Genres

Genres

1. Genre Hybrid

   • is any film which combines the elemnets and convctions of more than 1 genre

2. Horror

   • Horror films explore to elicit feelings of fear, horror and terror from viewers.
   • Ghosts, demons. werewolves, vampires, zombies, masked killers, old casltes and graveyeards, screaming vitiums and weapons
   • Most used setting would in the 18th and 19th centuries
   • Low key lighting
     • POV shots used to give a 'killer's eyes'
       • Atonal music is used to generate a sense of profound unease.

3. Western

   • Often set in the USA in the 19th century
   • A common theme would be determined settlers and their elected lawmen trying to protect their new territory from outlaws.
   • Wagons, horse riding, native American tribes, desert locations, cacti, tumbleweeds, wooden buildings, cowboy boots and hats, wild buffalo and cattle
   • Cross-cutting and with a chilling final image, a close-up of an outlaw firing his gun directly at the audience
   • Wider frame sizes to convey more of the West’s spectacular landscapes.
   • showdowns by using closeups of the actors at an increasing speed

4. Action / Adventure

   • Requires action of some kind, be it dramatic psychological change or actual physical action.
   • the hero or heroes must face genuine physical peril.
   • High speed car chases, shoot-outs, sense of combat, heros, enemies, villians and henchmen, heavy weaponry, fast cars and helicopters
   • Cities such as LA or New York are often used
   • Different themes
     • Ordinary people forced to assume the mantle of heroism by dangerous new circumstances
     • The main character is pursued by governmental agencies
   • Fast moving cameras may track alongside the action to increase the sense of excitement and speed.

5. Romantic Comedy

   • light- hearted and humorous dramatic stories centred around romance
     • ‘meet cute’ scenarios
       • which the couple meet is driven by social awkwardness or comic misunderstandings
       • Themes: pre-destined love overcoming all obstacles
         • the Joys of love, even failed love, being ultimately worth the heart-ache and turmoil.
   • Make-overs, diaries, flowers, rings, real world cities, parks, restaurants, romantic meals and dances, and symbolic rain
   • Romantic comedies usually unfold in aspirational and glamorous settings.
   • London, Paris or New York
   • Two people meet, form some connection indicative of deeper feelings
   • warm natural light
   • Rain will often be used as a feature of mise-en-scene,
   • Popular songs and ballads will be used to convey both the sudden rush of romantic attraction and the heartache of separation.

6. Science Fiction

   • Themes relating to issues raised by technology, scientific progress and humankind’s place in the Universe.
   • Time- travel, space ships, robots, futuristic cityscapes, weapons, technology, alien invasion and parallel universes
   • Themes
     • humanity has spread far beyond the confines of Earth;
     • the world has become a grimmer place, either through war and environmental collapse
     • post-apocalyptic futures
     • Characters
       • maverick space adventurers, tyrannical rulers, intelligent but emotionless machines and extra-terrestrial invaders
   • Cinematography and mise-en-scene are used to generate stunning vistas and to immerse us in new environments, such as alien worlds or futuristic cities.
   • sweeping orchestral music

7. Crime

   • the genre explores the criminal world from either the cop or the criminal side
   • dangerous cities, detectives wearing trench coast and sharp suited gangsters
     • London, New York, Paris and Hong Kong
     • Prisons or police stations
     • heist movies, the narrative generally follows a gang of career criminals attempting to pull off a major score.
     • prison dramas, the focus might be either on a criminal surviving life behind bars or attempting to escape.
   • Large cities that are portrayed in a way that suggests the presence of a dark underworld existing just beneath the surface of civilised life.
   • detective films
     • works to unravel a difficult case, encountering danger and exposing dangerous secrets
   • life or death conflicts
     • low key lighting, black & white cinematography and bleak urban locations
   • The more comedic heist film uses high-key lighting, full colour cinematography and a jaunty sixties pop soundtrack.