Genre

How do we identify genre?

Mise en scene (props, costume, lighting,set, character, performance)
Language
Production techniques (editing, camera angles and movement, structure,filters, effects, sound)
Narrative structures (linear, no-linear, abstract, narrative)
Symbolic codes (e.g. cowboy hat)
Action codes (body language, hand gestures)

Why is genre important?

For Producers:

• Gives them a pattern of what they're constructing, a template
• It gives us an established audience which is easy to market
• Certain people can develop their skills working within a particular genre (e.g. horror make up specialists)
• Stars can be associated with particular genre e.g. Will Ferrell known for a certain type of comedy. 
• Fans of a genre know the codes 

For Distributors: 

• Clear channels for marketing and distribution- easily targetable audience
• Concentration of distribution resources 
• Fans of a genre as a whole can easily be persuaded to buy other texts in the same genre e.g. dance music compilation 
• Provides a structure for retail outlets 

Steve Neal said that 'genre is a repetition with an underlying pattern of variations' and 'difference is absolutely essential to the economy of genre'

-Counter Argument-

John Hartley argues that 'genres are agents of ideological closure' - they limit the meaning of potential of a given text.  'The same text can belong to different genres in different countries or times.'

John Fiske defines genres as 'attempts to structure some order into the wise range of texts and meanings that circulate in our culture fir the convenience of both producers and audiences'

Laura Mulvey 'The male gaze' theory
The camera is masculine. The camera is used to observe women from the perspective of a male. This often results in fragmented shots, close ups, or tracking shots of the female form.

Claude Levi Strauss - Binary Opposition - The contrast between two mutually exclusive concepts of things that creates conflict and drives a narrative e.g. good/ evil

Synopsis ideas

These plot ideas will help us determine what kind of short film we will be doing.

Genre
Thriller

Character profiles 
Protagonist
Name: Derek Waters (Male)
Age: 19
Occupation: Student studying criminology

Antagonist
Name: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Occupation: Stalker

Plot ideas

1.  Linear with a Plot Twist: Derek Waters is his own stalker. He has a case of Bipolar and split personality disorder. He doesn't know what the other personality is doing with his body. One's good and one's evil. After being harassed and feeling scared he finds out at the end that he is the stalker.

2. Non linear with a closed structure: Derek Waters finds himself in a dark room tied to a chair. The audience is then introduced to another character (the antagonist) who is secretly the stalker but is disguised as an interrogator. As Derek is being asked about what happened last night, he starts to remember. These memories tell the audience that he was being stalked and was in potential danger. 

3. Shot as a P.O.V in the eyes of the stalker (the audience is encouraged to feel like they're part of the film.)

Update! No.1

So far we've decided what our short film is going to be about. We want to focus on the word 'Stalker' and try to create a story around it. With the knowledge we have on cinematography, we want to create something that builds up tension and makes the audience feel a little scared but intrigued. We could do this by using thriller conventions like: low key lighting, slow music, shadows and silhouettes. In my opinion, I want to use different editing techniques like the cctv camera effect, and set up scenes where the protagonist is surprised by the continuous attacks from the antagonist. What I mean by this is that when the protagonist is trying to run away from the 'stalker' he enters a room filled with computers. On every screen there's a glitch which shows the audience that something's wrong and that the stalker is everywhere he goes. This is just an idea but I feel that it would be effective because it could be part of that disruption in the equilibrium that we're hoping to show and achieve.

Thriller conventions

What is a thriller? 

The thriller genre consists of a protagonist and an antagonist. The story would usually start when there is a disruption in the equilibrium. As the story progresses, a chain of bad events are shown to the audience to build up tension and suspense. In some thrillers they use tension to make the audience feel a little scared but they don't usually show you the antagonist. In thrillers, it can be left on a cliff hanger or it could be left with the protagonist losing against the antagonist.

What are the conventions of a thriller? 

• Low key lighting
• Slow/ minor music
• Quick cuts
• Diegetic sound e.g. breathing
• A hero and a villain
• Build up of tension 

Mise-en-scene is important in a thriller because the use of set, props and costumes add to the build up of tension. A technique used in thrillers would be mirrors. Mirrors reflect the character's emotion or their sudden realisation in things. Another technique would be the use of stairs. The characters can be placed on any step which could then suggest who's winning the battle between them. Other symbolic codes would be street lamps on a dark and empty road, or confined spaces, where the character cannot escape. Low key lighting may be used throughout the thriller because it gives the audience a sense of the unknown, making them feel scared. Moreover, thrillers can be shot in black and white. The limited colours suggest simplicity but it also enhances the shadows and silhouettes. 

