Genre Theory

The principle characteristics of genre:

• Genre’s overlap, with boundaries transcended 
•  Hybridity (a mix of genres)

These can be followed or subverted!

Nicholas Abercrombie

• States that now and in the future, genres and more ‘permeable and looser’.
• Semiotics - a frame for the watching experience –the expectations of genre are so fixed through the use of codes and conventions.

In our teaser trailer, we shall follow the use of codes and conventions. Throughout our promotional package, we aim to give the audience a taste of the genre and narrative, hence intriguing them into watching the film and wanting to know more about the film and production. Through the combinations of colour schemes, font styles, diagetic and non-diagetic sound we want to produce an atmosphere of fear and the unknown, leaving the audience wanting to see more and experience the excitement of the horror film.

Todorov and Hirsch

• Looks at the textual structure of film.
• Scientific approaches – encourages interaction and involvement
• Single genres – structural approach – canon for a genre
• Transhistorical – a continuation of literature and a reincarnation of myth.
• Transitional – A dynamic paradigm (predictable development) Adopts to trend, culture, history, politics, technology etc.

Our film is more likely to have a structural approach and express single genre. We chose supernatural horror so we could portray a sense of uneasiness and vengeance through make-up, lighting and careful editing. In our teaser trailer, we are going to show the audience a glimpse of the main characters and the fact that a young woman is being haunted and is the victim. Our purpose is to create an impact on the audience and leave them questioning. To create our film to fit the horror genre; the teaser trailer will have fast paced transitions, eerie non-diagetic music, emotive close ups and the simple, emotionless stance of the dead girl. Each genre follows specific styles in camera angles, sound, mise en scene and editing.