The Science of Science Fiction

Dominating Hollywood 

Science Fiction movies have dominated Hollywood since the beginning of film. With fascinating worlds and stories only possible through a scree, viewers can't seem to get enough of these superheroes, monsters, and alternate realities all impossible to ever see in real life.

However, in this blog post, we will analyze just what makes movies like The Maze Runner (2014) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018) so appealing to audiences around the world. What exactly makes science fiction? How can we label a movie under this category?

10 of the most successful science fiction movies of 2017

Genre Convections- Content

Imagination- but based on science. This is something this genre must have in order to be what it is. The presence of imagination makes this category a limitless one, one able to take a vast amount of movies under its wing, this imaginations are all products of scientific facts and theories from the real world, that branch out and take form into phenomenal stories. Anything in a movie that is out of the ordinary, but considered possible in the real world at a possible time in human development, results in the creating of a science fiction production. Time travel, alien spaceships, scientific experiments that result in super powers, a dystopian society in the future controlled by the government due to overpopulation- and endless other scenarios. This is where the line with the genre of Fantasy is drawn. Fantasy is also full of imagination, but its concepts in its films have the liberty to be considered impossible- like magic, or unicorns. In science fiction, concepts of today's sciences are expanded to its maximum, and take charge in telling stories in alternate universes.

 Often, these movies have similar plots: a heroine, hero, protagonist, or group of protagonists fighting for a cause- often including saving someone or something of some sort. It might also be just about saving themselves from a certain doom or challenge. This genre goes all the way from fighting aliens, the accidental creation of some sort of monster in a scientific lab, dystopian/utopian societies in the future, the incorporation of space exploration/establishment of humans, to infinite scenarios of a thrilling story.

Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back, battle between rebels and the Empire

One important factor that takes place in several science fiction movies- bit not necessarily all- is the idea of a battle being fought. This fight usually consists of a  revolution of masses fighting a common evil- like the Star Wars series, which contains nine successful movies that have been released since 1977 to 2019, all regarding the idea of an army called the resistance fighting the oppression of the Empire. It might also include a group of individuals-usually young- fighting a sense of authority, usually related to an oppressive government. An example of this would be the Hunger Games trilogy

Another vital factor that is included in several science fiction movies is the idea of time. Often futuristic, the idea of today's society in the future dealing with current problems that have been predicted by scientists is a popular topic. For example, the movie The Thinning (2019) takes place in an overpopulated world and the government taking action in the U.S to decrease population levels yearly by killing the students that don't pass an intelligence test in their schools.

Genre Convections- Production Techniques

Arguably being the key essence of every single science fiction movie, special effects simply cannot be missed in these productions. Science fiction would not be even near to what it is if it lacked special effects. The use of these are able to bring these alternate realities to life for the viewers to see this new world. These effects go all the way from bringing to life most of the characters, flying scenes, laser guns, and the whole scene of the final epic battle in Avengers: Endgame (2019), to bringing to life the gigantic dinosaurs in Jurassic World (2015). Special effects are added in post-production, the most important time in the production of a sci-fiction movie, where the magic is brought to life by the editors. 

Avengers: Endgame (2019), final battle scene

It must also be taken into consideration just how vital art direction is in the production of these movies. The use of imagery is vital, in order to really bring to life every essence of these alternate universe so the audiences can truly submerge themselves in these worlds and ideas, and for them to seem believable. This genre relies heavily on the creation of such alternate realities, therefore it is the art direction's job to choose the right props, location, and sets before the production takes place that will better benefit them once the editing process begins. A great example of a scientific movie that has expectacular art direction is Dune (2021), which takes place in a futuristic society where humans inhabit several planets and are ruled by empires

Science fiction movies are also typically given cooler tones in the process of editing. Since these movies often focus on a struggle, battle, or tragic event that needs to be over come- warmer tones would be unfit since these usually relate to happier, light-hearted movies. The use of cooler tones is abundant in almost all of these movies- however, there are a few exceptions for scientific movies that have comedy or romance inside of them.

