Video Evidence of Science Fiction Films

The Avengers

From this 2 minute film introduction, the titles are used at great effect/ They are embedded into the mise en scene. The font and text type also match the genre, it imposes a very modern natured/futuristic film. The main title is also highly effective as it blends the silver, metal-like texture, with a bright orange/golden glow, shining  from the centre of the screen. This can connote:

• Good overcoming evil (moral ambiguity)
• Machines/robots are involved
• Modern technology surrounding a source of energy

More connotations can be exerted by the brief clips of each of the superhero's. The clips give an insight of the action/thriller side the sci-fi. The mise en scene, of the wepons, location, and costume suggest a stereotypical superhero action film. It also interlinks to a sci-fi genre, by the title continuity in adding fluidity and portrays a greater advance in their technology. This means that the audience will be excited, itrigured into how the film followers.

Prometheus

This trailer portrays a very futuristic film. It creates the theme of humans finding supernatural beings, and having to survive. It is stereotypically a space themed film, which is commonly used in science fiction films. The codes and conventions used are stereotypically associated in a sci-fi film. The title sequence is vey effective, building the letters up, whilst  montage of lips portray the most thrilling scenes. Helping the film gather more interest. The aliens and human combination is also used regularly in sci-fi films. This is a typical theme throughout films in their genre. A combination of establishing shots, and close ups add a greater effect on the audience, showing the locations, and close ups portrays pain/danger/fear. This again helps attract the audience. 

Lockout

This opening has more of an action packed entrance to a film. This shocks the audience and instantly excites, and intrigues the audience in looking further into the film. It does this by using: guns, chase scenes, synchronous sound, and fight scenes. The lighting at the beginning adds to this effect, as it emphasises the interrogation of the protagonist, hence entertaining the audience. This scene at the beginning may inspire me to do an interrogation or just in a simple room, and use different micro elements to enhance the emotion encoded. 
The titles used are also very effectively as it modernised. This aids the film to portray a more futuristic outlook. This text type may also inspire me in making my film opening.

The Hunger Games

This film trailer is very effective on the audience. It shows the basic outline of the narrative, and hints at certain themes within the film. This creates bigger expectations, and excites the audience into watching the whole film.
There are certain features which resemble a sic-fi film, such as:

• voice over
• props-weapons 
• Locations- forest, small village
• Quick camera movements- emergence, panic, survival, 
• high/low angle camera shots- inferiority, weak, strength
• editing- montage, fast pace,

These micro elements aid the effect encoded from the producers. They trigger many emotions in such a short clip to promote their latest film. This creates more excitement to the audience. 

From this I can take the way they trigger emotions i using all the micro elements. This may inspire me to make certain choices in my 2 minute film opening.

Chronicle

This film trailer uses more comedic value to a sic-i film. This makes it much different compared to the other film trailers/openings. The producers enforce Tzvetan Tordorov's idea of starting the clip with equilibrium then a distruption. This opening portrays a happy and jovial atmosphere hent eh characters are singing in the car. Then when their superpowers where introduced, the build of actions grows bigger and bigger. Till a serious accident occurs (distruption). The clip then ends at the beginning, it builds tension through usage of camerawork, and sound. To what they find which gives them the special powers. The producers stop the trailer just before the optimum point of the scene.  Frustrating the audience, making them want to watch the film.
Inspiration:

• Variety of camera shots
• Starting the film at the end
• Use normal looking characters, and equip them with powers- effective editing
• Use Tzvetan Tordorov's theory
• Use normal locations

Battleship

This trailer is  shows the basic outline of the plot. It suits a more sic-fi/thriller genre, as the end of the world is at stake. It portrays the gigantic machines in overpowering the human race in caused destruction and devastation. The micro elements reinforce this effect. As the dialogue, and sound effects used on the machines, enhance the inferiority of the humans. The camerawork, using high/low angled shots show the status and power being portrayed. The editing used was: a montage, special effects, shots transitions, ad fast paced editing. All of these editing techniques combine to help create portray the emergence of the humans, in overcoming the machines. The effects are used to create the mass devastation.

Inspiration:

• Technique in using camerawork to show class/status
• Special effects
• Using effective dialogue
• Using machines

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxvNr355g-4

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24nQdBL8M3w

These are great examples of what I am hoping to achieve. These videos have very similar briefs to what I have. I will take into account what they have used and apply some techniques they have used.

Overall, these trailers show different ways to portray modern technologies or a futuristic outlook. From these videos I have gathered that the title sequences are highly important in portraying the correct type of genre. 

The typical codes ad conventions of a Science Fiction film:

Modern technologies

Machancical

Futuristic

Space themed

Supernatural being included

Special effect are commonly used

Futuristic titles/title sequences

Inspiration:

Embedding titles into the scene

Using correct font/text type to convey a sci-fi film

Use good meaningful locations

Use a simple opening but make it effective

Synchronous sound

Effective use of camerawork to encode certain emotions

Use Tzvetan Tordorov's theory

Starting the film at the end
Special effects
Use effective dialogue