What is Genre?

The term “Genre” comes from the French language and means “type” or “kind.” A
genre refers to as coded set of formulas and conventions, which indicate a
culturally accepted way or organizing material into distinct patters.
Once established, genres dictate the basic conditions of a cultural production
and reception. For example, crime dramas invariable have a violent crime, a
search for its perpetrators, and often a chase, fights, or bloody elimination of the
criminal, communicating the message “crime does not pay.”

Screenwriters should learn GENRE. Knowing your genre is vital since defines a
story form and the types of stories told within its parameters. Each genre has its
own hero, opponent, story beats, structure and themes. Knowing both your premise
and genre of your story serves as a road map before you start writing.
Genres also help define plot.
Creative screenwriters twist the story beats to add uniqueness and interest.

What’s my Genre?

The single most important decision you must make when developing your
premise is: what genre should I use?
 First, you have to figure out what genres are best for your idea.
 Second, you have to know those genres better than everyone else writing in
those forms.
 Third, you have to know how to transcend the forms so you can give the
audience a sense of originality and surprise.

While developing a story first, you should look at a number of elements to help you
choose which genres would get the most out of the idea.
 The first element is the hero's role in the story. When you look at your
premise, you can usually imagine a basic action that the hero would take
throughout the story. For example, is the hero essentially a fighter (Action),
a lover (Love), an enforcer or criminal (Crime), an endangered investigator
(Thriller) or a victim (Horror)?

 A second element to look at is, your hero's desire line. Your hero's particular
goal over the course of the story.
It just so happens that each of the major genres is associated with a desire line. One
way to get a sense of the best genre for your idea is to match the probable desire
line of your hero to the key desire line of each genre.

An opponent who fights the hero and tries to prevent him or her from reaching the
goal is another important element that helps determine your genre. The
relationship between hero and opponent is the most important relationship in your
story.
 Different types of Genre

1. Drama
2. Action
3. Comedy
4. Thriller/Suspense
5. Horror
6. Fantasy
7. Adventure
8. Love & Romance
9. Myth
10. Science Fiction

Drama

Drama film is a genre that relies on the emotional and relational development of
realistic characters. While Drama film relies heavily on this kind of development,
dramatic themes play a large role in the plot as well. Often, these dramatic
themes are taken from intense, real life issues. Whether heroes or heroines are
facing a conflict from the outside or a conflict within themselves, Drama film
aims to tell an honest story of human struggles.

Drama Film Examples:

The Shawshank Redemption - A former banker convicted of murdering his

wife develops a lifelong friendship with a fellow prisoner, and ultimately tries to
defy the odds by keeping hope alive inside prison walls.

The Godfather - The aging patriarch of an organized crime circle must secure
the future of his family’s empire by leaving it in the hands of his reluctant son.

Casablanca - A jaded nightclub owner must choose whether or not to help his
ex-lover and her husband flee Nazi-occupied Morocco.

DRAMA Sub-genres

Biography

A Biography drama incorporates dramatic elements into a biographical film.

These films differ from Historical and “based in truth” films because they
specifically chronicle the life of a person or a group of people. Biography films
attempt to show a comprehensive and accurate picture of the specific subject,
thus they tend to be serious and intense.
Examples: Ray, Monster, Gandhi.

Courtroom

Courtroom drama film uses the justice system as a main component of the
plot. The story usually unfolds inside a courtroom with the prosecutor, judge,
jury, and the defense. Tension plays a large part in courtroom dramas as the
verdict can often mean life or death.

Examples: A Few Good Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, 12 Angry Men,

Verdict.

Historical

Historical is a sub-genre of Drama film that examines a specific time in history

or group of people. Many Historical films aim to portray true events and people.
However, most Historical films are only loosely based on these events and
people. These films tend to focus on the more glorified societies and people in
history such as the Romans, specific Kings and Queens, or important political
figures.

Examples: Nixon, Hotel Rwanda

Melodrama

Melodrama film is a sub-genre that appeals to the heightened emotions of the

audience. The plot and characters often are more unrealistic than those found in
the traditional drama film. Melodramas usually cater towards a female audience
and tell a story that centers on a great crisis and a heroic protagonist.

Examples: The Bridges of Madison County, Steel Magnolias, Sophie’s

Choice.

Political

Political drama film contains themes, characters, and a plot specifically about
politics and the political scene. The main protagonist is often at odds with the
harsh reality of corruption in politics. Many Political Dramas are based in fact but
focus on exploring conspiracy theories.

