Types of GENRES, and analysis of some

1. Genres: The way in which we categorise films. They all have their own set of codes and conventions which
are adhered to by directors. For instance, Imperial Dreams is a drama/social realist film that tries to capture
life as it really is. Other social realist films share similar techniques to this.
Genre is a French word meaning type. The characteristics e.g. music, narratives, mise en scene/typical
elements make up the formula of a genre, referred to as generic conventions.
Genre & Expectation:
As genres become established audience, begin to have certain expectations. These are all generic
conventions that audience would expect a gangster film to contain:
 Car chases;
 Guns;
 Villains;
 Violence;
 Urban setting;
 Mafia;
 Family;
 Honour;
 Corruption;
 Beautiful women;
 Revenge.
Horror Genre:
Puts the audience on edge, unexpected scenes or actions to make the audience jump.
Haunted house, possessed humans etc. Lots of blood and death.
Tend to be based on low key lighting, hand-held shots to express the feeling of the character. POV shots to
make the audience feel uncomfortable as they can’t look around to see what might be sneaking ‘upon them’.

2. Transitions, quick cuts. Low base music gradually getting louder or a high orchestral music playing;
especially during a death scene. The intro for insidious uses high orchestral music. Both diegetic and non-
diegetic music played (exaggerated sound is expected).
Fear, surprise, suspense.
Producers love genres:
 Gives them a blueprint or toolbox to use and experiments with
 They have proved popularity- so they can (almost always) guarantee some success.
 They can target their audience more easily- marketing campaigns etc.
Hangover:
Good lighting. substantial amount of lighting. Non-diegetic music playing; hip-hop music. Nice
laid back music. Mise en scene proves that it is a comedy based. Like the random chicken, unidentified
women walking out secretly, beer cans, trashed house. Tiger in the toilet. Hungover men. The film is
comedy as well as the technical codes in which is telling us this because the clip starts randomly with a guy
who is in a state and looks to be 'Hungover' which suits the film name and generally not remembering what
had happened the previous night before. The clip itself shows that it is comedy just from the character's
reactions and attitudes to what is going on for example where the character who goes to the bathroom first in
the beginning of the clip and doesn't notice the tiger but when he does he doesn't even properly notice until a
few seconds later and makes a run for it.
Star Trek Into Darkness:
Ariel view of a fantasied place. Major CGI used. Patriotic music used, high-tech equipment’s used.
Non-diegetic music. As this is sci-fi movie hero, villain and damsel in distress should be evident,
however it is hard to pick out who is the damsel in distress or the villain in this clip. Tracking shots
used majority of the time. Mixture of high key and low key lighting.
The Expendables:
Action, guns, violence, non-diegetic, all black costumes, major CGI used. Fight Scenes. Loud
background music, hypes us the movie and all the way through tensed and keeps the audience on
the edge. Fast paced, quick shots. Mainly tracking shots, long shots, and medium shots well as close
ups. Credits are shown like gun shots, in gold, bold, caps lock font.
Fish Tank:
Starts with an upbeat music and continues for a bit, quick shots used a lot. Normal daylight lighting. Very
normal shots, no CGI proving it is based on social realism. As this is a social realist film, it deals with day to
day lives and real-life situations and dangers which generally would occur on a day to day basis with people.
Also, generally looking at the mise-en-scene it is clear to see that anyone who is set on an estate which
everyone can potentially relate to, on top of that with the casts costumes they are wearing everyday clothing
such as tracksuits. Looking at the cinematography which was used within the extract would be defined as
being generally long as it is within the social realism genre. Audiences can have that general sense of being
able to relate to the characters as it is 'Social Realism'.
Hybridity:

3. - Genres can be mixed and combined to form genre hybrids.
- There 2 distinct advantages for producers and audiences:
1. Film/TV dramas are less predictable and feel new and “fresh”.
2. More genres mean wider audience appeal.
Shaolin Soccer:
It is different from the old school kung fu films. Action (kung fu) is clearly evident however, in this film it is
taken more of a sport and a fun activity rather than showing it as tradition and part of their culture. Which
tends to get into a more serious and sensitive topic. Shaolin soccer is a fusion of 2 distinctive themes.
There’s action but the execution is different, which each action there is a purpose and comedic timing to it.
For instance, when the girl slips on a banana peel she effortlessly does a back flip and swiftly lands on her 2
feet. This is not completely realistic nor overly exaggerated as people can do that.