Film Classification vs Genre

Genre (in film) is about theme, category. Old films/movies has very little group of genre compare to nowadays, we have films that have several combination genre in one film - which shouldn't be a problem.

However, combination genre confuses me, a lot! Is it drama? Is it comedy? Then drama-comedy-romantic? And, horror-comedy is consider a genre?? Really? I hate combination genre - I couldn't get the mood! It's like, "..uhh, I should get ready to be scared and also get ready laughing during watching this/that movie"?

Here in Malaysia, it's over-done (I think) in "developing" genre. Becomes ridiculous and messy! Or, maybe it's the trend?

Film genre year 2000, 2003, 2005, 2011

Like it or not, it happens..

OK, back to basic, in Malaysia, we have 

• Lembaga Penapis Filem (LPS) or Film Censorship Board which under Kementerian Dalam Negeri (Ministry of Home Affairs); and 
• FINAS (National Film Development Corporation Malaysia)

who provided the basic guideline for film production; called film classification

Generic film classification in Malaysia

I think, those two are literally not guiding in what genre/category of film to produce; instead, put "label" on the produced film into generic "category" for the audience. Their concern are only on audience/viewer. Whilst filmmaking, is about telling story (should be any kind); and somehow it falls in a genre (or more than one genre). 

Which part of "control mechanism" (U, P13, 18) is practical albeit film already censored (cut/chopped) earlier before being distributed?

A curious boy/girl (or even adult) easily finding "things" from the internet.

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Concept and Genre

Film Genre definition from wikipedia

Storytelling definition from wikipedia

Basically, from what I understand, 

• genre is to choose the theme in helping storytelling in a film. 
• writers need to articulate with on groundwork of the genre that want to be written. 
• having genre may drive the concept, at least making it simpler to define
• help outline the story and character archetypes
• genre helps attract a producer, especially when it comes to assessing potential market
• casting is much facilitated -- many film stars fit one genre or another
• audiences go for genre as much as for stars, and genre gives critics a framework for their commentary

Overall, following are some standard/general genre (find a long list of List of Genres from wikipedia) which each item stands on itself.

Among main genre are..

• Action
• Adventure
• Comedy
• Crime/Gangster
• Drama
• Epics/Historical
• Horror
• Musical/Dance
• Science Fiction
• War
• Western

Also, some mix-genre like,

• Animation
• Biography
• Family
• Film Noir
• Mystery 
• Romance (or call it chick-flick)
• Sport
• Thriller (or call it suspense)

Sub-genre and Mix-genre
Often a film represents a mix of genres. Some argue this is always the case as romance is generally mixed in; like

• action-adventure
• action-thriller
• romantic-comedy
• 'dramedy' (drama+comedy)
• musical comedy, etc. 

Even when combining types, the benefits of starting from the perspective of an accepted genre apply.

Selecting Genre in Writing

• Go with that one first time out (no need to overly load yourself up with challenges as a nubie); later, to branch out -- step out of your 'comfort zone'
• Consider the type of story -- to what extent will one genre over another help tell that story?
• type of person (and writer) you are -- Not everybody can (or should) write a film noir or a detective-mystery, for example. Some should simply stick to the character-driven drama.
• check out some examples of movie genres, and see which ones might match your planned project

Things to Consider in Writing in Specific Genre

• the concept to the dialogue
• character archetypes might be clearly outlined -- how they talk and the things they do
• some genres--film noir and romantic comedies, for example--even come with generally-accepted story structures.

Writer to Play with Genre

• writer to set the world of film genre on edge, or merely use well-established conventions and 'rules' help you along in your quest for greatness.
• many popular films have been made by parodying a given genre; especially, the teen horror flick, or the western
• others take a genre as a starting point before taking it in new directions, thereby redefining the style.

Writer to Think About..

1. Consider the mix of genres in CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000). What can you learn about selecting/creating a film genre for your project?
2. In what way does UNFORGIVEN (1992) play with the western genre? How might it considered an 'un-western'?
3. What genres are mixed in THE THIN BLUE LINE (1988)? How successful is this mix in helping to make the point?
4. In what genre would you categorize THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987)? In what way would this film present a challenge to those promoting it?
5. In what direction does BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969) take the western? Should it really be called a comedy instead? What impact did it have on the genre?

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