They interview members of the public about the Science Fiction programmes that they watch, any supernatural experiences that they have had, whether they believe in ghosts, etc. This piece of work is word processed and read to the class. An episode of the X-Files is studied by the whole class. The opening scene is closely analysed to establish plot, character, alien, generic conventions. The opening sequence is watched once more to study the way that music, light, camera shot and colour is used to heighten tension.
Pupils write a succinct description of the opening sequence.
Before comparing two very different alien movies from different eras, I explained how the historical context of Science Fiction films had changed. After the Cold War, alien films had to concentrate on perpetrators from outside of planet earth who were created in different shapes, textures and colours to represent a species very different from humans. Thus countries were united against this alien species. Pupils use the A3 sheet to structure their note-taking for their coursework. Again, pupils use the A3 sheet to collect notes on special effects, lighting, music, camera shots, aliens, plot, stereotypes, ideology etc.