Genre

Forms and conventions of different film genres

Horror

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Horror Typically in horror films, they’re either urban horror (in the home, inside etc) or rural horror (forests,

outdoors). Both have powerful effects on the audience. Urban horror usually targets victims at home, the crushing reality of murderers and monsters etc, being in the home is a terrorizing prospect to any audience member. Films such as The Strangers and Cherry Tree Lane are good examples of urban horror as the horror is literally in their homes. An urban horror would be easy to construct as you could literally film in your home, and typically props would be what’s in your home to make it more realistic such as knives.

Whereas rural horror usually takes the terror outdoors, in dark, forest-like locations; usually without contact, which is a doom factor to audience members. Also, victims usually are unaware of their location, whereas the monsters, murderers etc are fully aware. Films such as The Descent and Eden Lake are good examples of rural horror, as the victims are out of their comfort zone and made scarce of their survival. Rural horror would also be easy to construct as there are many secluded areas that would give the impression of entrapment to the audience.

Stereotypically in all horrors it’s a fight for survival. Or just to give the audience and the victims a good fright. Modern horror is usually more daring than the stereotypical monster horrors as it challenges different conventions e.g. making lower social class monsters, instead of actually having monsters. So by choosing a horror, its more terrorizing to have people as the monsters, e.g. murderers etc, rather than physical monsters.

Body horror would be slightly more difficult to construct as its likely you’d need a lot of props resembling torture etc. However the majority of horrors contain blood and fake blood is easy to get hold of, but body horror may be harder to construct as its harder to give the impression of surgery etc.

Forms and conventions of horror films

• Weapons and acts e.g. knives, guns, torture, abuse.• Blood.• Dark lighting.• Small spaces (e.g. closed framing).• Murderers, serial killers, stalkers, insane people.• Monsters, ghosts.• Masks, disguises.• Heightened sound effects, e.g. doors, telephone, screaming, shouting, breathing, footsteps.• Fast editing pace for chase scenes and escape scenes.• Slower editing pace for entrapment scenes.• Discordant sound tracks.• Enclosed locations, e.g. houses, basements.• Open spaces, e.g. forests, lakes.• Entrapment from lack of contact/being stuck somewhere.• Violence/fighting.• Suspense, from prolonged silences etc.

Looking at the forms and conventions of some horror film aspects, making my own trailer for a horror film would be manageable, especially if I chose urban horror as the location would be home. Props would be easy to obtain as for urban horror is more likely the weapons will be more subtle compared to body horror films. Also it’d be easy to achieve a good urban horror effect by having more than one victim, especially people who are vulnerable looking in expression and costume.

I think the effects of urban horror are more scary than any other horror as its in the home and places the audience in an uncomfortable position as it stresses the horror could repeat on them, whereas rural horror is out in the open and easier to escape.

Sound effects and discordant sound tracks would make the trailer a success as they’d add suspense. Heightened sound effects such as foot steps and breathing are easily achievable and add to the suspense.

Social Realist












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Social Realists Some social realists have aspects of crossover genre such as Dead Mans Shoes that has so really brutally

violent scenes, making it a possible horror, but its unearthly effect adds to its social realism factors.

Social Realist films often portray harsh, raw messages and usually focus upon the lower social class. Fish Tank, This Is England, Kidulthood and Sweet Sixteen all focus upon harsh problems within the lower social class. They’re all very different due to their location and characters but all suggest messages and usually make the audience think, even if some scenes may be considered harsh (such as scenes from Dead Mans Shoes).

A social realist would be easy to construct as usually they’re based around the youth of society. Costumes, make up and accents vary in every social realist film, but if you did one about your own area it’d be easy to construct as you know your area well and could use actors from your area with strong accents etc.

A melodic or discordant sound track could be appropriate in any social realist film, depending on the angle I’m wanting to show in my trailer, e.g. if I was showing violence/abuse, a discordant soundtrack would be used, but if I was demonstrating friendship/love I might use a melodic sound track.

Locations in social realist films are easy to copy as every town has its rougher areas, such as back alleys and vandalized areas. However that also depends on which approach I wanted to take, as not all social realist films are based in poorer areas. But location wouldn’t be a problem as social realist films are usually based around a local town/city.

Forms and conventions of Social Realist films

• Vandalized areas, public spaces, alley ways, local areas.

• Rough housing areas.

• Dressed to suit their characters stereotype (costume, make up), e.g. skinhead, chav.

• Melodic and discordant sound tracks to suit certain scenes.

• No heightened sound effects as it ruins the ‘realism’.

• Possible props - knives, guns, hats, condoms, alcohol, drugs, jewelry.

• Possible heavy accent.

• Swear words.

• Crime.

A Social Realist would be easy to construct as all Social Realist films are slightly different in location, so by choosing my own town, it’d be easy to film as I already know places that would suit the genre such as local areas (parks, alley ways), youth centres, flats public spaces etc. Also by choosing my own town it’d be easy to find actors as they’d all have appropriate accents.

