The three genres that have been studied are romantic comedy, thriller and horror films. The codes and conventions of these genres differ greatly and attract a variety of audiences for each one.
Romantic Comedy:
Romantic comedies generally tend to follow a main character and a main plot, as well as a number of sub-characters and sub-plots. There are many cliche aspects of the romantic comedy genre that are used time and time again but never seem to get old:
* A single female or less often male lead.
* The plot following the lead character's everyday life and antics.
* The lead finding themself in embarassing but comic situations.
* Usually set in a large city but not limited to this.
* Likeable and funny sub-characters including both family and friends.
* A boy meets girl (or vice versa) storyline materialising.
Thriller:
Thriller films can follow characters that have not met yet e.g. a police officer's investigation into a case of murders and the serial killer's actions before the investigator finds what they have done. They are usually fast paced and designed to make the viewer think deeper as well as including unusual twists that keep the viewer interested. Although thriller films seem to differ greatly between themselves, there are a few basic conventions that are used within them:
* A lone killer or a group.
* A team of investigators, mainly following one of them..
* Fast, loud and usually contemporary music.
* Car chases, fights, explosions, buildings in flames, shoot outs etc.
* Finding more out about the killer's background up until they are finally caught.
Horror:
Like the other two genres, horror films generally follow a main character and a main plot though there isn't usually any sub-plots. Like in thrillers, there can sometimes be a twist in the plot to shock the viewer into realisation.
* An eerie setting e.g. an abandoned place like a house or an entire city (seen in Silent Hill)
* Bad things happening largely in dark places or at night time.
* Blood, gore and violence.
* A likeable main character as well as sub-characters, a few of whom are unliked and usually get killed off first.
* Creatures, psychopaths and the undead used as the enemy e.g. zombies, ghosts, vampires, werewolves etc.
* A happy ending isn't always expected.
* The main character usually survives.
* Gothic and religious themes used.
* Spooky music and sounds used throughout
Genre: Thriller II
Old Boy
* The scene starts with man holding another man over the edge of a building by a tie. This instantly engages the viewer through a sense of mystery an the want to find out how this situation has come about. At first, it appears threatening - the viewer may at first belive that the first man is threatening the other with death by dropping him from the building when in actuality, this isn't the case at all.
* The sound use in the background is very fast paced and high pitched. This could represent the adrenaline rush and the feelings of the characters, this involves the viewer.
* The very first shot is an extreme close up high angle of the first man's hand holding onto the tie. The shot pans out to reveal the first man's upper body and face with a medium shot however, the sun is directly behind the character which almost turns him into a silhouette. This represents the darkness, evil and power that this character may have. IT then cuts to the man being held over the building with an over the shoulder low angle shot. This is not only to show the height of the building upon which they stand, but also to show the contrasting features of both men and the first man's power over the second man's life.
* This sequence ends with a close up of the first man's face and cuts straight to a flashback. This is effective because it allows the viewer to compare the first man in present time to how he was in the past and to realise the great contrast in his character over a period of time.
* The background music also cuts off between the scene to the flashback. As the music was so loud and fast but cuts to complete silence, it forces the viewer to focus on the scenes more.
* You are now led to a brightly lit scene at night time with diegetic sound of rain and cars driving past. The main character, although drunk and a little battered, appears to be much less battered than in what we saw in the first scene. He is still wearing a suit, which could symbolise the lack of change in his character - but the concept of change is apparent due to the difference in the character's nature. Also a few features has differed e.g. his hair is less crazy, he shows more emotion here too.
* Handheld camera is used here to make the viewer understand the main character, Oh Dae-Su's state of mind. It is made clear that the setting is a police station. The canera is sett in a head on medium shot directly facing Oh Dae-Su. The police come from behind the camera to calm him down - the viewer is put in the same position as the officers and view Oh Dae-Su as they view him.
* There are a few rough cuts/edits where you can see Oh Dae-Su and then it cuts straight to him doing something else or the officers suddenly appearing on screen as if from nowhere and then disappearing again during the next cut. This mirrors Oh Dae-Su's inebriated state of mind and the drunken mess he was in which made time jump around and pass in his mind like a haze.
* There is a close up next of Oh Dae-Su addressing the camera directly and the officer replying from behind it. This involves the viewer and really stresses how drunk Oh Dae-Su is, again, the viewer is getting the same point of view as the officers are.
