Genre &

Conventions
JOSH WAY

Comedy

Comedy will often occur in a bright location and places such as social bars will be used

The camerawork used for most comedies, is naturalistic and the characters are filmed in a
way that shows that no one is better.

Diegetic sound like the dialogue needs to be clear to make sure that it be can heard and
laughed at

Non diegetic sound is also important, edited sound can be used to place emphasis on
certain scenes

The lighting is usually bright to create a nice & happy atmosphere

Props are very important in comedy; objects that may hurt a character is well known.

Idiotic people are usually used in contrast with a group of normal people, this shows the
contrast of the personalities and emphasises the stupidity of the character

Step Brothers is a brilliant example of comedy as it has the stereotypical stupid characters
to appeal to the audience and uses all the conventions of comedy to be a successful
comedy film, the lighting is quite bright and creates a happy atmosphere, some sound is
edited such as when Dale & Brennen fight with a golf club and a baseball bat.

Action

In action films there is always a motive that keeps the hero

determined to complete that task

The use of weapons such as; knives, guns & bombs with hand to
hand combat will be used in action films

The sound will be non diegetic with intense music to add to the
film apart from

The equalizer is a example of a action film using the conventions

of action, it uses all of the above to capture the audiences
attention. This film has great suspension making the audience
get on the end of their seat. The lighting is quite dark, during the
film it makes the film seem dark & evil despite there being a hero
helping a young girl get out of a bad crowd.

Horror

The setting will be small communities or isolated places. Urban environments,

dark streets and narrow alleyways. Large cities or run down ghost towns.
Anything that connotes isolation or being alone. Often sometimes places with
dark history, like abandoned houses, hotels and insane asylums.

Camerawork is very expressive and not natural. High and Low angles can
connote fear and nightmares.

Props can help us to further identify horror genre. Specific props can be
identified with a certain villain or character (Chainsaws, Machetes, Knife, Claw
Gauntlets, Costumes, Firearms).

Common objects include: Weapons, Masks, Icons of the Supernatural,

Religious Icons).

Physco is a example of a horror film that uses the conventions of horror such
as scary music, scary weapons such as the knife scene, it has dark colouring
to the film to add to the tension.

Family

Plot involves family & relationship conflicts

Setting is usually in the family living room or kitchen, something

that connotes home

Usually a lesson to be learned and a happy ending

Shrek is a good example of a family film because it uses the

conventions of family successfully, it has happy, bright lighting &
joyful music, the character have stereotypical personalities for a
family genre as funny and happy.

Romance

Boy meets Girl this is typical in a romance film and also most
viewers watch these kind of films to see a happy ending

Aimed at female audience

Usually the characters go their separate ways because of and

argument or disagreement but the re-unite afterwards

The Notebook is a good example of romance as it uses romantic

colours, happy music & stereotypical as the man is infatuated
with the girl. This convention emphasises the idea of a romance
story.