Film Genres

 Here are the main film genres as identified by the website "filmsite":

 

 

 

 

Genre Descriptions

Action films usually include high energy, big-budget physical stunts and chases, possibly with rescues, battles, fights, escapes, destructive crises, non-stop motion, spectacular rhythm and pacing, and adventurous, often two-dimensional 'good-guy' heroes battling 'bad guys' - all designed for pure audience escapism.

Adventure films are usually exciting stories, with new experiences or exotic locales, very similar to or often paired with the action film genre. They can include traditional swashbucklers, serialized films, and historical spectacles (similar to the epics film genre), searches or expeditions for lost continents, "jungle" and "desert" epics, treasure hunts, disaster films, or searches for the unknown.

Comedies are light-hearted plots consistently and deliberately designed to amuse and provoke laughter (with one-liners, jokes, etc.) by exaggerating the situation, the language, action, relationships and characters.

Crime (gangster) films are developed around the sinister actions of criminals or mobsters, particularly bank robbers, underworld figures, or ruthless hoodlums who operate outside the law, stealing and murdering their way through life.

Dramas are serious, plot-driven presentations, portraying realistic characters, settings, life situations, and stories involving intense character development and interaction. Usually, they are not focused on special-effects, comedy, or action, Dramatic films are probably the largest film genre, with many subsets.

Epics include costume dramas, historical dramas, war films, medieval romps, or 'period pictures' that often cover a large expanse of time set against a vast, panoramic backdrop. Epics take an historical or imagined event, mythic, legendary, or heroic figure, and add an extravagant setting and lavish costumes, accompanied by grandeur and spectacle, dramatic scope, high production values, and a sweeping musical score.

Horror films are designed to frighten and to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a cathartic experience. Horror films feature a wide range of styles, from the earliest silent Nosferatu classic, to today's CGI monsters and deranged humans. They are often combined with science fiction when the menace or monster is related to a corruption of technology, or when Earth is threatened by aliens.

Musical/dance films are cinematic forms that emphasize full-scale scores or song and dance routines in a significant way (usually with a musical or dance performance integrated as part of the film narrative), or they are films that are centred on combinations of music, dance, song or choreography.

Sci-fi films are often quasi-scientific, visionary and imaginative - complete with heroes, aliens, distant planets, impossible quests, improbable settings, fantastic places, great dark and shadowy villains, futuristic technology, unknown and unknowable forces, and extraordinary monsters ('things or creatures from space'), either created by mad scientists or by nuclear havoc.

War (and anti-war) films acknowledge the horror and heartbreak of war, letting the actual combat fighting (against nations or humankind) on land, sea, or in the air provide the primary plot or background for the action of the film.

Westerns are the major defining genre of the American film industry - a eulogy to the early days of the expansive American frontier. They are one of the oldest, most enduring genres with very recognisable plots, elements, and characters (six-guns, horses, dusty towns and trails, cowboys, Indians, etc.).

 Whilst these work well for major films i am not sure that these apply to short films as my next blog will try to show.

Key 2011 Questions

June 2011
1. Explain how far your understanding of the conventions of existing media influenced the way you created your own media products. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how this understanding developed over time.

I have analysed many films in a similar genre to mine however my main inspiration was 'Beginners' which was directed by Mike Mills. Mike Mills has directed many other films such as 'Paperboys' in 2001 which documents the daily life of six boys in rural Minnesota. Mills focuses on everyday life which was very similar to my film.

I used the idea of saying 'This is what the sun looks like' in Beginners this is shown right near the beginning of the film after he has brought the dog home with him.
I liked this as it has not been used in any of the films I have seen and I found it very unusual, and interesting, as I enjoy photography.

I also used narration, like in this. In Beginners the narration is very monotone which allows the audience to interpret the information in their own way, which I could use in my piece and although there is a slight undertone of unhappiness, this is perfect for my film.

