Genre Research (Sci-fi)

I chose to explore the Sci-Fi genre in depth, as it's one genre I can focus on for hours on end. My dad and cousin are responsible for sparking my interest in this genre. My cousin is the Interstellar's number one fan. He will talk for days about wormholes and why Interstellar is the greatest movie of all time. After watching it with him on five different screens, I get it. Watching Cooper drift through space and struggle with time travel physics definitely leaves an impression. There's also my dad, who's a die-hard fan of The Matrix. He has every single Neo line memorized. When I watched it with him for the first time, I was instantly looked when I heard Neo's iconic "I know kung fu" line. 

Sci-Fi has a way of taking us into a strange new world that leaves us, the viewers, having an internal conversation with ourselves that goes something like this:

• "Hold on, could this actually happen?"
• "Is any of this even real?"
  
• "No, this is all impossible, but also...kind of possible?"

A good sci-fi move keeps the audience questioning everything. The target audience are people who are curious, love a good puzzle, and are ready to jump into some alternate universe where robots think for themselves, space travel is an everyday occurrence, and aliens totally exist. Sci-Fi also attracts those that have an interest in technology, like to ask deep questions, and enjoy watching sweeping visuals. Traditionally, sci-fi has been associated with a target audience of young to middle-aged men but that has been changing as it is a widely loved genre throughout.

Sci-Fi Conventions - Content

Let's start off by talking about some of the main markers that make a movie a sci-fi movie, like characters, themes, and settings.

First, sci-fi characters are never boring. Typical characters found in this genre include scientists tinkering with life in Jurassic Park, astronauts boldly going to unknown places in The Martian, everyday people suddenly facing killer robots and/or AI that are way too smart in Blade Runner, or AI and robots that feel more human than we do in Ex Machina. Sci-fi protagonists usually “save the day” but they do it by fighting with things that are unknown to the common man such as, aliens, a parallel self, or a computer/robot that’s learned too much about humans for anyone’s good.

Next, sci-fi features really bold theme and asks really big and deep questions. This genre dives into everything. A few examples include:

• The ethics of science:
• "Should we mess with AI or genetic codes?"
• How power struggles will evolve in the future (especially in dystopian worlds):
• "If this is our progress is it worth it?" (The Hunger Games)

Finally, there’s the setting. Sci-fi loves the dramatic backdrops: space explorations, future or past alien visits, and virtual realities. Earth even gets a new look; cities can be more futuristic or they can be post-apocalyptic deserts. Sci-fi also loves to throw in time travel, parallel universes, and teleportation. Since there are really no rules in sci-fi, why not go big? 

Sci-Fi Conventions - Content

Sci-fi movies have a secret sauce when it comes to its commonly used production techniques. They employ many techniques that give their movies an otherworldly feel such as: sound/lighting, make-up, and special effects.

First, CGI and Special Effects. This is the expected for any big budget sci-fi movie. It’s used for creating massive space battles and alien creatures, like in Star Wars. There is also Green Screen and Motion Capture Magic that lets actors travel through digital worlds or transform into creatures, like in Avatar. We can’t talk about special effects without mentioning Bullet Time and Slow Motion, which is what took The Matrix into legendary status. This is the slow-motion effect that highlights intense action by slowing it down.

Second, we have Lighting Techniques to create a futuristic feel. Blade Runner 2049 did this really well with its edgy blue and neon coloring. Sound is also a critical component to create a futuristic world. Sounds are often electronic beats, machine generated noises and beeps, and even silence (indicating a big void of some kind). Inception is a great example of a sci-fi movie that integrates futuristic sounds into its movie.

Finally, we can’t skip mentioning Advanced Makeup and Prosthetics. The attention and care taken to create creatures that look like they might actually exist is key in building the realism needed to make sci-fi work. Star Trek is a great example of bringing to life various species of alien through the use of makeup and prosthetics.

How Sci-Fi is Marketed:

Sci-fi movie marketing consists of trailers, posters, and promos that are teasing us with a very intriguing mystery. They quickly transport us into a different word for a few seconds like barren dessert like in Mad Max: Fury Road, or dark, futuristic cities. They will also tease the central characters and have us wonder about them (aliens, robots, dinosaurs, etc). Unique special effects might also be shared quickly - just enough to showcase the film’s technical abilities. Inception shows how cities folding into themselves, for example. It’s all about inviting someone into a new world, creating suspense and giving a sense of potential danger and surprise. Sci-fi marketing is all about selling an experience.

Samples: 

Interstellar: A captivating sci-fi movie, where humanity is on the brink of extinction on Earth due to enormous environmental issues. It takes current concerns we have and takes us on that “next” step. The movie revolves around Cooper, a former pilot that became a farmer. He is brought in for a secret mission to find a new planet for humanity to live on. He travels through wormholes, black holes, and outer space producing amazing visuals for the viewer. Cooper’s experience makes the viewer reflect on topics such as love, sacrifice, and what time even means. Cooper experiences time dilation and that affects his relationship with his daughter. The movie tackles the implications of exploration and what our place in the universe is.

The Matrix: A sci-fi film that takes place in a dystopian society in the future. The protagonist, Neo, is a hacker that realizes that humans are in a type of simulated reality that is being controlled by machines to keep humanity under their control. Once Neo understands this truth, he is drawn into a rebellion led by Morpheus. Morpheus is leading the resistance against the machines, and he believes that Neo is the part of the prophesy that will end the war between humans and machines. The movie’s captivating action sequences – including the iconic bullet-dodging scene which alternates between normal and slow-motion speeds - has inspired many movie makers in subsequent films. Ultimately, the Matrix’s central theme regarding free will forces the audience to question their own reality. 

