Part XLIX: How To Define Your Genre
Jaws

Part XLIX: How To Define Your Genre

All too often, I receive a spec screenplay from a writer who describes their script as a "Dramedy/Historic/Sci-Fi", or a "Melodrama/Buddy-Buddy Action Film". When I read these genre descriptions, it DOES make me curious; exactly what kind of script could possibly be a "Dramedy/Historic /Sci-Fi?

It's apparent that the writer doesn't quite understand GENRE*, and how to classify their OWN work into one of the accepted categories. If they have this issue with properly identifying the genre, I can ONLY imagine how the screenplay reads.

To start with, "genre" means "kind", as in what KIND of category the screenplay is in. That's simple enough, but there are literally dozens of genres and sub-genres, and combinations in which we can classify these concepts. The more learned we are about the categories, the better we can identify them, and market them to the right producers.

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1) We can identify the screenplay using the SETTING the story takes place in:

  • Horror: Graveyards, castles, abandoned structures or buildings, blood, gore, or killing instruments;
  • Sci-Fi: Outer space or futuristic items like spaceships;
  • Sports: Sports arenas, teams, athletes;
  • War: Tanks, planes, or battlefields;
  • Westerns: Stage coaches, saloons, the frontier;

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2) We can also determine genre through the CHARACTERS in the story;

  • Comedy: nerds, jocks, friends;
  • Crime: Detectives, gangsters, criminals;
  • Horror: Zombies, serial killers, or ghosts;
  • Sci-Fi: Aliens, monsters;
  • Westerns: Cowboys, outlaws;

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3) Most times, the SUBJECT MATTER determines the genre;

  • Action: Chase sequences, fight scenes, guns;
  • Comedy: Slapstick, witty dialogue, mistaken identity;
  • Crime: whodunnits, rival gangs, robberies;
  • Horror: ghost stories, creatures, monsters, paranormal, ‘found footage’
  • Melodramas: exaggerated characters, maternal figure;
  • Musicals: singing and dancing;
  • Romance: “falling in love”, break-up and reconciliation, fairy tales, forbidden love
  • Sci-Fi: interstellar travel, doomsday, apocalyptic tales

As if these aren't enough genres in which to better define YOUR screenplay or film, each of these categories have "sub-genres", which help define it even more.

If you have an issue in properly classifying your screenplay, contact The Script Mentor at [email protected], and we'll do what we can to help you.

NEXT WEEK: We'll tackle the sub-genres and their descriptions.

* with thanks and credit to the Nashville Film Institute

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WRITER'S BIO:?Mr. Scala spent 22-plus years in the Hollywood community, and was the Executive Director for the?72nd Annual Academy Awards, as well as?The Soul Train Awards,?The Grammys,?The Blockbuster Video Awards Show?and?The Saturn Award Show.?

He is working on his 41st adaptation; the fascinating autobiography?"Call Me Zena", by?Sally Barnard?who, after a brief illness, developed high-level artistic skills overnight. He is also developing biopic projects of rock pioneer?Jimmie F. Rodgers,?Motown star?Tammi Terrell?and iconic folk singer?Harry Chapin- all while continuing to mentor hundreds of new writers and self-published authors.

Geno has two screenplays produced and currently on Amazon Prime;?"Assassin 33 A.D."??and?"The Tombs", and-at present-?is the?Executive Script Consultant?of a major motion picture scheduled to begin filming Spring, 2022.


Robert Sacchi

Gate Gourmet - Author - Screenwriter

3 年

Should a screenplay be defined as one genre or is 2 better? It seems defining "Spaceballs", "Blazing Saddles", or "Young Frankenstein" just as a comedy would be inadequate.

Jack McCarthy

Writer at White Wolf Press, LLC

3 年

I'm reminded of a home-brew tabletop rpg system I designed in high school. I meant it to be a science fiction/fantasy mashup, where the characters inhabited a world that had been colonized by an extraterrestrial race, whose genetic manipulations led to various humanoid races, nanotechnology fueled seemingly magical effects, and magicians were actually using psychic powers. Despite my behind-the-scenes explanation of how everything worked out came to be, in practice it turned out to be a pretty generic fantasy role-playing game, namely because I didn't understand how genre is expressed through the setting, characters and story. Consequently, the sci-fi elements got lost in the mix. Thanks, Mr Scala, great article as usual.

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Terry McFadden

Terry McFadden is a Script Doctor and Writing Coach dedicated to helping TV Writers & Screenwriters find and hone their Own Unique and Original writing Voice bringing a fresh and original take to the page.

3 年

Thanks Geno, always get a kick out of seeing your posts.

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