I also used a similar theme to this in mine. Which is the theme of loss of someone you love. Though who Sophia Green has lost is not directly shown, it is apparent as she lets go of a red balloon. Whereas in this film, it is his father who has passed away. 

Jan 2011
2. Describe how you developed your skills in the use of digital technology for media production and evaluate how these skills contributed to your creative decision making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to show how this understanding developed over time.

I used a large variation of digital technology in my AS media piece these included....

Picnik.com, i used this the edit my photograph for my ident. However, this has lately been shut down, so I will now use picmonkey.com.
Photoshop, which I used to make the mist which drifted across the already edited photograph on my production logo. I also gave the contrast a boost on this programme.

After Effects, which I made the rest of my production logo with
- Adobe Premier Pro, which I edited my film on
- Youtube, which I found my royalty free piano music on
- Facebook, which I used to contact my actress and others
- Google, for my royalty free photographs (Sun, cloud and star photographs were Barrie Sherrington’s who is a relative of mine who took them whilst doing his astronomy)
- Blogger, to upload and update my work in progress
- iTunes, to download music for my film

Key Art

Film posters, more proffesionally known as Key Art, are a staple, used to promote films. 

The Dark Knight film posters were very effective and below are two which I analysed. As you can see, the Joker has a stronger role in the posters than Batman himself. 

A classic example of a really effective poster is Jurrassic Park. The design for this is very original and is not just simply a screen shot of the film.It also meant people weren't prepared for the phenomenal production that meant the dinosaurs were so realistic.

Another example of a very effective key art was the poster for Clover Field this is because it does not show the monsters which caused the destruction, adding suspense as we do not yet know what it is we will face if we go see this film, making people far more likely to want to go see it.  Also, the fact that the Statue of Liberty has been beheaded is scary as it means people's freedom is taken away. Not to mention the burning buildings in the background, making the entire poster all the more powerful. 

I created my own quick posters for our re-production of My Beast Friend using a site called Picmonkey.com. I used a simplistic design featuring the main character Fluff as the main element of the poster. I kept this simple and didn't put too much information on it so that it would leave the audience questioning what the film is about, therefore they would be more intrigued therefore more likely to want to see the film.

Creating three-dimensional characters for my short film

For creating a realistic and life-like character they must be 3-dimensional. This means you must see their emotions, actions and their personality...
My short story idea is about a young man called Adrian, who has been arrested on suspicion of murder of his girlfriend (Julia) during a fight they had. He believes he has not killed her, and goes into such a deep emotional state that this is what he honestly believes he is innocent. His mirror (friend/companion) is someone who he has been close to since childhood (Chris) as the story develops Chis defends Adrian against George, who hated Adrian because he never thought he was good enough for his sister Julia. In a turn of events (a nightmare) Adrian is reminded that Julia's refusal of his proposal of marriage had caused him to lose his temper and attack her. In the end the judge declares him guilty.

Character 1: Adrian

·   What is their gender and age?Male, aged 20

·    What is their weight, height, build, colour of hair, eyes and skin?Slim-build, average height, dark brown hair, green eyes and pale skin.
 Are they right or left-handed?
Left-handed
Do they have any facial expressions, a squint or any disabilities? Slight autism
Do they have a limp or missing finger? None.
Do they wear spectacles or contact lenses? Contacts/ sometimes glasses
 How do they walk or move? Slow and cautiously.
Do they have any mannerisms or habits?  Bites his nails, bounces his knee and bites his lip when nervous.
Do they smoke?  Used to but gave up when he got together with Julia.
What are their attitudes towards each of these? Relaxing.

·    How do they speak? What do they sound like?  Calm and quiet. Even when angry, mainly monotone.
What pitch and speed is their voice?  Fairly low, though not very.
Any favourite sayings or words?  Seize the day.
Do they use slang? or swear? None 

·    Do they live alone or with other. people? Alone
Do they have any children? What is their relationship to them? What kind of children are they?None.