As Social Realist films are usually based around conveying messages, sometimes more subtly in some films. But by thinking of a message to convey I think it’d be easy to construct.

Editing paces vary in every Social Realist film as some are based more around violence and crime, which may require a more discordant sound track and fast editing pace. Whereas some other Social Realist films focus merely on abuse therefore slower editing paces may be used to emphasize realism in the situations.

Sci Fi/Thrillers

















Sci Fi/Thrillers Some Sci Fi/Thrillers won’t be possible to make due the amount of CGI and other techniques used, e.g.

2012. But other types of Sci Fi/Thrillers such as 28 Days Later and 28 weeks later could work as make up and costume to make actors look like zombies would work, but it’d take a lot of time in comparison to other genres such social realist where heavy make up isn’t a necessity.

Producing a trailer for a film similar to The Road would work as its post apocolypt, therefore zombie-make up isn’t necessary only rough looking make up and costume. Location might be a problem as I’d need quiet areas, as potentially in the film the population of the world would be vast.

Discordant sound tracks are likely to be used to emphasize some of the issues in thrillers etc, such as loneliness in an post apocolipse. Heightened souch effects are likely in a zombie based film also a fast editing pace as there is likely to be a chase scene.

Locations are likely to need to be grim looking with dark lighting. But locations could be difficult as they will need a lot of thought to make sure no one is around to make sure the area is empty. Also the use of weapons such as knives and guns suggests I need to take thought into location as the weapons could not be used in the public eye.

Forms and conventions of Sci Fi/Thrillers

• Weapons e.g. knives, guns.

• Fake blood.

• Heavy make up for zombies.

• Ripped, dirty clothing.

• Heightened sound effects e.g. screaming, shouting, crying, breathing, footsteps.

• Discordant sound tracks.

• Grim, vandalized locations.

• Empty spaces.

• Dark lighting.

• Closed framing/entrapment.

Some aspects of the Sci Fi/Thriller genre would be easier to achieve than others as some require a lot planning to make sure members of the public aren’t around when I’ll be filming. Also if I chose to do a zombie film make up would be crucial, also I’d need quite a lot of people to play zombies as I can’t just have the same person. So its likely if I chose to do a zombie film that I’ll need a lot more actors compared to other genres.

Rom-coms


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Rom-coms A Rom-com could be easily produced as they’re usually centered around a couple then a few other

characters to create problems and dilemas etc. The scenery of some Rom-coms can usually be quite ‘perfect’, almost to signify a characters feelings, whereas some other Rom-coms totally challenge the conventions such as ‘She’s the Man’ where the majority of scenes are taken from their high school.

Sound tracks can be upbeat and melodic when things are looking good for our protagonist(s), but Rom-coms can also use sound tracks to represent a characters sadness also heightened sound effects may be used at comical scenes.

There usually aren’t may significant props in Rom-coms, however there are usually stereotypes within characters that are represented through their costume and make up. For example in Legally Blonde, the main character wears pink all the time, emphasizing her ‘bimbo’ like traits.

There aren’t usually any chase scenes in Rom-coms, although a chase scene to find their lover near the end of the film fits the conventions and also allows the use of a fast editing pace to be used. Slower editing paces are likely to be used in sad scenes etc.

Dialogue in Rom-coms can usually be quite ‘cheeky’ and uses the odd swear word in comical scenes. Some dialogue can be exaggerated in tone purposely to suit characters dramatic attitudes or to emphasize the comedy.

Forms and conventions of Rom-coms

• Love/sex scenes.

• Stereotypes represented through costume make up, e.g. ditzy, bullies.

• Melodic, upbeat music.

• Heightened sound effects for comical use.

• Betrayal.

• Perfect scenery, e.g. fields, castles, forests.

• Kissing.

• Fast editing pace usually used at the end of the film when they’re finding their ‘lover’.

• Characters who purposely want to mess things up for the protagonist.

A Rom-com could be easier to construct compared to a lot of genres as the character make up is usually laid back and the locations can be local as they vary in different Rom-coms. Even though there are conventions for Rom-coms, they all are different in their use of locations, characters and comical effect. Due to their conventions being so open, its likely a Rom-com would be easy to produce but still take a lot of thought into making the trailer, as you can’t give away the outcome, but you need to attract them with the comedy and some love scenes etc.

Love scenes are a necessary part to Rom-coms, and I’d have to ensure I had actors who are willing to kiss etc, as some may find it uncomfortable etc.

Conclusion

Some trailers are going to be harder to construct than others relying on which genre I choose. However, by challenging some of the stereotypical conventions to any genre you can make it work. I understand that some genres are not going to work such as action due to the amount of stunts and possible CGI that’ll need to be used. Also a zombie film could be hard due to the amount of organization that would need to take place in order to ensure the zombies looked appropriate and also the locations.

Whichever genre I end up choosing it’

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