Genre Essay

Media has always been shaped in large part by genre, helping viewers in
recognizing and interacting with various kinds of information. The development of genres has been impacted over time by audience expectations, social changes, and advances in technology. Modern media frequently challenges traditional storytelling, combines several genres, and adjusts to the changing expectations of its viewers. Using three major examples—digital cinematography, more diversity, and the impact of true crime media—this essay will examine how genre has changed over time and the impact of viewer choices. Two benefits and two drawbacks will discussed in each segment, illustrating how these advancements have changed the genre and impacted the viewing experience. The production of movies and television series has been completely transformed by digital cinematography, which enables more dynamic images and quicker editing techniques. This has changed the presentation of some genres, particularly action, horror, and sci-fi, making them more immersive and visually striking. Quicker editing boosts intensity, which is one of the primary benefits of digital cinematography. Fast cuts and scene changes contribute to the suspense, which makes action and horror films more appealing to contemporary viewers. In addition, hyper-stylized images improve narrative by enabling complex colour
grading and visual effects, which heightens the immersion of sci-fi and fantasy settings. But there are disadvantages to digital cinematography as well. Particularly in genres like horror, where physical effects were formerly crucial in building suspense, the extensive use of computer graphics and digital effects can occasionally give movies a fake sense. Additionally, some viewers may find fast editing styles overwhelming, which lessens the emotional effect and makes it more difficult to follow the plot. Audience expectations have changed as a result of the development of digital cinematography; they are now used to fast-paced, visually stunning movies, frequently at the expense of conventional filming methods. Diversity in the media has increased dramatically in recent years, with greater
representation of people from all history, genders, and cultures. This has
challenged traditions and brought new insights to many genres, particularly
comedy and drama. A significant benefit of greater diversity is that it makes room for a range of viewpoints, which improve narrative. Incorporating diverse cultural backgrounds results in more complex and unique storylines, which enhances the appeal of historical and drama film genres. In addition, increasing diversity eliminates biases, aids in avoiding outdated clichés, and makes media more approachable and relatable for contemporary consumers. But greater diversity comes with its share of difficulties. One problem is cultural misrepresentation, which can undermine audience confidence in particular genres due to incorrect portrayals caused by insufficient study or a dearth of genuine perspectives. Another disadvantage is the resistance to change from traditional audiences, which causes controversy and lowers the financial success of diverse films. Despite these obstacles, diversity has helped in the evolution of genres by increasing the inclusivity and worldwide appeal of stories. The media companies need to figure out how to maintain a balance between truth and representation while viewer expectations keep changing. Crime-based genres are now more realistic as well as social aware due to the popularity of crime dramas and true crime documentaries. The focus of crime media has evolved from portrayed storytelling to real-world cases because audiences are drawn to real-life stories. Increased realism, which improves audience engagement, is one of this trend’s main benefits. Since true crime investigates actual cases, crime dramas and documentaries seem more interesting and current. In addition, these tales frequently examine social concerns like discrimination based on race and incorrect beliefs, inspiring viewers to consider pressing issues in the real world. But there are also moral questions raised by the popularity of true crime. True crime media, according to some critics, turns human tragedies into entertainment by taking advantage of the suffering of actual victims. Another significant problem is the glamorization of criminals, which occurs when dramas and documentaries elevate criminals to a higher level of fame, negatively influencing viewer perceptions. Absolutely, the increasing fascination with actual crime has impacted crime-related genres, making them more fact-based and investigative, but it also brings up significant issues about audience accountability and media ethics. Over time, genre has evolved due to changes in technology, audience expectations, and societal shifts. Digital cinematography has transformed how films are made, making genres more visually dynamic but sometimes overwhelming. The rise of diversity has brought new perspectives to media, though it also faces challenges in representation. Meanwhile, the obsession with true crime has shaped crime-based genres by making them more realistic but also raising ethical concerns. Ultimately, audience preferences play a crucial role in shaping genres, as media industries must adapt to their evolving expectations while balancing creativity and responsibility. Due to cultural changes, audience expectations, and technological advancements, genre has changed over time. Filmmaking has changed due to digital cinematography, which makes certain genres more visually dynamic but also occasionally overwhelming. Although diversity has led to fresh viewpoints in the media, there are still issues with representation. Crime-based genres have been influenced by the fixation with true crime, which has made them more realistic while also posing moral questions. In the end, genres are greatly influenced by audience tastes, and media companies must balance creativity and accountability while adjusting to their changing expectations.

Research 3- Film Opening Conventions

Although there are many different ways in which to start a film, film openings often include a set of typical conventions for specific purposes such as introducing the tone and atmosphere as well as, setting up key characters, establishing the genre, and engaging the audience from the very beginning which is very important to hook the audience in quickly. These conventions work together to create a strong first impression and help guide the viewer into the world of the story.

Production Logo and Film Title	The production logo is shown at the start of a film to identify the studio or company behind the project. This helps build audience expectations, especially if the logo is associated with a certain type of film (for example, Warner Bros. for action or DC films). The film title and the way it is presented through font style ( a larger font can be more dramatic where is a smaller font can draw more attention to something more important), animation, size, and placement are carefully chosen to match the mood and tone of the film. A bold, dramatic title might signal a thriller, while a handwritten or minimalist title might suggest a more emotional or artistic story.
Establishing the genre	It is important to establish the genre of the film right at the start so that the audience understands what kind of experience they are about to have. Genre helps set expectations for narrative style, visuals, and tone. For example, “Wrath of Man (2021)” uses dark visuals, intense music, and a violent robbery scene to show that it is a gritty action thriller. “Inception(2010)” creates a sense of mystery and confusion through dream sequences and dialogue, immediately hinting at its sci-fi genre. “Baby Driver (2017)” uses energetic music and a choreographed car chase to blend action and musical elements, establishing a fast paced and formal tone.
Character Introduction	Introducing the main character early is another important convention, as it helps the audience connect with them and begin to understand their role in the story. In “Baby Driver”, the protagonist is introduced silently, through his body language and his obsession with music, which tells us a lot about his personality. “Inception” introduces Cobb in a surreal situation, building intrigue and showing that he’s deeply connected to the dream world. “Wrath of Man” reveals the main character slowly, giving him a sense of mystery and danger.
Topic/Theme	The opening of a film can also reveal the topic and theme, which are the bigger ideas or questions the film explores. In “Inception”, themes of reality, memory, and grief are introduced right from the start. “Baby Driver” sets up themes of identity, isolation, and control through music. “Wrath of Man” touches on justice, revenge, and hidden motives, which are shown through its dark tone and violent opening. These themes help give the story depth and emotional weight.

Some common ways of starting a film include launching into a dramatic action sequence, opening with a mysterious event, using a voiceover, or slowly revealing the setting and characters. In “Baby Driver”, the film begins with a high energy car chase synced to music, immediately showing the film’s unique style. “Inception” opens with a surreal and confusing dream sequence that hooks the audience and raises questions. “Wrath of Man” starts with a brutal robbery, creating tension and setting the stage for the main plot. These opening choices are carefully made to grab the viewer’s attention and make them want to keep watching.

In class we have analysed a range of film openings to consider their conventions and how the film opening works to engage the audience. Here are my film opening analysis sheets.

Research 4 – Inspiration for our coursework

Place in here your 2 clips that have acted as research for your film opening with an analysis of the film openings and what aspects you will take inspo from.

Inspiration from The Menu (2022)

The Menu (2022) influenced the overall theme and mood of our short film, as it has the same ominous feeling for a thriller as out film does. In its opening scene, the film sets up a fine-dining experience that feels elegant, but there’s something off, just like out short film, especially when the head chef stabs his co-workers hand, which then creates a scary atmosphere. The characters are calm, the setting is clean and high-class, but the tone is tense and slightly creepy, which is where we took our inspiration for the black aprons. Which was my decision as i thought it looked higher class and had a more Michelin feel to it, compared to a white apron, black just felt more elegant. This gave us the idea to explore a similar theme, how something that looks normal and classy on the surface can hide something dark and sinister underneath.

Our film follows the head chef who secretly kills people and serves them to customers at his restaurant. After the kitchen scene, we show the chef at home watching a news report about 26 missing people, which he clearly had something to do with, which can be shown from the stabbing of the unsuspecting hand. He then turns off the TV and smirks, showing how little he cares. This moment was heavily inspired by ” The menu” , where characters often stay calm and in control even while disturbing things are happening and act as though nothing is happening. It also creates this tone of concern as the audience is not sure if the other chefs are aware of what is going on. That cold, unsettling attitude is something we tried to bring into our head chef’s character.

The eerie, slow-building tension in “The Menu” helped us understand how to make a horror story feel more psychological and subtle. Instead of showing everything all at once, we tried to reveal the horror in pieces to maintain the suspense through body language, silence, and setting, which we carefully choose to ensure that our film stays menacing and foreboding. The final scene, where the once-clean kitchen is now destroyed and abandon with legs visible in the background to show that some horrific thing has happened to the person in the back especially if they have been left in abandoned kitchen , was our way of leaving the audience with the same kind of lingering unease that The Menu leaves behind.

Inspiration from Burnt (2015)

The opening scene of “Burnt (2015)” was a key influence for the beginning of our short film. In “Burnt”, the film starts with tight close-up shots of a chef preparing food, chopping which can be seen from the head chef in the beginning scene, sizzling from the co-chefs in the back of the scene to help create non-diegetic sound, plating and washing dishes all done with speed and precision to create more background noise. The sound design is intense, with the rhythmic slicing and sizzling creating a fast-paced and focused tone which really emphasises the demeanour in the kitchen and how they strive themselves on quality. Watching this scene gave us the idea to open our own film with a similar sequence, using close-up shots of our chef cutting vegetables to make the audience feel like they’re right there in the kitchen.

We used this technique to create a calm, professional mood at the start, almost like the chef is just doing his usual prep work however there is a disturbing truth behind this calm act of cutting vegetables. The shots are clean, quiet, and detailed, drawing the viewer in. But then, just like that calm is established, it’s broken when our chef suddenly stabs another chef. This contrast between calm and chaos made the moment more shocking, and it gave the scene more impact. The visual style from “Burnt” helped us make this moment stand out and add emphasis to the scene.

Overall, “Burnt” helped shape not just how our film looked but also how we built suspense which really maintained the genre of thriller. By copying the idea of focused close-ups and food prep, we were able to create a visually interesting scene that set up the horror that followed. It taught us how a simple activity like cooking could be made intense and dramatic with the right camera work and sound.