APPLYING GENERIC CONVENTIONS TO SCI-

FI TRAILERSBY SUJATA

Short Synopsis: The dark year 2204, in a world that has seen 73 years of continuous war. A Shaman is sent on a mission to convert the soul of a giant battle colossus.

Character types

The hero who has to save the world is Shaman, who has supernatural abilities to convert souls.

Iconography CGI (explosions), Blue and red fire, holographic images, machines, weapons of mass destruction (such as the giant battle colossus) as well as this there were guns and bombs.

Narrative Overcoming obstacles (War), As a result of the development of the giant battle colossus it has led to life threatening consequences for people. It is set in the year 2204, in a world that has seen 73 years of continuous war.

Setting Futuristic setting which seems like a Dystopian land

Themes The themes that was most prominent was paranormal abilities and fear of the future.

Representation

In the trailer the SHAMAN who is supposed to save the world is a man and at the beginning of the trailer there was a female character who was injured, this reinforces the stereotype that women are weak and need to be protected. However at the end of the trailer there is a mid-shot of a girl standing with similar SHAMAN makeup which suggest the birth of a stronger female representation. Humans are also represented to be willing to fight the giant battle colossus.

THE SHAMAN (2015) EX MACHINA (2015)A 26 year old programmer, Caleb wins a competition to spend a week in a private retreat belonging to the CEO of the company. When Caleb arrives at this remote location he finds himself participating in a strange and fascinating experiment with a beautiful robot girl.Character types Humanoid robot name Ava who is an AI.

ResearcherProtagonist (who is going to save Ava from the confinement of Nathan)

Iconography Hi-Tech gadgets and inventions.RobotsUse of CGI and special effects

Narrative Development of the AI that is supposed to convince the young programmer (Caleb) that she is human, as a consequence of it, it causes disequilibrium in the narrative and there a series of events that follow that heighten the film.Exploration of world’s concern of ‘How human can a robot become?’ therefore this film is exploring these ideas and showing a different perspective of a potential future for robotics.

Setting Dystopian land (in the woods, a research facility), Hi-Tech gadgets Earth (isolated place) the ice hills and the forest

Themes New discovery

Representation The humanoid is a female who later on in the trailer is shown to flirt with the character Caleb,

John Connor, the leader of the human resistance sends Sergeant Kyle Reese back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor and safeguard the future. However an unexpected event changes the past and Reese finds himself in a new and unfamiliar version of the past where he is faced with unlikely allies.

Character types Scientist/ResearcherProtagonist (Astronaut)

Iconography Holographic imagesUse of CGI

Narrative Post-apocalyptic world (year 2458)Aoroza embarks on a journey, they all have a goal.

Setting Seeks family in utopian landMission to mars

Themes Fear of the unknown

Representation Lost societyStrong female lead

TERMINATOR GENYSIS (2015)

Character types

Extra-terrestrials called MimicsMimics are the antagonistProtagonist: the hero that saves the world.

Iconography Use of CGI and special effects (buildings destructed)Spaceships machineLaboratory facility to train CageWeapon of mass destruction armour

Narrative Overcoming obstacles: Cage along with Vrataski are going to save the world from an invasion. The threat is the destruction of the world from the mimics.

Setting Continental Europe (England)Dystopian land (where time is reset)

Themes Good vs Evil (Cage vs Mimics)Extra-terrestrial life invasionTime travel element/ Paranormal ability (Due to Cage and Alpha blood)

Representation

Emily Bunt as Vrataski shows a strong female lead who trains the hero. This goes against the common representation of the old sci-fi films.

A military officer faces a war against extra-terrestrial beings that have invaded the earth. He succeeds in this mission by killing the Omega but in doing so acquires its ability to reset time and know the future. This brings a new beginning, new hope on ending the war.

EDGE OF TOMORROW (2014)