1. Unit 1 Investigating the Media Exam Topic: Science Fiction Films
Lesson 2
AQA GCSE Media Studies
Unit 1 Investigating the Media
Exam Topic: Science Fiction Films
Lesson 2 –Why do we like science fiction films and what are the origins of the genre?
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2. Starter
In which decade do you think the first science fiction films were shown?

3. ANSWER
In which decade do you think the first science fiction films were shown?

4. The science fiction genre
Many changes happened in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries with inventions such as the steam train and the automobile. Of course, people had always been able to look at the stars, and one of the earliest stories written was The Epic of Gilgamesh (circa 2100 BC) but now, with the advent of a form of travel, people could wonder ‘could we travel to the moon?’. This was embedded within literature, but of course with the invention of the moving image, it could now be brought to life.

5. The science fiction genre
Notable authors:
 H G Wells – War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, The First Men in the Moon, The Shape of Things to Come.
Mary Shelley – Frankenstein, The Last Man
Jules Verne – From the Earth to the Moon, Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

6. The first science fiction film!
Georges Méliès – Le Voyage dans La Lune
(A Trip to the Moon) 1902
This film is considered to be the earliest science fiction film and was influenced by the literature of H G Wells, as demonstrated by its title.
George Méliès, a Frenchman, was considered a pioneer of the film industry.

7. The first science fiction film!
Georges Méliès – Le Voyage dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon) 1902 You will note that all movement is within the frame and the camera does not move, and of course would have been performed as if on a stage. Moving image at this time was recorded at a rate of 16 fps, as cameras were likely to be hand cranked. Compare this to the films we get today in HD and 4K Ultra HD of 50 to 60 fps. There is no sound!

8. Todorov’s narrative theory
Stage 1
The Equilibrium – Everything is normal
Stage 2
The Disruption – Something happens
Stage 3
The Recognition – Realisation that there is a problem
Stage 4
The Repair – Take steps to correct the problem
Stage 5
The Restoration – Return to normality

9. Georges Méliès – Le Voyage dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon) 1902
ACTIVITY Watch the 12-minute film. Make notes as you watch – can you apply Todorov’s narrative theory?

10. Georges Méliès – Le Voyage dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon) 1902
ACTIVITY Applying Todorov’s narrative theory to A Trip to the Moon Match the numbered images to a letter on the worksheet

11. Georges Méliès – Le Voyage dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon) 1902
ACTIVITY A professor and a group of people, which they hope will shoot them to the Moon, build an enormous gun. They create a rocket ship in which they can travel, and fire themselves into the sky, eventually coming down to land. They land in the eye of the Man in the Moon. There is a storm and they have to take shelter in a crater. The crater leads down into a network of underground caves and tunnels. They encounter some inhabitants of the moon, and they are captured. They escape and make their way back to their ship. They set off home, using the gravity pulling them back to Earth. They land in the sea and are rescued. A statue has been put up in honour of their journey.

12. Georges Méliès – Le Voyage dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon) 1902

13. Georges Méliès – Le Voyage dans La Lune (A Trip to the Moon) 1902
C Equilibrium
G Equilibrium
E Equilibrium
F Disruption
A Disruption
D Recognition
B Repair
H Restoration

14. Plenary
We are going to watch the first 1:32 minutes of the extended trailer for Gravity (2013)
This film is renowned for having an opening continuous shot of 10 minutes in length. The camera in one shot moves around the action.
The first 1:32 minutes shows an example of part of that continuous shot. Discuss with the person next to you the difference in the use of the camera in both George Méliès’ A Trip to the Moon and Gravity.

15. Homework
AUDIENCE RESEARCH Get a group of friends or family together. Ask them what their favourite science fiction films is/are and why they like it/them. Write down the responses.