In thrillers, they use quick cuts and camera angles to build tension which is an effective way to make your audience feel scared. This is because so many things are happening all at once. An example of this would be 'Psycho' the 1960 movie. Furthermore, the cinematography in thrillers consist of extreme close ups. For example, if there were a shot of the eye or a tear, it instantly tells the audience what the character is feeling. They also use close ups for facial expressions, high angles on the protagonist to show vulnerability and low angles on the antagonist to show that they have power over them.

This research has helped me understand the conventions of a thriller. These conventions can be used in our short film because it can help us achieve that tension build up which we want the audience to feel. 

Narrative

Narrative - How is the story structured?

Theories:

Linear
- Beginning, middle and end (most hollywood movies are like this)
- Open structure = ambiguous, leaves at a cliff hanger (E.g. Inception the movie) This leaves you thinking.
- Closed structure = clear conclusion (certain audiences like knowing what happened in the end)
- Circle Structure = Narrative begins at the end/ repeatition (Doodlebug by Christopher Nolan)

Non linear
- Time line jumps back and forth (E.g. Memento)

Structuralism 
- A way of thinking about the narrative
- The belief that there is structure in all things
- It follows specific patterns
- Has meaning = creates effect
- First theorised by Ferdinand de Saussure

Roland Barthes 
5 codes:
- The action code = meaning of specific words/ actions/ looks
- The enigma code = puzzles set up to be solved by the audience. Helps motivate someone to keep watching.
- The semic code  = the connotations of a character/ object/ place
- The symbolic code = metaphor or figure of representation (E.g. Tombstone means death)
- The cultural code = connections to the world outside the text (E.g Westernised versions of certain cultures) Different cultures/ different understandings. It helps sell the movie abroad if they have certain cultures in it. (E.g. Transformer's climax scene) Different genres = different stereotypes

Binary Opposition 
Focusing on the different side of opposite values which reveal the structure of the media texts.
Claude Levi-Strauss

Equilibrium Theory
Equilibrium: It is the setting established, key characters are introduced and the story is set up.
Disruption: oppositional characters appear and the story takes a particular direction.
Conflict: the lives of the characters and the events are interwoven.
Climax: highest point in tension where things begin to get sorted.
New equilibrium: Matters are sorted out and problems are solved.



'For the birds' Pixar short film (Example)
--> Equilibrium: Smalls birds land on Power line
--> Disruption: Small birds have a go at each other. Big bird appears then laughs at him.
--> Conflict: Big bird lands in the middle of the line of small birds.
--> Climax: Big bird dangles from the power line whilst the small birds try to make him fall. Big bird is left with one toe holding onto the power line then finally lets go.
--> New Equilibrium: All small birds are flown into the air leaving their feathers behind. Small birds are naked and Big bird laughs at them.
                     

Vladimir Propp 
Hero = Traditionally a male protagonist whose role it is to restore normality or equilibrium. He does this by debating the villain(s) and winning the love of the heroine.
Villain = The villain is the cause of the disruption and the enemy of the hero. The villain may also be a threat to the safety and the well being of the heroine.
Dispatcher = They send the hero on their journey to restore the equilibrium. They may also be the father figure of the heroine,sending the hero on a quest to see if he is worthy.
Donor = The donor gives the hero something to help him along his journey. This gift may be a piece of advice a skill or an object such as a weapon.
Helper = Assists the hero in restoring the equilibrium. May be a sidekick, with the hero throughout, or someone he meets along the way.
Heroine = Usually a passive and vulnerable character. Threatened by the villain and needing reusing by the hero.
False Hero = Initially seems to be on the side of the hero but turns against/ deceives him.

Human Form Summary/ Analysis

This short film is 12mins long and is directed by Doyeon Noh. 
In a world where everyone looked the same, a young girl is desperate to go through plastic surgery just to fit in.

This short film begins with a young girl drawing pictures on the floor. When her mum comes in and asks to see the picture, we see that she drew a colourful face. The mum then frames it and adds it on a wall with 7 others. I like this medium shot because the room is backlit creating a silhouette figure of the mum. It makes the audience focus on the pictures because the dark and empty space draws us to the centre. This shot tells the audience that the young girl has wanted to be the same as everyone else at a young age. The shot after this shows the girl smiling which could also suggest that she is waiting for that day or that she likes how her mum appreciates her talent. This beginning bit cuts into the main title of this short film. The title is placed on top of a black background. The colour black usually represents darkness and fear which relates to the overall story.

