genres

1. Action
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera Angles
Target Audience
Dark colours
Present day or not too
distant future
Explosions
Weaponry
Armour/military uniform
Male
Young/teens
Establishing shots
Close ups
Aerial or
Crane shots
Woman (damsel in
distress)
American hero (man)
Sidekick
Intelligent
(usually foreign
or disfigured)
villain
A crime (bank heist,
terrorist plot, etc.)
Woman needs saving by
male here
Sub-narrative:
Romance
between ‘damsel’
and ‘hero’
The
development of
the hero’s
character
City
Fast cars
Car chases

2. Crime
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera Angles
Target Audience
Dark colours
City
Weaponry – knives, guns
and bombs
Police uniform
Police cars and
ambulances
Present day
Bright
colours/lighting –
police lights
Teen to middle aged
Mainly male
Crime needs to be solved
(e.g. murder, heist, etc.)
Sometimes a romance
Development of a friendship between
two main characters or a hero and his
sidekick (partner)
Mind games
between villain and
hero
Hero (detective)
Villain (criminal)
Sidekick (partner to hero)
Interfering boss of
hero
Damsel in distress
Establishing shots
Close ups
Over shoulder shots
Low angles High angles

3. Sci-fi
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera Angles
Target Audience
Blues and blacks
Spaceships
Advanced gadgetry
The future
City, other planet or
space Futuristic weaponry
Futuristic costume
Male
Geeks
Young people
Establishing shotsWide shots
Shot reverse shots
Close-ups
Hero (male)
Villain (perhaps an alien)
Aliens
Minor characters (crew on
board spaceship, etc.)
Alien invasions
Threats to the galaxy
Sometimes a romance
Sometimes self-sacrifice of
hero

4. Horror
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera Angles
Target Audience
Past or present day
Small town or
village/countryside
Creepy houses
Dark lighting
CandlelightCrucifixes
Churches
Dark colours
Black
Red
Teens/young adults
Male
Close ups
Extreme close ups
Wide shots
Establishing shots
Trying to escape
something (a room, etc.)
Running from
something/someone
Deaths
Main characters
attempting to stop a
monster, murder, etc.
Occasionally – minor romances
Sometimes a prologue
Monster, murderer, ghost,
etc. (antagonist)
Main character (male or
female)
Minor characters –
friends of the main
character
Relatives of the
main character
Complex storylines can
become psychological horrors
Can be
female (if less
gore and
usually
psychological
horror)
Human “monsters”
(usually psychological
horror)

5. Romance
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera Angles
Target Audience
Women
Teenagers upwards
Female main character
Male main character
Sometimes a
voice over to
narrate the story
Sometimes friends (sub-
characters) to both main
characters
Character trying to keep
the main characters apart
Follows the
development of
the main
characters
relationship
How the main
characters met
Bright colours
Red (love)
Present dayTown or big city settings
(New York)
Close ups
Extreme close ups
Happy ending
Flowers
Chocolates
Kiss scenes
Establishing shots

6. Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera Angles
Target AudienceSwash
Buckler
Ships Sea
Pirate costume
Old fashioned attire
Past
Swords
Blues
Dark colours
Lantern/candlelight
Male 20-50 year olds
A treasure hunt
A battle
Development of romantic
relationship
Development of
friendships
Being chased by sea
Wide shots
Establishing shots
Close ups
Male main character
(usually the Captain and
hero)
Sub-characters (the
crew)
Villain (the Captain of
the opposing ship)
Sometimes a female romantic
interest to the main character

7. Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera Angles
Target Audience
Fantasy
Vampires
Werewolves
Mythical creatures
Male or female main
character (protagonist)
Some kind of monster or
creature (villain)
Love interest of the main
character (usually a
mythical creature) can be a
main character also
Love story – the
progression of a
relationship
The discovery of
mythological creatures by
the main character
Battle with the villain
(usually a monster, etc.)
Sometimes starts with main
character having moved to a
new place
Teenagers and
young adults
Females
Dark colours
Red (blood and
love)
Black
Bright colours
(magic)
Establishing shots
Close ups
Medium shots
Wide shots
Past, present or future
Town setting
Stakes, etc.
Forests