Film Genre, Narrative & Formats

Genre

Genre is a French word meaning the "sort" or "kind"; the category of a film having a particular content, form and technique.

All movies have one or more types genres, In a main genre, like horror there can be sub-genres, like zombie. This is done to help the audience understand what type of films they are watching and what they like. The film's genres are deiced by the enviorment/setting, theme/topic, mood and narrative elements. 

Horror

In our typical slasher horror film classic Halloween, directed by John Captenter in 1978 we could make a good guess that we would see poorly lit houses which make normal household noises like kettles boiling and doors opening would sound eerie and creepy. In sub-genres like chiller and Slasher which both don't really care for blood, they mainly focus on a physiological scare and "giving the chills" to their audience and they do this with there creepy scores and jumpy Foley. Halloween is famous for it Micheal Myers theme music which was written by John Captenter. There would be young girls hiding from the psychotic and hard to kill murderers. 

This genre will normally use a lots of low key lighting to carry a sense of mystery to the audience. The Location is set around one neighbourhood were the victims would normally feel safe. Horror movies like to make sure that the killer has a unique costume which makes them standout from the ordinarily dressed victims. Well know horror movie killers are famous for their iconic costume, mask and weapon. Examples of this are Freddy's glove & jumper, Jason's Mask & machete, Letherface's Chainwas and mask. In this picture of Micheal it has been shot at a low angle to make him intimidating.  There maybe dutch tilts to make the scene feel wrong and sinister.



http://www.ehow.com/info_8632720_typical-characteristics-horror-movie.html

An example of the sub-genres of horror:

●Chiller - The Woman in Black - James Watkins
●Zombie - Night of The Living Dead - George A. Romero
●Giallo - Deep Red - Dario Argento
●Splatter - Dawn of The Dead - George A. Romero
●Slasher - Halloween - John Captenter (remake - Rob Zombie)

Sub-genres like zombie also mix with other genres like comedy, seen in Shaun of The Dead. Splatter films focuses on graphic portrayals of gore rather than story, this is achieved with special effects. On the other hand slasher films are about the plot and the development of a killer e.g. Micheal Myers. 

When researching for splatter movies is looked at this which helped me understand the sub-genres of horror.http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art31012.asp

Action

Hollywood's favourite movie genre likes to stick to the same narrative but with a twist of locations and characters. Action films will normally have a protagonist that has a goal/journey and there will be an obstacle in their way, then there is a success. You can count on seeing different types of weapons, chase scenes, death, explosion, fighting and love. It is the sub-genres that change the action narrative around. In action heavy Quantum of Solace's opening scene the first minute contains a instrumental score with bits of Foley; after that the score is dropped and we wear only the sounds of gunfire, acceleration and cars crashing. This builds tension for the audience and explains the high-speed action and force of Bond's chase. These films are normally shot at many locations around the world. Having a world wide travelling ability it makes the audience think that there is no limit to what the protagonist can achieve. The protagonist will normally will have an outfit that they will be known for e.g. James Bond is known for he Suits, Indiana Jones and his famous hat.

Sub-genres of Action:

• Adventure - Raider of The Lost Ark - Steven Spielberg 
• Western - 3:10 To Yuma - James Mangold
• Action-comedy - Rush Hour - Brett Ratner
• War - Platoon - Oliver Stone
• Martial Arts - IP Man - Wilson Yip
• Spy - Skyfall - Sam Mendes 
• Superhero - Man of Steel - Zack Snyder

Romance 

The romance film genre focuses the plot around the love between to characters. The plot will show different ways that the lovers have to overcome different obstacles to final be with each other. These obstacles vary from parents’ disapproval, forbidden love, war and social or racial class.

Genres and sub-genres are use to tell the audience about the narrative. Another way this can be established is by linking two or more genres. An example of this "rom coms" this is a mixture of romance and comedy. By having a mixture genre movie the audience gets to have a more precise understanding of the theme. This helps pinpoint the target audience.

Sub-genres of Romance:

• Rom-com - Love Actually
• Romantic Drama - The NoteBook
• Romantic Musical - Moulin Rouge - Baz Luhrmann
• Period Romance - The Great Gatsby - Baz Luhrmann

Narrative 

The narrative is the way the story of the film is shown, this is what the audience follows then they are watching the film. The ways the narrative is structured will help the audience understand and follow the film. Writer Tzvetan Todorov formed the theory of the 'Classic Hollywood narrative'. Todorov's theory suggested that they are five stages to narrative formula.


1. a state of equilibrium at the outset
2. a disruption of the equilibrium by an event
3. a recognition that there has been a disruption;
4. an attempt to repair the disruption;
5. a return or restoration of a new equilibrium

Films may seem different to us but deep down they share this common structure, we are very familiar to it and when it changes the film doesn't feel right. In The Hunger Games the equilibrium beings with Katniss Everdeen providing for her family until the 74th Hunger Game disruptes the districts (her she lives) and through random selection Katniss's sister is going into the games. As a recognition of her sister's health and safety Katniss offers to take her place in the games. Katniss attempts to repair the disruption by winning the Hunger Games. She and her fellow tribute return to the new equilibrium by fouce the Capitol to end the game. 

Todorov argues that narrative involves a transformation because of the return of a new equilibrium. The characters have been changed by what has happened and in The Hunger Game Katniss returns terrified by the death she has seen and to please the Capitol happy she has to pretend to love her fellow district 12 tribute. Also the people of Panem start planning a new rebellion to overthrough the Capitol.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

1. Elizabeth Swann, the Govenor's daugther is having a typical day living in Port Royal. Will Turner is delivering a sword to the Govenor and flirts with Elizabeth.
2. Captain Jack arrives at Port Royal and is shortly followed by the Black Pearl. The Pearl's Captain, Barbossa kidnaps Elizabeth.

3. Will wants to safe Elizabeth but needs the help of Captain Jack.

4. Jack makes makes a deal with Barbossa to trade Elizabeth for Will.

5. Will comes back and finds Elizabeth in Port Royal for the hanging on Captain Jack. Elizabeth tell her dad, the Govenor that she loves Will and the Govenor warns her that Will is now a wanted man for being a pirate. 

Formats
 

Single Drama - A story is told in a one off TV episode. Murder was BBC 2 single drama that got turned into a series. These dramas seem like TV short films and normally get aired once.

Procedural Drama - Is a series of episodes in a TV show were each episode has a problem in the story, which gets solved at the end of that episode. Each episode has the same similar narrative structure it allows the audience to understand the series without watching every episode. This is a common structure for crime-based dramas like CSI, Bones and Quantum Leap.


Serials – This type of drama has an on-going storyline that develops with each episode. The audience will have to watch each episode to keep track of the storyline. The series will also concluded with a final episode, which is aimed at getting the audience to watch the next series. An example is the last episode of Sherlock series 2 where the audience are left wondering how Sherlock faked his death and will watch the series to find out. The final episode will also be widely anticipated by being advertised.


Series of Film – A storyline that is separated into a series of films. The story continues from the previous film. An example of this is The Hobbit series, which is a story that is being told in three movies. This allows the story to be told in detail, if the story was told in just one film it may not explain and explore the story’s full potential.