Dune (2021), example of beautiful cinematography

Marketing

First off- this genre has conquered box offices because of an important factor- its targeted audience reaches all ages and genders. While genres like Romance appeal to mostly younger women, or War movies being often aimed towards male younger adults, Science fiction has an even spread of attraction- even though numbers show there is a slight majority of male respondents, the number of females is almost just as big. This has a huge difference compared to its beginning targeted audience from years ago, since it used to be enjoyed mostly by males in their teen years or older. Now, considering all the different sub-genres and ideas that can be included in a scientific movie (can go all the way from comedy, to romance, to adventure) this bast genre attracts older people, adults, teens, and pre-teens of any genre. 

Posters of this genre are usually given an epic essence to it, with the main character's faces all in it and a background giving clues of what challenge they will face in the movie. The use of special effects are usually shown off in these posters in order to attracts the audiences and show them this "cool" imagery that will make them excited to watch the film. Two examples are given below of extremely famous science fiction movies, both using cooler tones and editing in order to show their movie. These posters also usually try to showcase the faces of most of their actors, possibly to attract viewers by seeing a famous actor's face or someone they recognize- attracting them to see this movie.

Star Wars the Rise of Skywalker- The use of lightsabers, editing to showcase the main character's faces, and an epic battle being fought.

The Divergent Series: Insurgent- Both of the main characters are showcased in this poster, with shattered glass around them and falling to opposite directions- which is impossible, but makes them look cool. This poster would also appeal many viewers.

Film Sample #1

Back to the Future (1985) is a Science fiction comedy directed by Steven Spielberg. This movie is a perfect example of science fiction since it deals with "Doc", a scientists that finds a way to time travel through the use of nuclear power and a car that he built. It showcases the main character- Marty- a high school boy that is his friend ad accidentally travels to the past when his parents were young, and messes up their original love story, changing the past resulting in a change of the future- risking the end of his existence since this would make his parents never fall in love and have him. This complicated and intriguing plot, also including his struggle to traveling back to his own time, is a perfect example of a protagonist undergoing an adventure in order to save him, his family, and his siblings from disappearing. 

The use of special effects in order to show time travel are abundant in this movie, a key essence to science fiction. This idea of time travel is not real, but in this movie it becomes real through a scientific experiment of nuclear power- that does exists in the real world. Therefore, this movie is an incredible story that branched out of a scientific theory, making it a science fiction movie. This is also an example of science fiction being able to incorporate comedy and coming-of-age sub-genres under its wing, since the movie is filled with comedic scenes and a lot of character development coming from Marty's father.

Film Sample #2

The Hunger Games (2012) directed by Gary Ross and Francis Lawrence. This is the first out of an extremely famous series of four movies.  This is the story of a heroine- Katniss, a young woman who volunteers herself in order to save her little sister, who was picked for the annual 'Hunger Games". These are games that have been formatted by the government where two children from each of the 12 poor districts are put in a large arena to fight to their deaths until one player remains, they are a punishment for a rebellion that took place years ago with the attempt to over throw this government.

The Hunger Games is a perfect example of a science fiction because there is noting impossible taking place, but it depicts an alternate reality of a dystopian society that is controlled by a totalitarian government that extremely limits the rights of its people in the poorer side of the economic spectrum. During the movie, cooler tones are used, and the use of cinematography is also used to portray this alternate reality. The use of special effects are also abundant when showing the futuristic society of the rich citizens, and the deadly obstacles placed on the players when they are in the arena. An example of this would be the "killer wasps", which kill several of the players through their deadly bites full of poison. Real wasps were of course not used during this production, they were added as special effects in the post-production process.

Other Film Science Fiction Samples:

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Free Guy (2021)

Avatar (2009)

Space Between Us (2017)

Lucy (2014)

The Maze Runner (2014)

Sources:

https://literaryterms.net/science-fiction/

https://www.slideshare.net/EllieSchool123/sci-fi-audience-theories

https://www.meltycone.com/blog/tips-to-get-the-sci-fi-aesthetic-perfect

Victoria Introduction

 My name is Victoria and I am a student currently involved in the AICE Media Studies AS course. I am creating this blog in order to keep track of my work process. Additionally, it is an essential requirement for the final portfolio project that makes up my final grade.