Genres

I have started to look into what genre my film trailer will be, and initially discarding some genres with reasons shown below:

Horror– lack of resources, such as props and willing actors. Also, Horror is not a genre of film I watch, therefore there is distinct lack of interest and knowledge into the genre
Family– Although this is one of my favourite genres, often family films, have a lot of child actors, which I do not know any, it would therefore be hard to make a family film with only teenage or adult actors.
Sci– Fi/Fantasy– Again, two of my favourite genres of film, but the codes and conventions often involve special effects. I have a lack of knowledge into creating special effects and no knowledge of appropriate technology access to make it look professional
Animation–distinct lack of skill and knowledge into making animation.
Drama– Lack of interest into the genre, also often involves elaborate costumes (such as in period dramas) which I don't have access to.
Musical– Often in musicals there is a large cast and elaborate choreograph, which I don't have the skill or enough willing actors to be able to achieve.

This leaves me with the genres:

Comedy
Codes and conventions: has to be evoke humour from the audience either from gags or a comedic situation, often conflict within the narrative which is where the humour stems from, as a broad genre, it is available to all audiences. An example of a comedy film is The Waterboy (1998, dir. Frank Coraci); this trailer uses clips in from the film, in a more or less chronological order.




A serious sounding voice over is used to contrast with the 'epics' as these would use a similar voice over. The opening of the trailer, with a silhouetted figure walking into the light is also used in many other epic films. This effect is called contre-jour (day contrast) Examples of this are Close Encounter of the Third Kind (1977, dir. Steven Spielberg) and Super 8 (2011, dir. JJ Abrams). As you cannot see the character, or much of the surroundings, it creates suspense. Abrams was also inspired a lot by Spielberg, and Spielberg worked on Super 8, suggesting it is a sort of trademark of a Spielberg film.

Super 8 poster

Scene from Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Thriller
codes and conventions: often use suspense in the narrative shown through quick cuts, has a older audience age range than comedy, often use low key lighting and shadows to create mystery, psychological thrillers use narrative that plays with the audience's mind to thrill them rather than mise-en-scene, likely to include flashbacks, to mimic film noir; black and white is often used. An example of a thriller film is Super 8 (2011, dir. JJ Abrams)



Action
Like comedy, action films have a large audience age range, extreme settings are often used in action films, to show danger and distance from the audience. Action and adventure often go together and Action Adventure is quite often linked with Sci-fi or fantasy. Some films are classed as action just due to violence throughout the film. Most action films involve a quest in which the main character has to undergo. Action films keep closely to Propps character types, more than any other genre. An example of an action film is Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003, dir. Gore Verbinski)




Romance
Most often aimed at a female audience, and often combined with either comedy or drama aspects. Romantic films often show the struggle of two young, attractive lead characters and their struggle to be together. It is these struggles that are portrayed through the comedy or drama aspect. Most films have some sort of romantic subplot within them, but not enough to classify the film as romance. An example of a romance film is The Notebook (2004, dir. Nick Cassavetes)