Sci Fi codes, conventions and analysis

Sci-fi film Conventions

Many sci-fi films have certain character qualities that are widespread within the genre. This includes the 'anti establishment male protagonist', the 'authoritarian antagonist', and the 'strong female love IROBOT, Inception and The Matrix Reloaded Common character qualities for sci-fi:

•Intellectual Informer (normally a person of colour)

•Sarcastic and harsh female love interest

•Anti establishment male

•Authoritarian antagonist (often with a physical deformity)

•An innocent victim of conflict

In sci-fi films, the setting often has different purposes depending on the type of film. When the setting of a large city or a dystopian future is used, it allows the audience to see familiarity in an unfamiliar narrative as they can relate to the location. However in settings such as outer space or rebel bases the audience gains a sense of fantasy and although cannot relate to the location they are enraptured by the possibility of other worlds.

Common settings for sci-fi:

•Hospitals

•Foreign planet

•Rebel Bases

•Outerspace

•Research facilities

•Dystopian Future

•Deserted towns

•Large cities

Common storylines for sci-fi:

•Oppressive government

•Lost in space

•Alien Race threatening human existence

•Time Travel

Mise en scene:

•Futuristic props

•Minimilist backgrounds

•Futuristic computers

• Spandex jumpsuits

•rugged clothing

•metallic suits

•helmets

•capes

•bright hair colours and unusual styles

Title

GRAVITY

Straight, modern looking text. Typical of sci-fi films.The text appearing on the horizon of the Earth along with the name itself being Gravity tells the audience from the beginning where it shall be set and a vague storyline.

Sound

•Throughout the opening of this film all the characters use a lot of scientific language, showing the audience their status as astronauts and their intelligence. This type of language is common in sci-fi films and the use of it allows the audience to identify the genre.

•The use of the slow pace, relatively tranquil music at the very beginning of the film shows the incredible isolation of Space, and how nothing has really occurred here prior to the arrival of the crew from Nasa.

•Once the crew begin to realise a problem is approaching the music quickly changes to ominous and dark. The quick change in the music shows the danger of space travel and how quickly something can go wrong. The use of this ominous music is very typical for sci-fi films as most involve the prospect of extreme danger.

Mise En Scene

The use of mise en scene in the opening of Gravity immediately helps the audience identify what genre this film belongs to.

This film uses traditional sci-fi costumes such as the brightly coloured spacesuit, which not only identifies this as a sci-fi film but it's eye catching nature in the following shot it establishes who will be the main character.

Shot types

wide shot - shows all characters and familiarises the audience with them

Zoom in close up of main characters face - establishes importance as victim- singled out-  ominous and crates a sense on impending doom

Establishing shot of space- This allows the audience to immediately get a feel for the setting in which the movie is based as draws them in.

Character and Themes

Within the opening scene we are able to see the characters interacting with one another and we can immediately place them as highly intelligent astronaughts  which sets the scene for the remainder of the film

Overall I feel that this film successfully succeeds to stick to the typical sci-fi codes and conventions

Title

DIVERGENT

Straight, modern looking text. Slightly rusted looking which reflects the main character's lifestyle. Establishes genre as sci-fi for audience with use of the word Divergent

Sound

The ominous and dramatic sounding voice over used conveys to the audience what the ongoing situation is and has an ominous tone.

Shot Types

 This close up of the eye may be a metaphor for the closeness in which the people are required to fit in to the associated personality assigned to their section of the world, it allows us to get a feel for the intensity felt by the characters, this is a recurring motif also with the beginning of Blade Runner

In this long shot we see a large amount of people within a reasonably small area this may show us this is an overpopulated area and therefore gives us the impression of a lower quality of life within the area

In this wide shot we are show a scientific lab, this is fairly typical within sci-fi films and sets the scene as a futuristic movie

Mise en Scene

Throughout the opening scene we see a vast contrast between the rise en scene in different areas, we see simple and minimalistic clothes in the scene when the workers are out in the field which contrasts to the advanced scientific clothing worn by the scientists and the advanced outfits worn when climbing the wall.

Characters and Themes

In the opening scene we do not get to know the individual characters prosy however we are introduced to the 4 different sections in which the world is divided into and we can see the contrast between them

This film does in fact stick to the typical sci-fi codes and conventions

Title

TERMINATOR

modern looking text, quite metallic in scolor and style. The background helps the audience know that machinery will play a big part in this film. The title itself immediately allows the audience to predict that it shall be a sci-fi film involving robots.

Sound

•The music at the beginning is dark and ominous,The audience can see that something bad is about to, or has already happened, just from the type of music used.

Shot Types

When the scene opens with this wide shot it immediately tells us to expect danger, death and ominous themes to run throughout the movie with use of a skeleton in a run down car, it sets a dark tone in a futuristic society common in sci fi films

This Mid shot informs the viewer that this film will heavily revolve about machinery and robots as well as dark and ominous violence.

This wide shot immediately lets the audience see the conflict between human and alien/robot which is a common theme throughout the sci-fi genre

Mise en Scene

The use of the robot that appears as a shock to the main character conveys the stark contrast between his world inside his home, and the world outside. This shows the audience what technological advancements have been made and also how the protagonist feels about them.

This film does in fact stick to the sci-fi codes and conventions

Title

THE HUNGER GAMES

Sound

Aggressive and ominous backing track is used throughout the opening scene this immediately engages the audience so that they are rightly led to believe that the events that will occur throughout the entirity of the movie will have an aggressive undertone

Shot Types

Initially we see a medium shot showing both characters on the stage, it presents them in an authoritative manner in there professional nature, then whenever it cuts to the main character and her sister at home we see a vast amount of close ups, this is used to show the genuine emotion the two characters have for each other which contrasts to the scene on the stage where it is an impersonal relationship.

Mise en Scene

The opening scene  consists of text explaining the current situation to the audience this engages them and successfully sets the scene it then cuts to a shot within the capture which is extremely hight tech and this contrasts to a lot of the movie as Throughout the movie the scene settings are quite minimilist wand several of them are shot outdoors, this contrasts with what is typical in sci fi fils as many of them are set in a modernistic society as this is the setting in the capitol  where we initially see two of the villainous characters

Characters and Themes

In this scene we are presented with these characters as being powerful and important, we can tell this by the high tech futuristic mise en scene used on the stage this immediately sets the characters apart from the female lead who is wearing simple clothing due to lack of finance compared to the two on the stage.

This does in fact stick to the typical sci-fi codes and conventions as well as possibly being considered an action movie

Title

THE MATRIX

Straight, modern looking text. Typical of most sci-fi films. Appears as if it is computer code, hinting at the film's setting of a virtual world.

Sound

As typical in Sci Fi movies the background music used creates an ominous sense among the viewers of what is about to happen or what will happen throughout the movie

Shot Types

When the first see the characters they begin with a close up, this could be in order to reflect the close nature in which the characters are required to watch the matrix, later in this we see a woman watching from behind a computer screen at what is happening, she is exhibiting a cool and calm facial expression toward the camera which contrasts to the chaos we are shown in the wide shot we see where soldiers are being told to go in

Mise en Scene

The mise en scene used in this movie is quite contradictory as we see the characters in what appears to be a tunnel which is quite minimalistic, we then see the characters outfits which are quite futuristic and advanced and we see the technology the woman is using which reflects the technological nature of the film.

This film does in fact stick to the typical sci-fi codes and conventions

Caitlin McPoland