Genre in Trailers

What is genre?
A genre from a film is decided through their common conventions and they allow for audiences to easily choose films based on their interests. We commonly consider films in terms of their genre - the set of characteristics that distinguish, say, a Western from a Comedy or a Thriller. We recognise genres by their narratives or their themes, but also by their iconography, characters and certain stylistic elements. Some genres can overlap as they can include traits from more than one genre, so sub genres are created. For example a horrody is a movie with both comedy and horror traits.

Conventions of genres
Horror: They tend me be set in dark places, using low key lighting, or a city environment to make them seem realistic. For colour they tend to have a very dark colour throughout and have low pitch noises to create an eerie and tense atmosphere. There is usually some sort of fast pace editing to create suspense. Horror films always have a vulnerable and brave character.

Comedy: Focus on humour. Props used can vary and tend to be less predictive as they have different meanings. Alcohol is often used as it allows people to bring out their 'funny side'. Basic locations of comedies are schools or homes.

Romance: Stories tend to focus on passion and feelings towards two main characters and how their relationship builds. Most romance films seem to be set in a city or on beaches. They use everyday props because they are basic and combined with the location make it feel like home. Two main characters are generally male and female, who have never met and they fall in love.

Action: Consist of a person who has to overcome a challenge. Props tend to be guns, cars and helicopters, which normally mean actions films are high budget. Locations are normally in cities or other well populated areas. Tracking shots are frequently used and editing is fast pace to emphasise the situation.

Sci-fi: These films tend to be set in the future, an alternative timeline or an historical past that contradicts historical records. They can also be in space or in an alternate universe. They tend to have lots of close ups to show all the weird objects and alien creations. The narrative is normally a fight between good and evil. Futuristic props are used to create the setting and make it more 'believable'.

Iconography of genre:
Horror: Low key lighting, tense music or silence, breathing, abandoned house.
Comedy: Jokes, phallic images, sex, drugs, alcohol.
Romance: Roses, calm relaxed music, wine.
Action: Guns, cars, violence, gadgets, mission, busy city.
Sci-fi: Aliens, spaceship, planets, stars, robots.