AQA 2016Science Fiction Films

GENRE

What will this topic cover?1.Genres: what are Science Fiction Films?

2. Institutions: who makes Science Fiction Films?

3.Audiences: who watches Science Fiction Films and why?

4.Representation: how do Science Fiction Films represent reality and different groups in society?

5.Planning and design: how to plan and design and market a Science Fiction Film.

Science Fiction Films• A ‘Feature film’ is defined as: a film made for initial

distribution in cinemas as the "main attraction" of the screening (as opposed to any short films which may be screened before it). The term is also used for feature length, direct-to-video and television movie productions.

• Feature length usually means between 80 and 180 minutes in length (although both shorter and longer feature films exist).

• It does not include televison series like Doctor Who or The One Hundred.

HW Generic conventions: what is typical of a genreMatch these conventions with a genre - some conventions might fit with more than one genre. However Ultimately they all could fit!

A happy ending- Romance and Action/Adventure

Songs and dancing- Musical

Killings and violence - Horror, Action/Adventure, Sci- fi

A lone hero- Action/Adventure, Western, Sci fi

A wedding at the end- Romance

A car chase- Action/Adventure, Sci fi

Gunfights- Western, Sci fi, Action/Adventure

Aliens- Sci fi

Explosions- Western, Sci fi, Action Adventure, Horro

Zombies- Horror

The genre of Science Fiction

• To be a science fiction film, the film MUST be based on real or potential scientific knowledge, developments or possibilities.

• This is the one key convention of the genre. If it is not based on real or potential scientific knowledge, developments or possibilities, it is not science fiction.

• For example, The Hobbit movies are not sci-fi as there is no scientific basis for the world and characters of the films.

Generic conventions

The key convention is ‘scientific developments or possibilities’. This can lead to:

1. Futuristic technology2. Robots or technologies that ‘take over’3. Space travel4. Time travel5. Genetic engineering / mutations6. Alien attack7. Environmental / nuclear disasters8. Set in the future

HW Recognizing the conventionsWatch this trailer for District 9 and look for the conventions.- Alien violence escalates’ as a news title-Signs all around saying ‘Humans Only’-Dystopian future-Science items-Fire/ DisruptionWatch this trailer for The Edge of Tomorrow and look for the

conventions. -Blue tones: future-Explosions-Robotic soldiers/ Humans developed into weapons-Dystopia-Creatures

Science Fiction Films: sub-genres• A sub-genre is a smaller group within the main genre.

• Science fiction films can be divided into these sub-genres:

space / time travelalien contact / invasion nuclear / environmental threat or disastermutated or genetically engineered creatures / peoplerobots / technology taking over

• Sub-genres can overlap.

• Films can belong to more than one sub-genre.

Do any films fit into more than one sub-genre? Can you add any more to each sub-genre?

Space travel Nuclear / environmental threat

Alien Invasion

Robots / technology

Mutations/ genetic engineering

Gravity

Interstellar

Guardians of the Galaxy

Star Trek Into Darkness

Oblivion

Interstellar

WALL-E

Independence Day

War of the Worlds

Edge of Tomorrow

The Matrix

I Robot

Robocop

Blade Runner

Terminator

Jurassic Park

Godzilla

Never Let Me Go

Moon

Hybrids

• Hybrids are a mix of two main genres.• The main genres are: action-adventure, science-

fiction, horror, comedy, romance and so on. These can mix together to form hybrids:

sci-fi + horror = Aliensci-fi + comedy = Galaxy Quest sci-fi + action-adventure = Elysiumsci-fi + fantasy = Avatar

Common hybrids

Most science fiction films have action-adventure elements.

The adventure conventions give the film a plot.

The action sequences give the film excitement. The action sequences are often very spectacular, full of special effects, and expensive to produce.

Conventions

Science fiction conventions: o ‘scientific developments or possibilities,’ futuristic technology,

Robots or technologies that ‘take over’, Space travel, Time travel, Genetic engineering / mutations, Alien attack, Environmental / nuclear disasters, Set in the future.

Action conventions:o Fights, battles, races / chases, daring escapes, explosions etc.

