Genre Research: Action

 Common Camera Angles:

• A commonly used angle of the action genre is a high angle, showing all of the characters movements, and allowing the audience to see all action on screen.

Common Camera Movements:

• Common camera movements of action include sweeping techniques, complex crane movements, and simple pans and tracking movements.

Common Camera Shots:

• The most recognizable shots of action film are two shots containing a movement of close combat, or an aerial shot showing the character's stunts. Tracking shots are also common, with many scenes including car chases, or an actor chasing someone down.

Common Costumes:

• Costumes in action movies have a diversity spanning from simple business attire, or thousand-dollar alien costumes. In this genre, there are almost no limitations of setting, meaning that costumes will vary from movie to movie.

Common Lighting:

• Many action movies require the audience to see in detail what is happening on the screen, so in scenes like these, soft, to bright lighting will be used. In other cases, the setting of an action movie will take place at nighttime, meaning that dim lighting will be used, however spot lighting may be used on certain subjects.

Common Acting:

• Given the appeal of action movies (movement and stunts), acting in this genre can be of a lower quality than other emotionally striking movies. For example, many pop culture stars will make their appearance in an action movie, since little experience is required. However, this does not mean the acting is not important, as it is still a film. In order to create a sense of realism, actors will have to display things like fear, determination, and strength on camera.

Common Makeup:

• In action movies, characters will still have to look good for the camera, unless they are showing the audience a purposely rugged character. In either case, a professional makeup artist will be used, and this is especially true for certain character designs, as it is a part of their costume.

Common Props:

• Props for action movies may be as simple as a gun, or they may go on the other end of the spectrum, say, a laser cannon. Props like these are especially common in superhero movies, and without things like a blaster, the director will not be able to carry out the plot of the movie.

Common Setting:

• Common settings for action movies will include things like major cities, airports, clubs, houses, and even environments like boats. With action movies, the setting is truly up to the director and how he decides he wants the scene to unfold, and more importantly, where the scene is going to unfold.

Common Editing:

• Most action movies will include quick jump cuts, and many jump cuts in number. The clever cross cuts to show two different actions may also be used, along with lots of dissolves.

Common Sound:

• In the action genre, non-diegetic sound is most common. A gun firing, a 3-D rendered monster's footsteps, and punches landing are all crucial to the movie, so it would only be reasonable if their sound design was put into as much care as possible. 

Films in this genre-

Action films include movies like:

• Black Panther
• The Avengers
• John Wick
• James Bond
• Misson Impossible

Action movies include a huge audience, and is most likely the most popular film genre. Using this information, it can be assumed that pursuing a genre like action will give a greater appeal to my media project. Action movies are my personal favorite genre, only because it contains countless classic super hero movies, and is always packed with a legendary adventure.

There are some negatives in working with the action genre are the needs for special effects, even in the opening sequence. This could cause potential problems, as I would not be able carry out my vision for the opening sequence of an action movie. Another problem I see with the action genre is the lack of diversity in different aspects of the movie. For example, a viewer would not comment on the character's acting, but instead remark how great the fighting scene was.