Examples: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Wag The Dog, The

Manchurian Candidate.

Romance

Romantic Drama film is a genre that explores the complex side of love. The
plot usually centers on an obstacle that is preventing love between two people.
The obstacles in Romantic Drama film can range from a family's disapproval, to
forbidden love, to one's own psychological restraints. Many Romantic Dramas
end with the lovers separating because of the enormity of the obstacle, the
realization of incompatibility, or simply... fate.

Examples: Romantic Drama film include Titanic, Breakfast at Tiffany's,

Dr. Zhivago.

Tragedy

Tragedy Drama is a genre wherein the downfall of the character is caused by a

flaw within the character. While Tragedy Dramas sometime put the character in
extraordinary circumstances, this genre is really about the self-destructive
behavior of the character. The flaws of the character come to a head and
ultimately result in death or other form of degradation.

Examples: American Beauty, Death of a Salesman, The Great Gatsby.

Action

Action film is a genre wherein physical action takes precedence in the

storytelling. The film will often have continuous motion and action including
physical stunts, chases, fights, battles, and races. The story usually revolves
around a hero that has a goal, but is facing incredible odds to obtain it.

Action Film Examples:

Die Hard - A New York cop gives terrorists a dose of their own medicine as they
hold hostages in an LA office building.

Raiders of the Lost Ark - An adventuring archeologist races around the world to
single-handedly prevent the Nazis from turning the Ark of the Covenant into a
weapon of world conquest.

Action: Sub genre

Action-Comedy

As it’s name suggests, this sub-genre combines action with humor. Action-
Comedy relies on the characters to bring out the humor, while the action scenes
tend to be less intense than in the traditional action movie.

Examples: Beverly Hills Cop, Rush Hour, and Hot Fuzz.

Disaster Film

A Disaster Film is based around a plot that includes a seemingly unavoidable

and impending disaster. The disaster can be either natural or man-made. Many
films in this sub-genre will rely on special effects.

Examples: The Towering Inferno, Airport, and Twister.

Love & Romance

Love/Romance film can be defined as a genre wherein the plot revolves

around the love between two protagonists. This genre usually has a theme that
explores an issue within love, including but not limited to: love at first sight,
forbidden love, love triangles, and sacrificial love. The tone of Romance film can
vary greatly. Whether the end is happy or tragic, Romance film aims to evoke
strong emotions in the audience.

Romance Film examples:

Slumdog Millionaire - Knowing the girl he loves is a fan of the show, an

uneducated boy becomes a contestant on the Hindi version of Who Wants to be a
Millionaire to win her over.

The Notebook - An old man who visits an elderly invalid woman, reads a love
story to her that centers around two lovers torn apart by life events.

Love Actually - A look at eight very different love stories that are loosely
intertwined in England during the Christmas season.

Romance: Sub genres

Romantic Drama

Film is a genre that explores the complex side of love. The plot usually centers
on an obstacle that is preventing love between two people. The obstacles in
Romantic Drama film can range from a family's disapproval, to forbidden love, to
one's own psychological restraints. Many Romantic Dramas end with the lovers
separating because of the enormity of the obstacle, the realization of
incompatibility, or simply because of fate.

Examples: Titanic, Breakfast at Tiffany's, An Officer and a Gentleman.

Romantic-Comedy

Romantic-Comedy is a genre that attempts to catch the viewer’s heart with the
combination of love and humor. This sub-genre is light-hearted and usually
places the two protagonists in humorous situation. Romantic-Comedy film
revolves around a romantic ideal, such as true love. In the end the ideal triumphs
over the situation or obstacle.

Examples: Roman Holiday, When Harry Met Sally, Knocked Up.

Mystery/Suspense

A Mystery/Suspense film centers on a person of authority, usually a detective

that is trying to solve a mysterious crime. The main protagonist uses clues,
investigation, and logical reasoning. The biggest element in these films is a sense
of “whodunit” suspense, usually created through visual cues and unusual plot
twists.

Examples of Mystery/Suspense Film:

The Maltese Falcon - A private investigator works to discover the whereabouts

of the Maltese Falcon after his partner is murdered.

Chinatown - A private investigator takes a case about adultery, but discovers a

Los Angeles City Water & Power murder scheme.

Mystery/Suspense: Sub genres

Closed-Mystery

A Closed-Mystery is a sub-genre of Mystery/Suspense Film that conceals the

identity of the main perpetrator until the very end of the film. This kind of
storyline adds an extra element of suspense to the plot, as the audience is not
sure who has committed the crime. Often, there are a variety of characters that
are possible suspects.

