MOVIE GENRES

By Lewis Watson

Crime Genre Conventions-There is a specific 3 part formula that unravels in crime dramas, firstly the crime is established , secondly the middle portion of the piece will consist of characters gather evidence and ultimately try and solve the case, finally the case will be solved and an arrest will be made. Typical characters of this genre will include police detectives, private detectives or crime teams. More often than not there will be a duo of crime solvers a main detective, who seems to be flawed or troubled will be clever but cold, and a sidekick who is more relatable they will usually be the viewers eyes in witnessing events unfold. Other characters included are victims, their family or friends and a criminal/gang. The setting is typically a city setting especially urban cities as this makes the violence and crimes seem insignificant in a city full of crimes. Other settings will include police stations, interrogation rooms, dark empty streets to make victims seem powerless and crime scenes. The style of this particular genre is naturalistic and realistic, non diegetic sound such as music is added to scenes to create dramatic effect and is usually dark and eerie.

Key Directors and Studios

Martin Scorsese – Quentin Tarantino - Christopher Nolan- Nicolas Winding Refn- Goodfellas. Mean Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Memento, Insomnia, Drive, Bronson, Only Streets, Taxi Driver Dogs, Jackie Brown Dark Knight Trilogy God Forgives, Pusher

Trilogy Warner Brothers Universal

Techniques

Techniques used within the genre include music played over scenes involving tension as this will increase the feeling of danger, a lot of close up zooms on evidence/clues to exaggerate the progression of the investigation. Scenes will be darkly lit to make it seem more mysterious and dangerous. Techniques involving characters usually which involve more than 3 crime solvers will include a double cross of some kind.

Distribution, Exhibition & Exchange Routes

Crime films are usually distributed by film posters which show the crime solving duo or mobsters/criminals depending on who the film follows. Here are some examples:

These posters are generally character driven posters so the audience see who the actors/actresses are so they feel compelled to see the film.

The films will get a general run of trailers and TV spots as they are popular with audiences. Most independent crime films are distributed through media outlets such as we-media (Internet, Social networking sites). Most of these films are adaptations of novels and this creates built in awareness with the audience as most will have read the book and others will read the book after seeing the movie. There are two exhibition methods of crime films these are: Cinematic release and Straight to DVD, crime films to receive a cinematic release are blockbuster or art house films, and straight to DVD crime films will have been filmed very quickly with minimal distribution.

Horror Genre Conventions: The setting for Horror productions include small communities/isolated environments and urban environments. This is to create the effect of anything that connotes isolation or being stranded alone to create fear. Often the places are connected with a “dark history” such as abandoned houses, hotels, asylums. Iconography is a very important role within a Horror production as this is the most memorable band in the production (except for the foe/villain of the piece), the iconography includes: the visual style, props, lighting, and the iconography of the monster/villain. There is a very basic narrative structure with most Horror pieces as they usually consist of a group of friends on a trip who are picked off one by one by a monster/ costumed villain who want nothing but to kill the group. The structure will usually leave the story open for a sequel thus start a franchise. The characters within these productions are usually teenagers (this enables the film’s demographic relate to the characters) which are presented as being “immoral” and are plagued by a killer or supernatural being. Within Horrors there is always a man or woman protagonist who must over come obstacles to succeed in surviving.

Key Directors and Studios

Wes Craven- Alfred Hitchcock- James Wan- George A Romero-Nightmare on Psycho, The Birds, Saw, Insidious, The Night of the livingElm Street, Scream, Rear Window Conjuring dead, The Crazies,The Hills Have Eyes Dawn of the dead

Lionsgate Dimension Films Hammer

Techniques Camera work within the Horror genre plays a special part as it’s not natural and very expressive, high and low angles will create fear. POV shots are quite prominent also as this allows the audience to see what the monster/villain is seeing which creates tension and fear and they don’t know what will happen. Handheld shots which are found in ‘found footage horrors’ make it very hard for the audience to see what is happening, this is how terror is create in that particular sub-genre. Framework can make it hard to see when the monster/villain is creeping up to the protagonist as it uses depth of field and can make the viewer unsettled. Editing can also produce an unsettling tension and suspense for example if the editing is not flowing as fast as it has been it could signify something bad is about to happen. One of the key techniques used in horrors is the use of sound, disturbing sounds are very important. Ambient diegetic sounds such as footsteps and screams is very effective and non-diegetic sounds like heartbeats, music can make the audience feel un-nerved and scared.

Distribution, Exhibition and Exchange Routes

Horror films are distributed heavily through teaser and official trailers, this will include some big scares from the final production and will entice the audience to watch more. The teaser posters for horror films are usually a picture of the setting to create tension and an intrigue into what events will unfold:

The character posters for horrors will include a teaser of the threat posed in the final feature, here is an example from the film ‘You’re Next’:

Theatrical horror posters will show the setting and a character/s with the information on who made and stars in the film:

Another way the film can be promoted is through virtual media by using websites to make viral videos and create events such as screenings.

The Exhibition methods used are the same as the crime genre, there will be a wide spread cinematic release and other productions will be released straight to DVD. As horrors are the easiest and cheapest to film there is a wide range of straight to DVD and online streaming of these films.

Horror Sub-Genres Sub-genres within the horror genre include:• Supernatural Horror• Possession • Horror Comedy • Slasher • Apocalyptic • Sci-Fi Horror