Genre research

Overview
We have decided to make a film around the genre of crime. However, we also wanted it to have a sub genre of a thriller as this will make our movie stand out more and be more unique. By adding this sub genre we will also be widening our audience span as the sub genre may appeal to more people than a crime would on it's own. I have decided to look at typical features of these films as this will help me get inspiration on how I would want my movie to look and be portrayed.

Typical story lines 
Generally a crime film is based around a two sided argument between the good and the bad. Sometimes this can be done in a realistic way and others light heatedly to satisfy a particular audience. I also think that crime movies also have a format and structure to how the movies scenes are ordered. To begin with we see the crime being committed but we don't always see the face of the criminal. After this we are introduced to the detective who will be trying to seek the criminal. This prolongs through most of the movie as it is normally full with actions shots which will make the viewer remain interested. Then when the movie draws to a close the detective or police officer will catch the criminals or the criminal will escape. This is how I have seen most crime films structured but they don't always have to be told in a chronological order. The movie could be working it's way back from the escape of a criminal or the capture to why it was committed in the first place. This method can increase anticipation which would make the viewer more enthusiastic to continue watching the film.
As we also wanted a slight sub genre of thriller I also looked into this genre where it didn't play a key role. From the research I learnt that thrillers tend to be more gory with blood and violence. They can also include scenes which create high levels of tension which build up to make a viewer jump and shock them. This would be a good thing to have in my movie as it keeps viewers interested as well as them being highly entertained. I also think thrillers would tie in well with a film with a crime genre as they can be related in topics such as violence as well as criminal activity.

Iconography 
Using iconography can help viewers to understand the genre and general story line of what the movie will be about. This can be represented through things such as settings and props.

Setting to show Iconography and symbolizing characters.

When I think of crime films I imagine dark streets which suggest mysteriousness and this is because it leaves more for the viewer to imagine and think about. Also we gain background information from characters such as where they come from and this can help us identify why they may act against the law. Also from the image on the right there is graffiti and this could suggest high levels of crime in the area. Also we see that there are dark skies which could help to represent mood and atmosphere to help develop the story line. When writing my script I may use pathetic fallacy which will incorporate the weather. Pathetic fallacy is when weather is used in order to reflect on peoples or characters moods and emotions. By doing this we get to see more of characters in small doses. This would be a good technique to use in a crime film as this way it still keeps a sense of mystery with the characters still guessing.
Unlike the previous setting shown there is always a good well of setting as to where the crime normally takes place. A typical theft film will be set in a jewellers store or a big mansion.  Also by using some elaborate and large comparisons we can see a distinctive line of how peoples and characters lives differ from one another. On one side we see an element of poverty compared to the richness of another persons wealth. Basic things such as hygiene and general surrounding also help to set the scene as we can see who has the well-being to do so as well as having the money. Generally the more looked after places are belonging to the good side. However, sometimes in movies there are people who have become corrupt from being rich. I believe these characters are traditionally male as they are seen as more dominant and powerful.

Typical drink sabotage.

Bugsy Malone custard guns

Pulp fiction showing Iconography

Another way of showing Iconography is through props. In crime films the props are mainly to show negative actions. We tend to see things such as drugs, alcohol and weapons. These things help to show what type of film is being watched as there is generally action involved in a a chase between the good and the bad. Firstly, when drugs are introduced into a crime film we automatically think about the consequences it may have on the character and how it may change their lives. Different drugs classes can be used in order to represent the severity. Alcohol is another thing that is used as I have seen people being drugged through having a drink. As seen below this is a shot which is commonly used in order to show the action which has been performed.  This is normally done in order to gain control or power over characters to try and make themselves more superior. There are then also weapons which are commonly used. I can be anything from a common knife knife to a gun. Even though some of the same weapons are used in different films there can be a variety. For example in the children's crime movie Bugsy Malone they use custard guns which can kill people. As you can see the guns are unique which plays as an advantage the film. By using weapons which reflect the characters it make the subject seem more appropriate.  Although Bugsy Malone doesn't have the same realistic features of other crime movies it still has the same generic convention as it still has the mysterious element to it. Pulp Fiction is also a crime film but instead of using make believe props which are originally created they use realistic looking guns which make the tone more serious.

Characters 

In a crime film you typically get the good characters and the criminals. Generally, the characters are contrasted between personalities very clearly so that the viewer can tell who plays which part in the movie. You can get realistic scenes and films which can show real life situations that happen to real people. Then you can also get films such as Batman which have unrealistic scenarios and are make believe in order to maintain a certain genre and audience. By using realistic scenarios it makes people relate to the storyline more. For example Sherlock Holmes assess realistic topics that gain the viewers attention as they may be interested in the topics being discussed.  He tends to look at topics related to drugs as this a common occurrence  and they are serious issues which may help people resolve and they can also get the will power to overcome their issues. I also think it's more relatable and these sort of topics in crime films are related more towards adults. 

As before there are make believe topics like in Bugsy Malone as the full cast is child actors and actresses and they have a unique storyline of killing custard guns. The film was set in the 1970's and has jazz themed scenes. Although it has no serious content it is relevant to the audience. The film is generally aimed at children but it is also aimed towards adults as it can be seen as a comedy and a musical.
As above characters can give an impression with their personality but characters can also be judged on their appearance. Creators use things such as costume and make up to make us perceive a character in a certain way. From the image of Sherlock Holmes above we can see that the character is reserved and well covered. Their are traditional costumes and expectancies of what we are going to see the character look like in a film. However, we imagine the criminals in tracksuit and hoodies or wearing dark clothing to show sinister behaviour. These outfits hide their identity which helps us keep guessing who they're. By doing this the producers create tension in order to keep the audience gripped. Not only are they represented by costume their make up also helps to show what the characters are like and it helps us get a gist of the storyline. In crime thrillers there tends to be violence which could lead to marks such as bruises and cuts and may even a blood pool. It is important to show these sorts of things as we can then get an understanding of the plot and why some of these actions have taken place. As shown on the left the cuts and bruises can look very realistic when done to a high standard. These help to make the movie seem realistic as they are following through with the actions. If a character fell from a height the producers need to ensure that there are some sort of after effects. Without these after effects the film wouldn't be as realistic as certain actions would lead to a sustain in injuries. To conclude, by making characters act and look a certain way we stereotype them into being a particular person. We originally don't look at them in too much detail as we focus on the plot and the role they play. 

Music
Music can be used in film to create atmosphere and mood. This music could also reflect characters feeling and emotions. Music is a good alternative as it creates suspension which makes the viewer keen to carry on watching.  The music clip below would be a good soundtrack to use in a horror, thriller or crime movie. In all three of the listed genres they create suspense with a small action building up into something big. Whether it being something to make you jump, scared or a discovery they all create tension which makes the viewer not know what to anticipate. The music soundtrack like the movie starts slowly and calmly but then it intensifies to create a certain mood. If I use a soundtrack like this I will make it fit in with my action in order to get the suspensions at the same time. However, when I choose my music I can't just take a clip of YouTube as there are issues such as Copyright. If I take a copyrighted track it may create issues with tracks I was not meant to use. In order to make everything in my movie legal I may use websites such as audacity which allow people to use tracks which are legal to use without permission.