FILM GENRES What film genres are out there

FILM GENRES What film genres are out there and which one is best for us?

WHAT CONVENTIONS EXIST WITHIN FILM GENRES Different types of films have different genres and there are certain conventions that are repeated within that genre. This could be repeated plots or similar characters that an audience expects to see as it has been done so many times within that genre. These conventions also help the audience distinguish between genres. Genres could include: -Comedy -Horror Comedy -Action -War film -Crime film -Adventure -Documentary -Romance -Disaster film -Thriller -Science fiction -Romantic -Drama -Animation -

CONVENTIONS OF A HORROR FILM… -Horror films are usually set in dark isolated setting (e. g. forest/abounded building), or a city environment to make the story seem realistic -Disturbing low pitch sounds to create tension and suspense -Dark colours/filters (blood red for example) -Death/supernatural/dark plots -Fast pace editing to create suspense -A vulnerable character and a brave character -Contrapuntal music

CONVENTIONS OF AN ACTION FILM -Action films usually include high energy, big-budget physical stunts and chases -Rescues, battles, fights, escapes, destructive crises (floods, explosions, natural disasters, fires, etc) -Non-stop motion sequences that have spectacular rhythm and pacing -Two-dimensional 'good-guy' heroes or heroines battling 'bad guys' - all designed for pure audience escapism. -Action films includes James Bond 'fantasy' spy/espionage films, martial arts films, video-game films, and some superhero films.

CONVENTIONS OF AN ADVENTURE FILM -Adventure films are usually exciting stories with new experiences or exotic locations -Similar to and often paired with action films -The can document historical spectacles (similar to epic films), searches or expeditions for lost cities, treasure hunts, or just generally searches for the unknown -Can have rich characters that fund expeditions and young fit characters who use parkour in expeditions

CONVENTIONS OF A COMEDY -Comedies are light-hearted plots consistently and deliberately designed to amuse and provoke laughter -They do this by exaggerating situations, language, action, relationships and characters -There has been various forms of comedy in cinematic history, including slapstick, screwball, spoofs/parodies, romantic comedies, black comedy -Some comedy's use comic characters to get laughs, playing with overweight characters for examples

CONVENTIONS OF A CRIME FILM Crime films are developed around the sinister actions of criminals or mobsters, particularly bank robbers, underworld figures, or ruthless hoodlums who operate outside the law, stealing and murdering their way through life -The criminals or gangsters are often counteracted by a detective-protagonist with a who-did-it plot. -Hard-boiled detective films reached their peak during the 40 s and 50 s (classic film noir), although have continued to the present day -Crime and gangster films are often categorized as film noir or detectivemystery films, and sometimes as courtroom/crime legal thrillers -This category also includes various 'serial killer' films.

CONVENTIONS OF A DRAMA -Dramas are serious, plot-driven presentations, portraying realistic characters, settings, life situations -They are stories involving intense character development and interaction -Dramatic films are probably the largest film genre, with many subsets. They are not focused on special-effects, comedy, or action -This genre is more common in television than in film

CONVENTIONS OF A SCI-FI FILM -Sci-fi films are often quasi-scientific, visionary and imaginative -They have heroes, aliens, distant planets, impossible quests, improbable settings, shadowy villains, futuristic technology and unknown forces -Extraordinary monsters are also used, either created by mad scientists or by nuclear havoc -They are sometimes an offshoot of the more mystical fantasy films or superhero films -Science fiction often expresses the potential of technology to destroy humankind -They were popular in the "Atomic Age" of sci-fi films in the 1950 s -Science-Fiction sub-categories include: apocalyptic or dystopic, spaceopera, futuristic noirs, speculative, etc…

CONVENTIONS OF A WAR FILM -War (and anti-war) films acknowledge the horror and heartbreak of war, letting the actual combat fighting on land, sea, or in the air provide the primary plot or background for the action of the film -War films are often paired with other genres such as action, adventure, drama, romance, suspense, and even historical epics -They often take a denunciatory approach toward warfare, which may include POW tales, stories of military operations, and training

WHAT GENRE SUITS YOU? Having looked at a few different genres we are now in a position to start picking a genre for our film. There were one or two which we wanted to avoid from the off, the biggest being horror as we knew the acting would be unrealistic and that it would be tricky to make something genuinely sinister or scary; furthermore this is not a genre that we are particularly interested in (and this was something that was important to us). We felt a comedy or drama would need a well thought out script to be successful and a war or adventure would take a large budget. One genre that we are all interested in is crime thrillers and this is something that wouldn’t take an amazing script or high budget (low budgets work with this genre so should look good). Therefore we settled with a Crime Thriller.