Genre and Elements reveal
Posted 11th August 2022
Required Elements
A Sign
Your film must feature a sign. That can be a street sign, or a sign from the universe, you’re free to interpret it.
A Whisper
Your film must feature a whisper, whispers or whispering. We don’t need to hear what is being said, but we do need to hear it being whispered.
A Worm’s Eye View Shot or A Bird’s Eye View Shot
Your film must feature at least one shot filmed from a worm’s eye view OR a bird’s eye view. A bird’s eye view is from the perspective directly above the subject looking down on it, while a worm’s eye view is the opposite, a perspective from directly under a subject.
A Gatekeeper
Your film must include a character who is a gatekeeper. They can be a lead role or an extra, it's up to you. They can literally guard a gate or opening or they can be a metaphorical gatekeeper. Metaphorically, a gatekeeper is someone who controls access to something.
Genres
Please note that there are multiple ways to interpret genres. You might want to follow the classic elements of a genre closely, or subvert and upend our expectations, we are open to all options. We have supplied some examples below but you can also do your own research online. The Screening Room has loads of films you can explore for inspiration as well.
You will need to include all the required elements in your film to be eligible to win awards and prizes. You will also need to utilise the genre your team has been assigned. You can find out which genre your team has been assigned by checking the list on the Team Genre Number page.
#1 The Anniversary Movie
Anniversary movies typically centre around an important moment, some happy, like birthdays or wedding anniversaries, some sad, like the loss of a loved one on the anniversary of their death. Whether you're remembering or trying to forget, anniversaries are ripe for deep storytelling and themes of nostalgia, regret or celebration.Examples of
Anniversary movies include: PROJECT X, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, INDEPENDENCE DAY, TICK, TICK… BOOM!, HAPPY DEATH DAY, GONE GIRL.
A 48Hours example is 40 CANDLES by Spacies Crew
#2 The Comedy of Errors Movie
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, and will continue to go wrong. This genre actually has its origins in Shakespeare and included classic tropes like mistaken identity and slapstick. Often the viewer can see what’s coming, and the characters’ errors are avoidable, but not avoided. Will your protagonist come out on top despite it all?Examples of
Comedy of Errors movies include: CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, MR BEAN, THE HANGOVER, THE BIG LEBOWSKI, FOUR LIONS, PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES, MEET THE PARENTS
A 48Hours example is THE BIRTHDAY CARD by Bad George
#3 The Supernatural Movie
Anything from ghosts to witches to fairies are in your domain now. Your film’s only requirement is that it explores something beyond the veil - whether that be terrifying, friendly, or somewhere in between. It’s up to you whether or not you want to fill your audience with a sense of dread or wonder.
Examples of Supernatural movies include: THE SHINING, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, THE SANTA CLAUSE, GREMLINS, THE EXORCIST, SPIRITED AWAY.
A 48Hours example is GHOSTFISH: CATFISHED BY A GHOST by Prime Rib
#4 The Impossible Situation Movie
Survival. Endurance. Resourcefulness. Find a rock, find a hard place, and shove your characters directly in between. Time is running out. The ship is sinking. There’s nothing your heroes can do… or is there? It’s up to you whether your characters miraculously overcome their impossible odds, or succumb to their fate.
Examples include: TITANIC, 127 HOURS, OLD, GROUNDHOG DAY, THE IMPOSSIBLE, CAST AWAY, THE REVENANT, GRAVITY, THE MARTIAN.
A 48Hours example is GOOD GIRL by Traces of Nut
#5 The Swap Movie
Find yourself a prince and a pauper and get ready to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes because it’s time to swap. Lives, powers, bodies, pets, you name it - it’s all about a swap of some kind. It might change the character’s perspective, lead them down a new path and change their life, or remind them to be happy with their lot.
Examples of Swap movies include: FREAKY FRIDAY, THE PARENT TRAP, BIG, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, 13 GOING ON 30, TRADING PLACES, THE PRESTIGE, BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, THE HOT CHICK, 17 AGAIN.