Examples: Bone collector, Unbreakable, The Sixth Sense.

Open-Mystery

The Open-Mystery Film is the opposite of a Closed Mystery. In these movies,

the main perpetrator is revealed at the beginning of the story. These films
showcase “the prefect crime” scenarios. Suspense in these films come less from
the “whodunit” aspect, and more from how the crime was committed.

Examples: Rope, I Confess, Frenzy, Dial M for Murder.

Supernatural/Horror

Supernatural film is a genre that centers around supernatural elements, such

as ghosts, gods, goddesses, and miracles. Supernatural films deal with the
unknown questions of life; therefore, they tend to incorporate religious elements
into the plot. Since they emphasize the unknown, Supernatural films are
considered quite suspenseful. These films often cross over into other genres,
creating hybrids like Supernatural-Comedy and Supernatural-Drama.

Examples of Supernatural Film:

What Lies Beneath - While others believe her to becoming delusional, a woman
is convinced that ghosts haunt her house.

Ghost - After a man is murdered, he tries to communicate with his wife through
a psychic.

Supernatural: Sub genres

Supernatural-Comedy

Supernatural-Comedy takes the elements of the Supernatural film genre and

combines it with a comedic twist. Unlike other sub-genres, the supernatural
elements (such as ghosts) tend to be funny instead of scary. This sub-genre can
appeal to old and young alike, depending on the level of humor.

Examples: Ghostbusters, Casper.

Supernatural-Horror
 Supernatural-Horror film is a sub-genre that includes ghosts, demons, or other
depictions of supernatural occurrences. Often, Supernatural-Horror films
combine elements of religion into the plot. Common themes in Supernatural-
Horror films include the afterlife, the devil, and demonic possession. Unlike
Religious Thrillers, Supernatural-Horror films are not limited to specific religious
elements and can contain more vivid and gruesome violence.

Examples: The Exorcist, The Ring, The Omen.

Supernatural-Religious

Supernatural-Religious films deal strictly with religion and the unknown in

connection to God. These films are very similar to Religious Thrillers. Exorcisms,
demonic possession, and church cover-ups are typical themes of Religious and
Supernatural Thrillers. This sub-genre often questions the validity of current
church practices and beliefs.

Examples: The Devil’s Advocate, The Ninth Gate, The Da Vinci Code.

Supernatural-Thriller

Supernatural-Thriller films incorporate supernatural themes that are

considered mysterious. Unlike other sub-genres, Supernatural-Thrillers thrive
on the “edge of the seat” feeling. The audience is in an almost constant state of
anticipation. The plot usually revolves around a mysterious event or person and
the quest to find out the truth.

Examples: The Sixth Sense, Frequency, The Dead Zone.

Slasher

Slasher film is a sub-genre of Horror film that revolves around a psychopathic

killer. This killer stalks and murders his victims in extremely violent and
memorable ways. Though it centers on a specific killer, the violence is what sets
Slasher films apart from other horror films. A Slasher film will devote more
screen time to portray murder and mayhem than a traditional Horror film.

Examples: Halloween, My Bloody Valentine, Black Christmas.

Zombie-Horror

Zombie film is a sub-genre of Horror film that portrays mindless human

beings who are raised from the dead. These films often include a Zombie
invasion, and center around Zombies feasting on human flesh. The plot of a
Zombie film then revolves around the struggle between the living, and the living-
dead. Zombie film not only falls into the Horror genre, but Sci-Fi, Thriller, and
Comedy as well.

Examples: Night of the Living Dead, Shaun of the Dead, 28 Days Later.

Sport genre

A Sport Film revolves around a sport setting, event, or an athlete. Often, these
films will center on a single sporting event that carries significant importance.
Sports films traditionally have a simple plot that builds up to the significant
sporting event. This genre is known for incorporating film techniques to build
anticipation and intensity. Sport films have a large range of sub-genres, from
comedies to dramas, and are more likely than other genres to be based true-life
events.

Example of Sport Film:

Million Dollar Baby - With the help of a hardened trainer, a woman is

determined to establish herself as a legitimate boxer.
Sports: Sub genres

Sports Biopic

The Sports Bio-Pic dramatizes the life of a historically important athlete or an

important sports team. The Sports Bio-Pic often stretches the truth for dramatic
effect and the accuracy is often questioned. These films put an emphasis on the
large events in the subject’s life and chronicle the fame and glory that accompany
sports.

