This document discusses the codes and conventions of four common film genres: horror, comedy, action, and romance. It provides descriptions of typical elements for each genre, such as characters, settings, scenarios, use of music, and resolutions. For horror films, it notes they often feature isolated characters, surprise scares using music, and stereotypical roles. Comedies typically have nerdy main characters, love interests, stupid humor, and advice from wise characters. Action films usually involve heroes versus villains, missions with weapons, chase scenes, and sacrifices of loved ones. Romances usually follow the meeting and separation then reuniting of couples, contain emotional backstories, and end with marriage.

1. Film genres
codes and conventions in films
By Lauren Revell & Reece Leonard

2. Horror
 Somebody is killed, usually the two main good-looking
characters survive. The characters are usually isolated
with nobody else around, in places such as the woods or
an empty house. Usually a coloured male dies or is hurt
first. The characters usually open doors etc. and get
killed, even though everybody knows that the murderer
is in the next room. It can be very jumpy and usually
tries to catch you by surprise. Uses music to build up
suspense, and it is mostly gory and features a lot of
blood. Features stereotypical characters, a woman with
no self respect(slut), a jock, a nerd etc.

3. Comedy
 Two main characters, who are not very well presented
and nerdy. A love interest is usually introduced, and she
is a mainly out of the males league, and the male
characters usually do stupid things in an attempt of
humour. Features in random settings such as a house, a
shopping centre, a beach etc. It uses ridiculous
scenarios, and contains a lot of swearing and sometimes
nudity. It features a wise character, who advise the silly
characters along the way of the film. It is usually a
closed narrative with a resolution at the end. Uses
flashbacks and ellipsis so the film can be based over a
matter of days/weeks/months/years.

4. Action
 It is the good guys Vs the bad guys, there is usually a
hero and a villain. There are usually missions to be
completed which involve weapons, knifes and gun fights.
There is always a motive, for the good guy it would be
saving the planet or the city and for the bad guy they’ve
usually got childhood memories or something sad to
spur on there destruction. The mostly feature chase
scenes with fast cars or running and jumping of
buildings. Explosions and crashes and fire is included a
lot, to be dramatic. A loved one of the hero is usually
killed or hurt, and it features sinister, upbeat and nerve
wracking music.

5. Romance
 Usually aimed at a female audience, and involves
wedding bells, hearts and flowers, which symbolises
love. Characters usually go separate ways in the middle
of the film, due to disagreement, but always end up
getting back together in the end. Based on what
happens in day-to-day life, normally contains emotional
feelings for example, heroines/hero’s dad died, mother
left etc. Typically started by a ‘boy meets girl’ situation.
Uses happy music, and usually ends with a happy
upbeat popular song. Its almost always a closed
narrative and usually ends with marriage and a family,
and most characters are paired off in the end.