Adventure conventions:o Hero on a quest to find / rescue / save someone or something,

new or exotic places.

HW InterstellarWatch the Interstellar trailer and look for the conventions of sci-fi, of action and of adventure.

Science fiction:-Extreme smoke-Space travel-Inhabitable planet

Action:-Fire-Dramatic landings -Venturing into space-Car crashes

Adventure: -Fast car-Families escaping-Venturing into space

HW What did you find?Science fiction: space travel, advanced technology, environmental disaster…

Action: dramatic space ship landings, fires, explosions, car crash, giant waves…

Adventure: one man on a mission to save the world…

Watch the trailer for WALL-E - what are the conventions? -Robots, Inhabitable planet, dystopia, technology overrun, robot slaves, sky scrappers of rubbish, humans living on a space ship, hover seats

HW Hybrids: Watch the trailers and find the conventions from each genre:

AlienSci-fi conventions: Outer space, humans being tested on, suggests an invasion

Horror conventions: Darkness, Shadows, jump scare, ‘in space you can hear no screams’

Action conventions: People running, sirens, people look tired (moving fast)

Adventure conventions: People escaping

Galaxy Quest Sci-fi conventions: Outer space, alien creatures, uniform, space ships

Comedy conventions: Made to seem like a comedy sketch, making random noises.

Action conventions: Explosions, fast pace trailer, shootings, violent creatures

Adventure conventions: ‘He will save us’- a mission

ElysiumSci-fi conventions: set in 2154, perfect future in another world ‘cure for all diseases’, dystopia earth

Action conventions: people trying to escape earth, rich vs poor

Adventure conventions: ‘normal’ humans on mission to save themselves

AvatarSci-fi conventions: blue tones, alien creatures, new world ‘pandora’, mutation

Fantasy conventions: alien creatures, animated environment.

Action conventions: war with aliens, weapons, space ships landing on earth

Adventure conventions: one man one mission

HW Sci-fi Horror Comedy Action-adventure

Romance upside down

let the right one in

Love actually

Twiglight

Fantasy avatar aliens toy story lord of the rings

Sci-fi star trek cube galaxy quest

Star wars

Western the phantom empire

curse of the undead

a million ways to die in the west

the good the bad and the ugly

A typical plot• A plot is a series of events deliberately organised to

cause drama and emotion. • The plot of a sci-fi film might centre on:

o A journey or quest (to find something or someone important).

o Revenge for something that has happened earlier in the hero's life.

o The fight between good and evil, with good winning at the end.

o Saving the world from disaster.

Watch the trailer for Moon - what is the plot?

HW Moon plot Astronaut Sam Bell's is finishing

his job in a lunar mine and is returning home to see his family (wife and young daughter.) Sam becomes very ill as he starts to suffer from painful headaches and hallucinations, and almost has a fatal accident. He meets what appears to be a younger version of himself, possibly a clone. He needs to find out whats happening before his company crew arrives.

Structural Theories 1: TodorovMany films follow a typical structure. Todorov identified a common structure for films and other stories. He said that most stories have these five parts…

1. An equilibrium (everything is normal at the beginning).

2. A disruption (something strange happens, someone new arrives, something changes).

3. A recognition of the disruption (people, or the hero realises that they have to do something).

4. An attempt to repair (the hero tries to get things back to normal, tries to overcome the threat).

5. A resolution (a new equilibrium is established).

Todorov and ‘The Edge of Tomorrow’1. An equilibrium (Cage is an army Major who deals with the press and

publicity – he doesn’t fight).

2. A disruption (He is forced to fight the aliens and dies).

3. A recognition of the disruption (He wakes up and realises he is reliving the same day over and over).

4. An attempt to repair (He uses this power to try and beat the aliens).

5. A resolution (Cage beats the aliens and saves the world).

Use the synopsis of any sci-fi film (see IMDB) and try to fit it into the five parts.

HW Wall-e• Equilibrium: Wall-e alone on earth clearing up the mess humans

have left- garbage.• A disruption: Shortly after arriving on Earth, EVE discovers the plant.