·    Do they have a partner, or one or several lovers? Are they celibate? Married?  Used to, Julia.
Do they have dependent relatives, flat mates or pets? None. 

·Where do they live?  In a 1 bedroom flat in Mile Cross, Norwich 
 Do they own their home?  Yes.
How much does it cost: How is it furnished?  Approx. £88,000. Basic furnishings.
Are they domesticated, tidy] or messy?  Messy.

*   Are they successful in material terms? Not really.
 Do they have a good job with enough money: Are they worried about their finances?  Poor job, Worried about finances.
Are they financially independent? Yes. Do they like their job?  No.If not, what would they rather do? He's unsure. What are the power of relationships in their work with co-workers, boss, or employees?  He has none.

*   Are their parents living? No.
Do they like them? No. Was their family rich, poor, struggling to keep up appearances? Struggling.
What but they inherited from them, both physically and psychologically? Nothing .

*   What kind of education did they have? State school education, run-down school. What were they expected to do with their life? Nothing.  What is their nationality? English. Do they live in their country of origin?  Yes.
How do they feel about this? Would have liked to get away. What is their sexuality and their attitude towards it? Bisexual, closed about it and few people know. How important is it? Fairly. What are their attitudes towards someone else's sexuality? Believe that people should be free to love who they want.

*   When they are at home for an evening alone, are they happy with their own company? Yes. Do they read books, magazines, newspapers, the back of cornflakes packets? None What music? Calm music, favorite band - God Is An Astronaut What do they eat? Vegan Foods. Can they relax? Sometimes. Do they knit, sew, write letters, watch television, revise notes from an evening class? No. What are their hobbies, if any? Listening to and composing music. Are they quirky? Fairly. Are they a collector? No.What do their hobbies, music and books tell us about them? That music is a large proportion of their life. 

·    Are they a cool or a sexy person? To some people they might be. Are their relationships fiery and passionate or calm and carefully controlled? A mixture of both. Do they have a nasty temper? Yes. Are they charming? Sometimes. Do they control their emotional life or does it control them? They control their emotional life. How do they express tension or do they internalize stress? They don't, they just control it and bottle it up. How do they express pleasure? They struggle to express this,  

·    Do people like them? A few people do. Do they do what they want? Yes
Do they admire or respect them? Yes  

·    Do they run their own life, or are they usually obeying other people, or doing things in order to please or take care of others? They run their own lives.  

·    What is their favourite colour? Sea Foam What is their star sign and birth stone? Virgo, Jasper Do they believe in astrology? No. Are they religious or spiritual? No. Do they have a phobia or phobias? Arachnophobia, Claustrophobia, Spermophobia (Fear of germs)

·    What do they want from life? Unsure. What are their goals in the short, medium and long term? Long term. What do they really want from life and why? To stay with Julia, forever. When they die, how do they want to be buried:  Out at sea. 
 Do they want their ashes scattered anywhere specific? No. Any particular music played at their funeral? God Is An Astronaut- All Is Violent, All Is Bright. Have they thought about death at all? Often. Does death bother them? Very much.

·    What is their relationship to the other main characters in the story? There is a mutual hatred between him and George and his close friendship with Chris and Julia. Who or what is trying to prevent them from achieving their goal(s)? George prevented Julia from accepting his engagement and understanding his innocence. 

·    Do you like them? yes. Do you respect them? not particuarly. How do you want the audience to feel about them? That he's a bitter young man who has had more than his share of bad luck. 

·    Within the drama/film/story, what is their goal or dramatic need? Adrian's goal is to prove his innocence though in the end this is deemed as impossible. What are they trying to achieve, gain or change during the course of the piece? Trust of colleagues, friends and family.        ,

·    At the end of the script, what is their development? They realise that they are not as innocent as they first seemed. How have they changed? They become more insane throughout. What have they learned, about things or other people, themselves? That he is not always right and that terrible things happen to (seemingly) good people.

Plan

This is my plan for when I'm going to do all my activities and what month they are going to be completed by.