Action
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera AnglesTarget Audience
Dark coloursPresent day or not too distant future
Explosions
Weaponry
Armour/military uniform
Male
Young/teens
Establishing shots
Close ups
Aerial or Crane shots
Woman (damsel in distress)
American hero (man)
Sidekick
Intelligent (usually foreign or disfigured) villain
A crime (bank heist, terrorist plot, etc.)
Woman needs saving by male here
Sub-narrative: Romance between ‘damsel’ and ‘hero’
The development of the hero’s character
City
Fast cars
Car chases
Crime
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera AnglesTarget Audience
Dark coloursCity Weaponry – knives, guns
and bombs
Police uniform
Police cars and ambulances
Present dayBright colours/lighting – police lights
Teen to middle aged
Mainly male
Crime needs to be solved (e.g. murder, heist, etc.)
Sometimes a romance
Development of a friendship between two main characters or a hero and his sidekick (partner)
Mind games between villain and hero
Hero (detective)
Villain (criminal)
Sidekick (partner to hero)
Interfering boss of hero
Damsel in distress
Establishing shotsClose ups
Over shoulder shotsLow angles High angles
Sci-fi
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera AnglesTarget Audience
Blues and blacksSpaceships
Advanced gadgetry
The future
City, other planet or space Futuristic weaponry
Futuristic costume
Male
Geeks
Young people
Establishing shotsWide shots
Shot reverse shotsClose-ups
Hero (male)
Villain (perhaps an alien)
Aliens
Minor characters (crew on board spaceship, etc.) Alien invasions
Threats to the galaxy
Sometimes a romance
Sometimes self-sacrifice of hero
Horror
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera AnglesTarget Audience
Past or present day
Small town or village/countryside
Creepy houses
Dark lighting
CandlelightCrucifixesChurches
Dark colours
Black
Red
Teens/young adults
Male
Close ups
Extreme close ups
Wide shots
Establishing shots
Trying to escape something (a room, etc.)
Running from something/someone
Deaths
Main characters attempting to stop a monster, murder, etc.
Occasionally – minor romances
Sometimes a prologue
Monster, murderer, ghost, etc. (antagonist)
Main character (male or female)
Minor characters – friends of the main character
Relatives of the main character
Complex storylines can become psychological horrors
Can be female (if less gore and usually psychological horror)
Human “monsters” (usually psychological horror)
Romance
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera AnglesTarget Audience
Women
Teenagers upwards
Female main character
Male main character
Sometimes a voice over to narrate the story
Sometimes friends (sub-characters) to both main characters
Character trying to keep the main characters apart
Follows the development of the main characters relationship
How the main characters met
Bright colours
Red (love)Present dayTown or big city settings
(New York)
Close ups
Extreme close ups
Happy ending
Flowers
Chocolates
Kiss scenes
Establishing shots
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera AnglesTarget AudienceSwash
Buckler
Ships Sea
Pirate costume
Old fashioned attire
Past
Swords
BluesDark colours
Lantern/candlelight
Male 20-50 year olds
A treasure hunt
A battle
Development of romantic relationship
Development of friendships
Being chased by sea
Wide shotsEstablishing shots
Close ups
Male main character (usually the Captain and hero)
Sub-characters (the crew)
Villain (the Captain of the opposing ship)
Sometimes a female romantic interest to the main character
Colour Schemes
Characters Narrative
Mise-en-Scene
Camera AnglesTarget AudienceFantasy
VampiresWerewolves
Mythical creatures
Male or female main character (protagonist)
Some kind of monster or creature (villain)
Love interest of the main character (usually a mythical creature) can be a main character also
Love story – the progression of a relationship
The discovery of mythological creatures by the main character
Battle with the villain (usually a monster, etc.)
Sometimes starts with main character having moved to a new place
Teenagers and young adults
Females
Dark colours
Red (blood and love)
Black
Bright colours (magic)
Establishing shots
Close ups
Medium shots
Wide shots
Past, present or future
Town setting
Stakes, etc.
Forests