She stores it and activates her homing beacon, then deactivates as she waits to be retrieved.

• Realisation: When EVE is examined, the plant is missing. EVE and WALL-E witness GO-4 trying to send the plant away aboard the escape pod.

• Attempt to repair: Wall-e and eve are sent to a repair ward. Wall-e mistakes cleaning for Eve being harmed and crashes through the glass wall and disables the repair ward and accidentally realises lots of robots.

• Restoration: The AXIOM returns to Earth. EVE finds the parts to repair WALL-E; he returns to working order, but he has lost his memory. EVE is saddened, and gives WALL-E a hug and a “kiss.” The electric spark of the kiss re-boots WALL-E’s memory.

Enigma codes

• Enigma codes are the hooks or mysteries that keep the audience watching the film. They can be: Who is she? What will happen next? Why is she running after him? What is that strange device?

• Trailers find a balance between enigma codes and giving information about the plot and genre – we need both to decide to watch the film.

• There are usually a lot of enigma codes at the start of a film – the end of the film solves the enigmas and provides answers to the questions.

• Find at least 5 enigma codes in the trailer for Tomorrowland.

HW Enigma codes in tomorrow land

• Why is he watching time?• Why does the pen have powers?• Is she hallucinating?• Why does this girl keep seeing these futurist

places?• Why have been looking for a girl like her?• Why is this pen so ‘sacred’?• Who is attacking them and why?

Enigma codes in the Tomorrowland trailer • Who is Clooney? Why is he watching so many TV screens?• Who is the girl? Is she connected to Clooney?• Was she in prison or under arrest? Why?• How and why is she in another place?• How does she get past the guard dog?• Why is the Clooney character hiding?• Who are the men looking for them?• Will they escape? And many more…

Structure

• Linear structure – simple, straightforward plot line, events presented as cause and effect, in chronological order (e.g. Elysium, Attack the Block).

• Non-linear structure – events told in reverse order, or with lots of flashbacks and flash-forwards, or the same events retold from different points of view and so on (e.g.Edge of Tomorrow, Interstellar).

HW Structural theories 2: Binary oppositionsThe storyline of a film is often organised around opposite pairs (also known as ‘binary oppositions’ a theory by Levi-Strauss). The conflict between these opposites drives the narrative forwards.

Typical binary oppositions are:• Hero vs. villain• Good vs. evil

Discuss what could work as the opposites to these:Aliens? America? Adults?Women? Wealth / riches? Robots?

Can you think of any science fiction films which have used these opposites in their storyline or themes?

-Hero vs villain can be put in to every and any film. One example would be star wars.

- Good vs evil again is practically in every film. One example would be Avengers.

HW Binary OppositionsWatch the trailer for Attack the Block. Look for these binary oppositions:• Humans vs aliens

• Boys vs girls• Working class vs middle class• Older/20s/30s vs teens• Teens vs police• Teens vs younger children

Watch the trailer for Elysium.What binary oppositions can you see?-Rich vs poor-Healthy vs ill-Paradise vs disaster-Humans vs Robots

HW Setting in sci-fi filmsSci-fi films are often set in other worlds or in futuristic or high-tech locations.• Which of these settings have been used for a sci-fi film? • Which of these settings would not work well for a sci-fi?

A volcano An underwater caveAn alien world A helicopterA tower block *A pubA desert A city centreA spaceship *A launderette*A front room On Mars*A playground *A pirate ship *- they aren't futuristic enough, there isn't enough unique selling

points about the setting, with all the others you can turn it into something dystopian very easily.

Mise-en-scene analysisMise-en-scene is a way of analysing a specific shot in a film,

or on a film poster / website. Freeze-frame a sci-fi film and look carefully at the scene.

Comment on:• The setting • Props• Costumes• The type of shot (close-up, long shot…)• Camera angle (high angle, eye-level…)• Lighting (high-key, low-key…)• Colour values (of setting, costumes, colour filters…)• How the characters are placed within the frame

HW Analysis of The Matrix film poster

The setting looks very dark and rustic like a old warehouse suggesting that the world is dystopian and everything has been abandoned.

