Film Genre Classification

Study Notes

Action: Fast-paced, thrilling, and often feature heroic characters, e.g. Die Hard, The Matrix
Comedy: Intended to be humorous, often with a lighthearted tone, e.g. The Hangover, Monty Python
Drama: Focus on character development and emotional depth, e.g. 12 Years a Slave, The Shawshank Redemption
Horror: Intended to scare or unsettle, e.g. The Exorcist, The Shining
Romance: Emphasize emotional relationships and romantic love, e.g. Titanic, Casablanca
Science Fiction: Explore the impact of science and technology on society, e.g. Star Wars, Blade Runner
Thriller: Suspenseful and often feature crime or mystery, e.g. Psycho, Seven

Hollywood: The American film industry, centered in Los Angeles, California
Bollywood: The Indian film industry, centered in Mumbai, India
Independent Film: Low-budget, often experimental or art-house films, e.g. Clerks, El Mariachi

Cinematography: The art of camera and lighting techniques, e.g. close-up, long shot, panning
Editing: The process of assembling footage, e.g. cutting, transitions, montage
Sound Design: The creation and manipulation of sound effects, music, and dialogue, e.g. Foley, score, voiceover

Silent Era: Early films without synchronized sound, 1890s-1920s
Golden Age of Hollywood: The 1930s-1960s, marked by the rise of studios and classic films, e.g. Casablanca, Singin' in the Rain
New Wave: A 1960s movement of experimental and avant-garde films, e.g. Breathless, 2001: A Space Odyssey

Alfred Hitchcock: Master of suspense, known for Psycho, Vertigo, and North by Northwest
Stanley Kubrick: Visionary director, known for 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, and The Shining
Martin Scorsese: Influential director, known for Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas

Action films are fast-paced, thrilling, and often feature heroic characters, exemplified by Die Hard and The Matrix.
Comedies are intended to be humorous, often with a lighthearted tone, as seen in The Hangover and Monty Python.
Dramas focus on character development and emotional depth, as exemplified by 12 Years a Slave and The Shawshank Redemption.
Horror films are intended to scare or unsettle, with examples including The Exorcist and The Shining.
Romance films emphasize emotional relationships and romantic love, as seen in Titanic and Casablanca.
Science fiction films explore the impact of science and technology on society, exemplified by Star Wars and Blade Runner.
Thrillers are suspenseful and often feature crime or mystery, as seen in Psycho and Seven.

The American film industry is centered in Los Angeles, California, and is commonly referred to as Hollywood.
The Indian film industry is centered in Mumbai, India, and is commonly referred to as Bollywood.
Independent films are low-budget, often experimental or art-house films, exemplified by Clerks and El Mariachi.

Cinematography is the art of camera and lighting techniques, including close-up, long shot, and panning.
Editing is the process of assembling footage, including cutting, transitions, and montage.
Sound design is the creation and manipulation of sound effects, music, and dialogue, including Foley, score, and voiceover.

The silent era of film spanned from the 1890s to the 1920s, featuring films without synchronized sound.
The golden age of Hollywood occurred from the 1930s to the 1960s, marked by the rise of studios and classic films, such as Casablanca and Singin' in the Rain.
The new wave was a 1960s movement of experimental and avant-garde films, exemplified by Breathless and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Alfred Hitchcock was a master of suspense, known for directing Psycho, Vertigo, and North by Northwest.
Stanley Kubrick was a visionary director, known for directing 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, and The Shining.
Martin Scorsese is an influential director, known for directing Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas.