Comparing two different genres; by analysing trailers

Comparing two different genres; by analysing trailers.

I compared two film trailers in order to achieve an understanding from not only an opening sequence perspective, but from a trailer as well, could potentially broaden my knowledge of genre throughout films.

Die Hard: (action)

The genre is communicated to the audience through the use of generic conventions. Within the first ten seconds of the film trailer, the music instantly grabs the target audiences attention by the tense beats (stereotypically represented in action films) connoting the genre is action. As the audience progress through the trailer it becomes very clear it is an action because of the generic iconography, demographics would expect to be in an action film. In addition, conventions from: gunfire, hostages, explosions to helicopters is all action related conventions in this particular film – connoting its genre. All these visual iconography aspects conclude that it is indeed an action.

Although there are some syntactic elements such as: love, possibly suggesting a hybrid genre; in most action films nowadays the girl is crucial in developing a successful action film. Reason being is because it emphasizes the heroic aspect of the protagonist in the film connoting that the hero always prevails in not only victory but getting the female as well. Stereotypically heroic men are supposed to be confident, courageous and gallant which therefore means winning the girl round. In addition, this links into Vladimir Propp’s character type theory in terms of the hero.

The majority of the text from the film trailer denotes all the conventions in an action film.   The physical conventions (visual iconography) of the trailer all represent the action genre in some way, shape or form. The actor Bruce Willis is well known for his role in action films. Furthermore, what becomes clear within the mis-en-scene is that, his costume becomes ripped and torn throughout the film - which is a convention of action films.

The genre of ‘action’ has remained popular over the many years is not only through the exhilarating and thriller suspense of it but because according to Steve Neale specific genres go through a life cycle and change during the process, resulting in a different type of action which audiences enjoy just as much.

The text does in fact fall into one genre as the visual iconography represents the trailer to be mostly action signifying that the conventions of the trailer connote its genre – for example: the narrators voice is deep and empowering and describes Bruce as “ruthless”, connoting the film is an action.

Hot fuzz: (Comical action)

This film is impossible to place in one genre because it contains semantic and syntactic elements that both represent different things to the audience. There are many funny and ironic scenes that don’t conventionally go with an action so therefore it is a hybrid genre - a hybrid genre between Action and comedy. The action aspects are represented through the gunfire and high-speed car pursuits whereas; the comedy elements are represented by a 999 call that ‘the swan has escaped’.

There are two potential sides to the coin in this movie where the two main characters “Nicholas Angel” and “Danny Butterman” both represent a genre each within itself! Nicholas is the serious action type and Danny is the funny dopey officer who adds the comedy element to the film. Therefore the two protagonists represent the two genres in the film. The ironic thing about officer Danny is that he is obsessed with action films but has never experienced it first hand because he is this comical character – denoting the comedy semantic element of the film.

The two genres have been merged together in order to create a new type of action with a hint of comedy. According to the theorists Steve Neale the genre goes through a lifecycle and has to change its orientation to keep trending. This particular film is supposed to be a parody of an action regarding Steve’s theory of a genres life cycle.  

Another reason behind a hybrid genre is because it appeals to two different target audiences and therefore will be bigger in terms of sales and promotion.

The physical conventions representing the two genres are suggested through the props where “Nicholas Angel” (Simon Pegg) wields a powerful gun and “Danny Butterman” (Nick Frost) holds a teddy monkey, again coming back to the two genres represented through each character. This hybrid genre has remained popular because ultimately makes the audience feel intense but at the same time gets a laugh through the comedy aspect, connoting the audience receives maximum pleasure from these types of generic films. A win, win situation or a win, win film where the producers and directors can’t go wrong with it.

Story Boards

Storyboards illustrating how the film footage will be edited together.

Shot List for film shoot

SHOT LIST FOR PARIS

SCENE 1                     CHARLIE IN CHANGING ROOM

SHOT 1                       WIDE SHOT FROM BEHIND SEEING CHARLIE SHADOW BOXING IN MIRROR.

SHOT 2                       CLOSE UP OF CHARLIE BACK OF HEAD/OVER SHOULDER

SHOT 3                       LOW SHOT LOOKING UP AT THE FRONT OF CHARLIE

SHOT 4                       CLOSE UP OF FRONT OF CHARLIE’S FACE

SHOT 5                       WIDE SIDE SHOT

SHOT 6                       CLOSE UP SIDE SHOT OF SHOULDER ZAC HAND ENTERS FRAME ONTO SHOULDER…PULL OUT TO WIDE

SHOT                          TWO SHOT TOGETHER – REMOVE HEADPHONES

SHOT 7                       EXTREME CLOSE UP TAPE AROUND HANDS  (TALC)

SHOT 8                       CLOSE UP PUTTING GLOVES ON – TAPE GLOVES

SHOT 9                       CHARLIE TAPS GLOVES INFRONT OF FACE – LOOKS UP

SCENE 2                     CHARLIE IN CORRIDOR

SHOT 10                     SILOUHETTE OF CHARLIE IN CORRIDOR – WIDE SHOT

SHOT 11                     SILHOUETTE OF CHARLIE IN CORRIDOR – CLOSE UP

SCENE 3                     BOXING RING

SHOT 12                     TRACKING SHOT OF RING MID SHOT THROUGH ROPES – CHARLIE IN THE RING SHADOW BOXING

SHOT 13                     CLOSE UPS OF CHARLIE BOXING (TALC IN THE LIGHT)

SHOT 14                     TOP SHOT OF CHARLIE IN RING (ENTERING AND SHADOW BOXIING)

SHOT 15                     MID SHOT OF RING THROUGH ROPES

                                    CHARLIE/OPPONENT/REF

SHOT 16                     SHOOT BOXING SEQUENCE FRONTS AND REVERSE POV’S, TOP AND LOW

SHOT 17                     BOOTS SHOT LOW ANGLE

SHOT 18                     CHARLIE POV – OPPONENT – JAB AND KNOCK OUT HOOK

SHOT 19                     CLOSE UP OF CHARLIE BEING PUNCHED

SHOT 20                     FLOOR SHOT, CHARLIE’S HEAD ENTER FRAME

SHOT 21                     CHARLIE ON STOOL IN CORNER

Initial ideas

My initial ideas are what sparked my imaginative thought onto the road to success in terms of my own opening sequence.

Conventions of an opening sequence

Conventions of an opening sequence:

Opening sequences consist of many generic conventions, in order to entice the audience. These conventions are methods by which cinematic films or televisions programmes (for instance: drama); represent their conceptual visuals and in some cases, sound. In the mis-en-scene it should include the establishment of characters and genre. Directors can achieve in this in many ways. One of these generic conventions are denoted through a flashback within the opening sequence, this signifies to the audience a feel for the narrative back in time – in order to connote a key event.

Furthermore, the planning of landscapes, captured by an established shot sets the scene and informs the demographic where the film is set.


                                      

                              

Also, another generic convention of an opening sequence can incorporate narrations. This is an easy and effective way of grabbing the audience’s attention straight away. A technique used to give background information on what has been happening or who the characters are, giving the audience an insight so that the rest of the film makes sense – this can be represented through an action scene (for example: a car chase through various major cities and settings e.g. Hong Kong, London and possibly a mountain range; connoting the connection between the film and settings fixed in the film like Hong Kong or London).

This will engage the audience forcing them to carry on watching. Also, an enigma code may be represented in order to connote the narrative to the audience.  As well it automatically connotes the genre of the film or TV programme if included in the opening sequence. Whether it is either a hybrid genre or just simply a sub-genre, an example of a sub-genre would be ‘Rocky’; this particular film would be suited to the category of sport under ‘boxing’.

In addition, every film stereotypically starts off with the institutional logo, for instance: Paramount or Dream works.

                             

If the film is high budget the logo will be adapted in order to represent the genre and story line of the film. Also, all films have title scenes too; these denote the cast and production team for the films. The titles can be a way of building up suspense and can connote the genre of the film.

Conventionally, the opening sequence relates to Todorov’s narrative theory in terms that the start of the film stereotypically represents the equilibrium of the narrative. Furthermore, Rick Altman’s genre theory signifies the genre is constructed by two different elements: Semantic and Syntactic elements. An example of semantic elements would involve the use of visual iconography, for instance if the genre was horror then within the mis-en-scene visual iconography such as: blood and possibly a weapon would suit the theory.