Research - Genres #7

Introduction:

The three genres I will be focusing on are Drama, Comedy, and Horror. I chose these genres because they give a unique and emotional storytelling experience while still entertaining the audience. I also find them very interesting when they are used all together to give a creative and exaggerated feeling with a tense and suspenseful atmosphere.

Drama

Camera Work: Usually close-ups and medium shots to capture subtle emotional expressions, as well as slow-moving shots to allow the audience to focus on the actor’s performance.


Editing Style: Slow-paced to allow the scenes to be completely read and understood. Long takes and continuity editing are frequently used.


Sound: Realistic sound design, natural dialogue, and minimal non-diegetic music. When music is added, it is often emotional, soft or orchestral.

~.~~.~

In the bus stop scene, the camera uses close-ups and medium shots to capture Forrest’s calm, heartfelt storytelling, with slow editing and natural sound design that emphasize his sincerity and emotional depth. It is set in a realistic park with natural lighting and everyday props with the scene showing themes of identity, relationships, and personal growth through Forrest’s character-driven reflections.

Mise-en-scene: Realistic settings like homes, schools, or hospitals. Lighting is natualistic, with costumes and props that reflect everyday life.


Themes: Conflict, relationships, identity, morality, coming of age.


Narrative Elements: Character-driven stories, internal struggles, emotional turning points.

Comedy

Camera work: Reverse shot during dialouge for punchlines, wide shots to show physical comedy. Zooms or quick pans for comedic effect.


Editing Style: Snappy, fast-paced cuts to keep energy high. Jump cuts may be used for comic timing.


Sound: Light-hearted or quirky music. Exaggerated sound effects enhance slapstick or awkward moments.

>><<

In White Chicks, the shopping mall scene uses energetic camera work with quick cuts, wide shots, and close-ups to emphasize the comedic tension and exaggerated expressions during the makeover. The bright lighting, upbeat music, flashy costumes, and a fast-paced editing style, the scene demonstrates themes of identity, disguise, and social pressure through humor.

Mise-en-scene: Bright Lighting and colorful setting. Costumes are often exaggerated or character-specific to enhance comedic traits.


Themes: Misunderstanding, irony, awkward situations, love, friendship, failure.


Narrative Elements: Unlikely events, exaggerated reactions, punchlines, situational humor.

Horror

Camera Work: Shaky handheld shots, extreme close-ups, wide angle shots for suspense. POV shots to immerse the audience in fear


Editing Style: Quick cuts for jumpscares or slow editing to build tension. Cross=cutting to create dramatic irony


Sound: Eerie music, sudden loud sounds for jump scares, heavy use or silence.

{{}}

In Terrifier, the scene where Art the Clown silently stares and smiles at Tara in the pizzeria uses medium and close-up shots to capture his disturbing stillness and her growing discomfort, with slow pacing that builds unease. The naturalistic setting, low background noise, and minimal dialogue highlights themes of unpredictability and fear, turning an ordinary public space into a moment of quiet psychological terror.

Mise-en-scene: Dark lighting, confined spaces, creepy or abandoned settings. Costumes might include blood, dirt, or unnatural details.


Themes: Fear of the unknown, survival, death, isolation, supernatural forces.


Narrative Elements: Final girl trope, haunted locations, mysterious deaths, supernatural or psychological horror.

Plot Sketches:

Drama

A young teenage girl sits in a waiting room at the hospital. Her hands tremble as she stares at her phone, waiting for a message, then she gets flashbacks that show tense moments between her and her twin sister. 

As she waits, she begins to cry silently to herself, revealing the emotional weight of the situation. The scene ends with the doctor walking toward her, with an unreadable expression.

Comedy 

Three girls attempt to record a cooking tutorial for a school assignment, but everything goes wrong. They spill everything everywhere, forget the ingredients, and argue over whether salt or sugar goes into the cupcakes. 

The oven catches on fire, and it ends with the cupcakes looking crazy all over, but they continue to laugh anyway.

Horror 

A woman moves into a cheap apartment, and the landlord says the previous renter suddenly left. On her first night, she hears knocking coming from inside the closet with soft breathing. 

She slowly opens it, but nothing is there. As she turns away, the closet door creaks open again with a voice whispering “My turn”. The lights flicker and the scene cuts into a black screen.

Reflection

The Drama genre feels the most achievable to me because it requires minimal effects and relies on strong acting with tone and real-life settings. Comedy excites me the most as it allows room for so much creativity, improvising, and instant feedback from the audience. Horror may be the most difficult with the resources I have due to it requiring careful lighting, sound design, and tension building. Overall, all these genres fascinate me, and to learn more about them allows to me to apply what I know for when I potentially use them in future assignments.