Genre Change

Initially our group had decided our trailer was going to be in the particular genre of horror. Subsequently we have now decided to change it to a detective parody, with film Noir style elements. What attracted us to this particular genre was the use of shadow, low lighting and setting that captured the essence of mystery and mood in a film. Although at first we were happy with our genre choice, we believed due to location problems, it would be difficult to create a decent trailer in the particular style.

In addition to this we researched the key elements of film noir and parodies.
Parody: A parody film is a comedy that satirizes other genres or films.
The main conventions for this genre are:

• Sarcasm
• Huge stereotyping eg the dumb blonde, the hard boiled detective.
• Mocking other films or scenes from serious movies.
• Violence with no consequence for characters actions.
• Obvious meanings to characters actions.
• Joking around with no purpose.
• Random scenes, many layers.

Film Noir: Crime, usually murder is an element of almost all film noirs. A crime investigation, by a private eye, a police detective or a concerned amateur is the most prevalent, but far from dominant, basic plot. In other common plots the protagonists are implicated in heists or con games, or in murderous conspiracies often involving adulterous affairs. False suspicions and accusations of crime are frequent plot elements, as are betrayals and double crosses.
Film Noir tends to use low key lighting schemes producing stark light/dark contract and dramatic shadow patterning. the shadows of venetian blinds, banister rods, cast on actor, a wall or an entire scene are iconic visual in film noir. Characters faces may be partially or wholly obscured by darkness.

An example of film noir parody is: My Favourite Brunette. It is a 1947 spoofing movie in the film noir style.
Below is a link to a My Favourite Brunette clip.

LS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IDNAiEUjNA