What is Genre?
The word genre refers to the method of film categorization based on similarities in the “narrative elements” from which films are constructed.
A word genre comes from French "kind" or "sort", from Latin: genus (stem gener-), Greek: genos) is a loose set of criteria for a category of composition; the term is often used to categorize literature and speech, but is also used for any other form of art.
Film Genre is a vast topic to look at. Here, there is very little as an overview:
Besides the basic distinction in genre between “fiction” and “documentary”, film genres can be categorized in several ways.
Fictional films are usually categorized according to their setting, theme topic, or mood. The setting is the environment where the story and action takes place. The theme or topic refers to the issues or concepts that the film revolves around. The mood is the emotional tone of the film.
Genres always change, die and re-generate themselves according to social and cultural history, in which a particular genre is born. Many Genres will be explained in possible detail, how they were born, flourished in the next articles.
Here is a list of some of the prominent Genres:
Western
Musical
Gangster
Road
Melodrama
Film Noir
Horror
Sci-Fi
The Bond Films
Some other Genres:
Biography
Children’s
Comedy
Disaster
Fantasy
History
Romance
Sport
Thriller
War
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Next: The birth of "Western Genre"
Showing posts with label film appreciation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label film appreciation. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Film Analysis 2 (Exposition : Sholay)
SHOLAY - 1975: is a great example of perfect screenplay and storytelling. The film is analyzed in parts here - on the line of the article - Film Analysis 1.
Running Time: 199 minutes.
Exposition:
(The exposition provides the background information needed to properly understand the story, the characters and the setting. The exposition ends with the inciting moment, which is the incident without which there would be no story.)
Total time used for 'exposition' : 40 minutes.
In 'exposition', the characters of Thakur, Jay and Veeru are introduced and their nature, intentions are made clear. It is Jay and Veeru's decision to go to Ramgarh to help Thakur is what further makes the 'story.'
1. The movie opens with the scene showing a railway station of the village "Ramgarh" where a police inspector arrives and visits 'Thakur'.
*This opening sequence leads viewers through the setting of the Ramgarh village.
2. Thakur tells the constable, that he needs the two criminals called Jay and Veeru, whom he came to know while he was in the police service. He doesn't want to disclose for what reason he wants to contact the two men.
* Respectful character and position of 'Thakur' in the village is established. Viewers also get a hint that there is something on his mind.
3. When the inspector asks, why he wants the two criminals, Thakur tells the story about how he met Jay and Veeru, (flashback) and while traveling through a train, how they helped him to fight with a gang of thieves who attack on the train. And how Jay and Veeru took injured Thakur to the hospital. (flashback ends)
* Jay and Veeru are introduced. Their philosophy for living life, bravery, humanity all is introduced in 11 minutes sequence, ending it with Thakur - emphasizing it again while telling it to the inspector.
4. While Thakur is on the look out for them with the help of the police inspector, the camera shifts to Jay-Veeru's present: The song "yeh dosti.." starts and tells more aspects about Jay and Veeru..their friendship, their love for each other, companionship, young - happy-go-lucky nature.." The character introduction goes ahead telling other aspects about Jay and Veeru.
5. They strike a deal with 'Surma Bhopali' ( Cunning Wood-seller), as the police has announced a prize money to a person who catches Jay and Veeru. They go to jail to get the money and get out of the jail by misleading the jailer.
This scene more establishes that they are clever, brave and ready to do anything to earn money.
6. Police manage to catch them again and put them in jail, where Thakur finds them. Thakur explains them that he wants their help in catching the most wanted criminal "Gabbar" alive. He is ready to give money for this task. Jay and Veeru decide to take up this task and go to Ramgarh.
In the 'exposition'..this scene is the 'inciting moment', where the 2 main characters, Jay and Veeru, decide upon something which becomes a 'story' of the movie.
---
Next: Rising Action
Running Time: 199 minutes.
Exposition:
(The exposition provides the background information needed to properly understand the story, the characters and the setting. The exposition ends with the inciting moment, which is the incident without which there would be no story.)
Total time used for 'exposition' : 40 minutes.
In 'exposition', the characters of Thakur, Jay and Veeru are introduced and their nature, intentions are made clear. It is Jay and Veeru's decision to go to Ramgarh to help Thakur is what further makes the 'story.'
1. The movie opens with the scene showing a railway station of the village "Ramgarh" where a police inspector arrives and visits 'Thakur'.
*This opening sequence leads viewers through the setting of the Ramgarh village.
2. Thakur tells the constable, that he needs the two criminals called Jay and Veeru, whom he came to know while he was in the police service. He doesn't want to disclose for what reason he wants to contact the two men.
* Respectful character and position of 'Thakur' in the village is established. Viewers also get a hint that there is something on his mind.
3. When the inspector asks, why he wants the two criminals, Thakur tells the story about how he met Jay and Veeru, (flashback) and while traveling through a train, how they helped him to fight with a gang of thieves who attack on the train. And how Jay and Veeru took injured Thakur to the hospital. (flashback ends)
* Jay and Veeru are introduced. Their philosophy for living life, bravery, humanity all is introduced in 11 minutes sequence, ending it with Thakur - emphasizing it again while telling it to the inspector.
4. While Thakur is on the look out for them with the help of the police inspector, the camera shifts to Jay-Veeru's present: The song "yeh dosti.." starts and tells more aspects about Jay and Veeru..their friendship, their love for each other, companionship, young - happy-go-lucky nature.." The character introduction goes ahead telling other aspects about Jay and Veeru.
5. They strike a deal with 'Surma Bhopali' ( Cunning Wood-seller), as the police has announced a prize money to a person who catches Jay and Veeru. They go to jail to get the money and get out of the jail by misleading the jailer.
This scene more establishes that they are clever, brave and ready to do anything to earn money.
6. Police manage to catch them again and put them in jail, where Thakur finds them. Thakur explains them that he wants their help in catching the most wanted criminal "Gabbar" alive. He is ready to give money for this task. Jay and Veeru decide to take up this task and go to Ramgarh.
In the 'exposition'..this scene is the 'inciting moment', where the 2 main characters, Jay and Veeru, decide upon something which becomes a 'story' of the movie.
---
Next: Rising Action
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