Research into different film genres: - Individual Work

Each of us have decided to research into two different film genres to get a better understanding of each genre chosen from the list below, whicn in result will help us decide on what film genre/s we will be using for our film.

The colour codes which will symbolise our work:

·         Nicola Ho (me)

·         Tayla Powell

·         Chloe King

Horror: The term ‘horror’ was first invented within the film industry when the film ‘Dracula (1931)’ and ‘Frankenstein (1931)’ was created. Films based on the film genre, ‘horror’ are uncomfortable, disconcerting movies that are attempting to draw the emotions of the audience, creating fear, hatred and horror. In addition, the creators of a horror movie also creates a scenes that alarm the viewers, although, this is created from deathlike and the supernatural. However, horror movies can easily over lap with fantasy, thriller, classic Horror, creature Features, demonic possession and science fiction genres. The codes and conventions of horror films are always deep, low music, dark lighting and slow paced action. The camera angles is often jump cut to keep the audience aware using unknown sounds that are used in a typical 'scared’ moments. Some horror movies use the typical conventions: slashing, cutting, blood, running and screaming. Horror films are generally supposed to make the audience feel frightened, making you feel uncomfortable, superstitious and intense. Most Horror films end in a dramatic ending or the situation is re-solved, this is the use of the gratification theory. Examples of Horror films: Drag Me to Hell, Se7en and Friday the 13^th. 

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_film http://www.filmsite.org/subgenres2.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film 

Action: The term ‘action’ was first invented within the film industry when the first action film was created ‘The Great Train Robbery (1960’s).’ Films based on the film genre, ‘action’ is occasionally using an imaginative character struggling against awful situations with the ‘hero’ involving physical feats, careless fights and distraught chases, likely to use several ways of transportation, e.g. car, bus, truck. This will most probably include life-threatening situations using ‘the propp theory.’ This will include a villain, hero, dispatcher, princess, princess’s dad, the false hero, the donor and the helper. These will all take a responsible role within the genre. Nevertheless, most action films will include the ‘Todorov’ theory, which is a film with a happy beginning, fearful middle, and back to a joyful ending, having a victory achievement at the end after difficult efforts and violence; this is also the use of the gratification theory which is very common. An action movie often makes the audience observant and on the edge of their seats, often using having an enigma code which is set within the first 2 minutes of the film.
The codes and conventions of action films are made to be quick paced, often using jump cut to keep the audience alert and using dramatic sound effects, using non-diegetic sound.
Here are some examples of action sub genres:  Action or Adventure Comedy, Alien Invasion, Biker, Blaxploitation, Buddy Cops, Chase Films or Thrillers, Comic-Book Action, Romantic Adventures, Sci-Fi, Action, Swashbuckling (sward fighting), Sea Adventures and many more. Examples of action films: Avatar, Transformers, and Salt.

Sources: http://faithcommunitynetwork.com/How_do_you_feel_about_horror_movies%3F/m_5354046/mpage_1/tm.htm 

Romance: Romance genre based films are generally light hearted and has an aura that surrounds falling and being in love. Typical romance films will follow the Todorov’s narrative theory, which consists of equilibrium, a disruption, recognition of the disruption, an attempt to repair the damage and a new equilibrium. Examples of this would be ‘Letter’s to Juliet’, ‘Crazy, stupid Love’ and ‘the lost valentine’. On the other hand, not all romance films are light hearted, with a happy ending. Some romance films will end tragically, examples are such as: ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘Titanic’. Most or all romance genre based films are able to capture the audience’s heart, be attached to the film and be able to apply either the hypodermic syringe model theory or the uses of gratification theory. In addition, romance films has the ability to touch the audiences heart with typical sweet love lines said by the male character, in both fiction and non fiction romance films. Romance films can also give the audience the atmosphere of mordern fairytale, as it can be exaggerated to appeal to fans of the genre. Romance films can be split into subgenres which include: Romcom (romantic comedy), historical romance and gothic romance.

Sources: http://www.findmeanauthor.com/romantic_fiction_genre.htm

Fantasy: Fantasy films are generally stories that are not able to be realistic. They are one of the genres alongside with Swashbuckler, which are fictional. Typical fantasy films are considered to be fairytale-like which can include, dragons, fairies and vampires etc. Examples of fantasy films are: Alice in the wonderland, Twilight and Harry Potter. The main target audience for fantasy genre based films are young children as it is appealing to them with the special effects and unique characters – dragons and fairies. The genre fantasy can be split into sub genres, for example: romance fantasy, modern fantasy and dark fantasy. Typcial fantasy films follow the Levi Strauss theory which is also known as the 'binary opposition'. This theory consistes of opposition and binary pairs meaning one thing is always more valued in contrast to another, enforcing stereotypes and dominant cultral ideas. An example of this would be Twilight. Both Victoria and Edward are vampires, Victoria is a stereotypically 'bad' vampire in comparison to Edward. Edward is the unusually known good vampire. In Twilight, Edward is seen more powerful compared to Victoria. Furthermore, Edward is a man, whereas Victoria is a woman, which again shows binary pairs, as men are stereotypically known to be more powerful than woman.

Sources: http://www.findmeanauthor.com/fantasy_fiction_genre.htm

Thriller: Alfred Hitchcock is one of the film directors that helped shape modern day thriller films with his works such as: The Lodger (1929), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) and Shadow of a Doubt (1943). The purpose of thriller films is keeping their audience alert and on the edge of their seats. The protagonist will always be in danger and this will be emphasized and the tension will continue to build into it becomes a stressful and tense climax. Modern day thrillers of the last ten years or so are mainly psychological thrillers which are a subgenre of the thriller genre and often deal with violence, domestic violence, and revenge and often have mentally ill characters.

Other subgenres are: action thrillers, crime thrillers, supernatural thrillers, science fiction thrillers, conspiracy thrillers and political thrillers. Codes and conventions of thriller films are that there is always high pitched music, dark lighting, and quick transitions, fast paced; often change of camera angles, dark colours, exaggerated sounds like a heartbeat etc.  Thrillers are supposed to make you feel scared, full of tension and often make the audience try to guess what’s going to happen next.

Sources: http://www.filmsite.org/dramafilms.html

Drama: Drama Films are stories with settings or life situations which have realistic characters in conflict with either themselves, others, or forces of nature. A dramatic film shows us human beings at their best, their worst, and everything in-between. Each of the types of subject-matter themes has various kinds of dramatic plots.

Dramatic themes often include current issues, problems, concerns or injustices, such as racism, drug addiction, poverty, political issues, and the corruption of power, alcoholism, class divisions, sexual inequality, mental illness and violence toward women. The characters are often complex yet relatable to the audience which makes the audience have more investment in the film.

Codes and conventions of drama genre are hard to determine because it is such a broad genre however the most common codes and conventions you will find are: a variety of lighting depending on what type of scene it is, generally follow Todorov’s theory however some endings are not happy but there is always a disruption of sort, characters that are relatable and dramatic issues are used.

Examples of drama films: The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Fight Club, Forrest Gump and American History X.

Sources: http://thescriptlab.com/screenplay/genre/thriller, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)