Unit 26.2 Film Studies

Introduction To Genre

Genre is term used for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audio or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. genres are formed by conventions that change over time as new genres are invented and the old ones are discontinued.

Conventions 
horror : 
- suspensful music
- dark lightning/colours
- scary scenes
- sudden camera movement
- volatile weather
- screaming

Film trailers

Harry Potter and the Half Prince Blood (2009)

• the trailer was approximately 2 minutes and 27 seconds
• the genre of this trailer is shown to be fantasy and drama 
• it is presented as fantasy and drama because of the range of surreal events happening within the visuals and along with the dramatic audio track in background and the different scenes to represent the storyline helps to show drama.
• the trailer helps to show a rough idea of the plot of the film but doesn't give away too much 
• the trailer meets my expectation of a harry potter trailer but is better than normal trailers

Quantum of Solace (2008)

• the length of this trailer is approximately 2minutes and 27 seconds.
• the genre of this film is action. 
• this is shown because because of the various face paced cutting of the visuals and the range of fighting scenes and big explosions shown and represent thrill and action.
• the story of the film is not really clear it shuffles around the various scenes within the trailer
• the trailer meets my expectations and their isn't anything that challenges the typical james bond films.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008)

• the trailer is approximately 1 minute and 50 seconds 
• the genre is presented to be in the animation genre
• This trailer suggested to be animation because of the characters and setting within the trailer is created through art and digital customisation
• the trailer is based on the plot 
• the trailer meets expectation and does not have anything in it that differentiates my opinionon a madagascar film

Lesson 3

1. Cargo

the genre being presented in this short film is horror these are used through various conventions including; scary music, blood, dull weather, various scenes were the baby and the father are alone and isolated, moments of silence to build suspense, the baby was crying in various scenes, zombies and dull colours.

2. Get off my land

The genre portrayed in this film is a horror because the used conventions help to identify. the film involves a cold-blooded killer that shows no emotions, the swigging and weeping of the woman after the killer shot her boyfriend also is convention used to show sadness and fear, silence in the beginning is used to build tension and the events within the film is shocking to the audience.

3. Jonah

the genre in this film is both a comedy and a drama. The conventions within this film that help me to identify both of these genres are, the humour jokes, the strong storyline, warm colours 

Hunt for the wilder people

• suspenseful music 
• humourous - comedy 
• isolated setting
• lonely characters
• use of close ups to show scared facial expressions 
• longs shots to show a clear view of the setting
• sad storyline

Narrative theories 

Equilbrium (Todorov)

This theory states that narratives have a three part structure which starts off will equilibrium progress, which is where everything is balanced, as something comes along to interrupt that equilibrium, to finally reach a resolution, when the equilibrium is restored to a new equilibrium. This formula is way of saying all narratives have a beginning , middle and end. Todorov is a russian theorist and came up with this from russian tales. This theory can be used in every type of film but would be mostly likely suitable for a drama or story- based film.

Character roles (propp)

Propp also came up with is theory from russian folk tales.