher, under the veneer of politeness, bring up that could win over an unsuspecting and uneducated audience?

3. What could the main character pull out in addition to the video footage to win the debate in the eyes of the audience?

[Jens]

I don't mean to be condescending, but if you're asking those questions it seems like you don't know what the story is going to be about. Answering them would be writing the story for you. :)

Seriously, I suppose it's something that could be made into an interesting story, but I think you need to do a lot more thinking and research. And then find a good climax or hook or something. People won't be much interested in reading a story that is just a recounting or arguments pro and con alien abductions.

For example, there's a short story I once read (I think it's by Borges) where a scholar hoping to get tenure writes a scathing attack on his (American) department head. The department head gives him tenure anyway. Then, the scholar confesses that he didn't even agree with what he had written, but knew that it was the best way to win over Americans... It had been a calculation all along. Just to say that you need something for a story to be interesting.

[Bug-Eyed Earl]

I don't mean to be condescending, but if you're asking those questions it seems like you don't know what the story is going to be about. Answering them would be writing the story for you. :)

Seriously, I suppose it's something that could be made into an interesting story, but I think you need to do a lot more thinking and research. And then find a good climax or hook or something. People won't be much interested in reading a story that is just a recounting or arguments pro and con alien abductions.

For example, there's a short story I once read (I think it's by Borges) where a scholar hoping to get tenure writes a scathing attack on his (American) department head. The department head gives him tenure anyway. Then, the scholar confesses that he didn't even agree with what he had written, but knew that it was the best way to win over Americans... It had been a calculation all along. Just to say that you need something for a story to be interesting.

It's really only the opening scene.

You see, I can write pages and pages when it comes to a written debate. But I had a little trouble coming up with something an unflappable Carl-Sagan-esque scientist that could devastate a UFO-ologist in seconds. The idea is to set up the character in the opening scene and get on with the plot.

[Jens]

I see. The problem you might run into though is that it's not possible to prove that something doesn't exist. I suppose a psychologist might be a good choice, because he/she could argue that this is just a typical human experience or something like that. Some people call it religious experience or mysticism, others call it alien abduction. But clearly this is not something that will debunk it.

I suppose the way to debunk it would be this: the writer is a government operative, and he shows that it's really part of a government program!

[Bug-Eyed Earl]

I see. The problem you might run into though is that it's not possible to prove that something doesn't exist. I suppose a psychologist might be a good choice, because he/she could argue that this is just a typical human experience or something like that. Some people call it religious experience or mysticism, others call it alien abduction. But clearly this is not something that will debunk it.

I suppose the way to debunk it would be this: the writer is a government operative, and he shows that it's really part of a government program!

Well, all he needs is to come out smelling like roses and the ufo researcher looking decidedly stupid.

The premise of the story is that he wants to help people who believe they're being abducted get over their delusions and after this scene, when he's signing books, a woman approaches him for help who's convinced she's due for an abduction in the next few days. He decides to document the experience, calling in favors from a nearby college to borrow some equipment to monitor her at night to show her that nothing is happening to her at the moment she thinks she's being taken.

But something does happen, and it starts to seep into his own life. But it's not a straight up "Skeptic is faced with the paranormal" story- there's more to it than the fact that she seems to be the 1 in 1000 that actually has something happening to her.

[Jens]

Since it's fiction anyway, a good way might be like this: the writer mentions a number of famous abductees, and then mentions that he interviewed them personally and every single one admitted to having participated in a hoax to get money, or something like that. Then the researcher would be floored, and the audience would obviously support the writer.

Can I get credit if you use it? :)

[Spock Jenkins]

Well, you did say Carl-Sagan-esque scientist. Why don't you get a little background on Carl Sagan and use him as a model to buiild your character? Change some basic personality traits if you want your character to be a bit more debatic and skeptical, but use the education background.

[Noclevername]

The debunker pulls off his rubber mask...

"I know you faked that, because we were actually over Ohio at the time!"

:D

[Fazor]

Well, if you want someone to come off looking like the good guy in the debate, it might not be the best idea to show a video to try to make the other guy look stupid (i.e., "But yoooou said this was real, and it wasn't!" with the implied ["you idiot"]).

I personally would be won over by responses to supposed proof along the lines of "Yes, that's a common argument, and to many it makes sense. But when you take into account X factor, you see that it's really just a common misunderstanding."

Polite, but complete and stone-solid responses that show you are not attacking the person, but debunking the ideas. That's how *I* would set up my pro-science hero, anyway.

[Noclevername]

I personally would be won over by...

Well, there's your problem! The scenario has to be one that can plausibly win over Joe Average. Historically, exciting video evidence trumps mere boring talk every time.

[Fazor]

Well, there's your problem! The scenario has to be one that can plausibly win over Joe Average. Historically, exciting video evidence trumps mere boring talk every time.

Ah! You're right...how could I have been so blind. In that case, simply have him lean back in his chair and say, "Well, the other night while I was having dinner with Brittney Spears and Lindsey Lohan, we all talked about how stupid people are if they like, totally believe in the UFO stuff and junk. Like, yah! How totally stupid is that?!"

Is that any better, NCN? :)

[Noclevername]

Is that any better, NCN? :)

"Better" being a very relative term, here. :whistle:

[KaiYeves]

"I know you faked that, because we were actually over Ohio at the time!"
:lol::lol::lol::lol:
(Waits five seconds)
Still funny.
:lol::lol::lol::lol:
On my list of funny lines that are too nerdy for any of my friends to get is this one:
"You know this stuff. I couldn't trust you anymore about SETI if you pulled off your face and had three eyes and antennae."