Different Genres and How Generic Conventions are shown in Film Openings

Generic Convention: A generic convention is what the audience expect to see in the film. For Example, in a thriller film the generic conventions we expect to see, in regard to the music side we expect to hear eerie music, bad weather and something to keep you on the edge of your seat. It is basically based around the expectations of that genre; what would you typically see within it.

Action:

Sound: Explosives/ gun shots/ cars screeching (non-diegetic sound used to emphasise).

Characters: Some sort of male hero typically, he saves a woman or a decoy which leads him to a villian.

Cinematography: Quick paced shots and hand held camera movement.

Narrative: A male saving the world from a villian.

Lighting: Low key.

Setting: In the middle of a city.

Mise en scene: Props like guns, tanks, nice cars getting smashed up, costumes and make up, ripped shirt and looks like a proper man (macho).

For example, a film like Die Hard would use these generic conventions...


Horror:

Sound: Eerie music/ scary/ tense/ make you feel on edge and fits the mood. (non-diegetic and diegetic).

Characters: A dumb girl or man that hears something in the attic and immediately has to investigate. A villain either a person or monster.

Cinematography: Quick paced shots and slow shots to keep it dramatic.

Narrative: Someone discovers a house and has to investigate, blood typically seen and someone gets killed or injured.

Lighting: Low key.

Setting: An old abandoned house, some thing creepy going on.

Mise en scene: Props like weapons and the iconography of a knife.

For example, a film like The Last House On The Left would use these generic conventions...