READING FILM GENRES

Genre are the categories that define movies based on their narrative or stylistic elements. Genre can help determine the characters, plot, setting, tone of the film. Every movie has a genre and every genre has its own conventions which help to identify it. Some of the major genres in film are:

• Action: A film with action genre might start with an action scene, the pace of editing will be fast and there might be a lot of jump cuts. The setting shown will be intense. It will be a disturbed one with an unbalanced social environment which may give rise to a conflict. A hero and a villain will be shown. Villain might be shown more strong and dominant and a dueling hierarchies might be shown.  loads of fighting and chasing scenes and slow-motion shots. High drum beats and intense music will be used especially in fighting scenes to create the sense of danger. A lot of bomb blasts and dust will add to the Mise-en-scene of the film.
• Horror: A lot of unique and unusual angles to create a sense of dread in the audience. The lighting  is dark with a lot of shadows to make the audience feel on edge. Furthermore the use of high pitched  and creepy sounds creates a sense of alarm. Sounds like hushed footsteps, doors and floorboards creaking are also used to make the audience feel the presence of something unknown. A lot of jump scares after to a thin high pitched tune to create enigma are used to scare the audience. The pace of editing is fast and has lots of cuts to make the audience feel distressed and uneasy.
• Sci-Fi: plots of such conventions are based on researches such as aliens, time travel and include things such as spaceships, spacesuits, space and astronauts. Filk music is the conventional sound used in Sci-fi movies. The colour tones used are neon and bright. The pace of editing is fast here as this may have some fast scene such as a spaceship landing.
• Mystery: A murder takes place and the killer is unknown. A detective is present who takes up the case. Suspects are shown. Essential details/hints are given in a way that they seem unimportant. Suspenseful music is used to create a sense of curiosity. Misdirection and twists like the person who seems least likely to be the murderer ends up being the murderer. Pace of editing is slow. Colour tones used are dull like brown and green. The detective wears a coat and has a hat, smokes a cigar(e.g. Sherlock Holmes).
• Comedy: Often starts with a comedy scene. The plot can be any typical setting such as a village, city or even a school. Every character, action and scene is humorously exaggerated. They are mostly every day-to day lives shown of the main characters and the funny blunders that they make. They usually have a happy ending. A lot of establishing shots to show changing locations, characters, new themes, etc. Lots of mid close ups and mid shots to show the characters in a conversation. Light and natural colour scheme to link with having a normal life. Often a whole family is shown as a main characters or a group of friends.