In the centre of the long shot photo stands what seems to be the main character. The triangle formation suggests that these characters are apart of a gang, possibly the origin of destruction. This itself is a Enigma Code- who are they? Why are they there?

The character in the centre has a blue ‘shadow’ which suggests a form of halo- again highlighting that this is the main character who has great respect. The fact that the creator chose blue for the shadow highlights the sci fi genre as blue is considered to be a futuristic tone. But not necessarily respect from the whole of society- suggesting a binary opposite of good vs evil.

Everyone excluding the centre character seems to be matching- in some kind of uniform. This is a convention of sci fi as it suggests an army and different sections of society. Every character is wearing black shades which suggests that are hiding something or their identity. (enigma code)

The camera seems to be tilting upwards to the characters as it seems as though the characters are looking down suggesting that the audience are at a lower hierarchy to the ‘gang’ representing the rest of society ‘the victims’.

Focusing on the character in the centre, he is dressed in all black, which is a sinister colour. He is also holding a gun- looking at both of these codes it suggests that this character murders other people and again highlights the ‘gang’.

HW Sound in sci-fi films• Sound is used to - create mood, atmosphere and tension; to

make the settings more realistic; to make the film more exciting and to add drama and intensity to the action sequences.

• Certain sounds may be amplified on the soundtrack – e.g. the sound of a heart beating, or a gunshot, or a door opening.

• Sound may be a mixture of dialogue, music / soundtrack, of ambient sound and of sound effects.

• Try watching part of a film with the screen turned off, so you only hear the sound. How much can you tell about what is happening?

• You can tell what is happening by the change in pitch and volume. When an event is occurring the pace usually increases and the volume may increase for example a siren getting nearer and nearer to the event.

HW Analyse the media language of a short sequence- The Matrixopening scene

Duration: The image of ‘coding’goes on for about 1 minute whichhighlights its significance. This is showing technology use- it is alsoquite complicated showing high intelligence is used- maybe a gangor police squad e.g. MI5Sound: Fast non diegetic music thatsounds like phone bleeps. Then digetic- a phone call about plotting murder.

Duration: 3 seconds Shot: Zooming inAngle: Eye levelSound: Non diegetic; volume increasingas gets nearer light.

Duration: 4 secondsShot: Close upAngle: Eye levelSound: Echo of a bang

Duration: 4 secondsShot: PanningAngle: Low to eye levelSound: Non diegetic- almost a tenseecho

Duration: 3 seconds Shot: Long shotAngle: Eye level- slightly raisedSound: Digetic- Police shouting‘put your hands on your head”

Duration: 3 seconds Shot: PanningAngle: Several Sound: Diegetic; footsteps

Explain these terms• Genre- A specific category typically for a film/book for example science

fiction.

• Sub-genre- A genre that also fits into the film but is not the main theme.

• Hybrid genre- A cross genre, a film that blends into more than one genre.

• Conventions- The parts of the film in which allow you to identify the genre e.g. robots in a science fiction film

• Linear narrative- Chronological order; A clear beginning middle end

• Non-linear narrative- The plot isn’t so straight forward; not in chronological order. May include flashbacks.

• Todorov’s 5 stages- Equilibrium, Disruption, Recognition, Attempt to repair, Recognition

• Enigma codes- The codes in a film that cause you to question something and to find the answer you must watch the film e.g. who is she?

• Binary oppositions- The characters in a film who are opposite and are against eachother (good vs evil)

HW- Summary• What is the one key convention of science fiction films?

• The main convention is setting. The setting of the film straight away gives away the genre (usually) e.g. outer space/dystopian future/historical past/new worlds/another dimension

• What are the other common generic conventions of science fiction films?

• Props (science items/time machiene)

• Characters (robots/mad scientist)

• Conflict between good and evil- moral threats and pure destruction.

• New politics/ new technology/ new science ideas e.g. cures

• Which genre(s) does sci-fi usually hybridise with? Why?

• Typically action adventure because action adventure films have such a wide audience. This would increase the target audience of the film and its more than likely that the typical sci fi lovers will enjoy action adventure. They also have similar conventions (destruction/explosions ect..)