Rachel's Blog: Genre Research on Science Fiction

What makes a production Science Fiction?

-Science Fiction is fiction based on imagined future, scientific or technological advances featured in an alternative Earth. Sci-Fi relies on realism, creating a stronger effect that the storyline in the production may realistically happen in our world. Not only is this genre of film extremely broad, being both G and R films are listed under this category, but it is also one of the most popular genres in the film industry.

Content:

-Hypothetical Science and realism are some of the key elements in developing a sci-fi film. From the theories of alien life-forms to the development of highly intelligent AI, the content of Sci-Fi includes themes that may not be widely accepted by science, but still have a realistic approach to the plot at hand. This altered, but realistic take on scientific theories can help the viewer feel like the plot of the story could take place in the real world, creating a larger connection between audience and production. Realism in Science Fiction films is mainly used to produce a film that could cause the viewer to question if what they are viewing could happen in the future.

-In Christopher Nolan’s film, Interstellar (2014), it follows astronauts exploring a post-apocalyptic, uninhabitable Earth, along with other planets they are trying to inhabit. Realism is shown throughout the movie as a situation like this could happen on Earth, although it is highly unlikely. This film also uses Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity to create a deeper sense of realism.

-Alternative realities, utopia, and dystopia are used in science fiction to give the viewer a glimpse into a world that is not theirs. Government advances and takeovers are a way many sci-fi/dystopian films help to create their plot. Many of these films may also demonstrate the imbalance of power, symbolizing the need for a balance of power in our society. By creating these productions, showing how this could be a possibility of the future, it emphasizes the need for a balance of power between the government and the people.

-In Neil Burger’s, Divergent (2014), the plot follows a girl in a future version of earth, where the people are split up into factions based off personality traits, creating an alternate from the world we have today.

Production Techniques:

Lighting and color in Sci-Fi films is used to emphasize the real anomaly in the film. Cool colors such as greens, blues and purples are normally emulated in these films to point out the futuristic or distinct aspects of the alternate world. In particular, blue is mainly used in these films to emphasize the high technological advancements, or it may point out the otherworldly atmosphere of the film. Neon's may also be used in these films to cause a certain color to pop, while also creating a more futuristic appearance to the subject.

-In Josephs Kosinski’s, Tron: Legacy (2010), he uses neon blues to deepen the emphasis on the suits and the props they are using. These blues also help to give a feeling of futuristic technology.

Marketing:

The marketing of Sci-Fi films is typically broad, as some movies in this genre are meant for children, and others are meant for adults. Typically, when promoting a film to children, workers might use bright colors, and captivating scenes that appeal to a child, restraining from some violent scenes that may occur later in the film. Advertisements marketed to young audiences may use a happy song with fascinating visual effects to draw in kids. On the other hand, while marketing to adults, suspenseful, and impactful scenes from the film are normally shown, such as an introduction to the main villain, or a big dilemma that the protagonist will have to face.

While creating the movie posters for Sci-Fi productions, marketers display the main protagonist against the large trail that they will face. This shot captures the attention of viewers of all ages and helps to lure in the audience further.

-In Chris Sanders’s, The Wild Robot (2024), it is marketed to children’s audiences. In the poster provided, the protagonist, the robot, is faced with a problem in trying to raise a baby orphan goose. This movie is also marketed to young audiences, and by using warm, saturated tones, gives off a welcoming aura that children tend to gravitate toward.

Film Analysis #1:

The film Alien (1979) is the first in the series, about an alien that boards a NASA ship, and the consequences of this happening. In this production astronauts try to survive a terrifying encounter with an extraterrestrial being. The story follows Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) and her crew who are awakened from a deep slumber to be informed about an interference with alien life forms. Alien takes place in the future, shown by the high technology of age freezing capsules. Still, Alien uses a realistic approach to the movie, by still giving a sense that a situation like this could happen, since the development of space capsules and the moon landing were recent to the publishment of this film. The lighting and color used in this movie gives an eerie and scientifical feeling to the film. By using this eerie, visual appearance, the film shows how it is primarily marketed toward an older audience. As seen in the poster, a mid-hatch alien egg is tainted with a neon green light. This emphasizes to the viewer the importance of the egg crack, while also giving the poster a Sci-Fi feel by using green light.

Film Analysis #2:

WALL-E (2008) is a Disney film that follows a little junkyard robot around a future flying civilization on Earth. WALL-E and his newfound friend EVE must take down an evil robot named AUTO, who is trying to keep Earth and its civilization in harm. In this film, it captures the environmental and physical changes that have happened to Earth after neglecting it for many years. This also gives the audience a broad picture of what could happen to Earth if humans keep treating it like this. By building off from environmental issues happening in today's world, the story becomes more real. As shown in the thumbnail, WALL-E captures the Sci-Fi “look” by using the neon blues in the background, symbolizing the future. WALL-E is marketed toward children; using warm hues to create WALL-E, it creates a sense of comfort in the robot, which may appeal to younger audiences.

Other movies that include Sci-Fi themes:

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Zathura (2005)