* There is an interval of quietness next where Oh Dae-Su quiets down for a while. He is squeezes on the bench between three other men - this shows the cowardece of his character until it suddenly cuts to a low angle of him rolling around on the floor and shouting loudly until he is handcuffed.
* Next there is a medium close up looking into Oh Dae-Su uin the phone box. The camera stays in this angle while Oh Dae-Su's friend chats on the phone and turns to the other side of the phone box when Oh Dae-Su disappears. This is done so the viewer focuses on the phone box and forgets about Oh Dae-Su until his friend calls out to him and the camera cuts to a low angle shot of the phone box which rises and twists. The background music has slowly crept in at this point to represent panicking and fear.
* This shot slowly becomes a birds eye view. You can hear people passing by and the sound of Oh Dae-Su's friend calling his name out and looking for him.
* The scene ends with a low angle shot of the angel's wings that Oh Dae-Su bought for his daughter as a birthday gift. This confirms to the viewer that Oh Dae-Su has gone missing.
* The scene starts with man holding another man over the edge of a building by a tie. This instantly engages the viewer through a sense of mystery an the want to find out how this situation has come about. At first, it appears threatening - the viewer may at first belive that the first man is threatening the other with death by dropping him from the building when in actuality, this isn't the case at all.
* The sound use in the background is very fast paced and high pitched. This could represent the adrenaline rush and the feelings of the characters, this involves the viewer.
* The very first shot is an extreme close up high angle of the first man's hand holding onto the tie. The shot pans out to reveal the first man's upper body and face with a medium shot however, the sun is directly behind the character which almost turns him into a silhouette. This represents the darkness, evil and power that this character may have. IT then cuts to the man being held over the building with an over the shoulder low angle shot. This is not only to show the height of the building upon which they stand, but also to show the contrasting features of both men and the first man's power over the second man's life.
* This sequence ends with a close up of the first man's face and cuts straight to a flashback. This is effective because it allows the viewer to compare the first man in present time to how he was in the past and to realise the great contrast in his character over a period of time.
* The background music also cuts off between the scene to the flashback. As the music was so loud and fast but cuts to complete silence, it forces the viewer to focus on the scenes more.
* You are now led to a brightly lit scene at night time with diegetic sound of rain and cars driving past. The main character, although drunk and a little battered, appears to be much less battered than in what we saw in the first scene. He is still wearing a suit, which could symbolise the lack of change in his character - but the concept of change is apparent due to the difference in the character's nature. Also a few features has differed e.g. his hair is less crazy, he shows more emotion here too.
* Handheld camera is used here to make the viewer understand the main character, Oh Dae-Su's state of mind. It is made clear that the setting is a police station. The canera is sett in a head on medium shot directly facing Oh Dae-Su. The police come from behind the camera to calm him down - the viewer is put in the same position as the officers and view Oh Dae-Su as they view him.
* There are a few rough cuts/edits where you can see Oh Dae-Su and then it cuts straight to him doing something else or the officers suddenly appearing on screen as if from nowhere and then disappearing again during the next cut. This mirrors Oh Dae-Su's inebriated state of mind and the drunken mess he was in which made time jump around and pass in his mind like a haze.
* There is a close up next of Oh Dae-Su addressing the camera directly and the officer replying from behind it. This involves the viewer and really stresses how drunk Oh Dae-Su is, again, the viewer is getting the same point of view as the officers are.
* There is an interval of quietness next where Oh Dae-Su quiets down for a while. He is squeezes on the bench between three other men - this shows the cowardece of his character until it suddenly cuts to a low angle of him rolling around on the floor and shouting loudly until he is handcuffed.
* Next there is a medium close up looking into Oh Dae-Su uin the phone box. The camera stays in this angle while Oh Dae-Su's friend chats on the phone and turns to the other side of the phone box when Oh Dae-Su disappears. This is done so the viewer focuses on the phone box and forgets about Oh Dae-Su until his friend calls out to him and the camera cuts to a low angle shot of the phone box which rises and twists. The background music has slowly crept in at this point to represent panicking and fear.
* This shot slowly becomes a birds eye view. You can hear people passing by and the sound of Oh Dae-Su's friend calling his name out and looking for him.
* The scene ends with a low angle shot of the angel's wings that Oh Dae-Su bought for his daughter as a birthday gift. This confirms to the viewer that Oh Dae-Su has gone missing.
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