Genre Research Summary

Now we've done some detailed analysis of two films in our genre, we needed to sum up our findings and explain how our research will influence our own work. We answered the questions below to help us with our investigations.

1. What do the titles tend to look like? Fonts, transitions, pace, contents?
The titles used in these film genres tend to come across as being quite funky and colourful, something you would expect to appeal to teenages. These titles also seem to have a meaning as to why they are as they are, much like the 'Mean Girls' titles. These titles were used how they were to reflect the words themselves.
The titles are used to introduce the characters and producers/directors of the film and the pace of these are medium-fast pace. I would say this as they're not as slow as a horror, but not as quick as an action packed movie. The pace should suit this type of genre as it reflects normality, a normal pace for a normal day.

2. What kind of music and/or other non-diegetic sounds are used?
The types of music used in these films are those that come across as being quite cheerful and upbeat songs. They tend to be like this to reflect the mood of the film, which in these cases are how the mood of films are. The creators of the music used also have a big part in the film as it is their backgrounds and ways of thinking that have perhaps led them to appearing in this type of film. For instance, the band 'The Prodigy' were used in 'Kick-Ass', perhaps as their journey seemed to reflect that of the main character's.
As well as the main title music, there is some non-diegetic music added in to this genre to help liven up the atmosphere of the film, much like the actions of teenagers.

3. What types of character do we see in the opening sequences? How are their characters established through technical features (e.g costume, make-up, setting, cinematography, sound, editing...)

In the opening sequences of these type of film genres, we are usually introduced to the main character, who is usually portrayed as being a bit of a geek and they're also struggling with their feelings, whether it be trying to fit in to their new school/college or trying to fight off their strong feelings for somebody special to them. We know this by the way shot, reverse, shots are used to connote their feelings and the atmosphere of the people around them. We also know they are perhaps a bit of a geek from the way they are dressed too. The reason we know the main character is of a teenage age is by the settings used, that being a school or college. Sometimes in these opening sequences, we also get a glismp of the main character's best friends and the girl/boy of their dreams.

4. What kinds of mise en scene dominate? What are typical features of setting, lighting, props?

The type of setting that usually dominants this type of genre is that of a high school/college and perhaps that of the main character's house. This is because these are the places a young teenager spends most of their time at this age. Any props that are used are usually those that are related to teenagers, such as school bag/rucksack, electronic devices, bike etc.

5. What narrative codes are employed and how? For example, are lots of tight close ups used to create an enigma? Is tense music and fast editing used to create an action code?
Coming of age/chick flick comedies often use Tzvetan Todorov's 5 stage theory code by which the film starts of with an equilibrium of the main character's day to day life. The viewer learns how the main character is a loser and the opening sets up their relationships, such as their best friend and the boy/girl of their dreams. They also get to see the emotions of the character, such as whether they're feeling happy, sad etc. Examples used to demostrate this are shot, reverse, shots and close ups as they focus in on the character and their emotions. The music used is usually that of a happy, feel good song to reflect the mood of the type of genre.

6. Is there a particular form of cinematography or editing that is specific to the genre you're working in?

Usually you would find shot reverse shots, medium-close ups, long shots and low angled camera shots in these types of genres as they help to establish the main character's feelings.