Story & Genre Lecture

What is Genre?
• Genre is a type of film with a
particular set of traits or
characteristics.

• These set of characteristics

determine the Set Design,
Cinematography, Edit and
STORY

• Let’s Recap What makes a

story?
The Five Elements of a Story
1. Characters: Protagonist: The main character of a story with a main desire and conflict.
Antagonist: Stands between the protagonist and their ultimate goals.

2. Setting: The setting is the time and location in which your story takes place. Your story’s
2. Setting
context. It can also inform your story’s genre.

The plot is ‘what happens’ in the film. The sequence of events that an audience can
3. Plot: see and hear. What is included or left out of the story in the plot, helps create
mystery and build tension in your story.

The conflict is what drives the story. Internal: Emotions/psychology. External:

4. Conflict: Antagonist/obstacle/adverse situation etc.
A good conflict has a bit of both.

When the protagonist overcomes the conflict, learns to accept it, or is ultimately
5. Resolution: defeated by it. A good resolution transforms the life experience of the protagonist.
5 min activity:

From the plot

presented in the 2. Setting
images define
the following:

1. Protagonist/
antagonist
2. Setting
3. Conflict
4. Resolution
5. Story
 Back to Genre
• Now let’s look at how stories are
shaped by different genres.

• We are going to focus on four types

of Genres:

1. Comedy

2. Horror

3. Music Video/Experimental

4. Crime (Noir, Spy, Detective)

Comedy

Comedy
• It centres around a comedic premise: The character’s conflict is
wanting something they’re not prepared to handle - Eddy the Eagle

• Good comedy films are less about making constant jokes, and more
about presenting a universally relatable story with complex characters
who learn an important lesson.
 Comedy traits and conflict

• The story for a comedy hinges on three areas:

the unexpected, the unusual, and repetition. The
resolution arrives by overcoming these
circumstances resulting in a happy or
successful conclusion.

• Set in common and familiar places. (office,

house, holiday spot)

• The conflict arises from the character wanting

something they are not able or prepared to get.

• The antagonist(s) - if they exist. Is usually

someone the protagonist knows and they are
able to achieve the things the protagonist can’t.

• If it’s a romantic comedy, the conflict is created

through a misunderstanding.

• Common traits: exaggeration, absurdity,

surprise, repetition, witty remarks, and sarcasm.
 Comedy Misé en Scene
• Cinematography: Wide angles,
distortion of faces, framing the context.
Often naturalistic looks. Bright, colourful
and vibrant lighting.

• Sound: Sound effects are often used as

codes or markers to enhance the
comedic effect.

• Editing: Comedic timing is key- editors

often time sequences to create
anticipation, awkward silences or
repetition.

• Production Design: Can be realistic or

exaggerated in order to emphasise a
comedic effect. Make-up and costume
are vital in characterizing a comedic
character.
 Horror

Horror
• Horror films are designed to frighten and • Sub-genres include gothic horror, science
to invoke our worst fears. fiction horror, supernatural, monster,
psychological horror, and slasher.
• Horror films often provide a cathartic
experience and the use of a terrifying
and/or shocking finale is key to this.
 Horror traits and conflict

• Set in mysterious/unknown
location (forest, abandoned house,
new town)
• The conflict is external (evil from
outside) and unknown to the main
character – Train to Busan
• The antagonist is evil: monstrous,
psychotic, supernatural.
• They generate a ‘fear’, which is
often a reflection of the culture and
history of the time: The atomic
bomb, foreign invasion, Covid,
etc.
• Common traits: shocking scenes,
tension, mystery, monsters,
diseases, killers, ghosts, zombies
or evil itself.
Horror Misé en Scene
• Cinematogrpahy and Production
Design: Is embellished and
expressive rather than naturalistic.
Use of experimental framing, high
and low angles, as well as ‘Point of
view' shots from the villain/victim’s
perspective. Extreme close ups
create claustrophobic emotions. Low-
key (darker) lighting to create
mystery. Darker colours and
wardrobe.

• Sound: Screams or dead silence,

sound and sinister music, creates
tension and fear in the film.

• Editing: Long takes are used to build

up fear and suspense, sharp cuts,
fades and graphic matches.
 (Crime) Thriller
• A crime thriller finds inspiration in
Film Noir and Neo Noir genres. Its
themes are mystery, investigation,
crime, catching and getting caught.

• A thriller is suspenseful, keeping its

audience on the edge of their seats.
Will they catch him/her? Or will they
get away with it?!
 (Crime) Thriller Traits and Conflict

• The story usually revolves around a crime or

mystery. We are revealed the truth or plot at
the same time as the protagonist, keeping
us (the audience) in mystery.

• The protagonist when inspired by Noir

genres is gifted but flawed or self
destructive. An anti-hero (Jessica Jones).
Antagonists are inspired by femme fatales,
seductive but trickster, with secret
motivations or desires.

• The conflict is often external, a robbery, a

murder an intrigue.

• The setting is often urban, moody and wet.

(Gotham City) Or rural and isolated (Fargo)

• The look of a thriller can be like a horror, as

mystery and suspense are used to build up
tension.
 Thriller Misé en Scene
• Cinematography: Use of close ups to conceal
context, convey drama and suspense. We are
shown (or not) selected things (props close ups)
to guide our attention. Back light, long
shadows, sillouettes are characteristic of Noir
and thrillers.

• Editing: Parallele editing is used to build

tension towards a climatic end. Long shots of a
subject and jump cuts are used to disorient the
audience.

• Sound: Music is often used in thriller films to

set the tone and mood, bass, mysterious, one
note soundtracks and eerie silence are often
used.

• Production Design: Dark, monotone colour

pallettes. Blues , greens and greys. Urban
settings. Props and murder/criminal weapons.
Rainy days. Coats, cold and water motifs.
 Music
Video/Experimental

• A music video integrates a song and

imagery for promotional or artistic
purposes. There’s 3 main categories:

• Performance - Will often involve a

choreography and acting during the
song – this adds to the entertainment
value.

• Narrative - This is used to tell the story

of the song. Many of these narrative
videos will have a prologue or
epilogue at the end, either to build
tension or conclude the story.

• Concept/Experimental - Tend to be
more adventurous than others. The
visuals are based off an abstract idea
and portrays the idea’s aesthetics.
 Music Video/Experimental
Misé en Scene

• Cinematography: MVs often include

innovative or experimental ways to move
the camera. Or experimental techniques
like slow-motion, time-lapse or long
exposures. This applies to lighting too.
Light will often emphasis the music
genre. E.g a pop song will have bright or
colourful vs a folk ballad that could be
monochrome and moody.

• Production Design: Costume and

locations in MV are vital because they
portray the artist’s identity, concept and
message.

• Editing: Cutting to the beat is a

predominant editing technique in music
videos. Parallel editing is often used to
cut back to the singer/band.
Activity:

NOW THAT YOU ARE A

GENRE EXPERT.

WHAT GENRE ARE THE

FOLLOWING FILMS?