Examples: The Pride of the Yankees, Raging Bull, Ali.

Sports Comedy

A Sports Comedy is a film that incorporates humor into a sports storyline.

These films often rely on a “slapstick” humor approach. Traditionally, Sports
Comedy films follow a down-and-out hero on his or her journey to prove
worthiness through some kind of sporting event.

Examples: Crazy Boys of the Games, Blades of Glory, The Water boy.

Sports Drama

A Sports Drama incorporates dramatic elements into a sports storyline. These

films tend to examine the more gritty and intense aspects of the sporting world.
With more dramatic elements, Sports Drama tends to appeal to a more mature
audience. Sports Drama will often examine not only the rise, but the fall of the
particular subject as well.

Example: Rocky, Sea biscuit, Cinderella Man.

Comedy genre

Comedy is a genre of film that uses humor as a driving force. The comedy film
has been the most common, successful and culturally significant type. As the
name suggests, these films feature characters placed in humorous situations. The
situation is usually that of a family, workplace, or a group of friends through
comedic sequences.

Comedy: Sub genres

Black-Comedy

Black Comedy is a sub-genre of both Comedy and Satire. These films often
explore concepts and topics that are considered taboo. Black Comedy takes
topics and situations that are commonly held as serious and explores them in a
comical way. Because of this approach, Black Comedies often cause the audience
to laugh and feel uncomfortable simultaneously.

Examples: Fargo, Harold and Maude, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop
Worrying and Love the Bomb.

Parody/Spoof

Parody/Spoof is a sub-genre of Comedy film that bases itself in reality. These

films impersonate, ridicule, or scoff at serious situations and people. These films
rely heavily on satire and can be used as a means of social or political
commentary. Parody/Spoof films can also take the form in a fake documentary
called a “Mockumentary.”

Examples: Naked Gun, Scary Movie.

Slapstick

Slapstick comedy is a sub-genre of film that incorporates physical comedy into

the story. Slapstick uses visual action, such as harmless violence and horseplay,
to depict humor. Slapstick film often relies on comedic timing and a controlled
psychical performance of a single actor or actress.
Examples: Caddyshack, Safety Last!, Tommy Boy.

The six categories of Comedies:

1. Secrets & Lies are by far the most common kind of conflict, since almost
all Hollywood romantic comedies are built on deception. The hero is lying to, or
withholding information about, someone – usually the person she’s falling for.
When the secret is finally revealed or the lie exposed, it will split the lovers apart.

Examples:

• Nutty Professor
• Golmaal
• The Guru

2. The Impostor category is just a more refined version of

Secrets & Lies. In these screenplays, the hero is
actually pretending to be someone he’s not.

Examples:

• The Guru
• Chachi 420

3. The Magic Spell applies to romantic comedies where some fantastic wish,
curse, power, after death experience or mythical creature changes the hero’s life,
which then falls in love while combating its effects. Groundhog Day, Stranger
Than Fiction, What Women Want, Shallow Hal and The Nutty Professor must all
overcome something supernatural in order to ultimately achieve their romantic
destinies.

4.These movies involve men stuck in Emotional adolescence who must learn to
take responsibility in order to win the love of more mature women: The 40-Year-
Old Virgin; Knocked Up; Role Models; Get Him to the Greek; etc., etc. About a Boy,
The Wedding Crashers fall into this category.

5. Slumming It is the most common category of British romantic comedy, where

the conflict frequently stems from class differences: Notting Hill; Bridget Jones’
Diary; the Prime Minister/staff member plot line in Love Actually.

6. The Long Haul applies to romantic comedies that are a bit more grounded in
reality. The conflict may come from some unusual situation, as in As Good As It
Gets or Lars and the Real Girl, but these comedies tend to cover longer spans of
time, as the characters weather the ups and downs of more ongoing
relationships. 500 Days of summer is a terrific recent example, as are When
Harry Met Sally and Woody Allen’s screenplays for Annie Hall, Manhattan and
Hannah and Her Sisters.
 Many romantic comedies combine two or more of these categories. “Wedding
Crashers” and “About a Boy” are both Peter Pan movies and Imposter movies, as
their immature heroes pretend to be rich businessmen in the former, and a
single father in the latter. And most of the heroes of Magic Spell movies also keep
their supernatural situations a secret.

