Similar genre research

Media Studies                                                                    Elly Long

Film
Similar genre research


My film is a sci-fi- ‘fantasy’ genre, focusing mainly on the idea of a futuristic world within that of a modern era, corrupted with the imagination of people to form an apocalyptic situation. (Within reason, its moreover hinted to be post-apocalyptic due to the reference of games, restarting to last save, overwriting etc…. )

Sci-fi-fantasy

. Terminator
- Time Travelling robots
- Androids in general
- Updated technology

. Blade Runner
- Futuristic landscape (i.e intro)
-Manipulation of general human standing (idea of robots)
- Human emotions in terms of killing (they don’t verbally claim to be ‘killing’; implies they are not human- lack emotion- not people just robots etc….)

. The Avengers
- ‘Super-Powers’ for average human
- Idea of God; overall power complications (in this case literally, there are Gods)
- In some respect, futuristic  technology in a modern era

. The Fifth Element
- Idea of aliens
- Somewhat updated technology (flying cars—yet features a man who would be considered average, and in some respect, somewhat relatable to some viewers- again, within reason)
- Power, i.e the crystals- elements.


Post-Apocalyptic

. I am Legend
- Features one guy. (dog for company; nonetheless he is alone in terms of being i.e only human throughout majority of the film.)
-Key elements of survival
- Weapons (again for survival)
-Dismal setting- grey, cold looking, undesirable landscape.

. Resident Evil
- Key survivors, generally shown working in groups
- Weapon; viewing zombies as evil and needs to be killed
- Human superiority overwritten by the idea of a ‘greater force/standing’
-Power in general; again, God complexes


By using these ideas, I can construct a basis of the different element I may wish to incorporate into my film
The overall impact for the idea of playing God, for example, generally sets a standard for the viewer to dislike that particular character- they manipulate people, go against the protagonist, and try to ruin what is a perfect equilibrium, making the idea of power brilliant to associate with antagonists.



What a few of these films have in common is death, which if I were to have to create a full film, there would be a bit of. One by one, for example, the main group that have been put together in the Apocalyptic scenario, they will be picked off, referring to the stereotypical line in which characters are killed. (i.e the irritating characters who generally lack basic sense, the moreover nerd characters, younger characters may tend to survive… for mine, I would have had 5 in the film as a group, the two main characters, given the storyline, would have survived until the end….)
By making the characters somewhat relatable to the audience, it makes them sympathise more, or even gives them relief that a certain character with a given persona has died. On the otherhand, by killing off all the group generally leaves the audience a bit irritated, yet I believe if it is played out well enough, the viewers will be shocked, even horrified, which would relate to the overall impression I’d wish to give with the entirety of my film.

Music at a lot of points would mainly depend upon the situation at hand, and is used to subconsciously lure the audience into a state where they are not only watching the film, but feeling the film.
In a happy situation, the music would be upbeat, whilst in a sad one, the music may be slow, even quiet. Then again, in a depressing situation, the music can be loud, overwhelming all the speech and general background noises, perhaps even giving way to prominent, important sound effects, i.e a gun shot.
An example of this would be Resident Evil.
Using music that the audience recognise can also be effective as if the research is done correctly, can play to the director’s wish to make them feel. A well-known sad song used already in a familiar circumstance can be used, as long as it doesn’t relate too much to its original use so as not to be pointed out for copy issues.
For example, during the two minutes of my film, I wish to use the song Plug in baby by Muse, as I believe it will coincide well with the emotions my character’s expressions are to show (whilst in combat- straight in action) and also I relevant considering the fact she is in a Virtual Reality simulation. (So a sense of irony is also at play, a sub-conscious element for my audience.)
Then again, by using this piece of music, since it’s not exactly a modern song anymore, it will somewhat alienate my main character from people who would watch it who listen to the genre of music that is favourable now (or at the time.)
It may even relate to the older side of the target-market, showing that despite the modern time that this is set in, the character has an older aspect in some respect, making her more relatable despite her given age (which is around 17).
All in all, music is very important element in films, and is executed correctly, can give the desired outcome of the scene, able to manipulate and even lead the viewers into the director’s desired outcome.

To amplify the feeling of the film or even a specific scene, lighting has to be altered, for example in I Am Legend there is an overall grey-ish tone, giving a cold, depressing outlook on the environment, allowing the audience to sympathise to the main character, who may not necessarily be struggling; even if they are not showing any emotion or physical display of struggle or discomfort, just by making the atmosphere different and undesirable from a typical, everyday scenario.
Also night-shots during an action sequence may add to the idea of the situation being ominous, even predictable. There is always the idea that something would be lurking in the dark, associating that time of the day to be feared, and again using the word undesirable; its accustomed to there being a struggle or even disruption for the main character. By making people fear darkness, it’s easier to associate antagonists with it, amplifying the subconscious reaction of people to view characters who wear black, lurk in darkness or even just prefer it, to be evil and disliked.
This is ironic because my two protagonists are somewhat associated with darkens, although my male character actually turns out to be the evil guy, allowing for the idea of darkness to attack darkness (hence the two deaths.) I’ve enhanced this idea by making my guy a schizophrenic, which makes him not all too relatable, and a generally confusing character, who leaves the audience only guessing. (His schizophrenia is only truly revealed nearing the end when he becomes/ turns to show he is the evil guy; his nicer side has no idea of him being good, and his evil sides uses his good persona to play ‘mind-games’ with the female protagonist-who is the main character sin the story.)