UPDATED: Fri, Jul 12, 04:59PM The longstanding Hollywood trope of the crazy genius—from mad scientists to insane mathematicians—is a modern reimagining of the Faustian idea that knowledge of some universal truths comes at the price of sanity. Smart or highly accomplished people are frequently viewed as aberrant. Is it from a collective belief that nobody gets it all—that "God doesn't give with both hands"—and that gifts in one area must be compensated by a deficiency in others? Or is there a grain of truth embedded within? Exploiting this theme in a storytelling realm can be extremely useful. Take baddies like Hannibal Lecter, Killgrave, even Thanos: Isn't it far more terrifying when the evil scary monster . . . is a genius and can't be outsmarted? This panel of scientists and Hollywood professionals share their thoughts: Amy Berg (Counterpart,Eureka), Ashley E. Miller (Lore,Black Sails), Robert J. Sawyer (FlashForward, The Oppenheimer Alternative), Andrea Letamendi, ph.D. (Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics, Justice League vs. the Fatal Five), Jessica Cail, ph.D. (Luke Cage,Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), and Kevin Grazier, ph.D. (Gravity,Another Life). Moderated by Jenna Busch (Cocktails with Stan,Psych Geeks).
