Exploring genre

In exploring genre you come across something called generic conventions this is what the audience expect to see in that film genre. IN a thriller film the generic conventions we expect to see, in regards to aspects such as sound may be eerie music, creaking doors and bad weather conditions. It is usually based around the expectations of that genre, what we would typically see within it.

The genre I am looking into is action and crime genre. I have researched into the generic conventions that action based genre movies typically have, I have found that in regards to aspects to sound, action movies would normally include explosive booming, gunshots, screeching cars (non-diegetic to emphasize). In aspects to characters there would be a Male hero figure, women who he saves and a super villain (e.g. notorious mafia). Now in cinematography you would have hand held cameras for quicker exciting scenes and a lot of cuts from one image to another.. Narrative would include a male iconic figure saving the world from a notorious criminal. Lastly the mis en scene would be props such as guns military tanks, costumes and make up would be the hero with rugged and dirty torn clothes.

Another genre I am researching into is the Crime genre. I have looked into the generic conventions of crime based genre movies and they usually have for the use of sound, would include things like a lot of car noises for example a car chase, gunshots, a lot of crying for the sorrow of the dead, police car sirens. In aspect to characters you would include, kidnapping, movies to do with drugs/money, murder. Looking into the characters there’d be a good person (usually a police officer) and a bad guy (usually a murderer). Now for cinematography you would involve things like action matches of cars doing stunts. `Narrative would include a male figure of an over qualified police officer and he solves a criminal case (normally the solving would take up the whole film). Lastly the mis en scene would be props such as guns, masks and baggy clothes worn by gangsters.

Coming back to our research we decided to do crime and action as we have researched into it the most. From the piece of research from above is the use of generic conventions. Using this information we have used generic conventions of action through Gunshots, A main villain a notorious gangster, a lot of cuts from one image to another and the use of guns.      

By Mohammed Arif Uddin

*UPDATE*  12/03/2012 Coming back to our research we decided to do crime and action as we have researched into it the most. From the piece of research from above is the use of generic conventions. Using this information we have used generic conventions of action through Gunshots, A main villain a notorious gangster, a lot of cuts from one image to another and the use of guns.`