Home Columns

Movie Genres -- What Writers Need to Know
by Lenore Wright

Movie writing is GENRE story telling. You've probably noticed that movie studios promote their movies by genre. Why? Because moviegoers often choose movies based on genre, they want to see a comedy or a love story or a techno-thriller. Audiences do line up to see their favorite stars; but one reason many stars retain their popularity is because they continue to deliver successfully in a popular genre.

What Genre Is

Genre refers to the story elements the audience will expect the movie to explore, like romance, danger, humor, war, alien worlds, crime or technology. Because genres set up expectations in the audience, writers who identify the genre of their movie and work within it stand a better chance of connecting with their audience.

Genres help writers focus the scope of a story. Genre limits story choices -- in a good way. Audiences expect a well-told war story to reveal the outcome of the conflict the movie dramatizes whether it's one battle or a world war. Audiences expect a well-told love story to reveal how the lovers get together and if they stay together.

What Genre Isn't

Some writers confuse genre with structure. Genre determines the scope of the story. Structure is the storytelling technique, the arrangement of scenes that reveals character and unfolds action. Structure and genre work together, neither one can do the job alone.

Some writers shun genre. They confuse it with dime store romance or pulp fiction. If you believe your stories are too unique to be limited by a genre or your heroes are so complex that no genre can encompass them, stop reading and Godspeed.

I can't tell you everything you need to know about movie genres in one article. I aim to motivate you to be aware of genre as you write your screenplay so you can exploit the expectations genre creates in ways that engage and surprise the audience.

Does Your Script Have a Genre?

In the simplest terms, the genre of your movie is determined by the CENTRAL ACTION your main character takes.

• If your heroine seeks to find the truth or catch a criminal, you're probably writing some form of detective story or crime story.

• If your central character is menaced or threatened by someone, you're working within the framework of a thriller.

• If the main action of the story involves a machine or some form of technology menacing your hero, you're probably writing a techno-thriller.

• If the main action of the story involves your hero defeating or destroying a monster, your script falls within the horror genre.

  
  

Copyright © 2002 Lenore Wright

Kick start your imagination, ignite your creativity, and begin your journey towards becoming an outstanding writer. Grab a copy of WEEKLY WRITES: 52 Weeks of Writing Bliss! from Amazon.com and receive 2 free e-books to encourage and nurture the writer in you. You'll also receive Write Memories, a journaling workbook available for free only to WEEKLY WRITES book owners. And finally, as a WEEKLY WRITES book owner, you'll have free access to e-mail courses such as JOYFUL WRITES: Celebrate Your Life through Writing For excerpts, reviews and what you need to do to receive the 2 free e-books, Write Memories and sign up for free e-mail courses, just head on to the Weekly Writes Book Official Site. (Clicking on the link will open a new window.)