Back to the Future is rightly a cult classic. It was released Thirty years ago on July 3rd, 1985 and was the most successful film of the year. I had first-hand experience of this fact when queuing up on a family outing at the Odeon cinema in Preston where I remember seeing a large queue of people winding down the length of the cinema and reflecting that it was a lot larger than the one I was waiting in. This was probably due to the fact that I was waiting to see ‘Santa Claus the movie’ and apart from a amazing performance from the late, great Dudley Moore as Patch the Elf, the film is never going to make a cult classic list. So it was a few years later that I got to watch ‘Back to the future’ on video, probably on a Betamax…
So when ‘Back to the Future 2’ came out in 1989, I made sure that I was in the right queue. In a lot of ways, I prefer this film over the original. How the story weaved around the original and it definitely had more of a visual impact on me. We all have our favourite parts to this film and it is fantastically quotable, but the part of the film that struck me most and I still think about today is when Marty goes to the future and ducks as a large 3D shark is projected out of a Cinema advertising JAWS 19. Unfortunately in 2015, we have only made it to JAWS 4 but we do have outdoor projections on buildings that change our urban space and although they do not make us duck, they do have the same capacity to shock and delight. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX2Gd-kqV5s)
Back to the Future 2 is an amazing example of how creatively thinking about the future can influence and shape what is yet to come. Over a hundred years ago HG Wells wrote about genetic engineering and heat rays in his books ‘The Island of Dr Moreau’ and ‘War of the Worlds’. How many people were influenced by these books and ideas and went on to develop in the fields of genetic modifications and lasers?
This is the reason that I find media such an interesting, creative and powerful discipline. It influences not just our thinking today, but tomorrow as well. The media that we create, is read, digested and influences thinking in incredible ways. Through social media, this media is now digested quicker than ever before.
Although, not everything shown in the film is our reality today, it is fascinating how many projections have made it to 2015. How did this film influence the thinking of inventors over the last twenty years? Would they have come to those ideas naturally? Or were they inspired by the film and tried to make these projections a reality?
The creative ideas that made it:
Wireless video games
Marty shows some kids in the film how to play an old arcade machine. One of them remarks that ‘games you have to play with your hands are totally stupid.’ Think Xbox Kinect or Nintendo Wii.
Handheld tablet computers
A member of Hill Valley’s Preservation Society holds out a tablet for Marty to sign to save the clock tower. Think iPad.
Video conferencing
Old Marty talks to his boss, Douglass J Needles through his television. Think Skype.
In the same scene, the TV is shown hanging on the wall. Think Plasma or LCD.
Multiple TV channels
In 1989 we had four. Think Sky.
And this is where it get’s interesting. As concepts in the film to show an imagined future reality. Inventors have been inspired to create them.
Auto lace trainer
Although not a reality today. Nike have have actively explored the idea have designed pro-type shoes to mimic this ability.
Compost fuel
In 2015 compost fuel was widely used. Today we term it as biogas. Not as widely used, but defiantly a growing market.
Flying cars
We’re not there yet but a Terrafugia Flying Car has got FAA Approval. It’s basically a car with fold-away wings. However you can see the thought process and influence.
Hoverboards
Last year a kickstarter project called Hendo Hover created a real overboard, which Tony Hawk helped to demonstrate. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSheVhmcYLA)
How we think, how we are influenced are amazing themes. I never got to invent a 3D shark projection, but I do think that this film influenced my choice of career. As for the future I will leave it for Doc Brown to articulate:
“If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour… you’re gonna see some serious shit”
James Chantler is a creative thinker and Creative Director at Happy Creative, a full service marketing and creative agency based in Blackpool, Lancashire. To learn more or contact us please go to www.happy-creative.co.uk