Other Recommended Sci-Fi Movies:

Jurassic Park:

Blade Runner:

The Martian:

Inception:

Hunger Games:

Ex Machina:

Sources: 
https://nofilmschool.com/science-fiction-genre
https://glcoverage.com/2024/07/18/science-fiction-movie/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/plotsummary/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/plotsummary/
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/science-fiction-movies

Blog Posting - Representation

 The Office is more than just a show about the lives of people that work at a paper company (Dunder Mifflin in Scranton, Pennsylvania), it’s a comedic sitcom about how people survive everyday office life. When you look at Jim Halpert, Dwight Schrute, and Michael Scott, you see three very different types of men navigating their workplace. The way they’re represented says a lot about how the show tackles leadership and individuality. It subtly highlights dominant ideologies in the workplace and how people deal with them.

Let’s start with Jim Halpert. He is depicted as the cool guy on the show. Jim has emotional awareness and a laid-back attitude that gets along with everyone. He’s smart enough to be the boss but he is content to just stay at the job he knows well. It’s almost like he is stuck in rut and he’s not even aware of it. Since his job is too easy, he uses his extra time and brain power to prank Dwight, his co-worker, constantly. In a way, his mockery of Dwight is a way of him pushing back on the office’s hegemonic culture. Jim’s character constructs a different version of a successful male that has very little to do with power or titles - it’s about him being relatable.

Then there’s Dwight Schrute, who is the exact opposite of Jim. Dwight is the definition of the rule follower. He believes in the dominant ideology that if someone works hard and follows every single rule they will be rewarded. However, the funny thing is that no matter how hard Dwight tries, he rarely get the respect he’s after. His character is a stereotype of the overachiever who believes the system will work for him, but it’s a bit of a joke because since he is so over-the-top it backfires on him and he is constantly mocked by Jim and others.

Michael Scott is the kind of boss who makes you cringe and laugh at the same time. He is the unaware boss whose cluelessness has the audience constantly feel second-hand embarrassment for him. He’s not your typical strong and competent boss stereotype. Instead, he’s more focused on being everyone’s friend, and that almost always backfires on him. Michael challenges the traditional idea of what a boss should be. He’s part of a shift in social representation, where leaders aren’t just shown as emotionally distant people, but as people who care about their employees. The problem is, Michael’s a bit too needy. Instead of leading people he genuinely cares about, he’s just seeking some sort of approval. He always means well but he is more focused on being liked and having his employees think he the “best boss.” This does not lead to the best workplace dynamic. However, Michael’s character does reflect a change in how bosses are usually portrayed – just in more of a “Michael Scott” way.

Sound Project

 Creating a Soundscape:

During our recent sound module, I discovered that sound isn't just a background element. It can tell just as much of a story as dialogue can. When coupled together, sound can enhance a scene much more than dialogue could achieve alone. It can set the mood, create atmosphere, and can make listeners feel as if they’re right there – like they are experiencing the scene firsthand.

 

The project directions were simple. We had to tell a story using only sound effects, no visuals, and we were limited to only seven spoken words. We had to brainstorm short scenes that could realistically happen in 1-2 minutes, make a detailed outline to map out all the sounds we would be using, and we had to combine online sound databases with at least four homemade foley effect sounds.

 

My partner and I got right to work. While brainstorming, one idea quickly came to me. My sister is a competitive swimmer, and I often pick her up from practice. I’ve spent so much time at the pool that I’m familiar with that environment and its sounds: splashing water, lifeguards in their creaky chairs, and the sound of footsteps walking/running across wet concrete. This became our inspiration for the soundscape.

Our outline (see below) was critical in organizing our sounds and structuring our scene. We wanted to make sure the listener could visualize the pool without seeing anything. For example, having the sound of a kid running with wet feet followed by a lifeguard’s “No running!” set the stage as a pool scene. The sounds of splashing water, kids talking and playing, and the footsteps all helped the listener identify what was happening.

To bring my soundscape to life, we used iMovie. This tool allowed us to layer the different sounds, adjust volume levels, and play with speed. It was very helpful in making sure the background noises weren’t overpowering while letting us feature certain sounds more prominently.

 

I think our basic idea and outline were solid. The pool is a place many people can relate to, especially from their childhoods, so we aimed to create a sense of nostalgia. The foley sounds we created—like slapping a puddle of water with hands to mimic running, bouncing a ball to recreate children playing, stomping on a cafeteria table to replicate a lifeguard climbing a ladder, and opening and closing a gate to show that the lifeguard was leaving, turned out realistic and were effective for our soundscape.

However, looking back, I believe we could have made the project even better by using real voices instead of computer-generated voices for phrases like “No running,” “Cannonball!” and “See you tomorrow.” It would have added a human and made the scene feel more lifelike.

 

This project underscored the importance of sound in storytelling. It’s not just about filling in a silence, it’s about creating an experience that draws the listener in. Next time, I plan to incorporate more human voices to make the soundscape even more realistic.

 

Link to My Project

https://browardcountyschools-my.sharepoint.com/personal/0615144135_my_browardschools_com/_layouts/15/stream.aspx?id=%2Fpersonal%2F0615144135%5Fmy%5Fbrowardschools%5Fcom%2FDocuments%2FFariaRop%5Fsounscape%5Fper4%2Emp4&nav=eyJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJPbmVEcml2ZUZvckJ1c2luZXNzIiwicmVmZXJyYWxBcHBQbGF0Zm9ybSI6IldlYiIsInJlZmVycmFsTW9kZSI6InZpZXciLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJNeUZpbGVzTGlua0NvcHkifX0&ga=1&referrer=StreamWebApp%2EWeb&referrerScenario=AddressBarCopied%2Eview%2E86a21113%2D82d7%2D4a8f%2Da10d%2Df5a54760cb90

I hope you enjoy listening and feel transported to a warm, sun-soaked poolside memory!