Film Genre Convention Research: Learning Objectives

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Yr 12 OCR Media Studies

Film Genre Convention


Research

Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the steps to be taken in researching


genre for coursework.
2. To understand how to use researched conventions to
plan coursework.
Starter
Think of a movie you have seen recently:

1. What genre could you describe this


movie as?
2. What happens in the first two or three
minutes?
3. Is the opening few minutes like other
movies you have seen? How?
Steps in research
1. Choose the genre of movie you will make, and do
some background research into it.
2. Watch at least five opening sequences from this genre.
3. Take notes, comparing:
a) What happens;
b) What kinds of characters there are;
c) What the dialogue is like;
d) How camera / mise-en-scene / editing / sound are
used.
4. Come up with a list of ten things which you will do in
your coursework to keep within the genre;
5. Come up with one way in which your coursework will
deviate from the conventions of the genre.
Background Research
• When did this genre come about, and
where did it evolve from?
• What are the key texts in this genre?
When were they made, and by whom?
• What are the themes and ideas often
explored in these genres?
• How has the genre been changed or
adapted in the past?
Gangster Movies

A short case study


(lowercase) a
Background renewal of life,
vigour, interest;
• Originated in 1930s rebirth; revival.
• Early gangster
(in the arts, movies criticised for glamorising
violence (Scarface,
architecture, etc) The Public Enemy)
cutting-edge,
• 1960s saw emergence
characteristic of a of British gangster movies (Get
Carter)
style and school of
• thought
1980s that rejects
saw a renaissance (The Godfather, Scarface),
the dogma and
and new
practices ‘urban’
of any form takes on the genre (Boys ‘n’ the
Hood)
of modernism.
• The 1990s saw postmodern directors tackle the genre
(Pulp Fiction, Goodfellas, Lock Stock…), as well as
forays into TV (Sopranos) and comedy (Analyse This).
Themes and Ideas
• The American Dream

• “Does a violent society make violent


people?”

• Vengeance and Justice


Textual Analysis
1. What happens in the opening sequence?

2. 4 key areas: Camera, mise-en-scene,


sound, editing

3. What kind of characters appear?

4. What is the dialogue like?


Gangster Movies
1. The Godfather (1972)

2. Goodfellas (1990)

3. Casino (1995)

4. Donnie Brasco (1997)

5. The Departed (2006)


Practical Application
1. Come up with an idea for a gangster
movie which is based on one of the
openings we have watched.
2. What five things will you need to do to
keep within the genre?
3. What one thing will you do to change or
adapt the genre?
4. Come up with three possible opening
scenes for a film in this genre.
Peer Assessment
1. Present your idea to your coursework group.
2. For each idea:
• Identify what worked well (WWW) in terms of
using genre conventions.
• Identify how it could be even better (EBI) in
terms of using genre conventions.

3. Write your peer assessment feedback in a blog


post entitled:
Genre Convention Research: Peer Assessment
Feedback

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