Genre Conventions for Final Project Blog Post

Genre Conventions for Final Project Blog Post

I have selected the genre of action. This genre originates from the 1910's, where there were "comic chase" films and Douglas Fairbanks' swashbucklers. At this time, we relied mainly on western films to convey an action type of feel which made these genres overlap. From the 1960's-70's, the genre of action started to mold into its current state. The James Bond Franchise and many others helped to gain its popularity and purpose. In the 1980's, we entered 'The Golden Age'. Its popularity began to skyrocket, and it started to become classified by witty protagonists. We consider the 1900's- present the modern age of action. This era helped to introduce higher budgets for improved special effects such as Terminator 2 and paved the way for many more successful action films. A few key landmark films include The Great Train Robbery, Die Hard, and The Matrix. The Great Train Robbery was so impactful, because it established the foundational language of this genre. It introduced fast-paced narrative driven stories with non-continuous shots. Die Hard impacted this genre, by redefining heroes as ‘invincible musclemen’ to everyday people such as cops. Also, restricting the setting to one high-rise, confined building soon influenced many other successful films. The Matrix was important, because it introduced slow motion amid fast camera movement, also known as ‘bullet time.’ This helped to overall change action aesthetics and also elevated CGI effects. A few important actors include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Bruce Lee. Schwarzenegger was known for The Terminator series, Stallone is famous for the Rocky and Rambo franchises, and Lee is A pioneer of martial arts cinema, known for Enter the Dragon. A few important directors are Michael Bay who is Known for Bad Boys, John Woo who is a master of stylish, "gun-fu" action, known for Hard Boiled

, and James Cameron who is famous for The Terminator and Aliens. 

Common genre conventions can include theme, setting, presentation, character types, story formula, and stars. For the genre of action, the common theme we see is good versus evil. There is usually a hero that must fight for revenge, sacrifice, or freedom from another thing. These films are usually set in a large modern city, exotic remote areas, or even in confined or trapped locations. These environments are often preferred to capture events such as chases, explosions, and fights. These films are often presented with very fast-paced and high energy shots. Fast editing, CGI, and special effects are very popular in this genre. Common character types include the hero/protagonist, special forces, the sidekick, the love of interest, and the antagonist/villain. These characters are very popular because they set the stage for the plot to be exciting and intriguing. The story formula usually follows the ‘three act structure.’ This involves the hero facing a villainous attack, the protagonist and his team experiences a major setback, and ends with a final heroic victory. Popular action stars include Tom Cruise, Jackie Chan, and Bruce Willis. These actors are all widely recognized for their work in this genre, including performing their own stunts and leading franchises from the 1980’s and beyond. Genre conventions affect the production of a film in many ways. For my Final Project, I will know how to base my script off a hero challenge with an eventful shutdown. This will also help my storyboarding process, as I will know what character types I need to be sure to include, and where my movie will be set. I will also know to add necessary special effects, with fast paced camera work. Sound is also very important if I need to emphasize any explosions, gun shots, or intense music during my editing process. 

Conventions of opening sequences include establishing the scene, production and credit sequences, character introductions, narrative hooks, and genre signifiers. The first example of an action opening sequence I chose is from The Matrix. The film starts off by introducing the production/distribution company, Warner Bros. It then begins to play a very intense, villainous dialogue, which sets the tone for the action movie. The screen shows hundreds of pixelated numbers which look like codes along with a suspenseful soundtrack that is increasing in volume. We then see a match cut into an establishing shot, set in a dark, confined, and abandoned building. We are introduced to our characters, who are a group of policemen scouting this area. They then break into a room, where we find a mysterious, eerie woman who slowly puts her hands up. This clip very well conforms with an action opening sequence, with many aspects. https://youtu.be/kIXNpePYzZU?si=ZmIX_jlPMo0gqw6V The next film I chose is Mission Impossible- Rogue Nation. It starts off introducing our main actor, Tom Cruise. We then hear the start of their popular soundtrack starting to increase in volume, which adds to the exciting tone of the movie. We then start to see a montage of clips that bring attention to the production and distribution companies such as Paramount Pictures, and the starring actors. The clips are very fast-paced and high energy which helps to signify the genre. The opening sequence then ends with an establishing shot of a large city at night. This clip does conform to the conventions of opening sequences, through introducing characters, companies, sound, and action shots. https://youtu.be/4WOx16_rOwU?si=EBLn4oIaTD5ClL-d The last film I chose was Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The clip starts with an establishing scene of a busy traffic street. It begins to introduce the production company, Pacific Western Production, and the director of James Cameron. After showing some more opening credits, the setting totally flips to a deserted dimension with blue hues, broken down cars, and skeletons. The action aspect starts to come into play, when there are robots who start shooting with guns and causing explosions. This opening sequence does conform to the conventions of opening sequences, through explosions, opening credits, character introductions, and much more. https://youtu.be/BnddWVBRwHQ?si=0ipt6trZYhdrcEWa  

After all this research about the genre of action, it has helped me brainstorm many ideas and possible aspects that I will consider including in my Final Project. After researching the history of the genre, I was able to better understand the background and origins of action, such as that it originates from the 1910s. Learning about impactful films and actors that star in this genre also helps me to get a feel of the mood and tone in these films. While discussing common genre conventions, I now know to align my theme with the idea of good and evil. I will be sure to choose a location that can facilitate events such as possible chases or fights. I will be sure to include the necessary character types such as a protagonist and an antagonist. I will also try my best to utilize the proper editing skills to successfully align with my genre. Through analyzing a few examples of action opening sequences, I was able to see great examples of what my Final Project would possibly look like. Remembering to include aspects such as credits, an establishing shot, character introductions, and much more will help to increase the overall success of my film. With all of this research, I am confident I will be able to align myself and my work as close as possible with the genre of action.