The narrative began at the start of the story but after the titling shot, we see that the young girl has grew up. This teenager (Inhyung Chung) is found sitting on the ground looking at herself in the mirror. We see that she is wearing a uniform which then tells us that she is a student. The next shot shows us that her friend is running towards her. The dialogue starts and then they walked off to the nurse's office. Once they arrive, we find the two eating lollipops. This object could suggest that they're still a kid inside and they don't know whats best for them. When the friend asks Inhyung Chung for her notebook, she looked keen to find out what kind of face she wants. However, she was called by the nurse and left with the notebook but before leaving she gave her lollipop to her friend. He friend then compares her lollipop to Inhyung Chung's. Because the colours were not the same it could suggest that there is still that they're still different. The friend is left alone and in this shot she remains sitting on the right side. She subtly sighs then looks towards her left with a jealous look. This could suggest that she also wants the surgery.

When Inhyung Chung is in the nurse's office they start to discuss what kind of face she wants. The nurse examines her drawing but tells her that she does not think they can go ahead with the procedure. Inhyung Chung ask 'why not?' and says that its not any different from the nurse's face. The nurse explain's to her that it will cost extra if she wanted to look like that. She then leaves the office looking disappointed and sad. She passes her friend in the hall but never said a word. Her friend looks confused but says 'hey'.

The next scene is set in the house. Again it is not well lit and the only things giving the room light are candles and the light above the table. The family talks about a man who's dog bit him because he wanted to give him plastic surgery. It moves onto a shot where someone pours water into a glass. Because the water is so clear, it could suggest that there is still hope for the girl to fulfil her dreams.

In a society that always tells us to be unique and different, this short film tells us the opposite. Everyone wants to be the same but there is no sense of happiness. In my opinion, what makes this short film a horror would be the sound track. Throughout the film the piano is being played and this usually gives off a calming mood but by the end of it minor sounds are played often. This short film leaves its audience creeped out yet intrigued because they never showed her face after under going the experiment.

Audience Research - Survey

Because our group doesn't necessarily know what kind of short film we want to do, I wanted to create a questionnaire that will give us an idea of what the audience wants. For example, I asked the audience what kind of gender the main role would be and what kind of emotion they would like to feel by the end of the short film. Once we pick a genre/ topic, I will create another questionnaire that's specifically focuses on that. With the help of a website called Survey Monkey, I was able to share this questionnaire on Facebook. Here are my results:



I got 17 responses which were mainly done by females. The majority were in the 12-18 age group and the genre that our audience would like to see is comedy and horror. In addition, the audience would like to leave feeling intrigued and this helped us solidify our story because we were planning to make a short film that consists of horror like conventions. We could add in comedy however, it may  be difficult because people laugh at different things. Our audience would like for us to film in the city or the school and this helped the making of our short film because I feel that it'd be easily accessible and it gives us a wide variety of different and interesting shots to think about that will help the story flow. Overall, I think that this survey has helped us understand our audience more because we can base our story in what they want it to be and we can take into to account what they like so that this short film can turn out to be  success.

Audience profile

Male Audience

Name: James
Age: 17 -24
Occupation: Student, works part time at Starbucks
Likes: Social media, Horror films, Coffee, Death, Pizza
Dislikes: Ladybugs, Broccoli, Clowns, Blind dates
Characteristics:Funny, Friendly, Popular
Financial structure: Earns £7.26 per hour
Regular cinema use: Once a month/ whenever his mates are free

Female Audience

Name: Sara
Age: 17-24
Occupation: Student, works part time at Primark
Likes: Flowers, Baths, Lazy days, Instagram, Thriller films
Dislikes: Crowds, Seagulls, Feet, Mints
Characteristics: Bubbly, Humble, Generous
Financial Structure: Earns £7 per hour
Regular cinema use: Every time an interesting thriller movie comes out

Audience Research

Audience research can be conducted in many different ways and it can help establish what the audience would want in a film. It is also an important part in the production of the film.

Surveys/ Questionnaires are questions in relation to a certain topic. In this case if we were to make a horror film, we would ask questions like 'what would you want to see in this film' or 'what type of soundtrack would you expect.' A survey can be yes or no questions, they can be multiple choice or they can be questions that involve the viewer/ potential audience's opinion. This method is both easy and simple to do, and it might be the most effective way of knowing your audience.

Just like a survey or questionnaire, interviews are more personal and straight forward. Interviewers can witness interviewees body language and facial expressions which can help establish what aspect of a film they're passionate about. Another advantage of having an interview would be that its more in depth compared to a survey or questionnaire. Therefore, whats bad about interviews would be that its time consuming.

Open Forums is online based and is open to the public. It is an open discussion that allows people to debate and express their opinion. Unlike a survey or an interview, an open forum can consist of questions in relation to the main question or it could be a reply to someone's comment. However, forums can tend to go off topic and comments may not be related to what is being asked. depending on the person typing the comment, it may not be in depth, making it harder for the film maker to understand its preferred audience.

Focus Groups is where people come together in a room or place and discuss the film that they're interested about. Here, you can take notes and talk about whats relevant and irrelevant.