Genre Research: Science Fiction

Science fiction is a film genre that uses speculative, fictional science-based depictions of phenomena that are not fully accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial lifeforms, spacecraft, robots, cyborgs, interstellar travel, or other technologies. Within science fiction movies there are lots of common camera angles and movement states used. Wide shots are used very commonly in science fiction films. These wide shots are used to show off the epic world a filmmaker has made, such as a wide shot of space or their fantasy forests to show off their work. Pan Shots are also used as movements to show how wide and expansive their fictional world is, much like how the wide shot was used to create wonder and excitement for their fantastical world. Science fiction films will also use several costumes. They may dress someone up in a full body suit to make them look like a monster or an alien. They may also dress someone up in a futuristic outfit to make them look like they are from a futuristic land. The movies may use darker lighting to hide a monster in the shadows or keep it very bright in a futuristic land to show the future is very bright and happy. The actors in science fiction films will sometimes act serious and dramatic if it is a science fiction drama, or they may act silly and in wonder during a science fiction fantasy it all depends on what other genre is combined with science fiction movies and what mood you want. Science Fiction films use a lot of makeup to either make their monsters not look like humans or to make their futuristic humans look fancier. Some props often used are things like laser blasters and time travel machines. Some commonly used settings are things like space backgrounds and futuristic landscapes. One common editing technique in science fiction movies is to get to an actor's reaction before showing what they are surprised by. Another editing technique is a shot/reverse shot which may show 2 characters discussing their plan, the monster, or anything else. A common sound element in science fiction is the sound effect. Some commonly used sound effects in science fiction movies are things like gun shots, laser blaster fire, spaceships taking off, and many more futuristic and space themed noises. Another common sound element that can be found in science fiction movies is the sound motif. Sound motifs are usually used whenever the big bad, or monster, or villain comes on screen, informing the audience of their presence. Some famous science fiction films are The Predator, Alien, and Ready Player One. If we choose this genre, we would take aspects such as aliens/monsters, science and technology, journeys/adventures, alternative history, and more advanced technology. If we were to choose this genre, we would ignore aspects such as time travel, dystopian/utopian worlds, special superpowers, and space activities.