AS Media Secondary Research The

History Of a Sci-Fi Genre

Victoria Rooney

Sci-Fi Films Old and New

History of Sci-Fi between 1900 and 1920’s

1900s-1920s

Science fiction films were made early in the silent film year, a silent film was a short black and white clip that usually lasted a few minuets. The first Sci-Fi film was released in 1902, it was called Le Voyage dans la Lune, and was made by Georges Méliès. After that in this time period the horror and Sci-Fi genre was merged together and created. However Sci-Fi took a more adventurous way. The film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea created a new section in Sci-Fi and a Scientific futuristic setting under the sea instead of up in space.

History of Sci-Fi between1930s-1950s

1930s-1950s

During this time period many big budget Sci-Fi films were made things such as King Kong. In 1936 Sci-Fi made Sci-Fi comic strips and they made serials. In the 1950s public interest in space travel and new technologies was great, they took the Sci-Fi stories to a whole new level using the new technology things set in the future looked slightly more realistic and the audience took a shine to it.

History of Sci-Fi between 1990s-2000s

1990s-2000s

In the 1990s the web and cyberpunk genre had created a few movies with the theme of technology and the cyber world these were films such as; Terminator 2, Total Recall, The Matrix and Armageddon even more popular films were then made including the Star Wars trilogy which got over 1billion dollars!! As the web and cyber world progressed computers started to play a important role in the making of Sci-Fi films but also played a part in the film plot!!! As more software was made, more effects came with it to make more complicated effects to enhance the quality of animation. During the beginning of the 2000s super hero films and sci-fi films were a hit. In 2005, the Star Wars saga was completed with the darkly theme. Science-fiction also returned as a tool for political commentary in films The 2000s also saw the release of Transformers which resulted in worldwide box office success.

History of Sci-Fi between 1970s-1980s

1970s-1980s

After the first man stepped onto the moon more people became interested with the Sci-Fi genre as now it was more believable that things could happen Science fiction films from the 1970s had the theme of paranoia. Bigger budgets meant that directors could spend more on effects and Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, were made being hits that brought a huge increase in science fiction films, after this The Walt Disney Company released many science fiction films for family audiences and films such as Alien along with The Terminator, showed the future being dark, dirty with aliens as dangerous. Steven Spielberg's E.T. one of the most successful films of the 1980s how ever this showed Aliens in a more nicer way for the family to watch!! All these major hit Sci-Fi films gave the genre such a boost this was the biggest year for the genre.

History of Sci-Fi In The 1990’s

1990

The WWW/ World Wide Web was a huge influence on creating many good Sci-Fi futuristic film in the 1990s directors created many Sci-Fi films which focused less on the alien space side of Sci-Fi and more on the web and future side of things. There were many internet-themed films created at this time. Things such as; The Lawnmower Man in 1992 and Virtuosity which was created in 1995 these films dealt with the threats of the new technological world we live in. Disaster films still however remained popular with the audience and more disaster films were made this films were films such as; Deep Impact made in 1998 and Armageddon (1998) which focused on space and threats from space wiping out the Earth. Independence Day was also made which still stuck to the old ways of Sci-Fi of alien invasions. Advances in genetic science (still linking in with the new Sci-Fi route of advanced technology) were shown in Jurassic Park 1993.

History Of Sci-Fi in 2000’s

2000

During the 2000 period Sci-Fi turned more away from space and alien only creating Star Trek and Star Wars films and new space related films were only made in the early 2000’s period and they were films such as; Titan A.E. and Mission to Mars. As new technology and amazing CGI progressed films with amazing fantasy and superhero films were made such as Avatar and the Matrix.

Why the genre has changed in the way it has over time??

The Genre of Sci-Fi genre has changed over time from firstly just be focusing on time travel and space with Aliens to now having more of a thrilling edge using CGI and new ways of technology things look more realistic and including more conventions such as; robots and the cyber world it brings a new, exciting edge to the Sci-Fi genre. When new things are added to a genre the audience immediately become interested and fascinated in the new type and will want to go out and see what its all about. Sticking to the same old thing will make the audience feel bored as they will know all the typical conventions and wont particularly want to see it.

Even the covers and posters showing the film have changed from a boring un appealing type to a new futuristic

style.

Key meanings(Key words and their meanings found in research)

A movie- High budget film. B movie- Low budget film. Horror-of-Armageddon which basically means the end of all

human life.

How this research will help in my film opening

I have researched the history of our chosen genre sci-fi, to give me some form of knowledge of how it has progressed throughout the years. It has also given me interpretation of how story lines and CGI has been adapted and improved to keep the audience keen and interested in that type of genre. Doing this research it has helped me with my planning of my film opening and I now have a good idea of the type of storyline and how I can make it stand out from other films. I also now know full how to keep modern day viewers keen.