#6 The Multiverse Movie
What if there are actually multiple parallel and alternate universes to our own? The Multiverse genre is everywhere in 2022, and now it's your turn to make one. Your film can involve multiple parallel dimensions, or just the one. A Multiverse story can be as simple as a character travelling to another reality or as complicated as a fragile branching cacophony of differing timelines that could fall in on itself at any moment.
(P.S. Marvel owns the Marvel Cinematic Universe so you’ll need to create your own).
Examples include: SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS, RICK & MORTY, THE LEGO MOVIE, SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDERVERSE, EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE.
A 48Hours example is A MATTER OF TIME by Apple Fork or ROZKOL(SCHISM) by Deep Dish Pizza Wolf
#7 The Coming-of-Age Movie
We were all young once. Perhaps you still are! Coming-of-age films are about the trials and tribulations of growing up. They deal with formative moments on the road to adulthood, like a first crush or first heartbreak. You might want to create a story that is sentimental and nostalgic, or perhaps you’d prefer to give the audience a laugh, just take your characters on a journey (in 5 minutes).
Examples include: HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE, ALMOST FAMOUS, BOY, EIGHTH GRADE, BOYHOOD, MOONLIGHT, SUPERBAD, JUNO, STAND BY ME, MEAN GIRLS, CLUELESS, AMERICAN PIE, LADY BIRD
A 48Hours example is UNDER THE BRIDGE by Cool Story Bro Film
#8 The Musical or Dance Movie
Your film can be about anything, it just has to feature songs! Some musicals go the whole hog with every syllable sung, while others feature songs as key moments in the story, like the characters competing in a song contest. It's up to you how much music you want to jam in there, but why not embrace it?
OR
Your film can also be about anything but it has to feature dance! The characters might dance to express their emotions, or maybe they’re learning to dance, or perhaps they’re just dancing like nobody’s watching.
Examples of Musicals include: GREASE, LES MISERABLES, HAMILTON, LA LA LAND, HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, PITCH PERFECT, A STAR IS BORN, 8 MILE, DAFFODILS, THE LION KING, FOOTLOOSE, TROLLS, SWEENEY TODD, MOULIN ROUGE
A 48Hours example is BREAD WINNER by Chess Club
Examples of Dance movies include: BLACK SWAN, STOMP THE YARD, TAKE THE LEAD, BURLESQUE, BILLY ELLIOT, BORN TO DANCE, SAVE THE LAST DANCE.
A 48Hours example is LIKE NOBODY’S WATCHING by Chillybox
#9 The Crime Movie
Stick ‘em up! Your movie is about crime! Crime films have existed in many forms over the years, from comedies to hard boiled dramas. They can follow those who uphold the law, those who break it and the people caught in the middle. Some of the best movies ever made are crime movies. Will you join those coveted ranks?
Examples include: LETHAL WEAPON, HOT FUZZ, OCEAN’S 11, SCARFACE, PULP FICTION THE GODFATHER, FARGO.
A 48Hours example is THE DYING ART OF CAT BURGLARY by BAE24
#10 The Pavlova Western Movie
The Pavlova Western is a New Zealand flavoured western. Remember, a western is less about the location and more about the tropes - lone wolf, rough justice, confrontation/final showdown, loneliness/solitude, the hardship of life on the edge etc. Recent series like Boba and The Mandalorian have reinterpreted these tropes for whole new worlds. You might not have access to a stable of horses, but a stand-off in your kitchen will still read as a Western. Including an actual pavlova is optional.
Examples of Pavlova Westerns include: THE POWER OF THE DOG, SLOW WEST, GOOD FOR NOTHING, UTU, THE DEAD LANDS and THE BOOK OF BOBA FETTRegular Westerns to draw inspiration from include: BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, TRUE GRIT, RANGO, BREAKING BAD, THE MANDALORIAN, THE HATEFUL EIGHT, DJANGO UNCHAINED, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY.