SCI-FI STORIES

What is this session

for?
The aim of this session is to write a film
script. We are going to record a short
sci-fi film in English that be displayed
during the Schools end of course party.
There will be a competition and awards
will be given so, lets start!
But, first, What is sci-fiction?
Tell your partner what you think scifiction is.

SCIENCE FICTION
Science fiction is a genre of fiction in which the stories often
tell about science and technology of the future. It is
important to note that science fiction has a relationship with
the principles of sciencethese stories involve partially true,
partially
fictitious laws or theories of science. It should not be
completely unbelievable, because it then ventures into the
genre fantasy.
The plot creates situations different from those of both the
present day and the known past. Science fiction texts also
include a human element, explaining what effect new
discoveries, happenings and scientific developments will have
on us in the future.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SCI-FI STORIES?

Tell your partner any SCIENCE-FICTION

story you know.
What did you like about it?
Was it a book or a film?
What was it about?

WHICH ARE THE COMPONENTS OF SCI-FI

STORY?

Choose from the following list and tell your

partner why you did so. Not all the items from the
list are components of sci-fi stories:

Adventure
An alternative future
A hero/protagonist
A villain/antagonist
A wizard
Magic powers
A mystery
Romance
A loss
Drama
Comedy
Aliens, monsters, etc.
A happy/tragic ending
Robots, Artificial intelligence
Zombies
A resistance
A conflict

CREATING YOUR SCI-FI

STORY
Some tips:
Earthmen are not all white or all men.
All villains have to have a weaknesses and faults.
Even the hero should have a few faults, and it helps
if the pretty girl brought along by mistake has a few as
well.
The heros cause can look hopeless, but we expect
that.
Science Fiction has to plausible, realistic, possible
and yes, it has to be real.
Aliens should be Alien: It is quite possible that any
alien will be humanoid with symmetric bodies, a head,
arms, legs, hands, mouths and eyes that work similarly to
their human equivalents. It will be unlikely that they work
the same way, though.

AN ALTERNATIVE
FUTURE
Science Fiction is literature where a mans vision
is temporarily cast into a plot with characters so
that some day it may become reality.
It blends Technology with Fantasy to create a
world in the imagination. The world Science
fiction creates is much more than ordinary reality.
It is a world of dreams and speculation.
Science Fiction is the direct product of
daydreams and wanderings of imagination. It
draws the reader into a feeling of awe about the
open-ended universe of what-if. This sense of
wonder is what separates, more than anything
else, Science Fiction from other genres.

OTHER BASIC
INGREDIENTS
1. Obstacles: Lots of conflict, danger,
suspense and surprise.
2. Morality or Philosophy :Science
Fiction Changes the World for the
Better.
3. A credible ending: Whether tragic
or happy, the story ending should
appear as a natural result of the
action.

Character description
In pairs, create a
character. Do not
forget using the
adjectives already
worked in class.

Self-conscious
Laid-back
Open-minded
Self-centred
Narrow-minded
Easy-going
Big-headed
Bad-tempered
Absent-minded
Level-headed
Self-assured

An alternative future
world
In pairs, create an
alternative world.
Set the time or era.
Set the place (Is it on
earth or in space?
Define the kind of
civilization.
Describe their
customs, cities,
human (or nonhuman) groups, etc.
Describe the politics
(is it a realm, a
democracy, a
dictatorship?)

An alternative future
world

Now
Use this to write 10 additional lines (use your
character and your world)
The invaders came like thieves in the night.
No one ever saw them, no one ever knew of
them apart from their effects. They showed
up the morning following the night of the
meteorites, which cant be a coincidence.

The Past Simple

Used to narrate past
chronological order:

events

in

Alice left her family home in the morning

and moved to the big city. What a busy
day it was! She sat and looked at the
cosy living room around her. At last the
house was hers.

The Past Perfect

Used to express an action that happened
before a definite time in the past. A writer can
use it to re-order the events of a narrative for
dramatic effect.
Alice sat and looked at the cosy living room around
her. At last the house was hers. What a busy day it
had been! She had left her family home in the
morning and had moved to the big city.
Notice that had need not be repeated if the
subject of both verbs is the same.
She had said goodbye to her mother and (had)
caught the train to London.

The Past Perfect

It is not always essential to use the Past Perfect. If
it is clear that the events described in the
time clause took place before the one in the
main clause, the Past Simple can be used.
After she said goodbye to her mother, she caught
the train to London.
If it is important to show that the first action
was completed before the second one began,
the Past Perfect must be used.
When she had raised sufficient capital, she put in
an offer on the house.

The Past Continuous

and the Past Perfect
Continuous.
The Past Continuous and the Past Perfect
Continuous (as with all continuous tenses) express
ideas of activity in progress or repeated
activity.
She was wearing a green velvet dress.
She was hoping the phone would ring.
She had been arranging and rearranging the rooms
for weeks.

5 BREAK

Now, lets watch this

short film, as an
example of what has to
be done for our project.

Sketching a plot, making up a

story and eventually making
a short film

Which do you think are the steps to make a

short film?
Discuss with your partner.

Steps to make a short

film
1. Think of a genre. (Sci-Fi)
2. Think of a basic story idea and sketch out a
plot.
3. Outline your idea. Write out your script, using Celtx
(next class)
4. Story-board each shot in the film. Decide what each
shot in the movie is going to be. For example, wide
shot, over the shoulder, etc. (Using StoryBoardThat)
5. Decide what you need for each scene, using a
breakdown sheet.
6. Determine the equipment you are going to need.
7. Determine the actors and crew.
8. Film and edit.

HOW TO SKETCH OUT A

PLOT
1.
2.

3.
4.

5.
6.

7.

8.

The teaser. This is a scene that pulls the reader in, preferably an
action scene.
Exposition/Background. Where is the setting? Who are the
characters? This tells necessary information in order to follow
along with the story.
The conflict. Character(s) presented with a problem.
Rising Action. The suspense grows, and the problems take the
Ripple Effect into new problems, which, in turn, cause conflict for
your character.
Suspense. Right before the climactic scene. These are the events
that lead up to the climax, which are crucial to make the story flow.
Climax. Here is the scene where all of the problems blow up in
one event, where your character is in the worst trouble. This is
usually only a single event.
Winding Down. Your character recovers from the incident in the
climax, and things smooth out slightly. There are still problems but
your character has recovered.
Falling Action. All of the problems are untied, things settle in,
and your character feels back to normal but usually impacted from
the events that occurred.

Sketch out your own

plot
1. The class will be divided now in 3 groups of 10
people (Sorted out alphabetically by surname)
You will be working together for the next few
weeks.
2. You have characters, future worlds and a
starting point. Put your ideas together and make
up a short story. Use the given tips to help you
out.
3. Choose a speaking person from your group and
report your sketched plot.
4. We will discuss about the elements and stories
given by the groups and will choose together
our plot for the School film contest.
5. We will develop the script and record the story
within the following weeks.