Research into Genre

Me and my group are focusing on the genre Crime. We intend to make an opening sequence to do with this, and therefore need to research into it to know the different conventions and target audiences.

The conventions of Crime:
Colours - When filming a crime scene, the colours used tend to always be the same. These colours are: red,black,grey,yellow and white. This is because these specefic colours create more fear and mystery throughout the film, whereas using bright colours like pink, purple and orange wouldn't be as effective.
•Red = Blood, murder, death, danger and love

•Black = Death, murder, power, masculine, and dark
•Grey = used for weapons, technology and futuristic
•Yellow = eery, hazards and suspension
Here are some images to illustrate my point.

The conventions of Crime:

Locations - In a crime scene the locations are quite limited and selected for good reason, whether that be a sadistic demonstration of the contrast between the red blood and the white tiles, as shown in many bathroom images. A bathroom, forest, side road, basement, train station or a labratory are used as for the main location. These are specefically used because they are isolated which enables them to carry out the deed undisturbed.



The conventions of Crime:

Props - The props vary depending on what crime scene is being filmed. Often the main ones included are: a torch, a microscope and a brief case, and sometimes the weapon used in the crime committed. This is to show the seriousness of the crime and the extent of which further investigation is needed.

The Conventions of Crime:

Costumes - Forensic gloves, coats and in serious cases masks are used in crime scenes. The victim is usually in casual attire, whereas the suspects usually dress more formally, also with gloves. This could potentially be an attempt to suggest their innocence, whereas the victims simple dress code signifies their desperation of the situation at hand. Below is a screenshot from the crime film 'On the waterfront' showing forensic coats being worn.

The Conventions of Crime:

Music & Fonts - In the lead up to the crime the music is often slower in pace at the start and then increases in volume and speed. This non-diegetic sound increases the audiences awareness, and they wait knowingly for the loud bang or crash that is nearly always associated with a violent or sudden act, which makes them jump even though it was expected.

While the screen shots below both use bold, non italic fonts and images of blood, I think each meaning slightly differs from the other. Example A uses a basic white font with a black backdrop, splatted with thick dark red 'blood'. The thickness and dull colour of the blood in this one varies from the spotted vibrant red blood in Example B which makes screenshot A more appealing as it is less frightening. The font in Example B is blood red and is typist in style. The letters are fragmented and slanted despite being the same size which suggests characters and themes of murderous intention by an established or inside character.



The Conventions of Crime:

Characters - The characters shift from one extreme to the other. The victims in a crime scene are usually 'normal' and the audience gains no stereotypical view of them. Again as they are dressed in casual attire innocene would be the inital reaction of their character. Whereas the suspect is usually formally dressed so the audience can generally 'see through' them as being suspicious.

Below are all famous examples of crime films. These all tackle themes such as murder, manslaughter, terrorisation and hostage. Audiences enjoy watching this type of genre because it fulfils their need for entertainment when refering to the uses and gratifications theory. By choosing just four films at random it is clear they revolve around certain characters. For example, Brad Pitt and Al Pacino both star in two out of these four films.

 

 Fight Club

 Director - David Fincher

 Actors - Edward Norton, Brad Pitt

 Se7en

 Director - David Fincher

 Actors - Brad Pitt, Morgon Freeman, Gyneth Paltrow

 Heat

 Director - Michael Mann

 Actors - Al Pacino, Robert De Niro

Godfather
Director - Francis Ford Coppola
Actors - Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan