Encoding the future: A logic model analysis of filmmakers’ perspectives on public science communication in Chinese science fiction

The growing prominence of Chinese science-fiction films, particularly the Wandering Earth series, has unfolded within a context of rapid industrial expansion and direct state support for science–technology narratives. Rather than approaching science fiction as a vehicle for public science education, this study treats it as a cultural arena in which the meanings of science are negotiated, symbolized and aligned with nationally sanctioned visions of the future. A key but understudied aspect of this process is how filmmakers themselves interpret and construct ‘science’ during creative production. Drawing on qualitative interviews with directors, screenwriters and scientific consultants, the study examines the values, constraints and cultural reasoning that shape their portrayals of science. To trace how scientific ideas are transformed into cinematic meaning, the study repurposes the logic model—not as an evaluative tool, but as a framework for mapping the cultural production of science, from institutional inputs such as policy agendas and industrial infrastructures, to collaborative practices of translation and adaptation, to the symbolic forms that appear on screen. The analysis shows that scientific content is mediated through layered filters shaped by ideological norms, market forces and aesthetic conventions. These filters privilege themes of national unity, responsible futurity and emotional resonance over strict technical accuracy. Such patterns illustrate how Chinese science fiction contributes to the formation of sociotechnical imaginaries that merge scientific authority with narratives of national development. By foregrounding filmmakers as active agents in meaning-making, the study contributes to broader discussions on the cultural politics of science within contemporary media ecosystems and state-guided cultural industries.