Fantasy genre

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural
phenomena as a primary plot element, theme, or setting. Many works within the
genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic and magical creatures are
common. Fantasy is generally distinguished from the genres of science fiction
and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of scientific and macabre
themes, respectively, though there is a great deal of overlap between the three,
all of which are subgenres of speculative fiction.

Thriller/Suspense

Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film, and television programming that

uses suspense, tension and excitement as the main elements. Thrillers heavily
stimulate the viewer's moods giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra-
heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and/or terror.

There are two kinds of thrillers & suspense:

The hero/heroine of a conventional mystery is pursuer, seeking to unmask a

villain by the story’s end or the the hero/heroine is pursued, engaged in the
battle of wits with an unknown adversary who takes wicked advantage of
internal fears & imagination.

Literary devices such as red herrings plot twists and cliffhangers are used
extensively. A thriller is usually a villain-driven plot, whereby he or she presents
obstacles that the protagonist must overcome.

Common subgenres are psychological thrillers, crime thrillers and mystery

thrillers. Another common subgenre of thriller is the spy genre.

Crime Thriller

Crime Thriller film is a sub-genre that incorporates the suspenseful aspects of

a thriller with a crime film plot. This sub-genre's plot usually centers on a serial
killer, murderer, robbery, or manhunt. As opposed to traditional crime films, the
storyline focuses both around the criminal and the protagonist. Crime Thrillers
use both action and psychological aspects to build tension and suspense.

Examples: The Usual Suspects, The Fugitive, Jagged Edge.

Psychological Thriller

In addition to the traits of a regular Thriller, a Psychological Thriller

incorporates elements of drama and mystery film. The suspense in this sub-
genre comes from the mind, rather than from a psychical threat. The
protagonists in Psychological Thrillers must rely on their mental resources to
solve the situation. Because of their nature, many Psychological Thrillers cross
over into the Horror genre.

Examples: Memento, Rear Window.

Some common thrillers

1. Your hero discovers a secret conspiracy

2. The villain has discovered the hero’s point of psychological weakness & is
playing mind games with the hero.
3. A crime is about to happen or the crime has happened & is about repeat
as a larger crime. The hero alone can stop it.
4. The hero is trying to stop a disaster (medical, nuclear, environment,
political)
5. The hero is involved in a dramatic court case that has drastic
consequences outside of the courtroom.

Tricks of the trade:

• Cliffhangers.
• Ticking clock.
• Red herrings.
• Show evil over the evildoer’s shoulder.
• Make it personal.

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction with imaginative but more or less plausible
content such as settings in the future, futuristic science and technology, space
travel, parallel universes, aliens, and paranormal abilities. Exploring the
consequences of scientific innovations is one purpose of science fiction ideas.
Authors have used science fiction as a device to discuss philosophical ideas such
as identity, desire, morality, and social structure.
 Science fiction is largely based on writing rationally about alternative possible
worlds or futures. It is similar to, but differs from fantasy in that, within the
context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within
scientifically established or scientifically postulated (Suggest or assume the
existence) laws of nature (though some elements in a story might still be pure
imaginative speculation).

The settings for science fiction are often contrary to consensus reality, but
most science fiction relies on a considerable degree of suspension of disbelief,
which is facilitated in the viewer's mind by potential scientific explanations or
solutions to various fictional elements. Science fiction elements include:

• A time setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in a historical past

that contradicts known facts of history or the archaeological record.
• A spatial setting or scenes in outer space (e.g. spaceflight), on other
worlds, or on subterranean earth.
• Characters that include aliens, mutants,(change or cause to change in
form or nature ) androids, or humanoid robots.

• Futuristic technology such as ray guns, teleportation machines, and

humanoid computers.

• Scientific principles that are new or that contradict accepted laws of

nature, for example time travel, wormholes, or faster-than-light travel or
communication.

Myth genre

Myth is the oldest of all genre & most popular genre. They are always connected
to one or two other genre because other genre update the myth form or unify the
myth form.

Example: Lord of the Rings, Star Wars.

Characteristics

• Action line: To go on a journey ultimately leading to oneself.

• Myth stories are circular.
• (Departure, Fulfillment, Return. The hero leaves one condition to find
another & find a new deeper experience of life & he is forced back into his old
way of life.) Sometimes when he returns they discover what he already has.

• Character changes.
• Opposition are many & defeats them in successions,
• In an episodic way. Oppositions are broken down into number of
characters these people are actually strangers to the hero.
• Self-revelation. In myth stories it is simply of self-revelation. Sometimes
the story has a cosmic revelation, where the hero has a vision of how an entire
society should act in future.