The document discusses the typical conventions used in science fiction trailers and films. It outlines elements like futuristic technology, conflict between good and evil, and dystopian societies that are commonly seen in the sci-fi genre. It also describes visual and technical conventions regarding costumes, props, camerawork, editing, sound design and music that sci-fi films employ to set the atmosphere and advance the story.

1. Typical Conventions
Sci-Fi Trailer

2. Genre
 The genre of a film dictates how a film will be presented
to the audience. This includes the cast (some may be
known for being in a specific genre or could fit a
character well) and storyline.
 The sci-fi genre
 The essential details are made up through mise-en-
scene, sound, cinematography and edit. These are used
to create an atmosphere full of suspense.

3. Typical Conventions of a sci-fi
include:
 Conflict between good and evil
 Futuristic technology
 Special Effects
 Outer space, other worlds or the future
 New technology
 Time travel
 Dystopian society
 Sci-fi is often used to warn us about how technology can
be used against us or political issues.

4. Mise-en-scene
 Costumes in movies are used as visual iconography to
speak to the audience. They may reflect climate, class
etc., and will normally easily be recognised as sci-fi.
 Sci-fi often uses white and blue colours as this is
connected to technology which is a common convention
of sci-fi. It also features a lot of bright blue and teal
colours.
 Props common in sci-fi are weapons (often futuristic
involving lasers e.g. lightsabers, laser guns), high tech
machinery (time travelling machine, portals, teleporter),
spaceships and shots of space.

5. Cinematography
 Different camera angles are important when showing the
audience what the world looks like. For example,
panning across the city or dessert.
 The most common shot types are panning, birds eye
view or establishing shot.
 Camera angles are often used to show how superior a
person is compared to other characters.

6. Editing
 Sci-fi films often rely on special effects and CGI in order
to make the current world look dystopian or more
technological. However, the director must balance
familiarity and difference in order to ensure audience
engagement.
 Quick cuts are used in order to create suspense and
action scenes.

7. Sound and Text
 Sci-fi often uses exaggerated diegetic sound
 Sci-fi films will often use sound effects in order to voice
aliens or other new noises that aren’t in the world
commonly.
 Music is commonly slow leading to crescendo in order to
create suspense. Furthermore, there can be loud
explosions or other noises in order to create fear in the
audience.

8. Theory
 Many trailers and films use Todrov’s theory of
equilibrium:
 Everything is in order
 There is disruption to the order
 The characters recognise this disruption has happened
 There is an attempt to repair this
 The characters either return to the original equilibrium or
create a new one.