Science fiction films are defined by having a basis in real or potential scientific developments. Common conventions include futuristic technology, space travel, aliens, and dystopian futures. Science fiction frequently hybridizes with action-adventure genres, using exciting plots and special effects to tell stories about humanity's relationship with science and technology.

1. AQA 2016
Science Fiction Films
GENRE

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Generic conventions: what is
typical of a genre
Match these conventions with a genre - some conventions
might fit with more than one genre
Conventions Genre
A happy ending Western
Songs and dancing Horror
Killings and violence Musical
A lone hero Science fiction
A wedding at the end Action-adventure
A car chase Romance
Gunfights
Aliens
Explosions
Zombies

5. 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.

6. Generic conventions
The key convention is ‘scientific developments
or possibilities’. This can lead to:
1. Futuristic technology
2. Robots or technologies that ‘take over’
3. Space travel
4. Time travel
5. Genetic engineering / mutations
6. Alien attack
7. Environmental / nuclear disasters
8. Set in the future

7. 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

8. 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 travel
alien contact / invasion
nuclear / environmental threat or disaster
mutated or genetically engineered creatures / people
robots / technology taking over
• Sub-genres can overlap.
• Films can belong to more than one sub-genre.

9. Put these Science Fiction Films into
the right sub-genre.
Space
travel
Nuclear /
environmen
tal 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

10. 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 /
environmen
tal 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

11. 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 = Alien
sci-fi + comedy = Galaxy Quest
sci-fi + action-adventure = Elysium
sci-fi + fantasy = Avatar

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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 struggle
Adventure: Journeying, a struggle

15. 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?

16. Hybrids: Watch the trailers and find the
conventions from each genre:
Alien
Sci-fi conventions:
Space, aliens, unknown
Horror conventions:
The unknown, scary music, screaming
Action conventions:
Camera moving with characcter, montage
Adventure conventions:
Journeying, exploring
Galaxy Quest
Sci-fi conventions:
Spacecrafts, futuristic outfits, futuristic tech,
aliens, space, teleportation
Comedy conventions:
Comedic movements, purposefully bad acting,
small jokes
Action conventions:
Explosions, monsters, chase scenes
Adventure conventions:
Exploring, travelling
Elysium
Sci-fi conventions:
Futuristic society &buildings, dystopian society,
space, robots, advanced weaponry
Action conventions:
Battle scenes, explosions, weapons
Adventure conventions:
Journey, aspirations to achieve a certain goal
Avatar
Sci-fi conventions:
Advanced tech, space, other planets, aliens,
advanced weapons
Fantasy conventions:
Special effects, aliens, another planet, new
species, the magic of the other world, a utopian
society
Action conventions:
A battle/war, weapons, montages
Adventure conventions:
Exploration, aspiration to achieve a certain goal

17. 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

18. 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?

19. Structural Theories 1: Todorov
Many 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).

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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…

23. 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).

24. Structural theories 2: Binary
oppositions
The 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?

25. Binary Oppositions
Watch 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?

26. Setting in sci-fi films
Sci-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 cave
An alien world A helicopter
A tower block A pub
A desert A city centre
A spaceship A launderette
A front room On Mars
A playground A pirate ship

27. Mise-en-scene analysis
Mise-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

28. Analysis of The Matrix film poster
Look 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?).

29. 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?

30. 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.
o Use the pause button on your DVD player or
computer to do this.

31. Explain these terms. Use examples.
• Genre
• Sub-genre
• Hybrid genre
• Conventions
• Linear narrative
• Non-linear narratvie
• Todorov’s 5 stages
• Enigma codes
• Binary oppositions

32. 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?