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A 'genre' is a way of describing the style of your film quickly.
For example, horror films have a dark cinematic palette, often taking place at night. Westerns star rugged, middle-aged loners and are set in epic, barren landscapes. The posters of romantic comedies often have a white background and pink writing.
Every genre has its own set of signifiers including the music, colour palette, directing style and type of star. As genres change and mutate over time, so do their signifiers.
Once you’ve decided the genre of your story, try to stick to it rigidly. Generally, Romantic Comedies and Musicals don’t contain brutal rape scenes. It would be strange if in the middle of your terrifying horror movie everyone broke out into a song and dance number.
Here’s a quick exercise to get you into genre. Take the story you’re writing at the moment and brainstorm what it would look like as:
- A musical
- A high-budget action movie
- An experimental Scandinavian art-house film
- A romantic comedy
- A western
- A story set during the reign of Henry VIII
- A low-budget horror movie
- A story set in the future of outer space
Have fun by exaggerating the conventions of each genre to the point of absurdity.
Competition deadline is midnight this Sunday.
All entrants receive a Euroscript Treatment Barometer Report.
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