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.

Generic conventions: what is typical of a genreMatch these conventions with a genre - some conventions

might fit with more than one genreConventions GenreA happy ending WesternSongs and dancing HorrorKillings and violence MusicalA lone hero Science fictionA wedding at the end Action-adventureA car chase RomanceGunfightsAliensExplosionsZombies

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

Recognizing the conventions

Watch this trailer for District 9 and look for the conventions: Spaceships, aliens, futuristic technology, advanced weaponry

Watch this trailer for The Edge of Tomorrow and look for the conventions: advanced weaponry, robotlike machinery, a thought provoking plot line

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.

Put these Science Fiction Films into the right sub-genre.

Space travel

Nuclear / environmental threat

Alien Invasion

Robots / technology

Mutations/ genetic engineering

Jurassic Park Interstellar Gravity Independence Day Robocop WALL-E Never Let Me Go War of the Worlds Star Trek Into Darkness Blade Runner I Robot Oblivion The Matrix Edge of Tomorrow Godzilla Guardians of the Galaxy Terminator

Were you right?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.

Interstellar

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

Science fiction: A disaster/disruption, spaceships, space, other planets, Action: Fire/explosions, a struggleAdventure: Journeying, a struggle

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?

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

AlienSci-fi conventions:Space, aliens, unknownHorror conventions:The unknown, scary music, screamingAction conventions:Camera moving with characcter, montageAdventure conventions:Journeying, exploring

Galaxy Quest Sci-fi conventions: Spacecrafts, futuristic outfits, futuristic tech, aliens, space, teleportationComedy conventions:Comedic movements, purposefully bad acting, small jokesAction conventions:Explosions, monsters, chase scenesAdventure conventions:Exploring, travelling

ElysiumSci-fi conventions:Futuristic society &buildings, dystopian society, space, robots, advanced weaponryAction conventions: Battle scenes, explosions, weaponsAdventure conventions:Journey, aspirations to achieve a certain goal

AvatarSci-fi conventions:Advanced tech, space, other planets, aliens, advanced weaponsFantasy conventions:Special effects, aliens, another planet, new species, the magic of the other world, a utopian societyAction conventions:A battle/war, weapons, montagesAdventure conventions:Exploration, aspiration to achieve a certain goal

Play the hybrid game. Try to find a film which fits into each box.

Sci-fi Horror Comedy Action-adventure

Romance WALL-E Twilight Just Go With It

Scott Pilgrim vs The World

Fantasy Avatar Alien Elf Avatar

Sci-fi Avatar Alien Galaxy quest

Avatar

Western Star wars Bone Tomahawk

Shanghai Noon

The Lone Ranger

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?

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.

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.

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).

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?

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?

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 launderetteA front room On MarsA playground A pirate ship

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

Analysis of The Matrix film posterLook at the poster for The Matrix

Comment on: • The setting (can you tell where they are? What clues are there?)• Props (what is each one holding? What does this tell us about the

film?).• Costumes (what are the characters wearing? What does this

suggest about them?).• The type of shot (why is this used?).• Camera angle (why is slightly low-angle shot used? What does this

tell us about the characters?).• Lighting (where is the light coming from? Is it bright, or low-key?

Why?).• Colour values (what are the main colours used? Why?).• How the characters are placed within the frame (who is the most

important?).

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?

Analyse the media language of a short sequence• Select a short sequence of 7-10 shots from a

science fiction film – this might only be a couple of seconds long! o Sketch each shot out as a storyboard.

o Include notes on the shot type, the sound, the editing between shots and the camera movement.

oUse the pause button on your DVD player or computer to do this.

Explain these terms. Use examples.

• Genre• Sub-genre• Hybrid genre• Conventions• Linear narrative• Non-linear narratvie• Todorov’s 5 stages• Enigma codes• Binary oppositions

Summary

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

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

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